Columbia Valley Pioneer, June 18, 2020

June 18, 2020 Vol. 17/Issue 25

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1 June 18, 2020

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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 18, 2020 Highlights of the @LiveColumbiaValley Instagram account, brought to you by the Columbia Valley Community Economic Development Office, a service of the RDEK.

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The first Invermere Farmers and Artists Market of the season went off smoothly on Saturday, with new protocols in place.

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Drivers on Highway 93/95 last week got to watch the Kamloops-based Ecopaver 400 perform a pavement rehabilitation technique known as Hot In-Place Asphalt Recycling (HIPAR). Enabled by Ecopave’s unique multi-stage process it can heat, remove, rejuvenate and relay asphalt pavement to a depth of 50 mm at up to four lane kilometers per day.

On Sunday, a herd of Tegart Farming’s cows rotated pastures on the Upper Ranch, between Radium and Edgewater.

Local food security is growing in importance in the Columbia Valley, right along with growing agri-business opportunities.

Have questions about growing your agriculture business in the Columbia Valley? Nyree Marsh, with the Basin Business Advisors Program, can help. Or do you have technical farming and crop questions? Rachael Roussin, from the Kootenay and Boundary Farm Advisors, can help, too!

Museum reopens to public Curator’s Corner

By J.D. Jeffery Museum Curator The museum is now open to the public as of June 15. It has taken some planning to find ways that we could make opening possible. But, with the changes we are opening with hope that nothing will get worse with the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have put in place a number of procedures to keep our visitors safe and healthy. We will practice social distancing with all visitors, but our staff also have the option of wearing a mask. On nice days we will try to greet people outside to prevent congestion in our registration area. On other days we will have the registration desk placed in a way to allow visitors to be six feet apart.

The main building can accommodate two groups but we have a limit of only one group in any of the other buildings at a time. We set up a one-way boardwalk to control the movement of visitors and num-

bered each building to let visitors know they are going in the right direction.

We have had to look at our cleaning practices to open. All of our interactive displays have been removed, for the time being, to reduce the cleaning. We have placed hand sanitizing stations in each building and have scheduled cleaning every two hours. We remind everyone not to touch the displays to help reduce the extra cleaning that will be required.

The research department will remain closed to outside researchers; any inquiries will be done as time allows.

We want to thank a few groups who have helped the museum to reopen and look its best. Columbia Basin Trust has come forward to help museums with a grant specific to COVID-19 issues. Taynton Bay Spirits has provided us with hand sanitizer so we can open and keep our staff and visitors safe. Winderberry Nursery has donated flowers to our planters to bring colour to the museum.

We want our visitors to enjoy their visit to the museum but most important to feel safe. If you have questions, want to book a time to visit, or want to learn what other protocols are in place, call us at 250342-9769.

June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

VALLEY NEWS No pedestrian-only main street

THRIFT STORE DONATIONS Donations may be submitted to the Thrift Store via a separate trailer located behind the store and on the following days:

The petition in opposition to closing main street was signed by 30 business owners. The petition read that the signees “take exception” to the idea, with the business owners saying “our businesses depend on vehicle traffic, along with other modes of transport, and losing this valuable access for clientele is not an option.” They add business is down due to COVID-19 and that “sidewalk traffic is at a bare minimum.”

The survey, which was carried out by the district, garnered 31 responses. On the topic of the main street closure, 29 per cent supported closing main street to vehicle traffic and making it pedestrian only, almost 10 per cent supported closing one-way traffic on main street, 6.5 per cent supported closing parking only on main street, and 48 per cent supported keeping main street open to vehicles and parking.

Continued on page 8. . .

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com This summer will see a couple of businesses spill out onto Invermere’s main street in an effort to promote social distancing, but main street will not be closed to traffic to create a pedestrian-only corridor.

Invermere council received feedback during its Tuesday, June 9 meeting on the idea of a possible closure of main street (7th Avenue) to traffic this summer, in the form of survey results, a petition from local businesses and a pair of emails. The idea had first come up in Invermere’s Tuesday, May 26 committee of the whole meeting, where discussion centered around it as a possible measure to help local businesses maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic and left council members voicing opposing views.

Sunday & Monday, 9 - 3 pm Tuesday, 1 - 7 pm All donations are to be bagged or boxed.

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Septic Tank Pumping…

Public consultation on Lake Windermere Resort lands to begin soon

Have your septic tank pumped every 2 - 3 years to prevent foul odours, leaching into nearby waterways and avoid expensive repairs caused by sludge buildup in the drainage field.

represent only three points (least impact, most impact and a ‘middle ground’) in a broad spectrum of options, and that the purpose of the presentation was to glean council feedback prior to consulting with the public. He added that some of the chief considerations of all the options are wetlands protection, recreation opportunities, pedestrian corridors and Pete’s Marina.

The lowest impact option of the three concepts, which was labelled as ‘marina outpost’ involves marina enhancement, an RV and boat storage area, a wetlands interpretive site, and a walking path. The middle option, labelled as ‘lakeside village’ involves marina expansion (as opposed to just enhancement), boat storage, the wetlands interpretive site, Continued on page 20. . .

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com Public consultation on the Athalmer neighbourhood plan, including the future of the publicly owned Lake Windermere Resort lands, is set to begin soon.

Invermere council members had an update on the project during their Tuesday, June 9 committee of the whole meeting, from three members of planning company B&A Planning (which the district has hired as consultants). B&A partner Geoff Dyer told council that public engagement is set to begin later this month, and gave a brief overview of options for the Lake Windermere Resort lands, cautioning that the three options he was presenting

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4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

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June 18, 2020

RCMP Report Submitted by Sgt. Darren Kakuno Detachment Commander Columbia Valley RCMP This past week, June 8 through June 14 the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 68 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to.

On Monday, June 8 shortly before 5 p.m. an officer was conducting patrols in Invermere when he observed a female leaning over the steering wheel of a Dodge pickup which was parked in a lot on Sarah Road. The officer approached the female to make sure she was okay.

Upon speaking to the driver, the officer noted signs of impairment. The officer conducted roadside sobriety tests and determined the female was impaired by a drug and issued her a 24-hour driving prohibition. The vehicle was impounded for 24 hours.

On Tuesday, June 9 at about 8:15 p.m. an officer conducted a traffic stop with a blue Dodge pickup on Grainger Road in Canal Flats. While speaking with the driver, the officer formed suspicion the driver had alcohol in his body. The driver complied with a roadside breath test and blew two “fails” which resulted in the driver receiving a 90-day driving prohibition. The driver’s vehicle was impounded for 30 days.

On Wednesday, June 10 at about 1:45 a.m. an officer stopped to check a vehicle that was pulled to the side of Highway 93/95 near Dry Gulch. While speaking to the driver the officer noted signs of impairment. The driver denied consuming any alcohol but admitted to taking a controlled substance. The officer conducted roadside sobriety tests, which the driver failed. As a result, the driver received a 24-hour driving suspension and a violation ticket for failing to provide a driver’s license.

On Thursday, June 11 at 2:40 a.m. a Windermere resident reported witnessing someone try to open her car door. Her car was parked in her carport. Fortunately the vehicle was locked and the suspect left the area.

Officers made patrols of the area but were not able to locate the suspect. Columbia Valley RCMP are reminding residents to ensure they remove valuables from their vehicles and lock their doors.

On Thursday, June 11 at about 8:30 p.m. an officer was conducting speed enforcement on Highway 93/95 near Canal Flats when he clocked a Chrysler 300 travelling at 154 kms per hour in a 100 kms per hour speed zone. The officer conducted a traffic stop, issued the driver a violation ticket for excessive speed and impounded the vehicle for seven days. The fine for excessive speeding (exceeding the posted speed limit by 41 kms per hour to 60 kms per hour) is $368 and the vehicle is subject to impoundment.

On Sunday, June 14 at 3 p.m. emergency crews responded to a single vehicle collision on Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park. The driver and lone occupant of a Toyota Rav 4 lost control of his vehicle and drove into the ditch. The collision was believed to have been precipitated by a medical event. The driver was transported to the hospital to be assessed for minor injuries and the vehicle was towed due to front-end damage.

On Sunday, June 14 at about 4:30 p.m. police received a report of an individual operating an ATV on private property near Radium Hot Springs without the owner’s permission. An officer conducted patrols of the area and located the ATV operator on the private property. The ATV operator was issued a violation ticket for trespassing and operating an off-road vehicle on private land without consent.

Bear season is upon us REQUEST for QUOTATION Greenways, in cooperation with the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), is seeking to construct an approximately 1 kilometre reroute of the Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail between the communities of Invermere and Fairmont Hot Springs, paralleling the Westside Road.

We are requesting qualified offers from established organizations which have a proven track record with any and all aspects of similar trail construction in the Columbia Valley.

The project is planned for summer 2020 and will included an approximately 1 kilometre reroute at roughly kilometre 7.2 of the existing Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail.* Included are clearing and grubbing through to the completion of a pavement ready trail, signage, and user amenities as detailed on the full RFQ. *funding pending

Find out more: OurTrail.org/RFQ2020-2 Greenways.ca info@greenways.ca Box 2377 #203 375 Laurier Street Invermere, BC V0A 1K0

Tales from the field

By BC Conservation Officer Sgt. Greg Kruger The spring bear season is upon us.

As a reminder, we ask that everyone do their part to manage all unnatural food sources on your property to prevent a bear from accessing it. We recently had two black bears aggressively charge or chase people while defending a food source they should not have been rewarded with. One was a bird feeder full of seed and the other was an outdoor fridge with sweet beverages and spoiled milk. Conservation officers attended and these bears were removed for the public’s safety.

Folks living from the Juniper Heights subdivision to Dry Gulch, Radium, and Edgewater [Baptise Lake] are likely aware of an unusually high number of grizzly bear sightings thus far. Invermere Con-

servation Officer Service (COS) was monitoring five plus bears that dropped down into the valley much further than normal in search of their first meals of grass and any carrion they could find along the highway and rail tracks. On a couple occasions these bears were ‘hazed’ [encouraged to move along] when they were near residences. We have both good and bad news on this front: within the last several days there have been no new reports of these bears near our communities. Unfortunately, one young adult grizzly was run over by a train north of Radium.

The COS has adapted to the recent COVID-19 changes by representing provincial virus-spreading-prevention initiatives to keep the public safe. We have been asked to assist both BC Parks and Recreation and Trails BC to maintain compliance with the ‘no camping’ order in their campgrounds.

Continued on page 10. . .

June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

Massey to serve civically-minded community with vision for unity

By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter As the community’s source of information on current events in the East Kootenay region of B.C., the Columbia Valley Pioneer (CVP) reports on municipal politics, community events, businesses, arts and entertainment as well as sports.

Our goal is simple: we have a fundamental responsibility to provide civically-minded journalism, so the community is in the loop about current events.

Through the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI), I have recently returned to the CVP as full-time staff and will be reporting exclusively on Indigenous Affairs for the Akisqnuk First Nation (AFN), Shuswap Indian Band (SIB) and Métis citizens in the heart of the Columbia Valley on behalf of News Media Canada (NMC).

The goal of the LJI is to preserve Canadian heritage and culture, while providing news coverage for underserved areas of First Nations communities and Métis citizens, all the way from Canal Flats to Spillimacheen, with funding provided by the Government of Canada.

My commitment to the Columbia Valley community as the Indigenous affairs reporter is to ensure local culture is recorded with accuracy and neutrality, while encouraging local governments to be accountable in providing transparent Photo by Toi et Moi Photography information to the residents who live Breanne Massey here.

I’m devoted to encouraging residents and visitors alike to participate in respectful, engaging conversations and debates about ongoing issues and community triumphs.

The content I’m producing for this region will be distributed nationally through Creative Commons, thanks to the support of NMC. Having served the community as a general assignments reporter at the CVP between 2015 and 2017, I’m looking forward to returning to the Columbia Valley and I’m extremely grateful to have this opportunity during a global pandemic.

It is crucial for Canadians to acknowledge the damning effects of systemic racism in our country, while also celebrating the diversity and culture of AFN, SIB and Métis representatives of the community.

It is an honour to be tasked with the responsibility of raising awareness about the culture and history of Canada in the LJI reporter role.

I hope to unite citizens here, and to acknowledge the consequences of social injustices that stem from archaic belief systems rooted in white supremacy, settler colonization and classism.

We have the opportunity, as a community, to look at how the history of our country has been shaped as a result of social injustices that took place through Canada’s residential school system from 1886 to 1996 and the discrimination that occurred as a result of the Indian Act in 1876.

Oppression and discrimination has shaped our country’s past — and now, it’s up to us to do better for our present lives, and for the future of B.C. and Canada as a whole.

Please don’t hesitate to drop me a line at breanne@columbiavalleypioneer.com to say hello or to recommend story ideas that you’d like to see.

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www.hospicesocietycv.com NOTICE OF APPLICATION COLUMERE WATERWORKS LIMTED Notice of Application to the Comptroller of Water Rights Under the Water Utility Act and The Utilities Commission Act Notice is hereby given by Columbia Ridge Waterworks Ltd. that an application has been made to the Comptroller of Water Rights for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the proposed construction and operation of a waterworks distribution system to serve residents in the area of Lot 16, District Lot 139, Kootenay District Plan 8034 Any person wishing further information in connection with this application should apply directly to Columbia Ridge Waterworks Ltd. 4606 Columbia View Road, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. V0B 1L2 Any objections to this application are to be forwarded to Chris McMillan, Secretary to the Deputy Comptroller of Water Rights, Water Utility Act, PO Box 9340 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria BC V8W 9M1, or by email: chris.mcmillan@gov.bc.ca or by fax (250) 953-5124 to be received in this office on or before: July 20th, 2020 Columbia Ridge Waterworks Ltd.

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6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 18, 2020

PERSPECTIVE Dumpster fire or useful challenge?

By Dauna Ditson dauna@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The Columbia Valley Pioneer is here to help you!

We are making every effort to support our local businesses during this difficult time. Advertise here to let people know that you’re still open.

Windermere Valley Museum OPENING FOR THE SUMMER MONDAY, JUNE 15th The Museum will be open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Please be prepared to follow the COVID-19 guidelines that will be in place.

Full Service Open Mon.–Fri. Gas at 7 am – 6 pm Self-Serve Sun. 8 am – 6 pm Price with restricted access ● Propane/Diesel ● Convenience Store

to the convenience store.

Please bring your credit or debit cards as preferred methods of payment.

The bowling alley is now open by reservation only.

Call 250-342-2695.

THANK YOU!

We would also like to thank all of our customers for their support at this time.

Visit us on Highway 93/95 between Invermere and Windermere

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Have you seen the image of a 2020 commemorative candle circulating on social media? It’s a garbage bin with a candle inside. The point it’s making is that 2020 is a dumpster fire of a year.

We started the year off with wildfires spreading across Australia, moved into pandemic season, bore witness to racism so blatant across the border that it sparked protests around the world, and, here at home, had all kinds of water trouble from a boil-water advisory to a flood risk that led to residents being evacuated.

I enjoyed the dark humour of the dumpster-fire candle and thought of buying one for everyone I know. But even six months into a year, it’s too early – and far too pessimistic – to write off the entire thing.

From over at the emergency operations centre, Loree Duczek, communications officer for the Regional District of East Kootenay, offered a pep talk. She said the dumpster fire analogy isn’t accurate because she prefers to look on the bright side, even with multiple emergencies happening at the same time.

“To have (COVID-19) overlap now with freshet and some of the flooding and having a very significant storm event on the May 31 weekend has added whole nother level of complexity,” she said. “We definitely have had a constant series of challenges.”

While flooding and freshet are immediate concerns, the potential for forest fires is also lingering in the back of her mind.

“You never know where or when the next emergency will hit,” she said.

But still she insists we’re not living through a dumpster-fire year.

“From my perspective, 2020 is certainly a challenge but here in the East Kootenay we’re able to meet challenges and it doesn’t minimize the difficulty but it shows our resiliency. If anything I think that will be our marker for 2020,” she said. “One of the really encouraging pieces this year has been a really good focus on regional cooperation as part of that pandemic because there are very few emergencies that affect a whole region equally.”

Also, in her experience, goodness shows up when challenges arrive.

“The one consistent thing that I see in emergencies is you also see incredible examples of community support and community spirit and giving and compassionate hearts, and we’ve seen that,” she said. “We’ve seen incredible kindness from people.”

In other words, now isn’t the time to stock up on dumpster-fire candles.

Doctor says bike trails matter Dear Editor, I am writing to express my disappointment and sadness at the recent closure of popular bike trails like the Deja View trail, and the Brewer to Panorama trail. There are so many great reasons to support mountain biking in the Columbia Valley by protecting and maintaining existing trails and supporting the development of new trails: • Mountain biking is increasingly popular across all age groups. If you have been to the Lake Lillian/Johnson or Swansea trailheads on a weekend recently you will have see that the parking lots are jam packed with people of all ages, from all over. You will see entire families getting out for bike rides.

• Mountain biking is a fun sport that contributes to physical and mental well-being.

Continued on page 7 . . .

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CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013

Pioneer

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

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer is available free of charge at 13 essential businesses in the Upper Columbia Valley, limited to one copy per reader. This publication has been made possible, in part, by the Government of Canada and the support of our advertisers and is 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.

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June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

Friendliness abounds Dear Editor, Well, I just was reading through your June 11 edition and then set out looking for the ‘hostility’ that some folks were complaining about in the valley – and I just couldn’t find any. I looked over hill and dale, from Skookumchuck to Golden, down through Canal Flats, by the lake and rivers near Invermere and Windermere, and all points in between, driving around with ‘out of province plates.’

I looked hard for the dissatisfaction and hostility people were talking about, and just couldn’t find any. The guy who rents water sports stuff down in Canal Flats called me a ‘colored person,’ but given he was offering me a discount and being super friendly, I didn’t really think he was being racist or anything, even though I don’t go around calling people ‘white people.’ Sometimes we all just have to relax a little.

But you know, it’s hard to be all aggressive and ruminating on being bitter and angry when you’re hiking around, eating delicious fresh food from your farmers’ market outside of Invermere, soaking hot, sweaty feet in icy mountain streams, going for walks and seeing the wildlife that abounds in the Columbia Valley, and even appreciating the somewhat bizarre peacock up in Radium. He sure is loud – loud like some people who squawk as much as him. But we tolerate him! We don’t know many more peacocks, so we assume it’s natural.

We’ve been coming for over 20 years to this valley and may have gotten some strange looks, but never heard a whiff of a nasty comment. But then again, we never talk about the B.C. taxes or how long we’ve been coming, or our family here, or really anything other than: “It’s sure nice to be back, smell that fresh air, and look at the gorgeous mountains, and how this place is a little pocket of paradise!”

I’ve spoken to a lot of the Asian community here and we all just want to say thank you for the welcome. Talking things out always helps soothe ruffled feathers!

Cathy Cha Saskatoon . . . ‘Biking’ from 6 • Many places are encouraging more cycling as it is a great way to get outside while socially distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, all the roads in Stanley Park have been made car free to encourage cycling and to leave the Sea Wall to walkers.

• Mountain biking has been called “the new golf,” a sport increasingly popular with executives and professionals (https://www.businessinsider.com/ cycling-is-the-new-golf-2015-2 and https://money.cnn.com/2014/04/29/ smallbusiness/cycling-golf-entrepreneurs/) • Mountain biking attracts visitors and contributes to the local tourism economy. Burns Lake, for instance, has benefitted significantly from investing in bike trails (https://www.burnslakelakesdistrictnews.com/news/economic-impact-of-burns-lake-trails/) and the economic benefits of mountain bike tourism have been well documented (https://www.pinkbike.com/ news/economic-impacts-of-mountain-bike-tourism-2016-update.html) • Mountain biking and trail building has had a positive impact on Indigenous youth in Carcross, Yukon. Here is a link to an inspiring film about this: https://vimeo.com/140622627 and a CBC News clip https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=f6cPgG6dm1Q Our local trail networks are already at capacity, and several trails have been shut down recently. The Deja View trail was a great trail for beginners. In fact, many people taught their children to ride there. The recent search and rescue call on the Johnson trail where a nine-year-old girl fell into the Toby Creek canyon showed that this area needs more beginner and family-friendly trails. The Juniper trails are under threat from the proposed land swap with the Ministry of Transportation. The Brewer Lake to Panorama ride was the kind of epic alpine mountain bike trail that would be a destination unto itself. All these trails are either under threat, or have been recently closed to cyclists.

Many non-mountain bikers seem to have misconceptions about the impact bikes have on trails and the environment. Here is a good summary of research about this subject: https://www.americantrails.org/resources/natural-resource-impacts-of-mountain-biking The conclusion reads: “A body of empirical, scientific studies now indicates that mountain biking is no more damaging than other forms of recreation, including hiking. Thus, managers who prohibit bicycle use (while allowing hiking or equestrian use) based on impacts to trails, soils, wildlife, or vegetation are acting without sound, scientific backing.”

Decisions to close trails will affect our ability to pursue healthy outdoor activities in a sustainable manner. They will also affect tourism; people may seek out trails in other places if they find that our local networks are no longer worth their time. We need more bike trails in the Columbia Valley.

Stefanie Falz Mclellan, MD CCFP-EM Invermere

Lake Windermere District Lions Club 17th Annual

CHARITY GOLF DAY MONDAY, JULY 6th, 2020 Copper Point Course TEE TIMES FROM 7 am - 4 pm “Come and play 18-holes of golf w/cart at the beautiful Copper Point Course, plus enjoy full use of the driving range for $65.

All proceeds from the day will be donated by the Lake Windermere District Lions Club & Copper Point Golf to the Invermere Food Bank” Harold Hazelaar, Event Coordinator

To book a ‘Charity Golf Day’ tee time call 250-341-3392 or 1-877-418-4653 Thank you for helping the Lions help the community!

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your ideas?

2021

BC BUDGET CO N S U LTAT I O N Provide written comments Fill out the online survey

SHARE YOUR VIEWS

BY JUNE 26 For more information on all the ways to participate, and to share your ideas and input, visit our website or call the Parliamentary Committees Office.

Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services

bcleg.ca/FGSbudget Toll-free in BC 1.877.428.8337

8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 18, 2020

Businesses spill out, but main street open to traffic . . . ‘Street’ from page 3

Mount Nelson Place staff Jayne Magri and Jessica Breeze join the group home’s residents as they proudly display their banner thanking health care workers.

Photo by Lisa Ede

Mount Nelson Place residents stay close to home Tiny, cautious steps. That’s what BC’s COVID-19 response looks like for residents of Invermere’s only group home for adults with developmental disabilities. The eight residents of Mount Nelson Place, many of whom are seniors, hadn’t left the grounds of the group home since mid-March.

“Those who were used to walking to town independently or going out for activities, bowling, lunches, etc. will now be able to move beyond the confines of their residence, but we won’t be returning to normal just yet” says Manager Donna Jefferson.

“Trying to explain COVID-19 to our residents was difficult.” And, although they may not have fully understood the threat of the illness, Jefferson did.

Early in the crisis, she began implementing measures to ensure the safety of staff and residents.

Recognizing the risks associated with part-time staff working at multiple facilities, she limited staff to those who worked only at Mount Nelson Place, prior to this becoming a provincial requirement.

She also made contingency plans.

The eight-bed residence is a former duplex with two kitchens and living areas, so residents were already divided into four on each side for all meals and entertainment. If anyone showed signs of being sick, they could be quickly separated from the others and served meals in the privacy of their own room. Volunteer programs were cancelled, and a no-visitor policy was implemented. Jefferson and her administrative staff worked from home. The non-profit’s board moved meetings on-line.

A small team of 14 care workers hunkered down at Mount Nelson Place. They kept residents entertained with music, crafts, and fresh air in the home’s large backyard. They arranged Facetime or Zoom meetings for residents to stay in contact with friends & family.

Jefferson says she can’t give her staff enough credit, “I’m very proud of them all. They had to think about their own households as well as balancing their jobs, it was scary for all of us!”

Jefferson plans to “keep the bubble small this summer.” For example, she’ll schedule trips to the beach and visits to town during times when fewer people are around. Crowded places and larger group activities will be avoided. By taking extra care, she hopes to ensure the residents and staff of Mount Nelson Place remain healthy and safe.

of 7th Avenue.” Although other possible options, such as allowing businesses to Another question focused on using spill out onto main street, were touched parking spaces and/or the street to cre- on, the overwhelming majority of discusate a safe place for people to line up for sion at the May 26 meeting centred on businesses; 50 per cent agreed or strongly closing main street). supported the idea, while 43 per cent dis“We still need to accept this wasn’t agreed or strongly disagreed. Asked if they the right way to handle this issue,” opined would be interested in expanding/spilling councillor Gerry Taft, who had argued their retail space onto the sidewalk, to a in the May 26 meeting that ideas such as nearby parking space or onto the street, closing main street must come from the 48 per cent responded that they already business community, rather than from have enough space, while 35.5 per cent council members. He added that if counhad interest in either using the sidewalk, cil members float ideas that “radical” in using a nearby parking space, using both discussion, this is bound to provoke a the sidewalk plus a parking space, or (si- strong reaction. multaneously) using the sidewalk plus a Miller disagreed, saying there’s nothparking space plus the street. ing wrong with council bringing up such The two emails to council were evenly ideas for discussion, and that council has divided – one from former business owner been transparent.

JoAnne WilCounlox against cil did apclosing main “(There’s) not a strong majority on either side.” prove three street to temporary Greg Anderson, traffic, and right of way Invermere councillor one from occupancies resident during the Steph Van June 9 meetde Kemp in ing that will support of a pedestrian-only main street. allow two businesses and one charitable Councillor Greg Anderson pointed organization to deal with COVID-19 this out there is “not a strong majority on ei- summer. Black Star Studios will be allowed ther side,” and sought clarification from to spill out into parking stalls in front of mayor Al Miller that the district would their business for summer art camps and not be closing main street to traffic this workshops. The workshops and camps summer, which Miller replied was correct. are a key part of Black Star’s business and Miller and some other councillors cannot be carried out indoors given social blamed the Pioneer (which reported the distancing requirements. discussion from the Tuesday, May 26 Similar social distancing restrictions committee of the whole meeting in its mean Scotty Burger cannot use its courtJune 4 edition) for stirring up controversy yard for customer seating, so council over the matter, with Miller saying “that’s agreed to allow the business to establish where the problem was.” additional seating in parking stalls near it (The Pioneer stands behind its report- for the summer. ing: the news report in the June 4 edition Council members also consented — clearly outlines the main street closure as a pending agreement from the Invermere discussed possibility (instead of a bylaw); Farmers and Artists Market — to allowing clearly outlines that council intended to the Invermere Health Care Auxiliary soconsult with the local business commu- ciety to set up a storage bin in the corner nity before following the matter further; of the lakeview parking lot in which doand in official documents, such as district nated items can “wait” before the society’s agendas, the matter is labelled as “7th Av- predominately elderly volunteers handle enue Pedestrian Corridor” and “Closure them.

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June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 9

Petitioners raise a stink over reeking lagoons smell was the result of “a perfect storm of circumstances,” including a drop in temperature, significantly reduced flow of waA stinky situation that Invermere staff ter, and the possible presence of quite a termed “a perfect storm” of circumstanc- bit of hand sanitizer in the district’s sewer es cast a literal and figurative stench over system. The latter two elements are likely parts of the town over the past few weeks, a result of a lot fewer visitors in Invermere due to COVID-19, and a lot more people inciting a petition by local residents.

Nearly three dozen Invermere resi- using hand sanitizer due to COVID-19 dents, most of them living on or near the (which is then getting washed down sink parts of 12th Avenue, 13th Avenue and when people wash their hands). Inver1st Street that overlook the district’s sew- mere planner Rory Hromadnik added age lagoon signed and sent the petition on that drop in the water flow in the sewage June 1. The petition outlines that residents lagoons is remarkable: from an average of had been experiencing what they termed a 1.1 million litres of fluid daily in the pri“noxious” smell from the lagoons for more mary cell in prior years down to 700,000 than six weeks. “This odour is enough to litres of fluid daily this year.

L u y keep doors endyk exand windows closed, “The odour is enough to keep doors and windows plained to and wake closed, and wake residents up in the night due to council that the smell.” staff has residents up learned from in the night due to the Petition about the Invermere sewage lagoons, signed the incident, by nearly three dozens local residents done a lot smell. Time of research, outside is now has ennot pleaszymes on hand to ‘feed’ the system, and ant,” reads the petition.

The petition goes on to add that in that the smell has seemed to dissipate over the opinion of the signees the smell has the previous weekend, indicating that the not been this bad in the past 15 years, and problem seems resolved for now. She addthat inquiries to the district “have been re- ed staff are ready to act swiftly if any futurned with a ‘nothing we can do but wait ture similar incident occurs.

Mayor Al Miller mentioned that he it out’ reply due to temperatures.” The petitioners asked the district for an immedi- had personally reached out to Grey Braate resolution, and asked for a report on datsch and Connie Artym-Bradatsch (the the issue to be written, made public and first people on the petition) to explain the situation to them and let them know emailed out.

The issue was discussed by Invermere that measures have been taken, and that council at its Tuesday, June 9 council the district has put a message out on its meeting. Acting chief administrative of- Facebook page and website to the same ficer Kindry Luyendyk told council the effect.

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Move it for Hospice

Hospice Week June 21 - 27, 2020 The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley is challenging participants to Walk, Run, Bike, Hike, Golf, Swim, Kayak or Canoe etc. in memory of a loved one.

There are many more activities planned for the week such as arts sale and Open House at the Hospice office.

For more info, or to register visit:

hospicesocietycv.com Registrations are open!

Let’s Let’sMove Moveit, it, Move Moveit, it,Move Moveit! it!

SAFE SENIORS, STRONG COMMUNITIES HELLO! ARE YOU A SENIOR WHO IS SELF-ISOLATING DUE TO COVID-19? WE CAN HELP. CALL 2-1-1 OR GO TO WWW.BC211.CA NOW. You’ll be connected with a volunteer who can help with: • phone and/or virtual check-ins • grocery shopping and delivery

• meal preparation and delivery • prescription pick-up and drop off

THIS FREE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE OVER 65.

Volunteers are screened and assessed according to current Government of British Columbia guidelines. Frequency dependent on service requested and volunteer availability.

FEELING UNWELL? Call 8-1-1 toll-free in B.C., or for the deaf and hard of hearing, call 7-1-1.

TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO ENSURE YOU ARE STAYING SAFE. Avoid physical contact (2 metres distance).

Wash your hands regularly.

Safe Seniors, Strong Communities partners

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Family Dynamix Association | Phone 250-342-5566 1317 7th Avenue, Invermere, BC

6211–0420

10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 18, 2020

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Hosted via ZOOM Monday, June 22 2020 at 7 pm All members of the public are welcome to attend.

Please contact Donna at 250-342-3699 for registration information.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.

Little Badger Early Learning Centre 3050, Highway 95, Windermere Options to use Zoom for those who cannot attend in person. Please email cvcb@shaw.ca for more information or find us on Facebook.

WINDERMERE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Annual General Meeting Saturday, June 20th, 10 a.m – noon Community Hall 4726 North Street, Windermere.

Please RSVP in order for us to plan for social distancing. Text us at 403-613-3217.

All are welcome to attend.

Have your say The PRIVATE SECTOR and Your

PERSONAL INFORMATION The Special Committee to Review the Personal Information Protection Act wants to hear how you think the Act is working.

The deadline for written submissions is August 14, 2020.

More details at: leg.bc.ca/cmt/pipa Toll-free in BC 1.877.428.8337

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

Community outreach program benefits B.C. families The desire to continue teaching and reinforce Ktunaxa culture for children and their families during the COVID-19 crisis has inspired staff at Little Badgers Early Learning Program (LBELP) to create an outreach program through the Eva Joseph Learning and Cultural Centre Society (EJLCCS).

The LBELP, located on the Akisqnuk First Nation lands, caters to children from 18 months old up to five years old, as well as offering an after-school program up to the age of 12.

“I had to lay off all the teachers until we reopen,” said Carrie Rickards, general manager of the EJLCCS, while praising a new initiative her team has orchestrated.

After being laid off from work as an early childhood educator at LBELP when daycares across the province were shuttered in mid-March, Evelyn Walker used her time off to design and distribute activities to families with the support of the EJLCCS. “Teacher Evy started talking about putting together the kits with her free time,” Rickards said. “We have funding through Aboriginal Head Start (program) on the reserves, so that’s helped to keep the kids interested and learning.”

Walker, who is known to the children in her classroom as “Teacher Evy,” has created an instructional YouTube channel for families to watch, while assembling early years learning activities aimed at improving developmental skills.

“When COVID hit, Evy came up with the idea and she started doing kits for all of our families,” said Rickards. “The first one was a bird feeder, so the kids could assemble bird feeders with their families and paint them.

Then she put a laminated sheet in there with English and Ktunaxa languages, so (families) could tally certain birds when they’re out for a walk.”

With a total of four early years activity kits successfully hand-delivered to Columbia Valley families from LBELP, popularity for the outreach program has continued to grow on a provincial scale.

The BC Aboriginal Child Care Society has begun circulating the activity kits provincially.

In addition to being a good cause with roots at a non-profit organization, delivering activity kits to families from the community is serving as a wellness check to ensure everyone is safe, happy and healthy.

“We’ve decided to start making kits for anybody who wants to buy them and keep kids learning throughout this uncertain time. It’s grown (in popularity) a lot,” Rickards said. “We would like to start doing more kits, and have them in stock because we don’t know how long (COVID-19) is here to stay. We just want to be here to

. . . ‘Bear’ from page 4 The locals and COS are pleased to have camping once again allowed in all recreation and BC Parks sites as of June 1. The COS has also been tasked with extended shifts on the USA-Canada border crossings to register travellers returning to B.C. for the mandatory 14-day self isolation requirement.

It is also that time of the year when our urban deer are giving birth. If you see what you believe is an orphaned animal, please leave it alone. The mother has deliberately left it for its protection and will return to it. Also, please do your best to avoid a mother with a newborn as she will have heightened senses to

Submitted photo support our families.”

Debra Fisher, the Columbia Valley Métis Association (CVMA) president and EJLCCS board member, has raised awareness about the activity kits to the chartered Métis communities in the East Kootenay region.

“I mentioned it at a meeting and there were three people (who) jumped on it right away,” Fisher told the Pioneer, adding the initiative will be shared with the Métis Nation of BC when the first batch of kits has been assembled.

The proceeds from any of the purchased early learning activity kits will be utilized as part of a fundraising initiative to help the Akisqnuk First Nation community improve the playground infrastructure and nature area for children attending the LBELP. To purchase a kit for your children, please contact Little.Badger.Windermere@gmail.com or phone them at 250-342-6331.

protect it, especially if there is a dog in close proximity.

Our new Wildsafe BC Coordinator for the Columbia Valley, Corrina Strauss, is up and running.

She will be an awesome resource in addressing wildlife conflicts by providing education and outreach.

Thank you to all contributing municipalities and the regional district for this funding as it is a great asset for the COS. For information on wildlife conflict prevention visit: wildsafebc.com For reporting wildlife safety concerns, call the BC Conservation Officer Service at: 1-877-952-7277.

June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 11

The Farmhouse likely to get tax exemption 30 units that will be for local residents in the low to moderate income demographic, including families, individuals, seniors, Construction on Invermere’s latest those fleeing domestic violence, and other affordable housing project – The Farm- potentially vulnerable people. Family Dyhouse – is slated to begin in September. namix will be the operator of all the units, Invermere council had an update on the and hopes to be the owner of at least some project during its most recent committee of them. B.C. Housing will own half of of the whole the units. meeting, and “This increases the capacity of our local commu“This then voted i n c r eases nity to adress the need of afforable housing.” unanimousthe capacity of our ly to recomPat Cope, local commend a perFamily Dynamix Association executive director missive tax munity to e xe m p t i o n address the for the project. need of affordable housing,” Cope told Council members heard from Family councillors, adding Family Dynamix has Dynamix Association executive director had success with past affordable housing Pat Cope during their Tuesday, June 9 projects in Invermere, such as the Carriage committee of the whole meeting. Family Court apartments. Cope outlined that Dynamix is the local group spearhead- with the Carriage Court project, Family ing The Farmhouse, with help from B.C. Dynamix will, over the course of 40 years, Housing. become the owner of both the land and The start of building for the project — the building, but that for The Farmhouse which will be located near Pothole Park, that model wasn’t an option, hence the in the currently empty, wedge-shaped lot partnership with B.C. Housing. tucked between 10th Avenue, 9th Street Council members all supported the and 5th A Street — is still set for this Sep- project and unanimously agreed to recomtember, Cope told council. When com- med a permissive tax exemption for the pleted the $8.5 million project will have entire project.

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

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12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Columbia Valley

June 18, 2020

C VID-19 UPDATE

Agri-food is key to community economic developement Submitted by Ryan Watmough, Columbia Valley community economic development officer The pandemic put the food supply front and centre in many people’s minds. However, local groups and businesses have been working on securing a local food supply long before anyone had heard of COVID-19.

In late March, a week after much of the economy was shut down, the Columbia Valley’s Food Hub Models Feasibility Study was finalized, which recommended the creation of a virtual food hub and “bricks and mortar” food hub with a meat processor as an anchor tenant. However, rather than focusing on growing the local agri-food industry, this crisis kept our attention on simply maintaining the industry and supply we had.

For starters, Columbia Valley Food and Farm initiated a food security task force which identified food security needs as a result of the pandemic. Joining forces with the Columbia Valley Food Bank, Family Dynamix, Akisqnuk First Nation, the Shuswap Indian Band and the Metis Association, Food and Farm secured funding, food, chefs and coordination for 12 weeks of emergency meals delivered twice a week to those in need. Food and Farm partnered with the Summit Youth Centre Hub to plan and implement the Snack Box for Kids Program, delivering a hamper of healthy snacks to approximately 200 children and youth in the Columbia Valley weekly. The Columbia Valley Food Bank continued to work as hard as ever to distribute food hampers to those in need. A restaurant-led Columbia Valley Food Service group formed to collaborate around COVID-19 related re-opening issues. And farmers’ market organizers shared best practices and plans through regular meetings.

While Columbia Valley Food and Farm recently pub-

lished the first of two Local Food Guides in the Pioneer, they have also created two new logos for local producers (Columbia Valley Grown and Columbia Valley Made), making it easier for consumers to choose locally grown and made items. Instructions on how food businesses can use them will roll out this summer.

Planning for many agri-tourism opportunities has been put on hold, until tourism has recovered and larger events are permitted again. But the Windermere District Farmers Institute (WDFI) is discussing an agriculture production plan to better understand what are the optimal crops and processing opportunities in the Columbia Valley. Farmers’ markets were one of the first events endorsed by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). And the BC Association of Farmers Markets made the online tool, LocalLine, available for their market members to go virtual. It wasn’t long before eight local producers began using this LocalLine app to book sales and have them ready for pick up at the Windermere Agri-Park Market.

For those who want to commit to fresh, local produce weekly, community supported agriculture boxes continue to be delivered from farm to fork throughout the spring.

The valley’s markets should be back to their historic strength now that the BCCDC has allowed non-food vendors back in, although they will likely look different for the rest of this summer. Windermere’s Wednesday night and Invermere’s Saturday morning markets are already experiencing a high turnout. The Radium, Fairmont and Canal Flats markets start in the last weekend of June. In the late summer, the Spilli Station Café will also host local gardeners and makers.

In addition to the weekly markets, producers are setting up roadside stands and working for more shelf space with ever-evolving retailers. Beyond the local efforts, we’re

working hard to coordinate the offers from other organizations. Columbia Basin Trust has pivoted to reinforce many of their food-industry supporting programs. CBT continues to support the BC Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program, Basin Food Producer Loans, Food Producer Wage Subsidy and Training Fee Support Program – just to name a few.

Buy BC’s Partnership Program E-Commerce Funding Stream was fully subscribed to in less than one day! So we are trying to identify and coordinate groups of similarly focused producers and processors to apply for the new Ministry of Agriculture’s Strategic Business Planning program, where they can get up to $20,000 in support to work on a shared business challenge together – like creating a business plan for a food hub.Beyond these special supports, Nyree Marsh, who is with the Basin Business Advisors Program, and Rachael Roussin, from the Kootenay Boundary Farm Advisors, can help answer agri-business and crop questions that come up.

And beyond the Columbia Valley, broader food security plans, food system inventories, agri-food tech initiatives, and agri-food workforce development projects are also being considered by the Columbia Valley Community Economic Development Office and other stakeholders.

How can you help ensure a resilient local food supply?

You can help by buying from local producers and processors whenever possible.

Through all of these activities and plans, the prominence of – and support for – local food will likely be stronger than before the pandemic.

For more information contact Ryan Watmough, Columbia Valley community economic development officer by phone at 250-409-7011, by email at cvced@rdek.bc.ca or on Instagram at @livecolumbiavalley

Rebuilding after COVID-19 Submitted by WorkBC Many Canadians impacted by COVID-19 are facing a new uncertainty as the Canada Emergency Response Benefits (CERB) end date nears. Those who signed up when CERB was first introduced are currently in their fourth and final month of support and beginning to worry how they will make ends meet without the financial safety net. Moving forward, their income hinges on going back to their old employer, finding a new one or meeting the requirements to roll over to regular Employment Insurance. A world impacted by COVID-19 presents various challenges. Many former jobs no longer exist. We are also seeing a high unemployment rate and a surge of job seekers. For those unsure of where or how to start, accessing employment services through WorkBC could be the first step in beginning to explore options. WorkBC offers free services to job seekers and employers including individual employment planning, job search services, skills enhancement services such as academic upgrading and training, customized job placement and work experience placement services for clients with significant barriers to employment, self-employment services, funding supports, a job board, and computers.

WorkBC’s employment counsellors work with clients on a wide range of top-

ics. This includes cover letter, resume and interview skills help as well as career assessments to determine the right career fit or a new career path. As well, employment counsellors are now supporting their clients through a host of new barriers to employment including working from home, sometimes with children in tow.

Another benefit of working with an employment counsellor is gaining access to the ‘hidden job market’ as not all employers advertise their available job postings online. WorkBC is in contact with many of these companies to help recruit staff, advertise jobs, assist with wage subsidies, and provide financial supports for new hires. If a career change is on the horizon, WorkBC may be able to support those eligible to access programs through Skills Enhancement Training Services. This can include training up to two years in duration, leading to a certificate, diploma or degree. COVID-19 has seen a major increase in post-secondary courses available online. While you are training, WorkBC can cover other supports including childcare, transportation, books, supplies and living supports.

The continuous push for us to “do things differently” is proving to creep into all areas of our lives. You may be forced to get a new job or go back to school or switch into an entirely different line of work to pay for rent, bills and groceries; you don’t have to do this alone.

SERVING SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE COLUMBIA VALLEY Call 250-341-6299 to discuss your advertising needs.

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June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13

Columbia Valley

C VID-19 UPDATE

Students bounce back as pandemic offers lesson in resilience

By Dauna Ditson dauna@columbiavalleypioneer.com As the class of 2020 prepares for graduation with many plans for dorm rooms, travel and adventure stalling out, David Thompson Secondary School principal Darren Danyluk’s future has also become murkier since the pandemic arrived.

“We’re going forward into a future that is more uncertain now than perhaps ever before,” he said.

“I’m always optimistic. Otherwise you don’t get out of bed. At my age and my experience, you realize that a pandemic can occur at any moment. The future is unpredictable and we’re often at the whim of the changing tides of whatever is happening culturally and politically.”

But, for the career educator, there are lessons to be learned from challenges. “(COVID-19 teaches us that) you never know what the future is going to bring to you. It can – at a moment’s notice – turn your world completely upside down in the most unexpected way. And the best we can do is take forward an attitude of acceptance and self confidence and resiliency,” he said. “I’m discovering that (the DTSS students are) far more resilient than maybe I gave them credit for... They’re bouncing back and they’re taking things in stride.”

While he said it’s wonderful to make career plans and chart out your goals, he advises students to hold their dreams gently and be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances.

He encourages those setting goals to consider: “If it doesn’t work out that way, how do I bounce back? What are my fallbacks? How do I navigate when I need a helping hand and where I can be that helping hand for somebody else?”

Before COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement gained its recent momentum, he said the class of 2020 was concerned about climate change and reconciliation with First Nations people.

Regardless of which challenges they’re up against, Danyluk said: “I want to have students leave our building with some sense of personal power... They can bring a positive contribution.”

Back to school When school was closed, he said not having students around was “a daily reminder and a daily sadness... That vibrant energy, those contacts with the kids is what brought me to education in the first place.”

He missed joking with students, connecting with them in person and seeing how they were doing. Meeting with them in small groups on Zoom was “a bit of a pale substitute... It’s not enough.”

Now that many students have returned to school, he said it feels good to have them back.

“Since June 1, the number of students onsite each day has grown. While it does not feel normal, it is wonderful to see our students’ faces and to engage with them more directly – from safe distance, of course.”

He praised the students for following the new rules and being quick to cooperate.

“I have heard from many of the students they are glad to be back in the school setting, and it motivates them to focus and engage with their learning,” he said.

The teachers, staff and families have been great too, he said, adding that he’s proud of the whole school community. “(Teachers and staff) have taken on this challenge, adapting and learning new skills, using ‘muscles’ they never knew they had,” he said. “Parents and caregivers at home have had to make exceptional changes in their daily lives, and their engagement with us has been collaborative and supportive.”

The principal of the principals After more than 20 years with the school district, Danyluk has taken a two-year term as president of the British Columbia Principals’ and Vice-principals’ Association.

His position begins on July 1, but he expects to return to the district in the summer of 2022.

“Even thought I do know (the role) and I’ve got a place to land, there’s a lot of uncertainty especially now,” he said, adding that he expects his responsibilities will change as the pandemic evolves. “I’m excited for it – kind of like the grads, I imagine – but I’ve got to be honest there’s a little butterfly in my belly.”

Pandemic fuels retrospection for DTSS support workers

By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The role of an Aboriginal education support worker is to help students regulate their emotions and build up healthy behaviours with their families and peers each school year.

David Thompson Secondary School (DTSS) Aboriginal education support workers Monica Fisher and Sasha Taylor had a classroom that can be used by First Nations students who need a safe space during the school year, but when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools provincially, the duo were left wondering how it would be possible to offer emotional support to program participants.

But, as spring gives away to summer, the duo is surprised about how their relationships with students and their families have flourished over the extent of the school closure.

“We’ve had to modify everything that we do,” said Fisher. “At the beginning of spring break, things were still up in the air, and we were questioning how we could do our face-to-face one-to-one support with the kids, and we ended up being able to meet up with students who had technology on Microsoft Teams. We did home visits outside for those who didn’t.”

Now that the school year is wrapping up for summer vacation, both Aboriginal education support workers were surprised about how their roles evolved during the

pandemic.

“To be honest, this whole time, I actually feel more connected to our students and our parents than we ever did before because when we do our home visits and lawn visits, we can talk to both the parents and the kids,” Fisher explained. “I think for both Sasha and I, we’ve been mind-blown. We went from wondering how we were going to do our jobs to now feeling more connected than ever before.”

Taylor added, “in such an uncertain time, we’ve made the best out of it in a very positive way.”

Instead of facilitating discussions in a classroom environment, Fisher and Taylor customized initiatives to meet each child’s needs before making house calls.

Fisher and Taylor liaised with students and their families to find out what kind of support was most needed, and then helped to facilitate meeting those needs with teachers from DTSS before hand-delivering customized learning plans and activities to help maintain social and emotional well-being for students.

In addition, there were several families from the area who required grocery deliveries and hard-copy assignments of their school work.

Typically, these deliveries from school resulted in wellness checks that allowed families to catch up with Fisher and Taylor outside on the lawn while safely adhering to safety recommendations about physical distancing.

“We have 105 students under our program from Canal Flats to Brisco,” Taylor explained.

Continued on page 15 . . .

Pynelogs at Kinsmen Beach

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

14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Columbia Valley

June 18, 2020

C VID-19 UPDATE

Resource, Development & Advocacy

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

Are you in need of a safe home?

Keeping busy with little ones This weekly article is brought to you by Family Dynamix’s Early Years Coordinator where I will be sharing activity ideas to make it easier for parents to keep their kids busy and active. Wellness strategies will also be shared which are activities that can done by all family members. This continues to be a challenging time for both parents and children and having ways to relax and destress is important for our continued health. If you don’t have time to do these activities this week, cut them out and start a binder of activities that you can refer to when you need an idea. Enjoy!

Check out this week’s activity and wellness ideas:

I am a squirrel

DIY Paintbrushes!

Action Rhyme I am a squirrel in a tall, tall tree.

Stretch up tall toward the sky!

I like to look around and see, see, see!

Make hands into binocular shapes and look around!

I am picking acorns for my lunch, “Pick” invisible acorns out of the air.

I love the way they crunch, crunch, crunch!

Make exaggerated crunches with your mouth.

With each creation children can discover the different textures, designs, and looks they can make from each style of paint brush!

What you need: clothespins, paper and paint

FARM ANIMAL washing station

Sometimes I stretch my arms up to the sky, Spread arms out wide.

Take a leap, and start to fly!

Jump and “fly around the room!”

My Dad Rocks Father’s Day Craft

Various materials like sponges, leaves, feathers, yarn, plastic bags, fabrics, pompoms, or coffee filters Gather materials and cut or fold to size. Use clothespins to clip materials into place. And voilà! Unique paintbrushes! Now dip into paint and create!

CALM DOWN YOGA FOR KIDS I am strong.

Use your strength to catch tricky waves.

I am kind.

Stretch high and spread kindness all around.

Set up a simple ‘Washing Farm’ animal sensory bin for your tots and preschoolers using a few large bowls, dirt, soap and water! Create a muddy bowl and a cleaning bowl. Offer brushes and wash cloths. They will love cleaning the dirty animals!

So simple, but so fun!

Children’s Support Family Dynamix’s Early Years Coordinator is available to support families who have children ages 0-6 years old. Support could include age appropriate activity ideas, creating structure, parenting tips, developmental milestones, parent or child mental health support, potty training and anything in between.

Parent Chat will be offered via Zoom Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30 pm and Thursdays from 2-3 pm, allowing parents a virtual opportunity to get together and chat about parenting challenges, successes, and reduce the isolation that we may be feeling. Please email Melanie at mferster@familydynamix.ca or call 250-341-8678 for the Zoom link.

Remember to check out Columbia Valley Early Years Page on Facebook for daily activity ideas and weekly video posts to keep your kids busy!

I am brave.

Be brave and fearless as you fly down the ski run.

I am friendly.

Stretch like a dog wagging its tail.

I am wise.

Be a wise owl perched on a tree branch.

June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

Ktunaxa poet advocates for Black Trans Lives Matter

By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Black Lives Matter movement has forced a Ktunaxa First Nation poet to spend time looking inwardly about the risks of what being a trans person of colour mean to those in urban and rural communities.

Smokii Sumac, who transitioned at the age of 29, identifies as a two-spirited person that spent most of their life as a First Nations female coping with personal struggles in isolation, and now as a male who comfortably utilizes the pronoun “they” to respect their journey.

“The first article in the Pioneer, I was nervous about coming out to my hometown, but now it’s all out there on my blog,” Smokii said, adding transgendered people in rural communities need strong voices and advocates to learn more about their identities and rights.

“As somebody who is transgender, Tony McDade was a Black trans man who was killed, and it hits very close to home for me,” Sumac explained. “I often have struggles recognizing it, and I think people don’t realize that it could be me, but I hope everyone wakes up to this (issue), because everyone has the right and deserves to live freely no matter who they are.”

Tony McDade was the 12th Black transgendered person to be killed in the United States of America this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Growing up in rural B.C., Sumac said being transgendered had no personal meaning because as a child they remained in the dark about what it meant to identify with a birth-assigned sex.

Sumac said it’s important for the communities of the East Kootenay region of B.C. to recognize the risks associated with being a person of colour, who is transgendered, while paying attention to the ongoing murders of Black and Indigenous transgendered community members.

Now, having completed the transition as an adult, while paying the utmost respect to cultural ceremonies for both men and women in the Ktunaxa culture, Sumac celebrates both spirits of their personality.

Sumac holds a high regard for others from the trans community who face risks in urban centres, as well as for those in rural communities.

“I will say with everything happening in the world, I stand fully behind Black voices,” said Sumac. “Black trans women face the highest rates of violence anywhere. They’re more likely to be murdered. And I think recognizing that those of us with intersectional identities need to be supported so they feel safe.”

To learn more about Sumac’s transition or for guidance, visit their blog at: https://teaandbannock.com/2020/02/11/just-make-me-look-like-aquaman-an-essay-on-seeing-myself-smokii-sumac-guest-blogger/

. . . ‘Support workers’ from 13 “We’ve been able to go to pretty much every student’s home, and do a five minute check-in, or a two hour visit to see how they’re doing. Our biggest priority is mental wellness, so for some kids, it was social-emotional skills.

For others, it meant culture or simply meandering through the technology.

A lot of the work we do is social-emotional wellness to make sure they can learn.”

While both Aboriginal education support workers remained impressed with how at-risk children triumphed during the height of the pandemic in coping with the uncertainty of their daily lives when high-performance students sometimes struggled to adjust, they ultimately praised all students from DTSS for staying positive during a difficult time.

“We have to remember, with the pandemic, came an entire school of honourable kids,” Taylor explained. “Now, every child is honourable. It doesn’t matter the demographic or the age, every student became vulnerable.”

Reverse grad march to happen; spectators asked to stay home Submitted by Darren Danyluk The town will host a “Reverse March” for the graduating class of 2020 on June 25. The time is being kept private as spectators are not welcome and as the number of vehicles involved is limited to families.

Interior Health and Service BC were consulted on the plan, and these offices gave us approval with specific restrictions.

The first significant expectation is that we do not have spectators on the street.

This will lead to congregating and that abruptly will end the event. We are asking our community to respect this request and not attend this event.

The second significant expectation is that vehicles are limited and pre-registered. Vehicle participation is limited to grad families who have pre-registered for the event; we cannot invite unregistered vehicles to participate.

The students will be installed along main street, while the registered spectators are escorted past.

The grads were hopeful we could pull this together, and we know our community will also pull together so that the grads can enjoy this fleeting moment.

We will publish a link on which our community can participate virtually.

On June 24 and 25, individual cap and gown commencement ceremonies will be held at the David Thompson Secondary School theatre between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m..

Everyone except the intolerant welcome at Endeavor

By Dauna Ditson dauna@columbiavalleypioneer.com Local gym owner Jolaine Undershute no longer wants to be affiliated with the head of CrossFit after the former chief executive officer compared George Floyd’s murder in the U.S. to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We don’t want to be associated with Greg Glassman and his statement that he made,” she said.

While he stepped down and has made apologies, she said anyone who similarly discriminated against others “would have been removed from any facility” and she doesn’t want to be associated with intolerance.

All that matters at Endeavor Fitness is the effort you put in, she said, adding that it doesn’t matter if members are short, tall, overweight, underweight, gender conforming or non-binary.

“When somebody comes in, they have my respect because I know it can be scary to walk into a fitness facility of any type,” she said. “People are people. If you take away our exterior, we’re all just energetic beings with souls.”

Undershute had been frustrated with the brand earlier as CrossFit was stepping back on competition opportunities and refused to refund a portion of her affiliate fees for the duration she had to close during COVID-19. But she said Glassman’s comment about Floyd “was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Over at her gym, which has reopened, fitness will continue.

“Nothing is going to change when it comes to program design... It’s just the actual name itself.”

Traders Lounge and patio now open!

250-342-0562 877-877-3889 www.eagleranchresort.com

Hours of operation; Thursday – Saturday, 12 noon – 8 pm Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm featuring weekly brunch feature 10 am – 1 pm

Fathers’ Day golf shop SALE

Reservations strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. 250-342-0562 Visit eagleranchresort.com to see our new lounge menu.

For private group and special events please contact specialevents@eagleranchresort.com

All men’s golf apparel up to 40% OFF all weekend!

Available on-line at www.eagleranchresort.com or shop.stonecreekresorts.com/product/eagle-ranch-locals-golf-card/

16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 18, 2020

Student election results in valedictorian selection

By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter With 12 student nominations vying for the opportunity to be the valedictorian for the Class of 2020, the senior students at David Thompson Secondary School (DTSS) have spoken and the ballot results are in.

John “Dylan” McIntosh, 18, was recently informed by the DTSS principal that he will give the graduating class his departing words of wisdom at this year’s virtual graduation story.

“I found out this past week,” MacIntosh told the Pioneer during a phone interview on Tuesday, June 9. “I was

very pleased. I felt honoured to have been elected by my peers to receive that honour.”

The selection process to determine who would become this year’s valedictorian took a fortnight.

“The title of valedictorian means something different at every school in B.C.,” said Danyluk. “In the schools where I’ve worked, the valedictorian has always been a student selection, and in all my years, I’ve never been concerned about who has been selected. The students have always had great wisdom in who they’ve selected.”

Danyluk added, “Dylan is a model student. He’s an athlete and a musician, and he has the utmost respect for his peers. He’s just a great young man, and I can see why

‘Imagine 2021’ Music Festival Poster Contest

Visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com for participation details.

Win a 4-pack of tickets to the 2021 Festival

his peers would pick him. They trust him and admire him, which is exactly what the role of the valedictorian is meant to be.”

While there were a total of 12 nominations, Danyluk said several of those did not wish to run for the spot.

“Eight kids were on the ballot,” Danyluk confirmed before distributing it to the graduating class.

MacIntosh prepares speech and practices to record valedictorian’s speech With a global health care crisis for COVID-19 dramatically changing both the medium and the message of a typical graduation, MacIntosh has been reflecting about how best to convey the sentiment of finishing high school and graduating during the pandemic.

“I’ve talked to a number of my peers to see what they thought should be addressed in it and obviously because it’s an unprecedented time, I want to speak about how we’ve addressed this hardship. Or not this hardship, but the experience that our grad class has gone through and that was the (sentiment) everyone wanted me to include in the speech this year,” he explained, while voicing some concerns about recording the speech in advance of the two-day-long graduation at DTSS. “I’m worried about being able to convey the same message through a virtual platform than I would have been able to out in public, in person, actually. Because I don’t know if I’ll be able to show the same emotions and the same sincerity that I could have in person versus a screen medium.”

The 18-year-old Invermere graduate from DTSS considers himself to be fairly “tech savvy” but said, “there’s always room to improve.”

MacIntosh indicated that he hopes to have the draft of the speech completed early.

When asked what his process for writing to his peers looked like, he replied, “I typically start out with a rough outline of what I want to address in the speech. From there, I’ll decide on the sequence that I want to address those points. In my first draft, I’ll try to address everything; then I’ll continue to fine tune it more and more to be more eloquent.”

In addition, MacIntosh aims to write and present an inclusive speech for the class of 2020.

“I’d like to address everyone going to university, going into the trades or even finding employment because not everyone is going to university. It’s such a different environment and we’re the first class to ever go through something like this,” MacIntosh said of the upcoming virtual commencement ceremony. “It’s just so different than anything I’ve personally encountered, and the same can be said for my peers, and I hope the next grad class doesn’t have to go through this same experience and that it’s back to normal for them.”

His goal is to have time to practice the speech before it will be recorded for the virtual program at school the day preceding the two-day event.

“My understanding is that myself, and all of the other individuals who have been chosen to do a speech, we’ll go in on the 23rd to be recorded and then will be added to the program.”

Danyluk added the two-day virtual graduation will be streamed live on social media, so that the community has the option to bear witness to a socially distant graduation ceremony. In roughly July, a compilation of the event will be distributed to families after the content has been cleaned up to showcase the experience in a memorable way.

“Due to some of the safety measures that we’re taking this year, the (live) stream won’t be a polished experience because it will show students and their families coming in and out of the theatre to get their diploma and swag bag, but it’s a way for people to have the option to tune in until the compilation is ready,” said Danyluk.

June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE – BYLAW 2975 Bylaw Amendment – Upper Columbia Valley The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board of Directors is considering an application by Richard Haworth on behalf of 1129759 Alberta Ltd to amend the zone designation of one of their properties to permit subdivision. The subject property is located on Westside Road, south of Invermere, as shown on the attached map.

Bylaw No. 2975 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 359, 2020 (Westside / 1129759 Alb Ltd)” will amend the designation of Lot 1, District Lot 4596, Kootenay District, Plan NEP88930, Except Plan EPP43962, from A-1, Rural Resource Zone to SH-2, Small Holding Semi-Rural Zone.

A public hearing will be held via Zoom webinar conference: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 7:30 pm The Board has delegated the holding of this hearing to the Directors for Electoral Area G, Electoral Area F and the District of Invermere. If you believe that your interest in property is affected by the proposed Bylaw, you may prior to the hearing: • inspect the Bylaw and supporting information by requesting that an information package be emailed to you by contacting tvandewiel@rdek.bc.ca. Information packages may be requested up until Friday, June 26, 2020 at 4:30 pm; • mail or email written submissions to the addresses shown below before Friday, June 26, 2020 at 4:30 pm; • present verbal submissions at the public hearing.

You must pre-register in order to attend and provide verbal presentations or make comments at the hearing.

The deadline to register is Friday, June 26, 2020 at 4:30 pm. Register in advance for this webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tr9SkYOmRbKpjx6v6L95_A Please note that a question and answer period will not occur during the Zoom webinar conference. You must address any questions relating to the bylaws to the planning technician prior to the above date.

SUBMISSIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING All submissions will form part of the public record and will be published in a meeting agenda posted online. Personal contact information such as phone and email will be removed from written submissions. Questions about the disclosure of your personal information may be referred to the Corporate Officer at 250-489-2791 or 1-888-478-7335.

This notice is not an interpretation of the Bylaw. For more information, contact Tracy Van de Wiel, Planning Technician, at 250-409-4462, toll free at 1-888-478-7335, or email tvandewiel@rdek.bc.ca.

TO PRE-REGISTER visit the Meetings page on rdek.bc.ca and choose Public Hearings & Meetings

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE – BYLAWS 2989 & 2990 Bylaw Amendments – Fairmont Hot Springs The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board of Directors is considering an application by Cassidy and Chad Martin to amend the OCP and zone designations of their property to permit single family residential use. The subject property is located on Hot Springs Road in Fairmont Hot Springs.

Mountain View Dr

Bylaw No. 2989 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Fairmont Hot Springs & Columbia Lake Area Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2779, 2017 – Amendment Bylaw No. 6, 2020 (Fairmont / Martin)” will amend the OCP designation of the subject property from GC, General Commercial to R-SF, Residential Low Density.

Bylaw No. 2990 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 362, 2020 (Fairmont / Martin)” will amend the subject property from C-2, Service Commercial Zone to R-1, Single Family Residential Zone.

A public hearing will be held via Zoom webinar conference: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 7:00 pm

• present verbal submissions at the public hearing.

Mountain Side Rd

Wills Rd

Rd

Fa

Fa

Please note that a question and answer period will not occur during the Zoom webinar conference. You must address any questions relating to the bylaws to the planning technician prior to the above date.

Mountain Side Pl

Hot Springs

You must pre-register in order to attend and provide verbal presentations or make comments at the hearing.

The deadline to register is Friday, June 26, 2020 at 4:30 pm. Register in advance for this webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ead6eXTZQV2m65sezfXHNQ

Mou n Hill tain Rd

Rd

• mail or email written submissions to the addresses shown below before Friday, June 26, 2020 at 4:30 pm;

5 Hwy 93/9

• inspect the Bylaws and supporting information by requesting that an information package be emailed to you by contacting tvandewiel@rdek.bc.ca. Information packages may be requested up until Friday, June 26, 2020 at 4:30 pm;

gs Hot Sprin

The Board has delegated the holding of this hearing to the Directors for Electoral Area F and Electoral Area G. If you believe that your interest in property is affected by the proposed Bylaws, you may prior to the hearing:

C-2 to R-1

SUBMISSIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING All submissions will form part of the public record and will be published in a meeting agenda posted online. Personal contact information such as phone and email will be removed from written submissions. Questions about the disclosure of your personal information may be referred to the Corporate Officer at 250-489-2791 or 1-888-478-7335.

This notice is not an interpretation of the Bylaw. For more information, contact Tracy Van de Wiel, Planning Technician, at 250-409-4462, toll free at 1-888-478-7335, or email tvandewiel@rdek.bc.ca.

REQUEST FOR QUOTE Hauling for Mattress Recycling

TO PRE-REGISTER visit the Meetings page on rdek.bc.ca and choose Public Hearings & Meetings

The Regional District of East Kootenay is looking for Quotes on the following: 1. A 53ft monthly trailer rental at the Columbia Valley Landfill for the recycling of mattresses and delivery to recycling facility in Calgary AB. 2. A 53ft monthly trailer rental at the Cranbrook Transfer Station for the recycling of mattresses and delivery to recycling facility in Calgary AB. Quote and additional questions can be submitted to: Jim Penson Solid Waste Superintendent | Environmental Services – Regional District of East Kootenay jpenson@rdek.bc.ca

19 – 24 Avenue South, Cranbrook BC V1C 3H8 | 250-489-2791 | 1-888-478-7335 | Fax: 250-489-3498 | info@rdek.bc.ca | www.rdek.bc.ca

18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 18, 2020

HERE TO SERVE YOU CONCRETE I N

CONCRETE

P U R S U I T

READY MIX CONCRETE

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

Concrete Pump • Sand & Gravel Heavy Equipment Rentals • Crane Service Proudly Serving the Valley for over 50 years

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

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

• 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.

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

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

CONTRACTING

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

CONTRACTING

CARPET CLEANING

Specializing in all heating, electric, gas and wood.

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

• 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

Our services •

Excavation

•

Hauling

•

Landscaping

•

Basements

•

Water lines

Invermere and Golden, British Columbia

•

Gravel Screening

250-272-0468

•

Gravel Products

•

Site Prep

CO N T R AC T I N G

Kekuli Bay Cabinetry

We also offer roundthe-clock service calls.

A licensed, registered and bonded company

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

INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD.

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

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

www.kootenayinsurance.ca

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

June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19

HERE TO SERVE YOU LANDSCAPING

SERVICES

Landscaping & Design 2016

• •TTrucking•• Excavating T Earthworks • •• Civil •

(Servicing the Valley since 1999)

• FireSmart• Equipment 62”x74” Brushcutter

Quality not quantity Sue Coy

Lloyd Wilder

250-341-5353 sdcoy@shaw.ca

250-342-5326 www.decoylandscaping.com lewilder@shaw.ca

NEW SEWER CAMERA

SERVICES

• Septic Tank Pumping • Portable Toilet Rentals

East Kootenay Plumbing Services & Renovations Available 24/7

• 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

Red Seal Journeyman Plumbers/Gasfitters (B)

eastkootenayplumbing@yahoo.com 250-272-3374

Bruce Dehart 250.347.9803 or 250.342.5357

SERVICES

Professional • Lawn Maintenance Scott Postlethwaite

Serving the Valley for over 20 years!

Commercial

Resdential

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

Free Estimates

invermereelectric@gmail.com

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

Everett Frater Enterprises Beat the fall rush ~ clean your Chimney this spring!

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

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHIMNEY SWEEPS LTD. 804 Almberg Road, Golden, BC V0A 1H2 CELL: 250.272.5599 OFFICE: 250.344.7323 todd@rockymountainchimneysweeps.com rockymountainchimneysweeps.com

Plumbing • Boiler Systems

• Patches • Driveways • Crack Sealing • Parking Lots • Roads • And more!

Andy Charette

Rigid Plumbing Ltd.

E: rigidplumbing@hotmail.ca P: 250-341-5179

Kootenay Paving

Fully Insured & WCB Covered

FREE ESTIMATES • Pruning and Removal of ALL Trees and Shrubs • Stump Grinding • Fully Insured & WCB Covered

Chimney and Eavestrough Cleaning and Repair Specialists

You name it!

I’ll take care of it!

Toll Free 1-888-341-2221

Call now for a free quote!

Locally operated, with full-time staff to serve you better.

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE ON ALL WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES • WETT INSPECTIONS

YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP for all home maintenance from raking your lawn to renovating your entire house.

Call for your FREE consultation and estimate

30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Keep your local businesses alive.

Get your tree services right here in Invermere!

Please call Steve ~ a real local you can trust! 250-342-1791

1756 Hwy 93/95, Windermere, B.C. V0B 2L2 Phone: 250-342-6500 • Fax: 250-342-3484

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

OVER

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 WETT Certified

SERVICE EXCELLENCE IN THE COLUMBIA VALLEY

Sales ~ Service ~ Installation

UNIVERSAL DOORS & EXTERIORS

SINCE 1991 ICBC Glass Repair Out of Province Vehicle Inspections Auto Body Repairs • Painting • Quality Parts

We give all students 15% off with valid student ID

North American Warranty All Makes and Models Tire Sales and Installation

Arnold Scheffer 250-342-6700

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

Industrial ~ Commercial ~ Residential

Have something to say? Letters to the editor can be e-mailed to news@columbiavalleypioneer.com

unidoorext@live.ca • unidoorext.ca

20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer . . . ‘Public’ from page 3 and walking path, but also amenities such as a public events space and/or amphitheatre and what Dyer called a “quaint” and “incremental” development of year-round residential and boutique commercial opportunities, with this ‘village’ taking on a compact, walkable, pedestrian-oriented form. The highest impact concept option was labelled ‘bustling resort’ and envisions quite a lot of opportunities for public amenities (including the wetlands interpretive site, walking path, amphitheatre and more) but comes with intensive tourism development, possibly in the form of hotel-commercial blocks up to 12 stories high.

He outlined that Invermere essentially faces a tradeoff: selling off parts of the public lands to private developers (either incrementally, under the ‘lakeside village’ concept, or at a large scale, under the ‘bustling resort’ concept) to raise the funds needed to create the public amenities the district wants to put in the area (i.e. the interpretive site, walking, path, amphitheatre, etc.).

“This is public land. You’re looking for a return on your investment,” said Dyer, adding that more development means more money to create those parklands and public amenities, but that too much development comes with its own cost.

“You need to find a balance,” he told council members, telling them they need to consider what degree of improvement and what kind of amenities they want on the public land, how much they are willing to sell off to developers in order to get those improvements, and whether or not the developments that do occur should be oriented to locals or oriented to tourists.

“So the ‘bustling resort’ has a high return on investment, but a high impact. Possibly a negative impact,” said Dyer. “Personally I can’t imagine 12 stories (there), but it would be in scale with the Lake Windermere Pointe condos.” He added this concept also carries a risk of having the land “sit sterile” for

June 18, 2020 a long time while the district waits for a large-scale developer to come around, and that with large-scale development, messing up the first stage or phase of the plan can throw the whole plan awry.

The ‘marina outpost’ concept, on the other hand, may be “the most palatable for local residents, but you won’t get a good return on public investment... and it doesn’t really create a great gateway to the community as was imagined,” said Dyer. “It may not even generate enough revenue to do any of the improvements, such as sidewalks or walking paths.”

Another key question Dyer had was: how much parking do you really need and where do you want it to go?

B&A planner Martha McClary outlined the preliminary result of a survey the company had done on the project with 200 local residents; of eight listed priorities, respondents picked ensuring protection and public access to the waterfront as most important, followed by protection of and access to the wetlands, and then supporting a diversity of recreation opportunities. Providing opportunities for day-use boater parking was ranked last.

Mayor Al Miller asked about moving the marina. Dyer answered it had been discussed, but that the sensitive nature of the shoreline gives him the gut feeling that it’s best not to further disturb the shore there by moving the marina.

“I would hate to have it (the development) become a playground for the rich,” said councillor Ute Juras, adding the whole project was sold to residents as ‘this will be public lands.’ Dyer said her concern is a valid one, and that the nicer the area is, the more likely that residential properties there (such as those envisioned in the ‘lakeside village’ concept) will rise in value. He suggested council consider an option such as holding back 25 per cent of lots in the village as a counter measure.

The Lake Windermere Resort lands comprise 27 parcels on 14 acres, including the current lease for Pete’s Marina.

Screenshots of the three concepts for the Lake Windermere Resort lands presented to Invermere council.

HERE TO SERVE YOU Your Local Professionals

PHARMACY

LAMBERT-KIPP

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

Come in and browse our giftware

COLUMBIA VALLEY REAL ESTATE

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

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

1301 - 7th Avenue, Invermere

250-342-6612 SERVICES

Can this be recycled?

Check the BC RECYCLEPEDIA www.rcbc.ca RECYCLING COUNCIL OF B.C. MEMBER

JanK limeK 250.342.1195 janklimek@shaw.ca JanKlimek.ca

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

love a good photo submission.

Shutter bugs WeIf you have a snapshot to share, welcome! email dauna@columbiavalleypioneer.com

June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 21

P IONEER C LASSIFIEDS GARAGE SALE MOVING SALE Extra items added from last week: 1312 20th St. Invermere. Social distancing in place.

Saturday June 20th, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

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 250-342-8255.

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

ANNOUNCEMENT

CHEERS & JEERS

CHEERS & JEERS

HOUSE FOR SALE

Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or conflict in your life, AA can help. All meetings are at 8 p.m.

Columbia United AA, Invermere: Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday at the BC Service Building, South End – 624 4th St., Invermere.

Due to COVID-19 and the need to slow the spread of the virus, all other 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.

Cheers to the guys that stopped to see if my cat was okay, after he ran in front of their truck on Swansea. He burned through a few of his lives but escaped with just road rash and swelling to show for it. Your kindness and concern was appreciated.

Weekly Featured Listing

Beautiful 4-bed, 3 bath townhouse with garage, $289,000. #6-4878 Ridge Road, Borregos, Radium. (See kijiji for pictures and info) Call: 250-4094876, email: bighornblinds@ gmail.com.

S OBITUARY S Wassing, Hindrikje (Henny) March 5, 1930 – June 7, 2020 The Wassing family is sad to announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Hindrikje (Henny) Wassing. She will be dearly missed by her many friends and family across Canada and in Holland.

Henny was born in Ten Boer, Groningen, Holland on March 5, 1930 the sixth of eight children. Her family moved often and when she met Arnold Wassing, the love of her life, she moved with him across the Atlantic to Canada to start a new life in Manitoba. She was a brave woman travelling with three children under three years old. She never looked back and did not see her family again until she had been married twenty-five years and was gifted a trip to Holland.

Henny made many friends in the many phases of her life in Manitoba, Waterloo, Ontario and finally in Radium Hot Springs, B.C., where she loved her work at the front desk of Canyon RV Resort.

Henny had ten children who loved and miss her dearly: Ali (Grant) in Invermere, B.C., Johanna, John and Arnie of Radium Hot Springs, B.C., Henry (Gail) of Anola, Manitoba, Marcia (Dave) of Plattsville, Ontario, Maria van den Boom (Jim) of St. Thomas, Ontario, Theresa (Earl) of Cranbrook, B.C. Henny was predeceased by her husband Arnold Wassing and by two sons, Bart (Barbara) and Rick.

Thank you to the doctors and staff of Windermere District Hospital and Ivy House for the care during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Diabetes Canada.

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services.

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

Jeers to the person who took down the neighbourhood tire swing. Now all my kids just play video games all day.

Jeers for the person driving the Range Rover. Your impatience and poor judgement almost led you to an uncomfortable conversation with the police.

You were saved by the anti-lock brakes, quick reflexes and a motorcycle rider with years of experience.

CHEERS to Terry Barber! Nailed your Letter to the Editor, well said!

Cheers to Gabe at the Valley Alley/Lucky Strike Gas Station.

You are an outstanding young man who will do well in this world if you keep up this excellent service. Much appreciated!

Jeers to people slashing tires.

Cheers to Everett for saving a girl at the beach. You brought her safety and should be very proud!

What an amazing young man you are!

Jeers to toxic people! Stick with people who pull the magic out of you and not the madness!

LOST AND FOUND FOUND: Keys with Ford key.

Found outside on the road by the Pioneer Office looks like they have been there awhile. Contact 250-341-6299 ext 101 to claim.

LOST: Prescription Glasses, silver frames, somewhere between 1558 10th St. and Grizzly Ridge in the trails. Please contact 250342-5199 if found.

ENTIRE TOP FLOOR!!!

3 Bedrooms + den + loft

$259,000

#305 Copperhorn Village (7337 Prospector Ave) Radium - MLS 2452308 (Brokerage ~ Rockies West Realty)

BUYING OR SELLING CALL 250-341-1202

gerrytaft.ca Rockies West Realty Independently owned and operated

STORAGE NEWHOUSE STORAGE Various sizes available.

Now with climatecontrolled units.

Call 250-342-3637.

COMMERCIAL SPACE 864 sq. ft. Shop space in the Industrial Park. Electrical included, $700/mo. 250-3423637, newmulti@telus.net.

2,400 sq. ft. home situated on .62 of an acre in Windermere.

4-bdrm, 3 bath, walkout basement, large outdoor living space. $448,000. 250-342-8334.

CONDO FOR RENT 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. $1,375/mo, utilities included.

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE

SUITE FOR RENT Renovated large, bright, 2-bdrm basement suite in downtown Invermere. Private entrance and enclosed patio, five appliances, N/S, N/P, $1000/mo + utilities.

1 year lease. Call 403-874-0483.

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE ELKHORN COUNTRY ESTATES Phases 1 and 2 sold out.

Selling Phase 3 now, only 3 lots left. 2.5-acre parcels.

Starting at $209,000 + GST. No building time commitment.

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

CONDO FOR SALE

FOR SALE: Newly renovated 2-bdrm condo, Invermere, $150,000. Call 250-342-8860 for more info.

Lakefront Condo with Boat Slip, Downtown Invermere. Realtors welcome. www.forsalebyowner. ca Listing ID: 544326 780-2717658.

MISC. FOR SALE

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

3 bedroom apartment, downtown Invermere, long term, N/S, N/P, 250-341-1650, invermerehomerentals@gmail. com.

b.brownjohn@gmail.com

In Radium, 2-bdrm, quiet suite for rent. Available July 1.

Complete with 5 appliances. $890/mo includes water and sewer + utilities and D.D. 250688-4500.

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

250-342-5245 FIREWOOD

FOR SALE: GRASS-FED BEEF Hormone & Antibiotic Free Ground Beef, Beef Bones Buy online: www.localline.ca/ brisco-enterprises Brisco Enterprises 250-346-3227.

Canoe for Sale: 16 1/2’ Handcrafted Prospector Kevlar Canoe. Unique Design. Cherry/ white ash decks, cherry gunnels, white ash thwart & seat frames. $1,900, call 250-342-5274.

22 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

BOATS FOR SALE

SERVICES LEE’S SMALL ENGINE REPAIR SHOP

Campion 505 Allante (16’) Purchased new in 2013/115 hp E-Tech Evinrude (28.6 hrs).

Low maintenance and easily winterized. Open bow, flip up bolsters, ski bar, covers, depth indicator and hour gauge. Skis, misc. ropes etc. trailer (with swing tongue) are all included.

Always garage stored. $23,500 403-815-1882 or email dave@ dack.ca.

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!

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, Yard Maintenance, Eavestroughs, Tree removal.

250-688-2897.

Pike Contracting Excavating and Skid Steer services.

Call Jason 250-342-5277.

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.

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

2020 PROPERTY TAX IMPORTANT CHANGES DURING COVID-19 The District of Invermere’s property tax due date will remain as July 2, 2020 and all property owners are encouraged to pay their property taxes, if they are able, on or before the due date. In order to assist you, District of Invermere Council has passed a bylaw delaying penalties for late payment by roughly three months due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All taxpayers can make payments until September 30th, 2020 without penalty. A 5% penalty will be applied to any unpaid property taxes after September 30th, 2020. This includes penalty on any unclaimed Home Owner Grants. A further 5% penalty will be applied to any unpaid property taxes after October 30th, 2020.

This allows you to make payments without penalty until September 30th, 2020. Although you may still pay your property tax before then if you are able.

We hope this provides some relief during these challenging times.

June 18, 2020

BCYCNA – CLASSIFIED ADS

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Cafe Allium 2.0 is looking for Kind and Competent dishwasher, Server, Bartender and Cook for Serving Small dishes, Cocktails, Craft beer and BC wines by the beach. Email cafeallium@gmail. com to apply.

COLUMBIA RIVER PADDLE is hiring Class 4 drivers. Parttime and full-time. Please email resumes to paddle@ ColumbiaRiverPaddle.com or if you have any questions. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email for an interview.

An exceptional opportunity to join a fun, fast-paced scene at the Rocky River Grill. We are now accepting resumes for experienced servers. Please send to steve.kuffler@gmail.com or Alicia at 250-342-8885.

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

The Black Forest is looking for a daytime cleaner. Must be available weekends.

Email resume to careers@ blackforestrestaurant.com or call 250-342-9417.

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.

ELECTRICIAN WANTED Full-time. Must have drivers licence, 3 years minimum of electrical experience Taynton Bay Electrical 250-342-1355.

SERVICES

INTEGRITY POST FRAME BUILDINGS since 2008. Built with concrete posts. Barns, shops, riding arenas, machine sheds and more. Adam.s@ integritybuilt.com. 1-250-3515374. www.integritybuilt.com

GET RESULTS!

Everett Frater Enterprises now hiring Lawn maintenance employees for Mon-Fri, weekends off. Call 250-3425645.

Please email classified ads to

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Reach almost 2 million people in 95 papers for only $395/week for a 25-word text ad, or $995/week for a formatted display ad

bccommunitynews.com/ advertise 1-866-669-9222 Book by province or whole country and save over 85%!

Attention

Inventors!

Ideas wanted!

Call Davison today!

1.800.218.2909 or visit us at inventing.davison.com/BC

info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Free inventor’s guide!

Please recycle this newspaper

HELP WANTED

PERMANENT PART-TIME AUTO REPRESENTATIVE INVERMERE, BC Kootenay Insurance Services Ltd. Kootenay Insurance Services Ltd. provides a full line of insurance products and services in the Kootenay’s with locations in Cranbrook, Crawford Bay, Kimberley, Nelson, Trail, Invermere and Summerland Resumes accepted until: June 30, 2020 Cindy MacKay 101A-1028-7th Avenue PO Box 130 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0

Join a team that values you and recognizes the power you have to create success for yourself and for Kootenay Insurance Services Ltd (KIS). We offer the stability and resources of a leading, locally-based organization, an employee focused culture that values your individual contribution and encourages work/life balance, plus a commitment to serving and helping our community.

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of skills, ability, education, experience, and motivation: • Level I Insurance License • Minimum 1 year experience in a retail sales environment • Ability to communicate effectively in a sales and service environment, both verbally and in writing, • Ability to organize work to meet deadlines within an environment of constantly changing priorities • Competitive wage.

cindy.mackay@kootenayinsurance.ca Kootenay Insurance Services Ltd. Is owned in equal partnership by East Kootenay Community, Kootenay Savings, Nelson & District and Summerland Credit Unions.

NOTICE

COLUMBIA RIVER PADDLE IS HIRING! Want to spend your summer on the beach or the river? We’ve got a job for you! Positions available for outgoing, hard working, dependable people to join our team at the Canoe Docks, Kinsmen Beach SUP and Boat Rental, and Cafe. Please email resumes to paddle@ ColumbiaRiverPaddle.com, or if you have any questions Suitable applicants will be contacted by email for an interview.

BUILDINGS FOR SALE

Due to the Canada Day holiday, our office will be closed

Wednesday, July 1st We will re-open for business at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, July 2nd.

Advertising deadlines for the July 2nd issue have changed to Thursday, June 26th at noon and the Classified deadline is Friday, June 27th at noon.

Phone: 250-341-6299 • info@columbiavalleypioneer.com N E W S PA P E R

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

June 18, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 23

HELP WANTED

C O N T R A C T I N G LT D

Eugene opens digital marketing agency

A DIVISION OF GREGSON HOLDINGS

COPCAN is currently accepting resumes for skilled labourers and flag persons.

Please send resumes to info@copcan.ca

SCHOOL DISTRIC T NO. 6 (ROCKY M OUNTAIN)

PERMANENT FULL-TIME TRADESMAN I WINDERMERE ZONE Further position details can be found at: http://www.sd6.bc.ca/Careers/Pages/default.aspx If you are interested and qualified for this position, please submit a resume, with two references, by 4:00 pm on Friday, June 26, 2020 to: Human Resources, School District No. 6 (Rocky Mountain) e-mail: hr@sd6.bc.ca

Safe Homes Program Support Worker Casual On-Call Position Hours: Scheduled On-Call - weekday evenings, weekends and statutory holidays Location: Family Dynamix – West office Start date: Immediately Shift schedule: Flexible days, evenings and weekends as required Duties: The Safe Homes Program- Support Worker is part of a team of casual staff that agrees to carry a cellular phone and serve scheduled on-call duty for the Safe Homes Programs. When called-out, they deliver a confidential emergency service providing temporary, safe, and supportive accommodation for women and their children who have experienced or who are at risk of domestic abuse, threats or violence. Support Workers will provide transportation, information, support and when appropriate, follow-up services for women.

Qualifications: A Grade 12 diploma, along with excellent verbal and written communication skills, and some knowledge of women’s issues with a feminist perspective. A valid B.C. driver’s license and a reliable vehicle are essential. This position requires union membership. Pursuant to provincial legislation, the applicant must agree to undergo a criminal records investigation.

Application deadline: Ongoing until filled.

Application process: Submit a resume and cover letter to Purnima Gosavi, Director of Program Management, Family Dynamix, pgosavi@familydynamix.ca, Box 2289, Invermere, B.C., V0A 1K0

N E W S PA P E R

For all your advertising needs, call Amanda at 250-341-6299

David Thompson Secondary School alumnus graduates from local digital marketing program offered by the Columbia Lake Technology Centre and Alacrity Marketing Eugene. “It was nice having her there for some of the things that are a little more difficult.”

Sasha Eugene, a member of the As a graduate from David ThompShuswap Indian Band (SIB), recently comson Secondary School in 2015, Eugene pleted training in digital marketing through had previously spent time working as an the Columbia Lake Technology Centre and emergency responder in Alberta and B.C. Alacrity Marketing. before leaving another training program The 25-year-old Edgewater resident to cope with a family bereavement. hopes to relocate to Invermere in the comAfterwards, Eugene worked in secuing weeks, and expects to open up a small rity and became a parent. However, being business to cater to local entrepreneurs by a single parent resulted in the need for offering digital marketing consultations.

Eugene to pivot professionally to support Sasha Eugene “Doing digital marketing, school didn’t a healthy work-life balance. even feel like school,” Eugene said. “I grew up Now, her goal is to focus on digital marketing for doing this, so it just seemed easy to me. It doesn’t seem individuals and businesses in the Columbia Valley to enlike it’s even work.” courage the community to shop locally for digital marDigital marketing is the art of utilizing emerging keting after seeing many friends and family members technologies (social media, apps and responsive websites) reach out to digital agencies in Cranbrook and in Calgary to reach and attract potential customers. It can include in the past. activities such as: content marketing, search engine opti“I grew up with technology, and knowing about mization (SEO), pay per click advertising (PPCA) as well websites, and watching my friends and family struggle as e-mail marketing campaigns. with something that comes really easy to me,” Eugene Her new company DigiPeak will offer services such said about her motivation to help the community with as blogging, SEO, advertisement assistance for social me- digital marketing. dia platforms, as well as support for website design and With an August 1, 2020 start date in mind, Eugene management. is currently brainstorming about how to launch her new The 12-week program Eugene recently completed business amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. came highly recommended to the community after she “I’m still trying to think of a fun way to open the successfully graduated from it. Eugene felt it helped build doors with a pandemic on, so everyone stays safe,” she up her confidence, while encouraging her and other par- said. ticipants to get real-world experiences for individual cliFor more information about Eugene’s digital marketents and businesses by working in small teams. ing business, visit: https://digipeakmarketing.ca There were also assignments in the program that EuTo learn more about the digital marketing program, gene completed independently. visit: https://www.alacritycanada.com/digital-market“Megan (Adams) was really knowledgeable,” said ing-course/

By Breanne Massey Special to the Pioneer

Look what flew over the cuckoo’s nest and into the house!

During a time of social distancing, one friendly little hummingbird didn’t want to keep away and flew right into a reader’s home.

Submitted by Kristine Tan

24 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 18, 2020

A Father’s love

By Pastor Wayne Frater Radium Christian Fellowship Church

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH

It has been over 20 years since my dad passed on to be with the Lord. I think of him often. I miss my dad, and this Sunday on Fathers’ Day, a day that we set aside to remember and honour our dads, I will be thinking of him.

I shared this poem before, but I think it is worth sharing again.

Online Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

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

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED Please email office@wvsm.ca to request a link to our online services which start at 10:30 a.m., Sundays.

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 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 MISSION OF INVERMERE Due to COVID-19, we have restructured our physical Sunday worship services to be online at our YouTube channel “Hungry for Life.” For updates, inspirational resources, and prayer requests, please go to our website: www.eklutheran.ca 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

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

The Pioneer can

!

take you r do llar With 6,400 copies far in circulation each week, th er your message is resonating

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

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

I am a dad. I have two great sons, an awesome daughter-in-law – all who I am very proud of – and two fantastic grandkids, who are so amazing. I love them all beyond words. I would lay my life down for any of them.

As a dad, and as a granddad, Fathers’ Day causes me to reflect, not only on the great dad that I had, but also on the responsibilities that I have, including the responsibility I have in showing love and leadership in my family members’ lives.

Lake Windermere Pulse Check www.lakeambassadors.ca

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

with residents and visitors alike.

God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle’s flight, The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete, And so, He called it... Dad Author unknown

To show this love and leadership to my family I have to first realize that I cannot do it on my own. I must first, and above all honour God, trust God, and be obedient to God. Jesus tells us in Mark 12:29-31: “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

As I honour God, as I trust God, as I am obedient to God, as I love God, as I love my family, and as I love my neighbour, God will work through me to touch those lives around me.

There are two points I would like to make here. First we can love with this kind of love, because God first loved us. He tells us in Jeremiah 31:3: “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

God is drawing us to Him. He is drawing us with everlasting love. He showed us this love by laying down His life for us and by conquering death for us. Because of His sacrifice, we can walk in His love here on earth, and look forward to spending eternity with Him in heaven.

Second point: God already knows what is going to happen in our lives here on earth, and he has already made plans for us.

He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11-13: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

In my opinion that is what makes a dad.

So on Fathers’ Day, as you honour your dad, spend some time with your heavenly Father, your heavenly Dad. Spend some time honouring Him, spend some time thanking Him for what He has done, seek after Him wholeheartedly, ask Him what His plans are for your life, thank Him for what He is going to do in your life, and let His love shine in and through you.

Lake Windermere Pulse Check for June 9, 2020 Average water temperature: 14.6°C Average water depth: Due to large waves and a strong current we weren’t able to get an accurate depth reading.

Average turbidity: 14.9 NTU Average D.O.: 8.8 mg/L Average pH: 7.8 It was a very windy day out on the water this morning. The wind resulted in large waves and a strong current which makes measuring depth very difficult.

This is because depth is measured by lowering a disk attached to a measuring tape down to the bottom and recording the number on the measuring tape once there’s slack.

However, with the current, the disk is carried horizontally instead of going down.

Turbidity is still fairly high at the middle and south sampling locations. There was a noticeable amount of sediment entering the lake from the outflow of Windermere creek, which likely contributed to the reading of 42.1 NTU at the middle sampling station. This is significantly higher than last week where turbidity was 7.2 NTU at the same spot.

Unfortunately social distancing measures are still in place so volunteers are unable to join us in the boat, however we hope this changes in the near future!

To join the Ambassadors out on the lake on a Tuesday morning this summer, please contact Clare at 250-341-6898 or intern@lakeambassadors.ca Thank you to the Columbia Valley Pioneer, District of Invermere, Regional District of East Kootenay, Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund, LUSH Charity Pot, and the Columbia Valley Community Foundation for their support of our lake monitoring program.