Columbia Valley Pioneer, September 17, 2020

September 17, 2020 Vol. 17/Issue 38

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1 September 17, 2020

The Columbia Valley

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HAPPY CENTURY! Invermere resident Fran Jeffrey turns 100 years old today (Thursday, September 17th). The longtime (quite literally longtime) Columbia Valley resident marks a century of living well, with best wishes from too many friends and family to count. See story on page 5.

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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

September 17, 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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Counterclockwise from top: 1: Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners hosted their AGM at the Lake Windermere Rod & Gun Club Tuesday September 8th. In the afternoon, Jon Bisset & Bailey Rice presented on the “Stream assessment and restoration in the Columbia Valley” project, now known as the Columbia Headwaters Aquatic Restoration Secwepemc Strategy (CHARS); 2 & 3: The Welsh Lakes are a great place to find context and make progress toward what really matters – the stunning natural capital and time with friends and family, not looking at your FitBit!; 4: A potential of Sikorsky S-61N helicopters were found at the Fairmont Hot Springs Airport a few days ago, and utilized in fighting the Doctor Creek wildfire, about 25 kilometres southwest of Canal Flats.

The quick, extensive and enduring response to local wildfires has shown the value and adaptability of local assets, including the Canal Flats Arena, Fairmont Hot Springs Airport, Invermere Airport and both Lake Windermere and Columbia Lake; 5: Three – no four — cheers for dragonflies! These four-winged friends have down a great job of eating mosquito larvae this summer; 6, 7 & 8: Great products and strong demand has led to a longer market season in the Columbia Valley. The Invermere Farmers & Artisans Market is on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., until September 26th. Get the goods before they’re gone!

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

VALLEY NEWS Doctor Creek fire finally ‘being held’ Planned ignitions to keep wildfire in check leave smoky skies in Columbia Valley

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com After nearly a month of effort by firefighters, the Doctor Creek wildfire burning southwest of Canal Flats is now finally classified as ‘being held’.

The blaze was still classified as ‘out of control’ as recently as this past Friday, and had grown a further 1,000 hectares in size over this past week to a total estimated 8,000 hectares, but planned ignitions late last week and continued containment work by the firefighters, coupled with cooler weather the past few days means the raging fire — one of three ‘wildfires of note’ in B.C. — is not likely to spread beyond its exiting boundaries.

The fire, suspected to be caused by a lightning strike, was discovered on Tuesday, August 18th 25 kilometres southwest of Canal Flats, and very quickly grew to an estimated 3,000 hectares in size, prompting the British Columbia Wildfire Service (BCWS) to dispatch an incident command team. The command team has been battling the fire ever since, using heavy machinery, helicopters and even skimmers (air tankers), but vexed by the rugged and steep terrain in the Doctor Creek area and, at one point, by high winds riding ahead of a cold front which helped double the fire size almost overnight.

“Planned ignitions were conducted successfully (Friday) September 11th on the southeast flank. This brought the fire’s edge down to more accessible terrain,” read a BCWS update posted on Monday, September 14th. “In preparation for the planned ignitions, crews completed a 600-metre-long and 10-metre-wide fuel free buffer zone that ties into a heavy equipment control line on the east flank and a steep rocky avalanche chute to the south.”

Those planned ignitions, in combination with smoke drifting into Canada from massive wildfires south of the border, left the Columbia Valley in a deep

smokey haze, drastically reducing visibility (to the point that the mountains surrounding the valley were practically invisible and residents in Invermere could not even see the far side of Lake Windermere) on Sunday, September 13th and Monday, September 14th. The smoke came as a bit of a downer for valley residents who, thanks to unbelievably fortunate wind directions for most of the past month, had been treated to remarkably clear skies given just how close by and just how large the Doctor Creek fire is.

“Crews will continue patrolling the fuel free and using small-scale hand ignitions as needed to further establish a 50 foot (15 metres) black line from the control lines in towards the fire. If conditions permit, a small-scale aerial ignition operation will occur to establish a 100 foot (30 metres) black line by removing the remaining pockets of fuel between the fire perimeter and the control lines in cut block,” read the September 14th BCWS update. “The remainder of the gear is being demobilized from the northern and eastern flanks. Crews will continue (to) patrol and hotspotting. Rehabilitation plans have been completed for this section of the fire and work began yesterday.”

Late last week the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) downgraded the evacuation order relating to five properties in the Doctor Creek vicinity to an evacuation alert. The evacuation alert on the south side of the fire remains in place, the evacuation alert on the north side of the fire has been lifted. The provincial area restriction for all Crown land in the vicinity of the fire, however, is still in effect.

With the wildfire no longer classified as ‘out of control’ the number of firefighters and helicopters working on the blaze has dropped. As of press time, 88 firefighters (down from 185 a little more than a week ago), four helicopters and eight pieces of heavy machinery were in action.

Planned ignitions on the Doctor Creek wildfire burning near Canal Flats may have left Columbia Valley skies quite smoky last weekend, but helped the British Columbia Wildfire Services (BCWS) finally classified the 8,000 hectare blaze, which has been burning nearly a month, has ‘being held’.

BCWS photos

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4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

September 17, 2020

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RCMP Report Submitted by Sgt. Darren Kakuno Detachment Commander Columbia Valley RCMP This past week, September 7th through September 13th the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 75 calls for service. The following is a quick summary of some of the files our officers responded to.

On Monday, September 7th at 1:40 a.m. Columbia Valley RCMP responded to an alarm at the Eagle Point Golf Course. A small utility truck and a golf cart were reported stolen from the property. Later the same day the utility truck was located abandoned on Windermere Loop Road in Windermere. The vehicle was seized for a forensic examination and the investigation is ongoing. On Monday, September 7th at 2:10 a.m. police were advised a 2019 black GMC Sierra had been stolen from a property on Windermere Loop Road. The owner of the GMC Sierra said he heard a noise at his residence and when he got up to investigate; he noticed

his truck was missing. On September 10th police recovered the stolen truck near Cedar Creek Road in Canal Flats. The truck was seized for a forensic examination. This investigation is also ongoing.

On Wednesday, September 9th at 12:30 a.m. police were called to assist the fire department with a transport truck fire on Highway 93/95 in Fairmont Hot Springs.

The driver of the transport truck was able to disconnect his tractor from the trailer after noticing the trailer, which contained wood chips, had caught on fire. The driver suspected his brakes overheated which ignited the chips.

The fire department was able to extinguish the fire and prevent the fire from spreading to any other property.

No injuries were reported.

On Friday, September 11th a Super Cycle mountain bike was turned in to the RCMP. The bike was found on the Junior Johnson Trail near Lake Lillian on September 4th. The owner of the bicycle can contact the Columbia Valley Detachment to claim it.

Lake Windermere Pulse Check www.lakeambassadors.ca Lake Windermere Pulse Check for Sept 15th: Average Water Temperature: 16.9°C Average Water Depth: 4.4 m Average Turbidity: 1.2 NTU Average D.O.: 9.33 mg/L Average pH: 7.9

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This is the final Pulse Check of 2020! Day 3 of heavy smoke in the area has made visibility on the lake very poor. We recommend boating with care and staying indoors as much as possible until conditions improve. Water depth and temperature continue to decrease as we move closer into fall, apart from this, readings remain consistent.

We want to thank everyone for a wonderful summer and we wish everyone the best in the coming months. Stay tuned for the Ambassadors monthly Watershed Wanderings in the Pioneer until Novem-

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September 17, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

Local resident turns 100 Invermere woman marks a century well-lived

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

“She has always been fascinated by the wind in the trees, and wants to know how the weather works. She’ll tell you how much she loves a fresh rainfall, or the blueness of the sky,” Nick Jeffrey

After eight months of searching, the district of Invermere has a new chief administrator officer (CAO). Andrew Young will be stepping into the position of CAO as of Monday, November 2nd, 2020.

Young has been the CAO for the district of Taylor in northeastern B.C. for the past two years, a role he will continue in until October 12th.

He also worked as the CAO for the District of Wells in central B.C. Before that, he spent one year and a half as the corporate officer and planner of the Village of Valemount, among other positions.

Young is originally from Vancouver. He moved several times in his younger years as his father worked for the RCMP. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in geography and economics also a Master of Arts (M.A. Planning) from the School of Community and Regional Planning. Since then, he has worked for municipal governments, except for a stint with the University of British Columbia (UBC) as manager of community planning.The next CAO of Invermere wasn’t looking for a new job. Instead a heading hunting company, Waterhouse Executive Search, contacted him on behalf of Invermere. After he researched the district of Invermere, he became intrigued by many of developments happening here. “Dynamic and interesting recreation base but not only base on recreation or tourism. . . Small or medium-sized industries such as Kicking Horse Coffee, which is a big success story. . . . Many other things that are going on here in In-

The Summit Trail Makers Society 2020 Annual General Meeting Due to recent changes to COVID restrictions in BC, the meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, September 22 at 7 pm at the Chamber of Commerce Hall is canceled. The public and STMS members will be notified when we are able to conduct this meeting.

We are still accepting memberships for 2020 until October.

You may join through our website using e transfer or Paypal or with a cheque or cash: $15 for an individual or $20 for a family.

Cheques can be mailed to Summit Trailmakers PO Box 2437, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0.

http://www.summittrailmakers.ca Fran’s love of the Columbia Valley led to her family relocating to Fairmont Hot Springs in 1965. Back in the valley, Fran pursued numerous business interests and avidly partook in many social groups, particularly bridge. (“She’s still a crack bridge player,” said Nick).

After Jack died in 1991, Frances moved back to Invermere, first in a beautiful detached home with a remarkable garden, then a condo in Osprey Lane, followed by assisted living initially in Columbia Garden Village, and now in Columbia House.

“She never complains. Aging isn’t easy for anybody, but she always sees the good in everything. She always has,” said Nick. Today Fran celebrates her 100th birthday not only with children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, but also with her older brother, Jim Ashworth, who is 101. Longevity, and a healthy, happy outlook seem to run in the family: Fran and Jim’s mother Florence Ashworth also lived to be 100.

GREAT GAS

GIVEAWAY This week’s winner is…

Shawn Willis All winners of a hundred and twenty dollars of fuel each.

Many, many more draws to follow right till the end of 2020.

C

Invermere gets new CAO

By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com

CANCELLATION

vermere help stabilize the local economy and help it grow,” he said.

Invermere purchased the Lake Windermere Resort Lands (LWRL) last April for roughly $5 million. The district with help from consultatns B&A Planning Group, are currently working on the Athalmer Neighbourhood Plan, which entails better public access to Lake Windermere, the re-development of the public boat launch at Pete’s Marina, the possible addition of a wetland boardwalk system and interpretation platform and residential development of the Athalmer Neighbourhood.These new opportunities made the CAO position for the district of Invermere professionally attractive for Young. He was previously responsible for leading the development of some large neighbourhood plans, which made the community a great fit for Young. “I feel very fortunate to be the candidate that Mayor (Al) Miller and the council selected,” he said. Young is hoping to work closely with Miller, council and district staff. Young also want to help Invermere develop a mature vision for its rapidly developing areas. “By doing that, hopefully, Invermere will become a stronger and more resilient community,” said Young.

Invermere mayor Al Miller added that “it has been quite a lot of searching over the last eight months, but ultimately, we’re very happy with the end results.” He insists, “Our interim CAO Kindry Luyendyk has done a tremendous job of holding our administration and the rest of the management team together. I certainly want to make sure that she gets a proper thank you.”

RO

S SR OAD S

Invermere resident Frances Jeffery, affectionately known as Fran to family and friends, turns 100 today.

Fran was born in Cranbrook on September 17th, 1920, and moved with her family to Invermere when she was just three years old, when her father, Arthur Ashworth, became the branch manager of the local Imperial Bank of Canada (the bank, now known as CIBC, still sits on the corner of Invermere’s main street and 13th Street).

“She is a very kind person, everybody loves her,” said Fran’s son Nick Jeffery.

After growing up in Invermere and finishing high school, Fran moved to Vancouver to study at the University of British Columbia, graduating with a degree in commerce. In 1949 she moved to Calgary, where she ran the accounting department of a major oil company and where she met her future husband Jack.

“She was kind of ahead of her time. In those days there were not many women in accounting or in oil companies, but she was very successful,” said Nick. “In fact, she out-earned her husband by a factor of three-to-one.

That’s something his cricket buddies liked to tease him about, but really I think it comes down to my mom being the person she is. She is very bright. She’s 100, but she still has an outstanding memory. She has a mind like a steel trap. She is just still so curious about the world around her — she’s always asking thing like ‘will you look up the origin of this word for me? I think it’s Latin.’”

In Calgary, Fran indulged a lifelong love of nature by joining the Alpine Club of Canada. Her ‘graduating climb’ involved getting up on the Bow Glacier and rappelling back down over a series of cliffs — something she did specifically in order to conquer her a then-fear

of heights.

“She has always been fascinated by the wind in the trees, and wants to know how the weather works. She’ll tell you how much she loves a fresh rainfall, or the blueness of the sky,” said Nick. “She’s got a real green thumb, and for many years had a fabulous garden. She’d always be in there, planting and landscaping.”

MA

RKET

You’re invited to our virtual Annual General Meeting September 18, 2020 4 to 5 p.m. PT/5 to 6 p.m. MT Attend this year’s AGM from anywhere in the Basin. Ask questions about projects and initiatives in your community, and around the region.

Sign up online. ourtrust.org/AGM

Please recycle this newspaper

6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

September 17, 2020

PERSPECTIVE More time getting home

By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com The fall is at our door and the September long weekend just passed. It means the tourism season is getting slower. The area will keep getting quieter every week, the beach and the trails will be more peaceful, the street less busy. Locals can enjoy public places with more space and less risk associated with the spread of the COVID-19.

The business owner will breathe again. Kids are back to school. Everything is going back to normal, well, to the new normal.

But less traffic isn’t on the list... yet. For $1.2 million, Athalmer road is under construction until it is completed in fall. It will take lots of patience for the next few weeks to drive in or out of Invermere since there is a new traffic light in front of the Petro-Canada and the same temporary signals in the other direction going down the hill. People will have to take turns since one side of the road will stay closed during the maintenance. Speed is also limited as workers are on site.

How can you make it through without losing your nerves morning and evening? First, take a deep breath.

Be ready, and make sure your car is filled with gas (and an extra snack). That way, no one will add time to get in or out of town. It will also be less stressful if you don’t have to hurry to the gas station, thinking you might run out of fuel.

Transform this moment into an enjoyable time for yourself. It’s the perfect time to listen to your favourite CD. All of it! Who has time for a whole CD? Now you might have it. There are also fascinating podcasts or playlists available for free on several applications. You can also relax.

It is imperative to be courteous in these situations.

Please consider and respect other drivers—they are facing the same problem. Do not block the intersections, and consider letting the car pass in front of you and say hi, it might make his or her day! What would it change for you? Most importantly, drive safely and be aware. Keep a reasonable distance between your vehicle and the one in front.

If there is road construction, remember there are humans working on it. Be respectful by making sure there are enough spaces separating the car and the workers.

Follow their signs and directions. And again, why not wave your hand to them!

Thinking this way will make everyone’s drive to and from home or work much more pleasant.

Just breathe and made the best of it!

Historical Lens Part way up to Mt. Swansea 4 people standing on their saddles horse and on seated in their saddle. Champion, Vera Hurst, Bert Rauch, Reno Goodwin, Enid Hurst (on Brownie).

Photo C2246 Circa 1936, Courtesy Windermere District Historical Society

Correction

How fortunate we are Dear Editor: Almost every day, I look at the mountains in our “front yard” and think what a beautiful place we live in.

And we continue to be free from the natural disasters that plague those less fortunate souls that populate the rest of the world. For the most part, that even includes the pandemic.

Many say that our diligence in following the government guidelines has prevented the suffering that is happening elsewhere. That is why I was appalled upon walking into a local business recently and finding not a single safeguard in place. There wasn’t enough room for social distancing, and over the counter, business was going on as usual. Individuals were within touching distance, but the only masks were on the customers.

I should have walked out the door, but to the best of my knowledge, there is no other place in town to go.

Despite what many individuals say, we aren’t out of the woods yet. Maybe we’ve just been lucky, especially in light of increased traffic from the east. But it is sad to know that at least one local business is not concerned about the welfare of either their customers or their staff.

Maybe the tough restrictions aren’t necessary. Masks are a nuisance, and nobody can even prove that they are effective. And most people who test positive for COVID19 recover. But what about the after-effects?

Nobody knows for sure. So why press our luck?

Bob Hahn, Juniper Heights

In the September 10th issue, the Pioneer reported that the new Invermere Counselling is the only private counselling clinic in town. This is incorrect: Woodland Family Counselling, operated by Larry Rohrick, also offers professional counselling in the Columbia Valley.

The Columbia Valley

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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.

September 17, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

More consultation on LWRL to come this fall

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com The topic of the Althamer neighbourhood plan and the future of the Lake Windermere Resort Lands was discussed at the most recent Invermere council meeting.

At the meeting, on Tuesday, September 8th, Invermere resident John Rouse asked what was happening with the plan.

Invermere mayor Al Miller replied that the plan had “been on a bit of pause’ in the last few months, stemming partly from the COVID-19 pandemic and partly because council wants the planning company involved in the project to engage more with the public before proceeding.

“We want to see a lot more input. We feel as a council it was too much of a plan

and not much consultation,” said Miller, adding more public consultation on the Lake Windermere Resort Lands (which Invermere purchased for $5 million, and at least of some which the district wants to turn into public space) will be coming this fall.

“There was a bit of COVID disconnect,” added councillor Gerry Taft, outlining that a lot of the consultation on the Lake Windermere Resort Lands was happening digitally, and that meant a large segment of the Invermere population wasn’t being reached. “We want to fix that disconnect,” said Taft.

“We had comments coming to us to effect of ‘you already have a plan in place’, and obviously that isn’t the case, so we needed to stop and rethink things,” said Miller.

Local advocates for CBT climate change priority

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com Columbia Valley resident Tracy Flynn urged Invermere council members to push the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) into action on climate change during the most recent council meeting. Flynn, who mentioned she was representing local environmental group Wildsight, explained that she was first sparked into action on climate change herself some years ago by a CBT presentation on the topic in Canal Flats.

“That’s when climate change became real to me,” said Flynn at the Tuesday, September 8th meeting, adding CBT scientist at the meeting gave potential outcomes of climate change complete with graphs and maps. Flynn added that the CBT had previously come up with a climate action plan, which entailed supporting local and community initiatives that help mitigate climate change, and that it is with

no small amount of dismay that she recently learned that climate change is not listed as a priority in the CBT’s draft strategic plan.

“We’re going to be dealing with this for decades to come,” Flynn told council. “And the CBT does have a role to play.”

She asked Invermere council to consider writing a letter to the CBT urging it to include a climate change priority in its draft strategic plan.

Invermere councillor Greg Anderson sympathized with Flynn, saying he too was surprised that climate change was not a priority in the CBT plan, and that he had already written a personal letter to the organization suggesting it should be. He added that additionally several local governments across the Kootenay (including Invermere) had already banded together to send a joint letter to the CBT asking that it add a climate change priority to its draft strategic plan.

The Grandfathers Submitted by Anne Jardine Invermere photographer, Jim McElroy, has two current or recently wrapped up exhibits around town. The display at Pynelogs Cultural Centre that ran through to Saturday, September 12, was part of a show by a group of regional artists, includes a variety of Jim’s subjects and a few impressionistic photos of rock formations along the shores of Galiano Island on B.C.’s west coast. These Galiano landscapes have special meaning for the artist.

At the Blue Dog Café, a more extensive collection of pictures from this Galiano series sweeps dramatically along the feature wall. In the COVID-19 era, a new sparse arrangement of tables opens up the sightlines and transforms the space into the elegant Blue Dog Gallery. Fear not, the café is still serving its amazing food and coffee.

In these images, rhythms of the sea are captured in rock shapes that have been honed by the endless movement of the tides.

Continued on page 10. . .

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

NOTICE OF TAX SALE Pursuant to Section 403 of the Local Government Act, the following properties will be offered for sale by public auction to be held at the Council Chambers, District of Invermere, 914- 8th Avenue, Invermere, B.C. on Monday, September 28, 2020 at 10 a.m. local time unless the delinquent taxes plus interest are sooner paid.

FOLIO NUMBER

LEGAL DESCRIPTION

P.I.D.

CIVIC ADDRESS

UPSET PRICE

532-00232.337

LOT: 23; BLOCK: 9; PLAN NUMBER: NEP4268; DISTRICT LOT: 216 1092;

014-880-890

1745 9TH AVE

$6963.03

Any person upon being declared the successful bidder must immediately pay by cash or certified cheque equal to the upset price. Failure to pay this amount will result in the property promptly being offered for sale again.

Any balance must be paid by cash or certified cheque by 3 p.m. the same day. Failure to pay the balance will result in the property being offered for sale again at 10 a.m. on the following day.

The District of Invermere makes no representation express or implied as to the condition or quality of the properties being offered for sale. Prospective purchasers are urged to inspect the properties and make all necessary inquiries to municipal and other government departments and in the case of strata lots to the strata corporation, to determine the existence of any bylaws, restrictions, charges or other conditions which may affect the value or suitability of the property.

The purchase of a tax sale property is subject to tax under the Property Transfer Tax Act on the fair market value of the property.

Karen L. Coté Director of Finance

8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

September 17, 2020

Columbia Valley Airport Society secures funding

By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com For a long time, the Columbia Valley Airport (CVA) has been operated by Fairmont Hot Springs Resort (FHSR). In fall 2019, FHSR announced it would cease running the facility by the end of March. At this crucial moment, after the airport’s application, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) approved operational funding of $60,000 from the Columbia Valley Economic Services. That amount would be released only if the eight conditions were successively fulfilled by mid-August 2020.

The conditions included: that an annual general meeting be held with audited 2019 financials; election of a new board and officers that represent the Columbia Valley geographically; using a skills matrix to recruit qualified board members and ensure proper oversight of the society; that bylaws be updated to prevent any single business, corporation or not-for-profit organization from holding a majority of votes on the society board; that a fully-costed business plan be prepared; a professional assessment of assets completed; and an operations/procedures review and work plan be prepared.

Granite River Consulting was contracted to provide an assessment of the airport and help the volunteers fulfill the eight essential conditions to the funding agreement.

A brainstorming session was held with 25 stakeholders to ensure the CVA transitioned to a stand-alone, non-profit organization that can sustainably continue its operations and maintain its activities.

With the help of Granite River Consulting, the CVA Society (CVAS) submitted a package to RDEK which showed all eight conditions had been satisfied. After a month of waiting, the airport society heard that the RDEK reviewed the documentation, confirmed its funding approval and released the money to the CVAS. In the funding request to the RDEK, the CVA is described as “a key asset for the immediate service communities stretching from Canal Flats to Spillimacheen. It plays a critical role in providing public safety services of medical evacuation flights, military training in conjunction with being an important and vital base for forest fire services and search and rescue operations. Further, direct and indirect economic benefits for the Columbia Valley are achieved for tourism and industry.”

“Business levels fluctuate, it is very busy now due to fire fighting, but because the airport supports night landing, the volunteers can be called upon in the middle of the night for a medical evacuation. Fortunately, local pilots and neighbours come out to

GUESS WHERE WE ARE?

help when needed,” said Pascal van Dijk, the newly elected president of the CVAS. It is the only airport in the area that can operate at night. The light system at the airpot makes it possible to use it 24 hours a day, a key consideration if an emergency happens in the region.

“A good gliding friend of mine had a serious gliding accident near Mount Pinto. He was helicoptered to Invermere to be stabilized, ambulanced to Fairmont Hot Springs and flown out by Medevac plane to Calgary late that night. Once again, the CVA came to the rescue in providing the medevac plane, a landing and take-off platform during the night, which could not have happened in Invermere or Golden,” said Hans Baeggli.

Van Dijk adds, “And it’s just one example out of the 24 medical evacuations that happened between January and August (2020).”

Society members were adamant that this success story would not have been possible without the precious support of volunteers and the community. “Two key volunteers, Shawn Jestley and Dave Wright, who operate the airport on a day-to-day basis, are at the airport all the time,” noted van Dijk. Jestley and Wright, after FHSR stopped funding the airport, lost their jobs. Since then, they help to keep operations running smoothly as volunteers, along with many others.

Last week, nine out of the eleven Director positions were filled: Pascal van Dijk (president), Hans Baeggli (vice president), Andrea Tubbs (secretary), and Max Fanderl, Jim Miller, Brian Rhodes, Vivek Sharma and Bill Woods (directors at large). The CVAS is still looking to fill the treasurer position and one director at large position on its board.

Akisqnuk election appoints three new delegates

By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The latest results of the election held at Akisqnuk First Nation have been counted. On Friday, Aug. 7, three new delegates were voted in to fulfill the council’s responsibilities for chief and two councillors.

Ryan Nicholas was elected as the chief councillor with a total of 99 votes. He was unavailable for comment before the Pioneer went to press. Rosemary Phillips and Allan Nicholas were elected to fulfill the remainder of the term over Barbara Fisher and Darcy Fisher. Phillips received 85 votes, and Allan Nicholas received 68 votes. Darcy Fisher received a total of 42 votes, while Barbara Fisher had a total of 34 votes.

These results were based off of ballots received from 116 voters out of a possible 228 voters with two rejected ballots. The nomination meeting to appoint three delegates was held on Friday, Aug. 21, after the resignation of Akisqnuk First Nation former chief Alfred Joseph, along with two former councillors, resigned mere months after a previous election.

For more information, please visit: http://www.akisqnuk.org/news

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Have something to say?

Letters to the editor can be e-mailed to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

September 17, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 9

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10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

September 17, 2020

STMS: Hiking Azure (Buster) Lake

By Joe Lucas Summit Trail Makers Society With fall upon us, the larch will be turning colour soon, and one of the many places in the Invermere area to view the spectacular fall colours is Azure Lake. Azure Lake may be its official name, but locally many refer to it as Buster Lake. The story started back in 1977; Jerry Kohorst purchased the trap-line in Frances Creek from the original owner, his uncle, Buster Tegart. Jerry thought it only fitted that a pioneer and character such as Buster should have something named after him, hence Buster Lake. Azure (Buster) Lake is a relatively new addition

to the inventory of trails STMS is contracted to maintain and has undergone some major trail improvements. So if you haven’t done this hike before, the fall is a perfect time.

You access this trailhead by following the same directions to the McLean Lake hike in the Frances Creek drainage and park in the same area. Go to the end of the road and look for the sign on your left (east) just before the creek.

The hike is just over 6 km to the first of two lakes with an elevation gain of 700 meters. Within 100 meters of the trailhead, you cross the first of two log bridges. Neither crossing is that difficult, and there is a wire at head-level to hold onto for balance. After 1.3 km, you drop down to the second bridge. You continue in the trees for another 3 km before breaking out into a rock-strewn opening that signifies the start of the last push to Azure Lake. In the fall, this is where you will start to notice the larch and know you are getting close to the lake. The trail takes you to the larger lake, Azure, which is higher than the second lake, which seems unnamed. You can visit the

smaller lake by going to the south end of Azure and paralleling the creek, which flows into the second lake. It is best to come back to the higher lake, then follow the same trail in reverse to get back to your vehicle. Over the years, the lakes have changed colour. It may be difficult to decide which is the more azure of the two lakes. As well the rocks around the lake and in the stream have been stained a rust colour, which was not there a few years ago, adding another usual colour to the area. With a 2-3 hour hike to the lake, an hour or two for lunch with some exploring around the lakes, it is easy to lose track of time admiring all the fall colours. The outing can quickly turn into a 6 to 8 hour day.

After a record number of hikers out on the trail this summer, the end of vacations and autumn temperatures usually means fewer people. It also means the weather could easily become more of a challenge than the actual hike. Now is the time to be prepared for rain, sleet and snow. The old adage “Don’t like the weather? Wait 5 minutes.” is never more true than fall in the mountains.

Azure Lake is accessed up the Frances Creek drainage.

Photos by Joe Lucas However, that being said, fall also has that invigorating crisp cool air, bright blue skies, the fall colours, and perhaps a dusting of snow on the peaks, all combining to make you glad to be alive. Enjoy your time in the mountains.

Summit Trail Makers Society (STMS) maintains various hiking trails in the Invermere area. For a list of these trails, information about them, or to support our efforts by purchasing a yearly membership, please visit www. summittrailmakers.ca.

Summit Trail Makers Society maintains various hiking trails in the Invermere area. For a list of these trails and information about them, please visit www.summittrailmakers.ca.

Farmers’ Institute report highlights emerging local food scene Beef cattle ranching remains mainstay of valley agriculture

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com A recent report from the Windermere District Farmers’ Institute (WDFI) highlights the state of agriculture in the Columbia Valley.

The report, titled Striving for Agricultural Development and Food Security in the Columbia Valley and compiled by WDFI projects coordinator Hedi Trescher, cites figures — its ‘current production’ section — from the 2011 land use inventory report, which outlined a total crop acreage of 2,584 hectares in the Columbia Valley. Beef cattle ranching and forage production are by far the dominant use of farming land in the valley, accounting for more than 99.8 per cent (2,568 hectares) of the 2,584 hectares total. The report is quick to point out, however, that the Columbia Valley has seen the emergence of a local food scene since 2011, and the valley is now home to an abattoir, four market garden operations, three greenhouses, three apiaries, a farm growing distillery wheat and rye, and another experimenting with hops and hazelnut.

In the ‘economics’ section of the report, Trescher notes that the Columbia Valley is competitive with other areas of B.C. and Canada in terms of cattle production, but that “if livestock (cattle, swine and poultry) need feed that is not produced in the ColumbiaValley, the (resulting) product can be competitive if it is consumed locally, but not necessarily on the open market.” . . . ‘The Grandfathers’ from page 7 The photos call one’s fingers to touch the rough, yet smooth surfaces, trace the curves, feel the sun’s heat absorbed within the stones’ granular bodies. Sensual rhythms of flow are somehow caught for the viewer in a warm breath of longing that releases itself in a sigh of remembered sea air. There is history here.In 1975, young photographer Jim McElroy received a Canada Council grant to develop a body of work for his first serious solo exhibition. He rented a tiny cabin on Galiano, set up his darkroom, and spent the winter taking black & white photos of the sandstone tidal zones of the island. He was intrigued by the soft, foggy winter light, the grainy textures, and the sea-smoothed shapes.

The resulting black and white images convey the beauty of loneliness and longing. These photos were ex-

“We can grow fruits and vegetables of exceptional quality. However, we have to consider that our growing season is considerably shorter than other areas in B.C. — the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan and even Creston — which we would be competing against if we want to ‘export’ fresh products,” reads the report, adding that “the message therefore is local, local, local. Sell direct – eliminate the middle man! We have a long way to go to supply the potential market right at our doorstep.”

Best selling items at Columbia Valley farmers’ markets include local free range eggs and berries, according to the report, and products that hold promise for marketing beyond the valley include potatoes, grains and vegetables, purebred livestock, and value added items such as jams, preserves, dried fruit, trail mix, frozen meals and breakfast cereals.

The ‘food security’ section of the report pointed out that in January 2007, when blizzards shut all three highways that provide access to the Columbia Valley for three days, the produce and meat sections in local grocery stories were virtually empty. The report also pointed out that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has underscored how dependent Canadians (including Columbia Valley residents) are on the Mexico/California supply chain for fruits and vegetables.

Other topics covered in the report include geology, climate, soils, irrigation and water rights, land use and the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), farming history, and marketing. To learn more about the WDFI, visit wdfi.ca.

hibited far from the coast in galleries in Banff, Canmore and Lethbridge. After the showings of these early works, Jim decided he could not survive on photography. In a gesture of surrender to the demands of an economy inhospitable to young artists, he hung up his camera and spent the next three decades of his life working in various jobs to make a living. He didn’t give any of this much thought until he found himself wrestling with lingering philosophical ideas about the role of creativity in our wellbeing. Around the same time, he had an experience in a sweat lodge. The elder leading the ceremony urged everyone to be still and listen for the voices of the Grandfathers in the glowing rocks at the centre of the dark circle. The Grandfathers seemed to call Jim to go back to his creative life, to his true work as an artist. As Jim thought about this message, he recalled the Galiano Rocks and his abandoned camera. He began to

think of those early images as “The Grandfather Series.”

He also knew that he was being called to return to the island where this journey began.

He returned twice more, most recently to visit an old friend who lived on Galiano Island. This time the summer days were long and full of light and rich colour.

Jim noticed how people of all ages joined their children, climbing over the rocks, reclining, playing in the tidepools, touching and caressing every surface, joyfully interacting with the landscape. Jim felt the rocks were inviting the people into their world.

Jim’s most recent images in The Grandfather Series evoke a different kind of longing, a beckoning, welcoming warmth, a quiet celebration of generations. These are kindly Grandfathers. They will keep calling to Jim as long as he honours their wisdom, their urgings to explore and express the beauty he finds.

September 17, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 11

Cross-training program encourages collaboration

By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A six-month-long initiative has recently begun at the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) with leadership reassignments.

In an effort to encourage continued growth and learning at the leadership level, directors from five sectors of the KNC have been given new portfolios to bring a fresh perspective into each team.

“This is an exciting opportunity and a key step in the Chief Executive Officer (CAO) succession planning and mentorship goals the nation council has identified,” said Shawna Janvier, KNC CAO, in a recent press release. “The sector directors have expressed a desire for better cross-sector collaboration for many years, this will create day-to-day reality and the new space for this to be able to happen.”

That means the five sectors of operations which will be exposed to this shift in collaboration will include Lands and Resources, Education and Employment, Social Investment, Economic Investment and Traditional Knowledge and Language, and those participating are expected to rely on their new teams to learn more about other areas of governance.

“We are all here for the same reason — Q̓api qapsin kin ‘itkin hin ‘isti Ktunaxa — and doing everything with the intention of improving the lives of the

Ktunaxa people,” she said. “This collaborative venture will create new opportunities for growth and truly make the KNC a learning environment for everyone. I am looking forward to supporting them, and I know that staff are also looking forward — maybe with some trepidation, but also with some excitement — to what’s ahead, and what could be ahead in these next six months.”

Donald Sam will be moving from the Traditional Knowledge and Language sector into Economic Investment.

Codie Morigeau from Economic Investment will be moving into the Traditional Knowledge and Language sector.

Justin Paterson will be moving from Economic Investment into Social Investment sector.

Debbie Whitehead will go from Social Investment into Lands and Resources.

Ray Warden from Lands and Resources will be going to Education and Employment for this initiative.

The hope is a fresh perspective to each sector could bring growth and development to the KNC. “When they return to their sectors again, in February, they will have a better understanding of how other sectors work, and a better understanding of themselves as leaders,” concluded Janvier.

Initiative sparks hope for mental health awareness

By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A national initiative to support young people with mental health challenges recently travelled through the Ktunaxa’s traditional territory in southeastern B.C. when schools, youth groups, Indigenous communities, mental health services and families were able to join the cause and participate in a community event.

Hope in the Darkness Walk for Youth Mental Health encourages participants to call for action to support communities from a social-emotional wellbeing perspective to empower youth with a message about remaining hopeful during crisis.

Hope in the Darkness founder Kevin Redsky created the event in 2018 after experiencing a personal tragedy, while working with youth in crisis, and struggling with mental health challenges as a young adult. Now, he’s optimistic about supporting others and taking immediate steps with the intention of providing support by taking action to raise awareness about mental health.

“I think the visual perception (of the walk) is to challenge police officers across the nation to participate in the walk,” said Redsky, a lapsed Royal Mounted Canadian Police (RCMP) member. “We all know right now about the struggling relationships between communities and police officers, and the perception of police officers and youth is that youth has a perception that police are only out there to arrest my parents or me.

We’ve had police participation right from Winnipeg. We’ve had all but three days (of this year’s event) with a police presence.”

Redsky’s 90-day journey began in Winnipeg, M.B., on July 15, and he expects to complete this year’s walk on Oct. 12 upon arriving in Vancouver.

The event’s name was inspired by a song entitled “Ghosts that we knew” written by Mumford and Sons through a partnership with the performers from the band.

Between Sept. 9 and 19, Redsky passed through communities in the East Kootenay

region of B.C. to raise awareness about the importance of mental health for youth on a national scale.

“In police, we’re often first on-scene,” explained Redsky about his unique experiences in a personal and professional context. “The systems are failing. We’re challenging organizations. We need to better improve our support services, so our youth can create all the help that they can get. Everything is not working for our youth, so we need more help for our frontline workers to really attack the issues our youth are facing.”

After his niece committed suicide in eastern Canada during 2018, Redsky began this walk after resigning as an RCMP member for 16 years to focus on normalizing conversations about mental health for everyone.

“I’m focusing my energy on this walk to raise awareness for youth mental health,” he stated.

The Ktunaxa’s traditional territory recently hosted a leg of Hope in the Darkness Walk for participants to join the walk in southeastern B.C. communities in the Kootenay region.

“We had a community visit in Sparwood yesterday and one in Fernie today,” he said on Sept. 10. “We reach out to communities up ahead of us to participate in any way. With COVID-19, not too many people are accepting visitors from outside, but the opportunity and the invite are always there. Monte actually walked with me for about seven-and-a-half kilometres this morning.”

Roughly 35 people joined the walk from Coleman to Sparwood on Sept. 8, including Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Const. Monte Webb, who serves as the Indigenous liaison for the Ktunaxa. Const. Webb had served as an escort to the walk between Sept. 8 and later joined him again to walk again on Sept. 10.

To learn more about the journey or to read Redsky’s daily blog, please visit: https:// hopeinthedarknessca.wordpress.com/

College of the Rockies appoints new members

By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The College of the Rockies (COTR) has recently announced four new board members to oversee college affairs and institutional performance.

Jared Basil, Amber Drielen, Nicholas Milligan and Darlene Trach began appointments with the COTR Board of Governors, effective July 31, 2020.

Basil, who is a member of the Ktunaxa Nation, has work experience in the economic and social sectors at the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC). He also serves as the chair of education and employment sector at the KNC. Drielen has a law background and owns the One World Law Group and serves at the Family LawLINE for Legal Aid B.C. as a lawyer. She currently resides in Golden and has volunteered with the Women’s Resource Society of Golden, fundraised for Golden Opportunities for Refugees, and was a local lead for

Fair Vote Canada outreach.

Milligan has recently retired from his role as the manager of social responsibility with the coal business unit of Teck Resources. Previously, he held positions of manager, Aboriginal Affairs for Teck Resources and Superintendent, Human Resources of Elk Valley Coal Operation. He remains active in the Fernie community and has been a board member for Community Futures East Kootenay, the Fernie Arts Station and the Sparwood Chamber of Commerce.

Trach has served the KNC for the last 23 years in a wide variety of positions, most recently as the self-government readiness coordinator. She was also a Tobacco Plains Band councillor and acted as the chairperson with the education and employment sector for the KNC. The board’s primary objective is to ensure strategic direction and management of COTR is successful in the Kootenay region.

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

12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

September 17, 2020

Doug Clovechok MLA Contact me for a copy of my MLA Newsletter!

Doug.Clovechok.MLA@leg.bc.ca

Photo submitted

Working toward solutions Submitted by Wildsight Invermere

This is the official notice of the Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley’s AGM. Friday, September 25th, 2020, 7 pm Please RSVP to info@hospicesocietycv.com to receive your ZOOM invitation.

To make sure you have a vote you must be a member in good standing at least 30 days before the AGM. Please make sure you renew your membership online at

www.hospicesocietycv.com Annual membership is $25.

Enhance or rehabilitate trails in the Columbia Basin.

Apply by October 8: ourtrust.org/trailgrants

Our last “Working Toward Solutions” article discussed decreasing our transportation emissions and looked at some low-carbon transportation options. The low-carbon transportation discussion wouldn’t be complete without discussing Electric Vehicles (EVs). While simply replacing the 30+ million gas-powered cars on Canada’s highways with EVs isn’t the solution, EVs will help reduce the greenhouse gases (GHG) associated with transportation.

The Province of B.C. passed the Zero Emissions Vehicles Act in 2019, requiring automakers to meet escalating targets on sales and leases of new light-duty vehicles (100% of light-duty vehicle sales need to be zero emission by 2040). The legislation is intended to ensure greater availability of zero emission vehicles at more affordable prices and to ensure the Province’s GHG emission targets are met. That means a greater percentage of EVs on the road within a fairly short time frame. Are we ready and willing to make the change? Let’s look at some of the perceived roadblocks to EV adoption.

The perception that EVs can be just as polluting as gas-powered vehicles. Who hasn’t asked or heard the question, “Where is all the power for those EVs coming from?” Calculating EVs life-cycle emissions vs gas-powered vehicles can be confusing and depends on the electrical source, but the future is bright for EVs. They already produce fewer emissions over their lifespan and as electricity-generating utilities continue to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, therefore reducing emissions, as homeowners install solar panels to charge their EVs, and as batteries become more efficient, the environmental benefits will continue to increase.

Looking at the sticker price of an EVs can be misleading. EVs have fewer moving parts in their drivetrain, therefore, require less maintenance. EVs use regenerative braking, so brakes last longer. They don’t need oil changes, automatic transmission fluid changes or spark plug replacement. Current estimates tell us that we will spend 50-80% less on maintenance over an EV life. Fuel costs are also much lower for EVs. You can drive to Cranbrook and back on $4 worth of electricity. Comparing EVs to gas-powered equivalents shows that the cost can be lower over the vehicle’s life. Additionally, purchase rebates of $8,000 or more are currently available on many models.

Do EVs have enough battery range for longer trips?

EVs can travel 180-629 km currently. 95% of all trips taken in B.C. are less than 30 km, but undeniably, we

need more range here in the Kootenays. Local owners of EV with house chargers are comfortable travelling within the East Kootenay, and with planning, longer trips (Vancouver, Edmonton) have been successful. However, cold weather does significantly reduce the range available and is a definite downside to EV ownership at this point.

Are there enough charging stations, and how long does it take? EVs charged with a standard 120-volt household outlet, but admittedly that charging would take a while. Charging can take 30 minutes to over 24 hours, depending on the power of the charging station.

There are currently 20 charging stations in the valley, and local, provincial and federal governments are working on expanding the network. Hurdles include the number of charging stations available, wait lines at these stations, and various charging platforms (standardized payment systems and charging ports are needed). Upsides include free charging at many of our Valley stations.

Concern over unethical mining practices of companies producing the rare metals needed for EVs batteries and the pollution potential from these batteries disposal.

EVs batteries can last 20-30 years, being recharged thousands of times, and battery life continues to improve. The million-mile battery is on the horizon! Once EVs batteries are no longer suitable for powering vehicles, they can be repurposed in a variety of ways, including energy storage applications. Eventually, the raw materials can be recycled and used to make new batteries, and recycling processes continue to improve.

There are 22 types of EVs for sale in B.C. Sticker prices range from $33,000 to $137,000. Check out https:// electricvehicles.bchydro.com/buying/EV-models-in-BC Gas-powered vehicles have dominated the roadways for years. Today technology, cost, and environmental concerns are causing us to re-evaluate our transportation choices. What can you do? Drive less, but for those times that you need to drive, consider making your next vehicle purchase an EV. Invest in an in-home charging station. Double your positive impact by charging your new EV with solar. Ask your local and provincial governments to invest in more public charging stations. Support local maintenance shops that service EVs. Demand ethical mining of cobalt (used to manufacture batteries used in EVs, smartphones and laptops). Join Wildsight Invermere’s EV share, Spark at GoSpark.ca and try out an EV. Attend our EV show on Friday, September 18, 4-5 p.m. at the parking lot in front of the food bank (Kids – verified attendance at our car show will enter you for a chance to win a prize).

Summer Art Show - Part 4 September 15 to October 3 Featuring Angelique Gillespie, Rita Rankin, Elizabeth Segstro, Cat McDiarmid, & Ron Robinson P y n e lo g s g a l l e ry H o u r s a r e 11 -4, W e d n e s day t H r o u g H s at u r day · W W W.CO LU M B I AVA L L E YA R T S.CO M

This space provided by

The C

olumbia Valley

N E W S PA P E R

September 17, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13

Recycling in the Columbia Valley is on the move.

THE RECYCLE BC DEPOT IS MOVING FROM THE COLUMBIA VALLEY LANDFILL TO THE INVERMERE TRANSFER STATION ON SEPTEMBER 28

Recycle over 76 items.

MOVING TO

Styrofoam? Yep, bring it down. Aluminum foil and pie plates? Of course. How about my kids' zippered snack pouches? Don't throw them out, we'd be happy to recycle them. There are separate bins for paper/cardboard; glass; containers (plastic, tin, beverage containers, etc.); styrofoam; flexible plastic packaging; and plastic bags/overwrap. Visit engage.rdek.bc.ca to learn more.

Save your tax dollars.

Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling throughout British Columbia funded by producers, like retailers and manufacturers that supply packaging and paper product to BC residents. This keeps the costs away from homeowners. By adopting the Recycle BC program, the RDEK is paid per tonne directly from Recycle BC, whereas we have to pay per tonne collected in the yellow bins.

INVERMERE N TRANSFER STATIO ON (NEXT TO PUBLIC WORKS RE) INDUSTRIAL 1 RD, INVERME

Tips for a quick & simple visit.

Most recyclables generated by an average home will go into either the paper/cardboard bin or the containers bin, so we suggest having a box or container set aside for each of those categories. For your flexible packaging try using a good sized zippered bag and stuffing it full. Do the same with the plastic bags/overwrap materials, take a bread bag or shopping bag and fill it up. Set aside your glass containers and place them in the glass bin. As for styrofoam, just set it aside. While pre-sorting at home isn’t required, it will make your drop-off simple and fast.

SEPT. 28

learn more

engage.rdek.bc.ca/recycle

WE ARE FEELING flushed.

EDGEWATER & HOLLAND CREEK SANITARY SEWER FLUSHING BEGINS SOON

WATER SYSTEM FLUSHING

The Regional District of East Kootenay is gearing up for its regular maintenance work on the Edgewater and Holland Creek (includes Lakeview Meadows) sanitary sewer mains to remove settled and accumulated material.

This maintenance is scheduled for September 21, 2020 to October 2, 2020.

During this process, the contractor will be setting up their flushing apparatus at each service access (manhole) in the roadway and releasing pressurized water through the sanitary sewer main pipe to remove buildup.

A bubbling and/or vacuum effect may be noticed in your drains and toilets due to this maintenance flushing. It is recommended to keep all toilet seats closed and cover any floor drains.

Internal plumbing consists of “P” traps, which hold a volume of water to prevent sewer gasses from migrating into a home. During the flushing process, this water could be drawn out of the traps. For that reason, it is important to refill all plumbing traps by running the water in your sinks and floor drains after the work is complete.

This preventative maintenance process is necessary to reduce the potential for a sanitary sewer main backup which could result in damage to property. The RDEK would like to thank you for your patience during this regular maintenance.

Please note: We would like to remind those residents with homes on the low pressure sewer system (homes with individual sewer pumps) to please flush plenty of water through your system prior to vacating the home for an extended period of time. This practice will prevent sewer odour from forming and releasing upon initial use after sitting idle for week or months.

Holland Creek, East Side (includes Windermere, Baltac, Pedley Heights, Caberly Beach, Swansea, Copper Ridge & Aurora Heights, Timber Ridge), Rushmere, Spur Valley & Edgewater The Regional District of East Kootenay will be doing its annual water system flushing between September 8 – October 27, 2019 Users in the above listed areas may notice temporary water discolouration for a short period of time. If there is any discolouration of water, please run your cold water taps until the water is clear.

For more information on the flushing program, contact: Norm Thies, RDEK Senior Operator nthies@rdek.bc.ca or 1-250-342-5688

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

14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

September 17, 2020

HERE TO SERVE YOU BUSINESS OF THE WEEK

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House Checking and more!

Bob: (250) 341-5014

Arnold Scheffer 250-342-6700

unidoorext@live.ca • unidoorext.ca

PROVIDING SOLUTIONS FOR THE VACATION HOME OWNER SINCE 2006

Industrial ~ Commercial ~ Residential

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

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

Kootenay Paving Toll Free 1-888-341-2221

Call now for a free quote!

Beat the fall rush ~ clean your Chimney this spring!

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

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

Call for your FREE consultation and estimate

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

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

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE ON ALL WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES • WETT INSPECTIONS

WETT Certified

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!

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

OVER

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 • Interior/Exterior Painting • Staining • Clear Coat • New Construction • Renovations

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

Free Estimates th

invermereelectric@gmail.com

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

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

HOW WE ROLL Commercial

Gerard Rehman 4950 Hot Springs Rd. Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. V0B 1L1

Resdential

Ph: 250-688-ROLL (7655) LetUsRoll4U@Gmail.com

20 years experience • Satisfaction guaranteed!

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

September 17, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

HERE TO SERVE YOU SERVICES

SERVICES

East Kootenay Plumbing Services & Renovations (Servicing the Valley since 1999)

Available 24/7 Red Seal Journeyman Plumbers/Gasfitters (B)

eastkootenayplumbing@yahoo.com 250-272-3374

NEW SEWER CAMERA

REALTORS

• Septic Tank Pumping • Portable Toilet Rentals

LANDSCAPING

THE COLUMBIA VALLEY’S TREE CARE SPECIALISTS

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

WINDERMERE, BC 250-341-7029

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

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

janklimek@shaw.ca JanKlimek.ca

Bruce Dehart 250.347.9803 or 250.342.5357

LAMBERT-KIPP

Your Compounding Pharmacy

250.342.1195

• 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

PHARMACIES

Come in and browse our giftware

JanK limeK

GOLDEN, BC 250-344-0188

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

1301 - 7th Avenue, Invermere

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

250-342-6612 CONTRACTING

CONTRACTING

LANDSCAPING

Specializing in all heating, electric, gas and wood.

• 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

CONTRACTING

Kekuli Bay Cabinetry kekulibaycabinetry.com

Landscaping & Design

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

A licensed, registered and bonded company

2016

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

• FireSmart• Equipment 62”x74” Brushcutter

We also offer roundthe-clock service calls.

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

Quality not quantity Sue Coy 250-341-5353 sdcoy@shaw.ca

Lloyd Wilder

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

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

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

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

READY MIX CONCRETE • Authorized dealer • Designer • Installer

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

Dale Elliott Contracting

Proudly Serving the Valley for over 50 years

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

dale@decontracting.ca • 250-341-7098

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

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

16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

September 17, 2020

Beautification process begins in Canal Flats downtown

By James Rose james@columbiavalleypioneer.com The Village of Canal Flats wants a face lift. In accordance with the community’s revised official community plan (OCP), beautifying the downtown core is a strategic priority. The idea is to increase the aesthetic appeal of the community’s main activity corridor so that more people will want to make a permanent move. “Going through this process reflects the priorities of council as part of OCP,” said Adrian Bergles, Canal Flats’ chief administrative officer. “It’s being done in an attempt to attract and retain new residents.”

But before the financial grants and the shovels come out, the village has elected to go through a community consult. “Doing so is imperative to get it right,” said Jason Jones of LARCH Landscape Architecture + Authentic Mountain Design. Jones’ firm won the bid to put together a conceptual design with high level cost estimates attached. Through the fall, residents of Canal Flats will have opportunities through online and hard copy surveys to share their preferences as to what they would like changed. “Before the end of the year, I’ll host an open house to showcase recommended design principles,” said Jones.

The first opportunity for residents was on September 9th. Jones hosted an open-invite walking tour for residents to provide their input on what they would like to see changed. Jones believes the best approach to enhancing a community’s aesthetics is by setting up a dialogue and ensuring Canal Flats’ core values are reflected in the design proposal. Jones came up with three strategic focus areas for Canal Flats, each of which carries the same priority. The first is the stretch of road between Burns and McGrath Ave along Grainger Road. The second, south along Grainger from Burns to Baillie-Grohman. Third, west along Burns to the arena.

Between Burns and McGrath, for example, the discussion on September 9th among the handful of residents who attended included the merits of developing a separated paved path along the east side of the road, concealing the Telus utilities plant, planting more trees, and building interpretative signage. “How walkable a community is playing a big role in attracting not just young families but also older people as well,” said Jones, who counts Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf as a major influence. Oudolf ’s work influenced the transformation of derelict cityscapes into bustling centres of community activity. Manhattan’s High Line, for example.

“I try and adapt his lessons to mountain communities, my firm’s specialty,” said Jones, who often works with Revelstoke based mountain community planning firm Selkirk Planning & Design. “It’s so important for the community to speak about what they want to see in advance. My approach isn’t about going in and coming up with a plan to change the look of a community without any input. There needs to be a dialogue.”

Village councillor Marie Delorme agrees. “And if we as a community want to receive grant funding to go ahead with construction after Jason provides his recommendations, we need to be able to show a detailed plan.”

The Columbia Basin Trust’s community outdoor revitalization Grants are in council crosshairs.

Jones has demonstrated beautification works. The Village of Slocan (population three hundred) experienced a devastating mill closure like Canal Flats. Jones’s firm was brought in to oversee the redevelopment and beautification of the village’s waterfront area. “We started in 2018, and by time we finished, there was a tonne of excitement. It was a great success for us to see the community go from wondering how realistic the plan was to rally around the new design. Hearing positive feedback and seeing the uplifting change showed how streetscaping, accessibility, walkability can create a tangible buzz.”

Land Act: Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land Take notice that l/We, Chuck Newhouse Builders Ltd., from lnvermere, BC, have applied to the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), Kootenay Boundary Region, for a Licence of Occupation for self storage facility use situated on Provincial Crown Land located in the vicinity of lnvermere, BC. FLNRORD invites comments on this application, the Lands File is 4406139. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Authorization Specialist, FLNRORD, Kootenay Boundary Region, at 1902 Theatre Road, Cranbrook, BC V1C 7G1. Comments will be received by FLNRORD up to October 21,2020. FLNRORD may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the website at http ://comment.nrs.gov. bc. cal for more information.

Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of lnformation (FOl) reguest. Visit http://www. gov. bc.calfreedomofinforrnation to learn more about FOI submissions.

MAP REQUIRED (The scale should not be so large that

Have an opinion?

Email your letter to the editor to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

HERE TO SERVE YOU CONCRETE I N

P U R S U I T

INSURANCE 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

INSURANCE

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

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

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

CONTRACTING

www.kootenayinsurance.ca CARPET CLEANING

DESIGN BUILD New Builds, Renovations, Additions, & Kitchens

Paul Aubrecht, Dipl. Arch. SAIT

Best of

2019 DESIGN

Here to Serve You Advertising 250-341-6299

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

250-342-5698

Best of

2019 SERVICE

paulaubrecht.houzz.com

Established since 1993

• Architectural Design • Interior Design • Building Permits • Construction Management

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

ptarmiganrugclean@gmail.com

September 17, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17

P IONEER C LASSIFIEDS

• Phone: 250-341-6299 • Email: info@columbiavalleypioneer.com • Web: www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT

CHEERS & JEERS

CHEERS & JEERS

CHEERS & JEERS

NO MASKS

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, Tuesday and Wednesday at the BC Service Building, South End – 624 4th St., Invermere. Please call 250342-2424 for more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship.

Cheers to The Invermere Bakery for creating the tasty new Gluten Free Hamburger Buns. I buy the whole shelf when I see them at AG Valley Foods. Stockpiling for the next pandemic. You’ve really hit on a winner there. Keep Innovating!

Cheers to Jay Milley at Selkirk Cellular for going above and beyond to help a helpless cell phone customer. You are very good at your job, very helpful and are super nice to deal with.

Cheers to Robert at the Columbia Valley Centre. With your help, CastleRock Estates Community had an awesome AGM. Your expertise and easy going nature were welcome and appreciated.

The facility is fabulous too.

ONE MASK TWO MASKS

✔

Xièxiè 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.

S

THANK YOU I would like to thank Lisa and Bob Ede for their organization of a celebration for my 102nd birthday. Also, to the Invermere Fire Department who formed a parade. I thank you all who wished me well. Thank you Ray Crook

OBITUARY

S

Bukovnik, Erna 1931-2020 On September 13, 2020, Erna Bukovnik, much loved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away at the age of 89.

Erna was born in Slovenske Konjice, in the former Yugoslavia (now Slovenia) on April 13, 1931 – although she celebrated her birthday on April 16, which was her name day. She married Leo Bukovnik in 1950 and together they raised three sons, Leo Jr., Rudy and Tony.

In 1955, Erna and Leo Jr. left Europe for Canada, where they joined Leo. Sr who had come ahead to find a new home for his young family. They settled in Athalmere and were married for 60 years before Leo Sr. passed in 2010.

Erna was very proud of her new country and she dedicated much of her free time giving back to the community. For more than 50 years she volunteered weekly with the Invermere Health Care Auxiliary Society (formerly the Ladies’ Hospital Auxiliary), where she is a past president. She was also very involved with the Catholic Church and served in many roles, including organizing the weekly fellowship and as a Eucharistic Minister. Erna loved to grow flowers and always made sure the alter was decorated for Sunday morning mass.

Erna is survived by her sons, Leo Jr., Rudy (Lisa) and Tony (Elli), her grandchildren Tasha, Ivan (Stacey), Isabel, Gina and Anya, and her great grandson Marek. She also leaves behind her sisters Hedi and Olga, sister-in-law Karla, and many nieces and nephews.

A small funeral service (due to COVID-19) for Erna will be held on September 17, 2020. In lieu of flowers donations in Erna’s honour may be made to the Invermere Health Care Auxiliary Society.

Cheers the extremely generous patrons from Alberta for their “small token” of appreciation to the Windermere Valley Golf Course.

Big Cheers go out to the staff at Tilley Memorial Park for a job well done in a difficult year. The washrooms, picnic tables and garbage cans were kept clean and sanitized and the traffic was kept moving a well as possible on busy days. This was all accomplished with kind words and a smile.

Jeers to the person that was hunting in the Village of Canal Flats. You obviously are not too efficient with the crossbow as the deer was only injured and probably went off to die.

Cheers to all the book lovers who browsed and bought books at the Friends of the Library Pop Up Book Sale on Saturday, September 5. Cheers to Brendan Donahue for offering the Manulife Securities parking spaces and lawn for the sale. The Invermere Library is so grateful for all the community support.

A big Cheers to the Pioneer. I am very grateful for the Pioneer each week free of charge. Much appreciated.

Cheers to Margaret Radermacher for helping a girl out in her time of need. Your kindness and generosity was appreciated and will not be forgotten.

A big Cheers to Megan at the Invermere hospital lab. You are such a lovely person, your kindness is appreciated!

Cheers to Chasse and Carter Purdy for the awesome work! Fast, reasonable and professional. Much appreciated.

Cheers to all of the individuals that took time sewing items, and businesses that made donations to the Invermere Hospital throughout the pandemic. Much appreciated!

Belated Cheers to the Invermere Delivery Guy for the unexpected, but much appreciated, ice cream drumstick while I waited for my wife in my extremely hot vehicle on a hot August day.

A huge Cheers to Columbia Valley Freight for going above and beyond with our order.

Brie you and your drivers are amazing.

A belated Cheers to Jan and Leann at the Radium Hot Springs Public Library for bringing so much happiness to kids with the Summer Reading Club weekly activities. The grab bags were always exciting and a highlight of the week.

Weekly Featured Listing

Top floor and lakeview!

2 bedroom, 2 bath, plus den

$259,900 #3418 205 3rd Avenue (Lake Windermere Pointe) MLS: 2454120 (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.

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

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE ELKHORN COUNTRY ESTATES Selling Phase 3 now!

2.5-acre parcels.

No building time commitment.

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

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE ACREAGE FOR SALE 4.7 acres. Has its own graveled access road from Kootenay #3 road already constructed. Drilled well, views, privacy. $219,000 plus GST. Phone Elkhorn Ranch, 250-342-1268.

CONDO FOR SALE Condo for sale (WPt). 2-bdrm/ den, f/f, top floor, mtn/lake views, walk to beach, price reduced $254,900, 403-9689222.

MISC. FOR SALE SIGMA 000M-15S 12-FRET ACOUSTIC GUITAR Solid mahogany top with mahogany neck, back and sides, slotted headstock, bone nut, bone compensated saddle, Indian rosewood fingerboard, 25.4” scale length and Grover nickel side tuners. Comes with a gig bag. Great sound, asking $500. Call 250-409-4104.

Top Quality Hay Round bales.

Phone Elkhorn Ranch 250-3421268.

Don’t Miss an Issue!

BUYING OR SELLING? I specialize in rural, recreational, farm and ranch properties.

BARRY BROWN-JOHN “Rocky Mountain Land Man”

Call or text

250-342-5245 b.brownjohn@gmail.com

N E W S PA P E R

Read us online:

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

September 17, 2020

VEHICLES FOR SALE

SERVICES

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

2009 TOYOTA Tacoma 4x4 54,700 kms immaculate! Leather PW, PS, PM. Lined canopy and box, Tr. Pkg. VVT-1 V6 Call: 250-3421105.

SERVICES FOR SENIORS The Heartfelt Companion offers non-medical help to seniors in their home and respite for caregivers.

Companionship, errands, transportation, personal care, meal prep and more. Excellent local references and credentials and a big, kind heart! “Leanne and her associates have made a real difference for myself and my husband, who is dealing with dementia. Leanne always seems to figure out what a client needs and enjoys.

This also gave me a much needed break. I would highly recommend her service”. www.invermerehomecare.com, Leanne Brooks 250-341-5683.

COLUMBIA VALLEY TAXI LTD IS LOOKING FOR DRIVERS! This position would be terrific for a senior or anyone else who would like to stay busy and supplement their income. Duties - Pre trip inspection of vehicles, driving of mini vans or 14 passenger vans. Requirements Class 4 or better valid BC Drivers licence, satisfactory drivers abstract. We would LOVE to hear from you! Please drop off resumes at 801-10th Ave South, Golden BC or call us at 250-3445237.

OK Tire Invermere is looking for a hardworking individual to join our team for the fall season as a Tire Technician. There is potential for this to become a year-round position for the right person. This person must be hardworking, punctual, have a clean driving abstract, able to follow instruction and physically able to do heavy lifting. Drop a resume off in person to OK Tire, 156, Industrial Rd. #2, Invermere.

Everett Frater Enterprises now hiring Lawn maintenance employees for Mon-Fri, weekends off. Call 250-342-5645.

SERVICES LEE’S SMALL ENGINE REPAIR SHOP Specializing in chainsaws, tillers, trimmers and lawn mower repairs and maintenance.

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!

HELP WANTED 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.

Spic N Span Cleaning: Office or evening cleans available, Monday to Thursday.

No daytime cleans. Please contact 250-688-1259 to book.

Kootenay Country Electrical Qualified Electrical Service Licensed, Bonded, Insured Highly skilled electrician Call Dean 250-342-5516.

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.

MOUNT 7 TAXI LTD IS LOOKING FOR DRIVERS! This position would be terrific for a senior or anyone else who would like to stay busy and supplement their income. Duties Pre trip inspection of vehicles, driving of mini vans or 14 passenger vans. Requirements Class 4 or better valid BC Drivers licence, satisfactory drivers abstract. We would LOVE to hear from you! Please drop off resumes at 801-10th Ave South, Golden BC or call us at 250-3445237.

Big Horn Cafe, Radium Hot Springs looking for fulltime Assistant Baker, there will be some Barista duties.

No evenings, flexible hours, medical and dental benefits, negotiable per hour wage based on experience, we will train.

Competitive wages. Apply to bighorncafe1@outlook.com or phone 403-861-2978.

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/hr 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.

Radium Valley Vacation Resort is looking for a team player. Our Guest Services position does require that you be able to work nights and weekends. This parttime position could lead into full-time for the right person.

Experience with Microsoft Office, the hospitality industry and basic accounting skills are an asset but we are willing to train. Please apply by e-mail to radval@rvvr.onmicrosoft.com.

BCYCNA – CLASSIFIED ADS

We are looking for a fun, friendly, creative, caring, energetic individual to lead the after school program for children 5 - 11 years old.

This can be a part-time position or a full-time position that would include assisting in the early learning programs.

Position would start as soon as possible.

We are located at 818 12th Street in Invermere.

Please send resume to dragonflydiscoverycentre@gmail.com.

We’re looking for hardworking, energetic and reliable people just like you!

CASHIERS/PRODUCE CLERKS POSITIONS AVAILABLE No previous experience required Days/Nights/Weekends

Apply in person.

471 Arrow Road, Invermere, B.C.

0911611 BC Ltd. O/A Tim Hortons 496 Highway 93/95, Invermere BC, V0A 1K2 Tim Hortons Invermere is currently looking for

BUILDINGS FOR SALE 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

BUSINESS FOR SALE

SERVICES Attention

POWER PAVING -No job too smallFree Estimates Call (250) 421-1482

Crossroads Market is now hiring for Deli Personnel. Above average wage package with a high season bonus. We have openings for all shifts. Please email resume to kgtltd2020@ gmail.com or apply in person at Crossroads Market.

ONEBERRIE Jr Marketing/Photographer Starting End of Sept. $15/hr, 3 - 8 hours per week.

Internship. TO APPLY go Facebook.com/oneberrie.

Inventors!

Ideas wanted!

Call Davison today!

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

Free inventor’s guide!

HEALTH

GET UP TO $50,000 from the Government of Canada. Do you or someone you know Have any of these Conditions? ADHD, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer, COPD, Depression, Diabetes, Difficulty Walking, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowels, Overweight, Trouble Dressing...and Hundreds more.

ALL ages & Medical Conditions Qualify. Have a child under 18 instantly receive more money.

CALL BRITISH COLUMBIA BENEFITS 1-(800)-211-3550 OR Send a Text Message with Your Name and Mailing Address to (604) 739-5600 For Your FREE benefits package.

FOOD SERVICE SUPERVISORS Permanent, full-time, part-time, shift, weekend, day, night, evening. $15.60 per hour + benefits • Start Date: ASAP # of Vacancies: 6 • Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years Education: No degree, certificate or diploma required.

Please apply via email at timhortons.invermere@gmail.com or in person at 496 Highway 93/95 Invermere, BC

SCHOOL DI STRI C T NO. 6 (ROCKY M OUNTAI N)

TRADESMAN I CASUAL SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS CASUAL CUSTODIANS 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, September 25 to:: Human Resources, School District No. 6 (Rocky Mountain)

Call 1-866-669-922 to place your BCYCNA ad.

e-mail: hr@sd6.bc.ca

September 17, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19

Columbia Valley garlic production soars

By James Roses james@columbiavalleypioneer.com Never before has there been more garlic grown in the Columbia Valley. The root vegetable of the Allium genus is now, in fact, produced in excess of increasing valley demand. There are several reasons why. Our dry climate and the short growing season is well suited to grow garlic. It’s a profitable crop for smaller scale operations that aren’t reliant on plentiful irrigation. It’s a hardy vegetable that can withstand a hard winter. It stores well. Growers can sell garlic through the winter and sell value-added products like garlic salt, garlic scapes (the bulb’s flowering part) or fermented black garlic.

“People are willing to pay significantly more for locally grown garlic than the cheap imported product from the United States and China,” said Sydney-Anne Porter of Valley Foods. “People have always eaten garlic. It’s just that people are increasingly more aware of where their food is grown. It surprises me, but garlic sales keep going up.”

At Valley Foods, imported Chinese garlic goes for $3/lb. California and Argentinean: $10.99/lb. Locally grown organic garlic from Edible Acres: $18/lb. Of course, better pricing for local garlic is found at the two weekly farmer’s markets.

“There is some resistance to the cost of local garlic,” said Lara McCormack of From Scratch Foods. “But as soon as people read about how the Chinese stuff is grown, they never want to touch it again. What’s in the soil is what’s in the fruit or vegetable your eating, which is what’s now in your body. And one clove of local, don’t forget, is about as potent as three quarters of an entire Chinese bulb.”

Was this phenomenon only a matter of time? Perhaps. In less than ten years, the Columbia Valley’s agricultural reputation and output have changed. Community gardens, farmer’s stands and markets have become increasingly popular. People now want locally grown produce and livestock. In 2011, the Windermere District Farmers’ Institute published a land use inventory report that showed over 99 per cent of the valley’s crops were dedicated to livestock feed. But concepts like food security, transportation footprint and sustainable agriculture have made their way into the public consciousness.

The result is the volume and diversity of the valley’s agricultural output have increased.

The trend toward a more sophisticated Canadian palette is also at work. After all, good garlic is in good company. To Anthony Bourdain, garlic was “divine.” For gourmand writer Jim Harrison, “Bandol, garlic, and Mozart” got him through life’s hardships. “People are more willing to try new things these days,” said Megan Ballard of Cafe Allium. At her restaurant, over half of her dishes use garlic. “People are eating less meat and cheese. They instead want more garlic, herbs and spices to flavour their food.”

For years, prices went up for locally grown garlic. But bullish pricing attracted more growers to the point where pricing plateaued. There are now at least five commercial garlic growers between Spillimacheen and Canal Flats. The breadth of varietals serves as a natural differentiator. “We grow nineteen different types of garlic,” said Oliver Egan of Edible Acres. Egan’s operation is the valley’s largest. In almost two decades of growing, Egan and his team have increased their production from one 100 foot row of garlic to now producing (and selling) 5,000 pounds per year. While Egan sells wholesale to the grocery and restaurant sector, the majority of his sales are direct through the Edible Acres Cafe, farmer’s markets, and online to customers across Canada.

Edible Acres’ success inspired other agri-entrepreneurs. Ellen Wilker is in her mid-twenties and started Old Blue Truck Farm three years ago on her family’s land up Swansea Road. At university, she studied environmental science. Since graduating, Wilker has poured her energy into farming. The success of her business is centred around garlic. “It’s a fairly straightforward crop to grow, and it’s our most profitable on a per acre basis,” she said. “But there are still complexities to it that impact the shelf life, flavour, and so on. Our most popular is our Red Russian varietal. But we also sell lots of our Leningrad, Khabar and Wenger’s. People are curious and want to try garlic that’s bold, spicy or mild and creamy.”

At farmer’s markets, Wilker sells her garlic for $12/lb. “We aren’t certified organic, but what we do is, in fact, organic.” Before she started her own project, she worked for a year under Egan’s tutelage. With Hedi Trescher, Wilker is currently conducting a study on what other crops are suitable for the Columbia Valley. “I would love to try growing

mushrooms and tea,” she said. “Mushrooms, I think, are the next garlic.”

Is that to suggest we are already past peak garlic? There was a time when label claims like certified organic achieved for a growers premium pricing. Not so much anymore. “With certified organic production, the premium pricing advantage has largely been competed away,” said Susan Smith, Industry Specialist Field Vegetables for B.C.’s Ministry of Agriculture. “There are lots of different label claims and growers hoping to receive premium pricing from those who are getting discouraged.” Smith agrees that there’s been a growing interest in the crop. She’s cautious however of B.C.’s ability to become a premium exporter. “[B.C.] doesn’t have the production infrastructure to export garlic on a scale like California or Mexico,” she said. “And there’s not enough garlic in excess of our own demand to supply export markets.”

Once farmers start trying to produce garlic on a larger scale, it becomes more labour intensive. “That’s when growers start to run into trouble,” Smith said. “There have been all kinds of cases where big crops mature too quickly, and growers don’t have the necessary labour to harvest it all. In California and China, the cost of production is significantly lower than in B.C. Cheaper labour, you name it.”

Nonetheless, entrepreneurs like Wilker remain optimistic. “I’m aware that garlic farming gets more labour and capital intensive,” she said. But for her, it’s just one more puzzle. To be considered on a pair of skis this winter. And of course, after next year’s garlic is planted this fall.

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20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

September 17, 2020

FAITH Being a spacious person

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH

By Brent Woodard Anglican/United Church

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 service which starts at 10:30 a.m. Sundays.

Recorded services can be accessed by typing WVSM Invermere Anglican United Church.

250-342-6644 • www.wvsm.ca

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service 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 LUTHERAN CHURCH

Radium council discusses short term rentals

Sunday 1:30 p.m. Worship Service at Valley Christian Assembly 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere www.eklutheran.ca mtzionlc@hotmail.com

By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.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 Worship Service, Sunday, 10 a.m.

Relief Society, 11:15 a.m.

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

The Pioneer can

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take you r do llar With 4,400 copies far in circulation each week, th er your message is resonating with residents and visitors alike.

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

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

It’s been fairly new for me to learn the correlation between being spiritual and being spacious. Jesus said something like “seek first the kingdom of heaven,” and “the kingdom of heaven is not something that you can see with your eyes or point to and say it’s over there.” Also, he said, “the kingdom of heaven is within you.” Mmm… what might he be talking about? One possible view is, in several languages the word for “heaven” is also the same word for “sky.” What we call sky is really no thing. It is space. And the older word “kingdom” might be understood as the more current word “dimension.” So, the “kingdom of heaven,” might be translated as the “dimension of space.” So, in this way of thinking, it is like Jesus said, “seek first the dimension of space…, which is within you.”

Space within us. Is there spaciousness within us?

What would it feel like to have spaciousness within us? Is the opposite of having spaciousness within us to be full, to be closed, to be dense, to be the things in space rather than the space itself? Space is that which allows all things

to be. Space does not fight or resist. It allows and accepts.

For example, when a storm cloud fills the sky’s space, it comes, and it goes, but after it is gone, the space and the sky remain untouched.

The opposite of being space is being the objects in space. For example, opinions are like mental objects that can occupy our inner space. Sometimes we think our opinions are so important that we equate them with who we are. “Who would I be without my opinions?” Yet, are we really our opinions? Where did we get our beliefs? If we are our opinions, does that mean we can’t change our opinions? What if we are not our opinions, our thoughts or our feelings? What if they are just objects that come and go in the space that we are? Does that mean we can have an opinion without an opinion having us? It could be that the more spacious we are, the more spiritual we are.

Being spiritual doesn’t mean having beliefs that we hang on to, build an identity around, and end up defending as if our life depended on them. Being spiritual means being more open and allowing and spacious.

People don’t argue over, go to war over, or separate into different camps over knowing themselves as space. Personally, I find it hard to be spacious. I have lived much of my life being a dense person. It hasn’t been much fun or served me well. So, I’m attracted to this new way of looking at things simply because I think it will be a better way for me. My task and gift are to practice it.

The most recent Radium council meeting was offered in a hybrid style, with councillors and staff meeting in person, and the public joining in via Zoom. All councillors were present for the in-person meeting on Wednesday, September 9th, all sitting six feet apart from each other.

As the days are going shorter, the council plans on reopening the Radium Hot Springs Centre to users groups, by reservation, after the long weekend in October. Users of the building will have to respect the provincial guidelines for COVID-19 for events. The manager of any given user group will be in charge of enforcing these rules.

As per new regulations that the government of B.C. has recently issued: the sound level of music is not permitted to be louder than conversation voices. More precise instruction on use of the centre are to come from council.

Last May Sinclair Creek flooded due to heavy rain.

The disaster damaged the trail system, and the public works garage and sewer treatment plant was threatened.

The bill for the damage cost totalled $21,830. Radium chief financial officer Karen Sharp applied for funding to help cover the costs from the provincial regional emergency operation centre (PREOC) program. The province approved the application, and will reimburse all costs.

The main topic of the night was about the controversy stirring in Radium over short term rentals (STRs).

What is are STRs? According to the definition the village is using in a draft policy on the matter, STR means ‘’guests’ commercial accommodation in a private residence, which could include a room, apartment, secondary suite, or house on a temporary basis, this being 30 consecutive days or less.’’ The purpose of Radium’s planned STR policy is to regulate the industry as cur-

rently no laws are in place governing STRs. With the policy, Radium council hopes to ensure that STRs are well managed, basic standards are met.

Radium council and staff are in the second draft of the policy, and are planning more public consultation as soon a draft bylaw is ready (likely by the end of the year).

Council members do not agree on the number of permits that should be granted. Councillor Mike Gray wants a fixed number, but other council members disagreed.

As part of the master plan for the public park behind the Radium Hot Springs Centre, Radium Rotary Club has been fundraising for a splash park for the past year and a half. The club target raised $200,000. But after consultation on the cost of installing the splash park, the club realized it would need $300,000. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it put all fundraising efforts on pause. Rotary Club will continue to try raising funds.

Council also made some small changes to its fire services bylaw. The fees and charges now extend to the fourth ($500), fifth and each subsequent false alarm ($1,000). It is also specified that the services provided by the fire department must be within its capacity to undertake with a qualified workforce and resources. Radium fire chief Dave Dixon was satisfied with these changes.

Local resident Ken Becker requested the relocation of a fire hydrant placed on his property. He is responsible for annual servicing and service after each usage as he own it by the fact the hydrant is on his land. Once, he realized the hydrant was damaged and needed $1,000 in repairs, which Becker paid. A better spot will be beneficial for the safety of the neighbourhood, he said, adding that as the road work is occurring nearby, now is the ideal time to relocate it. Cracking a joke, he added that he is happy to donate the current spigot. Council approved his request.