U13 Rockies chosen to host Tier 4 Championship

By Joanne McQuarrie editor@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The U13 Rockies have been on a fundraising blitz after getting word they were chosen to host the BC Hockey Tier 4 Championship at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena March 19 - 23.

Amanda Thiesen, media chair, BC Hockey championship committee, Windermere Valley 2023, said seven teams will compete from the Lower Mainland, West Kootenay (Nelson Leafs), East Kootenay (Elk Valley Raiders and Columbia Valley Rockies), North West, North Central, Okanagan.

“The kids went to local businesses looking for sponsorships,” Thiesen said. “Our major fundraising campaign has come to a close now. We are also doing an online 50/50 with a chance to win up to $10,000. (The) prize amount depends on the number of tickets sold. It is the first online 50/50 for the association (WVMHA). The draw for this prize will happen during the championship on March 21.”

Thiesen explained, “Our goal is to raise $25,000. Fundraising helps us pay for: travel for officials and BC Hockey representatives; trophies (fair play and championship); opening and closing ceremonies; the banquet dinner; guest speaker, Dampy Brar. He will give an inspirational speech to the championship athletes and coaches during our banquet. His message will be about promoting hockey equity for everyone. (Plus) ice time and much more!

Check out: https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/windermere-valley ion, the “biggest culprit, one that doesn’t get addressed, is styrofoam. Let’s start with that.” Bradatsch suggested that “if our water quality was better, we would see less plastic water bottles used. That’s where we need to start.”

A community recreation centre with an indoor swimming pool is a topic that constituents have brought up with the Invermere council sporadically for many years, usually by means of a written letter, with council usually ending the matter by pointing to the considerable cost of such a facility. The idea has been getting a bit more traction here lately, after the town of Golden and the surrounding rural electoral area (Columbia Shuswap Regional District Area A) voted in a referendum (held in conjunction with last fall’s municipal election) to borrow $18 million to build an indoor aquatic centre there. The Pioneer has heard from more than a few residents in the ensuing months asking, if they can do it in Golden, why not in Invermere?

The question on this topic produced the most varied responses among the candidates of any subject in the forum. Stevens answered first and said that previously she would have been against a new indoor pool-recreation centre because of the cost, but that recent conversations