VALLEY NEWS
New residential development proposed
Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
A new development consisting of 35 residential lots is being proposed in rural Invermere.
On May 8, the RDEK heard a presentation from Haworth Development Consulting on Goldie Creek Estates with an associated zoning and Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment.
The proposal indicates the vacant lands (120 hectares) on Johnson Road west of Invermere are to be zoned small holdings, semi-rural to permit single family residences.
The plan also includes creating a conservation/recreation parcel (approximately 81 hectares — 59 per cent of the total land area —will be conservation/recreation lands).
The application states that most of the recre-
ational trails on the property will be retained. It is also noted that many of the environmentally sensitive areas (wetlands, grasslands, etc.) will remain free from development. Approximately 9.4 acres in the southwest corner are identified as a watershed protection area.
The applicant has suggested that the conservation lands be dedicated as park and transferred to the RDEK at the time of subdivision. However, the RDEK has yet to make a decision on this.
A number of concerns have been expressed about the proposal, including road access (one way in and out), wildfire hazard, and urban sprawl. It was noted that badgers have been seen in this area.
Water quality protection and sewage impacts are also issues of concern.
The subject property lies within the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation and Shuswap Band, so there are archaeological components that need addressing as well.
It is noted the public park and open space zone which comprises approximately 71 hectares (175 acres) of the property ensures the long-term protection of Abel Creek wetland and riparian corridor, plus green space. And the watershed protection zone ensures protection of the Paddy Ryan Lakes reservoir watershed.
Goldie Creek Estates will include retention of over 55 per cent of the lands as publicly accessible green space with retained mountain biking and hiking trails throughout. In total, over 70 hectares (174 acres) will be protected as parkland with this proposal.
IALP holds public engagement sessions
By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com
The group of local residents planning the Invermere Accessible Living Plaza (IALP) held public engagement sessions on the site of the proposed accessible and affordable housing development last week in downtown Invermere.
The project envisions a fourand-a-half storey mixed-use residential and commercial building on 7th Avenue (Invermere’s main street), very close to the intersection of 7th Avenue and 4th Street (by Sobeys and Columbia Valley Centre) with 47 fully accessible long-term rental units built around an open courtyard, green space and a lobby, with commercial business space on the lower levels.
At least 20 per cent of the rental units will be offered at 20 per cent below market rental rates.
Local residents spearheading the project include Recreation Adapted (RAD) Society founder Tanelle Bolt, Station Pub co-owner Ryan Karl, and Mountain Homes Productions (MHP) co-owner Stephen Raaflaub. (The project also includes several British Columbiabased infrastructure planners and architects.)
On Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, the group was at the site (which is currently a vacant lot) answering questions and presenting project details to curious members of the public and anyone else who happened to be strolling by.
When the Pioneer visited late on May 9, project proponents talked with approximately half a dozen passersby in the space of a half hour. Most of those passersby were hearing about the project for the first time. All seemed enthusiastic about it, and one ended up talking with planner and consultant Kelly Miller for at least 10 minutes.
Miller estimated that roughly 20 people have stopped by the session throughout the afternoon, and all had positive feedback.
Local resident Ray Schnerch was headed down 7th Avenue while the Pioneer was at the session, and stopped to talk with the IALP group.
“I think it’s perfect. It’s exactly what we need,” Schnerch told the Pioneer afterwards.
Shannon Nickerson, also on her way past, had a similar opinion after she too stopped to learn more.
“From what I can tell at first glance, it looks like a great project,” she said.
Those leading the Invermere Accessible Living Plaza (IALP) project held public engagement sessions at the site in downtown Invermere last weekend.
PHOTOS STEVE HUBRECHT
Roughly 22,000 people recreated on a seven-kilometre stretch of Columbia River between Columbia Lake and Fairmont Hot Springs in 2021 alone. In the 17 km stretch between Athalmer and Radium, the numbers were lower, but no less staggering: 4,000 to 6,000 people were recorded each year.
From paddling, to boating, swimming and floating, waterbased recreation is increasing in the Columbia Valley, and as it does, so too will the impacts on aquatic species and ecosystems unless we come up with proactive solutions.
Wildsight Invermere hosted a public event recently in Radium Hot Springs with the goal of bringing together experts and the public to present research, discuss threats and ask questions, all in the interest of protecting the continued health of our Columbia Valley waterways. Dr. Suzanne Bayley presented the above statistics during her talk on results from the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners study, which tracked recreational users on the Columbia River.
Until 2019, evidence of increased river traffic between Fairmont Hot Springs and Golden was largely anecdotal. Through this fiveyear monitoring project, Suzanne, Joan Gallaway and other volunteers collected data to support the claim of increased human activity, understand possible threats to wildlife as a result, and investigate if motorized traffic is a concern.
In another presentation, Georgia Peck of Living Lakes Canada identified trends and key outcomes from a number of projects related to Columbia Valley waterways and increased recreational use.
Pam Saunders with the Lake Windermere Ambassadors highlighted the concerning impacts of power boats on lakes, featuring findings from the Lake Windermere Recreational Carrying Capacity Study. And Biologist Rachel Darvill explored the interaction between water-based recreation and bird populations in her talk.
Other talks centred around in-
vasive species, with Marie Veillard from Parks Canada highlighting the concerns and mitigation efforts around whirling disease, while Sgt. Dan Bartol of the Rocky Mountain Zone Conservation Officer Service provided insight on BC's Invasive Mussel Defence Program.
Bartol also gave a demonstration of invasive mussel tools including the mobile wash station for boats, and his new trainee dog Kilo, a 16-month-old pure-bred German Shepherd currently learning to sniff for zebra mussels.
Following the panelist presentations, the discussion ranged from how to turn data into action, improvements in awareness, and the importance of engaging with wider audiences.
"The biggest impact can happen
Delivery doldrums Protecting water starts with everyone
A word of caution for anyone expecting any sort of delivery in the near future.
We have an acreage which fronts on two roads. There is a one- room log cabin on Juniper Heights Road and our home which fronts on a secondary road just below the cabin. Thus, there can be some confusion in regard to deliveries. That is why I have posted a sign on the door of the cabin which states: “No deliveries, please take to house below.” However, I was recently surprised to find a package which had been left immediately below the sign.
But that wasn't the most glaring error! Just last week my wife went next door to perform the minimal maintenance we do for our absentee neighbours. She was fortunate to notice a package sitting on the front porch. But it had my name and address on it! And it contained a device which is essential to a diabetic like me. It could have been there for who knows how long.
I wish I could find out who is responsible for such erroneous deliveries, but I'm not sure where to look. In any case, be aware!
Robert Dee Hahn, Invermere
at the local level if collaboration and intent is there," sid Georgia Peck.
Wildsight Strategic Advisor John Bergenske spoke about the importance of speaking up as a community. Wildsight Invermere branch president Tracy Flynn ended the afternoon by saying, “We've got a lot in common, so let's work to make it a better world."
Akisqnuk First Nation member Faro Burgoyne encouraged attendees to rethink their relationship with water. "We all live here, we all call this home, we all use the water, we all drink it. It makes up our bodies; it sustains our life.”
When you … have this relationship with water, you can consider it an ancestor or family — for it does provide you with life, not the other way around. Wildsight Invermere
UPCOMING COURSES INVERMERE CAMPUS
• Foster Inclusive Culture – Lecture
May 16 AM | $75
• Understanding the Exposure Triangle (Photography) May 21 - 23 | $85 + GST
• Red Cross Standard First Aid May 22 - 23 | $295
• CV Chamber of Commerce – Lunch & Learn May 22 | $20
• Advanced First Aid May 26 - June 6 | $995
• Red Cross Babysitting Course May 31 | $79
• Botanical Elixirs & Functional Mocktails June 7 | $89 + GST
• Creative Strokes: Painting with Black Star Studios June 14 | $55 + GST
cotr.ca/ConEd | 250-342-3210
Invermere updates building incentives
By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com
Invermere has updated its building incentive policy.
The policy was due for an update, having first been put in place more than a decade ago. District staff, led by Invermere environmental planner Amy Fletcher, put forward a revised version of the policy this past January. But Invermere councillors put the matter on pause after local resident Tracy Flynn suggested better aligning Invermere’s building incentive policy update with the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK)’s new retrofit assist program.
District staff met with their RDEK counterparts later in the win-
ter, and as a result have now incorporated four incentive rebates into the updated policy based on the retrofit assist program. These include for building envelope improvements (such as better windows, better doors, and better insulation); for adding an air-source heat pump; for installing energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) or heat recovery ventilators (HRVs); and for adding a solar panel system. They kept in the most popular rebate from the old building incentive policy: one for converting to low-flow flushing toilets.
Invermere council adopted the new building incentive policy during its Tuesday, Aprill 22 meeting. The policy has a $10,000 budget — $8,000 for the energy retrofit incentives, and $2,000 for the toilet re-
Affordable Housing Incentives
According to the Village of Radium Hot Springs’ 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report, 106 new units will be needed between 2023-2028.
Since 2023, the Village and its partners have implemented a suite of incentives to get these units built. Property owners can choose one or several incentives to lower the cost of a long-term rental project.
placement rebate.
During discussion on the policy, councillor Theresa Wood asked about a stipulation that a qualified contractor needed to do the work in order for Invermere homeowners to get the rebate. She wanted to know more about the definition of “qualified,” noting that some energy-related qualifications can be “pretty onerous” to get, while others are easier. If the qualifications are hard to get, and as a result there are few contractors in the Columbia Valley certified to do the work, then not many residents will use the rebates for the simple reason that it will be hard to find someone to do the job, she reasoned.
Councillor (and acting mayor) Kayja Becker replied that, to her
understanding, the policy takes a broad definition of qualified contractor. “That’s ideal, because we want people actually using the rebates,” said Becker.
The updated building incentive policy applies to Invermere homeowners, not to renters.
Back in January councillor Gerry Taft had commented that many building incentive rebate policies are specifically for homeowners. “These programs don’t often consider rental households. But when it comes to energy efficiency, the ownership structure (of the home) doesn’t matter. What matters is how much energy it uses,” Taft said at the time. “A lot of Invermere’s long-term rental housing stock is aging homes that are not energy efficient.”
If you are building a new secondary suite, accessory dwelling, singledetached or multi-use dwelling, and plan to rent it long-term, you may be eligible for a municipal property tax waiver for the value of the building permit.
Development Cost Charges (DCCs) are levies placed on developments to fund growth-related infrastructure needs such as water and sewer. The Village has implemented a waiver for purpose-built nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing developments.
There’s More!
Prioroty Application Process
Any project which meets the criteria will be administered on a priority basis.
Lower Off-Street Parking Requirements
Projects meeting the criteria are eligible for a development variance for a relaxation of up to 50% of off-street parking requirements for affordable housing units.
BC Housing Secondary Suite Incentive Program
In addition to the above, there is potential of an up to $40,000 forgivable loan from BC Housing for secondary suites rented at below market rate for at least five years.
These reasons and more are why Radium Hot Springs is leading the way on affordable housing incentives! For more information contact the development department of the Village of Radium Hot Springs:
Edgewater resident top volunteer
By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com
Edgewater resident Roxanne Wowdzia has been named Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Area G volunteer of the year.
Wowdzia, originally from Edmonton, visited the Columbia Valley for decades before moving permanently to Edgewater more than 20 years ago.
It was a move that worked out wonderfully, both for Wowdzia and for Edgewater, as she’s woven herself into the fabric of the community ever since, always willing to lend a hand or volunteer her time for any number of causes.
In particular, during a small ceremony to recognize Wowdzia at a recent Brisco town hall meeting, her efforts with the Edgewater Recreation Society and community hall were cited.
“Roxanne has made invaluable contributions to the spirit and sense of community in our area,” said RDEK Area G director Roberta Schnider. “Her dedication ... is unparalleled and we are lucky to receive her energy, attention to detail
and enthusiasm throughout countless tasks, events, and projects.”
Wowdzia has been on the recreation society board and acted as the community hall booking person for years, and spends untold numbers of hours organizing the annual Christmas market.
“She is not only a great organizer and advocate for our area, but an amazing friend and asset to our community,” added Schnider.
Wowdzia told the Pioneer the honour came as a surprise.
“I had to ask them ‘me? Are you sure’?” she said with a laugh. “In some ways I feel I shouldn’t get the award because I’m just a part of a team (of volunteers). I’m just doing my part. Everyone works together, and that’s how we get things done.”
Edgewater is a small, rural community with many young families, she outlined. In a place such as that, improvement to the ball diamond makes a big difference to local kids.
“We’re trying to revamp our town, to get it back to what it once was. I enjoy helping out with that. It brings the community together ... if you volunteer, you get to meet so many people. You get to know the
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community, and I really like that too,” she said.
Wowdzia lives in Edgewater with one of her daughters (the other daughter lives in Edmonton). She has retired from a career at Canada Post, but hasn’t slowed down one bit. When she’s not busy with the recreation society, Christmas mar-
ket, or community hall, you’ll find Wowdzia involved with local farmers’ markets or getting outside to enjoy time in nature.
One of her favourite outdoor activities is the evening walks she does with a group of friends along Sinclair Creek in Radium Hot Springs.
Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Area G director Roberta Schnider (left) presents Edgewater resident Roxanne Wowdzia with the Area G Volunteer of the Year award in Brisco. PHOTO SUBMITTED
OUT OF OFFICE…
Life as a Resident Physician in Invermere
Submitted by: By Michayla Hicks, UBC Kelowna Family Medicine Program
As I near the end of my family medicine residency through the UBC Kelowna program, I reflect on one of the most impactful experiences of my training: my rural rotation in Invermere.
I was interested in completing my rural rotation in Invermere because of its location, nestled in the mountains. Previous residents spoke highly of the training and, more importantly, the people. When I arrived, my first impression was pure awe. Invermere’s natural beauty is striking, and its smalltown charm immediately made me feel welcome. It wasn’t long before I understood what others had meant when they said that this place is special.
Outside of work, I had endless opportunities to soak up the outdoors from hiking to skiing. I used every free moment to explore the community and surrounding region. With Panorama being just a short drive from town, it was easy to take advantage of blue skies and groomed runs.
Beyond the scenery, what truly made Invermere stand out was the unparalleled sense of community. From the people in town to my preceptors to the clinic staff and hospital staff, everyone I met made me feel like I belonged.
The warm welcome that I received extended far beyond professional support, it was a personal welcome to the community.
The clinical learning environment in Invermere was second to none. The mentorship I received pushed me to grow my clinical skills and build my confidence. My preceptors went above and beyond teaching and created an environment that fostered genuine connection and collegiality. They shared clinical wisdom and invited me into their personal lives, creating a space where I felt safe to learn and flourish. My days were full and varied: morning rounds at the hospital, time with clinic staff over coffee, procedures at lunch, and an afternoon back in clinic. It was the full-spectrum rural experience that I had hoped for.
One moment that truly captured the heart of my time in Invermere happened on my birthday. I was working all day, away from family and friends, expecting a busy, lonely day. Instead, I was met with a surprise card and cake from the clinic staff. Later, while working in the emergency department, a local physician called me just to say how perfect the lake looked for skating. My preceptor told me to go enjoy the sunshine, fresh air, and insisted that he would cover things while I was gone. The same doctor that called me, brought me skates. I zipped across a glassy Lake Windermere, then returned to the hospital where we finished the evening with takeout. That day, I didn’t feel like “just another resident.” I felt part of a family.
This rotation changed my perspective on where I want to practice. I’ve come to value being part of a tight-knit community and realized I don’t see myself returning to a city to practice.
Invermere reminded me that medicine is about more than diagnoses and management; it’s about connection. The medical community in Invermere truly cares.
For anyone considering working or doing a rotation in Invermere, my advice is simple: don’t miss Invermere. Immerse yourself. Talk to locals. Ask what’s happening in town, because there’s always something. The beauty of the region will draw you in, but it’s the people who will make you want to stay.
To read more about physician recruitment in the Columbia Valley, please visit: www.invermeredoctors.ca
COLUMBIA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Iconic rocker headlines music bash ENTERTAINMENT
By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com
Invermere is ready to rock this weekend when legendary musician Kim Mitchell takes the stage at the Mountain Music Bash.
Mitchell made a name as a member of the band Max Webster in the 1970s, before hitting another gear when he launched his solo career in the 1980s, churning out a series of platinum, double platinum, and triple platinum albums in a span of just a few years, grabbing multiple Juno Awards along the way and eventually being inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Almost any Canadian with a penchant for classic rock is familiar with his biggest hits (if not by name
then certainly to hear them) including the massive 1984 single ‘Go For Soda’, his equally huge 1986 single ‘Patio Lanterns’, and his 1989 hits ‘Rock n Roll Duty’ and ‘Rocklandwonderland’. Unless you keep your radio tuned only to country music stations, you’ve doubtlessly heard these tunes many times. But who needs the radio when you can listen to these songs live?
Mitchell is the headline act during the Bash, which is at Eddie Mountain Memorial arena on Saturday, May 17.
Mitchell may be a pedigreed rock star, with the accolades to back it up, but talk to him on the phone and he sounds every bit like an average Canadian, happy to be doing what he loves for a living.
“Live music is one of the few
things where it just doesn’t matter who you are, how much money you make, how your day went, or anything else. You come to the show, and for a few hours none of that matters ... you let it all go and just ride on the music,” Mitchell told the Pioneer. He concedes that may sound a bit corny, but insists for him it’s true. “I really like to transmit that musical energy to an audience.”
Mitchell grew up in Sarnia, Ontario, not far from Detroit, and his first musical inspiration was the smooth tambourine-tinged, “walking bass” Motown hits from that city, playing over the radio when he was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s.
He joined a high school band, and when he was just 17 years old, he quit school and moved to Toronto to further his music career. “It’s (quitting school) not something I recommend. I got really, really lucky and it worked out for me, but honestly when I left Sarnia, I figured I’d be back by the time I was 22 or 23 to work in the oil refinery,” he said.
That almost did happen within the first few years of moving to the big city. His band broke up and Mitchell got ready to return to Sarnia. Just before he did, a friend called offering him a job in a show band playing five nights a week for a frontman “who was kind of like a Greek Tom Jones,” explained Mitchell. “The pay was $150 a week, which was a lot in those days, so of course I said ‘yes’.”
This lead to a year-long stint for Mitchell and the show band on Rhodes, the largest Dodecanese island in Greece, backing up that frontman, who had family-owned business interests there.
“It was an amazing experience,” recalled Mitchell. He went from struggling to make ends meet as a young musician in Toronto to living on a sun-kissed isle in the sky-blue Mediterranean, where his biggest decision each day was, as he describes it, deciding which way to go for his morning stroll.
Mitchell came back to Toronto and founded Max Webster. The band met with modest success, then Mitchell decided to go solo in 1982. A few years later ‘Go For Soda’ came out and was all over the airwaves, even charting south of the border.
The song came about when Mitchell was at a party with his friend and co-writer. “I was not really digging it (the party) and so I asked my friend ‘want to go buy some wings’?” recalled Mitchell. “My friend said ‘sure, let’s go for soda. Nobody hurt, nobody cries’. And it just kind of struck me, and it became the tune.”
‘Patio Lanterns’ was also written quickly. Mitchell was driving around in a van. His co-writer mentioned that he had a few lyric fragments, but not a finished song. He shared them with Mitchell as he got out of the van. “Right away I could hear the melody to go with those words in my mind,” said Mitchell. “So I pulled out my guitar and wrote the verse right there in downtown Toronto.”
When it came time to record the song, Mitchell wasn’t satisfied, and even wanted the song left off his next album. “I just knew I could do it so much better,” he explained. But others involved in the recording disagreed, the song stayed on the album, and became perhaps his biggest hit.
Mitchell doesn’t churn out mega-selling albums any more, but says he’s more than content touring Canada, playing to enthusiastic crowds in big cities and small towns. When not on the road he lives in an older neighbourhood in Toronto’s West End. It’s a mostly normal life, and Mitchell likes it that way: walking his dog (who recently passed away), exercising, paying the bills, running errands, and trying to eat healthy.
“I do the same things everyone else does. The only thing that is different is I’m a bit older (Mitchell is 72), so I need to do vocal exercises every day (to keep his voice in rock singing shape). But I’m still here and I’m still grateful,” he said.
Despite confessing to being “older” Mitchell still puts in highenergy performances and has a great stage presence.
“I never phone it in,” he told the Pioneer. “I’m about customer service in rock and roll: people come for a good show, and that’s what I give. There’s a magic to it, to having people sing along to your songs.”
Local band Humongous Fungus will open for Mitchell. Doors open at 5 p.m. Mitchell plays at 8:30 p.m.
Couple relocates business
Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
A working duo who relocated their business to Invermere have a simple motto they live by: Do it right, do it once.
To be honest, Jeff and Jenny Johnson of Legacy Contracting don’t know of any other way.
The business offers certified septic system designs and installations, repairs, site prep, foundations and custom excavation.
Jeff, the owner/operator, has more than 20 years of experience and has installed over 250 septic systems, with a high degree of expertise in excavating.
He grew up in Alberta and Jenny grew up on Vancouver Is-
land. They met at the University of Alberta and lived a rural lifestyle for 20 years, establishing their company, Alberta Septic & Excavating. When they moved to Invermere they rebranded their company to Legacy Contracting.
Jenny’s background is financial administration and teaching, while Jeff . . . where do we start? He is a registered onsite wastewater practitioner and a certified BC and Alberta Wastewater Management Association installer.
With two degrees, Jeff has developed acreages from start to finish, running heavy equipment for 25 years.
Jeff has dug countless basements, waterlines, electrical
lines and drainage systems while being environmentally ethical and cost effective in his work.
But he admits one thing: Jenny is the brains behind the entire administration; without her there would be no business.
“We value hard work and being rewarded for efforts that come with running our own business,” Jenny says. She noted their goal is to gain exposure in the Columbia Valley by offering their expertise and skillset to people who need this type of work done.
For more details on Legacy Contracting services, visit legacy-contracting.ca Or call 403-559-6729.
REGIONAL PARK CAMPGROUND
Jeff Johnson of Legacy Contracting has many years of experience. SCREENSHOTS
New caddie program at Eagle Ranch
By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com
The golf season has already begun in the Columbia Valley and Eagle Ranch Golf Resort is teeing up its new caddie program.
Eagle Ranch’s caddie program is the first such program in the Columbia Valley, and one of just a few at public golf courses across Canada. It offers a new experience for golfers of all abilities.
“It’s a lost art,” new Eagle Ranch head golf pro and golf manager Steve Deschenes told the Pioneer, adding the caddies the resort has recruited so far are “very keen to share their passion for and knowledge of Eagle Ranch.”
A round with a caddy is “one of the most unique and, you could say, one of the purest ways to play a round of golf,” said Deschenes, adding it gives golfers a chance to walk the course, to really feel the turf and to get strategic advice and tips about the course.
That can come in handy on a course such as Eagle Ranch, which was ranked as one of
SCOREGolf'sTop 100 Golf Courses in 2024.
Getting on that prestigious list came in part because of Eagle Ranch’s pristine conditions and outstanding views, but also for many other reasons, including the challenging nature of the course.
“That’s a prime example of where a caddie can really impact your game,” said Deschenes. “As the great Ben Hogan once said, ‘the most important shot in golf is your next one.’ Caddies have knowledge of the course and its nuances that an amateur golfer may not otherwise observe.”
Deschenes noted there are some obvious benefits to caddie in terms of improving your score, “but beyond that, they bring a sense of camaraderie—celebrating your successes and sharing in your frustrations.”
Booking a caddie will also get you on the course earlier in the day (one of the most in-demand times to head out), as the resort is reserving the first two hours of every day for dedicated caddie tee times.
Eagle Ranch had initially want-
ed to launch its caddie program five years ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into those plans. The pandemic not only put pause on Eagle Ranch’s caddie program, but also significantly altered the golf industry across Canada, as it eventually prompted a huge (and lasting) uptick in participation in outdoor sports, including golf.
The caddie program is also part
of the resort’s signature golf retreat package, which includes accommodations at the Headwaters Lodge adjacent to the Eagle Ranch clubhouse.
“It’s the best way to group all of our best offerings, including the caddie program, into one great getaway,” said Eagle Ranch general manager Roxanne Prevost.
Eagle Ranch Golf Resort is teeing up its new caddie program.
District keeping tabs on mental health
Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 is keeping tabs on what’s going on in the complex minds of students.
In a recent report to the board, Director of Instruction Sharon Collin outlined what is being done in the Mental Health in Schools Strategy.
She noted the network of educators to support children’s well-being has grown, adding the district has prioritized the hiring of more child
and youth care workers to support mental health and related issues.
“Schools are recognized as the most appropriate environment for universal health promotion, as well as early recognition of mental health challenges,” Collin said.
She pointed out that several times this year school councillors, professionals, and Indigenous support workers recognized students in distress and put them on a pathway to care. They also came together to learn strategies on preventing child and youth exploitation.
Collin also highlighted the district’s work in building inclusive school communities for students who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+
Lastly, Collin noted the expanded offering of a substance use prevention program called ‘Preventer,’ which is taught to Grade 8 students in Invermere
In addition, there have been professional development workshops and coaching in ‘physical literature,’ and teaching staff how to engage students through movement in class.
Students vote for conservative minority
Submitted
A Conservative minority government was the choice for students across Canada on federal Election Day April 28.
Student Vote Canada reported that more than 900,000 elementary, intermediate and secondary school pupils participated in the vote after researching the parties and their platforms, and debating the future of the country.
A total of 870,340 valid votes were reported from 5,900 schools, with results from all 343 electoral districts. There were 30,453 rejected ballots.
In BC, 149,115 students cast ballots from 853 schools. In the end, students elected a Conservative Party minority government, with the Liberal Party forming the official opposition.
The Conservative Party won 165 seats and 36.4 per cent of the popular vote. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre won in the riding of Car-
leton, ON.
The Liberal Party won 145 seats and 31.7 per cent of the popular vote. The Bloc Québecois won 18 seats and 2.1 per cent of the popular vote. The NDP won 13 seats and 14.5 per cent of the popular vote. The Green Party won two seats and 7.5 per cent of the popular vote.
Jonathan Pedneault lost in the riding of Outremont, QC, and Elizabeth May won in Saanich— Gulf Islands.
Climbing challenge ‘peaks’ interest
By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com
Columbia Valley climbers have been clambering a little more often and a little more socially recently thanks to the new community climbing challenge.
The Columbia Valley Climbing Association launched the challenge at the end of March on the ‘Reaching Higher’ climbing wall at JA Laird Elementary School in an effort to get local climbers of all levels out and active during the shoulder season. The friendly contest has been a huge success so far, say organizers, and it will continue to the end of May, meaning there’s still time for anyone else interested to join in (even beginners, or those who are just curious).
“The idea was to create a community. To get people together while climbing, to socialize and get to know each other a bit more,” association member Julie Beauchemin told the Pioneer Beauchemin and other challenge organizers put their thinking caps on and marked out 50 separate routes on the climbing wall. The wall is big to be sure, but not that big – so to create that many routes the organizers creatively analyzed every possible combination of footholds and handholds that could be strung together in different ways to reach the top. Some routes are super simple, others are quite complex.
The challenge is free. Participants simply show up during normal climbing wall hours — Friday to Sunday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. – and climb as many of the different routes as they can. Each time a participant ‘sends a climb’ (i.e. reaches the top of a different route), that participant must then get a witness (someone that they don’t already know) to sign off on their climb.
“That’s the key part, it makes you meet new people,” said Beauche-
min. “Sometimes people at climbing walls just hang out in their own cliques. We want people to break out of that, to be more inclusive.”
The idea for the challenge came from Edgewater resident and avid climber Bruno-Pierre Coutoure, who saw a similar event run in Kelowna. He suggested doing one here in the Columbia Valley.
“The difference is that one in Kelowna was more competitive. Ours is less focused on competition and more focused on having fun and being inclusive,” said Beauchemin.
At the end of the challenge, all participants will be entered in a draw to win prizes. There’ll be at least one category for kids and at least one category for adults, so if your own youngsters scramble up the wall with the speedy ease of orangutans and you simply can’t keep up, don’t worry (well, at least don’t worry about the climbing challenge).
Both Beauchemin and fellow climbing association member Herb Weller are pleased with how the challenge has gone so far.
“There’s been dozens and dozens of people trying it. It’s pretty popular ... I’ve been amazed at how many people are taking it on,” Weller told the Pioneer
“I think Herb was also amazed that we managed to find 50 routes on the wall. At first he thought (finding) just 20 would be good,” said Beauchemin.
Both Beauchemin and Weller emphasized that the more the merrier for the climbing challenge, and invited all those even with a passing interest to come out and try the challenge during its final two weeks.
“Even if you come out just once and only do two climbs, you’ll get in the draw, you’ll meet some new people and have a great time,” said Beauchemin.
To find out more, stop by JA Laird Elementary School during the evening climbing hours.
Pursuant to Section 494 of the Local Government Act, public notice is hereby given that the District of Invermere is considering the Short-Term Rental Temporary Use Permits (STU-TUP) listed in the table below. Issuance of the permits will be considered by council or a delegated authority at the Invermere District office at 914 - 8th Avenue in Invermere, BC, at the corresponding date and time as listed below:
Consideration by COUNCIL - MAY 27, 2025 at 7:00PM
APPLICATION NO.
Consideration by DELEGATED AUTHORITY - MAY 27, 2025 at 10:00AM
APPLICATION NO.
STR098.358.25
STR120.028.25
STR392.000.25
All persons who believe they are affected by any of the Short-Term Rental Temporary Use Permits are encouraged to submit their concerns in writing to the Invermere office at 9148th Avenue, Invermere, BC, or by email to dpcoordinator@invermere.net prior to May 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM. All submissions should include your name, address, and contact information. All written submissions are public information pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All submissions will form part of the public record. Questions about the disclosure of your personal information may be referred to the Corporate Officer at 250342-9281.
For more information regarding the above applications contact the Invermere Planning Department at 250-342-9281 or by email at dpcoordinator@invermere.net or at the Invermere Office between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
PO Box 339, 914 - 8th Ave, Invermere BC V0A 1K0 250-342-9281 info@invermere.net www.invermere.net
Julie Beauchemin (shown here climbing outdoors) and other members of the Columbia Valley Climbing Association have launched a community challenge on the ‘Reaching Higher’ climbing wall at JA Laird Elementary School.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or conflict in your life, AA can help. All meetings are at 7 pm. Columbia United AA, Invermere: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the BC Service Building, South End624 4th St. Invermere. Please call 250-342-2424 for more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship.
Al-Anon. Are you concerned about or affected by someone else’s drinking? For more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship, please call 250-878-2448 or 250-342-8392
RURAL RANGE PATROL
Annual General Meeting
Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce
Wednesday May 21 7-9pm
2025 STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN
MUSIC FESTIVAL
LAUNCH PARTY
Edgewater Legion 6:00 pm on Friday, May 23
Enjoy the Legion’s Famous Wing Night and Cash Bar
Open Mic Music Jam with Brad Lawrence
Membership - $5 Become a Festival Volunteer
Cheers to Louise Helmer for your kind words when you saw me in the bank today. Sometimes we don’t know what people are going through and it just takes a kind word and a hug to turn the day around.
Cheers to Kelsie at Red Apple for always giving great customer service.
Cheers to Della for doing a great job on my brows. They look great!
Cheers to Anthul at Invermere McDonald’s. You always have a smile on your face no matter how busy it is.
Cheers to Bob and Peggy at Majestic Wine for making our wedding wine so special.
Huge CHEERS to the medical staff at the Columbia Valley Veterinary Clinic, Canal Flats. Cheers for helping us understand what was going on with our aging dog, Bow, and for squeezing us in close to after hours. You are all amazing! Big CHEERS for putting our minds at ease.
Cheers to Black Star, Fun and Games, and the Fire Station for hosting our Kindergarten classes to learn about people and places in our community! We had a blast!
Cheers to Clare and the staff at Elements for the amazing service while we celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. The balloons and a table with a great view made our dinner extra special. The food was delicious and the extra care and attention to our evening was noted!
Cheers to Pat Allen for being such a good friend and for having a listening ear with no judgement.
Cheers to Jennifer at Invermere Medical Clinic. You have great phone etiquette- you were patient and understanding and put my mind at ease.
2020 Passport Travel Trailer 26 ft. Many extras, sleeps 4 $31,000.00
250-341-5808
250-341-1187
1996 Gulfstream Yellowstone wide-body for sale. 3/4 ton capacity tow dolly also available. $5000.00 Located at Sun Valley RV Resort (just north of Windermere on the highway) - owner located in Calgary, so please call first. 1-403-830-9046
GARAGE SALES
GARAGE SALE
MAY 16 and 17 Fri 4-7pm. Sat 9-1pm 23-7513 Columbia Ave. Radium Hot Springs
The Fairmont and District Lions Club is holding a fundraising garage sale on Saturday May 17 at the Lions Den in Fairmont Hot Springs, from 9am until 4pm. Please come and support our club and find something you need. Donations can be dropped off at the Den.
B. Creations
Handyman services, Renovations, Masonry, Plumbing, Drywall & Painting. Please call Kevin 250-688-2897
Cheers to the gentlemen who play cricket on the DTSS soccer field on Saturday mornings. Cheers for entertaining the neighbourhood without playing music or making excessive noise. Much appreciated. Looks like you’re all having fun. Perhaps you could teach us how to play the game someday?
Cheers to Janine Benson for knitting the beautiful baby blanket for me. I am sure the new parents will love it!
WOW - Super Cheers to Trader’s Lounge at Eagle Ranch. Absolutely wonderful Mother’s Day dinner, from the appetizer to the main dishes and dessert. So perfectly prepared and delicious! Well done, we will be back soon!
Cheers to Doris Cormier for the lovely jewelry. Everything is so beautiful!
THE HEARTFELT COMPANION Services for Seniors. Since 2014 we’ve provided kind and compassionate non-medical care, transportation to Cranbrook, overnight care, meal prep, grocery shopping and more. Excellent local references. 250-341-5683 Heartfeltcompanionservices.com
B. B.’s Home and Design Services
Renovations,Handyman Service, House checks, house cleaning/dump runs. What can we do for you? Please call
Annual Dutch Creek Garage Sale Saturday May 17, 9 am - 1 pm
Multi Family Garage Sale May 17th 9a-2p In front of the Legion on 13th St. For table rental call Elizabeth at 250-688-0640
Multi Family Garage Sale Saturday May 17, 9am-4pm 1010 6th St. Invermere
Garage Sale
Small appliances, sporting goods, electrical wiring, doors, etc. 613 13 Ave, Invermere Saturday May 17th 8am-1pm
Garage Sale-Windermere 1651 Sinclair Ave May 17 & 18 9am-4pm
Multi-household garage sale. May 17, 9AM - 3PM. Located on Hilltop Road, look for signs.
House Moving Sale 1606 2ND AVE
Many years of items from antiques (1700’s) to collectibles, plumbing and electrical supplies, fishing, camping and boating equipment, art supplies: glass, copper, fabric, kitchen items, some furniture, sofa bed, bedside tables, gardening items, exercise bike and so much more.
SAT MAY 17 & SUN MAY 18
9AM - 4PM
Windows Limited is hiring $25/hour for entry level and up. 250-270-0086
Dragonfly Discovery Children’s Centre Inc. is hiring a licensed Infant/Toddler Educator. Seeking an alert, joyful, physically fit and creative team player. Full time hours, excellent wages, benefits, historic building and a supportive team. Send resume to Charlotte at dragonflydiscoverycentre@gmail.com
Pizza 2 Go Looking for a part-time or full-time person to work early or late hours for a dough making shift. Must be able to lift 50 lbs from ground to table. All training provided. $20/hr. Please drop off resume at 305 3rd Ave, Invermere Housekeeping staff / Room attendants TIRED?
If you’re tired of tidying your place for nothing, why not help us for something? Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and Timeshares are looking for casual room attendants and housekeepers. If you can spare 4 or more hours per week, connect with us. $21-$23 per hr. jwoodard@fairmonthotsprings.com 250.345.6018
Get ready for big garage sale
This week’s column was written by Friends of the Radium Library volunteer Donna Tunney and temporary library director Danielle Conolly.
The long weekend is fast approaching, and with it comes the annual Radium Community Garage Sale and BBQ happening this Saturday, May 17.
If spring cleaning has left you with a pile of items you no longer need, we’ll happily take donations of gently used books. We can also accept seasonal décor, luggage, toys, games, puzzles, small working appliances, kitchenware, baby items, craft supplies, fashion accessories (jewelry and scarves), tools, camping and sporting equipment, and small furnishings like end tables and patio sets. No clothes, large items, or CDs, please.
Proceeds from the sale will support the Radium Fire Hall, the Radium Rotary Gardens, and the Friends of the Radium Library — community organizations that benefit everyone.
If you have donations, text Todd Logan at 250342-1753 to arrange a drop-off time. Or bring your
items to the Radium Fire Hall on the evening of Friday, May 16.
Then, on Saturday, come and take home newto-you treasures at super low prices and stay for the ever-popular, mouth-watering barbecue prepared by the volunteer firefighters — our own community heroes. It all happens on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Can’t make it? Watch for our pop-up book sales throughout the summer on Main Street.
Storytelling magic continues Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. with Storytime. On Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. Little Lambs brings imagination and joy with songs and rhymes for babies and their caregivers.
On Friday, May 16, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., our Wholesome Hobbies seniors crafting group will transform clay pots into charming rabbit decorations for any home or garden.
We’re also gearing up for Summer Reading Club. This year’s program, titled Colour Your Summer, will be packed with exciting weekly take-home craft activities for children ages 5-12. They’ll also get classic summer reading swag: reading logs, stickers, bookmarks, and medals for those who complete their logs. Keep up with our Summer Reading Club rollout via our socials – Facebook (facebook.com/ RadiumPublicLibrary/) and Instagram (instagram. com/radiumpubliclibrary/) – as well as our website: https://radium.bc.libraries.coop/.
Gardening class offered
Submitted
It’s about getting back to the basics.
With rising prices on grocery shelves, families are looking for ways to create food security at home, which means rekindling skills that for many have been lost.
“It didn’t take long for old ways like growing our own food to fall by the wayside,” said Jennifer Cope, Columbia Valley Metis Association (CVMA) board member.
“Even one generation was enough for those old skills to go unpracticed.”
Added to that is the reality that many households don’t have a lot of space to create a garden plot.
To that end, the CVMA applied for a food security grant from the Metis Nation of British Columbia and reached out to Stephanie Stevens, Indigenous liaison for Groundswell Community Gardens (and also Metis).
“Jen messaged me and asked if we could put together a day class for basic gardening skills for
the Metis community and it was an automatic yes for me,” said Stevens. “The (Groundswell) board members were also on board immediately.”
The four-hour course is set for Sunday, May 25 and will include basic soil health, starting seeds, transplanting seedlings and how to care for and harvest the greens and tomatoes the attendees will go home with.
It’s open to any CVMA members at no cost and there will be a lunch. Participants will take home a planter with salad greens, a tomato plant and some kale or Swiss chard as well, all in pots they can tend on their decks.
“I am pretty excited,” Cope said. “I think it will be a really fun and rewarding day.”
Email to secure one of the 20 spots available at columbiavalleycc@mnbc.ca.
“Just like every journey starts with a single step, knowledge spreads when you teach what you know with others, and they in turn share again,” said Stevens. “I would love to see every home growing at least a portion of their own food.”
Columbia Valley Churches
LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH
While you are with us, you are always welcome to join us. Sunday at 10:30 am 326 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 | www.lwac.ca
WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY (Anglican - United) Sunday Services - 10:30 am 110 - 7th Ave. in Invermere website - wvsm.ca Minister: Brent Woodard 250-342-6644
VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY
Pastor: Justin Furse
Sunday 10 a.m. Worship Service 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere 250-342-9511 | www.vcachurch.net
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
St. Anthony’s, Canal Flats: Saturday, 4 pm Canadian Martyrs’, Invermere: Sat 5 pm, Sun 9 am St. Joseph’s, Radium: Sunday 11 am Father Francis Dela Cruz | 712 -12th Ave., Invermere 250-342-6167
RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater | 250-342-6633 #4, 7553 Main St. Radium | 250-347-9937
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Worship Service, Sunday, 11 a.m. Sunday School, 10 a.m.
President Kendyn Mackensie • Columbia Valley Branch • 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs 250-439-9041
CHURCH OF CHRIST (Iglesia ni Cristo)
Worship Service: Sunday 9 a.m., Thursday 7:45 p.m. Chamber of Commerce (Lions Hall) For inquiries: 250-688-1643 250-270-2208 or 250-688-0629
For more info about the church, you can Google online at incmedia.org or pasugo.com.ph
Jennifer Cope (left) and Stephanie Stevens are promoting Métis food security with a one-day gardening course on May 25.
PHOTO SUBMITTED