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VALLEY BEAT 2013 /2014

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Your guide to events in the Columbia Valley

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Publications for YOUR valley life

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VALLEY ECHO T he

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Valley Beat

Our newest publication! Your comprehensive guide to events in the valley.

the

VALLEY BEAT 2013 /2014

Your guide to events in the Columbia Valley

Community Events Calendar

2012

• Plumbing & electrical • Interior/exterior doors & windows • Floors & trusses • Custom cut fir timbers & beams • and so much more!

Enjoy local beauty and a convenient calendar with all of your favourite local events!

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The Valley Echo VALLEY ECHO The Columbia Valley’s Newspaper Since 1956

From Canal Flats to Spillimacheen

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Sm es c all tow i r p n service...city

Your newspaper for over 55 years! Subscribers know the Echo advantage!

Wednesday, October 2012 Wednesday, July 3,31, 2013

Vol.57 56Issue Issue 40 Vol. 27

invermerevalleyecho.com

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$ 05 INCLUDES GST PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 7856

BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN 1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA Offices in Panorama, Invermere & Fairmont

Teen artist takes the cake Pg A12

Ivy House officially opens in Invermere Pg A3

Macdonald calls for change to Wildlife Act

MaxWell Realty Invermere

Fiery midnight magic

Push by MLA to allow deer hazing supported by local deer protection society STEVE HUBRECHT steve@invermerevalleyecho.com

Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald is calling on the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations to change the Wildlife Act to allow deer hazing.

Mr. Macdonald's comments come after a recent deer hazing demonstration in Kimberley. The Wildlife Act currently prohibits deer hazing and the Kimberley demonstration was CONTINUES ON PAGE A2

Also available online: www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Invermere selected as Top 20 finalist by Kraft Rotary Club's splash park project has chance to win $25,000, live TSN broadcast STEVE HUBRECHT steve@invermerevalleyecho.com

Invermere has a chance to win $25,000 for the Rotary Club's splash park project.

The splash park is one of 20 finalist community projects across the country vying for ten $25,000 prizes awarded through Kraft's Celebration Tour.

Keri-Anne Thomas, who nominated Invermere and the splash

JOE LUCAS PHOTO Spectators, both on land and in boats, take in the dazzling night sky and impressively illuminated waters of Lake Windermere during the Kinsmen Club of Windermere Valley's midnight fireworks display marking the start of Canada Day on Monday, July 1st. For more coverage of Canada Day, turn to pages A10 and A11.

CONTINUES ON PAGE A4

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Editor's Introduction............................................................ 6

Summer Events Calendar.....................7-9 Tour of the Arts.............................................................. 10-11 The Street is His Stage ..................................................... 11 Radium’s Show & Shine ............................................... 12 Rocky Mountain Rally .......................................... 12-13

Fall & Winter Events Calendar ....16-17 East Kootenay Wine Festival ..................................... 18 Invermere's Snowflake Festival ............................... 19 Craft brewing in the Columbia Valley .................. 21

Spring Events Calendar............... 22-23 Columbia Valley brings Music to Life ............... 24 Wings Over the Rockies............................................. 26

ADVERTISING INDEX

The Valley Beat is published annually by The Invermere Valley Echo Newspaper, Black Press.

Publisher Editor Art Director Sales Associates Editorial content Photography

Cover art

VALLEY ECHO T he

Rose-Marie Regitnig Nicole Trigg Silena Ann Ewen Angela Krebs, Dean Midyette Lindsay McPherson, Dan Walton, Joshua Estabrooks, Lizzie Midyette, Steve Hubrecht, Dorothy Isted Joe Lucas, Shawn Bishop, Jupiterimages, Penny Powers, Nicole Trigg, Dan Walton, Steve Hubrecht, Greg Amos, The Valley Echo Silena Ann Ewen This material, written or artistic, may not be reprinted or electronically reproduced in any way without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions

Box 70, #8, 1008 – 8th Avenue, and statements in articles, columns and advertising are not necessarily those Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 of the publisher or staff of The Valley Beat. It is agreed by any display advertiser Phone 250-341-6299 requesting space that the owner's responsibility, if any, for errors or omissions customerservice@invermerevalleyecho.com of any kind, is limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the space as occupied by the incorrect item and there shall be no liability in any www.invermerevalleyecho.com event greater than the amount paid for the advertisement.

Whisper Creek Log Homes............................................ 2 MaxWell Realty........................................................................ 3 Valley’s Edge Resort............................................................ 3 Rona ................................................................................................4 Tim Hortons ...............................................................................4 Misty River Lodge ................................................................. 6 Mortgage Alliance West.................................................... 6 The Crescent Motel ............................................................. 6 Crazy Soles ................................................................................ 6 Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce ......... 10 Windermere Valley Golf Course.................................. 11 Copper City Amusement Park.................................. 12 College of the Rockies ................................................... 13 Copper Point Resort ........................................................ 14 Eagle Ranch ........................................................................... 15 Valley Alley/Lucky Strike Gas .................................... 18 Backcountry Jack’s .......................................................... 19 Meet on Higher Ground Coffee House .............. 19 Village of Canal Flats .................................................... 20 Kimberley Summer Theatre ..................................... 20 Invermere Petro-Canada .............................................. 21 Dutch Creek Resort .......................................................... 21 The Old Salzburg Restaurant .................................... 21 Smoking Waters Coffee Co..................................... 24 Tony’s Greek Grill............................................................. 24 Invermere Pharmasave ............................................... 24 Scrappers’ Cove .............................................................. 25 Setetkwa Golf Course & RV Park ........................ 25 Fort Steele Heritage Town ........................................ 25 Pete’s Marina ...................................................................... 26 Regional District of East Kootenay .................... 27 Bighorn Meadows Resort ......................................... 28

Editor’s

Introduction

By Nicole Trigg Welcome to the newest publication to hit the stands in the Columbia Valley. The Valley Beat is a brand new magazine, brought to you by the same creative team that produces the weekly Invermere Valley Echo newspaper. The Valley Beat is actually the modern reincarnation of the long-standing Columbia Valley Visitor Guide with a completely fresh look and original design.

There’s something to be said for starting a creative project from scratch. We knew the old visitor guide needed to be overhauled, and we chose to go back to the drawing board, literally. Graphic designer Silena Ewen took on the challenge of rendering a front cover devoid of any photographs while conveying all the colour, vibrancy and excitement valley events have to offer. The end result is, in a word, superb. Toying with new names landed us with The Valley Beat, a perfect complement to its umbrella publication, The Valley Echo, thanks to publisher Rose-Marie

index

Regitnig’s suggestion. A hunch by sales associate Dean Midyette that there was unrealized potential for an events-only publication, combined with his and Angela Krebs ability to tap into that market, led us to where we are today.

Some of the Columbia Valley’s most sought-after writers have contributed their time and talent, resulting in the array of excellent stories scattered throughout these pages that are certain to appeal to readers’ sense of fun and culture. All of us are passionate about the Columbia Valley and the creativity that seems to flourish here.

Whether it’s a sporting, arts, music or community event, organizers put their all into it and deliver fantastic results. By framing their efforts in a stylish new magazine, we hope to help grow and expand the region’s event offerings, and get the word out that the Columbia Valley is the place to be.

Enjoy the first instalment of The Valley Beat! May your heart beat a little faster with every page you turn in anticipation of the exhilaration and excitement that awaits…

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July – August Fairmont Hot Springs Farmers’ Market. Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Mountainside Market just off the highway. Featuring all sorts of neat gifts, artisan showings and local food. Ends August 18th.

July – August Adventure Radium. Every Tuesday to Thursday. Runs 9:30 a.m. to noon for ages 5-7/8; runs 1 to 3:30 p.m. for ages 8/9 and up. Register at Village Office or www. radiumhotsprings.ca.

July – September Invermere Farmers’ Market.

Every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Invermere from June 22nd until September 14th. Enjoy a bustling downtown market with local artisian breads, delectable treats, organic produce, live music and more.

July – September Market & Music on Main at Radium Hot Springs Visitor Information Centre. Community market every Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. Live local bands every Friday/Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.

Visit www.tourismradium.com.

July 1st Annual Kinsmen Club of Windermere Valley Fireworks.

12:01 a.m. Best places to

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.

Events all day. Visit www. fairmonthotsprings.com or phone 250-345-6000.

July 1st Annual Canada Day Parade.

Downtown Invermere. 11 a.m.

July 5th 5th Annual Stampede Breakfast from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Fire’D Up Breakfast and Burgers in Radium Hot Springs. Breakfast by donation.100 per cent of proceeds donated to Radium Fire Department.

July 1st Annual Mountain Mosaic Festival of the Arts Canada Day Celebration. Free festival for the whole family at Kinsmen Beach from noon to 3 p.m. following Canada Day Parade. Live entertainment, clowns, bouncy castles, food kiosks, face painting and more. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

July 1st Panorama Mountain Village Canada Day celebrations. Visit www.panoramaresort.com or phone 250-342-6941.

July 1st Annual Canada Day celebrations in Golden and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort with free pancake breakfast and fireworks.

July 1st Village of Canal Flats Canada Day celebration. Fireworks at Tilley Memorial Park beach at dusk.

July 1st Kimberley Canada Day celebrations at the Platzl. Free entertainment and cake from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Visit www. kimberleychamber.com.

Kinsmen Club Fireworks July 1st July 1st Annual Canada Day celebration and fireworks display at valley

July 6th 2nd Annual Steamboat Mountain Music Festival at the Edgewater Elementary School field. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets available online at www. steamboatmtnmusicfest.ca.

July 7th Steamboat Mountain Music Festival Music Workshops. Free, open to the public. Bluegrass workshop at 10 a.m. Singing workshop at 11 a.m. All Saint’s Church, Edgewater. No preregistration required.

July 9th – 12th 2013 BC Amateur Golf Championship at Copper Point Golf Club and The Springs in Radium Hot Springs. Visit www. britishcolumbiagolf.org.

July 9th – July 21st INNOVATION Art Exhibition — A Fresh Look at Art at Pynelogs Cultural Centre, Invermere featuring Stephen Lebovits, Cajsa Fredin, Angelique Gillespie, Patrick Markle, Maegan Stanbury and Papier Colle Femmes Collaborative Show. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

July 13th – 14th 2013 Canadian Downhill Mountain Bike Championships, Panorama Mountain Village.

Famous ‘Red and White Jersey’ awarded to the Canadian

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Champion. Visit www. panoramaresort.com.

July 13th – 14th Heart of the Rockies Triathlon in Invermere. Kids of Steel triathlon on Saturday, Olympic and Sprint distance adult triathlon on Sunday. Visit www. heartoftherockiestri.ca.

July 14th – 20th 2013 Hang Gliding National Championships, Mount 7, Golden. Visit www.hpac.ca.

July 16th Windermere District Lions’ Club 10th annual Charity Golf Day. $65 a round at Copper Point Golf Course with proceeds going to the Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley.

July 19th 15th annual Bullriding in the Rockies. Behind the Invermere Curling Rink. Cowboy dinner at 5 p.m. World professional bullriders, mutton busting and Mexican poker starting at 7:15 p.m. followed by family dance.

Tickets at select locations. Visit www.invermerepanorama.com.

July 19th – 21st BALLFEST at the Invermere Crossroads ballpark. Mixed slo-pitch tournament in support of the ball diamonds. Contact ballfest2013@gmail.com.

Summer

July – August Junior Naturalist Program.

Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon at Redstreak Campground Theatre. Preregister at Radium Visitor Information Centre or contact friendsofkootenay@gmail.com or 250-347-6525.

watch: beside Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena, Lakeview Road on east side of lake, James Chabot Beach.

Joe Lucas photo

JULY

Summer

July 20th Valley Appreciation Day. Downtown Invermere. Pancake breakfast 9 a.m. to noon. Live music, Gagne Logging Show, children’s activities, Farmers’ Market, RONA cart races. Free fun for the whole family! Visit www.TheColumbiaValley.ca.

July 23rd – August 4th Art Exhibition featuring George Oliver, Vic Panai, Lynne Grillmair, Dorial Davis, Carney Oudendag and Mary Kate Woodward at Pynelogs Cultural Centre. Artist opening on July 24th from 7 to 9 p.m. Visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com.

July 27th – August 4th Willi Muller Cross Country Hand Gliding/Paragliding Challenge, Mount 7, Golden. Visit www. thewillixc.com.

July 28th 1st annual Swansea Scramble.

A 10-kilometre run that will see participants run or hike to the top of Mt. Swansea and back down again. Registration at 7 a.m., race starts at 8 a.m.

Space limited to 100 people.

For more information, visit Crazy Soles running store in downtown Invermere or email crazysoles@telus.net.

AUGUST August 3rd West Vancouver artist Sharon Quirke creates live at Effusion Art Gallery, Invermere. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit www. effusionartgallery.com.

August 3rd – 14th Kimberley Summer Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz, the timeless classic by L. Frank Brown. 2 and 7:30 p.m. At McKim Theatre. Visit www. kimberleysummertheatre.ca or call 250-427-4080.

August 4th 6th Annual Tour of the Arts. A self-guided tour featuring more than 35 artists displaying a wonderful variety of work along 7th Avenue to the shore of Lake Windermere. Day concludes with Invermere MusicFest. Tour Passports on sale at various locations. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

August 4th Invermere MusicFest, Waterfront Music Festival at Kinsmen Beach Greenspace.

Main stage live music, food vendors, Arrowhead Brewing Company beer garden, festivalstyle seating. International blues artist Shakura S’Aida headlining. Tickets available at Arrowhead, The Book Bar, Syndicate and Pynelogs. Visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com or call 250-342-4423.

August 5th Wild Nature Tours. ‘Slowly down the Columbia,’ a 14-person Voyageur canoe trip from Invermere to Radium. Visit www. wildnaturetours.ca for details.

August 6th – 18th Art Exhibition featuring John Niddrie, Stephanie Van de Kemp, Cheryl Goodwin, Tom Symington, Gerry George, Lisa Adams and Rita Rankin at Pynelogs. Artist opening on August 7th, 7 to 9 p.m. Visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com.

August 3rd Movie in the Park. Free family fun featuring ‘The Croods’ at Pothole Park, Invermere. Fun starts at 8:30 p.m., movie starts at 10 p.m. Visit www.invermere. August 9th – 18th Maya Eventov and Friends net for more details.

Exhibition at The Artym Gallery, valley

Invermere. Opening reception on August 9th, 6 to 9 p.m. Daily viewing 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Visit www.artymgallery.com.

August 10th Live painting by Kimberly Kiel at Effusion Art Gallery from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. plus a Karyn Chopik Trunk Show of wearable art. Visit www.effusionartgallery.com.

August 10th 18th Annual Loop the Lake, a

Invermere MusicFest August 4th running race event for the whole community and a Rotary Club of Invermere annual fundraiser. Visit www. loopthelake.bc.ca.

August 10th 37th Annual Lakeside Event, Invermere. Hang gliders and paragliders launch from Mount Swansea and land at James Chabot beach. Event held August 11th in the case of rain.

Visit www.lakesideevent.com.

August 10th Arts on the Edge: Festival of the Arts in Kimberley. Art exhibits, concerts and more. Visit www. artsontheedge.ca.

August 10th – 11th Columbia Basin Culture Tour.

Free, self-guided arts and culture tour. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance at 250-505-5505 or wkracassistant@telus.net.

August 11th Summer Splash! Formally known as the Lake Windermere Regatta. Free family lake fun for all ages at James Chabot Beach. Pancake breakfast, paddleboard & kayak races,

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open water swim, beach volleyball, sand sculpture contest, Build-a-Boat contest, barbecue and more. Free, by donation. Presented by the Lake Windermere Ambassadors. Visit www.lakeambassadors.ca or call 250-341-6898.

August 12th – 14th 2nd Annual Kelly Hrudey & Friends Charity Golf Tournament. Featuring 36 celebrity players with varying professions including hockey, golf, alpine ski racing, television, politics and entrepreneurial business. The event raises awareness and funds for youth. Contact www. copperpointgolf.com or 250341-3392.

August 18th Wild Nature Tours. ‘Animal Tracks and Signs’ with Kalista Pruden. Visit www. wildnaturetours.ca for details.

SEPTEMBER September 1st – 30th The Windermere Valley Museum in Invermere will be open for visitors from 12 to 4 p.m., seven days a week. Visit www. windermerevalleymuseum.ca.

September 1st Grizzly Challenge 36-kilometre Mountain Trail Run & Relay at Panorama Mountain Village. 9 a.m. Visit www.grizzlyultra.ca.

September 1st Closing day for Bike Park and Mile 1 Quad Chair at Panorama Mountain Village. Visit www. panoramaresort.com or phone 250-342-6941.

Kraft Celebration Tour & Rotary Kid’s Festival August 19th

August 19th Kraft Celebration Tour & Rotary Club of Invermere’s annual Kids’ Festival. At Kinsmen Beach, Invermere. Features a live TSN broadcast at 2 p.m. and over 20 Kraft food stations. Visit www. invermererotary.org for more details.

September 3rd – 15th Art Exhibition featuring Neal Panton, Cathy Parkes, Cat McDiarmid, Lori Lees Stout, Elizabeth Stuart and Alice Hale at Pynelogs Cultural Centre.

Artist opening on September 4th from 7 to 9 p.m. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com

August 20th – September 1st Art Exhibition featuring Kathleen Davies, Jane Murray, Maggie Leal-Valias, Robyn Oliver, Paula Cravens and Graham S. Fowler at Pynelogs Cultural Centre.

Artist opening on August 21st from 7 to 9 p.m. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

September 6th Fresh Fridays Open Mic Night at Pynelogs Cultural Centre, Invermere. All ages. Admission $2 by donation. 7 p.m. Visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com September 7th 3rd Annual Parkinson

valley

SuperWalk at Pothole Park, Invermere. Registration at 1 p.m., walk at 1:30 p.m. Visit www.parkinson.bc.ca.

September 9th Swinging Senior Open at The Ridge at Copper Point Golf Club.

For information, contact the pro shop at 250-341-3392 or visit www.copperpointgolf.com.

September 14th À La Carte with Alex Fong Exhibition at The Artym Gallery, Invermere. Visit www. artymgallery.com.

September 15th 14th Annual Windermere Fall Fair & Scarecrow Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Windermere Community Hall and elementary school field. A jam-packed day of good times with a scarecrow parade, kids’ zone, contests, market vendors and more. Email info@ windermerecommunity.ca.

September 15th Pavel Kolesnikov (Honens International Laureate) at Christ Church Trinity. Presented

by CV Arts. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com or phone 250-342-4423.

2:30 p.m. Events goes to 8:30 p.m.

September 20th – 21st Columbia Valley Classics 24th Annual Autumn Car Show & Shine in Radium Hot Springs.

Registration at Radium Community Hall on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. Pancake Breakfast on Saturday from 7 to 10 a.m. at Radium Seniors’ Hall. Car show on

Windermere Fall Fair September 15th Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cruise to Invermere at 4 p.m. www. columbiavalleyclassics.com September 21st-29th Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up. Register at www. shorelinecleanup.ca or call 877427-2422.

September 22nd Giving Back Golf Tournament.

Annual charity golf tournament at Windermere Valley Golf Course presented by The Valley Echo. Call 250-341-6299 for more information.

September 27th – 28th 3rd Annual Columbia Salmon September 17th – 29th Festival at Fairmont Hot Springs Art Exhibition featuring Pam Resort and surrounding area.

Ciupa, Pam Williamson, Leslie Includes guest speakers, field Cartwright, Brian Fennerty, Stan trips, gala dinner and more. Visit Lukasiewicz, Sherry Mallach www.fairmonthotsprings.com, and Brittney Lintick at Pynelogs. or phone 250-345-6000.

Artist opening on September 18th from 7 to 9 p.m. Visit September 28th www.columbiavalleyarts.com 6th Annual Headbanger Trail Challenge in Radium September 20th – 21st Hot Springs. Part of the Trail 2nd Annual Rockin’ on Main, Races East Kootenay Series.

Main Street West, Radium Hot 12-kilometre trail race plus Springs. Friday market from 4 three-kilometre, family-friendly to 8 p.m., Friday music from 6 run/walk. Visit www.headbanto 8 p.m. Saturday market from gertrailchallenge.ca or phone noon, Saturday music from 250-347-2456.

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Summer

August 17th – 18th Elk Park Ranch Farrier Competition and Mini-Rodeo.

Contact Karen Larsen at tklarsen1@hotmail.com for more information.

August 30th – September 8th Min Ma & Bayot Heer Exhibition at The Artym Gallery, Invermere.

Opening reception on August 30th, 6 to 9 p.m. Daily viewing 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

Tour of the Arts with a twist

AUGUST

By Lindsay McPherson Sunday of the August long-weekend in the Columbia Valley has become synonymous with Tour of the Arts, the Columbia Valley Arts’ annual fundraiser and exhibition. A full-day event, Tour of the Arts showcases an exceptional variety of some of the best East Kootenay artists, with their works on display in various idyllic settings of the Columbia Valley. Tour-goers pick up their official passport prior to the event, and visit each of the designated artists along the way in a self-guided tour.

In 2008, the inaugural Tour of the Arts was hosted in artists’ studios throughout the valley.

“It’s always been a great variety of different types of arts and mediums,” explains Tour co-ordinator, Jami Scheffer. “Year one was great, but it’s grown from there.”

Artist June Thomsen on site at the 2012 Tour of the Arts.

The exhibition is an integral fundraiser for CV Arts, selling around 800 passports each year. For the artist, this translates to great exposure.

“Tour of the Arts is like a gallery meets a farmer’s market. It allows the artists to directly interact with the public and potential patrons about their craft while eliminating the sometimes pretentious and intimidating gallery setting,” says artist Jessica Gowling, who has exhibited with the Tour since 2009. “Eliminating the pressure associated with a fancy and expensive environment by placing art in an open outdoor space, immediately makes art more accessible to the public. The uniqueness of the event draws in people who may normally not go into an art gallery.”

Each year since the inception of Tour of the Arts, artists are selected through a juried portfolio, and display their art at a specified location in the valley. Site themes have included heritage sites and gardens of the valley. Passport holders tour from site to site, with the opportunity to stay as little or as long as they like at each location. A few years ago, music was integrated into the event, pairing a valley musician with each of the locations. Now in its sixth year, the 2013 Tour of the Arts has evolved once again to remain fresh and inspiring with another change in the format.

“This year, due to feedback from artists and participants, CV Arts thought a downtown walking tour was a good idea,” says Scheffer, citing comments regarding cost of gas and emissions as reasons backing the change. “We always listen to what the people are saying and try new things.”

e m o c wel

Visit the Information Centre for information on what’s going on in the Columbia Valley, or check out our online events calendar!

651 Hwy 93/95 Halfway between Radium & Fairmont www.TheColumbiaValley.ca • 250-342-2844 valley

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So leave the car parked and bring your comfy kicks as the tour will grace locations throughout downtown Invermere, culminating at Pynelogs Cultural Centre at Kinsmen Beach.

The change to a walking tour was a welcome one for Gowling.

Aug 4 · 2013 “With such a 10am - 4 pm gorgeous landscape, it seems counterintui$ tive to burn gas 20 by driving all over the place,” explains Gowling. “Walking in the valley allows you to interact more closely with nature and also helps to save the environment. I am also excited to have Pynelogs included as a tour site again, I feel that exposure for the gallery is one of the tour’s main assets, and the incorporation of the downtown area will definitely encourage patrons to visit local businesses who also sell and promote artisans in the valley. Keeping it central, without the use of cars, is a wonderful turning point for the tour for many, many reasons.”

The 2013 Tour of the Arts features 35 artists and musicians at displays from Pothole Park to Pynelogs Cultural Centre.

Mediums will include digital art, acrylic, oil, mixed media, ceramics, metal and wood. This year’s tour takes place on Sunday, August 4th, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., just in time for the Invermere MusicFest at Kinsmen Beach. Passports are $20 and are available at select locations. For full event details, visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com. columbiavalleyarts.com

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25

The Street is his

Stage

By Dan Walton You might see him on a trip to the Columbia Valley if you’re lucky, but there’s no telling what he’ll look like.

He’s commonly found on the streets of Invermere, but teen street performer Japhy Hunt can been seen anywhere in the valley. You’re most likely to recognize him if you’re familiar with the works of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, his favourite artists.

What launched his career as a street performer is when Japhy noticed his favourite actor, Johnny Depp, featured in Burton’s production of Edward Scissorhands. He decided to bring the eerie character to life. He reproduced the morbid outfit (with help from his mom), jumped into the soul-searching role of Mr. Scissorhands, and shared his act with Invermere, finding that his scissor-handed creation was well-received among busy crowds.

He also recreates the best of teenage angst.

You may find yourself caught off guard if you stumble upon Napoleon Dynamite in the valley, pulling Kip on rollerskates to wrestling with Rex Kwon Do as seen in the classic Generation Y cult film. During the 2013 season, Japhy’s ever-changing wardrobe has seen him making most popular use of his Jack Sparrow and Mad Hatter outfits, which can be seen nearly every Saturday at the Invermere Farmer’s Market.

Player Friendly, Walkable & Affordable since 1988.

2013

WV

INDERMERE ALLEY

Driving Range • Pro Shop • Cart/Club Rentals • “Shot Shapers” Golf Academy

Golf Course

18 holes $27 - $34.95 Twilight Golf (after 4 p.m.)

Kids Golf Free (some restrictions apply)

Kari's Kitchen Tee Times 250-342-3004 • www.windermerevalleygolfcourse.com valley

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Rocky Mountain Rally

Radium’s

SEPTEMBER

Show & Shine

heads to Invermere

By Joshua Estabrooks

By Dan Walton

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines, and make sure you check out the best classic car show in the East Kootenay. Beginning on Saturday, September 21st, the Columbia Valley Classics 24th annual Autumn Show and Shine car show features close to 1,000 amazing spectacles of chrome and metal.

The show of classic cars and trucks has steadily grown in popularity and is one of the must-see events of the fall season. Beginning in the morning at The Springs golf course in Radium, all registered participants will have their mechanical marvels on display for public perusal throughout the day. The engines then start up around 4 p.m. for an eye-popping parade down the valley and through downtown Invermere, and the day wraps up with a 50s/60s-themed dance complete with live music at the Invermere Curling Rink.

For full details on this unbeatable event, check out www.columbiavalleyclassics.com.

Ripping through logging roads and tearing up the twisty turns of the valley in a car is a risky method of moving through the mountains, which is why the Rocky Mountain Rally has made a sport out of it.

And to celebrate its 40th anniversary, the rally is coming to Invermere on the first weekend of November.

After operating in Alberta for decades, the only official national automotive sporting event in Canada has decided to bring the competition westbound.

“The Columbia Valley boasts not only a picturesque setting nestled in the Canadian Rockies, but offers some of the best on and off-road driving available in North America,” states the event website.

And while the rally spent most of its history closer to Calgary, the Columbia Valley welcomed the Rocky Mountain Rally back in 1973 at its very first event, with a track that began in Jasper and concluded near Paradise Mine.

So to commemorate its milestone competition,

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Summer Hours: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. • Hwy 93/95 Windermere • Call Trish at 250-688-0160 for group bookings or more information. valley

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HOT COURSES:

Learning that fits your lifestyle! we offer over 100 full-time, part-time and evening classes For full information on upcoming courses or to register: Phone: 250.342.3210 or Visit: www.cotr.bc.ca/Invermere valley

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n First Aid n Interpretive Hikes at Farnham Glacier n Languages n Computers Courses n Transportation Safety n Photography Workshops n Art & Textiles n Cooking Classes n Health & Wellness n Youth Programs n Greenhouse Workshops

NOVEMBER

Rocky Mountain Rally is taking Shawn Bishop photos its fans and racers to a whole new level.

“We wanted to add pizazz and make a big change to the event,” says Rocky Mountain Rally chair John Blaber. “And we had to do something different for the 40th anniversary.”

The race will test vehicles and the abilities of the drivers through the rugged mountains of the Columbia Valley. Rally cars in competition were once average vehicles commonly found on the road, but have since undergone extensive modifications to maximize safety, reliability and speed.

“Beefy suspension soaks up the bumps and jumps, special tires offer greater traction on gravel and icy roads, [and] performance-enhancing modifications vary depending on the car’s classification,” describes the website.

The unforgiving weather can add challenges to the circuit in the B.C. Rockies, but the race takes place rain or shine.

“The driving challenge is way better than any other style of racing,” says co-ordinator Shawn Bishop. “A basically unknown road. The event runs no matter what the weather conditions, gravel surface which could have

snow or mud.”

As Blaber and Bishop were struggling to find suitable roads near Calgary for rallying, the pair used online map searches to look for other options. After a quick review of Invermere, the two unanimously decided on the 2013 location.

Rally racing is becoming popular among snowboarders and mountain bikers, says Bishop.

“Anybody who likes an active, outdoor sport. And anyone with an interest in cars, especially off-roading,” he said.

Most of the rally is run on forest roads that have been closed for the race and fitted for the cars. Some sections of the competitive track will be linked by transit sections, where the regular rules of the road must be followed.

“The sport of rallying tests competitors to the limits of their abilities,” states the website. “Teams face a wide variety of conditions while traveling down challenging roads, with a route book as their road map.”

Drivers travel with a co-driver, and are given a day of reconnaissance when the team drives slowly to scout the track during which time detailed pace notes are written over the course of two laps, preparing drivers for every element of the racing terrain. And service crews ready themselves on the sidelines, critical in performing repairs and maintenance.

The course will be long and loaded with obstacles, and just about every rally includes wipeouts, says Bishop.

“In Formula One, you’re going to see ten corners one hundred times, whereas at a rally you’re going to see a hundred corners once,” he says.

“North American fans are used to sitting on bleachers around an oval circle,” agrees John. “I’d like to bring European attitudes into North America.”

But although European rally fans have the right attitude when it comes to spectating, North America has the ideal landscape.

“That’s what we just love — something that’s narrow, twisty, bumpy a little bit,” says Bishop. “The twistier and the hillier, and more narrow it is the better.”

The Rocky Mountain Rally takes place November 1st and 2nd. Visit www.rockymountainrally.com for full event details.

Your Centre for Adventure

Call or Click today to discover all of the amazing things waiting for you at

Copper Point Resort 760 Cooper Road Invermere B.C. 1-855-926-7737 www.copperpointresort.com

OCTOBER October War Brides Exhibit: One Way Passage. At Pynelogs Cultural Centre, Invermere. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

fall

October – April Cinefest at Pynelogs.

Independant film series 2nd Tuesday of each month. Tickets $10 at the door. Door opens at 6:30 p.m., film at 7 p.m. Cash bar with light refreshments. Visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com.

October – May The Windermere Valley Museum in Invermere open for visitors on Tuesdays from 12 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Visit www. windermerevalleymuseum.ca.

October – June Fresh Fridays Open Mic Night at Pynelogs Cultural Centre.

First Friday of each month. All ages. Licensed bar. $2 at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Music from 7 to 10 p.m. Hosted

by Oso Simple. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

October 1st 11th Annual Turn Copper into Gold Golf Tournament at Copper Point Golf Club. A fundraiser for the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce. 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Contact www.

TheColumbiaValley.ca.

October 12th Annual Ski Swap presented by the Windermere Valley Ski Club.

Invermere Community Hall.

Register gear to sell at 9 a.m.

Doors open at noon. For more information, call Jenny Hoffos at 250-342-3819.

October 12th 25th annual Fall Show at Bavin

Glassworks from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Glass blowing demo at 7:30 p.m. Show continues all weekend. For more details, call 250-342-6816.

October 17th Pianist Duke Thompson at Christ Church Trinity. Presented

by CV Arts. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

October 25th Family Halloween Party at Canal Flats Civic Centre. $2 admission, costumes encouraged. Prizes for everyone. Phone 250-349-5447.

October 26th 3rd Annual Halloween Howler at Elk Park Ranch in Radium Hot Springs. Visit www.radium hotsprings.ca.

October 26th Halloween Dance at the Edgewater Community Hall.

Visit Facebook.com/ERSevents.

Turn Copper into Gold Golf Tournament October 1st

October 31st Village of Canal Flats Halloween celebration. Free hot dogs at community hall. Fireworks at 6:30 p.m. Phone 250-349-5447.

NOVEMBER TBA 20th Annual Big Christmas Craft Sale at Invermere Community Hall. $2 entry fee goes to Columbia Valley Food Bank and Windermere Childcare Society.

November 1st – 3rd 12th Annual East Kootenay Wine Festival at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. The best of B.C. wines.

valley

Visit www.fairmonthotsprings. com or phone 250-345-6000.

November 2nd Bergmann Piano Duo at Copper Point Resort. Presented

by CV Arts. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

November 9th Christmas Craft Fair at Windermere Community Hall. 1 to 6 p.m. Email info@ windermerecommunity.ca or phone 250-341-1548.

November 9th – 17th Andrew Kiss & Jewelry Exhibition at The Artym Gallery, Invermere, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Visit www.artymgallery.com.

November 11th Remembrance Day services in Canal Flats. Service begins at 10 a.m.

November 11th Remembrance Day service in Invermere. Formal march to Invermere’s Cenotaph Park at 10:30 a.m.

November 11th Remembrance Day service in Edgewater. Formal march to the Edgewater cenotaph at 4 p.m.

November 16th Craft and Home Business Sale. Canal Flats Civic Centre.

Call 250-349-5447 or email kflowers@shaw.ca.

November 16th Light Up Festival in downtown Invermere. Celebrating start of Christmas season. Event features parade at 6 p.m., visits with Santa, live local entertainment and window display contest. Visit www.

TheColumbiaValley.ca.

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November 22nd ICAN’s 2nd Annual Raise the Woof! Comedy Show and Dinner at 6 p.m. $50 per ticket.

Invermere Community Hall Silent and live auction. All proceeds go towards ICANs capital campaign for a new rescue and adoption centre.

Visit www.icanbc.com.

November 23rd – 24th Elk Park Country Christmas Bazaar. For more information, contact tklarsen1@hotmail.com.

November 30th Tourism Radium’s 2nd Annual Holiday Market. Photos with Santa. Community Light Up. Contact Kara at 250-347-9331.

DECEMBER TBA Canadian Pacific Holiday Train.

For more information, visit www.radium hotsprings.ca.

TBA ‘All Signs Point to Christmas’ shopping night in Fairmont Hot Springs. An evening of special deals and features. Christmas Light Up at 4 p.m.

December 1st 9th Annual Feed the Town at Copper Point Golf Club. Free Christmas feast noon to 6 p.m.

Everyone invited. Cash and nonperishable food items accepted as donations for Columbia Valley Food Bank. Visit www. copperpointgolf.com.

December 1st Super Sunday in downtown Invermere. Shopping deals, entertainment and a special visit from Santa. Check www.

TheColumbiaValley.ca for full event details.

Raise the Woof!

November 22nd

December 6th Panorama Mountain Village winter season opening day.

Visit www.panoramaresort.com or phone 250-342-6941.

December 6th – 9th Ski with the Pros Workshop at Panorama Mountain Village.

Visit www.panoramaresort.com.

December 21st Cross Roads Collective Winter Solstice party. Arts and crafts for kids. Free refreshments. 10 per cent savings on Christmas trees, live chainsaw carving demo, acoustic guitar-led Christmas carols. For more information, contact Jessie Blakely at 250-341-6983.

December 22nd Community Christmas Party.

Canal Flats Civic Centre.

Call 250-349-5447 or email kflowers@shaw.ca.

December 24th Annual Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks Display at Fairmont

Panorama Mountain Village.

Visit www.panoramaresort.com or phone 250-342-6941.

December 25th 2nd Annual Radium Feastival: A Village Christmas. LaCabina Ristorante in Best Western Prestige Inn Radium Hot Springs. Visit www.radium hotsprings.ca.

January 17th Snowflake Festival at Kinsmen Beach, Invermere. Taste of the Valley menu sampling from local restaurants, curling, hockey, skating, food, games, fireworks and more. Visit www.

December 27th 12th Annual Customer Appreciation Gala at The Artym Gallery, 6 to 9 p.m. Featuring new works by all gallery artists.

Visit www.artymgallery.com or phone 250-342-7566.

December 31st Radium Hot Springs Annual New Year’s Eve & 23rd Birthday Celebration at Brent’s Shack.

The event kicks off at 3 p.m. with hot dogs, chili, hot chocolate and birthday cake.

Fireworks at 6:30 p.m. at the Springs Driving Range. Visit www.radiumhotsprings.ca.

December 31st New Year’s Eve celebration and fireworks at Panorama Mountain Village. Visit www. panoramaresort.com.

JANUARY

TheColumbiaValley.ca.

January 17th – 19th Curling Bonspiel on the Lake at Kinsmen Beach, Invermere.

Canada’s only lake bonspiel.

Email invermerecurlingclub@ shaw.ca.

January 25th Snow Golf Tournament on Lake Windermere. Presented by Kinsmen Club of WIndermere.

Contact Steve Kuffler at 250341-5486.

January 31st Galena Trio at Christ Church Trinity. Cello, clarinet and piano.

Presented by CV Arts. Visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com or phone 250-342-4423.

January 31st – February 2nd Third annual B.C. Pond Hockey Championships on Lake Windermere. Kinsmen Beach, Invermere. Visit www. bcpondhockey.com.

January 8th – 13th International Paralympic Committee World Cup at

valley

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FEBRUARY TBA Winterfest in Radium. Visit www.radiumhotsprings.ca.

February 1st Annual Fishing Derby on Lake Windermere. Presented by Kinsmen Club of Windermere

Valley. Contact Steve Kuffler at 250-341-5486.

February 1st – 2nd Nipika/Toby Creek Nordic Loppet Weekend at Nipika Mountain Resort. Classic 30-kilometre event on Saturday, Skate 20-kilometre event on Sunday. Visit www.nipika.com.

February 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th 31st Annual Starlight Challenge at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Ski Area. A family-friendly fun ski race series. Visit www. fairmonthotsprings.com, or phone 250-345-6000.

February 10th Morgan Childs Quartet at Christ Church Trinity. Presented

by CV Arts. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com or phone 250-342-4423.

February 22nd Annual Wild Game Banquet & Dance at the Invermere Community Hall. Presented by the Lake Windermere District Rod & Gun Club.

WINTER

December 18th – 23rd Van Houte Cup. International Ski Federation race at Panorama Mountain Village. Visit www. panoramaresort.com.

Hot Springs Family Ski Area.

Visit www.fairmonthotsprings. com or phone 250-345-6000.

East Kootenay

Wine Festival

NOVEMBER

By Lizzie Midyette Wineries from across British Columbia are represented at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s hugely popular annual East Kootenay Wine Festival.

With over 200 wines featured at the festival each year, the resort can truly offer “all of B.C. in one place,” explains Fairmont Hot Springs Resort marketing manager Colleen McKee. Participants can enjoy sampling wines they might not otherwise be able to try and find out what they like. Wine connoisseurs have the opportunity to explore more of what they know and love, sampling new tastes beyond the industry’s well-established brands.

“It’s also a fantastic opportunity to get the full experience of what Fairmont Hot Springs has to offer,” says McKee. The resort offers guests an exceptional package for the event, which includes a bottle of wine in their accommodation upon check-in, an exclusive four-course dinner on Friday night featuring wine pairings from the previous year’s winning wines, passes to judge in the wine competition on Saturday afternoon, and tickets to the Saturday evening wine show. Upon checkout, guests have the option to guarantee themselves a spot at the next year’s festival at the current year’s rate.

For the annual People’s Choice Awards wine competition, guests participate in blind judging of new wines in a wide variety of categories. The wineries and wines are unknown at the time of judging, but are revealed during Saturday night’s wine show.

Erin Dowsett, who organizes the yearly festival, says the judging event and show are a “way of sampling wines you might

not otherwise get to try.”

And for a truly unforgettable experience, the exclusive Friday night dinner features People’s Choice award-winning wines from the previous year. The resort’s executive chef Martin Collis pairs the winning wines with cuisine exemplifying some of the best food the valley has to offer, while a mix of owners, representatives, and winemakers from the represented wineries attend the dinner to talk about their winning wines alongside each course.

The wine show on Saturday evening is open to guests and the public, with a complimentary shuttle service provided between Invermere and Fairmont Hot Springs. The show takes place in four banquet rooms to accommodate the growing winery and guest participation every year. Each invited winery brings their newest wines, and participants can take the opportunity to get to know and ask questions about the wines they’re sampling. After each night’s planned festivities, the Bear’s Paw Lounge hosts live entertainment, keeping the fun going well into the evenings.

For a year-round exploration of B.C. wines at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, Dowsett offers wine tastings every Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. in the resort lobby with no sign up required. Guests can sample and learn about two whites and two reds in preparation for the festival.

B.C. wines, by the bottle or the glass, make up over half the offerings on the resort’s Mountain Flowers Dining Room wine list. Seven white wines and seven reds are available by the glass, so diners can try different wines with no need to commit.

At Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, there is a range of price points available for any budget or occasion, from family vacations to milestone anniversary dinners. Visit www.fairmonthotsprings. com for more information.

Full Service Gas at Self-Serve Price

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• Ice Cream Parlour • Flavoured Soft Ice Cream • Snacks & Treats

250-342-BOWL

(2695)

E-mail: familyfun@valleyalley.ca

• Propane/Diesel • Convenience Store • Fireworks • Lottery

250-342-6117

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Visit us on Highway 93/95 between Invermere & Windermere valley

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Invermere’s

Snowflake Festival

By Joshua Estabrooks

Don’t let the snow on Kinsmen Beach fool you — you can have just as much fun in a snowsuit as you can in a swimsuit, and the Snowflake Festival will show you how.

Beginning at 5 p.m., live music plays as you sample menu items from a myriad of local restaurants. To take part in the foodie frenzy, one must purchase a passport, but all the other events are completely free of charge. Be sure to buy one early as they usually sell out. There are also a number of children’s activities the little ones can engage in and a lantern ceremony that lights up the sky as everyone waits for the fireworks display at 8 p.m.

Whatever your reason for visiting the valley this winter, make sure you take in the Snowflake Festival and help locals and visitors alike celebrate the most popular frozen lake in the province. The 2014 Snowflake Festival takes place on Friday, January 17th. For more information, visit www.TheColumbiaValley.ca.

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JANUARY

Exploring the winter wonderland that is the Columbia Valley? Make sure you set aside some time to experience the scenic frozen paradise of Lake Windermere, one of the best-kept winter recreation secrets in the province.

To celebrate this amazing valley and all things winter, the District of Invermere, in partnership with the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce, hosts an annual Snowflake Festival. Not only does this event kick off the official opening of the Whiteway (weather dependent, of course) but it also marks the beginning of the largest outdoor curling bonspiel in North America.

The Snowflake Festival has something for everyone, including an open air stage featuring live musical entertainment, a Taste of the Valley event, outdoor fire pits, a Chinese lantern lighting celebration, the warm glow of thousands of twinkling Christmas lights strung around the lake, and enthusiastic skating, skiing and snow angel making under the big open sky.

This family-friendly event began as a community celebration to commemorate the Olympic Torch’s visit to the valley in 2010, but has grown to incorporate and include a number of other winter highlights and festivities that many summer visitors miss out on when the weather is balmy.

At the source of the Mighty Columbia River We invite you to take a journey to a place where sense of community, friendship and pride live together in perfect harmony.

Canal Flats is nestled in the heart of the Kootenays halfway between Cranbrook to the south and Invermere to the north. It is a place where one can experience Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep and deer roaming the streets.

Canal Flats offers a variety of amenities, such as a public beach, arena, golf course and parks.

250.349.5462 • www.canalflats.com KIMBERLEY SUMMER THEATRE PRESENTS SELF HELP

THE WIZARD OF OZ

July 9 - 27, 2013 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

August 3 - 14, 2013 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

Centre 64 Theatre Kimberley, B.C.

McKim Theatre Kimberley, B.C.

The hilarious hit comedy by Norm Foster

The timeless classic by L. Frank Baum

*Mature Audience Tixs: Adult $23 / Senior $21 Student $18 Groups:

Create a group of 10 or more and make it an extra special night for you and your guests. Groups receive $2.00 off each ticket.

Download the order form online and book today! A must see show!

Dinner/Theatre:

Tixs: Adult $23 / Senior $21 Student $18 / Child $13

Make it a night to remember and save. Enjoy dinner for two before the show at one of our exclusive restaurants and then join us at the theatre. Buy your dinner/theatre package during the Self Help run today! For info and prices visit our website.

Special Matinees - Self Help

KST is very proud to offer some very exciting “special” matinees this season. Each Wednesday and Saturday, during the run of Self Help, we welcome patrons to the theatre a little early for an opportunity to take part in either the exclusive behind the scenes matinee, special lecture series matinee and or the senior’s tea matinee. For all details, and to reserve your seats today, visit us online at the web address below. We look forward to hosting you as our guests.

Tickets: 1 250 427 4080 - Info: www.kimberleysummertheatre.ca valley

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Craft brewing in the Columbia Valley

By Steve Hubrecht A recent addition to the Columbia Valley events scene comes in the form of a golden liquid by the name of Arrowhead. Whether it’s Bullriding in the Rockies, a night of live music, an art exhibition or a roller derby bout, you won’t have to look far to find the valley’s own Arrowhead Brewing Company serving up its tasty local ales.

Opened a bit more than a year and a half ago by four friends, the small craft brewery packs a big punch. It’s well worth stopping into the brewery, located near the Invermere crossroads (right across from Kicking Horse Coffee).

Arrowhead’s bold blue exterior is unmistakable and the store inside is filled with a fantastic collection of rockabilly-style souvenirs. Even the staff pulling sample drinks out of the taps are dressed up in outfits straight out the 1950s.

But as much fun as the rockabilly theme is, it’s still the beer that’s the star of the show. Arrowhead usually has at

Invermere Petro-Canada

least four flavours on tap at any given time: at least one seasonal specialty and three signature stalwarts, ranging from the light, crisp, so-smooth-you’dswear-it’s-almost-lager Blonde Bombshell blonde ale to the heavy hitting I’m So Freakin’ Hoppy India pale ale (hops-lovers who can’t find a strong enough hoppy ale, you may just have met your match).

“People are becoming more educated as to what beer is and they’re wanting it handmade,” said brewmaster and co-founder Shawn Tegart.

Arrowhead is proudly available on tap in many of the valley’s bars and restaurants, as well as in Golden, Kimberley and Canmore, with plans to keep expanding its distribution. The craft brewery also plans to have a bottling and canning operation in the near future. Until then, beer-lovers can continue to take their Arrowhead fix home by buying 1.8-litre glass growlers at the brewery.

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MARCH

SPRING

March – June Fresh Fridays Open Mic Night at Pynelogs Cultural Centre.

First Friday of each month. All ages. Licensed bar. $2 at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Music from 7 to 10 p.m. Hosted

by Oso Simple. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com or call 250-342-4423.

TBA 27th Annual Easyrider Snowboard Cup at Panorama Mountain Village. Visit www. theeasyrider.com for more information.

March 22nd – 23rd Kootenay Freestyle Classic presented by the Panorama Mountain Freeride Club. A celebration of the art of skiing and ski culture at Panorama Mountain Resort. A BC Freestyle-sanctioned event.

Check www.pmfc.ca or email programdirector@pmfc.ca for more information.

APRIL April – September Pynelogs Cafe featuring the Scotty Burger opens for the season at Pynelogs, Invermere.

Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

April – October Pynelogs Art Gallery, Cultural Centre and Gift Shop open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com.

TBA Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s Long Drive Competition and Family Fun Fest at Fairmont Hot Springs Airport.

April 8th – 27th Art From the Heart. Featuring over 600 pieces of art from our talented and diverse group of elementary school aged kids from the Columbia Valley.

At Pynelogs. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com or call 250-342-4423.

April 11th Art From the Heart artist opening event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Pynelogs Cultural Centre & Art Gallery. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com or call 250-342-4423.

April 15th Comedian Lorne Elliot presented by CVArts. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com or call 250-342-4423.

April 20th Panorama Mountain Village winter ski season closing day.

Visit www.panoramaresort.com or phone 250-342-6941.

April 29th – May 11th L’il Peeps ART Show. Featuring the artwork from the children of the Columbia Valley childcare groups. This show coincides with the Wings Over the Rockies Festival & Art Show.

Visit www.columbiavalleyarts. com or call 250-342-4423.

April 30th – May 12th Wings Over the Rockies ART SHOW at Pynelogs Cultural Centre, Invermere. A creative TBA and themed art show that 16th Annual Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce Business coincides with Wings Over the Rockies Festival. Up to twenty Excellence Awards. Visit www. different artists, showcasing TheColumbiaValley.ca. several styles and mediums of art. Pynelogs Art Gallery

valley

is the home base for the festival, where many events, presentations and registration take place. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com.

MAY Art From the Heart April 8th-27th

May – September 13th Annual Glass Art Show & Sale at the Radium Hot Springs pool lobby in Kootenay National Park. Western Canadian glass artists interpret Kootenay National Park. Free admission.

Visit www.hotsprings.ca or call 250-347-9485.

TBA Market & Music on Main Summer Kickoff Party. Main Street West, Radium Hot Springs.

Community and craft market.

Visit www.tourismradium.com.

TBA Granny’s Craft Cupboard, the annual giant one-day sale of new and gently-used donations of fabric, yarn, notions and every type of craft supply you can imagine. Hosted by the Valley GoGo sisters. Invermere Community Hall .

May 3rd Lil’ Peeps artist opening event from 7 to 9 p.m. Pynelogs Cultural Centre & Art Gallery.

Visit www.columbiavalleyarts. com or call 250-342-4423.

May 3rd Wings over the Rockies artist opening event from 7 to 9 p.m. Pynelogs Cultural Centre & Art Gallery. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com or call 250-342-4423.

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May 5th – 11th 18th Annual Wings over the Rockies Festival celebrating mountains, wetlands and wildlife. One-week festival the first full week of May. Over

Wings Over the Rockies May 5th-11th

seventy high quality, creative and educational events.

Activities include guided nature walks, river floats, hikes in the grasslands, art exhibits, presentations, gala banquet and much more. Visit www. wingsovertherockies.org.

May 12th – 25th Purcell Mountain Painters Group & Headwaters Art Society Art Show at Pynelogs Cultural Centre, Invermere.

Did you know the Columbia Valley has its very own painting collectives? It may not be as well known as the famous Group of Seven, but our two local painter groups have been painting their interpretations of the breathtaking local landscapes for many years.

Visit www.columbiavalleyarts. com or call 250-342-4423.

JUNE

1st weekend in June Canal Days the in Village of Canal Flats. Annual multi-day celebration includes themed parade, live music, talent show, community dances. Phone 250-349-5835 or visit www. canalflats.ca.

1st weekend in June Crazy Soles Nipika Trail Run at Nipika Mountain Resort.10-, 25-kilometre and kids races.

This unique event is run on nearly 100 per cent single track trails. Register at www.zone4. ca. Visit www.nipika.com.

1st weekend in June Marysville Daze. Pancake breakfast followed by live band entertainment, displays and performances by dance groups and gymnasts, and craft fair with merchandise from all over the Kootenays. In the evening, for the over 19s, there is a spectacular light show and dance hosted by a well-known DJ. www.tourismkimberley.com

TBA Columbia Valley Relay for Life at David Thompson Secondary School, Invermere. 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Visit www.relaybc.ca.

TBA Kootenay Krusher at Nipika Mountain Resort. 50-kilometre endurance mountain bike race.

A recreational 25-kilometre distance and kids events are also available. Register at www. zone4.ca. Visit www.nipika.com.

TBA Branch Out Foundation Charity Bike Tour. 100-kilometre road ride around Lake Windermere starting at Panorama Mountain Village. Visit www. branchoutfoundation.com.

June 10th – 22nd REACH: David Thompson Secondary School Art Show.

Featuring ‘out-there’ art from local high school students at Pynelogs Cultural Centre.

June 13th REACH artist opening event from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Pynelogs Cultural Centre & Art Gallery.

Invermere Farmer’s Market Visit www.columbiavalleyarts. com or call 250-342-4423.

June-September

June – September Invermere Farmers’ Market in downtown Invermere. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Artisan breads, delectable treats, organic produce, live music and more.

June – September The Windermere Valley Museum in Invermere opens for visitors seven days a week. Visit www. windermerevalleymuseum.ca.

June – September Kimberley Village Market at Kimberley’s Platzl. Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.

valley

TBA 3rd Annual East Kootenay Beer Festival at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Visit www. fairmonthotsprings.com or call 250-345-6070.

TBA Radium Days at the Radium ball park and Seniors’ Hall.

Fun festival for adults and kids including parade, games and BritsBest Annual Car Show, a display of classic MG and other British sports cars. Visit www. radiumhotsprings.ca.

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June 19th – 22nd Sam Steele Days, Cranbrook’s annual festival in Spirit Square.

Visit www.samsteeledays.org or phone 250-426-5914.

June 21st National Aboriginal Day. For details on local Shuswap and Akisqnuk First Nations celebrations visit www. shuswapband.net and www. akisqnuk.org.

June 27th – 28th Music and Market on Main summer season begins. Visit www.tourismradium.com.

SPRING

May 16th Purcell Mountain Painters artist opening event from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pynelogs Cultural Centre & Art Gallery. Visit www. columbiavalleyarts.com or call 250.342.4423.

tourismkimberley.com

Columbia Valley brings

Music to Life

MAY

By Dan Walton From the Hoodoo Grill in Dutch Creek to the picturesque outdoor setting of Edgewater, quality venues line Highway 93/95 where local artists of every age and genre make themselves known around the Columbia Valley.

Talent from around Canada and the globe is even more common as the region is becoming increasingly recognized for its rich art scene.

Serving as a valley hub is Invermere, where live music can be found aplenty. Jazz, blues and R&B fans will discover a perfect setting to enjoy intimate acts at the Pynelogs Art Gallery & Cultural Centre.

Whether it’s a world-renowned band, a youthful up-and-comer, or an old

• Come for our great homemade breakfast and lunch items, including our famous cinnamon buns!

• Enjoy lunch on our back deck • In-house and off-site catering • Lots of coffee & tea gift items Licensed and family friendly!

Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

One block off the highway, behind the mall.

4985 Hot Springs Road | Fairmont Hot Springs 250-345-4008 | swcc@shaw.ca

favourite, Pynelogs’ musical offerings run the gamut and are made even more memorable by the quaint setting of Pynelogs’ historical building by Kinsmen Beach.

“Pynelogs is definitely more intimate — you get closer to the band. You feel the band. It only seats one hundred people so you’re right there with the musicians, and the musicians really feel that they’re connecting with the audience,” said Pynelogs manager Jami Scheffer. “Everyone feels like they’re a part of it.”

Pynelogs also welcomes aspiring musicians looking to share their own songs on the first Friday of every month from September to June. Fresh Fridays, as they’re called, are drop-in by donation and hosted by famed local musician Oso Simple.

“Open mic is about supporting young and emerging artists, and giving them a safe venue to perform for their first times,”says Scheffer, “and a venue for the more established artists that are just looking for a place to play and looking for an audience.”

Strand’s Old House Restaurant hosts some of the best of Canadian folk, and is a favourite for travelling musicians who always return.

“We have appreciative audiences that treat our bands right and make them want to return,” says Strand’s owner Tony Wood. “The dining aspect fits in with the ambiance and the atmosphere here. It’s not a hard rock bar.”

Bob Egan, who plays steel guitar for Blue Rodeo, has performed at Strand’s twice.

“He calls it his living room tour,” says Wood. “It feels like you’re playing in a living room with your friends. It’s comfortable, like when everybody’s sitting around at home.”

We pride ourselves in using the finest quality products with natural ingredients to create traditional and entirely homemade dishes

250-342-8877 Fax: 250-342-8897

Eat-in or Take-out Open for lunch and dinner from May to October 5009 Hot Springs Road 250-345-6661 Fairmont Hot Springs, BC tonysgreekgrill@gmail.com valley

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www.pharmasave.com

Younger crowds always enjoy rock & roll and the fresh DJs that bring Bud’s Bar and Lounge to life; while The Station Neighbourhood Pub near Kinsmen Beach offers the stylistic middle ground — and never charges cover. Celebrating all that is cold and wintry, the Snowflake Festival held every January in Invermere also showcases local favourites with a stage set up on the shores of frozen Lake Windermere.

North along Highway 93/95, Music on Main floods the streets of Radium Hot Springs every Friday and Saturday evening during the summer months from June to September. Music on Main, which regularly features local valley bands, is perfect for fans of classic and western rock — and shoppers, since the weekly performances run alongside Market on Main.

Even further north in the picturesque community of Edgewater, the Steamboat Mountain Music Festival is quick-

ly establishing itself as a must-see outdoor musical events suitable for the entire family. Every July, the all-genre day-long festival features popular Canadian headliners and local talent.

Peaceful music in a rural setting amid the beautiful mountain ranges is why Steamboat is so easy for all ages to let loose and enjoy.

Another premier outdoor festival, the Hoodstock Pop & Blues Festival at the Coy’s Par 3 driving range, returns in 2014. Complete with a Kids’ Zone and beer garden, Hoodstock collects musicians from around B.C. to showcase pop, rock and blues music in view of the legendary Hoodoos south of Fairmont Hot Springs and the stunning Rocky Mountains range.

And, in 2013 for the first time, a memorable, entertaining and edgy musical experience for Columbia Valley residents and visitors is the Invermere MusicFest: Waterfront Music Festival, August 4th at the Kinsmen Beach Greenspace, with festival-style seating, dance zones and an Arrowhead Brewing Company beer garden.

No matter what your favourite musical flavour, there’s enough talent expressing itself in the valley to appease every taste, and keep enthusiastic audiences — and performers — flocking back for more.

EXPLORE YESTERDAY. TODAY.

“Scrapbooking isn’t about scraps of paper and photos. Scrapbooking is about scraps of life yours and those special to you.” ~Rebecca Sower

tre lS alOctober 25-27, 2013 at Copper Point Resort

at

F

crapbook Re

Don’t miss it - Register today!

Details in store and on-line

Put more fun in your golf!

250-347-9645 9-holes Walkable & Affordable

Just $10.00/round (just walk on)

The little scrapbook store Supplies, Crops and Classes

Join us down by the River.

Located halfway between Radium & Invermere off Hwy 93/95

1206 - 7th Avenue, Invermere www.scrapperscoveinvermere.net 250-342-7238

For group bookings or events, call 250 347 6945 or 250 347 9401 or email ox.e1@hotmail.com. valley

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Take a giant leap back into the 1890s and experience the restored pioneer boomtown of Fort Steele.

A family favourite for decades, Fort Steele is a must!

Open daily. Call for current schedules and a list of special events or visit us online. www.FortSteele.ca / 250.417.6000 Recorded info line 250.426.7352 info@FortSteele.bc.ca 9851 Hwy 93/95, Fort Steele, B.C. V0B 1N0 (located just 16km northeast of Cranbrook)

Wings Over the Rockies

Festival

MAY

By Dorothy Isted The Columbia Wetlands, one of the longest intact wetlands in North America, plays host to a nature festival each year at the beginning of May. It first took place in 1996 when local bird enthusiasts hatched the idea for a celebration of feathered friends and their wetland home. Today, Wings Over the Rockies (WOTR) welcomes visitors from all over the world, both the winged and human variety, and has expanded to include grasslands, forest habitat and animals.

Renowned wild-life artist, environmentalist and festival patron Robert Bateman states, “The world over, when people think of Canada, they think of the glory of the Rockies. When you combine this with the upper reaches of the mighty Columbia, you have an unsurpassed natural setting.”

Dubbed the Serengeti of the North, the Columbia Wetlands and its legacy are not to be taken lightly. It embodies one of the few remaining unbroken parcels of the Pacific Flyway critical to migrating birds. Designated a Wetlands of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention in 2005, these local waterways are a major source of fresh water for the Pacific Northwest and significant nesting and breeding habitat for birds that migrate over two continents.

According to Jim Bonny, the WOTR chair for the past five years, the festival “is an opportunity to showcase the valley to visitors, all the birding and other aspects of nature.

“We had people from Australia this year, Britain, Oregon, Washington and other parts of Canada,” he said.

“About 60 per cent of tickets are sold to people outside

the valley. We sold about 1,600 tickets this year, a record.”

Wingsovertherockies.org is the group’s online site enabling people to contact them by email or calling toll-free, register for events, and plan for future ones as event dates are given for the next two years. It also offers a great picture gallery and hints on what to bring, wear and do.

Festival activities can run from one hour to day long hikes, though most of them are half day happenings at various places near Invermere or further afield. Participants can start out at six a.m. for the dawn chorus at the historic Pynelogs Cultural Centre & Art Gallery, the focal point for the festival, and keep going ‘til nine at night.

Not to be missed are the evening presentations featuring world renowned biologists, naturalists and conservationists, often accompanied by stunning photographic visuals and interesting facts. These same people, along with local enthusiasts, are the leaders for the field trips into the waterways, grasslands and forests.

By offering their informed perspectives in thought provoking and enriching ways, they help attendees gain a better understanding of the importance of preserving the ecosystems found here.

Visitors can keep as busy as they desire, taking part in the myriad events then winding down with a picnic on the shore, a world class dining experience at one of the valley’s fine restaurants, or a latte on a picturesque bistro deck.

No matter how you spend your time during the Wings Over the Rockies Festival, you will come away rejuvenated in mind, body and spirit.

Penny Powers photo

• Boat and Seadoo Rentals • Gas and Oil Sales • Valet and Boat Storage • Ice Cream MARINA: 250-342-9626 • Marine Repairs • Boat Detailing • Worry-Free Winterization • Winter Storage SERVICE: 250-342-9625

www.petesmarina.ca ahoy@petesmarina.ca valley

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Every year, we recycle over 3000 dump truck loads of recyclables in the yellow bins in the East Kootenay.

Please help us keep the East Kootenay beautiful.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

The RDEK’s yellow bin system accepts paper, cardboard, tin cans , grocery bags, and plastics #1-#6 (no styrofoam). You can use ANY of the yellow bins around the East Kootenay. www.rdek.bc.ca

1-888-478-7335

YEAR-ROUND

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