22 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer
September 27, 2013 TURNING THE PAGE — Long-time Invermere librarian Liz Robinson will have the time to read some of her favourite books, now that she’s retiring after three decades spent working at the library.
from the Waite Family Steve, Joanne, Alyssa, Andrea and Derek would like to THANK everyone who came out to the wonderful Golf Fundraiser on Sept 15th that was in honour of Steve, who is battling brain cancer. Even though we do not reside in Invermere, our roots, love and support still do and we are blessed to have so many family and friends who care for us in the valley and beyond. Thank you to the Hole Sponsors – Hart Roofing Ltd; Toby Creek Adventures; Bill Croft & Nora Efford; Kootenay Savings Credit Union; Cabin Care; Shelley & Adrian Messerli; Country Heating & Air; Mountain of Hope; Debbie & Christian Twomney; David Laine; Dennis & Adrienne Laine; Ben & Shauna Sillem; McNeil Mowing; Mountain Metals; Leanne Beddie; Joanne & Rob Gray; Don & Laurie Stober; Rainbow Restorations & Greg Langton (Hole in One). Thank you to the beautiful ladies and men who purchased wine for the wine draw. Thank you to the following organizations/ companies and people for the live & silent auction items – Brian Hoffos; Scott Boker; Lawrence Godlien; Leslie Rowan; Huckleberry’s Restaurant; Windermere Valley Golf Course; Copper Point Golf Course; Wayne Walker; Bliss; Patty Auger; Alice Hale; Edgewater Hilltop Par 3; Art Ukass; Mary Lawrie; Rachael Godlien; Helga Boker; Columbia Cycle; Babin Air; Finishing Touch Lawn Care; Dwayne & Linda Spence; Frances Jamieson; Darcy & Kathy Reynolds; Ben & Shauna Sillem; Cathy Howard; Saunder Family Farm; The Trading Post; Angela Morgan; Bavin Glassworks; Rowena Sinha; Paul Rymer; Joanne Klein; Julia Oaks; Jason Smith; Brayenna Murray; Laine Gibbie; Frank Bitonti; Winderberry Nursery; Pineridge Mountain Resort; Mary Frances Shaw; Dale Moore; Rod & Denise Kashuba; Lexie McIntosh; Walkers Repair; Randy & Cynthia Funkhouser; Blackstar; Richard Ashton; Nicole & Kevin Nelson, Renice Oaks & Kim Frocklage. We want to especially send our thanks to Dale Moore and the Windermere Valley Golf Course, Kari and her staff for the great dinner, Bill Cropper, Kurt Reichel and Brian Rogers (for playing excellent music) and Bill for his Auctioneer skills. Most importantly to our good friends who initiated and put on this excellent event for us – Kim Frocklage, Pam Frocklage, Teena Godlien, Nicole Barsby and Mom (Helga Boker). Thank you as well to all those people who provided financial donations to us as well –your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated.
Love from the Waite Family – Embrace Life!
PO Box 159, Canal Flats, B.C. V0B 1B0 Phone: 250-349-5462 Fax: 250-349-5460 village@canalflats.ca
PERMISSIVE TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR 2014 Applications may be submitted by organizations which might be eligible for a Permissive Tax Exemption at the Municipal Office, 8866 Grainger Road. A Permissive Tax Exemption is a means for Council to support organizations within the community which further council’s objectives of enhancing quality of life and delivering of services economically. A Permissive Tax Exemption is strictly at the discretion of the Village of Canal Flats Council. The application are for a full or partial tax exemption for 2014 property taxes as per regulations set out in the Community Charter. To be eligible, nature of the organization must be: • Not for profit organization • Charitable or philanthropic oranization • An athletic or service club or association • Partner of the municipality by agreement under s.225 of the Community Charter • Other local authority • Organization eligible under s.220 statutory exemption (eg public worship, senior home) Deadline for the receipt of applications is October 8, 2013 Please call our office at 250-349-5462 if you require any additional information. Brian Woodward Director of Finance
Photo by Dan Walton
Librarian checks out By Dan Walton Pioneer Staff The Invermere Library has recently lost an invaluable asset, as library director Liz Robinson has retired after more than three decades at the community hub. Beginning her library career in Golden, Ms. Robinson brought her experience to Invermere in 1981, when she began filling in as a part-time librarian. In 1984, she assumed the post of library director, which she duly served in until Friday, July 19th, 2013. While she enjoyed helping all of the clients at the library, the younger readers left the strongest impression. “I loved watching children come into the library when it was story time, when they would just burst through the door they were so excited,” she told The Pioneer. Referencing a literary favourite of local librarians, The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians, Ms. Robinson found the comical interpretation to be truthful as to how the staff were able to improve children’s desire and ability to read, as well as their love for books. “I love the relationship with the children,” she said. “I love seeing that lightbulb come on when you see a child come into the library and take books off the shelf.” And there couldn’t be a better place for her to serve as a librarian than Invermere. “You feel like a rockstar or a superhero when you meet children and see them around as a librarian in a small town,” she said. “I loved going swimming in Windermere at the beach and swimming out to the raft, and hearing a little girl say, ‘Daddy, it’s the librarian!’” There have also been children at the grocery store who have stopped to ask Ms. Robinson why she was there, who assumed she spends her entire life at the library. Though she’s no longer on the job, she looks forward to running into readers around town. “I would make sure that people do stop me on the street when they see me and tell me what they’re reading and what they’re doing,” she said. “Because that’s something I would really miss – everyday, talking with people about what they’re reading, and making recommendations both ways.” Ms. Robinson won’t be leaving the valley, she said, but will be engaging in what she called literary therapy, “reading all those books that I haven’t had a chance to read.” While she’ll always have her favourite books by her side, Ms. Robinson will no longer make daily interaction with colleague Virginia Walker, whom she said she’ll greatly miss. “We’ve worked for 24 years, she’s been there since 1989 — working with her everyday is what I’ll miss most,” she said. And with the advent of e-books and the ever-increasing popularity of the internet, Ms. Robinson sees a bright future for community libraries. “What I love about libraries is they’re always the first to start offering those sorts of services to people, and I think it will continue,” she said. “It’s wonderful that we’re able to offer e-books and audio books to people free of charge, and I’m not at all surprised that libraries were the first to take that on.” So as libraries continually adapt to technological progress while presenting the face of their communities, Ms. Robinson is ready to begin her well-deserved retirement. “I loved working in the library for that many years,”she said. “But it’s time to have younger people in there.”