Vol11issue01

January 3, 2014 Vol. 11/Issue 1

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1 January 3, 2014

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

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Valley

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BOXING DAY BIRD BUSINESS

HOVERCRAFT RESCUE

3 COUGAR ENCOUNTER

8 MYSTERY MAP This northern flicker is just one of the 1,550 birds counted around the Columbia Valley on Boxing Day (Thursday, December 26th) in this year’s version of the Christmas Bird Count. The valley tradition, which just wrapped up its 36th year, sheds light on changes in bird populations while giving local birders and photographers a chance to capture some great shots over the holidays. See story on page 5.

12

Photo by Larry Halverson

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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

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DISTRICT OF INVERMERE

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

NOTICE TO ALL DOG OWNERS All dogs over the age of four months residing in the District of Invermere require an annual dog license, from January 1st to December 31st. Licensing allows Animal Control Services to contact you as soon as possible if your animal has been impounded or if the animal has been injured as a result of traffic or as a result of other causes.

If you live within the District of Invermere and own a dog, please drop by the municipal office at your earliest convenience to pick up a dog tag for 2014.

Fees are as follows

UNSPAYED FEMALE DOG ............................$35 UNNEUTERED MALE DOG ...........................$35 SPAYED FEMALE DOG .................................$15 NEUTERED MALE DOG ................................$15 Spaying / Neutering We encourage all pet owners to have their dogs spayed or neutered to assist in promoting the health of your animal and to minimize the potential for unwanted pups in the community. As an incentive to spay or neuter your dog, the various license and impound fees for spayed or neutered animals are less than if your animal is not spayed or neutered.

Paralympic posse headed to Panorama, Pynelogs Paralympic athletes profiled in The Pioneer over the last three weeks — sit-skier Josh Dueck (top, seen in action at the world championships in La Molina, Spain, in March 2013), sit-skier Kurt Oatway (bottom left, at a race in the U.S.), and Mac Marcoux (bottom right, also seen at La Molina in March 2013) will be among those gathered at Pynelogs Cultural Centre’s “Meet the Olympians” event on Wednesday, January 8th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event — an excellent opportunity for the community to meet, get autographs and hang out with Canada’s top para-athletes in a casual setting — takes place just ahead of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Cup at Panorama from January 8th -14th. It’s one of the last events before many of the athletes will head to the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.

Photos by Marcus Hartmann/Alpine Canada; Kurt Oatway photo by Alpine Canada

For dog control issues within the municipality, please contact our Dog Control Officer at 250-342-1707.

As we now know, plastic is not so fantastic. Up to a trillion plastic bags per year are used around the world. While most of them go to landfill sites where, scientists estimate, takes up to 1,000 years to break down, millions still end up in waterways, trees, and in our oceans where it eventually ends up in stomachs of fish and birds. We encourage you to use biodegradable dog waste bags, which are available at various sites throughout town.

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January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

VALLEY NEWS

Rescue hovercraft sees first action

By Steve Hubrecht Pioneer Staff The Windermere Fire Department’s new rescue hovercraft was in action for the first time during the holidays in response to an all-terrain vehicle accident on the north end of Lake Windermere.

Two people — a young man and a young woman — were riding a quad on the lake at around 6 p.m. on December 27th when they hit the open water near Windermere Creek, the site of several previous incidents of vehicles going through the frozen lake surface.

The vehicle dropped into the water but had enough momentum to continue across the spot of open water and hit ice on the other side.

“That gave then an abrupt stop,” said Windermere fire chief Jim Miller. Both riders were injured, but the

young woman’s injuries were more serious.

“It could’ve been a broken collarbone, but I’m not exactly sure,” said Mr. Miller. “She had to be put on a stretcher.”

The crew used the hovercraft to reach the woman and to bring her to an ambulance waiting on the shore.

The young man was walking around at the scene, but later went to the hospital after finding a cut on his leg that he’d been unaware of at the time.

Mr. Miller was impressed with how the hovercraft performed in its first real test.

“It was a good test for it,” he said. “The machine worked fantastic, exactly the way we expected it to. We were really impressed. The beauty of the hovercraft was how quickly and swiftly we could get out to her and bring her to shore.”

The total time of the call was about an hour, about

45 minutes to a full hour shorter than it would’ve been without the hovercraft, estimated Mr. Miller.

“The hovercraft went from the water’s edge right to the side of the ambulance. She was loaded up and gone in the ambulance (to the hospital) before those of us on foot were even back at the shore,” he said.

“The hovercraft has proven useful already, and it’s only been one call.”

Saving three-quarters of an hour is a big deal during a rescue, according to Mr. Miller.

“In certain situations that’s pretty crucial,” he said.

“Had it been more life-threatening, that time-save would’ve been absolutely imperative.”

The Windermere Fire Department has had three other calls, all involving trucks at least partially going through the ice near Windermere Creek, during the past week and a half.

Windermere residents ponder water at meeting

By Steve Hubrecht, Pioneer Staff Purchasing Parr Utilities (the Windermere Water and Sewer Company) is the leading option so far as Windermere residents considered the future of their drinking water supply at two back-to-back meetings on Monday, December 30th.

Windermere has had a water quality advisory in place for several years and, like other B.C. communities, has to meet the province’s new water standards, which are enforced by Interior Health, before January 2015.

Presenters, including Regional District of East Kootenay Area F director Wendy Booth and Kerr Wood Leidal consulting engineer Mike Nolan, gave an overview of the four options shortlisted for Windermere — constructing a new treatment plant at the site

of the existing Windermere reservoir, building a new treatment plant inside the old Windermere fire hall, buying bulk treated water from Parr Utilities (which runs a private water utility system in the area) and an outright purchase of the Parr Utilities water system.

The bulk water supply option was rejected by Windermere residents in a June 2011 referendum, but was included in the analysis for the sake of comparison, said Ms. Booth.

“I think at the time people thought doing nothing was an option, I think there was some concern about private versus public utility and there was a concerned citizen’s group, but ultimately I can’t speak to why individuals voted as they did,” said Ms. Booth. “It’s up to you (the public) whether or not it gets more attention.”

Presenters analyzed the options based on factors

including cost and time. The estimated average per year cost (over 10 years) per property was $1,700 to $1,900 for the reservoir option, $1,500 to $1,700 for the fire hall option, $1,400 to $1,500 for the bulk water supply option and anywhere from $1,400 up to a maximum of $1,700 for the outright purchase of Parr option, depending on the negotiated purchasing price.

The reservoir option would take the longest to get up and running, followed by the firehall option. Buying bulk water would be the fastest option, with the outright purchase of Parr also being a quicker fix.

“Where I live I have a private water system and I have no problem with it. But it’s not my decision to make, it’s the community’s,” said Ms. Booth, when asked for her personal opinion on the options.

Continued on page 24 . . .

International Paralympic Committee (IPC)

Meet the Olympians.

Come hang out with Canada’s top para-athletes, including Olympians representing our country in Sochi. Cash bar and appetizers available.

Wednesday, January 8 from 5-7pm Pynelogs Cultural Centre, Invermere Be sure to join us on the mountain for world class racing January 8-14.

Come watch the racing!

IPC World Cup Jan 8-14, 2014

For more events info: 1.866.601.7388 SkiPanorama.com/events

4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

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• On December 18th at 2 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP were dispatched to a hit and run that occurred at the Red Apple Store in Invermere. The complainant reported that their vehicle was parked in the west parking lot of the Red Apple when it was hit by a Pontiac Sunfire. Two witnesses reported seeing the incident and provided a location for the vehicle that drove off.

The police officer conducted the investigation and determined who had been driving the suspect vehicle. The subject was located and took full responsibility, explaining they had left the scene because they did not have a drivers’ licence and that they were scared.

Pictures were taken of the vehicles and the suspect was issued a Violation Ticket for No Driver’s Licence and Fail to Remain at the Scene of Accident.

As a result of the above incident, the investigating officer discovered that the male had Alberta warrants outstanding. He requested another member attend to look at the driver because of recent shoplifting footage from a local store, which he suspected the male was in.

Cpl. Ayers attended, asked the subject’s name, looked at their hands, and stated “arrest him.” For those people of an older generation who recall the original Hawaii 5-O series, that’s equivalent to “book him, Dano.”

Within an hour, Christmas packages from under a tree were opened and several stolen items were seized, the result of two separate shoplifting incidents. Charges are pending, all as a result of the excellent work done by the initiating police officer!

• On December 20th at 11:17 p.m., RCMP were dispatched to a vehicle that broke through the lake ice near Tretheway Road in Windermere. Members were busy with priority files and asked the Windermere Fire Department to attend. Firefighters learned the driver of the vehicle had been driving on the ice when his truck went through. The truck only needed a tow out as it had fallen through just a foot of water and no one was in the vehicle. The file is not considered a police matter.

• On December 20th, police noted a Mazda pickup truck’s licence plate was obstructed as the truck pulled out from in front of the cold beer and wine store on the corner of 13th Street and 7th Avenue. The vehicle was pulled over and the driver was spoken with. The driver was slur-

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ring their words and admitted to consuming alcohol. An Alcohol Screening Device demand was read and the operator provided two samples of breath into two separate ASDs. Both results were a fail. The operator’s licence was seized and they were issued a 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition.

The vehicle was impounded for 30 days.

• On December 21st at 4:28 p.m., a complainant reported a possible airplane crash on the eastern mountain range in the Shuswap Drainage east of Athalmer. It was reported that a small engine plane flew directly into the side of the mountain. Bighorn Helicopters was readily available, but due to legal light limits, had to take off right away without approval from Search and Rescue. Appreciation must be noted that Bighorn did this at their own cost out of concern for their fellow aviators.

Search and Rescue was notified of the potential search.

One member spoke directly to the person who had called in the crash as another member was requested by the helicopter pilot to assist him in an immediate flyover of the potential crash site. No signs of an airplane crash were found. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre was contacted; they hadn’t received any Emergency Locator Transmissions from any downed aircraft. Invermere airport reported that the only two aircraft in the area had safely landed — one in Invermere and one in Cranbrook — and were accounted. No air emergency notifications had been received. The Fairmont Hot Springs Airport was contacted and relayed they had no notification of downed aircraft. Messages were sent to the Red Deer and Calgary Operational Communications Centres to notify airports to contact them if any overdue aircraft were reported. As of December 22nd, 2013, no further reports had been received of any overdue nor downed aircraft.

• On December 21st, RCMP were parked across from Bud’s Bar on 13th Street in Invermere in a marked police vehicle watching patrons after the bar closed.

Three men were talking 10 feet from the front of the police vehicle when a male known to police approached one of the males and started pushing him and yelling. This male was arrested for assault and for being intoxicated in a public place. The male was lodged in cells and released in the morning when sober with a Violation Ticket.

Continued on page 26 . . .

January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

Rare blackbirds highlight valley’s 36th Boxing Day bird count

By Greg Amos, Pioneer Staff The appearance of three rusty blackbirds were among the highlights of the 36th annual Christmas Bird Count in the Columbia Valley, which took place amidst – 5 C weather on Boxing Day (Thursday, December 26th) thanks to the efforts of some dedicated citizen scientists.

“The rusty blackbirds were an excellent sighting for a species that rarely appears on the count and is now considered a species at risk in Canada due to large population declines,” said local biologist and organizer Cam Gillies.

“Other notable sightings included two hooded mergansers and a short-eared owl that was seen on Christmas Day, but was in hiding for the official count the next day.”

About 40 volunteers observed a total of 1,550 birds over the course of the day. As in the past, the count occurred within a 15-mile (24-kilometre) radius, centred around Wilmer and including Athalmer, the Wilmer wetlands, Invermere, Windermere and Radium Hot Springs.

Mallards were the most counted bird on the day, with 549 observed by Dean and Bill Nicholson in the Athalmer wetlands. It’s not the highest number of mallards ever counted, but is about twice the long-term average, explained Mr. Gillies. The next most seen bird was the bohemian waxwing, of which 200 were counted — about half the

RARE AND RUSTY — The unusal sightings of three rusty blackbirds (one of whom is seen in this photo) highlighted the 36th annual Christmas Bird Count in the Columbia Valley. This year’s event included 40 birders who spotted about 1,550 birds in a 15-mile diameter around Wilmer. This year’s results are being entered into an online database that will help determine bird population trends.

Photo by Dean Nicholson

average number.

The three trumpeter swans observed “were an exciting find, as I don’t think they have ever been recorded on the count,” he added.

Worldwide, this was the 114th year of the Christmas Bird Count – a tradition that began as the Christmas Side Hunt, in which North American hunters TURKEY SMARTS — A wild competed over who turkey gets creative to access a bird could shoot the most feeder. Photo by Larry Halverson birds in a day.

After the noticeable effect that had on bird populations, the custom changed in 1900 into a bird count through binoculars rather than the sight of a gun.

Some birds never before detected in past counts in the Columbia Valley, such as the house finch, a common winter feeder bird, now appear regularly. But missing from this year’s tally were the house sparrow, the evening grosbeak (another species that has undergone widespread declines), and very surprisingly, the American robin.

“The cold weather in early December may have chased the robins south or they could still be around, but managed to elude the birders,” said Mr. Gillies.

For the first time, this year’s local results will be part of a much bigger picture, as the numbers are being submitted to Bird Studies Canada, a national bird research and conservation organization. It’s hoped that counts from the past Boxing Days will also be accepted by the organization.

“Locally, we have a tremendous record of bird sightings thanks to the amazing efforts of Larry Halverson, Fran Kimpton and all the people that have contributed over the 36 years,” said Mr. Gillies. “Worldwide, the count plays an important role in assessing the trends in individual species and conservation action that can be taken to reverse declines.”

Anyone seeking to take part next year or looking for this year’s results is welcome to call Mr. Gillies at 250-3429605 or reach him by email at cam.gillies@telus.net .

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6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

PERSPECTIVE

January 3, 2014

Historical Lens

From tragedy to inspiration

By Greg Amos Pioneer Staff

You can’t talk to a paralympic athlete without feeling a little inspired to make more out of what you’ve got.

That’s the conclusion I’ve gained from conversations I’ve had over the last month with Kurt Oatway, Josh Dueck, and Mac Marcoux — three guys who’ve each converted their own loss into a determined athletic drive that’s enabled them to compete with the best in the world on the Paralympic stage.

These three, and their teammates on the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team (CPAST) embody what human spirit is all about — the will to perservere, with gratitude, in pursuit of being one’s very best version of themselves.

Many of us now have the chance to glean inspiration from the athletes firsthand at Pynelogs Cultural Centre on Wednesday, January 8th (see page 2). I hope many valley residents take that opportunity; not only are these athletes role models, they’re also all-around great people, and their good energy is sure to rub off on us.

It’s an admirable quality to go through dark times and a range of challenges before emerging as a better person, as all of these athletes had to do. We can all learn from them, and support them on the road to Sochi.

ICE UPDATE The District of Invermere has opened the access point to Lake Windermere at Kinsmen Beach, meaning the lake is deemed safe to drive on. As of Tuesday, December 31st, Reel Axe Adventures tells us the ice thickness on Lake Windermere was 15.25 inches offshore from Kinsmen Beach.

Service Station flashback, late 1950s In this photo taken in 1957 or 1958, a car and truck are parked on 7th Avenue in Invermere in front of Lake Auto Service, which at the time was a Texaco dealer of Dodge and DeSoto cars and trucks. If you have any more information, e-mail us at info@cv-pioneer.com .

Photo (C299) courtesy of the Windermere District Historical Society

Kudos to our emergency services Dear Editor: On the night of Friday, December 20th, a gathering of our local children, home for Christmas break, took place at our home. When it was time to leave, we had the misfortune of a vehicle sliding off the road and rolling several times down the bank in front of our home.

After calling 911, the BC Ambulance Service and Invermere Fire Rescue were on the scene. Assessing the situation, paramedics were down over the bank and helping the one individual who was pinned under the truck.

The rescue team deployed a game plan which entailed securing the vehicle and an over-the-bank rescue.

I have written this letter to not only give praise and a big thank you to all of the teams involved, but to

bring awareness and highlight the professionalism that took place that evening. Our valley is very fortunate to have such a dedicated team of paramedics, fire and rescue, and police.

From the initial assessment to setting up the overthe-bank rescue, and an eventual safe trip to hospital by paramedics, it was totally flawless. We do have very professional fire and rescues and paramedic teams here in the valley. And the story has ended happily, with no serious injuries to any of the four occupants.

On a side note, alcohol was not a factor — just slippery conditions and some bad luck on their way home. Happy Holidays to all!

Al and Lucy Miller Invermere

The Columbia Valley

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013

Pioneer

is independently owned and operated, published weekly by Misko Publishing Limited Partnership.

Box 868, #8, 1008 - 8th Ave., Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Phone: 250-341-6299 • Fax: 1.855.377.0312 Email: info@cv-pioneer.com www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

Rose-Marie Regitnig Publisher

Greg Amos Editor

Nicole Trigg

Special Publications/ Associate Editor

Dan Walton Ontario correspondent

Steve Hubrecht Reporter

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January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

LETTERS

Privatization of public services is an ugly thing Dear Editor: Those “free-trade” deals Stephen Harper is signing all over the place — in secret, without public knowledge, and without parliamentary debate — are really charters of rights-and-freedoms for transnational corporations. Deals like NAFTA have empowered corporations with the right to sue governments that stand in the way of them making a profit.

For instance, U.S.-based Pitney Bowes could sue Canada for not opening the usually profitable Canada Post to transnational bidding. Selling off a publicly-owned service is bad politics. That’s why Harper and his provincial counterparts are scrambling to privatize every publicly owned asset they can: Canada Post, BC Hydro, Parks, even public health and education.

This privatization process is ugly: first they bankrupt the public asset. Governments have the power to appoint the company’s board-of-directors. The directors hire the “managers” who bankrupt the company. This “death by management”

scheme is particularly obvious with BC Hydro, where half its employees are making $100,000 or more.

BC Ferries had to cut services to afford their managers. Canada Post has 22 — yes, twenty-two—vice-presidents! As these companies fail, governments cry to the people, “We told you so, publicly-owned companies are inefficient, they cost to much to operate. They must be privatized!”

Do you want to be Prime Minister, or Premier? Here’s another tip: promise those darned transnational corporations even more than what Mr. Harper, Ms. Clark and Mrs. Redford have. More subsidies, more tax breaks, more access to public resources, and lower environmental standards.

Then leave it to the corporations: they’ve got the money, they own the media. These transnational corporations will get you elected, somehow. So, if you have no conscience, and are willing to forsake Canada and its people, you can be a “leader.” No experience necessary.

Bryan Stawychny, Edgewater

Sharp skater Gabriella Ottavainen, 8, beats her brother Hamish, 9, to the finish line after a fun skate on the Whiteway on Monday, December 30th.

Photo by Greg Amos

We want to hear from you

Email your letters to info@cv-pioneer. com or visit our website at www.columbiavalleypioneer.com. Mail your letters to Box 868, Invermere, V0A 1K0, or drop them in at 1008-8th Avenue.

We do not publish open letters or third-party letters.

Letters for publication should be no

longer than 400 words, and must include the writer’s address and phone numbers. No attachments, please.

Letters may be shortened for space requirements. We reserve the right to edit for space, clarity, civility and accuracy. Opinions expressed are those of the writer, not The Pioneer.

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8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

LETTERS

Remembering a life-changing cougar encounter Dear Editor: Some years ago, I was working as an engineer with the BC Forest Service in a remote part of the East Kootenays. One day, I set off in my solid, old reliable Bronco for field survey about 30 kilometres into the Skookumchuk basin on old logging roads.

I had been warned that the area was cougar country. I had never confronted a cougar; I assumed they were generally shy animals and would not bother humans. But just in case, I took my bear spray. I walked about two kilometres and completed my survey.

Starting on the walk back, I noticed what appeared to be a large animal about 50 metres away. It vanished without allowing me to get a good view.

I had previously worked in Thailand and Bhutan and the culture of those countries had taught me to seek harmony, not confrontation with the environment. I felt I should try a similar approach here and thought I could convey this intention by some telepathic message.

“I am not going to bother you cougar, if you are a cougar,” I said to the animal.

I could feel a sense of respect and anticipation that something would respond, but I did not know what to expect. If there were a cougar lurking there, I was sure it was due only to curiosity with no predatory intent. I walked the remaining distance back to the truck.

My work was finished but I enjoyed the freedom of

being out in nature and was reluctant to return home. I looked all around but there was no sign of any animal.

I turned the ignition but the truck would not start.

Now I was feeling anxious. I checked under the hood observing what I could of the engine system, but could not identify the problem. I had no radio or phone coverage, so had no possibility of calling for help.

It was about 2 p.m. The walk to the main road was about 20 kilometres — a three to four hour walk. I reckoned I could make it to the highway before dark and hitch a lift to Windermere and so began hiking.

After about half a kilometre I sensed a presence. I looked around — a cougar was following intently about 100 metres in the distance. We continued like this for another kilometre, with the animal always maintaining its space.

Suddenly I realized I had left my wallet on the car seat when I was gathering my items for the walk out. I had to go back.

I turned around and the cougar stopped, remaining rigid, large, just staring at me.

With my spray in hand, concealed behind my back I walk in the direction of the animal. The cougar remained staring at me. I approached to 20 metres, 15 metres then five metres. It just stared without moving.

“I am going to pass you, cougar,” I said gently to it. “I have no intent to harm you.”

With only about two meters space, I passed it on the trail and kept walking.

The cougar turned and slowly followed me, keeping about 10 metres distant.

I returned to the truck and crashed into the driver’ seat. I felt exhausted and awestruck. It was such an unusual sensation to be in intimate communication with such a beautiful wild animal.

The cougar came to the truck and sat looking at me in the cab, just a few feet away. I opened the window and spoke to it. It replied with a low purring sound. I felt it was like some domestic cat that I could pet. But I resisted and we sat looking at each other for several minutes.

“Go home,” I said. As if slighted, the cougar got up and strolled off along the trail, then vanished.

I felt suddenly lonely. During that time with the cougar, there had been a strange kind of empathy.

“I’ll come and visit you again,” I said. That sounded ridiculous, I reflected. Absentmindedly, I inserted the key in the ignition and the engine sprang to life.

With a start, I suddenly returned to reality.

“Thank you cougar, always be in harmony with the environment,” I said. I drove out of the forest with my survey complete and a unique memory.

The recent slaughter of the cougars is very disturbing. The deer are out of control and any attempt to control them ends up with an absurd law suit. The cougars are responding to the crisis of deer infestation that has been allowed to happen by the town and residents.

The cougar is a beautiful creature; it should not be “destroyed” in such a hasty fashion. The solution to the cougar situation may not be easy to find, but sympathy for their charismatic presence may make us more aware of their value.

Michael Tilling Windermere

We’re ready... are you?

90 years and still going strong!

SNOW REMOVAL

Happy 90th Birthday ve from !

Lo amily to John Ronacher he F

T

January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer Page•99

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE COLUMBIA VALLEY

MUSIC • VISUAL ARTS • DINING • BAR SCENE • ENTERTAINMENT • PERFORMANCE ARTS MOVIE REVIEW

PAGE 10

THE GOOD FIGHT

PAGE 25

Whiteway worshippers

With this year’s version of the Whiteway skating and cross-country skiing track extending south past the lakeside community of Rushmere, residents can now access the 32-kilometre loop by taking just a short walk from their front doors. A crowd of happy skiers, skaters and dog-walkers showed their appreciation for the Toby Creek Nordic Club’s efforts by creating this sign.

Photo contributed

Happy Birthday to Pynelogs!

What does ART mean to you? 1914 - 2014 · Celebrating 100 years

Visit columbiavalleyarts.com for our current events calendar, or call 250-342-4423.

Out & About Your weekly guide to what’s happening around the Columbia Valley PAGE 11

10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

MUSIC • VISUAL ARTS • DINING • BAR SCENE • ENTERTAINMENT • PERFORMANCE ARTS

Movie Review: Elysium

Reviewed by Lizzie Midyette Elysium is the story of a futuristic world in which all the rich people live on a brightly lit, lush and luxurious space station, to be gazed upon enviously by the workers left on a dusty and garbage-stricken wasteland. Set in 2154, the wealthy living on the pristine space station have numerous methods to protect their way of life, from shooting down refugee spacecraft to a robotic police force to catch any stray earthlings. Those remaining on earth have to do what they can to get by in an overpopulated and povertystricken world.

One man, Max (Matt Damon), has seen more than

his fair share of hardships through his life.

Raised in an orphanage, he is discouraged from dreaming about life on Elysium, which shines brightly in the sky above Earth. After a frustrating meeting with a robotic parole officer, he’s late for work and has a run-in with his overworked human boss. Unfortunately, an industrial (and yet entirely preventable) accident leaves Max with five painful days to live.

This urgency leads him to run a mission to Elysium, despite the dangers, in order to try and redress the inequality between lives on Elysium and Earth. The chances of a successful mission are greatly impacted by corporate deals and conflict, with Delacourt (Jodie Foster) at the centre.

Made by the same creative forces behind District 9, I was hoping for a bit more of an exploration into the reasons for life being the way it was, as well as a captivating story. Unfortunately, Elysium falls short in that regard. Instead, fans of Matt Damon’s more recent action-filled work will appreciate the technology-enhanced transformation that he undergoes in preparation for the mission to Elysium. Whereas District 9 explored the inequalities and struggles of apartheid, Elysium bravely tackles capitalism and the growing gap between rich and poor in the global economy today. In that regard, it is fascinating to see where technology could literally widen the gap between those who have and have not.

RATING: 7 OUT OF 10 HEADS

December’s Rustica Date Night Winner is:

Where Soup & Sandwiches Are An Art form.

Traders Lounge will be serving up bottomless soup & a sandwich for $11.99, Wednesdays to Sundays.

Andrea Salzbrenner

With combinations balanced for flavour and texture, ordinary lunches are transformed into a culinary delight for the senses.

You’ve won a complimentary Date Night in January.

Enjoy our 3 course table d’hôte menu and a select bottle of wine*

on us.

Make your reservation now at 1-877-877-3889.

Check out our Eagle Ranch Facebook page for the soup & sandwich of the day. facebook.com/eagleranchresort

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Gone

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I D E O

* Winner must redeem on a Friday or Saturday evening during January, 2014.

Pending availability. Photo ID required to redeem prize. eagleranchresort.com

Gone Hollywood’s TOP FIVE OF THE WEEK Last Week’s Top 5 Rentals New Releases January 7 1 2 3 4 5

The Family Elysium We’re the Millers Heat Lone Ranger

1 2 3 4 5

Runner Runner Closed Circuit Thanks for Sharing I’m So Excited We Are What We Are

New Releases January 14 1 2 3 4 5

The Butler Riddick Carrie The Spectacular Now I’m In Love With a Church Girl

MOVIE SALE

50

%

OFF

SELECTED MOVIES

503 - 7th Ave., Invermere • 250-342-0057

January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 11

MUSIC • VISUAL ARTS • DINING • BAR SCENE • ENTERTAINMENT • PERFORMANCE ARTS

Out & About Please call 250-341-6299 or e-mail us at info@cv-pioneer.com to enter your event in our FREE listings.

Submissions must be received by the Monday prior to publication. We may only run an entry for two weeks prior to the event.

Please limit your submission to 30 words.

Priority is given to one-off events, so weekly events may run rarely.

Toby Theatre • January 2nd - 4th, 7:30 p.m.: Disney’s Frozen.

Friday, January 3rd • 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.: Book swap at the Summit Youth Centre. Bring a book (or more than one!) if you want to participate.

• 7:00 p.m.: Steamboat Mountain Music Society AGM at the Edgewater Hall. An extraordinary general meeting will follow (to modify the society’s constitution as a requirement for federal charity status.)

Entertainment and refreshments provided. Call 250347-9882 for further info.

Saturday, January 4th • 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.: Documentary night at the Summit Youth Centre.

Wednesday, January 8th • The Para-Alpine Panorama IPC World Cup takes place at Panorama January 8th - 14th. For more info visit http://www.alpinecanada.org/ PanoramaIPCWorldCup .

• 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Apres with para-alpine Panorama IPC World Cup atheletes at Pynelogs Cultural Centre in Invermere. Residents of the Columbia Valley are invited to spend a few hours with Canadian team athletes and enjoy an evening of drinks and snacks.

• 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Mural night at the Summit Youth Centre. Let’s make a mural for the Summit!

Thursday, January 9th • 12:00 p.m.: Age Friendly Senior Luncheon at Pynelogs Senior Centre. Soup and sandwich lunch catered by Randy McSteven. Cost is $5 at the door.

Reserve your seat by calling 250-342-9281 ext. 1227, or sign up at the Invermere’s Seniors’ Hall or at the Invermere Legion.

• 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Hang out night at the Summit Youth Centre.

Friday, January 10th • 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Panorama IPC World Cup downhill race, men and women.

• 2:15 p.m.: Award ceremony in front of Panorama’s day lodge.

• 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.: Chain story and Exquisite Corpses at the Summit Youth Centre.

Saturday, January 11th • 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Panorama IPC Worl Cup super combined race (downhill and slalom), men and women.

• 3:15 p.m.: Award ceremony in front of Panorama’s day lodge.

• 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.: Fast and Furious movie marathon at the Summit Youth Centre.

Monday, January 13th • 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Panorama IPC World Cup super-G race, men and women.

• 2:15 p.m.: Award ceremony in front of Panorama’s day lodge.

Tuesday, January 14th • 9:50 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Panorama IPC World Cup giant slalom race, men and women.

• 3:15 p.m.: Award ceremony in front of Panorama’s day lodge.

• 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Swimming at Radium Hot Springs with the Summit Youth Centre. Please register by January 13th, 7:00 p.m. Leaving the Summit at 6:00 p.m.

• 7:00 p.m.: Cinefest movie night presents Storm Surfers, marking Australia Day (January 26th). Runnerup for the 2012 Blackberry People’s Choice Award, this awe-inspiring film follows two Aussie best mates (Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke-Jones) approaching their 50’s who travel the southern hemisphere pursuing one of the world’s most deadly and exhilarating sports: big

wave surfing. At Pynelogs Cultural Centre. Tickets at the door, $10. Cash bar and light refreshments. All ages. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., film begins at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 15th • 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Experiment night at the Summit Youth Centre.

Thursday, January 16th • 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.: EK Senior Caregiver’s Network at Columbia Garden Village dining room. Caregiver support group meets every third Thursday of every month. For info call Darla at 250-342-2808.

Friday, January 17th • 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.: Challenges and hang out night at the Summit Youth Centre.

Other •The Whiteway is open! The Whiteway is a 15km groomed track that runs all the way around Lake Windermere and connects the towns of Invermere and Windermere. The Whiteway has tracks for classic crosscountry skiers, a groomed skate skiing track, and a cleared ice-skating track. There are three official entry points onto the Whiteway; one at Kinsmen beach in Invermere, one at the Invermere Bay Condos in Invermere, and one at Windermere beach. Visit The Toby Creek Nordic Club for a map and more information.

Invermere Library hours • Closed until January 16th.

Radium Hot Springs Library Hours • Tuesday: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

• Wednesday to Thursday: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

• Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Invermere Thrift Store hours • Thursday & Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• Saturday: 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Radium Thrift Store Hours • Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Friday and Saturday: 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

For info call: 250-342-6633.

The 2014 MaxWell calendars are in for pickup!

926-7th Ave., Invermere, B.C. (next door to Fairmont Goldsmiths)

Ph: 250-341-6044 Fax: 250-341-6046

www.maxwellrealtyinvermere.ca

DANIEL ZURGILGEN 250-342-1612

SCOTT WALLACE 250-342-5309

BERNIE RAVEN 250-342-7415

GLENN POMEROY 250-270-0666

GEOFF HILL 250-341-7600

danielzurgilgen@gmail.com

scott@scottwallace.ca

bernieraven@gmail.com

glennpomeroy@shaw.ca

connect@geoffhill.ca

CHRIS RAVEN 250-409-9323

KEN MACRITCHIE 250-342-1565

chrisraven09@gmail.com kdmacritchie@gmail.com

12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

Regional District of East Kootenay

2014 RDEK Board Meeting Dates

January 10 February 14 March 7 April 4 May 2 June 6

July 4 August 1 September 5 October 3 November 7 December 12

Board Meetings begin at 9:00am. The Thursday immediately before Board we also have Committee Meetings. All meetings are open to the public.

Please visit www.rdek.bc.ca to view the meeting agendas.

REGIONAL DISTRICT OF EAST KOOTENAY Phone: 250-489-2791 Toll Free: 1-888-478-7335 Email: info@rdek.bc.ca Website: www.rdek.bc.ca

PODIUM PALS — Mac and BJ Marcoux share the podium after winning the giant slalom event at the 2013 Canadian Para-Alpine Championships, making the brothers the reigning para-alpine national champions in giant slalom.

Photo by Kelsey Verboom/Alpine Canada

Lack of sight no barrier to success for alpine skier

By Greg Amos, Pioneer Staff Editor’s note: Leading up to the International Paralympic Committee’s Alpine Skiing World Cup being held at Panorama Mountain Village from January 8th to 14th, this is the third of a three-part series on Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team (CPAST) athletes.

JANUARY 8 - 14

alpinecanada.org/PanoramaIPCWorldCup

The upcoming 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia are firmly within the sights of Ontario skier Mac Marcoux — within the six per cent of his remaining vision, that is.

Mac, 16, has taken the world of visually-impaired skiing by storm after bursting onto the International Paralympic Committee World Cup Scene this year, and is pegged as one of Canada’s top medal hopes at the games in Sochi. He races while being guided by his older brother, BJ Marcoux, 19.

Mac started going blind in elementary school, and became a prospect athlete for the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team last year. He exceeded all expectations by winning multiple World Cup medals (including a gold in New Zealand this summer), a silver medal at the 2013 world championships in La Molina, Spain.

“I’m going in open-minded; I’m going to shoot for gold,” said Mac, reached at his home in Sault St. Marie, Ontario (near Lake Superior) over the Christmas break. (Mac has only been home for four weeks since the start of August.) “Realistically, I’d like to make the podium in at least one or two events.”

Mac’s experience has added up to a very impressive stature for a 16-year-old racer: in the most recent rankings, he’s sixth in world in slalom, eighth in giant slalom, and among the top 10 in the speed events. But he’s the first to acknowledge he owes much of his success to his family.

“If it wasn’t for my brother, I would be nowhere close to where I am today,” he said.

When others have guided him, “it’s not the same; the trust and the bond that’s there is so hard to replace. He’s someone I can argue with or fight with, but at the end of the day, we’re as tight as possible.”

Mac began to lose his sight in Grade 4, and in just two months, went from 20/20 vision to legally blind. He now has six per cent vision, with peripheral vision that only allows him to see shapes, but no detail.

“When I started to lose my sight, instantly my mom was online, looking for athletes with the same deal as me, with visual impairments,” he said. They found a set of brothers competing in visually-impaired cross country ski racing, and Mac was ready to try that.

Continued on page 24 . . .

January 3, 2014

H

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13

THE YEAR IN DEER Deer diction Here are a few Pioneer readers’ responses to our question about what this festive local deer might be thinking about: “Let’s hope my Christmas tree disguise fools that pesky cougar!”

“Cull!? Blend in, man, just blend in.”

Pioneer file photo by Cayla Gabruck “Holy Buck – do I look like Rudolph? Really?”

“I try hard to understand the people.

They all sing about Rudolph the rednose reindeer. I even wear red lights to fit in, but they don’t want me to enjoy my Christmas dinner!”

opkins arvest

Now accepting proposals for the operation and lease of our commercial kitchen with wood fired pizza oven OR lease of kitchen and building for the coming year located at 1645 Hwy 93/95 Windermere, B.C. Please email proposals to hopkinsharvest@yahoo.ca

THE C LUMBIA VALLEY FIGURE SKATING CLUB All skating programs start the week of January 6th!

Preschool Skating Tuesdays and Thursdays

CanSkate

Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

CanPowerskate Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Pre-Powerskate Fridays 1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Register at karelo.com or at the Eddie Mountain arena Monday January 6th from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Whether you love them or loathe them, there’s no denying that Invermere’s urban deer are photogenic. Top left: Among our favourite deer photos of 2013 is BobWalker’s shot of a deer adding its hoofprint to the composting facilities at the Groundswell Community Greenhouse in January; above: reporter Dan Walton captured the shot above of two deer optimistically cruising for crumbs in front of Quality Bakery this spring; below left: deer browse on the lawn at Fairmont Hot Springs’ Riverside golf course in August in a shot taken by editor Greg Amos; below: a cartoon submitted by Gord Harris from Fort St. John portrays an alternate reality in which Invermere’s deer take the removal of deer attractants into their own hands .. er.. hooves.

The Quality Bakery will be closed for renovations from Sunday, January 12th, and will reopen Monday, February 3rd.

Follow us on Facebook or stop by the store front to stay tuned with renovation updates!

14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

Century-old map of Invermere resurfaces

By Nicole Trigg Pioneer Staff Invermere’s CPR Lodge is something of a mystery to many who walk by where it’s perched on the hill overlooking Dorothy Lake just up from Kinsmen Beach. And a related discovery this past summer has left one man in particular scratching his head.

Bob Kelly is the project manager who, back in 2007, took it upon himself to rescue a dilapidated historical building on Fort Point and restore it to its former glory. Readers may recall May 2010, when the old lodge made its slow journey via flatbed truck to its new home adjacent to the Rotary Ball Park and Tennis Courts.

“I realized there is not much history in this town, history that you can physically grab on to,” said Mr. Kelly, “and this was one of the things that was available to save.”

After the difficult task of moving the building, Mr. Kelly spearheaded the restoration work, which saw the building lowered onto its foundations, the site landscaped, new plumbing and wiring installed, a wraparound deck added, a new roof installed, and the building’s interior redone.

During the renovations, he was handed a rolledup bundle by Nancy and Larry Ballard, the property owners who had agreed to donate the lodge. They asked him to look after it, but he was so busy finalizing the project, which was formally completed in 2012, that he didn’t find time to examine the bundle until last summer.

“It was explained that it was really old, but they didn’t know how old, just that it came from the lodge,” said Mr. Kelly, adding that it had been discovered stuffed inside a wall.

Much to his surprise, when he took out the bundle

and carefully unfurled it, he discovered a map of the District of Invermere made of linen, drawn with India ink, and clearly marked as the property of the Columbia Valley Irrigated Fruitlands Company, which had been founded by Robert Randolph Bruce in 1911.

“He was the first man to take the lodge over and (pointing to Kinsmen Beach on the map), that’s where Pynelogs should be and it’s not on here so that dates the map before 1914,” Mr. Kelly speculated.

The lodge was built by Canadian Pacific Railway in 1920 as part of CPR’s Lake Windermere bungalow camp, which consisted of 25 cabins and a central clubhouse (the lodge) located on the eastern side of present-day Fort Point.

After construction was complete, CPR turned operations of the camp over to the Columbia Valley Ir- MYSTERY MAP — Top: An old map of the District of Invermere estimated to be roughly 100 years old is now on display at the CPR Lodge after being discovered rigated Fruitlands Company stuffed inside a wall of the building prior to its relocation and restoration. (Photos by Bob Kelly) Right: Robert Randolph Bruce fonded the Columbia Valley Irrigated and Mr. Bruce, who had also Fruitlands Company, which appears to have produced the mysterious map. (Submitted photo) been the driving force beHowever, the tourist bungalow camp only had a short sold off as individual cabins. The CPR Lodge itself hind the construction of the life span before it became a ranch camp for girls in was purchased in 1965 by Ian and Lucy Weir, who region’s first railway line (the Kootenay Central Railmade it their permanent residence after winterizing way), the Banff-Windermere Highway, and Pynelogs. 1929. In the fifties, the property was subdivided and

The CPR Lodge officially opened on July 1st, 1920 as the central clubhouse for what was known as the Lake Windermere Camp, located on the east side of Fort Point. Submitted photo

it in 1968. In 2007, when Mr. Kelly caught wind of plans to demolish the old building, he approached the Weirs’ daughter, Nancy Ballard, who had inherited the building and property from her parents.

“They were trying to sell the property so they were just going to blow (the lodge) over,” said Mr. Kelly.

Though the Weirs had winterized much of the lodge, they had left one part virtually untouched, which is the section Mr. Kelly eventually moved to Rotary Park; the insulated section he didn’t relocate had contained the mystery map.

“The old part didn’t come because we just couldn’t move it, it was too much, and it was too big,” said Mr. Kelly. “We couldn’t get it down the street. We would have had to break it in half and

another move would have doubled our costs and we just didn’t have the money.”

Based on his own calculations and historical knowledge of the area, Mr. Kelly has labelled the map “Circa 2013” — but he is open to feedback.

“Because Pynelogs isn’t on here, we thought it had to be before 1914,” he said.

Furthermore, the train tracks winding their way around Invermere’s shoreline are labelled as the Kootenay Central Railroad, which was taken over by CPR in 1911 and the name changed accordingly at that time.

Through his research, Mr. Kelly also learned that a race track, clearly visible on the map, was built between 1910 and 1913.

Yet, the presence of the Lake Windermere Camp and the David Thompson Memorial Fort on the map contradict his educated guess. Although it makes sense both monuments appear on a map created by the Columbia Valley Irrigated Fruitlands Company since they were both turned over to the company to operate, neither existed pre-1920. According to historical records provided by the Windermere Valley Museum, construction of the bungalow camp officially began in 1920, the same year it officially opened, and the fort was constructed in 1922 as a complement to the camp.

“It’s got to be a hundred years old anyway, give or take,” said Mr. Kelly. “It’s got to be of interest… I want it out so people know about it. There’s got to be more to this. The mere fact that it’s on India ink and linen makes it really old, and cool.”

Perfectly preserved, the map shows Invermere’s old street names as they were prior to 1952 when they were changed to the current number system, revealing such poetic monikers as Windermere Crescent, Grand Drive, Esplanade, View Drive and, of course, Bruce Avenue.

Continued on page 28 . . .

The lodge became the private residence of Ian and Lucy Weir in 1968. The Weirs insulated parts of the building, but left the main section in its original state. Photo by Bob Kelly

In 2010, Bob Kelly recruited the help of local house mover Hank Pronk to move the lodge from its original Fort Point location to its new home overlooking Dorothy Lake. The move took four hours.

Photo by Bob Kelly

The newly restored CPR Lodge in 2012 at its new location adjacent to the Rotary Ball Park and tennis courts in Invermere.

Photo by Bob Kelly

16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

YOUR MONEY

What should I invest in a TFSA? You’ve done everything right: you’ve saved money in anticipation of January 1st, 2014 when $5,500 of new Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) contribution room becomes available. Now it’s time to decide what to buy.

Here are some tips about investments that can be held within a TFSA, and how to select the most suitable.

What investments can be used?

Many financial advisors are used to being asked “What interest rate do you pay on a TFSA?” It’s a difficult question to answer because the rate paid on a TFSA depends on the investments in it.

This misconception is most likely because the name “Tax-Free Savings Account” is misleading. It makes a TFSA sound like a bank account, or a high-interest savings account like the kind offered at ING Direct. In actuality, a TFSA is simply an account type.

If this concept is still confusing, try thinking of a TFSA as a box. Within that box, any number of investments may be purchased, such as publicly-traded securities, mutual funds, government bonds or GICs. The type of investment depends on one’s investment objectives and risk tolerance.

For example, a person who prefers low risk investments may have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) or Government of Canada bonds in their TFSA. Another might hold an assortment of blue-chip stocks or preferred shares. And yes, some may decide to use a

high interest savings plan within their TFSA. It’s purely a personal decision.

Best investments in a TFSA Any investment growing tax-free is beneficial. For people with a moderate risk tolerance, maximizing a TFSA’s tax-free status becomes a little more complicated.

As a general rule of thumb, most people will benefit from using investments that are more heavily taxed within their TFSAs. For example, interest is taxed as regular income and is therefore fully taxed. Capital gains are a little less tax-heavy, as 50 per cent of capital gains are taxed as regular income. Dividend income is by far the least-taxed form of returns for most Canadians; those who earn $43,954 to $75,213 in 2014 will pay only 6.40 per cent tax on their dividends, and those who earn $43,953 or less actually earn a tax credit!

It’s safe then to say, a person with a moderate risk tolerance and a diversified investment portfolio would likely benefit most from keeping their dividend-paying investments in their non-registered account where they will receive preferential tax treatment, and using their TFSA for investments that pay interest or are expected to have capital gains.

Why shelter interest?

Buying interest-bearing investments in a TFSA can be a difficult concept to grasp, as today’s interest rates are

painfully low. Why would a person want to tax-shelter two per cent interest? The answer is, interest rates won’t be this low forever. As rates rise, it will be more important to use interest-bearing investments within a TFSA. When TFSAs were introduced in 2009, the stock markets were at historical lows, creating an unprecedented opportunity for investors. Since early 2009, the common stock of some large, high-quality Canadian corporations have risen over 100 per cent. Those who bought such investments in their TFSAs have had the unique opportunity of tax-sheltering all of that growth.

In today’s market environment, however, it’s highly unlikely we will see an anomaly like that for quite some time, and so proper allocation between account types is crucial. Investments that are expected to produce capital gains are still appropriate for a TFSA; however, speculative stocks may not be, as capital losses generated in a TFSA are considered superficial.

Final thoughts Those with modest savings don’t have to worry as much about the most tax-advantageous types of investment to hold in a TFSA. Saving money and buying investments that suit their risk tolerance is due diligence enough.

Those with more mature investment portfolios may require additional support. Speak with your financial advisor to get his or her opinion on what would be most suitable for you.

Investments, Insurance & Financial Planning Brendan Donahue BCOMM, CIM® , FCSI

Senior Investment Advisor Insurance Agent

Sara Worley CIM®

Investment Advisor Insurance Agent

Ask us about how we can create a tax-efficient dividend income portfolio

GIC Rates*

as of December 29th.

1 year 2 year 3 year 4 year 5 year

1.85% 2.05% 2.20% 2.40% 2.70%

*Rates subject to change without notice.

Manulife Securities Incorporated is a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Insurance products and services are offered through Manulife Securities Insurance Agency (a licensed life insurance agency and affiliate of Manulife Securities) by Manulife Securities Advisors licensed as life agents. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company is the sole issuer of the Manulife GIF Select insurance contract which offers the IncomePlus benefit and the guarantor of any guarantee provision therein.

Call us for professional, free consultations! • Ph: 250-342-2112 • Fax: 250-342-2113 • 712-10th Street, Invermere

January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17

Valley transit system serving many riders “I pride myself in precision,” said Olympus Stage Lines Ltd. manager Ben Kuhle, who has been keeping the buses rolling since the BC Transit program was introduced to the valley in 2008.

“That’s what I do the entire day, is work to make sure that I’m at the bus stops at the right times, so people can depend on the service and know that’s when the bus is going to be there.”

He said the service has come a long way since its inception, having grown from an average daily ridership of two or three to about 45 today. Fares have been reasonably set, ranging from $2 to $2.50, serving riders as far south as CaSERVICE WITH A SMILE — Ben Kuhle drives the BC nal Flats, where the service begins at 7:30 Transit bus for the Columbia Valley, earning rave reviews from many of the a.m. from Monday to Friday, stopping at daily riders who’ve come to rely on the service.

Photo by Steve Hubrecht locations in Fairmont Hot Springs and Windermere before reaching Invermere.

Once there, a separate route takes

By Dan Walton riders up to Radium Hot Springs and Edgewater, before Pioneer Staff returning to Invermere.

Between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. from Monday to Throughout the vast Columbia Valley, there is an exFriday, the bus offers on-request service between Radium tensive and affordable public transit system, and it’s operated by drivers who are passionate about what they do. and Invermere, as long as a trip is booked 24 hours in

Myth: Change your ads all the time. Readers get tired of the same thing.

Take charge of your health with

naturopathic medicine!

N E W S PA P E R

Reality: Develop a good campaign, or theme for your ads. Stick with that one campaign, and only make small changes of headlines or details.

Call Dean at 250-341-6299 to find out more.

8, 1008 8th Ave. Invermere, B.C. Ph: (250) 341-6299 Fax: 1-855-377-0312

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com • Email: info@cv-pioneer.com

I will be accepting patients in January, 2014 at Renaissance Wellness.

For more information please see www.facebook.com/drmikebakernd

250-342-1457

Dr. Mike Baker, ND

Your Local

COLUMBIA VALLEY REAL ESTATE

Professionals

Wende Brash Broker/Owner

RE/MAX Invermere

Glenn Pomeroy

MaxWell Realty Invermere 926-7th Avenue, Invermere, BC

glennpomeroy@shaw.ca

Independently Owned and Operated

Cell: (250) 270-0666 Office: (250) 341-6044 Fax: 866-600-0673

1022B - 7th Avenue, Box 459 Invermere BC V0A 1K0 E-mail: wendebrash@telus.net Fax: 250-342-9611

Office: 250-342-6505 • Cell: 250-342-1300

advance, which can be done by calling 1-877-343-2461.

“It’s a long day, but I enjoy driving so it’s not that big of an issue,” Mr. Kuhle said.

For drivers whose commute can be weather-dependent, Olympus’ heavy duty buses have few issues dealing with winter weather, especially with the experienced drivers behind the wheel.

“Winter doesn’t pose a challenge,” said Mr. Kuhle.

But no matter what time of year, riding the bus is another enjoyable way to get around the East Kootenays, he added. “You see many of the same people every day, it pretty soon becomes a social thing.”

Before full-day kindergarten was introduced in B.C., Olympus would transport the Eileen Madsen Primary school children to accommodate the half-day schedule, which was one of Mr. Kuhle’s favourite tasks.

“I always had huge fun with that because four and five-year-olds are hilarious little people,” he said, adding that he rode a school bus when he was young and always enjoyed the rides.

Be sure to say hello to Mr. Kuhle if you find yourself on one of the two BC Transit routes in the valley.

Schedules for the Columbia Valley can be viewed online at goo.gl/92D1nh , and Columbia Valley Transit System information is available by calling 1-877-343-2461 .

Lake Windermere Players

CASTING CALL

for our April production Sunday, January 12th, 2 p.m.

Invermere Community Hall We also need back stage crew, a stage manager, makeup artists and costumers. Call 250-347-9021, 250-341-1259 or email lwplayers@gmail.com for more information.

Visit us on

Buying or selling…

Your greatest investment is worth a second opinion!

Cell: 250•341•1395 Toll Free: 1•888•258•9911 pglassford@telus.net www.PaulGlassford.com

Over 10 years of real estate experience!

ROCKIES WEST REALTY INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

492 Highway 93/95 Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 CELL: 250-342-5889 TOLL FREE: 1-877-347-6838 FAX: 1-866-788-4966 scott@rockieswest.com www.rockieswest.com

18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

HERE TO SERVE YOU Wildland Custom Construction

■ Lockout Service ■ Lake Recovery ■ 24 Hour Towing ■ Prompt Service

• Renovations • Fine Finishing • Custom Woodwork

Brian Smith

Journeyman Carpenter 250-272-6740 wildlandconstruction@gmail.com

Sales ~ Service ~ Installation

UNIVERSAL DOORS & EXTERIORS Arnold Scheffer 250-342-6700

unidoorext@live.ca • unidoorext.ca

Industrial ~ Commercial ~ Residential

Also offering FREE year-round pickup of unwanted vehicles

Warbrick Towing & Salvage

VJ (Butch) Bishop Owner/Operator

4846 Holland Creek Ridge Rd. Invermere, BC V0A 1K0

• Excavators • Mini-Excavators • Bobcats • Dump Trucks • Water Trucks • Compaction Equipment • Snow Plow • Sanding Equipment • Crane Truck • Mobile Pressure Washing & Steam Cleaning • Underground Services • Site Prep & Demolition • Road Building • Land Clearing • Controlled Burning • Rock Walls • Rip Rap • Top Soil • Sand & Gravel

CONTRACT OR HOURLY MACHINE RENTALS AVAILABLE

warbrick@shaw.ca • Cell: 250-342-5851

TRAPPEUR HOMES.COM Complete, Ready-To-Assemble, Highly Efficient Dovetail Log Home Kits

Visit us online for more details about our innovative building techniques

• Furnaces • Heat Pumps • Fireplaces • Full Heating and Ventilation Systems Call for your FREE consultation and estimate

Top Value, Highly Efficient, Healthy & Natural Building System for Home Owners, Developers and Contractors.

Call Aaron: Call Max:

250 688 0985 250 270 0396

WETT Certified

Standard or Custom Plans Available

Kitchen cabinet & counter top SpecialiStS

Invermere and East Kootenay Region

• Journeyman Carpenter • Contracting • Framing/Siding/Finishing • Timberframe • Custom Log Railing & Decks

Westridge Cabinets Dealer ~ Granite and Quartz Counter Tops Come visit our showroom,

492 arrow rd., unit 1b 250-342-hoMe (4663)

Skandia Concrete

1756 Hwy 93/95, P.O. Box 2700, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Phone: 250-342-6500 • Toll Free: 1-888-341-2221 • Fax: 250-342-3484

Septic Systems Installed ~ Pumped ~ Repaired Prefab Cement Tanks Installed Water Lines Dug and Installed Basements Dug

WINDERMERE 250-342-6805

Scott Wilisky

stwcarpentry@live.ca • cell 250 270 0745

Kootenay Paving

• Serving the valley for over 30 years • Commercial • Industrial • Residential • All work is guaranteed • Free estimates

SHOLINDER & MACKAY EXCAVATING Inc.

New Home Construction

ROSS‛S POOLS & SPAS Commercial – Residential Installation – Maintenance – Repairs

Darren Ross 4890 Stoddart Creek RR#2 Invermere, BC V0A 1K2

Cell: 250-341-7727 • Fax: 250-347-6363 • poolman-911@hotmail.com

• Gel Nails & Pedicures • Coloured Gel • Nail Art Call Judy ~ 250-341-5245 • Days, Evenings, Weekends

RFE ALARMS Monitoring includes guard and keyholder service • Surveillance Systems • Home Theatre • Analog & Digital Background Sound Systems

rfealarms@shaw.ca

Local company, local service.

250-342-6549

January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19

HERE TO SERVE YOU RADIUM HOT SPRINGS ESSO Automotive Repairs 7 days a week

GAS • PROPANE • DIESEL

Residential & Commercial Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

Freight & Passenger Depot Bus: 250-342-9692

7507 Main St. West, Radium Hot Springs

RR#4 2117 - 13 Avenue

Cell: 250-342-5241

(250) 347-9726

Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K4

building & renos

Fax: 250-342-9644 rugclean@telus.net

(250) 341-7283

www.ptarmigan-invermere.com

Peak Exteriors 5” CONTINUOUS GUTTER SIDING, SOFFIT, FASCIA & WINDOW CAPPING Darcy Tagg Cell 250-417-6617 Tel. 250-422-3002 Email peakexteriors.tagg@gmail.com

PO Box 90 Wasa BC V0B 2K0

Full service printer for the Columbia Valley DESIGN, PRINT & BINDERY 250-342-2999 info@palliserprinting.com

Your search for quality and dependability ends with us.

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Specialists Truck Mounted System • Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed

Unit 4, 108 Industrial Rd #2 Invermere, BC

Dean Hubman

www.palliserprinting.com

250-342-3052

Certified Technician

Toll Free: 877-342-3052

Invermere, BC V0A 1K3 odysseyrestoration@telus.net

READY MIX CONCRETE Concrete Pump • Sand & Gravel Heavy Equipment Rentals • Crane Service Proudly Serving the Valley for over 50 years

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

Darrel Anderson

LAMBERT-KIPP

P H A R M A C Y LT D .

Come in and browse our giftware

J. Douglas Kipp, B. Sc. (Pharm.)

Laura Kipp, Pharm D., Irena Sedlakova, B.Sc. (Pharm.)

Your Compounding Pharmacy Open Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

1301 - 7th Avenue, Invermere

250-342-6612

SPRAY FOAM SPECIALISTS

Insulated Concrete Forms Call 250-342-2001 www.iisi.ca • info@iisi.ca

Lambert

INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD.

BOX 2228 BOX 459 742 - 13th STREET 7553 MAIN STREET INVERMERE, BC. RADIUM HOT SPRINGS, BC V0A 1K0 V0A 1M0 PHONE: 250-342-3031 PHONE: 250-347-9350 FAX: 250-342-6945 FAX: 250-347-6350 Email: info@invermereinsurance.com • Toll Free: 1-866-342-3031

Home Valet

• Insured • Eco-friendly

• Cleaning • Concierge • Maintenance • Home Checks www.homevalet.ca michele@homevalet.ca 250-409-4900

Scott Postlethwaite

CVCC Contractor/ Trade Builder of the Year 2008

Residential, Commercial Electric Furnace and Hot Water Tank Repair and Service For All Your Electrical Needs invermereelectric@gmail.com

1710 10 Avenue – Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 th

GLD

Landscaping Ltd.

20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

HERE TO SERVE YOU • • • •

FAIRMONT RIDGE RENOVATION

Doors Windows Flooring Painting/ Interior/Exterior • Kitchen Renovations

250-342-5682

• Bathroom Renovations • Additions • Decks • Finish Carpentry • Basement Renovations

5077 FAIRMONT RESORT RD., FAIRMONT BC EMAIL: fairmontridge@telus.net

Fall Cleanup/ Winter Servicing

East Kootenay Electrical Services Licensed Contractor

Cell: 250.341.1342 Fax: 250.342.8733 E-mail: ekelectric @telus.net

Everett Frater Enterprises Phone: 250-347-9228 • Cell: 250-342-5645

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL

Box 2206 Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

Certified General Accountant

• Trusses • Engineered Floors • Wall Panels Tel: 250.341.6075 Fax: 250.341.3427 Email: info@duskbuildingsystems.com www.duskbuildingsystems.com

1320 Industrial Road #3 Box 159, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

• FURNACES • HEAT PUMPS • AIR CONDITIONING • FIREPLACES • HOT TUBS • CHEMICALS • REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE 385 Laurier Street, Invermere, B.C.

Phone: 250-342-7100 Email: info@diamondheatingandspas.com

www.diamondheatingandspas.com

“Your key ingredient for business health and success”

DR. Kwynn Blazina BSC, DC Doctor of Chiropractic, Professional Coach, Craniosacral Therapy

250-688-6440 • dr.kwynn@shaw.ca 4759 RIVER DRIVE, FAIRMONT HOT SPRINGS, B.C., VOB 1L1

Septic Tank Pumping Portable Toilet Rentals • Complete sewer/drain repairs • A well maintained septic system NEW should be pumped every 2-3 years SEWER • Reasonable rates – Seniors’ discount CAMERA • Speedy service – 7 days a week • Avoid costly repairs

Bruce Dehart 250.347.9803 or 250.342.5357 • Ready Mix Concrete • Commercial concrete sealer • Concrete Pumping retarder for exposed • Over 50 colours available aggregate and in stock • DELIVERED ON TIME • Concrete stamps for rent at a fair price • Full range of coloured release • Full range of sand and agents for stamping gravel products.

Phone: 250-342-6452 • 250-342-3773 • Cell: 250-270-9444

www.digco.ca

Mark Digney, CPA, CGA

Phone: 250-342-8404 Email: mdigney@digco.ca

1022A 7th Avenue Box 1084, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

Complete Construction Services

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for

201

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commercial • residential

concreteservice2013@gmail.com

Columbia Chiropractic Dr. Karen Fahrni DC Dr. Meghan Haggarty ND

Certified ART® & Graston® provider #4 1008 8th Ave, Invermere BC www.columbiavalleychiro.com

From Framing to Finishing

• SNOW REMOVAL • SANDING

• POWER SWEEPING • PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

PH: 1-888-711-ESCAPE (3722) • WEB: www.cobblestonecreek.ca

oki

Renovations Kitchen/Bath Re-Face Basement Development • Foundation Repair

BOUTIQUE VACATION HOME MANAGEMENT RENTAL SERVICES

Call or visit online

Bo

250-409-9628 • columbiavalleychiro@gmail.com

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

“Proven and successful Management and Marketing Services for your Vacation Home” “Trip Advisor Vacation Rental of the Year 2011 and 2012”

No w

250.270.0821 Kari&&John JohnMason Mason balancebobcat.com Kari 250-270-0821 • 1-780-970-7040 Invermere • Panorama

Serving Invermere & Panorama

Al Tallman

Call Al at

We Do It All!

January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 21

PIONEER CLASSIFIEDS

• • • •

ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT

THANK YOU

CHEERS & JEERS

CHEERS & JEERS

Kinsmen Christmas Tree Pickup this Sat. Jan. 4th. Donations support the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Please have your trees by the road by 9 a.m.

Narcotics Anonymous meeting now available. Thursdays at 8 p.m. Call 250-342-1071 for more info.

Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or conflict in your life, AA can help. All meetings are at 8 p.m. For more information, please call 250-342-2424. Columbia United AA, Invermere: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at the BC Service Building, South End – 624 4th St., Invermere.

Radium Friendship Group: Friday at the Catholic Church, East Side of Main St. With the exception of Tuesday, all meetings are open.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Purple Light Night Campaign and Candle Light Vigil; participating businesses, Sam Paul, Laverna Stevens, Cpl. Grant Simpson. Blair and Lucas from D.T.S.S. thank you for your informative and encouraging words in regards to domestic violence.

Max Ostroff, Lynda Sherpherdson and the D.T.S.S. Leadership Group and Matt Chapman for your energies in distributing purple lights. Koffee Kweens Cafe for the wonderful hot chocolate. Perry Horning for keeping us warm with the fire. Thank you to everyone who stood out in the cold with us raising awareness of domestic violence and the fact that sadly it is in our valley.

Cheers to Pip’s Country store in Edgewater for having the cheapest gas prices in the valley for the past four weeks, you rock!

Cheers to Peter Scheffer and his driver, Tom, for donating their time and truck to deliver plywood for the Wilmer Hall. Happy New Year!

A big fifty cheers for my multitalented staff (in so many ways, I cannot begin to tell you), who made me unwrap presents all day in my office as I uncovered every office tool, chair, filing cabinet, pen holder, piece of gum and hanging piece of art to get some work done!

You make my day, every day.

Jeers to the women walking on the middle of the ice highway who gave me dirty looks while we slowed down for them because they gave us no room on either side of the ice highway to get past.

S OBITUARY S REBECCA MARY WINIFRED LOUCKS (EDWARDS) Known to all as WINNIE March 6th, 1917 North Battleford, SK. December 19th, 2013 Invermere, B.C. Predeceased by her late husband Dick, both of Invermere.

It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the passing of Winnie who left us on Thursday, December 19th at the age of 96 years.

Over the years, Winnie had many interests. She loved square dancing, skiing, skating and music. After being a stay-at-home mom, Winnie ventured into the workplace, working in a clothing store, driving a special needs childrens’ bus, working in a bookstore at Mount Royal College and driving a parts truck for Calgary Motor Products. When Winnie retired, she moved to the Shuswap with her husband Dick, where they set about the daunting task of building their own home before finally settling in Invermere in 1996. Growing up she loved her sports, and loved to be outdoors. In her later years, Winnie liked to watch her Blue Jays and her Stampeders – she even liked the NFL. Since moving to Invermere, Mom made many new friends through her knitting group and the Royal Canadian Legion, where she was a loyal member, while always staying in touch with past friendships throughout her wonderful 96 years. Winnie even had what she called an extended family here in the valley. In the later part of her life she loved to go on cruises including trips to Alaska, the Caribbean, Panama, Mexico and Hawaii. Mom always spoke about returning to North Battleford which we did this past May. She had such a zest for life and lived every moment to its fullest – always with a smile.

Winnie was a life member of the Eastern Star. There were so many sides to this extraordinary woman’s life.

Winnie is survived by her two daughters Kelly Williams and Georgena Loucks of Invermere, her nieces and nephews Priscilla (Jim), Ross (Natalie), Jacquie (Pat), John (Susan), her great nieces and nephews Nicholas (Suzanne), Tyler (Kristina), Michael (Heather), David (Meagan), Robert (Alisha), John Paul, Jamie, Alexx and Kat. She also enjoyed her eight great-great nieces and nephews, with one more on the way.

A very special thank you goes out to all the staff, doctors and especially the nurses at the Invermere Hospital who were with Mom at the last.

MOM

We are so lucky to have had you in our lives Thank you mom for being there Whenever we were in need Encouraging us whenever we were unsure Giving us the strength to succeed When life seemed really impossible You wiped away our tears And with gentle words of wisdom You soothed away our fears You will be sorely missed and truly loved beyond measure

As per Winnie’s wishes, no formal service will be held but a Celebration of her Life will take place at a later date with her family and friends. Donations can be made in Winnie’s name to a local club, organization or charity of your choice.

Al-Anon. Are you concerned about or affected by someone else’s drinking? If so, please join us. Al-Anon meets EVERY Monday in Invermere at 7:15 p.m. at the Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church, 712 – 12th Ave (behind the Invermere hospital). For information, please call 250-3428255.

THANK YOU Once again, many thanks to everyone for their overwhelming support “in donations” to Wilmer’s Christmas Eve fireworks. Thanks to Kootenay Coffee Works for their donation of hot chocolate, Jerrod Smith for the firewood, Pat Hemmelgarn for canvassing, and Pat and Shawn Murray for overseeing it all. They did a fantastic job as always. Happy New Year everyone!

CHEERS & JEERS A huge “cheers” under painful circumstances to Mark Z. and his staff at the Invermere Vet Hospital, your sympathetic management of Bear’s passing was very much appreciated.

Cheers to the best and most considerate people in this Valley.

Cheers to Dr. Gooch and his wonderful wife for all the hard work and love you have given us.

Cheers to Geoff Hill for his generosity.

Phone: 250-341-6299 Fax: 250-341-6229 Email: info@cv-pioneer.com www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

Cheers to Shawn Murray and Pat Hemmelgarn for the best fireworks every Christmas Eve! You guys rock!

Cheers to the Radium Fire Department volunteers for decorating their fire truck and bringing some holiday cheer to the streets of Radium on Christmas Eve. Well done!

Cheers to the people at the Catholic church for the live nativity before Christmas, and to Helmers for the nativity scene with their Christmas greeting in the Pioneer. This is what Christmas is about.

Cheers to Pat, Shawn, Sonja, Bill, Erin, Chris and all the other people who helped to make the Wilmer Christmas Eve fireworks event the BEST yet! All of your hard work is very much appreciated.

Cheers to AG Valley Foods for donating hot chocolate to Windermere Elementary School for the guests and students to enjoy after our Christmas Concert!

Cheers to Kicking Horse Coffee for donating your awesome coffee to Windermere Elementary School for the guests and students to enjoy after our Christmas Concert!

Cheers to Jeff, a nice man who helped me up off the icy driveway at Carriage Courts Mon. Dec. 16th and drove me to my Christmas lunch.

Cheers to the wonderful group of volunteers who give their time, energy and show deep care for others by reading with students at Windermere Elementary school.

We really appreciate you!

Cheers to Lisa and Jess, we loved working with you too!

HERE TO SERVE YOU DCS Plumbing • Plumbing, Repair and Installation • Drain Lines • Hot Water Tanks • Over 30 years experience • 24 hour emergency service • Seniors’ Discount

250-341-8501

Darren Ottenbreit Certified Technician Phone 250.688.1235 Email

dottenbreit@timberwolfmaintenance.ca

Address 13B Wolf Cresent Invermere, BC V0A 1K2

22 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

CHEERS & JEERS

COMMERCIAL SPACE

SUITE FOR RENT

Jeers to the holidays being over, they always go too fast. Happy New Year!

NEW HOUSE MULTI STORAGE 20 x 25 heated shop $450/mo, first and last D.D. required.

24 x 36 shop power included, propane heat at tenant’s expense, $650/mo first and last D.D. required. Contact New House Multi Storage • 250-342-3637.

Radium: 4-bdrm, 2-bath basement suite. W/D, N/P, N/S, no partiers. $1,100/mo, + utilities. References required. 250-342-6010.

A huge Cheers to the new additions at Fairmont ski hill! The tube park and terrain park are awesome!

Snow makers, ski school, lifties, rental shop, kitchen, and staff you guys and gals all rock! Have a great year!

SHARED ACCOMMODATION

HOUSE FOR RENT Invermere home for rent, 6-bdrm, 3-bath, close to downtown, N/S, fenced yard. $1,600/mo, for info please call 250-342-1249.

Cheers to Beth from The Rainbow Donkey! You are fantastic and will make my little girls’ Christmas amazing.

Private room, phone, laundry access, internet, and all utilities included, $400/mo + $200 D.D., N/P. 1-866-222-0325.

Cheers to Mayor Gerry Taft for letting me commandeer his vehicle to respond to a police emergency.

SUITE FOR RENT

Downtown Invermere half duplex.

2-bdrm, 2-bath, garage, 2 decks, beautiful lake views. N/S, N/P, $1,100/mo + utilities. Available Jan. 1st. 250-342-8662 or lake@ shadybrookresort.com.

Invermere: affordable 1-bdrm and 2-bdrm apartments. $600 - $800/ mo. Includes all utilities. 250-3411182.

Charming 2-bdrm house, excellent location, valley view, W/D, dishwasher. $850/mo + utilities, call Jeff 250-688-1105.

Radium: Fully furnished units for rent. Bedsitting, 1-bdrm, 2-bdrm.

N/S, pets negotiable. Call Joan at 250-342-7517 to view and check availability. Rent includes heat, hydro, cable and all linens.

STARTING AT $500/mo.

Executive 1,600 sq. ft. 2-bdrm, 1-bath fully furnished with W/D, 2 fridges, right down to sheets. Private and on Lake Windermere water system, huge 1st growth fir beams/ wood ceilings and floors. Large private yard and space for toys. $1,000/mo + utilities with $500 of wood purchased at house for you already. Damage deposit required if interested please call 587-436-8828.

Big Cheers to Pano ski patrol. I had fallen and you came a-hauling.

Cheers Gary, Mark Sharp for holding my hand. The Bagan family, Todd, Brenda, Heather, Clarise, Derek, Dave, Elin, Shawna, Dawson and all those that I might have missed for all your support and hugs. Sue Coy and Colleen for putting up my tree and last but not least my Jimmy.

I love you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Jeers to my broken leg!

STORAGE NEWHOUSE MULTI STORAGE Various sizes available.

Now with climate-controlled units.

Call 250-342-3637.

STORAGE SPACE – assorted sizes, easy access, immediate availability, long-term or short-term. Deck Properties Warehouse, Industrial Park: 250-342-3166.

COMMERCIAL SPACE For Lease: Micro office space, Panache Bldg. 250 - 300 sq. ft. each.

All new, available immediately.

Phone 250-342-5805.

Retail opportunity in Invermere.

2,100 sq. ft. located on Main St. Rare vacancy in the busiest area of town. Don’t miss out on this golden opportunity, call now 250-2700570, ask for Josh. Short or long term okay.

Brand new large, bright, 2-bdrm basement suite in downtown Invermere. Private entrance and enclosed patio, all new appliances, N/S, $775/mo + utilities. Available immediately. Call 403-874-0483.

2-bdrm furnished suite in Riverside, Fairmont. All appliances, N/P, N/S, Available immediately. $700/mo + half utilities, includes internet, 587-435-1346 or 778-525-0525.

1-bdrm apartments available Feb. 1st. Quiet 55-plus building, N/S, N/P, shared laundry, centrally located at 604 6th Ave. $470/mo, including cable TV. Please pick up an application at the front door.

Contact Jacob with any questions: 250-341-3546.

Black Forest Heights: 2-bdrm, ground level, open concept. Bright, comfortable, nice yard and views, 7 appliances including central vacuum. N/S, no partiers, quiet, small pets considered. January 1st. $850/mo including utilities. Call Rick 250-342-3057 or cell, 250341-5572.

CONDO FOR RENT CANAL FLATS: 2-BDRM, 1.5-BATH WITH IN-SUITE LAUNDRY. 1,000 sq. ft. of beautiful, comfortable, living space in quiet neighbourhood. $700/month + utilities. Available immediately.

Call 403-873-8158 or e-mail canalcondo@live.ca .

Serious inquiries only.

Invermere furnished condo. Close to downtown, 2-bdrm, 2-bath on two levels. N/S, N/P, no partiers.

References, $1,000/mo + utilities.

Call 403-978-4559.

Radium 2-bdrm fully furnished condo. Fireplace, two-person soaker tub and shower in large bathroom. BBQ and two balconies. $800/mo + utilities, call Mardi at 250-688-0884.

CONDO FOR RENT

FOR RENT INVERMERE

3 bdrm. furnished home in Pineridge Mountain Resort. $1,650 /month.

RADIUM

2 bdrm. furnished condo in Copper Horn Towne $1,050/month.

2 bdrm. unfurnished condo. $900/month plus utilities.

FAIRMONT

2 bdrm. home on the river. $1,150/month. Available long-term only.

Eric Redeker 250-342-4040

FirstChoiceRentals.ca

Available quickly. 3-bdrm 1.5 bath condo conveniently located and close to schools in Invermere. $1,200/mo + hydro. Call to view 250-341-5951.

FITNESS

SERVICES

Come out and get fit in 2014 by joining Zumba Fitness with Julie Parent! Classes run Mon., Wed. and Thurs. at 5:30 p.m. at J.A. Laird School Gym and Friday morning classes at 9 a.m. at the Dance Studio across from the Post Office In Invermere. $50/mo or drop in $10/class for current class schedules. Check out my website at www.julieparent.zumba.com or my Facebook page Zumba Fitness – Julie Parent for more information call or text Julie at 250-341-5474.

SERVICES Dryer Vent and Furnace Cleaning and inspections. Call AQUAIR today!

250-342-5089.

Water treatment and purification, includes drinking water systems, softeners and conditioners, iron filters. Call AQUAIR, 250-342-5089.

Home Building and Renos Chuck Newhouse Builders 250-342-3637 chucknew@telus.net REMOTE STARTERS SOLD AND INSTALLED AUTOWYZE SERVICES Starting at $379.99 (Majority of Vehicles) Extended Warranty Available.

Call 250-342-6614. *The Price is Right* “The best investment I ever made!

I purchased two blinds for each window. A shade with an outward view and 97% UV and a beautiful wood blind, a great combo.

Thanks Shannon. Diane Roberts (Canal Flats) New – “Drapery and much more” Phantom Retractable Screen Doors *Shannon’s Blinds & Designs* 250-342-5749.

CONDO FOR SALE Riverstone Villas Condo in downtown Radium. 3-bdrm, 5 appliances, fireplace, large soaker tub walk in shower, garage. Priced 10% below assessment, will take quad or camper as down payment, $177, 000. 250-342-7608.

MISC. FOR SALE Hay and green feed-round Bales. $50 - $90/bale. Elkhorn Ranch, 250-342-0617.

FIREWOOD Support Rockies Hockey firewood.

Larch, fir, and pine split and delivered. Call 250-342-6908.

Dry fir, pine firewood. Cut to length. $200/cord, $100/half cord.

Free delivery Spilli to Windermere.

Seniors discount. Call 250-6880280.

Rockies West Realty Independently Owned and Operated

492 Highway 93/95, Invermere, BC

Kim Collens

Representative

toll free: 1.877.342.3427 cell: 250.342.1671

kim@rockieswest.com www.kimcollens.com

Recipe Of The Week APPLE ENCHILADA DESSERT

1 can (21 oz) Apple Pie Filling 6 Flour 8” Tortillas 1 tsp Cinnamon 1/3 cup Margarine

½ cup White Sugar ½ cup Brown Sugar, packed 1/3 cup Water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spoon fruit evenly onto tortillas; sprinkle with cinnamon.

Roll up tortillas and place seam side down on greased 8” x 8” baking pan.

In a pot bring margarine, sugars and water to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer, stirring for 3 to 5 minutes.

Pour sauce evenly over tortillas; sprinkle with extra cinnamon if desired.

Bake for 25 to 35 minutes until golden.

Cut in half and serve.

See all my recipes at recipes.kimcollens.com

Home Of The Week

Seasoned firewood for sale, $200 per chord delivered. 250-341-3544.

VEHICLES For Sale: 2008 Ford F150. 121,000 km. Asking $14,500. Call 250-3417022.

Why not Fairmont Hot Springs?

Brand new cottage tucked in the trees on Mountainside will be at the top of your list! Rustic finishing, 3 bedrooms, fireplace and loads of windows to capture the views.

$399,900

MLS®

2218876

January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 23

PIONEER ON THE ROAD Travelling Pioneers Travel World, our local travel agency in Invermere, has generously donated a night at a Calgary hotel and two tickets to a Calgary Flames game to the winner of our annual Pioneer Travel Photo Contest. Simply take a copy of The Pioneer with you when you are away on holidays, send us a copy and have it published in The Pioneer. At the end of the year, we will draw the winning name. Submit your photos online at www.columbiavalleypioneer. com, email them to info@cv-pioneer.com, or drop by our office, #8, 1008-8th Ave. Invermere. Pictured, clockwise from top left: Jeremy and Alana Johnson at Cinque Terre in Italy; Mike and Judy Peacock at Bryce Canyon; (left to right) In the White Tower of the Tower of London are Lynn and Wendy Hayes, Sylvia and Rob Robertson from Fairmont Hot Springs.

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HELP WANTED

Strands is seeking a chef with 3 to 5 years experience in European and Canadian fine dining to start immediately. This is a hands on position. Apply to Tony Wood at tony@strandsrestaurant.com or 250-342-6344.

Fairmont Gas Plus and Subway is seeking P/T and F/T employees.

Please apply via email jaypark4929@gmail.com.

Citadella Restaurant in Radium Hot Springs, BC is looking for two Hungarian Ethnic Cooks for full-time seasonal work position from April to October 2014. A minimum of two years experience requested as a Hungarian cook.

Salary offered $15/hour. Duties include preparation of ethnic Hungarian dishes. Please send resume to Steven at info@million dollarview.ca .

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Please email classified ads to info@cv-pioneer.com

VILLAGE OF RADIUM HOT SPRINGS 2014 Event Coordinator (Contract) The Village of Radium Hot Springs is inviting applications for the position of Event Coordinator.

This creative, outgoing and independent individual will be responsible for the development, coordination and facilitation of select tourism events during 2014.

This is a one year part-time contract position with the possibility of renewal in 2015.

The job description and position overview are available upon request.

Interested candidates can send their cover letter and resume to Mark.Read@radiumhotsprings.ca by 4 p.m.

January 17th, 2014.

We thank all candidates for their application but only suitable candidates will be contacted.

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24 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

. . . ‘Windermere water’ from page 3 Those at the meeting indicated they’d rather decide the matter by a mailed-out petition — which would mean only one vote per parcel, regardless of how many people live there, and would exclude renters but allow out-of-town second home owners and commercial property owners to have a say — instead of a referendum.

At the end of the first meeting, the presenters surveyed the opinion of those in attendance by means of an instantaneous electronic ballot, which showed purchasing Parr Utilities as the preferred option by a wide margin. They also indicated a strong preference (67 per cent in favour) of having a public utility instead of a preference for a private utility.

Hank Swartout, the president and chief shareholder of Windermere Water and Sewer Company (Parr Utilities) expressed disappointment two weeks before the meeting that buying bulk water from his company is not getting more consideration.

“If you take the politics out of it and look at it from just from a financial standpoint, there’s no doubt it’s the cheapest option,” he said. “We’ve got a facility sitting here that can service the entire east side of the lake, but Windermere seems to be heading in the direction of making their own (facility). We’re also battling the bogeyman of private water system ownership, yet we’ve actually got more regulatory oversight than the regional district (in terms of water standards).

“The fallacy out there is that a private water system is a cowboy that can do whatever it wants, but the opposite is true,” said company president Paul Partlo. “Trying to inject the common sense factor is all we’re trying to do. We can’t sneeze without the government saying so. Anybody trying to say we’re an unregulated entity is nowhere close to the truth.”

There will be a second public hearing on the matter in Windermere sometime in the coming weeks.

See a longer version of this story online at ww.columbiavalleypioneer.com . . . . ‘Skier’ from page 12 Then Alpine Canada got in touch, asking if he was willing to compete in downhill ski events.

Mac began able-bodied racing at age 9, when he started to lose his sight, and began para-skiing at 13.

“My whole family likes to do sports together; right then, me, my brother and my sister joined racing,” he said, noting he grew up racing ATVs and says snowmobiling is his favourite non-skiing activity. “It was planned that when the day came that I would be so blind I couldn’t ski alone on a course, we’d switch over to the para-racing, and my brother would guide me. As the time came, it fell into place really well.”

Mac is the youngest skier on the World Cup circuit, and competes in slalom, giant slalom, super G, downhill and super combined events. He’s stron-

Garbage truck bumps gondola

By Steve Hubrecht, Pioneer Staff An industrial garbage truck hit the village gondola at Panorama Mountain Village the weekend before the holidays began, with four people taken to the Invermere hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

The incident happened at about 8:50 a.m. on December 20th, just before the ski hill was set to open for operations, when the truck driver mistakenly parked under the lift and raised the back of the truck, bumping a few of the gondola cabins (the three pods that typically travel along the gondola in a group), which were carrying staff and a few customers up to the base area.

Of the 22 people in the impacted cabins, seven had minor injuries and four of them were sent to the hospital. Panorama’s Safety Services team responded

gest in slalom and giant slalom, and is now racing to lower his points to get a better bib start position at the Paralympics. He’ll be among the top competitors in the upcoming IPC World Cup event at Panorama Mountain Village starting on January 8th.

It’s a ski course Mac is familiar with, having done early season training at Panorama for the last few years.

“I feel pretty confident there; I know all the terrain and I know how it works,” he said. “It’s an advantage, confidence-wise.”

At first, it wasn’t easy for him to get the hang of visually-impaired skiing. His first year of racing was “the hardest year ever,” he said. “It was kind of teaching ourselves the ropes. It was hard to ski 10 to 20 feet away from somebody else; you almost want to let off, because there’s someone in front of you. It was a big transition; it was tough, but fun at the same time.”

Now he’s hitting speeds of more than 100

kilometres per hour in downhill events, trailing his brother BJ by about 20 metres and communicating via headset. Before each race, the brothers separate a course into five sections, try to learn where the jumps and delays are during the inspection runs, and lodge those sections into memory as much as possible.

“I learned from when I was 9 to know a little more than other people, to know the features so I don’t hit them unexpectedly,” he said. “Learning how to memorize came with learning how to race.”

In slalom races, Mac listens for the coaching, but looks for the gates, which are exactly the same as in ablebodied ski racing. It’s easy to lose sight of, and occasionally crash into, the gates in heavily-treed areas, he said.

“Even sometimes at Panorama, coming down Old Timer, you lose the gates in the trees, because the run winds a little bit,” he said. “I just kind of carve the ski and hope for the best until I can see a gate.”

WINTER SPECIALS:

Village of Radium Hot Springs

Grant in Aid Applications The Village of Radium Hot Springs is welcoming applications for municipal grants in aid to community groups for endeavors, events or programs for the 2014 budget year. Applicants should pick up a guide to assist them in preparing a complete application. The deadline for applications will be January 31st, 2014.

Guides may be obtained from the Village office, 4836 Radium Blvd. during office hours.

swiftly and was on-scene right away.

“The most important thing is people, and safety is our first priority,” said Panorama president and chief executive officer Steve Paccagnan. “The injuries were minor but nonetheless we are concerned about the incident and are following up on it.”

The truck was run by a third-party commercial operator, which the resort is investigating with to find out what happened and to ensure a similar incident does not happen again.

“Obviously this was accidental and I’m sure the driver feels absolutely terrible,” added Mr. Paccagnan.

The village gondola was shut down until December 22nd, although the rest of the resort continued to operate as normal. Shuttle buses were used to transport people from the lower village to the ski hill base while the gondola was not in use.

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January 3, 2014

The good fight Fresh old ideas

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 25

Travellers’ triumph

By Arnold Malone Pioneer Columnist While obtaining a Bachelor’s degree, I was a member of the University Debate Team.

Hundreds of times I heard my debate coach say, “He who loses his temper loses the argument.”

Anger is not debate — or as my dad used to say, “Once two pigs have rolled over in the hog wallow, it is hard to tell which one started the fight.”

Debate is a clash of issues; it is not an attack on personalities. Individuals need to learn how to disagree with respect.

From such individuals, communities bloom.

Of the seven billion people on Earth, there aren’t two, anywhere, who think alike on all matters all the time. Studies on identical twins indicate that they are more likely to have similar values and opinions, but each is unique and they do have differences.

If it is so that each human is different and each understands the world from their own perspective, shaped by heritage and experience, then we must accept that differences are a fact of life.

It follows, then, that individuals and communities need to live by civil rules that welcome diversity, while recognizing that collective decisions need to be made. A collective decision, by definition, means some will not get their way. It can’t be any other way.

The challenge is, always, on how to debate an issue while sticking to relevant facts, and avoiding an attack on personalities. If everyone had the same DNA and the exact same experiences, we might think alike, but welcome to Boredom Valley.

An impediment to mature debate is our urge to stereotype. We all do it; it is impossible not to. Nevertheless, it is our burden to always resist that temptation.

A person thinking differently from someone else is neither right nor wrong. Rather, it underscores how it is that we are who we are. It is “difference” that makes us a person. Democracy in a pluralistic society requires a high degree of give and take. Our system is like baseball, you win some, you lose some and you get rained out on a few.

In a democratic society the majority is not always right, but it is a measure by which we move forward. Leaders can also exercise leadership when, persuaded by evidence, they go against public opinion with the conviction that the result will, in time, be positive and accepted.

Immature debate surrounds us. Examples abound at online news sites where citizens counter with their opinions. Often the rebuttals are without thought, cling to previously held opinions, are filled with name-calling, innuendo, and the imputation of motives. This is child-like argumentation; it is not debate. Often it is speaking without listening. It’s about me and never them.

British Parliamentary practice insists “that we live by the rule of law and not the whim of man [persons]”. Law is not always correct, but it is law and no group can exist without a system of order.

Community issues ought to be vigorously expressed. Losing an intelligent wellfought argument is not a reason for despair. You have dutifully shared your views.

Once a fair procedure has been followed and a conclusion reached, it is rare that discounted views should carry on. It is time to accept the results and move on.

The issue should not rise again until there is new evidence or a perceived shift in public opinion. Continuing debate beyond fair process is insisting that my values trump all others. Who among us can ever assume such a self-serving standard?

Good debate is when groups differ, express their opinions with vigour, evidence, and logic and then, even in disagreement, go for a cordial lunch. At some point, the debate is over.

The Pioneer made an appearance, along with many friends and family members, at John and Monita Blakley’s wedding in Varadero, Cuba on January 17th, in a colourful shot that was drawn as the winner of our 2013 travel contest! Congratulations John, Monita, and family — you’ve won two Calgary Flames tickets and one night of accommodation, courtesy of Invermere Travel World. Thanks to all Pioneer readers who took the time to show our newspaper to the world during your adventures! The runners-up among the entries include Don Miller’s photo (left), in which he read the newspaper while trekking by camel with friends through the Sahara Desert. Invermere’s Brad and Christine Malfair (below) took the Pioneer on an off-shore fishing charter 48 kilometers off the coast of Costa Rica in April. It brought them luck when they landed this 35-pound dorado.

26 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 3, 2014

. . . ‘RCMP Report’ from page 4 • On December 22nd at approximately 3 p.m., a hit and run was reported involving the complainant’s 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier while parked in the Canadian Tire Parking lot in Invermere. An unknown vehicle struck the front end and appeared to have driven up on the hood, damaging the bumper, hood, radiator, and windshield. There were no witnesses; however, there is video surveillance footage being compiled.

There were no paint markings left behind on the vehicle nor any other broken pieces from the offending vehicle. If anyone has any information, please contact the Columbia Valley RCMP. • On December 24th, a complainant attended the detachment to report a phone scam that they had fell victim to. The complainant received a phone call from an unknown caller stating that their nephew was injured in an accident in the Dominican Republic and required money to be forwarded via a “Money Gram”.

Just under $3,000 was forwarded via the Canada Post office to the Dominican to a supposed “Rony De Los Santos”.

Columbia Valley RCMP attempted to call the number back, however the phone did not receive calls and is most likely a “pay as you go”. The unknown suspect called the complainant while they were at the RCMP Detachment. The RCMP member answered and spoke with an unknown male who immediately hung up once he realized he was speaking with the police. They had stated earlier that the Money Gram did not go through, so money had to be re-sent through Western Union.

The complainant never did, as they had run into their nephew here in Invermere, verifying the fraud.

The RCMP wish to advise there are very limited avenues of investigation in cases like these.

• On December 28th at 10:57 a.m., RCMP were dispatched to a “mischief to vehicle” complaint at Richardson Crescent in Canal Flats. The complainant stated that the back window of their truck had been shot by a BB gun.

The vehicle is a Dodge Dakota with Alberta plates.

If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact the Columbia Valley RCMP. Rural road rescue My background, in a nutshell, is primarily in small town, rural, and First Nations policing. Closing in on 24 years service, Invermere is my sixth posting.

I followed the career choice of my father, who was a

Mountie from 1959 to 1995. I have lived right across Canada. I know a good place when I see one, and my wife and I are now full-time residents of Wilmer.

My grandfather was a bootlegger in the 1920s and 1930s after his term in the First World War. My two uncles were stock car racers in the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. This may suggest a clue as to my hobbies!

So, on December 27th at around 4:30 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a 911 call that a husband and wife were stranded on a Forest Service Road west of Invermere. They had attempted to locate Panorama Mountain Village using their GPS, however, they were lost, their vehicle was stuck, and they were out of cell phone range, but they had half a tank of fuel. They had passed Wilmer Lake, and were requesting police assistance.

I was called at home prior to my estimated shift start at 7 p.m. I can honestly say that the night shifts are not as easy for me as they once were! The early night shift member who was diligently on time was calling me at about 5:45 p.m. to ask me if I had any idea about where this might be, as the day shift members were still at a quad accident on Lake Windermere, and this file was in the queue. I said that I did.

The member offered to accompany me tp the area as he wished to learn some of the backcountry routes.

As all Canadians realize, the federal government is keeping close tabs on taxpayer dollars, and the RCMP has taken its fiscal responsibility to heart all the way down the line. We are all aware of this, but life happens.

We found out last week that the rear differential had blown on the four-by-four police truck, leaving only a Chevy Tahoe in four-wheel drive!

The weather had warmed; snow was predicted and I was fully aware that a decision had to be made.

It is not the RCMP’s responsibility to help people who are stuck on or off a road, but the caller could no longer be reached, and was reported as lost.

Until anything was confirmed, who was I to suggest that we would not attend. It was a no brainer, really. That being stated, I have good life experience and usually try to keep the upper hand. I told the police officer that she needed to get the Tahoe first, and that a portable radio would help me as well, just in case.

I was not on call, so did not have a police vehicle or radio at home. I was only going to take my personal truck, as I actually trusted it more under these circumstances.

As I headed up the Bruce Forest Service Road on

a wonderful, warm wintery night, it started snowing.

I always tell myself, “I can’t do anything if I never get there myself,”; this keeps the eagerness and “young bull” tendencies in check. I am closer to 50 than 40 now, so still have to remind myself of this on occasion!

I began getting worried around the 15 kilometre mark, as it was snowing pretty good and there was nothing to indicate fresh vehicle tracks. The Bruce has logging activity; however, it was getting narrower and steeper, and I was driving a 1996 Crew Cab long box with over 360,000 kilometres.

All of a sudden, at the 19-kilometre mark, human foot prints appeared: two sets, walking down together and obviously back up the mountain. That was a good sign.

At kilometre 21 or 22, off to the left side of the road in the short ditch was a 2012 Hyundai rear wheel drive sport coupe. It’s funny what one sees in the bush. The car was running and I could see the modern indigo dash lights through the rear window. The male passenger rolled down his window and suspiciously looked at me like one of the characters from the movie “Deliverance”. He told me that he had already called the police. I turned on the truck’s dome light in the hopes he would see my uniform, and said, “I know, I am the police”.

It is believed that the couple were Korean and I know that the female passenger did not speak English, but she did not need to. They were elated to say the least!

I had come prepared and knew fully well that the RCMP does not condone the use of a winch to help people in need. I am not trained — I and the RCMP can be sued! But I know from experience that in this particular spot, only a chained wrecker could make it, but then the turn around would have been impossible.

After a 38-point turn around in my truck, a successful altered winching angle and easy step-by-step instructions through an interpreter, we quickly had their vehicle facing down hill. I followed the budding rally driver out on the Bruce and as we both stopped by the brightest Christmas house in Wilmer to get some details for the police file, it was extremely easy to tell that they were relieved and happy to be on their way to Panorama again. It was 7:30 p.m. by now!

I know it does not take a police officer to help someone in need; I am confident anybody would have done the same.

My point is this: what if nobody had done anything? On the lighter note, it makes for a funny story, and the moral is: don’t rely totally on technology!

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January 3, 2014

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 27

FAITH

Knowing what you’ve got

By Pastor Rev. Fraser Coltman, St. Peter’s Lutheran Mission of Invermere “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone?” More than a generation ago, Joni Mitchell asked this question in song, pondering our tendency to take life for granted.

Why is it so easy for us to forget how much we have been given? Having passed through another frantic Christmas season, one may point the finger at our economic system and its powerful advertising industry. That industry aims to convince us that we need the products they promote, to stir up discontent in us as motivation for future purchases. Discontent keeps us looking at what we don’t have instead of remembering what is already ours.

Advertisers may make use of a weakness in our nature, but they aren’t responsible for the existence of the weakness itself. We are the ones who fail to enjoy what we already have by wanting more.

This tendency toward discontent is a sign of what Christians call sinful nature. We human beings are naturally self-centered. We think first of ourselves. We want for ourselves. We’re always reaching for something newer, something bigger. While we might simply accept this as what it means to be human, and even see it as the positive motivating force behind our development as a race, the Bible teaches that this is not what humans were created for.

God made us to receive and enjoy the good things of His creation. He intends for us to share His blessings with each other. He made us to experience the peace of contentment, that sense of well-being and gratitude that comes from trusting that God cares for us and provides us with all that we need. Christians know contentment first by confessing their desire for more, their covetousness, as a sin against our generous Creator. We learn contentment from Jesus Christ, who died for all of our sins and rose from dead to forgive covetous ways and lead us to count our blessings in life.

These post-Christmas days can be a bit of let down with the rush and excitement all passed. They also give us time to reflect. Why not use some of that time to take an inventory of what you have been given? You don’t have to wait until it’s gone to appreciate its value.

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH Sunday, Janauary 5th 10:30 a.m.: Worship and Life Instruction GOD Is....Patient.. Pastor Trevor ministering.

“K.I.D.S.” Church for children age 3 to Grade 1, and Grades 2-5 during the morning service.

Pastor Trevor Hagan 326 - 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 • www.lakewindermerealliance.org WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED 10:30 a.m.: Worship at Christ Church Trinity, Invermere 2:30 p.m.: Looking For The Light: a contemporary Christmas Cantata with the Kimberley United Church Choir and Friends at Christ Church Trinity, Invermere Reverend Laura Hermakin 110 - 7th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-6644 • www.wvsm.ca VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Sunday, 10 a.m.; Worship service. Kids’ Church provided.

Pastor Murray Wittke 4814 Highway 93/95, Windermere 250-342-9511 • www.valleychristianonline.com ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Saturday, 4:30 p.m.: at St. Anthony’s, Canal Flats.

Saturday, 5 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m.: at Canadian Martyrs’ Church in Invermere Sunday, 11 a.m.: at St. Joseph’s Church in Radium.

712 -12th Ave., Invermere • Father Gabriel • 250-342-6167 ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN MISSION OF INVERMERE Worship services every Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Christ Church Trinity, 110 - 7th Ave., Invermere Pastor Rev. Fraser Coltman • 1-866-426-7564 RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater • 250-342-6633 No. 4, 7553 Main St. Radium • 250-347-9937 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Worship Service, Sunday, 10 a.m. • Relief Society, 11:15 a.m.

President Barry Pratt • Columbia Valley Branch 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs • 250-341-5792

You can remember someone special with your gift to the Canadian Cancer Society

Cozy Crossroads Crossroads Collective owner Jessie Blakely relaxes by a blazing fire during a pre-Christmas sale on Saturday, December 21st at the custom woodworking store, located at the crossroads of Highway 93/95 and Athalmer Road.

Photo by Dean Midyette

To donate In Memory or In Honour: www.cancer.ca | 250-426-8916 or call toll-free 1-800-656-6426 or mail to: #19, 19th Avenue South Cranbrook, B.C. V1C 2L9 Please include: Your name an address for tax receipt Name of the person being remembered Name and address to send card to

Let’s Make Cancer History

www.cancer.ca

28 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer . . . ‘Century’ from page 15

Also visible are delineated areas that today are home to the Industrial Park and Mt. Nelson Athletic Park.

“People can identify where they live on the map, and do,” said Mr. Kelly. “When you start identifying where you live, it’s kind of neat.”

The map is framed and on display inside the lodge, where other historical photos also adorn the walls: a portrait of Randolph Bruce, an outdoor shot of the Lake Windmere Camp’s opening day, a peaceful scene of Lodge guests reading around a fireplace — the same massive stone fireplace that Mr. Kelly went to great pains to preserve and remains on display inside the CPR Lodge to this day.

Since moving to the valley ten years ago, Mr. Kelly,

January 3, 2014 who lived in Calgary for thirty years after moving out from the West Coast, has discovered his passion for history.

“I just love this place; I love the history; I love David Thompson,” he said.

“I want to help get our history out there, because I think it’s really important, and to know it was all done by hand. There was no AutoCad (software design program) in those days; some guy drew that with a ruler. Isn’t that amazing?”

PRESERVING THE PAST — Top photo: A historical photo of the interior of the lodge with guests dining and reading around the fireplace. (photo submitted) Right photo: The same fireplace as it appeared in the Weirs’ home more than half a century later. (Photo submitted) The original fireplace is still the centrepiece of the lodge. Kept intact, it was moved to the restored building, where its tremendous weight is supported by an additional basement level room.

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Murray C. Davidson, CGA Certified General Accountant I am very pleased to announce the opening of my new public accounting firm located at: #106 – 901 7th Avenue Parkside Place Invermere, British Columbia I have over 25 years of experience in public practice, and look forward to providing my clients with the following professional services:

Frozen frolicking Unidentified ice climbers attempt a variation of an ice climb near the Stanley Glacier in Kootenay National Park on Sunday, December 15th, in this photo snapped

by Edgewater’s Marie-Claude Gosselin, who was out skiing in the area that day. The climb, called “The Day After les Vacances de Mr. Hulot”, shares the first couple of pitches with a very difficult route called French Reality. The Stanley Headwall area has the highest concentation of difficult ice climbs in the Canadian Rockies.

Photo by Marie-Claude Gosselin

• • • • •

Accounting, Bookkeeping and Payroll Corporate and Personal Tax Planning and Preparation Financial Statement Preparation Auditing Business Consulting I invite you to drop by the office (opening mid-January) or contact me at: Telephone: 250-342-5340 • Email: invermerecpa.ca