Vol13issue03

January 15, 2016 Vol. 13/Issue 3

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

The Columbia

Valley

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1 January 15, 2016

P ioneer

FREE

1947 – 2016

Serving The Upper Columbia Valley including Spillimacheen, Brisco, Edgewater, Radium, Invermere, Windermere, Fairmont and Canal Flats

COUGAR sighting

3 STUDY setback

8 SNOWFLAKE FEST

14

figuratively skating Two hundred ice skaters from 25 clubs will be converging on the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena in Invermere from January 15th to 17th for the East Kootenay Invitational Figure Skating Competition that’s being hosted by the Columbia Valley Skating Club. See page 24 for the full story.

Photo by Angela Miller

Now Pre-selling Phase 10 Own a luxury Vacation Home at Bighorn Meadows and enjoy the Columbia Valley year-round.

Contact us today to learn about existing inventory for immediate occupancy.

Show suite open daily. Located along The Springs in Radium 1-888-766-9637 • info@bighornmeadows.ca • www.bighornmeadows.ca

2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Previous exPerience Microsoft certified systeMs engineer , MBA

Cheers to Lorrie at Lorrie’s Computer Repair for fixing our computer. Great service, highly recommended.

January 15, 2016

Valley views

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While Dayna is temporarily away on maternity leave the shop will still be open and Barb will be available to help you with your hair needs.

As of January 20th our hours of operation will be: Wednesday-Saturday: 9:30-3pm Sunday-Tuesday: CLOSED (Until further notice) The preferred payment for Barb’s hair services is cash or cheque. *Debit is available if absolutely needed.*

NOTICE TO OUR CLIENTS

Hot Springs help On Christmas Day, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort held its annual Free Soak & Swim for the public with a donation to the Columbia Valley Food Bank. It was the 8th annual Free Soak & Swim in the resort’s natural mineral hot pools and $1,565 in cash donations were received plus enough food donations to fill a vehicle.

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort also donated $1,435 from the sale of raffle tickets at its Employee Christmas Gala.

In total, $3,000 cash was donated to the food bank along with the food donations. Pictured is Lawrie Mack, the vice chair of the Columbia Valley Food Bank, accepting the cheque and food donations on behalf of the food bank. From left to right are Amy Foidart (Lifeguard), Ragaa Mazhar (Resort Administrator), Pascal van Dijk (FHSR President and CEO), Fred Deacon (Pool Manager), Lawrie Mack (Vice Chair CV Food Bank) and Pat Murphy (Lifeguard). **Make sure you head to the Fairmont Ski Hill for Local’s Day Saturday, January 16th. Ski or snowboard all day for just a toonie plus $2 tubing with a barbecue from noon to 4 p.m. and some great tunes!** Photo submitted

New Staff New Hours!

Thank you for all your continued support and I look forward to seeing you all once baby is here!

Dayna

Meet our new employees

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@PioneerNewsTip

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January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

Valley NEWS

Sunchaser class action lawsuit hearing begins

By Steve Hubrecht Pioneer Staff A longstanding class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of thousands of Sunchaser Villas timeshare owners is currently being heard in court in Vancouver, with the proceedings expected to last until later this month.

“The trial began on Monday, January 4th and is underway,” said the claimants’ lawyer Michael Geldert, adding that lawyers from Victoria-based Cox Taylor have been representing his clients in court.

The trial is scheduled to run a full three weeks through to January 22nd.

The Pioneer attempted to contact the two Cox Taylor lawyers involved in the case for an update, but could not reach either for comment prior to press deadline. Both lawyers — Ted Hanman and Lindsay Leblanc — are full partners with Cox Taylor, and both list dealing with commercial leasing issues among their legal specialties.

Mr. Geldert has previously told The Pioneer that “the basis for the lawsuit is that Northmont (Resort Properties Ltd.) has breached its contractual obligations to timeshare owners and leaseholders at the resort.”

The case began almost three years ago in April 2013, when more than 1,000 timeshare owners (a figure that

has now grown to more than 3,200 individual timeshare owners) at Sunchaser Villas entered into a class-action lawsuit against Northmont in a dispute over a costly renovation project and the associated fees charged at the 18,950-unit villa complex. Northmont is a subsidiary company of Northwynd Resort Properties Ltd. The lawsuit alleges that, among other things, the renovation fees greatly exceed the regular maintenance expenses laid out in the timeshare agreements; that the fees have been improperly charged for expenses not incurred in the past three years and which may not ever be incurred; that the fees include renovation expenses for buildings that Northmont has not and does not intend to renovate or that Northmont seeks to remove from the resort for its own use; and that Northmont has used the fees for purposes other than the renovation project for which they are ostensibly being charged.

The Pioneer sought comment on the case from Northwynd Resort Properties Ltd. representative Brenda Behan, but was also unable to reach her prior to press deadline. When contacted previously, Ms. Behan has declined to comment as it was an ongoing legal matter.

“The timeshare industry has always seemed to have issues with resort managers who, for whatever reason find themselves between a rock and a hard place, and

they start making decisions that ultimately attract some liability and concern on behalf of the people they are responsible for managing,” Mr. Geldert had previously told The Pioneer.

Sunchaser Villas was initially managed by Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd., but that company filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Northwynd Resort Properties Ltd. then purchased Sunchaser from creditors, and now manages it through Northmont.

After the takeover, Northmont said that under previous management, owners had been paying unsustainably low maintenance fees and that a large renovation project would be required. Owners were given the option to either pay a $4,195 renovation fee to keep their timeshare unit, or $3,168 to opt out.

In October 2013, a special case hearing dealt specifically with the legal enforceability of the renovation fees. In a November 2013 decision, B.C. Supreme Court Judge Linda Loo upheld Northmont’s ability to impose those fees. But the plaintiffs then appealed that ruling, with the B.C. Court of Appeals overturning Ms. Loo’s order on the grounds that a special case was not the appropriate judicial method to deal with the matter.

The Sunchaser Villas are the iconic red-roofed accommodations located in Fairmont Hot Springs.

Cougar sighted near Radium Hot Springs Aquacourt

By Breanne Massey Pioneer Staff The trail north of Radium Aquacourt and some in the surrounding area were temporarily closed on Monday, January 11th due to concerns about a cougar hunting in the area.

“It’s a small area of trail that goes past the Radium Hot Springs Aquacourt area — the trail that goes up to overflow or upper parking lot — where a jogger encountered a cougar on that trail around 9 a.m. on January 11th,” said Jon Stuart-Smith, Parks Canada human-wildlife conflict expert. “Our staff went in after he reported it at the gate. We found a carcass of a juvenile bighorn sheep so we decided to temporarily close the area.”

The jogger had initially noticed cougar tracks and some broken branches along the pathway.

“As soon as he saw it, the cougar ran away,” explained Mr. Stuart-Smith. “There’s no negative encounter. The cougar was behaving normally. It had this bighorn sheep that it had killed and was feeding on and the runner disturbed him, but the cougar ran away so there was no aggressive behaviour or anything out of the ordinary in terms of the behaviour of the animal.”

In addition, the Redstreak Campground Trail, Juniper Trail, Sinclair Canyon Trail Area, the sidewalk adjacent to Highway 93S, and the overflow parking lot north of the Radium Aquacourt were also closed due to cougar concerns.

“We put in a caution for the trails in that surrounding area because we have had some cougar activity there as well as in the Village of Radium Hot Springs after the holidays,” said Mr. Stuart-Smith.

Parks Canada is eagerly waiting for the cougar to finish feasting on the bighorn sheep to re-open the trails.

“It probably won’t take long for the cougar to finish feeding on the carcass because it’s not a big animal,” he said. “It’ll probably only take about a week, but we will monitor and make sure the cougar has finished with the carcass and give it a few days to make sure there’s no more attraction to that specific area.”

The affected areas will remain closed until Parks Canada provides further information to the public.

“When we feel that there’s no imminent danger anymore, we’ll open it up and probably leave the caution signs up in that area for a while,” said Mr. Stuart-Smith.

Cougar preys on wildlife in Radium Wildlife in the Village of Radium Hot Springs have become a food source for a cougar this winter.

“We’ve had two public reports of animals being killed by a cougar near Radium,” said Greg Kruger, an Invermere conservation officer.

The first attack occurred when the cougar killed a wild sheep at Sun Valley Place in Radium on Tuesday, December 29th. Shortly afterward, a deer was killed by the cougar near The Springs golf course on Jackson Avenue on Saturday, January 2nd.

Prior to the sighting by a jogger on January 11th, the cougar had not been spotted by a member of the community. It had merely been observed through the attacks it had made on wildlife in the village and through its tracks.

“We’re carefully monitoring reports where the cougar has made kills and would be interested to know if anybody has seen it,” explained Mr. Kruger, noting the last Continued on page 9 . . .

4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

SECURITY Est. 2005

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THANK YOU!

The Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club would like to thank the following for contributing to our 2016 “Best of Banff Mountain Film Festival”: • • • • • •

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www.FlyingMax.com Nipika Mountain Resort Lusti’s Crazy Soles And our amazing team of Volunteers.

Thank you again! The Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club.

Congratulations Eric and Liz Vanderkruk are pleased to announce Jarrett Nixon has joined the ownership team of A&W lnvermere.

Jarrett has been an integral part of the business since its inception in June 1997. He began his career with A&W as a part time employee while in high school and has since worked his way through the ranks to his most recent position of restaurant manager. Jarrett’s talents have also been recognized

by A&W Food Services of Canada as he has traveled throughout Canada as a valued member of the New Restaurant Opening Team.

Congratulations Jarrett-we welcome you as our operating partner!

Sayonara For those of us who also celebrate Greek Orthodox Christmas on January 7th, Merry Christmas! I can now take down my Christmas decorations at the office and the tree comes down at home.

• On Thursday, January 7th, BC Ambulance called the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment advising of a singlevehicle accident on Highway 93/95 10 kilometres north of Fairmont. A 2003 Ford Focus driven by a 33-year-old female from Fairmont was southbound when she observed an elk on the road. When the brakes were applied, the vehicle lost control and went down a 60-foot embankment. The driver was not injured.

• On Thursday, January 7th at 11:50 p.m., police attended to a single-vehicle accident involving a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder driven by a 54-year-old male from Calgary that collided with a deer on Highway 93/95 north of Fairmont. Road conditions were icy at the time. The vehicle received minimal damage and the driver was not injured.

• On Friday, January 8th at 10 a.m., police attended to a single-vehicle accident on Highway 93/95 near Stanley Street in Radium. A Toyota Rav 4 driven by a 42-year-old female from Invermere braked for sheep on the highway, losing control. Ambulance and fire were on scene. Inspection of the vehicle revealed the tire treads were not in the best condition for winter driving. The driver received minor injuries.

• On Friday, January 8th at 2 p.m., police attended to a single-vehicle accident on Highway 93/95 at Arrow Road. A 2004 Nissan driven by a 36-year-old male from Calgary was southbound when he lost control of the vehicle and went off road, hitting a telephone/hydro pole.

Road conditions at the time were icy.

• On Saturday, January 9th at 1:30 a.m., officers responded to a complaint of an intoxicated male on the playground of J.A. Laird Elementary School. A 37-year-

old male was located on the school ground. It was determined that a sober responsible person was at his residence so rather than keeping the police company for the evening, he was driven home.

• On Saturday, January 9th at 2 p.m., police attended to a break and enter complaint at Wolfe Construction in the 4000 block of Highway 93. Entry was gained into the building where it was determined that a small amount of cash was stolen.

Anyone with information is requested to contact the detachment.

• On Sunday, January 10th at 8:30 a.m., a ‘96 GMC Yukon was checked on 10th Avenue. The 40-year-old driver from Invermere was found to be operating a vehicle without a licence. Checks revealed the driver was suspended in Ontario. The Yukon was impounded.

Best life insurance to be had When I look at the calendar and do the math, I have 32 more working days left in my career and the push is on to try and clean up a great deal of administrative work to ensure a smooth transition for Grant and Brent to carry on until a new Commander is in place. In reality, 27 more working days as I plan to be in retirement mode the last week, February 29th to March 4th. I have no doubt that Grant and Brent would tell you that I have been in retirement mode the last two months! Some of the Constables have come up to me with some problems or requests to purchase items. My response of late: “Come and see me March 5th!” I certainly have many thanks that I wish to pass on and will do so in the articles that I have remaining.

My first thanks must be to the community of Golden and here in the valley. The majority of my career has been spent in the valley. Having served half my career in Golden and the Columbia Valley, I have long realized that the best life insurance policy I have for my family are the citizens and friends in both communities. I also recognize the pressure that community members from both Golden and the valley put on my wife, recommending that she approve the purchase of the boat. You have done your duty!

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January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

Valley golf pros place in Top 100

By Breanne Massey Pioneer Staff There was no shortage of Columbia Valley athletes listed in the Order of Merit when it came time for the 2015 Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of BC to review the province-wide standings this winter.

There was a total of six golfers with ties to the Columbia Valley included in the Top 100 rankings for the province out of a total of 368 participants.

The Order of Merit reviews each golfer’s efforts in education, attendance at tournaments and participation as a volunteer or award winner.

It provides an overview based on total points in

each category.

Copper Point Golf Resort general manager and executive professional, Brian Schaal, received the highest ranking of all the Columbia Valley athletes recognized. His co-workers (Casey Johnson, Scott McClain and Bryan Armstrong) were also included in the Top 100 list for 2015.

In addition, Michael Van Horne (a part-time resident of the Columbia Valley who summers at the Fernie Golf Club) and Fairmont Hot Springs Resort head professional Jeremy Johnson also placed in the Top 100 for 2015.

The Pioneer will be featuring six Columbia Valley golfers with special profiles leading up the golf season over the next two months.

Schaal receives highest valley ranking the weather changes, mental and physical ability change. As well, players of all abilities can play together in the same A 52-year-old Invermere resident has group.” been recognized as the Columbia Valley’s When asked how he will continue best golf professional in the provinceto develop his skills on the fairway in wide standings. the future, Mr. Schaal replied: “With a Brian Schaal, the general manager shorter season, a busy work schedule, and executive professional at Copper family, friends and other interests, it’s Point Golf Club, ranked #16 in the 2015 imperative that I find 10 to 15 minutes Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) a day to practice at the driving range and of BC after the final standings were taltry to play 18 holes at least once a week.” lied up this winter.

He also endeavours to participate in “It was a great honour to be named the Kootenay Pro Tour Series Tournain the Top 100 as there are over 650 golf ments held in the Columbia Valley each professionals in British Columbia,” exseason. plained Mr. Schaal. “Being able to use Ranking in the Order of Merit is the Top 100 logo in our emails, website, made difficult because of the travel that’s social media and business cards brings a involved to participate at coastal events sense of pride to the hard work and dediduring the golf season, he added.

Brian Schaal cation we’ve given to make ourselves bet“The biggest challenge is our locater golf professionals. The program was introduced in tion as most events, education and volunteerism centres 2013 and I have been in the Top 100 every year.” around the Lower Mainland,” said Mr. Schaal. “Our Mr. Schaal, who has been an avid golf enthusiast ability to produce points for the Development Program for 35 years, was especially proud to see his Copper is typically based on a six-month season compared to a Point Golf Club co-workers — as well as two other val- 12-month season that the Lower Mainland has.” ley golfers — also made the Top 100 list for 2015.

The next Columbia Valley golf professional who will “I’m so proud of Scott McClain, Casey Johnson be featured in The Pioneer will be Casey Johnson. and Bryan Armstrong being named in the Top 100 as well. Having four golf professionals at the same facility named in the Top 100 could not be accomplished without great staff supporting us, a great ownership group Inspirational Art workshop and caring members.” to celebrate ourselves!

Mr. Schaal’s love of the game began when he was Join us for this two evening event.

Wednesday, February 3rd with guest speaker Dr. Donna 18 years old.

McArthur to inspire us. Wednesday, March 9th Light-hearted “I love the people, the outdoors and, of course, wooden paper doll art project. To attend this free series, please pre-register by contacting the library. the game itself,” said Mr. Schaal. “No one round of golf is the same as another, course conditions change, invermere.bclibrary.ca

By Breanne Massey Pioneer Staff

Upcoming Events

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Retreats Out Amongst the Rockies

is the Yoga-themed creation of Heather Kolankowski with the goal of providing participants with a weekend of self-exploration, friendship and joy.

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For more information, call Heather at 403-890-9646 email heather@southlandclassicpiano.com www.MyYogaBarn.ca Note: ROAR donates a portion of proceeds to a scholarship awarding one participant with financial needs a spot in the Retreat. We believe that no matter where you are in life, everyone should have the opportunity for self-fulfillment, happiness and joy.

6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

perspective Historical Lens

Good timing

By Nicole Trigg Pioneer Staff

In 2012, according to Statistics Canada, Calgary’s median family income rose 5.2 per cent to $98,300, making Calgary Canada’s richest city in terms of median family income at the time (the national median total family income was $74,540). Around the same time, in 2011, the B.C. government calculated the median household income here in the Kootenay region at $56,000, lower than the B.C. provincial average of $60,333.

Not exactly enticing for young families and professionals looking to settle in the Columbia Valley, but this disparity in income was — and still is — tempered by the Kootenay region’s lifestyle and lower cost of housing.

For example, the Village of Radium Hot Springs website promotes Radium as affordably priced, stating its housing prices, based on 2014 house resale prices, are 61 per cent lower than the B.C. average, and 53 per cent lower than the metro Calgary average.

And now, with no end in sight for dropping oil prices, the income difference between the valley and Calgary is being tempered further still, creating the perfect opportunity to approach potential full-time residents with the allure of cheaper homes, minimal commuting times, small-town community charm and the area’s natural beauty.

As B.C.’s tourism sector continues to grow (the provincial government reports that in 2014, 4.65 million international travellers came to B.C. — a 5.8 per cent increase and a quarter million more visitors than in 2013 — and, so far in 2015, year-to-date custom entries are up 7.6 per cent over the same period last year), the timing couldn’t be better for the Columbia Valley Resident Attraction and Retention Strategy to get underway and bolster its population with professionals looking to reinvent themselves.

Historical hockey In this image with no date, a team of skaters prepare for a hockey game. If you have any more information, e-mail us at info@columbiavalleypioneer.com.

Photo courtesy of the Windermere District Historical Society

ICE UPDATE As of the afternoon of Tuesday, January 13th, the ice thickness 50 feet offshore from Kinsmen Beach was 15 inches.

A report from Parliament Hill Editor’s note: Newly elected Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski submitted this update on the opening of Canada’s 42nd Parliament for publication.

Parliament is made up of the House of Commons (338 Members: 184 Liberal, 99 Conservative, 44 NDP, 10 Bloc Quebecois, 1 Green), the Senate (105 Senators: currently 47 Conservative, 29 Liberal, 6 Independent, 1 Independent Conservative and 22 Vacant Seats), Queen Elizabeth II and Governor General David Johnston. The House of Commons is an interesting mix of history, law making and theatre. When we took our seats on December 3rd for the opening of Canada’s 42nd Parliament, I couldn’t help but stop and think of Sir John A. Macdonald, our first Prime Minister in 1867, and the fact that

here in the House is where Canada was “made” over the last 148 years! What a humbling experience it is, and what an honour it is to be there representing the 107,589 people who live within the 64,000-square kilometre Kootenay-Columbia riding. My sincere thanks to the 74 per cent of eligible voters who took the time to vote on October 19th. It truly is the best way to demonstrate that you care about democracy and the kind of country that you want Canada to be!

The sitting of Parliament begins with tradition, from the knock on the door of the House by the Usher of the Black Rod with an invitation to walk to the Senate to meet with the Governor General to officially open the session, to the election of the Speaker of the House (Geoff Regan) who gets reluctantly Continued on next page . . .

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 info@columbiavalleypioneer.com www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

Dean Midyette Publisher/ Sales Manager

Nicole Trigg Editor

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January 15, 2016 . . . ‘Report’ from previous page dragged to the Speaker’s chair by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

The staged reluctance comes from history where legend has it that, in jolly old England, if the reigning monarch didn’t like the Speaker’s decisions, it was off with his head!

The next day it was down to business with the reading of the Liberal government’s Speech from the Throne by the Governor General in the Senate Chamber, which was then voted on in the House of Commons. While the Speech included hopeful initiatives that will be good for Canada (as I said during the campaign, there are many similarities between the NDP and the Liberal Party Platforms), it also led to the first disappointment.

As part of the debate on the Speech from the Throne, we proposed a subamendment with the purpose of benefitting “some of Canada’s most vulnerable citizens, including: seniors through an increase to the Guaranteed Income Supplement; middle class families through reducing taxes on the first income bracket (the approved Liberal’s tax cut for the middle class benefits people making from $45,000 to $90,000+ … nothing for the lowest income earners); low income earners by introducing a $15 per hour minimum wage for federally regulated jobs; and support to those struggling to enter the workforce with a robust and reliable Employment Insurance program.”

Our proposal was voted down by both the Liberal and Conservative parties.

While Parliament only sat for seven days in December, it was a very busy time with one session finishing just before 8 p.m. I was privileged to be one of the first Members of Parliament to give their maiden speech (Hansard Volume 148, Number 003, 1st Session, 42nd Parliament, Monday, December 7, 2015 – Page 76 or go to the YouTube link: https://youtu.be/1uo9wkxKCDI ). We are required to be in our seats in the House for our assigned Duty Days, for all votes, and for Question Period. The House resumes sitting on January 25th and goes

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7 through until June 23rd with a total of six weeks off during that period.

I plan on providing you with regular updates, but also want to give you an opportunity to be a part of what happens in Parliament. While being the 3rd party (we refer to ourselves as the Progressive Opposition… because it’s true!) limits the number of questions we are able to ask in Question Period, is there a specific question you would like me to ask the Liberal government? If yes, please describe the issue and its significance to the riding and/or Canada, including references and sources, and what the specific ask is. I will do my best to get it onto the floor.

The second opportunity is longer term.

Government Ministers introduce legislation as they see fit. For the rest of us, our names go into a “hat” for the opportunity to put forward a private member’s bill for consideration by the House. I was drawn 111th, which means I will be able to table a bill in 2017 or 2018 as they are done sequentially. While this does seem to be a long ways away, it does take time to draft good legislation and there are many Members of Parliament who won’t get any opportunity to put forward a bill during the four years of this session of Parliament. What do you think the priority should be for our riding?

To provide your input or for any other concerns, please email wayne.stetski@parl. gc.ca or phone 250-919-9104. My next update will provide a complete listing of Constituency office locations and contact information in Ottawa, Nelson and Cranbrook. In the interim I am continuing my visits to communities around the riding along with an opportunity for you to book one-on-one meetings. Prior to Christmas, I met with constituents in Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie, Kimberley, Cranbrook and Nelson, with more to come.

Happy New Year to all — I do hope that 2016 is a great year for you!

Wayne Stetski Member of Parliament Kootenay-Columbia

We want to hear from you Email your letters to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com or visit our website at www. columbiavalleypioneer.com. Mail your letters to Box 868, Invermere, V0A 1K0, or drop them in at #8 1008-8th Avenue. Letters to the editor should be sent only to The Pioneer, and not to other publications. 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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W O N S H C U M SO

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8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

Relocation study not jeopardized by urban deer culls

By Steve Hubrecht Pioneer Staff The alleged launch of an urban deer cull in Cranbrook that grabbed attention on January 12th after cull opposition groups released a video showing a fawn caught in a clover trap in a Cranbrook yard (and the botched killing of the fawn by contractors) will not affect the trial East Kootenay urban deer relocation study scheduled for this winter, nor will the ongoing urban deer cull in Invermere (which is running again this year from December to March as it did last winter).

In the wake of the Cranbrook incident, the Animal Alliance of Canada told The Pioneer that the $10,000 it had contributed to the relocation study would be earmarked specifically for radio collars for deer only in East Kootenay communities not conducting a cull. However, VAST Resources Solutions Ltd. — the company conducting the study — clarified the Alliance’s conditions will not change the project.

VAST lead project biologist Ian Adams said the study has a budget of $20,000 for radio collars, and would use the $10,000 from the Animal Alliance for collars in noncull communities and the other $10,000 (which is from the provincial Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations) for collars in Invermere and Cranbrook.

“We cannot offer comment on the culls. We are neutral on that subject, except to say the culls do not impact our study. The only way they would, would be if a cull was so

large that there were no deer left to capture and relocate, and that seems unlikely,” he said.

Mr. Adams also clarified that the total number of 80 deer to be relocated from all participating communities, reported in last week’s Pioneer, is a maximum number, not a target number, and that the actual figure may be quite a bit lower.

Although the study aims to relocate approximately 15 deer from each of the communities it will operate in, those numbers could vary and depend, more than anything else, on the conditions the biologists will face in each individual community as they try to capture the deer, according to Mr. Adams.

“For a whole variety of reasons, it may prove easier to catch deer in some communities, and so we’ll have more deer from those communities, and harder in others, so we’ll capture less in those communities,” he said. “Ultimately, the objective of this project is not to reduce urban deer numbers, but to scientifically test relocation.”

The trial study is being warmly welcomed by Invermere mayor Gerry Taft.

“It is good to see a co-operative effort to scientifically test what the reaction of the urban deer to a natural environment is,” said Mr. Taft. “Even if the total number of deer caught in Invermere is not high at all, even if there are no deer caught here, the results of the study as a whole will still be scientifically sound and that’s what we are most interested in.”

Mr. Taft added that although the District of Invermere does carry out a cull each winter, it is still interested in other options for dealing with urban deer.

Columbia Valley Skating Club is excited to be hosting the

ColumbiaValley Skating Club

East Kootenay Invitational Figure Skating Competition.

“When we held the referendum (on whether or not to cull deer, with the result being about 75 per cent of voters in favour of culling), we outlined that the cull would be one tool to deal with the urban deer issue, but not the only one,” he said. “We do want to explore other tools, not just go with the cull and forget about everything else. This is a great example of another tool. We’re quite interested to see what the results of this study are.”

The funding for the trial study is coming from all the municipalities involved, as well as from the Columbia Basin Trust and the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (through the Upper Kootenay Ecosystem Enhancement Plan), the provincial government (along with considerable in-kind support) and the Animal Alliance. Additional inkind or financial support comes from local Rod and Gun clubs in several of the municipalities, and the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers of B.C. The total budget of the study is about $90,000.

Invermere Deer Protection Society president and B.C. Deer Protection Society (BCDPS) member Devin Kazakoff said the relocation study is a positive step in the right direction, but that there are still better ways to deal with urban deer.

“The BCDPS is supportive of any approaches to the deer issue that don’t involve culling or killing. However, there are concerns about the welfare of the animals during and after the relocation process,” said Mr. Kazakoff.

Continued on page 29 . . .

Watch your mailbox for the newest

Continuing Education Guide We offer a great selection of classes including nJob Ready Training Mental First Aid RedCross & OFA First Aid Customer Service Training Basic Fall Protection Traffic Control Airbrakes Chainsaw Safety FoodSafe Customized Computer Training

January 15, 16, 17, 2016 at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.

nAdult Learning Sewing Photography Intro to 3D Modelling Life Drawing Cooking Classes Intro to IPHONE & IPAD Spanish & Ktunaxa Language Courses

200 skaters and their families will be joining us in what promises to be a fantastic skating experience.

Columbia Valley Skating Club would like to thank all our sponsors for their help in making this event a reality.

nHealth & Wellness Qi-Gong & Tai Chi Practice Soap Making DIY Natural Skin Care Self Defense for Women

Come on down to the arena and take in some great Figure skating.

columbiavsc.uplifterinc.com The Columbia Valley Skating Club is still taking registrations for their winter intake of skaters. Please see the link above for information on the various programs the club offers and to register online.

Any questions please call or email: Leanne Beddie 250-342-6607 beddie@telus.net

Contact the Invermere campus today 250•342•3210 • www.cotr.bc.ca/Invermere • invermere@cotr.bc.ca

facbook .com/COTRInvermere

January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 9

. . . ‘Cougar’ from page 3 tracks showed it was heading east into Kootenay National Park, an observation confirmed by the sighting near the Radium Aquacourt.

He emphasized the importance of pet owners diligently bringing their cats and small dogs indoors at night as the cougar is known as an ambush hunter that hides in forested areas until it pounces on its prey. Mr. Kruger added that it’s important for outdoor enthusiasts to avoid forested areas and to take safety precautions while the cougar remains in the Radium area.

He stated that the cougar has not yet become a public safety issue at this point, but anticipates that, if the attacks on wildlife worsen, the cougar could become a candidate for a live capture if the behaviour continues. The goal of the capture would be to attach a tracking device to monitor its actions.

In addition, WildSafe BC community co-ordinator, Andrea Smillie, has been offering safety advice to the Village of Radium Hot Springs community in light of the attacks, and has been posting signs to urge people to take precautions in the area.

“To my knowledge, this cougar has killed at least one deer and one sheep in the Radium area,” said Ms. Smillie. “The conservation officers say this is not unusual behaviour for a cougar, but it is still important for people to be aware.”

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Here are some safety tips for cougar sightings Smillie has provided, should anyone encounter one: • Pick up small children and pets immediately.

• Make yourself look as large as possible (raise your arms) and back away slowly.

• Keep your eye on the cougar.

• Allow a clear exit for the cougar.

• Never turn your back and never run! It could trigger an attack.

• If you see a cougar watching you, maintain eye contact and speak in a loud voice to reaffirm you are human (and not an easy target). Back out of the area.

• If a cougar follows you or acts aggressively, you must respond aggressively as it now sees you as potential prey. Keep eye contact, yell and make loud noises and show your teeth. Pick up sticks or rocks to use as weapons if necessary, but avoid crouching low to the ground.

• If a cougar attacks, fight back! Focus on the facial and eye area. Use anything you have as a weapon. Bear spray is effective for cougars too.

• Make sure you report all sightings or conflict to the RAPP line at 1-877-9527277. This allows the Conservation Officer Service to at least record the incident.

Winter sees the most cougar sightings/conflict of any season. Children and pets are especially vulnerable to cougar attacks because of their size. For more information on cougars and other wildlife, please visit www.wildsafebc.com/cougar.

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10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

Examining affordable housing for the valley

By Michele Neider Family Dynamix Association The Family Dynamix Association (formerly known as the Family Resource Centre) is taking a close, hard look at affordable housing in the valley. Family Dynamix recently received funding from the Columbia Basin Trust to co-ordinate the first phase of an Affordable Housing Development Plan for the valley.

In 2007, the District of Invermere commissioned a Housing Need and Demand Assessment for Invermere.

Due to the global economic crisis in 2007-2008, the district and the private sector were unable to encourage further development in that area.

In 2013, an update to the 2007 study, spearheaded by the Family Resource Centre, was completed, which incorporated new and more current statistical data and covered the geographic area from Canal Flats to Spillimacheen.

Timing was right to launch the current project as the BC Non-Profit Housing Association held its 2015 annual conference in Vancouver from November 22nd to the 25th, 2015. Almost a thousand people from the province attended, including Michele Neider, the director of program management, who will lead the project for Family Dynamix.

During the conference, Mrs. Neider had the privilege to hear Theo Fleury as a keynote speaker. Mr. Fleury is the famous NHL All-Star player who came forward by reveal-

ing that his former coach Graham James sexually abused him as a junior hockey player. You must read his book Playing with Fire: the Highest Highs and the Lowest Lows of Theo Fleury to have a deeper understanding of the family environment in which he grew up. Today, Theo’s mission is to help as many people get to where they want to go and he emphasized that the entire community has a responsibility to take care of its vulnerable people.

There is a myth out there that homelessness, or the risk of being homeless, is primarily caused by mental health issues and drug addiction. Although these might be a factor for some, they are most certainly not the cause. Poverty is the leading cause of homelessness and poverty is not necessarily accompanied by mental health and/or addictions issues.

“Housing instability can lead to household instability, which can affect health, education, employment, economic success, community participation and social cohesion” (Housing Strategies Inc., 2013).

Access to affordable housing is a complex process and most will agree that it must be a collaborative effort involving community stakeholders. A recent comprehensive Economic Impact Assessment Study completed for British Columbia in 2014 states that the housing system has “failed single mothers, and created a crisis for renters under thirty and aboriginal people.” It also indicated that the lack of available affordable housing could impact economic growth as individuals leave an area due to the

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inability to find an affordable, stable and safe shelter.

Based on Canada Mortgage and Housing Development (CMHC), affordable housing is achieved when a household pays no more than 30 per cent (for renters) and 32 per cent (for owners) of their before-tax income to maintain a house that is safe, in good repair and suitable. The lower one’s income, the more difficult it is to meet these criteria.

Based on the Canada Census of Population data (2006), there were 303 households paying more than 30 to 32 per cent in Invermere, 45 in Radium, 10 in Canal Flats, 180 in Area F and 80 in Area G, putting them at risk.

The District of Invermere recently undertook a Residential Retention and Attraction Strategy to develop an action plan in the valley to retain and attract residents in an effort to increase the permanent population, attract young families and retain talent for key economic sectors.

Affordable housing is an essential component in retaining and attracting young people and families.

The Family Dynamix Association’s goal in the next year is to work with all the communities in the Columbia Valley in disseminating the findings documented in the current “Housing Needs and Demand Assessment,” exploring and linking the concept of transit/transportation as related to affordable housing, collaborating and partnering with local government, community organizations and businesses to develop a detailed action plan.

Continued on page 19 . . .

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January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer 11 Page•11

What’s Happening in the Columbia Valley

Music • visual arts • dining • Bar Scene • entertainment • performance ARTS

Swillbillies’ style

ICE EVENTS

PAGE 14

BONSPIEL BUMP

PAGE 20

The Banff-based Swillbillies featuring David “Swanee” Swanson have a long history of playing in the Columbia Valley. They’re returning to play the Bear’s Paw and Grill on January 15th.

Turn to page 12 to learn more.

Photo submitted

What does ART mean to you?

Out & About Your weekly guide to what’s happening around the Columbia Valley Page 13

Pynelogs Art Gallery Season Artist thCall Out Deadline January 15 at 4 pm Call for more info: 250.342.4423

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

Happy BirtHday to pynelogs!

1914 - 2014 · Celebrating 100 years

12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

Familiar Banff band returns for Fairmont show

By Steve Hubrecht Pioneer Staff An old Columbia Valley favourite is returning for another night of old-school musical fun, with the Banff-based Swillbillies taking the stage in Fairmont Hot Springs this weekend.

“I’ve been playing in the valley for quite a few years, going back to when Panorama (Mountain Resort) was just an A-frame (cabin), playing up at the mountain, at the old Lakeside Inn, the White House and a lot at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort,” said Swillbillies bass and harmonica player David “Swanee” Swanson.

Although the Swillbillies’ rotating lineup can, at times, include as many as eight musicians, Mr. Swanson will be performing at the Bear’s Paw and Grill on Friday, January 15th as a duo along with guitarist Dennis Williams.

“We play a mixed-bag of old rock and rockabilly, Johnny Cash-kind of stuff, blues, shuffle and a few good old pub tunes, said Mr. Swanson, describing the band’s style.

“All kinds of styles, but we don’t do Justin Bieber or Beyoncé.”

Mr. Swanson moved to Banff in 1979, and first started playing with Mr. Williams in the mid-1980s. He said the collaboration between the two has increased in the past

decade and a half or so.

“I learned to play piano and harmonica as a kid and it just grew from there. I’ve always got my fingers in at least a few musical projects at once,” he said. “It’s still a lot of fun for me and if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t do it. I just really like playing and interacting with the crowd.”

Although their first valley show at Panorama was decades ago, Mr. Swanson still recalls it fondly.

“Panorama called us up, said they wanted to do some live music and could we come?

We didn’t have much on, so we figured why not? So we came down, did the show in the old A-frame and really had a blast,” he said. “After the show, they turned to us and said, hey what are you doing next weekend? So we played there again the next weekend. And we ended up playing there several times that season, met a bunch of great people and starting doing shows all over the valley and have been doing them ever since.”

Mr. Swanson promised this weekend’s show will be every bit as fun as all his previous valley shows.

“Come on out for an enjoyable night. We don’t know the latest songs, but that just means you don’t need to know the latest dance steps,” he said.

The January 15th show starts at 9 p.m. The Swillbillies next valley show will be at the annual Fire and Ice event in Fairmont on February 27th.

WE VALUE YOUR PROPERTY AS MUCH AS YOU DO. If you’re among BC’s approximately 2 million property owners, you should receive your 2016 property assessment in the mail early in January. If you haven’t, call us toll-free at 1-866-valueBC. Access property information and compare your assessment to others using our free e-valueBC service at bcassessment.ca, BC’s trusted go-to property information resource.

If you have questions or want more information, contact us at 1-866-valueBC or online at bcassessment.ca. The deadline to file an appeal for your assessment is February 1st, 2016.

For more property information, assessment highlights and videos visit

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January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13

Music • visual arts • dining • Bar Scene • entertainment • performance ARTS

Out & About Please call 250-341-6299 or e-mail us at info@columbiavalleypioneer.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 only run occasionally.

Friday, January 15th • January 15th - 17th, East Kootenay Invitational Figure Skating Competition hosted by the Columbia Valley Skating Club, at Eddie Mountain Arena in Invermere.

• 5 - 7 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre YCC Challenges program.

• 6 p.m.: Join the Summit Youth Centre in Rockband competition Night.

• 6:30 p.m.: Pork Chop Dinner at Branch 71 Legion in Invermere. $15/person. For those who include it the pork chops will be served with baked potatoes, coleslaw, and dessert. Reservations Recommended.

250-342-9517.

• 7 p.m.: January 15th and 16th, The Banana Peel: An evening of one act comedy plays presented by DTSS Senior Theatre class. Tickets available at the Blue Dog Café or DTSS at $8 for adults, $3 for students.

Delicious desserts prepared by the Chef Training class will also be available at intermission for $5.

• 9 p.m.: Bear’s Paw & Grill at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Join us for live music by Swillbillies with blues, folk and pub-style tunes.

at 7:30 a.m. on the Great Hall deck. Minimum pledge of $80 per person or $300 for a team of 4.

Cost includes a lift ticket for the Mile One Express Chairlift, a $10 meal voucher, prizes and day-long entertainment. A fundraiser for the Columbia Valley Community Centre.

• 7 p.m.: Join the Summit Youth Centre in a Foosball Tournament.

Monday, January 18th • Join Summit Youth Centre for Employment Readiness Training or Skills for life! Program. Must pre register.

• 5 - 7 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre YCC Challenges program.

Tuesday, January 19th • 4 -6 p.m.: Join Summit Youth Centre for Cooking night. Join us for Free Food and nutritional education.

• 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: OPT clinic at the Invermere Health Unit. 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.

Confidential service: low-cost birth control, and STI testing.

• 8 p.m.: Columbia Lodge No. 38 meets every 3rd Tuesday at 8 p.m. Sept through June. 1301 7th Ave, second floor above Lambert Kipp.

Friday, January 22nd • January 22nd - 24th: Lake Spiel. For more information, contact the Invermere Curling Centre by calling 250-342-3315, emailing invermerecurling@ shaw.ca visiting www.curlinginvermere.ca or going to “Invermere & District Curling Centre” on Facebook.

• 4 - 8 p.m.: SnowFlake Festival & Taste of the Valley at Kinsmen Beach. Live music, fire pits, ice skating.

Taste of the Valley at 6 p.m., Fireworks at 8 p.m.

• 5 - 7 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre YCC Challenges program.

• 6 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre Karaoke Night.

Saturday, January 23rd • 12 p.m.: Winter Loop the Lake. $35 for adults, $25 for children. A Westside Legacy Trail fundraiser.

Contact ae.events@outlook.com.

• 7 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre Movie night and free popcorn.

Sunday, January 24th • 6 p.m.: The Raven & The Fox are doing a quick Columbia Valley tour and will be playing at Saftas in Invermere. Find them on Facebook at “The Raven & The Fox”.

Wednesday, January 20th

Monday, January 25th

• 2 p.m.: Genealogy Group at Columbia Gardens Coffee Room. Every 3rd Wednesday of the month.

• 3:30 - 5 p.m.: Hospice Suicide Grief Support Group at Smoking Waters Coffee Shop in Fairmont.

Weekly meetings begin on January 20th (no meeting on February 24th).

• 5 - 7 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre YCC Challenges program.

• 6 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre games and trivia night.

• Join Summit Youth Centre for Employment Readiness Training or Skills for life! Program. Must pre register.

• The Raven & The Fox are doing a quick Columbia Valley tour and will be playing at Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery in Radium. Find them on Facebook at “The Raven & The Fox”.

• 5 - 7 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre YCC Challenges program.

• 7 p.m.: Windermere Valley Child Care Society AGM at the Daycare. For more information email Judy@judycole.ca, or call 250-342-1230.

Saturday, January 16th

Thursday, January 21st

• 12 p.m.: Snow Golf at Kinsmen Beach. Get your tickets now, call 250-342-5557. Registration will run between 11 a.m. and noon at The Station Neighbourhood Pub. • 9 a.m.: Locals Day at Fairmont Ski Hill. Ski all day for just $2, plus $2 tubing. 12 - 4 p.m. BBQ. Fun games on the hill. Valid for residents from Brisco to Canal Flats (ID with proof of local address required).

• 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.: CV Community Centre ShredA-Thon. Panorama, Mile One Chair. Registration

• 4 - 6 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre Graphics Course.

• 4 - 8 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre open gym. Come play sorts with us. Everyone welcome.

• 5:30 - 7 p.m.: Hospice Bereavement Support Group at Hospice Society office, Frater Landing, Invermere.

Weekly meetings begin on January 21st (no meeting on February 25th).

• 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.: Wild Ideas at Circle Cafe, hosted

by Wildsight. January’s discussion topic is Slow Food. Visit www.Wildsight.ca for more information.

Tuesday, January 26th • 4 -6 p.m.: Join Summit Youth Centre for Cooking night. Join us for Free Food and nutritional education.

• 6 - 8 p.m.: Columbia Valley Permanent Resident Attraction and Retention Project, at the Lions Hall. Come out to express your views on strategies to attract and retain permanent residents. Funded

by Columbia Basin Trust and administered by the District of Invermere.

The 2016 MaxWell calendars are in for pickup!

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14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

Snowflake Fest set to sparkle Lake hosts Kinsmen events

By Breanne Massey Pioneer Staff With every winter’s return to the Columbia Valley, a beloved community tradition transforms Kinsmen Beach into the backdrop for the Snowflake Festival, Taste of the Valley and the Bonspiel on the Lake.

This year, the Snowflake Festival will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, January 22nd at Kinsmen Beach with skating on the lake and live music by Small Town Revival.

“This is the sixth year for the festival,” said Theresa Wood, events co-ordinator for the District of Invermere, by email. “It started in 2010 when the Olympic torch passed through Invermere.”

Residents and visitors alike have continued to celebrate the Snowflake Festival in the Columbia Valley with a series of a family-friendly activities each winter.

“We are just celebrating winter and giving everyone a reason to get outside,” said Ms. Wood. “The Bonspiel on the Lake will be happening during the Snowflake Festival as well. It kicks off at 4 p.m. (on Friday) and people are welcome to come watch.”

The Royal Canadian Legion Windermere District Branch will be operating the Bonspiel

cook shack with a selection of barbecue essentials throughout the weekend to keep curlers and spectators fed and warm. The 64-team Bonspiel on the Lake is hosted by the Invermere District Curling Centre and runs until Sunday, January 24th.

Ms. Wood added that this year’s festival will be unique compared to other years because of a new addition.

“We are adding the Snowflake Lounge,” she explained. “A place for people to purchase hot chocolate, coffee and add an adult winter warmup if they wish.”

Between 6 and 8 p.m. on Friday night, the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Taste of the Valley, which gives festivalgoers the opportunity to purchase passports and sample food from restaurants throughout the entire valley. This year, Pizzeria Mercato, Elements Grill, Copper City Saloon, Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery, Bear’s Paw Bar and Grill, Invermere Bakery and From Scratch will be the featured restaurants at Taste of the Valley. While there is no charge to attend the Snowflake Festival, the passports for Taste of the Valley cost $10 and can be purchased on site.

The Snowflake Festival will wrap up with a colourful fireworks display on the lake around 8 p.m.

By Breanne Massey Pioneer Staff Two unique sports that use the Columbia Valley’s winter stage have returned.

The 15th Annual Snow Golf Tournament will start at Kinsmen Beach at noon on Saturday, January 16th.

“It’s the guaranteed best day of golf of the year,” said Steve Kuffler, Kinsmen Club of Windermere Valley spokesperson. “I started it 15 years ago and all funds raised go to the community’s greatest needs.”

Golfers should bring a set of full clubs for the 18-hole snow course on the frozen Lake Windermere, and expect a shotgun start and a scramble golf format. The tournament will offer prizes and memories for each participant, who must be 19 or older to take part for the cost of $35.

Registration will run between 11 a.m. and noon at The Station Neighbourhood Pub on Saturday, January 16th.

The 16th Annual Ice Fishing Derby will also take place on Lake Windermere on Saturday, January 30th.

“Last year’s event was actually a record for us. We had 115 participants,” said Mr. Kuffler. “It’s a great family event.”

There will be a $35 admission to participate and registration will take place at 8 a.m. at The Station Neighbourhood Pub on Saturday, January 30th. It runs between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and cash prizes will be given out to the winner.

The first prize is $500, the second prize is $300 and the third prize is $200.

To book tickets for Snow Golf or the Fishing Derby, call The Station Neighbourhood Pub at 250-342-5557.

Volunteer Opportunities Immigrant newcomers need your help. Please consider volunteering as a mentor or join our list of occasional translators. English tutoring volunteers with EAL training are welcome. The average contribution is 2 hours a week. Contact CBAL Settlement Worker Hannah Wong for more information, 250-341-7188 or windermerevalleysettlement@cbal.org.

Windermere Valley Child Care Society Licensed Program • Quality Care • Group Day Care (3-5 yr. olds) • Pre-School • Infant/Toddler Program • Out-of-School Program Spaces available. Book now!

Drop-ins welcome.

Annual General Meeting Monday, January 25th @ 7:00 p.m.

620 4th Street. (Pre-school Classroom), Invermere

250-342-3168

January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

Minor Hockey Week 2016 As we pass the halfway mark of the 2015-16 Minor Hockey Season, Windermere Valley is continuing to see an increase in players and volunteers contributing to Canada’s game.

We continue to create programs to maintain and grow our numbers to ensure Minor Hockey continues to be played in the local community. We remain one of the few associations within the East Kootenay that is seeing increasing enrollment.

Four years ago, the Windermere Valley Minor Hockey Association had less than 120 kids registered and there was discussion amongst the board on how to increase registration and to return the fun in the game. The Board created a recreational program option with a “no pressure to travel” mentality and, in the fall of 2015, we ran the Bauer First Shift Program.

Our male programs remain strong and, finally, we are seeing the growth in female enrollment at all ages.

At each and every game, the kids play hard and with intensity no matter what the outcome may be. The kids, combined with our parent group, are outstanding.

The parents continue to support the association through volunteering at tourna-

ments, officiating, and managing the teams.

The association continues to receive strong support from the local business community through donations of all kinds. Without the support of the local business community, kids would not be able to play hockey.

From operating an equipment loan-out program, to donations of jerseys to paying for player registration, our local business community ensures any kid who wants to play hockey has that chance.

However, as we head through the core of the season, we can always use more volunteers. In particular, our Board of Directors will have several positions available at our next AGM. If you are interested in hockey and want to give back to the kids in the community, watch for our AGM that will be held in May. Thanks to all the coaches, managers, players, parents and minor hockey supporters. Without you, the kids would not be playing Canada’s game.

Chris Prosser, Co-President Windermere Valley Minor Hockey Association

FRONT ROW: Erik Fanderl, Keira Neal, Tobias Anderschuk, Ty Frocklage, Davin McMurray, Ayden Taylor, Ryan Tamelin.

MIDDLE ROW: Conner Brooks, Paddy Donahue, Payton Kruger, Precious Nicholas, Lucian Kinsey, Teagan Pike, Carter Digney BACK ROW: Daphne Neal, Baylan Douglas, Louis Nicholas, Adam Kubian, Carson Jefferson, Gabe Sillem, Sahara Eccles, Head Coach Jason Pike

FRONT ROW: Skeeter Langton, Davis Tenta, Dace Prymak, Jonathan Postlethwaite, Connor Woodworth, Blake Simpson MIDDLE ROW: Nicholas Irons, Coach Jye Carder, Liam Devlin, Cassidy Grey, Nolan Watt, Emily Gervais, Seth Harder, Riley Smith, Assistant Coach Wayne Gervais, Brendan Kruger BACK ROW: Jagar Jefferson, Spencer Dubois, Wolfgang Nicholas, Carter Purdy, Morgan Clarke

16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

Minor Hockey Week 2016 FRONT ROW: Memphis Martin, Zoe Knight, Juliette Cochrane, Ryker Chasse, Tobin Donahue, Liam Pressacco, Miles Hemmelgarn, Ethan Dewey, Myan Twogood MIDDLE ROW: Jaeci Chursinoff, Brayden Rice, Tyrell Weber, Tyler McGowan, Chayton Martin, Jake Gramlich, Lane Warriner, Kaydn Wilson, Tayton Gray BACK ROW: Assistant Coach Jed Cochrane, Co-Manager Crystal Chasse, Assistant Coach Brendan Donahue, Co-Manager Shawnna Warriner, Head Coach Mike Warriner, Assistant Coach Richard Martin

FRONT ROW: Wyatt Kress, Cooper Dunlop, Justin Kinnersley, Travis Jackson, Geoffrey Drought MIDDLE ROW: Head Coach Darryl Turner, Coach Dwight Lee, Malcolm Turner, Jared Frasca, Evan Prosser, Evan Clowers, Lucas Kinnersley, Manager Pam Kress, Coach Tim Fedow BACK ROW: Spencer Spiry, Owen Lee, Isaiah Fedow, Tobias Hilmersen, Jared Oaks, West Fiddler, Trey Beckett

January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17

Minor Hockey Week 2016

FRONT ROW: Connor Lapointe, Cameron Charrette, Carson Scheffer, Finnegan Donahue, Wade Hemmelgarn, Brayden Roe, Harley Karl, Chase Kinsey, Justin Huang, Hannah Clarke, Karson Schick, Ryan Digney, Kaydn Chasse MIDDLE ROW: Virgil Wang, Everett Friesen, Keegan Kelly, Ethan Spencer, Caden Williams, Maya Eccles, Spencer Goldsmith, Jack Andruschuk, Saffian Douglas, Cohen Lawrick, Jesse McIntosh, Andrew Dehart, Cameron Jacobsen, Caden McMurray BACK ROW: Coach Doug Schick, Head Coach Jason Roe, Coach Jason Lawrick, Manager Candace Scheffer

Nobody's a natural.

You work hard to get good and then work to get better.

It's hard to stay on top.

-Paul Coffey

Dreams are so important.

You need to have big goals and expect a lot of yourself but you have to enjoy the ride too. ~ Sidney Crosby

250-342-7100 www.diamondheatingandspas.com

You find that you have peace of mind and can enjoy yourself, get more sleep, rest when you know that it was a one hundred percent effort that you gave - win or lose.

– Gordie Howe

Have a fun and healthy hockey season!

Supports Youth Sports Play as a Team - Play Fair - You’ll have Fun!!!

Dr. Mike Baker, ND | 250-342-1457 | www.drmikebaker.ca

18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer The five S’s of sports training are: stamina, speed, strength, skill, and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit.”

January 15, 2016

Minor Hockey Week 2016

~ Ken Doherty

905 7 Ave, Invermere 250-342-0402

“The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.”

-Vince Lombardi 101A 1028 7 Avenue PO Box 130 Invermere BC V0A 1K0

• Ph: 250-342-2175 • Fax: 250-342-2669

www.kootenayinsurance.ca “Do you know what my favorite part of the game is?

The opportunity to play.”

– Mike Singletary

Valley Hair Styling 1313 7 Avenue, Invermere • 250-342-6355

A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.

–Wayne Gretzky

‘Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.’

Tom Landry

FRONT ROW: Soren Douglas, Kyle Brunner, Jake Bradley, Ryan Neal, Parker Nichol, Zack Smith, Pressly Irons, Jonah Fournier BACK ROW: Assistant Coach Shawn Nichol, Landon Nichol, Natasha Barsby, Michael Kubian, Nolan Douglas, Luke Schaal, Tate Hetherington, Matthew Nickurak MISSING: Head Coach Al Neal, Manager Nancy Smith

FRONT ROW: Meighan Prosser, Maddy Roe, Gavin Murray, Tristen McIntosh, Brydon Fleming, Jacob Taylor, Gwilym Muir, Dagwood Casavant, Austin Charette BACK ROW: Emma Postlethwaite, Mya Spencer, Coach Jason Roe, Jersey Ponych, Head Coach Brandi Riches, Cole Carey, Neil Carey, Sonny Langton, Logan LeClair.

MISSING: Jed McIntyre, Coach Jazlyn Oaks

January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19

Pioneer price increase announced

By Pioneer Staff A small price increase for advertising in the Columbia Valley Pioneer has been announced by publisher Dean Midyette.

“It’s the first price increase for display advertising and business directory listings in over five years,” said Mr. Midyette.

He cites increases in production and . . . ‘Examining’ from page 10 The prioritized action plan will be developed based upon the level of need and opportunity in each community.

At the end of the initiative, Family Dynamix will have identified and prioritized the locations in each community where housing development should happen, including a timeline for development, which demographic of families and individuals

distribution costs as the main drivers for the increase.

Starting January 8th, 2016, display advertising prices rose three per cent with the cost of business directory listings rising by $2 per week.

“The price increases are modest, but they allow for continued free distribution of The Pioneer.” will reside in the affordable housing development, and who the potential funder(s) will be.

For more information on the project, you can contact Michele Neider (250-341-8678) or Pat Cope (250-342-5566) at Family Dynamix Association.

Michele Neider is the Director of Program Management and Affordable Housing Project Director for the Family Dynamix Association.

JOIN US FOR THE 33RD ANNUAL

Starlight Challenge EVERY FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY AT THE FAIRMONT HOT SPRINGS RESORT SKI AREA Feb. 5, 12, 19 & 26, 7–9pm PLUS LIVE MUSIC ON FEB. 26!

Fun adult (19+) snowboard and ski racing, great prizes and awesome food & drink specials. Come as a team of 4 or ride solo.

4-WEEK ENTRY

DROP-IN

$55 Regular Pass Holders $35

$15 Regular Pass Holders $10

ENJOY NIGHT SKIING EVERY FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY:

Night Skiing 4–9pm Adult (18-64) $17 • Youth (13-17) $15 Seniors (65+) $15 • Child (5-12) $12 Night skiing is also available with a regular full-day lift ticket purchased after 12:30pm

Twilight Tubing 1–8pm • $15 ImmerseYourself

www.FairmontHotSprings.com Or Call: 1.800.663.4979

20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

Bringing back that Loving Spieling On the Button

By Stephen Lebovits Pioneer Columnist Happy belated New Year!

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s dig in to the meat of this column — the upcoming Lake Spiel.

If you are not aware of it, then by all means keep reading; and if you know of what I write, stay with me anyway.

Starting on the afternoon of Friday, January 22nd and running until late afternoon on the 24th, Invermere will host its 34th annual winter curling event. To say that it’s awesome is a gross understatement — it’s a hoot in a handbag!

Since arriving here almost five years ago, I have witnessed and played in several of the Lake Spiels, and they are a blast!

Who wouldn’t want to brave the elements to play under patio lanterns at the lip of Lake Windermere?

Games are split between the lake and curling centre and there’s a lot of camaraderie, lightly peppered with hints of competitiveness. After all, this is a Bon Spiel.

Teams from across B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan

and into the States converge on our little town to hurry hard all weekend long.

Sound like fun? It is, especially if you’re playing.

Spots are hard to come by as many teams have been playing for years, but it is possible to “get on” a team.

You just have to ask around — that’s how I did it. If you can’t find a team, than grab your family and friends and head out to the lake anyway as there are a host of ancillary events taking place that are themselves a fun way to spend the day.

Kicking it all off is the Snowflake Festival slated for Friday evening, where local eateries dole out delish delectables while bands play and fireworks explode.

At rink side, there are tailgate parties, skating, pickup hockey, a warm food hut, bonfires and, now that the Whiteway is officially open, all of Lake Windermere is your oyster, so get shucking!

Not into the Spiel?

Well, regular leagues have also resumed, so if you’re interested in playing, take a gander below and find the group that best suits your interest: • Mondays – Mixed League with draws at 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. For friendly competition.

• Tuesdays – Men’s League at 7 & 9 p.m. Competitive yet fun.

• Wednesdays – Ladies League at 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.

Fun, social and a bit competitive.

• Thursdays – Senior League at 10 am & 12:30 p.m. Curling with a light lunch.

•Thursdays – Fun League at 7 & 8:30 p.m. Very social, chill and relaxed.

• Fridays – Drop In from 7 to 9 p.m. No formal league but a good time to practice.

Upcoming 2016 dates to remember: • January 22nd to 24th: Lake Spiel (our marquee event on Lake Windermere) • February 5th to 7th: Junior Cash Spiel (on B.C.’s Family Day long-weekend) • February 12th to 14th: Men’s Spiel (over Alberta’s Family Day long-weekend) • March 25th and 26th: Link to Rink (more greento-ice action!)

If you’d like to help out with the Lake Spiel in any way, we’d love to have you on board.

For more info on volunteering, or about curling in general, please contact the Invermere Curling Centre by calling 250-342-3315, emailing invermerecurling@ shaw.ca, visiting www.curlinginvermere.ca or going to “Invermere & District Curling Centre” on Facebook.

Thanks for reading — we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming!

lnvermere Fire Rescue thanks the following for their contributions to the 44th Annual Fireman’s Ball A&W Ambiente Anchor Organics Arrowhead Brewing Company Artym Gallery Back Door Wine Cellar Bank of Montreal Bavin Glass Best Western lnvermere Inn Bicycle Works Black Star Boundary Ranch Calgary Flames Hockey Canadian Tire Canfor Canterbury Flowers Can West Centennial Foods Certain Teed Gypsum CG Designs Chopper’s Pet Supplies Circle Cafe College of the Rockies Columbia River Outfitters

Columbia Valley Trading Company Copper Point Golf Course Copper Point Resort Crazy Soles Cutloose Dairy Queen Do Nothing Floatation Centre & Get Juiced! Juice Bar DR Sports Dustin Murray Eagle Ranch Golf Course Elemental Cycle Fairmont Airport Fairmont Goldsmith Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Fuze Food Fire Vixen Tattoos Fitz Flooring Fun Cakes by Dianne Grant’s Foods Hair…a salon High Altitude Therapy High Country Properties Huckleberry’s Restaurant Inside Edge Boutique

Invermere Home Hardware Invermere Barber Shop Invermere Veterinary Hospital It’s A Wrap!

Jasper Park Lodge Joe’s No Frill’s Jon Howlett K-5 Mechanical Kicking Horse Coffee Kimberly Olson, Thai Massage Kimberly Rae Sanderson Photography Kootenay Coffee Works Kootenay Insurance Services Kootenay Savings Credit Union Lambert Insurance Lambert Kipp Pharmacy Local View Printing and Design Ltd. Lordco Auto Parts Main Street Fun and Games Majestic U Brew Manulife Securities Max Helmer Construction Megan Ballard – Craniosacral Therapy

MaxWell Realty Invermere Mr. V’s Italian Restaurant.

Natural Home Furnishings Nipika Mountain Resort OK Tire Oriental Palace Painted Aspen Studio Palliser Printing Panorama Mountain Resort Peppi’s Italian Fuel Pharmasave PotatoSac Co. Radium Hot Springs Pools Radium Golf Group Radium Vacation Resort Rainbow Donkey Reel Axe Adventures River Gems Rockies Heli Kananaskis Rocky River Grill RONA Northstar Hardware Safta’s Sarah LaPointe Sears Invermere Selkirk Cellular & Office Supplies Ski Home

See you at the 45th!

Smaller Footprints Children’s Boutique Station Neighbourhood Pub Stoney Nakoda Lodge Stripes Gear Stuart Tutty Financial Services Subway Summit Footwear Superior Propane Syndicate Board Shop The Pioneer/Echo Newspapers The Source The Trading Post The Valley Peak Tiffany’s Thredz Three Bears Gift Shop Tim Hortons Toby Creek Adventures Travel World TXN Installations Valley Alley Gas Valley Fitness Centre Valley Foods Warwick Interiors Waterway Houseboats Wayne Shaw Enterprises

January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 21

Don’t forget to look up!

By Brian Fenerty Pioneer Columnist Observing the stars in our valley is sometimes as easy as looking out the window. Observing away from town and lights is best for faint galaxies, comets and tiny meteors, but the sky is a delight even from town — like overlooking the lake. (Lakes, like rock outcroppings and rooftops, may induce air currents, which blur highly magnified telescope objects, but for general viewing, sightlines over a lake provide a useful vista.)

Always recommended if really short of time is to simply look up for a minute between your vehicle and your front door. In that short time, you may spot a meteor, an aurora, the jewel-like Pleiades star cluster, an early morning planet or an ice-cloudcaused silver “rainbow” around the moon.

I sometimes even observe from inside.

There is actually a telescope design — which almost no one uses — that sticks downward through an exterior wall at a mirror outside reflecting the sky above, while one sits cozy inside! My inside observation sites are simpler, merely my east-facing bay window to watch what comes up over Swansea and my south-facing kitchen window.

Lately, after a few overcast days, I’ve noticed how bright the Sun seems though it’s so low to the south. (In winter, our Sun is a bit closer to Earth — but just a tiny bit!) Then at night I seek the full moon shining down, but wonder where on earth,

er, in sky, it actually is!

I bend low and see a hint of it at the edge of the eave. I know, of course, this high angle occurs regularly. Nevertheless, it strikes me how the Sun can be so low in the winter sky, yet the full moon so high.

I pop out the front door and there is the moon sitting happily way up in the branches of a tall silvery tree.

Our moon’s orbit is tilted such that a full moon in winter gets quite high (and quite low on summer nights). If our moon orbited, instead, over the equator, as do many moons of other planets in the solar system, our winter full moon would not get as high (nor as low on summer nights).

Our high winter full moon is a clue that our moon did not form like many others in the solar system with their equatorial tendencies. Instead, the current explanation is that a Mars-sized object hit already-existing Earth and the resulting debris ring eventually collected into our moon with its nontypical angle of orbit. Later, I will see a lower crescent moon from the kitchen, courtesy of the tilted orbit. In the very late evening, north-east between the horizon and the Bigger Dipper’s handle, faint comet Catalina is on its way out from the Sun to eventually leave our entire system. Let me know if you spot it in scope or binoculars or have a photo. Lots to think about, wherever you look from, at the sky. But be sure to look.

Brian Fenerty is a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Contact him at fenertyb@telus.net.

Regional District of East Kootenay The RDEK is on the hunt for the 2016 Electoral Area Volunteers of the Year Nomination Deadline is Tuesday, January 26!

Nominees must be a resident of an Electoral Area and make voluntary contributions to the spirit, culture or people of the community.

Nomination forms are now available at our Cranbrook & Columbia Valley RDEK offices and on our website at www.rdek.bc.ca.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Recreation Services Supervisor

The Regional District of East Kootenay has an excellent opportunity for a qualified and motivated individual to work within a collaborative and innovative team as the Recreation Services Supervisor.

This position is located out of the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena in Invermere and commences on or about March 14, 2016.

Reporting to the Environmental Services Manager, the Recreation Services Supervisor performs a variety of activities related to the promotion and delivery of recreation services throughout the Columbia Valley including: supervision of the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena staff and the general operation and maintenance of parks, trails and facilities; administration of bylaws, policies, agreements, purchasing and grant applications; and preparing and implementing capital and operating budgets to ensure delivery of quality local government services in an efficient, effective and friendly manner.

Required Qualifications and Experience: • A degree in recreation or a related discipline.

• At least two years supervisory or management experience.

• Ability to prepare financial plans, bylaws, agreements, and policies.

• Thorough knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Strong project management skills.

• Ability to attend evening and weekend meetings or other events as required.

• Ability and willingness to work alone.

Licences and Certificates: • British Columbia Drivers Licence.

• Refrigeration Safety Awareness certificate.

• Occupational First Aid Level 1 certificate.

• Submission of a current Criminal Record Check.

• CPSI Canadian Certified Playground Inspector is an asset.

• Wildlife Danger Tree Assessor Certificate is an asset.

The RDEK offers a great work environment and an attractive total compensation package, which includes a competitive salary, excellent benefits, a modified work week and learning opportunities.

This is a permanent, full-time (35 hours per week) Union position with a starting salary of $5,318 per month ($35.06/hr) and a salary increase to $5,584 ($36.82/hr), after successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.

Qualified individuals interested in this opportunity are invited to forward a resume including a cover letter, in confidence, prior to 4:30 pm, Friday, January 29, 2016 to: Lori Engler, Human Resources Manager Email: hr@rdek.bc.ca (MS Word format or PDF) Please quote: Competition# ENV-12 Visit our website (www.rdek.bc.ca) for the complete job description and information about the RDEK. We thank all who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

The RDEK is committed to reducing our environmental impact so will run this competition as a paperless process. Please submit your application via email.

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

22 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

HERE TO SERVE YOU 250-341-1182

Box 424, Invermere B.C. V0A 1K0

Serving the Columbia Valley

www.cabincare.ca

• • • •

Renovations Decks Finishing Interior/Exterior Painting David Gulbe Mike Bernicot

BOUTIQUE VACATION HOME MANAGEMENT RENTAL SERVICES “Proven and successful Management and Marketing Services for your Vacation Home” “Trip Advisor Vacation Rental of the Year 2011, 2012 and 2013”

Call or visit online

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

• 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: 250-342-5833 • Cell: 250-270-9444 All products are available at 9120, Hwy 93/95 which is five kilometres north of Tim Hortons

• 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

Dale Elliott Contracting • •

Interior Finishing Kitchen and Vanity Cabinets • Countertops • Small Renovations • Decks and Interior Railings

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

Invermere, B.C.

Septic Tank Pumping Portable Toilet Rentals NEW SEWER CAMERA

• • •

Complete sewer/drain repairs • Reasonable rates – Seniors’ discount • Speedy service – 7 days a week

A well maintained septic system should be pumped every 2-3 years Avoid costly repairs

Bruce Dehart 250.347.9803 or 250.342.5357

• • • •

FAIRMONT RIDGE RENOVATION

Doors Windows Flooring Painting/ Interior/Exterior • Kitchen Renovations

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

250-341-7098

250-342-5682

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

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

FILTER - IT Serving the Columbia Valley

Scott Postlethwaite

design@gldlandscaping.com • 250-688-0757 w w w. g l d l a n d s c a p i n g . c o m

Free Estimates

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

1710 10th Avenue – Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

Registered with the Canadian Water Quality Association Filtration• Purification • Reverse Osmosis • UV

Chris Jones

Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. 250-345-6231 or 250-688-1325 chris.filterit@hotmail.com • www.filterit.ca

LAMBERT-KIPP

Lambert

P H A R M A C Y LT D .

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

Come in and browse our giftware

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

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

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

1301 - 7th Avenue, Invermere

250-342-6612

Your search for quality and dependability ends with us.

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

Dean Hubman

Certified Technician

250-342-3052

Toll Free: 877-342-3052

Invermere, BC V0A 1K3 odysseyrestoration@telus.net

January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 23

HERE TO SERVE YOU READY MIX CONCRETE Concrete Pump • Sand & Gravel Heavy Equipment Rentals • Crane Service

Phil Bibby Journeyman Carpenter

Proudly Serving the Valley for over 50 years

250.341.1995 philbibby@live.ca

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

New Homes • Custom Builds • Renovations Big Or Small

Plumbing • Heating • Electrical

Spray Foam InSulated ConCrete FormS pennerinsulation.com • 250-270-0284

Andy Charette Bus: 250-342-9692 Cell: 250-342-5241

Box 802 | 422 – 14th Street | Invermere B.C. V0A 1K0

RR#4 2117 - 13 Avenue Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K4

Commercial – Residential Installation – Maintenance – Repairs

SHOLINDER & MACKAY EXCAVATING Inc.

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

Darren Ross Box 72, Canal Flats, B.C. V0B 1B0

Cell: 250-341-7727 • Fax: 1-778-523-2426 • poolman-911@hotmail.com

WINDERMERE 250-342-6805

Skandia I N P U R S U I T O F Concrete EXCELLENCE • Manufactures & suppliers of quality • Environmentally responsible concrete & gravel products • Steamed aggregate beds for top • Experience, professional operators quality year round concrete supply and the right equipment to get your • We stand behind our service, job done quality and products • Serving the valley for over 30 years • Office: 250-342-6500 • Batch plant: 250-342-2812 • Toll Free: 1-888-341-2221

THE VALLEY’S LARGEST WINDOW COVERINGS SHOWROOM

New Home Construction

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

Quality you can see!

E: rigidplumbing@hotmail.ca P: 250-341-5179

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

www.ptarmigan-invermere.com

ROSS‛S POOLS & SPAS

Invermere and East Kootenay Region

Rigid Plumbing Ltd.

Residential & Commercial Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

• Roller Shades • Roman Shades • Cellular Shades

• Pleated Shades • Horizontal Blinds • Shutters

• Vertical Blinds • Automation • Residential & Commercial

Come visit our showroom,

492 ARROW RD., UNIT 1B 250-342-HOME (4663)

stwcarpentry@live.ca • cell 250 270 0745

Kitchen cabinet & counter top SpecialiStS

• Air Conditioning/Heat Pumps • Fireplaces • Full Heating and Ventilation Systems

Westridge Cabinets Dealer ~ Granite and Quartz Counter Tops

Call for your FREE consultation and estimate

Come visit our showroom,

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

WETT Certified

24 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

Local club hosts figure skating invitational

By Breanne Massey Pioneer Staff A gathering unlike any other the Columbia Valley has seen will draw athletes and their families to the area in search of a unique competition this weekend.

The Columbia Valley Skating Club is hosting the East Kootenay Invitational Figure Skating Competition for children between the ages of five and 18 years old between Friday, January 15th to Sunday, January 17th at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena in Invermere to highlight dances and skills from 200 skaters travelling from 25 participating clubs. There will also be two adults participating in the competition.

“We put in a bid last year to host and we were awarded the competition,” said Columbia Valley Figure Skating president Leanne Beddie. “The weekend will encompass a Region High Test Day, which is closed to the Kootenay regional skaters to test dances and skills at a high level. Then, the competition starts at noon on the Friday with a solo dance event to start off, which is followed by the interpretive events, which are kids’ interpretation to a piece of music — there are no element requirements in those.”

On Saturday, January 15th, to start, there will be Star 2 girls and boys competing between 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. “(It) will be a free skate portion of the competition starting with kids in the Skate Canada Star program all the way up to pre-novice category,” Ms. Beddie said.

The Star 3 girls and boys will compete between 10:40 a.m. until 1:10 p.m., which will be followed by the Star 4 girls until 2:45 p.m. and Star 5 girls until 4 p.m.

Following that, there will be senior bronze women, junior silver women, senior

Your Local

silver women, gold women and pre-juvenile women skating.

“Sunday will be the Elements competition and the Star 1 event, which has all the little guys,” concluded Ms. Beddie.

The criteria that each participant will need to meet has been clearly outlined in advance.

“We’ve brought 14 judges and data specialists in for the event from all over western B.C. and Alberta,” said Ms. Beddie. “From Star 5 and up, they’re competing for bronze, silver and gold. From Star 4 down, they’re mostly competing against themselves so they’re aiming to get a gold ribbon, but they’re judged on their performance and their skills — that will get them either a bronze level rating, a silver or a gold.

“All of the kids in the lower levels do walk away with a ribbon, but it’s based on their level of performance — how well they performed different jumps and spins,” she added.

For friends and family who are interested in watching the up-and-coming skaters pursue this challenge, more detailed information will be available during the competition.

“We’re going to post on the arena door when the local skaters are performing in case anybody is interested in coming down to see some of our local skaters compete,” said Ms. Beddie. “We have a raffle table and a 50/50 going on, and we would love support on those events… Friday evening definitely has some entertainment value because the kids have some really neat interpretive programs.”

There’s no fee to come down and watch the show, so enjoy.

To see the schedule for the invitational, visit http://www.skatinginbc.com/sites/ default/files/competition/resources/eki_-_jan_15-172016_schedule.pdf.

COLUMBIA VALLEY REAL ESTATE

Buying or selling…

Your greatest investment is worth a second opinion!

Glenn Pomeroy

MaxWell Realty Invermere 1214-7th Avenue, Invermere, B.C.

glennpomeroy@shaw.ca

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

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

Professionals

Wende Brash Broker/Owner

RE/MAX Invermere Independently Owned and Operated 1022B - 7th Avenue, Box 459 Invermere B.C. V0A 1K0 E-mail: wendebrash@telus.net Fax: 250-342-9611

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

HERE TO SERVE YOU Sales ~ Service ~ Installation

UNIVERSAL DOORS & EXTERIORS Arnold Scheffer 250-342-6700

unidoorext@live.ca • unidoorext.ca

Industrial ~ Commercial ~ Residential

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

Judy: (250) 341-1903

www.valleysolutions.ca valleysolutions@shaw.ca

N E W S PA P E R

SOLUTIONS FOR THE VACATION HOME OWNER SINCE 2006

• House Checking • Complications • Details

#8, 1008 - 8th Avenue PO Box 868, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Amanda Nason

Advertising Sales

Ph: 250.341.6299 • Cell: 250.341.1111 www.columbiavalleypioneer.com advertising@invermerevalleyecho.com

January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 25

Pioneer Classifieds

• • • •

Phone: 250-341-6299 Fax: 1-855-377-1312 Email: info@columbiavalleypioneer.com www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

Thank You

Cheers & Jeers

Cheers & Jeers

Cheers & Jeers

Cheers & Jeers

Cheers & Jeers

The Kinsmen Club of the Windermere Valley would like to thank all those who supported the Christmas Tree Pickup.

Your donations will be sent to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. See you again next year!

Cheers to MaxWell Realty for once again producing and providing the best free Calendar around. So many people use these to organize our lives!

Cheers to Kelly Braken for plowing our driveway. You are a great neighbour!

Cheers to my work neighbour, Meredith at Get Fresh, for making my Saturday morning at work so much better with a generous and thoughtful gift.

Cheers to Leanne, Stephanie and Sammy of Kicking Horse Coffee for saving my new coffee machine from the e-waste graveyard.

Another example of their kick-ass service!

Cheers to the thoughtful person who promptly returned my Mom’s wallet to the cashier at No Frills and Jeers to my mother for setting it down in the first place.

Cheers to the cleaning ladies who brought us a hot lunch. Delicious Chili. From the carpenters.

`s obituary s Lance Lesley Larson October 22, 1960 – January 8, 2016 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, grandpa and friend.

Lance passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 8, 2016.

Lance was born on October 22, 1960 in Cranbrook, British Columbia. Lance grew up in Canal Flats and it was there that he met and fell in love with his high school sweetheart Anne Detta. They were married in 1982 and had their son, Matt in 1988 and daughter, Jessica two years later.

At the young age of 15 Lance worked at the sawmill for Crestbrook Forest Industries for a short time and soon joined his father Carl and brother Ivar logging for Crestbrook and later joined as partners under Carl Larson Enterprises.

Lance’s greatest love was his enjoyment of life with family and friends. Lance was a very caring and giving person. He especially enjoyed the great outdoors camping and the frequent getaway vacations with his loving wife and wonderful friends.

Lance is survived by his wife Anne, son Matt (Jillian), granddaughter Lila, daughter Jessica, brothers Ivar (Donna), Neil (Penny), Nathan, sister Iona, mother Muriel, father Carl, mother-in-law Beryl, father-in-law Wilf, brother-in-law David, sisters-in-law Marlene, Audrey (Barry), Lori (Brent) and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his two sister’s Debbie and Melanie.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at the Community Centre, 8911 - Dunn Street, Canal Flats, BC. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Columbia Valley Hospice Society. Donations can be made online at http://www. hospicesocietycv.com.

We would also like to express our sincerest appreciation to the Doctors and Nurses at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Dr. Gareth Mannheimer of Invermere, the Columbia Valley Hospice Society, the homecare workers and nurses for their care and compassion during his illness.

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service.

Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com

Cheers to the kind man who cleared our driveway on Saturday. You left to quickly for us to talk to you in person. Your delighted neighbours on Stark Drive.

CHEERS to Ray and the Columbia Valley Rockies crew for excellent firewood and great service.

s obituary s Ken, Lautrup

It is with sadness that we announce the sudden passing of long time Columbia Valley resident Kenneth Lautrup on December 8, 2015 in Golden B.C. Ken was born October 10, 1934 in Gunningsville, New Brunswick to Valdemar and Karen Lautrup. When Ken was one his parents decided to move their family back to Edgewater B.C. where Ken and his brother George were raised and schooled.

Ken first met his wife Lisbeth on a family trip home to Denmark in 1953. They were later reunited when Lisbeth came to Canada and were married September 21, 1957. They continued to make their home in Edgewater while Ken supported their growing family as a truck driver. After moves to Calgary and then to Golden in 1970, Ken, together with his brother George became the owners of Brisco Sawmill. Later Ken bought Golden Insurance and after successfully learning and working the business he retired for the final time.

After his family, came his community and Ken was involved by being a participating member of the Masonic Mountain Lodge #11, AMFM, Golden Shrine Club, Golden Chapter #25 of the Order of the Eastern Star and Golden & District Golf Club.

Ken’s family and friends could always count on having expressive debates, discussions and possible solutions to the local and world’s problems, both financial and otherwise. They will all miss him.

He leaves his wife Lisbeth to mourn his passing, along with their children Laurie (Leena) Lautrup of 100 Mile House BC, Karen (David) Peacock of Langley BC and Bruce (Kelly) Lautrup of Edmonton AB and eight grand children, Kristin (Ryan), Kelsey, Sam, Ben, Cameron, Krystyna, Katie (James) and Tom, his brother George (Jeanette) of Edgewater BC, cousins Bente Petersen and Niels (Marie) Molbak of Calgary AB and their families, and his family in both Canada and Denmark and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ken’s family would like to thank Dr. Stark and the staff at the Golden Hospital and Durand Manor for their compassionate care of him.

A memorial for Ken, date to be announced, will be held in the spring, 2016.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital, 3550 Wayburne Drivie, Burnaby, BC V5G 3K9

Cheers to all the people who encourage me, help me through all the unplowed snow with my walker, joke with me, and make it fun to be out walking! Much appreciated!

Cheers to the man (with a dog) on a quad who was riding down 13th Ave. Not only did he plow my driveway and the neighbours but he refused to take any money for the job. Three Cheers to you, much appreciated after that snowfall!

s Memoriam s

Special Dad A smile for all and a heart of gold, One of the best this world could hold, Never selfish, always kind.

A beautiful memory left behind, In loving memory of our dear father,

Reno Earl Goodwin Who left us 30 years ago January 11th, 1986.

Your loving family

s obituary s In Loving Memory

Doreen Victoria Gordon Oct 27, 1935 - Jan 6, 2016 Doreen passed away at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital on January 6, 2016 at the age of 80.

Survivors include her daughter Donna McKay (Larry), grandson Clayton Verge (Genevieve), granddaughter Lindsay O’Rourke (Tavis), great-grandchildren Mariah, Kyla, Kalianna, Brodie, Oakley and sister Margaret Statham.

A memorial service will be held for Doreen on Monday January 18th at 2:00pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Fairmont Hot Springs.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Doreen’s name, to ICAN (Invermere Companion Animal Network). www.icanbc. com, 250-341-7888, Box 2448, Invermere B.C. V0A 1K0

26 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Cheers & Jeers

Cheers & Jeers

Cheers to Rainbow International Cheers to our new Radium bus for going above and beyond after driver. It is such a treat for our receiving ICAN’s call for assistance kids to be greeted each day with a to get a kitty out of a tree after two friendly smile and good morning!!

JEERSgoes a long way! :) cold days and nights. CHEERS &Kindness Sponsored by

Huge Cheers to Joanne and Sandie, the girls of Canterbury Flowers who so enhanced this community by their creativity, hard work, kindness, generosity and positivity.

Your presence on the Main Street will be sorely missed. May 2016 and years ahead bring all good experiences your way. You both deserve them. Bon Voyage!

Cheers to the bosses and those in a supervisor position who treat ALL with the same fairness and dignity.

You set the tone in a business or company as to how everyone will react to teamwork.

Jeers to the family that went away for Christmas and left their black cat outside with no food (again).

Neglect is abuse, stop it before your children start emulating your behaviour.

s

Jeers to all the gravel on the highways. Two windshields broken in two months! I thought the roads were supposed to be “sanded”, not “rocked.”

Jeers to grumpy cashiers. If you work in customer service and you can’t be nice to people maybe you should look into a different field of work. I hope tourists don’t get to see it!

Cheers to Elver Galarga for cleaning my pipes. Your quick but thorough work has left my husband and I very pleased! Best of luck expanding your business in the Valley!

Jeers to Adele’s new song, Hello.

Really! Twice an hour, on the hour.

If I have to hear that song one more time today I swear I will make an obviously empty threat.

obituary

s

Carmen Mauricett Cabelguen Born in Versailles France, October 18th, 1928. Passed away peacefully on January 11,2016 at Columbia House in Invermere, B.C. Carmen was an amazing Wife, Mother and Nanny. She adored her family as they adored her. Carmen loved getting together with her large family, there was never a quiet moment at the dinner table.

There was always many laughs and memories being shared.

Carmen is survived by her seven children. Christian (Gloria) Calgary, Michel Edgewater, Philippe Fort McMurray, Jacques (Elaine) Calgary, Serge (Tony) Vancouver, Raymond (Kerry) Radium, Monique (Ron) Radium, 13 Grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Carmen was pre-deceased by her husband Pierre Cabelguen.

A huge heart felt thank to everyone at Columbia House, they were all amazing with Carmen and treated her with the love and respect she so rightfully deserved. The family is eternally grateful for all that they did for her.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date in Edgewater.

January 15, 2016

ANNOUNCEMENT

storage

SUITE FOR RENT

house FOR RENT

Al-Anon

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

Radium: Motel Bavaria, low low rates, daily, weekly, monthly.

Kitchenettes available. Call 250347-9915.

Long-term rental in Edgewater, 2.5 acres, perfect for horses. 4-bdrms plus den, 2 full baths, soaker tub, hardwood floors, wrap-around deck. Fully fenced with irrigated pasture. F/S, W/D, D/W, microwave, underground sprinklers, wood stove, walk-out basement, large shed. Water/sewer included. $1,800/mo. Call 250-342-1577.

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 250342-8255.

Steamboat Mountain Music Festival Annual General Meeting 6:30 p.m. Saturday, January 16th at Edgewater Legion.

• Annual Reports • Budget and Finance • Bursary News • Election of Directors • Lasagna Supper • Entertainment

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.

lost and found Found: Cat, Spur Valley sometime around Oct. 2015. Adult, silver grey, short hair tabby, white chin and small white patch on chest.

Friendly, call ICAN 250-341-7888.

Lost: White gold diamond tennis bracelet, Jan. 6th, Invermere area.

Reward offered, please call 250347-9788.

storage

NEWHOUSE MULTI STORAGE Various sizes available.

Now with climate-controlled units.

Call 250-342-3637.

COMMERCIAL SPACE NEWHOUSE MULTI STORAGE 24 x 36 shop power included, propane heat at tenant’s expense, $650/mo first and last D.D. required. Contact Newhouse Multi Storage 250-342-3637.

For lease: 2,000 sq.ft. office and warehouse space. Located at #5 108 Industrial Road #2. Presently occupied by the Invermere Vet. Phone Leo at 250-342-1177.

Retail/Shop for sale: Two levels total 2700 sq. ft. Please call 250270-0216 or 250-270-0405 for more details.

Invermere, 3-bdrm, close to schools, lower suite private entrance, up/down duplex, 5 appliances, large storage shed, N/P, N/S, $875/mo plus damage deposit includes water. Phone 403-6510008.

house FOR RENT Duplex for rent, 2,090 sq. ft., at Copperhorn Drive, unfurnished, 3-bdrm, 3-bath, $1,000/mo, no utilities. Photos http://goo.gl/ yz1QVZ. Contact Erick 587-2164426, ecosierragolf@gmail.com.

3-bdrm upper suite Windermere, close to school, $950/mo + utilities.

Call 250-342-8662 for details.

Shop or storage for rent in Invermere, close to downtown, 30’ x 28’ with 10’ ceilings. Insulated and secure. $450/mo plus electricity.

403-669-7273 or spur.ltd@gmail. com.

Second floor office space in Radium starting at $250/mo. 403-5599625.

ACCOMModation WANTED Seeking small cabin or house in the Invermere area. Please call Dorothy Kirkness at 250-347-9555.

SUITE FOR RENT Radium: Fully furnished units for rent. Bedsitting, 1-bdrms, 2-bdrms.

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.

For rent: Black Forest Village Apartment, 2-bdrm, 2 bathrooms.

W/D, D/W, $875/mo. Ph. 250-3423790.

Must see, 3-bdrm, modern new suite for rent. W/D, dishwasher, N/S. $1,500/mo utilities included.

250-688-0708.

Downtown Invermere, close to hospital. 2-bdrm, 1 bath, W/D. $800/mo plus utilities. Prefer 1 year lease, N/S, N/P. Available March 1st. 250-688-0110.

condo FOR RENT For rent in Radium, 2-bdrm, 4 bath, ground level condo. Beautiful views, backs on to The Springs golf course. All appliances, fireplace, fully furnished. 2 car garage. N/S, N/P, references please. $1650/mo, call 250-342-3790.

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 CRUNCHY FISH STICKS

2 Eggs 1½ cups Panko Breadcrumbs 2 tbsp Parsley, chopped ½ tsp each Paprika & Salt

3 tbsp Butter, melted 1 lb White Fish, cut into sticks ½ cup Flour Lemon Wedges, for serving

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Whisk eggs in a bowl.

In another bowl mix breadcrumbs, parsley, parmesan, paprika and salt; stir in melted butter to coat crumbs.

Dredge fish in flour, shaking off excess.

Dip in eggs, then coat with breadcrumb mixture.

Place fish on parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake 13 – 15 minutes or until cooked through.

Serve with lemon.

Home Of The Week Four Season Fun at Akiskinook!

Beautiful furnished three bedroom condo in a private setting is move-in ready so there’s no “honey do list” to worry about.

Private beach, marina, boat launch and recreation center.

$280,000

MLS® 2406429

January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 27

condo FOR RENT

misc. for sale

2-bdrm condo near Sobeys, N/S, N/P. $750/mo, call 250-342-6255.

Wicker three drawer dresser, mint green in color, 30” wide, 29” height. $75 O.B.O. 250-341-3541.

BEAUTIFUL 1-bdrm luxury condo for long term rent in Sable Ridge Resort. Fully furnished and stocked with some amenities. Just move in. Furnished with Penthouse furnishings, gourmet kitchen, ensuite laundry, queen bed, 3rd floor view, fireplace, B.B.Q., underground parking, outdoor hot tubs, clubhouse and seasonal pool.

Move in: Anytime in January or Feb 1st, $875/mo including utilities (except cable). Please contact JOE at 403-909-5544.

Cozy 1-bdrm condo for rent in Radium. Fully furnished with 7 appliances, underground parking, pool and hot tub. $750/mo + $400 D.D. Available February 1st. Call 403-880-9719 or 403-512-2168.

2-bdrm, 2 washroom, on second floor of the Peaks in Radium.

Ensuite laundry, D/W and A/C. Rent includes all utilities. Long term or short term lease. $1,050/mo.

Available Feb 1st. 403-663-0446.

Condo for rent in Pinewood building in Radium, 2-bdrm, 2 bath, $825/mo includes utilities. N/P, N/S. Underground parking. Available immediately, call 403-690-7444.

Condo for rent in Aspen building in Radium, 2-bdrm, 2 bath, $850/ mo includes utilities. N/P, N/S. Underground parking. Availble Feb 1st, call 403-690-7444.

2-bdrm, 1.5 bath townhouse in Blackforest Village. End unit with new laminate flooring and upgraded kitchen. Available Feb. 1st. N/S, pets negotiable. $1000/ mo + Utilities and D.D. 250-2700377.

Futon love seat and chair, coffee table and end table. Good condition, asking $150. 250-3450157.

FIREWOOD Support Rockies Hockey firewood.

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

Dry/split firewood for sale. Big or small volumes. Free local delivery.

403-404-1577, 250-342-3040 or aranwood@hotmail.com.

Pine Firewood, $200/cord. Split and delivered. 250-342-1586.

FIREWOOD: Birch, fir, larch and pine. Www.horizonridgeranch.com 250-688-0143.

Premium larch, fir and pine. Split and delivered, please call 250-3415551.

fitness Zumba Fitness-Julie Parent Zumba classes start for the New Year on Monday Jan. 4th at 5:30 p.m.

Classes located at Laird School Gym Mon., Wed. and Thurs. at 5:30 p.m. Monthly and drop in rates available. For more info please call 250-341-5474 or www.julieparent.zumba.com.

Zumba Fitness - Julie Parent Aqua Zumba classes start 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday January 19th at Copper Point Resort. Classes will run Tuesday and Thursday Mornings at 9:30 a.m. for a 5 week session, ending February 18th. Please contact Julie Parent at 250-341-5474 to sign up!

Health & wellness

Fiona Millar, AEP Intuitive Reader

250-342-1713 fiona@fionapsychic.com • www.fionapsychic.com

Just a reminder… The classified deadline is 12 noon Tuesday.

SERVICES

kimberleyrae.ca

photography studio picture framing passport photos …look for the red door behind the Invermere Dry Cleaners!

250-342-5102 Shannon’s Blinds & Designs Thank you for your votes Best of Business Awards!

We are grateful and appreciative of your support and loyalty “Blinds, Drapery, retractable screen doors and more.” 250-342-5749..

SERVICES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Heaven’s Best Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

Wanted 2 F/T Restaurant Cooks, Rocky River Grill, 8888 Arrow Road, Invermere, B.C. Permanent, F/T shifts, overtime, weekends, days and evenings, $16/hour for 40 hours per week. Overtime after 40 hours.

Minimum several years experience and completion of Secondary School. DUTIES: Prepare and cook full course meals, prepare and cook individual dishes and foods, ensure quality of food portions, work with minimal supervision, prepare dishes for customers with food allergies or intolerances. Inspect Kitchens and Food service areas.

Please forward resume to Justin Atterbury by fax 250 342 8889 or email justatterbury@hotmail.com.

Invermere Petro-Can is currently accepting resumes for F/T and P/T employment. Apply in person to 185 Laurier Street, Invermere between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Environmentally friendly products.

Dry in 1 hour! Call 250-688-0213 or visit www.heavensbest.ca .

Handy man service snow shoveling and interior jobs. Good rates. Phone Albert at 250-341-1595.

Help Wanted

Strands Old House Restaurant is accepting applications for a cook/chef two to three years experience in casual fine dining preferred. Evenings and weekends.

Apply to Tony Wood at tony@ strandsrestaurant.com or 250-3426344.

Pioneer Classifieds

SPOT THE DEALS! N E W S PA P E R

info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Help Wanted

Lake Windermere Alliance Church is recruiting for a BOOKKEEPER Lake Windermere Alliance Church, a non-profit registered charity affiliated with The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada is in need of a Contract Bookkeeper to work with the Pastor, Treasurer and Manager of the Sonshine Children's Centre. As our Bookkeeper, you must have: • A thorough understanding of bookkeeping requirements for a registered charity • Experience in preparing required information for charity management such as: monthly financial statements including budget vs actual, charitable receipts, annual T3010 reporting • Proven ability with Quickbooks • An ability to liaise with the Pastor, Treasurer and Manager of the Sonshine Children's Centre • Your own computer, software and be self-sufficient with changing technology • An ability to adapt to changing workloads throughout the year • Experience in managing all aspects of bi-weekly payroll for up to 15 employees.

If you have the skills and abilities listed and are interested in a new challenge, we want to hear from you!

To apply, please submit your Covering Letter and Resume, quoting "Contract Bookkeeper Position" in your email subject line to: Lake Windermere Alliance Church- lwac@telus.net Applications must be received on or before January 28th, 2016 Lake Windermere Alliance Church 326 lOth Avenue I Box 280 I Invermere, BC VOA lKO P. 250 342 9535 F. 250 342 9575 lwac@telus.net I www.lakewindermerealliance.org

CAREER OPPORTUNITY MANAGER, COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS Permanent, full-time in our Cranbrook office.

Apply before January 27, 2016, noon PT.

Apply at cbt.org/careers 1.800.505.8998

0911611 BC LTD o/a Tim Hortons 496 Highway 93/95 Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K2

Part and Full-time Positions Available Start date – ASAP Year-round Employment Excellent Medical/Dental Benefits

Food Service Supervisor Permanent, Shift

No education required One to two years experience required.

Nights/early mornings/weekends $12.40/hour + medical/ dental/group benefits.

Apply in person or via email (timhortons.invermere@gmail.com) for both positions.

28 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

PIONEER ON THE ROAD 2015 contest ends These are the last entries received for the 2015 travel contest — the winner will be announced in an upcoming issue! To everyone who submitted travel photos over the past year, thank you for participating! 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, snap a photo with it, send it in 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@columbiavalleypioneer.com, or drop by our office, #8, 1008-8th Ave. Invermere.

Pictured, clockwise from top left: Tracey Siemens and Freddie Polkinghorne in Huatolco, Mexico; Pete and Penny Jensen on a Mexican Riviera cruise; Rob and Mary Beth Galant at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain; and Jane Tames and Marlene Chabot on Maui in Hawaii.

Help Wanted

Tony’s Greek Grill 5009 Hot Springs Rd., Fairmont Hot Springs

Tony’s Greek Grill in Fairmont Hot Springs is accepting resumes for the following positions:

Babies 2015 of

First InCook/Head FairmontChef

Duties: Prepare and cook individual dishes and foods. Ensure highest quality of food prepared, determine appropriate size of food proportions, prepare dishes for customer with food allergies and intolerances, work with minimal supervision, supervise kitchen staff and helpers, order all food products and supplies, manage food costs, work with specialized cooking equipment (deep fryer, etc).

Must have a minimum of 3 years experience in Mediterranean/Greek Cuisine. $16 per hour.

Full-time (40 hours per week) commencing April 1st, 2016

Prep Cook

Duties: Assist the first cook/chef in preparation of individual dishes. Prep all ingredients required for the preparation of dishes. Ensure highest quality of food prepared, work under the supervision of the first cook/chef, work with specialized cooking equipment (deep fryer, etc).

Did you welcome a new addition to your family in 2015? Show off your little bundle of joy in the January 22nd edition of The Columbia Valley Pioneer! Simply submit a high resolution photo of

Pioneer Classifieds

your baby (or grandbaby, niece, nephew...) along with the child’s full name, date of birth, weight at birth, parents’ names and a fun fact about the child.

The cost is $35+tax, deadline for submissions is Friday, January 15th.

For more information or to book your space, contact Amanda Nason at 250-341-6299 or advertising@invermerevalleyecho.com.

Must have a minimum of 1 year experience in Mediterranean/Greek Cuisine. Wage: $14 per hour.

Full-time (40 hours per week) commencing April 1st, 2016.

Please Email resume to tonysgreekgrillresume@gmail.com

Look up to a higher standard with our classified ads.

N E W S PA P E R

N E W S PA P E R

info@columbiavalleypioneer.com Ph: 250-341-6299

January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 29

Growing the valley’s permanent population eyed

By Steve Hubrecht Pioneer Staff Local residents and second homeowners will get a chance to give their input into the Columbia Valley Resident Attraction and Retention Strategy at a focus group session later this month.

“It’s an opportunity for us (the Upper Columbia Valley municipalities and rural areas) to get the opinions of local residents on what keeps them here,” said Invermere mayor Gerry Taft. “There are some obvious benefits to having more people here in the valley, and that’s what we’re trying to do by developing this valley-wide strategy.

We all think it’s a good place to live and the huge volume of summer visitors we get clearly indicates a lot of people think it’s a good place to visit. With this strategy we want to bridge that gap between good place to visit and good place to live.”

The focus group meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 26th at the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce building.

“We know that we do get a fair number of people coming to retire here, but we are keen to learn how we can encourage young people and families to move here and to stay here,” said Mr. Taft.

Many health and government services for a given area are determined by the permanent resident population for that area, not by the number of second homeowners or . . . ‘Relocation’ from page 8 “Relocation is not a magic bullet that will fix the district’s issue with deer.

The result within town will be much the same as a cull. Deer are in a space because of available habitat. Removing them either by a cull or by transport is only a temporary solution, which will just play on repeat.”

Mr. Kazakoff pointed out that Invermere’s deer cull each winter is ongoing, and that the relocation study won’t change or stop the cull.

“The deer counts are much the same as they were prior to the (initial) 2012 cull. It’s unfortunate that the district has done nothing to change negative attitudes toward wildlife and reduce conflict and instead chooses to continue the inhumane controversial killing of our wildlife,” he said. “We would suggest that the District of Invermere participate in a porcine zona pellucida (PZP) deer birth control project, which is a proven method of population control that doesn’t involve trapping of any animals at all.”

Mr. Kazakoff added that the

tourists who may also be present in the area, he said, adding fore. It’s great,” said councillor Justin Atterbury.

Councillor Greg Anderson said the online survey was that a lower permanent resident population translates into lower government services. Those lower services then dis- a fantastic idea as it allows for input from those who have courage people from moving to that area, eventually result- tried to make a go of living in Invermere, but have ended ing is even lower services, creating a vicious cycle of decline. up moving on.

“It’s been a struggle here for a long time,” said Inver“It’s always been a problem — how do you conmere councillor Al Miller. “Everybody understands the sult with those who have already left and find out what importance of having more people to help create a strong would’ve kept them here? Now we can hear from them,” balanced economy, and we’re happy to hear that this strat- he said.

The consultation is being carried out by Calgaryegy is being well-received.”

Invermere chief administrative officer Chris Prosser based companies MDB Insight and Splash, and the resultsaid interest in the local focus group session has been strong ing report should be done by April.

The valley focus group session at the Chamber of and that interest in the corresponding focus group session to be held the following day in Calgary (on Wednesday, Commerce will run from 6 to 8 p.m., and those wantJanuary 27th) has been even stronger. ing to attend should confirm with Mr. Prosser by calling “It’s actually been overwhelming,” said Mr. Prosser, him at 250-342-9281 ext. 1225 or through the Facebook adding 7,500 invitations to the Calgary event were sent out, event page, “Columbia Valley Permanent Resident Retenand that the district’s online survey on the strategy has so tion and Attraction Night.” far garnered 500 responses.

People are welcome to go online and take the survey at any time. The online survey can be found and taken at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ Upper_Columbia_Valley.

“As far as consultation Excellent investment opportunity goes, we’ve never gotten this much positive attention be-

BCDPS is preparing to give a PZP immunocontraception presentation to council after the relocation trial.

Local Rod and Gun Club president Rick Hoar said the club has been in discussion several times with VAST on the relocation project and are supportive of it. Cranbrook-based VAST Resource Solutions Inc. is carrying out the trial study.

“With the current state of low numbers of wild mule deer, any input of animals into the population is welcome. We believe it is better to relocate the problematic deer back into the wild rather than culling them. The club assisted in finding possible good sites for relocation,” said Mr. Hoar, adding the club will be assisting VAST with the capture and relocation program for Invermere with members helping out with both capture and transporting of deer to their new home.

“The club has set aside some monies to assist with this,” he said.

When contacted by The Pioneer, District of Invermere representatives did not know how many deer have been culled so far this winter.

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30 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Cross-country cruisers Panorama Mountain Resort’s Nordic Centre hosted the 2nd Annual Dragon Tail Loppet on Saturday, January 9th, which saw 49 skiers participate. Kim Turgeon with the Greenways Trail Alliance was on hand to help the Panorama events team with timing, and prizes were provided by sponsors Rockstar Energy Canada, Helly Hansen and Rossignol.

Kate Joy came in first for females under the age of six at this year’s Dragon Tail Loppet. For females between the ages of seven and 12, Masha Stich won first prize at the loppet, while Kim Kitching ranked first for females between the ages of 35 and 49. Five-year-old Luca Whittick placed first for males under the age of six. Douglas Caldwell won first for males between the ages of seven and 12. Robert Caldwell ranked first for males between the ages of 13 and 18. Darren Tamelin placed first for males between the ages of 35 and 49 and Scott Bratt, 50, came in first for males over the age of 50.

On the full 11.5-kilometre course (the younger age groups races shorter courses), the overall winner was Darren Tamelin with a time of 51:01, followed very closely by Kim Kitching at 53:09. The Dragon Tail Loppet 2016 results are posted in full for the public at www.panoramaresort.com/nordic (scroll to the bottom).

Clockwise from top right: A group photo of all the loppet racers (David Webster photo); Luca Whittick enjoys his moment in the spotlight, having won the Male 0-6 category (David Webster photo); Pat Gillespie starts the timer as Darren Tamelin, Michael Leahy and Bill Rainbow ski past him (Clarissa Amaro photo); a cheering Paul Denchuk (David Webster photo); Brodie Gillies (#65) does a final push for the finish line with Isobel Zehnder (#902) behind him ((David Webster photo); Jack Joy, Sarah Johnson, Juliette Chochrane, Nicholas Buttle and Kate Joy looking race-ready (Clarissa Amaro photo).

January 15, 2016

January 15, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 31

FAITH

Blessed and highly favoured

By Pastor Wayne Frater Radium Christian Fellowship Church I was talking to a pastor friend over the holidays, and I asked him how he was doing. His answer was “blessed and highly favoured.” I liked that, and that was how I started to respond to my friends when they asked me how I was doing.

Quite often, we will say “Happy New Year,” however, the new year may not always be as “happy” as we would wish, and from what I hear on the news, 2016 is not shaping up to be a “happy new year” for a lot of people. However, we as Christians are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing.

God’s Word tells over and over of the promises He has for us. We are told in Ephesians 1:3, for example, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing

in the heavenly places in Christ.”

We are going to have problems, there will be storms and there will be trials. We all experience them, but Jesus tells us in John 16:33: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

No matter what happens this year, Jesus promises to look after us.

One of my favourite scriptures is found in the first 14 verses of Deuteronomy 28. The first two verses tell us: “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the Earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” It goes on to list the blessings God has for His people. I don’t know about you, but no matter what happens, I am going to draw closer to God. I am going to tune into His voice, I am going to diligently obey Him and, when I do, I know He promises to bless me and look after me. I pray that you will be blessed and highly favoured in the New Year.

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH Sunday, January 17th, 10:30 a.m.

Worship And Life Instruction “Follow Me - The Faith Of A Disciple”

Pastor Trevor Hagan ministering.

KIDS Church for children Age 3 to Grade 1; and Grades 2-7, during the Morning Service.

Lead Pastor Trevor Hagan • Associate Pastor Matt Moore 326 - 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 • www.lakewindermerealliance.org Windermere Valley Shared Ministry ANGLICAN-UNITED Worship every Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

Children & Youth Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. Christ Church Trinity, Invermere 1st and 3rd Sunday, March - Dec. 9 a.m.: All Saint’s, Edgewater 2nd Sunday, 7 p.m.: June - October at St. Peter’s Windermere Reverend Laura Hermakin 110 - 7th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-6644 • www.wvsm.ca Valley Christian Assembly Sunday 10 a.m.: Worship Services.

Pastor Murray Wittke 4814 Highway Drive, 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.

Father Gabriel • 712 -12th Ave., Invermere • 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. David Morton • 250-417-5017 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 Adam Pasowisty • Columbia Valley Branch 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs • 250-341-5792

Help Tim Goldie kick cancer!

Husband, father of two young girls and owner of Peppi’s Pizzeria Tim Goldie was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma (brain cancer), and his friends, family and community are banding together to help him beat this condition and get cancer-free. Here are the ways to help: (1) Go to www.crowdrise.com/helptimmykickcancers to assist Tim and his family with travel and treatment costs. Almost $10,000 was raised in the first 20 hours. (2) Attend the “Support Timmy” event planned for Saturday, January 30th at Panorama’s Great Hall (time is TBA). (3) If you are interested in donating an auction item, please email your name, auction item, auction value and your contact phone number to jedcochrane@gmail.com. (4) On Monday, January 18th at 7 p.m. there will be a volunteers’ meeting at the Invermere Fire Hall for all those wanting to assist in organizing the event, either leading up to it or the night of. There will be more information about the “Support Timmy” event in next week’s Pioneer.

Photo by Vanessa Jeakins

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

32 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

January 15, 2016

YOUR MONEY

How low oil helps emerging economies While oil export nations are suffering under the weight of low prices, oil import nations are thriving.

Over the past two years, oil has fallen from a high of about $107 to as low as $35 per barrel, with U.S. crude futures hitting an intraday low of $30.93 on January 11th, 2016. Despite this fact, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), led by Saudi Arabia, show no signs of wavering from its year-old policy of higher production, even though some of its poorer members are suffering.

Needless to say, these events have caused a huge economic shift, in which oil import economies — especially those in emerging markets — are now benefitting. Here are some reasons why.

Terms of Trade According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a global think tank, some 40 countries subsidize fossil fuel consumption.

In 2013, the most recent year available, the IEA estimates that fossil fuel consumption subsidies worldwide amounted to $548 billion. These subsidies come in the form of artificially lowering energy prices that their citizens pay for.

The effects of this are especially apparent in oil importing emerging market economies. Lower oil prices mean that oil import bills are reduced, thus improving these country’s capital accounts.

Inflation In an environment where many of the world’s developed economies are desperately trying to create inflation or lift themselves out of deflation, many developing and emerging market economies are trying to temper inflation, and lower oil prices are helping them do that. Energy and oil costs form a large part of the household budgets of those in emerging economies as compared to those in developed ones. As wage inflation often lags behind price appreciation, people are forced to get by on less until wages catch up. Certainly, those who remember rampant inflation during the 1970s can sympathize. With tempered inflation freeing up more capital for other things, economic growth and consumer sentiment should improve in countries sensitive to fuel price inflation.

Manufacturing Thanks to globalization, much of the world’s manufacturing has been moved to emerging market countries.

Lower oil and energy prices help the manufacturing sector by lowering input costs, thus creating higher profits that could lead to expansion, wage inflation and other positive outcomes. This is particularly evident in Asia, where countries such as Taiwan, Korea, Thailand and, yes, China, are energy importers as well as large manufacturing hubs.

Grain commodities The prices of some soft commodities such as grain

are highly correlated with oil. Why? Because certain grains, such as soybeans and corn, are substitutable for alternative energy.

This means that when oil prices fall, the prices of these and other grain products tend to follow suit.Many emerging economies subsidize certain food staples. For example, Egypt subsidizes bread through lower grain prices. Lower energy and grain prices mean lower inflation and a lower cost of living.

Final thoughts Though it can be hard to reconcile from this part of the world, oil-importing countries account for about 80 per cent of emerging market capitalization. The recent rout in prices stand to benefit certain Asian nations the most, followed by some Latin American countries. The combination of European Central Bank (ECB) stimulus and low oil could also be a boon for certain Eurozone economies. On the other hand, countries that depend on oil exports such as Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia and Russia are dealing with major revenue shortfalls. Some oil exporting countries have been forced to revalue their currencies, sell off assets, and even issue debt to repair their finances.

A wise person once said: “The cure for low prices is low prices.” Low prices tend to increase consumption and slow production. Though we haven’t yet turned that corner, the time will come.

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

Senior Investment Advisor Insurance Agent

Sara Worley CIM®

Investment Advisor Insurance Agent

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as of January 11th

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Free consultations! • Ph: 250-342-2112 • Fax: 250-342-2113 • 530 13th Street , Invermere • www.invermereadvisors.com