Vol13issue42

October 14, 2016 Vol. 13/Issue 42

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

The Columbia

Valley

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1 October 14, 2016

P ioneer

FREE

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

OFFICER SHOT Ryan Bavin of Bavin Glassworks demonstrates part of his technique for glassblowing in front of spectators during one of three demonstrations on Saturday, October 8th as part of the glass studio’s 28th Annual Thanksgiving Show of Appreciation.

Photo by Eric Elliott

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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

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It took some time, but the Zamboni has made its way to its new ‘temporary’ home in Edgewater! The Edgewater Recreation Society and community would like to thank Canal Flats council and community for their most generous donation, and Ivan Mackey from Kool Country Towing for generously donating the tow of the Zamboni from Canal Flats to Edgewater. Pictured with the Zamboni are (left to right) Mathieu Fournier, Canal Flats Arena manager; Tammy Tutte, Edgewater Recreation Society director; Paul Marcil, Canal Flats councillor; and Dan Tutte, Edgewater Rink volunteer co-ordinator.

Missing is RDEK Area G director Gerry Wilkie. Inset (left to right): Dan Tutte, Edgewater Rink; Doug Cartwright and Jared Gauthier, Canal Flats Arena employees. Missing are the camera-shy driver and Mr. Mackey.

Photos submitted

Fireman’s Ball

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Tickets: $40 ~ Available at Konig Meats, Invermere Fire Hall or any Invermere Fire Rescue member.

October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

VALLEY NEWS

Trans-Canada closed after RCMP officer shot Mr. Passmore said people huddled together in the ditch for nearly two hours before the RCMP deemed it was safe to return to their cars and escape the cold fall A female RCMP officer was shot while conducting a police stop near Golden in air. He said it was an incredibly stressful time for all those involved. the afternoon of Tuesday, October 11th.

“It was frustrating because it was The shooting occurred during a traffic damn cold and a lot of families, young stop near the weigh scales in Golden in babies and mothers, didn’t have quite connection with a possible vehicle theft.

The suspect in the stopped vehicle, later enough warm blankets,” he said. “People were trying to share blankets and keep identified as Sheldon Kyle Thunderblanket, failed to comply with police direceveryone warm, but it was very frustrating. There were a lot of people who were tion, shot the female officer, who reportedly experienced non-life threatening nervous and scared and didn’t notice what injuries, before Mr. Thunderblanket fled was going on.”

Police found the suspect’s vehicle westbound in another stolen vehicle. The about three kilometers east of Revelstoke officer was taken to hospital to be treated and launched a major search with helicopfor her injuries. ters, dogs and tactical teams, closing off A warrant for Mr. Thunderblanket’s the Trans-Canada Highway for more than arrest was already out in connection with a murder in Little Pine Fire Nation, Sas- MAN HUNT — RCMP officers dressed in camouflage gather outside the Revelstoke detach- four hours while continuing to conduct vehicle searches. katchewan that took place on Monday ment before deploying Wednesday morning.

At the time of The Pioneer’s Wednesnight.

Photo by Mike Thomas courtesy of Revelstoke Times Review day press deadline, it was confirmed by Fearing that Mr. Thunderblanket was turning his car around to come through the area again, police instructed everyone who RCMP that Mr. Thunderblanket had been found dead near Revelstoke on Wednesday was stopped in their vehicles to take cover in the ditch for their safety, said Jeremy morning following an overnight manhunt. Check www.columbiavalleypioneer.com Passmore of Radium Hot Springs, who said he was about 30 cars back at the time of for updates during the coming week. the shooting.

With files from Alex Cooper/Revelstoke Times Review

By Eric Elliott Pioneer Staff

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• On Tuesday, October 4th, a resident living near Beach Drive in Invermere phoned the RCMP to report a black bear in a tree. RCMP attended the location with a Conservation Officer and located the black bear approximately 75 feet high in a tree. The bear was sleeping and after speaking with conservation, it was decided to leave the bear alone. The animal was so elevated that if shot with a tranquilizer, the fall would either severely injure or kill the bear. If shot with a rifle, there was a chance the bear may not fall and become stuck in the tree with a bullet wound. Conservation believed the bear would not come down until dusk at which time it would go back into the woods. RCMP warned nearby residents and consistently made patrols; the bear eventually came down and disappeared without any further incidents.

• On Wednesday, October 5th, a local resident attended the detachment and dropped off a container of smokeless gunpowder that was utilized for re-loading rounds of ammunition. The resident believed it was once her father’s and didn’t know the proper way to dispose of it. RCMP took the powder and will ensure its safe destruction. This is a reminder that there is currently a gun amnesty program going on right now and if you have firearms in your house and don’t wish them there, we will come and pick them up — no worries about registration or possession regulations.

• During the morning hours of Thursday, October 6th, a Fairmont resident called the RCMP to report two suspicious unknown males near a house in town.

The neighbour was able to get a description of an associated vehicle and noted that it was stopped at a gas station in Fairmont. RCMP hustled to Fairmont where they were able to catch up to one of the two males; the other was nowhere to be found. The homeowner soon

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arrived and confirmed that the house where the males were seen had been broken into. The RCMP used the services of the RCMP dog handler from Cranbrook and soon found the second male. One of the males was on parole and remains incarcerated while the other was released pending further investigation.

• In the evening of Friday, October 7th, RCMP were notified of a single vehicle incident in the Kootenay National Park, just east of the hot springs. The vehicle was eastbound on Highway 93 and was passing a slower vehicle in his large pickup truck when he lost control and crashed his truck into the right side of the road. There were no injuries. There may have been some ice on the road, which contributed to the incident.

• On Sunday, October 9th, RCMP received a complaint of an aggressive dog in Invermere. The complainant reported that a dog had bit him while the owner was walking the dog off-leash. The owner and victim did not see eye to eye on the matter and the police were called. Police arrived and spoke with the dog owner and discovered the dog was only seven months old and his play could be interpreted as aggression. In speaking with police, the owner realized the dog should not have been off-leash and advised that she would maintain better control of him in the future. Police insist you leash your dog while outside to prevent events like this.

• During the afternoon of Monday, October 10th, RCMP received a report of a two-vehicle non-injury accident between a pickup and a car. It occurred at the intersection of Panorama Drive and Industrial Road in Invermere. Police attended and determined that the truck had been northbound on Industrial Road and failed to properly yield after stopping at the stop sign and had struck the passenger side of the car, which had been driven eastbound on Panorama Drive. The impact of the accident sent the car into the ditch on the south side of Panorama Drive. The driver of the truck was served a violation ticket for Failure to Yield After Stop from the Motor Vehicle Act.

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October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

Old hall births new ideas site could play a role in doing some of those things.”

One thing Mr. Taft said he was sure on was that council was moving forward on the decision to demolish After months of planning while waiting for the the old hall once the new multi-use centre is completed Main Street Boost program to be revealed by the Na- in 2017. He said the main reason for building the new tional Trust of Canada, the District of Invermere is look- centre was the expensive cost associated with renovating ing ahead to the downtown of the future. and retrofitting the old facility to make it efficient and In June this year, the National Trust of Canada made usable as a public space. It’s important the public undertheir way to Invermere to work with the community in stands that this facility will be torn down in the coming establishing a program that aims to enhance the down- year, he said. town core of the community, entitling the project “Main “We have to make sure that we’re pretty clear from Street Boost.” the beginning that once the new facility is open, the old Their approach at the one is closed and no one is time was to drive up intergoing to get use from it,” he “We have to make sure that we’re pretty clear est in contributing ideas for said. “Even though I know from the beginning that once the new facility is what the downtown needs. some user groups are not After consulting the public, open, the old one is closed and no one is going to going to like that answer, I get use from it.” the group was to complete think we have to be pretty a proposal that they would firm on that because othGerry Taft then give the District of Inerwise we’re going to end Mayor of Invermere vermere for future action. up spending millions of Although the National dollars having two facilities Trust of Canada has not yet submitted that proposal, and it just isn’t sustainable.” mayor Gerry Taft said he expects it will arrive soon with Currently, the District of Invermere is getting an esaction to follow shortly afterward. timate on what it will cost to demolish the old facility, “At that point, council will meet and digest it and which is expected to come once the other facility is built sort of see what actions are designed for council and sometime next year. Following that, Mr. Taft said he exwhat’s more for the broader community,” he said. pects council to hold meetings with the public as to what Part of the discussion for future action, he said, will they should do with the land for Invermere’s future. involve finding a suitable solution for the future use of “Likely there are going to be options as far as short to the site of the old community hall located at the corner medium-term to also long-term,” he said. “For example, of 12th Street and 8th Avenue. short-term might be as simple as overflow parking and “I don’t think the Main Street Boost will talk much that sort of thing and long-term could be much more about the community hall site specifically but it will talk complex as far as redevelopment into mixed commercial about downtown in more general and sort of potential op- residential or whatever.” portunities in seeing the theatre re-established downtown He said council is very open to what the public wants or what can be done as far as vibrancy and traffic in the to see there in the future and hopes to begin consultation evening,” Mr. Taft said. “Arguably the old community hall with the public in January.

By Eric Elliott Pioneer Staff

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6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Voting is now open!

Historical Lens

By Nicole Trigg Pioneer Staff You have 18 votes. Can you think of any other time you’ve been handed 18 votes all at once? You have to live at least 85 years to vote 18 times at the federal level. Who wants to wait that long? Instead, vote 18 times — right now — in the Aviva Community Fund.

In last week’s All About Our Centre column, it was announced that the valley’s new multi-use centre is in a national competition called the Aviva Community Fund. Through this competition, the Aviva Corporation wants to distribute $1,000,000 to communities across Canada and the Columbia Valley Centre is in the running to grab some of that cash to put toward a state-ofthe-art projector and screen.

The Projector and Screen Project must receive at least 15,000 website votes to move through the Voting Round and onto the next funding step.

1. Go to www.avivacommunityfund.org and click “Register Now” then first-time users must click “Register Now” again at the bottom of the screen (or “Register with Facebook”) and enter your details.

2. Enter “Columbia Valley Centre” under “Browse or Search Projects” and click on “Project and Screen for Columbia Valley Centre”.

3. Cast all your votes — let’s win this!

Armoured parade In this image from 1945, people watch as armoured vehicles pass by for the Victory Loan Drive in Invermere. If you have any more information, email us at info@columbiavalleypioneer.com.

Photo (A498) courtesy of the Windermere District Historical Society

Corrections

• Columbia River-Revelstoke B.C. Liberal Party candidate Doug Clovechok is not from Invermere, as reported in the page 3 story of the Friday, October 7th issue of The Pioneer. Mr. Clovechok lives in Dutch Creek near Fairmont Hot Springs.

• In the story “Final Fun Day for horse lovers” on page 14 of the September 23rd Pioneer, it was incorrectly stated that non-members can board their horses in the Windermere Valley Saddle Club’s paddocks overnight when in fact only members who are using the grounds can board their horses for a minimum charge as the nonprofit club is membership-only. Also, the correct membership prices are as follows: $35 for families, $25 for adults over 18, $15 for under 18 and $10 for non-riders.

Mismanaged forests to blame?

Dear Editor: Canada’s UNFCCC filings do not make any sense… the US EPA GHG Inventory filings include a 730 million tons CO2 equivalent for their forest lands. The UNFAO claims a global offset of 9,200 million tons of CO2 equivalent.

The U.S. to Canada ratio for forest area is 60 per cent. We should have an offset of 1,200 if we are managing our forests at the same level as the U.S. Environment Canada’s GHG Inventory filing reports our forest area as producing 72 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year! So, we either have one of the poorest managed forest areas in the world or Environment Canada is filing incorrect data. I find it

hard to believe that we could be managing our forest area that badly. If we are that bad, the average Canadian family of four will be ultimately paying $18,000 (after taxes) in carbon taxes yearly due to forest area mismanagement.

The 1,279-unit swing here more than offsets our GHG gross emissions of 732 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year. Let us hope that it is a calculation error. That would put carbon taxation on Canadians in a totally ridiculous category. If it is not an error, forest area mismanagement, not fossil fuels, is totally responsible for carbon tax on Canadians.

Jim MacKinnon Windermere

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

Steve Hubrecht Reporter

Eric Elliott Reporter

Amanda Nason Advertising Sales

Emily Rawbon Graphic Design/ Associate Publisher

Amanda Murray

Office Administrator/ Classified Sales

October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

LETTERS

Running for the right reasons Dear Editor: I’m Doug Clovechok and I’m married to Susan. We have lived in Dutch Creek south of Fairmont for almost 10 years. I have three children, and Susan and I have four grandkids. We were also small business owners here in the valley.

Today, I am the manager of the Invermere and Kimberley campuses for College of the Rockies. My background is in education and I am passionate about making sure our children and adult learners have what they need to succeed. I also worked years in tourism and understand our tourism industry.

On May 9th, 2017 you’ll choose a new MLA. Mr. Macdonald, after three terms in opposition, is retiring. We all appreciate his service. Mr. Macdonald, a good person at heart, could only stand outside the fence and criticize government. I’ve spent the past four years helping people with governmentrelated issues that an Opposition MLA simply cannot impact.

I worked with the local Area E RDEK director to get a regional community park at Cherry Creek Falls outside Kimberley.

I organized a meeting in Victoria with the mayor of Revelstoke and three government Ministers around the Trans-Canada Highway issue. I worked with the local Area F Director on community access issues at

the north end of Columbia Lake and organized community meetings with the Forest, Lands and Natural Resources Operations minister to improve wildlife populations. I have also been working with the Westside Legacy Trail folks on land use issues.

Most all of my constituents love the outdoors, second only to their families, and I share that interest and passion.

I know I’m not entitled to your vote for any reason other than you believe in your heart that the candidate is best qualified and will work hard for you. Your MLA must achieve measurable results for our communities, always putting you first before everything else. Above all, your MLA must represent you in Victoria, not just represent Victoria in the riding!

I tried in 2013 to become your MLA. This time around, I hope I’ve shown that my reasons for wanting to be your MLA are the right reasons. I want to serve and help the people in our communities. I am not a professional politician, just an ordinary person who wants to put a lifetime of diverse experience to work for you.

Doug Clovechok Dutch Creek Editor’s note: Doug Clovechok is the BC Liberal Party candidate in the May 9th, 2017 B.C. election.

World banks must be exposed Dear Editor: Bill C-51, “The Anti-Terrorism Act”, is the Harper/Trudeau plan to fight terror by turning all Canadians into terror suspects. If they were real serious about fighting terror, why not just get the banks to tell us who the terrorists are? The global cartel of banks knows everything about everyone already. Every time you use your card, the bank knows. The second your payment is late, the bank knows. Certainly they notice where the millions come from that fuel the world’s conflicts. Those who fund terrorism are the true terrorists.

We need someone to call for a full

independent forensic audit of all the world banks. And Justin Trudeau is the man to lead that charge. Since Hillary and Trump are busy.

Of course, calling for an audit of the global banking system could mean political suicide — if not worse! — but it’s a risk we must take. This audit will not be easy. Banks are highly protected with extremely powerful privacy laws.

Ha ha and you’re not! Thanks to Bill C-51. Aren’t you proud to live in a country where a brick building with a vault has more human rights than 36 million Canadians?

Bryan Stawychny Edgewater

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8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

E Celebrating Small Business Month E Business Excellence Awards return in new location

By Steve Hubrecht Pioneer Staff The Columbia Valley will once again celebrate the best and brightest of its business world at the upcoming Business Excellence Awards, jointly run by the Columbia Valley and Radium Hot Springs Chambers of Commerce.

This year will be the 18th edition of the annual awards, and the event will be held at Panorama Mountain Resort for the first time.

“It should be a good night with a lot of laughs, as usual,” said Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director Susan Clovechok, adding that this year the awards will feature stand-up comedian Lori Ferguson-Ford.

Ms. Ferguson-Ford has been performing as a standup comic across the province for more than 20 years, having kickstarted her comic career by winning B.C.’s Best New Comic Award, and later adding B.C.’s Funniest Woman Award.

Mrs. Clovechok added that Ms. Ferguson-Ford comes on the recommendation of Brett Wilson.

“I’m excited to be holding the awards at Panorama Mountain Resort. We’ve never had it there before. It’s going to look and feel a little bit different this year,” said Mrs. Clovechok. “Buy your tickets early as we always sell out.”

The event’s ongoing popularity comes in part because it gives people a good chance to unwind and reconnect after a busy summer season, she added.

“It’s popular because it’s a fun way for people to gather together, connect and celebrate success. It’s always affordable, it’s always entertaining and it’s only good news.”

The Business Excellence Awards will be held Thursday, October 20th from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m in the resort’s Gala Hall. Tickets cost $70 plus GST, a price which includes the awards, a wine-tasting reception, a three-course family-style dinner, and wine along with dinner. They can be purchased by calling 250-342-2844. The resort will have a special deal on rooms for those wishing to stay the night, starting from $75 per room.

Market to Main Street: local small businesses thrive

By Steve Hubrecht Pioneer Staff The province is marking October as Small Business Month once again, and here in Invermere there is no shortage of small business success stories.

Invermere’s main street features plenty of bustling storefronts, not a few of which began existence as a table in the farmer’s market or as a small food cart — a clear sign of the valley’s thriving entrepreneurial creativity.

The owners of a couple of these businesses say growing slowly from their modest beginnings has been critical to their success.

“It’s all been baby steps and that’s worked really well for us,” said Safta’s co-owner KD Golan. “That is the best way to do it. You don’t want to take on too much too fast. It’s always a big learning curve.”

Safta’s initially began around the summer of 2008 as a table in the downtown Invermere farmer’s mar- STARTED SMALL — Safta’s Middle Eastern Restaurant and The Attic ket, serving Middle Eastern food. grew from a small food cart into one of the main eating establishments in Photo by Steve Hubrecht KD and her husband Roi (who is downtown Invermere. originally from Israel) met with us,” said KD. The following summer Safta’s expanded thundering success that first summer, which prompted again, opening a summer location in downtown Inverthem to convert their business into a mobile food cart. mere in between Avenue and Summit Footwear and The couple would bring the cart to the market or park Apparel. The next winter, Safta’s moved into its curit on the street or outside pubs in the evening. After rent location and became a full-service restaurant and about three summers of running the food cart, the pub on main street, where it has continued to grow Golans moved into a storefront location in Radium and expand.

Hot Springs (currently occupied by Leo Burrito).

KD said the couple had no idea their business “It wasn’t a full restaurant. It was more of a Sub- would grow to the stage it has. way-style grab-and-go, but it was the next step for Continued on page 27 . . .

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20th

www.TheColumbiaValley.ca

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October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 9

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10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

E Celebrating Small Business Month E Students take aim at micro-change

By Eric Elliott Pioneer Staff With the leaves changing colour and children having returned to school, a community-minded classroom at J.A. Laird Elementary School is hoping to find a home for their second microcredit loan in four years.

Alyssan Gauthier’s Grade 4/5 students at J.A. Laird are beginning to accept applications for their $1,000 microcredit loan that they will award later this year. The program is in its fourth year after extending its first $1,000 loan to a woman in Tanzania who used the loan to put the finishing touches such as doors and windows on a newly built school.

Ms. Gauthier said the original inspiration for the microcredit loan program came from reading the book, One Hen, about a boy who uses a small loan to buy a hen. He then sells the eggs from the hen before becoming one of the most successful farmers in Northern Africa. This got them thinking about the situation here in the Columbia Valley, she said.

“We thought, what about in Invermere for people who couldn’t get a bank loan like youth or someone who doesn’t have a lot of capital behind them?” she said.

“What’s there for them? And we found out that there wasn’t (anything) so we thought, why don’t we start our own microcredit loan? The idea was that it would be a local loan for someone who could use money to go to school or maybe better their life in some way.”

In the program’s first loan phase, they had two applicants — Lydia from Tanzania and the Groundswell Network Society — who were looking to use the funds made available through the microcredit loan. After interviewing both candidates, the class held an open debate, analyzing each applicant’s goals for the money, and ultimately de-

cided on helping construct the school in Tanzania.

Mara Mesenchuk, a student in the class, said that being part of the program has been a valuable experience in learning all the ins and outs of running a business.

“If I’m wanting to run a business or get it started, and what we need to put aside and run special spreadsheets, I’ll know how,” she said. “Also we learned that it takes a lot of work to raise $1,000.”

Ms. Gauthier said this practical experience is part of why they established the program in the first place.

“That’s why we kind of got started,” she said. “Instead of learning about these other countries or learning about how other people start businesses, why don’t we do this in an experimental way where we’re actually connecting with our world and community?”

After establishing their own business in the Art by Kids program earlier this year, selling canvas paintings in a silent auction, they now have enough money to begin taking applications for a second microcredit loan that will hopefully be administered sometime within this school year, Ms. Gauthier said.

Currently, they have one application for the loan from a fumigation company in Venezuela, but are looking for more applicants before making a final decision. Given that they originally created the loan with the Columbia Valley in mind, Ms. Gauthier said she hopes more local applications are on their way in the near future.

“The goal originally was to create a micro-lending opportunity in Invermere because we know it exists in other countries, but there’s still poverty at home,” she said. “The idea was how could we create this opportunity here in the valley so we’d really like some more local applicants.”

For more information and to apply, email at Alyssan.

Gauthier@sd6.bc.ca or call her at the school at 250-3426232.

Chamber celebrates Small Business Month Submitted by CVCC The Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the vital role small businesses play in our local community for Small Business Month this October.

“Small businesses represent the furnace that powers our local economy in the Columbia Valley and they play a critical role in a resilient economy,” said Peter Smith, president of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce. “Small Business Month is a great opportunity for our community to celebrate these hardworking businesses that bring great ideas and entrepreneurial spirit to our Valley.”

As a member of the BC Chamber of Commerce, the CVCC is part of active advocacy to support small businesses, including: • A call on all government departments to strengthen programs that review existing legislation and regulations, and cut the red tape that often results in unnecessary costs to small business (and ultimately the consumer); • A call for the creation of a task force in partnership with business and government to develop and implement improved access to simplified practical information regarding proper business succession practices for SME business owners which was identified as a critical issue for our business community during the Business Walk last November; • A call for a dialogue towards a made-in-B.C. value-added tax (VAT), and in the shorter term, Continued on page 27 . . .

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October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer 11 Page•11

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE COLUMBIA VALLEY

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

Folk fix with Deep Cedar Canmore musician Deep Cedar (a.k.a. JL Appleby) is bringing his blend of bluegrass, folk and country music to Safta’s on October 16th . Turn to page 14 to learn more.

LOVE IT LIVE

PAGE 12

WETLANDS ART

Photo submitted

PAGE 15

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

Sue Wells Art Day Free Art Workshops for Kids 5+ Pynelogs – Sunday October 16th

Call Black Star Studios to register 250.342.6663 Visit columbiavalleyarts.com for our current events calendar, or call 250-342-4423

12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

Victoria folk band comes to Invermere for ‘Love It Live’ concert series “Our musical style kind of just goes with the instruments we play,” said Mr. Poynter. “We’ve got multiple singers and multiple songwriters in the band, so pretty much each tune has a different lead singer songThe Love It Live music series at Pynelogs will writer.” soon kick off, starting with a show from one of VicThe stop in Invermere comes as part of a six-week toria’s hottest folk music bands. tour across B.C. promoting West My Friend’s new alWest My Friends have been making waves for bum, and the band members are looking forward to seven years in the provincial capital and across B.C., checking out a corner of the province that is somewhat but the band’s Love It Live show will be its firstnew to them — although Mr. Poynter did visit the valever stop in Invermere. ley as a kid and still has some memories of it.

The band began playing its unique brand of “It was a really long time ago, but I do remember indie folk (which it labels Cascadian third-wave that it was nice,” he said. “I’m excited to go back and indie-prog chamber folk-roots music) in 2009 and see it as an adult, and I’ve heard really good things has since gone on to play more than 400 shows and about the (Love It Live) concert series.” release three albums (including Quiet Hum, which West My Friends has, in recent years, garnered came out earlier this year).

ISLAND INDIE —The Love it Live series kicks off at Pynelogs on “We play traditional instruments, but use them October 28th with Victoria band West My Friends, the first show of nominations at the Canadian Folk Music Award and to make new music,” band accordionist Jeff Poynter six in the series.

Photo submitted the Vancouver Island Music Awards.

The Love It Live West My Friend show in Invertold The Pioneer. “It’s music that appeals to all sensibilities. I think often the accordion has a bit of a bad reputation, but I’ve seen a lot mere will be on Wednesday, October 26th at Pynelogs. Tickets are $25 (or pay $60 for of people come to our shows and be pleasantly surprised when they hear us. After the three Love It Live concerts) and can be purchased online or by calling 250-342-4423.

For more on the concert series, see www.columbiavalleyarts.com/CVARTS/eventshow they say they didn’t know the accordion could sound like that.”

The band also includes guitarist Eden Oliver, mandolinist Alex Rempel and dou- type/love-it-live/. To learn more about the band, and hear some of their music, visit www.westmyfriend.com. ble bassist Nick Mintenko.

By Steve Hubrecht Pioneer Staff

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October 14, 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, October 14th • 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Baby Goose is back! Friday mornings in Oct. and Nov. at the Invermere Public Library for parents and babies 0-18 months old. Enjoy songs, rhymes, snacks, and socializing. Call 250-4094251 or e-mail kandruschuk@cbal.org for more info.

Presented by the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy.

• 5:30 p.m.: The Valley Harvest Culinary Event, with proceeds going to the Columbia Valley Centre and Westside Legacy Trail, is being held at Eagle Ranch Resort. Entertainment by pianist Malia Ashley Kerr, a five course meal at 6:30 p.m., followed by live auction.

• 6:30 p.m.: Pork Roast Dinner at Branch 71 Legion in Invermere. $17.50. Reservations Recommended.

Call 250-342-9517. Meat Draw and 50/50.

Saturday, October 15th • Link to Rink Weekend Spiel - Golf and Curling in one event. Call 250-342-3315 for details.

• 10:30 a.m.: Electric Fencing free workshop at BC Services building in Invermere. Call Andrea to reserve a space at 250-409-4712 or Invermere@wildsafebc.com.

• 11 a.m.: Preschool Story Time at the Invermere Public Library with stories, songs, and crafts. Every Saturday.

• 6 p.m.: Invermere Health Care Authority hosts the 6th annual Sensational Seconds Fashion Show at the Invermere Hall. Doors open at 6; show starts at 7 p.m. $20 Tickets include one cocktail and can be purchased at the Thrift Store, Avenue or Details by Joanne.

• 6:30 p.m.: Poutine Palooza Party at the Invermere Legion Hall. $15 entry fee to sample great poutines; cash bar and live music from Small Town Dirtbags.

Tickets available online through www.eventbrite.ca.

• 8 - 11 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre Movie & Popcorn Nights. Every Saturday. Come by for some spooky favourites in October.

Sunday, October 16th • 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Sue Wells Art Day at Black Star Studios. Two free workshops for children, at noon and at 2 p.m. at Pynelogs. Call 250-342-6663 to sign up.

• 7 p.m.: Deep Cedar (JL Appleby) performs bluegrass, folk and country music at Safta’s Restaurant. No cover.

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• 5 - 6 p.m.: Wine tasting in the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort lobby every Thursday. Enjoy four B.C. wines with the in-house Sommelier. Everyone welcome. $15 per person or $25 for two.

• 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.: Wild Ideas at Circle Cafe, hosted by Wildsight. October’s discussion topic is Building Better Homes, with Jan Pratschke from Collective Carpentry. www.wildsight.ca/wildideasinvermere.

• 5:30 p.m.: Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce 18th Annual Business Excellence Awards at Panorama Mountain Village. Call 250-342-2844 for tickets.

Best Western Prestige Inn Radium Hot Springs tel: 250-347-2340 • fax: 250-347-2342

• Scrappers’ Cove annual scrapbooking retreat runs all weekend. Visit scrapperscoveinvermere.net or call 250342-7238 for details.

• 2 - 10 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre Harry Potter Marathon. Also 6 - 11 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 22nd.

• 6:30 p.m.: Roast Beef Dinner at Branch 71 Legion in Invermere. $17.50. Reservations Recommended. Call 250-342-9517. Meat Draw and 50/50.

Saturday, October 22nd

Wednesday, October 19th • 8 a.m.: Radium Hot Springs Sunrise Rotary meets for breakfast every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from April thru October at The Springs golf course. Breakfast $10.

• 11:45 a.m.: The Rotary Club of Invermere meets every Wednesday at the Curling Centre.

• 5 - 8 p.m.: Main Street Fun & Games and the Invermere Public Library are hosting another games night! Drop-in at the library any time between 5 and 8 p.m. to learn new games and have some fun. For all ages. No library membership required.

• 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Gals & Gears Car-bucha workshop at Cleanline Automotive. Journey-woman Michelle Rievaj shares her pre-trip checklist, best practices for periodic maintenance checks and getting to know your car. Cost $15. Contact Stephanie Van de Kemp to register and for more info steph@cleanlineautomotive.com.

Thursday, October 20th • 10:30 a.m.: Preschool Story Time at the Invermere Library with stories, songs, and crafts. Every Thursday.

• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre Chef-It-Up. Every Thursday. Learn to make delicious food on a budget. Call 250-342-3033 for more info.

• 6 p.m.: 45th Annual Fireman’s Ball at Invermere Community Hall. Dinner at 7 p.m., Dance 9 p.m.

Balloon pop, door prizes and silent auction. Tickets $40 at Konig Meats, Invermere Fire Hall or from any Invermere Fire Rescue member.

Tuesday, October 25th • 6:30 p.m.: Panorama Foundation’s AGM at Monticola Restaurant at Panorama Mountain Resort.

• 6:30 p.m.: Cinefest at Pynelogs Independent Film Series presents Lo And Behold: Reveries of the Connected World at 7 p.m. Cash bar and light refreshments. Call 250-342-4423 for details.

Wednesday, October 26th • 7 - 9:30 p.m.: Pynelogs Love it Live Concert series presents the band West My Friend. Tickets $25 per show or $60 for 3 shows (6 shows in the entire series).

Visit columbiavalleyarts.com for details.

• 4:30 - 8 p.m.: ‘Book’-tacular Halloween at the Invermere Library. Halloween festivities including a haunted library tour, crafts, and treats for the family.

• 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.: Invermere Library is hosting Ghostly Tales. Gather around a glowing fire and listen to some of the chilling tales of this valley. For ages 14+.

1214 -7th Ave., Invermere, B.C. Box 2280, Invermere V0A 1K0

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

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DANIEL ZURGILGEN 250-342-1612

SCOTT WALLACE 250-342-5309

BERNIE RAVEN 250-342-7415

GLENN POMEROY 250-270-0666

GEOFF HILL 250-341-7600

CHRIS RAVEN 250-409-9323

BRYAN HOOKENSON 250-409-6266

DORAN CAIN 250-342-1629

14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

Wetlands ‘wow’ factor

Thank You!

Award-winning Salt Spring Island-based environmentalist author Briony Penn was in Invermere on September 29th to give a presentation on her latest book titled ‘The Real Thing: The Natural History of Ian McTaggart Cowan’. Members of Wildsight, which hosted her presentation, brought Ms. Penn to the Wilmer wetlands as part of her visit to the valley.

We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and kindness shown during the sudden passing of our Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother.

A special thank you to the residents and staff at Columbia Gardens for the “pampering”. Thank you to Local View and Wayne for the compassion and extra effort they have contributed.

Love, Isabel Murray’s Families

DISTRICT DISTRICT OF OF INVERMERE INVERMERE

914 – 8th Avenue, PO Box 339 Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Tel: 250-342-9281 • Fax: 250-342-2934

NOTICE

of Watermain Flushing The municipality will be flushing its community water system for the next 6 weeks. This program, carried out twice yearly, is necessary to maintain the quality of our water supply. There may be some short interruptions in the water service and temporary discoloration of water as a result of the sediment and organic materials that are being flushed from the water mains. During this period, disinfection by chlorination will be continued. To assist the Public Works Department during the flushing operation, users are advised that if they are experiencing persistent discoloration or odour problems with the water, to immediately notify the Municipal Office and explain the nature of the problem.

The District apologizes for any inconveniences caused by this operation. For further information, please telephone the municipal office at 250-342-9281.

For the latest financial tips, see Page 32 this week in…

N E W S PA P E R

Ph: 250-341-6299 • Fax: 1-888-377-0312 • info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Photo by Pat Morrow

Deep Cedar presents sincere sound

By James Rose Special to The Pioneer On Sunday, October 16th, Canmore musician Deep Cedar (JL Appleby) will be performing a blend of folk, bluegrass, and country music at Safta’s.

The solo performance will be the first for Mr. Appleby in the Invermere area and part of a tour spanning across B.C. and Alberta.

“This 2016 western Canadian Fall tour is approximately 30 to 35 performances over October and November and I am really looking forward to playing Invermere for the first time,” he said. “Audiences can expect a show more laidback in nature with energy and intensity varying between songs.

“Especially with originals, they were written with a feeling in mind, and I try to emit that back to the audience.”

Inspired by a variety of musicians including Bob Dylan, Ray LaMontagne, and Gordon Lightfoot, Mr. Appleby’s compositions are rooted in his personal experience, emotion and environment.

“Sincere, honest and calming commonly describe

my music, and I find solace wandering, paddling, whispering and sharing my passion for folk music.”

Mr. Appleby has been an on-and-off again resident of Canmore for the past five years, and has been writing music for the past eight. Acquainting himself with the Canmore area and Rocky Mountain lifestyle in general has allowed for his inspirations to truly shine through.

But it was only in the last few years that he started to feel comfortable enough to perform in front of a crowd. And since then, it appears he hasn’t looked back. This past summer, with backing band, the National Parks Collection, Deep Cedar played the Canmore Folk Festival that also featured marquee artists such as The Milk Carton Kids.

This past spring, Mr. Appleby also released a Deep Cedar EP entitled Loons.

“It was recorded, mixed, mastered and released in the Bow Valley entirely,” he said. “It was a truly local project with partial funding from local resources.”

For the free show at Safta’s (starting at 7 p.m.), audiences can look forward to multiple sets featuring a mix of both original and cover material across many eras of music.

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October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

Edmonton gallery to feature wetlands paintings and the pools, the curves of the channels. All these things are always changing, the vegetation is always changing and every day is different.”

A Columbia Valley artist will help That constantly shifting nature Edmontonians become a little bit of the wetlands makes them difficult more familiar with the local landscape to paint — which Mr. Matthews here, when his show of works featursaid is another reason he continually ing the Columbia Wetlands kicks off paints them. at a major gallery in the Alberta capital “It’s a truly challenging subject next weekend. matter. I think that’s part of the reason Mike Matthews has lived in HarI keep painting it (the wetlands), is rogate (just north of Spillimacheen) that I’m never quite satisfied,” he said. for 35 years and has found painting Upper Columbia Valley residents inspiration in the section of the Comay recall Mr. Matthews and his wife lumbia Wetlands just outside his home Jane for a show they had at Pynelogs ever since he moved there.

WORKS OF ART — Artist Mike Matthews stands between two of his wetlands paintings: ‘Luxor some years ago, but Mr. Matthews “This show is entirely based on Lessor’ on the left and ‘Lowland Curve’ on the right. Both are four by eight feet. Photo submitted says, given his propensity for exceppaintings of the Columba Valley wetlands, and it’s a big show,” Mr. Matthews told The Pioneer, adding that it will feature tionally large canvases, most of his shows have ended up being in places with really large several truly large-sized canvases, including three four by eight foot (1.2 by 2.4 metres) galleries, such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. His paintings also hang in the Capieces as well as a few four foot by six foot (1.2 by 1.8 metres) pieces. nadian embassy in Washington and the Canadian embassy in Warsaw. The show in Ed“The wetlands have always interested me. I live with a view looking down to the monton will be at the Scott Gallery and will run from October 22nd to November 15th.

“Good paintings come from an artist’s deeper knowledge of both the act of painting wetlands and that view is in a lot of the paintings. It’s a subject that’s always fascinated me,” he said, adding he’s used the wetlands on and off as a subject since the early 1980s. and the subject of the painting,” said gallery director/owner Heather Hamel. “These works “So I finally decided to do a big show of them,” said Mr. Matthews. “Thematically, the by Michael Matthews that comprise the exhibition ‘Wetlands’ succeed on both counts.”

She added that gallery-goers who have noticed the paintings waiting to be hung have paintings form a cohesive group, but there are endless differences in interpretation in each piece. The wetlands truly are beautiful — the colours, the way the light reflects in the ponds already expressed interest in the wetlands scenes.

By Steve Hubrecht Pioneer Staff

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16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

International students find new home in the Columbia Valley

By Eric Elliott Pioneer Staff High school students from around the world are getting ready to settle in at David Thompson Secondary School in Invermere as part of the Rocky Mountain International Student Program (RMISP).

Nineteen students from countries including Japan, Germany, Spain, Holland and Austria will be attending DTSS this year thanks to the program’s expansion to Invermere. Lori Sluth, the homestay co-ordinator in Invermere for the RMISP said the program has been fostering cultural diversity in the East Kootenay since its inception in Kimberley before expanding to Golden, Revelstoke, Invermere, Fernie and Cranbrook.

“It’s just so cool to see different cultures within our community because we’re so culturally deprived,” she said. “It’s really cool because I get to see how they interact with our community, but I also get to see how our community interacts with them.”

d I’m 16 from Germany an Hey! I’m Selina rmere for 10 ve In in ing to stay years old. I’m go y favourite be in Grade 11. M e the offer months, and will ere because I lik rm ve In e os ch I the lake, like subject is history. ld like to live at ou w I d ! an S TS to the ski season of subjects at D looking forward y all s re ar ye am o I tw y. in German r this year, do are: Go home afte ter this maybe come My future plans d af an urism School in Austria at a To y. sit er iv and go to un back to Canada

Hi everyone! I am Jana from I am going to Germany and spend the next Invermere. I’ll 10 months in be in the 10th grade of David Secondary Sch ool Th drama class. I and I am really looking for ompson ward to the decided on In vermere becaus special mix of e I like the mou ference from G ntains and the lakes but al so the big difermany. My ho bbies are play doing sports so ing the flute an I’ll try to join d clubs like skiin you in Inverm g. I hope to see ere!

My name is Noe Hello Invermere! from Switzerland and e Burgener. I com Canada. My favourite in s month so will stay for five orts especially skiing. That is al . sp ay g st in y do m e for hobby is chosen Invermer e the reason I have forward to learn more about thok ry lo I am looking ve d going to an NHL game. I’m pe Canadian life an to the next five months and I ho d ar w for ing very ful time.

I’ll have a beauti

The program operates through representatives from the RMISP travelling to foreign countries to promote the values of the Columbia Valley and the Rocky Mountain School District to prospective students looking to gain a new experience, said Ms. Sluth.

“The kids that come here are generally from huge cities and they want to try out a nice quiet village like ours and they want to ski,” she said.

“The idea is that they come and they get to immerse themselves in a different culture, hone their English skills and, while they’re here, we get to do really cool stuff with them. Yes, we have to make sure they’re going to school and stuff, but we get to go skiing, dog sledding and do all kinds of interesting things.”

The duration of each student’s stay can vary depending on how long they wish to stay and the school and country they originate from. The program gives students the opportunity to take part in a variety of new activities that they wouldn’t be able to in their home countries.

Hola! My nam e is Clara. I’m fr Spain. I’m do ing Grade 11 an om Barcelona, subject is biolog d my favourit y. I chose Cana e da because I w my English an d liv ant to improve I’m looking for e a different experience fa r from home. war and discover th d to hiking in the Rocky M ountains, ski e wild nature.

M medicine in th e university an y future plans are to study dw makes me happ y! I’m very ex ork as something that cited for livin experience. g my Canadian

y.

I’m from German H, I’m Kim and15 years old and Right now, I’mMy favourite subjects .

I’m in Grade 10chose Invermere because I h. is gl En are arts and ountains and the great subjectsthe of the Rocky M ost excited for skiing and all ow at DTSS. I’m m pe that there will be enough sn e nature and I hober. I hope I’ll have a great tim to ski in Novem ch I’ll never forget. in Canada, whi

Japan and I’m in Nanako. I’m from ysical urite subject is ph vo fa y M k. in th I Grade 11, ake lots of ’s really easy to m it e us ca be n io at fluently, educ to speak English t an w y all re I friends. ke with my e here. I like to hi m ca I hy w ’s at th atch a movie. host mother or w

Hello Canada!

My name is E I’m from Germ mily and any. I chose I nvermere beca located very n use it’s ice between tw o mountains a lake. I will go t a big to DTSS in G rade 12. I hop play volleyball e to and go skiing and also like prove my Engl to im ish. Canada is a big experien me and I look ce for forward to ha ve an awesom e time.

Heya, I’m Guill ermo from Sp ain. I’m going to Grade 9 du ring this year.

The subject that I enjoy m ost is art. I ch ose Invermere because I love snow and I lo ve skiing. I’m looking forwa rd to winter h olidays. My plans are simp le, I want to h ave fun.

. I’m from My name is Sora in Grade 11. My Japan. I will be th. I chose Invera m is t ec bj su te favouri ard to snowboard w for g in ok lo ’m mere. I more friendly. be to t n a w I t. the mos

October 14, 2016 Ms. Sluth said the RMISP is always looking for more host families to house the international students for the duration of their stay. Volunteer host families are still needed for anywhere from one-month to 10-month durations and receive a monthly allowance of $700 per student to support their participation in the program.

There is a cadre of benefits to becoming a host family, which include learning about other cultures while developing lasting relationships that can extend beyond geographical boundaries. It can also cause host families to rediscover the activities right in their

(Madrid).

I am from Spain l. ae af R is e m na subject My les. My favourite Ja at e ad gr 7th use I am in e Invermere beca os ch I n. io at uc oking is physical ed English. I am lo n ar le d an i sk to like to I want English. I would of t lo a n ar le forward to be an architect.

Hi Invermere!

I’m Cyrill and I’m from Switzlerland.

I’m going to st months. I chos ay he re for 10 e Invermere be cause I like sk because I like ii ng and lakes. Music an d sports are m activities. I’d y favourite like to learn th e Canadian cu skiing as muc lture h as possible in the winter. I’m and go forward to sp looking ending a very lovely and exci Invermere. ting time in

am an in is Moritz and I Hello! My name I will be in t from Germany. ternational studen ica phys l educavourite subject is ains and Grade 10. My fa e I like the mount e snow us ca be e er rm ve th tion. I chose In king forward to re. I am most loo be to be ay m y ud st to the landscape he t ture I wan fu e th In ting the g. ee iin m sk ward to and the . I am looking for fun with you. er ag an m or r he a teac a lot of vermere and have community of In

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17 own backyard, Ms. Sluth said.

“They (host families) might decide that they have a student living with them and they want to re-explore our area and realize they haven’t been to Nelson in a long time so maybe they can rediscover where they live too,” she said. “It even holds true for myself …

I was constantly trying to think of cool things to do that don’t cost a fortune like attending the Aboriginal festivities that kids have no idea about.”

Those looking to learn more about the program and become a host family are invited to call 250-6880790.

My name is Ju an Pablo. I am from Mexico. I will be in Grade 8 and my favourite subject is math ematics. I cam e to learn English and d o sports that w e don’t have in Mexico. My future plans a re to have a factory like m y father does.

from Germany. I am I d an s liu Ju physical Hi, my name is vourite subject is fa y M .

10 de ra small am in G e because it is a er rm ve In e os ch education. I to getting looking forward am I n. w to ce lture and ni a lot about the cu ng ni ar le h, is gl better in En future plans er in skiing. My tt be g in tt ge d an e. there time in Invermer ce ni a d an n fu are having

My name is P aul. I am from Germany and be in Grade 11 I will . My favourite subjects are po and sports. I li tics chose Invermer e because I re ally like skiin g so I’m lookin g forward to th season. Of cou e ski rse I would a lso like to try other outdoor a lot of activities. I h ope we will ha of fun together ve a lot . Meet you soon !

Hello my nam e is Peer. I am from Germany and I am in Grad favourite subj e 10 . My ect is physics.

I chose Inverm because I live ere in a big town and I just wa to try small to n ted wn and countr y life. I am lo forward to sk oking iing the most.

My hobbies are diving and mou skiing, ntain biking.

arco. I am from Hi, my name is M Grade 8 and my Mexico. I am in vermere story. I chose In hi is t ec bj su e all it favour to learn because od go is at th k in because I th y best expe I’m looking for m e. os cl is d nee I I just that s… I don’t know. an pl re tu fu y m rience and ent. Thank you. think in the pres

Hi, my name is Niklas and I come from Heidelberg, Ger m an y. I am in Gra and my favour de 10 ite subject is ph ysical educatio chose Invermer n. I e because Inve rmere looked li small town in ke a nice, the Rocky Mou ntains. I look meeting nice pe for ward to ople and learn ing something culture and do about the a lot of skiing.

My plan is to and a nice tim have fun e in Invermer e.

from an Wang, I am and My name is Susa. ty ci It is a big Hong Kong, Chin old in 16 a. I am years three years. in Ch n er uth so e for in th study in Canada e the class here Grade 10. I will in Canada becaus I want to study d interesting than China. Alseo is more useful an here is more beautiful. In th because the viewlike to work as a designer. I am future, I would . in art class now

18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

Purple Light Campaign kicks off in Invermere

By Eric Elliott Pioneer Staff Walking around Invermere throughout the rest of the month of October, you’ll quickly notice the unusual purple lights in the front windows of businesses shining into the night. These lights will shine in solidarity for the “Purple Light Campaign” that started on October 7th in Invermere and is meant to bring awareness to the issue of domestic abuse and gender violence in the valley.

The campaign originated in Covington, Washington in 2007, becoming an international education and awareness campaign that spread its way north through the town of Chilliwack, B.C. before making its way to the Columbia Valley in Invermere some time later.

Purple is the symbol of courage, survival and honour and has come to symbolize the fight to end the abuse of women. Led by the Women’s Information and Safe Homes (WISH) Program of Family Dynamix, the campaign invites businesses throughout the community to join the cause by displaying a purple light in their storefront window in harmony with the important issue.

“The goal of our campaign is to shine a light on every front porch and in every business window to send the message that domestic violence has no place in our community,” Amy Lange and Penny McIntyre of Family Dynamix said in their press release.

Ms. Lange said the campaign has particular importance

in the Columbia Valley, it being an area that has maintained the same or higher reports of domestic violence-related incidents over recent years.

“I think it’s all about awareness, but I think it’s also about education,” she said. “It’s like that one time of year where you remember ‘Oh right, this happens in our community’ and what can we do to change it or just keep it in our forefront.”

She added that this issue has in fact come more to the forefront since the B.C. government narrowed its focus in January of 2010 with its Domestic Violence Action Plan.

“It changed the way the RCMP dealt with the situation so when that changed, I think it became quite an important issue for many small communities in B.C. because it can go hidden, especially in a small community because everyone knows everyone else so you don’t talk about it,” Ms. Lange said. “That’s definitely something that the campaign does is that it lets people know that we need to talk about it and it needs to be reported.”

Family Dynamix also plans to raise awareness around violence against women on December 6th, by hosting a speaker to commemorate the 14 women killed in the Montreal Massacre at Ecole Polytechnique in Quebec in 1989.

Until October 31st, lamps and purple lights will be available for businesses to display so they can participate in the awareness campaign. Those interested in joining the cam- SHINE A LIGHT — This year’s Purple Light paign and displaying a lamp are invited to call 250-341-3963 Campaign, organized by Family Dynamix, is runor email alange@familydynamix.ca. ning through to the end of October.

File photo

VE

The Invermere

ALLEY CHO

Pick up the Pioneer’s sister paper ~ The Invermere Valley Echo ~ every Wednesday.

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There’s more to the valley than meets the eye…

See this week's October 12th Invermere Valley Echo for:

Groundswell greenhouse attracts international attention (Page 1)

Stop of Interest upgrades shine light on poorly known historical visit to valley (Page 8)

NDP leader promises to four-lane Trans-Canada FEATURE: Local fire from Kamloops to Alberta departments recognized (Page 3) for Fire Prevention Week Invasive species concern highlighted (Page 4)

(Page 9)

Fish disease found just across the border from Columbia Valley (Page 13)

October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19

Our Shared Waters Watershed Wanderings

ership (i.e. saying “Canada’s water”) is a powerful symbol of where we stand

By Megan Peloso in being either complacent Pioneer Columnist or change-makers in what Last week, I was foris an uneven system. tunate to spend five days Take the BC Water sharing rooms, buses and Sustainability Act, a modone large voyageur canoe ernized piece of water with some of the country’s legislation made to guide foremost freshwater thinkdecision-makers in the susers, workers and healers at tainable allocation of water the Living Waters Rally and Watersheds available in the province. Speaking of pow2016 forum in Vancouver. erful language, the new Act still upholds From coast to coast, First Nations “First in Time, First in Right”, a mechaand non-Indigenous people, watershed nism that gives priority water access to groups, practitioners, researchers, politi- the oldest water licence holders, without cians and funders gathered around the regard to critical ecosystem flow needs or collective goal to share strategies for pro- existing First Nations rights. Just like that. tecting freshwater and build capacity for While the Act presents a lot of potential collaboration across British Columbia for change, the language used in the legisand Canada. lation still leaves gaping I will be shar“No one owns the water, the holes in the framework, ing some of what I’ve holes we need to patch lands, the animals, or the learned with you over mindfully, especially as plants, we were put on this the course of the next earth to take care of those re- we confront growing three months. And water pressures that sources and in return we were today I want to start will require we work promised that they would take together. with language.

care of us. We can’t manage these resources, we can only manage ourselves.”

Language matters Our Shared Waters Our subtlest and In this community, most difficult task for the Lake Windermere Nevada Nicholas, the week was connectAmbassadors work to Land and Resources Stewarding different water keep water on the agennarratives at work in ship Assistant, K’tunaxa Nation da because it touches us our society. These are Council, sharing what has been all — it’s in our catchour core beliefs about passed on by K’tunaxa Elders and phrase: healthy water Knowledge holders how water should be, for healthy communithe ways it should be ties. Yet, groups like managed and by whom. They have deep ours across the country need to remember implications for what we do, how we do that freshwater protection is only possible it, and who “we” includes and excludes. by also restoring our shared water relationConsider this phrase, which was of- ships. Using the phrase “our shared waters” fered up by a non-Indigenous colleague can be a start towards acknowledging that and lingered forcefully throughout the water is indivisible despite our differences, forum: “We all need to strike Canada’s and inspire us to work towards building a water from our vocabulary.” positive vision of a shared water future.

The legacy of a colonial system in We can get lost in the rapids and the ripCanada is playing out in land and water tides of our lives, but one thing water teaches access every day, with First Nations com- us is that we are undeniably connected. The munities clearly being left behind. First next columns take a deeper look at two othNations people are marginalized by poli- er phrases reported at the forum: “Climate cies that do not recognize their right to change is accelerating at an alarming rate” and self-determination, rights and title on the “Mother Earth is healing herself.” land, or their autonomy as decision-makMegan Peloso is the Program Co-orers on a national scale. dinator for the Lake Windermere AmbasSo what does that have to do with wa- sadors. Email info@lakeambassadors.ca or ter? How you or I talk about water’s own- call the office at 250-341-6898.

Regional District of East Kootenay BYLAW 2722 Public Hearing Notice - Bylaw Amendment Windermere / Gotmy The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board of Directors is considering an application by James and Loretta Gotmy to amend the Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw. If approved, the bylaw will amend the zoning designation of the subject property from SH-2, Small Holding Semi-Rural Zone to SH-1, Small Holding Residential Zone. The subject property is located 4747 Nelles Crescent in Windermere as shown on the attached map.

Bylaw No. 2722 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 316, 2016 (Windermere / Gotmy)” will amend the designation of Lot 1, District Lot 8, Kootenay District, Plan NEP63270 from SH-2, Small Holding Semi-Rural Zone to SH-1, Small Holding Residential Zone.

A public hearing will be held at: Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce 651 Highway 93/95 Invermere, BC Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 7:00 pm The Board has delegated the holding of this hearing to the Directors for Electoral Area F, Electoral Area G and the District of Invermere.

If you believe that your interest in property is affected by the proposed Bylaw, you may prior to the hearing: • inspect the Bylaw and supporting information at the RDEK office in Cranbrook from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays; • mail, fax or email written submissions to the addresses/ numbers shown below; or • present written and/or verbal submissions at the hearing.

Submissions cannot be accepted after the public hearing.

All submissions will form part of the public record and will be published in a meeting agenda posted online. Personal contact information such as phone and email will be removed from written submissions. Questions about the disclosure of your personal information may be referred to the Corporate Officer at 250-489-2791 or 1-888-478-7335.

This notice is not an interpretation of the Bylaw. For more information, contact Jean Terpsma, Planning Technician, at 250-489-2791, toll free at 1-888-478-7335, or email jterpsma@rdek.bc.ca.

The East Kootenay Compost Pilot Project is still accepting compost in the Columbia Valley through the end of October.

Bears are out in search of food and fruit trees are a perfect attractant.

Now is the time to make sure the fruit is off your trees.

The fruit from your fruit trees can be taken to the compost bins at the Columbia Valley Landfill.

19 - 24th Avenue South, Cranbrook BC V1C 3H8 Ph: 250-489-2791 • 888-478-7335 Fax: 250-489-1287 Email: info@rdek.bc.ca Website: www.rdek.bc.ca

20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

Planetary poetry inspired by the night sky Looking up with eyes — and heart

By Brian Fenerty Pioneer Columnist Sometimes at my lakeside spot for watching starbright skies, sometime also rhymes arise — about a train along the far shore and mists dancing over the lake, a heron seen high across the sky earlier that evening, and, yes, the moon and stars.

Years ago, an editor suggested now and then a poem might start my night sky column, although, alas, often I turned poet thoughts only to prose. But here’s what arose Sunday night as I thought about possibilities of life up there…

The giant blue star was burning fast It certainly wasn’t long to last And anything nearby it would be lost, Being close to such a star — oh, such a cost!

It finally blazed and anything close by was razed.

So on a planet near a safer star One observer spoke too fast about that nova far, Proclaimed with expertness the universe is Not Benevolent!

It had so many ways that it can kill But then another spoke, intent, Correcting that, more understanding fill The hearts of those who saw that night The seeming all-destructive light In truth had sent new atoms out in space That later would collect, become a place On planets new with many corners, too For life to maybe start or even thrive — That star was helping out the universe to be alive!

Regional District of East Kootenay

Notice of Disposition Request for Expressions of Interest Columbia Valley Fibre Optic Backbone

The RDEK has a fibre optic backbone running from just north of Canal Flats to Spillimacheen and from Highway 93/95 to Invermere and from Athalmer Road to Panorama Mountain Village.

In accordance with Section 285 of the Local Government Act, the RDEK is making the dark fibre available for lease by interested parties for the purpose of improving access to high speed internet in the Columbia Valley. There are currently up to 6 strands available.

Lease proposals will be accepted by the RDEK until 9:00 am October 28, 2016. Proposals must include the following information: • legal name of corporation and names of principals and signing authorities; • number of dark fibre strands proposed to lease; • term of proposed lease; and • proposed use of the fibre strands including how the proposed use will improve access to high speed internet in the Columbia Valley.

Lessees will be required to enter into a dark fibre lease (IRU) agreement and will be responsible for the following: • interconnection costs, including the costs of splicing; • general liability insurance in an amount not less than $5,000,000; • provision of internet services to, and connecting between, RDEK facilities; and • any other costs or actions that are determined during negotiation of the lease agreement.

Direct inquiries and submit written proposals (marked “Confidential”) to: Shawn Tomlin, Chief Administrative Officer Regional District of East Kootenay 19 – 24 Avenue South Cranbrook BC V1C 3H8 Phone: 250-489-2791 Email: stomlin@rdek.bc.ca The RDEK reserves the right to negotiate with any or all proponents and to accept or reject any or all proposals.

All submissions will be held in confidence by the RDEK unless otherwise required by law.

www.rdek.bc.ca info@rdek.bc.ca 1-888-478-7335

Now from such stars we too are here; How much that distant light is inside near!

Look up, astrologers are wont to say The stars do tell our path what goodly way To live. Well, newer science shows Indeed the stars for us a good path chose!

The sky, it cares — if one looks up, as a poet — knowing.

A contemporary expert on astronomy, although usually right on many things, indeed has said the universe is not benevolent, with many ways to kill us — but that stands opposite to what astronomers really know. Yes, the universe has dangers. Even close ones. Such as near-earth objects the wide-angle Baker-Nunn telescope in Calgary watches out for. A vast swarm of comets and asteroids in the early solar system that the gas-giant planets helped mostly swallow up or scatter away. Galaxies over billions of years sweeping through each other, where the stars are far enough apart most never collide but still create indirect hazards. And the occasional big blue star, burning fuel faster than our safer sun, that indeed goes bang (if we could hear sound in space.) Even at home on Earth, life is precarious.

Yet, we are finding life in super hot waters, under ice, even far underground. We posit similar extremophiles may be inside Mars or under icy moon crusts at Jupiter or Saturn. And what about on exoplanets, even nearby semihostile Proxima Centauri?

Maybe rhymes about the stars aren’t just romantic pleasantries — look up tonight then, knowing with the scientists, and also each of us as poet.

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

Community grants up for grabs

By James Rose Special to The Pioneer The Columbia Valley Community Foundation is accepting applications for the Fall 2016 Community Grants program. The deadline, however, is fast approaching.

“The deadline to apply is October 31st, 2016 at noon, and I encourage everyone considering to apply,” said executive director Laurie Klassen.

Community Grants support a wide range of community projects.

In 2015, the Foundation awarded over $40,000 to nine local applicants. Amounts granted were between $1,540 and $10,000.

“The application itself is very straightforward and all information can be found on our website at www. valleyfoundation.ca,” said Ms. Klassen. “And if there is any uncertainty, I encourage people to call me with any

questions they may have.”

Grant applications and additional information on eligibility and funding criteria for grants at the Community Foundation is available on the Community Foundation website. Organizations or groups must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, or be in association with an eligible group to qualify for a Community Foundation grant.

“Our policy is to give charity to charity but that doesn’t mean a forprofit enterprise can’t be eligible to receive funding if they have a working relationship with a registered charity who is willing to ‘represent’ them on their application,” said Ms. Klassen.

The funding for Community Foundation grants is generated from the investment income of permanent endowments established by many generous donors seeking to improve the quality of life for Columbia Valley residents.

Continued on page 28 . . .

October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 21

HERE TO SERVE YOU UPHOLSTERY

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Come visit our showroom,

goldenupholstery1960@gmail.com Box 53, Brisco, B.C. V0A 1B0

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Please call Steve ~ a real local you can trust! 250-342-1791 Have something to say? Letters to the editor can be e-mailed to news@columbiavalleypioneer.com

22 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

HERE TO SERVE YOU SERVICES

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

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Call or visit online

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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

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Call Amanda Nason to advertise your business in our Here To Serve You section.

Ph: 250-341-6299 • Fax: 1-888-377-0312 • info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

N E W S PA P E R

October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 23

HERE TO SERVE YOU CONTRACTING

250-341-1182

Box 424, Invermere B.C. V0A 1K0

Serving the Columbia Valley

www.cabincare.ca

• • • •

CONTRACTING

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Renovations Decks Finishing Interior/Exterior Painting

• •

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• • • •

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250.341.1995 philbibby@live.ca New Homes • Custom Builds • Renovations Big Or Small

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N E W S PA P E R

24 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

Local loses unknowingly stolen ATV

By Eric Elliott Pioneer Staff When Windermere resident Matthew Ridge put his 2013 Honda ATV on Kijiji in hopes of trading it for a Harley Davidson motorcycle, little did he think that he was doing something wrong.

Contacting another seller out of Cranbrook in late July, Mr. Ridge was hoping to trade his ATV for the Cranbrook resident’s motorcycle in a one-for-one swap — a practice not out of the ordinary on Kijiji’s free online classifieds. The two parties began exchanging information via text message, including pictures of the vehicles and the VIN numbers so that a search could be completed through the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database to ensure the vehicles weren’t reported stolen. It was a common practice Mr. Ridge had done before on his ATV without any problems so he thought nothing of it.

Unfortunately for Mr. Ridge, that was not the case this time as his ATV came back as reported stolen property on the database with the other seller doing the responsible thing and alerting the RCMP. From there, Cranbrook RCMP worked in co-operation with the Columbia Valley RCMP detachment. Const. Chris Sheppard of the Columbia Valley RCMP was the officer to respond to the call to recover the ATV on Mr. Ridge’s property on Friday, August 12th. He said that upon reaching Mr. Ridge’s residence, he knocked on the door and was unable to contact Mr. Ridge but saw the ATV in plain sight on the property with its VIN number located on the chassis. A check of the VIN number confirmed that the ATV was stolen out of Grand Prairie Alberta just over a year ago and thus, police seized it.

When Mr. Ridge returned home from work that day, his mind was thrown into a panic thinking that someone had stolen his ATV. “I go to work on the Friday and I come home from work and the quad is gone,” he said. “I’m thinking two things: I’m thinking I just sent my address to someone on Kijiji, normal people came, seen it and scooped it.”

At that point, Mr. Ridge did what anyone would do and went to the RCMP to report his property as stolen.

It was then that Mr. Ridge was informed the RCMP had seized his ATV as stolen property earlier that day. Mr. Ridge said he was unhappy with how the situation was

Your Local

handled by the RCMP. “My government came and stole, by the definition of what theft is, my quad,” he said. “It is registered to us.

They didn’t come with a search warrant. They didn’t leave a business card with their name on my door. They didn’t even tape a note on my door, ‘Hey we seized your property, call us.’ I thought my quad was stolen. A tarp was thrown across my yard and my quad was gone.”

Mr. Ridge disputes the RCMP’s statement that the ATV was in plain sight on his property, saying it was under a tarp.

“It was in the yard and under a tarp… they went un-

“We know of three registered owners in B.C. that have paid taxes on it. That’s a fraud case right there. You’re telling me that I’m a victim when ICBC perpetuated the crime three times that we have evidence of... ” Matthew Ridge derneath the quad and saw the VIN. It wasn’t in plain sight. When you lift up the tarp, you’d see a camo quad.

(It) was reported stolen red. What would give you the idea to keep looking for the VIN number?”

Records and further investigation by the RCMP indicate that the ATV had been sold three different times since it was reported stolen in July 2015 with Mr. Ridge making the latest transaction, acquiring it by trading a personal ring valued at $13,800 for the quad last December. At no time during the previous transactions did the ATV come up through the CPIC database as stolen, making Mr. Ridge the unknowing victim, losing the property after lawfully registering the vehicle and paying his insurance on it through ICBC. “Who am I a victim to, though? I’m not a victim to the guy that stole the quad,” he said. “This should have been stopped. This quad should have never been registered in the first place through ICBC because when it was, it should have come up on there that it’s stolen. We know of three registered owners in B.C. that have paid taxes on it. That’s a fraud case right there. You’re telling me that I’m

COLUMBIA VALLEY REAL ESTATE

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a victim when ICBC perpetuated the crime three times that we have evidence of, took the money on the $8,000 in taxes, but ‘sorry you’re a victim’. We don’t get our tax money back from ICBC?” Prior to November 1st, 2015, off-road vehicles like Mr. Ridge’s ATV were not required to be registered through ICBC and were instead permitted to be voluntarily registered. On November 1st, however, the government of B.C. made it mandatory for all off-road vehicles to be registered in the pre-existing structure of the ICBC’s motor vehicle registry. Jane Barrett, insurance broker with Lambert Insurance Invermere, said this was an attempt at monitoring the number of stolen vehicles that exchanged hands throughout the province.

“They didn’t used to have to be registered so now that they’re registered, they turn up,” she said. “Everyone thinks it’s for the tax, which may be part of it, I don’t know, but it is for our protection so that people can’t steal them and there’s some control over where these things are.”

Both Ms. Barrett and Const. Sheppard said that they have not seen a larger occurrence of stolen vehicles since the new legislation, although Ms. Barrett said it could get more attention in the future.

For Mr. Ridge, the investigation is still ongoing. The owner that reported it stolen in Alberta had already accepted a payout from their insurance company for the stolen ATV so Mr. Ridge said the only thing he can do now is attempt to purchase the vehicle back from the insurance agency or wait until it goes to auction where he would also have to pay for it.

“I already have thousands into it so why do I have to pay more to get back this thing and it’s not even my fault,” he said. “Anyone could have been the victim in this thing. If they want money for it and I can’t pay for it, it goes to auction and I lose this forever. All this though and the real story is ICBC. It’s a provincially regulated entity. You can’t go pick a different insurance company. You’re told this is the way it is, we mandate this so why wasn’t this caught. Who’s regulating ICBC and watching this stuff and are you just going to tell me that their answer is that whenever people have to go register stuff and they go in there and it pops up stolen, they’re the registered owners, this database just got put in this spring, that these people are just going to lose their stuff?”

Continued on page 28 . . .

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

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

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

October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 25

Pioneer Classifieds S OBITUARY S Isabel (Sommerville) Murray August 12, 1924 to September 30, 2016

CHEERS & JEERS

CHEERS & JEERS

Jeers to all the cig butts under the A HUGE Cheers to Tony with Strands benches at Kinsmen Beach. Nice to and Eric with AG Valley Foods for know you are enjoying nature but helping us by offering up their nature is NOT enjoying you. Pick freezer space to us. As Tony put it, CHEERS &it’sJEERS them up and take them with. all about Locals helping Locals!

Sponsored by

Miles Spencer Norrington 1977 - 2016

Miles Spencer Norrington passed away suddenly at his home near Invermere, B.C. Miles will be remembered for his sense of humour and his love of the outdoors.

He was active in mountain pursuits such as hiking, wilderness snow boarding and para-gliding. He loved fishing and was an accomplished dinghy sailor.

Miles worked in logging, milling, and mining in the Columbia Valley and was valued in all these communities.

He will be dearly missed by his son, Lucas Spencer Douglas Norrington and Lucas’ mum, Gwyn Sierra Robinson.

Deeply missing him will be his father and step-mother, Ross Spencer Norrington and Frances Butler of Victoria, B.C., Lucas’ grandparents, Bruce and Liz Robinson of Radium Hot Springs, and his aunt and uncle, Yvonne and Peter Christensen, of Radium Hot Springs, and his grandmother, June Ellen Norrington of Victoria, B.C. Miles was predeceased by his mother, Eleanor Anne King (Nee Hendy) of Gabriola Island, B.C. A celebration of life will be held at the Running Horse Ranch, 8295 Radium Golf Course Road, 2 km past Radium Golf Course clubhouse on the No through road, Sunday, October 16th, 2 - 4 pm.

A trust fund has been set up for Miles’ son Lucas. Anyone wishing to donate may do so at the Bank of Montreal, Account #0828-8969-174.

GARAGE SALES

SUITE FOR RENT

115-12A Ave. Huge garage sale.

Everything priced very low.

Saturday 8 a.m. - noon.

Windermere - bright, 2-bdrm upper unit in quiet 4-plex, with spectacular views, large yard area, separate parking + entrance.

Strictly no partiers or pets. $725/ mo + electricity + D.D. Available to mature, responsible tenants.

References and Employment/ Income status required, call/text 587-224-3132.

LOST & FOUND Found: Men’s prescription glasses at Kinsmen Beach. Call 250-3415736 to claim.

Isabel was born August 12, 1924 to Robert and Janet Sommerville one of six children.

Isabel was raised on the family farm in Ontario and entered the Navy on May 1, 1944 at the age of twenty. She was discharged March 26, 1946 “a civilian again”. Shortly thereafter she traveled to Saskatchewan to visit with Janet Murray a friend from the Navy. She met her future husband Duncan, they were married October 12, 1948. They began their large family: David (Kathy), Allen (Donna), Laurie Charette, Linda (Bruce Peterson), Chris (Sharon), Karen Smith and son-in-law Russell Peterson. She is predeceased by her husband Duncan, daughter Gale and son-in-laws Ron Charette and Burt Smith.

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

COMMERCIAL SPACE Cheers to people who leave messages by saying their name and phone number first, then repeating them again at the end. Cheers for not making me replay and rewinding your message over and over again to get the important info.

Jeers to the officer who decided to phone at 8:30 a.m. and leave a message to move our vehicle or it will be towed from in front of our house! Not only have we parked there for 16 years but your “warning” was uncalled for. A simple note would have sufficed.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 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.

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

Jeers to the“singing”waitress. Kinda weird and very uncomfortable. We won’t come back.

The Barn Dance Committee of the Hospice Society would like to send out a huge shout out Cheers to all who helped before, after and during the event. It takes many hands and we appreciate every one of you!

A big Cheers to Dr. Karoline and the night nurses, the supporting staff and the ambulance crew for being so caring when I was admitted in the middle of the night to the Invermere Hospital and transferred to Cranbrook Hospital.

STORAGE

NEWHOUSE MULTI STORAGE

Various sizes available.

Now with climate-controlled units.

Call 250-342-3637.

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

Please email classified ads to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

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.

1,490 sq. ft. of shop/retail space in Athalmer, 2 large overhead doors!, $1,272/mo, all utilities included.

Newhouse Multi Storage, 250-3423637, newmulti@telus.net.

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

SUITE FOR RENT Bright 1-Bedroom furnished walkout suite in Westridge, Invermere.

Private patio entrance, off-street parking for one vehicle. No washer/ dryer. N/S, D/W. One small dog/ cat allowed. DD, Pet deposit and References required. $850/mo.

Utilities, hydro, wi-fi included.

Long-term renter preferred.

Available Oct 1. Email rosis@telus. net.

BRIGHT AND SPACIOUS 2-bdrm, 1 bath, 1,050 sq. ft. walk-out suite. Incl.: private patio entrance looking onto green-space, 2 car off-street parking, utilities, 5 appliances, satellite TV hookup. Wanted: Mature individual or couple, long-term renter, N/S, N/P. $825/mo, hartjamy@gmail.com.

HOUSE FOR RENT Large lot for mobile home. Williams Trailer Park. No pets. Phone 250342-9390.

Newer 2-bdrm, 2 bath on Windermere acreage with under garage. $1,250/mo. Call Mark 403519-0252.

Downtown Invermere location with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.

Available December 1st. $1,250 plus utilities 250-342-3688.

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.

Lake Windermere Point in Invermere: 2-bdrm + den, 2-bath, poolside and lake view, underground parking, fully furnished with leather couches.

N/S, small dogs negotiable, available Oct. 15th. Monthly rent depending on length of tenancy.

403-561-0111 or bobburk41@ gmail.com.

Akiskinook Resort

Ground level larger end unit, 1-bdrm fully furnished condo, newly renovated, indoor pool, hot tub. $775/mo includes cable. Call or text 403-281-3991.

26 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

MISC. FOR SALE

FIREWOOD

October 14, 2016

SERVICES

Pine firewood, $200 a cord in Invermere 250-342-1586 and small orders.

VEHICLES FOR SALE 1994 Nissan V-6 4x4 runs good, some rust. Call 250-342-3002.

250 US gallon tanks for sale.

Very versatile, plastic w/metal 6” opening, 2’ discharge, 125 lbs. $150. Call George. 250-347-9500.

2007 kx85 two stroke dirt bike with monster decal kit, fmf fatty pipe, new chain and sprockets and rear tire, fast bike runs good. Call or text 250-341-5216 for more information.

Polar Bear Rug. Rare and exceptional. 8’ long with head mount. Cold stored. Papers. Call or text: 403-852-8105.

TOP QUALITY HAY Round bales stored in shed, no rain. Phone Elkhorn Ranch 250-342-1268.

2012 Chrysler 200 Touring. 65800 Km, like new Black on Black interior. Loaded including, Remote start, Heated seats. Garage kept. $10,500 OBO. Remote start, Heated seats. Garage kept. $10,500 OBO

RV LOTS FOR SALE Columbia River Wetlands RV Park.

Fully serviced, Year Round Titled RV Lots for sale. Columbia River and wetland access, 45 min. north of Radium Hot Springs. Starting at $35,000, 250-348-2094.

HEALTH & WELLNESS Columbia Valley Qi Gong

For sale 2 swivel rocker armchairs, lite green. $150 each. Phone 250342-2480.

Classes start Oct. 17th Invermere - Fairmont. For information or to register contact Betty Newton MQT phone/text 250-342-5736, newtonhome@shaw.ca.

FIREWOOD

SERVICES

Support Rockies Hockey firewood.

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

Heaven’s Best Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

Seasoned Fir Firewood $230/ cord, split and delivered. Please text/call 250-270-0366.

Environmentally friendly products.

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

AUCTIONS

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.

LESSONS/TRAINING Math, Science and English Tutor.

University graduate looking for students in the Invermere area. Will tutor grades 7 - 12 and university preparations. Affordable prices, will come to you. Call 403-613-3666 for details.

HELP WANTED FAIRMONT SUBWAY/GAS PLUS is hiring P/T and F/T. Please apply within w/resume.

Fubuki Sushi is looking for F/T kitchen help. Apply in person with resume at Fubuki Sushi.

Helna’s Stube is looking for a dishwasher/kitchen help, evening server and bus person. Email resume to mail@helnas.com or call 250-347-0047

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

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.

Selkirk Cellulars & Office Supplies is looking for an energetic, cheerful, motivated individual to join our Team and is currently accepting resumes for fulltime employment.

Please Email, call or drop off resume, 250-342-0025, info@ selkirkcells.com.

Black Forest Restaurant is looking for a full-time Server. Previous experience required in a busy, upscale restaurant. Email, call or drop off resume. 250-342-9417, careers@blackforestrestaurant. com.

Chris Hofstetter

The sale will be on Wednesday, November 3rd, 2016 via an online auction thru ibid4storage.com – http://www.ibid4storage.com.

The goods may be viewed commencing on October 21st, 2016.

All bids are for the entire contents of the storage unit.

Winning bidder will be contacted via ibid4storage.com for payment arrangements.

info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

HOUSE FOR SALE

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.

Black Forest is looking for a P/T daytime cleaner. Call, email or drop off resume. 250-342-9417, careers@blackforestrestaurant.com.

Borrego Signs is looking for some exceptional individuals.

Graphic design experience an asset but not necessary. Send your resume to info@borregosigns.com.

STORAGE

h e Pioneer ca T n

ONLINE AUCTION CONDUCTED BY Take notice that miscellaneous goods and chattels belonging to the following person and stored at Real Storage LP (Sherwood Park) will be sold due to unpaid charges:

Please email classified ads to

New House Multi Storage

BOAT & RV STORAGE

Conveniently located in the Invermere Industrial Park.

LOW RATES! DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE! We can park your trailer for you. 7 DAYS A WEEK ACCESS! Phone: 250-342-3637 Email: newmulti@telus.net

take you r do llar With 6,400 copies far in circulation each week, th er your message is resonating

!

with residents and visitors alike.

Phone: (250) 341-6299 Fax: 1-855-377-0312 info@columbiavalleypioneer.com N E W S PA P E R

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 27

. . . ‘Market’ from page 8 “Roi just enjoyed cooking so much, he thought maybe we should have a hot dog stand or something in the market. But we thought since he’s from Israel, something authentically Israeli would be better. It was really just for fun that first summer, but everybody liked it so much,” she said, adding the couple took the time needed to perfect each step before moving on to the next.

“We got a good handle on how to run a food cart.

Then we opened the Radium location, and learned how to hire and manage staff, before taking the next step,” said KD. “Even with the restaurant, we took baby steps.

We started out in the winter rather than in the busy summer season. Then we added the patio. Now we’ve got The Attic lounge. And we’re not done growing yet, the journey isn’t over.”

OM Organics Boutique Apothecary owner Kari Asselin has a similar story, having started her business at the farmer’s market three years ago, then building an online store, before opening up a main street storefront location this past summer.

The farmer’s market was a good beginning, according to Ms. Asselin.

“It was a great place to test my ideas and products, to see what was popular and what was not and figure out what people really go for. The first summer at the farmer’s market was really successful and that was really

HELP WANTED Live and work in the Okanagan Valley of BC! A major retailer in the Okanagan Valley is looking to fill several Manager/Supervisor positions in a large new and growing store.

If you are a self-motivated individual with a strong knowledge of retail sales and systems and have a proven track record of managing staff and driving sales in either Hardware, Sports or Automotive Parts we would like to talk to you!

These positions are Full Time, salary and have the potential to progress to the next Management level.

Please email resumes to marie.h@shaw.ca

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 Counter Attendant Permanent, Shift No education or experience required.

All shifts available – nights/overnights/ early mornings/weekends $11.75/hour + medical/ dental/group benefits.

Apply in person or via email timhortons.invermere@gmail.com

STOREFRONT SUCCESS — Now a major presence on 7th Avenue, OM Organics Boutique Apothecary began as a table at Invermere’s downtown farmer’s market.

Photo by Steve Hubrecht encouraging for me,” she said, adding having the online store and doing wholesale helped carry her business through the off-season between farmer’s markets.

The business grew continually until it began to literally take over Ms. Asselin and her partner’s home.

“Basically I was making all the products in our apartment,” she said. “It got to the point where our entire living space was taken up by boxes of ingredients.”

So in May 2016, Ms. Asselin moved into her current location on main street, which has a workshop in back and a store up front. . . . ‘Chamber’ from page 10 measures to mitigate the damaging effects of PST; • The continued expansion of Mobile Business Licence programs across the province, with the goal of eventually establishing a single, province wide licensing program for all businesses; • A call on the provincial government to remain committed to tying minimum wage increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to ensure certainty and predictability for small businesses.

As well, the CVCC is a dedicated advocate for the Valley’s small businesses at the local level. Some of our recent work includes: • Working with local government on a regional strategy for community/economic development; • Working with tourism stakeholders on and supporting the valley-wide marketing/branding strategy; • Advocating with the provincial government to keep the Greyhound service into our Valley and not giving up by working on a transportation solution to replace the service; • Advocating with the College of the Rockies to provide a full-time program in Invermere that could

“The exposure from having a storefront has really increased our online sales and wholesale inquiries. It’s been excellent and we’ve surpassed what we had thought was possible,” she said. “Aside from now being able to buy ingredients in larger amounts, it’s really nice having a permanent setup and not having to set up and tear down (a table at the local farmer’s market and other markets) several times a week. And we have our house back and can cook real food in our kitchen again.”

This year is the fifth that B.C. has designated October as Small Business Month. also help with seasonal workforce shortages.

The CVCC has much to celebrate in Small Business Month and, in addition to the 18th Annual Business Excellence Awards, hosted MP Blake Richards, Tourism Opposition Critic, on October 12th to get input into the Canadian Tourism plan. This meeting was open to all Chamber members as the CVCC believes that all our members have a stake in the success of our tourism industry.

The CVCC has an agreement with Small Business BC (SBBC) to offer their courses to members at a 10 per cent discount, however, for Small Business Month, SBBC is offering all their webinars to businesses throughout BC for FREE. “Despite the value new knowledge can bring to a business, training can be a cost-prohibitive venture for small business owners so this opportunity... is really exciting and not to be missed,” stated Mrs. Clovechok.

“Join us in promoting and celebrating local small businesses this month by shopping, buying and eating local, and join us at Panorama Resort on October 20th to celebrate business excellence,” added Mr. Smith.

28 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 14, 2016

School district’s restructuring ideas rejected

By Eric Elliott Pioneer Staff Last week, a group of 40 concerned residents made their way to David Thompson Secondary School (DTSS) to voice their questions and concerns over the Rocky Mountain School District’s new Long Term Facility Plan that was released last month.

The School Board released the long-term plan on September 15th, detailing many of the potential changes they have in mind for the various zones within the Rocky Mountain School District. On Wednesday, October 5th, members of the school board held their second of three community meetings to discuss the implications of the plan for the Windermere zone of the school district.

The reason for the creation of the long-term facility plan is that the Ministry of Education has introduced the requirement for all Districts to complete a district-wide comprehensive school district facilities plan. The plan forms the basis for all provincial capital investment decisions within each school district. Among other things, the plan analyzes education requirement trends, operating capacities, current conditions of existing facilities, community demographics and any anticipated changes in land use. Its aim is over the next decade rather than immediate short-term change.

In the Windermere zone specifically, the plan looked at the six schools to determine space availability for future students. What they found was that DTSS was well under capacity, along with Edgewater, Martin Morigeau and J. Alfred Laird Elementary. Less than a kilometre away from J.A Laird, Eileen Madson Primary School is currently 81 students over capacity, which is expected to continue until 2025.

Due to there being two spare classrooms at J.A. Laird currently, the school district identified one of the potential options to restructure these enrollments through converting both Eileen Madson and J.A Laird to kindergarten to Grade 7 schools. Currently Eileen Madson operates as a kindergarten to Grade 3 school with students then transferring to J.A. Laird for Grades 4 to 7.

Unknown to many in the Columbia Valley, Invermere formerly had two kindergarten to Grade 7 schools prior to 1980: in Invermere Elementary — located at the current Sobeys — and J.A. Laird. Several residents who atDISTRICT OF INVERMERE

914 – 8th Avenue, PO Box 339 Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Tel: 250-342-9281 • Fax: 250-342-2934

PUBLIC NOTICE CHANGE IN START TIME OF OCTOBER 25th, 2016 COUNCIL MEETING The District of Invermere Tuesday, October 25th, 2016 Regular Meeting of Council will commence at 7 p.m. instead of 4 p.m.

Council meetings will be held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Office (914 8th Avenue, Invermere, BC ) For further information please contact Kindry Luyendyk, Corporate Officer at the 250-342-9218 ext# 1228.

tended those schools, or parented children who did, were in attendance on Wednesday to express their opinions.

“Running those two schools side by side was a disaster,” said one woman, who had two children enrolled in schools at the time. “It was horrible and the best thing the school board ever did was put the two schools together into one school.”

Debbie Fischer, who worked in the school system for 27 years and was enrolled at one of the elementary schools at the time, echoed her sentiment.

“I remember when it was the two schools,” she said.

“It’s not healthy. It divided our community, it divided the kids, and it became very competitive in an unhealthy way. I really do believe that we would do an injustice to our community by splitting our kids in our community like that.”

Chenoa Paccagnan, mother of three children within the school system, voiced her opinion on the social divide

“I remember when it was the two schools,” she said. “It’s not healthy. It divided our community, it divided the kids, and it became very competitive in an unhealthy way.

Debra Fischer that the potential change could have on the community’s children long term.

“We’re a small community,” she said. “We only have a cohort of about 50 students in our entire community, why do we want to split them up into two K-7 schools and draw a line through the community?”

“I want children from across the community to grow up knowing that Athalmer is the same as CastleRock, is the same as Westside Park, is the same as Windermere. We all live in this valley together and by putting our children in separate schools, I’m really worried that the differences will come out more than the positives.”

One of the questions several residents had for the school board members was: if Eileen Madson needed an upgrade regardless of changing from K-3 to K-7, why not just upgrade Eileen Madson so that it was large enough to accommodate the current enrollment format and leave J.A. Laird as a Grade 4 to 7 school?

To this, Paul Carriere, superintendant of the Rocky Mountain School District, explained that the Ministry of Education administers funding for projects based on priority within a school district and that an upgrade to Eileen Madson would not be the top priority within the Rocky Mountain School District. Instead, Selkirk Secondary School in Kimberley, which was constructed in 1957, is deemed as top priority and even then, when the Minister of Education, Mike Bernier, toured the school district earlier this year, he did not see Selkirk getting funding in the near future.

“Down the road we might get priorities like Eileen Madson Primary School but it will be after (the Selkirk upgrade),” Mr. Carriere said. “I just need everyone in the room to understand that I don’t have a crystal ball and I don’t know when things will happen but it looks like it’ll be a really long time.”

In addition to restructuring the two schools in Invermere, issues such as out-of-catchment area schooling were discussed at the meeting last week. Residents were concerned that if the plan moved forward on restructuring the two schools, that programs such as J.A. Laird’s hockey program would become unavailable to students who lived on the wrong side of the road and were forced to go to Eileen Madson because of space restrictions.

Mr. Carriere acknowledged this as a potential problem with the restructuring, but noted that residents would be able to file for out-of-catchment schooling the same way they can under the current system.

He also noted that this long-term facility plan is only in the draft stages and is subject to potential adjustment once consultation has taken place and the board meets to discuss the public’s concerns and other problems with the first draft.

Ultimately, though, residents at the meeting urged the school board to push the Ministry of Education on adapting the way they fund school expansion projects so that Eileen Madson would be able to get the proper expansion it needs to keep the status quo.

“I think that’s something the board should really consider as they’re moving forward,” Ms. Paccagnan said. “I think we’re a rural community and we don’t fit. I think we need to be very loud with Victoria and let them know that we don’t fit in this box. We’re rural. We’re different.”

Those interested in reading the complete long-term facility plan can do so at www.sd6.bc.ca.

. . . ‘Community’ from page 20

. . . ‘Local’ from page 24

The Fall 2016 Community Grants marks the fifteenth granting cycle of the Columbia Valley Community Foundation since its inception in 2001.

“Together with its community, the Columbia Valley Community Foundation enables the unique and essential spirit that flourishes when people believe their community holds possibilities for everyone,” said Ms. Klassen in a press release.

For more information, and to receive help on the grant application process, call 250-342-2845 or visit www.valleyfoundation.ca.

When contacted, an ICBC spokesperson said that checking for stolen vehicles through the CPIC database prior to registration was not part of their jurisdiction before the legislative change last year. Due to it being a, “buyer beware” type of system, they said they are not responsible for recovering any of the funds a citizen like Mr. Ridge incurred while paying for insurance on stolen property.

Mr. Ridge said that, ultimately, he realizes it may be too late for him to get his ATV back. That won’t stop him from trying though.

“ICBC is apparently not liable for any of this,” he said. “People need to be aware of this.”

October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 29

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30 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

M etaphysical usings

By Tammy Stehr Pioneer Columnist

There are lots of things in upheaval and chaos it would seem; it could make one feel a bit anxious if you let it. We are all in the midst of rapid far-reaching change — a change in the way we view ourselves and the world. There is big stuff happening and it will have deep ramifications. With change there is often fear, which may cause some radical unusual behavior. Wouldn’t empathy and faith come in handy right now?

October 14, 2016

As good as it gets...

Likely those around us are feeling like we are, but they may not be able to articulate it. People can be short with one another or there can be a vibe of anger or angst that we can all feel. Us humans are releasing no longer valid mental patterns on a massive scale, which is a big deal because we are ascending to a higher vibration along with the Earth.

Many things will be cleansed and we will all play a part in it by engaging in one or more of the three following scenarios. First, we will witness or be part of the cleansing event by participating in nasty interaction, communication or a disaster. Second, we will be pillars of resonating vibrations of love and light to all others around us by witnessing a loving event and sharing the feeling forward, or

by practising grounding, centring, balancing and meditation. Third, we may choose to leave the physical plane, or choose death.

What we all seek is balance and happiness and we will find it while practising patience, kindness, compassion, integrity and having faith in yourself and others. Sharing these feelings forward creates a vibration of those things around you and helps to mitigate the angst energy out there. We need more people to perpetuate a high vibration of love and light right now.

If you are one of the people engaging in the bits of nasty energy exchanges, you may find yourself sick and tired more than usual. You are using loads of energy on the emotions that go with those ex-

changes and it zaps your strength. Try to focus more on what it is you want, instead of what it is that you don’t want.

Staying in a place of appreciation and acceptance is a high vibration and will help mitigate the unpleasant energy you are harboring or that others project towards you. It very likely may save you from having to interact with that kind of energy, by diffusing it upon contact.

Life is about choices and it is as wonderful as it is awful, depending on your perspective. Life just is, actually, and we make it what it is for us.

Tammy does spiritual counselling and healing through Reiki, transformational and Alchemic techniques. She is working towards a Master’s Degree in Metaphysical Sciences.

Contact her at tammystehr@gmail.com.

Radium library on the move Radium Hot Springs Library was established on February 15th, 1994, located at the Radium Elementary School. The Radium Library consisted of one wall of donated books from local residents. The library quickly outgrew its space and, on May 6th, 1995, it relocated to the Radium Seniors’ Hall. It was housed in a small corner room upstairs and a small room in the basement. It was operated for limited hours by volunteers.

The Radium Library continued to grow and, in 2006, it became British Columbia’s newest public library. At this time, a Board of Directors was formed and a librarian was hired on a part-time basis. Still it grew — and a dream came true.

In June 22nd, 2008, the new library was officially opened. The new premises are three times the size of the old space, thanks to the generosity of the Village of Radium Hot Springs, the B.C. Government, and many volunteers.

We continue to add new members to our patron list. Our collection grows monthly and includes the latest new releases in books and audios.

The Radium Library runs several programs a year: the Summer Reading Club, the Teddy Bears Picnic, Lego Club, crafts for preschool children as well as story time for the local day care.

We continue to work with the Edgewater School by supplying books and hosting authors. The school and the library are continually working together on reading and art projects.

Once again, we’re on the move with plans for a new facility in the new year — bigger and better to serve all our patrons in the valley.

Looking for more information?

Radium Library has a great database, which has lots of professional information not necessarily found through the Web. We also have loads of recommended websites. Check out our Online Resources page at http://radium. bc.libraries.coop/research/ page for more information.

This week’s column was written by Jane Jones, director of the Radium Public Library, which is located at 7585 Main Street West. Call 250-347-2434 for more information.

Bruin brought to safety A black bear that got cozy in an Invermere neighbourhood along 13th Avenue for a few weeks was relocated last week after conservation officers (COs) trapped it next door to one of the neighbourhood homes. Pictured above is CO Greg Kruger preparing the live bear trap.

Below, a close up of the bear in the trap before it was relocated. The Pioneer recently reported that no bears have been euthanized by Invermere COs this year.

Photos submitted

October 14, 2016

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 31

FAITH

I’m curious and I’m listening

By Pastor Murray Wittke Valley Christian Assembly I’m curious… as you’re casually making your way through the paper, turning pages and glancing at articles, are you relaxing at home, sitting in a coffee shop, or waiting in your car? See that smiling face on the page in front of you, that’s me. I am trying, but no matter how hard I concentrate, I just can’t see you. Who are you? Have we met before? Do we know each other? Would I recognize you on the street? By the way, that’s my name printed just beside the picture.

What’s your name? What was that… ? I’m sorry, but I couldn’t quite make out what you said. It’s hard to hear you when I’m the one doing all the talking.

Over the last five years, I’ve written over 40 faith

columns. In most of them I’ve shared bits and pieces of my life’s journey with you, but never once have I asked you about yours. I apologize. I should have.

And I have to ask, has anyone ever surprised you by showing interest in you, and actually listening to what you have to say? I have. Again and again, Jesus Christ has listened as I poured out my heart. He is God, God is love, and love listens.

The Bible says we’re to “be quick to listen, slow to speak.” But I’m afraid I miss a lot of what’s happening in the lives of those around me, even those I love the most, because I’m busy talking when I should be listening. It’s a bad habit. So let me start again.

I’m curious… since you’re reading this column, was there a religious or spiritual background to your childhood? How would you describe it? How has it shaped your sense of who you are, or why you’re here; or your understanding of who God is, or why the world is the way it is? We’ve all got a story and I’d love to hear yours.

Anyways, thanks for stopping in. Perhaps we could meet for coffee sometime, maybe even become friends. So what do you say?… I’m listening.

Infamous church takes centre stage The valley’s own Musical Mystery Theatre was recently in Golden for two performances of their production, The Stolen Church, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church.

The musical, a historical melodrama, tells the legendary story of how the ‘Stolen Church’ in Windermere earned its name.

Photos by Jessica Schwitek/Golden Star

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH Sunday, October 16th 10:30 a.m. “God Speaks – Through His Word” …

Pastor Trevor Hagan ministering.

“K.I.D.S.” 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 Rick Daniels • Columbia Valley Branch 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs • 250-421-3756

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

October 14, 2016

YOUR MONEY New mortgage rules

On October 3rd, Federal Minister of Finance Bill Morneau announced new preventative measures aimed at keeping the Canadian housing market “competitive and stable”.

Among those were two main changes: the first takes aim at the principal residence exemption on housing transactions, and the second focuses on tightening lending parameters on mortgages insured by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Principal residence loopholes Presently, there are numerous ways in which people may claim the principal residence exemption on the sale of residential real estate.

One such loophole in the tax laws allows non-residents to buy homes in Canada, and then get a tax exemption to avoid paying capital gains tax when they sell the home by claiming it as a principal residence. Effective immediately, people who were not residents of Canada in the year they acquired a residence will not be able to claim the exemption for that year.

People who were legitimate residents at both the time of purchase and the time of sale will still be able to take advantage of the principal residence tax exemption.

Additionally, after 2016, trusts will only be able to designate a property as a principal residence if they are able to meet eligibility criteria.

Insured mortgages The federal government is also taking aim at mortgages insured by CMHC. Presently, legislation requires that all federally-regulated lenders obtain mortgage default insurance for people with a downpayment of less than 20 per cent on a home purchase. Effective October 17th, all insured homebuyers must qualify for mortgage insurance in accordance with either their contract mortgage rate or the Bank of Canada’s conventional five-year fixed posted rate — whichever is greater.

For example, consider the average Canadian family with $80,000 annual income and a $30,000 down payment. According to the website RateHub, the lowest advertised five-year closed rate in Canada at the time this article was written was 2.17 per cent. That means this borrower could qualify for a house worth about $563,000. If this person was forced to use the average five-year posted rate to calculate affordability, presently 4.64 per cent, he or she would qualify for a house worth $440,000. This is a difference of about $123,000, or almost 28 per cent.

This rule was put into place as a sort of “stress test” to ensure hopeful buyers can afford to get into the market in the first place and meet their payments when lending levels begin to rise one day. It also helps provide a financial cushion for borrowers in the event of job losses or other financial hardships. It will apply to all new mort-

gages and does not affect existing insured mortgages, or those renewing an existing insured mortgage.

How will these changes affect Canadians?

These changes are expected to impact Canada in many ways. By tightening up rules regarding the principal residence exemption, Canada will be able to minimize tax leakage by foreign money. It will also ensure the principal residence exemption is used in way that is fairer to all concerned.

Implementing tighter lending rules on insured mortgages is expected to put downward pressure on housing prices, especially in markets like Vancouver and Toronto.

This result, however, comes at the price of cutting Canadians out of the housing market until prices either come down, or their financial situation changes.

Some experts believe both these measures should help reduce the risk of a housing market correction in Vancouver and Toronto, and help keep household debt — now at 167.6 per cent of income — from escalating much further. The true results, however, remain to be seen.

If you have any questions about changes to the principal residence tax exemption and how they might affect you, speak with your accountant. And before you go house shopping, be sure to get a pre-approval from your mortgage lender to ensure affordability.

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

Senior Investment Advisor Insurance Agent

Sara Worley CIM®, FCSI®

Investment Advisor Insurance Agent

Bringing Manulife’s extensive estate planning resources to our community

GIC Rates

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