Crowsnest Pass Herald

www.crowsnestpassherald.ca • 403-562-2248 •passherald@shaw.ca

April 1, 2020 ~ Vol. 90 No. 13 $1.00

crowSneSt PaSS

Herald Serving the CnP SinCe 1930

Hope David Selles photo

Local businesses like Allied Ace Hardware and many others throughout the community have placed stuffed animals in their windows for people to find. This fun scavenger hunt gives families a chance to get out of the house while keeping isolated.

ServiceS

Page 7

cHamBer

Pages 5, 8 & 9

looking Back

Page 13

2 – CroWSneSt PASS HerALD – Wednesday, April 1, 2020

CNP Minor Hockey

AwArds BAnquet & AGM d e n Po

sunday, April 18st 12:30 pm MdM Bellevue

t s Po

Crowsnest Curling Club

AGM & windup April 3, 2020 in the Curling Lounge d

e n Po

t s o P

Cocktails: 5:30pm AGM & Elections: 6:00pm Dinner: 7:00pm

Business triage on Main Street DAviD ThomAs Feature Writer

While medical ethicists guide emergency room staff on whom to save and whom to let die should Covid-19 overwhelms our hospitals, another equally brutal triage is taking place on Main Street.

Clinicians are advised to base their triage choices on a patient's prospects for recovery, with a bias in favour of the young and otherwise healthy. The political triage of small business underway by Alberta has no such ethical underpinning. Arbitrarily, small businesses are declared "essential," and must remain open, or they are condemned as "non-essential" and allowed to expire.

A walk down Blairmore's Main Street (still legal with a dog) reveals the economic, social, and personal devastation caused directly by the provincial government's murderous lack of basic preparation for an oft-predicted pandemic. Without the personnel and gear to manage an anticipated but not yet real surge of illness, Alberta panicked. It is crushing small businesses, permanently transering what's left of the retail sector over to Amazon, while pacifying the population with "essential" alcohol and marijuana.

As better-prepared countries such as Sweden, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore have shown, the virus can be managed without destroying the economy.

These countries, so far, have much-lower hospitalization and fatality rates than Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States and

Complete & Professional Insurance Service • Insurance - 403-562-8822 • Registry - 403-562-2011 info@crowsnestinsurance.com • registry@crowsnestinsurance.com

Canada, where the dogmas of austerity and minimal government have left citizens defenceless.

Now, from the same people, we get limitless money still wet from the printing press and a government that puts everyone under virtual house arrest.

Let's start our stroll down Main Street, naturally, at the end: Fantin's Funeral Chapel. You can still slip Uncle Mort into the flames; but no funerals, no flowers, no grieving -- all unessential.

Likewise, Grace Anglican and United Church, and all of our houses of worship, baptism, marriage and death.

By order of the formerly pious United Conservatives, God is under quarantine.

Ben Wong, Sinistra's Salon, Prestige Cleaners, Copy Magic, Alpenland, - all of them non-essential.

That's a big relief to their owners, no doubt tickled that they will be able to increase their government-conditioned debt by as much as $40,000.

Meanwhile, their former workers click open their online bank accounts in happy anticipation of the next direct dole deposit -their lives now officially non-essential and thus unburdened by any financial or moral imperative to earn their own living.

Already darkened by a building inspector's fear of a roof collapse that didn't happen, the Orpheum Theatre has likely been dealt a coup-de-grâce by the government reign of terror that will be impossible to undo for a generation. Cinema is, after all, non-essential.

With movies being deemed non-essential, so, logically, is vision. Thus, Rocky Mountain Optometry is shuttered indefinitely. Nothing more to see here, anyway.

A hold-out to the end, Spry was a beacon for the Pass's ex-future as an outdoors-oriented shopping and recreation destination. Spry did agily converted its business model to a titillating "Curb-side Pickup", but that disap-

pointingly turns out to be just a bag on the sidewalk.

Spry and most other retailers had already taken delivery of their spring and summer stock, now all non-essential. The banks will no doubt be sympathetic to the notion that repayment of seasonal inventory loans is also non-essential.

Real estate offices, fitness centres, investment brokers, insurance providers, are all deemed as non-essential as the Cosmopolitan and Greenhills saloons. (With law offices also closed, who will process the bankruptcies?)

The Rose Peddlar florist will not recoup its spring season losses: There will be no sudden release of pent-up demand for funeral wreaths and grad corsages, and marriages will be sterile affairs with brides wearing N95 veils and rings offered at the end of a sixfoot stick.

The occupants of the old Home Bank building are undeniably non-essential. Who needs a Chamber of Commerce without commerce. Even more redundant, is Crowsnest Conservation Society. The skies are clear, the chainsaws have fallen silent, the drilling rigs have fled to Texas, and there will never be either need nor money to realign Highway 3 through the wetlands. As for the spectre of any new coal mines: Poof!

So it's G'day to the flurry of offices opened

by Australian mining promoters. Thanks, Riversdale, for the traffic lights and the beautiful road to the rebuilt golf course you also paid for. We don't want to seem ungrateful, but our present worry is keeping at least some of the mining jobs we still have in a rapidly de-industrializing global economy. (According to BBC, China's ventilator manufacturers can't meet demand because the world supply of components has withered under the onslaught of global government economic oppression.)

So now we come to the Crowsnest Pass winners in Alberta's economic triage: the pharmacy, the pot shop, the liquor store and the post office.

Cannabis, not long ago a criminal trade, is suddenly essential to keep the citizenry quiescent. (Ref. "Soma", Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 1932.) Similarly essential, the Blairmore Liquor Store, for old-school social pacification.

The post office is of course absolutely essential to the government's dictated diversion of retail transactions from Main Street to www.wepaynotaxes.com.

So, if you want a legal outing and you don't have a dog, slip on your comfiest pyjama bottoms and shuffle on down to the post office for your government-paid relief package from Amazon.

And, of course, be sure to nip across the street to replenish your stash of Soma. You will need it.

As John Ibbitson writes in The Globe and Mail, "Shops will close and jobs disappear as the elites discover that they like working from home and having everything delivered. Inequality and resentment of inequality will increase. . . .

"And we seem to have stumbled into a guaranteed annual income. In an effort to protect workers and keep the economy from shutting down completely, the federal government has rolled out plans to pay those who lose their jobs or their business or whatever their livelihood might be, including those who must quit work to care for others. The measures are only temporary, but that’s what they said about income tax in 1917."

The vast majority of Crowsnest Pass businesses are non-essential to anyone except their owners, employees and customers. But who cares about them. We have an economy to shut down and a society to convert from productive employment to state dependency.

For updates on the municipality and Covid-19 virus check our website and Facebook page.

We will continue to be your tried and trusted source of information and news for the Crowsnet Pass!

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - Crowsnest PAss herAlD - 3

In the lIne of fIre Between March 23 and March 30, Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded to a total of 33 calls for service including the following reported incidents.

Three (3) assaults, two (2) threats/harassments, one (1) mischief (vandalism), two (2) thefts, one (1) disturbing the peace, five (5) other criminal codes, four (4) other provincial statutes, five (5) driving complaints, two (2) motor vehicle collisions, two (2) assistance to general public, two (2) suspicious occurrences, two (2) assistance to other agencies, one (1) 911 call (invalid) and one (1) false alarm.

Mischief On March 20th, 2020, there was a complaint of mischief to parked vehicles in a parking lot on main street in Blairmore.

Eggs and Apples were thrown at the vehicles.

Outstanding Warrants On March 24th, 2020, a male turned himself into RCMP detachment on outstanding warrants

from Lethbridge. He was released on documents for Court at a later date.

Noise Complaint On March 25th, 2020, there was a complaint of a noise that sounded like shots fired in Bellevue. It is unknown where the noise came from.

Single Vehicle Rollover On March 29th, 2020, RCMP were informed of a single vehicle rollover near Lundbreck. Occupants left the scene and were picked up by a passerby. Pincher Creek and Nanton members assisted in the arrest of a 25year-old female and 41-year-old male from Calgary area. They were charged with possession of stolen property. The vehicle was reported stolen from Calgary.

Effective immediately the RCMP office will be limited to persons attending detachment. If you need to attend the detachment, there will be limited persons at the detachment including front counter. Please call to make appointment at

~ rCMP news ~

403 562 2867.

Found bikes turned into Crowsnest Pass Bylaw Be aware of a new scam. Victims get phone calls from someone pretending to be from Service Canada or another government agency, saying their social insurance number (SIN) has been blocked, compromised or suspended. The call might be one of the latest variations on caller ID in which fraudsters disguises the number seen on the ID display in order to trick victims into answering phone. The person will ask for SIN and other personal info, such as date of birth, address, etc. Victims who provide personal info are at risk of identity fraud.

Also, Do not say yes to any questions if you are unsure of who is calling as people can use voice recognition to access other information.

Anyone with information regarding any crime is urged to contact the Crowsnest Pass

The Simple Raven’s Post

by Avner Perl

A virus war story The country is in trouble, worse than it was when we declared war after Pearl Harbour. This is a time such as most living Canadians have never experienced in their lifetime. We are under attack from two, perhaps three fronts at the same time, and our people are becoming casualties. It is not only soldiers who are falling, but mostly civilians right at their homes, towns, and cities.

To survive the war, we will need co-operation from all of us to an unprecedented level. It will take self-sacrifice, and the ability to go on fighting even under stress, deprivation, isolation, and losses.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A space historian recorded his impressions. He was studying primitive physical cultures close to entering the transition to a spiritual existence. He was visible to his own kind but not to earthly humans yet for those who saw him; he looked humanoid.

I saw a world of bipedal intelligent creatures who built and developed an amazing civilization. They are amazing not only in their ability to build and develop but also in working towards beauty and some ability for caring for each other. Some are great warriors but others developed humanitarian tendencies and empathy towards each other and even towards animals they share the world with. As in other worlds, humans were not all of the same mind, but generally, they displayed the potential to be a force of good.

They could not see me, or my vehicle, so I remained around the planet.

Humans in a relatively short time developed great technologies, amplifying their physical power and control over their environment. Their biggest quest is to overcome a process they call on their planet “evolution.” Their bodies and brains develop competitively, dropping the less able into oblivion. They do realize that they are spirits (like us Space Travelers) but they are unable to overcome the tempting physical plenty which surrounds them.

Since the Space Historian wasn’t subjected to the planetary time, he observed humans over hundreds of earthly years taking notes. The humans, he said, are not efficient in organization. They are concerned about advancement, but constant competition leads them to provide great rewards for a few who excel while ignoring the greater numbers, leaving the majority mostly unused for the greater good. The species could have been developing much faster if all its members were utilized. I conclude that the evolutionary system of the planet is the cause.

The Historian observed humans transitioning from a mainly agrarian society to an industrial age. People learned how to use mechanical means to augment their muscles.

RCMP Detachment at 403-562-2867, or Crimestoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-422TIPS. Reminder to residents of computer scams, credit cards scams, Grandparent scams, Revenue Canada scams asking for money or cash cards and saying warrants out for arrest, do not give out personal information to persons you don't know.

DO NOT OPEN EMAILS if you are suspicious of its origin. Do NOT purchase gift cards for payment to Revenue Canada.

Do not send monies to person claiming you have won a prize and need to send money for delivery.

Crime mapping is available online to residents who are interested can login online at Municipality of Crowsnest Pass website (RCMP crime map for Crowsnest Pass).

Crime mapping shows property crimes that occurred within the past two weeks in our area.

DiD you know?

1 out of every 8 letters written is an “e”.

HWY #3, Frank • 562-8043

it's YOUR vehicle . . . ...your insurance company CANNOT tell you where to fix it.

it's the LAW and it’s YOUR choice

We offer a LIFETIME GUARANTEE on ALL repairs and refinishing for as long as it’s yours.

(403) 563-3999

YOUR choice for auto body repair.

Later they studied the environment and developed advanced weapons for fighting each other. They improved communications and traveling. Not long after, Artificial Intelligence machines and the humans managed to leave the Earth’s atmosphere and return.

The Historian made some footnotes. Humans are attempting to travel to other areas of space but have a physical barrier. They do not understand nonphysical existence yet. They made up a story about God, which leads them to believe that He is less than what he is.

As humans began using satellite communications, the Historian began gathering mountains of information. In one of his notes, he described an observation.

Humans have been experimenting with governing themselves, but failed to discover and implement an efficient, equitable way. They designed communism to rule by consensus of the masses, but failed. A Democratic Capitalist system led the species towards destroying their world. Currently, the species is on “pause” by intervention they call an Act of God, which is threatening the civilization’s ability to survive.

Epidemics affect primitive cultures greatly causing unforeseen changes. Some immediate and long-lasting, and others only show up a long time after. The humans coining of the event as an “act of God” is true. God, whom humans envision as an all-powerful human. They designed an invisible creator who installed behaviours into creation to enhance and preserve it. Humans call it the law of nature and are just beginning to discover its workings.

I was watching the creatures build cities and optimize technology while at the same time their ever-growing population lives deprived of basic needs. Their evolutionary system is handicapped by their inability to involve a great number of individuals and is hampered by the control of a few who often are not most advanced or capable.

Almost all sicknesses and disasters meet a response from the supreme mind of the universe. As I expected, a plague, they named COVID 19, entered the humans' world atmosphere threatening to wreak havoc and demanding reaction. They are forced to use their opposing governing systems and expose weaknesses and strengths.

In less than a month, most of the advanced nations on Earth instituted measures to isolate populations, bringing the world economy to a standstill. The reaction of the panicked populace exposed the truth that the economy was built to benefit a few at the expense of the many keeping most humans at subsistence level unneeded. Also, a new wave of sharing engulfed humanity.

An oil-based economy that made energy unnecessarily expensive collapsed when production limits were lifted plunging the most affluent energy companies into useless status. The economy that was based on creating artificial scarcity has been exposed.

People connected by Social Media began to overthrow pretend Gods like money, sports, fame, and politics. A new appreciation dawned on the value of community, family, and the benefit of caring for each other. As the casualties are mounting, there is a feeling that there is an invisible hand directing events to help humans preserve their civilization.

The space historian finished his notes and said a little prayer for the creatures he was studying. Being a more advanced creature of their own kind, he had empathy and something called LOVE in human communications. His ancestors barely survived similar trials in their history. Humbly he attributed their survival to some invisible mind called God. Could God be using a simple, nonliving or thinking virus to shape things to come?

Here is a link to my blog: https://thesimpleravenspost.blogspot.ca/ Feel free to check other articles and comment.

4 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 5

The Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce is monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and taking all necessary precautions to support the health and safety of our members, team and community members. We are working remotely to try and keep you as updated as possible, you can continue to reach us by phone (403-562-7108) or email (office@crowsnestpasschamber.ca). During these hard times we will see a lot of people hurting and vulnerable, we encourage you to show compassion and empathy. We will get through this, but it is important we all stay strong, healthy and continue to practice all the preventative measures in order to make that happen.

WAYS TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES WHILE PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING: • Share social media updates • Order takeout/delivery • Buy merchandise online • Attend online classes • Buy a gift card • Leave a review • Read your local newspaper As tough as this situation has been, we have seen our local businesses increase their support for one another, highlight their innovative sides and decorate their windows with messages of support/silly faces/teddy bears and hearts. Thank you to our local businesses for going above and beyond to try to continue to provide our community with their amazing services. Please visit www.crowsnestpasschamber.ca for a listing of information and resources for the COVID-19 pandemic. You can also follow us on Facebook to receive updates on Local businesses and governement announcments.

WEBSITES TO NAVIGATE FOR MORE UP TO DATE INFORMATION MUNICIPAL - https://www.crowsnestpass.com/media-center/covid-19-information PROVINCIAL - www.https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx FEDERAL - https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-diseasecovid-19.html Government of Canada information line for ei claims related to COVID-19- 1-833-381-2725 *For more available resources please visit www.crowsnestpasschamber.ca

COVID-19 AND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH A public health emergency, such as COVID-19 outbreak cause anxiety/stress for some, especially for people who have pre-existing medical conditions, who are travelling or are separated from family and friends at home and aboard.

HELPFUL RESOURCES: • HealthLink 811 or Mental Health Helpline 1-877-303-2642 • Provincial 211- provides referrals for community, government and social services • Employee and Family Assistance Program - contact your Human Resource (HR) or your employer’s provider • Kids and teens can call the Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868

This page sponsored by: MonteM ResouRces 7720-17 Ave., coleman

montem-resources.com

6 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, april 1, 2020

Editorial Today I am writing my editorial in my house, warm with the fireplace running and I can hear the kids doing their online schooling from their rooms. Keiran has one more test to write to finish his second year of university and Aiden is plugging away at Chemistry 30 and Calculus, a first-year university math course. Quinn has the lightest load in Grade 8, but he’s doing his part to keep up to date on his work.

As much as I hate the isolation, it’s allowed me a few moments to reflect on all the good things that I have seen, within my own family unit and within this community.

So instead of talking about the COVID-19 crisis and how the world is ending economically, I’m going to talk about the good things I’ve seen.

Keiran is my most outgoing child. He’s busy all the time, either with his friends, with school or working on his business TKO Recycling. I’m so proud of this young man, finding a niche in the community and learning how to run a business. Starting this business while applying the things he is learning from university is invaluable experience. As a result of his hectic social and work life I rarely see him when he’s home from school. This isolation has allowed me some significant time with him. I’m cooking every night (often I don’t have time for a sitdown meal with council meeting most nights) and I’m spending more time with him then I have in the last few years.

Aiden is graduating this year, and with his brains he’s going to head off to a university far away from me, go to school for a long time and my guess is he will never return home. He will do great things in this world, but unfortunately it will be away from me. I told him once that I would follow him anywhere and he replied, “ok mom, but don’t you think that would be a bit creepy”. I guess it is, but I truly would. He’s the light of my life, the kindest, smartest most loving human I’ve ever had the privilege to meet. So, this time in isolation is time I relish.

Any time with him before he leaves is a gift.

Quinn, well he’s the most like my mom, head strong and determined. Not being able to do sports and be busy all the time is getting to him. He’s a teenager not being able to teenage. He’s grumpy that he can’t swim this summer, he’s grumpy cause he’s full of hormones but he’s really trying his best not to fight with his brothers.

That’s a win in my books.

I see businesses being creative in how they provide service. Restaurants are providing take out, some are changing their business plans to include distribution of bulk food. It’s funny how you can become ingenious when you must, to stave off bankruptcy.

The government has all these plans in place to help businesses, yet you can’t even get online for access. You either can’t find anyone to help you, you are hung up on or you wait for hours. I’ve heard horror stories from people trying desperately to get help from Service Alberta, but the number of callers is too huge, it’s either backlogged or non-existent. Let’s hope with the new portal open on April 6 things will get easier.

I love that Dr. Maritz put an Italian flag on top of his building. What a wonderful sentiment for that beleaguered country. They may be a sea away, but they are in our thoughts.

Finally, to whoever came up with the teddy bear in the windows campaign. I love it. We all need something to smile about as we head out on a walk.

I’ll end this with thanking every person who subscribes to my paper. We are 2000 strong and I truly thank you for reading it. Occasionally someone will send me an email or stop me on the street telling me they loved my editorial. I sometimes wonder if it’s even being read.

Those words of encouragement mean the world to me. I thank my faithful advertisers. I have not lost many and although I know they are struggling themselves they are still purchasing ads or buying a subscription. Every dollar helps each business in this community. To Teri Harrison, I can’t tell you how awesome it was to see you in Copy Magic using your Brighter Future budget in the community. You change a few businesses month by your gesture. For those businesses that only make their money with people driving through and not the local citizens I hope you realize how important those citizens are, they are the ones keeping you floating. I’ll end this with a saying I always used long before the pandemic, if we stick together and support our local business we all win!

Wash your hands, stay home when you can, be kind and for goodness sakes thank those cashiers at IGA, our local stores and the hospital. They are putting their health on the line for us all.

Letters to the the Editor Policy: The Pass Herald welcomes Letters to the Editor that examine issues, but reserves the right to edit for length, libel and syntax. Writers must sign letters and include first and last names, address and telephone number. Address and telephone numbers will not be published. Only in exceptional cases will the Pass Herald withhold the name of the writer and in those cases the writer must disclose his/her name, address and telephone number to the Editor. Electronic email will be considered an electronic signature.

Letters to the Editor do not reflect the opinion of the Pass Herald. Letters cannot exceed 1,000 words. We have limited space, but we do enjoy printing every article. So please, to allow everyone to express their opinion, keep the letters short and to the point. We do have the right to refuse any letter that in our judgement may contain libel or libelous opinions. Should a litigation result from your letter, you as the writer are responsible but so is this newspaper as the publisher.

The Pass Herald is a family owned community newspaper and therefore reserves the right to refuse any advertisement that in our opinion does not follow our mandate. We cannot accept advertisements or letters criticizing or disparaging other advertisers, companies or individuals or any advertisements directed to a religion or race.

Economic recovery for the Pass Dear Editor; Please find below a copy of a letter that I have sent to the Premier and to the Alberta Economic Recovery Council that the Premier has appointed to strategically plan for our province’s future once the Coved 19 situation has ended. I would like to encourage CNP residents to consider submitting such a letter to the Recover Council with the hope of positive development and growth in the Crowsnest Pass.

Email submissions can be made via this link: https://www.alberta.ca/economic-recovery-council.aspx Just click on the “contact us” location near the bottom of the page.

To: Alberta Economic Recovery Council Dear Sirs: You have a momen-

tous task before you. This is a time for progressive and accelerated development approvals that respect both the environment and the economic needs of our Province. In Alberta we are sitting on an abundance of Metallurgical coal used in the steel refining process. Specifically, there are encouraging developments in the Crowsnest Pass area. Three companies are actively exploring and developing plans for the area here is the company name project status and jobs/life summarized.

1) Montem ResourcesThe Tent Mountain Mine (then the Chinook Project not summarized here) Environment permits in place, however amendments submitted. Operating plan and permits

A sincere thank you Dear Editor; My novel Tomorrow, a story about life in an isolated community after a devasting pandemic, was referenced in a recent article in the Crowsnest Pass Herald. I acknowledge the writer has a right to have and to express an opinion about the current health crisis and the message in my book, but I must respectfully disagree.

My novel is a work of fiction. I researched genetics and viruses to

gather enough facts to make my story believable.

I am no expert in any scientific field and should not be cited as a reliable source when making decisions about behaviour during a health emergency.

I recommend the book Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World by Laura Spinney.

The author thoroughly researched the history of pandemics and tells the story of contagion in a

required. 200 temporary construction followed by 175 permanent positions 15 years then the Chinook Project 2) Riversdale Resources Limited- the Grassy Mountain Project. (other projects not summarized here) EIA is under review with Provincial and Federal regulators. 400 plus construction positions and 385 permanent positions. 25-year life then other mine location options 3) Atrum Coal- The Elan Hard Coking Coal Project (Borders Riversdale) In exploration phase. Environmental baselines study underway. Impact assessment and pre-feasibility study in 2020. Number of jobs unknown.

I trust that the Recovery Council can appreciate this summary and the po-

tential economic benefits to Alberta. If Provincial influence can encourage the federal regulator process to move forward on both the Riversdale Resources Project and the Montem Resources project this would help reverse the trend of job loss in Alberta and provide encouragement to the electorate.

I would also like to suggest that the development of a research facility aimed at clean coal technology might be a strategic position of value as you look into the recovery of our province.

In closing, I would like to remind you that Canada is almost not livable without fossil fuels. The development of our coal resources is prudent and in our best interests, despite the naysayers.

matter-of-fact, easy-to-understand manner. She cites examples of communities whose citizens followed edicts to self-isolate and who survived in far greater numbers than those in communities that did not.

Thank you to the individuals, the organizations and the businesses in Crowsnest Pass who have, based on the advice of highly educated and trusted medical professionals and scientists, followed the orders of our political leaders to selfisolate, to close our doors,

to hunker down until it is safe for us to hug our friends and neighbors again.

Thank you to all those who must take greater risks, who pick up our garbage, clean our streets, prepare our food, deliver our parcels; who work in the post office, the shops, the clinics, the hospitals and other places that must keep their doors open. Thank you to those who keep their distance and smile and wave in passing.

Tim Juhlin

Merilyn Ruth Liddell

The Only lOcally Owned newspaper serving The crOwsnesT pass & area

EstablishEd in 1930 - SErVing THE COMMuniTy FOr 90 yEArS For news stories contact us at: passherald@shaw.ca 403-562-2248 For on-line subscriptions visit our website at passherald.ca

Lisa Sygutek - Publisher/Editor Mike Chambers - Production Manager David Selles - Reporter/Photography John Kinnear - Feature Writer Avner Perl - Feature Writer

PUBlIShEd EvERy WEdNESdAy COPYRIGHT NOTICE: The entire contents of Crowsnest Pass Herald are protected by the Law of Copyright. No portion thereof is to be reproduced without the specific permission of the publisher.

Office Hours: Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm Located at 12925 - 20th Ave. • Box 960, Blairmore, AB TOK OEO

Aiden Douglas and Darbie Fraser Distribution Owned and Operated by Lisa Sygutek

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (GST Included)

• Single Copy: $1.00 • Crowsnest Pass and Area - $40/year (within a 40-mile radius) • Seniors -$35.00/year • Outside a 40-mile radius - $60/year •USA - $75/year

Visit us at: passherald.ca Contact us at: passherald@shaw.ca

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 7

hours: Monday - Friday • 8 am - 5:30 pm Open through lunch hour 11930-22 ave., Blairmore 403-562-2588 hours: Monday - saturday 9 am - 3 pm • Take OuT Main street Blairmore 403-753-2245

Chris’ Restaurant

hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm 11334-20 ave., Blairmore 403-562-2202

Vito’s

Family Restaurant Closed for renovations until april 8. Will keep you posted if this changes. Thanks to all of our loyal customers.

New hours: Open 3 - 9 pm • Take OuT 10%off all take out orders sorry No Delivery.

7902-20 ave., Coleman 403-562-7552

8505-20 ave., Coleman 403-564-4522

hours: Tuesday - saturday Noon - 7 pm • Take OuT Downtown Coleman 403-563-3093

Ben Wong Restaurant 13249-20 Ave., Blairmore 403-562-8388

hours: sunday 11 am - 9 pm Tues. - sat. 11 am - 9:30 pm Monday Closed Take OuT sOMe Delivery

Blairmore Lions TV Bingo Tuesdays at 7:30 pm Channel 12 Bingo will continue until further notice.

BasiC Fresh GrOCery BOx Changes Weekly • Pick up or Delivery Delivery Mondays & Thursdays

Take OuT & Delivery

We do delivery in these hard times.

7701-17 ave., Coleman 403-563-5299

7701-17 ave., Coleman 403-563-5299

Pass Beverages Announcement from Pass Beverages Due to the Covid-19 crisis we will be closing the bottle Depot active Saturday March 28th. The depot will remain closed until it's deemed safe to open again.

The office will remain open part time, Monday and Thursday, hours to be determined. This will not effect our food orders apart from how to contact us, phone, email, or message the Pass Beverages account, just leave your name and number.

The Bulk Food Distribution side is open for business.

Phone 403-562-8585 to place an order.

We're sorry for any inconveince this may cause but the safety of our staff takes priority. Our thanks for how popular the food orders have been and we hope to continue offering this service as best we can through this crisis.

Stay safe everyone, and we look forward to being back to normal.

CheCk our FACeBook PAge For uPdAtes regArding our serviCe.

" "& # !

" !

!"

! & # "

! & #

!%" ! " !" ! !# $ #! " !" !"

#

#" "

" &

% ! !

" #

% " "' " &#

& # " !

! # !"

!

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

% ! ! #! !" & " & ! " % & # "" " "& # ! " !

8 – CRoWsnest Pass HeRaLD – Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Chamber

Connection

Randall Whiteside - Century 21 With a background in housing which includes a residential construction career, accommodation management company, buying, selling, renovating, renting and flipping properties, Randall’s experience is very diverse when it comes to housing and Real estate. “I’ve been in the housing business since I started in the workforce over 30 years ago. This has always been my passion, and there is nothing

that I feel more comfortable or knowledgeable about”. Randall started Real Estate here in the CNP in 2006, and realized he had found his dream career when he could now share his knowledge and passion in a way that would also help people with one of the biggest financial, and often emotional purchases they will make. Although most of his work is still here in the Crowsnest Pass, he has had an

opportunity to branch out and do some of his work in Lethbridge, which has been an invaluable experience to his career. “This has really helped me get to the next level, I have learned so much doing work there”.

Randall is currently one of the top producing agents in his brokerage of 40-50 agents from across Southern Alberta.

Randall loves to follow the local stats and market trends and

is always available to discuss the market with a very honest and educated opinion.

He is licensed in all areas of Real Estate and can help you buy or sell residential, commercial, and rural properties in the Crowsnest Pass and SW Alberta. If you are considering buying or selling, give Randall a call, he is very happy to share his knowledge and experience to help you make your next move.

12501-20 Ave., Room 180, Blairmore

403-562-8858

7620 17 Ave., Coleman (403) 562-2920

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - crowSneSt pASS HerALD - 9

Chamber Connection Chamber Corner

Alberta Small Haul

To our vendors, sponsors and all participants of the 32nd Annual Crowsnest Pass Lifestyle and Outdoor Adventure Show, After monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic closely for the past 2 weeks it is with great sadness the Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce has come to the difficult decision to cancel our 32nd Annual Crowsnest Pass Lifestyle & Outdoor Adventure Show. With an amazing line up of vendors, generous sponsors, a partnership with the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad and Peak Events, a new kick off of a local street food and beer tasting event there was no doubt in our minds that this year was going to be a huge success. We will be working on getting refunds sent out to all vendors within the next week. We thank you for your support and we hope to see you at next year's event. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. We wish you all the best during these difficult times.

Alberta Small Haul would like to thank all of our customers and partners for their support making our first full year a great success. Alberta Small Haul offers junk removal, dump runs and on demand delivery services. We have a 14’ dump trailer and a 20’ flat deck trailer to

move the items you need. We are fully registered and licenced to operate in Southern Alberta, We carry business insurance and cargo insurance so you can have peace of mind when you contract us to haul your cargo or have us remove junk and unwanted items from

chamberplan.ca

Scott Walls | BMgt., RHU | Alberta Workplace Solutions Inc. P: 403.892.9675 Toll Free: 888.992.9675 scott@albertaworkplacesolutions.com www.albertaworkplacesolutions.com

your property.

This year is presenting significant challenges for our entire community but Alberta Small Haul is still open and will remain open during the current health event. If you need a dump run or have junk to be removed, please call us.

We would ask that

you arrange a space for the items to be removed in the driveway, garage, or readily accessible area of your yard for pick up. This will help with social distancing efforts. We will not be entering occupied homes while social distancing measures are in effect.

The Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce is monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and taking all necessary precautions to support the health and safety of our members, team and community members. We have decided to close our office but will continue to work remotely, you can continue to reach us by phone: (403-562-7108) or email:(office@crowsnestpasschamber.ca)

10 – CrowsnesT Pass HeraLD – Wednesday, april 1, 2020

.% 4+0- % *!. *! ,- /& " .+ & ( !&./ * &*$ /+ .(+2 /%" .,-" ! +*5/ .+ & ( &.+( /" ,& ' 0, /%" ,%+*" *! +**" / 2&/% #-&"*!. *! # )&(4 '"

(&1&*$./+*" )

-" +# 4+0- )"*/ ( %" (/%

+*./&/0"* "*/-" &$% * ! ##& " ("+! ..")

4

##& "

4 ##& " /-""/ &1"(4

/"((&/" ##& " +3 * %( *! (( "2"/.+* 1" &* %"- -""' * !

Pass Beverages helping out Local business owner now providing bulk food orders DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

Local business owner Brent Kenny is making changes to some of the services he provides due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kenny owns multiple different small businesses and is currently worried that some won’t survive.

“I'm a multi-business owner. I own the bottle depot and I have multiple other entities that I run out of the same building and they’re all grinding to a halt.”

Kenny says he has shut down the bottle depot temporarily due to lack of customers.

"Due to the decline in customers coming in because they're doing the right thing, the risk isn't worth the reward because we're doing such a little volume in the bottle depot now that we're losing money and my workers are running out of things to do."

Kenny says he will reassess around April 15th to see if it's possible to reopen.

Kenny is also worried that if this continues too long, some of his entities may not recover.

"If it goes too long then the public starts looking at amazon and they start looking at different avenues and the small businesses will all suffer. I'm not worried about the bottle depot. I'll be able to start that up again when the virus goes over. It's just some of my other sideline ones."

The uncertainty is part of the reason Kenny opened his bulk food orders to the general public.

"That's why we decided to offer the restaurant supplies and those things to the public as well. We used to strictly sell it to restaurants but they are all closing and we do work for the mine and they've cut their workforce. Everybody is just in lockdown panic mode."

Kenny says there is a decent amount of items available to the public.

“It's about a 30-page list of items people can order. The list will grow as the demand rises for things. We're trying to keep a limited selection because there are just so many items we can get and it's really difficult to decide which items to get.

What we've done is check with our sales person and

the company we deal with and asked for one or two best selling selections of certain items. We're doing this to be efficient and so that people don't receive something that isn't satisfactory to them."

Kenny says the items are listed on their website and can also be found on their Facebook page.

“Presently we have a website up. It's been mostly on the Facebook page but we do have a website and all the information is posted on our Pass Beverages website.

The prices are listed on the website as well. It's more bulk foods than it is everyday grocery items. I think there's 32 items presently on the site and there is a price for each one.”

People interested in using this service can phone the Pass Beverages office and place an order.

Currently, Kenny says they receive shipments two days a week.

Customers can pick up their orders once ready at the Pass Beverages location.

Kenny says customers can also ask about delivery as well if that's preferred.

The Fallen Local doctor, Johann Maritz, switched out the Canadian Flag on top of his building for an Italian flag to show his support for the country. Italy has been one of the hardest hit countries and have had over 10,000 people die due to the virus.

Herald Contributor photo

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - crowsnest pass HeraLD - 11

John Pundyk.CoM

Simply Selles Musings from you local reporter

Week two of social distancing has garnered mixed results.

The work side of things hasn’t been too bad.

It’s slowed down a bit overall meaning when there is something to do I jump at it right away to keep somewhat busy.

The main challenge has been finding enough things to keep me occupied when I’m not working.

I’ve been taking walks almost daily to at least get outside for an hour or so but the struggles come when attempting to fill the other 10ish hours of a day where I’m not working or out for a walk.

Social Media has both helped and hindered over this period of time.

On the downside, if too much time is spent on Facebook and Twitter specifically, the negative news surrounding the virus can weigh pretty heavy.

I think with the amount of information out there, it’s important to limit the amount of new information you take in regarding the virus.

It’s also important to balance that news.

Find tweets or news that shows progress is being made.

Recently, I saw a tweet that says a pharmaceutical giant has said that pre-clinical studies in animals, as well as the first data from clinical studies, show that a certain drug kills the virus.

It’s currently difficult to find out if that is 100% true, but even if it’s not, take heart in the fact that we have a major advantage over previous pandemics.

That advantage is modern medicine.

We are able to do things now that couldn’t be done previously, which should help slow the virus sooner than previous times in history.

Another positive that can come from social media is that people are posting creative ways to keep your mind off of things.

There are currently a few different challenges going around.

I myself have done two of them.

It’s just a simple way to still have some fun while being stuck inside.

I’ve also seen many communities including ours (go us!) take part in a new scavenger hunt.

Businesses will place a stuffed animal in their window and residents can drive around and look for all of them.

It’s another way young families can take their minds off of the current situation for a while and have some fun together.

If we limit the amount of negativity we read and watch over this time, it’ll be that much easier to make it through this and come out on the other side.

Stay positive and stay safe!

403

Royal LePage South Country Real Estate Services Ltd. moUNtaiN PRoPERtY Great opportunity to own a mountain acreage close to Lee Lake and en route to Castle Mountain Ski Resort. This acreage offers many opportunities for someone who would like to keep horses or other farm animals on a small piece of land. Small acreages in this area are rare because of the subdivision process and requirements. Just off of Highway 507. $249,000 CALL JOHN MLS

562-8830 jpundyk@shaw.ca

bLaiRmoRE coNDo Very reasonable condo fees with in suite washer & dryer. Expertly updated for the comforts of modern living in the Canadian Rockies. An affordable option as a home or as an investment. Excellent main street location. Parking at rear of building. Ski hill, swimming pool and other amenities within walking distance. $84,000 CALL JOHN MLS

bLaiRmoRE Large family bungalow in central Blairmore location with fully developed basement. 3 bedrooms up, 2 down. Spacious living area with vaulted ceiling and a 3-sided gas fireplace.

Great covered deck off the dining area for BBQ or entertainment. The master bedroom features a soaker tub and separate shower. Large media room/family room. Fully fenced yard. Large attached garage and paved drive. Fantastic value. $429,900 CALL JOHN MLS

commERciaL Lot Commercial land with east/west access on busy Hwy 3. Located at first entrance to Bellevue. Has access to municipal water and sewer.

This bare land property can be acquired with bordering property, Crowsnest Angler.

Tremendous traffic count in front of property. Suitable for many different activities. $190,000 CALL JOHN MLS

#4 bLaiRmoRE coNDo

coLEmaN Full lot with exceptional mountain views.

House is to be removed so this property is priced for the lot value only. One of the very few sites where you can see Crowsnest Mountain, Tecumseh and the South Range all at the same time. $69,000 GST CALL JOHN MLS

bELLEVUE Fantastic opportunity for commercial location along busy Highway 3. East and West bound traffic access. Currently occupied as a successful flyfishing shop, known to fly fishermen throughout Canada and the U.S. Can be sold as a business to someone wishing for a change of pace or for a property that can be re-purposed. Present zoning is C1 allows for different opportunities. High traffic volume in front of the property. $435,000 CALL JOHN MLS

timbERLiNE RiDgE Great opportunity to buy affordable building lots in Timberline Ridge, Bellevue. Fully serviced lots with great sun exposure.

Level building site. Very nice development with wide paved streets and all underground utilities. Build now or buy a lot to build in the future. Don't miss the opportunity to consider this location. Lots starting at $68,000 + GST CALL JOHN MLS

Great Condo apartment in historic building in central Blairmore. Expertly updated for modern living in the Canadian Rockies. Affordable option as a home or as an investment. Parking at rear. Ski hill, swimming pool within walking distance. Offers carefree condo living. $84,000 CALL JOHN MLS

bLaiRmoRE Historic brick home located on extralarge corner lot. 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom home was built with brick.

Stain glass windows. Beautiful central staircase. Self-contained apartment on second floor. Amazing decks and backyard. Huge lot. 24’ x 38’ garage, large garden shed and fenced RV parking. Great access front and back lane. $619,000 CALL JOHN MLS

63 iRoNstoNE High quality 4 bedroom mountain condo at Ironstone Lookout in beautiful Crowsnest Pass. Bright open floor plan where you can choose high-end woodwork and cabinetry.

Spacious main floor laundry. Large garage with double car driveway. Still time to choose from a variety of quality finishes. Enjoy maintenance free luxury living at an INCREDIBLE price. $349,000 + GST CALL JOHN MLS

bLaiRmoRE Bright, open living space in beautiful Blairmore neighbourhood. Newly updated 2+1 bedroom bungalow located on extra large corner lot at bottom of Sartoris staging area. Large windows capture spectacular mountain views. Close to school, shopping, ski hill and backcountry adventure. 22'x24' double car garage. $294,500 CALL JOHN MLS

iNVEstmENt PRoPERtY QE II Highway Commercial. High visibility and easy access. For Sale or Lease. Five acre developed parcel along busy Calgary-Red Deer Corridor. This fantastic piece of land is located on the southeast approach to Bowden in Red Deer County. Fully fenced and gated with industrial chain link fence. Sewer and water in the road in front of property. $950,000 CALL JOHN MLS

officE sPacE bLaiRmoRE

coLEmaN

Holy Week and Paschal Triduum Public Masses Cancelled The following Masses and services will be celebrated by Bishop McGrattan in the Cathedral and will also be live- streamed at www.calgarydiocese.ca

Holy THursday April 9th -7.00pm Mass Good Friday April 10th - 3.00 pm Service EasTEr ViGil Saturday, April 11th - 9:30 PM EasTEr sunday April 12th - 10 AM

Spacious 3 bedroom home. This one level house is expertly rebuilt with an addition featuring a large sitting room and an ample sized master bedroom. Large family room with a gas fireplace and bright front room with fantastic mountain view. Large screened porch. Garage accessible from the back lane. Excellent starter home or revenue property. $172,500 CALL JOHN MLS

moNtE Vista Very affordable 20' x 76' modular home was built in 2002. Excellent location, fenced yard in Hillcrest. 3 bedroom, plus a large Bonus room. Brand new luxury vinyl plank flooring just installed.

Bright, spacious kitchen. Beautiful large deck and 12' x 16' outdoor shed. Perfect retirement or starter home. $114,900 CALL JOHN MLS

Fantastic Opportunity for first class office space in a busy downtown Blairmore location. Currently used as a mine office, but may be re-purposed into any other commercial use. Current zoning is commercial. Perfect location. Call Lister for more details. $104,000 CALL JOHN MLS

24 iRoNstoNE 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom, bungalow with vaulted ceilings and open floor plan.

Hardwood flooring, alder wood cabinets and quartz counters. Stainless steel appliances and gas fireplace. Master suite with large walk-in closet and 3-piece bathroom. Double car garage. Main floor laundry hookups and downstairs laundry. Spacious family room downstairs with wide stairway incorporating both living areas. Ample parking and beautiful green space. $345,000 CALL JOHN MLS

NEW LUXURY DUPLEX New duplex under construction at Ironstone Lookout. Incredible mountain views with bright, open design. Vaulted ceilings with a onefloor living concept. Main floor laundry. Large attached garage. 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms on main floor. 2 additional bedrooms, bathroom and large family room on lower level. Opportunity for buyer to choose from a variety of high quality finishes. Each side $419,000 plus GST. GST rebate to qualifying buyers. Alberta New Home Warranty.

VacaNt PRoPERtiEs foR aLL tYPEs of DEVELoPmENt. REsiDENtiaL oR commERciaL. EcoNomY oR DELUXE. coNtact JohN foR DEtaiLs

12 – CROWSNEST PaSS hERald – Wednesday, april 1, 2020

Tax time changes and options DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

The Lethbridge firm of Chartered Professional Accountants, Nyrose McKenzie Alexander LLP, opened an office in Blairmore three years ago in the fall of 2016.

The partner that heads up the Blairmore office “Wayne McKenzie” had a special interest and love for the Crowsnest Pass after spending much time at his cabin located in the area.

After the passing of his good friend and long time Chartered Accountant, Alan Martini, he decided to fill the void and service the Pass from an office located in the “North & Company” office building in Blairmore. Servicing the clients locally appeared to be more beneficial for the clients than trying to service them from Lethbridge. The response from businesses, Non-Profit organizations and individuals has been excellent.

I firmly believe that having access to a local CPA firm is a huge advantage when you have someone that you can discuss your tax and accounting issues with.

McKenzie says that they have a full-time office in March and April when it’s personal tax time. If people have questions regarding taxes or are looking for a second opinion, McKenzie says they are more than welcome to come and speak with him at no cost.

“One of the things I think we’d like to get across to people is that if they have questions about corporate or personal tax matters, they can come in and the first hour of consultation is at no cost. So, they can come in and meet us and get some answers to their questions.”

McKenzie added that he does a lot of advisory work as well that will help grow their businesses. He likes to think of the firm as friendly and approachable.

McKenzie says that the people in the community are fantastic! “The people in the Pass, many of them go back a number of generations so they are very well rooted in the area and honest. It’s refreshing in a lot of ways and sometimes you don’t see that in big cities. I enjoy the people and it keeps me interested and engaged.”

See the advertisement below for the changes in tax season due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Nyrose McKenzie Alexander LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants

Our Home Page This week's photos were submitted by Peter Dunbar!

The first shot is of the cross country trails at Allison Lake on March 25, 2020. The second shot is of the newly completed downtown Coleman taken on December 23, 2019.

Thanks to Peter for sending these great shots in and keep sending us your photos everyone!!

2020 Tax Season Update

As the COVID19 pandemic continues to change and evolve daily, we wanted to provide some updates.

Our Office: -Records can still be dropped off, but will be quarantined for 48 hrs.

-Our staff is operating at our office and remotely, so we can be reached by phone or email.

-We recommed sending in documents electronically.

-We will also have documents signed electronically as much as possible.

-Personal tax returns must be signed before filing.

CRA Updates: -The personal tax filing deadline has been changed to June 1, 2020, but we recommend filing as soon as possible to make sure your benefits and credits are not interrupted. The Self-employed filing deadline is still June 15.

-Personal tax payments are due by September 1, 2020 to avoid interest and penalties.

-Corporate tax returns are still due to be filed within 6 months of the year end.

-Corporations have until September 1 to pay balances and installments that are due under Part 1 of the Income Tax Act, on, or after March 18 and before September 1, 2020 -Payroll remittances are still due based on normal filing deadlines.

-GST payments owing for periods between February and April 2020 have been deferred to June 30, 2020.

All banking services will continue as normal.

Office supplies, including printer ink/toner and paper can be ordered by phone, fax, email as well as in the store.

We will be monitoring the amount of customers in the store and will sanitize all equipment, countertops and doors regularly.

Wayne McKenzie CPA, CA

Let's get through this together. Be safe.

All of us at Copy Magic

C: 403-915-7912 • P: 403-329-1562 - Lethbridge E: wayne.m@nmallp.com

Phone: 403-562-8113 (Please leave a message if we don't answer) Fax: 403-562-2277 • Email: copymagic@shaw.ca

12537 - 21st Ave., Blairmore (lower level)

Effective immediately and until further notice, Copy Magic as an ATB Financial Agency, has been deemed an essential service to our community.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - CroWsnesT PAss HerALD - 13

Looking Back

It has been a fairly light winter snow-wise this year in the Pass. Probably not a good thing for the snowpack and for the much needed recharge of our subsurface waters that carry us through the summer.

I haven’t seen any really big snow years since I moved here in 2005 but having spent 25 years in Fernie perhaps my perspective is a bit skewed. When I moved there I was told that they averaged 30 feet a year!

I recall being in Fernie in the winter of 1995/96, after the big flood, when we got 13 feet of snow by Christmas and 25 feet in total by spring. It was a sight to behold. I could not throw the snow any higher and did not own a snow blower. Picture this. I am in a panic with five feet of wet snow on my roof so I start shoveling it off. A passerby hollers up at me; “Why are you doing that?” I explain my concern to which he said; “You ought to check out your roof rafters” which I did. I was shocked to find they were 12 inches on center instead of the typical 16. They were designed for 100 pounds per square foot snow load. So I got off the roof.

I like to periodically check out what they call the Morrissey Ridge Snow Pack monitoring site (MORQ2), south of Fernie, just to see how the snowpack is doing out that way each year. This year the parabolic graph is showing just below normal, so far. The graph’s layout shows this year, an average year and the highest and lowest ever years by snow-water equivalent in inches. So 10 inches of snow roughly equals one inch of water. The top of the parabola shows the highest ever to be 40 plus inches which translates to about 33 feet of snow. I am going to guess that I know what year that may have happened and here is the story that I think goes with it.

While I was absolutely amazed at the amount of precipitation that the 1995/96 season had, the old timers in town scoffed at me and claimed that was nothing. The sages from Fernie’s early years all carry memories of the year that Fernie was buried by an unrelenting, almost continuous, series of snowstorms that turned that town into a frozen white prison. Their stories of the winter of 1928/29 left me shaking my head in disbelief but the statistics and news reports I had access to from the old Fernie Free Press files and the weather records from the Crows Nest Pass Coal Company backed up their claims.

That winter started very early and never gave up, even when the strong suns of May came around.

September 10, 1928 the citizens of Fernie were caught off guard by a whopping 55 inches of fresh snow and a cold snap that wiped out all the unharvested gardens in town. Tree branches, still bedecked in greenery, broke in record numbers, knocking out most of the city’s power and throwing places like the hospital and the Coal Creek Mine into chaos. (sound familiar- Sept 11th, 2005 snow event here!). There were 3 fatalities from this first storm and when this deadly winter was finally run its 8-month-course in late May an incredible 29 people had died from snowstorm related injuries. I found the newspaper articles that year nothing short of astounding.

The first September fatality was Homer McPherson, a diminutive, retired CPR train engineer who was crushed to death by his legendary clematis trellis, which collapsed on him from the massive weight of snow it carried that day. Passers-by spotted his old tobacco pipe sticking out of the snow. The second fatality was Mrs. Aprile Pazzo, a midwife who was buried by snow sliding off the steep metal roof of George Arnhem’s house. It was a prudent thing back then to have this type of roof which would shed its snow quickly but violently and prevent roof collapse from the accumulated weight of snow.

Mrs. Pazzo, who had just delivered the Arnhem’s third baby, was not discovered for 36 hours while the whole town searched for her. Incidentally there was another roof slide fatality later that winter, a Bulgarian immigrant bachelor known locally by the odd name of Loof Von Lirpa. He was not found until mid-May the next year when his body emerged from the melting roof snow slides around his shack. It was always assumed he had moved off to another job in another town.

The third fatality came when Harry Popovich’s son Michael was run over early in November of that year by the Spokane Flyer, the daily train that ran through town. That’s the same train, by the way, that Sid Choquette saved in 1903 when he ran over the fresh rocks of the Frank Slide to warn its engineer. While wading through the deep snows on the tracks near the Morrissey, Fernie and Michel Railway (MF&M) switch house young eight-year-old Fredrick was not able to get out of the way in time. The MF&M passenger cars were rescued in the 1970’s and brought to Heritage Park in Calgary where they were restored and are used to this day.

They were used to transport the coal miners from Fernie up to the Coal Creek Mine 7 miles away.

Throughout the fall months the snow continued in a series of storms that paralyzed the town and eventually forced Fernieites to travel from building to building through a series of hazardous tunnels that periodically collapsed on unsuspecting citizens. The Free Press reported on November 19th of that year that a mother and her baby, who was being pushed about in a ski equipped pram, were caught in a section of tunnel by collapses on either side of them. It required a, “herculean effort by a dozen miners coming off shift to extricate the hapless pair.”

That period from the first crushing snows in September to the Yuletide saw all manner of bizarre fatalities. They ranged from a hobo chewed up by the CPR snowplow to the grocery delivery boy, who went by the unusual name of Huntigowk Day, who was impaled by a giant icicle that broke free from the west eve of the Catholic Church.

By Christmas time the townsfolk were so fed up and exhausted by the continual fight to keep walkways and roadways open that tempers began to flare. That’s when fatality number 18 occurred, a bizarre incident in which an argument over who should be shoveling what turned deadly. Frank Pearson, a hardware clerk, apparently became incensed at the Royal Hotel owner’s indifference to his share of walkways and struck him over the head with a coal miner’s #14 shovel. The court-case held later that dreadful winter was itself the scene of a small riot in which families of the two sides attacked each other on the steps of the magnificent chateau Fernie courthouse.

Nerves were frayed and limits were pushed daily as this winter to end all winters wore on. No one had ever seen the likes of what went on that year. CPR track-cleaning crews worked round the clock for six months straight to try and keep rail traffic through this embattled town. Pipes froze over and over again, roofs collapsed on a regular basis and starving wildlife roamed the streets at night desperately looking for anything to eat.

The last 5 of the 29 victims of this unforgettable winter were the Andrews family from McEvoy Street. Their Model-A roadster was swept into the Elk River on the first day of April at the big rock cut just north of town by a small spring snowslide. The car apparently flipped over and they were trapped.

Incredibly, the last snowstorm of 1929 came on May 13th, a Black Friday that saw the final 14 inches blanket the newly budding foliage in town.

The damage was horrendous. The spring sun dissolved it days later and brought the river level close to the bottom of the west Fernie Bridge. Mercifully there were no warm spring rains that year at peak runoff. If there had been, like 1995, the enormous snowpack on the high mountains that surround Fernie would have swept down on its inhabitants in one final punishing insult, to end what the old-timers there called, the winter of the century.

By John Kinnear

The Winter of the Century

Morrissey snow pillow (graph) showing highs, lows and average snow falls Courtesy Govt. of BC- modified by me Homer McPherson- retired CPR engineer killed by his collapsed clematis trellis - courtesy Fernie Museum Aprile Pazzo - midwife smothered by snow that slid off a metal roof - courtesy Fernie Museum Digging through a 30 foot slide out Morrissey way- 1929 - courtesy Fernie Museum Trapped in her home by ice and snow (see arrow) - courtesy Fernie Museum

14 – Crowsnest pass HeraLD – Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Lonsbury Applications Ltd. SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT Closes APRIL 24th, 2020

For Sale

For Rent

1/2

1/2

1 story 3 bedroom, 1 bath. 1750 sq. ft. Doubel lot.

100’ river frontage. 2 garages. 1338-83st. Coleman. $429,000. Phone 403563-9971.

11-2C

For Rent First Choice Property Mgmt: Available immediately, - 1br & 2br suites for rent. Call Allen at (403) 583-5530.

12-13C 3 bedroom, 16’ wide mobile home for rent. Fridge, stove, washer, dryer. Phone 403562-2032.

11-tfn

For Rent To inquire about the avail

ability of an apartment for rent in Blairmore call 403562-8144.

1-TFN One bedroom condo in Blairmore. Very clean complex.

Rent is $475 plus DD. Available March 1. Phone 604354-2354.

8-TFN Two Bedroom, secure adult building, Blairmore, some utilities included, $750 per month, no pets. Available immediately. Phone 403-5635385.

8-TFN/C Studio apartment in downtown Blairmore available immediately. No pets, no smoking. Phone 403-564-

0007.

12-tfn/c

For Sale Sears Best Fireproof steel housesafe. 2’ X 21/2” X 2’21/2” wide 3’ X 21/2” tall, very deep shelves. Mint condition. Valued at over $2000. Asking $1000 OBO. Phone 403562-2603.

8-1P

Services Is someone’s drinking affecting you? Alcoholics Anonymous can help? Call Lyle B. at 403-563-4003, Michelle at 403-563-0548 or Barry H. 403-563-6105 for info. Meeting are Wednesdays and Sundays at 7 - back of the provincial building.

Term: Full-time, Seasonal Invasive Species Field Assistants. Training available.

Wage: $18/hr. Dependent on qualifications.

Hours of Work: Typical work week Monday to Friday, 10-hour days, some weekends, holidays, evenings. Weather may dictate work schedule.

Some crew travel within Alberta/BC. Physical duties, hand-pulling weeds; wearing backpacks up to 20 lbs; standing long periods; use of shovels, weed whippers, etc. Must be at least 18 at start of employment. Requires a Valid driver’s license. Driver’s Abstract & Criminal Record Check will be requested.

Send resume and cover letter to lonsburyapps@hotmail.com Any questions, email or call 403-582-1141

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING MUNICIPALITY OF CROWSNEST PASS IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA

GET THE LATEST NEW IN YOUR COMMUNITY

GEt Your CroWSNESt pASS hErALD oNLINE go to passherald.ca to purchase your electronic subsctiption

PROPOSED BYLAW NO. 1046, 2020 Municipality of Crowsnest Pass & Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66 Intermunicipal Development Plan

If you have an event you need covered contact David at 403-562-2248

AWNA CLASSIFIEDS

Business Opportunities BLANKET THE PROVINCE with a classified ad. Only $269 (based on 25 words or less).

Reach 97 weekly newspapers.

Call NOW for details. 1-800-2826903 Ext 200; www.awna.com.

Coming Events FIREARMS WANTED FOR APRIL 18th, 2020 Live & Online Auction: Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns, Militaria. Auction or Purchase: Collections, Estates, Individual items. Contact Paul, Switzer's Auction: Toll-Free 1800-694-2609, sales@switzersauction.com or www.switzersauction.com.

Employment Opportunities SEEKING A CAREER in the Community Newspaper business? Post your resume for free right where the publishers are looking.

Visit http://awna.com/resumes_add.

Feed and Seed CERTIFIED SEED. Wheat - Go Early, Pintail, AAC Penhold.

Oats - AC Morgan, AC Mustang, Derby, SO1 Super Oat. Barley - Busby, Cerveza, CDC Austenson, CDC Maverick, Sundre. Very Early Yellow Pea. Forage Peas. Polish Canola.

Spring Triticale. mastinseeds.com.

403-5562609.

EARLY VARIETIES. Want to be finished combining in August?

Go Early HRS Wheat, Busby &

Sundre Barley, AAC Peace River Field Peas (earliest yellow pea). Early One Polish Canola (one month earlier); mastinseeds.com. 403-556-2609.

FORAGE SEED FOR SALE: Organic & conventional: Sweet Clover, Alfalfa, Red Clover, Smooth Brome, Meadow Brome, Crested Wheatgrass, Timothy, etc. Free Delivery!

Birch Rose Acres Ltd. 306-9219942.

HEATED CANOLA buying Green, Heated or Springthrashed Canola. Buying: oats, barley, wheat & peas for feed.

Buying damaged or offgrade grain. "On Farm Pickup" Westcan Feed & Grain, 1-877-2505252.

For Sale METAL ROOFING & SIDING. 37+ colours available at over 55 Distributors. 40 year warranty.

24-48 hour Express Service available at supporting Distributors. Call 1-888-263-8254.

INTEGRITY POST FRAME BUILDINGS since 2008 BUILT WITH CONCRETE POSTS. Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and more, sales@integritybuilt.com 1-8669 7 4 - 7 6 7 8 www.integritybuilt.com.

Health HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENT. Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING? The Disability Tax

3” wide version

Credit allows for $3,000 yearly tax credit and $30, 000 lump sum refund. Take advantage of this offer. Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide: Expert help.

1-844-453-5372.

GET UP TO $50,000 from the Government of Canada. Do you or someone you know have any of these conditions? ADHD, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer, COPD, Depression, Diabetes, Difficulty Walking, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowels, Overweight, Trouble Dressing and hundreds more. All ages and medical conditions qualify.

Have a child under 18, instantly receive more money. Call the Benefits Program 1-800-2113550 or send a text message with your name and mailing address to 403-980-3605 for your free benefits package.

Services CRIMINAL RECORD? Why suffer employment/licensing loss?

Travel/business opportunities?

Be embarrassed? Think: Criminal Pardon. US entry waiver.

Record purge. File destruction.

Free consultation. 1-800-3472 5 4 0 . www.accesslegalmjf.com.

GET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed?

Need Money? We Lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp.

Member BBB. 1-877-987-1420. www.pioneerwest.com.

7:00 p.m., April 7, 2020 Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Council Chambers 8502 – 19 Avenue, Coleman, AB PURSUANT to sections 230, 606, 631 and 692 of the Municipal Government Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000, Chapter M-26, as amended, the Council of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass in the Province of Alberta hereby gives notice of their intention to consider Bylaw No. 1036, 2019, being a bylaw to adopt the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass and the Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66 Intermunicipal Development Plan. The Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) is intended to foster ongoing cooperation and coordination between the two municipalities and establish a framework for subdivision and development application referral requirements within the agreed to planning area. It also provides a means to address conflict resolution between the two municipalities, and provides a forum for discussing planning matters of joint planning interest within the planning area.

THEREFORE, TAKE NOTICE THAT the Council of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass will be holding an individual public hearing to consider adopting the proposed Intermunicipal Development Plan and the Council of the Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66 held their public hearing in the fall of 2019. Please be advised that the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass will hold a public hearing to contemplate the proposed bylaw as follows: AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE THAT anyone wishing to make a presentation to the Council of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass regarding the proposed plan and adopting bylaw should, in writing, notify the Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 2nd day of April, 2020.

Both written and/or verbal presentations may be given at the public hearings.

A copy of the proposed Intermunicipal Development Plan and bylaw may be inspected at the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass office during normal business hours. The draft Plan may also be downloaded for viewing at the Oldman River Regional Services Commission website at www.orrsc.com on the main page under Current Projects.

DATED at the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass in the Province of Alberta this 17th day of March, 2020.

Patrick Thomas Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Box 600 Crowsnest Pass, Alberta T0K 0E0

3” wide version

3” wide version

Tired of Reseeding your Alfalfa?

e SqueethezMOST out of your advertising dollars

For Sale Certified Algonquin Alfalfa Seed 99.9% purity, zero weed seeds, Inoculated, in 55 lb bags Wholesale price $3.00 a pound. Algonquin Alfalfa is a tap root tri-foliate, extremely winter hardy, fine stem, with excellent disease resistance.

123456

Farmer Direct, we grow what we sell.

FREE SHIPPING ALBERTA-WIDE on orders over 2200 lbs.

Now Selling Brome, Orchard & Wheat Grasses Maurizia Hinse 780-434-8746 ext. 200 classifieds@awna.com

RAM R AM RIVER FORAGE FOR AGE SEEDS Call 403-330-9 403-330-9136 136

ramriv ramriverforageseeds.ca erforageseeds.ca

Place your ad in this newspaper and province wide $ with a combined circulation of over 710,000 for only...

995 plus GST/HST

Value Ad Network Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association toll free 1-800-282-6903 x200 email classifieds@awna.com or visit this community newspaper

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - crowsnesT PAss HerALD - 15

Music Festival results Provincial Recommendations Vocals: Boys 12 & under – Finley Wilmot Girls 16 & under – Libbey Wilmot Musical Theatre: Ballad 12 & under – Naomi Neudorf Up Tempo 12 & Under – Finley Wilmot Ballad 16 & under – Libbey Wilmot Strings: 12 & under – Sophia Groves Piano Plan I: 12 & under – Adrijanna Cooley Piano Plan II: Grade 2 & 3 – Carson Hay Grade 4 & 5 – Eilidh Bowie Grade 6 & 7 – Connor Pitt School: Chorus Grade 1-3 – Canyon School

Chorus Grade 4-6 – Isabelle Sellon School Choral Speech Grade 1 – Canyon School Scholarships Vocals: Intermediate – Sophie Wendrich Senior – Ayla Rose Musical Theatre Junior – Naomi Neudorf Intermediate – Finley Wilmot Senior – Libbey Wilmot Strings Junior – Liliane Chandler Intermediate – Sophia Groves & Ruby Spranza Piano Junior – Ava Wojtowicz Intermediate – Colin Pitt & Karin Bailey Senior – Connor Pitt

Holy Trinity Parish Annoucement Due to the Covid-19 virus all masses are cancelled until further notice.

Anointing of the sick and Funeral masses will still take place; however attendance will be limited.

Weekday masses will be live-streamed from St. Peter’s Parish and Sunday masses will be live-streamed from St. Mary’s Cathedral. Go to the Diocese website for information.

To help maintain our parish please continue your generous support by either mailing your contributions to the parish at Box 1410, Blairmore or delivering them to the parish office. Our office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 AM to noon.

If any individual would like to spend time with the Blessed Sacrament and pray please contact Father Joseph at the parish: 403-562-2103. Or you can e-mail him at: joe.nagothu@gmail.com.

God Bless

A&K Self StorAge Located in the Frank Industrial Park

Units range in size from 5' x 10', 10' x 10', 10' x 15', 10' x 20', sea can 8' x 20' and a 12' x 20' building with auto garage door.

Units are finished inside with hard board or plywood and freshly painted.

Some units are inside chain link fenced area. All units have interior lighting.

Area is secured by exterior lighting.

Residential & Commercial Excavating Landscaping • Snow Removal

jfilipuzzi@shaw.ca

403-563-7285

lorne@completeext.ca

lannie@westerraearthworks.com

summit storage • Secured by Video • Dry & Clean • 24 hr Access • Caretaker on Site • 1280 CU Ft. 8x8x20 • Free Local Transport to Storage • RV Storage • Water Available

403-583-0020

Glen Girhiny 403.563.0300 glen@realestatecentre.ca

13013-20th Ave., Blairmore 403.562.2844 @RealEstateCen

Real Estate Centre

Crowsnest

t&s self storage

taxi 403.583.4000

Units in Frank Industrial Park

5’x10’ • 10’x10’ • 10’x15’ • 10’x20’

Call 403-563-8384 - availability & Prices

PRESTIGE CLEANERS RENT A CARPET CLEANER Clothing Alterations, Zippers, Coverall Rentals, Etc. & TUXEDO RENTALS

562-2112 Blairmore • 425-7272 Sparwood

16 – CrowsnEst PAss HErALD – Wednesday, April 1, 2020

CN Quad Squad Association OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Saturday, April 20, 2013 Doors open at 2 p.m.; meeting starts at 3 p.m.

Cos politan Hotel Restaura t 13001-20 Ave., Blairmore, AB All members are encour ed to attend se at 403-562-8686 you are w contact the o to put your name f rward to volunteer as a ector or participate in any upcoming pr If you are interested in becoming a member we would be happy to have you join us. Memberships available at the door.

A

Volunteers are seldom paid; not because they are wor thless, but because they are PRICELESS!

Easy ways to volunteer and give back to your community Pass Herald Contributor

unteering can be especially

your community. Adults and

organize a food donation drive.

people

beneficial for adults over age

children who want to join the

across the globe volunteer

60, with the MCHS noting

nearly one billion strong

· Volunteer to help the

every day. Without the self-

that older volunteers experi-

global volunteering commu-

environment by working

less efforts of volunteers,

ence greater increases in life

nity need not look far to get

with local, state, or national

many charities would be

satisfaction and greater posi-

involved. The Corporation

park services to beautify

forced to cease operations. In

tive changes in their per-

for National Community

parks and/or a local commu-

fact, a 2017 study from the

ceived health as a result of

Service notes that the follow-

nity garden.

charitable community mem-

volunteering.

ing are some easy ways to

· Work with a local

volunteer in your commu-

emergency response organi-

nity.

zation to produce and dis-

Millions

of

bership organization Inde-

With so much to gain

pendent Sector estimated

from volunteering, it's no

that the labor provided by

wonder that so many people

· Serve meals at a local or

community

tribute disaster-preparedness kits.

volunteers is worth roughly

across the globe volunteer.

shelter

$193 billion per year in the

According to the United Na-

kitchen.

United States alone.

tions Volunteers program,

· Sign up to work as a

nity members save money by

But volunteering can be

global estimates place the

tutor or mentor with a local

collecting and sharing infor-

as beneficial for volunteers as

number of worldwide volun-

afterschool program.

mation about free tax-prepa-

it can for the organizations

teers at 970 million. That's

· Help adults find the

they help. For example, the

nearly three times the popu-

right professional opportuni-

· Read to students or

Mayo Clinic Health System

lation of the United States

ties by hosting a résumé

seniors- contact a local com-

notes that research has indi-

and more than 26 times the

writing/review

munity or senior center.

cated volunteering leads to

population of Canada in

and conducting practice in-

lower rates of depression

2018.

terview sessions.

· Help fellow commu-

workshop

while providing individuals

It's never been easier to

· Work in conjuction

with a sense of purpose. Vol-

volunteer and begin helping

with a local food pantry to

Thank you to all our volunteers for your hard work and dedication to the Family Resource Centre in 2019/20.

Your contributions are invaluable to the success of our organization!

Family Resource Centre

Hats off to the volunteers of the Crowsnest Pass for 38 years.

It takes the support of the entire community to put this event on.

- Kananaskis Rodeo Association Thank you to all of the volunteers who give so much of their time to make sure we get the special care we need daily.

Your compassion, kindness and generosity is so very much appreciated!!

From all of the “furry residents” of the Crowsnest Pass SPCA

ration services.

· Volunteer at an animal shelter.

When it comes to volunteering, the opportunities are as endless as the benefits of giving back to your community.

t luncheon will follow.

Thank you to all our volunteers!

Coleman

Community Society Thank you to our many Volunteers who have given truly of their time to help make our community such a wonderful place to live.

To all our volunteers: Thanks for making our community a better place to live.

Crowsnest Community Support Society 563-3585 & Bagatelle 562-7915

Livingstone - MacLeod constituency office National Volunteer Week is the time to recognize volunteers and celebrate the power of volunteerism in our community.

Roger Reid, MLa Livingstone - Macleod constituency office 618 Centre Street SE High River, AB Canada T1V 1E9 Office: 825.212.2000 satellite office Bay 12 Ranchland Mall 1300 Hewetson Avenue Pincher Creek, AB Canada T0K 1W0 Office: 403.904.8110