Crowsnest Pass Herald

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

July 28, 2021 ~ Vol. 91

No. 30

$1.00

The PASS heRALD WILL Be CLOSeD The PASS heRALD WILL Be CLOSeD TWO WeeKS FOR hOLIDAYS. July 29th - August 10th • NO ISSUeS August 4th & August 11th OFFICe OPeN August 11th • AUGUST 18th - FIRST ISSUe BACK

Crowsnest Pass

Herald Serving the CnP SinCe 1930

Getting Answers

David Thomas photo

Over 400 people attended an open house at the Hillcrest Miners Club on Thursday, July 22. The public meeting was hosted by a group of concerned citizens who wanted information regarding the negative ruling by the Joint Review Panel in June. The meeting was set around guest speakers who explained what happened in the review, modern day coal mining and selenium extraction and how the community can rally the government for coal extraction in the Crowsnest Pass. See full story on page 2.

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2 – crowsnesT PAss HerALD – Wednesday, July 28, 2021

True-blue activists energize campaign for coal in Pass DaviD Thomas Pass Herald Reporter

Several hundred residents crowded the Hillcrest Miners Club Thursday evening in the Pass's first political rally since the lockdown began in March 2020.

The attendees were rewarded with hope that there is a way back to the pre-pandemic promise of a coal mining revival.

Former federal members of parliament Eric Lowther and Rob Anders were greeted as avenging heroes by the crowd that was clearly eager to engage with anti-coal forces in a test of political wills. The arrival of savvy organizational leadership drawn from Alberta's purest strain of conservatism inspired hope that grassroots organization could bring back coal.

For many, the rally was the start of a long march to reverse the Alberta government's sudden swerve against coal mining. Most particularly, they wanted to reverse the denial in late June of Riversdale Resources' intention to reopen the abandoned coal mine at Grassy Mountain. The Australian promoters had already delivered a beautiful new golf course, promised 400 well-paid permanent jobs, plus $1.5 million in municipal taxes, and $1.7 billion in federal and provincial taxes over the life of the mine.

The federal-provincial Joint Review Panel said Riverside's economic projections were too optimistic: that it had only vague plans to limit selenium runoff into the Crowsnest River, and that the project is not in the public interest.

The pandemic lockdown stalled the project's momentum both on the ground and in its perceived inevitability. Then, desperate to reboot the resource economy, Alberta's energy minister Sonya Savage fired the biggest bullet to the foot ever suffered by a governing party. Without warning or discussion, Savage last

year opened previously protected sections of the Rocky Mountains to coal exploration.

That set off a formidable anti-coal coalition of previously loyal conservative ranchers, downstream municipal governments, and Alberta's favourite country balladeer, Corb Lund. Powered by the media's appetite for division and celebrity, they easily bullied a shaken government into rescinding its rescission of constraints on coal exploration. Riversdale's Grassy Mountain project, previously unremarked outside of the Pass, was sucked into the media and political whirlwind.

Was the denial of the Riversdale Resources licence to reopen Grassy Mountain just collateral damage in an unpopular government's panicked response to its own mainstream membership? Was Crowsnest Pass nothing but roadkill in the government's mad dash to reverse the reversal of its own coal policy? Why were premier Jason Kenney and his energy minister so quick to endorse the project cancellation as proof of the integrity of Alberta's approval process?

Those were among the questions troubling the bewildered and frustrated crowd overflowing the miner's club into the parking lot outside. A sense of betrayal pervaded the conversations among voters who had, until now, faithfully turned out for middleof-the-road conservatives.

"We need to tell the elected people they will not be re-elected if they do this kind of stuff," the audibly receptive crowd was told by meeting chairman Lowther, a one-term Reform Party MP for Calgary Centre, who purchased a second home in Crowsnest Pass at the height of the pandemic lockdown.

"Our near-term goal is to see the Joint Review Panel be reconstituted and restarted, because the result

it came up with is a sham."

Lowther is a ruggedly handsome 67-year-old populist politician who deftly tunes his plain talk to the mood of the room. In just a few days, he had succeeded in recruiting a coalition of local activists and provincial veterans of the conservative culture wars. His battle cry was a rail against an "unfair" decision by the review panel, which was supposed to act independently of partisan political views.

Lowther invited along luminaries from the deep blue range of Alberta's conservative spectrum. He introduced former MP Rob Anders as a representative of the renascent Wildrose tradition, which was consumed but not digested by premier Kenney's United Conservative Party. Embellishing the stage were two flag-sized banners promoting Calgary-based Canada Action, a pro-oil sands interest group led by wellknown conservative activist Cody Battershill. Judging by the applause that greeted Anders, the crowd was entirely comfortable in the embrace of the rising anti-Kenney tendency.

Experienced organizers with a province-wide network of collaborators are certainly required if local mine proponents are to prevail against the powerful anti-coal movement that now pervades the mainstream wing of the governing party. Lowther and friends offered just that.

The loudest cheering greeted local business operators asked by Lowther to state the impact the mine denial will have on their companies and their workers. North Burmis Road rancher and Darkhorse Services owner Lucas Michalsky passionately expressed the aspirations of the community with his heartfelt tribute to Crowsnest Pass and its people. ("What he said," page 7) Lowther invited a pair of mining industry professionals to address the evening's theme: "What

happened?"

Riverside's community relations lead Gary Houston expressed dismay that the review panel dismissed the relevance of his company's job and profit-sharing agreements with indigenous bands, and the veracity of its economic and job promises for Crowsnest Pass.

"It's time your voices were heard in a big way," Houston said.

Riversdale and two indigenous bands with financial stakes in the project last week petitioned the Alberta Court of Appeal to order the review panel to accept new evidence and reconsider its decision. Riversdale was acquired in an unfriendly takeover in 2019

by Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart. She paid a reported $900 million for the company, whose only significant asset is the Grassy Mountain mine which, as long as the permit refusal stands, is essentially worthless.

The appeal court cannot reverse the permitting decision on its own. The appeal will be over the process and not the facts of the Riversdale proposal.

Mining company environmental consultant Guy Gilron challenged the panel's rejection of "adaptive management" as the solution to selenium runoff: David Thomas photos

Top photo, Guy Gilron who challenged the panel's rejection of "adaptive management" in the solution to selenium runoff.

Middle photo, Gary Houston explained Joint Panel Review ruling and his opinion as to the outcome. Bottom photo, the crowd of over 400 people who attended the meeting.

"You try something and then you see how it works.

If it's working, keep going; if it's not working, try something else."

Lowther said the information presented throws into question the review panel's independence and scientific integrity: "This was a political decision. It was not based on science or selenium. It was based on politics."

As the meeting concluded, Lowther exorted attendees to undertake a sustained email and social media campaign to advise Kenney and Savage they would pay the price for coal-mining betrayal at the next provincial election due in 2023. He was eager to lead delegations of promining locals to personally confront the mayors of Lethbridge and elsewhere "who threw us under the bus."

Lowther has no previous connection to Crowsnest Pass or attachment to coal mining. But he does share with local mine

supporters an intense disappointment with Jason Kenney, his former seatmate in the Commons.

During the interview ahead of the miners' club meeting Lowther said: "Kenney has delivered on his promises - but all in the negative: No pipelines, no mines, no jobs."

If deposing Kenney is the pre-requisite, then Lowther and friends may indeed offer the best pathway to a coal mining revival. Success for his attack strategy would mean new coal mines under the wing of a deep-blue conservative government. Failure, on the other hand, would further distance Crowsnest Pass from Kenney's bendable brand of conservatism, leaving the community with neither new coal mines in the Rockies, nor old friends in Edmonton.

"The alternative is to vanish," argues Lowther.

"That would be bad for the community, bad for the province, and bad for the nation."

Wednesday, July 28, 2021 - Crowsnest PAss herAlD - 3

In the lIne of fIre The following is an overview of the nature of the complaints that the Crowsnest Pass Detachment received for the noted period. Note that the summary indicates what was reported to the police and may not have been substantiated.

Mischeif On July 23rd, 2021, complaint of black Dodge truck driving around shooting with paintball gun , vehicle was located and seized, 27 year old male from Lethbridge and 32 year

~ rCMP news ~

Impaired Driver On July 24th, 2021, assistance to Conservation Officer with possible impaired driver. 18 year old male from Lethbridge area had been drinking , driver had Graduated Drivers Li-

Calls for Service - 53 Assaults - 2 Threats/Harassment- 2 Mischief (vandalism) - 4 Impaired Driving - 2 Disturbing the Peace - 5 Other Provincial Statute 2 Driving Complaints - 7 Motor Vehicle Collisions -7 Assistance to General Public - 6 Suspicious Occurrence - 7 Assist other agencies – 3 911 calls - 1 Municipal bylaws - 1 Lost/Found - 2 Coroners Act Abandoned Vehicles - 2

old female from Drumheller were arrested and charged with mischief to property.

Hit and Run On July 22nd, 2021, complaint of hit and run to parked vehicle on 18 avenue in Blairmore, vehicle was sideswiped, damage to 2008 BMW occurred on July 13th, 2021

Disturbance On July 24th, 2021, complaint of disturbance at Knowles Flats . Police attended with Conservation Officer and the parties were separated for the night.

cence, his vehicle was seized for 7 days and his drivers licence suspended for 30 days , GDL drivers zero tolerance for alcohol. He was also issued ticket for open liquor in vehicle.

Found On July 26th, 2021, report of found bicycle near the Frank Slide In-

The Simple Raven’s Post

by Avner Perl

Locals, newbies and weekenders Soon I will pass 25 years of involvement in the Crowsnest Pass. I was a weekender, later purchased a place and as soon as I could, moved here full time. The mountains are majestic, but the wonderful people attracted me the most. When I first arrived, half of the place was for sale, if not more. I remember ads selling homes for $16,000 and gigantic signs, “lots for sale” and “cheap acreages.” I walked into a store and was asked if I wanted to buy a business.

I have seen this trend in the city. A neighbourhood gets old and transforms. Inglewood, Calgary for example, used to be where all the CPR workers lived. The railway privatized its repair shop, and the area became poor. First, when the local industry moves or changes it seems as if it will kill part of the city but it doesn’t.

Artists move in, builders get involved and the “last become first.” We saw it again when the armed forces left Calgary. Now their old area is beautiful.

That same trend happens with pretty tiny mountain towns. The economy changes and the worker’s old neighbourhoods go through a rebuilding phase. The old people always talk about the “good old days” often remembering the shiny highlights and forgetting the rest.

Now when I am witnessing a conflict brewing between “pro-mining” people and others, it worries me. Already the fight is extending to be between “weekenders” and “locals.” I saw a “local” crying and saying, all those people are moving here and changing “our” place, why don’t they go back where they came from. A hundred-plus years ago the people who lived here before mining and ranching felt the same. We named a mountain after them and moved them away.

Now the rage is around reopening coal mines. There is a popular story about the ranchers blocking the mines wanting to use the area for free grazing on public lands. It’s possible, but how many are we talking about? I see another popular story circling about the possible Selenium contamination of the water in the lower lands.

The mining companies “guarantee” to block it but the question is for how long?

Mines come and go but agriculture, (that also pollutes,) remains.

I need steel and also need food. My feeling is that we must work to have both.

Mind you, there is research going on for ways to replace steel but it’s far from completion. Whose side should I support? Do I have to take sides? The most excitable people are pushing for all of us to take sides.

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I asked some old people here about the good old days of mining. Stories emerged. A woman told me about the days when folks in Coleman had to stay indoors and couldn’t dry their laundry since it got black. Another told me that her dad, a miner, spent years waiting every day to hear a whistle to see if his labour was needed the next day, which often wasn’t. He had to work for a farmer in Beaver Mines for potatoes to feed the family. Miners died early and their widows and kids lived poorly. Another zeroed in on the great strikes, fights with coal barons, scabs, and police.

Some old-timers remember “good old days” but they were not miners. They had stores, theatres, medical clinics, barbershops, and other services. Apparently, mining companies lured people to mining towns with great promises and were not as great when it was time to pay. Similar stories are told by the farmers and ranchers about their history. I am a working man, so I will take the side of miners, ranchers, farmers, and those who serve them.

Since I was young, there were two competing stories that we all learned. One was that God created all that there is in a few days around six thousand years ago, and another was about evolution. Again, I like to not take sides. I simply wasn’t here. However, over my lifetime, the evolution story beat the creation story and churches lost attendance. Evolution based on competition took center stage and was declared as scientific truth. Recently the story began to change.

To my surprise, we realized we don’t live in a “dog eat dog” world. Some places in the world dropped the idea that the world belongs to the fittest who will survive and started a new social experiment. The “new” idea is that we do best when we exercise cooperation and bring the least of our brothers up. Sharing and caring seem to work better than winning. Perhaps it is simply the next step in our social evolution.

As the debate about what is more important, mining or farming heats up, some of us are veering in a new direction. It is possible to have both if we pay the price.

There will be less profit from the mines if they don’t pollute so much water and food prices will rise if farmers will have to desalinate the water they use.

All humans need steel and all need food that grows with water. If people are not yet ready to pay higher prices for steel and food, soon they will. In the meantime, both prairie and mountain towns are finding ways to survive.

I see many new homes being built in the Pass and new businesses opening up.

I asked the mayor if those are people moving in because of the mines and he said no. Those are people who want to move in and be a part of our community. I was delighted. Folks like me are retiring here and others are moving in since they can work from home.

Possibly we can take it easy, try one mine, reach a friendly hand to our neighbours, the ranchers and farmers and grow naturally. We discover new solutions for every problem every day. Possibly we could be a part of the solution.

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

4 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Wednesday, July 28, 2021 - CrOwsnest PAss HerALD - 5

Crowsnest Pass Doors Open and Heritage Festival 2021 Herald Contributor

The 16th annual Crowsnest Pass Doors Open and Heritage Festival will take place from July 29 to August 2, 2021.

With Covid 19 pandemic restrictions recently being lifted, this years’ festival will be a mix of traditional and in-person Doors Open events and virtual activities.

2021 marks the 100th Anniversary of the Blairmore Bandstand.

The bandstand, located in Gazebo Park adjacent to Blairmore’s main street, has served the community as a center for not only band and other musical performances, but for sporting events and political and labour rallies.

The 2021 Doors Open and Heritage Festival

theme is inspired by the activities that have taken place in the Blairmore Bandstand and the musical and artistic performances that it has hosted over the years.

This years’ festival has a “Food and Tunes” component featuring cuisine and performances by local musicians at various venues in the community; opportunities to visit local artist studios and engage in open air sketch/painting sessions: and celebrations of our community’s unique cultural and natural heritage.

The launch event will take place on Friday, July 30 at the MDM Community Centre at 7 PM and features the Heritage Youth Theatre Company’s production of “The Music of

Words.”

Saturday events include the grand opening of UROC’s Kids Corner Mountain Bike Trails; Train Rides at the Blairmore Lions Train Park; En Plein Air sketch and painting sessions; and Drop in Bocce at the Hillcrest Miner’s Club.

Sunday events include Artist Studio Tours and a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Blairmore Bandstand at Gazebo Park featuring performances by the Crowsnest Pass Symphony Orchestra, Second Fiddle String Jam and a reading by author Rick Gillis.

Bird Walks sponsored by the Crowsnest Conservation Society will take place on Saturday and Sunday. Hillcrest Mine

Disaster Cemetery Tours will also be conducted on those days. Guided tours of the Roxy Theatre will be conducted on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. All these events require preregistration.

Throughout the weekend, the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre will be offering many in- person and virtual activities. The Crowsnest Museum, Alberta Provincial Police Barracks Building, Bellevue Underground Mine and the Crowsnest Pass Art Gallery will be open for visitors throughout the festival.

Fun-filled Activity Kits for the Teddy Bear’s Picnic including a Teddy Photo Scavenger Hunt will be available at the Crowsnest Museum starting on Fri-

day and throughout the weekend to ensure that children can continue to participate in this activity in a Covid safe manner.

The Doors Open and Heritage Festival includes individual and family selfguided outdoor activities such as historical downtown walking and driving tours, heritage hikes, or outdoor heritage attractions such as Leitch Collieries, Frank Slide Trail, Crowsnest Community Trail, UROC Bike Park, Miners Path, Hillcrest Mine Disaster Memorial Park and Coleman National Historic Site.

The full schedule of events and details for the various festival events including musician performances for the Food and Tunes events; En Plein

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Artists sessions; Artist’s Studio Tours and other activities are listed at www.cnpheritagefest.ca.

Many of the events require pre-registration and those details are included on the festival website.

The Blairmore Bandstand ... as reported in the Blairmore Enterprise newspaper, 1911 – 1946 (Ian McKenzie, December 2011) Calls for a bandstand in Blairmore began shortly after the formation of the town’s brass band in 1911 but it was not until 1921 that the town invited tenders to build one. The bandstand was completed in July that year, on the south side of Victoria Street (main street, present 20th Avenue) opposite from Sixth Avenue (present 130 Street).

Another bandstand was erected in the West Townsite at the same time, presumably by West Canadian Collieries.

The bandstand received immediate and sustained use from the 1920s through the 1940s for local or visiting bands, and for public addresses during ceremonies and celebrations. One of the first major events was Armistice Day in November 1921 which commenced at the bandstand. In 1927 it was the focal point, along with an arch spanning Victoria Street, for the local celebration of Canada’s Diamond Jubilee of Confederation (1867 – 1927) which included a five-mile road race with the runners starting and finishing at the bandstand.

The 1920s and 1930s in Blairmore are known for union activities and communist flirtations. The bandstand, the Orpheum Theatre, the sports field and other locations were used for political or organizational rallys and speeches, particularly during times of labor unrest or strikes. Visiting activist Harvey Murphy was prevented from speaking at the Blairmore Bandstand in May 1933 by police, but did speak there on other occasions.

The 1940s brought a new task to the bandstand, that of supporting the war effort. After extensive renovations the bandstand was used for rallying speeches in support of the Victory Loans Program throughout the war. It was also a focal point for endof-war celebrations. During the war, the National Film Board used the bandstand in a film on the coal industry.

6 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Editorial Over 400 concerned citizens of the Crowsnest Pass packed The Hillcrest Miners Club, inside and out, on Thursday, July 22 for a public meeting on the future of coal in the Crowsnest Pass. I won’t go into detail about the meeting as you can read it in on page 2 of this edition of the Pass Herald. However, I do want to take this opportunity to address the anti-mining movement in Alberta.

The most active site is Protect Alberta’s Rockies and Headwater on Facebook. It’s a group whose primary goal is to stop coal mining in the Crowsnest Pass. It’s an interesting group and a nasty one. They single out people, they single out our community, they are organized, and they are mean.

The administrator of the site states, “We MUST concentrate on the specific coal companies, projects and issues present in the Rockies until all of them are gone.” I guess ultimately, she and her cohorts want the Crowsnest Pass gone. They have plays, country singers, sign protesters, they single out individuals and they think our community is full of a bunch of and I quote, “Why do they have no young people? Because they are backward ignorant people”.

These are some of the things they say about not only our community but also myself, “I’ve read a number of Lisa’s editorials. My conclusion is that she needs a sharp rap on the side of her head”.

Regarding our public meeting, one anti-coal activist said, “Wow. It looks like an Old White Man Convention”.

Another posted, “We need a huge rally down there, maybe we could even get Paul Brandt to come and throw one huge event and show them all who will be affected by this shady mine deal”. The same activist said that since I took over the Pass Herald it’s been run into the ground and that Buddy would be rolling over in his grave with the way I have chosen to run the paper. Obviously this idiot doesn’t know Buddy enough to realize that his family has and does work for Teck. I’m pretty sure Buddy would be just fine with my stance, in fact he’d roll up his sleeves and get into the fight.

Another posted …

“This Lisa b___ makes me livid”.

A local anti-coal activist posted “My kids just graduated from high school here and not a single person in their grad class is hoping to work at the mines”. I’m pretty sure at least one graduate from 2021 is going into petroleum engineering and one works for Teck … just saying!

This is the thing, they spew garbage from their mouths to rile the group, to let them think the youth don’t want to work at a mine and they are blindly believed and applauded for knowing the ‘real’ opinion of the community.

Another local anticoal activist said, “Yes it was a total pit back then. I thought who could live in a place like this”. I guess this pit is good enough to sell houses in, in fact this pit and its people have given him a pretty good career.

One local lady accosted me and told me that I was a terrible representative for the community and that she was disgusted with my stance on coal ... well guess what? Her husband now works for Teck. The hypocrisy knows no bounds to many.

I also received this message, “How’s that mine coming b___?

Maybe you can choose to move now, back to Poland where they care less about screwing up the environment, that’s always an option. Tell your family to find a job that doesn’t f**k up our waters or mountains. Funny how that majority of people in the Pass agree with the decision, rather different then you were spouting. Keep on fighting I’m sure you have the three people who read your rag on your side, maybe”. It didn’t end there he sent several emails such as this one, “The only thing worthwhile about your so called newspaper is it supplies outhouses with a cheaper alternative for toilet paper.

It makes me laugh to think most people in the Pass find it rather apropos that some individuals get to wipe their backsides with all your intelligent thoughts and opinions on a daily basis. Go ahead and print this but I’m sure your three subscribers already knew that considering they don’t own indoor plumbing”. Well Matthew Septycki I guess more like four hundred don’t own indoor plumbing and if that’s true we have a bigger issue then coal mining in our community.

These are the things these Internet trolls, some local, are saying about our community and about me in particular.

The problem with this group is that they organized, they know how to rally and they truly think we are a bunch of dumb hicks. It’s apparent in their sarcasm and their degradation of our community.

Last week Allan Garbutt wrote a personal attack on Tim Juhlin as a letter to the editor. I printed it and I had to watch Tim let it roll off his back. It funny when people I could care less about attack me, I don’t care, but when they go after sweet souls like Tim, it rankles me. All I have to say is really Allan, you are mistaken in assuming that you have garnered any respect during your residing in this area. You have no right to judge anyone let alone Tim Juhlin.

My point here is the depth that people will go to get their agenda heard, an agenda in some cases funded, in my opinion, by international organizations to stop the prosperity in Alberta. Our own government appears to be falling right into their hands. I’m not sure if they are hoping the activist diehard NDPers, who most follow this site will vote for them. Alongside slashing our community they slash him equally as much. What Kenney has done is alienate the grassroots conservatives here in the Crowsnest Pass and many in Alberta ... and here I thought he was a veteran political machine!

My response to the anti-coal crowd is this: the people of the Crowsnest Pass are not intimidated by you. The people of the

Crowsnest Pass are not stupid. The people of the Crowsnest Pass are organizing. The people of the Crowsnest Pass will respond. Over 400 people showed up on a Thursday night in the middle of summer to have a voice, that’s just over 7% of our population.

To put that into perspective, if it was Calgary with the same percentage 93,000 concerned citizens would have shown up for a single public meeting; 9,200 in Lethbridge.

Let us never forget that compares to only 0.3% of Alberta’s population who responded to the coal survey indicating that they didn’t want coal in this province; a statistically insignificant number that scared our provincial politicians. I’m pretty sure people of the the Crowsnest Pass won’t forget this affront to our community come the next provincial election unless you make this right.

Now I’m hearing rumours that some are planning a pro-mining protest on Highway 3 sometime during the long weekend.

It would be interesting to see how insignificant the Crowsnest Pass is when the road is shut down. I’m pretty sure within an hour the traffic would be queued west to the BC border and east to Highway 22. I can’t condone this, however I hear how upset and frustrated people in this community have become.

Just a reminder that the editorial in the paper is the one place that I, as the editor, am supposed to have an opinion and I take that duty seriously. The rest of the paper is as neutral as Switzerland, but on page 6 it’s my place to tell

you what I think.

Buddy once told me “never get into a pissing contest with a woman who buys her ink by the barrel, because she will always have the last word.”

36,000 people are on that Facebook site. 36,000:1 are fair odds as far as I’m concerned. I can handle that!

Just a reminder that we are off for two weeks. I plan on sitting on the deck in my beautiful yard drinking iced tea, with perhaps a hint of rum.

I plan on doing fun things with Quinn all week. We’ve planned our game nights, tennis matches, and paddle boarding, fishing and hiking. I just want to spend time with him, as much time as I can.

The big boys are working so it’s just Quinner and I. I love time with my boys and that time as a mom is slowly fading as they all enter adulthood strong confident, free think kind me. After Quinn kicks my butt in tennis or I kick his butt on a trail run it ends with ice cream and a, “mom, you know you are kinda cool”.

I have climbed mountains literally. I forgot how much I enjoy hiking and reaching the peak of these beautiful mountains. On the way up, as I’m pretty much on my hands and knees crawling up some scree, I think to myself this is as close as I’m ever going to get to heaven until I actually get there, if I do. I know it feels like our community is climbing those same mountain facing off against the extremists in our province.

It’s been a revelation summer. I have lost more things that mattered than you can imagine, but man I have gained some as well

and in between it all I remembered why I love this community so much. I can find peace in my own mind as I run those beautiful trails, swim under the water and climb those beautiful peaks so I encourage you do to the same.

I plan on stopping to just smell the roses, take stock of life and just breathe.

When I ran for council I didn’t honestly think it would take up so much of time.

Everyone my warned me but for some reason I don’t remember it being that busy for my mom. Apparently it was.

It’s hard to run a business, represent your community and be the best mom you can. My kids deserve that and more and sometimes it’s a tightrope hoping I’m not missing something for them for the sake of my community.

So I’ll end this saying thank you for allowing us a break, thank you for reading the Pass Herald and here’s to a two-week break for my kids and me.

Our next issue is August 18 and I hope to come back a little more tanned and a lot more rested. I hope you all enjoy your summer as much as I have.

Know also that standing in the Hillcrest Miners Club on Thursday, I have never been so proud to be a citizen of the Crowsnest Pass. You should all be proud of who you are, that you stood up to oppression and that you are using your voice. One thing we are not in the Crowsnest Pass is sheep!

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021 - croWsnest PAss HerALD - 7

What he said:

Lucas Michalsky speaks for the Pass The following is the speach Lucas Michalsky presented at the public meeting held at the Hillcrest Miners Club on Thursday, July 22.

"I want to bring prosperity to our little corner of Alberta. I want to employ as many locals as I can.

"Denying these mines does not help that. I won't be able to attract back any of the dozens of people who were born and raised in Crownest Pass and had to leave because there is not enough work.

"My company relies on coal mines. More than 90 percent of our work is in the coal mines. My employees feed their families with money earned in the coal mines.

"Losing these mines means that once again the prosperity of my town is put on hold to appease my urban brothers' and sisters' appetite for recreational property.

(Cheers) "I am tired of seeing the ramshackle abandoned buildings that litter this town. I don't like to see empty stores or bare streets. This isn't just another holiday town; this is my home. (More cheers) "There were more than 100 grads in 2002 between Crowsnest Pass and Lundbreck. I can barely count on two hands how many of those people are still in this area. The others were forced to leave because we lost our sawmills, coke plants, gas plants, manufacturing and coal -- all lost to policy, not depletion.

"This is a blue-collar community, full of old-country pride and frontier try. We need to work. We can't live on selling fancy coffees and fuel to weekenders and tourists.

"This community would not be here without coal.

We are born to toil for an honest dollar. We don't ask for subsidies; all we want is a chance to earn a living.

"You can't tell me we can launch a billionaire into space but can't mine coal safely." (Cheers again) "My roots in this community run deeper than most: My great-grandfather immigrated here from Poland in the early 1900s. He worked in the Bellevue Mine with one of his sons and operated a ranch on the eastern slopes of Tallon Peak.

"With the birth of my son, five generations have lived in the house I live in now. We have relied on cattle and coal to support our family for a century.

"I helped Riverside find new grazing pastures to replace those that would be lost to the mine. I wasn't compensated for my time -- I did it because I believe in the cause. To see our community recover prosperity and see an influx of old familiar faces is all I would like to see in return.

"We have found a way to balance industry and agriculture. We don't want to see the destruction of our home, nor do we want to pollute our headwaters or ground waters any more than they already are.

"These mines have been left abandoned for decades.

If we don't allow these companies to clean them up, who will? Anyone who runs cattle and believes in proper range management would agree. These sites were left a mess and need reclamation.

"I believe that with new technologies these companies can safely produce coal, coexist with agriculture and bring families back to Crowsnest Pass. We will see a revival of this region that for so long has been ignored by the rest of the country. (Sustained cheers)

John Pundyk.CoM 403

Royal LePage South Country Real Estate Services Ltd. blaIrmore commercIal Fantastic investment/revenue opportunity in Crowsnest Pass. Located on busy block main street Blairmore.

Two-story 5,000 sq ft building is home to successful, long-established salon and spa. Two-bedroom guest suite upstairs at the front of the building. 3 additional studio apartments accessible at the rear. Double car garage from back lane.

This is a "building/land only" sale. $369,000 CALL JOHN MLS

coleman Beautiful mountain acreage with stunning views of the Crowsnest Mountain and the Crowsnest Range to the south. 3 bedroom and 2 full bath home nestled in mature Douglas Fir forest. Perfect for secluded mountain cabin to call home. Minutes away from the Atlas staging area, Chinook Prov. Rec Area and the renowned Allison Creek Nordic Ski trails. $507,000 CALL JOHN MLS

562-8830 jpundyk@shaw.ca blaIrmore Beautiful mountain property in the Canadian Rockies. This two-bedroom, two-bathroom home is in Blairmore and has high quality updates, including bathrooms, kitchen, roof, flooring, paint, windows and much more. Large yard with back lane access. Wonderful central location. $289,000.

CALL JOHN MLS

kananaSkIS WIlDS Beautiful mountain home with views to the south. Fully serviced with town water, municipal sewer, fire hydrants and wired high speed internet. 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom mountain home is European Alps inspired. Big timbers and artfully crafted Douglas Fir staircases. Master suite with 3 piece bath in the loft. 2 bedrooms and large room with kitchenette in lower area. 2,363 sq ft living space, plus 300 sq ft fully insulated loft above 24’ x 26’ garage. $725,000 CALL JOHN MLS

bellevue

3 IronSTone Fantastic 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow with great mountain views. Hardwood floors, granite counters, hickory cabinets and fir doors. Main floor laundry. Fully developed with 3 bathrooms and large garage. Close to Castle Mountain and Fernie ski resorts. Great access to mountain backcountry trail network, golf course, and blue ribbon fly fishing. $384,000 CALL JOHN MLS

Fantastic opportunity for commercial location along busy Highway 3. East and West bound traffic access. Currently occupied as a successful fly-fishing 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. C1 zoning allows for different opportunities. High traffic volume in front of the property. $435,000 CALL JOHN MLS

33 IronSTone

27 kananaSkIS courT

Under construction 2 beds up and 2 beds down. 3 bathrooms. Fantastic views.

Main floor laundry. Open floor plan. Now under construction. Large double car garage. Spacious laundry room and storage area. Crowsnest Pass has beautiful mountain golf course, blue ribbon mountain fly fishing, cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking and short distance from down-hill ski resorts. $499,000 CALL JOHN MLS

59 kananaSkIS place

-Very large, fully serviced, mountain building lot at Kananaskis Wilds. This parcel of land, at 15,741 sq ft, has southern exposure and grand mountain views. Topography allows for a home with a south facing walk-out basement. Unusual value in this price range. Wired, high speed internet to property. Close to the Alberta Forest Reserve and hundreds of kilometres of mountain trails. Also close to Chinook Recreation Area and renowned Nordic Ski area. $127,000 CALL JOHN MLS

bellevue

Spectacular mountain views on large, fully serviced lot, high on north rim of the valley at Kananaskis Wilds. Fantastic building site. Easy topography to work with, which is a very important when choosing a building lot in the mountains. Exciting community just off Mountain Trunk Road 940. Serviced with town water, sewer, power, telephone, high speed internet, as well as fire hydrants. Development is just a few steps from rugged mountain terrain. Close to Alberta Forest Reserve. $124,000 CALL JOHN MLS

Affordable bungalow in the Canadian Rockies of the Crowsnest Pass. 2 bed, 2 bath home situated in quiet area of Bellevue backing onto green space. Fenced, sunny location. Sunroom which shares gas fireplace with living room. Quiet back yard. Crowsnest Pass offers golf course, walking trails and health care facilities. Attached garage with concrete driveway make for easy living. $319,000 CALL JOHN MLS

croWSneST mounTaIn lanD

Beautiful and still affordable mountain lot in the Canadian Rockies. Great location and fantastic mountain views. This lot is flat and suitable for many different building styles.

Crowsnest Pass is a great mountain destination. The community is located on the Alberta/BC border almost equidistant between Fernie Alpine Ski Resort and Castle Mountain resort. Great access for year-round recreational activities and some of the best trail networks in the Rockies. $59,000 CALL JOHN MLS

3.5 acres near base of majestic Crowsnest Mountain and mountain range to the south. Zoned drive-in commercial allowing for potential of multiple uses. Possibility of a “Residence, secondary to an approved use” – as per municipal zoning by-law. Outstanding surroundings on the Continental Divide. $239,000 CALL JOHN MLS

coleman

hIllcreST

bellevue cafe Historic building with a mix of commercial on ground floor and residential up top. Formally known as the Bellevue Café. Private backyard. Solid foundation under the building. Perfect for a mountain get-a-way or a cool investment. $224,900 JOHN MLS

CALL

Wonderful 3 bed, 2 bath modular home in very desirable Monte Vista Park in Hillcrest. Stunning mountain views in excellent mountain community. This unit has a deluxe kitchen with beautiful cabinetry.

Immaculate throughout and very affordable. $119,700 CALL JOHN MLS

coleman acreage neW IronSTone 35 New condo under construction. 2beds up, 2beds down, with 3 bathrooms. Spacious main floor laundry. Open floor plan. Large double car garage. Spectacular views and close to all amenities. Still time to choose your finishes. $499,000 CALL JOHN MLS

David Thomas photo

Lucas Michalsky local business owner and long time rancher speaks at the public meeting regarding coal.

Mountain acreage with great view of the South Range. Close to backcountry up Kananaskis Highway and Forest Reserve. Close to town with many different building sites to take advantage of unparallel mountain living. Town water in front street. Opportunity to own 3 acres in the Canadian Rockies at a great price. $225,000 CALL JOHN MLS

AlbertA top ten royAl lepAge 2020

8 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Wednesday, June 28, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 9

10 – Crowsnest Pass HeraLD – Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Chamber

Connection

Chamber Corner Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce receives federal shop local funds The Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce will receive $17, 830 of federal shop local fundingfunding that will expand the chamber's ongoing efforts to encourage patronage of community businesses.

403-563-9365

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

12501-20 Ave., Room 180, Blairmore

403-562-8858

403-563-9365

THE PASS HERALD WILL BE CLOSED TWO WEEKS FOR HOLIDAYS. July 29th - August 10th NO ISSUES August 4th & August 11th OFFICE OPEN August 11th AUGUST 18th FIRST ISSUE BACK

"This past year and a half has been tremendously difficult on our local businesses, both mentally and financially. Last year we were able to run a few shop local initiatives with support from Community Futures and Teck, they ended up being a huge hit. We had great feedback from the community and businesses, it brought some fun competition during trying times," says Brandy Fehr, Office Manager. "To be able to bring these initiatives back now that businesses are able to fully re-open and people are beginning to feel more comfortable out in public again will bring a whole new dynamic to the initiatives. We expect to receive more passport submissions and with rolling a few of the programs out here in the summer we can attract visitors to fill out passports as well. Our Chamber has had to cancel most of our fundraisers over the past year and a half so without financial support this is not something we anticipated being able to do again anytime soon but thanks to a partnership between the Alberta Chambers of Commerce and the Federal Ministry of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade providing funding we are able to bring back some of the programs in addition to a few more exciting projects that will bring value to all our businesses."

The funding will support both an Eat Local and Summer Shop Local Passport, an online Crowsnest Contractors Guide, updating our Chamber of Commerce website that will include an e-commerce section and a Christmas Shop Local Passport/Brochure. We hope that these initiatives will bring awareness to the community on the quality of businesses we have here and recognition on products available.

"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, community chambers have truly been a lifeline for businesses," says Ken Kobly, Alberta Chambers of Commerce President and CEO. "As we transition to reopening and recovery, we still have a long road ahead to rebuild our economy. This federal funding will help chambers do what we do best: support local job creators."

A third round of funding applications is currently being processed.

Wednesday, June 28 , 2021 - cRowSNeSt PASS HeRALD -11

New food sources sprout in Blairmore giving choices DaviD Thomas Pass Herald Reporter

A crop of new stores should make Crowsnest Pass a foodie paradise -just as as soon as contractors can catch up with demand for new and renovated retail premises.

Emilio's Mercato Italiano set the tone with a courageous, mid-lockdown opening of an elegant Italian delicatessen at the centre of Blairmore.

Fresh baking on Saturdays and a wide range of treats imported from Italy set a new local benchmark for sophisticated food and drink.

The once-dilapidated West End Confectionery building has been thoroughly rebuilt and will see the return of The Pantry, this time as an independent natural foods business rather than an informal club. Owner Jas-

mine McCue intends to retain bulk grains, dried fruits, flours and nut butters as the core offerings, this time dispensed from bins by employees rather than allowing customers to scoop for themselves.

Frozen meals prepared by Farah Hawel of Abdos Foods will be stocked, along with fresh produce sourced in southern Alberta by The Veggie Guy. Marie's Microgreens will

also be available as will a selection of candies in homage to the store's past life.

At first, The Pantry will prepare for pickup orders placed through a new online store. Later, when pandemic concerns finally abate, customers will be invited in to order in person for on-the-spot dispensing.

Also waiting for contractors to complete reno-

vations, well-known local chef Alejandro Verdi will open an emporium of regional organic meats, cheeses and fresh fruits.

The store will open in the row of historic Blairmore shopfronts that now includes the Launstein Imagery Wildlife Art Gallery.

"We will showcase what B.C. and Alberta have to offer," said Verdi who spoke from Kelowna where he was sourcing

specialty cheeses.

Finally, plans for the recently proposed commercial centre on the site of the now-demolished Crowsnest Hospital include a large space that appears to be designed for a supermarket. The centre will also have an Edo Japan and a Dairy Queen (even foodies get the munchies, especially as a new cannabis store will open amid the takeouts.)

United States is driving selenium case against Rocky Mountain coal DaviD Thomas Pass Herald Reporter

United States is driving selenium case against Rocky Mountain coal The matter of selenium contamination was the most compelling cause for refusal to allow reopening of the Grassy Mountain mine. Teck's struggles to contain selenium runoff was raised several times Thursday evening by the invited experts.

The issue is of direct concern to everyone who depends on Teck's Elk

Valley mines.

The most immediate worry for the company and its workers is an escalating campaign by Washington regulators and border-state senators to shut down cross-border selenium contamination of Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenay River system.

All eight senators from Montana, Idaho, Washington and Alaska (five Republicans and three Democrats) are demanding that Teck cease leaching fish-killing sele-

GaraGe Sale One day garage sale.

13106 19th ave. BlairmOre 8 am – 4 pm.

21081AA3

nium into the transnational watershed. They have powerful allies in the Environmental Protection Agency, the International Joint Commission, the Interior Department and, most influential of all, the State Department.

The last time this happened, in the first decade of this century, the U.S. government succeeded in causing Canada and B.C. to cancel coal mining permanently in the Flathead Valley, including projects that were already on track for approval. That was under the Canada-friendly administration of George W. Bush. This time, Canada has few champions in Washington and relations between the two countries are at their lowest ebb since Justin Trudeau''s father faced off against Richard Nixon over Cuba and Vietnam.

Today, with disputes over trade, pipelines, and

the longest closed border in the world at the top of the fractious agenda, Canada is unlikely to make any kind of last stand over B.C. coal mining which has little or no support beyond mining dependents in Elk Valley and Crowsnest Pass. Alberta, after killing its own prospects for coal mining, will have zero influence in deciding the fate of B.C. mines.

The issue in the 2000s -- and the issue now -was water quality in the transboundary Kootenay River watershed. Selenium makes it way into the U.S. from Teck's waste rock piles in the Elk Valley and there seems to be not a whole lot Teck can do about it short of ceasing the mining of coal.

Much of the runoff comes from waste piles accumulated long before Teck assumed ownership.

When the federalprovincial Joint Review Panel declined Riversdale

Resources a licence to mine coal from Grassy Mountain, Ottawa said selenium would henceforth be front and centre in any new Rocky Mountain coal mine evaluations. That was a clear signal to Washington that there will be no new mines or significant expansion of existing ones anywhere in the Rocky Mountains.

Another white flag was the $60 million fine levied against Teck this past March for selenium pollution way back in 2012, when cutthroat trout populations were still healthy. Since then, according to the company's own research, the native trout population of Fording River has collapsed from selenium poisoning.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is actively engaged in vetting forthcoming new rules for Canadian mines.

The U.S. has already set its own impossibly low

standard for selenium copntamination and the Environmental Protection Agency has demanded that B.C. justify its tolerance of selenium pollution by Teck's coal mines.

U.S. delegates to the International Joint Commission have broken with their Canadian counterparts over selenium contamination, requesting direct state department intervention with Ottawa (precisely reviving the Flathead tactic).

Despite spending $1 billion on treatment schemes, Teck has been unable to stem the pollution or the crescendo of U.S. opposition to its Elk Valley mines.

If may seem unthinkable that Washington could reach across the border to shut down Teck's Elk Valley mines. It was just as unthinkable, back in 2010, that the U.S. could force closure of the Canadian Flathead Valley to mining. But it did.

GARY CHARLES AMATTO May 28, 1954 ~ June 25, 2021 It is with great sadness that the family of Gary Charles Amatto, known to friends as “Boots”, announces his sudden passing on Friday, June 25, 2021, in Pittsburg, California at the age of 67 years. Gary leaves behind his long time friend Linda Darling and their two children, Lindsay (Jesse) Galarneau and Nicholas Darling, as well as his older son Kayne (Jennifer) Patey. Gary will be fondly remembered by his three grandchildren Olivia, Emma, Cole and by his sister Linda Vrijmoet and her children Austin (Nicola) and Allison. Gary was predeceased by his father Charles Amatto and his mother Mary Amatto.

Gary was a long time resident of Blairmore before moving to California and in his retirement, he often talked of returning to the Pass. A Celebration of Life was held in Pittsburg, California where his daughter, sister and many of his work mates and friends were able to attend and remember him as “the Canadian”. Gary will be remembered as a great friend to many.

12 – CROWSNEST PaSS hERald – Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Pass Pottery Sale DaviD Thomas Pass Herald Reporter

The Pass Pottery Club will celebrate its return to the studio with a July 31 Heritage Day public sale.

Customers are invited to view the club's post-lockdown pottery from 9am to 3pm at the club's studio, TK Address. It will also be open for visitors the following day, Aug. 1, as part of the Artist Studio Tour.

"We will stagger entry and avoid crowds but cannot wait to get together and see our supporters, old and new at the sale or the tour," said organizer Nannette de Waal.

"Members were keen to enjoy the feel of clay in their hands. Our members have been very patient and very good at following all the rules and Covid protocols through the past year and more. No one has thrown any fits and we are happy to be potting again. We are optimistic that this time we will stay open and can continue practicing our craft and learning from each other."

David and Cheryl Oczkowski are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter

AlexAnDrA tO Drew rivers son of Jeff and Debbie rivers of Tweed, Ontario.

The wedding took place on July 9,2021 in the Crowsnest Pass The happy couple reside in Radium Hot Springs B. C. we wish them a lifetime of happiness.

Celebrating Heritage Days 50 Plus locals 30 Plus alberta

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021 - croWsnesT PAss HerALD - 13

Looking Back

Until recently I wasn’t aware of any author who had attempted to depict the raw picture of despair and grieving that unfolds with the loss of a coal miner here in the Crowsnest Pass. Then I read Tracey Nyland’s novel The Mountain That Walks and was moved in a very profound way. It is a beautiful story of love and loss that brings to light the harsh realities of what life is like after your man doesn’t come home from the mine.

The Pass has had more than its share of dealing with mining tragedies. In fact my research indicates that for the underground history of losses here, the number is a mind numbing 492 men. Each and every one lost had a story. Each and every one had a family, most times a wife and more often than not, several children. There was often no compensation offered to families for early mining losses and there was nowhere to turn. Equally often, the lost miner was a recent immigrant and his family, left in a relatively new country, had no way to support themselves.

The community would, of course, step up in any way it could but there was only so much they could do. Friends and neighbours would lean into the stunned family and be there for them in any way they could think of. It was a part of life back then.

The news would break and spread throughout the community. Out of respect the mine would shut down for the day and people would flock to the household affected.

Tracey Nyland knows all too well how all this could go down. Her maternal grandmother Rita (Rezac) Zemek was one of five children of Bohemian immigrants John and Anna Rezac. Rita was the youngest, born in 1917 and eventually went on to marry the son of Charlie and Josephine Zemek. The Zemeks were also Czech immigrants and had ten children when the unspeakable happened.

In 1921 the then 47-year-old Charlie Zemek was killed in an accident in the Greenhill Mine in Blairmore. It was considered one of the safest mines in the Pass and the loss was so significant that the mine shut down for three days which was unprecedented. The Czech community in Frank and other friends rallied to support her in that horrific time. Charlie’s two oldest boys, aged 12 and 13 both quit school and went to work to help support their mother Josephine.

Tracey’s book The Mountain That Walks was released in 2020 and is a true labour of love that took her 13 years to finally pull together. She has woven her research and the stories that her grandmother Rita shared with her over the years into a very moving work. Tracey took the unusual step of altering some first names because, as she told me, “there were just too many Joseph’s (4) in the storyline and it had the potential of confusing the reader”. For example John Rezac’s true name was Joseph as indicated on his grave marker in Blairmore’s spectacular Old Union Cemetery.

All the main characters of this book can be found interred close to each other in the upper terraces of this unlikely positioned cemetery. In death, as in life, they have been kept together.

The Rezac and Zemek stories are all true but interwoven with fictional dialogue to help capture and send forth, “ a realistic picture of what life was like in a small coal-mining town in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, in the early part of the twentieth century.”The book starts in 1904 with John and Anna Rezac and their twoyear-old daughter Mary deciding to leave Bohemia. What prompted this decision to leave their homeland was an inviting letter from a good friend living in Frank by the name of Henry. Henry related in the letter to John of the wonderful opportunity in that mining town. His letter stated, “There’s coal everywhere, and it seems like new mines open every month. You should join us! The mines are in need of men to work the seams, and the wages are better than we had at home. There is much promise here, John, a chance for a decent sort of life.

Our children need never be hungry, not even for a day.”

As in the four part series I wrote in 2018 about Czech immigrant Frank Wejr from Frank in 2018 and the four part series on Gunter Koci (born in German of Czech parents) in 2019, the underlying theme of immigration was always a chance for a better life. John and Anna’s story is yet another tale of Czech immigration for opportunity. In a recent conversation with the Czech ambassador to Canada, Borec Lizec, I asked him what he thought was the prime reason for people like the Rezac’s leaving their beloved country. It was, he said, a matter of economics.

He stated in a recent post that, “As immigrants of other nationalities, Czechs mostly came to Alberta searching for land to farm. However, they needed to earn money first before they could start. Often they began working in the mines….. Czech communities soon began to grow in small Alberta mining towns of Frank, Coleman, Blairmore and Bellevue. Close across the border in British Columbia, families of Czech miners could be found in Michel and Fernie as well.”

There is no escaping tragedy when it comes to the mining history of the Crowsnest Pass. It was integral to how things went down until safer times and safer mines became a reality. But even up until the Vicary Mine, twenty miles north of Coleman, closed in 1979, there was always the spectre of it perhaps happening again and someone not coming home. I recall seeing that look of fear in my mother’s eyes when the Coleman Collieries bus would come down past our house at the wrong time of day.

Tracey’s blend of fact and fiction brings the stories of the Rezac, Zemek and Kneip families to life in a moving way. All three Czech families did not know of each other to begin with and were destined to move through times of terrible loss together. In order to protect the privacy of others, her family aside, the author created fictional support characters in their place, along with fictional businesses. Still, you will find yourself drawn ever deeper into the story, one laced with both joy and sadness in copious amounts.

For me, the fortitude and strength of character shown by the women left behind to carry on is remarkable.

They pulled together and were there for each other in spades. I recall Pauline Grigel from Maple Leaf, who lost her husband Frank to a disaster in the McGillivray Mine in 1953, talking about the utter helplessness she felt. She had five children at the time. But she persevered, raised those kids, all of whom graduated from college or university and she herself went back to take training and have a career. Now that’s fortitude.

There is so much more to the story of Tracey Nyland’s Czech family history. She is currently working on the second book that will take the story into the mid-1950’s. As with all things in life, there is the yin and yang, the good and the bad, the heartache of those lost and more to come. Once you immerse yourself in this family story that is so close to all of us historically you will want to follow it through to the present. Throughout the book Tracey acknowledges, through fictional conversations and thoughts, just how important our children are and how we must always be strong for them, regardless of the pain.

Her novel can be purchased directly through Tracey at 403-563-6573 or by email to indiana672@yahoo.ca.

The cost is $18 and will be delivered directly in Lethbridge. It is also available at Crockets Trading Post in Bellevue and on amazon.ca.

From top: A poignant and memorable saga - photo by John, Charlie Zemek who left behind 10 children - photo Author’s Note: Joseph Kneip’s marker in Blairmore Union Cemetery had a beautiful peony planted in the by John, Czech Ambassador to Canada Borec Lizec with middle of it after he passed. That peony has survived and has flowered every spring since. This year was no Gunter Koci - photo by John, Anna Rezac with children Mary, Jim (Breezy),Bess, Annie and Rita -1992 - photo exception. The expression “hope springs eternal” comes to mind. courtesy Tracey Nyland, Joseph Kneip's peony continues to bloom - photo by John

By John Kinnear

The Mountain That Walks

14 – Crowsnest pass HeraLD – Wednesday, July 28, 2021

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND CLAIMANTS Estate of MONICA LINDA pRIMROSE, who died on June 14th, 2021. If you have a claim against this estate, you must file your claim by September 20th, 2021. and provide details of your claim

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~ OBITUARIES ~ GEORGE MacDONALD 1932 ~ 2021 A Family Man...

There are many who attempt to live up to the high expectations of such a title. George Lewis MacDonald was one who succeeded.

On Thursday July 15, George, beloved Father and Father-Figure-To-Many, both near and dear and faraway, finally lost his yearslong valiant battle with cancer.

He was born November 30, 1932 in Coleman, Alberta to Gladys and Gordon MacDonald; both sadly gone from us for many years now.

George, his parents and brothers David, Trevor and Gordon, lived in Coleman during his youth but there was a period in which the family briefly moved to Prince Edward Island, for what George later jokingly recalled as “too long...with too much lobster trapping and not enough fly fishing”. Thankfully, they decided on a much-welcomed return to Coleman.

As a young man, George later moved to Prince George, BC. This was done on the recommendation of his brother, Trev, specifically for work, but far more importantly, to meet someone special.

Her name was Nancy Collins, the younger sister to Trev’s girlfriend and future wife, Marguerite. It was, as those of us who still believe in storybook romance would say, love at first sight, and they remained together for close to 65 years.

After getting married on June 28, 1957, George and Nancy moved to White Rock, BC where the happy couple had four children: David, Donna, Debbie and Devin - forever to be known as the “Four D’s”.

George’s life came full circle once again with another return to Coleman, AB in 1972, this time with his own loving family by his side. This was where George would be for the rest of his many, many happy years witnessing the birth of seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Work life for George included co-owning and running a MacDonald Family Sheet Metal business in White Rock and later a new career as a Plumber/Gasfitter for the Kaiser/ Westar Coal Mine in the nearby Elk Valley.

Of course George pursued many of his personal interests both in White Rock and Coleman: he belonged to the Elks and volunteered at the Crowsnest Community Christian Centre, he enjoyed wood-working, fly fishing, storytelling for the young folk, walking his beloved pet dogs, but most of all, taking time to be with his family. In his family, there was always room for one more and many were pleased to discover they were more than welcome to be considered a close member of his inner circle of friendship, support and love.

George, Dad, “Dadio”, Uncle George, Grampa, Great Grampa, and, oh yes, dear Ludwig too, you will be missed, but not forgotten.

Besides his parents, George is also sadly pre-deceased by his wonderful companions in fishing, hunting and general tomfoolery, his three brothers, Dave, Trev and Gord.

George is survived by his wife, Nancy MacDonald; children, David MacDonald (Karen MacDonald), Donna MacDonald (Patrick Marshall), Debbie Dziuba (Francis Dziuba), and Devin MacDonald (Wendy Stone); grandchildren, Brandon MacDonald (Krysta MacDonald), Christopher Walkey (Jolene Miller), Kristy Dzuiba (Levon Montgomery), Shelley Dziuba (Tyson Collett), Jadee Dziuba (Tyler Scheidl), Frankie Dziuba (Aiden Scott), and Kobe Dziuba: great-grandchildren, Hollie-Rose Linteris, Aries Linteris, Memphis Montgomery, Elias Dziuba-Scott, Castiel Dziuba-Scott, Joseph Collett, Jacob Walkey and Layla Walkey; plus numerous nieces and nephews including Margaret Tennant, Randall MacDonald, Leslie Bratcher, Gordon MacDonald, Charleen Symons and Angie Marra.

A Private Family “Celebration of Life” will be held with Pastor Al Robinson presiding.

The family would like to thank the various doctors, nurses and other caregivers who helped George over the years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Crowsnest Community Christian Centre P.O. Box 700, Coleman, AB. T0K 0M0. Condolences may be registered at www.fantinsfuneralchapel.ca.

Fantin’s Funeral Chapel entrusted with the arrangements. (403) 562-8555

Wednesday, July 28, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 15

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

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

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

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, July 28, 2021

Turtle Mountain Riding The Turtle Mountain Riding Club which has been around since 1965 showcases their summer program. For the past 8 years the organization gets together throughout the summer on Tuesdays and Sundays. The members do barrels, poles, keyhole, and stake race. Members vary in ages from as small as 2 yrs old up to 70. This club has shaped many local athletes that have carried on into the rodeo world over the years. If anyone is interested in joining they can call me at Latisha Groves at 1-403-563-5775 or Wendy Francis 403-563-0956. The public is welcome to come down and get info at one of our scheduled gymkhana’s.

Spectators are always welcomed, we have a concession on site, good music, and good times.

Submitted photo

THIS WEEK AT THE PASS POOL *Due to the high demand for swimming lessons, we have expanded our class sizes for all our August sessions.

We also have many available private lesson bookings throughout August if parents are interested in 1-on-1 training for their kids and are looking for more flexible lesson times. *We offer pool rentals on weekends from 10-11 AM or 8-9 PM! These are great opportunities for birthday parties or large family groups! *Begin your Lifeguard Training at the Pass Pool!

We have room for a few more candidates for the Bronze Cross Course starting August 2 (must be 13 years of age)!