Crowsnest Pass Herald

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

Pictures With Santa

December 8, 2021 ~ Vol. 91 • No. 49 $1.00

John Kinnear photo

Kids from the Crowsnest Pass were able to enjoy a visit from Santa during the tree lighting at Gazebo Park in Blairmore on Friday, December 3rd. Gazebo Park will now remain lit up every night throughout the holiday season.

2 – Crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, December 8, 2021

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Crowsnest Council new and update DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

The following topics were discussed at the Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, November 30th.

Bylaw 1096, 2021 – Rezoning to sell Council has authorized Administration to prepare the necessary bylaw to remove the MR designation of Lot 32MR, Block 17, Plan 0815792. In order to sell the property to adjacent land owners, the MR designation must first be removed by bylaw. Council gave First Reading November 2, 2021. Following the presentation of information on the bylaw, Councillor Ward moved for second reading. That motion was carried. Councillor Filipuzzi then made a motion for third and final reading. That motion was also carried.

Bylaw 1098, Rezoning by Crowsnest Dental The proposed bylaw involves the redistricting of Lot 4, Block 21, Plan 1810330, from Retail Commercial C-1 to Narrow Lot Residential R-5 for the purpose of subdividing and developing four "Single Family Dwellings". The proposed land use redistricting is part of a conceptual plan for a proposed fourlot subdivision for the purpose of developing four "Single Family Dwellings" with a private access lane (i.e. a substandard road that will not be maintained by the Municipality) and improvements to 128 Street.

The Municipal Development Plan goal statement in Chapter 2 promotes an increased yet sustainable density for redevelopment in existing urban areas, with a diverse range of housing options in style, size and attainability. Policy 2.1.4 sets guidelines for infill re-development in existing neighbourhoods. Policy

2.3.3 encourages innovative housing options. The subject property is approximately 30.5m (100ft) x 49m (160ft). First Reading was moved on November 2nd. Following the information being provided to Council, Councillor Glavin moved for second reading. That motion was carried.

Councillor Ward then moved for third and final reading and that motion was also carried.

Bylaw 1099, 2021 – More rezoning by Southmore The proposed bylaw involves the re-districting of Lots 6&7, Block 1, Plan 1810186, from Multi-Family Residential – R-3 to Residential – R-1 for the purpose of a "Single Family Dwelling". The proposed redistricting is part of a development permit application for a "Single Family Dwelling". A Single Family Dwelling is not permitted in the R-3 district. The width, shape and slope of the lot create onerous conditions for a semi-deside-by-side tached dwelling or duplex with a four parking stall requirement. First Reading was approved on November 2nd. Following the information being provided to Council, Councillor Filipuzzi made a motion for second reading and that motion was carried. Councillor Girhiny then made a motion for third and final reading and that motion was also carried.

Crowsnest Pass Golf Club – Water Appreciation Letter Council received a letter from the Crowsnest Pass Golf Club requesting a meeting to further discuss long-term strategies and solutions around water at the Club. In the letter, the CPGC states that “golf revenues are greatly impacted by weather and therefore financial stability remains a key concern of the Club.

As a non-profit society,

our main challenge is to remain viable while providing services at pricing that is attractive for our members, guests, and local community. Our long-term net incomes are modestly budgeted at less than $100k in support of a policy that ensures funds are responsibly set aside cover operations in poor weather years.

Therefore, the municipal grant for water is greatly appreciated. Without it our 200 members would face a fee increase of approximately $500 per year (23%) and/or a serious disruption to the long-term capital plan.”

Following the presentation of the information to Council, Councillor Filipuzzi made a motion that Council consider the letter from the Crowsnest Pass Golf Club requesting to schedule a meeting for discussion and solutions around provisions of water. That motion was carried.

Councillor Sygutek brought up that she would like to see benefits to the local community if Council chooses to support the Club with their water needs. In the letter sent to Council, the Club states “to support local community and business, the Club has developed several strategies, including a local golfer rate, new programs and a year-round offerings to increase and attract corporate and community gatherings and recreational opportunities.” CAO Thomas says that currently there is no indication that a local golfer rate has been implemented for the 2022 season on the Club’s website. Following the presentation of the information to Council and discussion, Councillor Filipuzzi made a motion that Council consider the letter from the Crowsnest Pass Golf Club requesting to schedule a meeting for discussion and solutions around provisions of water. That

motion was carried.

Public Washroom Request in Bellevue Council Recently received a request to add a public washroom in Bellevue after having done so in the other communities around the Crowsnest Pass. Council agreed that this was something they should look into doing. Council has made the decision to wait until the plans are finalized for the Bellevue revitalization before picking a spot for the washroom. Council says they will move forward with placing a public washroom in Bellevue in the future.

NWP Coal Canada Ltd. Update Dave Baines of NWP Coal, provided an update to Council on where they are in their Crown Mountain Coking Coal Project.

Overall, Baines says they are continuing their engagement with different groups including indigenous engagement with tours and other studies.

Baines also mentioned that their submission of their environmental assessment was delayed six months and they are now hoping to get that completed by the end of 2021.

They are also shifting their start of construction from early 2023 to early 2024 and shifting their commercial production to late 2025. Baines also says NWP won’t need a joint review panel for their operations like others in Alberta need. “We have not triggered a hearing. That process is painful and expensive. The legislation in BC and Alberta is quite different. There appears to be more support for coal mining in BC so they haven't really put in that piece to trigger a joint review process. You'd have to be extremely contentious to be considered for a joint review in BC and they don't consider us contentious.”

Pass Pool Donation

ARE YOU LOOKING TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY? Please call 403-627-6040 Serving: Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek, Piikani, Fort Macleod, Claresholm and Wateron areas shelly-anne.dennis@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

ARE YOU LOOKING TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY? Please call 403-627-6040 Serving: Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek, Piikani, Fort Macleod, Claresholm and Wateron areas shelly-anne.dennis@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

The Crowsnest Pass Community Swimming Pool Society was thrilled to attend and receive $6,600 from the Lethbridge Sport Council 2020 Games Legacy Fund. The grant money received will be used to enhance the lobby area at the pool facility.

A total of thirty-two not for profit organizations including sport, school, community and cultural organizations were awarded $276,141.61. The 2020 Games Legacy Fund is comprised of remaining casino funds generated by Games volunteers and sponsorships that were donated to the legacy fund after the decision was made to cancel the summer games due to the ongoing pandemic. The Lethbridge Sport Council’s primary objective was to provide financial support to as many organizations as possible to impact as many youth as possible.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Wednesday, December 8, 2021 - Crowsnest PAss herAlD - 3

In the lIne of fIre Between November 29 and December 6, Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded to a total of 45 calls for service including the following reported incidents.

(1) One fraud/forgery, one (1) threat/harassment, one (1) disturbing the peace, one (1) other criminal code, four (4) other provincial statutes, ten (10) driving complaints, twelve (12) motor vehicle collisions, seven (7) assistance to general public, two (2) suspicious occurrences, two (2) assistance to other agencies, two (2) 911 calls, one (1) animal call and one (1) municipal bylaw.

Hit and Run On November 29th, 2021, there was a complaint of a hit and run to a parked vehicle in Lundbreck. The incident occurred sometime overnight on November 26th. There was damage to a GMC Yukon vehicle parked on Breckenridge Avenue.

~ rCMP news ~ to your PET Reminder to property owners to lock your doors and vehicles. Also mark your belongings and record serial numbers of tools and other important items.

Scam Warning On November 30th, 2021, there was a complaint of persons attempting to open bank accounts in the complainants name but were unsuccessful. It was a potential online scam in which the profile appeared to be fake. Residents are reminded to be aware of these types of scams.

Residents be aware of phone scams saying from Border Services that there is a suspicious package for them and possibly warrant for arrest.

Careless Driving On November 30th, 2021, there was a report of seven semi transport vehicles blown over on

Reminder to residents and owners of PETS, do NOT leave your pet in vehicles in the extreme heat, it could be extremely fatal

highway 22 due to extremely high winds. The drivers were issued violation tickets for careless driving due to driving under these conditions.

The Simple Raven’s Post

by Avner Perl

Positive attitude is enough?

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere we go, but I am hardly going anywhere. 80% of humanity is unvaccinated and I (foolishly?) wish to remain alive.

People accuse me of being a “slave to the government lies”. Somehow my mind is stuck on the idea that all the world’s governments are not trying to reduce the population by injecting us with slow-acting poison. Our governments invested heavily in developing means to combat an alien life-form that kills us. Now we are discovering a new old truth that we are not OK unless all of us are.

It’s tempting to make a lot of money on selling a vaccine, but we may die if it keeps mutating in those not vaccinated. A mirror is placed in front of our face and a voice is saying. We can't be OK unless all of us are OK. Strange message considering that we learned something else. Beat the competition. Each for himself. On the other hand, a chain is as strong as its weakest link.

If we consider my age and health, I should be more interested in sales on funeral services than what may destroy humankind in a few years, or perhaps the world’s atmosphere in a hundred years. However, I have an intellectual interest. That and a bunch of grandkids. In my days, there were still people around who were willing to die with honour or die for the country. The country I always thought of was the Earth and its people. Archeologists so far never discovered which race or nation Adam and Eve came from.

The latest threats popularized by our instant but not perfect media are pandemics, this one or the next, and economic collapse and damage to the thin layer of air we call atmosphere. We don’t need to worry about any of them. Long before they kill us, we will kill each other.

When there is trouble in the world, a strange thing happens. The people demand that the governments will fix the troubles if they caused them or not. We pay little attention to the news and what the governments are doing until there is trouble and we blame them if they don’t fix it fast. They are hammered from both ends. Above them, there is the high society that usually finances their being in power. They demand a return on investment. Below them, there are the billions of people who always want better conditions, easier life, the things that the high society has and they do not. What should the governments do? They try to get people’s attention away from the problems that

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.

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they can’t solve. A proven way that always worked is to go to war. When we are busy killing each other, we rally behind the leaders. The high society finds ways to make money on wars.

Most things that humans used to associate with the powers of gods now can be done if you have the money to make it happen. We fly, see in the dark, raise the dead, level mountains, beat pandemics, you name it and we can do it. The hand of a very rich man can smite nations as well. People worship money and its power. Money can finance scientific research and buy technology that yet doesn’t exist. The world is being shaped according to what the few with most money desire.

I receive messages from people telling me that the way things are is not bad at all.

Looking around, I see that the train we are on is speeding towards disaster unless we take action to stop or divert it. There is a bright future but we must aim for it.

The prophets of old used to say, repent and God will solve the situation, and at times, people did.

Global Warming is hurting us tremendously but it only just began. We can take hard steps starting now. Our existing technology is such that in a few moves we should be able to develop and use cleaner and soon clean energy. We must divert many resources to it starting immediately. Thorium reactors, small nuclear cores, new vehicles, and so on, can go on the production line. With some coordination and global will to unite efforts, the dream can come to fruition.

Changes to consumption habits are another solution. We know that our treatment of food and its use are major pollution producers. First, wealthy nations can develop and popularize less wasteful habits. We don’t have to discard half of the food we produce. It can be controlled simply by not trying to use food as a major money-making source but a needed commodity. It happens naturally when there are shortages. Next, we can easily get our proteins from less polluting, less wasteful foods and distribute them more evenly. Easy to do if we convert public opinions. We know how to do it; we have done it in the case of smoking. Yes, we will have demonstrations and crying over freedoms, but yes we can.

All we have to do is champion a new way. We built our entire history around groups of people, nations, and races competing with each other for resources and world domination. The competition served us well by advancing human civilization to where it is now. It is time to apply the breaks and start filling the gaps we left behind in every aspect of life.

We could apply the Canadian experience to the entire world and make it into a quilt of enormous proportions. All the beauty and usefulness of all the pieces can be preserved, but the primary goal would change. Instead of fighting, competing, and winning or conquering the world, we would aim to make it a better place for all. Using the united power of all, we can transform the planet into a Heaven for all. Just the money that we spend on wars and weapons is more than enough to do the job. The entire world could be like our little paradise in the mountains.

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

4 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Wednesday, December 8, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 5

Million Lights Festival

Coleman Community Society’s

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12th • 5 - 7 pm Flumerfelt Park just off Highway 3 in Coleman

• Wagon Rides • Hot Chocolate • Fire Pits • Music • Activities • Santa

arrives around 6:15 pm

Outdoor Covid Guidelines Residents were able to enjoy the sixth annual Million Lights Festival in Bellevue on Saturday, December 4th. The event included bonfires to stay warm, a visit from Santa and many other activities. Main Street in Bellevue will remain lit up for the holiday season.

JOHN KINNEAR PHOTOS

Foothills South Ltd.

Honest, experienced approach to Real Estate.

6 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, december 8, 2021

~ Letters to the the Editor ~

Editorial Well, this new term of Council thing is taking the stuffing out of me. I promise I’m not being political in this week’s editorial, but holy moly there are hours of my life I’ve lost in Council chambers trying to finish budget before the end of the year. In the last two weeks I attended a Rural Municipalities Association conference in Edmonton, I had to spend the day with George Kuff in Pincher Creek learning how not to screw up being a councillor and this week I have to attend two meetings with our municipal lawyer making sure I understand land-use frameworks and again how not to get my butt sued. It’s insane.

What this did was stop me from getting my house all ready for Christmas for my boys.

I’m a little - well, a lot - OCD, so not having the Christmas tree up and decorated was stopping me from sleeping at night.

When I was a little girl, Christmas in my house was the equivalent of the Griswolds’. I’m not kidding. There wasn’t a part of my mom’s house that wasn’t decorated in every conceivable Santa and Jesus decoration.

So, keeping with Sygutek tradition, I, too, have a house that looks like Christmas threw up in it.

Last week was the day to get the house finished and the Pass Herald decorated too. I had no hockey and two boys at home to add to the muscle, and I’m thinking, “This is it. Lets get ‘er done.”

What I forgot is that when Aiden left, the fighting between the boys just shifted to Keiran and Quinn. Keiran, the son who rung me literally through the ringer as a teenager, is fantastically sweet now, that is, until he decides to pick at Quinn. Why you ask does he do this? I think because Quinn is a snap show. Quinn is so full of testosterone that he said to me quite seriously, “Mom, why am I angry all the time?”, upon which we had to have ‘the talk’. I figured after raising three boys, he’d have figured it out on his own, no talk needed! Guess I was wrong.

So I have, in essence, a Willy in my house with Keiran and a Gail with Quinn, and I felt like a referee whilst yelling that they need to get in the bloody Christmas spirit, which ultimately isn’t very Christmassy at all.

But it’s done and after a long day of two fist fights, yelling expletives and a few drinks to get through it, my house and the Herald are Christmas ready.

Then, as I sat by the fire with all my lights shining, I remembered that my dad and mom used to fight the same way. Gail would go all Christmas crazy with the decorations while she sat in the chair, cigarette in hand, ordering Willy where to put them while he muttered “merry #$@&%*! ho-ho”, under his breath. I can still hear it all in my head.

So for the first time in a while, I smiled. I smiled for the memories I have and for the first time in a long time that I didn’t break into tears. I think about my kids and hope they go all out on their Christmas, like their mom taught them.

Last year Aiden did virutal Santa and this year when the community needed a Santa, Keiran stepped up to the plate. I don’t know many 23 year-olds who, when you ask to don the famous costume, would agree immediately and with out fuss (see front page photo).

As we sat taking photos in gazebo park with all kids that had smiles, some who had tears (Santa can be scary) and a few who were just on the cusp of not believing, I had a bit of a tear in my eye. I was proud as punch that I raised such an amazing, caring and kind man who was so great with the kids and when I looked over and saw John Kinnear taking the photos, I realized how lucky I am to have great men in my life. John has been a part of the Pass Herald for more years then I can count and whenever I need him, he shows up in spades; it helps he’s also one of the best photographers I’ve ever worked with. So all in all, though I froze, it was an incredible night and day of Christmas spirit.

The only thing I have left is to get through my Christmas without Buddy and my parents. I’ve aldone all ‘the firsts’ without them in my life. I’ve found that once you get through them, it does get a little less raw.

So Merry Ho-Ho-Ho from my family to yours and I hope you make beautiful memories like I am.

LS

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. Deadline for submission is the Friday prior to publication.

The clean coal initiative Dear Editor, I am writing in support of the clean coal initiative for Alberta, specifically the Riversdale Grassy Mountain project in the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. Alberta is a resource province and this area of Alberta is a great source of metallurgical coal needed in the production of steel. The world needs steel. Wouldn’t it be better to source that coal from an environmentally and ethically responsible company that will also reclaim the land from an existing coal mine?

The Crowsnest Pass needs industry! We cannot survive on tourism

like Banff and Canmore.

We need our young people to move back here to revitalize our community.

WE need more higher paying jobs for them to come back to. We do not need mayors from other towns and cities in Southern Alberta determining what is best for us. Riversdale Resources has contributed a huge amount of dollars in this community.

They have donated to many user groups and reinvented our local golf course. Since they are a Category 4 mine, we trusted the process that Riversdale has gone through the past several years to get this project up and running. Little did

we know that we would be sacrificed and used as a political football to satisfy a bunch of environmentalists who have no ties or investment in OUR COMMUNITY. I am imploring you to reverse this decision and give Riversdale a chance to prove that they will do right by our community in their mitigation of the selenium issue. I actually thought the UPC party was in support of mining and producing resources in Alberta to restart our economy and provide jobs. You have greatly disappointed me and I will really have to think long and hard as to which party I vote for next

provincial election.

This the same letter that I sent earlier in the year and I am writing to re-iterate the position I took. It is time for Alberta to stand up for itself and not let these American funded organizations dictate what happens in this corner of our province! If Alberta is to recover and prosper again we need to tap into our natural resources in the ethical and environmentally responsible way that we are capable of accomplishing.

STAND UP FOR ALBERTANS THAT NEED JOBS AND COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO REBOUND. June Vastenhout

The tent Dear Editor, Growing up with an older brother was not the highlight of my younger days, even though some days now, I really miss him. My brother Tom was sixteen and I was ten, so if there were places that required an adult present, Tom would be asked, bribed, or paid to take me with him.

Every year my uncle Matty and his friends would spend a week fishing at a place called the Race Horse. My uncle would bring his tent down to our place and set it up a week before to air the tent out. The tent was huge and slept 6

people. One night before the weekend, my brother asked if he and two friends could sleep in the tent on the Friday and Saturday night. Both my parents agreed to it, but when I asked about joining my brother and his friends in the tent too, I got an emphatic NO from my brother.

I heard “you’re too young” from my Mom and “listen to your mother” from my Dad. I did not take rejection easy and my mind went into overdrive to get even with the emphatic answer “NO”.

Now I had heard somewhere that if you rub the inside of the tent roof with your hand, it would

leak, but not knowing if that was fact or fiction, I took one of my moms sewing needles just for extra insurance.

When I was finished, the palms of my hands were sore from rubbing and there were also a couple hundred little pin holes in the tent roof. If I had known the rain dance moves, I would have done that too. Friday night came and went without incident. Was my plan and all that hard work for nothing? I also knew if I helped the plan and got caught, my behind would pay for it.

Well I went to bed wondering if my plan would work, or if it was

doomed. I got my answer about 2 AM when the first clap of thunder shook the house and a couple of minutes later, rain was pounding on the shingles on the house. I listened intently until I heard the porch door open and three soggy people walked in.

GOD had answered my prayers Mom got them all dried off and into fresh, dry PJs. One slept in my brother’s room; one slept on the couch and when my brother walked into my room to sleep there, he got the emphatic NO and had to sleep on the floor.

Revenge is sweet!!

George Dowson

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Wednesday, December 8, 2021 - cRowsnest PAss HeRALD - 7

Looking Back

On Tuesday, November 30th I walked, once again, up to the Coleman Catholic Cemetery to pay my respects.

There are dozens of special souls buried there to whom I have a close connection to, including my beloved brother Alex.

That day I specifically went straight to a marker on the north side where the remains of Joseph Louis Sikora have lain for 71 years now. Joe’s marker is the signpost for a story that touched me 16 years ago and its heartbreaking significance has never left me. I have visited him often and this anniversary visit was more important than most. Since 2007 Joe’s marble cross has had a Knights of Columbus rosary, symbolic of his faith, draped over it and is directly connected to how he died.

Sometime in the last couple of months, someone chose to remove this important and sacred string of onyx beads from his cross. I cannot imagine why anyone would do this. I decided it must be replaced and I laid a family keepsake rosary made of giant wooden beads around that marble cross, in its place. There is such an important story behind the rosary and its significance, one that I would like to share, first by painting a picture for you of who Joe Sikora was and how he wound up dying in the McGillivray Mine.

Joe Sikora Jr. was born in Coleman, Alberta on June 27, 1926 and was the oldest child of Joseph & Mary Sikora. Joe's mother died on August 4, 1940 when he was 14 years of age. Mary was only 36 and died giving birth to a son Michael, who was also lost. Responsibilities immediately made Joe older than his years, when, along with his younger sister, Mary, he became caregiver to a little brother, John.

In March, 1941, his father remarried Helen Osiowy and she and her four children moved into their house and became part of his extended family. That summer, just after turning 15 years of age, Joe completed eighth grade and following in his father's footsteps, began working in the McGillivray Mine. He continued to live at home and assumed many roles as the oldest of a large, blended family.

Joe is remembered as a helpful and caring family member with a quiet and gentle personality. It is said he was generous and often surprised others with gifts. One-half of the income he earned went into the family bank account.

Joe spent a lot of time outdoors; he was an avid fisherman and hunter. Joe's favourite sport was boxing and his middle name, Louis, was taken after the famous boxer Joe Louis. He enjoyed using his camera, learned to develop his own film and was the photographer for many of his family photographs.

Joe was a devout Catholic who practiced his faith fervently. He was a member of the Catholic Youth Organization, the Holy Name Society, and the Knights of Columbus. He was a faith-filled man who always carried his rosary in his pocket – the significance of which I will return to later. Father Anderson, who was the Pastor of St. Anne's Church in Blairmore at the time of Joe's death, wrote at great length in their parish bulletin about Joe's "sterling worth" and "strong and shining example."

On Thursday, November 30, 1950, Joe left home in enough time to walk across Bushtown and then along the Miner’s Path up Nez Perce Creek (about 2 miles) to the McGillivray Mine before beginning the 3:30 afternoon shift. There he met his partner, George Raipos.

George, who was 48 years old, lived alone in an 8 x 12 foot house on a small property in Bushtown. He had no relatives in Canada and was supporting his wife in the Zupa region of Czechoslovakia.

At approximately 8 p.m. that evening, Joe and George were working in Room 75, Level 5, when a sudden gas "bump" occurred. (A bump is a sudden movement in the strata that can produce an outburst -- a sudden and violent ejection of coal, rock and gas from the coal face.) George, who had been working at the coal face, was buried by the fall of rock and coal. Joe was several feet back from the coal face and was not involved in the explosion. Joe immediately ran for help and reached Norman Tomala and Louis Kratky about 70 feet away at the next crosscut. Louis Kratky told Joe and Norman to go get help while he quickly started to remove the check boards. Joe had the opportunity to flee the danger area, but focused instead on his fallen comrade. He turned and ran back to where George was buried and single-handedly started to try to dig him out.

A few minutes later, a second bump occurred and the tunnel caved in about 15 feet from where George was buried. Joe was entombed in a small enclosure, trapped hundreds of feet underground and two miles from the main entry. Beginning that night, under the direction of the mine manager, three rescue teams of 20 men per team immediately began working around the clock in 8-hour shifts to try to reach George and Joe. Work at the mine was suspended while many family and friends waited at the pit mouth for word about the trapped miners. The solemn work by the men on the rescue teams continued all day Friday and then into Saturday. About 5 o'clock on Saturday evening, -- about 45 hours after the accident, rescuers recovered Joe's body. George's body was recovered the following evening at about 7 p.m.

On Monday, December 4th, following the preliminary inquest, the bodies were identified and released for burial. The inquest concluded on Tuesday, December 5. The coroner listed the cause of death for George as head injuries and Joe's cause of death was listed as asphyxiation.

Joe was just 24 years old when he died. The funeral mass was con-celebrated by Fr. Sullivan, the Pastor of Holy Ghost Church, and Fr. Anderson of Blairmore. Rev. Vallieres of Calgary was Deacon and Rev. Holland of Bellevue was Subdeacon.

The entire community attended the funeral and the church was packed. Fr. Sullivan's tribute to Joe at the service struck a responsive chord and everyone was moved to tears.

Joe's funeral was held at 10 o'clock in the morning and he was laid to rest next to the grave that holds his mother cradling a baby brother, Michael, in her arms. George Riapos is in an unmarked grave. Bill Petrunik, a miner who witnessed Joe's body being removed from the mine, spoke about seeing tear streaks through the coal dust on Joe's cheeks.

By John Kinnear

A Matter of Remembrance

The family was devastated by Joe's death, and their family life was shattered. With a husband and a second son already working in the mine and four young boys growing up, Helen felt that losing more family members to death in the mine was inevitable. Determined to escape the constant threat and heartache of further loss, a year and a half later, in 1952, she packed up the kids and moved to a farm in Glenavon district in Saskatchewan.

As to the significance of the rosary, here are the words written by Joe’s step-sister Agnes Fuchs some years later at a presentation at the Bellevue Mine. It read as follows “And we know what Joe did in the total darkness of the mine when he knew he was going to die: He fell to his knees.

He pressed his shoulder against a rib.

He reached into his pocket.

He took out his rosary.

And he began to pray.

Two days later, when the rescuers found him, He was still kneeling.

He was still leaning against the rib.

His rosary was still in his hands.”

From top: Wooden rosary used to replace the original, A young Joe, his father Joe Sr. , holding baby John at Mary's funeral, A young Joe Sikora standing outside of MCGillivray entry, Joe standing top left with extended family outside Fernie- 1947, Joe Sikora in his prime.

John Kinnear photos

Author’s Note: A Matter of Commemoration Next week I will take Joe’s story forward and share the remarkable account behind the hard work and perseverance it took to get him awarded, posthumously, the CIM Medal of Bravery in 2007. Coincident with that I will also tell you about a plan I have been working on to acknowledge every single miner lost in the Crowsnest Pass, by name. The total is a heart breaking 492. In the McGillivray Mine 58 men were lost, including, Joe Sikora and George Riapos. At each former mine site in an appropriate spot, a plaque will be posted for all to see and remember. Every single miner deserves acknowledgement.

8 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, December 8, 2021

wiN

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Wednesday, December 8, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 9

Get to know Boxing Day

Submitted

Many people may get their fill of boxes on Christmas Day. However, people living in certain countries, including Canada, know that there may be some more boxes in store on the day after Christmas as well.

Boxing Day is an annual holiday celebrated in Canada on December 26.

Canadians are not alone in celebrating Boxing Day, which is observed in Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, among other countries.

The origin story behind Boxing Day is not entirely known. One theory regarding those origins connect the holiday to 19th century England and the giving of boxes that included money, presents and/or food to British servants on the

day after Christmas. The servants had to work on Christmas while their employers celebrated, so they waited until the following day to celebrate with their families. The boxes were a token of appreciation and a way to make servants' celebrations more bountiful and enjoyable.

Another theory links Boxing Day to collection boxes for the poor. Long known as a time of giving, the holiday season was a time to give to the poor. So when the boxes were opened on the day after Christmas, they were full and the money within them was then distributed to the less fortunate.

Modern Boxing Day celebrations don't resemble either theory of the

day's origins. In fact, modern Boxing Day more closely resembles Black Friday, a retail holiday in the United States that marks the unofficial beginning of the holiday shopping season. Retailers discount items on Boxing Day, and the deals compel people across Canada to spend the day after Christmas shopping.

Canadian soccer fans who are not excited by the idea of shopping on Boxing Day can celebrate like many of their British counterparts. In England, Boxing Day has become synonymous with European football, and the Premier League has ensured its fans can spend a good portion of Boxing Day watching the action on the pitch. This year's Boxing Day slate includes

Crowsnest Pass

Herald

SErving ThE CnP SinCE 1930 the Pass’ Locally owned newspaper • Main street Blairmore • 403-562-2248

1 YeAr LoCAL suPsCriPtion

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Boxing Day may not have maintained too significant a connection to its past. But the day remains one to look forward to in 2021.

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10 – CroWsnest Pass HeraLD – Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Why are Christmas colors red and green?

Submitted

Just like many tradi-

rate their homes with the

stalled in churches to

Many people may

tions of Christmas, the

plants,

feature

separate the congrega-

not get in the holiday

red and green scheme

shiny, serrated leaves and

tion from the priest and

spirit without decora-

has origins that pre-date

bright, red berries, as a

altar. Dr. Bucklow notes

tions and all the trim-

the Christian celebration.

way to guarantee a pros-

that Victorians also ex-

are

Christmas has borrowed

perous new year. Holly

tended the association of

strong that if you have

from many of the cus-

also came to be associ-

these colors as a physical

containers full of items

toms of winter solstice

ated with the crown of

boundary

just waiting to see the

celebrations of ancient

thorns Jesus Christ was

boundary: the marking of

light of day again this

peoples, including the

forced to wear during his

the end of the old year

those

Celts. Ancient Celtic peo-

crucifixion.

and the beginning of a

items are red or green or

ple revered holly plants,

The custom of using

new one at Christmas-

some

believing they brought

red and green continued

beauty and good fortune

into the 14th century. Dr.

Red and green have

in the middle of winter -

Spike Bucklow, a re-

become the traditional

a time when the land-

search scientist at the

colors of Christmas, just

scape is normally bleak

University of Cambridge,

as blue and white sym-

and holly plants thrive

says red and green also

bolizes Chanukah. But

and stand out. Celts

were used to paint me-

how did this color palette

would regularly bring in

dieval

come to evolve?

sprigs of holly and deco-

which were partitions in-

time.

While red and green had associations with Christmas in early times through holly and other sources, the connection was perhaps best solidified thanks to a man named Haddon Sund-

mings.

holiday

Chances

season,

combination

thereof.

which

rood

screens,

to

another

blom. Sundblom was an artist commissioned in 1931 by the Coca-Cola company to create an image of Santa Claus for the company's upcoming holiday ads. Until this point, versions of Santa were rarely consistent, with his clothing vacillating between green, blue and red. He also wasn't the plump, jolly fellow associated with Christmas as we know him today, but rather thin and elf-like. Sundblom portrayed him as a chubby man wearing red robes, likely as a nod to CocaCola's own red logo, even though the company de-

nies the connection.

Santa was featured in front of a green background. The ads proved popular and Sundblom's Santa became the preferred depiction. Santa's red robes perfectly complemented the green background and other green components of the holiday, such as Christmas trees and holly, that already had been solidified as Christmas imagery.

Color plays a strong role in creating Christmas nostalgia. Red and green are put on vivid display throughout the season.

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Wednesday, December 8, 2021 - CRowsnest PAss HeRALD -11

~RCMP Update~

John Pundyk.CoM

DaviD SelleS

403

Pass Herald Reporter

Sergeant Guinchard of the local RCMP detachment was present to provide Council with a quarterly update during the Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, November 30th.

He started the update by thanking Corporal Amatto for the work he had been doing.

“Corporal Amatto was running the detachment solo. He's done a fantastic job. I wanted to acknowledge that. He's done a fabulous job in that regard.”

Sergeant Guinchard also spoke about some of the priorities for the detachment.

The first priority is crime reduction.

Guinchard says that regular patrolling of the backcountry revealed that Crown Land is often a refuge for culprits who commit property crimes in town.

Information was shared with Partner Agencies to ensure that any suspicious activity is reported and investigated.

The update also included information on other priorities like enhanced road safety, relations between the officers and the community and substance abuse.

Guinchard says members will continue to do foot patrols through the winter months.

The detachment also has a full staff of nine police officers currently working.

The final part of the update included statistics on crime rates.

The stats were taken from July –September of 2020 and 2021.

There were 205 Total Criminal Code offences over that three month stretch in 2020 while 159 offences occurred over the same stretch in 2021 meaning there was a 22 per cent decrease over the last year.

Under that overall category, persons crime went down 19 per cent from 52 offences in July-September of 2020 to 42 in July-September of 2021.

Property Crime also saw a decrease from 116 offences in July-September of 2020 to 83 over the same timespan in 2021, for a 28 per cent decrease.

Other Criminal Code offences also decreased from 37 in 2020 to 34 in 2021 over that July-September timeframe.

The update also highlighted Traffic Offences from July-September of 2020 and 2021.

Criminal Code Traffic Offences saw a 57 per cent increase from 2020 with a climb from 7 to 11 in 2021.

Provincial Code Traffic Offences saw a 50 per cent decrease from 2020 falling from 256 to 129.

The RCMP will continue to provide updates to Council on a quarterly basis.

Royal LePage South Country Real Estate Services Ltd. coleman 100 ft by 175 ft X-Large, flat lot with older home to be sold “AS IS” for lot value. The land parcel is 17,500 sq. ft. and offers many opportunities for someone who needs a property to store an RV or to build a large garage. Possibility of a duplex or a subdivision, subject to proper approvals. Close to the Crowsnest River and York Creek staging area. $135,900 CALL JOHN MLS

coleman Beautiful, large building lot at Kananaskis Wilds. Lot 24 is an exceptional lot with easy, gentle topography.

Fully serviced with water, sewer, power, gas, and high speed internet.

Beautiful views from up high on the mountain. $129,000 CALL JOHN MLS

jpundyk@shaw.ca blairmore Great Blairmore location in beautiful mountain community of Crowsnest Pass. Numerous high quality upgrades in this 3 bedrm, 2 bathroom home.

Newer windows, furnaces, granite counter tops, and gas fireplace. Large double car garage. Close to local shops and amazing outdoor adventures. $364,000 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

bellevue One Half of a duplex with two updated suites and a double car garage for a great price. Enjoy all that Crowsnest Pass has to offer, great mountain bike trails, renowned Nordic ski area. Keep one suite for yourself and rent the other to make the whole experience that much more affordable. $279,000 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

9 kananaskis wilds Beautiful prime lot in Kananaskis Wilds is close to mountain backcountry trails and forest reserve. Southern exposure. Suitable for south facing walkout basement. KW offers some of the best value for large, fully serviced (including wired internet) lots in the Canadian Rockies. $124,000 CALL JOHN MLS

59 kananaskis place

son mountain living. $94,900

highway commercial Commercial land with east/west bound access on busy Hwy 3 corridor in Crowsnest Pass. Located at the first east entrance to Crowsnest Pass and has access to municipal water and sewer. Property can be acquired with the bordering property, Crowsnest Angler. Tremendous traffic count in front of the property.

Zoned commercial and suitable for many different activities. $190,000 CALL JOHN MLS

blairmore commercial

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. $110,000 CALL JOHN MLS

coleman lot Fantastic mountain views. Southfacing lot gently slopes to the south. Great building spot to take advantage of the sun. Lots of building options. Located on northside of the valley in Coleman.

Close to all amenities and 4-seaCALL JOHN MLS

100 ft of Mainstreet frontage, 1,040 sqft fast food restaurant with sit down area. Full basement.

SOLD

Ample parking at the front, the side, and the back. Comes with everything ‘as is’ in the restaurant and

coleman 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

blairmore

bellevue cafe

21122aa3

562-8830

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

Affordable mountain get away in desirable Blairmore location. 3 bedroom, 1 bath located on a nice lot within walking distance to shopping, 4 season trails and local ski hill. Golf course nearby. Lots of room to park an RV. $231,500 CALL JOHN MLS CALL

coleman lot coleman lot Beautiful 50 x 100 ft lot. Panoramic mountain views with back lane access. Excellent value in the Canadian Rockies. Located in historic downtown Coleman. Close to four season backcountry adventures, including sledding, hiking and Alpine and Nordic skiing. $79,900 CALL JOHN MLS

Nice lot in Coleman with great views.

Build a mountain getaway or cabin. Adjacent lot also for sale. Close to historic downtown Coleman and the Art district.

Amazing area of the Crowsnest Pass, minutes from York Creek staging area, Chinook Lake, and Nordic Cross country ski trails at Allison Recreation area. 4 Season adventure is everywhere you turn. $46,000 CALL JOHN MLS

AlbertA top ten royAl lepAge 2020

12 – CROWSNEST PaSS hERald – Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Thank you so much!

I would like to thank everyone who sent cards, flowers, food, phone calls, condolences and visits. A special thanks to Dr. Botha and Home Care for all of their support. Thank you also to the nurses and staff at the hospital. To Darryl Sydora and his staff, you guys are amazing. To our friends and neighbours who helped me care for Jim. I can’t thank you enough. I will always remember your kindness and help.

Residents were able to enjoy the annual Christmas Market held at the MDM on Saturday, December 4th. The Market included dozens of vendors with perfect items for Christmas gifts. The Christmas Market is typically the last market held each year. JOHN KINNEAR PHOTO Crowsnest Pass Fire Rescue held their annual Charity Checkstop on Friday, December 3rd. This year, donations were accepted for the Crowsnest Pass Food Bank. A total of $7,131.10 was raised at this year’s stop. JOHN KINNEAR PHOTO Students and Staff at Horace Allen School got into the Christmas spirit by holding Grinch Day. Staff and students dressed up in their best Grinch or Whoville costumes to celebrate the day. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Thank You

Last year our Food Bank supplied 130 Christmas hampers. Monthly they supply approximately 65 hampers feeding around 170 individuals.

Due to our current economic state, we can expect these numbers to continue to rise, especially over the holiday season.

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL! Teck has agreed to donate $5 to our Local Food Bank for every passport I receive back, up to $2500. So, we need 500 passports back!

If you forget to get your passports stamped or businesses run out of passports, all you have to do is submit your receipts.

The Bellevue & Coleman Royal Canadian Legions would like to thank Darrell Sydora and his staff at Fantin’s Funeral Chapel for the use of their facility, for the community Remembrance Day service 2021.

Very much appreciated.

Thank you.

~ Maggie Hall

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 13

CCHS Creative Writing Alive (excerpt) By. Peyton McAuley “My- Our mum died during this whole… thing…” Will trembled. His airy words came out broken and quiet as he bit back the tears that sizzled in his eyes. “I heard her- I heard her screaming outside- when they got her.”

“Oh, honey…” Kristy cooed. She moved to place a hand on Will’s shoulder and rubbed his arm, “I’m so sorry you boys had to go through that. Does…” Kristy squeezed Will’s arm as her eyes drifted to Oli. The young boy was asleep in the armchair. She continued with a whisper, “Does he know..?”

Will choked back a sob, “N-no- I- I covered his ears. With my hands. I covered his ears with my hands… I don’t think he heard.”

Kristy’s nose scrunched. Her lips parted wordlessly as she stared at the young boy.

Her gaze flickered back to Will, but he avoided her eyes.

“You’re a good big brother, Will.

Why didn’t you tell us sooner, though?

You’ve been carrying all that weight alone this whole time?”

Will’s glossy eyes moved hesitantly to meet Kristy’s again. His words came out harrowed and distraught. “Where was I… Where was I meant to put it down?”

Good Dog

By TIANA HAMILTON You drifted in and out of reality Trying so hard to hold on Laying there in the autumn grass Barely able to catch your breath You spent many years in this place And now it was desperately trying to hold onto you

Look closer

By Tressa Look at your fingertips. It's alright, give them a good look.

See those ridges? Look closer.

Do you see those dots that make up the ridge? They are tiny so it might be hard to see.

Your entire finger print is made out of dots, not lines like everyone assumes they are.

People take the designs at the tips of their fingers at face value.

The very designs that are unique to every living person, are rarely paid any notice.

This is true for every aspect of our being.

We become so used to it because it is always there, that we cannot see past the presumed monotonous.

Everything is always more extraordinary in detail.

The pigment of your skin isn't truly one mundane colour.

The difference in tone is too slight for us to notice most of the time, but it converges in a spiraling pattern on our backs.

That same spiral can be found in the way a flower grows its petals and a snail’s shell Your skin is nature's masterpiece, a collaboration with life's addition of scars.

This constant in nature is the reason you can never get that hair on the back of your head to go the direction you want it to.

You are a living example of Fibonacci's number.

You are better, more interesting, then you could ever believe you are.

LOVE

By Quinn Douglas I am so in love What a wonderful feeling To be in such pain Anticipation

By Lilou Gravel Waiting Hour after hour Anxiety creeping into my chest Worry clouding my judgement Fear of the unknown Scared for the ones I love Anticipation slowly consuming me Waiting here For my brother to be born

You didn’t want to leave You liked it here Their warm embrace wrapped around you While the sun in the sky shone like it had the days before But you were in pain A pain you no longer wanted to endure So you let go, let the light take you far away from this place But at least you weren’t in pain

Maybe in Another Lifetime Rhylee D I saw an old couple walking arm and arm in matching sweaters, seafoam green, and I thought that perhaps they were an alternate version of us, in a gentler lifetime than this one. And it aches, how clearly I could picture it; the two of them -the two of us- slow dancing to Sinatra in the brothy kitchen light at two am. Red wine on the counter, twilight in our eyes, swaying past picture frames populated by grandchildren and trips to the lake. And at some point, your forehead would fall against mine and we'd stay fused together as we waltzed, our twin skulls whispering a secret language of cerebral certainty: You are the only one I would do this with. You are the only one....

Maybe in another lifetime.

BANDAID

By Maya Veldman All gone just like that, The exploration and adventure Leading into a new world full of imagination Now all gone She’d ask me to slow down For I was running too fast Too far Her old lungs couldn’t keep up Breathless she smiled and coughed No matter how many times she smiled She always coughed Sickness overtook but I was too young to register Too young to cherish those fleeting moments Now left with faint memories Drawing dinosaurs in colouring books Going to the park Playing pretend

Black Hole

By Charisse Mae Ramos Desolate Completely empty Nothing is in this whirling mass of darkness No hope nor dreams are here Just the face of the void greeting you How sad Even with infinite possibilities You can’t do anything but wait Wait for an eternity Until the sun shines once again

Slipping and cutting my knee A helicopter bandaid A band aid that seemed to solve all my problems Where’s my bandaid now?

Where’s my grandma?

14 – Crowsnest pass HeraLD – Wednesday, December 8, 2021

In Loving Memory of Theresa White

For Rent To inquire about the availability of an apartment for rent in Blairmore call 403-562-8144.

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Employment Opportunities DE BEERS GROUP HAS OPENINGS FOR EXPERIENCED Heavy Equipment Technicians (REF2027W) to work three-weeks-in/three-weeks-out at the Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories. Applicants must be legally permitted to work in Canada, have a valid inter-provincial trade qualification in heavy equipment and a minimum of 12 months mining field experience repairing and maintaining heavy

21122ka0

I thought of you with love today but that is nothing new I thought about you yesterday and the days before that too.

I think of you in silence, I often speak your name.

All I have are memories and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is my keepsake, with which I’ll never part.

God has you in his keeping, I have you in my heart.

Until we meet again.

Your loving Husband Cliff earth moving equipment. We offer a competitive salary and transportation to and from the mine is provided from Calgary International Airport. Applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. For more information on the job and how to apply please go online to https://smrtr.io/7jxjh.

HIRING CLASS 1A DRIVERS to transport RV's throughout N. America. Health/ dental insurance, excess miles, monthly bonus. Must be able to cross the border. For more information, visit: roadexservices.com or email recruiting@roadexservices.com.

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND CLAIMANTS Estate of DONALD SCOTT NASTASI who died on November 1, 2021.

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Wednesday, December 8, 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

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Crowsnest

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Units in Frank Industrial Park

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16 – CrowsNesT PAss HerALD – Wednesday, December 8, 2021

CNP Thunder Update The U7 CNP Thunder were victorious over the Elkford Wild by a score of 10-9.

Beau Houda got a hat trick, Kyson McKee scored 2 goals, 1 was assisted by Westyn Sagrefena and 1 assisted by Beau Houda, Westyn Sagrefena scored 2 goals, Mason Bradbury scored 1 goal. Gordon Chambers scored his first goal!!!

Chase Plowman also scored his first goal.

The U7 switches goalies out every couple shifts so everyone had a turn in the win!

U9 The U9 CNP Thunder tied 10-10 against the Sparwood Kodiaks. The goal scorers were Cruz McKee with 1 goal, Griffin Luini with 1, Zander Fulkerth with 1 goal, assisted by Mikka Kufftinoff.

Abbot Graham scored 1 goal, Ben Vanderkooy scored 1 goal assisted by Nash Lafreniere, Ember Cytko scored 2 goals both assisted by Nash Lafreniere, Nash Lafreniere scored 2 goals, 1 was assisted by Ember Cytko and Mikka Kufftinoff scored 1 goal. Garrison Gillard showed off his skills while stopping many shots as goalie. The U9 Thunder play again next Saturday on December 11th at 11:30 AM where they will play the Fernie A team at the Coleman Sports Complex. Come watch some great hockey and cheer on the kids!

U11 The Crowsnest Pass Thunder U11 hockey team played at home Saturday morning.

They hosted the Fort Macleod Mavericks at the Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex.

The final score for the game was 14-4 for the Mavericks. Goals scored for Thunder were by Parker Bunnage, Sophie Gibboney-Stafford, Jack Bishop, and Aidan Bishop. Goaltending was Owen Kirkman. The Thunder play at home again next weekend on Saturday and Sunday with both games at 1pm and will be playing Okotoks.

0% Tax Increase for 2022 DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

Council passed the 2022 Municipal Budget this week.

The 2022 Budget will have a $20.3M Operating Budget and an $11.2M 2022-2023 Capital Budget.

These numbers result in a projected tax increase of zero percent and a utility rate increase for July 2022 of two percent.

CAO Patrick Thomas says both these increases will be confirmed when the Tax Rate Bylaw and Fees, Rates and Charges Bylaw are passed in the spring.

The utility rates will increase by $23.29 per year or $1.94 per month.

Part of the municipal budget also includes new initiatives for 2022.

Below is a list of all initiatives brought forward to Council including ones that council chose not to fund in the 2022 Budget: Community Services: Beautification - Requested Amount - $50,000, Recommended Amount $50,000, Funding Source Taxes Dog Park – Requested Amount $112,500, Recommended Amount $112,500, Funding Source – MSI Grant Frank Playground Replacement - Requested Amount $108,800, Recommended Amount $108,800, Funding Source – MSI Grant Ice Machine - Requested Amount - $10,000, Recommended Amount $10,000, Funding Source Taxes Continuation of SelfWatering Planters - Requested Amount - $20,000, Recommended Amount -

$20,000, Funding Source Taxes Corporate Services: Municipal Float – Requested Amount - $60,000, Recommended Amount $60,000, Funding Source – Mill Rate Stabilization Reserve.

Annual Open House – Requested Amount $3,000, Recommended Amount - $3,000, Funding Source - Taxes Finance: Utility Operating and Utility Reserve – Requested Amount $128,238, Recommended Amount – $127,363, Funding Source – Utility Rates Walking Trail Public Washrooms – Requested Amount - $240,000, Recommended Amount $240,000, Funding Source – MSI/MSP Grant Life Cylce Replacement for Computers – Requested Amount - $25,000, Recommended Amount $25,000, Funding Source Taxes Operations: Municipal Banners – Requested Amount $20,000, Recommended Amount - $20,000, Funding Source - Taxes Cold Roll - Requested Amount - $20,000, Recommended Amount $20,000, Funding Source – Roads Reserve Water Valve Replacements Requested Amount - $25,000, Recommended Amount $25,000, Funding Source – Utility Rates Municipal Office Roof - Requested Amount $50,000, Recommended Amount - $50,000, Funding Source – Mill rate Stabilization Reserve Drain for Ice Plant Requested Amount -

$30,000, Recommended Amount - $30,000, Funding Source – Mill Rate Stabilization Reserve Screening Chambers Requested Amount $250,000, Recommended Amount - $250,000, Funding Source – MSI Grant Flumerfelt Bridge Requested Amount $60,000, Recommended Amount - $60,000, Funding Source - Mill Rate Stabilization Reserve CAO: Revitalize Main Street Bellevue/Blairmore – Requested Amount $1,700,000, Recommended Amount - $1,700,000, Funding Source – MSI/FGT Grant Strategic Plan – Requested Amount - $10,000, Recommended Amount $40,000, Funding Source – Mill Rate Stabilization Reserve Museum Block Master Plan - Requested Amount - $50,000, Recommended Amount $50,000, Funding Source – Taxes Protective Services: Fire/Rescue Recruitment Program – Requested Amount - $25,000, Recommended Amount $25,000, Funding Source – Taxes Forcible Entry Door Requested Amount $11,000, Recommended Amount - $11,000, Funding Source – Taxes Ski Hill: Snowmaking Upgrade – Requested Amount - $1,800,000 Recommended Amount $1,800,000, Funding Source – Potential Grants $1,000,000 Debt $800,000 INITIATIVE ONLY DONE IF GRANTS COME THROUGH