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Crowsnest Pass
Herald
Vol. 95 No. 1
January 8, 2025 $1.25
Serving our communities since 1930
2024 Year in Review: A Look Back at the Highlights
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8 - CROWSNEST PASS HERALD - Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Moments That Defined the Year: A Visual Journey of 2024
Devin Brady photo
January 31 issue: Northback hosted its annual Australia Day on Saturday, January 27. The night included dinner, dancing, and silent auction. Funds were being raised and donated for two charities this year, CNP Quad Squad and the Southwest Alberta Skatepark Society. There was $34,200 being donated to each charity.
Submitted photo
February 7 issue: Ravi Sankhavara, owner of Pharmasave in Blairmore, celebrating his hike to Mount Everest Base Camp.
Nicholas L.M. Allen photo
February 24 issue: The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass hosted Family Day activites at the MDM Facility in Bellevue. Hundreds of families participated in the event on Sunday, February 19.
John Kinnear photo
March 13 issue: The seventh annual skijoring competition, Pole and Spur, was held at the Sartoris Staging Area on March 9 by the Kananaskis Pro Rodeo Association with the Blairmore Lions and Cadillac Kitchen serving food at the event.
Nicholas L.M. Allen photo
April 3 issue: The Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex was home to the 75th Bunny Bonspiel curling competition on March 29. Joanne Cole photo
April 10 issue: The seventh annual skijoring competition, Pole and Spur, was held at the Sartoris Staging Area on March 9 by the Kananaskis Pro Rodeo Association with the Blairmore Lions and Cadillac Kitchen serving food at the event.
Herald staff photos
April 24 issue: Outstanding Volunteer award to Mary Anna Misseghers by Mayor Painter, pictured top. Outstanding Youth Awards were also presented to, from left to right: Quinn Douglas, Derek Fyten and Maya Veldman.
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - CROWSNEST PASS HERALD - 9
May 15, 2024
Housing Assessment hits high In an assessment presentation on May 7, Benchmark Assessment Consultants provided a comprehensive overview of property values and tax assessments to the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass. Christopher Snelgrove, the consultant, delved into various aspects while focusing on shifts and trends observed over the past year. During the presentation, Snelgrove expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak and highlighted the analytical tools available for the assessment process. Emphasizing efficiency, they aimed to provide valuable insights while being mindful of the audience’s time. The presentation began with a breakdown of assessments, covering categories such as farmland, machinery & equipment, non-residential properties, linear assets, and residential properties. “Because the farmland rates are regulated by province, they don’t ever change,” explained Snelgrove. Snelgrove utilized visual aids to illustrate trends and shifts in each category, facilitating a deeper understanding of the assessment process. May 22, 2024
AltaLink’s wildfire mitigation Last year in Canada, wildfires burned an estimated 18.5 million hectares of land, an area three times the size of Nova Scotia and eight times the annual average over the past 25 years. In Alberta, a record setting year included more than two million hectares burned, almost the average for the entire country. While according to Alberta Wildfire, fewer than 10% of the total wildfires in Alberta were started by electricity infrastructure, AltaLink is committed to reducing the likelihood that its infrastructure may contribute to the ignition of a catastrophic wildfire. Scott Schreiner, vice president of external engagement at AltaLink, oversees corporate communications, consultation, and indigenous relations for the company. He highlighted AltaLink’s intensified efforts in wildfire prevention following a record-setting year of wildfires in Alberta. “Last year, more than two million hectares were burned, almost reaching the national average for an entire year,” Schreiner said, “In response, AltaLink has ramped up its wildfire mitigation plan to minimize the risk of our transmission system contributing to wildfires.” May 29, 2024
Final Darcy’s Nature Walk Scheduled for Saturday, June 8, the walk will offer participants one last chance to engage in this event. Registration is on-site at the Bellevue Fireman’s Park starting at 9:15 a.m. and the walk start time is 10:00 a.m. Participants can choose from three different loops, each ranging between four and five kilometres in length. There are two trail loops of moderate difficulty and one in-town loop that is family-friendly and suitable for all ages. However, the trail loops are not ideal for strollers or similar equipment. Following the walk, there will be hot dogs, snacks, and prizes. These post-walk festivities offer an opportunity for community members to gather, relax, and celebrate the event’s history. Randi Lynn Rinaldi, a key organizer of the event, expressed mixed emotions about this being the final year. “We didn’t expect this event to last so many years. Initially, we thought it would run for just a couple of years to honour my mom and to get some community support,” Rinaldi shared, “But with great success, it just continued, and we never had a definitive end in mind.” The decision to end the walk stems from the organizers feeling it is time to step back.
Marten Jan De Vlieger July 10, 1981 – December 24, 2024 Marten Jan De Vlieger passed away in Blairmore, Alberta on December 24, 2024 at the age of 43 years. He is survived by his wife Janine and children Noah and Kabrina. He is also survived by his parents Henk and Janny De Vlieger; brother Sam (Lesley) and children Branson and Barrett; brotherin-law Brent Hamilton (Stephanie) and children Lily and Emma Hamilton and Kennedy and Griffin Houston; father-in-law Rod Klok (Lisa) and children Connor, Kassidy and Kaitlyn Stevens; mother-in-law Joyce Klok (Bob Derzaph); and sister-in-law Andrea Peleskey (Jarred) and children Skylar and Jayde. He was predeceased by his younger sister Karen Hamilton and his grandparents and uncle in Holland. Marten was born in Zierikzee, the Netherlands in 1981. In 1983 he moved to Taber Alberta with his parents and big brother Sam. A year later his family was blessed with a baby girl Karen. Marten’s first year and half were spent in Holland, he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a baby. This never slowed him down; he was a very happy baby and a wonderful playmate to Sam. Once in Canada he always had friends to play with and soon started to develop into an adventurous/mischievous boy. He was always busy, inventing and then making things, putting Sam and his friends in action to help him achieve his goals. He loved sports, cycling, skateboarding, soccer, hockey, snowboarding, skiing, windsurfing, motor and dirt biking. He loved making things; from building his own skate and snowboard, teepee, treehouse, motor scooter, 2 campers and lots more. For a few years he was a member of the Air cadets. He developed a love for running and he ran the Red Deer and Boston marathon. Traveling was his thing, backpacking in Europe, going with friends to Austria, and staying with his grandparents in Holland. After graduating high school, Marten dreamed of being a pilot, so he built himself a camper for the back of his truck and moved to Kelowna for flight training. He got hired immediately after by Airborne Energy Solutions where he was a commercial helicopter pilot and gas plant operator. Complications due to his CF and liver disease grounded him and took away his career as a pilot. It was then that he decided to build a house for himself and his fiancé Janine. They were married in March 2006 and their adventure began. They quickly added a big black lab Clifford to their mix. They were blessed with son Noah in 2009 and a daughter Kabrina in 2012. For the love and concern of the health of Karen and all other Cystic Fibrosis patients, he invented a device which mimicked manual physiotherapy required to clear lungs when he was 16. He worked hard for many years to perfect and sell the device to a medical company to get it into the hands of patients and eventually succeeded and became a spokesperson and ambassador of the device and traveled the world to promote his invention. In 2019 he fulfilled another dream of living in the mountains and he and his family moved to the Crowsnest Pass where he loved to snowmobile and ski in the winter months and mountain bike, kiteboard, and camping in the summer. Their big blue motorhome traveled many miles to places such as Oregon and Idaho with Nitinat Lake on Vancouver Island in BC being a yearly family favorite. Marten was a community minded soul with many great talents and gifts. He was instrumental in the creation of the skateboard, spray park and a motocross track in Taber. He belonged to the CrowSnow Riders where he loved to groom sled trails, UROC where he loved to build mountain bike trails and Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue Society where he used his skills and talents and love of the mountains to help others in need. For fundraisers he donated his beautiful chainsaw carvings and even auctioneered them off. There was nothing he wasn’t willing to try. He was the proudest of his children who he showed by example from the time they were born to be adventurous and experience everything in life. Noah and Kabrina both loved being with him as he taught them everything he knew. He always told them to stay close to God and always be willing to help others. Marten was a supportive husband who encouraged Janine to get into mountain biking, one of his hobbies that she could actually keep up with him. Throughout his life Marten met many interesting people and made numerous lifelong friends. He was an inspiration to many. The Funeral Service was held on Friday, January 3, 2025 at the MDM Community Center (2802 – 222 St. Bellevue, AB T0K 0C0). With respect for Marten’s wishes, bright colours were worn to the service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Crowsnest Pass Food Bank (PO Box 675 Blairmore, AB T0K 0E0) or United Riders of Crowsnest (www.uroc.ca). Condolences may be registered at www.fantinsfuneralchapel.ca.