Backcountry coalition granted funding for facilitator
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
At its third-ever meeting, the Columbia Valley Responsible Use Coalition learned that the Columbia Basin Trust is willing to fund a facilitator role to help move the group forward.
The coalition is made up of user groups and committees with an interest in backcountry and front-country recreation, as well as representatives of the provincial government, the Regional District of East Kootenay and the three local municipalities. It has been formed to discuss and initiate the planning process for an access management plan specific to the Columbia Valley backcountry …
Still no bus for Brisco kids
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
A number of frustrated parents north of Edgewater are still waiting for answers about an afternoon bus service they feel is warranted to bring their children home from Edgewater Elementary School.
They first voiced their concerns publicly in 2009 in the Columbia Valley Pioneer, and later through Global News. Two years later, there has yet to be a solution presented that they feel is fair.
In the morning, students who live north of Edgewater are picked up on the bus headed to the high school and …
Visitor who plunged into lake thanks community
Submitted by John Koidis
Visitor to the Columbia Valley
This is a story of how a very brief three-day vacation turned to terror, followed by truly wonderful local support from a vast number of individuals and services.
As I write this, I am still in the valley on doctor’s orders and I have been here for 27 days, with approval to fly home granted only an hour ago. Almost all of that time has been spent in hospital. Perhaps my story will help others avoid such an incident, but mainly serve to …
Woman chops off hair for aunt with cancer
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
Touched by her aunt’s battle with breast cancer, Lisa Underwood decided to do something about it.
Lisa, 20, comes from a family strongly affected by cancer. Her grandmother passed away from breast cancer at age 39, and her mom, valley local Heather McLaughlin, as well as her aunt, Invermere’s Lynne Haskin, both have been affected by the same type of cancer.
Heather is now cancer-free, thanks to detection by a digital mammogram machine like the one the Cranbrook hospital is hoping to bring in.
But Lynne, who went through …
Local mom fighting against cyber-bullying
By Kate Irwin
Pioneer Staff
A Canal Flats nurse is doing her part to help keep local children and teens safe online as she wages a campaign against cyber-bullying in the valley. Berny Moore, a mother of two, has been visiting local schools and talking with School District 6 (SD6) to try and spread a message of online awareness to kids and their parents.
If even one child can be guarded against harassment and persecution via online instant messaging, social media and cell phone text messaging, it’s worth exploring all the options to …