Shelter provides safe haven for women and children
For women fleeing violence, starting over can be an intimidating and difficult proposition. To help alleviate some of the stresses, the Family Resource Centre in Invermere has been working towards establishing a women’s shelter that would allow women and children who are leaving an abusive situation the time needed to get their lives together and separate themselves from their former situation.
The actual facility was donated rent-free, said Executive Director of the Family Resource Centre, Pat Cope, and through generous donations from the community the house is now furnished and …
November Pioneer Playlist
Bradford Cox was born in Athens, Georgia in 1982 with the genetic disorder, Marfan Syndrome. The disorder causes people to be unusually tall, with long limbs and long, thin fingers.
Cox dropped out of high school, and when his parents divorced he described his life as “Living in this big suburban house by myself.” He was a loner, but he embraced his isolation, and began making music on a small tape recorder after being captivated by Danny Elfman’s compositions for the soundtrack to Edward Scissorhands. The tape recorder was an …
Community garden one step closer to reality
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
A local horticultural organization has big plans for the 12,000 square foot plot of land beside David Thompson Secondary School: an innovative community garden that all Invermere residents could be able to enjoy within the next few years.
In just three to five years, Groundswell’s groundbreaking community garden project should be completed and its resources available to everybody, said group member and local visionary, Dale Wilker.
The organization started with an idea, some strategic partnerships, a piece of school district land and some funding, and in less than five …
Restoration project to address water issues
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
Two streams, three lakes, and several wetland habitats will be enjoying improved water quantity and quality once work is complete on the Boulder Creek Diversion Project, spearheaded by the Lake Windermere District Rod and Gun Club.
Water levels in Lake Lillian, Lake Enid and Wilmer Lake have been steadily declining for decades, said resident Norm Hendricks, of the Rod and Gun Club, and as a result, is slowly rendering the popular recreation sites uninhabitable for fish and the wildlife that depend on the wetlands.
At issue is the Boulder …
Students take first in debate competition
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
Don’t challenge these two high school students to a quarrel; they are skilled in the art of arguing, and recently proved their prowess at a debating competition in Rossland, the Pumpkin Classic.
The event took place on October 29th, and pitted these two lone representatives from the East Kootenay Zone against 11 teams from across the West Kootenay and parts of the United States.
It was a little intimidating for the pair at first, said first place overall individual speaker, Kate Godlien, who along with her debating partner, …
Tenant’s insurance protects residents from devastating losses
Insurance is a familiar subject for homeowners, as protecting the largest investment they will ever make against risks such as fire is not only required, but an obvious choice. For many renters however, protecting themselves from liability and loss is not something that crosses their mind. The result can be not only the loss of all of their possessions, but also liability risks over and above what’s covered by damage deposits.
Seeing first hand the tragedy and loss that can occur when a tenant loses everything is not uncommon for …
Longtime resident has left her mark on the valley
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
Longtime valley resident, dedicated mother, grandmother, and driving force behind the Valley Fitness Centre, Georgina DuBois, has lost her battle with brain cancer, passing away on October 31st at the Invermere and District Hospital. She was 69 years old.
Georgina moved to the valley from Maidstone, Saskatchewan in 1951 when she was nine. Her family purchased a farm in Windermere, and in 1957 established the Shadybrook Campground on the property, which is currently being run by her son, Michael.
She graduated from David Thompson Secondary School and received …
Whiteway expansion to increase winter recreation
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
The winter recreation potential of Lake Windermere is well known to residents of the Columbia Valley, but plans are underway to increase the profile of winter activities in the valley and develop some new attractions to make for a fun-filled winter on the ice.
This spring, the Invermere Business Committee began brainstorming ways to help support and develop a more year-round approach to tourism in the Columbia Valley, which would, in turn, help local businesses avoid the current ‘feast or famine’ economic situation.
The concept centres around expanding …
Meet Your Candidates
VILLAGE OF CANAL FLATS
Ute Juras
Acclaimed as: Mayor
Valley resident for: 25 years
Experience: On Council since 2004.
What are the main issues facing your community?
1) Economic development
2) Arena upgrades
3) Balancing development and the environment
Why do you feel you will continue to be an effective representative for your community? “First and foremost I would say it would be my experience on council for the past seven and a half years. I have learned a lot, especially having had the opportunity to sit at the Regional District of East Kootenay table as well …
October Pioneer Playlist
Discovering good hip hop these days is like finding a clean needle in a haystack of used syringes. That may be a strong analogy, but it’s an accurate one, as a lot of recent examples of the genre are toxic and dangerous in their blingin’ ballin’ blangin’ Bentley treatment of subjects like money, race, women and even fellow rappers.
Suffice to say there is a lot of rubbish clogging up the urban airwaves, but every once in a while something truly intelligent, unique and in the case of Brooklyn based hip …
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Invermere takes steps to secure Lot 4616 as parkland
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
There is a large chunk of land down Westside Road, the fate of which has been debated for well over a decade. The District of Invermere first expressed interest in securing the remainder of Lot 4616 for parkland in the 1990s, explained Mayor Gerry Taft, and at a regularly scheduled council meeting on October 11th, the town took a giant step towards the preservation of the property by initiating an application for a nominal rent tenure for park purposes.
A nominal rent tenure is a lease and licence …
Local dirt bikers have impressive season
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
A group of local dirt bikers have been competing throughout Alberta this summer, achieving some impressive results in a variety of cross country and endurance racing events.
The trio of teens are the youngest members of the Arrowhead Racing Team, which includes seven valley based motorsport enthusiasts and some dedicated parents, or bike transporters, to help with the extensive amount of travel involved in order to compete.
Trystan Hart, the youngest of the racers, said he got into cross country and enduro racing as it was a …
Residents raise concerns about Athalmer path
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
A recently constructed pathway connecting the top and bottom of the Athalmer hill has fallen under disrepair, and local residents are frustrated that no one seems to be taking responsibility for the trail’s maintenance.
Don Steedman, who uses the path on a regular basis, said that he feels the gravel and weeds that have overtaken the surface of the trail has become a hazard for cyclists.
Parts of the asphalt surface have also eroded away, leaving dangerous holes as well.
“I ride to work all summer long. It …
Former Dragon discusses growth, giving and golf
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
Well-known entrepreneur, philanthropist, and long time Columbia Valley homeowner, W. Brett Wilson, took some time over the Thanksgiving weekend to discuss the importance of charity in a community, as well as advice about what he thinks the valley needs to do to continue emerging from the latest economic downturn.
He also spoke about his involvement with the first annual Kelly Hrudey and Friends Charity Golf Classic to be held at Copper Point next summer.
Being one of the original owners of Copper Point, and given his reputation as …
Prescribed burn mimics nature’s regular fire cycle
Parks Canada’s forest fire staff were on hand on Friday, September 30th, for a prescribed burn in the Redstreak area of Kootenay National Park, just outside of Radium Hot Springs.
The reason for the burn was to reintroduce fire to the landscape, which is what used to happen in the past, said Fire Communications Officer, Julia Millen.
“Fires were really frequent here historically, so we are trying to reduce the fuel load to make things safer for the Radium area and also to restore some habitat for Bighorn Sheep,” Ms. Millen …
Local leaders return from UBCM convention
The Union of British Columbia Municipalities wrapped up on Friday, September 30th, and local leaders from the Columbia Valley have now returned home with renewed energy and some new ideas.
The conference is an annual event where municipal leaders from throughout the province gather to network and meet face-to-face with provincial ministers to discuss issues that affect their communities. This year it was held in Vancouver, and was attended by representatives from the Village of Radium Hot Springs, the District of Invermere, the Village of Canal Flats and Regional District …
The peacocks of the Columbia Valley
For most residents of Canal Flats, seeing a peacock roaming through their yard has become somewhat of a common occurrence, but to those outside the community the creatures hold a sense of fascination.
There are about 25 semi-wild peacocks currently living in the community. They spend most of the spring, summer and fall out and about the community, but spend their winters at local resident, Dave Belcher’s place. Mr. Belcher said he doesn’t know how the peacocks got into the area, but he sets up a heat lamp in one …
September Pioneer Playlist
The Pioneer Playlist is a new monthly feature providing a place to engage with music lovers and musicians throughout the region. It will include reviews and stories of artists/bands and topics that are either food for thought or inspirational. If you have an album or idea you’d like us to consider, contact joshua@cv-pioneer.com.
He has written and recorded over 350 songs, released 39 albums, performed in more than 20 bands, and played more than 1,000 shows in 25 countries across all four continents, so why haven’t you heard of him …
Canal Flats resident possesses material that is out of this world
Longtime Canal Flats resident, John Tawse, has been sitting on a remarkable secret for more than 30 years. In the late summer of 1979, Mr. Tawse, a former bar manager from Calgary, said he witnessed a meteor-like object sail over his cabin up Findley Creek. He was reminded of this event when he read a story in The Pioneer this summer about another explorer looking for a meteor strike from the same time frame in the Purcell Mountains.
The similarities between the two stories’ time frame and date are astonishing, …
Toby Theatre’s days may be numbered
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
An iconic Invermere attraction is at risk of shutting down permanently. The Toby Theatre has been serving the community for almost 60 years, but changes to the way films are distributed throughout Canada and the increasing pressure to move to a digital format are threatening to force the business to close its doors for good.
Ron and Elizabeth Peters have been running, and living above, the Toby Theatre for over 40 years this coming November, and were shocked when they received a letter in July stating that …