Piano must sell to help fund roof for CPR lodge
As work continues on the heritage building CPR Lodge, the Columbia Valley Heritage Building Society is still looking for a bit more funding and willing workers to complete the massive restoration project.
Project manager for the society, Bob Kelly, said that a handful of dedicated workers have been busy working on the wrap-around deck, and will soon be moving on to the roofing over the veranda as well as the main structure.
“We are still working with the CPR, and they have been a really good sponsor for us. We …
Akisqnuk votes to extend Indian Beach lease
The Akisqnuk First Nation recently said ‘yes’ to two referendum questions regarding leasing Band land to Indian Beach Estates and a yet-to-be determined commercial venture. After a delay caused by the mail strike/lockout, the ballots for a recent referendum held by the Akisqnuk First Nation were counted by staff of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada in Vancouver on July 14th.
The first referendum question posed to the First Nation members was whether or not to extend a portion of Indian Beach Estates’ lease until 2058; the second, whether to designate …
Plan being drafted for Highway 93 improvements
A draft plan released by Kootenay National Park regarding proposed development and restructuring of some of the infrastructure along Highway 93 South is now available for public comment.
The Highway 93 South Plan comes from an overall park management plan that was finalized in 2010, which included consultation with the public and an overall vision for the types of experiences park management would like to provide visitors to the area, said land use specialist with Parks Canada, Todd Keith.
“It is a plan, and there are no dedicated resources right now to …
New facility planned for Kinsmen Beach
Construction of a much-needed facility to service Kinsmen Beach should begin this fall, after District of Invermere Council carried a resolution to accelerate plans for the building, which will cost approximately $350,000.
A new, all-season washroom and concession facility has been one of council’s top five priorities since developing a community enhancement plan, said Chief Administrative Officer, Chris Prosser.
During the process of developing the plan, council asked local groups and the general public what they would like to see in the area; a year-round facility at the beach …
Windermere votes ‘no’ to purchased H2O
Voters in the community of Windermere voted a resounding ‘no’ to a proposed upgrade to the Windermere Community Water System during a referendum on June 25th. The proposed upgrade was to provide treated drinking water through the purchase of bulk treated water from Parr Utilities Ltd., also known as the Windermere Water and Sewer Company.
A total of 244 valid ballots were cast in Saturday’s referendum, which represents 54 per cent of eligible voters. After a final count, 203 residents voted ‘no’, and 41 voted ‘yes’.
Mike Haltman, a member …
National Aboriginal Day Festival
REMEMBERING OUR ROOTS — The Lakeshore Resort and Campground hosted a National Aboriginal Day Festival on Saturday, June 18th. Clockwise from bottom left: Shuswap basketry expert, Delores Purdaby, shows Fairmont resident, Darren Still the intricate work needed to create a basket out of fir tree needles; campus manager for the College of the Rockies, Doug Clovechok, addresses the crowd; Al Clause, Danny Burgoyne and Jordan Sam lead the Grand Entry participants to kick off the day of events.; Leon Cranebear performs a traditional dance.
Photos by Lisa and Robert Ede/Akisqnuknik …
Invermere to host major pond hockey tournament
Lake Windermere has beaten off stiff competition to become the third and final venue for the B.C. Provincial Pond Hockey Series, a set of tournaments which will take place in Rossland, Prince George and Invermere.
The inaugural Invermere event, which is set to take place in early February 2012, is expected to draw upwards of 60 teams from B.C., the U.S.A. and Alberta.
The decision came in late on Monday, June 13th, after the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce, who has been working on their bid for some time, hosted a representative …
Windermere discusses third water option
A group of concerned Windermere residents held a public meeting last weekend to discuss a proposal for a third, and they say more affordable, option for creating a standalone water treatment system for the community.
There has been a healthy debate in Windermere as residents prepare to vote on June 25th whether to connect to a privately owned water treatment system, operated by Parr Utilities, or to build a standalone plant with an estimated total cost of $12 million.
Windermere resident Steve Lackey, a consulting engineer in the water treatment field …
Wet spring doesn’t dampen fire potential
The Columbia Valley may have experienced a fairly wet spring, but Invermere Fire Zone Protection Technician, Steve Levitt, is reminding residents that it will only take a couple weeks of hot, dry weather — as was experienced over the past weekend — to bring the fire danger rating up significantly.
A veteran of the valley, Mr. Levitt spent 10 years working in the Golden fire base before coming to Invermere. He said since he started, the valley has experienced some significant fires, and in …
National Aboriginal Day celebration promises fun for the whole family
Residents of the Columbia Valley are being cordially invited to celebrate National Aboriginal Day with the Akisqnuk First Nation on Saturday, June 18th at the Lakeshore Resort and Campground.
This is the second annual National Aboriginal Day Festival to be held at the campground, which is located approximately five kilometres south of Windermere on the shores of Lake Windermere.
National Aboriginal Day was first proclaimed by the Governor General in 1996, and is meant to provide an opportunity to acknowledge the unique achievements of First Nations, Metis and Inuit in …
The Ktunaxa Nation: A strong oral history
The Akisqnuk First Nation is one of six sister bands that make up the Ktunaxa Nation. The Ktunaxa (pronounced ‘k-too-nah-ha’) people have occupied the lands adjacent to the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers and the Arrow Lakes of British Columbia for more than 10,000 years.
The Traditional Territory of the Ktunaxa Nation covers approximately 70,000 square kilometres (27,000 square miles) within the Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia and historically included parts of Alberta, Montana, Washington and Idaho.
For thousands of years the Ktunaxa people enjoyed the natural bounty of the land, seasonally …
Thomsen makes Canadian Alpine Team
It has been a long time coming, but for local ski phenomenon, Ben Thomsen, this upcoming ski season is sure to be one to remember. Mr. Thomsen, who grew up in the valley, was recently named as an official member of the Canadian Mens’ Alpine Team.
Mr. Thomsen said he has been skiing for as long as he can remember, and for the past few seasons he has been travelling and competing with the team, but has not been an official member until this year.
“I was an invitee so they …
Proposed HST changes please some, not others
Just months before an upcoming referendum on the Harmonized Sales Tax, the B.C. government announced proposed changes to the hotly debated tax, which was instituted in July of last year, and the possible changes have split the opinions of valley representatives.
The government is proposing to reduce the tax by one per cent in July of next year, and again in July of 2014, cutting it down to 10 per cent. Transition cheques will also be issued to all B.C. families with children under 18, in the amount of $175 …
Golden Timber Frames enters receivership
A local company that received millions of dollars in funding from the federal government in 2009 entered into receivership this spring for reasons yet unclear, leaving a lineup of creditors waiting to be paid back.
Since then, local residents have been wondering what happened to both the company, Golden Timber Frames Limited, and the funding, but details have been hard to find.
Invermere’s Shirley Campbell is one of those residents. She said that it is unfortunate that Golden Timber Frames is no longer operating, and that she has been stumped when …
Rotary Club recognizes citizens
The Rotary Club of Invermere has honoured longtime valley residents, Julie McIntosh and her late husband Bill, as the Citizens of the Year.
A special luncheon took place upstairs at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena, on Thursday, May 26th, and included members of the Rotary Club, local politicians and members of the McIntosh family.
Milt Deck, Chair of the Citizen of the Year Committee, spoke of Bill and Julie’s unwavering support of the community over the years, specifically the Columbia Valley Rockies hockey team, which Bill helped establish and kept …
Local hut society looks for new members
For hikers, mountaineers, snowmobilers, and backcountry recreationalists, the huts located throughout the Columbia Valley are important to their continued enjoyment of the alpine potential of the area.
The Columbia Valley Hut Society has maintained five of these huts since the 1980s, and as the group’s Annual General Meeting approaches, President Ryan Bavin said he is hoping for a good turnout of people interested in helping out.
The group maintains five cabins in the area, said Mr. Bavin, spanning from the Jumbo area in the south to the approximately 100-year-old …
Valley Pioneer – Former valley resident instrumental in establishing District of Invermere, library and community hall
As the District of Invermere celebrates its 60th anniversary this May, it is only fitting to look back on the life of a man who played a major role in the incorporation of the municipality.
Major Thomas Carmichael Bell, who is a recipient of the Order of the British Empire, was born in 1889, and was educated at the University of London and the University of Edinburgh. He moved to the Columbia Valley in the 1920s with his wife Katherine. The couple resided at the old Adami place, now known …
Care bed decision could impact helipad
A recent discussion about Invermere’s long closed helipad has some elected representatives wondering when a final decision and budget for upgrades that would allow the helipad to reopen will be ready.
Following the discussion at the May 6th Kootenay East Regional Hospital District Board meeting, Interior Health Authority’s Jason Giesbrecht said the delay is due to the current Request for Proposal process Interior Health is engaged in. The proposal process will determine who will build a much-needed 34 bed residential care facility for the area, and where it will be …