. I know I’m not the only one greatly disappointed with this and I sure hope who ever is responsible for putting on such a wonderful family event can get their act together next year!
Dual fires burn in backcountry
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
Hot weather and high winds this week fanned the flames of two lightning-caused fires near the valley.
In Kootenay National Park, a fire on Octopus Mountain jumped to nearly six times the size it was last week.
Two days after it started on August 12th, the fire was 50 hectares. Ten days later, the blaze had reached 352 hectares.
Octopus Mountain is near the Simpson monument along Highway 93.
Specialists from Parks Canada, B.C. Provincial Parks and the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch were working together to manage the fire, but …
Future of backcountry coalition uncertain
By Kelsey Verboom,
Pioneer Staff
A local group formed from of all kinds of backcountry users is facing an uncertain next step.
The Columbia Valley Recreation Access Coalition was formed this past December by backcountry users of varying interests, who were looking to discuss and plan backcountry and front-country usage in the Columbia Valley.
The group hoped to gain the provincial government’s support for the resulting recommendations, and turn the plan from a concept into an official guiding document for the area.
Several local staff members from the provincial government had been regularly attending the …
50-hectare fire burns in Kootenay National Park
By Kelsey Verboom,
Pioneer Staff
Plumes of smoke poured from Octopus Mountain in Kootenay National Park on August 12th, when a forest fire flared up during hot afternoon temperatures.
The fire was reported to parks staff at 6:30 p.m. on August 12th, and by mid-morning on August 14th had reached 50 hectares in size.
The blaze was likely caused by lightening strikes earlier in the week, and lay dormant until hot temperatures caused it to flare up, said Julia Millen, Fire Communications Officer for Parks Canada.
Octopus Mountain is located near the Simpson monument on …
Small places produce big-time athletes
Like some of the Olympics more scandalized athletes, I have a serious addiction. Not to steroids or performance enhancing drugs, but to the Games.
This year’s London Olympics were no exception. I eagerly followed TV coverage daily, watched specials on athletes from all over the world, found myself tearing up when athletes hoisted their arms in victory, and even checked out the online social media posts by athletes. I just couldn’t get enough Games.
There are many elements to this epic sporting event that hook viewers, but for me, the number-one reason …
Kelowna shooter suspect previously charged in Radium
Three people were arrested following a high-speed chase in Kelowna on July 31st, where the fleeing suspects fired shots at police. One of the two men in custody has ties to the valley, and has been wanted since June for Radium-based drug charges.
On June 16th, Columbia Valley RCMP executed a search warrant in Radium at 7330, Copper Horn Drive. The warrant was issued as part of an ongoing investigation, and when police executed the search, they seized heroin, cocaine, and an undisclosed sum of money.
Police also found enough evidence in …
National baseball tournament to honour Randy Martin
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
Two valley baseball teams will take to the field this week to defend their titles as national champs — this time wearing uniforms emblazoned with a special tribute.
When the Shuswap First Nation’s Arrows and A’s baseball teams compete in Cranbrook at the Canadian National Fastball Championships on August 3rd-6th, the name Randy Martin will be on the backs of every player’s jersey.
Last year the two teams won top spot in their respective categories of Men’s (under 40) and Masters at the national tournament in Winnipeg, earning both …
Timmmmber!
By Kelsey Verboom
This week, the government of British Columbia is forking over $50,000 to a musical production about the history of forestry in the province. Think plaid-clad, suspender-sporting loggers belting out tunes about working in the woods.
Good Timber: Songs & Stories of the Western Logger is a production that has been running since 2010, but in honour of the 100th anniversary of B.C.’s Forest Service, the government is ponying up to send the musical on tour around the province.
The forestry industry is an integral part of B.C.’s history and economy, …
When is enough?
By Kelsey Verboom, Pioneer Staff
I don’t often borrow from the writing of others, but today I will quote Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize-winning American author and humourist.
“Congress, after years of stalling, finally got around to clearing the way for informal discussions that might lead to possible formal talks that could potentially produce some kind of tentative agreements.”
Because of the exhaustive talks that have occurred during the ongoing saga of Jumbo Glacier Resort, this clever observation popped into my mind this week when the Ktunaxa First Nation announced it will request that …
Mud doesn’t dampen spirit
By Kelsey Verboom
The recent mudslide at Fairmont Hot Springs is a disaster that thankfully wasn’t too disastrous.
I suppose that statement depends on what you consider a disaster.
The tonnes of mud, boulders, and large trees that flowed freely down the mountainside and across the golf course caused millions of dollars in damage. This is a horrific situation, there’s no doubt.
But to me, the definition of a true disaster includes more than property loss; it means loss of life, or injured persons. It is truly miraculous that in such a populated …
More backcountry roads to stay open
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
The provincial government has announced it will keep more of B.C.’s backcountry roads open by no longer deactivating out-of-use resource roads.
Although it will keep more of the industrial-purpose backcountry roads open, hunters, ATV riders, cyclists, hikers, and other users of those roads are now liable for their own safety.
The changes were introduced on June 28th, when the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations announced amendments to the Occupiers Liability Act.
Prior to the amendments, backcountry resource roads were sometimes closed to the public after an industrial …
High floodwaters destroy bridges in park
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
Rapidly rising waters in Kootenay National Park this month have caused significant damage to four of the park’s bridges, almost entirely washing away three.
The flooding events are unprecedented in recent years, said Marc Ledwidge, head of Parks Canada’s Visitor Safety Program in Kootenay, Yoho and Banff national parks.
“Anecdotally, in my 31 years in the area, I’ve never seen or experienced high water levels or flood conditions of that magnitude before.”
At a popular stop along Highway 93, about 85 kilometres from Radium, the pedestrian bridge at the …
Ranchers cut off by floodwaters
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
Unrelenting rainstorms have caused the Columbia River and the Columbia River Wetlands to swell and spills their banks in places, which this week left one valley ranching couple cut off from land and surrounded by rising waters.
John Blakely and Monita Gauvin live on a 188-acre ranch near Radium. Their property is mostly near the wetlands, and the 10-acre circle of land where their house sits (commonly known as Barbour’s Island) is normally close to the water. However, on June 25th water levels rose so high they breached …
Labour market rallies, but unemployment rates remains high
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
The latest regional employment statistics suggest the economy in the Kootenay region is gradually on the road to recovery, yet unemployment rates in the Kootenays remain the second highest in British Columbia.
After three consecutive years of job losses, the Kootenay labour market increased in 2011, according to BC Check-Up, Regional Edition.
Between 2008-2010, the Kootenay region (includes the Central and East Kootenay area) lost 7,300 jobs. In 2011, the market rallied and rose by 2,700 jobs, or 3.9 per cent. The increase in jobs was the third …
Into the great unknown
By Kelsey Verboom
During the next few weeks, David Thompson Secondary School graduates will walk the stage, toss their caps in the air, and celebrate 13 years of working hard to achieve scholarly success.
Having been a graduate of David Thompson Secondary School myself, I remember the pure, thrumming excitement of being able to finally leave the valley for something bigger, better, and brighter. Now having returned home after a university and college degree, I realize the valley is a great place to be — just a little small at times.
However, …
RDEK directors leave Jumbo decisions to province
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
The Regional District of East Kootenay has decided to maintain its current position on Jumbo Glacier Resort, voting to leave land-use and planning decisions up to the provincial government.
On Friday, June 8th, the district’s board of directors voted to uphold a decision made by the regional district directors in 2009 that asked the province to create a mountain resort municipality in the Jumbo valley. The 2009 motion also requested that the province take over control and decision-making when it came to the ski resort development, located 55 …
RCMP reopen cold case more than 50 years old
By Kelsey Verboom, Pioneer Staff
With files from Stephanie Stevens
One member of the Columbia Valley RCMP has resurrected the search for a young girl who went missing from the Wilmer area 51 years ago and was never seen again.
On a May afternoon in 1961, Mother’s Day, 12-year-old Brenda Byman reportedly walked out of Wilmer towards Lake Enid with four other youths, and never returned.
In the largest coordinated search the valley has ever seen, hundreds of searchers combed the area surrounding where she disappeared, but Brenda’s body was never found.
According to police …
Employment centre saved, new facility opens
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
The once-precarious fate of the Columbia Valley’s employment centre is now secure, and the doors of the re-imagined facility are officially open to the public.
Following province-wide changes to employment services in B.C., it has been unclear during the past two years whether or not the Invermere-based employment centre would stay open, or if residents would have to travel to Cranbrook to access the same services.
Although Steele O’Neil, the firm that previously ran the employment centre, is no longer at the helm, the job-seeker’s facility will remain open …
Regional district passes on Jumbo governance
The Regional District of East Kootenay has decided to refrain from asking the provincial government to hand back governance control for Jumbo Glacier Resort.
The board of directors did however ask that local government, First Nations, and residents of the East Kootenay be consulted with on future governance decisions as the resort moves forward.
At a regional district board meeting on June 8th, Area G Director Gerry Wilkie brought forward a motion requesting that his fellow directors vote to rescind a 2009 motion regarding Jumbo that was passed by the board.
The 2009 …
New parkland slated for downtown Canal Flats
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
Residents of Canal Flats can look forward to wandering the lush pathways of a new park, thanks to a sponsored land grant from the provincial government.
Two plots of land worth $80,000, located at the northwest intersection of Burns Avenue and Grangier Road, make up the Crown land grant that was announced last week.
The two gifted properties in Canal Flats’ downtown business district, Lots 3 and 4, will join together with neighbouring Lots 1 and 2, which were purchased by the village in 2005 and seeded with grass …
Drivers endangering bears’ lives
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
Visitors and residents alike revel in the chance to see wild bears roaming through Kootenay National Park.
Unfortunately, some also take the risk of feeding the wild carnivores straight from the windows of their vehicles.
The Parks Canada dispatch office has recently received an unusual number of complaints of people feeding bears in Kootenay and Yoho National Parks, and as a result are issuing a warning for people to keep their hands and snacks to themselves.
“The problem is definitely more prevalent this year than in other years,” said …