LIVIN' IT UP FOR THE LIBRARY  Valley Forged will be returning as the house band for Fairmont Resort's Charity Ski Day taking place this year on Saturday, March 5th. File photo

LIVIN’ IT UP FOR THE LIBRARY Valley Forged will be returning as the house band for Fairmont Resort’s Charity Ski Day taking place this year on Saturday, March 5th. File photo

By James Rose

Special to The Pioneer

Returning for its second year, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and the Columbia Valley Pioneer are pleased to present the Charity Ski Day on Saturday March 5th. Like last year, all proceeds from the purchase of Fairmont Ski Area lift tickets and snow school lessons will go towards supporting the Invermere Public Library. Whats more, the tickets will be discounted from their normal $45 to just $9.99 for the day, and tubing will be offered for $5 instead of the normal $15. Tubing proceeds will also go towards supporting the library.

As an event, we are supporting the local community and giving back to the valley. We love the library as a charity because we are encouraging literary growth within our community says Rachel Dick, marketing co-ordinator for Fairmont resort.

We are very pleased to have been chosen again to be the recipients of this years fundraiser, says Nicole Pawlak, director of the Invermere Public Library. Last years funds went towards developing the pop-up storytime program, which we were able to bring to Kinsmen Beach, Winderberry, and the beach at Canal Flats.

(Last year) we raised over $4,000 for the Invermere Public Library and the event was attended by over 300 people, says Ms. Dick. Our goal for this year is to match or exceed last years proceeds.

And since Fairmonts ski conditions are far better this year than last, the impetus to enjoy a day on the slopes and support a good cause should be even greater.

Receiving these funds is very crucial, explained Ms. Pawlak. With these funds, it allows us to extend and expand our programs and is like icing on the cake!

Throughout the day, there will also be a barbecue, a variety of fun activities, live music, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle to make the day one to remember. Valley Forged will be performing on the ski lodges patio from noon to 4 p.m.

They are a country rock band and they play their own original pieces as well as older covers done in their own style, said Ms. Dick.

The 50/50 draw will be half of the ticket sales and the door prize is a 2016/17 Family Season Pass for Fairmont Ski Area. The raffle prizes feature spa gift baskets, a kids tubing party, a round of golf for four at Riverside or Mountainside, a two-night bed & breakfast at Fairmont Lodge, a gift basket from the Poolside Shop, a family reading basket, dinner for two plus a bottle of wine at Mountain Flowers Restaurant, and more.

There will also be a live ice carving demonstration by Rusty Cox, a campfire with smores, a kids obstacle course, a Find Monty the Moose hunt, and a book signing by local author Julie McDonald and her book Kidding Around the Columbia Valley. Ms. McDonald has also agreed to donate proceeds of any book sales to the library.

We look forward to using the funds to running the same (pop-up storytime) program again this year, said Ms. Pawlak. Its really great to get out in the community, meet different people at different places and encourage youth literary development.