invermere valley echo, march 09, 2016

ALLEYV CHOEThe Invermere

STEVE [email protected]

The provincial government has an-nounced some new breaks on Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums for cer-tain residents, but NDP Columbia Riv-er-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald says the measures are not enough and that the government should scrap the whole premium system altogether.

“MSP payments are a really unfair way of raising money to pay for health care. Basically, it’s a fl at tax. It’s the same for a millionaire as for a middle-class fami-ly. No other province uses it any more,” he said.

The provincial Liberal government re-cently announced changes to MSP and premium assistance that will take ef-fect in 2017, which aim to help lower-in-come families, individuals and seniors.

According to a government press release, about 335,000 people across

the province will see their premiums reduced, and an additional 45,000 peo-ple will no longer pay premiums at all in 2017.

Once the new MSP changes take effect in 2017, a single senior earning as much as $45,000 may qualify for reduced pre-miums, and a senior couple earning as much as $51,000 may qualify for reduced pre-miums. This translates into a savings of up to $480 per year for a senior cou-ple and $324 per year for a single se-nior, according to the release.

At the moment, a single senior can qualify for assistance with net income of $33,000 a year or less, and for a single senior with income less than $25,000, the premium is waived. Under the new rules, a single senior could qualify for

premium assistance with net income of up to $45,000 a year, and pay no pre-miums if their net income is less than $27,000. Macdonald could not confi rm how many local seniors or lower-in-come families in Columbia River-Revel-stoke might benefi t from the changes.

He is critical not only of the sys-tem, but that the changes proposed will not take effect for another 10 months.

“It is fairly lim-ited in terms of who (the changes) im-pacts and, in actual fact, most people will see additional costs. Certainly this year (2016) that’s all they will see,” he said. “What needs to happen is what Alberta did some years ago and simply eliminate it (MSP payments) and have it incorporated into income tax, which

is graduated, so that those who make less, pay less.”

Macdonald said there is agreement among all parties in all provinces ex-cept B.C. that health care costs should be incorporated into income tax, or otherwise paid in a graduated manner, and added that despite the promis-es of payment reductions in 2017, the provincial government will still collect $100 million more through MSP pay-ments this year than it did last.

According to the government press release, a one-time application must be fi lled out specifi cally for the premium assistance program. Retroactive assis-tance may be provided for up to the previous six years. A calculator is also available on the government website to help B.C. residents fi gure out whether or not they qualify for premium assis-tance, either now or in 2017. To visit the calculator, see https://extranet.gov.bc.ca/forms/gov/health/msppa.html.

MSP rates changes not good enough: Macdonald

Basically, it’s a fl at tax. It’s the same for a millionaire

as for a middle-class family. No other province uses it anymore.

NORM MACDONALD MLA COLUMBIA RIVER-REVELSTOKE

VV CHOEVEV CHOECHO

$105INCLUDES GST

PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 7856

Golden set to host 24-hour endurance race16

4New plaque planned to honour Boer War

Golden set to host 24-hour endurance racehour endurance race

Columbia Valley Rockies general manager Ross Bidinger (left) along with assistant coach Kris Ekelund (right) congratulate Rockies defenceman Da-vin Burton on his Most Improved award, presented at the Rockies’ annual

banquet on March 4th at Copper Point Resort. See page 9 for coverage. PHOTO BY BREANNE MASSEY

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March 9March 9March 9March 9March 9March 9March 9March 9March 9THTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTH

201620162016

Visit columbiavalleyarts.com for our current events calendar, or call 250-342-4423.

What does ARTmean to you?

Happy BirtHday to pynelogs!1914 - 2014

Celebrating 100 years

Art from the Heart at Copper Point Resort · March 19th - 27th

Wolak Donelly Duo LIVE at Christ Church Saturday March 21st at 8 pm

A2 invermerevalleyecho.com Wednesday, March 9, 2016 The Valley Echo

Snapshot

ALLEY

VALLEY

V

Snapshot

ANALYZING AROMAS... On Saturday, March 5th, par-ticipants attended Kicking Horse Coffee for a cupping work-shop as part of the 3rd annual Invermere Coffee Fest to learn about the 10-step cupping process that helps identify bold fl a-vours and smells. PHOTO BY BREANNE MASSEY

Geoff HillMaxWell Realty Invermere

[email protected]

250-341-7600

A BIG thAnk you to those who cAme out to wIsh Joe Fuller A hAppy

90th BIrthdAy, you helped to mAke hIs dAy very specIAl &

memorABle

BREANNE [email protected]

Information about fi re and vegetation manage-ment was recently provided to the Village of Radi-um Hot Springs by Gregg Walker, Fire Management Offi cer at Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay Nation-al Parks Field Unit. Radium council accepted the fi re management update at the regular Wednesday, February 24th Village of Radium Hot Springs coun-cil meeting.

“I presented an update of ongoing fi re activities in the south end of Kootenay National Park, within proximity to Radium,” said Walker on Friday, March 4th. “We focused on what was pertinent and what was going on in the community close to Radium.”

He believes the councillors at the Village of Ra-dium Hot Springs were receptive to the report.

“I felt like, and generally feel like, they’re appreciative that we’re in there a cou-ple of times a year, updating them and also they’re quite interested in what we’re doing,” said Walker.

The biggest difference in the information that Walker provided to council at the last meeting from previous meetings was the new forest restoration project near Radium Hot Springs. In order to restore the historic open forest-grassland condi-

tion to this forest, the thick vegetation must be thinned fi rst, and then treated with prescribed fi re.

“We’ve been talking about it and year after year; we’ve been working on it,” said Walker. “This year, what we were presenting is that we’ll actually do some prescribed fi re in that area… that will occur at either the end of this month or early in April if weather permits.”

The goal, he added, is to keep the community informed and updated about ongoing work within the park.

“Within Parks Canada, we’re doing fi re manage-ment in a way that fi rst of all puts public safety, public property, infrastructure and the protection of it foremost,” he concluded, noting the number of prescribed fi res and restoration activities has increased over the past several years to boost vegetation and fi re prevention (previously-burned

areas can stop a new fi re from spreading). “You’ll also hear us talking about allowing some fi re and that fi re is a natural

part of the ecosystem — that’s our secondary priority, to allow fi re to be a natural part of the ecosystem because it’s healthy for the national parks and for all of the lands so we’re trying to balance those two things and we do that through active fi re management.”

New forest restoration project near RadiumOCALL EWSN

Parks Canada fi re crew member, Leah Pengelly, builds and burns piles of vegetation that were cut as the forest was thinned at the Sinclair Restoration Area, near Radium Hot Pools, in Kootenay National Park. Parks Canada photo.

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invermerevalleyecho.com A3Wednesday, March 9, 2016 The Valley Echo

VILLAGE OF RADIUM HOT SPRINGSNOTICE OF SITTING

WATER & SEWER PARCEL TAX ROLLLOCAL CONSERVATION FUND

The � rst sitting of the Parcel Tax Review Panel will be held at the Municipal Of� ce, 4836 Radium Boulevard, Radium Hot Springs, B.C., on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 7:15 p.m. The Parcel Tax Review Panel may review and correct the Parcel Tax Roll and hear complaints on one or more of the following grounds:

-an error or omission respecting a name or address on the parcel tax roll;-an error or omission respecting the inclusion of a parcel;-an error or omission respecting the taxable frontage of a parcel;-an improperly allowed or disallowed exemption.

The Parcel Tax Roll will be open for inspection at the Municipal Of� ce during regular of� ce hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) from Wednesday, March 9, 2016 to Wednesday, March 23, 2016. A complaint shall not be heard by the Review Panel unless notice of the complaint has been made in writing to the Chief Financial Of� cer of the Village of Radium Hot Springs, Box 340, Radium Hot Springs, BC, V0A 1M0, at least 48 hours prior to the time appointed for the sitting of the Review Panel. For further information contact the Village Of� ce at 250-347-6455.

Karen SharpChief Financial Of� cer

INVERMERE MEDICAL CLINIC

Extended HoursTo better serve our community, we will be

o� ering extended consulting hours.

Starting March 8, 2016Tuesdays only, until 7:00 P.M.

Please call 250-342-9206for an appointment.


Members of more than 50 various con-servation groups found throughout the Columbia River watershed have sent a letter to federal Environment Minister Stephane Dion, B.C. Premier Christy Clark and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry asking that the Columbia Basin Treaty be modernized by adding an-other ecosystem-specifi c purpose to the treaty.

Among the signatories were two mem-bers of the East Kootenay environmen-tal group Wildsight, including Invermere resident Kat Hartwig, who signed as the executive director of Living Lakes Cana-da. Wildsight executive director Robyn Duncan was the other local signatory.

“When the treaty was fi rst negotiated (1964), we didn’t have the same world as we do today,” said Ms. Hartwig. “The effects of climate change, for instance, or the resilience of ecosystems were not things that were even considered back then. The focus on the treaty was much more engineering-centric, because that was how people thought then.”

The co-operation between 50 groups across the Columbia Basin from both sides of the borders is nothing unique or precedent-setting given the nature of the issues at hand, according to Ms. Hartwig.

“This kind of collaboration is happen-

ing more and more frequently as the challenges become more complicated,” she said.

The letter states the groups hope to promote a healthy basin by ensuring the river and its people can adapt to the increasing effects of climate change, and that to achieve these goals, they are recommending “the addition of (an) ‘ecosystem-based function’ as a third treaty purpose” as well as the develop-ment of a cross-border “analytic base to explore and assess operational sce-narios and watershed futures across the whole Columbia Basin.”

According to a press release issued by the conservation collective, the scope of the original treaty in 1964 outlines two purposes — co-ordinated power production and fl ood management. Im-portant provisions of the treaty are set to expire in 2024 and an opportunity to update the treaty began in September 2014. Both countries and many groups on both side of the borders have al-ready begun preparing for negotiations.

The letter cites the restoration of wet-lands and fl oodplains, minimizing the impact of dam operations on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and the rein-troduction of salmon into Canada as examples of what is needed to improve the ecology of the Columbia River.

Ms. Hartwig expressed optimism that the groups will see an ecological pur-

pose added to the treaty.“I am hopeful that the renegotiated

treaty will address environmental con-cerns,” she said. “In part, because we are already experiencing the effects of cli-mate change here in the Columbia Basin. We have different drought and fl ooding regimes that we didn’t have before. And because I think most people realize we need to be looking at how to mitigate and adapt to these effects. It won’t be an easy process to predict what changes climate change will bring, but we go have climate models that can help.”

Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Steski said he supported the efforts, adding that while he was the Cranbrook mayor, he sat as the East Kootenay representative on the Columbia River Treaty Local Governments Committee, which ultimately produced a report that outlined some similar environ-mental objectives.

“We suggested that a modern-ized treaty should have more ecological focus, so absolutely we are in line with what these local groups are asking for,” he said.

Stetski explained the Local Gov-ernments Committee report (and a Ktunaxa First Nation’s report) d i f fered from the p r o v i n -

cial government’s report on the matter when it came to the reintroduction of salmon.

“We really supported salmon being brought back into the Columbia River system, but the provincial government was not as supportive on the salmon question,” he said.

He expressed optimism about an eco-logical purpose getting incorporated into the treaty, saying “there’s certainly efforts on that from both sides of the border, which is a good sign.”

Stetski added the renegotiating pro-cess of the treaty is likely to be long one.

Print & Online SolutionsThe Results are black and white!

Use e-commerce, the solution to get the employees you need./localwork-bc @localworkbc1-855-678-7833

R EWSEGIONALNLocal environmental groups urges new Columbia

River Treaty to incorporate ecological purpose


The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) is looking at the possibility of allow-ing small-scale backyard agriculture, such as keeping chicken or bees, in RDEK Areas F and G, a topic that has been the subject of recent public consultation.

A workshop on the matter drew 23 valley residents to the Columbia Valley Chamber

of Commerce on Tuesday, March 1st and the RDEK has concluded an online survey on the topic (the survey wrapped up on Monday, March 7th) that generated more than 200 responses.

The RDEK has also conducted two other workshops on backyard agriculture — one on November 3rd last fall in Windermere (which drew 16 people) and one in Edgewater on No-vember 4th (which drew seven people).

See A4

Backyard agriculture consultation for Areas F, G concludes

OCALL EWSN


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BACKYARD from A3

“The reaction from property owners have been mixed. Some support it, oth-ers don’t,” Area F director Wendy Booth told The Echo. “As for my personal thoughts, I will need to review the feed-back from the survey in-depth before I formulate my opinion. On the one hand, having backyard agriculture has some positive attributes. However, there are also some negatives, including wildlife attractants, which is a concern.”

“The workshop is part of our effort to get feedback from residents with regard to their feelings about backyard agricul-ture on single family residential parcels in Electoral Areas F and G,” said RDEK planner Kris Belanger in a press release, adding that the RDEK doesn’t want input on just keeping chickens for egg produc-tion and hobby scale beekeeping, but also on wildlife exclusion fencing.

“Throughout the process, people have identified a range of impacts related to backyard agriculture. Positives include sustainability and food security while the concerns raised cover everything from wildlife attractants to impacts on resort or community aesthetics. It has been well-rounded, valuable feedback,” said Belanger in the release, adding that he encourages anybody who has not yet provided comments at one of the work-shops or through the survey to contact the office as the RDEK is hoping to hear from as many people as possible.

“I appreciate those who completed the survey and attended the workshop. The feedback is really important in deter-mining next steps if any,” said Booth.

The results from the survey and all three workshops will be compiled and presented to the RDEK board of direc-tors, which will decide whether or not there should be any bylaw changes re-lated to backyard agriculture in Areas F and G.

OCALL EWSNBoer War plaque to be added to Invermere cenotaph

Steve [email protected]

The Invermere cenotaph will have a new plaque added, one that’s dedicated to local Canadians who lost their lives fighting in the Boer War.

Invermere chief administrative officer Chris Prosser confirmed last week that such a plaque is in the district’s plans and will be added likely sometime this year.

A small mystery sprang up around the cenotaph’s current lack of just such a plaque after local resident David Gibson wrote to The Echo some time ago,

expressing a tribute to western Canadian soldiers who had par-ticipated in the war, particularly the Lord Strathcona regiment, which recruited throughout Al-berta and into the East Kootenay (although not in the Upper Co-lumbia Valley).

Gibson concluded his letter by writing: “There was a plaque at the Invermere cenotaph park to honour the approximately six soldiers from the East Kootenay who were killed in the Boer War. The plaque disappeared when

the park was redone some ten years ago.”Gibson’s letter, which was recently brought to the attention of current Echo

staff, sparked efforts to figure out what had happened to the plaque. When The Echo began looking into the issue last week, one particular problem emerged — nobody could seem to remember when it had gone missing, what it had said, or even what it had looked like.

Prosser said the plaque was not on the cenotaph when he began working for the district in 1999.

“It is something of a mystery. Both we at the district and the local branch of the Legion don’t really know much about it. Obviously, going forward the best to thing do is to make one and add it to the cenotaph,” said Invermere mayor Gerry Taft.

Despite having lived in Invermere his entire life, Taft said he doesn’t ever re-member seeing it the Boer War plaque.

The matter was eventually clarified by local Legion president, Ken Carlow, who told The Echo the mystery plaque did not, to his recollection, ever exist.

“There never was one,” he said, but added that putting up such a plaque is certainly something that should be done.

“I know we’re going to put one on. The Legion is proceeding with that this year,” said Carlow. “What I don’t know yet is what we’re going to put on it and who from here went to the Boer War, but that will be figured out.”

The Echo attempted to contact Gibson to clarify where his belief in the exis-tence of a Boer War plaque arose from, but was unable to reach him prior to press deadline.

BC EWSNAssisted living rules to be relaxed

tom FletcHerBlack Press

Assisted living facilities in B.C. will soon be able to of-fer more services to seniors and disabled people to stay independent longer.

Health Minister Terry Lake introduced changes Monday that restrict assisted living providers to two of six pre-scribed services. Patients requiring more than two are now required to find space in residential care.

The change removes “arbitrary barriers” that have forced B.C. residents into higher-cost and more restric-tive residential care before they need it, said B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie.

“Assisted living is a very important housing option for about 22,000 seniors in this province,” Mackenzie said. “These are your own unit, usually in an apartment-like setting where you can lock the door. You decide who comes in and who you want to keep out, and you’re free to come and go as you wish.”

Daniel Fontaine, CEO of the B.C. Care Providers Associa-tion, said the change will be welcomed by seniors who want to stay as independent as possible. The association represents 300 non-profit and for-profit operators of resi-dential care, assisted living and home care services.

Designated services, of which only two can currently be provided in assisted living, are: assistance with eat-ing, dressing, personal hygiene and other daily activities; medication management; therapeutic diets; financial

management; intensive rehabilitation therapy; and be-havioural management

minister monitoring new college feesNew fees at B.C. colleges and universities are being

monitored to ensure that new services are being offered and are worth the money, Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson says.

Wilkinson was responding to NDP questions about college administrators and student societies reporting increased fees appearing on student tuition bills this year. NDP edu-cation critic Kathy Corrigan said the ministry has found a way around its policy that increases to tuition and manda-tory fees are capped at two per cent per year. Corrigan said the new fees will cost Selkirk College students $144 more per year for two-semester programs, and Vancouver Island Uni-versity students will see $188 in additional fees.

Selkirk College increased its fees 4.5 per cent to cover costs of a career portal to match up students with em-ployers. Wilkinson said employer services and co-op placement fees are typical of new services provided by colleges and universities, as the province moves to im-prove employment links for post-secondary education.

“We’ve told the institutions, colleges and universities, that they have to be able to justify those fees by showing benefits to students,” Wilkinson said. “We’re monitoring that on an ongoing basis.” He said students and student societies will be surveyed at the end of the current term to see if they received useful service for their fees.


Resistance when going against the status quoNICOLE TRIGG

[email protected]

The controversy over the human papillo-mavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil continues. Since last month’s Echo editorial on the vaccine and how the American College of Pediatricians had issued a warning related to what it deemed to be incomplete stud-ies around the vaccine’s possible link to premature ovarian failure, the HPV vaccine has grabbed headlines again.

This time, on the Canadian side of the border, a study issued by two University of British Columbia researchers that cast fur-ther doubt on the vaccine was yanked from a prestigious medical journal in February. The study concluded that mice injected with Gardasil exhibited “behavioural ab-

normalities” and suggested that the wide-spread vaccination programs involving Gardasil be reined in (Gardasil is provided free in B.C. to girls in Grade 6, and to girls and women born in ‘94 or later who missed the in-school vaccine in order to prevent cervical and other cancers caused by HPV.)

A reason wasn’t offered for the withdraw-al of the study from the Vaccine journal, but critics have condemned the study for being biased (the researchers are funded by anti-vaccination foundations) and using questionable methodology that counters numerous studies proving the vaccine is safe. Meanwhile, the researchers who co-authored the study have jumped to its de-fence, stating that the paper was pulled due to pressure from pharmaceutical compa-nies and that if in fact it was poor science,

better science should replace it instead of it being suppressed. The results of this par-ticular study follow on the heels of another Canadian report published by two profes-sors from McGill and Concordia in October that condemned the vaccine and called for a moratorium on its use after they received a federal grant to examine it. Their article, like the UBC study, was criticized as being seriously misinformed.

In its Gardasil warning, the American Col-lege of Pediatricians stated it’s committed to the prevention of disease by vaccines, but this didn’t stop it from declaring fur-ther Gardasil studies were warranted. As these new studies emerge that contradict the status quo, the pro-/anti-vaccine de-bate can’t be allowed to drown out the voice of reason.

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DITORIALE

UMOURHSomething on

your mind?The Valley Echo welcomes all letters to the editor and submissions from community and sports groups, as well as special community columns. Please keep your signed, legible submissions under 500 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity, taste, legal reasons and brevity. Each submission must contain a daytime phone number and place of residence. Send email submissions to [email protected].

It is great to be back in Radium after a trip to

New Zealand with a Rotary International Friendship Ex-change. Travelling is a good way to gain perspective on how our own community looks within the larger world context.

Despite the obvious differ-ences, New Zealand is simi-lar in many ways to life in the valley… right down to similar priorities by government.

The Member of Parliament for the North Island spoke at a meeting we at-tended and shared that priorities for government included fresh water rights and management, and the need for high speed internet access for all. Doesn’t that sound familiar?

As a Maori himself, he dis-cussed the work being done jointly between all levels of government throughout the country. Again, some com-mon ground.

While I was away, Council-lor Tyler McCauley was busy attending a workshop in Richmond as well as attend-ing Regional District of East Kootenay board meetings

on my behalf. I invited him to comment on some work he has been doing and he shared the following:

In the coming months, accommodators in the Columbia Valley have an important decision to make regarding marketing and will be meeting together to discuss the future of tourism for our village and the surrounding valley.

Historically, each community has devel-oped its own marketing plans and budgets to attract tourists to the area. The pro-posed valley-wide Direct Marketing Or-ganization (DMO) would create a merger of marketing organizations for Radium, Invermere/Panorama, Fairmont and Canal Flats, and would see an increase in Mu-nicipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) funds collected by accommodators.

This would boost our ability to market the valley as one body. For the first time since I moved here, a good portion of the accommodators from the Radium area will be meeting to discuss the opportunity in detail. It’s an exciting time to be a business owner in Radium and the Columbia Valley!

Clara Reinhardt is the mayor of the Vil-lage of Radium Hot Springs and a Regional District of East Kootenay director for the Columbia Valley.

Radium businesses set to discuss valley-wide DMOUNDOWNR

RegionalUNDOWNRURU

LARACREINHARDT


BARRY BROWN-JOHNSubmitted

I remember the ‘70s, playing for the Invermere Selects Senior Hockey Team, when Eddie Moun-tain landed a Junior “B” franchise for Invermere! I was disappointed and readily admit it took me a year or two before realizing just what the “Rockies” could and did bring to our community.

Hockey fl ows deep in the Canadian psyche and the Rockies have become part of the broader fabric of this small valley commu-nity. They became the goal for many local Minor hockey players, while attracting play-ers and families from across Western Canada to Invermere. This organization, in turn, ben-efi ts the valley community as whole — eco-nomically and socially.

There are the obvious economic benefi ts that the hotels, restaurants, shops and small businesses receive, and more students in our high school where several players attend each year.

Socially, the benefi ts accrue to the “billets” that so graciously take in those boys from out of town and, in many cases, they and their families form lifelong relationships with them. Some of those who leave may continue their pursuit of the game, attending univer-sities and colleges in both Canada and the

U.S., but few if any will forget their time in the Columbia Valley. Let’s not forget those past “Rock-ies” who have chosen to live here permanently and are productive members of our community.

This season, the Rockies made the playoffs. However, the Creston Thunder Cats proved too much for them, winning the series in four games. No one likes to lose, but it is yet another lesson they

can use as they move forward in their lives. This year, fi ve players, including two local

lads, Damon Raven and Kellen Marchand, have aged out (20 years of age plus) and will have to move on.

Damon played more than 200 games for the Rockies and may have a future as a golf pro-fessional while Kellen Marchand is apprentic-ing as a plumber in the valley.

I know these young men and their team-mates would have dearly loved to continue on with their season, but the lessons learned, from the competition and teamwork mixed with the blood, sweat and tears, will benefi t them all as they move on through life.

Hats off to the Rockies executive, coaches, management, volunteers, supporters and fans, you have done us all proud. And while we’re at it, a heartfelt thanks to my old pal Ed-die Mountain, as the Rockies are part of the legacy he left us with!

TREETSTHES

Do you think MSP premiums should be paid at a fl at rate or pro-rated?

“I think at a fl at rate. But actually I don’t think we should pay for health care at all.”

Ryan Butter

“I think it should be pro-rated.”

Roy Lafave

“It should be kept as it is. It’s great right now, as is. But (post-secondary) education should be free, like they are planning to do in Ontario.”

Nikki Matthews

NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION:Should MSP premiums be incorporated

into income tax so people pay rates according to what they earn?



QUESTION OF THE WEEKDo you support a medical marijuana dispensary opening up

in the Columbia Valley?

INVERMEREVALLEYECHO.com� ��Do you support a medical marijuana dispensary opening up

INVERMEREVALLEYECHOINVERMEREVALLEYECHOINVERMEREVALLEYECHO.com.com.com� � .com� .com� Do you support a medical marijuana dispensary opening up

INVERMEREVALLEYECHO

Do you support a medical marijuana dispensary opening up Do you support a medical marijuana dispensary opening up Do you support a medical marijuana dispensary opening up � � INVERMEREVALLEYECHO� � � Do you support a medical marijuana dispensary opening up Do you support a medical marijuana dispensary opening up Do you support a medical marijuana dispensary opening up � � Yes100%

Rockie Talk: season wrap-upPINIONO

Barry Brown-John

STAFFThe Valley Echo

Readers, tell us what you think and perhaps $1,000 worth of free grocery shopping will be your reward.

Yes, readers of Black Press community newspapers across the Kootenays will have a chance to win one grand worth of shop-ping at Save-On Foods, by com-pleting an online survey that will help local businesses better un-derstand local customers.

The survey — the product of a partnership between Black Press and Pulse Research, a re-spected B.C. research company — looks at the shopping plans and priorities of our readers, and their media reading habits.

By answering the survey ques-tions, readers will help gauge the current consumer climate to help businesses adapt and craft new ways to serve clients and customers.

Responses will be kept com-pletely confi dential, and read-er contact information will

only be used to enter readers’ names into a prize draw for one of fi ve $1,000 Save-On gift cards to be given away across the Kootenays. The survey is online only — no phone calls — and will take 35 to 40 minutes to complete.

“We are excited to bring this survey to the East Kootenay. Our local businesses will ben-efi t from the information and be provided insight on how our readers will be looking to spend their hard earned money in the coming year,” says Valley Echo publisher Dean Midyette.

The Pulse Research survey has already been a successful tool for businesses. For one example, one client took the results of the research to the bank and on the strength of the data was able to secure a loan to expand the business.

The benefi ts of the study in-clude showing potential areas for growth or expansion.

For more information, check out www.pulseresearch.com/eastkootenay.

Complete survey for chance to win $1,000 gift card

OCALL EWSN


LET’S TAKE THE KID

OUT OF KIDNEY DISEASE.

MARCH IS KIDNEY HEALTH MONTHKidney disease is a serious disease with no cure, and it can affect anyone at any age. This adorable little girl is Hailey-Ann and she has had kidney disease since before she was

born. In just two years she’s seen more hospitals and medical procedures than many people see in a lifetime, and one day she will need a kidney transplant. Register your wishes to give hope

to people like Hailey-Ann.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT KIDNEY.BC.CA

about a dozenkids on dialysis

about four dozenin post-transplant care

about twelve dozenwith non-dialysis

chronic kidney disease

BC’S KIDNEY KIDSEVERY YEAR THERE ARE…

Other children develop kidney disease or kidney problems during their childhood years.

Kidneys regulate the amount of water in the body.

Kidneys remove waste products from the blood.

Kidneys produce important hormones.

1. 2. 3.

1. 2. 3.

The kidneys are two reddish brown organs, the shape of a bean and the size of your fist — if you're healthy. An unhealthy kidney might be much larger. Normally there are two of them, but one healthy kidney can do the job.

THREE ESSENTIAL KIDNEY FUNCTIONS:

KIDS & KIDNEY DISEASE

There are many causes of chronic kidney disease. Some children are born with it.

THREE WAYS TO KEEP KIDNEYS HEALTHY

REGISTER YOUR ORGAN DONOR WISHES AT KIDNEY.BC.CA

Balanced diet Exercise Drink water

The Kidney Foundation of Canada has sent 400+ kids to Kidney Kids Camp in the past 10 years.

We have provided 285 grants totalling over $80,000 to young kidney patients through our

Short Term Financial Program

$

For more information visit:kidney.bc.ca

THE KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF CANADASubmitted

Kidney disease is a serious condition that can af-fect anyone at any age — children are no exception. March is Kidney Health Month and the focus is on “Kids and Kidney Disease” and specifi cally how this disease can affect children and their families in many different ways, both physically and emotionally.

“Kidney disease, like any serious condition, can bring about many different feelings in children, in-cluding confusion, anger, fear and sadness,” says Dr. Morrison Hurley, former Board President of The Kid-ney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon Branch and pediatric nephrologist. “Children want to be ‘normal.’ This is more diffi cult while coping with kidney dis-ease, dialysis or transplantation, and families may have to make changes to their schedule and lifestyle. These young patients and their families need special

understanding and support.”Common concerns about pediatric kidney disease

include the following:• Kidney disease may make children feel tired, nau-

seous or unwell. This can affect their lifestyle in many ways including decreasing their appetite or causing a dislike for foods they used to love. Children with chronic kidney disease may also have special nutri-tional requirements, and these vary depending on the type of disease and the treatment they are receiving.

• Children with kidney disease may experience physi-cal challenges, including a slower growth rate than that of their peers. This may be caused by dietary intake, unhealthy bones or resistance to growth hormones.

• Kidney disease will have an impact on a child’s everyday life including school and activities. Learning can be affected, whether by a child’s inability to con-centrate on schoolwork or by being

absent from school due to hospital or medical treat-ments. Whenever possible, children with kidney dis-ease should be encouraged to take an active part in regular family activities and events.

To help kids with kidney disease just be kids, The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon Branch, offers Kidney Kids Camp. Every summer, children with kidney disease, ranging in age from eight to 18, spend a week at camp, paddling, swimming, hiking, and enjoying other kid activities. The Kidney Founda-tion pays for camp fees and transportation so there is no cost to families. Over 400 kids have participated in the program since it started in 2005.

Are you a registered organ donor? Please register your wishes today at www.kidney.bc.ca.

March is Kidney Health MonthEATUREF


CONGRATULATIONS!

See photos, videos, and results at BCGAMES.ORG

Thank you to the coaches, officials, volunteers, and families who support these growing champions.

85 athletes from the Kootenays competed at the 2016 BC Winter Games bringing home 28 medals.


After a colourful Junior B hockey season, the Rockies roster was rewarded with a year-end celebration at Copper Point Resort with their families, billet host fami-lies, volunteers and Columbia Valley Rockies board members.

A group of 85 people from the Columbia Valley attended the banquet in the Quartz Grand Hall at Copper Point Resort in Invermere on Friday, March 4th to enjoy supper and a presentation of awards.

But most of all the Columbia Valley Rockies team and their biggest supporters came to bid one another farewell to mark the close of another great season.

“There are two groups of people here tonight who we really want to recognize and we’re hoping you could recognize them as well,” said Graeme Anderson, Co-lumbia Valley Rockies director of hockey operations and president, to the attend-

ing crowd at the resort while working his magic as the emcee. “One is the billet hosts, and not all of them are here tonight, but obviously with-

out you guys who look after our players from out of town — we greatly appreci-ate what you do for the players as do their parents. The other group we want to say thank you to are the players’ parents themselves because we know you guys have a choice as to where you or your son goes to play — and obviously we’re very pleased in particular with this group, that a lot of you chose to send your kids here. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege having them — it’s a particularly special group.”

People applauded the team’s outstanding performance and enjoyed roast beef or rosemary chicken suppers before indulging in a special cake that featured a fondant decoration depicting the Rockies’ head coach, Wade Dubielewicz and some of his Junior B team.

After the meal, Anderson presented $500 bursaries to each graduating athlete to help them pursue their next steps in life, distributing the white envelopes on stage to Doan Smith, Nigel Swab, Kellen Marchand and Damon Raven.

In addition, Raven was congratulated for playing his 200th game as a Columbia Valley Rocky this season before a review of the Ju-nior B season was shown to the audience in a short video.

“To me, this was a really successful year,” said Dubielewicz. “It may not have ended the way we all wanted, but if you think of the process and the marathon of hockey season, along with how many good things and how many special things happened on and off the ice — whether that be individual accolades or getting a new bus with a lot of fundraising that took place over the last couple of years — it was probably the most successful year that we’ve had as an organization in a long, long time so with that in mind, I think the fu-ture looks really bright for this organization and this team.”

He credited the core group of volunteers for hosting events such as the Classic Car Draw, Bull Riding in the Rockies, the annual Rock-ies’ golf tournament and pond hockey events in addition to all of the efforts made on game nights.

In addition, Dubielewicz was proud to in-form the community that the longstanding tradition of having a Rockies athlete chop, pile and sell fi rewood within the community helped fi nance the team’s bus. He added that many of the athletes already have plans to re-turn to the valley next season.

“I just want to thank all of the players and volunteers for all of the time that they put in throughout the year,” he concluded before the awards presentation.

Rockies end season with rousing awards banquetIJHLK

RECOGNITION OF ROCKIES VOLUNTEERS:

• Lifetime Volunteer Award: Al Miller• Volunteers of the Year: Greg Geiger (not in attendance) and Kris Ekelund

SPECIAL ROCKIES VOLUNTEER AWARDS:

• Treasurer: Iris Grolla• Registrar: Rhonda Sage

• Bar: Mary Matheson• Scorekeeper: Wally Hann • Timekeeper: Renice Oaks


Athletic AwArds:

• Most Valuable Player: Micheal Cardinal• Top Defenseman: Ryan St. Jean

• Top Rookie: Connor McKay• Most Dedicated Player:

Giovanni Sambrielaz• Most Improved: Davin Burton

• Coaches’ Choice: Harrison Davies• Most Sportsmanlike Player:

Nolan Menard• Community Involvement:

Giovanni Sambrielaz• Playoff Player of the Year:

Colby Sherlock

rOcKies rewArded... The Co-lumbia Valley Rockies awards banquet at Copper Point Resort on Friday, March 4th celebrated the team’s impressive season while also recognizing individual achievement. Clockwise from top left: Rockies head coach Wade Dubielewicz; the 2015-2016 Rockies’ roster; three of the four graduating players (from left to right are Nigel Swab; Damon Raven and Kellen Marchand; Doan Smith is missing from photo); Coaches’ Choice winner Harrison Davies with assistant coach Kris Ekelund; the dessert of champions — a cake deco-rated with coach Dubielewicz and players standing in a hockey rink; general manag-er Ross Bidinger with Top Rookie Connor McKay. PhOtOs BY BreANNe MAsseY


A look back through � e Valley Echo's archives over the last 50 years

REMEMBER WHEN?

50 years ago (1966): The United Church

held a co-ed camp for the � rst time ever. The camp was held at Rock Lake, was open to stu-dents in Grade 10 or above and costs eight dollars per partici-pant.

40 years ago (1976): The Regional Dis-

trict of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors pressed adminstrative staff to � nd out why the provincial goverment was taking so long to respond

to the RDEK’s efforts to turn Whiteswan Lake into a pro-vincial park. RDEK planner Eugene Lee said he suspected the process was being held up by opposition from several local goverment agencies, al-though he was careful not to name these agencies.

25 years ago (1991): An open house meet-

ing showcasing plans for the new David Thompson Second-ary School (DTSS) building drew a crowd of local residents. The public response was over-whelmingly positive.

20 years ago (1996): The DTSS girls’ curling

team headed to the provincial

championships. The team was skipped by Christine Keshen, and other team members were Kirstin Meadows, Kym and Kindry Dalke and Nicole Coy.

10 years ago (2006): The RDEK board of

directors voted nearly unani-mously against a motion in-troduced by David Wilks to turn jurisdiction on the planned Jumbo Glacier Re-sort over to the provincial goverment (through the es-tablishment of a mountain resort municipality). The sole vote in favour of the motion was that of Wilks. The mo-tion sparked a record turnout of 18 delegations at the RDEK directors’ meeting.

2007 — Mr. Matsalla’s class held a poverty lunch, in

which 13 students ate the “rich lunch” while 127 ate

the “hungry lunch” (below).

ECHO FILE PHOTO


Stretching from the southern to northern corners of the Columbia Basin, craftsmen and craftswomen will be opening up their studios and workspaces to showcase art projects in honour of the Columbia Basin Culture Tour.

The 8th Annual Columbia Basin Cul-ture Tour, which is a project of the Co-lumbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance and the Columbia Basin Trust, offers the op-portunity to take a free, self-guided tour of artisan galleries and exhibitions in Basin communities between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m on August 13th and 14th. The goal is to open art studios that are typically closed to the public so that spectators can look behind the scenes.

Sandpiper Studio artist Gordon Webster has been participating in the Columbia Basin Culture Tour for several years and believes it’s a great way to bring art afi cio-nados into the Columbia Valley. He added it’s a great opportunity to give his artwork exposure.

“It gives us exposure all over the Koote-nays,” said Webster. “They advertise in Nel-son and Kaslo, so you end up getting a larg-er audience. It brings people to our shop.”

While participating has helped draw a crowd to the Sandpiper Studio, the oppor-tunity to connect with people from other areas also appeals to him.

“We’ve done it four or fi ve times,” said Webster. “It does at-tract more people.”

The call for par-ticipating artisans to register as a venue open for viewing during the tour has gone out — regis-trations from appli-cants will be accept-ed until Wednesday, April 13th.

Once the tour schedule of partici-pating artists has

been fi nalized, there will be full-colour tour directories provided to the public for no charge to help act as a guide to each area.

To register ($40 for an early registration received before March 31st or $50 regis-tration between April 1st and 13th), visit www.cbculturetour.com or call 250-505-5505. To contact the Columbia Basin Cul-ture Tour toll free, 1-877-505-7355.

IJHLK


The Columbia Valley Rockies and the BC Hockey League (BCHL) Langley Riverman junior hockey teams are recruiting athletes for the upcoming season.

A $200 registration fee will offer athletes between the ages of 15 and 19 years old the opportunity to attend the Rockies and River-man Spring Camp 2016, which will be held at the Eddie Mountain Me-morial Arena between April 15th and 17th.

The three-day long spring camp, which will be capped at 80 partici-pants, will begin with a check-in at the Eddie between 3 and 4:30 p.m. to allow aspiring hockey players an opportunity to pick up their jerseys and schedules.

“It creates a platform for kids to be introduced to and seen by a BC Hockey League team, as well as it gets some bodies in here for us so that we can start our scouting process for the following year,” said Rockies’ head coach Wade Dubielewicz. “Then, it’s up to us to determine who we like and what

we want to do moving forward.”The Langley Riverman, he add-

ed, are one of the top Junior A teams in Canada, while the Rock-ies Junior B team competes in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) and plays 52 games per year during the regu-lar season.

“Kids from the ages of 15 to 19 are basically our target market,” explained Dubielewicz. “Our loca-tion means that we recruit heavily out of Alberta for this camp, for the most part, but that’s due to where we’re located.”

At the end of the spring camp, each participant receives a one-on-one evaluation, he said.

“It’s hard to tell a kid what he needs to work on or what he does well if we go above 80 par-ticipants,” Dubielewicz explained about the 80-player cap.

For more information about the camp, contact Dubiele-wicz at 250-341-5801 or email [email protected]. To cre-ate a Player Profi le online and register for the camp, visit http://login.esportsdesk.com/login.cfm?clientid=5219.

Rockies Spring Camp open for registration

NTERTAINMENTETour seeking viewing venues

Sandpiper Studio in Windermere has be-come a popular stop on the Columbia Ba-sin Culture Tour over the past several years. Photo submitted


WEEKLY Beat

Have an event you’d

like listed? Email it to: production@


THE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9TH

• 5 - 7 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre (SYC) YCC Challenges program.

• 6 p.m.: SYC games and trivia night.

• 6 - 8 p.m.: Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce AGM at Lions Hall at the Cross Roads. All members are encouraged to attend. Free refreshments.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10TH

• 4 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphics Course.

• 4 - 8 p.m.: SYC open gym. Come play sports with us. Everyone welcome.

• 7 - 9 p.m.: Join Grade 8 and 9 students as they host their fi rst ever Science Fair at David Thompson Secondary School. No charge to attend.

FRIDAY, MARCH 11TH

• 5 - 7 p.m.: SYC YCC Challenges program.

• 7 p.m.: Join the SYC in a Foosball Tournament.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12TH

Thermography clinic being held at Renaissance Wellness Centre, 505A 7th Ave Invermere. To book an appointment call 250 801 7900 or visit www.thermographyclinic.com

• 2 - 4 p.m.: The Go-Go Sisters annual St Patrick’s Day Tea and Bake Sale at Christ Church Trinity benefi ting the Stephen Lewis Foundation. There will be draws for pottery, afghans and more. Admission by donation.

• 6:30 p.m.: Evening of Therapeutic Yoga is being held at the Mountain Om Yoga and Wellness Studio with the funds raised benefi tting the Columbia Valley Community Foundation. A suggested donation for the event is $40. Call 250-270-0056 to book a spot.

• 7 p.m.: SYC Movie night and free popcorn.

MONDAY, MARCH 13TH

• SYC switches to Summer Hours. 5 -9 p.m.

• 5 p.m.: SYC snowshoeing. Leaving Youth Centre at 5 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15TH

• 1 p.m.: March 15th - 25th daily “Crafter-noon” at the Invermere Library during the Spring Break.

• 4 -6 p.m.: Join SYC for Cooking night. Join us for Free Food and nutritional education.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16TH



• 6 p.m.: Columbia Cultural Tourism AGM is being held upstairs at Safta’s. Everyone welcome!



• 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.: Wild Ideas at Circle Cafe, hosted by Wildsight. February’s discussion topic is Climate Change: Next Steps: www.Wildsight.ca.

FRIDAY, MARCH 18TH


SATURDAY, MARCH 19TH

• Art from the Heart Art Pre-Show at Copper Point Resort from March 19th - 27th. Displays and offer pre-bidding on silent auction items of the 20 pieces that were donated by the students and framed by Kimberley Rae Sanderson Photography & Custom Art Framing.

• The Horsethief Creek Pub in Radium is hosting a live comedy show.

• 10 a.m.: Easter Storytime and Crafts at Radium Public Library.

• 10 a.m.: ICAN AGM at the Lakeview Meadows Recreation Centre, 855 Lakeview Meadows Rd. Refreshments served, everyone welcome.

• 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Artym Gallery shows Black and White with splash exhibition by Gallery Artist. Show lasts till March 25th.

• 2 p.m.: Edgewater Radium Health Care Auxiliary, St. Patrick’s Day Tea and Bake Sale at Radium Community Hall.

• 7 p.m.: SYC Movie night and free popcorn.

MONDAY, MARCH 21ST

• 7 p.m.: SYC trip to the swimming pools. Leaving Youth Centre at 5 p.m.

• 10 -11:30 a.m.: Free Bereavement

Information Session at Invermere Columbia Garden Village. Tea and cookies will be served. For more information call 250-688-1143.

• 8 p.m.: Wolak - Donnelly Duo performing live at Christ Church Trinity. A remarkable Blend of Classical and Jazz. Tickets $20, students $10.

TUESDAY, MARCH 22ND

• 10 -11:30 a.m.: Free Bereavement Information Session at Edgewater Legion. Tea and cookies will be served. For more information call 250-688-1143.

• 1 p.m.: March 15th - 25th daily Crafter-noon” at the Invermere Library during the Spring Break.


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23RD

• 10 - 11:30 a.m.: Free Bereavement Information Session at Canal Flats Seniors Centre. Tea and cookies will be served. For more information call 250-688-1143.



• 6 - 8 p.m.: Family Easter Egg Decorating Night at the Invermere Library. Drop in for some egg-cellent family fun! Free of charge.


• 10 -11:30 a.m.: Free Bereavement Information Session at Fairmont Hot Springs Lions Den. Tea and cookies will be served. For more information call 250-688-1143.


FRIDAY, MARCH 25TH

• March 25th - 26th: Link to Rink (more green-to-ice action!). For more information, contact the Invermere Curling Centre by calling 250-342-3315 emailing [email protected], visiting www.curlinginvermere.ca or going to “Invermere & District Curling Centre” on Facebook.

• 10 - 11:30 p.m.: Invermere Columbia Garden Village. Bereavement Information Session hosted by the Columbia Valley Hospice Society. No charge; tea and cookies will be served.

• 12 p.m.: Soup lunch at the

Edgewater Legion. $6. Last Friday of each month.

• 7 - 9 p.m.: The Reel Paddling Film Festival is the worlds largest paddling fi lm festival, at Panorama Mountain Resort Great Hall. There are amazing short fi lms on all types of paddle sports. Door prizes, raffl es and giveaways. Tickets sold at Panorama Guest Services or online at www.adventurepaddleschool.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 29TH

• 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Art from the Heart Show at Pynelogs March 29th - April 16th. Open daily.


HOURS

INVERMERE LIBRARY

• Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m • Wednesday: 10 a.m - 8 p.m.• Thurs – Saturday: 10 a.m - 5p.m.• Story Times: Thurs. 10:30 a.m. Sat. 11 a.m.

RADIUM LIBRARY

• Tuesday: 6 - 8 p.m.• Wed - Thursday: 1 - 4 p.m.• Saturday: 10 a.m. - 1p.m.

WINDERMERE VALLEY MUSEUM

• Tuesday: 12 - 4 p.m.

INVERMERE THRIFT STORE• Thurs - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

RADIUM THRIFT STORE

• Thursday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.• Fri - Saturday: 12 - 4 p.m.

SUMMIT YOUTH CENTRE

• Tuesday: 5 - 9 p.m.• Wednesday: 4 - 9 p.m.• Thursday: 5 - 9 p.m.• Fri - Saturday: 6 - 11 p.m.

FREE tutoring available and volunteer tutors needed. Contact the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy

[email protected]


Sponsored by:

Rank Team Total LW GM P/G Rank Team Total LW GM P/G

78 Roadhammer +4 988 50 197 0.7178 Little Red +5 988 40 196 0.7283 Beer League All Star +2 987 65 167 0.7084 Choda Boy +6 986 55 169 0.7184 Hockey Season Widow +5 986 52 152 0.7086 Lynal +4 983 66 160 0.6986 Layne Hunter +2 983 50 95 0.6786 Davy 19 +5 983 42 218 0.7289 Akisqnuk’s Rez Raiders +4 987 55 209 0.7290 Gama’s Guys 2 +3 981 50 92 0.6791 Goalieguy +3 980 63 235 0.7291 Willbillies +6 980 56 223 0.7291 Malcolm +3 980 48 149 0.6994 Buster’s Team +4 979 71 215 0.7294 Christopher 3 +5 979 58 215 0.7294 Bru’s Babies +2 979 51 133 0.6897 Mouse +6 978 57 148 0.6998 Sumokordic +5 977 50 136 0.6899 Make B Leaf +4 976 58 164 0.69100 Freddy Kruger +4 966 59 207 0.70100 50/50 Rock +6 966 53 210 0.71102 Hockey Life 5 +5 965 61 207 0.70103 Life After Lucic +3 964 53 193 0.70104 Davis Tenta +6 963 45 231 0.72105 RACO7 +4 962 62 216 0.71105 Don43 + 962 53 146 0.67107 Brennan +5 960 61 228 0.71107 R’s Rockets +7 960 51 218 0.71107 Last Call +4 960 42 148 0.68110 BBD +4 959 57 175 0.68111 TD 03 +3 958 62 230 0.71111 Gone Postal +4 958 46 186 0.69113 NWT 1 +3 957 60 206 0.70113 Little fast guy +5 957 51 171 0.68115 Guessing Game Again +4 956 59 262 0.72115 Spencer +6 956 55 273 0.74117 2010 Bruins +3 955 54 220 0.71118 Team Canada +4 954 55 206 0.70119 Epie 76 +9 952 38 281 0.73120 Sept 27/2015+3 950 60 173 0.68121 Hair Haven +4 948 56 192 0.69122 White +4 947 57 172 0.67122 Duane G +5 947 47 159 0.67124 Trich Monas +2 943 60 182 0.68124 ZR 20 +5 943 42 192 0.68126 CM 1 +6 942 45 243 0.71126 Sabu 64 +6 942 39 207 0.69128 Finnipeg +3 941 53 142 0.65129 ABA Chow +8 937 36 235 0.70130 Wolpack 13 +3 936 54 223 0.70131 Casss +2 933 63 253 0.71131 WEG +7 933 50 249 0.70133 N4CER +5 930 48 203 0.68133 Skeeter 31 +6 930 38 213 0.68135 Nelly +3 929 56 198 0.68136 Anaphylaxis +3 928 55 230 0.69136 Hair 3 +3 928 51 179 0.67136 HSB +5 928 44 246 0.70136 Canucks Suck +4 928 41 218 0.69140 Nick was Here +5 927 57 226 0.69141 I’m Gonna Lose +6 924 44 186 0.66142 “BOAT” +4 923 41 169 0.66143 T-O-N-N-Y +4 921 41 247 0.69144 Hockey Insider +8 915 51 265 0.70144 Lucky +4 915 48 206 0.67144 Night Hawks +8 915 40 299 0.72147 JD Radium +5 913 50 240 0.68148 M + L +4 908 66 216 0.67149 20.20 luke +7 902 42 291 0.70150 Rylie’s Mom +5 898 52 217 0.66151 Sumpkin +3 897 58 229 0.67152 Westside Dan +6 890 48 231 0.67153 Shogun +9 887 42 281 0.69154 WR 15 +4 876 50 257 0.66155 RGM 10 +8 875 36 253 0.67156 Y-lime +8 870 41 303 0.69157 Crew Slut +3 862 46 258 0.66158 RT 04 +6 847 45 207 0.62159 Zacksmum +5 839 41 260 0.64

Head to Echo/Pioneer offi ce to redeem your lunch prize!

This Week’s winner is:

CLB 77

All prizes must be claimed before the following week's results are released.

The Valley Echo's 2015/2016

NHL Hockey Pool Standings

1 Dexter “O” slayer +2 1092 71 124 0.752 Hootenani +3 1089 63 124 0.753 HSB Dad +4 1085 54 148 0.764 Love the B’s 1075 59 73 0.715 D Turner +2 1074 65 140 0.745 DR 27 +2 1074 44 116 0.747 Kootenay Rangers +4 1073 60 150 0.758 FC 09 +2 1071 58 105 0.739 NM 23 +4 1068 67 166 0.769 Curling Iron + 1068 67 152 0.7511 Harley +4 1065 55 170 0.7612 Kmart Specail +3 1055 63 218 0.7813 Cowboyz and Indian +4 1054 59 137 0.7314 Flathot 84 +4 1052 54 169 0.7515 Tristan Dubois +2 1047 67 126 0.7215 DB 24 +2 1047 59 195 0.7617 Brake Sticks 20 +4 1046 62 168 0.7518 Lone Wolf +3 1045 60 163 0.7419 LB 22 +7 1044 39 160 0.7420 Jye +4 1041 51 181 0.7521 Rockies 19 +5 1040 52 166 0.7422 A’s +6 1039 69 193 0.7522 RSJ 16 +3 1039 59 172 0.7424 WTC +4 1037 40 107 0.7125 Dominator 44 + 1036 59 168 0.7426 CLB 77 +4 1034 72 183 0.7426 Kelley Neale +2 1034 63 212 0.7626 T Webb +4 1034 57 162 0.7329 Young Guns + 1033 72 192 0.7529 Harley 10 +3 1033 43 146 0.7231 Drinkin n Thinkin +3 1030 72 157 0.7331 Slev 77 +6 1030 43 173 0.7333 MC 21 +2 1028 66 171 0.7334 AllMega 01 +2 1027 55 122 0.7135 Faze Zeimzeys +4 1025 68 175 0.7335 Ski +4 1025 46 192 0.7437 CS 14 +3 1023 67 202 0.7437 Nelly.33 +4 1023 55 148 0.7239 Grocery Stick +2 1021 64 159 0.7240 Grampa 4 +3 1020 65 175 0.7340 KM 10 +4 1020 58 158 0.7242 DQ 18 +3 1018 63 181 0.7342 Jet’s Baby +4 1018 59 222 0.7644 Yuki’s Monsters 1017 57 129 0.7145 Berg’s Pens +4 1016 68 186 0.7445 The Ultra Beauty +3 1016 56 171 0.7347 Beagle +6 1015 51 167 0.7248 E-town 98 +2 1013 43 197 0.7449 Buster’s Rez Raiders II +6 1012 63 209 0.7449 Long - Rock +3 1012 51 196 0.7351 Payci +3 1011 51 186 0.7352 Go Habs Go +5 1008 49 222 0.7453 Sportsmom3 +4 1005 62 177 0.7253 RC 31 +3 1005 56 174 0.7155 R.O.P. +6 1003 67 198 0.7355 Texas Mick 810 +3 1003 59 174 0.7155 Still Guessing + 1003 52 112 0.6955 13 Family Pantry +4 1003 50 161 0.7259 Tala’s Mom 2 +4 1001 49 126 0.6960 The Cuptenders +2 1000 70 212 0.7361 PBR +2 999 65 194 0.7361 NH 08 +3 999 61 148 0.7061 Moose Drool +6 999 60 191 0.7361 CR 13 + 999 55 166 0.7165 Gwen’s Gimmies + 998 69 160 0.7065 Old - Rock 998 50 161 0.7167 ATT and KZEE +5 996 52 207 0.7367 Buster’s Rez Raiders I +3 996 43 148 0.7067 Philip on tacos +7 996 33 134 0.6970 MF 11 +2 995 59 164 0.7071 Matt Santucci +5 994 51 264 0.7672 Merrymen +2 993 55 210 0.7373 Gama’s Guys +4 992 68 278 0.7673 Woodsy + 992 62 186 0.7275 HD 4 +7 991 55 227 0.7375 Ron Hunt Picks +3 991 52 178 0.7177 Edge Golf +5 990 43 167 0.7178 Taters +3 988 52 208 0.7278 Nolan “What” Watt +4 988 51 176 0.7178 MRN31 +5 988 51 201 0.72

Grand Prize2 rounds with cart at

The Ridge and 2 rounds with cart at The Point

250-341-3392

invermerevalleyecho.com A13Wednesday, March 9, 2016 The Valley EchoThe Valley Echo Wednesday, March 9, 2016 www.invermerevalleyecho.com A13

CHURCH SERVICES DIRECTORYWINDERMERE

VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY

ANGLICAN-UNITED100-7th Ave., Invermere

250-342-6644Reverend Laura Hermakin

wvsm.ca Worship, Every Sunday:10:30 a.m. Children and Youth Sunday School

at 10:30 a.m at Christ Church Trinity, Invermere

1st and 3rd Sunday, March - Dec. 9 a.m. at All Saint’s, Edgewater

2nd Sunday, 7 p.m.: June - Oct. at St.Peter’s Windermere

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

250-342-6167Pastor: Father Gabriel

Confession: 1/2 hr. before MassCanadian Martyrs Church

712 - 12 Ave, InvermereSaturdays, 5 p.m.Sundays, 9 a.m.

St. Joseph’s ChurchHwy. 93-95, Radium Hot

SpringsSundays, 11 a.m.

St. Anthony’s MissionCorner of Luck and Dunn,

Canal FlatsSaturdays, 4:30 p.m.

RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

#4 - 7553 Main Street W, Radium

250-342-6633 250-347-6334

Worship Service Sundays, 10 a.m.

Bible Studies Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

Kids’ Church Edgewater Hall

Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.

Loving God, Loving People

LAKE WINDERMEREALLIANCE CHURCH

326 - 10th Ave., Invermere250-342-9535

Lead Pastor: Trevor HaganAsso. Pastor: Matt Moore

lakewindermerealliance.orgMarch 13th 10:30 a.m.

Worship and Life Instruction“Follow Me - The Disciples’

Life Attitude” Guest Speaker Rev. Tim

Moore, D. Min ministering

K.I.D.S Church for children age 3 to Grade 1; and grades 2-7, during

the morning service.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY

4814 Hwy. Drive, 1 km northof Windermere250-342-9511

Pastor: Murray Wittkevalleychristianonline.com

Sunday is Worship Services

10 a.m. Worship & WordKid’s Church Provided

Sharing TruthShowing Love

Following the Spirit

ST. PETER’SLUTHERAN MISSION

OF INVERMERE100 - 7th Ave., Invermere

250-426-7564Pastor Rev. David Morton

Worship ServicesSundays1:30 p.m.

Christ Church Trinity,Invermere

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER

DAY SAINTS5014 Fairway,

Fairmont Hot Springs250-341-5792

President: Adam PasowistyColumbia Valley Branch

Worship ServicesSundays

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Shelstrom, Joan Mary (nee Harris)February 20th, 1920 - March 3rd, 2016It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our wonderful Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Great-Great-

Grandmother, Aunt and friend to many. Predeceased by her loving Husband Charlie, Son Vernon, Sons-in-law Frank Stark, Norm Kubbernus, and Al Knorr and Great Grandson Steven, as well as Sister Sheila, and Brothers Lenard, Wallace and Jack. Survived by Sister Francis Folden, and Children Marlene Kubbernus, Inez Stark, Mel (Anita), Elaine (Chris), 13 Grandchildren, 27 Great Grandchildren, 3 Great Great Grandchildren and 2 Great-Great Grand-daughters on the way.

Joan was an inspiration to us all. She was no stranger to hard work, an amazing cook who made everyone feel welcome in her home. She selflessly dedicated her life to her family and community. At 96 years young she remained an executive member of Edgewater/Radium Hospital Auxiliary, and Anglican-United Church Guild, as well as a life member of The Edgewater Seniors. Joan had a great sense of humour, was a shining example of love and kindness and was living proof that size is not determinitive of strength.

A Celebration of Joan’s Life will be held at All Saints Church in Edgewater, Saturday March 12th at 3 p.m. Tea to follow at The Edgewater Community Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Edgewater Cemetary Fund or a local charity of your choice.

The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

A: 2-1313 7th Ave, Invermere P: 341-6889 / 1 -855-651-3027

www.ekemployment .org All services and supports are FREE

* Eligibility criteria may apply.

Stand Out From the Rest Build your skills today for a job tomorrow.

Transform Your Resume and Ace an Interview Access Occupational Skills Training or a Work Experience Placement

Al-Anon - Are you concerned about or affected by someone else’s drinking?

If so, please join us. Al-Anon meets EVERY

Monday at 7:15 PM and Thursday at 1:15 PM at the Canadian Martyrs Catholic

Church, 712 - 12th Ave, (behind the Invermere

hospital). For information, please call 250-342-8255

ALCOHOLICS Anonymous - If alcohol is causing problems or confl ict in your life, AA can help. Call 250-342-2424 for more information. All meetings are at 8 p.m. Invermere: Satur-day, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday groups - Colum-bia United AA at the BC Ser-vices building, south end, 625 4th Street Invermere. Radium Friendship Group: Friday, Catholic Church. All meetings are open with the exception of Tuesdays.

CANADA BENEFIT Group - Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canada-benefi t.ca/free-assessment

HAVE YOU been denied Canada Pension Plan disability benefi ts? The Disability Claims Advocacy Clinic can help you appeal. Call 1-877-793-3222 or visit www.dcac.ca [email protected]

HIP OR knee replacement? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in walking/dress-ing? Disability tax credit $2,000 tax credit $20,000 re-fund. Apply today for assis-tance: 1-844-453-5372.

Travel

TimeshareCANCEL YOUR Timeshare. No risk program stop mort-gage & maintenance pay-ments today. 100% money back guarantee. Free consul-tation. Call us now. We can help! 1-888-356-5248.

Place of Worship

SAVE 30% on our Heart of the Arctic adventure. Visit Inuit communities in Greenland and Nunavut aboard the com-fortable 198-passenger Ocean Endeavour. Call for details! 1-800-363-7566 or visit online www.adventurecanada.com (TICO#04001400)

NEW EXCITING mini VLT’S. Produce buckets of cash monthly. Attracts customers like money magnets. Loca-tions provided. Ground fl oor opportunity. Full details call now 1-866-668-6629. Website www.tcvend.com

Obituaries Obituaries

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION!In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employer-trusted program. Visit: Care-erStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

HEALTHCARE DOCUMEN-TATION Specialists are in huge demand. Employers want CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Train with Canada’s best-rated program. Enroll today. www.canscribe.com. 1-800-466-1535 [email protected]

START A new career in graphic arts, healthcare, busi-ness, education or information tech. If you have a GED, call: 855-670-9765.

Announcements Travel Employment Employment Employment Employment

Information Travel Business Opportunities

Career Opportunities

Education/Trade Schools

Education/Trade Schools

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT SCHOOL. Hands-On Tasks. Start Weekly. GPS Training!

Funding & Housing Avail! Job Aid! Already a HEO?

Get certifi cation proof.Call 1-866-399-3853 or go to:

iheschool.com

Help Wanted Help Wanted Help Wanted

To advertise in print:Call: 250-341-6299 Email: [email protected]

Self-serve: blackpressused.ca Career ads: localworkbc.ca

Browse more at:

A division of

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ON THE WEB:

INDEX IN BRIEFFAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRAVEL

EMPLOYMENT

BUSINESS SERVICES

PETS & LIVESTOCK

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

RENTALS

AUTOMOTIVE

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

LEGAL NOTICES

MAKE ANANNOUNCEMENT

BUY AND SELLWITH A

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Small Ads Get

A14 invermerevalleyecho.com Wednesday, March 9, 2016 The Valley EchoA14 www.invermerevalleyecho.com Wednesday, March 9, 2016 The Valley Echo

2016 Annual Ecosystem Restoration/Interface Fuel Treatment Plan

The Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program and partner agencies and organizations would like to inform the public that the activities

planned for Grassland Ecosystem Restoration and Community Protection Fuels Treatments

are available for public viewing at the following website:

https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/drm/downloads.htm

The Plan document identifies the project leads and their contact information should the public have concerns or questions about individual projects.

Deadline for comments or concerns is March 31, 2016.

Employment

RETIREMENT home in Kamloops seeking hair stylist to rent salon space and provide services to our residents. Call 250-376-3131 for more info

Help Wanted

RESERVATIONS/ADMIN ASSISTANT

Retallack Lodge is looking for a f/t reservations/admin assistant to be based in Nelson. Candidate must have excellent interpersonal & communication skills, 3 years relevant experience & a great personality.

Apply by email to:[email protected]

Services

Financial ServicesGET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need Money? We Lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB.

1-877-987-1420 www.pioneerwest.com

TAX FREE MONEYis available, if you are a homeowner, today! We can easily approve you by phone. 1st, 2nd or 3rd mort-gage money is available right now. Rates start at Prime. Equity counts. We don’t rely on credit, age or income.

Call Anytime1-800-639-2274 or

604-430-1498. Apply online www.capitaldirect.ca

Home ImprovementsFULL SERVICE Plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, re-liable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1-800-573-2928.

Household Services

KOOTENAY DUCT CLEANERS

SPRING SPECIAL!!MARCH 2016

$250 whole home$150 mobile home

Professional & InsuredLocally owned & operatedToll free 1.844.428.0522

Merchandise for Sale

Auctions

Massive RestaurantEquipment Auction

March 12th @ 10amwww.KwikAuctions.com

7305 Meadow Avenue, Burnaby, BC - Shipping/Storage Available

New Equipment Liquidation –Structural Concepts, True, Delfi eld Refrigeration, Imperial, Royal,Prime, US Ranges, S.S. sinks, tables, shelvings, carts, janitorial, bakery, packaging, matching plates, refurbished equipment, bottling line, soft serves, Hobart mixers & dishwashers, back bars, rotary glass washers, cutlery.

Merchandise for Sale

FNA-Steel Shipping Storage Containers. Used 20’40’45’53’ insulated containers. All sizes in stock. Prices starting under $2,000. Modifi cations possible doors, windows, walls etc., as offi ce or living workshop etc., Ph Toll free 24 hours 1-866-528-7108 or 1-778-298-3192 8am-5pm. Delivery BC and AB www.rtccontainer.com

Misc. for SalePOLE BARNS, Shops, steel buildings metal clad or fabric clad. Complete supply and in-stallation. Call John at 403-998-7907; or email: jcameron @advancebuildings.com

REFORESTATION Nursery seedlings of hardy trees, shrubs, & berries for shelter-belts or landscaping. Spruce & Pine from $0.99/tree. Free Shipping. Replacement guar-antee. 1-866-873-3846 or www.treetime.ca

SAWMILLS FROM only $4,397 - Make money & save money with your own bandmill - Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free info & DVD: www.NorwoodSaw-mills.com/400OT 1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT.

Misc. WantedBuying Coin Collections of any size.We collect CAN & US Coins, bills, Silver, Gold. Local couple also deal with Estates, Jewellery, Sterling, Antiques+ Chad & Crissy 778-281-0030. We can make House Calls!

Legal NoticesLegal Notices

Real Estate

Haircare Professionals

Heavy Duty Machinery

Real EstateTIRED OF the snow and cold? Instead, relocate to sun-ny Sunshine Coast, just an hour away from Vancouver. Enjoy a serene family home-stead, consisting of 14.88 acres of lush forest, meadows, your own private waterfall, an enormous 3374 sq.ft. work-shop, a great family home and a carriage suite above a triple garage and a beautiful in-ground pool. For more infor-mation call Susanne Jorgen-sen, Remax Oceanview 604-885-1398.

Rentals

Apt/Condo for RentCOMFY older condo , 3 bed 2 bath, 1400sqft, fully furnished. Radium Hotsprings.2 story. $1000 per mo. Incl util. 4038095445 [email protected]

Legal

Legal Notices

Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP)

Jemi Fibre Corp. is preparing a FSP for the Rocky Mountain Forest District. The plan is publically available for review and written comment until May 2, 2016. The Plan is available at:

4201 Echo Field Road Cranbrook, BC

Please call (250) 919-4918 to set up an appointment.

Written comments may also be sent to Jemi Fibre Corp. at the above address.

Attention: Woodlands Manager

Tenders

The BC LiquorDistribution Branch

is seeking janitorial com-panies with commercial cleaning experience to bid on one or more of the 8 Stores in the Kootenay area. If you qualify go to: http://www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca and search under Liquor Distribution Branch for Janitorial Services in the Kootenay area.Bid Number:ITQ2016-03-16BClosing date & time: March 16, 2016 before 2pm PST.

The Average Canadian

Will Spend Their Last

Ten Years In Sickness.

www.heartandstroke.ca

Together we create more survivors with the help from your donations.

FightBack.Volunteeryour time,energy andskills today.

Find it in the classifieds

Shopping For A New Car?


Pulsecheck your

Complete the survey...

...two $1,000 gift card prizes available to be won.

ENTER AT:www.pulseresearch.com/kootenays

Win a $1000Grocery store gift card!

Bruce Dehart 250-347-9803 or 250-342-5357

• Complete sewer/drain repairs• Reasonable rates - Seniors’ discount• Speedy service - 7 days a week

• A well-maintained septic system should be pumped every 2-3 years• Avoid costly repairs

Septic Tank PumpingPortable

Toilet Rentals

NEWSEWERCAMER

A

READY MIX CONCRETE• CONCRETE PUMP • SAND & GRAVEL

• HEAVY EQUIPMENT RENTALS • CRANE SERVICE

For competitive prices and prompt service call:

250-342-3268 (plant) 250-342-6767 (office)

Proudly serving the Valley for over 50 years.

[email protected] Highway 93/ 95, P.O. Box 1019, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

Sponsored by:

www.TheColumbiaValley.ca

Business of the Week

Business phone bill make you cringe? Tired of corporate phone companies with long waits for service calls? Want your cell phone to ring at your desk?

DevTEL Communications Inc., 100% locally owned and operated, has been providing affordable telecom services to the valley since 2012. From networking and providing business phone equipment, designing and installing business networks, internet and VoIP service, toll free and affordable long distance plans, (keep your number! *); DevTEL has you covered. Owner Devin Yawching, a valley resident since 2006, has over 20 years of knowledge and experience in the Telecom industry. Ask us how to cut your phone bill in half and have dependable, reliable internet service. Call us for a free business consultation...we look forward to saving you money!

*Keep your number in Invermere, Fairmont, Canal Flats, Cranbrook, Fernie

Call or email DevTEL 250-270-0495, [email protected], www.devtelcommunications.ca

Sholinder & MacKaySand & Gravel

Complete line of aggregate productsfor construction and landscaping

Office: 250-342-6452 • 250-342-3773 Cell: 250-342-5833

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

Amanda NasonAdvertising Sales


#8, 1008 - 8th AvenuePO Box 868, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0Ph: 250.341.6299 • Cell: 250.341.1111

[email protected]

OVERWINTERING PESTS!

...want in for the winter• Flies • Spiders • Rodents

- we offer a pro-active approach to stop them COLD!

www.cranbrookpestcontrol.com

Cranbrook Pest Control250-426-9586

A Member ofBetter Business Bureau


FLOOR MODELCLEARANCE SALE

STARTS MARCH 10TH, WHILE QUANTITIES LAST

SEARS HOMETOWN STORESare locally owned and operated by dedicated

individuals serving their communities.We carry the top major appliance brands,

sleep sets, lawn & garden products and much more.

ON REGULAR PRICED FLOOR MODEL MAJOR APPLIANCES

SAVE UP TO

30%

We’re making room for something

NEW!ORILLIA

SEARS ORILLIA8000 HIGHWAY #121-705-325-7421

INVERMERE514 13TH STREET(250) 342-6901

INVERMERE

Breanne [email protected]

A new 24-hour endurance mountain bike race will be luring riders from all over the world to Golden’s infamous singletrack.

The first-ever Golden 24 offers cyclists the option to participate individually or in teams (of two to 10 people). The race, taking place June 18th and 19th, will be judged based on the number of laps completed within a 24-hour timeframe.

“We’re thrilled to have our own signature event and to have the opportunity to show-case some of the best biking terrain in North America to our visitors,” said Tourism Gold-en executive director Joanne Sweeting in a recent press release.

“We expect the race to create repeat visita-tion, as more people discover that we’re a mountain biking mecca with more than 100 kilometres of trails. We believe that Golden’s economy will see a boost of approximately $50,000 during the shoulder season.”

The course will begin and end at Keith King Memorial Park in Golden, which also functions as the transition area for team members. The route concept is one lap of approximately 14 kilometres, and each lap will have 500 metres of climbing and de-scending. It is open to riders of all abilities.

Local entertainment, a food concession, beer garden and an expo featuring local ven-dors will create a festival atmosphere that will be enjoyed by spectactors and partici-pants alike.

“Golden is an authentic mountain town with a very active cycling community. With world-class mountain biking trails, it’s a nat-ural fit for an endurance race like this,” said Aaron McConnell, president of TracksRock-ies Events, the event management group hosting the race. “We expect to see most participants coming from Calgary, Edmon-ton, Vancouver and other parts of B.C. Inte-rior, but we’re also hoping for strong local participation. We expect to see more than 200 athletes in our first year.”

McConnell expects the event to generate some international interest but anticipates the vast majority of participants will be coming from Western Canada and the north-west United States.

Golden previously hosted Stage Four and Five of the TransRockies Singletrack 6 mountain biking race in 2014, which attract-ed more than 300 participants from 18 coun-tries, and was voted Favourite Race Stages and Community by those athletes.

Interested participants can visit http://golden24.ca/registration/ to register.

2014 TransRockies Singletrack 6 athletes on Golden’s Mountain Shadows Trails. Photo by Dave Best/Tourism Golden

R EWSEGIONALN

TransRockies mountain bike

event hosted in valley

invermere valley echo, march 09, 2016

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