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JANUARY 22, 2016
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Vol. 65, Issue 15
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SUBMITTED
The Cranbrook Ice Midget Tier 3 hockey team hosted its five-team home tournament over the weekend of Jan. 15 and came away champions. Back row (left to right): Wyatt Manning (assistant coach), Chris Huston (head coach), Brady Harrison, Lucas Chilton, Trevor Blayney, Ben Kozak, Noah Huston, Brody Pocha (captain), Andrew Shubert, Dawson Pelletier, Jacob Bromley, Kirk Hatheway, Colton Stishenko, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Laurie (assistant coach), John Anderson (trainer) and; front row (L to R): Wylie Paton, Connor MacKinnon, Hayden Mastel, Kyle Bouliane, Robert Nickell and Owen Jolie.
Elizabeth Lake Lodge ranked No. 1 for service BARRY COULTER
A Cranbrook hotel continues to make ripples in a very large pond. Elizabeth Lake Lodge, operated by Rachel and George Freitag, has steadily earned accolades for its comfortable beds and unique room features, its bucolic setting by a wildlife sanctuary, and especially for its customer service. This week, the Elizabeth Lake Lodge learned it had been awarded first place for customer service in Canada — out of some 12,000 properties under consideration by TripAdvisor Inc. TripAdvisor is the
world’s largest travel site, where hotel guests can rank their stay and write reviews of the accommodation. Each year, TripAdvisor looks at the hotels ranked in the top 25 positions in five categories: luxury hotels, family hotels, resorts, best bargains, and exceptional service. This is not the first award Elizabeth Lake Lodge has won in the service category, but as its reputation grows its placing in the category continues to rise. George Freitag was quick to praise his staff as essential to the recognition.
See LOCAL, Page 3
Avalanche activity may be picking up TRE VOR CR AWLEY
The recent snowfall isn’t just having an impact on the roadways — it’s also a cause for concern in the backcountry. Avalanche Canada is monitoring the current storm system through the East Kootenay, which is supposed to peak on Thursday and Friday, before tapering off. In the Purcell region, Avalanche Canada is forecasting moderate avalanche conditions in the alpine, both above and below the tree line. Over in the Elk Valley, the danger is a little bit higher, at extreme in the alpine, with a considerable rating at and below the tree line. However, moving into the weekend, the danger rating should drop a little, according to Penny Goddard, a public avalanche forecaster with Avalanche Canada. “People should be aware that
there will still be lingering problems and the snowpack is quite tricky at the moment, it’s not a straightforward kind of situation,” Goddard said. “There’s a persistent weak layer buried in the snowpack, so that’s a layer that’s particularly reactive to triggering avalanches. “That kind of problem can last in the snowpack much longer than you might expect. So even when the storm finishes and the skies clear, we’re still going to have a high level of concern for people triggering avalanches.” In the Purcell region, wind slabs could be lurking behind ridges and ribs, and may be extra sensitive when they overlie a buried sun crust. Persistent slabs are also vulnerable to be triggered by the weight of a person, even from a distance.
See AVALANCHE, Page 4
St. Eugene welcomes new CEO SUBMITTED
St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino is pleased and fortunate to announce the appointment of Mr. Barry Zwueste, as Chief Executive Officer. In this capacity, Mr. Zwueste’s responsibilities will encompass overseeing the growth and sustainability of all branches of the Resort — namely the Golf Course, Hotel and Casino Operations. Zwueste has been a senior executive in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. His experience includes senior as well as General Management posi-
tions at several prestigious resort and city center hotels across Canada including; Fantasyland Hotel, The Algonquin Resort, Jasper Park Lodge, Chateau Lake Louise as well as founding partner with Bellstar Hotels and Resorts. His postings have given him coast to coast expertise in operations, and a well-rounded background in development and acquisition. The ability to succeed in new and challenging situations are part of his dynamic portfolio.
ST. EUGENE, Page 3