Columbia Valley Pioneer - October 30, 2025

Bruno’s Plumbing Service

Mike

VALLEY VIEWS

VALLEY SOLUTIONS

HOME CHECK SERVICES COLUMBIA VALLEY

Peace of mind while you’re away

Services include:

• Regular home checks

• Storm & weather damage inspection

• Maintenance reporting

• Keyholder service

Call or Text: 250-341-8443

Serving Invermere, Fairmont, Windermere, Radium & area

Locally Owned. Reliable. Insured. Whether you’re gone for a weekend or the whole season, we’ve got you covered.

Edgewater Seniors Society

The Battle of Vimy Ridge in France, April 9-12, 1917, (started Easter Monday) saw the Canadian Corps, after four days of intense fighting, capture the ridge, achieving a significant military victory.

Jim Hoover’s grandfathers fought at Vimy Ridge, and he has visited the site.

Please join us on November 7 at 7:00pm at the Edgewater Community Hall for Jim’s presentation of Vimy Ridge.

Admission by donation

Refreshments and a visit with Jim following the show.

Hosted by Edgewater Seniors Society

Witch way? - Nineteen witches and warlocks were seen on Lake Windermere on October 15 for a spooky paddle adventure in celebration of Halloween.

PHOTOS CHERI HANN

We’re deeply honored to welcome Emma Kade to the Pynelogs stage for a special live performance! On the same day, we’ll also be celebrating our final Artists’ Reception of 2025, featuring 12 traveling artists, 2 stylists from Calgary, and 3 local artists Join us for this vibrant afternoon of art, music, and community a beautiful way to close the year at Pynelogs

VALLEY NEWS

AEDs, naloxone kits coming to all schools

Columbia Valley Pioneer staff

Life-saving tools in the form of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and drug overdose kits are making their way to all Columbia Valley schools.

Under new provincial requirements, Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 is making these tools available for unexpected health emergencies in its 17 schools from K-12.

AEDs are used to respond to cardiac arrest patients with the use of pads (on either side of the chest), while naloxone kits are used to counteract (reverse) an opioid overdose.

It is said that immediate intervention can significantly improve survival outcomes before emergency responders arrive.

“Equipping our schools with AEDs and naloxone kits is an important step in creating safe and responsive learning environments,” said

Surrena Craig, school district health and safety officer. “These tools can make the difference between life and death in an emergency, and their presence reflects our commitment to the well-being of students, staff, and visitors in our schools.”

Superintendent of schools Aaron Callaghan emphasized the district’s collaboration and readiness, saying the board is collaborating with other school districts on the procurement of AEDs to ensure cost-effective and timely delivery.

Each school will include standardized signage for the use of the tools. There will also be routine inspections to ensure functionality and barrier-free access.

Staff members will be trained in administering naloxone to any student or fellow educator suspected of having an overdose.

The kits will be accessible in all secondary schools by Dec. 31, 2025, and all elementary and middle schools by Sept. 8, 2026.

Be prepared, CVSAR says

Columbia Valley Pioneer staff

Columbia Valley Search and Rescue is reminding adventurers to be prepared after responding to a couple of recent incidents.

In the first callout, the crew was requested by the RCMP to assist a solo hiker who had sustained injuries after a trip and fall. The hiker was unable to walk out on their own and required help navigating the trail in the dark. Thankfully, the individual did the right thing by calling for help.

A team from CVSAR responded and provided assistance, safely escorting the individual to higher medical care.

While it may still feel like fall in the valley, conditions in the mountains are quickly shifting to winter with colder temperatures, shorter days, and more challenging travel.

If you’re heading into the backcountry this

time of year, make sure you’re prepared by checking the weather conditions. Mountain weather changes rapidly, so always check the forecast and be ready for cold, wet, or windy conditions.

Bring layers to stay warm and dry. If possible bring bright coloured clothing to be visible in case of rescue.

Prepare for the unexpected because you may have to spend the night. With limited daylight, search and rescue may not be able to get to you before nightfall. Always carry a headlight in case you are caught out in the dark.

In the second callout, CVSAR responded to an injured mountain biker in the Purcell mountains north of Toby Creek.

A team of rescuers quickly located, assessed and stabilized the patient. The subject was then transported to medical care with the help of Glacier Helicopters.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 1:30pm

The AGM will be held at Panorama Mountain Resort and virtually.

Please email: Panorama.Foundation@panoramaresort.com for meeting information or for funding applications.

All in the family - Training coach Shelley Kuhn takes a breather in The Gym - SC2 with her family - husband Stefan and children Kiara, Ryker and Lachlan. Shelley offers elite-level, science-driven coaching and training, but also works with young athletes, moms, weekend warriors, adaptive athletes and seniors.

New elite training business opens

By Steve Hubrecht  steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The curtain is about to lift on a new training facility in downtown Invermere, with local resident Shelley Kuhn set to open The Gym – SC².

The space is set to open on 12th Street, right next to the cenotaph plaza, on Saturday, Nov. 1. Although the business may be new, Kuhn brings more than two decades of high-performance coaching, athlete development and conditioning to the venture.

She aims to make The Gym a place not just to lift weights, but a place to elevate how people move, train and live.

Shelley grew up as an active kid in Australia’s Hunter Valley. Field hockey and highland dancing were her big passions, but she was game for pretty much any sport. Not surprisingly, she studied exercise science in university.

After graduating she lived for several years in the United Kingdom, where at one point she worked in a holistic health-focused gym. She realized that one day she wanted to have her own such facility.

In 2010 Shelley moved to Canada to spend just one season skiing. That season morphed into more than a decade in Canmore, where she met and married her husband Stefan and where she continued her career as coach, building up one of Canmore’s top training companies. The couple now have three kids:  daughter Kiara and twin boys Lachlan and Ryker — and moved to the Columbia Valley in 2022.

The move was prompted because Shelley, having grown up in Australia, needed to live somewhere at least a bit warmer than Canmore and somewhere with some kind of large waterbody.

Stefan, having grown up in the Bow Valley and become an Olympic nordic skier, needed snow and mountains.

Invermere offered all of that and more, and the family has embraced the valley life with gusto; alpine skiing and nordic skiing in winter, and enjoying Lake Windermere in the summer.

Shelley is delighted to offer elite-level, science-driven coaching and training in a small town, but she also works with young athletes, with moms and moms-to-be, with weekend warriors (and wannabe weekend warriors), adaptive athletes, and seniors, as well as those who just want to stay injury-free and be able to keep up with their kids (or grandkids) outdoors.

“I believe everyone sits somewhere on the spectrum of athleticism—and it doesn’t matter which end you’re on. What matters is finding your entry point and starting,” said Shelley. “Learning how to move your body, why you should move under load, and discovering what you’re capable of is the backbone of my coaching. I blend the science of exercise with the art of movement to help you smash goals, build resilience, and kick ass on the daily.”

The Gym combines professional-grade athlete development with a boutique, community feel and offers adult group training classes, personal training, and athlete development programs. And for those simply looking for an excellent place to train, the gym is open for general access for a monthly fee.

Shelley finds the science behind exercise fascinating, and loves being able to help people push themselves.

“As a coach or a trainer, you can make a big difference in someone’s quality of life. For highend athletes you can take them to the next level and hit the podium. For the everyday Joe you

can help them realize what they are capable of. It’s very rewarding,” she said.

Shelley also serves as the Columbia Valley Rockies strength and conditioning coach, and coaches with the Windermere Valley Ski Club (Team Windy), Columbia Valley minor hockey, and the Toby Creek Nordic Society.

To find out more visit www.scsquared2.com, email thegym@scsquared2.com, or call 403-4312679.

The chums

There are no such thing as monsters. Not real ones, anyway.

That was Josiah’s argument as he and best friend Pete trundled past the house where the witch lived. The house; it came straight out of an Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators book — dark, gloomy, and foreboding.

“She takes children, you know,” Pete said quietly. “They go in there and never come back out.”

Josiah shook his head. “That’s not true. My mom said she’s a nice old lady who lives there with her son who takes care of her.”

Pete stopped in his tracks. “That’s not the son, that’s her dressed up as him standing in the window. He, I mean she, lures kids in the house with candy and then . . .”

Josiah interjected: “That’s just plain ‘psycho’, man. Nobody’s that sick.”

Dark clouds rumbled overhead as the chums picked up the pace for home.

“There’s that new summer camp I was telling you about,” Josiah said, pointing to the road sign that was partially obscured by foliage.

Pete looked and a frown immediately hijacked his face. “Oh, I heard all about it, especially what happened years ago when my dad was little.”

In hushed tones, he told the story about a boy who drowned in the lake because the camp counsellors were fooling around instead of watching him.

“When he was all growed up, he came back and killed the counsellors with a knife . . . cut all their throats, he did,” Pete shuddered.

Josiah scoffed and said it was just a story to scare kids, but added: “I heard that the mother did it because she went nut bar crazy.”

It was getting dark now and starting to rain as the boys glanced apprehensively at the forest where shadows took on eerie shapes.

Pete spoke up to break the ungainly silence: “What are you wearing for Halloween?”

Josiah paused, “I haven’t decided yet . . . mom bought me a super hero costume, but I want to be an evil clown and scare my sister with a knife.” Pete gulped. “I thought you didn’t believe in that stuff.”

Josiah's face twisted in the glare of the flashlight. “Well, my therapist said I have to face my fears before I can truly conquer them. You want to see the knife? It’s a great big one," he hissed, raising it over his head.

Lyonel Doherty, editor

OPINION

Historical Lens

Costly upgrades needed for fire flows

By Steve Hubrecht  steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

A planning consultant’s review of the Village of Canal Flats water master plan outlines that expensive upgrades are needed to help the village get sufficient water flow through its pipes in case of fire.

The review found 33 of the village’s fire hydrants currently do not meet required fire flow criteria. That figure will rise to 35 fire hydrants if the Canal Flats population continues to grow and its water demand increases.

Urban Systems Ltd. civil engineer Jan Korinek gave a presentation to Canal Flats council earlier this month, sharing a map of the village’s fire flow. The red and orange dots indicated trouble-

some spots, and they were clustered all over the village’s southwestern side.

Korinek recommended upgrading the village’s water mains in 10 different locations, at a cost of more than $15 million.

In order of priority, these included new water mains from the village tank down Grainger Road to Burns Avenue (with a cost of almost $3.2 million); at one spot along Burns Avenue, from Grainger Road to Shaughnessy Street (also nearly $3.2 million); on Luck Avenue ($900,000); on Stevens Avenue and Dunn Street ($2 million); at one spot along Beatty Avenue ($1.2 million); on Arbuckle Street and Rundle Place ($750,000); on Quinn Street (600,000); on Shaughnessy Street ($1.7 million); at a second spot on Burns Avenue (1.25 million); and at a second spot on

Beatty Avenue ($650,000).

Canal Flats mayor Mark Doherty asked if the upgrades must be done in the order suggested.

Korinek replied that the higher priorities were more important, but that the upgrades could be done in a different order if it makes sense to do so (for instance, if development fees for a project at a certain spot help pay for specific water upgrades.

Councillor Andrew Weitzel asked about closed loops (of pipes) in the Canal Flats water system versus dead ends.

Korinek noted there are a number of dead end pipes in the village’s water system but said “that wasn’t the weakness. The weakness was the size of the pipes given their length or distance from the tank.”

• Cooking Class: A Taste of Ukraine Nov 6 | $89 + GST

• Intermediate First Aid November 15 & 16 | $349

• Advanced First Aid November 17-28 | $1295

• Lunch and Learn: Change Management November 19 | $20

• People First: Customer Service Workshop November 22 / $89 + GST

THURSDAY

Invermere updating its water strategy

By Steve Hubrecht  steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The District of Invermere is working on a new water strategy.

Local officials undertook the update to help the municipality deal with its growing population and be prepared for the effects of climate change.

Planing consultants Urban Systems Ltd. have not yet finished updating the strategy, but earlier this month Invermere councillors got a sneak peek at what’s been done so far.

Urban Systems water engineer Jeremy Clowes outlined that Invermere’s average daily water demand in 2021 was 2,602 cubic metres per day (its maximum daily demand was 7,759 cubic metres per day; and its peak hour demand was 370 cubic metres per hour). But if the population continues to grow at a steady clip, those figures will rise.

If the population goes up by 1.7 per cent annually, average daily water demand in 2041 would be 3,199 cubic metres per day; and in 2071 it would be 4,571 cubic metres per day.

Yet Invermere should have more than enough water to go around well into the foreseeable future.

Invermere’s water comes from two main sources: the Paddy Ryan Lakes Reservoirs (which draw from Goldie Creek) and a groundwater well in Athalmer. Paddy Ryan Lakes has a normal capacity of 4,988 megalitres per year (905 megalitres per year in one-in-10 year drought) and the Athalmer well has a capacity of 896 megalitres per year (since the well taps deep groundwater it is not susceptible to drought like the Paddy Ryan Lakes are).

Overall water demand in Invermere is currently 950 megalitres per year. In 2041 that overall water demand will rise to 1,168 megalitres per year; and by 2071 it will be 1,668 megalitres per year. In 2071 the normal capacity at Paddy Ryan Lake (with a few slight improvements) will be 5,159 megalitres per year (1,175 megalitres per year in a one-in-10 year drought).

This means that currently, Invermere normally has an excess capacity of 4,934 megalitres per year (and an excess of 851 megalitres per year during a one-in-10 year drought). But by 2071 Invermere will normally have an excess of 4,387 megalitres per year (and an excess of just 403 megalitres per year during a onein-10 year drought).

Clowes recommended several projects to bolster Invermere’s water system and supply. The top two priorities he outlined were adding a second groundwater well (which would cost $5 million) and starting a flow monitoring program on Goldie Creek ($150,000). Both of these should be done in the next five years, suggests Clowes.

Other, less-pressing priorities included adding a booster station to convey groundwater to Paddy Ryan Lakes ($6 million); adding a third UV reactor to Paddy Ryan water treatment plant ($1.5 million); adding mixers to Paddy Ryan Lakes to decrease manganese and minimize the chances of algae blooms ($4 million); and add pyrolusite filtration to the Athalmer well ($11 million).

Clowes said the $4 million for mixers on Paddy Ryan Lake may appear expensive at first glance, but that “as the climate continues to warm, the risk of algae blooms rises . . . adding mixers is much less costly

On the map red dots show areas with insufficient fire flows. Screenshot from Invermere council documents .

than adding a (new) water treatment plant.”

He also included a map highlighting areas of Invermere with insufficient water flows in case of fire. Red dots on the map indicated such spots and there were several areas with significant clusters of red dots, including the downtown core, the area around Westside Road and Stark Drive, Kpokl Road and nearby areas; and Fort Point. Clowes ex-

plained the flows in these neighbourhoods are insufficient mostly because of the small-sized water main pipes there.

Invermere mayor Al Miller said it’s important to improve the flows, particularly since areas such as the downtown and Westside Road are likely to see more houses and denser housing as Invermere continues to grow.

Small mains are the cause of fire flow deficiencies in Invermere.

SCREENSHOT

Shore to shore pathway to expand

By Steve Hubrecht  steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The Village of Canal Flats hopes to finish up the initial phase of its Shore to Shore Pathway in the near future.

Once complete the paved trail will connect the village’s two famous water bodies: Columbia Lake to the north and the Kootenay River to the south, allowing residents to ride their bikes, walk, run or otherwise propel themselves between the two popular spots.

Work on the first phase of the trail — the northern section to Tilley Memorial Park— began years ago, and has been done in several stages. The path currently stretches from near the four-way intersection near the lakeside park into the village, as far as the Canal Flats municipal office. It will soon go a little bit farther still, from the municipal office down to the corner of

Grainger Road and Burns Avenue on the south edge of the village’s downtown.

Earlier this month the village awarded a contract for this last bit of the first phase to Gally Equipment Services Ltd for $117,000

Gally was one of two companies to bid on the work; the other was Okanagan Aggregates Ltd. which quoted a much higher price of $159,000.

The village has $35,000 for the project from the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), and $40,000 from the provincial Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) economic recovery grant. Village staff suggested the remaining $41,000 to finish the first phase of the path come from the provincial Local Government Climate Action Plan’s (LGCAP) sustainable transportation project.

The LGCAP program gives annual funding to municipal governments for projects and initiatives that cut down on greenhouse gas emis-

sions. As village staff noted in a report to councillors, Canal Flats has used LGCAP funding before, in both 2023 and 2024, to pay for earlier work on the Shore to Shore Pathway.

The second phase of the Shore to Shore Pathway will see the paved trail eventually extended from Burns Avenue to the shore of the Kootenay River, near the Highway 93/95 bridge. But the second phase is still just in the design stage, and progress is on hold until proposed developments and possible services upgrades along Grainger Road are finished.

“There are a lot of irons in the fire” in terms of development, Canal Flats acting chief administrative officer Sylvie Hoobanoff told the Pioneer. These include the attainable housing-medical technology hub at the site of the village’s daycare, and subdivision of nearby land.

Still, Hoobanoff said she “hope(s) we can start in the next few years” on the second phase.

COLUMBIA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OUT OF OFFICE…

Business Excellence Awards

The 26th Annual Business Excellence awards took place on Friday October 24th – and what a party it was! A huge thank you to everyone who attended the event and made it an evening to remember! The food and drinks and company were all excellent! Business in the Columbia Valley continues to shine!

-Deanna Berrington Communications & Events Coordinator

Thursday, October 30

• 7:00pm-9:00pm: Gino, Child of War Film Screening. Columbia Valley Centre. This event is proudly presented by the Royal Canadian Legion, RCL Windermere District #71 - Invermere and the District of Invermere to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and to begin the weeks of Remembrance. Experience the powerful true story of Gino Farnetti-Bragaglia, a five-year-old boy found frightened, hungry, and alone among the war-ravaged ruins of Torrice, Italy, in 1944. Discovered by compassionate Canadian soldiers, Gino was taken under their wing and cared for over the next ten months by his Canadian “guardian angels.” Don’t miss this moving tribute to courage, compassion, and the enduring bonds formed in the darkest of times.

• 10:15am-12:15pm: Tech Time with CBAL. Invermere Library. A volunteer with CBAL will be available for one-on-one 1 hour appointments to try and answer your tech related questions! Contact the library to book your time! Time slots available are 10:15, 11:15 or 12:15. Please be sure to bring your charged devices and any questions you may have!

• 10:30am-11:30am: Senior’s Fitness Columbia Valley Centre, $2 drop-in.

• 11:30am-12:30pm: Little Lambs Baby Group. Radium Public Library. Stories, rhymes, and songs for babies and their caregivers! Every Thursday!

• 6:45pm: Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Invermere Legion. $30 buy-in.

• 7:30pm: Families Housing that Fits. Zoom meeting with host Ben Postmus. Inclusive and supportive housing in your community. diversefamilyroots@gmail.com

• 7:30pm: Trivia Night Windermere Whitehouse Pub. Host Mandi Cox $3/person, teams of more than 6 will be split into two groups. Ages 19+

Friday, October 31

• 10:30am-11:30am: Friday Family Storytime. Invermere Public Library. Join us in the Children’s Area of the library for stories, songs & a craft! Geared towards preschool age, but all welcome.

• 12:00pm-1:00pm: Soup for Lunch by Edgewater Seniors Edgewater Community Hall. Hearty soup or chilli, bun or biscuit and dessert all for only $10. Take away available - bring your own thermos or jar and a container for dessert. Everyone welcome.

• 2:00pm-5:00pm: Drop-in Open Gym for Teens. DTSS Gym.  FREE to attend for all youth 12-18 registered at the Summit Youth Centre. Free sport program coached by Valley Sport Hub and sponsored by Jumpstart.

• 6:30pm - close: Meat Draw and 50/50 in the Legion! Members and guests welcome!

Saturday, November 1

• 2:00pm-5:00pm: CV Arts Final Exhibition of 2025 Opening Reception. Pynelogs. Seventeen talented artists will showcase their work in this special year-end exhibition — including guest artists from the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre. Immerse yourself in a world of creativity and inspiration. Discover stunning works of art, meet the artists, and connect with fellow art lovers. This final artist reception of 2025 promises to be truly spectacular: free entry, free buffet, live music by Emma Kade — a vibrant celebration of expression, imagination, and craftsmanship. Don’t miss it! Come and support the arts in your community.

• 10:30am-11:30am: Saturday Family Story Time. Invermere Public Library. Join us in the Children’s Area of the library for stories, songs & a craft! Geared towards preschool age, but all welcome. Fridays and Saturdays!

• 11:00am-12:30pm: LEGO/Duplo Club Invermere Public Library. We'll have Lego, Duplo, big blocks & more out to play with on Saturday mornings! All ages welcome.

• 12:00pm-3:00pm: Drop-in Open Gym for Teens. DTSS Gym.  FREE to attend for all youth 12-18 registered at the Summit Youth Centre. Free sport program coached by Valley Sport Hub and sponsored by Jumpstart.

• 3:00pm-4:30pm: Buddy Reading. Invermere Public Library. Practice reading aloud one-on-one with a staff member to build skill, confidence and a love of reading! 30 minute sessions at 3:00, 3:30 or 4:00 pm. By Appointment Only!! Contact Invermere Library to sign up.

• 6:30pm: Meat Draw and 50/50 in the Legion! Members and guests welcome!

Sunday, November 2

• 2:00pm: Cards, Cribbage and Darts Come to the Legion and have some fun! Members and guests welcome.

• 7:00pm: Live Music Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery. Accompanied minors are permitted. No cover.

• 7:30pm: Dads Matter. Zoom meeting with host Ben Postmus. Dads connecting, Dads Supporting, Dads Inspiring. Do you have a son or daughter with Diverse Abilities? So do I. diversefamilyroots@gmail.com

Monday, November 3

• 10:00am-11:00am: Senior's Yoga Columbia Valley Centre, Invermere. $2 drop in, open to all seniors. Doors to the hall will be opening at 9:30am for indoor walking.

• 3:00pm-4:30pm: Buddy Reading. Invermere Public Library. Practice reading aloud one-on-one with a staff member to build skill, confidence and a love of reading! 30 minute sessions at 3:00, 3:30 or 4:00 pm. By Appointment Only!! Contact Invermere Library to sign up.

Tuesday, November 4

• 10:00am-11:00am: Senior’s Fitness. Columbia Valley Centre, Invermere. $2 drop in, open to all seniors. Doors to the hall will be opening at 9:30am for indoor walking.

• 10:30am-11:30am: Home School Meet Up. Invermere Public Library. Weekly Meetup. Drop-in, all ages programming with STEAM play, group activities and art projects. Contact the Invermere Library to get on the Homeschool Email list! This week: Lego Challenge: Brick Pixel Art

• 7:00pm-8:00pm: Words & Wine. Radium Library. Join us for deep dives into famed poems by celebrated poets. Explorations of what this powerful literature reveals about love, death, loneliness, hope, fear, beauty, power, faith and doubt, relationships, the search for truth, and endless other subjects that speak to what it means to be human. Participate in or simply listen to thoughtful and lively conversations with a community of fellow learners.  You must be over 19. No familiarity with poetry required! No preregistration needed.

• 7:30pm: Families on Tuesday. Zoom meeting with host Ben Postmus. Families connecting, Families Sharing, Families Supporting Families: Support, Listening, Sharing, Connecting. diversefamilyroots@ gmail.com

Wednesday, November 5

• 10:00am-11:00am: Senior's Yoga Columbia Valley Centre, Invermere. $2 drop in, open to all seniors. Doors to the hall will be opening at 9:30am for indoor walking.

11:30am-12:30pm: Storytime at Radium Library. Join us for stories, songs, and a craft; geared towards preschoolers but all are welcome.  2:00pm-3:00pm: Sewcial Hour. Invermere Public Library. Bring your textile or fiber arts projects and come and enjoy a cup of tea and connect with other makers! All welcome to attend, no registration necessary.

• 6:00pm-9:00pm: Wednesday Dinners & Meat Draw & 50/50 Invermere Legion. All welcome.

A Day in the Life

Man's epic journey comes to Fairmont

By Steve Hubrecht  steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Each fall eager young adults from Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Europe and elsewhere around the globe arrive in the Columbia Valley to find work and accommodation for the upcoming ski season. It’s a rite of passage common not only here but in every ski town in the Kootenay region or Rockies.

This year is the same as any other, and already a few Aussies and Brits are in town, jobs lined up, winter gear scored at good prices at the ski swap, and patiently waiting for the snow to fly and the lifts to open. But this time, one of them arrived here a little bit differently.

Charlie West rolled into Fairmont Hot Springs a few weeks ago. He’s never spent a winter in a ski town and is eager to see what the fuss is about. But when he ‘rolled’ into Fairmont he did so quite literally — on his bicycle — and he did it the long way, having pedalled all the way from Preston in England. It’s a trip that’s taken him two and a half years so far, across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zea-

land, Alaska and northern and western Canada.

A wedding invitation

It all started with a wedding. Back in early 2023 Charlie’s life was good, but about as straightforward as it gets for a young Englishman. He’d grown up in the midsized city of Preston, in Lancashire, about halfway between Manchester and Liverpool. He was 27 and had a good, stable job as an operations engineer with the local municipal council. He’d been a competitive triathlete and enjoyed cycling and swimming as a teen, but nothing too serious. He’d taken some vacations to spots around Europe, but nothing too lengthy.

Charlie was living with his parents, but given his well-paying, career-oriented job, it seemed time to buy his own home. He started house shopping. But then one day “I was looking around the office at work at all the people who’d been there countless years, doing the same thing over and over,” Charlie told the Pioneer. His colleagues led very pleasant – even desirable — lives. Yet a certain spark, a seize-the-moment zest was missing.

Continued on page 13

Buying touring bike and seeing it

“I realized that I didn’t want to grow up just yet. I’d fallen into a corporate role,” he said. “A lot of my friends had done something big, something meaningful at some point in their lives. I wondered why I hadn’t too.”

Then an invitation came. Charlie’s friend had worked as a teacher in Dubai for seven years. He was getting married there and wanted Charlie to be the best man. Charlie decided he’d go to Dubai and that he’d get there by bike, over a period of several months.

Why bike?

“In a car you blow past something new every two seconds. On a bike you have five or 10 minutes to take that in, instead of two seconds. You meet so many more people when you are on a bike. You’re more immersed in the landscape, more immersed in the culture, and learning a lot more about where you are,” said Charlie.

Once the plan started, it kept growing. If he was going to quit his job and cycle to Dubai, why stop there? Why not keep going past Dubai? How far could he go? Charlie wasn’t sure, but became determined to find out.

Charlie bought a touring bike instead of a house, gathered up all the camping gear he thought he’d need. He’d never camped even so much as a

single night in his life, but told himself he’d figure it out as he went. Charlie wheeled out of his parents’ driveway in Preston on May Day (May 1, 2023).

The pedal from Preston to the ferry at Portsmouth took five days and Charlie loved every second of it, despite the weather (“typical England — day two I was completely sunburned, day four I was completely soaked by rain”) and despite not being able to get his camping stove to work.

After the ferry across the Channel, he headed down the Atlantic coast of France to San Sebastián in Spain’s Basque country. He swung east below the Pyrenees to Barcelona, along the French Riviera, and then across northern Italy, taking in Lake Como, the Kappa music festival, Cinque Terre, Venice and hiking in the Dolomites before looping into the hilly Balkan states, and on into Turkey, going from Europe into Asia by crossing the Bosphorus Strait. At Cappadocia, amid arid ‘fairy chimney’ rock formations, Charlie confronted his fear of heights by taking a hot air ballon flight.

“I was dreading it, but I refused to let myself back out. I had to do it … and it was amazing, even though I only had my eyes open about half the time,” he said.

Continued on page 15

NOVEMBER 6

NOTICE OF ASSENT VOTING – EDGEWATER COMMERCIAL SPACE SERVICE VOTE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY given to qualified electors within the proposed Edgewater Commercial Space Service Area that a vote will be held on the following question:

“Are you in favour of the Regional District of East Kootenay adopting Bylaw No. 3379 and Bylaw No. 3380 to:

• establish the “Edgewater Commercial Space Service” for the purpose of constructing, leasing, operating, and maintaining space which will be leased to entities such as public authorities, societies, corporations, or individuals, or used by the RDEK, for the provision of services that benefit the community in the Edgewater area; and

• borrow up to $450,000 amortized over a maximum of 15 years for the construction of a space for the purposes of the Edgewater Commercial Space Service; and

• annually requisition a maximum of $0.33 per $1,000 of the net taxable value of land and improvements to pay for the service?”

VOTING DATES AND LOCATIONS

ADVANCE VOTING: GENERAL VOTING:

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Saturday November 22, 2025

8:00 am to 8:00 pm 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Edgewater Community Hall Edgewater Community Hall 4818 Selkirk Ave, Edgewater 4818 Selkirk Ave, Edgewater ELECTOR REGISTRATION

Advance Elector Registration will be accepted at the RDEK office in Cranbrook until 4:30pm on Friday, November 7, 2025. After that date, if you are not on the list of electors, you may register at the time of voting by completing the required application form available at the voting place. To register you must meet the following qualifications:

• be 18 years of age or older on the day of registration; and

• be a Canadian citizen; and

• be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration; and

• be a resident of the Edgewater Commercial Space Service voting area; and

• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and not otherwise disqualified by law.

To register, resident electors must produce 2 pieces of identification (at least one with a signature). Picture identification is not necessary. The identification must prove both residency and identity.

To register, non-resident property electors must produce 2 pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity, proof that they are entitled to register in relation to the property, and, if there is more than one owner of the property, written consent from a majority of the property owners.

SYNOPSIS OF PROPOSED BYLAWS

BYLAW NO. 3379 – “Regional District of East Kootenay – Edgewater Commercial Space Service Establishment Bylaw No. 3379, 2025” This Bylaw will establish a service in the Edgewater area within a portion of Electoral Area G for the purpose of constructing, leasing, operating, and maintaining space which will be leased to entities, such as public authorities, societies, corporations, or individuals, or used by the Regional District, for the provision of services that benefit the community. Costs for the space would be recovered by a property tax on all land and improvements within the Service Area. The maximum that can be charged under the proposed bylaw is $0.33 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value.

BYLAW NO. 3380 – “Regional District of East Kootenay – Edgewater Commercial Space Service Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 3380, 2025” This Bylaw will authorize the borrowing of $450,000 amortized over 15 years for the construction of a space for providing the Edgewater Commercial Space Service.

TAKE NOTICE that the above is a synopsis of the proposed Bylaws and that this synopsis is not intended to be and is not to be understood as an interpretation of the Bylaws. Full copies of the Bylaws and the service area map may be inspected at the RDEK office, 19 – 24th Avenue South, Cranbrook BC, during regular office hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays, and at engage.rdek.bc.ca/edgewater

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on these matters, the following persons may be contacted: Tina Hlushak, Chief Election Officer or Nikki Bradshaw, Deputy Chief Election Officer Phone: 250-489-2791 | Email: elections@rdek.bc.ca

You are invited to join us at an upcoming Community Information Meeting for presentations on reports for Cold Spring Creek, Fairmont Creek, and the Hazard Guidance Project.

Copies of all three reports will be posted by October 31 for review. We encourage residents to review the reports and submit questions ahead of the meeting via engage.rdek.bc.ca/debris

AGENDA ITEMS:

1 Cold Spring Creek Residual Hazard Map

2 Fairmont Creek Updated Hazard and Risk Assessment

3 Fairmont Hazard Guidance Project Report

Charlie's big adventure around the world

Continued from page 13

Halwa and falconing

Charlie then went south, cycling through Israel and Palestine, Jordan and on to Saudi Arabia. He was in Israel and Palestine in the weeks leading up to the ongoing Gaza War, but said there were no indications, at least none he could discern, that a full-blown conflict was about to erupt.

“Everyone was really nice to me, but everything did feel weird,” said Charlie. Life on the Israeli side of the lines of control seemed modern and Westernized; on the Palestinian side it was much poorer, and much less developed, with roadblocks everywhere. He camped in the West Bank countryside without incident, visited Ramallah and Jericho, and went over the border from Palestine into Jordan on October 4. Three days later militant attacks started, and all hell broke loose —a war began that has yet to end.

Going from Jordan into Saudi Arabia, Charlie wasn’t sure what to expect. Many media accounts paint a picture of a country with restricted rights and freedoms compared with the United Kingdom. As it turned out that wasn’t the whole picture, and the local Saudis were often so hospitable that Charlie rates it his favourite country. Time and again, people

stopped to offer him flasks of tea and coffee while he cycled through the sand and the 45 degree Celsius heat. Locals invited him into their homes for lunch and dinner, and he was even taken for a falconing excursion (going hunting with four trained falcons).

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though: at one point we was chased by a pack of feral dogs late at night, and another time a severe allergic reaction to some halwa containing nuts swelled his face like a distended red balloon and had him struggling to breathe (thankfully a man in a car showed up to scare away the dogs in the first instance; and a surge of adrenaline quelled the allergic reaction). Charlie did notice a distinct segregation of women and men, and the one time he asked about it, he got a polite answer that deflected the question.

He arrived in Dubai, happy to finally stay in a house. He spent seven weeks there, helping prepare for the wedding. It was a festive time, but by the end of it, “I missed camping in my tent,” he said.

Under armed escort

In early 2024 Charlie flew to Karachi and began cycling through Pakistan, India and Nepal. Pakistan was full of heightened security measures. “Every ATM, every hotel, even every gas station has some-

one with a gun guarding it,” he said. He was permitted to cycle through the countryside but authorities insisted an armed escort accompany him at all times. These escorts “were very frustrating,” said Charlie. They often tried to circumscribe every minute of his day; preventing him from talking to or interacting with the locals (who seemed very friendly to Charlie); refusing to let him stop for meals in cafes or to stop to fill his water bottle; and forcing him to cycle on certain roads and sleep in certain hotels instead of the ones he wanted to. Some days felt like a never-ending negotiation over what he was and was not allowed to do.

At one point he was pedalling with two other cyclists (an ItalianEnglish-Iranian couple) and the escorts kept harassing the female cyclist. Things boiled over in a cafe one morning while the three cyclists tried to eat breakfast. Charlie’s friend had a video camera, which a police officer with an AK47 took exception to. The officer grabbed Charlie’s friend violently by the hair and the friend retaliated by pepper spraying the policeman. In grabbing the hair, the police officer inadvertently spun the camera around so that it filmed the entire incident, which got on social media and then very quickly ended up as a major feature on Paki-

stani national television and newspapers, accompanied by headlines about police ‘torturing’ cyclists.

Charlie finally left the escorts behind when he crossed into India, but found he became a spectacle everywhere he went.

“India is intense. So chaotic. So much pollution in the air. So crowded. Cows eating trash on the roadside. People gather and stare at you all the time, and constantly ask for selfies with you. Some would follow you on a bike for 45 minutes. It was very full on,” said Charlie.

In Delhi there were mountains of trash 60 metres high in a landfill site. He fudged his professional background, pretending to be a sanitation engineer, and was taken on a guided tour of these giant garbage hills by municipal city workers.

“They (the Delhi city government) are trying to get rid of them (the trash mountains), but they just keep growing,” said Charlie.

He went on to Nepal, where he volunteered to rebuild a school damaged by an earthquake and hiked to Everest base camp. Then he combined biking and being a beach bum in Southeast Asia, from Vietnam on down to Bali, through Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Continued on page 16

Charlie's not finished with journey yet

Continued from page 15

“It was super, super humid. Every time I cycled I was utterly drenched in sweat the whole time,” said Charlie. “Every time I tried to camp I got zero sleep.”

Next stop was Perth, Australia, where Charlie spent several months as a construction labourer (“a nice slice of normal life)” before he pedalled the flat, treeless expanses of the Nullabor Plain, crossing Australia from west to east, then spent time working on a farm and picking fruit in New Zealand.

The wild north, then south  This past June, Charlie flew all the way to Prudhoe Bay in northern Alaska, not far from the shore of the Beaufort Sea. The wilds of the North Slope were a big change from the bustle of Asia.

“It was super remote,” said Charlie. “There’s nothing but open tundra in all directions.”

He packed up 11 days’ worth of food and equipment and headed south on the Dalton Highway. There were almost no other people or vehicles, but plenty of wildlife — Charlie saw caribou, bears, moose and even had a stare-down with a wolf. Eventually the landscape changed as Charlie cycled over and through the rugged Brooks Range and he finally started to see trees again.

By midsummer Charlie was in Canada, in the Yukon. He flipped his canoe while paddling the Yukon River; found seasonal work foraging for berries and picking mushrooms; then found out he’d gotten a job in Fairmont. So he pedalled south through northern British Columbia, taking in the Icefields Park-

way between Jasper and Lake Louise and Banff, then cycled Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park to the Columbia Valley.

Here he’ll stay for the winter, skiing and working to save up money for the next leg of his trip, which will see him ride through both North and South America all the way to Ushuaia at the bottom tip of Patagonia. From there he’ll somehow get over to Africa, cycle north through that continent, return to Europe and eventually get back to Preston.

Charlie’s initial plans for the trip have grown. “It’s just gotten larger and larger as I’ve gone. I don’t know how long it will be in total, but it’s been two and a half years so far and I’ve still got a few more continents to go,” he said.

Missing family is tough — he hasn’t seen his parents since he wheeled out of their driveway in May 2023 — but he’s adamant about finishing the trip.

“The next time I’m home will be when I get there on my bike. There’s no way I can give up. I would never forgive myself if I did,” said Charlie. “If you set out to run a marathon, and you stop halfway for an energy gel, you’re not proud yet because you’re not done yet. That’s how I feel about this trip.”

It’s not the easy way, but for Charlie that’s the point. “When there’s a choice of route, I usually pick the more difficult option. Doing things the hard way is the best way to inspire yourself,” he said.

He keeps in touch with his family, and concedes his parents aren’t always happy at how long he’s been away. But he is hopeful his parents will come to visit him

in Canada this winter.

Charlie still has the same bicycle — a touring bike with gravel setup — that he began the trip with. It weighs 50 kilograms (110 pounds) on its own, and when fully loaded with all his gear it’s closer to 100 kilograms (220 pounds). He’s replaced a lot of components along the way and is on his fourth set of wheels, but feels that “on the whole it’s done me really well.”

To fuel himself up, he sticks to a very regular menu. Or as he puts it: “My diet is awful.” A bowl of oats every morning; a tuna sandwich for lunch every day; and pasta for din-

ner every night. “The only thing that changes is the sauce I put on the pasta,” said Charlie.

“What kind of sauce I use depends on where I am.” For instance, on the Dalton Highway in Alaska, he used packets of tomato ketchup as pasta sauce. With more than a week’s worth of supplies piled up on his bike, he needed to shave off any extra ounces he could, and the ketchup packets were featherlight.

To find out more check out Charlie’s Instagram page (@pedal. west) or his YouTube channel (@ pedal.west1).

Camping at Cappadocia was a barren experience, to say the least.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Clothesline Project coming to Invermere

By Stephanie Stevens

Why didn’t you leave?

Why didn’t you ask for help?

Why didn’t you tell anyone?

Nearly all survivors of domestic abuse are asked the same trilogy of questions.

But reaching out is not as straightforward as it seems. Fear, humiliation and a feeling of utter isolation often combine to make reaching out seem all but impossible.

“For seven years I endured emotional, mental, physical and financial abuse at the hands of my now ex-husband,” said Alice (not her real name). “No, it didn’t start that way, over time I was isolated, broken and defeated. I was afraid and embarrassed to tell anyone what was happening in my home and had become a master at masking the hell I was living in. I concealed my pain with a brave face as if everything was perfectly fine and I learned to behave the best I could to keep him happy. I attempted to leave multiple times when things got really bad but always went back to his broken promises of changed behaviours. Besides, I had no money of my own, and where was I going to go? I had two young kids to take care of. Over the years he only became more controlling and violent. It didn’t matter what I did, or didn’t do, something would trigger him and I was the one in the crossfire.”

Alice was caught in a cycle of abuse: anger and violence, followed by promises of change and love. But one December day that all changed.

“He almost killed me, on two separate occasions, in one day, only hours apart.”

She isn’t sure what stopped him either time, but Alice knew then she had to do something for her own safety and that of her children; she had to stay alive for them. Her carefully crafted facade of calm and happiness crumbled, and she was urged to contact the Family Resource Centre in Invermere, now Family Dynamix (FDX).

Despite the fear he would find out she was asking for help, Alice sent an email from work.

“Right away I received a reply from Wendy, the receptionist, with encouragement with assurance regarding my safety,” she said. “I soon met with a support worker and was instantly met with care and compassion. In that moment, years of shame and abuse came off my shoulders.

I let it all out and she assured me I wasn’t alone in this, and none of it was my fault.”

Shortly after that email, Alice and her children were in a safe home, and later, with the help and support of the Women’s Resource Centre, they moved into their own home, and Alice finally felt like she could let her guard down. Slowly, with that support, Alice made the challenging transition back to independence.

“I knew this was my chance to get my life back, get 'me' back. It wasn’t easy, I thought leaving would end the manipulation, the lies, and the abuse. It did not, but with the support and guidance of the support workers, I used every resource that was given to me to keep going. I took responsibility for my life and my children’s. It wasn’t our fault that we were in this position, but it was my duty as a mother to carry on. I was taking my power back.”

Dru Wagner, sexual assault support services coordinator and women’s outreach worker with FDX, has organized an installation of the Clothesline Project to help bring awareness of stories like Alice’s in our community.

“I was at a domestic violence conference in Nelson when I first heard of it,” said Wagner. “There was a clothesline right in the foyer, with white tee shirts with art on them. We want to start conversations and get people thinking.”

The project was first conceived and brought to life in October 1990 by a group of women in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Visual artist Rachel Carey-Harper came up with the concept of the clothesline and it debuted as part of the annual "Take Back the Night" march and rally.

There were 31 shirts on display, and as the evening progressed, more were decorated and added. Now, over 500 Clothesline Projects are held internationally.

A clothesline, traditionally a woman’s tool, was the place women would work to hang clothes and talk over fences, exchanging news, offering support and advice. Painting and decorating the T-shirts and hanging them up on the clothesline is symbolic of using that tool as a continued form of communication.

In addition to the clothesline, which will be set up at the Invermere Public Library December 3-6, Wagner said FDX has partnered with Carm Haven Studios to create tiles

for a symbolic quilt. On December 6 there will be a vigil to recognize the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

“We already have some painted T-shirts at FDX, and we are also creating a ceramic quilt, made up of tiles painted by members of the community,” she said. “It will be donated after it is done.”

The painting nights are set for November 4 to 6. “Carm would prefer that anyone interested in painting a tile can call our office at 250341-3963 to register for one of these nights,” Wagner said. Note: The project is free to the public.

As for T-shirts, “This is personal to each person who participates whether it is for them or someone they love, so we want to ensure they can express themselves,” she said. “Both the shirts and tiles can be painted by anyone, not just survivors.”

Traditionally, different colours represent different types of abuse: white, for someone who died of domestic violence; yellow for survivors of physical assault or domestic violence; red, pink and orange for survivors of rape or childhood sexual

abuse; blue or green for survivors of incest or childhood sexual abuse; purple for those attacked because of sexual orientation; brown or grey for survivors of emotional, spiritual or verbal abuse; black for someone disabled as the result of an attack or someone assaulted because of a disability.

“Members of FDX will be on hand if anyone wants to talk or share their experience or reach out for help (during the days of the Clothesline Project),” said Wagner. “The most powerful message we can send is you are not alone: a person experiencing abuse can feel so isolated.”

It was finally knowing she was not alone that gave Alice the strength to make the change she needed. Today she works with FDX to help others like herself find a safe place while they escape abuse.

“Today, I now look back, recognizing the tremendous strides I have made over the years as a survivor of domestic violence,” Alice said. “I couldn’t have done it alone, and I didn’t have to. I decided to leave and live, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I was not a victim. I am a survivor.”

PUBLIC NOTICE:

FOREST OPERATIONS MAP REVIEW

In accordance with the Forest and Range Practices Act, Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor) invites the public to review its Forest Operations Map (FOM ID: 2674) in the Rocky Mountain and Selkirk Natural Resource Districts. The FOM describes areas proposed for Cutting Permit and Road Permit development within the next three years starting on October 28th, 2025, and ending on October 28th, 2028. We welcome your comments and feedback during the review period starting October 28th, 2025. Please submit your comments by November 27th, 2025.

The map is accessible for review and comment submission online at: https://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects

Alternatively, in-person review and comments can be completed by appointment only at the following location during office hours (Monday to Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm):

1000 Industrial Road 1, Cranbrook, BC, V1C4J7

Comments may also be submitted by mail to the above address or by phone at 604-773-3490 or to ashleigh.harvison@canfor.com

Film festival: stories that move mountains

Submitted

On November 15, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival returns to Invermere for its 12th year.

Organized by Wildsight Invermere, it’s more than just a night of watching films. It’s a high-spirited gathering where inspiration, community, and connection to nature take centre stage. And thanks to the support of presenting sponsor, Eagle-Eye Tours, it promises to be a memorable evening to celebrate our wild landscapes and explore the stories and people that help protect them.

This year’s two-hour lineup features 10 films — from the story of Babacar Thiaw, a visionary Senegalese surfer, entrepreneur, and environmental activist on a mission to tackle his country’s escalating plastic pollution crisis, to Freya, a nineyear-old girl who loves climbing and pushing her limits in the outdoors as she learns to navigate neurodiversity. From polar bears and elephants to bugs and the underwater world of kelp. From a feisty Mexican grandmother rallying her mountain community to protect biodiversity,

to nature nerds with a competitive streak in New Zealand — there’s something both entertaining and thought-provoking for everyone.

“Each film is like a spark,” says Meredith Hamstead, co-owner of thinkBright Homes and festival summit sponsor. “When people come together and watch the films, that spark becomes collective energy, and that’s how real change begins. Yes, it’s a fun night out, but it’s also about recognizing the power we each have to make our community a better place.”

The evening will indulge more earthly delights: the classic comforts of a movie night — pizza, popcorn, and beverages — alongside door prizes, a silent auction, and an online raffle for the wild offering three enticing getaway prizes.

For those who can’t make it to Invermere and still want to support the event, there is a seven-day online viewing option.

“Environmental films don’t just inform,” says Karen Barkley, Wildsight Invermere’s vice president and one of the festival organizers. “They can move us out of our seats, out of complacency, and hopefully into

action. They remind us that small efforts in our own backyard connect to global change.”

The event doubles as a fundraiser for Wildsight Invermere’s local initiatives, supporting various wildlife and conservation projects, youth environmental education, and the promotion of responsible recreation.

Every ticket sold helps ensure

that the Columbia Valley remains a place where wild things — and wild ideas — can thrive.

The event will be held at Columbia Valley Centre. Doors open at 5 p.m. and films run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are available online and at the door. Info: www.wildsight.ca/ invermere

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PLANNING PROCESS

A new planning process is underway to identify needed updates to zoning and land use bylaw regulations regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). This planning process is an opportunity to define ADU types, sizes, location, servicing, and maximum numbers on properties within the RDEK zoning bylaws, and public engagement is a critical part of the process.

Your input is very important and will help shape ADUs in your community into the future. Please take the time to complete the online survey available at engage.rdek.bc.ca/housing by December 1, 2025. A paper or digital copy of the survey can also be sent to you upon request. Online and in-person open houses are scheduled across the RDEK so that residents and property owners can work together with RDEK staff to identify potential land use and zoning bylaw amendments related to ADUs. Please plan on attending an open house as community engagement and participation is the foundation of a successful planning process.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS

Electoral Area A October 15 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Hosmer Community Hall (7431 6 Ave)

Electoral Area B October 18 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Baynes Lake Community Hall (468 Jaffray-Baynes Lake Road)

October 21 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Jaffray Community Hall (7375 Jaffray Village Loop Road)

Electoral Area C October 25 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Moyie Community Hall (9322 Tavistock Street)

October 27 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Cranbrook Senior Citizens Hall (125 17 Ave South)

November 1 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Cranbrook Manual Training Centre (1212 2 St North)

Electoral Area E November 8 10:00 am – 12:00 pm & November 27 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Wasa Community Hall (6145 Wasa School Road)

Electoral Area F November 22 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce Lions Hall (651 Hwy 93/95, Invermere)

November 25 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Fairmont & District Lions Club - Lions Den (5003 Hot Springs Road)

Electoral Area G November 15 10:00 am – 12:00 pm & November 29 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Edgewater Community Hall (4818 Selkirk Ave) October 23 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm & December 1 7:00 pm – 9:00

BEYOND THE BLUE LINE

Rockies lose but win Braund as new coach

Submitted by Columbia Valley Rockies

It was an emotional and energetic weekend at Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena as the Columbia Valley Rockies hosted the Kimberley Dynamiters in front of a loud hometown crowd Friday night (October 24).

While the scoreboard tilted 6-4 in favour of the visitors, the evening marked a new chapter for the Rockies; the official announcement of Tucker Braund as the team’s new head coach and general manager.

Braund, who has been a valued part of the Rockies’ coaching staff, now steps into the top role with energy, vision, and a strong connection to both the players and the Columbia Valley community. We’re confident he will continue to guide the team with the same pride and commitment that define the Rockies program.

The game itself was a rollercoaster of momentum and heart. Kimberley jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before Daniel Betcher notched his second of the season to get the Rockies on the board, assisted by Johnny Lozeman and Jack Miller. The Dynamiters added one more to end the first period up 4-1.

The second period saw both teams trade goals, with Isaac Sommer scoring against his former club finding the back of the net for Columbia Valley with help from Karson Schick. The Dynamiters responded again, and the middle frame ended 5-2 for the visitors.

The Rockies came out flying in the third, showing the kind of fight and determination that Braund has been preaching. Peter Godley struck early at the 2:55 mark, assisted by Ethan Cerone, to pull the home team closer. Then, on the power play, Lukas Masters lit the lamp, with Cerone and

Carter Hensch collecting helpers. Despite the late surge, the Dynamiters were able to take a 6-4 win.

After the game, Braund reflected on his first weekend at the helm, "I was really happy with our effort after a long week. The guys gave it their all. Confidence right now is a little low, and we’re working on building that back up and having better starts to games. We’re confident in our group; we just need to focus on some small details and start to see the bounces go our way.”

The Rockies faithful have a lot to look forward to as Braund takes the reins. With his leadership and the team’s continued determination, the Rockies are ready to climb higher as they move deeper into the season.

The Rockies hit the road for a three-game swing starting Friday, Oct. 31 with stops in Spokane, Grand Forks, and Castlegar. Fans can catch all the action live on FloHockey.

ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS

BUYING OR SELLING?

Serving

Invermere & Area

cell 250-341-1202 gerry@gerrytaft.ca

Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or conflict in your life, AA can help. All meetings are at 7 pm. Columbia United AA, Invermere: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the BC Service Building, South End624 4th St. Invermere. Please call 250-342-2424 for more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship.

ATTENTION

ASPIRING MUSICIANS from Parson to Canal Flats

Applications are open for the Carol Wilkie Memorial Steamboat Mountain Music Bursary

Musicians of all levels and any age may apply. Funds may be used for: workshops, music camps, lessons, master classes, college, or university music programs.

Deadline: November 15

Download application: www.steamboatmtnmusicfest.ca

Al-Anon. Are you concerned about or affected by someone else’s drinking? For more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship, please call 250-878-2448 or 250-342-8392

Cheers to French Irene for your kindness and generosity. I appreciate you.

Cheers to Gigi Statham for being a wonderful person and an even better friend. You are always there for me when I need help. You are the best!

Cheers to Akisqnuk First Nation for hosting the Community Strengthening Dinner on Oct 15th. The food was great. We appreciate the efforts of all involved.

Cheers to Val J. for being an amazing person and a great friend.

Cheers to Fred K. for your help.

Cheers to Tracy Logan at Chisel Peak Medical for the support you give to us. We are grateful to have you in our corner.

Cheers to our neighbours and the Windermere Fire Dept. who found and controlled the fire that started in the ditch near our place. The grader passed through, and we believe that a spark ignited the dry grass. It spread into our acreage and could have been very serious for us under different conditions.

Cheers to Norma & Lawrence for your kindness, patience and understanding.

At Kitchen of the Heart, it is not only a beautiful dinner that we share, but also laughter and great companionship. All the cheers in the world to your whole team.

Cheers to Arnie G. for all the help you give me fixing things around my suite.

Cheers to Shuswap band for bringing the amazing talent Dallas Arcand to Invermere. What a great show! The hoop dancing was incredible.

Cheers to Marlene McLaughlin for dropping off Timbits to our office. That is so sweet of you.

Career Opportunity Manager of Protective Services and Bylaw Enforcement

The Village of Radium Hot Springs seeks an experienced Manager of Protective Services and Bylaw Enforcement who can lead the Village’s bylaw enforcement and protective services functions including fire department, animal control, emergency preparedness and management, business continuity planning, business licensing, and short-term rental regulation.

The ideal candidate will hold post-secondary training in emergency management with a track record of success and organizational and cultural improvement in progressively senior roles.

In return the Village offers a competitive salary ($100,000 to $110,000 annual range, depending on experience), comprehensive benefits including a defined benefit pension (BC’s Municipal Pension Plan), and superior work-life combination.

A working manager, who reports to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Manager of Protective Services and Bylaw Enforcement will lead by example, mentor, guide, train and manage staff with the overarching goal to support and maintain effective bylaw enforcement and protective services teams in the Village, including the Village of Radium Hot Springs Fire Department.

The manager will develop operating and capital budgets for the protective services department and sets, and makes sure the department is meeting, established goals and objectives. This position will also create programs, policies, procedures, and bylaws for the Village.

Duties of the position include:

• Management of protective services including: fire department, emergency preparedness and management, business continuity, business licensing, short-term rental regulations, and animal control

• Management of bylaw enforcement for the Village

TINY HOME

Tiny house on wheels

$14,000 obo. Beautiful little cabin on wheels. 20’ long 8’ wide, 12’ height. Solid and cozy. Built for mountain winters. Has an electrical panel. Easily plugs in. No running water. Call Ian at 250-688-9565 for photos and additional info.

CONDO FOR SALE

2-bedroom 2-bathrooms on the 2nd floor at The Peaks in Radium. The condo faces south & had recent renovations. New flooring, freshly painted, new A/C, and new front loading W/D. $309,900.00 Agents with buyers are welcome. Pls, call or text for further info: 403-470-7758

• Pursues and administers legal actions, when required

• Recommends and supports bylaw, policy, and procedural changes when necessary

• Leads emergency operations centre (EOC) operations during activations

• Maintains courteous and positive relations with other levels of government, First Nations, regulatory, organizations, non-governmental organizations, public, staff, and council for the betterment of the community

Personality is key! If you are a team builder and creator of strong workplace culture whose skills and leadership abilities match your personality you may be the person we’re looking for! For a full job description or other related information email the address below.

Awesome candidates should submit a resume and cover letter by Friday October 31, 2025 to:

Adrian Bergles, Chief Administrative Officer Village of Radium Hot Springs cao@radiumhotsprings.ca

The Village of Radium Hot Springs thanks all applicants for their interest. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Village of Radium Hot Springs P.O. Box 340, 4836 Radium Blvd, Radium Hot Springs, B.C., ph: 250-347-6455 fax: 250-347-9068

FOR SALE

Creations by Cheri 2026 Photo Calendars $25

Available at the Invermere Legion Market November 28 , 29 , 30 Or email: cherihann9@gmail.com

Firewood For Sale Dry 16” fir. Delivered. $400 per cord 250-688-0373

NOTICE OF INTENT FOR FIRST READING OF;

ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT NO. 1685, 2025

Invermere

on the Lake

Eagle-Eye Tours

Software Systems & Automation Specialist

Eagle-Eye Tours is global leader in birding and wildlife tours. Based in Invermere, we are a small, dynamic team with a global reach built on efficiency, innovation, and teamwork. We are looking for some to keep our tech ecosystem connected, efficient, and evolving. This role focuses on integrating software tools, automating workflows, and ensuring data flows smoothly across our systems. This is a long-term position where we can discuss your preferred number of hours/week (20-40) and opportunities for hybrid work.

Core responsibilities include:

• Managing and optimizing our tech stack

• Working with our team to recognize and implement automation and AI solutions

Requirements include:

• Strong understanding of and experience working with software integrations and automation

• Demonstrated problem solving, analytical and leadership skills

• Excellent communication & collaboration skills

• Familiarity with AI tools and practical applications in business We offer a competitive wage, benefits, flexibility, interesting work, and a positive work environment. We anticipate work beginning as soon as you are available.

Please see eagle-eye.com/careers for more information and to apply. Application deadline is Nov 13th by 5 pm.

The Council of the District of Invermere gives notice that First Reading of Zoning Bylaw Amendment No. 1685, 2025 will be considered at a Regular Meeting of Council on Wednesday November 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm MT, at the District of Invermere Municipal Office located at 914 – 8th Avenue, Invermere, B C to consider an application by the Columbia Valley Housing Society to amend the zoning of the following property:

NOTICE OF INTENT FOR FIRST READING OF: ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT NO. 1685, 2025

Civic Address: 214-10th Avenue

(Subject property outlined on the inserted map below )

The Council of the District of Invermere gives notice that First Reading of Zoning Bylaw Amendment No. 1685, 2025 will be considered at a Regular Meeting of Council on Wednesday November 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm MT, at the District of Invermere Municipal Office located at 914 – 8th Avenue, Invermere, B.C. to consider an application by the Columbia Valley Housing Society to amend the zoning of the following property:

Civic Address: 214-10th Avenue

Legal Description: Parcel A (See 145490i) Lot 6 Block A District Lot 375 Kootenay District Plan 1052. PID: 013-920-961 (Subject Property)

(Subject property outlined on the inserted map below)

Legal Description: Parcel A (See 145490i) Lot 6 Block A District Lot 375 Kootenay District Plan 1052. PID: 013920-961 (Subject Property)

The intent of Bylaw No. 1685, 2025 is to rezone the subject property from R-2 Low Density Residential to a Multi-Unit Residential Infill Development Zone identified as R-6, to permit development of a ten-unit residential complex. The proposed development is intended to provide attainable rental units targeting workplace / employment housing.

Find a digital replica of the print edition of the Pioneer online, available early morning every Thursday at columbiavalleypioneer.com

The R-6 zone proposed would permit multiple family and cluster development up to 10m in height with a maximum 60% site coverage. The zone proposes 1 parking stall per dwelling unit plus 1 visitor parking stall per 5 dwelling units. Short term rental is not permitted in the proposed new R-6 zone. The Columbia Valley Housing Society has completed preliminary planning for the property, and currently the proposed building will be comprised of four ground-level units (two 3-bedroom units and two 2-bedroom units) and six secondfloor units (four 1-bedroom units and two 2-bedrooms units). The ground-level units will be accessible. The building will be two-storeys height.

The application is consistent with the District of Invermere Official Community Plan Land Use, Section 3.2 Residential which identifies the Subject Parcel as future Residential, High Density.

A copy of proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 1685, 2025 and related documents may be inspected at the District of Invermere Municipal Office at 914 – 8th Avenue, Invermere, BC between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from October 30, 2025, to November 12, 2025. The proposed bylaw may be inspected online at the District of Invermere website: https://invermere.net/news/

Persons who wish to comment on the proposed bylaw can submit them in one of the following ways:

Mailed or hand delivered to the District of Invermere Office at 914 – 8th Avenue, PO Box 339, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0, provided they are received not later than 12:00 pm noon MT, Friday November 7, 2025

Email to info@invermere.net by 12:00 pm noon MT, Friday, November 7, 2025

• By attending the First Reading on Wednesday November 12, 2025, at 7:00 pm MT at the District of Invermere Office, 914 – 8th Avenue Invermere.

Written comments received will be distributed to Council for their consideration at the November 12, 2025, Council meeting. Those members of the public in attendance at the First Reading will be allowed to make presentations to Council or present written submissions respecting matters contained in the proposed bylaw.

If you have questions or require more information, please contact the District of Invermere at (250) 342-9281 or by email to info@invermere.net. Copies of the proposed amendment bylaw and related staff report/s may also be requested from Rory Hromadnik, Director of Development Services telephone: (250) 342-9281 extension 1235 or email: planning@invermere.net

Rory Hromadnik Director of Development Services

Seniors love horse parade

and

Columbia Valley Churches

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH

While you are with us, you are always welcome to join us. Sunday at 10:30 am 326 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 | www.lwac.ca

WINDERMERE VALLEY

SHARED MINISTRY (Anglican - United) Sundays at 10:30 either in-person or online (the link is available on our website – wvsm.ca) Minister: Brent Woodard 110 - 7th Ave. in Invermere 250-342-6644

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY

Pastor: Justin Furse Sunday 10 a.m. Worship Service 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere 250-342-9511 | www.vcachurch.net

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

St. Anthony’s, Canal Flats: Saturday, 4 pm Canadian Martyrs’, Invermere: Sat 5 pm, Sun 9 am St. Joseph’s, Radium: Sunday 11 am Father Francis Dela Cruz | 712 -12th Ave., Invermere 250-342-6167 canadianmartyrs.ca

RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater | 250-342-6633 #4, 7553 Main St. Radium | 250-347-9937

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Worship Service, Sunday, 11 a.m. Sunday School, 10 a.m.

President Kendyn Mackensie • Columbia Valley Branch • 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs 250-439-9041

CHURCH OF CHRIST (Iglesia ni Cristo)

Worship Service: Sunday 9 a.m., Thursday 7:45 p.m. Chamber of Commerce (Lions Hall) For inquiries: 250-688-1643 250-270-2208 or 250-688-0629 For more info about the church, you can Google online at incmedia.org or pasugo.com.ph