Invermere Valley Echo, May 06, 2015

HANGIN’ AROUNDALLEYV CHOE

The Invermere

STEVE [email protected]

Windermere’s water woes won’t be quenched by a groundwater source, ac-cording to a recent study.

The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors received a memo at their most recent meeting indi-cating there likely is not enough ground-water in Windermere to supply a public water system.

As part of the RDEK’s efforts to see if a groundwater source is an option to solve Windermere’s water problems, Pi-teau Engineering Associates Ltd. drilled a test well and conducted a groundwa-ter analysis. A memo on the lack of wa-ter found was sent to the RDEK direc-tors for their April 10th meeting.

“Essentially no groundwater was en-countered. A community as large as Windermere would need more than one, I would say at least a few, productive

wells,” said RDEK engineering services manager Brian Funke, adding there was some moisture in the well, but no actual water, and that to be considered pro-ductive a well must have a � ow of 126 litres per second.

“There’s only a really slim chance for using groundwater (for a public water system in Winder-mere),” said Fun-ke. “Another con-cern indicating there is little to no groundwater was the nature of the soils.”

The soil at the deeper part of the well — where it matters most — was almost exclusively � ne grained clay and silt, in-stead of gravel (which is more likely to indicating groundwater).

The RDEK is also continuing to move ahead with constructing a new water reservoir for Windermere, which will

be in addition to the current existing reservoir.

“The old (reservoir) there doesn’t have the capacity to meet the standards required for � re protection � ows within Windermere,” Funke explained.

The new reservoir won’t solve the longterm Windermere water issue, but

the additional ca-pacity it provides is necessary no matter which longterm solution is eventually cho-sen.

There is no cost estimate for the new reservoir yet, since the project is still in its preliminary stag-es, according to Funke. Once the design is � nalized, the project can be put out to tender and a price for it established.

Work is expected to start later this summer. Funding for the project will come from the Build Canada Fund.

Spur Valley’s new well system a goIn the meantime, the Spur Valley sub-

division’s well development project also continues to move ahead. The RDEK board of directors has voted to award the contract for the work to Bor-der Holdings Ltd. Construction, which will begin in a few weeks and likely wrap up by October.

“This project involves � nishing up the development of the groundwater well systems. It’s already drilled. Now, it’s a matter of tying into the Spur Valley dis-tribution system,” said Funke.

The old water system in Spur Valley that’s being replaced is a surface water system, taking water from a creek.

“Certainly it (the new system) will help to improve the water quality,” said Funke, adding groundwater is almost al-ways a safer source than surface water.

The Spur Valley water system improve-ments, which have been in the works

See A4

Groundwater not an adequate source for Windermere

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lumbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Services deputy fi re chief Martin Caldwell stands by

at the valley’s fi rst-ever Emergency Pre-paredness Fair on Saturday, May 2nd at the

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pared for emergencies and natural disasters.

PHOTO BY BREANNE MASSEY

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A2 invermerevalleyecho.com Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

Snapshot

ALLEY

VALLEY

V

Snapshot

RUSHING WATERS... The emerald green waters rushing through Toby Creek Canyon spar-kled in the sun on April 19th, mak-ing for a fabulous Valley Snapshot photograph. PHOTO BY BREANNE MASSEY

TREVOR CRAWLEYCranbrook Daily Townsman

Can representatives from First Nations have a seat at the regional district board table?

That was the question asked by Chief Lorne Shovar of the Akisqnuk First Nation in a letter to the Regional District of East Kootenay in March.

However, there is no allowance for First Nation seats on regional district boards if they have not completed the treaty process, according to legislation contained within the Local Government Act.

The RDEK voted to send a letter back to Shovar and the Akisqnuk First Nation with that information, but some board directors said there are ways for First Na-tions across the region to provide input when making decisions.

RDEK board chair Rob Gay said while First Nations don’t currently have vot-ing rights at the regional board table, they can still be involved in the decision-making process.

He uses Area Planning Commissions as an example.“For the rural areas, we have an area planning commission and the commission-

ers are basically hand-picked by the directors,” Gay said.

“What we try to do is get people around the region, so in the case of Area C, I have someone from Moyie, I have someone from Ft. Steele, someone from Ward-ner, and these people volunteer their time to look at planning and development applications and provide advice.”

Gay said he empathizes with the desire of First Nations to have a voice at the RDEK table.

“We are looking for opportunities for First Nations to become involved with our form of government, so that may be an opportunity to appoint somebody on our planning commission boards,” Gay continued.

Shovar’s letter requested that a full chair, with all associated responsibilities and duties, be given to each First Nation within the RDEK.

“The Akisqnuk First Nation, like other fi rst nations in the area, is a democratic community with a council elected to make the best decisions possible for its members,” Shovar wrote. “In this way, fi rst nations are much like the municipal governments that you and your fellow board members represent.”

In addition to sending a response to Shovar, the RDEK board voted to give Gay — the board chair — and Wendy Booth, the vice-chair, informal authority to meet with the Akisqnuk chief and other interested First Nation leaders to explore op-tions that would allow them to provide meaningful input to RDEK decisions.

First Nations request seat at RDEK tableR EWSEGIONALN

invermerevalleyecho.com A3Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

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Windermere Valley Minor Hockey Association

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGWednesday, May 7th, 2014,

7 p.m. District of Invermere O� ce

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ALLEYV CHOEThe Invermere

asks you to...

Breanne [email protected]

The measurable difficulty of coping with extremely challenging emotions during a bereavement can be al-leviated with some help.

Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley executive di-rector Maria Kliavkoff presented information about the importance of involvement from volunteers and finan-cial backers from Canal Flats at the Monday, April 27th regular Village of Canal Flats council meeting.

“I came down here because I wanted to report on what’s happened within the Hospice Society over the last two years,” Kliavkoff told councillors.

She offered insights about the goals set by the society about how to help mourners cope with grief spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

“We currently have 25 fully trained visitors,” she said. “We just interviewed 10 more and I just got an appli-cation (on April 27th) from three more who are inter-ested in becoming visitors, which is great because the demand is exceeding our ability to deliver with our cur-rent base.”

Kliavkoff added the biggest challenge in assigning peo-ple to visit stems from a transient and busy group of volunteers.

“Sometimes, our volunteers are away for big parts of the year,” said Kliavkoff. “During the winter time, we’re working with about 17 of them. We have about 18 in the summertime, so having access to a new (group) will be great.”

Six board members and four volunteers from Canal Flats helped out with the hospice in 2014, which almost doubled the numbers from 2013 when there were three members and four volunteers from the village.

The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley also has

support from Regional District of East Kootenay Ar-eas F and G, Radium Hot Springs and the District of Invermere.

“In our first year of operations (between Sep-tember 16th, 2013 and September 15th, 2014) for visitors in palliative care, we did 452 visits, which is quite remarkable,” Kliavkoff explained. “That means we’re averaging more than one a day with all volunteer visitors who have done an astonishing job.”

There were an additional 654 visits completed in 2014, totalling close to 1,000 since the services began being offered in Invermere.

“We know that there’s a need out there,” concluded Kliavkoff. “That’s palliative only. It doesn’t include be-reavement, which (began) in January.”

In addition, the services may be expanding in the fu-ture, she added.

“The RCMP Victim Services approached us about do-ing a bereavement group specifically for those who have lost loved ones due to suicide or traumatic deaths, such as traffic fatalities, which normally isn’t hospice. However, the need is great in the Columbia Valley,” said Kliavkoff.

“We applied for funding through the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and they gave us all of the funding that we asked for to get the extended training that we need… We’re hoping that program will be up and running by next January because it’s four cycles of training in Colorado.”

Kliavkoff recently attended the second training ses-sion required to offer this service through the Hospice Society.

She requested $1,500, which covers two per cent of the overall annual budget to operate, from Canal Flats to Radium and Area G.

OCALL EWSN

Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley expands its reach


Steve [email protected]

Promoting healthy living is becoming a priority for Inte-rior Health, which is trying to reduce the demand on health services.

At its most recent meeting on Tuesday, April 28th, In-vermere council heard from Interior Health East Koote-nay community health facili-tator Kerri Wall, who spoke

to council about the Healthy Community Initiative.

Ms. Wall described how the Healthy Community Initiative program promotes healthy living options, in a effort to prevent people from needing to use more traditional health services and asked if the dis-trict wanted to formally part-ner with Interior Health in the program, as a few other East Kootenay communities have so far done.

“It’s to pro-mote health and wellness in the community and reduce risk fac-tors for chronic disease,” she said, adding if the district does sign up for a formal partner-ship, it would get a monthly newsletter as well as consult-ing experience and expertise for health pro-motion.

Councillor Jus-tin Atterbury asked if a for-mal partnership would be of any

benefit to help with reduction in health services, such as the loss of Invermere’s dialysis unit two years ago.

Ms. Wall responded this would be outside her role with Health Community Initia-tives program.

Invermere mayor Gerry Taft expressed concern about the possibility of a formal partner-ship eventually leading, years down the road, to download-ing of services from Interior Health onto the district.

“We want to be part of the picture of health promotion, but we don’t want to be the one driving the bus. If you’re too enthusiastic sometimes you get more than you want,” said Taft.

Council heard from a second Interior Health representative at the same meeting. Interior Health Golden and Invermere health service director Debo-rah Austin spoke about the health services available in the community.

Austin, in her presentation, talked about the seasonal fluc-tuations in visits to the emer-gency centre at the Invermere & District Hospital.

“They (the fluctuations) are enough that we have to change our staffing levels to

deal with the influx,” Aus-tin said.

Councillor Al Miller asked about how much Golden’s surgery pro-gram gets used, pointing out that the Golden & District General Hospital has an operating room, while the Invermere hos-pital does not.

“I would’ve thought that we would have more (visits to the emergency centre) here,” said Miller.

Ms. Austin pointed out that the operating room in Golden only does day

surgery and said part of the reason Golden has a operating room is the long distance the town is from any other hospi-tal (roughly two hours to ei-ther Cranbrook, Revelstoke or Banff). She went on to add that the other part of the reason for the operating room in Golden is the severity of the injuries encountered there, many of which stem from serious ac-cidents on the TransCanada Highway, as well as from the Kicking Horse Mountain Re-sort in Golden, which she characterized as more fear-some than the ski hills here.

“Your numbers in Invermere are higher, because of the (visiting) Calgarians, but they tend to be more minor inju-ries,” said Austin. “But the ski-ers coming in (to the emergen-cy centre) in Golden are train wrecks. They’re just cowboys up there. So between that and the highway (accidents) their ED (Emergency Department) visits in Golden are much more critical.”

Austin also said there’s no reason Invermere residents should be going to Cranbrook for telehealth conferences, since the Invermere hospital has all the capabilities it needs.

tax bylawsAlso at at the April 28th

meeting, council members gave three readings each to three different parcel tax by-law amendments; one for water improvements (setting the 2015 rate at $79.44 per parcel); one for water system upgrades ($38.24 per parcel); and one for sewage treatment works ($38.87 per parcel).

The 2015 tax rates bylaw also received three readings at the meeting.

In discussion on the bylaw, Invermere chief financial of-ficer Karen Cote said the av-

erage increase per residence in Invermere is $50, although the actual amount will vary from residence to residence depending on the house.

Councillor Greg Anderson asked how the tax rates in Invermere compare with the rest of the East Kootenay and Cote responded they are the third lowest in the region.

Taft said it can be tricky comparing taxes between mu-nicipalities.

“It’s a bit of apples to orang-es. You can look really good in one area, but not in another,” he said, adding that Radium Hot Springs, for instance, has lower general tax rates than Invermere, but has higher par-cel taxes for water and sewer.

Council members also re-ceived the district’s financial statements for the period end-ing March 31st. When presenting them to council, Cote mentioned she’s concerned about the num-ber of tax sale properties.

“The list is much higher than normal,” she said, adding there are more than 30 such properties in the district. “Times are tough.”

She also pointed out that op-erating cash in the financial statements is low, but that fluctuations are common from period to period and that it’s not uncommon to be in over-draft this time of year.

Municipal projectsAt the April 10th meeting,

council members also voted unanimously to adopt the district’s revised Short Term Action Chart. Several council members commented they are happy to be reminded that work continues on some of the smaller municipal projects that Invermere has on the go, despite larger projects such as the multi-use centre grabbing most of the attention.

Take notice that Columbia River Stewardship Society, of Fairmont Hot Springs, BC, has applied to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO), Kootenay Region, for a License ofOccupation, situated on Provincial Crown land located adjacent to the Columbia River near Fairmont Hot Springs, BC, and containing 0.01 hectares more or less.

The Lands File for this application is 4405581. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Front Counter BC, 1902 Theatre Road, Cranbrook BC, V1C 7G1 or email to: [email protected]. Commments will be received by MFLNRO up to May 30, 2015. MFLNRO may not be able to consider comments received after this date.Please visit web at: http:arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/index.jsp→ Search → Seach by File Number: 4405581 for more information

Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.

Land Act: Notice of Intention to Apply for a Disposition of Crown Land.

Canal Flats Community

Garage SalesSaturday, May 9th, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

5 Tables in the hall and 6 other sales. Maps of all sales and lunch will be available at the

Civic Centre.

Call 250-349-5447 for information.

WINDERMERE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Notice Of Annual General Meeting

10 a.m Saturday, May 23, 2015.Community Hall 4726 North Street,

Windermere.

Followed By A Pot Luck luncheon

GROUNDWATER from A1

for several years, will also include a new meter vault and a pumphouse, entailing a move to universal water metering for the subdivision’s roughly 75 homes.

Total cost for the project — including the construction contract awarded to Border Hold-ings Ltd., the engineering service and the water meter installation — will be roughly $1 mil-lion. The majority of the funding for the new Spur Valley water system will come from the B.C. Community Water Improvement Program, with the rest being raised through service area taxes.

Invermere council wary of Interior Health’s request for partnership

OUNCILC RIEFSB


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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].

‘Tis the season for taxes and Village of Canal

Flats council has been work-ing very hard on the budget. The announcement by Can-for was always in the back of our minds as we looked at the numbers.

As a result, we were able to come up with a budget that saw no increase from last year!

The Bylaw for the five-year financial plan will be adopted prior to May 15th, 2015.

Along with the budget, council also adopt-ed the Road Frontage Tax Bylaw. This bylaw will allow the Village to calculate transporta-tion expenses (ie. snow removal) based on foot frontage rather than assessment. There will be no impact on the average assessed home. However, some of the vacant lots will

see an increase while some of the higher assessed homes will see a decrease in their taxes.

On April 16th, our branding consultants, Tracy Connery and Karen Nikurak, hosted an Open House showcasing the artwork that was created by the students of Martin Morige-au Elementary School.

The students were asked what it means to them to live

in Canal Flats. What they came up with was simply breathtaking. There were a lot of comments around the sense of community, the wildlife, backcountry activities and how much they love their school. They produced a music video of a song they wrote all on their own. Very impressive!

And there is more exciting news coming out of Canal Flats. Council is very pleased to

announce that we have partnered with the Family Resource Centre and entered into an agreement with them to rent the remaining room downstairs in the Columbia Discovery Centre for $1 for the next five years.

We are very excited to see services come to Canal Flats such as family counselling, family support work, women’s counselling, the seniors Better at Home program, youth outreach and engagement, employment ser-vices, an Early Learning Centre for children under six and their families, etc.

This will not only help existing families ac-cess these programs where they live, but will also help in attracting new families to the community.

A huge thank you to the Family Resource Centre!

Ute Juras is the mayor of Canal Flats and can be reached at 250-489-9070 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Canal Flats welcomes Family Resource CentreUNDOWNR

RegionalUNDOWNRURU

TEUJURAS

After the first few glum lines of his speech, it was difficult to tell anything had changed for BC

Teachers’ Federation president Jim Iker as he took his familiar place before the TV cameras last week.

Iker droned on about how B.C. schools are under-funded by hundreds of millions of dollars, echoing demands from the disastrous strike he led the union membership into last year.

The B.C. Court of Appeal had just overturned a bi-zarre trial court decision that tried to give the union everything it wanted: a trip back in time to the NDP wonderland of 2001, a constitutional spanking for the B.C. Liberal government and a $2 million bonus of taxpayers’ money.

The BCTF must now pay back that $2 million and scrape up what-ever is left of its members’ compulsory dues to plead for an appeal at the Supreme Court of Canada, continuing the executive’s self-righteous fantasy of controlling education spending in B.C.

The appeal court didn’t just overturn the judgment of B.C. Supreme Court Justice Susan Griffin. It shredded her legal reasoning and bluntly corrected her, over and over, on evidence she ignored or misinterpreted.

The appeal court confirmed at great length what I said when Griffin’s second decision came down in early 2014: it was far worse for B.C. schools than when judges decided in 2005 that teachers can bring union propaganda into classrooms.

Did the government bargain in bad faith? No. Did they conspire to provoke a strike? No. Did they illegal-ly strip working conditions from the teacher contract?

No. Turns out our kids are not just “working conditions” for teachers, and public policy still matters.

And it turns out that making special needs assistants dash be-tween classes to deal with two kids here and three over there was a lousy idea.

See A15

Time for teachers to question their unionIEWSV

B.C.

OMTFLETCHER

V

OMT

PINIONO

OLUMNISTC


TREETSTHES

Do you think the provincial government will allow the Jumbo Glacier Resort project to continue?

“I think it is going to be iffy with the whole avalanche thing.”

Tim HahnAlbuquerque, New Mexico

“I hope not... I hope Jumbo never gets built.

Karen MacraeCalgary, Alberta

“I hope it doesn’t get built. We are losing all of our backcountry. My husband and I used to hike in the mountains all over and we can’t anymore. Now it is trespassing”

Alice StewartInvermere

NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION:Do you think the provincial

government will allow the Jumbo Glacier Resort project to continue?



QUESTION OF THE WEEKDo you support the federal government borrowing from the

contingency fund to balance the 2015 budget?

INVERMEREVALLEYECHO.com� �� Do you support the federal government borrowing from the

INVERMEREVALLEYECHOINVERMEREVALLEYECHO � � � INVERMEREVALLEYECHO.com.com.com � � .com � .com� � � � � � � � � � Do you support the federal government borrowing from the

INVERMEREVALLEYECHO � � � Do you support the federal government borrowing from the Do you support the federal government borrowing from the Do you support the federal government borrowing from the � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � INVERMEREVALLEYECHO � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Do you support the federal government borrowing from the Do you support the federal government borrowing from the Do you support the federal government borrowing from the � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � No66.3%

Yes33.7%

I have always said that local people should have control over decisions made on their

land base. I have always believed that tremen-dous wisdom lives within the communities that will be affected, and that the powers in faraway places will never fully understand the impacts of the decisions they are making.

And a decade in provincial politics has not changed my belief. At no time have I seen the removal of local decision-making result in better decisions on the land.

The most obvious ongoing example is the impo-sition of land use decisions by the BC Liberals in Jumbo. The Jumbo Glacier Resort proposal has been opposed by local residents from the very start. At ev-ery opportunity, the people in the region have spoken out loud and clear. And the Ktunaxa Nation have said with absolute clarity that they will not support the development in a place they consider to be sacred.

When I was mayor of Golden, the community developed Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. But the fi rst thing we did was make sure that we had the support of the residents and that we had a credible investor.

Jumbo Glacier Resort has no investor. Despite having the full force of the BC Liberals behind it, no investor has been convinced to fund this project.

But that hasn’t stopped the BC Liberals from giving away control of 6,000 hectares of public land and giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money to run a municipality with no buildings, no services and no people. The latest twist in the Jumbo saga is that the Environmental Assessment Offi ce has now ruled that the two hastily laid concrete pads have been placed in an avalanche zone, which contravenes one of the con-ditions of the Environmental Assessment Certifi cate. These two concrete pads represented the only construction of the resort.

Norm Macdonald is the NDP MLA for Columbia River Revelstoke. Contact him at 1-866-870-4188 or by email at [email protected].

PINIONO

EPORTRMLA

EPORTRERE

ORMNMACDONALD

Local decision-making critical for the land base Dear Editor:

I am writing to you regarding Norm Macdonald’s report to his constituents and columnist Tom Fletcher’s article that appeared in your April 22nd edition.

They both were commenting on the fact that our provincial government sold a very valuable piece of Lower Mainland property to one of the B.C. Liberal party’s longtime and very gener-ous fi nancial supporters for $83 million despite being advised by real estate experts that the land was worth $128 million.

This type of transaction executed by our provincial government is not unusual. When Christy Clark took over as premier of B.C., one of her slogans was “familiar fi rst.”

If she had been truthful to the voters, she would have used the slogan “our corporate buddies fi rst.”

This recent disclosure proves that B.C. has the best government money can buy.

JIM GALLOWAYBRISCO

Sold to the highest bidderETTERSL

Dear Editor:

People think that the Greens are a left wing party but this is a mistake. If you are a staunch Conservative who is dismayed with what Mr. Harper has done to Conservative values and the Progressive Conservative party, then you really owe it to yourself to take a good, hard look at Green economic policy.

Ms. May believes in the power of the market and is more the true successor to the mantle of John Diefenbaker, Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark than Mr. Harper ever was.

LEO YOUNGVERNON

Messages for Conservatives — go Green


WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

To get to the Area F Town Hall Meeting!

Monday, May 11, 2015 7:00pm - Volunteer of the Year Celebration

7:30pm - Area F Town Hall Meeting Fairmont Hot Springs Resort - Pine Room

The Volunteer of the Year celebration will be held at 7:00pm. Come out and congratulate Shirley and Terry White, enjoy some cake and refreshments.

This Town Hall Meeting is for all residents of Electoral Area F.We hope to see you there!

19 - 24th Avenue South, Cranbrook BC V1C 3H8Ph: 250-489-2791 • 888-478-7335

Email: [email protected] Website: www.rdek.bc.ca


The inaugural meeting of the new provincial Rural Advisory Council was held recently with a lo-cal valley resident representing the East Kootenay region.

Susan Clovechok joined the 13 other regional representatives in Victoria on Thursday, April 23rd and Friday, April 24th where they went through some introductory matters, and met with Pre-mier Christy Clark and Minster of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) Steve Thomson. The council falls under FLNRO.

“(Premier Clark) spoke to us about the council, our responsibility and her appreciation for us step-ping up into the volunteer roles,” said Mrs. Clove-chok. “It went really well, it was a great start.”

According to Mrs. Clovehcok, the meeting con-sisted of a lot of introductory, meet-and-greet type formalities since the councillors have never met before. This is the fi rst-ever Rural Advisory Council.

“We all come from different parts of the province, but everybody is united in a vision for a thriving rural B.C. We defi nitely have a shared vision, which is great,” she said. “It’s exciting to be part of this dynamic group of people. Everybody is so passion-ate about their communities and about doing what we can to boost rural development in B.C.”

Mrs. Clovechok said she’s looking forward to the next meeting, when councillors will begin to dis-cuss strategies for enhancing rural development in the province.

“We’ll be bringing ideas for all of our communities to the next meeting to discuss ways to remove barriers to growth and prosperity in rural areas through rural dividends (payments from industry and other development) and other means,” she said. “It’s our fi rst priority.”

Mrs. Clovechok emphasized that although her job her in Invermere is executive director of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce, she is acting as a citizen and representing the region (not the Chamber) in her role on the council and is happy to talk with anybody from the valley or the East Kootenay about rural development.

The council is scheduled to meet four times a year.

Valley resident attends fi rst Rural Advisory Council meeting

Rural Advisory Council members were greeted by Premier Christy Clark, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson, and Parliamentary Secretary Donna Barnett at the Legislature during the coun-cil’s inaugural meeting in Victoria on Thursday, April 23rd. East Kootenay representative and Fairmont Hot Springs resident Susan Clovechok is pictured right of the premier. BC GOV PHOTO

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G2G campaign spreads African HIV awarenessBreanne Massey

[email protected]

After travelling through Ethiopia and South Africa for nearly five weeks with the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s campaign Grandmothers to Grandmothers, participant Sharon Henderson from Wymer (near Nelson) began raising awareness in the East and West Kootenay about the African AIDS pandemic.

The 62-year-old woman shared stories about the experience with the Valley Go Go Sisters at the Columbia Garden Village in Invermere on Friday, April 29th.

She was one of 22 Canadians who were selected through the program to visit Sub-Saharan Africa with the Stephen Lewis cohort in March 2014.

“The projects have faces now for me, just being there and seeing the enthusiasm and the integrity of the people we’re helping,” said Sharon, while noting how the donations help fund opportunities such as farming and sew-ing to make a living to support their families.

“It’s not just like, ‘Oh, we’re getting this money from these guys.’ They are work-ing hard and it was obvious they were putting the money to good use.”

The Stephen Lewis Foundation works with community-based organizations in Africa to offer counselling and education about HIV. It also aims to teach preventive measures for sex-ual health, reach out to the families who are affected by illness and be-reavement while helping orphans access education and work in spite

of the hurdles of daily life in Africa.“Every day was jam packed and exhausting, meeting so many people and being

in a different culture,” said Sharon. “I didn’t know any other grandmothers or Ste-phen Lewis workers either, so everybody was new… we shared rooms and there was a lot going on all the time. It was very busy.”

According the Stephen Lewis Foundation website, the organization has funded over 1,100 initiatives and more than 300 community-based organizations in 15 African countries since 2003.

The organization also helps distribute food and medical supplies for treatments that are in demand in some of the African countries that have been hit the hard-est by the AIDS pandemic.

Sharon showed roughly 30 Invermere senior supporters photos from the Hill-crest AIDS Centre Trust in Durban, South Africa.

She also showed slides about farming, commuting and living within a harsh climate in rural Ethiopia.

“I think it was well-received,” concluded Sharon. “It’s all about spreading the word.”After Invermere, she was heading to Penticton to deliver her next presentation

on behalf of the Nelson Grandmothers to Grandmothers (G2G).“I had no idea what I was getting into with this group,” she added with a giggle.

“I’ve hardly sat down since I joined the grandmothers.”

OMMUNITYC

Top photo: Nelson grand-mother Sharon Henderson was selected to visit Africa as part of the Stephen Lewis Founda-tion Grandmothers to Grand-mothers campaign. She gave a presentation of her trip in Invermere on April 29th. Bot-tom left photo: Canadian and African grandmothers high five as part of a team-building ex-ercise with the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign. PHoToS SuBmITTed

BC Book Prize author tours through valleyNTERTAINMENTE

Breanne [email protected]

The prized story about a racehorse overcoming an incredible obstacle course has galloped into the limelight.

BC Book Prizes author Kevin Chong was a nomi-nee for the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize for his book Northern dancer: The Legendary Horse that In-spired a Nation. As part of the BC Book Prizes On Tour, he travelled through the southern leg of BC between April 20th and 24th, during which time he met with students in Invermere.

Chong offered a private reading of the tale to stu-dents at David Thompson Secondary School and JA Laird Elementary on April 22nd.

“We had an enthusiastic bunch,” said Chong. “Invermere is my sixth stop so far, and it’s defi-nitely one of the highlights because sometimes we get groups where people are fidgeting with their phones and talking, but I don’t think that happened with this group. I really appreciate it because it’s hard to be a teenager and pay attention to some-body talking about something that happened a re-ally long time ago.”

‘Northern Dancer: The Legendary Horse that In-spired a Nation’ is a historical book featuring an un-dersized horse becoming a success story.

“It’s about an underdog,” said Chong. “I teach cre-

ative writing at UBC in Van-couver and I like talking to students who would like to study creative writing; or to go to UBC and let them know it’s an option for them even though Vancou-ver sometimes feels very, very far away.”

Chong visited students in Hope Merritt, Sicamous, Revelstoke, Golden, Cran-

brook, Kimberley, Creston and Castlegar during the nomination period.

“I think it’s great when students can be exposed to different experiences and different people,” said Chong. “It helps them learn and grow.”

The hardest part of pursuing a passion, he added, is making the time to write.

“We have to overcome our own insecurities and our own laziness,” he added. “And the daunting blank page or blank screen because writing is a great experience. Dorothy Parker once said, ‘I like having written,’ which means she likes to put a book out and labour over it, but she doesn’t like the work of writing — but I actually like the work of writing. It’s just a matter of finding the time to do it.”

BC Book Prizes author Heather Tekavec was nomi-nated for the Christine Harris Illustrated Children’s

Literature Prize for her book, Stop, Thief! visited Eileen Madson Primary School to offer students a private reading of her book during the nomination period.

The duo travelled together for the tour, but split up the responsibility of readings.

“I’ve been going to a lot of the high schools and it’s pretty interesting to see all of the different com-munities,” explained Chong. “There are a lot of places that I’ve driven through on a cross-Canada trip in 2014… in other communities, I’ve spent zero time, so it’s nice to actually meet people from some of these communities and learn a little bit about them.”

He was impressed by the Kootenay Culture, as he delved deeper into the culturally vibrant region on the book tour.

“It’s my first trip to Invermere,” Chong said, with a smile creeping across his cheeks. “I’ve only been to the school and we went for a lunch at a grill across the street from the Toby Theatre.”

He was curious to know what the theatre’s fate would hold in light of the signage to marks its clo-sure in 2014.

“It has the sign saying it closed, but what are they doing with it and why is it still lingering around there,” he queried. “The downtown stretch is really cute and it’s really nice to see how vibrant all of these (com-munities) in southeastern B.C. are… People here are very active and engaged with the natural world.”

Kevin Chong


HappyMother’s Day

Treat your Mom for a nice Mother’s Day dinner on Sunday, May 10th

MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL~ $24 Roasted pork tenderloin with shittake mushroom

demiglaze.

All Mothers receive a piece of Apple Strudel and a fl ower.

Call 250-347-6553 for reservations.


With Mother’s Day just around the cor-ner, it’s a fi tting time to say “Thanks Mom,” especially if your mom helped you get start-ed on your way to a World Cup alpine ski racing career.

Long before he was standing on World Cup podiums and blasting down Olympic cours-es, Ben Thomsen got his beginning on skis with the encouragement of his mom, Shel-ley, who is a ski racing coach.

“I’m doing my dream and she basically started the whole thing,” said Ben.

Shelley, who coached at Fairmont and then later at Panorama (where she still coaches), recalls Ben starting to ski at about age three and, not long after, tagging along with her as she coached much older racers.

“I remember I used to hide behind the chairs so I could get away from my Nancy Greene group and go ski on my own,” said Ben. “Once I’d done that a few times, my mom said, ‘Well, if you don’t want to ski with them, you’ll have to come ski with us.’ So when most fi ve year olds were doing ‘piz-za and french fries,’ I was doing GS (giant slalom) with 15 and 16 year olds.”

Ben’s dad was also a ski coach (although he worked mostly with older kids) and, ac-cording to Shelley, skiing makes for a pretty good family sport.

“For a family, it’s something you do to-gether. Everybody participates. It’s fun,” she said. “To me, the most special part is

that Ben’s got the same passion for the sport as I do.”

Ben recalls his mom’s approach

to coaching fondly.

“With my mom it was, ‘Let’s go have fun

and develop ski skills on the way.’

She didn’t care if we did our warm-up runs in gates or by skiing through the trees or somewhere else on the hill. It was about keeping things fun. Nobody else understood that approach, but I still take a lesson out of it, even on the World Cup circuit,” said Ben. “You need to enjoy your passions, and that’s something I learned from my mom.”

Ben says he also adopted a competi-tive yet humble persona from Shelley.

Shelley for her part, credits the fam-ily’s passion for skiing that helped shape not just Ben’s athletic talent, but his personality.

“Skiing as a family means you learn pretty quick about being organized and that things aren’t always going to be easy. Those traits help create who you are as a person,” she said.

These days Ben and Shelley still keep connected, although they are frequently on different continents.

“I do watch every race, even if he’s over in Europe and I have to get

up at 3 a.m. here to watch it through Live Timing,” said Shelley.“It is sometimes tough being

on the complete other side of the world, even though there’s Facebook and Skype, but we both get the real-ity of the situation,” said Ben, adding that he’s been away from home for Christmas or his mom’s birthday for

the past six years.“I do talk to her, and my dad, every race,”

he said. “It’s pretty cool knowing your mom gets up in the middle of the night to see how you did.”

When Ben is home, he and Shelley are of-ten on the valley’s slopes skiing or, in the warmer months, out on the golf course.

Pro skier credits his mom for getting him hooked on racing

According to valley-raised World Cup ski racer Ben Thomsen, his mother Shelley’s passion for skiing is what started his professional racing career. PHOTO SUBMITTED


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250-341-7600

Cracking the curber code…When Walt says, “It’s got very low miles...”

He means, “I rolled them back myself!”

(Up to 3.5% of vehicles have mileage errors)

Get a vehicle history report! Buy from a licensed dealer!Find out how at WatchoutforWalt.com

Article adapted and reproduced with permission from the original author, Kalista Pruden.

Many people think of spring runoff as a nuisance because of the re-sulting high water events or localized flooding. During the spring

runoff period, there is more water in rivers, lakes and streams, creating mo-mentum to stir and move things. When runoff slows to an end, the objects (or sediment) moved by high water are deposited or “dropped-off” in a new place.

This process can greatly change the characteristics of a water body and its surrounding area. Nevertheless, spring runoff is a very important event in the natural world.

As spring snow melt and rain rushes into rivers, lakes and streams, tiny sediment par-ticles are picked up and carried within the water, making it turbid (murky or dirty). As more water pours in, larger particles like pebbles, sticks, cobbles and logs get pushed along. Sometimes insects and small animals get carried downstream in the flows, too.

During normal or low water levels, sediments do not move as easily and build up as deposits on the lake or river bottom. When runoff arrives, these deposits are distributed to new locations, benefiting plants, animals and insects in the ecosystem. Consistent low or average flows can cause too many nutrients to build up in some places and not enough accumulation in other places.

Repositioning of sediments on the bottom during runoff also creates a greater variety of aquatic habitat, attracting more critters to the ecosystem. Sometimes pools are filled in and new ones are formed, or the shape or path of the water body changes. New gravel beds for fish spawning and aquatic insects appear. Mud flats develop, providing a smorgasbord for birds and bugs and fertile soil for plants. Woody debris gets lodged into banks or sinks to the bottom, producing homes for all kinds of creatures.

Like many ecosystems, the Columbia River and Wetlands depend on reg-ular runoff and flooding to stay healthy and diverse. Even though the Co-lumbia River Basin is the most hydroelectrically developed river system in the world, Lake Windermere is part of the only free-flowing section begin-ning at the headwaters in Canal Flats. Natural, healthy amounts of runoff and flooding enter the portion of the Columbia River from Columbia Lake to the river’s first dam at the Kinbasket Reservoir north of Golden.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations reported that “given the snow conditions this year for most of the province, extreme weather, such as extreme precipitation or combined hot and wet weather, would be required to produce flooding or higher than expected flows” (Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin, April 2015). Nonetheless, even

in years with normal or lower than normal snow packs, flooding is always possible during the snow melt freshet season. Be prepared for variable water levels, and remember how important runoff is to nature.

For more information, please contact the Lake Windermere Ambassa-dors at 250-341-6898 or [email protected], or visit the project of-fice located at 625 4th Street, South Annex.

The Lake Windermere Ambassadors are a charitable organization repre-senting a cross-section of community stakeholders committed to directing water quality monitoring and stewardship. Their work is made possible by the generous support of Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Valley Local Con-servation Fund, Columbia Valley Community Foundation, the Real Estate Foundation of BC, the District of Invermere, the Regional District of East

Kootenay, and member donations!Beneath The Surface is based on the principle that there is often more to know than

what is visible from the “surface” of an issue. If there is something that concerns you about the lake and you want to get to the “bottom of it,” call Lake Windermere Ambas-sadors program co-ordinator Megan Peloso at 250-341-6898 or email [email protected] and inspire the next column!

More to spring runoff than meets the eyeURFACES

Beneath theURFACES

EGANMPELOSO

OLUMNISTC

SubmittedDistrict of Invermere

Throughout 2014, the District of Invermere hosted monthly senior lunches on the second Thursday of each month. They have partnered with the Invermere Legion to keep this success-ful program running for 2015.

Each month, about 40 seniors gather for a delicious soup and sandwich lunch complete with coffee, tea and dessert. The lunches are lovingly prepared by Legion volunteers.

In addition to good company, the District of Invermere arrang-es guest speakers and entertainers.

The next lunch being held on Thursday, May 14th will host the representatives from the Family Resource Centre — they will be giving an update on the Better at Home program. The cost is $10, payable at the door. All seniors are welcome and reservations are required so the Legion can properly prepare.

To reserve your seat, email Theresa Wood at [email protected] or call and leave a message at 250-342-9281 ext 1227.

Senior lunches continueOMMUNITYC

EarlyDeadlines

Due to the Victoria Day holiday, OUR CLASSIFIEDS DEADLINE for our May 20th edition will be

Thursday, May 14th at 12:00 p.m.We apologize for any inconvenience.

To advertise call 250-341-6299


WEEKLY Beat

Have an event you’d

like listed? Email it to: production@


THE

May 6th - 12th

6TH : WEDNESDAY

• Wings over the Rockies Bighorn Sheep virtual tour and educational presentation at Radium Hot Springs Visitor Centre. To register visit wingsovertherockies.org• 10 - 11 a.m.: Preschoolers and Parents, Plant and Play. Runs every Wednesday morning for 6 weeks. Ends May 13th. By donation, pre-registration requested. Visit groundswellnetwork.ca• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre (SYC) Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email [email protected] or call 250-342-3033.• 6 - 8 p.m.: SYC Drop-in Girls Only Group.

7TH : THURSDAY

• 12 - 1 p.m.: Ask a Librarian / Drop-in tech support at the Invermere Public Library, every Thursday. For more info, go toinvermere.bclibrary.ca• 4 - 8 p.m.: SYC open gym.• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email [email protected] or call 250-342-3033.• 5 - 6 p.m.: Every Thursday evening enjoy the Wine Tasting in the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Lobby. Learn about BC wines from our in-house sommelier. $10 per person.• 6:30 p.m.: Master Horseman and International exhibitor Paul Dufresne will be performing at the Brisco Riding Club arena. $15 for adults; under 14 is free. For more information, call 250-688-0280.• 7 p.m.: Minor Hockey AGM at the District of Invermere offi ces.• 7 p.m.: Join Emily Molloy (Brave) and Corrina Keeling (Say Yes) at Safta’s in Invermere.• 7 p.m.: Texas Hold ‘em Tournament every Thursday at Invermere Legion.• 7 - 8:15 p.m.: Free Community Yoga at Defi ning Yoga Studio. For more information contact kelly at [email protected]

8TH : FRIDAY

• 6 - 8 p.m.: SYC Games Night.• 7:30 p.m.: Valley Voices Spring Concert May 8th - 9th at Christ Church Trinity. Tickets available at Tiffany’s Thredz in Invermere, Purple Cow Gift Shop in Fairmont and Meet on Higher Ground in Radium.

9TH : SATURDAY

• 6 - 8 p.m.: Pooch Plunge at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. The pool goes to the dogs in support of GALS and the SPCA. Bring your family and doggie out for some fun. $10/ dog, registration required. 1-800-663-4979 ext 6056. For more information visit fairmonthotsprings.com or call 250-342-6030.• 7:30 p.m.: SYC Movie and popcorn night.

11TH : MONDAY

• 4 - 5:30 p.m.: SYC Employment Readiness program. Must pre-register. Email [email protected] or call 250-342-3033.• 6 - 7:30 p.m.: SYC Skills for life program.

12TH : TUESDAY

• 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.: SYC Youth Focus Leadership meeting.• 7 - 8:30 p.m.: Rot On! Competent Composting at Groundswell’s Community Greenhouse 15th Ave. and Westridge Dr. For more information [email protected] or phone 250-342-3337.

May 13th - 19th

13TH : WEDNESDAY

• 10 - 11 a.m.: Preschoolers and Parents, Plant and Play. Runs every Wednesday morning for 6 weeks. Ends May 13th. By donation, pre-registration requested. Visit groundswellnetwork.ca• 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.: It’s Your Life, Cancer Prevention Free presentation by the Canadian Cancer Society at Lake Windermere Lions Hall. Contact Sheila Tutty at 250-342-5266 for more information.• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email [email protected] or call 250-342-3033.• 6 - 8 p.m.: SYC Drop-in Boys Only Group.• 7:30 p.m.: Windermere Valley Rural Range Resource Patrol

AGM at Lions Hall, at the crossroads.

14TH : THURSDAY

• 12 p.m.: Annual Walk with your Doc at Mt Nelson Athletic Park. Organized by the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice.• 4 - 8 p.m.: SYC open gym.• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email [email protected] or call 250-342-3033.• 5 - 6 p.m.: Every Thursday evening, enjoy the Wine Tasting in the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Lobby. Learn about BC wines from our in-house sommelier. $10 per person.• 7 - 9 p.m.: The BC Wolf Cull: Science meets Ethics, Ecology and Politics, meeting at Pynelogs Cultural Centre, hosted by Wolf Awareness, featuring guest speaker Brad Hill. For more information visit wolfawarenessinc.org or contact Sadie Parr at [email protected]

15TH : FRIDAY

• 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.: From May 15th – May 28th Permaculture Design Certifi cation at the College of the Rockies and Groundswell Community Greenhouse 15th Ave.and Westridge Dr. For more information [email protected] or call 250-342-3337.• 6 p.m.: SYC Rockband Night.• May 15 – Sun, May 17, Crescent Heights Senior High School Reunion, Calgary, 100th Celebration. 1019-1st Street N.W. To register visit crescentheightsalumni.ca or call 1-855-424-2586.

16TH : SATURDAY

• 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.: Artym Gallery shows Cameron Bird, Bayot Heer and Vance Theoret exhibition till May 22.• 12 - 6 p.m.: Summer Kickoff Party at the Radium Hot Springs visitor centre. Visitradiumhotsprings.com for details.• 7 p.m.: SYC Foosball tournament night.

19TH :TUESDAY

• 4 - 6 p.m.: SYC Cooking workshop.• 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: SYC Opt night. Have one of your Youth workers accompany you to the clinic and assist you with the resources you need.

COMING SOON…

MAY 20TH : WEDNESDAY

• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email [email protected] or call 250-342-3033.

MAY 21ST : THURSDAY

• 4 - 8 p.m.: SYC open gym.• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email [email protected] or call 250-342-3033.• 5 - 6 p.m.: Every Thursday evening, enjoy the Wine Tasting in the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Lobby. Learn about BC wines from our in-house sommelier $10 per person.

MAY 22ND : FRIDAY

• 5 p.m.: May 22 - May 24, Wetlandkeepers Course is 2½ days of workshops that educate participants about wetland conservation. This is a hands-on, free fi eldwork course that provides participants with technical skills to steward their own wetland. For more information contact [email protected] or visit wetlandkeeperswindermere.eventbrite.ca• 6 p.m.: SYC Karaoke Night.

MAY 23RD : SATURDAY

• 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Garage Sale at Akisqnuk First Nation Arbor. Food and items for sale.• May 23rd & Sunday May 24th Radium Car Rally. Visit radiumhotsprings.com for details.• 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Plant Sale and Open House at Groundswell Community Greenhouse, 15th Ave and Westridge Dr. For more information [email protected] or phone 250-342-3337.• 10 a.m.: Crazy Soles Nipika Trail Run at Nipika Resort. Register prior to event at new.zone4.ca for more information visit nipika.com/crazy-soles-nipika-trail-run• 10 a.m.: Windermere Community Association AGM at Windermere Community Hall, followed by Potluck luncheon.• 7 p.m.: SYC Movie and popcorn night.


CLUES ACROSS 1. William the Conquerer’s

birth city 5. Expired 9. Muslim greeting 11. Hangs cloth in loose folds 13. -__, denotes past 14. Jog 16. Ocean shore 17. Promotion of a product 18. The Constitution State 20. Russian space station 22. Paper mulberry bark cloth 23. Fiddler crabs 24. Drunkards 27. Domestic hog 28. Before 29. Papua New Guinea

monetary unit 31. Existentialist philosopher

Jean-Paul 33. V.P. Quayle

34. Expression of surprise 35. Declares untrue 38. Corn dough 40. Ocean 41. Supply with men 42. Spring tides 44. Spooky month 45. To tie in Spanish 47. Possessed 49. Br. Architect Wren 54. Prosecutor for a district 55. Tribal chieftains 56. Fulfill a command 58. Location of White House 59. Happy facial gestures 60. Cheap showy jewelry or

ornament 62. Over again 63. Inhabitants of ancient

Media

CLUES DOWN 1. Coarse woolen braid 2. Gangster Capone 3. Ingest 4. Drug enforcement officer

(slang) 5. Expression of annoyance 6. Romanian capital until 1861 7. A person who enjoys good

food and drink 8. A way to reason 9. Sewing junction 10. Sound of bovines 11. Metric weight unit 12. Stalk of a moss capsule 15. Explosive 16. Reddish brown 19. Short sleeps 21. Decay 25. Crepe fern genus 26. Actor Connery 28. Wipe out recorded

information 30. Imparts motion to 32. Compared to 35. Alight from train 36. N.H. 03832 37. 2 piece clothing fastener 39. Express pleasure 40. A plan, outline or model 43. Give a spanking to 44. NY Times publisher Adolph

Simon 46. 17th Greek letter 48. Small, stout cyprinid fish 50. Lazy 51. Merganser 52. Fall back from 53. Enlarge hole 57. Hong Kong dialect 61. Initials of “10” actress

Answers to last week

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fi ll each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. Figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers named, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

UDOKUS

ROSSWORDC

RAINB AINGAMES

Friday May 8

Chance of showers 14oC

Saturday May 9

Mainly sunny 15oC

Sunday May 10

A few showers 17oC

EATHERWWeekend

A look back through � e Valley Echo's archives over the last 55 years

REMEMBER WHEN?

55 years ago (1960): The East Kootenay

Health Unit announced the opening of the Creston Kiwan-is Health Centre during the Creston Blossom Festival. The 33,000 dollar, two-� oor build-ing on Canyon Street was the � rst local health centre to go into service.

45 years ago (1970): Four new businesses

were announced during the annual Radium Hot Springs May Day. Flamingo Gift Shop, Radium Sports and Novelty

Shop, Peny’s Delicatessen and View Mont Service were all opened simultaneously a week later.

35 years ago (1980): The Second Annual

Milk Run was held by David Thompson Secondary School. The 3 km run, jog or walk cel-ebrated School Sports Week in Canada and helped raise money for disabled children in B.C. The students were joined by members of the R.C.M.P. To-gether, they raised 300 dollars.

25 years ago (1990): Invermere received

its � rst automated teller, courtesy of CIBC.

15 years ago (2000): The District of Inver-

mere council established a policy to control the naming of parks and municiple build-ings. The policy dictated that naming requests must be pre-sented to the council. The policy came after increased requests from citizens ask-ing that parks be renamed to commemorate and honour lo-cal � gures.

5 years ago (2010):The Friends of Koote-

nay National Park completed “Sheep in the Valley, The Big-horn of Radium Hot Springs.” Group president Wendy Ben-nett was thrilled about the book’s timing.

2010 — Colleen Wagner and her students perform

a dance show, with all proceeds going to help

provide shelters for people in Haiti.

ECHO FILE PHOTO

invermerevalleyecho.com A13Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley EchoThe Valley Echo Wednesday, May 6, 2015 www.invermerevalleyecho.com A13

CHURCH SERVICES DIRECTORYWINDERMERE

VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY

ANGLICAN-UNITED100-7th Ave., Invermere

250-342-6644Reverend Laura Hermakin

wvsm.ca Every Sunday: Bacon, Friends

& Faith, 9:30 a.m Worship, 10:30 a.m.

Christ Church Trinity, Invermere

1st and 3rd Sunday, 9 a.m.: All Saint’s, Edgewater

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

All Saint’s, Edgewater.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., Invermere 250-342-9535

Pastor: Trevor Haganlakewindermerealliance.org

CelebrationSunday May 10th

10:30 a.m.“Let Us ... Encourage One Another”Pastor, Trevor Hagan ministering.7 p.m“Sing and Celebrate”Join us for an evening of singing

great hymns of the faith; food; and fellowship!

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

morning service.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY

Hwy. 93/95, 1 km northof Windermere250-342-9511

Pastor: Murray Wittkevalleychristianonline.com

Sunday Service10 a.m. Worship & Word

Kid’s Church Provided

Sharing TruthShowing Love

Following the Spirit

ST. PETER’SLUTHERAN MISSION

OF INVERMERE100 - 7th Ave., Invermere

250-426-7564Pastor: Rev. Fraser ColtmanPastor 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.

www.blackpress.ca

Are you a seasoned Community Newspaper Publisher looking to relocate to the Okanagan? We are looking for a Group Publisher to manage our South Okanagan markets.

As a seasoned Publisher, you will achieve financial growth by developing and implementing strategic marketing and sales plans to generate new business and achieve the company’s business objectives.

You will have at least five years’ experience in a sales or business development role, and knowledge or experience in a community newspaper publishing environment. Your success in developing and implementing sales strategies is a result of your entrepreneurial spirit, well developed customer service and communication skills, knowledge of the publishing industry, and extensive business connections.

As the largest independent newspaper group with more than 170 titles in print and online, Black Press has operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Hawaii and Ohio.

This is a full-time position with a competitive compensation and benefits package. Qualified applicants should send a resume and covering letter before Friday, May 29th to:

Bruce McAuliffe, President

Black Press BC South c/o Kelowna Capital News 2495 Enterprise Way, Kelowna, B.C. V1X 7K2 Email: [email protected]

Group Publisher

Kidde Canada in conjunction with Health Canada has announced a voluntary recall to replace certain Kidde black plastic valve disposable fi re extinguishers.

ABC and BC-rated fi re extinguishers manufactured between July 23, 2013 and October 15, 2014 could be affected.

If you believe you may have one of these fi re extinguishers please contact Kidde Canada at 1-844-833-6394 (8am - 5pm) Mon-Fri or visit www.kiddecanada.com and click “Safety Notice.”

PRODUCT RECALLh

Part and Full-time Positions Available

Start date: ASAPFood Service Supervisor

Permanent, ShiftJob Description Available in Store

7 positions availableNo education required

One to two years experience required.Nights/early mornings/weekends

$12.12/hour + medical/dental/group benefits.

Food Counter AttendantPermanent, Shift

Job Description Available in Store12 positions available

No education or experience required.Nights/overnights/early mornings/ weekends. $11.05/hour + medical/dental/group benefits.

Apply in person, via email ([email protected]) or by fax (250-341-3177) for both positions.

0911611 BC LTD o/a Tim Hortons496 Highway 93/95 Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K2

Enjoy Mother’s Day Brunch at the Citadella in Radium Hot Springs, to piano and vocal music from the hit

Pynelogs Operetta. Sunday May 10th, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Reservations recommended. 250-347-9548

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

DO YOU have a disability? Physical or mental. We can help you get up to $40,000 back from the Canadian Gov-ernment. For details check out our website: disabilitygroupcanada.com or call us today toll-free 1-888-875-4787.

HIP OR Knee replacement? COPD or Arthritic Conditions? The disability tax credit. $1,500 yearly tax credit. $15,000 lump sum refund (on avg). Apply today! 1-844-453-5372.

ALL MALE Hot Gay Hookups! Call FREE! 1-800-462-9090. only 18 and over.

Found: A hearing aid, in the handicap parking lot in front of the Invermere Legion, enquire inside or 250-342-9517.

Found: Cat in Invermere, white short hair, blue eyes, tat-tooed, neutered male. Call ICan. 250-341-7888

Lost: In Invermere area. Embarrassed, you bet! A

partial upper plate denture. on Monday, April 20th.

250-342-9665.

Lost or stolen: From Winder-mere beach on Sat. April 18th, a red Liquid Force 12m kite-boarding kite. Please call Mike at 250-342-1048.

Lost or stolen in Invermere area. Fuji camera (Lg with view fi nder) was in black camera case, with all cords & memory cards. Has all art work pics & most recent picks of mountains. Please call 250-341-7498.

CANCEL 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.

HIGH CASH Producing vend-ing machines. $1 vend = .70 profi t. All on location in your area. Selling due to illness. Details call 1-866-668-6629.

Information Help Wanted

Employment EmploymentAnnouncements

Entertainment

Information

Announcements

Information

Personals

Lost & Found

Information

Announcements

Lost & Found

Travel

Timeshare

Employment

Business Opportunities

Help Wanted

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

250.341.6299

email [email protected]

our community. our classi e s.

AGREEMENT It is agreed by any Display orClassifi ed Advertiser requesting space that the liability of thepaper in the event of failure topublish an advertisement shallbe limited to the amount paid bythe advertiser for that portion ofthe advertising space occupiedby the incorrect item only, andthat there shall be no liability inany event beyond the amountpaid for such advertisement. Thepublisher shall not be liable forslight changes or typographi-cal errors that do not lessen thevalue of an advertisement.

bcclassifi ed.com cannot be re-sponsible for errors after the fi rst day of publication of any ad-vertisement. Notice of errors onthe fi rst day should immediatelybe called to the attention of theClassifi ed Department to be cor-rected for the following edition.

bcclassifi ed.com reserves theright to revise, edit, classify or re-ject any advertisment and to re-tain any answers directed to the bcclassifi ed.com Box Reply Ser-vice and to repay the customerthe sum paid for the advertis-ment and box rental.

DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION Advertisers are reminded that Provincial legislation forbids thepublication of any advertisementwhich discriminates against anyperson because of race, religion,sex, color, nationality, ancestry orplace of origin, or age, unless thecondition is justifi ed by a bonafi de requirement for the workinvolved.

COPYRIGHT Copyright and/or properties sub-sist in all advertisements and inall other material appearing inthis edition of bcclassifi ed.com.Permission to reproduce whollyor in part and in any form what-soever, particularly by a pho-tographic or off set process in apublication must be obtained inwriting from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction willbe subject to recourse in law.

ON THE WEB:

INDEX IN BRIEFFAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTSTRAVEL

CHILDRENEMPLOYMENT

BUSINESS SERVICESPETS & LIVESTOCK

MERCHANDISE FOR SALEREAL ESTATE

RENTALSAUTOMOTIVE

MARINE

YOUTH AGAINST VIOLENCE LINE1-800-680-4264

[email protected]

A14 invermerevalleyecho.com Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley EchoA14 www.invermerevalleyecho.com Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

APPLY NOW: A $2,500 Pen-ny Wise scholarship is available for a woman entering the Journalism Certifi cate Pro-gram at Langara College in Vancouver. Application dead-line May 31, 2015. Send appli-cations to:[email protected]. More information:www.bccommunitynews.com/ our-programs/scholarship.

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIP-MENT OPERATOR SCHOOL.

NO Simulators. In-the-seat training. Real world tasks.

Weekly start dates. Job board! Funding options.

SignUp online! iheschool.com 1-866-399-3853

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

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION-ISTS are in huge demand! Train with the leading medical transcription school. Learn from home and work from home. Call today. 1-800-466-1535 [email protected].

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Offi cer, Gitga’ at Development Corpo-ration, Hartley Bay, B.C. For full job description visit www.firstnationsjobsonline.com under management positions. Send resumes to:[email protected]

COMMUNICATIONS/EVENTS Coordinator required. Nak’azd-li Whut’en Fort St. James B.C. Email applications to:[email protected] Attn: Maureen. For full details of this job visit:www.firstnationsjobsonline.com under management.

COUNCIL SECRETARY re-quired. Nak’azdli Whut’en Fort St. James B.C. Email applica-tions to:[email protected] Attn: Maureen. For full details of this job visit:www.firstnationsjobsonline.com under management.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT re-quired. Nak’azdli Whut’en Fort St. James B.C. Email applica-tions to:[email protected] Attn: Maureen. For full details of this job visit:www.firstnationsjobsonline.com under management.

S.M. QUENNELL TRUCKING

is looking for LOG TRUCK drivers, based in Cranbrook.

Full time work; home every night.Excellent medical, dental, & pension benefi ts, Wages competitive withindustry standards.

Fax resume and

drivers abstract to:

fax:250-426-4610 or call: 250-426-6853

GPRC, FAIRVIEW Campus requires Heavy Equipment Technician Instructors to com-mence August 15, 2015. for more information visit our web-site: www.gprc.ab.ca/careers

GET 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

FULL 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.

KWIK Auctions Commercial Food Equipment & Restaurant Auction House - Burnaby & Kelowna - Live & Online - visit KwikAuctions.com for Catalog, Pics, Video Preview

ONSITE AUCTION - MAY 7, 2015 All Assets - Formerly Akari Japa-nese Restaurant 112 - 3000 Lou-gheed Hwy, Coquitlam, BC Com-plete Cooking Line, Sushi Cases, High End Furnishings & More!!!!.....View all lots ONLINE, Register to Bid & Bid via Live Broadcast. Visit www.activeauction-mart.com or call 604-371-1190 - [email protected]

A-CHEAP, LOWEST PRICES STEEL SHIPPING Dry Storage Containers Used 20’40’45’53’ and insulated con-tainers all sizes in stock. 40’ containers as low as $2,200. Also JD 544 & 644 wheel Loaders & 20,000 lb CAT fork-lift. Ph Toll free 24 hours 1-866-528-7108 1-778-298-3192 8am-5pm. Delivery BC and AB www.rtccontainer.com

Invermere Area: Boat for sale 25’ houseboat/camper, 65 HP Johnson outboard, dual axle trailer, 5500 LBS total. Tows easy, sleeps 4. $7500.00. 250-342-0603 or 250-341-5845

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

STEEL BUILDINGS “Spring sales with hot savings!” All steel building models and siz-es are now on sale. Get your building deal while it’s hot. Pio-neer Steel 1-800-668-5422 www.pioneersteel.ca

Private Collector Looking toBuy Coin Collections, Silver,Antique Native Art, Estates +Chad: 778-281-0030 in town.

Rare opportunity to purchase private 150 acres

5 minutes from Cranbrook BC.

Borders crown land on 3 sides.

Mixture of timber and fi elds. Not in the ALR zoned RR60.

Serious inquiries only, $675,000.

250-489-9234

For rent: 2 RV Moyie River front lots, fully serviced, side by side, 100x40, at 3 Valley Resort in Yahk, BC, $1000/year each including ser-vices. Email for more info:[email protected]

Retired woman and cat would like to rent a small house, mo-bile or cabin for around $400-$500/mth. Away from busy streets and NO dogs. Remote is ok. Prefer to be near a lake. Year round - long term. (or pri-vate property to set up RV trailer). 250 814-0961.

2002 Impala LS 191,000km; Orig Owner, Remote Start; Leather, PS, ABS, PW, CD, A/C, P/heated seats, Incl. 4 snow tires w/rims. $4,750.

250-348-2447

Employment

Education/Trade Schools

Employment

Help Wanted

Employment

Help Wanted

Teachers

Services

Financial Services

Home Improvements

Merchandise for Sale

Auctions


Auctions

Heavy Duty Machinery

Misc. for Sale


Misc. for Sale

Misc. Wanted

Rentals

Acreage

Rentals

Seasonal Accommodation

Want to Rent

Transportation

Cars - Domestic

FIND EVERYTHING YOUNEED IN THE CLASSIFIEDS

The eyes have it

Fetch a Friend from the SPCA today!

spca.bc.ca


To advertise, call: 250-341-6299

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.

Early DeadlinesDue to the Victoria Day holiday,

OUR CLASSIFIEDS DEADLINE for our May 20th edition will be Thursday, May 14th at 12:00 p.m.

We apologize for any inconvenience.To advertise call 250-341-6299

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

Sholinder & MacKaySand & Gravel

Complete line of aggregate productsfor construction and landscaping

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

To advertise, call: 250-341-6299SERVING THE VALLEY

250-342-4433 • Open 7 days a weekNATIONWIDE GUARANTEE

• Tires• Suspension• Alignment

• Brakes• Oil Changes• Air Conditioners

Your Winter Tire Super Store

Join our Facebook Group:“Summit Youth Centre Events & Updates”

to stay in the loop

Interested in Volunteering? Contact us!

[email protected]

www.invermeresummityouthcentre.orgUpstairs: 709 10th St.

Box 133, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0

painting a brighter

future

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]

Cranbrook Pest Control

250-426-9586 • 1-888-371-6299

Thermal Imaging

Certified & Licensed for Pesticide Application & Sale

100% Money Back Guarantee www.cranbrookpestcontrol.com

infor@cranbrookpestcontrolcom

Now there’s even a credit course offered in high school for students with learning diffi culties, which probably has some BCTF minion crafting a pile of grievances about segregation.

In the negotiated settlement reached last fall, teachers shared $105 million to make thousands of baseless grievances go away, after the union fi led one for student numbers in every class in the province. This bloated perpetual protest machine drains the public purse in more ways than taxpayers realize.

Parents understand the strikes, though. They remember a union that scrapped report cards, disrupted administration and forced schools to shut down at graduation time.

The strike then dragged into the fall, as the government held the line on public service spending. And what was the key issue that kept schools closed? It wasn’t special needs support, where student performance has continued to improve. No, it was the BCTF demanding a raise twice as big as other public sector unions had already accepted.

In the end, their paltry strike fund long gone, the union grudg-ingly accepted the going rate. They fi gured they had the elected government on the run in court. Wrong again.

Next up for the ministry is taking control of professional de-velopment. A bill before the legislature will enforce standards, once the NDP is done denouncing it. Singing Solidarity Forever around a campfi re and calling it paid professional development (a real example, by the way) will soon go the way of the union-controlled College of Teachers – onto the scrap heap of history.

There are BCTF members who understand how ill-served they are by their union. They are looking critically at the performance of their leaders, who are too often distracted by grandiose “social justice” campaigns as far away as the Middle East.

Tom Fletcher is legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Find him on Twitter @tomfl etcherbc. Email tfl [email protected].

TOM FLETCHERBlack Press

The B.C. Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the B.C. government on the long-running dispute with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation over the removal of class size and special needs support formu-las from classrooms.

In a lengthy judgment released Thursday, four of fi ve appeal court judges found that the province did not infringe on the constitutional rights of teachers to bargain working conditions. The appeal court pointed out numerous errors in the 2011 judgment of B.C. Supreme Court Justice Susan Grif-fi n, and overturned her order that the government pay $2 million in damages, which has been paid to the union.

BCTF president Jim Iker said the decision is “very disappointing.” He announced that the union will seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in its bid to restore classroom rules the government removed from its contract in 2002.

“All teachers are looking for is workable and teachable classrooms,” Iker said.Education Minister Peter Fassbender said the changes made to classroom organization in the dis-

puted period have led to “dramatic improvements in student outcomes, particularly for students with special needs.”

The B.C. education ministry has argued that caps on class size and number of students in each class with personalized learning plans were unduly restrictive. The NDP government of the late 1990s negotiated a settlement where the BCTF gave up salary increases in exchange for class size caps, specialist teacher levels and limits on the number of designated special needs students in each class.

The appeal court decision leaves in place efforts by the government to settle the bitter dispute, including a provision in the current contract to pay $105 million to the union to retire thousands of grievances fi led over class size and composition.

The six-year contract signed last fall after a lengthy strike also includes additional preparation time and a “learning improvement fund” to deal with special needs support.

B.C. government wins appeal TIME from A5 BC EWSN


Question of the WeekAlmost a year ago, the posted speed limits on many B.C. highways were raised to 120 km/h. Would you like to see them raised another 10 km/h or returned to the original limits?

Safety Tip:Crashes involving motorcyclists increase in summer. If you’re a

driver waiting to make a left turn, look for oncoming motorcycles and yield right of way. If you’re a rider, protect yourself from serious injuries – wear an approved helmet and safety gear designed for riding.

OF THE WEEK!

?QUESTION

Go to DrivewayCanada.ca for the question of the week

follow us…

/Driveway

@DrivewayCanada

Less really offers so much moreEvery 90 seconds, Ford sells a Focus somewhere in the world.That’s a pretty staggering fact.And since the Focus’s introduction to the market in 1998, the North American automaker has sold 1.5 million units per year thereafter. Again, another sizeable number, but it’s not always about big numbers. So let me familiarize you with the Focus 1.0L EcoBoost: the smallest displacement engine the Ford brand offers in North America.It was seen first in Canada on the Fiesta in 2014 and now makes its way into the automaker’s compact sedan. The humble powerplant – complete with three cylinders – breeds 123 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque.Those aren’t really numbers that send car enthusiasts’ hearts racing, but for a lot of people, less is more. That saying holds especially true if the bulk of your driving consists of commuting to and from work.Chances are, a chunk of that drive time might just be comprised of inching along in the urban jungle or perhaps cruising along at highway speeds. Either way, the Focus 1.0L can accommodate your driving style.Its estimated fuel economy in the city is 8.1L/100km and 5.9L/100km on the highway. Even with my lead foot, I managed to use an average of 7.5L/100km, which was better than the estimated city fuel economy, since I did most of my driving around town.If looking for big horsepower and not as ideal fuel economy results, the Focus ST will be your best bet

right now. Initially, I was skeptical about this particular model’s abilities.In the Fiesta – which is a smaller and lighter vehicle – it seemed to fit symbi-otically. But adding additional weight and bulk to an already small engine had me thinking if it was going to work out as well as it did.I must stay I was pleasantly surprised. For daily commuting, this Focus does the job and does it well.Though you also have to take things at face value with this car. It’s not going to accelerate particularly quickly. So, if your plan is to try and merge ahead of other motorists from a stoplight, you might want to choose Plan B.

But when you rev the engine a little higher – upwards of 3,000 rpm – you quickly forget you have such a small displacement engine powering your vehicle.Helping me harness those 123 horses was the 6-speed manual transmission. Again, another pleasant sur-prise. Gear throws didn’t feel too long and they glided seamlessly whether up or downshifting. The clutch was light, so when I was stuck in construction traffic, I didn’t wish I was in an automatic! It just all worked very well together.To help in achieving my favourable fuel results, there’s an auto start/stop feature that reduces gas consump-tion and emissions. But it wasn’t just the manual transmission or the autostart/stop feature that helped my fondness grow for the Focus 1.0L EcoBoost.It came with some optional equipment that made it look better, and gave me a few creature comforts that came in handy.

The SE EcoBoost package ($1,600) adds fog lamps, a rear spoiler, a full body styling kit, and 17-inch machined alloy wheels.The Winter Package ($700 – not that I really put it to good use at this time of year) adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, all weather floor mats and a power/heated mirror.While visibility is pretty good from all angles, the Reverse Sensing System ($700) can always lend a helping hand.Overall, I quite liked this sedan. The Focus is comfort-able, compact and certainly has a convenient engine size for the city.When considering the Focus with the 1.0L EcoBoost, it’s only available on the SE trim (MSRP of $18,849) and comes as part of the aforementioned EcoBoost package ($1,600.)The price as tested on this vehicle comes in at $23,315 (which includes the $1,565 destination charge.)

Write to [email protected]

‘‘The Focus is comfortable, compact and certainly has a convenient engine size for the city.’’Alexandra Straub

DrivewayCanada.ca | Welcome to the driver’s seat

Visit the Ford Focus gallery at DrivewayCanada.caVVisit the Ford Focus gallery at DrivewayCanada.ca

Just one of the reasons to like LocalWorkBC.ca on Facebook.

/localwork-bc @localworkbc

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Invermere Valley Echo, May 06, 2015

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