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14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer December 14, 2012 Valley man to head up Calgary Police Association By Kristian Rasmussen Pioneer Staff Calgary law enforcement is getting a taste of justice, Columbia Valley style. Howard Burns, who was born and raised in the local area, has just been elected president of the Calgary Police Association by its members, with polls closing at 7 p.m. on November 30th. Howard Burns “This new position is going to be very challenging,” Mr. Burns said. “With the exception of holidays, you are on call 24/7, but I am proud of what I have been able to achieve and I am proud of the fact that I am from Invermere, and I tell people that.” Although he is now representing close to 2,000 law enforcement officers throughout the Calgary area, Mr. Burns . . . ‘Musical breakthrough’ from page 5 Because of his German heritage, Klara’s husband was sent to Ufa, Siberia, when war broke out between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. It was the last time Michael saw his family. He was never allowed to leave Siberia again. Clara and Inga moved to Calgary in 1979, where they lived for 22 years before relocating to Invermere. Klara would go on to teach and play piano until the age of 70, until rediscovering her talent with the help December 14 & 15 at Lions Hall (651 Hwy 93/95) Food bank donations accepted at the door as admission! Gift wrapping services available! was born 300 kilometres from the fast paced city in Invermere in 1967. His father, also named Howard Burns, was the branch manager of the town’s CIBC bank and owned and operated Columbia Valley Insurance for close to 10 years. Mr. Burns junior began working at age 12, performing tasks for Eddie Mountain at the local ice skating arena. “I worked for him every summer doing various jobs,” he added. “At the end of it all I was driving the Zamboni. Eddie Mountain was a good man and like a second father to me.” When he was not working at the arena, Mr. Burns attended David Thompson Secondary School, where he first had the inspiration for his path in life. While leafing through textbooks, the future police officer discovered a law enforcement program at Mount Royal College, Calgary. After graduating high school in 1985 and playing defense for the Columbia Valley Rockies during the 1985- 1986 season, Mr. Burns enrolled full time in the law enforcement program at Mount Royal College. He was hired by the Calgary police service in 1988 and of Carmen. 33 years later. Carmen was also forced to move halfway around the world, after a frightening incident in which robbers broke into her home in the Philippines, placed guns to her and her husband’s heads and held a knife at the throat of her eight-year-old son. “In the Philippines, if someone gets into your house, 99 per cent of the time they will kill you,” she said. “It lasted around 45 minutes, but that was the longest time in my life and triggered me to move to Canada, because it is actually a place where it could has enjoyed a career filled with adventure. “There are lots of good days and some bad, but all of them are exciting,” he said. “I think the thing that I am most proud of is that I was in charge of training for the police service during the G8 event that was held here in 2002 in Calgary.” Mr. Burns, a sergeant at the time, was tasked with developing a portfolio of training for law enforcement to follow if a riot broke out. “That was a big challenge and we as a police service pulled it off,” he said. “I am pretty proud of that.” Although now the Calgary Police Association’s top cop, Mr. Burns credits much of his success to the freedom of a childhood spent in the valley. “I think growing up where I did probably allowed me to grow as a teenager. I became a little bit more outgoing, which allowed me to jump into a career such as policing,” he added. “Ninety per cent of policing is communication. If you do a good job communicating, you will get very few complaints and people will be quite happy with your service.” be conducive for my son to grow.” Although she has problems communicating with her caregiver, the wealth of experience that Klara and her fellow residents at Columbia House offer on a daily basis has still managed to rub off on Carmen. “Lots of our seniors have lived amazing lives. Some of them have a history of their own. You can tell that they age with so much grace and so much wisdom in their minds. That makes me so interested in this career.” A reminder from The Christmas Bureau of the Columbia Valley Food Hampers & Angel Gifts for Christmas 2012 Submit your request for a hamper by calling 250-342-6752 or 250-342-6789 by Wednesday, December 12. Phone or email to register your hamper sponsorship by Wednesday, December 12: 250-342-6752 or 250-342-6789; hghoff@telus.net or hw6789@telus.net. Donate an Angel gift for a child (0-12) at Dairy Queen or a gift for a child (0-12) or senior (65+) at Essentials by Saturday, December 15. Sponsors: please remember to deliver your hampers to the Invermere Community Hall on Thursday, December 20, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Applicants, pick up hampers and gifts on Thursday, December 20, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Remember, if you are unable to come to the community Hall, write a note to authorize someone else to pick up your hamper. Volunteers will not be available for next day pick-up.
December 14, 2012 The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15 Court Briefs: Invermere, By Pioneer Staff December 10th Banned driver gets jail time A motorist with a history of driving while prohibited was led from Invermere Provincial Court in handcuffs on Monday, December 10th, to serve a 28-day jail sentence. Gregory Pocha, 52, was spotted driving down Athalmer Road in Invermere on July 17th, 2012, by a pair of constables on patrol, one of whom believed he did not hold a valid driver’s licence. The pair pulled Mr. Pocha’s vehicle over. “Mr. Pocha was confirmed as the driver and when he was advised that the vehicle plates were inactive he said he knew that and didn’t have a driver’s licence,” said Lianna Swanson, Crown counsel. Mr. Pocha was stopped a second time, by one of the same police officers, on October 4th in the Invermere area. “He said he couldn’t understand why police were harassing him and wouldn’t leave him alone,” Ms. Swanson added. Mr. Pocha, who was given an indefinite suspension from driving in July 2010, pleaded guilty to two counts of driving while prohibited. “It’s apparent he has had a long series of driving prohibitions,” said Buffy Blakley, duty counsel. “He has been trying hard to get his licence back. “Given the impact of these two convictions it’s increasingly unlikely he will get his licence returned,” said Judge William Sheard in his sentencing. “I’d rather have more jail time than go without my licence,” Mr. Pocha added. Taking into account a previous conviction for the same offence, Judge William Sheard imposed the minimum of two 14-day jail sentences on Mr. Pocha, to be served consecutively, plus two $500 fines, to be paid within six months. He remains indefinitely prohibited from driving. . . . Continued on page 38 Axor project axed by provincial government By Greg Amos Pioneer Staff The Regional District of East Kootenay is applauding the provincial government’s termination of an unpopular run-of-river hydroelectric project slated to run from the Purcell Mountains through the Duncan Valley in the West Kootenays. In a November 27th letter, the BC Environmental Assessment Office informed the Montreal-based Axor Group that its assessment application for its proposed 98-megawatt Glacier- Howser project would be terminated for failing to meet the requirements set out for it after the review was suspended in September 2009. “Much of the environmental impact would’ve been on the other side, but nevertheless, we would’ve suffered transmission lines through the very pristine Stockdale Creek area,” said regional district Area G director Gerry Wilkie. “There was no real economic benefit to the Columbia Valley coming out of this; there might have been two permanent jobs created.” In August 2009, the regional district board unanimously agreed to inform the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office that it didn’t support the project, citing the the proposed transmission line’s impact on high value forests, and the fact that the power that would be generated is not required in the Upper Columbia Valley. Concerns arising from West Kootenay environmental groups included the project’s likely impact on bull trout and caribou. The project, being proposed under an Axor subsidiary called Purcell Green Power, would have involved 92 kilometres of new power transmission lines stretching across the Purcell Mountains from the west to the east Kootenays. GAS LIQUOR 20% Tuesdays Come in EVERY TUESDAY to receive 20% o� all regular priced items in store. 20% discount also applies to fresh meat on sale. Some exceptions apply. (Tobacco, liquor, gas, lottery, Shaw Direct are exempt from the discount). Also come in on your birthday for the same deal! Proof of birth date is required. We’re ready... are you? Did you know we have huuuuge Seniors’ discounts?
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