TheColumbia Valley - Columbia Valley Pioneer

Vol. 3/Issue 51 Your Weekly Source for News and Events December 22, 2006 

WE LOVE OUR TOWN 

The Columbia Valley 

Serving The Upper Columbia Valley including Spillimacheen, Brisco, Edgewater, Radium, Invermere, Windermere, Fairmont and Canal Flats 

CHURCH SERVICES 

GLASS ACT 

PIONEERFREE 

5 

8 

12 

Waiting for Santa 

Rachel Kanan, seven-year-old daughter of Richard and Sonia Kanan of 

Invermere, hangs her stocking by the fi replace. 

Photo by Elinor Florence

2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer December 22, 2006 

A safe and 

happy holiday 

VALLEY NEWS 

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to all of you, 

from all 

of us at… 

Corner of Main and 12 th in Invermere 

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Merry Christmas 

and all the 

best in the 

New Year! 

from the staff and 

management of 

342-6226 

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to all valley seniors! 

May all the 

joys of the 

season be yours. 

F From our families to yours 

Invermere 

Dental Clinic 

342-3811 

Warmest Holiday 

Wishes from 

EAST KOOTENAY REALTY LTD. 

INSURANCE 

Seniors 

enjoy 

annual 

Rotary 

Dinner 

Each year the 

Invermere Rotary Club provides 

a free Christmas dinner 

for seniors in the valley 

at the Invermere Inn. This 

year, the 15th annual dinner 

was the usual big success. 

The dinner was begun 

by the late George Deck, 

who left money in his will 

and asked that the dinner 

be continued. Of the 119 

people who attended, Toni 

Scheffer and Darlene Friesen, 

above, give the photographer 

a big smile. Below, 

Joan Shelstrom and George 

Thierbach also looked like 

they were in the Christmas 

spirit. 

Photos by Brian Geis 

Olivia, Cindy, 

Rose Marie, 

Melissa and Randy

December 22, 2006 

Christmas 

Bureau 

does it again! 

Dozens of volunteers turned out on Wednesday, Dec. 

20th to pack food hampers for the less fortunate in our 

community. 

This year, 156 hampers went to needy families. Organizer 

Gail Hoffmann said the entire community gets 

behind the event and there are, literally, too many people 

to thank. 

This is the 11th year for the charitable event, which 

matches needy families with food and gift donations. 

Dairy Queen alone raised more than 300 gifts from its 

Angel Tree to be included in the hampers. 

“We don’t like to use the word poor, because trouble 

happens. This is an incredible community,” Mrs. Hoffmann 

said, “and this is an amazing organization.” 

The volunteers put in a 13-hour day organizing and 

distributing the donations. 

“There will be some tears shed,” Mrs. Hoffmann commented, 

before getting a little choked up herself. 

ARTIST 

DIRECT 

Original Oil 

Paintings 

by 

Gabriel 

250-342-9074 

New Year�s Eve 

Dance & 

Silent Auction 

Franci Sterzer Bene� t 

Canal Flats 

Community Hall 

December 31 st 8:00 pm 

• Silent Auction • Late Night Buffet • Casino Tables • Door Prizes 

Tickets $25 each 

Tickets available at Invermere - Home Hardware 

(Building Supplies Counter) 

Fairmont - Trims N� Treasures 

Canal Flats - Home Hardware & Fire Valley 

Shuttle bus available from Invermere 

To book call Dana at 421-3838 by Dec. 27th INVEST • RENT • OWN 

Toll Free: 877.344.2323 

www.bighornmeadows.ca 

Christmas 

is here! 

Let our massage 

specialist Jan 

help you 

relax 

at this busy 

time of year. 

We’ve got 

superb gifts! 

Come in 

and browse 

our selection 

of salon quality 

products or give a 

sassy gift certificate. 

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS – Christmas Bureau volunteers assembled 156 holiday hampers for needy families at the Community Hall on Dec. 20th. Photo by Brian Geis


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Happy Holidays 

to all of you, from Maria, 

Dayna & & Michelle at 

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Hair & Tanning Studio • 342-3227 

Wishing you all the 

best during the 

Christmas Season! 

from the staff at 

Insurance Agencies 

Invermere 342-3031 

Radium 347-9350 

By Brian Geis 

Pioneer Staff 

Valley loses 

taxi service 

This holiday season, don’t expect 

a ride home from Columbia Valley 

Taxi. You might end up having to walk 

home. 

Phone calls to Columbia Valley Taxi 

are going unanswered and messages are 

not being returned. Although it could 

not be confimed, all indications appear 

the taxi service has closed operations. 

Valley seniors who no longer drive 

are particularly missing the service. 

One elderly woman who did not 

wish to be named said she was visiting 

family members in Calgary when she 

called the taxi and left a message to pick 

her up at the Greyound depot. 

When she arrived at the depot in 

Athalmer at 11 p.m., there was no sign 

of the taxi so she called again but did 

not receive any response. Fortunately a 

young woman who was filling up with 

gas saw her distress and offered to drive 

her home. 

“I don’t know what I would have 

done without her,” said the passenger, 

who would like to thank her Good 

Samaritan but doesn’t remember her 

name. 

Betty Jean Feldmann of Invermere 

also said the loss of the taxi is a blow. 

“We’re really missing it,” she said. 

“The taxi used to pick up my mother 

every day at 4:30 p.m. and take her to 

Columbia Garden Village for supper. 

Now we are taking turns as a family 

driving her back and forth, but it would 

be really nice for my mother to have 

that service back again.” 

District of Invermere Mayor Mark 

Shmigelsky said he was disappointed by 

the loss of a local taxi service, especially 

since it was one of the only forms of 

public transportation in the valley. 

“It’s obviously disappointing. I 

know that they have struggled in the 

past,” Mayor Shmigelsky commented. 

“It’s frustrating because it’s definitely 

needed.” 

Mr. Shmigelsky said the district will 

continue to campaign for funding of a 

regional transportation system. One 

such attempt in the past, he said, lost 

out to another community. 

“Those people in Victoria think every 

community has public transportation,” 

RCMP Staff-Sergeant Doug Pack 

said the lack of local taxi service is even 

more reason for people to practise safety 

and responsibility if they overindulge 

during the holiday season. 

“That doesn’t provide an excuse 

for people to drink and drive,” he said. 

“People will have to make other arrangements 

and have a designated driver 

or be the designated driver. It’s nice 

to have these thoughts beforehand, to 

make those decisions beforehand and to 

stick to them.” 

Staff-Sgt. Pack said no special enforcement 

will be in effect over the holiday, 

but that the RCMP’s East Kootenay 

Traffic Services out of Cranbrook will be 

conducting their usual sobriety check 

points throughout the regional district.



CHRISTMAS CALENDAR 

CHRISTMAS EVE 

CHURCH SERVICES 

FOR SUNDAY, 

DEC. 24th: 

• 8:30 am. All Saints Church, 

Edgewater 

• 10 am. Christmas Devotional 

Message, Church of 

Jesus Christ of Latter Day 

Saints, Fairmont Hot Springs 

• 10:30 am. Worship Service, 

Christ Church Trinity, 

Invermere 

• 10:30 am. Morning Service, 

Lake Windermere Alliance 

Church, Invermere 

• 1:30 pm. Christmas Eve 

Service for St. Peter’s Lutheran 

Mission at Christ Church 

Trinity, Invermere 

• 2 pm. Service on the Summit, 

top of Summit Ski Lift, Panorama, 

Lake Windermere Alliance Church 

• 4 pm. Christmas Eve Family Service, Christ 

Church Trinity 

• 5:30 pm. Christmas Eve Service, Canadian Martyrs 

Parish, Invermere. 

• 6 pm. Christmas Eve Service, Carols by Candlelight, 

Lake Windermere Alliance Church, Invermere 



• 8 pm. Christmas Eve Service, Panorama Resort 

Great Hall, Lake Windermere Alliance Church 

• 8 pm. Christmas Eve Service, All Saints Church, 

Edgewater 

• 10 pm. Christmas Eve Service, St Peter’s Anglican 

Church, Windermere 


Parish, Radium. 

• 11:30 pm. Christmas Eve Service, Christ Church 

Trinity, Invermere. 

CHRISTMAS DAY CHURCH SERVICES 

FOR MONDAY, DEC. 25th: 

• 10 am. Christmas Service, Valley Christian Assembly, 

Windermere 

• 10 am. Christmas Day Service, Canadian Martyrs 


• Noon: Christmas Day Service, Canadian Martyrs 

Parish, Canal Flats. 

• 1:30 p.m. St. Peter’s Lutheran Mission Service, 

Christ Church Trinity. 

POST OFFICE HOURS: 

• Saturday Dec. 23: 8:30 - 12 noon 

• Dec. 24 - 26: Closed 

• Saturday Dec. 30: 8:30 - 12 noon 

• Monday Jan. 1: Closed 

St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Windermere will host a Christmas Eve service at 10 p.m. 

THE PIONEER NEWSPAPER: 

• Closed Dec. 23rd - 31st. 

EDDIE MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL ARENA 

PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE: 

• Saturday, Dec. 23rd: 10 am - 12 pm 

• Closed Dec. 24th, 25th, 26th 

• Wednesday, Dec. 27th: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm 

• Thursday, Dec. 28th: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm 

• Friday, Dec. 29th: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm 

• Saturday, Dec. 30th: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm 

• Sunday, Dec. 31st: 10 am - 11 am 

• Closed Jan. 1st, 2007 

(Helmets are recommended; skaters participate at 

their own risk). 

BOXING DAY BIRD COUNT: 

• Dec. 26th: Contact Larry Halverson at 342-3305 

if you wish to participate. 

COLUMBIA VALLEY ROCKIES HOME GAME: 

• 7:30 pm Jan. 2: Rockies vs. Fernie Ghostriders 

BANK HOURS: 

BANK OF MONTREAL 

• Closed Dec. 23 - 26 

• Closed Dec. 30 - Jan. 1 

CIBC 



KOOTENAY SAVINGS CREDIT UNION 



RADIUM HOT 

SPRINGS POOLS: 

• Dec. 22nd - 23rd: 12 pm 

- 10 pm 

• Dec. 24th: 12 pm - 9 pm 

• Dec. 25th: 11 am - 6 pm 

• Dec. 26th - Jan. 4th: 10 

am - 10 pm 

PANORAMA 

MOUNTAIN VILLAGE: 

• Dec. 31st - 9 p.m. New 

Years Celebrations parade, 

followed by fireworks display, 

and live entertainment. 

TOBY THEATRE: 

• Closed: Dec. 24th - 26th 

• Jan. 3rd, 7:30 pm: Santa 

Claus 3 

INVERMERE 

PUBLIC LIBRARY 

• Dec. 23rd - Jan. 1st: Closed 

VALLEY ALLEY 

BOWLING CENTRE: 

• Dec. 23rd: 12 pm - 8 pm. 

• Dec. 24th: 12 pm - 4 pm. 

• Dec. 25th: Closed. 

• Dec. 26th: 12 pm - 4 pm. 

• Dec. 27th - 31st: 12 pm - 8 pm. 

• Jan. 1st: Closed. 

VILLAGE OF RADIUM HOT SPRINGS: 

• Dec. 31st: Village Birthday Party! 16 years old. 

3:30 pm - 6 pm at the park on Stanley Street, 

Radium. Tobogganing, skating, free hot dogs, hot 

chocolate, birthday cake, chili, bonfire. Fireworks, 

6:30 pm at the driving range, The Springs Golf 

Course. Parking at the clubhouse. 

FAIRMONT HOT SPRINGS POOLS: 

• Dec. 24th: 8 am - 6 pm 

• Dec. 25th: 10 am - 6 pm 

• Dec. 26th - 31st: 8 am - 10 pm 

• Jan. 1st: 10 am - 10 pm 

GROCERY STORE HOURS: 

AG VALLEY FOODS: 

• Dec. 24th: 7 am - 6 pm 

• Dec. 25th: Closed 

• Dec. 26th: 10 am - 6 pm 

• Dec. 31st: 7 am - 9 am 

• Jan. 1st: 10 am - 6 pm 

SOBEYS: 

• Dec. 24th: 8 am - 6 pm 

• Dec. 25th: Closed


PERSPECTIVE 

Christian 

By Elinor Florence 

Pioneer Publisher 

example 

Two valley congregations are setting an example of 

what it means to be Christian. 

Back in the 1970s, the Anglican and United 

churches of Canada discussed amalgamation. Talks 

broke down at the highest levels, but in the meantime, 

the local Anglican and United churchgoers decided 

to go ahead and pool their resources. Th ey hired one 

minister and took turns attending the United Church 

(now the location of the downtown Interior World) 

and the Anglican Church, a log building where the 

new church now stands on 7th Avenue. 

Several years ago they went one step farther and 

built a new shared church. Th is decision was not made 

without a wrench to both congregations - the Anglicans 

because they were losing their historic log church 

altogether, and the Uniteds because they were seeing 

their historic church converted to a furniture store. To 

do them credit, both congregations made the leap. 

Th e Windermere Valley Shared Ministry is now 

under one roof. One Sunday there is an Anglican service, 

the following Sunday is a United service. 

Th e Windermere Valley Shared Ministry also rotates 

its ministers - an Anglican minister serves the 

congregation for four years, and is then replaced by a 

United minister for the following four years. 

Even more embracing is that the new church is also 

used for a third denomination. Pastor Fraser Coltman 

drives from Cranbrook to conduct Lutheran services 

every Sunday afternoon in Christ Church Trinity. 

In these days of religious strife, it’s wonderful to 

see how folks of diff erent faiths are prepared to respect 

and honour each other’s beliefs. 

All of our community’s churches are healthy and 

active, and even if you don’t call yourself a Christian 

you might enjoy visiting one of their beautiful and 

moving services this Christmas season. 

Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men. 

The Columbia Valley 

PIONEER 

is independently owned and operated and 

is published weekly by Abel Creek Publishing Inc. 

Box 868, #8, 1008 - 8th is independently owned and operated and 

is published weekly by Abel Creek Publishing Inc. 

Avenue, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 

Phone (250) 341-6299 · Fax (250) 341-6229 Email: 

upioneer@telus.net · www.columbiavalleypioneer.com 

Th e material, written or artistic, may not be reprinted or electronically reproduced 

in any way without the written consent of the publisher. Th e opinions 

and statements in articles, columns and advertising are not necessarily those of 

the publisher or staff of Th e Columbia Valley Pioneer. It is agreed by any display 

advertiser requesting space that the newspaper’s responsibility, if any, for errors 

or omissions of any kind is limited to the amount paid for by the advertiser for 

that portion of the space as occupied by the incorrect item and there shall be no 

liability in any event greater than the amount paid for the advertisement. 

Elinor Florence 

Publisher 

Brian Geis 

Reporter 

Dave Sutherland 

Advertising Sales 

Bob Friesen 

Advertising Sales 

Historical Lens 

Th e log church called Christ Church Anglican stood in Invermere until just a few years ago, on the site of the new 

Christ Church Trinity, owned by both the Anglican and United Churches who operate here as the Windermere Valley 

Shared Ministry. Th is photo was taken in 1924. Photo courtesy of the Windermere District Historical Society 

Our 2006 Gift Guide 

Our staff put their heads together to come up 

with our annual Gift Guide for well-known valley 

residents. Merry Christmas! 

• Greg Deck, owner of new broadband venture 

- a diet rich in fi bre 

• Brian Nickurak, District of Invermere Public 

Works Administrator - a wand for witching water 

• Ron Mason, general manager of Copper Point 

Golf Course - new golf clubs and some time off so 

he can actually use them 

• Hank Swartout, entrepreneur and second homeowner 

- more time to spend in the valley 

• Mark Shmigelsky, Mayor of Invermere - a 

horse for his new acreage so he can play rancher 

• Gerry Taft, Invermere councillor - spurs and a 

cowboy hat so he can get along with the ranchers 

• Sarah Bennett, Invermere councillor - a pair of 

Groucho Marx glasses and moustache so she can get 

along with the old boys’ club 

• Bob Campsall, Invermere councillor - a set of 

scuba gear so he can survive when global warming 

puts the valley under water 

• Don Palmer, Invermere businessman - a copy 

of the B.C. Building Code 

• Garry Hamilton, Invermere businessman - a 

copy of War and Peace to fi ll all his spare time while 

awaiting his trial 

• Christine Keshen, Olympic bronze medallist 

and model - a 24-month curling calendar 

• Harrison McKay, entrepreneur - staff housing 

for all his new minions 

• Rose Bard, head of Invermere hospital - a lifetime 

supply of Vitamin C 

• Dee Conklin, Chamber of Commerce president 

- the title of Miss Print 2007 

Zephyr Rawbon 

Graphic Designer 

Sarah Turk 

Offi ce Manager


Dear Editor: 

LETTERS 

Charity about more 

What is the measure of a charitable 

person? Is charity simply about money 

and business, or is it much simpler? 

Christmas is a time of the year 

when we feel warmed by the outpouring 

around us and truly long to get on 

board and give. 

Of course, one cannot watch the 

television without seeing all of the humanitarian 

commercials displaying the 

sad faces of starvation or the horrible realities 

of violence, disease, and the awful 

plight of many nations. 

I wonder if my grandmother saw 

these same faces as I have. Did my 

grandparents feel the longing to win a 

million just to be able to help all those 

causes around the world? 

Unlikely. Of course, they gave to 

the church, the food bank, and offered 

their smiles and love to anyone who 

happened to cross their path. Is that 

type of charity long gone? Is the simple, 

blissfully ignorant charity of those days 

no longer enough in our global neighbourhood? 

Dear Editor: 

than just money 

If we give when we can, both by 

serving our community and through 

donating money or goods, is it enough? 

If we pray for those who hunger in far 

away places, is it enough? If, when we 

hear through the grapevine of someone 

who needs a sofa, baby clothes, or just a 

cup of coffee with a friend, and we act, 

is that enough? 

Is the definition of charity so completely 

altered, that these kindnesses are 

no longer adequate types of goodness 

in our crazy world? A kind word is just 

as powerful as a grocery bag of food, a 

warm hug is as loving as a cure for cancer, 

and a helping hand is as kind as a 

fat cheque. 

Let us make this year’s season of giving 

truly that, without feeling that we 

haven’t given enough, because we likely 

have given more than we know. 

Charity in its truest sense is supposedly 

the key to heaven, and, if we 

remember its basic truth, certainly it is 

the key to heaven on earth. 

M. Stetsko 

Radium 

Ray Crook recalls 

rare bird shooting 

I would like to congratulate the 

Thorntons for the Rufous-sided Towhee 

photo. 

It was of interest to me as sometime 

in May 1953, collectors from the 

National Museum of Canada shot one 

of these beautiful birds on property I 

owned in Kootenay Park. 

At the time a Mrs. Sadie Briars, wife 

of the park warden at Kootenay Crossing, 

was helping my mother to get our 

rental cabins ready for the summer season 

when we heard the sharp crack of a 

.22-calibre gun. 

Just a bit south of our camp, a car 

was parked, a coming out of the bush 

towards it were two men, one with a 

rifle. 

This was unusual to see in a National 

Park, but was soon explained when they 

drove up and told us who they were. 

They showed us the little bird they had 

shot and told us it was a rare specimen. 

Now, to the three of us, the killing 

of a songbird was a shocking act and Sadie 

said to them: If it’s so rare, why did 

you shoot it?” 

A fair question, but they were collectors 

just doing their job, and quite 

elated at bagging a species that was not 

seen very often. 

Ray Crook 

Invermere 

Here We Grow Again! 


Quality antique furniture and collectibles 

from Canada, Europe and Asia. 

Architectural items for home & garden. 

Merry Christmas to Everyone! 

We will be open December 24 th until 5 p.m. 

Regular Hours: 

Wednesday - Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) would like to invite you to a 

Christmas Open House at our new Invermere Offi ce on December 8, 2006. 

We will be open between Christmas and New Year’s. 

Come and enjoy some holiday baking and refreshments, meet with NCC staff , and learn 

more about our work in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Drop in anytime between 3:00pm 

and 7:00pm. We’re located on the second fl oor of Frater Landing (next to Interior World) 

Invermere Industrial Park (just off the road to Panorama) 

Special thanks to all the local individuals and businesses who helped 

with supplies, equipment, labour including: 

Kicking Horse Coff ee 

Interior World 

CXL Construction 

Tel. 342-0707 

Quasar Western Electric 

Invermere Home Hardware 

Warwick Interiors 

Email: klein@nucleus.com 

www.tepapanui.com 

Emi, Hillary, Eva, Mark, Erin, Ania, Grahame, Trevor, Karl and Pat, Arnie, Gary, Dave, Cathi, Leo,


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Small towns shine 

at Christmas time 

By Shannon Pearson 

Special to The Pioneer 

Almost five years ago, 

my family and I moved 

to the valley. I admit I 

was a little nervous. I’d 

heard small towns could 

sometimes be closed and 

off-putting to newcomers. 

But I clung to my 

preconceived idea of a 

close-knit community, 

all friendly and happy. A 

bit too ‘Norman Rockwell’ maybe, but 

it fed my excitement and took the edge 

off my uncertainty. 

My concerns proved groundless. 

With arms as wide as the valley and 

hearts as big as the mountains, we became 

members of a wonderful community. 

The feeling of unity and belonging 

is seldom as strong as during the holidays. 

At this time of year, the sense of 

community that prevails all year long 

suddenly swells to enormous proportions. 

Everyone works to make the 

lives of others richer, more rewarding, 

and joyful. Volunteer numbers grow as 

everyone jumps in to make the season 

richer. The halls, churches, and school 

gymnasiums light up and ring with music 

and laughter. 

I’ve come to realize that traditions 

mean a lot to those who chose to live 

and raise their families here. Light Up, 

Santa’s arrival in the fire truck, and Super 

Sunday kick off the festive season. 

Everyone, from families to teenagers, 

gather on the streets to watch the Santa 

Parade and then happily wander from 

shop to shop with smiles and greetings 

to everyone they meet. The first year 

I participated in Light Up and Super 

Sunday was amazing. Most people used 

the shopping as an excuse to hang out 

and visit with friends and acquaintances. 

More time was spent socializing and 

visiting than buying and selling! What a 

wonderfully relaxing way to shop. The 

rush, stress and panic so 

tangible in the big city, 

was non-existent. 

Community leaders, 

employers, employees, 

and volunteers work tirelessly 

to make the Christmas 

season memorable. 

Light Up, Super Sunday, 

the various craft fairs, the 

Santa Skate, and the wonderful 

entertainers. All 

this is organized, not by 

faceless drones we never 

see, but by people I have come to know 

and call my friends. 

The pleasure of walking down the 

street and knowing the people I meet is 

something I seldom experienced where I 

came from. Even within the community 

I lived, I didn’t know more than a handful 

of people. Sad. Nor do I remember 

the last time I walked through a crowded 

shopping mall and was happy or relaxed 

enough to even notice a friendly 

face in the crush of people – let alone 

greet them. I just wanted to get out! 

Now, I look forward to the relaxed 

socializing that comes with small-town 

shopping. The friendly, close feeling 

makes me glad to be a part of this community. 

The graciousness of the populace 

draws people into its arms and accepts 

them. 

During the holidays, the spirit of 

the valley communities fills my heart 

with an overwhelming sense of generosity, 

and amazement. The feeling radiates 

from every direction. It comes from the 

shop windows, the street-light ornaments, 

the person that lets you go in 

front of them at the grocery store. It is 

in the air . . . and only in a small town. 

I feel a bond with the valley residents 

- a fortunate member of a select group 

who live where they want to be. We are 

content because we call this small slice 

of paradise home. This is what makes 

our communities and the season special. 

And my family and I are thankful to be 

a part of it. 

Happy Holidays! 

Please remember the Pioneer office is 

CLOSED until January 1st. 

Merry Christmas!

Encore 

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE 

COLUMBIA VALLEY 

>> > > > > > > 

> > > >> 

> > 

> 

> > >> 

MUSIC • VISUAL ARTS • DINING • BAR SCENE • ENTERTAINMENT • PERFORMANCE ARTS 

Ceramic 

artist 

342-4423 

columbiavalleyarts.com 

Talented artist 

Leslie Rowe-Israelson 

creates sculptures 

from molten glass. 

See Page 12. 

Romanza Three Canadian Tenors · Christ Church Trinity 

Wednesday January 10th at 7:30 pm. 

Happy New Year · from the Columbia Valley Arts Council 

Pynelogs Cultural Centre Office will be closed from December 23 to January 2nd. 

> > > 

> > > 

THREE TENORS 

PAGE 14 

WELCOME 2007 

PAGE 10 

Out & 

About 

Your Weekly Guide 

to 

What’s Happening 

Around the 

Columbia Valley 

PAGE 11 

Page 9 

What does ART mean to you? 

NEW YEAR 

Tickets $15 

Sunday, 

• Great Spe 

• Mid 

Located in The Best Western I



TOY OF THE WEEK 

Skullduggery 

A swashbucklingly good game! 

Gone 

HOLLYWOOD 

V I D E O 

NEW YEAR’S MARDI GRAS 

Tickets $15 (before 10:00 p.m.) 

Sunday, December 31 st 

• Great Specials • Party Favours 

• Midnight Snacks 

Located in The Best Western Invermere Inn 

1. Talladega Nights 

2. The Devil Wears Prada 

3. World Trade Center 

4. The Da Vinci Code 

5. Little Man 

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Warmest wishes and 

a big thank you to you, 

our customers, neighbours 

and friends. Your support 

means the world to us and 

we hope you enjoy a truly 

memorable holiday season and 

all the best in the new year. 

from the 

team! 

Gone Hollywood’s 

TOP FIVE OF THE WEEK 

Last Week’s Top 5 Rentals New Releases Dec. 19 

1. Little Miss Sunshine 

2. My Super Ex-Girlfriend 

3. All the King’s Men 

4. Wicker Man 

5. Jet Li’s - Fearless 

By Brian Geis 


Movie Review: 

Little Miss Sunshine 

Little Miss Sunshine is funny. It 

is rare for me to laugh out loud during 

movies, but Little Miss Sunshine 

had lots of laugh-out-loud moments. 

I loaded the disc expecting to not like 

it. 

On the surface, it’s a dysfunctional 

family film with a road trip twist, but, 

just below the surface each character is 

struggling with a personal demon. 

The husband is struggling financially, 

hoping to cash in as a fad motivational 

speaker. The Nietzsche-obsessed 

son has taken a vow of silence. 

The plain-jane daughter aspires to win 

a beauty pageant. The potty-mouthed, 

live-in grandfather has taken up casual 

drug use. The suicidal uncle was just 

released from the mental ward and the 

wife and mother is struggling to keep 

the ship afloat. 

When the daughter wins entry 

into a pre-teen beauty pageant in California, 

the entire crew sets out from 

Arizona in an old Volkswagen bus to 

support her. 

Things are pretty bad when the 

movie begins, but along the way things 

go from bad to worse for each of them. 

The ensemble cast delivers a robust, en- 

New Releases Dec. 26 

1. Jackass #2 

2. The Black Dahlia 

3. The Descent (unrated) 

4. The Last Kiss 

5. The OH in Ohio 

tirely believable performance, especially 

Alan Arkin in the grandfather role. 

There is no weak link in the bunch. 

Funny man Steve Carell, of NBC's 

The Office and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, 

is great in this mostly unfunny 

role of the suicidal uncle, with baggy, 

bloodshot eyes and wrists wrapped in 

bandages. 

I love movies with a visual theme 

and this movie has it in spades. Little 

Miss Sunshine is, well, sunny. The 

bright, canary yellow colour of the 

family Volkswagen is bathed in warm 

oranges and reds and plays out everywhere 

from sunbeams to interiors and 

cosumes to the DVD packaging. The 

sad story lines juxtapose nicely against 

the brightly coloured backdrops. It 

look like the American Southwest. 

Anyone who has had to push start 

a vehicle through the duration of a 

road trip, myself included, will have 

plenty to laugh about. 

This DVD is rated R and, as a bonus, 

contains four alternate endings in 

the special features section. 

RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5 HEADS 

Food bank concert a success 

The annual Lakeside Pub's benefit 

concert was held last Sunday 

afternoon and raised $1,575 and 

three boxes of food for the local food 

bank. 

"It was a full house and everybody 

was happy," said owner Guido 

Hochheiden. 

It was the sixth year for the popular 

concert which featured perfor- 

mances by local musicians, among 

them John Cronin, Bruce Childs and 

Fraser Smith. The master of ceremonies 

was Bill Cropper. 

The food bank is located behind 

the public library and is open from 

1 to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Please remember that the food 

bank needs donations all year. To donate, 

call 342-0850. 

DVD �VHS 

GAME CUBE �� 

XBOX ��XBOX 360 

��PS2 ��GQ 

503 - 7 th Ave., Invermere 

342-0057

December 22 , 2006 

Toby Th eatre 

• December 20 - 23: Prestige 

• December 27 - 30: Flushed Away 

December 24th 

Please see our Christmas Calendar on page 5 for a list 

of Christmas Eve services. 

• 2:30 pm: Service on the Summit, Panorama 

Mountain Village. 

• 8 pm: Christmas Eve service, Great Hall, Panorama 

Mountain Village. 

December 25th 

• Christmas Day 

• Please see our Christmas Calendar on page 5 for a 

list of Christmas services. 

December 31st 

• 5 pm - 9 pm: Prime Rib or New York Steak and 

Prawns Dinner, Station Pub & Eatery. For info and 

reservations: 342-8346. 

• 8 pm: New Year’s Eve & Silent Auction, Franci 

Sterzer Benefi t, Canal Flats Community Hall. Tickets 

$25/each. For info: 342-1249 or 341-1723. 

• 9 pm: New Year’s Eve party, Sportsman’s Lounge, 

DJ Doc. For info: 345-6346. 

• 9 pm: Parade, fi reworks display, Panorama Mountain 

Village. 

• New Year’s 2007, Bud’s Bar & Lounge. DJ’s “Meow 

Mix”, tickets $20 at the door. For info: 341-7333. 

• New Year’s Eve Mardi Gras, Copper City Saloon. 

Tickets $15, before 10 pm. 

• New Year’s Extravaganza, music by “Blue Dog”. 

Tickets available, for info call 346-3294. 

• Annual Village Birthday and New Year’s Family Fun 

Party, hosted by the Radium Chamber of Commerce, 

Radium Hot Springs. For info: 347-6455. 

January 2nd 

• 7:30 pm: Fernie vs. Columbia Valley Rockies, Eddie 

Mountain Memorial Arena. 

January 6th 

• 7:30 pm: Nelson vs. Columbia Valley Rockies, 

Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena. 

Student News 

MARTIN MORIGEAU: 

• Friday, December 22: Last day of classes for 2006! 

• Monday, January 8: First day of classes for 2007. 

Hot Springs Hours of Operation 

• Radium Hot Springs Holiday Hours 

Hot Pool: December 22, 23, 12 pm - 10 pm; 

December 24, 12 pm - 9 pm; December 25, 11 am 

- 6 pm; December 26 - January 4, 10 am - 10 pm. 

Cold Pool: December 22, 6 pm - 9 pm; December 

23, 24, 12 pm - 9 pm; December 25, Closed; 

December 26 - January 4, 12 pm - 9 pm. 

• Fairmont Hot Springs Hot Pool: 8 am - 10 pm 

daily. 

For info: 345-6311. 

New Video Releases Th is Tuesday 

• Th e Black Dahlia 

• Th e Descent 

• Haven 

• Jackass 2 

• Th e Last Kiss 

• Th e OH in Ohio 

Invermere Th rift Store 

Th rift Shop closed for renovations for two weeks. 

• Flatware for rent “For All Occasions”, Invermere 

Health Care Auxiliary. $2.50/dozen, 300 place 

settings available. For info: Karla Schager, 342-9981. 

Columbia Valley Food Bank 

Tuesdays and Th ursdays from 1 pm - 2 pm 

To donate, mail a cheque to: 

Box 2141, Invermere, BC, V0A 1K0. 

OTHER 

• Radium Silver Fins Swim Club. See their website 

radiumsilverfi ns.bravehost.com. For info: 342-1369. 



Out & About 

Please call 341-6299 

or Email us at upioneer@telus.net 

to enter your event in our FREE listings. 

This week: “What is web hosting?” 

The web host is the computer system 

called a server that stores all the files 

for a website. When you have your 

own website, you must have 

your site hosted if you 

want other people to 

be able to see it. 

When you type in a website address, 

your browser (a program such as 

Internet Explorer or Safari) sends 

your request to a “name server”. The 

name server gives your browser 

• Windermere Fire Department is seeking community 

minded volunteers. For info: Aaron at 342-3965. 

SATURDAYS: 

• 5 pm - 8 pm: Public indoor rock climbing, JA Laird 

School gym, $5 drop in. For info: 342-9413 or 342- 

6232. 

• Karaoke every Saturday night at Th e Sportsman’s 

Lounge. For info: 345-6346. 

SUNDAYS: 

• 7 pm: Community Hymn Sing at the Alliance 

Church, second Sunday of the month. For info: 342- 

9580. 

• 2 pm: Crib every Sunday at the Brisco Hall. 

MONDAYS: 

• 7 pm: Duplicate Bridge, Invermere Seniors’ Hall, 

$2, visitors welcome. For info: Gerriann, 342-9893. 

• 8:00 pm - 10 pm: Men’s basketball, DTSS. $20/yr, 

$2 drop-in. For info: crossfi re@cyberlink.bc.ca, 342- 

5588. 

TUESDAYS: 

• 1 pm: Bridge and crib, Community Hall in Radium. 

Everyone welcome. For info: Florence, 347-0084. 

• 7 pm - 9 pm: Crossfi re Youth Nights, Alliance Church, 

youth grades 7 - 11. For info: crossfi re@cyberlink. 

bc.ca 

• 7 pm - 9 pm every Tuesday: ADHD Parent Support 

Group. Drop-ins welcome, School Board District 

Offi ce. For info: Lynda, 342-9243, ext. 234. 

WEDNESDAYS: 

• 7 pm Wednesdays: Archery, Invermere Community 

Centre, held by the Rod and Gun Club, $2.00. 

• 7 pm - 9 pm: Th e Wannabe’s Art Studio, College of 

the Rockies. For info: Vivian, 341-3140. 

THURSDAYS: 

• 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm: Pioneer Clubs, Alliance 

Church. Ages 4 & 5, Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 - $60/child. 

For info: 342-8948, or pioneerclubs06@shaw.ca. 

• 7 pm - 9 pm: Every Th ursday, Second Winds 

Community Band, DTSS Band Room. All levels of 

woodwinds, brass, and percussion welcome. For info: 

342-0100. 

• Jam nights, Th e Sportsman’s Lounge. For info: 345- 

6346. 

• 7 pm: Every 2nd & 4th Th ursday: Bingo, Seniors’ 

Hall, 1309 14th Street. Welcome over 18. For info: 

342-6478. 

FRIDAYS: 

• 6 pm: Meat draw and dancing at 7 pm, Royal Canadian 

Legion. 

• 7 pm: Dart Tournaments, Sportman’s Lounge. For info: 

345-6346. 

the direct address of the computer 

storing the files for that particular 

website. Your browser then… 

Continued at 

www.harrisonmckay.com/faq3 

Visit harrisonmckay.com/faq for more 

answers to frequently asked questions about 

marketing, advertising, and website design. 

Ask Harrison your own question! 

E-mail askharrison@harrisonmckay.com.


Got the winter blah’s? 

Check out our great 

tanning packages. 

MERRY ERRY CHRISTMAS HRISTMAS 

from the management and staff of 

Valley Hair Styling 

342-6355 

(phone for appointment) 

1313 7th Ave., Invermere, BC 

Garrett’s Baked Goods 

Presenting 

Loaves • Cookies • Muf� ns 

Tarts • Cakes 

5 girl DJ’s from Nelson & Vancouver 

1:00 a.m. Mexican Apples 

Open until 4:00 a.m. 

To Place Your 

Baking Order 

Garrett Brash 

342-6746 

Lots of drink specials 

and giveaways 

Tickets at Door $ 20 00 

or call Shelly at 341-7333 

Leslie and her twin 

create sculptures 

from molten glass 

By Sandra Kelly 


It’s a funny thing. 

This past year I have 

been privileged to interview 

many local artists 

for The Pioneer. 

And yet it was only 

last week that I realized 

just how much talent 

resides in the Columbia 

Valley. 

It hit home when I 

was Christmas shopping 

at the Village Arts Coop. 

In no rush, I took 

the time to read the tag 

attached to each item in 

the shop. So many artists, 

so much good work. 

The valley is a gold mine 

of gifted people. 

One of those people 

is Leslie Rowe-Israelson. 

Both Leslie and her identical twin sister 

Melanie Rowe-Prosser have earned international 

acclaim. Their breathtaking 

sculptures (made of kiln-cast glass) have 

been exhibited in Canada, the U.S. and 

Europe, and they have won numerous 

awards. 

Originally from Victoria, the twins 

studied glass art together, fell in love 

with the Rockies together, and actually 

worked together for 15 years, in Jasper. 

Leslie moved to Invermere in 1998, 

Glass artist Leslie Rowe-Israelson 

and Melanie now lives in Chilliwack. 

But they still share an inspired moniker: 

Twin Vision Glass. 

Older sister Megan Parks, of Surrey, 

is also a glass artist—a talented bead 

worker. “She calls herself The Other 

One,” Leslie says with a smile. 

Last spring, the trio had a window 

show at Village Arts called Three Sisters 

Journey in Glass. 

Continued on Page 13 

All the very 

best to you 

and yours 

during the 

Holiday Season! 

342-9268



Village Arts provides venue for local talent 

Continued from Page 12 

All three will attest that glass isn’t the easiest of 

materials to work with. It takes patience to become 

adept at kiln casting, fusing and lampwork. There are 

mishaps, and experiments that fail. 

Leslie’s studio contains three kilns and countless 

sheets of glass. Her techniques include fusing, casting, 

cutting, polishing, engraving and painting. She sculpts 

her three-dimensional glass works in a medium such 

as clay or wax, and then moulds them with polyurethane. 

The empty mould is filled with pieces of glass 

and fired in a kiln for ten days. Each piece is unique. 

Leslie and Melanie got most of their training at 

the renowned Pilchuck Glass School near Seattle. 

They are invited back every spring, to teach. 

The sisters will further attest that technical knowhow 

is useless without artistic vision. 

Much of Leslie’s work venerates the mountains 

and forests she loves. But some of her most interesting 

pieces—the kind that get you thinking—are inspired 

by the complex and ever-changing lives of women. 

Last summer the sculpture titled Inside Myself took 

first prize at the B.C. Glass Art Association juried glass 

show in Vancouver. 

“It’s about the journey we women take through 

life,” Leslie says of the stunning sculpture. “It’s about 

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the roads we travel and the need we all have to look 

inward.” 

Another non-functional sculpture (an ornamental 

as opposed to practical work) took second prize at the 

international juried glass show in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. 

Leslie is so prolific she can’t recall the sculpture’s 

title. 

Twins and trios are a recurring theme in her 

work—a deeply personal metaphor. The fused glass 

panel titled Three Sisters, which hangs proudly in 

her house, pays homage both to the mountains of the 

same name and to her beloved sisters. 

Summer 2007 is shaping up to be a heady time for 

Leslie. She and potter Alice Hale, mixed-media artist 

Lynne Grillmair and bronze sculptor Pat Luders 

are set to mount an ambitious four-woman show at 

Pynelogs Cultural Centre. 

“We have submitted our concept,” says Leslie, referring 

to the recent call for entries. 

“We hope it will be accepted. I am thrilled by the 

prospect of working with these talented women. We’re 

all well traveled. We’ve all got things to share. It will 

be great.” 

The show, called Integration Collaboration, will 

be “all about textures.” Leslie anticipates contributing 

15 pieces to the show. That’s a busy year. 

And, she and Melanie have been invited to teach 

Inquiries Welcome 

ELKHORN RANCH 

next August at the world-renowned Museum of Glass 

in Corning, New York. “It was such an honour to be 

asked. It’s exciting for both of us.” 

In the meantime, she is completing a commissioned 

work and helping, as always, to arrange the 

displays at Village Arts. She is one of 57 artists in the 

co-op. “It’s an amazing group of people, and we’re always 

looking for new local artists.” 

Village Arts was founded in 1983 by a group of 

local artists and crafts people, as a permanent marketplace 

for high-quality work. 

It is a non-profit organization supported through 

a commission structure. It relies on volunteers, including 

a board of directors and the folks who staff 

the store. 

Which brings me to a suggestion. I’ve had a lifelong 

policy of buying from local artists. It’s a good 

policy. If you’re still Christmas shopping, drop by Village 

Arts this holiday season. 

Visit all the galleries and shops that sell the work 

of valley artists, and take some of that work away with 

you. 

Artists show us the beauty of our surroundings in 

ways we couldn’t have imagined. They give form to 

our cherished customs and traditions. The work they 

leave behind tells future generations not only what we 

did but what it meant to us. 

(250) 342-0617


When the going gets tough. 

BOXING WEEK SALE 

20% - 50% off 

Storewide 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

Th ank you for the great support and a special 

thanks to Jennifer for her hard work! 

Closed January 1 st – 16 th 

Re-opening under new management 

Invermere 342-7060 

Boxing Week Sale 

December 27th - 30th 

20% - 50% off All Mens & Ladies Clothing 

25% - 50% off All Fabric Quilting Patterns & Books 

10% off Xmas CDs & DVDs 

CHECK OUT OUR CLEARANCE TABLE 

A Safe & Happy Holiday to all of you 

from all of us here at Essentials 

729 - 12TH ST. INVERMERE 342-9313 

Romanza will entertain the valley here on January 10th. 

Three tenors to perform 

Submitted by Ken Mallett 

Columbia Valley Arts Council 

If you have heard and enjoyed The 

Three Tenors (Placido Domingo, Luciano 

Pavarotti, Jose Carreras), and the 

wildly popular Il Divo, among others in 

the fashionable tenor-performer genre, 

then you’ll love Romanza: L’Arte del Tenore 

- The Art of the Tenor. 

This popular trio of young Canadian 

tenors will be in the valley at 7:30 

p.m. Wednesday, January 10 at Christ 

Church Trinity as part of their current 

Western Canadian tour. 

Singing of love, conquest, betrayal 

and heartache, from a melting serenade 

to a spine tingling ‘high C’, the tenor 

voice romances. Romance is the art of 

the tenor. 

Romanza is Philip Grant, Ken 

Lavigne and Frederik Robert, three 

classically trained young tenors charged 

with vitality and talent and born to entertain 

on the international stage. Individually 

they have enjoyed rave reviews 

performing as soloists across North 

America and Europe; together they are 

undeniable, joining in harmonies that 

swell and subside masterfully, charming 

you along the way. 

The three real life friends infuse their 

performances with their offstage cama- 

raderie warming the audience with their 

intimacy and humour. Ever since their 

official “Grand Debut” concert sold out 

to a packed house of 1,500 screaming 

fans, both critics and audience alike 

have described Romanza as expressive, 

accessible, and fun. Fun? Yes, by re-invigorating 

opera hits, Italian favorites, 

popular folk songs and well-loved ballads 

with their own tailor-made irresistible 

arrangements for the contemporary 

audience. These are songs that Romanza 

is passionate about singing. Romanza is 

the real deal. Authentic. Talented. Genuine. 

Read more about them at www. 

romanzamusic.com. 

Following this concert will be the 

Symphonie of the Kootenays at 2 p.m. 

Sunday, January 28, at Christ Church 

Trinity. This annual concert will feature 

the Principal Players of the orchestra in 

“Miniature Classics,” a series of gems of 

the ensemble repertoire. 

Tickets for these concerts are available 

at the usual outlets - Dave’s Book 

Bar, Essentials, Pynelogs Cultural 

Centre, and Trims and Treasures in 

Fairmont. To these outlets, Columbia 

Valley Arts expresses its sincere appreciation 

for their wonderful support, their 

patience and understanding, and their 

donation of valuable employee time 

and effort!


My best Christmas 

was in Mexico, 1994 

By Melinda Drews 


Twelve years ago my 

family was living in Chihuahua, 

a large city in 

northern Mexico. 

It was dry, hot, and 

far away from home, but 

nevertheless, it managed 

to become one of my favorite 

Christmases, overflowing 

with great memories. 

On Christmas Eve my mother, father, 

two sisters, and brother sat around 

our miniature synthetic Christmas tree, 

along with my Nana and Grandpa, who 

had flown in from Canada to join us. 

Glasses were topped up with eggnog, 

German chocolates (sent each year 

from my Oma and Opa) decorated 

the table, and classical music filled the 

background. 

Everything was just as it should 

have been, except for the fact that dried 

grass and sand covered the ground outside 

(snow was nowhere in sight,) and 

the only decoration we had was a nativity 

scene which included two Barbie 

dolls (one with her hair chopped off to 

look like Joseph), a unicorn, and a baby 

doll (constructed by yours truly.) 

That night Dan, Janine, Katie, and 

I all slept in the same room, and being 

the youngest, I was forced to make my 

bed on the floor. I don’t believe I shut 

my eyes for more than ten 

minutes the entire night, 

because right in front of 

my makeshift bed was 

a giant window and it 

was the perfect position 

which would enable me 

to see Santa as he flew his 

sleigh across the sky. 

On Christmas morning 

I raced downstairs (after 

waking up the entire 

house) to find Santa had visited without 

my knowledge. As upsetting as the idea 

was, my mindset quickly changed the 

moment I spotted the Santa Claus piñata 

I had been hoping for. How he got 

that thing into our chimneyless house 

without making so much as a peep, still 

puzzles me. 

We hung it up on the clothesline 

in the back yard and I had a great time 

whacking that thing to pieces with a 

baseball bat and scooping up all the 

candy on the hard, dry ground. 

My mother’s recollection of that 

Christmas year is not very similar to 

mine. In fact, she says it’s the worst 

Christmas she ever had because she 

missed the snow and the real tree. 

I guess that’s the difference between 

the mind of a child and an adult. 

Whatever the truth, I am happy that I 

remember only what I wanted to, because 

that’s what made that Christmas 

so special! 

Thank you, Columbia Valley! 

Dear Editor: 

On behalf of the Windermere Valley 

Minor Hockey Association, I would 

like to thank everyone for supporting 

the annual Purdy’s Chocolates fundraiser. 

The fundraiser was a huge success 

again this year and we couldn’t have 

done it without the dedication of all of 

our players, team parents, team managers, 

our association executive, and “Santa” 

(you know who you are!) for giving 

us our Christmas miracle in getting our 

delivery here before the holidays. 

A special thank you also goes out 

to all of those awesome folks who came 

out to help with the pick ‘n’ pack of 

the orders - we got 265 orders done in 

less than three hours and I’m certain 

that’s got to be some sort of record! 

Woohoo!!! 

I would also like to thank Diana 

McDonald for keeping our association 

running like a clock again this year and 

Golden Transport for delivering on the 

weekend and specifically the driver who 

was nice enough to load all those boxes 

into my truck! 

Happy Holidays, Columbia Valley, 

and all the best to you in 2007! 

Leslie Barker 

Invermere 

INDERMERE 

ALLEY 

W V�� 


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Invermere 

342-6226 

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Pre-selling now! Call (250) 342-5229 

Mountain Fresh, Locally Crafted 

Christmas decorations! 

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Perry Horning 342-9811 

Wreaths 

Cedar Garlands 

Christmas baskets 

Fir & Balsam 

Christmas Trees 

much, much, more . . . Fresh Pow! 


and all the Best in 

the New Year! 

342-6901 

Fresh powder at Panorama Mountain Village has skiers and snowboarders delighted. The season opened early 

Friday, December 8 and everyone is raving about the quantities of fresh snow on the local hills. Here Ryan Stimming 

plows a path through the deep stuff. 

Photo courtesy of Kirk Pitaoulis 

Happy 

Holidays 

from the Management & staff of 

www.royallepage.ca


Invermere man guilty 

of uttering threats 

By Pioneer Staff 

Invermere resident Kaspar Heiz 

has been found guilty of uttering death 

threats against his wife. 

“Th is is an issue of credibility, and 

I don’t believe anything Mr. Heiz has 

said here today,” Adult Criminal Court 

Judge Ron Webb said at the Invermere 

Court House on December 19th. 

He deferred sentencing until January 

16, 2007. In the meantime, Mr. 

Heiz will remain in custody. 

Judge Webb said he wants to avoid 

a repeat of past situations in which Mr. 

Heiz has been released from jail, only 

to reappear in the area and violate the 

court order which says he must remain 

away from his wife. 

“Th is whole matter is troublesome,” 

Judge Webb told the courtroom. “No 

one can assess the risk. He will get out 

of jail. You will just have to accept that 

as a way of life.” 

Th roughout more than three hours 

of testimony during his trial, the court 

heard that on September 9th Mr. Heiz 

made a telephone call from a pay phone 

in Radium Hot Springs to family friend 

Margaret Zimmermann. 

Mrs. Zimmerman testifi ed that Mr. 

Heiz told her to tell his wife, Analise 

Heiz, that if she refused to meet him in 

two or three days, he would kill her. 

Mrs. Zimmerman testifi ed that she 

called to warn Analise. Her son Reito 

Heiz, who was present at the time, said 

they immediately called the police. 

“Me and my mom went to police 

and told them about the call, “ he said. 

After statements were taken, Reito said 

he and his mother took a drive up to 

Radium Hot Springs hoping to fi nd 

Mr. Heiz. “I basically wanted to talk to 

him before he got to her,” he said. 

Responding to cross-examination 

by Mr. Heiz’s lawyer, Reito said the best 

place for his mother to be was by his 

side, but when they found his father in 

Radium Hot Springs, he said he dialed 

911. He then told his mother to drive 

away while he went to confront his father. 

“I asked him, ‘Why are you doing 

this?’ ” Reito said. “He said he didn’t do 

anything wrong.” 

Reito went on to explain that his father 

said he was going to kill his mother 

and then kill himself, that he was going 

to do it his way or no way. He said it 

over and over, nine or ten times, Reito 

said. 

Mr. Heiz also threatened to “fl atten” 

the family farm at 4383 Toby 

Creek Road. “He said he would burn it 

down or fl atten the farm so no one can 

have it.” 

“I was angry,” Reito Heiz said. “I 

raised my voice at times. I told him if 

he wanted to get to her to do this he 

would have to get through me.” 

By then, the court heard, RCMP 

Constable David Gareau arrived on 

the scene. When confronted by police, 

Mr. Heiz ran, Constable Gareau told 

the court. Th e offi cer gave chase during 

which Mr. Heiz took a swing at the 

offi cer, he said. Th e chase ended in the 

bushes at the bottom of an embankment 

a few hundred feet from where it 

began. 

After being pepper-sprayed, Cst. 

Gareau testifi ed, Mr. Heiz submitted to 

being handcuff ed and led away. 

Mr. Heiz’s defense attorney, Barnim 

Kluge, zeroed in on discrepancies such 

as Reito’s statement in court that Mr. 

Heiz threatened to “burn” the family 

farm as opposed to his police statement 

that Mr. Heiz threatened to “fl atten” 

the family farm. 

Taking the stand in his own defense, 

Mr. Heiz said he called Mrs. Zimmermann, 

but said he sought only to walk 

the family’s dogs. Mr. Heiz denied making 

the threats against his wife. 

A German-Swiss translator employed 

to help Mr. Heiz often made 

questioning diffi cult, appearing himself 

to have diffi culty undertanding and 

asking for questions to be rephrased. 

Although Mr. Heiz said he did not understand 

enough English to make sense 

of the testimony, many witnesses testifi 

ed otherwise. Cst. Gareau testifi ed that 

he once had an hour-long conversation 

with Mr. Heiz in English while the two 

were alone in a hospital waiting room. 

Th e case is another in a string of 

cases involving Mr. Heiz assaulting his 

wife, uttering threats against her or their 

common property. Th e judge asked that 

defense counsel prepare a pre-sentencing 

report on possible German-Swiss 

language counselling opportunities for 

Mr. Heiz. 

Announcing a 

new educational 

opportunity for 

children in the 

Columbia Valley. 

Elkhorn Ranch Ltd. is pleased to announce that 


Elkhorn College is now accepting applications of 

interest for school placement beginning in September 2007. 

The program will begin at the Primary level and it is 

anticipated that a full k-12 program will eventually be 

available preparing preparing students students for for world-wide world-wide post post secondary 

secondary 

opportunities. 

This independent independent school school will will focus focus on on high high standards 

standards 

of achievement and discipline emphasizing respect and 

character development. 

Based on a traditional private school model, the schools 

goals and objectives will be enhanced by: 

• Small class sizes • A code of conduct 

• Quality teachers • School uniforms 

Elkhorn College will be operated as a non-profit society by 

an independent Board of Directors who will be elected by 

members of the society. 

Persons interested in the longer term development 

of the school or in teaching opportunities should 

contact the organizers in writing at: 

Elkhorn Ranch Ltd. 

Box 128, Windermere, BC V0B2L0 

achievement 

discipline 

respect 

Persons interested in school placement for grades 1, 

2 or 3 should also contact the 

organizers at Elkhorn Ranch. 

character 

Elkhorn 

C O L L E G E


Solid Wood Blinds 

Call The Blind Guy! 

Interior World (250) 342 4406 

Merry Merry Christmas! 

And warmest holiday wishes to all of our customers 

and friends from all of us here at Lake Auto 

We will be closed from Sunday, December 24 th , 

2006 through Monday, January 1 st , 2007. 

342-9310 


to all our 

advertisers! 

Dan on top of Mt. Elbrus, Russia 

Seven Summits 2006 (Carstensz version) 

Mt Everest, Nepal May 24, Mt McKinley, Alaska June 15, 

Mt Elbrus, Russia July 4, Carstensz Pyramid, Irian Jaya Sept. 24, 

Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Oct 3, Mt Aconcagua, Argentina Oct 20, Mt Vinson, Antarctica Nov. 27 

The staff at the Bank of Montreal congratulates 

Daniel Grif� th 

on climbing the seven highest summits on 

each continent and breaking a world record! 

BEER CAN TREE - Some wag decided to get into the spirit of things by decorating this 

tree with beer cans on the approach to Invermere leading down the hill. 

A Day in Court 

The following individuals were 

found guilty and sentenced during 

Adult Criminal Court at the Invermere 

Court House on Monday, Dec. 18, with 

Judge Ron Webb presiding. 

• Trevor M. Brown was given a suspended 

sentence, nine months probation 

and ordered to pay $300 restitution 

and a victim impact surcharge of $50 

on a charge of breach of probation. 

• David W. Wolfe was sentenced to 

a six-month restraining order and fined 

$100 on charges of assault. 

The following individuals were 

found guilty and sentenced during 

Adult Criminal Court at the Invermere 

Court House on Tuesday, Dec. 12, with 

Judge D.C. Carlgren presiding. 

• Matthew R. Brough was fined 

$25 each on two counts of breach of 

probation. 

• Casey L. Fitzpatrick was sentenced 

to six months probation and fined $50 

on a charge of possession of a controlled 

substance. 

• Erin L. Meehan was fined $500 

and issued a six-month restraining order 

on a charge of assault. 

Th ere is no more appropriate time than 

during the Holiday Season to say… 

Thank You! 

to our many valley customers and to express warm 

Seasons Greetings and 

Happy Holidays! 

from all of us at 

“Where you would send your friends” 

DL #8298 • 1924 Cranbrook St. N 

(on the strip) Cranbrook, BC 

489-4010 • Toll Free: 1-888-489-4010


By Harold Hazelaar 

Invermere 

By popular request, 

this is a reprise of an Old 

Zone from a couple seasons 

ago! 

The Christmas Game! 

(to be sung to the tune 

of Jingle Bells) 

Striding up the ice 

With one hand on my stick 

O’re the line I go 

Huffing all the way . . . 

The guys are on my back 

Making panic rise 

For a goalie playing out 

Is terror on the ice. 

Shoot the puck, shoot the puck, 

Shoot the puck on net 

With a forward in the crease 

Goals are Christmas gifts indeed 

Bernie Raven 

Representative 

(250) 342-7415 

braven@cyberlink.bc.ca 

INVERMERE 

1022B-7 th Ave. 

Independently Owned and Operated 

�� 

Office: (250) 342-6505 

Fax: (250) 342-9611 

Daniel Zurgilgen 

Representative 

(250) 342-1612 

landman@telus.net 

The Old Zone 

Once a year we play 

A game that’s for pure fun 

The refs make sure that 

Each game ends all square 

So that no one says 

“I lost my game tonight.” 

Shoot the puck, shoot the puck, 



Goals are Christmas gifts indeed. 

Once the game is done 

All teams join for fun 

To share a tale or two 

And eat and drink all night 

The greatest fear we have 

Is standing on the scale 

When we come back to play 

For every pound we gain 

Will cost us cash and shame. 

This column is sponsored by 

Your Local 

Call ��or 

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We Sell Real Estate 

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Shoot the puck, shoot the puck 



Goals are Christmas gifts indeed. 

(OK, I agree, I am STILL not a song writer! ) 

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy 

New Year! 

Team Wins Losses Ties Points 

Hi-Heat Batters 13 1 0 26 

Lake Auto Mustangs 10 3 1 21 

Radium PetroCan 

Killer Tomatoes 

7 6 1 15 

Dale Christian 

Mudders 

4 5 5 13 

Inside Edge Black 

Smoke 

4 8 2 10 

Valley Vision Vultures 5 7 2 12 

Warwick Wolves 5 8 1 11 

Huckleberry Hawks 3 11 0 6 

COLUMBIA VALLEY REAL ESTATE 

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Dedicated to all your real estate needs. 

Professionals 

Ed English 

Cell: (250) 342-1194 

edenglish@telus.net 

Invermere 


Main Street 

Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 

Bus: (250) 342-6505 

Fax: (250) 342-9611 

www.edandjanslistings. 

Jan Klimek 

Cell: (250) 342-1195 

janklimek@telus.net 

Ken Becker 

Sales Representative 

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DIAMOND AWARD 

PRESIDENT’S 

GOLD 

AWARD 

Rockies West Realty 


5003 Hot Springs Road 

Fairmont, BC V0B 1L0 

Bus: 250-345-0333 

Fax: 250-345-6353 

Res: 250-342-3599 

Cell: 250-342-1161 

Email: ken@rockieswest.com 

www.rockieswest.com 

www.kenbecker.com 

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and Best Wishes for a 

Wonderful Holiday 

and every Happiness 

in the New Year. 

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Invermere men charged 

with drug smuggling 

By Brian Geis 


Two Invermere men were arrested 

and $5.2 million in drugs were seized in 

a recent cross-border drug bust. 

According to Calgary Police, 52year-old 

Garry Hamilton and 51-yearold 

Terry Holt of Invermere were arrested, 

along with another B.C. man and 

two Calgarians, on charges of conspiracy 

to import marijuana to the United 

States and conspiracy to export cocaine 

into Canada. 

The arrests were the result of a ninemonth 

investigation, dubbed Project 

IDEA, staffed by members of Alberta’s 

Integrated Response to Organized 

Crime unit, the U.S. Drug Enforcement 

Agency, and U.S. Immigrations 

and Customs Enforcement. 

Invermere RCMP Detachment 

Staff-Sergeant Doug Pack said his department 

was involved only on the periphery 

of the case. Inspector Joan Mc- 

Callum, the officer in charge of Alberta’s 

organized crime unit, said the local 

RCMP performed local cooordination 

and surveillance on the case. 

Investigators targeted the organized 

network they allege was using small airplanes 

to ferry marijuana and cocaine 

between Montana and Calgary. 

Inspector McCallum said this network 

was not typical of the kind of organized 

crime that the organized crime 

unit usually investigates. 

“We work in the upper echelons of 

organized crime,” she said. “This wasn’t 

one of those Asian gangs.” 

Inspector McCallum said this network 

was organized and very effective, 

as it was still able to operate nine 

months into the investigation. 

She also noted that Mr. Holt, who 

was arrested in February and sentenced 

to 11 years and three months in jail, 

was not the key to cracking the case. 

The operation was under surveillance 

for months as investigators followed the 

drugs, money and players as they moved 

in and out of the country. 

“When the drugs went down to 

the states, we followed them to Utah,” 

she said. “That’s when the DEA got 

involved.” Vancouver resident Christopher 

Carew, 26, was arrested in Utah 

during part of the investigation. 

When investigators discovered that 

Mr. Hamilton would be flying from 

Vancouver to Los Angeles in November, 

she said, they decided to make their 

move. With the help of U.S. Immigrations 

and Customs Enforcement, Gary 

Hamilton of Invermere; Graham Owen, 

48, of Calgary; and Daniel Tican, 24, of 

Calgary, were arrested upon arrival. 

During the course of the investigation, 

law enforcement officials seized 

about 500 kilograms of marijuana ($4.4 

million street value), 30 kilograms of 

cocaine ($750,000 street value), 9,000 

tablets of diazepam, a sedative marketed 

as Valium, and 210 vials of ketamine, a 

dissociative anaesthetic. A Smith Aerostar 

601 twin-engine airplane valued at 

$200,000 was also seized. 

The investigation in ongoing, Inspector 

McCallum said. The investigation 

was limited to activities at small 

airports in southern Alberta, but that 

information was provided to the RCMP 

in B.C. for widening the investigation. 

“Our investigation is continuing,” 

she said. “We’re looking for a couple 

of more people. We got $5.4 million 

of their money, but we know there is 

more invested somewhere. There’s always 

someone out there who thinks he’s 

smarter than the last guy. Greed will 

overcome anything and that’s all it is - 

greed.” 

GRAB LIFE 

BY THE HORNS 

� �� 

It’s Better. We’ll Prove It. 

DL#26649


My holiday includes CHRISTmas 

By Jim Abbott, 

Member of Parliament 

Kootenay -Columbia 

Canada is a deeply religious 

country but those 

who make and shape its 

politics and culture not 

only refuse to acknowledge 

this but, in many 

cases, genuinely have no 

idea that it is true. 

So-called opinion 

leaders promote a “secular 

fundamentalist approach” that attempts to eliminate 

faith-based opinion from public comments, unless 

of course the particular opinion is judged to be 

politically accommodating. 

For example, if a church expresses profound reservations 

about Third World debt and the war in Iraq, 

it is welcomed as a pure voice of moderation and balance. 

However, if it refuses to accept same-sex marriage 

and rejects euthanasia it is told by the same people to 

keep quiet because of the necessity to separate church 

and state. 

While it’s important to practise separation between 

church and state, we must remember that this 

separation exists not to silence the views of religious 

people, but to instead protect religious followers and 

institutions from the oppressive powers of the state. 

Therefore, Canadian society must be a place where 

individual Canadians are free to express their most 

closely held personal beliefs; otherwise they are being 

coerced by prejudice within the arena of public comment. 

The last acceptable prejudice in polite North 

American society is a display of uneasiness toward 

Christians - unless they’ve eliminated Christ from 

their vocabulary. 

Currently, I have the privilege of working on an 

Indo-Canadian historic recognition program. With 

Christmas approaching, we have had casual conversations 

about the season. There have been many questions, 

from within the Sikh community, asking why 

some Canadians want to wish each other “happy holidays” 

or “season’s greetings.” 

I have assured them that as for me, my winter 

holiday season includes CHRISTmas. 

There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas 

you decide to make as a reflection of your values, 

desires, affections, traditions. 

For more, please refer to Bill McKibben, the author 

of Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case For a More 

Joyful Christmas. 


Life Time Warranty on all Blinds 



Wildside Gift Shop 

5006 Frontage Rd 

Fairmont Hot Springs 

After Christmas Blow Out! 


Hours are 10am – 5pm 

Selected items 

Such as Christmas Décor, 

casual wear, gift wear 

And much more! 

Up to 50% OFF! 

Enter your name to win a 13” color TV 

With every $10.00 purchase or more! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New 

Year to all our second homeowners! 

Sales: 342-2536 • 1-866-342-2536 www.lakeviewmeadows.net 

CopperSide ~ Luxury 2 & 3 bedroom condos


RADIUM HOT SPRINGS ESSO 

Automotive Repairs 

7 days a week 

GAS • PROPANE • DIESEL 

Freight & Passenger Depot 

7507 Main St. West, Radium Hot Springs 

(250) 347-9726 

RR#4 

1700 Canyonview Rd. 


Hauling Rock, Gravel, Sand & Fill 

T R U C K I N G 

(250) 342-5654 

(250) 341-3636 

Shawn & Mel Hollowink 

Bennett Construction 

B6 Juniper Heights 


HERE TO SERVE YOU 

Growing with the Tradition of Quality 

• Framing 

• Renovations • Decks 

• Exterior Finishing 

Kristoffer Bennett 

(250) 341-5030 

krisbennettconstruction@hotmail.com 

Jacob Watchel Construction 

Renovations • Additions • Finishing • References 

Quality craftsmanship for over a quarter century 

Phone: 250-341-3616 

Fax: 250-341-3617 

NEW 

Sewer/Drain Cleaning 

Septic Tank Pumping 

Portable Toilet Rentals 

• Complete sewer/drain repair 

• Reasonable rates - Seniors’ discount 

• Speedy service - 7 days a week 

• A well-maintained septic system should be pumped every 3-5 years 

• Avoid costly repairs 

Bruce Dehart 347-9803 or 342-5357 

• POOLS 

• HOT TUBS 

• CHEMICALS 

• FIREPLACES 

• BBQ�S 

• HEATING 

• VENTILATION 

• AIR CONDITIONING 

• RESIDENTIAL 

• COMMERCIAL 

385 Laurier Street, Invermere, BC 

PO Box 117, Windermere, BC V0B 2L0 Phone: (250) 342-7100 

email: info@diamondheatingandspas.com Fax: (250) 342-7103 

www.diamondheatingandspas.com 

Invermere Electrical Services 

• Reasonable rates 

• Residential - Commercial 

• Electric furnace and hot water tank repair 

• Maintenance and service 

• Central vacuum systems 

For all your electrical needs call: 

(250) 342-8878 

Free Estimates! or e-mail smpostle@telus.net 

will help you stay on top of your world 

Shizu E. M. Futa, Touch for Health Level 2 

touchingtranquility@yahoo.com 

Mustard Seed Health Foods 

#103 Parkside Place, 901 7 th Avenue, Invermere, BC 

Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Fridays 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. 

Please phone (250) 342-2552 for an appointment 

• Road Building • Land Clearing 

• Logging • General Excavating 

CLUB 

TOWING 

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Need Blinds? 

Interior World 

w i n d o w f a s h i o n s 

Call Bill Cropper (250) 342 4406 

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SHARON MUIR 

250-341-1545 

the Sunfl ower Café 

located in the ‘Little Big Mall’ 

Downtown Canal Flats 

Soup•Fresh Deli Sandwiches•Baked Goods 

Fresh Ground Coffee•Teas•Hot Chocolate 

Karlene LePan, Owner/Operator 

250•270•0401


Residential and Commercial Lighting 

P.O. Box 1079 

Invermere, BC 

V0A 1K0 

Ph: 250.342.1666 

dan@valleylighting.ca 

www.valleylighting.ca 

Bus: (250) 342-6336 

Fax: (250) 342-3578 

Email: isr@telus.net 

Website: www.is-r.ca 

403 - 7th Avenue 

Invermere, BC 

Dan Emms 

General Manager 

INVERMERE GLASS LTD. 

Jeff Watson 

•Auto • Home 

• Commercial • Mirrors 

• Shower Doors 

• 27 years glass experience 

Telephone: 342-3659 

Serving the Valley for over 11 years • #3, 109 Industrial Road #2, Invermere 

• Rug Cleaners • 

Residential & Commercial • Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 

Flood Restoration • Window Tinting 

Jason Roe 

RR #4, 2117 -13 Ave. 


jtroe@telus.net 

Bus: (250)342-9692 

Res: (250) 342-7327 

Fax: (250) 342-9644 

Cell: (250) 342-5241 

RUSS SALBERG 

SERVICE AND REPAIR 

ALL COMPUTER SYSTEMS 

(250) 341-1779 

NEW COMPUTER SYSTEMS 

HARDWARE AVAILABLE 

COMP TIA CERTIFIED COMPUTER TECHNICIAN 

CERTIFIED SOFTWARE SUPPORT SPECIALIST 

CERTIFIED MCP 

(MICROSOFT CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL) 

MICROSOFT CERTIFIED SYSTEMS ENGINEER 



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Hi - Heat 

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READY MIX CONCRETE 

Concrete Pump • Sand & Gravel 

Heavy Equipment Rentals • Crane Service 

Proudly Serving the Valley for over 50 years 

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For competitive prices and prompt service call: 

342-3268 (plant) 342-6767 (offi ce) 

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“See you there!” 

shapeupinvermere.com .com 

VFC 

valleyfitnesscentre 

valleyfitness 

valley centre 

Valley Fitness Centre • 722 14th Street, Invermere (250) 342-2131 

Season’s Greetings 

Bob & Bryan would like to 

thank all their customers for their 

patronage, and wish everyone a 

Happy & Safe Holiday! 

INVERMERE 

Phone: (250) 342-9866 

Fax: (250) 342-9869 

Email: sgutsche@avionconstruction.com 

www.avionconstruction.com 

Avion 

Construction Ltd. 

CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS - GENERAL CONTRACTORS 

DESIGN/BUILD CUSTOM HOMES • MULTI-FAMILY & COMMERCIAL PROJECTS 

STEVE GUTSCHE, Project Manager 

Columbia Valley District 

HEAD OFFICE 

Phone: (403) 287-0144 

Fax: (403) 287-2193 

#200, 6125 - 11 Street S.E. 

Calgary, AB T2H 2L6 

F i n e H o m e s e r v i c e s 

VACUFLO 

(250) 342-9207 

THIS SPACE 

IS AVAILABLE! 

Call 341-6299



For all your interior 

decorating needs. 

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Great Selection of: 

*Wood blinds *Sunscreens 

*Woven Woods *Pleated 

Shades *Roller Shades 

and more! 

Tamara Osborne 

Brenda McEachern. 

Phone /Fax 

345-6422 

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THE CENTER OF REAL ESTATE ACTION IN THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 

LAMBERT-KIPP 

PHARMACY LTD. 

J. Douglas Kipp, B. Sc. (Pharm.) 

Laura Kipp, Pharm D. 

Your Compounding Pharmacy 

Come in and browse our giftware 

Open Monday - Saturday 

9:00 am - 6:00 pm 

1301 - 7 th Avenue, Invermere 

342-6612 

Floor Covering & Cabinets 

Blinds & Paints 

335 - 3rd Ave., Invermere, BC 

Telephone 342-6264 • Fax 342-3546 

Email: info@warwick-interiors.com 

www.warwick-interiors.com 

Good advice, 

clearly explained 

Pierre E. Trudel 

Bus (250) 347-6938 

Fax (250) 347-6948 

pierre.trudel@clarica.com 

Associated with Clarica Financial Services Inc. and Clarica Investco Inc. 

Lambert 

BOX 2228 

742 - 13th STREET 

INVERMERE, BC. 

V0A 1K0 

PHONE: 342-3031 

FAX: 342-6945 

Pierre E. Trudel 

INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD. 

BOX 459 

7553 MAIN STREET 

RADIUM HOT SPRINGS, BC 

V0A 1M0 

PHONE: 347-9350 

FAX: 347-6350 

Email: info@invermereinsurance.com • Toll Free: 1-866-342-3031 

4966 Fairmont Frontage, 

Fairmont Hot Springs 

345-6600 

INVERMERE BARBERS 

507B - 7th Avenue 

Invermere, BC 

(beside the laundromat) 

Phone: (250) 341-3240 

Tuesday to Friday 9am - 5 pm 

Saturday 9 am - 3 pm 

Closed Sunday and Monday 

No Appointment Necessary 

Complete Automotive Repairs 

(Beside the Petro Canada Car Wash) 

Phone: 342-6614 • www.autowyze.com 

Homefront 

Essentials 

HOME • GARDEN • PAINT 

SECURITY CHECKS 

QUALITY PAINTING 

SNOW SHOVELLING 

CERTIFIED 

HORTICULTURIST 

Elizabeth 

Shopland 

250-342-8978 

REGISTERED 

& INSURED 

WE WELCOME YOU IN STYLE 

Kane Co. 

We will heat your home before you 

arrive for your winter holiday, 

start your fi replace, and tidy up! 

Experienced housesitter and 

home security while you are away. 

Weekly or monthly cleaning services. 

Call for price list and appointment. 

Phone: 250-342-0847 • Cell: 250-270-0495 

A.R.K. Concrete Ltd. 

Residential • Decorative Concrete 

Floors, Decks, Patios & Sidewalks 

342-6522 Offi ce 342-6512 Fax 

342-5465 Aaron Karl 342-1457 Ryan Karl 

SHOLINDER & MACKAY 

EXCAVATING Inc. 

Septic Systems Installed ~ Pumped ~ Repaired 

Prefab Cement Tanks Installed 

Water Lines Dug Installed 

Basements Dug 

WINDERMERE 342-6805 

We’re 

The Pioneer has a circulation of 

6400, reaching more people than 

any other publication in the valley


Wanted: new fire truck 

By Sandra Kelly 


The Invermere Volunteer Firefighters’ Society has 

applied to the federal government for status as a charity. 

If the application is approved, the society will be 

able to undertake major fund-raising initiatives and 

issue charitable tax donation receipts. 

It’s a move whose time has come, says Tom Mc- 

Neil, president of the society and a volunteer firefighter 

since 2002. The fire/rescue department needs 

a new road rescue vehicle priced at $300,000, and 

updated rescue equipment costing $45,000 in total. 

“You need major donations to raise that kind of cash,” 

says Tom. 

The department’s current road rescue vehicle is 

a customized 1991 F-150 model Ford truck. It seats 

only two people and has limited access capability on 

rugged terrain. 

“We live in a mountainous area,” says Tom. “We 

are dealing with steep grades, especially near the B.C./ 

Alberta border.” 

The rescue equipment onboard the truck is inefficient 

by today’s standards, he says. “It’s dated and it 

takes too much time to set up. When it comes to road 

rescue, an hour can make the difference between life 

and death.” 

The firefighters respond immediately to all 911 

calls, he says. What’s at issue is the time needed to 

complete the rescue operation on-site: to set up safety 

gear, to access the vehicle if it has plummeted into a 

gully, and to set up the rescue equipment. 

If the victims are trapped inside the vehicle, the 

Jaws of Life must be used. If the vehicle is on fire, 

a water pump and hoses must be activated. A power 

generator also may be required. Most situations call 

for fast, efficient multitasking. 

The department’s current Jaws of Life tool is calibrated 

to cut through metal at the rate of 9,000 lbs. 

per square inch. Vehicles are built more solidly now 

than in 1991, says Tom. For today’s metal, you must 

be able to cut at the rate of 13,000 lbs. per square 

inch. 

The portable power generator on the F-150 has to 

Dr. Mark Moneo, Optometrist 

342-6223 

HOLIDAY HOURS: 

Closed: December 25th, 26th & January 1st 

Thanks to all of our friends and customers 

for their generous support this year! 

Tom McNeil, president of the Firefighters’ Society. 

be removed from its storage compartment and set up, 

and the water pump and hoses are old and cumbersome. 

“Again, it’s about time,” Tom stresses. “It’s about 

saving precious minutes.” 

The department wants to buy an M-2 Chassis 

model truck manufactured by Hub, a B.C. company 

based in Burnaby. The truck will be custom-built and 

outfitted to meet the department’s specific needs. Tom 

says that one of its many advantages over the F-150 

will be a fire-dousing foam induction system that uses 

less water. “You want to carry as little water as possible. 

Again, the extra weight adds time.” 

The Hub truck also will have a six-person seating 

capacity, state-of-the-art hydraulics, a built-in generator, 

four access points for water, bigger and better storage 

space, and superior off-road capability. 

Tom says that if its application for charitable status 

is approved, the fire-rescue department will commence 

with fund-raising immediately. It is already “in 

discussions” to acquire a residential building lot that 

will be raffled off. 

“That’s not confirmed,” he says. “But it would be 

a great place to start.” 


Just in the Nick of 

time for Christmas! 

Pick up a unique basket at AG Foods, 

Fairmont Bigway, Windermere Foods, 

Mountainside Market, or 

Pip’s Country Store 

342-3160 

info@itsawrapgiftbaskets.ca 

SAVE ON 

CLEANING 

COSTS 

WATER CO. LTD. 

• Drinking Water Systems 

• Water Softeners 

• Whole House or 

Specialised Filtration 

Save on water softener system maintenance with our 

January Service Special: $ 99 00 plus parts 

Call (250) 342-5089 

385 Laurier Street Invermere, BC 

Dinner 

New 

Year�s Year�s 

Eve 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

8 or 12 oz, 

Prime Prime Rib Dinner Dinner 

or 8 oz. New New York York Steak Steak 

with Garlic Prawns 

Reservations please • 342-8346 

Open New Years Day 12 to 7 p.m. 

The Station Pub 

1701 – 6 th Avenue 

May your 

Holidays be � lled 

with Joy! 

from the staff at 

342-6978 

Invermere

26 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer 

Need Blinds? Best Quality 




from The Pioneer 

to all our 

loyal readers! 

Rotary International 

Ambassadorial Scholarships 

Are you a post secondary school student intending to study at a university 

abroad next year or a professional furthering your training abroad? 

Th e Rotary Club of Invermere is seeking applicants for 

Ambassadorial scholarships. 

For more information call 342-9223 and ask for Guy Twigg 

or visit Rotary International’s web site at 

www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/ 

SMITH GREEN ANDRUSCHUK LLP 

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 

Eff ective January 1, 2007 our fi rm is introducing two changes to our 

practice as chartered accountants in the Columbia Valley. Firstly we will 

become a limited liability partnership as permitted by recent amendments 

to the British Columbia Partnership Act. Th e new amendments introduce 

to our practice a degree of limited liability and are consistent with other 

jurisdictions where limited liability partnerships are recognized. At the same 

time we will be leaving behind our existing business name of Smith & 

Andruschuk to adopt the name Smith Green Andruschuk LLP. Th is name 

change is to ensure that all of the partners of Smith Green Andruschuk 

LLP are identifi ed in our business name. 

Smith Green Andruschuk LLP will continue to be liable for the professional 

negligence of its personnel, and the fi rm’s assets and insurance still stand 

behind the fi rm’s obligations and liabilities. Th e partners in a limited liability 

partnership are not individually liable for the negligent acts or omissions of 

another partner or an employee unless the partner knew of the negligent act 

or omission and did not take reasonable steps to prevent it. Each partner is 

liable for his own actions, and the partnership continues to be liable for the 

negligence of its partners and employees. Accordingly, there is no reduction 

or limitation on the liability of the partnership. 

Th e registration of the fi rm as a limited liability partnership does not aff ect 

our business practices or approach to the practice of chartered accountancy. 

We will continue to serve our clients throughout the East Kootenays with 

the highest quality of taxation , accounting, auditing, payroll and business 

advisory services as we enter our forty-fi fth year of service. 

We can be contacted at our offi ce at 1229 – 7th Avenue, Invermere BC 

V0A 1K0 or by telephone at (250) 342-9271 or 1-888-433-3777. 

Whether you are buying or selling, 

the classifieds are a great medium 

to sell or purchase the home of 

your dreams. 

Call today! 

341-6299 

Get the edge on savings now and throughout 

Boxing Week with our inventory reduction 

sale. Markdowns happening daily. 

20%–40% off Jeans 

(Colcci, Guess, Dish) 

20%–40% off Winterwear 

20%–60% off Active Wear 

20%–50% off Footwear 

Hockey Equipment Specials. 

New Swimwear and Clothing arriving daily. 

Don’t forget about our skate and snowshoe rentals. 

Main Street 

Invermere 

342-0402 


Jeff does door-to-door delivery 

By Pioneer Staff 

Need some last-minute 

supplies for your 

Christmas party but you 

don’t want to drive? 

Jeff Gelinas of 

Invermere is starting a 

delivery service called 

Knight Rider Delivery. 

He will pick up and 

deliver from Brisco to 

Fairmont Hot Springs, 

plus Wilmer and Panorama, between 

9 a.m. and 2 a.m. daily. 

The part-time waiter at Ra- 

dium Resort, 

who has been 

working in the 

restaurant industry 

for 20plus 

years, said 

he sees a need 

for his service 

here in the valley. 

He plans to 

Jeff Gelinas deliver takeout 

food, groceries, 

bottle returns, prescription drugs, 

alcohol, cigarettes, convenience 

items, legal documents and pack- 

Brendan Donahue 

Investment Advisor 

Phone: 342-2112 

GIC Rates as of Dec. 18th 

cashable 3.85% 

90 days 4.06% 

1 yr 4.05% 

2 yrs 4.05% 

3 yrs 4.05% 

4 yrs 4.05% 

5 yrs 4.10% 

New High Interest Savings Accounts 

No minimum balances 3.85% 

No fees 

Interest calculated daily, paid monthly 

Redeemable at any time 

RRSP and RRIF eligible 

Rates subject to change without notice. 

Subject to availability. 

ages. He adds that picking up and 

dropping off supplies at construction 

sites will also be part of his 

schedule. 

But Jeff said he thinks food will 

be the most popular item. “You’re 

sitting in Brisco, and you’ve got 

kids, and it’s cold outside, and you 

want Chinese food - just give me a 

call and I’ll be there,” he said. 

Charges will depend on time 

and distance. For complete costs, 

see the Knight Rider Delivery flyer 

in this week’s Pioneer. Call 341- 

5513 or Email his Blackberry at 

knightrider@telus.blackberry.net. 

Pioneer in 

Dominican Republic 

Jenny Hochheiden of Invermere sent us this photo 

of herself with a recent copy of The Pioneer while she 

was vacationing in the Dominican Republic. Jenny’s 

father Guido Hochheiden owns the Lakeside Pub in 

Invermere.


STORAGE 

New•House Multi-storage, various 

sizes available, now with climate 

controlled units. Call 342-3637. 

Fenced storage in Canal Flats on 

Hwy 93/95. RVs, boats, autos, 

ski-doos, etc. 250-349-8212. 

OFFICE SPACE 

Professional offi ce space for rent 

in Invermere. Large view offi ce 

with negotiable services. Please 

call 342-9450 for more info. 

SHARED ACCOMMODATION 

Shared: Available immediately, 

N/S, N/P, laundry, cable, private 

phone included. $500/month, 

342-4811. 

SUITES FOR RENT 

CONTRACTORS: self-contained 

cabins by the week or month, 

250-345-6365, Fairmont 

Bungalows. 

1 bedroom and 2 bedroom, N/S, 

N/P, Stein Apartments, 1 block 

from downtown. Available 

immediately, 342-6912. 

2 bedroom basement suite in 

Invermere, Wilder subdivision. 

W/D, available December 1st. 

342-6842. 

Available February 15th or 

March 1st. Fairmont, bright, 

2 bedroom, 1 bath walkout 

basement suite w/laundry, LR 

w/fi replace, kitchen, separate 

dining/den area. $1000/month 

+ utilities and DD. N/S, pets 

negotiable. Call Teresa, 345- 

4595. 

2 bedroom basement suite, 

$400/month. Share huge 

kitchen, clean, comfortable, 

internet, TV’s. Female only, 342- 

5845. 

HOMES FOR RENT 

Available February 1st. Fairmont 

executive home, 3 bedroom + 

den, 2.5 baths, LR w/fi replace, 

FR, DR, beautiful kitchen, 

hardwood and slate throughout. 

$1500/month + utilities and DD. 

N/S, pets negotiable. Call Teresa, 

345-4595. 

Athalmer 1 bedroom upper 

level of home, includes W/D. 

Available immediately, $750/ 

month plus utilities. Long-term, 

call 342-8933. 

Invermere, Wilder subdivision. 

3 bedroom, 2 bath, available 

immediately to June 30th. N/S, 

N/P, references required. $1200/ 

month, DD, + utilities. 342- 

8848. 

CONDO FOR RENT 

2 bedroom new condo in 

Invermere with storage behind 

garage. 5 appliances included. 

$1100/month, + utilities. 

Availbale immediately. 342- 

3826. 

HOMES FOR SALE 

Looking for an aff ordable home? 

This one won’t last! Located in 

central Canal Flats, 3 bedroom 

mobile home with 25x28 shop/ 

garage on large landscaped 

lot. Complete with F/S, W/D, 

woodstove. Take possession 

immediately, asking $199, 000. 

Phone 342-3481, or 342-1017. 

LAND FOR SALE 

New lots along Crescentwood 

coming. Commercial lots 

available NOW for less! Acreage 

West of town - Edgewater 

Developments 347 9660, 

edgeh2o@telus.net 


PIONEER CLASSIFIEDS 

OBITUARY 

Hubert Alexander Statham 

1918 - 2006 

Hube was born in Vidora, Saskatchewan, on February 10, 1918. 

His parents, Archibald George (Alec) and Gladys Statham, arrived 

in Saskatchewan from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England in 

1917. Hube was the oldest of four children. 

In 1936, when Hube was 18, he headed west with his friend Tony 

Staberg. He said “Tony wanted to see some country, and I wanted 

to go with him.” 

They brought with them a team of horses, some machinery, and 

some potatoes to use for seed. 

When they go to the Columbia Valley, they leased the Hurst 

Ranch north of Wilmer (Hidden Valley Ranch). They farmed and 

grew hay on this property for 3 years, always bringing a third of 

the hay into Wilmer for Mrs. Knudson. This paid the rent. 

Hube’s parents moved to the Valley in 1937 and bought the 

Rayson Place in Wilmer. 

In 1940 Hube joined up for WWII and went overseas. When he 

returned to the Valley in 1945 he bought the farm next to his 

parents land which was the Beaver Turnor Place. 

On October 26, 1946, Hube married Eleanor Ede from Windermere. 

They lived in Athalmer until their home on the Wilmer property 

could be built. Here they raised two sons and began a lifetime 

pasison of cattle ranching. 

Hube took over the brand inspectors job in 1960 and did this job, 

as well as ranching, until he retired in 1983. He was a member 

of the Wilmer Water Works for many years, and was president 

of the Farmers Institute. Hube and Eleanor raised Hereford and 

Hereford-cross cattle in the Columbia Valley for 70 years. 

Hube was a proud family man who always had a witty remark 

and a smile on his face. He leaves to mourn his wife of 60 

years, Eleanor, two sons David (sue), Wayne (Sandy); seven 

grandchildren, Cody, Sheri, Dawson, Julie, Jason, LynnAnn, and 

Nathan; seven great-grandchildren, Vanessa, Brayson, Kenda, 

Kellan, Carter, Ava, and Naomi. 

Hube passed away in Invermere, BC, December 13, 2006 with his 

family at his side. 

A service was held Saturday, December 16, 2006, at the Invermere 

Legion. In lieu of fl owers, donations can be made to Columbia 

House. 

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DK Rice - 342-5935 

dkrice@remax.net 

Rob Rice - 341-5935 

robrice@remax.net 

www.TeamRice.ca 

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LAKEVIEW MEADOWS 

25 – 925 MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS, 

100% Quality – High Standard of maintenance 

free living with recreation facilities & private 

beach. Fully fi nished 3 bdrm/2bath, wood & slate 

fl ooring. Furnishings incl. Amazing mountain views. 

MLS#151803 

$ 599,000 

For more information or to view call.... 

342-5935 or toll free 1-866-501-8326 

Your Listing or Purchase will support the Childrens Miracle Network. 

RE/MAX Invermere 

Independently Owned 

and Operated 

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VEHICLES FOR SALE 

2005 VW Jetta TD1 (diesel 

station-wagon), 5-speed, 

25,000km, sun-roof, leather, 

winter and summer tires, 

$25,000. Call Peter 342-1073, 

342-0665, or pjpank@telus.net. 

2000 Ford Explorer Limited. 8 

cylinder, all leather interior, 

power everything, loaded, backup 

sensor, universal trailer hitch 

& electrical. 8 tires including new 

set of Toya Snow tires, roof rack. 

Exceptional condition, Dealer 

serviced. 128,000km, asking 

$15,000. Phone 250-342-9436. 

$10,000,000 

in vehicle inventory. 

Go to 

www.cranbrookdodge.com 

to view 

complete inventory. 

RECREATIONAL FOR SALE 

‘04 900 King Cat snowmobile, 

$8,000 OBO; ‘01 800 RMK 

snowmobile, $3,500 OBO. Phone 

347-0035 or 342-1377. 

MISC. FOR SALE 

HAY, top quality round bales, alfalfa 

grass. Call Elkhorn Ranch 342-0617. 

We supply part and service 

FOR ALL MAKES of: 

• snowmobiles 

• motorcycles 

• quads


Looks like Christmas 

By Lisa M. Rohrick 

Special to Th e Pioneer 

Th is morning I was at the market 

stocking up on fresh fruits and vegetables. 

As I was deciding how many carrots 

I needed, I was distracted by the 

ring of a nearby cell phone. Its song was 

a poor quality, synthetic version of “We 

Wish You a Merry Christmas”! I smiled 

as I looked over at a sharply dressed man 

in an African robe answering his phone. 

I’m sure the song meant nothing at all 

to him, other than it possibly being a 

melody he likes. But it brought a lot of 

thoughts rushing into my head. 

I carried on through the market realizing 

that Christmas is only a few days 

away. I saw no evidence of Christmas 

in the hustle and bustle of the market. 

I live in a country where Christmas isn’t 

celebrated. Yes, it is a national holiday, 

but I’m pretty sure that’s just a leftover 

from the days when Niger was a colony 

of France. 

Th is will be my seventh Christmas 

in Africa. Celebrating without all 

the trappings of Christmas is growing 

on me. No turkey. No decorated shopping 

malls featuring visits with Santa 

(no shopping malls at all for that matter, 

with or without decorations!). No 

snow. No Christmas lights. No Christmas 

banquets. No manger scene at the 

local church. will be Christmas Day.” 

I was going to say that there is noth- 


PIONEER CLASSIFIEDS 

MISC. FOR SALE 

Support Rockies Hockey - Firewood: 

pine, mixed, and birch. 

342-6908. 

Premium Christmas trees to 

your door, $25 to $35. Call to 

confi rm size and delivery date. 

Deliveries until December 23. 

Call Dale at 342-3569. 

White refrigerator w/bottom 

freezer, 3 years old, excellent 

condition, $500; beer fridge, 

$100; two electric ranges, white, 

$200 & $100; newer oak dining 

room table and six chairs, $500. 

342-0665, pjpank@telus.net. 

CAREERS 

We are looking for lumber yard 

and store staff who are energetic, 

ing here that is the least bit Christmaslike. 

But I had to delete that line. Because 

there’s a lot here that I’m sure was 

like the fi rst Christmas 2000 years ago. 

Last week I was visiting in a rural 

village. Women coming from the well, 

balancing buckets of water on their 

heads (and rarely spilling a drop). Men 

taking a break from repairing their mud 

brick walls to share a pot of strong, 

sweet tea. Girls pounding millet into 

fl our with which to prepare the evening 

meal. Babies crying. Little boys running 

around with cars made from sticks. 

Sheep and goats lazed in the shade 

of a big tree. Chickens strutted across 

sandy paths between huts. A donkey 

brayed. If we were to add a bunch of 

visitors coming for a census, I think the 

village would closely resemble the scene 

in Bethlehem that fi rst Christmas. 

As I sat enjoying my friends’ company, 

a young woman with a newborn 

baby on her back came over to join us. 

She sat down beside me and handed me 

the wee tyke, wrapped in a thin cotton 

cloth. Is that what the old King 

James Version of the Bible meant by the 

“swaddling clothes” in which the virgin 

Mary wrapped the infant Jesus? 

I held that precious little one in my 

arms, swishing fl ies away from his face. 

Yes, that tiny child was nice and clean, 

but the same sure couldn’t be said for 

the older children running by. Th ere 

outgoing, self-motivated, fast 

learners and work well with 

others. Bring resume to Ace 

Hardware. 

Employment opportunity for 

male or female to apprentice 

Sales Associates 

Full-time & Part-time 

Please call Cathy at 342-7359 

or stop by the store 

was sand and dirt and squalor and poverty. 

Soon enough that little baby will 

be playing in the same sand where sheep 

and goats relieve themselves. Soon 

enough his little tummy will be losing 

battles to worms and infections. 

Jesus was born into similar poverty. 

He was God himself, and he left a home 

so beautiful that we can’t even imagine 

it. And he was born in a stable into a 

poor family. Why did he do it? To show 

us how to live a life that pleases God, 

Kootenay 

Savings 

Kootenay Savings, the 

region’s leading credit 

union with 13 branches 

in the West and East 

Kootenays, $597 

million in assets and 

more than 39,000 

members, is seeking a 

qualifi ed and fl exible 

candidate to provide 

part-time coverage as 

a service representative 

in our Invermere/ 

Edgewater Branches. 

Resumes 

By January 5, 2007 

Paul Kendall 

Branch Manager 

PO Box 2580 

1028 7th Avenue 

Invermere BC V0A 1K0 

Fax 250 342 6963 

paul.kendall@kscu.com 

stone mason. $13-18/hr 

depending on learning curve 

and experience. 342-5845. 

SERVICES 

Residential/Vacation 

Properties 

Maintenance & Repairs 

Dependable - Fully Insured 

JIM ROBERTSON 

Windermere 

342-9022 

Simes Painting: interior 

and exterior, woodwork 

fi nished, stain, laquering, and 

clearcoating. Valley resident, call 

Barry 342-0572, Windermere. 

THANK YOU 

Dear Santa, Thank you so much 

for your wonderful Christmas 

present you left us in our post 

offi ce box. You made our Christmas. 

We love you Santa. Love 

Dave, Kath, Jenn & Sarah 

FOUND 

Black male neutered cat found, 

white spots on front paws, very 

friendly. Phone 347-9093. 

because none of us can do it on our 

own. And to make the way available for 

us to get to God, because none of us 

can get there on our own. Th at’s what 

Christmas is all about. 

And that’s why I’m in Niger, to share 

the good news of God’s Christmas gift 

to the world. And as I look around me 

on the dusty streets and hear a donkey 

braying next door, I have to conclude 

that it really is looking “a lot like Christmas” 

around here! 

Part-Time Service Representatives 

Invermere/Edgewater Branches 

At Kootenay Savings, we pride ourselves on building successful 

relationships with our members - success that results from our employees’ 

genuine interest in helping people to meet their fi nancial needs and goals. 

We have the same genuine interest in providing our employees with 

opportunities to grow and develop in meaningful careers. 

We currently have an opportunity to hire a part-time service representative 

to work in our Invermere/Edgewater Branches. 

If you are a team-oriented individual interested in growing with an 

organization where you can demonstrate your talent for building strong 

member relationships, we’d like to hear from you! 

Your qualifi cations will include: 

• Successful completion of Grade 12 

• A strong commitment to continued learning & education 

• Superior sales and service skills gained through training and 

experience in a sales environment 

• Eff ective communication and interpersonal skills 

• Keyboarding and computer skills 

• Cash handling experience 

• Ability to work varied hours, sometimes on short notice 

For more information on Kootenay Savings, check out www.kscu.com 

EVENTS 

Spread the word! All DTSS grads 

of 1997, it’s time to plan our 

10 year reunion. Please e-mail 

your contact information to 

dtssgrad97@hotmail.com. 

CLASSIFIED DEADLINE: 

Tuesdays at noon 

Phone: 341-6299 

Fax: 341-6229 

Email: 

info@columbiavalleypioneer.com 

All classifi ed ads must be 

prepaid by cash or cheque.


December 1 - 31, 2006 

the purchase price of any new Whirlpool ® , 

KitchenAid ® or Inglis ® major appliance!* 

Plus receive a bonus “Scratch & Save Event” 

ice scraper for your car with purchase. † 

® Whirlpool is a registered trade-mark of Whirlpool, U.S.A., Whirlpool Canada LP licensee in Canada. 

® KitchenAid is a registered trade-mark of KitchenAid U.S.A., KitchenAid Canada licensee in Canada. 

® Inglis is a registered trade-mark of Whirlpool Canada LP. © 2006. All rights reserved. 

$ 1998 00 

Whirlpool ® Duet Sport 

Laundry Pair 

Washer WFW8300SW 

• 3.3 cu. ft. capacity 

• 7 Cycles 

• 3 Temperatures 

• 6 Point suspension system 

• 2/4/6 Hour delay 

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$ 849 00 Whirlpool 

Gold ® Dishwasher 

GU3200XTPQ/B/S 

• ENERGY STAR ® qualifi ed 

• 5 Cycles 

• Cleans 14 fi ve-piece place settings 

• 1-9 Hour Delay Wash option 

• Stainless extra 

Dryer YWED8300SW 

• 6.7 cu. ft. capacity 

• 9 Cycles 

• 5 Temperatures 

• 4-Way venting option 

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$ 1449 00 


Whirlpool Gold® Range 

GERC4110SQ/B/S 

• CleanTop ® 

ceramic glass cooktop surface 

• Self-clean convection oven 

• Touch sensor glass console 

• Stainless extra 

SCRATCH & DENT 

APPLIANCES NOW AVAILABLE 

Save hundreds of dollars! 

Brand new appliances with full warranty 

*Models not exactly as shown. See Scratch & Save Event card or your sales associate for details. 

One card per customer while supplies last. Some restrictions apply. † While supplies last. Ice scraper may not be exactly as shown.® 

�� 

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FAITH 

God gave the greatest gift 

Jared Enns, Pastor 

Lake Windermere 

Alliance Church 

When asked the 

question, “What is 

Christmas?” what comes 

to your mind? 

Holidays, trees, 

presents, family, turkey 

dinner, shopping, Santa 

Claus, singing, parties, bonuses, and the list goes on 

and on and on. Or perhaps in another direction: Mary 

and Joseph, an inn keeper, angels singing, some shepherds, 

a star, the wise men, a stable, a manger, a baby, 

Jesus. 

Tiny Tim summed up Christmas best, when he 

said, “God bless us, everyone!” Th at is exactly what 

God did. Th e reason for the season is to honor God 

for the blessing that he gave when he sent his Son, 

Jesus, to be born in a stable. Every gift you give this 

Christmas is a symbol of the great gift that God gave 

for us. 

Th e story of the fi rst Christmas as has been told 

unchanged for over 2000 years is a wonderful story. 

Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem only to fi nd 

no room at the local inn, but with good fortune there 

was room in the stable and among the blissful bleating, 

on the hay baby Jesus was born. 

Th is moment followed by angels singing gloriously 

to a group of shepherds, who hurried off to fi nd 

Jesus lying in a manger. And the story continues . . . to 

announce the birth of Jesus a star appeared in the sky 

and marked the way for the “three” wise men to come 

and pay tribute to Jesus, with their gifts of gold, frankincense 

and myrrh. It is a beautiful story and bears retelling 

over and over again, because it is the expression 

of the love of God for us. 

Christmas is about a gift of love. A gift of love that 

stretches as far as the East is from the West and as far 

as the right hand stretches from the left when nailed to 

a cross. We celebrate Jesus’ birth, without which there 

would be no means for salvation. Jesus had to be born 

so that he could die. 

Great rates, products and service 

www.meridianmortgagesolutions.com 

Step by step, professional 

mortgage support. 

Bill Rainbow Mortgage Broker 

(250) 342-3453 

We all live our lives marked with the scar of Adam 

and Eve’s sin stamped upon our hearts, but “God so 

loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in Him will not perish (die in 

sin), but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) 

Jesus had to live a clean, sin-free life as one of us, a 

human being, yet being fully God, and only he could 

be the sacrifi ce for us to break the curse that sin had 

upon us, that curse being death. Th e gift of Christmas, 

the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, was the gift of life to a 

dying world. 

Th is Christmas, like so many that have gone before, 

there is a choice to be made. You can celebrate 

Christmas with the world and end up with a pile of 

empty boxes and crumpled wrapping paper, or you 

can celebrate the life that God has given as a free gift 

to everyone; and with each piece of tape you remove 

from a present in anticipation of what’s inside, you 

can receive the joyful expectation of a life lived in the 

love of God. For Jesus said, “I have come that you may 

have life and have it to the full.” 

Every gift that you ever receive requires an action 

on your part. Th e giver has provided it for you, but 

you must take it, reaching out and grabbing hold of 

it. God’s gift of life through Jesus Christ is held out 

to you, and He wants you to take it this Christmas. 

Th ere is no magical formula or special incantation required 

to accept God’s gift; there is only recognizing 

who you are, and the need that you have for the gift of 

life and love that God is off ering to you. 

Your prayer this Christmas could be something 

like this: 

Dear God, thank you for Christmas. Th ank you that 

you love me and you sent your son Jesus as a gift for me. 

I know that I am a sinner and do not deserve this gift. I 

believe that Jesus paid the price for my sin and I accept 

the gift of life that you are giving to me. Th ank you for 

the best gift of all this Christmas, and I look forward to 

eternal life with you. Amen. 

If you prayed this prayer with a sincere heart before 

God then you have just accepted the most wonderful 

gift of your life. Take a moment and tell a friend about 

the gift you received or give me a call, 342-9535. 

YOUR PRIVATE CONNECTION 

Darryl Stettler 

Owner 

Professional Window Cleaning 

Lawn Maintenance 

Carpet Cleaning • Janitorial Services 

Staining & Painting • Gutter Cleaning 

Condo and Residential Cleaning 

Fax 250-342-0488 • www.invermere.com/ypc 

Email: yourprivateconnection@yahoo.com Tel. 342-7622 


Valley Churches 

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH 

10:30 a.m., Sunday, December 24– Worship and Life Instruction, 

“Celebrating Hope When Life Is Hard” 

Sunday School, for ages 3 to grade 7 during the morning service. 

Senior Pastor Rev. Dieter Magnus • Associate Pastor Rev. Jared Enns 

326 - 10th Avenue, Invermere • 342-9535 

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY 

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

Worship & Sunday School. 

Rev. Sandy Ferguson • 110 - 7th Avenue, Invermere • 342-6644 

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY 

Sunday • 10:00 a.m. 

Children’s church during the message part of the service. 

Children 4 - 12 years. 

Sunday, 7:00 pm Prayer Meeting 

Senior Pastor Rev. John Cuyler • www.vcassembly.com 

Highway 93/95, 1 km north of Windermere • 342-9511 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

Canadian Martyrs Church, Invermere 

Saturday, 7:0 0 p.m. Mass • Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Mass 

St. Joseph’s Church, Hwy 93/95 Radium Sunday, 11:00 a.m. Mass 

St. Anthony’s Church, Canal Flats Sunday, 3:00 p.m. Mass 

Father Jose Joaquin • 712 -12th Ave., Invermere • 342-6167 

ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN MISSION OF INVERMERE 

Regular weekly worship services every Sunday at 1:30 pm 

at Christ Church Trinity 110 - 7th Ave., Invermere 

Pastor Rev. Fraser Coltman • 1-866-426-7564 

RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 

Every Sunday 10:00 am 

Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater • Radium Seniors’ Hall • 342-6633 

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 

Sunday, 10:00 am 

President Grant Watkins • Columbia Valley Branch 

5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs • 345-0079 

* Please see the Christmas Calendar on page 5 for 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services * 

Invermere Christian Supplies 

Invermere Christian 

Supplies 

www.invermerechristiansupplies.com 

1229-7 th Ave., Invermere 342-6415 

WE SELL REAL ESTATE 

• Radium • Invermere • Panorama 

• Windermere • Fairmont 

Call 341-6151 

or 

1-888-341-6155 

rayfergusonrealty.ca 

HERITAGE HOME 

Classic 1920’s Kootenay Park home 

relocated to Invermere & updated 

structural details. 2 storey with 

basement suite. Super buy and 

location. Large,private treed lot 

MLS# K NEW $419,900


Invermere 


250-342-6505 

Wende Brash 

342-1300 

Bernie Raven 

342-7415 

Daniel Zurgilgen 

342-1612 

Riverstone Villas 

Renovated enovated and tastefully decorated and furnished, 2 Bedroom - 2 plus ½ Bath 

townhome. Fully fi fi nished nished basement basement for for extra extra living/sleeping space. Ready revenue 

producer. Or … What a great starter home in the Radium recreational market. 

MLS#K151856 

$255,000 

Palliser Ridge 

Views Plus 

Ed English 

342-1194 

This project is designed for the high end recreation buyers that want to be close to it all. The 

design wood and slate fl ooring, vaulted master bedroom ceiling, garage, patio and deck to 

take in your very own unobstructed Rocky Mountain Range views. MLS#151536 

$395,000 + GST 

Over half acre lot in Invermereʼs newest subdivision. Serviced and perfect for walkout 

basement. Come see the views! MLS#118050 

$319,000 

40 Acres Minutes 

from Invermere 

Quiet, private mountain setting. Comfort fi lls you 

in this large, hand crafted log home, surrounded 

by crown land. Outdoor recreation from your door 

step. Come home to a crackling fi re and views of 

the mountains. Workshop is insulated, heated and 

has electricity. Only 10 minutes to Invermere and 15 

minutes to Panorama. Access trails to Lake Enid and 

down the road from Lake Lillian. MLS#116502 

$900,000 

Jan Klimek 

342-1195 

John McCarthy 

342-1758 

Lynda Kirkpatrick 

341-1907 

Location is Key 

Scott Wallace 

342-5309 

A one bedroom unit at Horsethief Lodge Panorama with an unobstructed view of Paradise Ridge. Easy 

access to to the the ski ski lifts lifts and the upper village. Hot tubs, pools, golf, mountain biking are all here at an 

unbelievably affordable price. New appliances. New Vision paid in full. MLS#new 

$124,500 + GST 

Ready and Waiting 


www.ReMaxInvermere.com 

At Panorama: 250-341-4898 

Toll Free: 1-888-258-9911 

Andy Smith 

342-1709 

Bryan Hookenson 

341-1266 

Rob Rice 

341-5935 

Columere Park 

Fully renovated inside and out. This Columere Park home has a fully fi nished 

basement, just a stoneʼs throw from Coyʼs Par 3 and a short walk to the private beach 

park and marina. This property can be put on Santaʼs List!! MLS#K151893 

$549,500 

Incredible Views 

Roomy condo on the Radium Springs Golf Course. Three bedrooms. Newly renovated. This 3 bedroom and 3 bathroom pent house is luxurious condo living in the mountains, 

Comes with everything, just bring food and clothes. Short term rental income and the vaulted ceilings enhance the views! MLS#150576 

potential. Quiet location and expansive backyard area of this strata. MLS#151469 

$335,000 

$769,000 

Deborah-Kim Rice 

342-5935 

Only Steps Steps to the Beach Beach 

Great Opportunity As Is 

Property with private lake access. 3 bedroom sleeping cabin with potential to upgrade 

or you can build new, the choice is yours. This corner lot has no building commitment 

and is only a block to the beach, boat launch and marina. MLS#K117884 

$319,000 

Your Own 

Castle 

Wonderful Lakeview Meadows opportunity. This 

home shows true craftsmanship in itʼs fi nest form. 

Everything youʼve ever wanted and just a short 

stroll to the lake. MLS#118143 

$1,250,000 

Located on the highway in Radium Hot Springs. Potential for residential expansion 

or other commercial development or combinations of both. Come experience the 

fantastic views and incredible location for your next business venture. MLS#118507 

$992,000 

Katie Wallace 

342-5785

TheColumbia Valley - Columbia Valley Pioneer

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