“The committee has awarded up to $30,000 to the Family Resource Centre for preparation of a Columbia Valley Housing Needs Assessment and submission of a proposal to BC Housing for affordable housing projects,” reported CVCDF Committee Chair, Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Electoral Area F Wendy Booth. “Our goal as a committee is to support projects that will have positive socio-economic impacts across the valley and coming up with solutions for affordable housing initiatives certainly fits within our criteria. It is exciting for all of us to see these funds being put to work in the valley and we are pleased to be able to contribute to this important project.”

The Family Resource Centre was prompted to prepare a Needs Assessment in response to a recent Request for Proposal issued by BC Housing.

“We are all aware of the challenges presented in the valley due to the lack of affordable housing options,” says Family Resource Centre Executive Director Pat Cope. “Securing this funding will allow us to undertake a comprehensive analysis of what exists and identify potential solutions to create more affordable options. We would like to thank the Committee for its support.”

The committee, made up of five local elected officials and four members of the public, is a standing committee of the RDEK and responsible for the CVCDF Program. The RDEK gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Columbia Basin Trust, which supports efforts to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the residents of the Columbia Basin.

“Without CBT we would not be in a position to fund this project,” added Booth.

For more information on the Program or the Committee, contact Committee Chair Wendy Booth at 250-345-6155 or by email at wndbooth@gmail.com.

RDEK

New chamber manager Mike Guarnery welcomes the Thursday evening business crowd at the Chateau.

Kimberley Summer Theatre hosted the latest Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce Business Cards and Beverages mingler May 16 at the Chateau Kimberley.

Long-time Summer Theatre volunteer extraordinaire Shirley Ross addressed about 30 chamber members and asked the community to “step up to the plate and help us out.”

Volunteers are always needed and welcome, she said, adding the current group is “getting on,” though she coyly admitted, “We are all 39!”

Relating the amount of volunteer time spent by members of the group trying to raise funds for the professional theatre each summer, Ross noted that 30,000 meat pies have been made and sold in the last 10 years at the United Church.

Shirley Ross provided a brief history of the Kimberley Summer Theatre.

Ross also introduced this summer’s shows producer Tony James, freshly arrived from Victoria.

This July and August Kimberley Summer Theatre and James are producing two shows: $elf Help, running July 9 to 27 at Centre 64, and an ambitious take on the Wizard of Oz, running August 3-14 at McKim Theatre.

Cranbrook’s Tanya Laing Gahr will place her experienced directorial hands on $elf Help, meaning theatregoers can expect hilarity from the Norm Foster show.

And Truus Verkley will be helming L. Frank Baum’s and Harold Arlen’s and EY Harburg’s classic Wizard of Oz. Christina Kim will be handling musical direction. Both shows will feature Kirsten Taylor’s scenic designs and Rusty Gahr’s FX wizardry.

For more: https://www.facebook.com/KimberleySummerTheatre?fref=ts or http://kimberleysummertheatre.ca .

Kimberley Summer Theatre producer Tony James, left, with Rusty Gahr.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

City council met for three hours May 15 to go through a draft of the Sign Bylaw with Director of Corporate Services Roy Hales and senior community planner Rob Veg. The city hall meeting room was packed with Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce members.

The purpose of the meeting was to allow council a chance to hear about suggested changes or deletions from the draft bylaw, and to comment on them and make directions to city administrative staff.

The city launched the arduous and often-difficult sign bylaw amendment process in 2012, citing a long overdue need to do so, as the original bylaw was placed on the books in 1977.

A first draft was completed in November 2012, with an open house following on Dec. 5, which launched a public comment period that closed in February.

Responding to the draft bylaw, the Chamber of Commerce rapidly formed the Sign Bylaw Ad Hoc Committee, which presented a detailed report on the proposed changes, with a series of recommendations to council. Many of the recommendations were considered May 15, as well as recommendations made by the Downtown Business Association and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI).

Administrative staff sought direction from council on five key areas: billboards, off-premise signs; temporary portable signs; electronic signs; and freestanding signs.

“The primary objectives for a new sign bylaw are to balance three important aspects on which signage can have an effect. The general objectives are: business identification, aesthetics and safety. Through the comments received it is evident that all persons or organizations who submitted comments have different interpretations on how each of the objectives should be addressed or balanced through sign regulation,” states the Corporate Services report to council.

Council methodically worked through the 36-page draft report, with Veg providing background and details on proposed changes.

Mayor Wayne Stetski

“It’s been a very large task” taking on the challenge of updating the city’s sign bylaw, said Mayor Wayne Stetski. As the three-hour meeting progressed and council wrestled with aspects of the five key areas, the scale of that task became readily apparent.

The process toward approving a new sign bylaw remains several months in the hopper, council members pointed out.

“This has been a long time coming,” noted Coun. Angus Davis, adding, “There is still plenty of time to have extra input.”

An example of the divergent views of the community when it comes to signage, and what is and isn’t appropriate, was boiled down by council in its discussion about electronic signs, running from the length of time an electronic message should be presented to whether animation should be allowed to what is distracting to some may not be distracting to others.

“I’d like to see more flexibility in this,” said Coun. Diana J Scott.

Coun. Gerry Warner challenged fellow councilors by asking, “What’s distracting? It’s in the eye of the beholder.” He then shared a story of a friend who almost got into an accident on the Highway 3 strip while trying to read City Hero banners.

Coun. Sharon Cross

Coun. Sharon Cross said she is worried about safety when it comes to electronic signs or free-standing signage with animation, such as the Culligan ‘Running Man,’ which she said she finds distracting. Cross said MOTI has stated concerns about such signage and she agrees, noting the city will have to comply with whatever council decided, as it has the largest electronic sign in town (at Western Financial Place).

Davis countered by suggesting distracting signage isn’t as big a deal as some people make it out to be. Noting electronic device addiction among many in society, he said, “We’re distracted 99% of the time.”

Other aspects of the draft bylaw discussed by council were: when/where engineering experts are required concerning sign installation; permitting/costs; off-premise/third party signage; allowable heights; landscaping around signage; temporary/portable signs; sundry definitions; balloon signs; billboards; fines; and a general discussion about why signage legislation needs to be updated.

Stetski said the underlying principle to the bylaw update is to continue to try and beautify Cranbrook and council must remember that.

He told the packed chamber he Googled Cranbrook concerning its asthetics and found 14 articles, from 2000 to 2010 that paint a picture of Cranbrook “not being the prettiest place to be.”

The proposed legislative changes make the document “a forward-looking bylaw,” he said.

Coun. Denise Pallesen

Coun. Denise Pallesen said the city must remember that its signage must work for the business community, which must also strive to work together with the city to ensure continued beautification, especially of the highway strip.

“We’re not a Fernie; we’re not an Invermere,” she said, stating the city is a regional business centre.

Coun. Cross argued that the city must blend business concerns with those of its residents.

“To say all we are is an economic generator is not true. People want this city to be a place to come and work and live and play,” she said, warning Crabrook could lose a lot of potential residents if city beauty is not a focus.

“How do we make Cranbrook more than a stop, grab and go?” She asked.

Coun. Angus Davis

Coun. Davis said he takes exception to people saying Cranbrook isn’t attractive.

“The community has done a lot in making it more appealing to the eye,” he said, pointing out the work Jenny Humphries and Communities in Bloom has done as an example.

“I could go on Google and find anything you want,” he said.

“We have come a long ways; the question is, what more can we do?” Stetski pushed.

Pallesen said she didn’t want to infer that Cranbrook is only an economic engine.

“I didn’t mean that Cranbrook is not beautiful and doesn’t offer much more,” she said.

Council’s billboard signage discussion also illuminated the complexity of legislating something that is essentially ruled by each individual’s tastes and perceptions as to what is visually acceptable.

Stetski suggested banning billboards would go a long way to improving city aesthetics, noting that Fernie and Sparwood have banned them. He also pointed out that some of the billboards in town are “in a serious state of disrepair.”

Cross agreed with the Mayor, saying, “I’d like to see them abolished. They interfere with our mountain landscape.”

Veg suggested to council that provisions added to the city’s sign bylaw in 2005, effectively banning additional billboard signage, may be the cause for some billboards being in poor condition. The bylaw notes that if a sign is structurally damaged and needs repairs, it must be removed, having lost its legal non-conforming status.

Coun. Diana J Scott

Coun. Scott said Veg’s assessment was likely correct and she disagreed with Cross.

“I see the mountains just fine. They don’t impede my view,” she said.

Pallesen, pointing out she is “not keen on them,” said she understands that some people don’t like billboards but they are signs that can be beautiful.

Warner said it depends where a billboard is located “A blanket policy saying no billboards is going too far,” he suggested. “Is there no discretion left in city government?”

Coun. Gerry Warner

Warner said the city could strike a billboard committee that would deal with each application and approvals would be granted based on individual merit. “Let it be discretionary.”

Hales countered by noting that legislation cannot be “subjective” because it opens the door to too many challenges.

Davis said some public comments directed toward the business community “are insulting. They create the wealth” in the town, he noted, adding, “We want an open Cranbrook.”

At that, the Mayor initiated a straw vote on billboards, with Cross and Bob Whetham siding with him on banning billboards, with Davis, Pallesen, Scott and Warner voting against banning them.

Council will return to discussion of the sign bylaw after city staff complete revisions to the draft and present the bylaw for first reading, likely on June 24, said chief administrative officer Wayne Staudt.

“We might just bring back another draft on the 24^th” and if any council members are away, it will result in a deferral.

“We do want to put closure on it,” he said, reminding council and the public gallery that no bylaw is written in stone.

“It’s a working bylaw” and can be changed. “Twenty-five years is too long for any bylaw to be left on the books,” he said.

To see the city’s draft sign bylaw go to (please bear in mind this draft does not contain the changes recommended by council May 15): https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=3019

See city administrative report at: https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=3017

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

The Song Sparrow is one of our most common sparrows. They are found year around but are more abundant from late March to early October. The best place to look for them is along marsh edges. This one was photographed in the bulrushes at Dog Lake in Kootenay National Park.

It is interesting that Song Sparrows will sing throughout the year but it is this time of year that they really live up to their name. A male Song Sparrow will sing a song every eight-seconds and may average over 2,300 songs during an entire day.
 Once again John Neville has made a great recording of this songster at Lake Windermere. Have a listen and then see if you can match the song to the real thing next time you are walking near a marsh edge. Song Sparrow recorded by John Neville.mp3

John Neville’s CD ‘Songs and Sounds of the Canadian Rockies’ can be purchased at Neville Recording

Song Sparrow, a relentless singer - by Larry Halverson

Motions Carried

Policy

- That the Board approve revised Policy 3.35 Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.

- That the Board approve revised Policy 3.12 Video Surveillance as amended.

General

- Second reading of the Annual Budget Bylaw. (Three readings of the bylaw must be completed prior to the end of June).

- That the Board approves the write-up description of SD5 for posting on the Humanities Network Website.

- That the Board direct staff to research the development of a School District No. 5 reserve fund for the allocation of funds that would be the equivalent to the annual carbon credit off-set purchase in order to be considered carbon neutral under Provincial Legislation; and further that these funds be held in reserve to be used towards carbon footprint reducing measures within School District No. 5 operations, as approved by the board; and further that prior to future carbon offset purchases by School District No. 5, the Secretary Treasurer report back to the Board on the status of carbon offset purchases by other School Districts and/or Municipalities.

SD5

For many of us this means it’s time to get ready for summer. Planning to do some spring cleaning? Bringing your summer gear out of storage? Heading to the great outdoors to open the cabin? It’s important to know that activities like these can result in contact with bats, the primary carrier of the rabies virus in B.C.

Rabies is a very serious disease that affects the nervous system. If not treated in time, rabies is almost always fatal. Last year, 39 people in the region were treated for potential exposure to rabies. Treatment, involving a two-week long period of vaccinations, must be administered as soon as possible after exposure.

“Between four and eight per cent of the bats that are tested after coming into contact with people are found to have the rabies virus,” said Jennifer Jeyes, Communicable Disease Specialist with Interior Health. “Most bat-human encounters occur when bats get into houses or summer cabins, usually through open windows, doors, chimneys, or narrow cracks. Attics are a favourite bat refuge. If you come into contact with live or dead bats, it is very important to avoid touching them.”

Interior Health advises that all contact with bats should be taken seriously.

“Anyone who has come into contact with a bat should call the local public health unit or their doctor right away even if you can’t see bite marks or scratches,” said Jeyes. “Bats have tiny sharp teeth and claws, so scratches or bites may not be visible but could still be there. People should not wait for symptoms to appear. Get checked out as soon as possible – early treatment is crucial to prevent the disease from progressing.”

Interior Health offers these tips to protect yourself.

Prevention:

Do not touch live or dead bats. Parents should tell their children not to play with or touch bats.

Make your home or cabin ‘bat proof.’ Keep doors and windows closed, make sure window screens don’t have any holes, and keep the attic area free of bats by keeping all vents properly screened and by closing off other openings.

If you find a live bat in a room of your home, open the window and close interior doors until the bat leaves.

Seek professional bat-control advice (from a pest control or wildlife specialist) if your home or workplace or is inhabited by bats.

Avoid locations or activities where bats are likely to be found (e.g., caves).

If you have a pet dog, cat, or ferret, make sure they are vaccinated regularly against rabies. Pets that were born and raised in B.C. pose a very low risk of transmitting rabies to humans; however, vaccinating your pets will protect them from rabies.

If you have been bitten or scratched:

Thoroughly wash the wounds with soap and water.

Contact your local public health unit or family doctor immediately.

Call a wildlife or pest control company to capture the bat. If trying to capture the bat yourself, avoid contact by wearing leather gloves, a hat, long sleeves, and pants.

Safely contain the bat in a secure covered container to prevent others from being exposed. Keep the bat in a safe location until Public Health can arrange to pick it up and test it for rabies.

When traveling abroad

· In B.C., bats carry the rabies virus and other animals are only rarely infected. In other parts of the world rabies can be carried by other species. Be aware of the risk of rabies in the country you are visiting.

If you were bitten by an animal and started on the rabies vaccine, keep all documentation you were provided. It will need to be reviewed by Public Health when you return home.

Note the type of clinic or hospital you visited. This information will be used by Public Health to determine if you received the same standard of protection that you would have received at home.

For more information:

See HealthLink BC File #07 at http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile07.stm

Interior Health

Early last April, the Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon, called on youth from across British Columbia to take a stand against cancer in their communities – and they answered. The 75 young leaders, between the ages of 19-25, participated in the daylong forum to discuss what healthy communities look like and how to get involved. There were opportunities to learn and share, to network and see a broader vision for global change.

“The Canadian Cancer Society is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year,” says Amber Hay, Cancer Control Coordinator, Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon. “We feel that if we equip our future leaders of change with some tools to make a difference in their communities, we can set the stage for the next 75 years of cancer prevention.”

Designed by youth, for youth, the Forum featured presentations by keynote speaker, Richard Loat, Founder, Five Hole for Food; Cathy Adair, VP of Cancer Control, Canadian Cancer Society; Chloe Gow-Jarrett, Lululemon Director of Goal Setting; and Ashleigh Wilson, an inspirational young cancer survivor.

Throughout the day, forum attendees were encouraged to contribute to a multimedia ‘board’ (photos, videos, etc) where they could share their ideas on health and healthy communities. The youth also participated in sessions featuring topics on influencing public policy, tobacco control and indoor tanning and practiced goal setting and planning concepts to put their ideas in motion.

A total of 15 youth from the Southern Interior attended the Forum, including Jenny Byford, 21, from Cranbrook.

“As a member of the Forum’s Youth Advisory Committee I had been counting down to the forum for months and it by far exceeded my expectations” says Byford. “The opportunity to network and share ideas with 75 other young adults who are true leaders within their communities goes unmatched. We know about 50% of cancers can be prevented and with the support of youth involvement in advocacy for healthy public policy, education of environmental carcinogens, and individual behaviour change, we can significantly reduce our population’s cancer risk. The Canadian Cancer Society has been at the forefront of disease prevention for years, and involving youth in the process will only fuel their success.

“The youth who attended are motivated to start healthy living initiatives in their communities and their actions will generate community benefits far beyond just cancer prevention.”

The forum took place at the Simon Fraser University, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue in Vancouver.

“We’re thrilled that we were able to give these amazing youth an experience that they can take beyond the event itself,” says Hay. “They will be fantastic ambassadors for community conversations and healthy change.”

For 75 years, the Canadian Cancer Society has been with Canadians in the fight for life. We have been relentless in our commitment to prevent cancer, fund research and support Canadians touched by cancer. From this foundation, we will work with Canadians to change cancer forever so fewer Canadians are diagnosed with the disease and more survive. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website at cancer.ca or call our toll-free bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333 (TTY: 1 866 786-3934).

Above photo: The five Cranbrook youths who attended the conference. Left-right include: Patti King Health Promotion Coordinator, Tyrel Hawke, Tim Wheaton (back), Jenny Byford, Miranda Davis, Katie Green (front).

Submitted

Bylaws

During the May 14 District of Invermere Council meeting, council adopted:

2013 Tax Rates Bylaw No. 1470;

Water Improvements 2008 Parcel Tax Amendment Bylaw No. 1467;

Water Supply Upgrade Parcel Tax Amendment Bylaw No. 1468;

Sewage Treatment Works Parcel Tax Amendment Bylaw No. 1469.

Council received OCP Amendment Bylaw No. 1472 initiating a change in land use of a portion of the remainder of DL 7882 from planned residential and public institutional to resort accommodation and received Zoning Amendment Bylaw 1473 initiating the change in zoning from R-3 Cluster development zone and P1 public institutional to RES-1 resort recreation zone and RES-2 resort accommodation and recreation zone.

Council also received application to amend Zoning Bylaw 1145, 2002 to include fitness center as a permitted use with the M-1, Light Industrial Zone.

Finance

2012 Audited Financial Statements were accepted and Statement of Financial Information (SOFI) was approved for filing with the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. Both reports can be found online on the DOI website.

Encroachment Agreement

Council approved an encroachment within the 8th Avenue right-of-way along for Peppi’s Pizza for a covered restaurant patio extension.

Development Variance Permit

Council received applications for development variance permits for alterations to an existing principal dwelling with non-conforming siting for 1517 and 1605 Lower Lake View Lane.

Special Events

Council authorized the Legion Summer Market.

Not-For-Profit Banner & Sign Policy

Council adopted Revision #1 of policy to limit use of Athalmer Bridge sign.

2013/2014 CBT Community Initiatives

Council approved allocation of funds from the 2013 Columbia Basin Trust Initiative Program that will be sent to the RDEK Board for final approval. The sum of $34,628 was allocated for 2013/2014.

District of Invermere

The band has spent the greater part of 2012 tirelessly crafting The Romantics, their first full-length record, in lofty cabins and expansive churches with the help of acclaimed Canadian producer Laurence Currie (Sloan, Wintersleep, Hey Rosetta!).

Since its humble beginnings in 2009 as a two-piece folk-pop collaboration between Wexler and Hardy, Inlet Sound has gone through both physical and sonic transformations: a coming-of-age that mirrors what The Romantics has come to represent. Members have come and gone and musical ideas have taken shape around the personal experiences from which the band has grown and matured.

Inlet Sound brings a colourful addition to the Wapiti Music Festival and another band travelling over the Canadian Shield to play right here in Fernie.

The Wapiti Music Festival runs two days, Friday August 9 and Saturday the 10th. Tickets are now on sale. Advance prices are in effect in limited quantities.

Inlet Sound joins fellow Canadian rockers on the CBC Stage: Plants and Animals, Current Swell, Loon Choir, No Sinner and many more.

Visit the Wapiti website for the full lineup, band bios and advance ticket sales.

Expect to rock, expect to dance, expect the unexpected.

Children 12 and under and adults 65 and older are FREE.

Submitted

The golf season is here. The Kimberley RCMP and Speed Watch will be continuing its long tradition of holding their 22nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Kimberley Golf Club in September.

We are inviting any non-profit organizations in the Kimberley District to apply for funds to the address listed below.

Requests for funding are to be received by June 15 (2013) and must be accompanied by a current financial statement. Please indicate in your request how the funds will be spent and please note funds will not be distributed for operating costs such as salaries, rental, or utilities. We will then pick the organizations that will benefit the most from the funds collected at our tournament. It is requested that any organization that is selected for funding provide two volunteers for the event.

Note: Funds will not be distributed until late fall, 2013.

Address applications for funds to:

Kimberley RCMP/Speed Watch Golf Committee,

436 Archibald Street, Kimberley, B.C.,

V1A 1N1

Cpl. Chris Newel