From a symphonic ode to the glaciers of the central Purcell Mountains to a “checkpoint”, the campaign to fight for the upper Jumbo Valley and adjacent mountains and glaciers continues west of Invermere and Radium Hot Springs.

On July 27-28, 70 professional and amateur musicians (40-person choir and the 30-person orchestra) played a command performance before an audience of one —  Farnham Glacier.

Requiem for a Glacier is a four-movement oratorio composed by Victoria-based artist Paul Walde.

Performance participant Grant Bracken noted on an event Facebook site that the glacier gave back to the musicians, singers and everyone else involved in the complex undertaking: “I can’t help but feel that the glacier almost gave us something in return, that with it’s dying breaths it blessed us all with some magical gift that we do not all yet fully realize.

“It gave it to us because we gave to it, unconditionally and without expectation. From all our hearts, we as people of all ages, all different walks of life, got together for one purpose, to sing for something that we love and adore, a farewell to something on it’s deathbed, to admire it’s life that has been powerful for many thousands of years.

“Something magical happened that day, on the glacier, as we gazed at the unparalleled majestic beauty above and all around us. Our hearts joined together in song, something that has been recognized by all ancient cultures and civilizations as an incredibly supernaturally powerful instrument for change,” Bracken posted.

While the strains of the requiem faded into the cold embrace of the high alpine, the glacier remains a hot spot as anti-Jumbo Glacier Resort volunteers have established a monitoring post along the road to Farnham Glacier.

According to the Jumbo Wild website, “The Farnham Checkpoint was established by the Citizens for Jumbo Wild in the upper Farnham Valley.

“Their purpose? To monitor activities taking place in the upper Farnham Valley, particularly those of Glacier Resorts Ltd., who (sic) has announced its intention to commence commercial cat-skiing and sight-seeing on the Farnham Glacier, beginning (they said) as early as August 1.

“Why is the monitoring necessary? Despite the multiple levels of approvals that have been granted and permit this type of activity, these approvals have been granted with a lengthy list of conditions that must be met. These conditions are listed in the Environmental Certificate (expires October 2014), the Master Development Agreement and the Master Plan. They can also be found in the License of Occupation, previously held by Glacier Resorts Ltd. for the Farnham Valley, but now superseded by the Master Development Agreement.

“To see some of these conditions, see our earlier post: http://www.keepitwild.ca/news/letter-moe-documenting-non-compliance .”

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

Photos by Pat Morrow

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