Indian Beach Estates to Hold FireSmart Work Bee and Chipping Event
September 12, 2022 - 9:39am
Indian Beach Estates to Hold FireSmart Work Bee and Chipping Event Residents of Indian Beach Estates are holding a FireSmart work bee and chipping event on September 24th and those in that community are encouraged to take part. “Homes should be prepared to survive a wildfire without the help of active suppression efforts. This means preparing before there is smoke on the horizon,” says Local FireSmart Representative, Yvan Kathriner. “By prioritizing FireSmart principles, you are giving your home its best chance at survival. We are excited to see Indian Beach Estates residents working...
Electoral Area C Volunteer of the Year Honoured
Don Flowers has been officially recognized as the 2022 Electoral Area C Volunteer of the Year.
“Don has taken a hands-on approach to helping his community. He has freely given his time, use of his equipment, and even homegrown veggies to his neighbours up and down the valley,” says Electoral Area C Director, Rob Gay. “Don has been actively engaged in this area for many years and his community spirit is boundless. He has been a longtime supporter of the Mayook Community Association and has made significant contributions to the maintenance...
Electoral Area F Volunteer of the Year Honoured
Tex Deagnon has been officially recognized as the 2022 Electoral Area F Volunteer of the Year.
“Tex has been a tireless and enthusiastic volunteer, visionary and advocate for the community and residents of Fairmont Hot Springs. His commitment to serving our area has bettered the lives of all that work and play here in the Columbia Valley,” says RDEK Electoral Area F Director Susan Clovechok.
Deagnon served as President of the Fairmont Community Association for the years 2013 to 2019. He recently stepped down from his position as President...
Photo: The new wildlife viewing platform will be constructed just to the right of this existing concrete wildlife blind at Confederation Park this fall. City of Cranbrook.
Shared from the City of Cranbrook
RDEK Contributes $25,000 towards New Wildlife Viewing Platform at Confederation Park
A wildlife-viewing platform will grace Confederation Park in the near future, thanks to an important contribution of $25,000 by the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) toward the revitalization of Confederation Park.
Construction of the wildlife-viewing platform will begin this fall, and is to...
Electoral Area B Volunteer of the Year Honoured
Heather Serafini has been officially recognized as the 2022 Electoral Area B Volunteer of the Year.
“Heather truly gives her whole heart to her community and has been instrumental in organizing dozens of programs for youth and their families in our area. There are few who have been untouched by her kindness” says Area B Director, Stan Doehle.
An outstanding 4-H leader and administrator for the 4-H program, Heather has devoted countless hours at the provincial and federal levels, the local South Country Craft and Critters 4-H Club, as well...
Pictured (L to R): Columbia Basin Trust Senior Manager, Delivery of Benefits - Will Nixon; Colombo Lodge Directors – Harvey Vernier, Giacomo Scavo, Lorne DeRosa; RDEK Chair Rob Gay.
Members of the Colombo Lodge recently toured representatives from Columbia Basin Trust and the RDEK through their new solar panel project, which included the purchase and installation of solar electricity panels and an LED lighting upgrade at the Lodge. The new equipment will significantly reduce operating costs and increase the efficiency of the facility’s electrical services. The $100,000 project was...
Electoral Area G Volunteer of the Year Honoured
Sue and Tom Hoyne have been officially recognized as the 2022 Electoral Area G Volunteers of the Year.
“Sue and Tom are remarkable assets to the community. Their unwavering support of so many local initiatives in Wilmer and the Valley has truly made a difference. We are proud and grateful to have such dedicated residents in our area” says RDEK Electoral Area G Director Gerry Wilkie.
The Hoynes have been pillars of the Wilmer Community Club for over 15 years, with Tom as President and Sue as the Secretary Treasurer. Their dedication and...
Highway 93/95 has been re-opened after being temporarily closed overnight due to a wildfire south of Fairmont.
“Our team did an amazing job, and with support from the Resource Office and an initial attack crew from the BC Wildfire Service, were able to contain the fire early this morning,” explains Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Chief Drew Sinclair.
The fire is burning on Crown land on the west side of Highway 93/95 near the Columbia Lake viewpoint. 13 firefighters and five pieces of apparatus responded to the call at approximately 11:30am last night. “Once the fire was...
Members of the Fairmont, Windermere and Canal Flats fire departments are currently on the scene of a wildfire south of Fairmont.
“We have a total of 13 firefighters on scene along with five pieces of apparatus, and everyone is focused on getting the upper hand on the fire, which was reported at about 11:30pm this evening,” explains Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Chief Drew Sinclair. A Response Officer and Initial Attack crew from the BC Wildfire Service are also now on scene.
The fire is burning on Crown land on the west side of Highway 93/95 near the Columbia Lake viewpoint. RCMP...
Members of Fairmont Fire responded to another structure fire involving a travel trailer this afternoon.
“Not even 24 hours after a similar call-out yesterday, we arrived on scene today to find a single travel trailer fully engulfed,” says Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Jon Tames. “The fire did get into some of the surrounding grass; however, our team did an exceptional job of preventing it from spreading into the nearby trees.”
10 Fairmont firefighters and four apparatus from Fairmont along with two firefighters and an apparatus from Windermere responded to the call...
Shared from Columbia Basin Trust
HIGH-SPEED BACKBONE EXPANDED IN THE SOUTH COUNTRY
Columbia Basin Trust has successfully added 60 kilometres of high-speed fibre optic cable to its broadband network in the South Country, between Jaffray and Roosville. Internet service providers can now connect to this regional backbone, receive a higher-quality connection, and in turn improve the services they offer to customers.
“Affordable, reliable and high-speed internet connectivity is no longer a luxury; it is a basic requirement to access information and services in today’s world,” said Johnny...
Members of the Fairmont and Windermere Fire Departments responded to a structure fire at the Spruce Grove RV Park and Campground in Fairmont this afternoon.
On arrival, crews found an RV trailer and attached addition engulfed in flames. “We’d like to thank the staff from the Campground and Resort, who immediately jumped into action while safely trying to knock back the fire until we arrived,” says Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Jon Tames. “Once on scene, our crew did an excellent job of keeping the fire contained to the one unit, particularly given the windy, hot...
Electoral Area A Volunteer of the Year Honoured
Todd Weselake has been officially recognized as the 2022 Electoral Area A Volunteer of the Year.
“The work of Angel Flight East Kootenay is invaluable to our area and Todd’s contributions of time and expertise are integral to the success of the program,” says RDEK Electoral Area A Director, Mike Sosnowski.
Weselake is a co-founder and pilot at Angel Flight East Kootenay. “Having lived in the Elk Valley for the last two decades, he understands the importance of the flights he has offered to East Kootenay residents. As an avid,...
Stan Yawney has been officially recognized as the 2022 Electoral Area E Volunteer of the Year.
“As the president of the St. Mary Valley Residents Association and a neighbour that is always willing to lend a hand, Stan is a wonderful example of how volunteers are the backbone of our area” says RDEK Electoral Area E Director Jane Walter.
Stan is a remarkable person and always ready to help anyone who needs it. Stan has been the president of the St. Mary Valley Rural Residents Association for many years. Stan is also one of the first people to call for the Fire Suppression Committee in the...