50 years ago (1965):
The Toby Theatre reopened with a new projector after a two-week hiatus for renovations. The new Motiograph projector had a Ballantyne sound head, which allowed better reproduction of stereo sound than the previous projector. The renovations also included an overhead infrared heating unit at the back of the theatre.
45 years ago (1970):
Kinsmen Beach in Invermere started getting lifeguard supervisision for the first time. The first guard was Richard Porcina. He had previously worked at the Radium Aquacourt (now known as the hot springs pools).
40 years ago (1975):
B.C. Hydro personnel conducted a tour of the Upper Columbia Valley to determine what affects might result from a plan to divert the Kootenay River into the Columbia River. The personnel said that the project would not proceed if there were too many potentially negative impacts.
35 years ago (1980):
Windermere residents decided to officially change the community status under the Regional District of East Kootenay from an improvment district to a specified area. The change was made so that Windermere would be eligible for goverment grants covering up to 75 per cent of the cost of items such as water system upgrades.
30 years ago (1985):
Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of its National Parks system. Events to mark the occasion in Kootenay National Park included a re-enactment of the opening of the Banff-WindermerHighway. The highway (now known as Highway 93), which linked Banff with the Upper Columbia Valley, was built by federal goverment and in return the provincial government ceded a few kilometres of land on either side of the road to the federal goverment. This land was later expanded significantly and became Kootenay National Park.
20 years ago (1995):
A new grocery store officially opened in Invermere, with Ron and Marlene Brash cutting the ribbon on their 25,00 square foot (2,300 square metre) IGC Garden Market. The launch of the store came after three years of planning.
15 years ago (2000):
More than 60 Invermere residents turned out to a Pot Hole park clean-up, spurred on in part by a Valley Echo challenge. The group pulled more than 50 full bags of trash and half a pickup truck load of old vehicle parts out of the park.
10 years ago (2005):
Valley couple Norbert and Wilda Schab recounted their experiences teaching English abroad in Chile and China in an interview with The Valley Echo. The pair described culture shock and living in China during the SARS outbreak.