10 years ago (2003):  A Toby Benches student asked the district to consider creating a bike trail between town and Panorama Mountain Village. Graham Kinley, 10, wrote a letter to the district saying he would love to bike to school but can’t since the Toby Creek road is generally too dangerous for biking. Mayor Mark Shmigelsky praised the student for taking the initiative to write council about a perceived need, but noted that he had some concerns. Mr. Shmigelsky did say,

however, that he would pass along the letter to the Regioal District of the East Kootenay (which would be responsible for most of the proposed trail) and would bring the idea up at the next regional district directors’ meeting. The mayor also suggested the letter be passed along to the local branch of the Lions Club.

20 years ago (1993):  The proposed sale and rezoning of the Invermere community hall alarmed arts groups that felt they had no other viable performance venue.

Representatives from eight arts groups presented their concerns to council at a council meeting.

“I feel strongly about the community hall,” said Marilyn Kraayvanger. “It is the heart of the community.”

But council later gave first reading to a bylaw to rezone the 1.5 acre site from public institutional to general commercial, although a date for a public hearing on the issue was deferred until after the looming municipal election.

30 years ago (1983): The Invermere curling club faced bankruptcy, threating to

silence the roar of rocks and swish of brooms for the

entire season, if not longer. A group of 40 stunned curling club members was told by meeting chair Bill Pettigrew and curling club president Al Johnson that the club had come to the end of its tether for its renovation program. Unless the club could come up with somwhere between $60,000 to $100,000 in the near future, the building and all operations in it were likely to be shut down.

“We had to be hooked up to the Rec Centre by a certain date (to get a provincial lotteries grant)…We got into one thing and had to do another. We got past the point of no return,” said Mr. Johnson. “Some things came along which boosted our costs tremendously. We can’t get financing — we have been turned down by the banks. We need $60,000 immediately to keep operating tomorrow. We don’t know how long the creditors will hold the bag.”

The total amount of money needed was $192,000 and the club could only carry finacing of about $90,000.

40 years ago (1973):  The valley mourned the death of long-time Canal Flats

resident Julius Krozser. Mr. Krozser was a retired carpenter, orginally from Cleveland Ohio, who moved to Canada in 1910 and to the Upper Columbia Valley in 1941. He lived in Wilmer and Radium Hot Springs before moving to Canal Flats. He was noted throughout the valley for his banjo and violin playing at musical events. He left behind his wife, four sons, two daughters, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

50 years ago (1963):  The then-new Christian Education Centre at Trinity United Church was dedicated by Kootenay Presbytery president and Rossland Reverend  H.P. Collins, with generous assistance from Kimberley Reverend R. Smith and Trinity Church Reverend James Ferguson. The choir was in attendance and Mrs. William Grant was the organist.  Several others took part in the keys ceremony, including Calgary architect Harry Williams, Radium Junction contractor Chris Madson, Tom Andruschuk standing in for buidling committee chair Stanley Caspell, congregation representative C.E. Osterloh and steward representative Murray Fisher. A pot luck supper followed the proceedings and a jolly good time was had by all.