vol4issue35 - play-n-stay

PLAYSTAYNIN THE BEAUTIFUL COLUMBIA VALLEY

Entertainment and activity guide for the whole family!

Serving Spillimacheen, Brisco, Radium, Edgewater, Invermere, Windermere,

Fairmont and Canal Flats

PULL OUT

Kids love to take the easy fl oat trip downthe shallow portion of Columbia River at

Fairmont Hot Springs.

Photo by Brian Geis

Fairmont Hot Springs4 - 4992 - Fairmont Frontage

250-345-4000 • 1-866-345-4004

Invermere526 B - 13th St.,

250-342-6911 • 1-877-342-6914

“For all your real estate needs” “2 locations to serve you”

2 ~ Play ’n’ Stay • The Columbia Valley Pioneer August 31, 2007

MAIN STREET INVERMERE (250) 342-6151

Village Arts features the handcrafted work of over 50 artisans.

Best selection of Canadian Fine Craft in the Region

Open year round Monday to Saturday 10 am to 5:30 pm Summer Sundays 11 am - 4 pm

www.villagearts.ca

Brian Hoffos Wood DesignsBrian & Jenny

Hoffos

Unique mirrors, lamps and

hand-turned wooden items.

250-342-3819Downtown Windermere

Open year-round seven days a week814 - 13th Street, Invermere

Featuring these artisans and more…

beadsSandra Arnold-Beingessner

Glass Bead Artist-Designer

Collectable, Wearable ArtShop Online

www.blissbeads.caConsultation & Showroom

814 – 13th St. Invermere, BC

250.342.6507

Kapristo Mountain WoodcraftDean Spence & Cathie Green

Distinctive rustic furniture and

householdaccessorieswww.kmw.ca

(250) 344-6734

We supply part and service

FOR ALL MAKES of:• snowmobiles • motorcycles

• quads

Columbia Valley VacationsSpecials/Packages and Savings!

Go To: www.ColumbiaValleyVacations.comEmail: [email protected](386)250-347-9111Located at the Prestige Inn, Radium

Book Now with your Valley Planner, Sherry• Custom Stay and Play Packages• Tee Time Bookings – Radium to Cranbrook• Adventure Bookings – ATV, Whitewater, Spa, Trail Rides, Canoeing, Hot Springs Pool• All Types of Accommodations

Hassle Free Reservations and Bookings

By Elinor FlorencePioneer Staff

Th e Toby Th eatre on Invermere’s main street is still in business and won’t close its doors as long as the summer visitors keep coming, says Ron Peters, who has owned the business with his wife Elizabeth since 1971.

A retro sign surrounded by fl ashing lights on the exterior of the building draws patrons into the lobby, itself a work of art with fake fi replace, aquarium and fresh popcorn dished out by the owners themselves.

Th e theatre provides a trip down memory lane, with star shapes cut out of red shag rug attached to the walls, old-fashioned double loveseats, and Ron’s prized model airplane collection hanging from the ceiling.

“We get people dropping by to look at the place all the time,” he says.

When the theatre was rumoured to close two years ago, the owners were overwhelmed by the support they received, both from people in the community and from Calgary.

“If it weren’t for the Calgary customers, we wouldn’t survive,” Ron says simply.

An entire generation of second homeowners and visitors has been coming to Th e Toby since they were children, and are now bringing their own children to see the show.

One couple even recreated Th e Toby—complete with neon sign—in their home entertainment centre back in Calgary.

During the winters, however, the theatre is often mostly empty. Ron says he can’t blame locals for mak-ing the trip to Cranbrook to see movies, but it still leaves Th e Toby scrambling to keep its doors open.

“With the increase in fuel costs, our cost of ship-ping a fi lm and returning it to Calgary is now in excess of $100 per movie,” says Ron.

“In the winter months when many times the at-tendance is only 10 to 15 people per night, as you can see the cost is more than the income.

“In the off -season, the operation of the theatre is strictly a public service to the community.”

Currently, the theatre runs a movie once each night except Sunday, which has always been a day off for the Peters. Business has been steady throughout the summer and a few times patrons were even turned away. Th is summer’s most popular movies so far were Ratatouille and Hair Spray, Ron said.

But the owner warns that all good things must come to an end. Th e Hollywood movie industry is converting all its movies to digital, and Th e Toby will be unable to aff ord the $200,000-plus to change its technology to accommodate the digital movies. Cur-rently, Th e Toby still uses a reel-to-reel projector and 35-millimetre fi lm.

Visitors are often surprised to fi nd that there is an intermission in the middle of each movie—that’s so Ron can change reels.

“Th e change to digital movies will aff ect small the-atres all over North America, all over the whole world, really,” he says. But he’s hoping the transition won’t take place for another fi ve to seven years.

Th e Toby Th eatre fi rst opened its doors here in 1952 after being built by Billy Morgan and Morley Hogan, modelled after Th e Yoho Th eatre in Golden.

Th ey sold it in 1967 to Steve and Ray Kapowski of Radium, who operated it until 1971, when it was purchased by the Peters.

Since then, the Peters have run the theatre through good times and bad, and raised their two daughters, Tammy and Nicole.

A few years ago Ron brought Th e Toby into the internet age by creating its own website, and viewers can check out movie times at www.tobytheatre.com.

Th is week, Th e Simpsons Movie is showing on August 31 and September 1 at 8 p.m., followed by Th e Bourne Ultimatum, nightly from September 4 to 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Th e following week, the theatre will be closed from September 9th to 15th so the Peters can enjoy the fes-tivites surrounding daughter Tammy’s wedding.

Historic Toby Th eatrestill delighting patrons

Play ’n’ Stay • The Columbia Valley Pioneer ~ 3August 31, 2007

Wedding Design

LUCKY IN

LOVE

luckyinloveweddings.com341-LOVE (5683)

Player Friendly, Walkable & Affordable18 HOLES - $27.50 weekdays & $29.50 weekends

INDERMEREALLEYWV

DRIVING RANGE: $3 for a small bucket, $5 for a large

Tee Times • (250) 342-3004

GOLDEN ERA—Elizabeth and Ron Peters, owners of the Toby Th eatre, invite movie lovers to fall in love all over again on a trip back in time to a bygone era when this week’s fi lm was the entertainment and social event of the week. Photo by Brian Geis


MAIN STREET INVERMERE (250) 342-6151

Village Arts features the handcrafted work of over 50 artisans.

Best selection of Canadian Fine Craft in the Region

Open year round Monday to Saturday 10 am to 5:30 pm Summer Sundays 11 am - 4 pm

www.villagearts.ca

Brian Hoffos Wood DesignsBrian & Jenny

Hoffos

Unique mirrors, lamps and

hand-turned wooden items.

250-342-3819Downtown Windermere

Open year-round seven days a week814 - 13th Street, Invermere

Featuring these artisans and more…

beadsSandra Arnold-Beingessner

Glass Bead Artist-Designer

Collectable, Wearable ArtShop Online

www.blissbeads.caConsultation & Showroom

814 – 13th St. Invermere, BC

250.342.6507

Kapristo Mountain WoodcraftDean Spence & Cathie Green

Distinctive rustic furniture and

householdaccessorieswww.kmw.ca

(250) 344-6734

We supply part and service

FOR ALL MAKES of:• snowmobiles • motorcycles

• quads

Columbia Valley VacationsSpecials/Packages and Savings!

Go To: www.ColumbiaValleyVacations.comEmail: [email protected](386)250-347-9111Located at the Prestige Inn, Radium

Book Now with your Valley Planner, Sherry• Custom Stay and Play Packages• Tee Time Bookings – Radium to Cranbrook• Adventure Bookings – ATV, Whitewater, Spa, Trail Rides, Canoeing, Hot Springs Pool• All Types of Accommodations

Hassle Free Reservations and Bookings

By Elinor FlorencePioneer Staff

Th e Toby Th eatre on Invermere’s main street is still in business and won’t close its doors as long as the summer visitors keep coming, says Ron Peters, who has owned the business with his wife Elizabeth since 1971.

A retro sign surrounded by fl ashing lights on the exterior of the building draws patrons into the lobby, itself a work of art with fake fi replace, aquarium and fresh popcorn dished out by the owners themselves.

Th e theatre provides a trip down memory lane, with star shapes cut out of red shag rug attached to the walls, old-fashioned double loveseats, and Ron’s prized model airplane collection hanging from the ceiling.

“We get people dropping by to look at the place all the time,” he says.

When the theatre was rumoured to close two years ago, the owners were overwhelmed by the support they received, both from people in the community and from Calgary.

“If it weren’t for the Calgary customers, we wouldn’t survive,” Ron says simply.

An entire generation of second homeowners and visitors has been coming to Th e Toby since they were children, and are now bringing their own children to see the show.

One couple even recreated Th e Toby—complete with neon sign—in their home entertainment centre back in Calgary.

During the winters, however, the theatre is often mostly empty. Ron says he can’t blame locals for mak-ing the trip to Cranbrook to see movies, but it still leaves Th e Toby scrambling to keep its doors open.

“With the increase in fuel costs, our cost of ship-ping a fi lm and returning it to Calgary is now in excess of $100 per movie,” says Ron.

“In the winter months when many times the at-tendance is only 10 to 15 people per night, as you can see the cost is more than the income.

“In the off -season, the operation of the theatre is strictly a public service to the community.”

Currently, the theatre runs a movie once each night except Sunday, which has always been a day off for the Peters. Business has been steady throughout the summer and a few times patrons were even turned away. Th is summer’s most popular movies so far were Ratatouille and Hair Spray, Ron said.

But the owner warns that all good things must come to an end. Th e Hollywood movie industry is converting all its movies to digital, and Th e Toby will be unable to aff ord the $200,000-plus to change its technology to accommodate the digital movies. Cur-rently, Th e Toby still uses a reel-to-reel projector and 35-millimetre fi lm.

Visitors are often surprised to fi nd that there is an intermission in the middle of each movie—that’s so Ron can change reels.

“Th e change to digital movies will aff ect small the-atres all over North America, all over the whole world, really,” he says. But he’s hoping the transition won’t take place for another fi ve to seven years.

Th e Toby Th eatre fi rst opened its doors here in 1952 after being built by Billy Morgan and Morley Hogan, modelled after Th e Yoho Th eatre in Golden.

Th ey sold it in 1967 to Steve and Ray Kapowski of Radium, who operated it until 1971, when it was purchased by the Peters.

Since then, the Peters have run the theatre through good times and bad, and raised their two daughters, Tammy and Nicole.

A few years ago Ron brought Th e Toby into the internet age by creating its own website, and viewers can check out movie times at www.tobytheatre.com.

Th is week, Th e Simpsons Movie is showing on August 31 and September 1 at 8 p.m., followed by Th e Bourne Ultimatum, nightly from September 4 to 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Th e following week, the theatre will be closed from September 9th to 15th so the Peters can enjoy the fes-tivites surrounding daughter Tammy’s wedding.

Historic Toby Th eatrestill delighting patrons


*Conditions may apply to all programs and packages. Rates subject to change/cancellation without notice. All facilities/programs subject to seasonality and cancellation. Visit www.panoramaresort.com for more information.

Tee Times: (250) 341-4100 or 1-888-473-9965 www.greywolfgolf.com

Twilight Starts Early in September!Play Greywolf for only $79 during twilight in September. See the twilight schedule below.September 3rd - 16th - Twilight starts at 3:30pmSeptember 19th - 23rd - Twilight starts at 2:50pm

&

H w y. 9 3 / 9 5 • W i n d e r m e r e • ( 2 5 0 ) 3 4 1 - 3 6 4 0

18-H le Miniature G lf

G -Kart TrackO P E N A P R I L T O O C T O B E R

C pper City CaféWater Bumper B ats

Mount Bastille is the fi rst peak that comes into view as you round into the Jumbo Valley, the site of a controversial proposed resort, is accessible by vehicle just 90 minutes from Invermere. Photo by Brian Geis


www.PrestigeHotelsAndResorts.com

THE PRESTIGERADIUM HOT SPRINGS

250-347-2300TOLL FREE RESERVATIONS

1-87-PRESTIGELocated in the Okanagan and Kootenay Rockies

Whether it’s challenging whitewater, family rafting or wetland fl oat trips – Kootenay River

Runners will fulfi ll your spirit of adventure!

• Raft world-class whitewater on the Kicking Horse River

• Bring your family for fun, food and adventure on the Kootenay River

• Experience Toby Creek Whitewater Fun• Enjoy the Columbia River Wetlands Float

Radium Hot Springs:On Highway #93 • (250) 347-9210

[email protected] • www.raftingtherockies.com

Jumbo Valley open for adventureBy Brian GeisPioneer Staff

Inaccessible for most of the summer due to a washed-out bridge, the embattled Jumbo Valley is, once again, open for adventure.

Last week, the Ministry of Transportation fi nished repairs to the Delphine Creek Bridge on Toby Creek Road that washed out last month in a storm that claimed the life of a rafter on Toby Creek.

With the road repaired and the relatively smooth ride, there is no reason not to make the trip to the spectacular valley that has pitted neighbor against neighbor in a development controversy that has raged for almost two decades.

Th e old sawmill site in the bottom of the valley is the proposed location of the $700-million Jumbo Glacier Resort.

By “relatively smooth ride,” we mean the usual, rutted back-country dirt road. You might not be able to make it all the way in a Volkswagen Golf, but you’ve got it made in an Escalade. A rough-and-tumble four-wheel drive is best for the job. Give it a heavy coat of wax if you’re worried about the paint job. Th ere are spots in the back of the valley where the bush hems in so close to the road it will brush both sides of your vehicle as you pass.

To get there from Invermere, stop at Dave’s Book Bar on 7th Avenue and pick up a copy of Hikes Around Invermere and the Columbia River Valley by Aaron Cameron and Matt Gunn. On page 132 you will fi nd the hike called Jumbo Pass.

According to authors Cameron and Gunn, drive out Toby Creek Road toward Panorama Ski Hill. In-

stead of turning into the resort, stay right onto Toby Creek Forest Road. Drive 18.8 kilometres past Pan-orama to a fork and take a right toward Jumbo Creek. Stay to the left at a Y-junction, 1.5 kilometres up the Jumbo Creek Road.

About 25 kilometres from Panorama, stay left and cross a bridge over to the south side of Jumbo Creek. Go right at a fork just after the bridge. A quick glance to the west will give you a good view of Bastille Moun-tain, which stands alone just past Jumbo Pass.

Cross back to the north side of Jumbo Creek 32.2 kilometres from Panorama. Another two kilome-tres along, just before yet another bridge over Jumbo Creek, a skid road leads off to the left.

Park here on the side of the road. Th e trail to Jum-bo Pass begins by following the skid road on the left. It is a 90-minute drive from Invermere.

Continue on Jumbo Creek Road to head deeper into the valley. Th e road dead-ends into a bowl sur-rounded by 10,000-foot walls.

Adventure can be had in all directions and evi-dence abounds to support both sides of the Jumbo debate.

Th oughout the valley there are the remants of for-est service activity including old skid roads zigzagging up both sides of the valley, the remnants of abandoned buildings, gladed heli-ski runs, helicopter landing and refuelling sites.

And while it has been extensively used, the valley is defi nitely still wild. On a recent hike up to Karnak Pass, we saw paw prints and plenty of bear scat. We had to wait fi ve minutes for a cow moose to relinquish our path, and we caught a glimpse of a cougar moving south along the creek.

O B J E C T I V E , C R E A T I V E ,

I N F O R M A T I V E !O B J E C T I V E , C R E A T I V E ,

I N F O R M A T I V E !

N E W S P A P E R

Read us online at:

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: (250) 341-6299

Read us online at:

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: (250) 341-6299


Nipika Mountain Resort owner Lyle Wilson plays with one of his dogs near the beautiful guest cabins that compose this serene mountain retreat near Kootenay National Park.Photo by Cayla Gabruck


Phone/Fax

347-9762www.dynastyspas.com

Service After The SaleNeil & Coralie Woel e • woel [email protected]

DYNASTY STANDS FOR QUALITYlocally owned and operated

Summer at NipikaR O C K Y M O U N T A I N E C O L O D G E

Offering unique outdoor activities for the whole family:

~ Wetlands Paddling / Birding Tours ~~ Paddle & Hike Adventure Week ~

~ Guided Alpine Day Hikes ~~ Whitewater Rafting ~

Register now to experience Nipika, a one-of-a-kind escape into the heart of the natural world.

Simply Spectacular, Spectacularly Simple www.nipika.com1.877.647.4525

tee times 1 (888) 211-8855

By Cayla GabruckPioneer Staff

Nestled deep in the mountains, unbeknownst to many Columbia Valley residents, is a little piece of paradise.

If you travel down the dusty gravel Settler’s Road that turns off Highway 93 and leads out of Kootenay National Park, you will stumble upon Nipika Moun-tain Resort at the end of a 14-kilometre drive.

“We wanted to create something that would really cater to outdoor enthusiasts,” said owner and manager Lyle Wilson.

Lyle is an avid cross-country skier and has success-fully coached the Canadian Cross Country Ski Team in the Olympic games twice, and also coached at eight world championships. He runs the resort with his wife Dianne, a teacher who worked at the high school in Invermere and just retired this year. Th ey have two children: Steve, 28; and Marni, 26.

Lyle bought the resort in the 1970s but did not begin working on it until six years ago.

In 2001, Lyle and Steve began to build the beauti-

ful cabins at the resort. Th e pair does everything right at the resort site, from milling the wood, to designing the cabins, to pounding in the very last nail. Right now there are six guest cabins standing at the resort, but when they are fi nished building, there will be a maximum of ten. Th e wood used to make the cabins is all from pine beetle-killed trees.

“We want to leave the smallest ecological footprint possible,” Lyle said.

Th e resort, seemingly untouched by time, is laid out on 2000 acres and environmentally friendly. Nipi-ka generates its electricity by solar and micro-hydro.

“We use 50 percent of the energy of a single-family home in Calgary to run the entire resort,” said Lyle.

Adding to the tranquility of the experience, there is also plenty to do. Nipika boasts a 50-kilometre trail network suitable for cross-country skiing, hiking and mountain biking. Lyle forbids the use of motorized recreational vehicles on his trails.

Th ere is also a wood-fi red hot tub and sauna to warm up guests in the winter, and soothe any aches and pains they may have acquired during their true outdoor experience in the summertime.

Too hot? You can also take a dip in the pond: Lyle and his family also keep it in tip-top shape for ice-skat-ing in the winter.

You may also receive a little education about the area. Gudrun Pfl ueger is Nipika’s very own naturalist and wildlife biologist. She came to Canada from Aus-tria as part of a group studying the wolves of Kootenay National Park. After visiting many times, she fi nally decided to make her home at Nipika.

Gudrun leads hikes and interpretive programs at the resort, even carrying a small kit to document any animal footprints for children while on a hike. She has also made a fi lm about wolves that will be shown at the Banff Film Festival this year.

Nipika is a pet-friendly resort, and even if you do not have an animal, the friendly dogs roaming around - Rufus and Jesus Murphy - will be sure to make you fall in love with them.

“We want to prove to people that you can have a great time and a thousand laughs, and do it in har-mony with what is around them,” Lyle said.

For more information or to book your stay visit www.nipika.com.

Nipika Mountain Resort - simply spectacular

Double the circulation, double the advertising powerof any other local newspaper!

T H E P I O N E E R


LONG

SPECIAL

LONGWEEKEND

2 Green Fees for 1 when you rent a power cart

•48 hour advance booking

250-427-4161Also book with 1st Tee Golf:

250-427-4893

LONGSPECIAL

WEEKEND

Bootleg Gap GolfKimberly, BC

“Golf. . . for the fun of it!”Green Fees

Weekday (Mon-Th urs non holiday) $49 plus taxWeekend (Fri-Sun & holidays) $55 plus tax

Jr. Rates $35 plus tax

If you are interested in golf information orto book a tee time, please do not hesitate tocontact us by phone or email at:

TOLL FREE: 1.877.427.7077EMAIL: [email protected]

Recreational 9Green Fees

Adult$18 plus tax

Jr.$12 plus tax

Let High Country Properties arrange your next Columbia Valley Vacation

Panorama • Fairmont • Radium • Invermere • Windermere

Daily and WeeklyDream Vacation Rental Homes

Four Season Vacations • Golf GetawaysSki & Spa Weekends • Family Reunions

Weddings • Corporate Retreats

1.800.665.1801www.highcountryproperties.com

Read us online at www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

there’s more for your golngdollar at th’ Flats!

th’ FlatsGolf Course

Aff ordable quality vacation rentals throughout the

Columbia Valley.Angela Ross

www.mountainvacationsbc.com

(250) 341-3263 • Toll-free 1-877-341-3263Box 2441, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 • Fax (250) 341-6219

Boat rentals boomingas visitors take to the lake

By Pioneer Staff

Th ere's something magical about heading out onto the open water with the breeze blowing through your hair, whether you're powered by a motor or just your own strong arms. Following is a list of where you can fi nd a boat to rent for an hour or even an entire day:

Pete's MarinaOwner Pete Furgeson started renting and repair-

ing boats 23 years ago. His business is now located in the small building beside the river as you cross the bridge into Invermere.

Wakeboard, water ski, dive and tube equipment are available with boat rentals. Lifejackets are available with all boat rentals.

Prices for a ski boat range from $120 per hour to $650 for an eight-hour day. A fi shing boat costs $25 an hour, and a Seadoo costs $90 for one hour or $75 per hour for two hours.

Gas and oil sales are also available.For boat-owners who want to store their boat for

the winter, Pete's Marina off ers a package to winterize, store and get your boat ready for summer.

Call 342-9626 or visit www.petesmarina.ca.

Invermere Sales and RentalsTh is long-running main street Invermere business,

located on the right side of 7th Avenue just after the fi rst set of lights, rents construction equipment year-round and does a good business during the summer renting boats.

Th ere are several options, including four wake-baord boats costing $300 for four hours or $450 for eight hours, including lifejackets and two toys of your choice.

Th e cost also includes launching and loading at the public launch beside Pete's Marina near the bridge.

Or you can upsize with a 24-foot wakeboard boat that seats 16 passengers. Th is one costs $595 for four hours, and includes a driver as well as lifejackets, toys

and fuel. Two 20-foot pontoon boats ("party barges" ) are also available.

Personal watercraft are available for $225 for four hours, or $350 for eight hours. Finally, a one-person kayak rents for $40 and a two-person kayak for $50; a canoe costs $50. All prices are for a 24-hour period.

Shadybrook MarinaTh e marina has two chartered tournament boats

for rent, starting at $145 for one hour or $270 for two hours. One boat seats 10 people; the other six people.

Each comes complete with a driver, who can also act as a coach if guests are learning to use the equip-ment, which includes wakeboards and water skis.

If you don't rent a boat, you can still rent the equipment or purchase gas at the marina.

To reach the marina, head south on the highway from Invermere, turn right on Bench Road (beside Windermere Family Foods), turn left on Victoria Av-enue and then watch for the Shadybrook Resort sign.

Turn right at the sign and follow the road to the beach. Shadybrook Resort and Shadybrook Marina are owned and operated by Mike Dubois.

Call (250) 342-8799 to reserve ahead.

Columbia River Outfi ttersTh is new business owned by Penny Powers spe-

cializes in non-motorized watercraft. She rents canoes and single kayaks starting at $32 an hour, and double kayaks starting at $52 an hour up to $77 for a full 24 hours.

People can take a two-hour self-guided wetlands tour; or take the four-hour river tour from Invermere to Radium, where Penny will pick you up and bring you back to Invermere. Th at costs $55 for a single kay-ak, $85 for a double kayak, or $75 for a canoe.

She also off ers a three-hour guided interpretive tour of the wetlands costing $39 per person for a min-imum four people. If desired, a 10-person voyageur canoe is also available.

Call (250) 341-5144 to reserve.


Pete’s Marina offers a variety of services to meet all of your

boating and water play needs. We’re the largest on-water rental/

service/sales facility on Lake Windermere.

From boat and SeaDoo rentals to water toys and fuel, we have all

you need to enjoy the lake. When the season is over, you can rely

on us for all of your winterization and storage needs.

25 Laurier Street, InvermereMarina (250) 342-9626 · Service (250) 342-9625

www.petesmarina.ca

Getting out on the water is a favourite summer pastime. Here a lone canoeist enjoys the tranquil beauty of Columbia Lake on a late summer afternoon.Photo by Brian Geis


Full service clubhouse and golf shop with unmatched friendly service.

Th is is a must play picturesque 18 hole course with magnifi centmountain views, cascading creeks and waterfalls.

Rated best value in B.C. by Score Magazine.

Golf Digest **** Star Rating

Call 1-866-727-7222 to book your tee time.Located minutes from the junction of Hwy #1 & Hwy #95, Golden, B.C.

www.golfgolden.com ~ teeoff @golfgolden.com

1-800-663-4979 or 250-345-6311www.fairmonthotsprings.com

Swim, dine, golf, relax and stay at the four season, 4 1/2 starFairmont Hot Springs Resort

Scarecrow Festivalbiggest and best fair in the valley

By Pioneer Staff

Th e biggest and best outdoor festival in the valley will return to Windermere on Saturday, September 8.

Th e Windermere Fall Fair and Scarecrow Festival, which attracts an av-erage 2,000 spectators each year, is get-ting organized for another jam-packed day, says chair Bill Ayrton.

“And the weather forecast looks good,” he said. "One year we got rained out, another year the power went out, and another year Dave Zehnder's sheep got loose. You never know what will happen!"

In spite of all the mishaps, the fair has always provided a day of great fam-ily fun.

Highlighting the event will be the second annual “wife-carrying contest,”

which brought out 10 competing cou-ples and delighted visitors last year.

Heather English and Jeremiah Breeze of Invermere are in training to defend their title and prepared to take on all comers.

In this event, a wife must weigh at least 49 kilograms (108 pounds), and be 19 years old. Th e couple need not be legally married.

Th ere are four traditional styles of carrying your wife in this event - piggy-back style, thrown over the husband’s shoulders, crosswise on the husband’s shoulders, or the famous “Estonian Carry” in which the husband holds the wife’s thighs while she dangles upside down on his back. Or you can create your own style!

Continued on Page 11


NOW IN RADIUMOPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

7549B West Main Street

347-9206

More than just Pizza!

And Eatery

NEWMENU!

OPEN YEARROUND

ALSO IN INVERMERE WITH FULL SERVICE RESTAURANTFULL MENU

342-7374

315 - 3rd Ave., Invermere (across from the Reddi-Mart)

Summer’s End Clearance SaleWe’re making room for Fall Arrivals! Save up to 50% off select clothing.

New Arrivals for Men’s & Ladies Fall Clothing from Tommy Hilfi ger . Saliken Fine Dining open Fri and Sat, call for reservations.

Or join us in Traders for breakfast lunch or dinner 7 days a week.

Voted 4.5 stars by Golf Digest and proud winner of SCOREGolf Magazine’s “Best Course Conditions in B.C.”

call 1-877-877-3889 or locally 342-0562 to make a reservation today or visit www.eagleranchresort.com

Continued from Page 10

Th e prize for this event is the wife’s approximate weight in beer - amounting to one keg of beer.

Th e fall fair will continue to present all the tradi-tional aspects of a harvest festival, with judged entries for fl owers, vegetables and baking. Contact Elizabeth Shopland at 342-8978 for more info.

Th e Columbia Valley Botanical Gardens will also have a display to teach people about “green” garden-ing.

About 50 craftspeople will be selling original crafts including quilting, blacksmithing, bent-willow furni-ture-making, wheat-weaving, chainsaw wood-carving and hot pepper jelly.

Deadline for reserving a table is September 1st; contact Margot Cain at 342-2018 for more info.

Her husband John Cain is organizing the Ama-teur Photography contest, with categories in people, animals, nature and more - call him at 342-2018 for information.

Other contests will include best-dressed dog or cat, largest and smallest dog, largest zucchini, weirdest potato, best vegetable person, and biggest bubble.

Best of all the events is the Scarecrow Contest it-self, in which prizes are awarded for the most creative homemade scarecrow.

Th e Windermere “Hillbilly Judges,” dressed ac-cordingly, will be making their diffi cult decisions and the winners announced at the grounds.

Bring your scarecrow to the Windermere Commu-nity Hall on Friday, September 7 from 7 to 9 p.m.

And if you didn’t get around to making a scare-crow, you can dress up as one and compete in the Best Live Scarecrow competition.

Crisanna Macleod at 342-5561 is in charge of scarecrows, both dead and alive.

Th ere will be active competitions including a sack race, a three-legged race, a wheelbarrow race, a bal-loon toss, an egg-on-spoon race, egg catapult, chicken bingo, ladies’ hammering, tug-of-war and more.

One of the most popular events for kids is the “foam splash” in which the Windermere Fire Depart-ment drenches kids with foam.

Th e Master of Ceremonies for the event will be lo-cal entertainer Gord Askey, speaking from the Home Hardware fl atdeck truck.

A lineup of talented local music including danc-ing demonstrations has been organized. Contact Allie Ramchuk at 342-2474 for info.

Food and beverages will be on sale all day, with beef-on-a-bun, bratwurst and sauerkraut, hot dogs, corn on the cob and homemade pie served up by lo-cally-renowned caterer Anne Riches.

All events will take place at the Windermere Com-munity Hall and the adjacent Windermere Elemen-tary School grounds. Th e fair will kick off at 11 a.m. and run until 5 p.m.

Admission to the fair is $3 for adults, and $2 for kids up to 16 years old. Kids under six are free. Dogs on a leash are also welcome. All proceeds go towards the Windermere Community Association.

For any and all other inquiries, please call chair Bill Ayrton at 342-3123.

The Pioneer distributes 2,000 copies in Calgary.

See our website for locations.


OVER 250 COURSESWORLDWIDE

NOW

Musicin the

mountainsMusic in the Mountains will

be held on Saturday, September 1st at Panorama Mountain Vil-lage on the Great Hall deck fea-turing Th e Wheat in the Barley at 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Th is is a Canadian folk band playing Maritime and French-Canadian fi ddle tunes, among other genres. From left to right: Mark Dowding on wind instru-ments; Nicole Scoffi eld, violin; Steve Gidora, mandolin and gui-tar; and Victor Smith, accordian and percussion instruments.

vol4issue35 - play-n-stay

Documents

th e theatre

recreated th e tobycomplete

columbia valley pioneer

main street invermere

hot springs pool

invermeres main street

valley planner

fairmont frontage250