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1 week ago | 
columbiavalleypioneer.com | Lyonel Doherty
EditorialDealing with taxes, federal election promises, and Donald Trump is just too much for one to endure these days. Every time people step outside their door theyhave to pay taxes for goods and services, so why are they forced to sit down every year worrying about how much more they owe the government? Those lucky enough to get a refund will be able to scrape by with the rent or a new set of all-season tires.
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1 week ago | 
columbiavalleypioneer.com | Lyonel Doherty
Columbia Valley Pioneer staffAn application is afoot to develop a ‘Glamping’ nature resort and five residential (one acre) lots in rural Wilmer. On April 10 the Regional District of East Kootenay heard a presentation by Richard Haworth of Haworth Development Consulting regarding an application for a zoning amendment to develop a luxurious campground on Westside Road just before you arrive at Wilmer townsite. The property is 42.5 acres (17 hectares) and is not within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
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2 weeks ago | 
columbiavalleypioneer.com | Lyonel Doherty
EditorialChild sex trafficking is a topic not many people want to talk about these days, but Cathy Peters has done it for the past 11 years in hopes to save just one youth from being exploited. The long-time educator from Vancouver recently sent the Regional District of East Kootenay a letter asking the board to pressure BC Premier David Eby to repeal the province’s decriminalization of hard drugs.
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2 weeks ago | 
columbiavalleypioneer.com | Lyonel Doherty
A Day in the LifeBy Lyonel Doherty[email protected]What is your name, kid? “Tistan.” (He can’t pronounce the “r” so that is how it comes out.)Trystan, what do you want to be when you grow up? [staring silence]Okay, let me rephrase that. What career choice is at the top of your list? [more staring silence]Sigh, okay . . . if you were an adult, what is the first thing you would do? [deafening silence . . . come on, man, I’m only two years old; give me a Blippi break!]Mmmm . . .
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3 weeks ago | 
columbiavalleypioneer.com | Lyonel Doherty
EditorialAsk anyone who has visited the Columbia Valley, Invermere in particular, and they will tell you it’s one of the most beautiful places in B.C. to roam. (Just listen to the B-52’s song ‘Roam’ and you might swear the band wrote it with our lovely valley in mind.)But apparently Invermere is also “eccentric,” according to a travel article in World Atlas. If you look up the definition, the words “slightly strange” and “unusual” pop up (in a good way in our case).
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3 weeks ago | 
columbiavalleypioneer.com | Lyonel Doherty
Columbia Valley Pioneer staffOnce again, Invermere has proven to be a giving community by raising $340,000 for a new ultrasound service for its hospital. The East Kootenay Foundation for Health fundraising campaign called ‘Beneath the Surface’ started in January and has already raised the money —a $150,000 from the Invermere Health Care Auxiliary, $20,000 from the Panorama Foundation, and over $171,000 indonations from across the community.
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1 month ago | 
columbiavalleypioneer.com | Lyonel Doherty
EditorialLane recently turned the ‘dreaded 60’ but was happy that he now qualified for the 30 per cent seniors discount at Value Village on Tuesdays. (Man, if that was the highlight of his birthday, the guy’s got issues; one being an uneventful life.)The father of two does his fair share of complaining about politicians, nonsensical rap music hijacking award shows, and shoppers coughing in his face.
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1 month ago | 
columbiavalleypioneer.com | Lyonel Doherty
EditorialUnless you’ve been there, the ability to fathom what it feels like to lose a child in a senseless accident and then try to find the patience for justice through a sloth-like legal system is heart-wrenching. The wheels turn very slowly, like a fruit fly in a bowl of dark molasses, an unmerciful pit with no overhanging branches to grab onto. It’s a frustrating scenario that countless people find themselves wrapped up in as they navigate the many twists and turns.
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1 month ago | 
columbiavalleypioneer.com | Lyonel Doherty
Columbia Valley Pioneer staffExcitement is building around a proposed equestrian academy for students at David Thompson Secondary School. Last week teacher Simone Randall and principal Heather English submitted a proposal to the board of education to offer a horse riding/training academy to interested students. The board approved it and DTSS will make it available for course selection. The board previously approved an equine studies course at Selkirk Secondary School in Kimberley.
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1 month ago | 
columbiavalleypioneer.com | Lyonel Doherty
EditorialMeet Jane, the artificial intelligence (AI) bot that was pitched to Radium council recently. She is empathetic and super nice, but needs a little work as does any emerging technology. Oh, and she’s as funny as Amy Schumer on a bad day. When asked how to get information on short-term rentals (many residents’ favourite topic), or what to do if you see an injured animal, she replied, “I totally understand, what can I help you with?”You can’t blame her because she’s new; a prototype.
