The second part to our review of the stories that defined 2024 for Kimberley. Festivals returned, or celebrated significant anniversaries. Wildfires destroyed homes at the aq’am community. The McDonald’s proposal was voted down by City Council, while other major projects got green-lit or began construction. People were recognized for their heroic efforts, thousands of dollars were raised by countless charitable endeavours. Looking back on the year, it’s easy to see why Kimberley is such a great place to be. Thank you for reading.
July
Council, staff hear from over 50 Kimberley residents at public hearing
A public hearing was held giving the residents of Kimberley the chance to voice their opinions regarding the proposed zoning amendment to allow for the construction of a McDonald’s and a service station in Kimberley. A total of 52 people took to the podium, with all but three opposed.
JulyFest turns 50
The 50th annual JulyFest was held from July 14 to 16. This past year’s event saw Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce Becky Warkentin take the reigns of the festival, and local musician Heather Gemmell step into the role of music management. Some changes included adding a second stage and focusing more on music, making JulyFest more family friendly and not having bands play back to back years at the festival. The latter decision was met with some pushback, with some local bands who weren’t invited to play this year creating their own concert, which they called July on the Side.
Seven homes lost in aq’am Community due to wildfire
It was another bad year for wildfires internationally, in B.C. and right here in the East Kootenay. A wildfire sparked on July 17 and quickly got out of control, causing dozens of evacuations and alerts around the aq’am community, with seven homes tragically lost to the fire.
Council votes down zoning change for potential McDonald’s
After six months of community discussion and council consideration, the re-zoning motion that would have allowed for a McDonald’s and service station to be built in Kimberley, finally came before Council. In a 4-3 split decision, Council voted down a second reading, putting a halt to the development.
Kimberley council approves development permit for 39-unit apartment building
At their meeting on Monday, July 31 Council approved a development permit for a 39-unit apartment building at the intersection of Rotary Drive and Jim Ogilvie Way, near Black Bear Bridge. Mayor Don McCormick said that the building is CMHC financed and that Kimberley “desperately need the doors in this community.”
BC Hockey approves Junior A status for three Junior B hockey leagues
It was announced in July that three Junior B leagues in B.C. would officially be reclassified as Junior A, following the departure of the BCHL to an independent league, creating a void for Junior A hockey in the province. This included the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) to which the Dynamiters belong, the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL).
August
Kimberley RCMP recognize men who saved girl from drowning
Sgt. Steven Woodcox, detachment commander of the Kimberley RCMP, presented certificates of appreciation to Cranbrook’s Jason Sherratt and Kimberley’s Chris Pearson for saving the life of a three-year-old girl who nearly drowned in Wasa Lake on July 25.
“The reason that we presented some awards to these gentlemen today is the fact that they got involved and stepped up and took action. This is the reason this little girl is alive today so I just wanted to recognize the brave efforts of these gentlemen,” Woodcox said. “The family of the little girl couldn’t be happier for the action these two gentlemen took.”
Stage 2 water restrictions continue
As hot, dry weather persisted in Kimberley, with nearly the entire province experiencing the worst or second-worst possible drought level, residents were reminded that State 2 water restrictions were in effect for early August. This meant a reduction in lawn watering.
Kimberley climber headed to Youth World Championships in South Korea
TJ Foley a 19-year-old climber from Kimberley, went on a trip to Seoul on Aug. 15 to compete in the 2023 Youth World Championships.
Foley, whose father Tim is superintendent at the Purcell Golf Course in Kimberley, was there on Wednesday, Aug. 9, raising funds for his trip by selling raffle tickets to win an $800 TaylorMade driver to golfers on the first tee box.
ʔaq̓am declares state of emergency in response to drug, gang-related deaths
The ʔaq’am Community declared a State of Emergency in response to drug and gang-related deaths and violence, following a tragedy that claimed the life of a resident in July.
The calls to action include asking ʔaq’am residents to be vigilant in reporting criminal activity to RCMP and Council, calling on the federal and provincial levels of government to fulfill investigative and prosecutorial responsibilities for drug and gang crimes on community lands.
Kimberley Kaleidoscope festival shuts down early due to wildfire smoke
On Saturday, Aug. 19, the decision was made to cancel the remainder of Kaleidoscope Festival due to poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke.
Kimberley’s Ben Taylor-Vallance, 13, youngest ever Black Spur Ultra 54-km finisher
Kimberley’s Ben Taylor-Vallance, 13, completed the Black Spur Ultra 54-kilometre race at Kimberley Alpine Resort, and in doing so became the youngest to have ever completed it. This was his first ultra marathon, but is on a cross country team and prepared diligently ahead of the race. He said he plans to sign up again in 2024.
September
A little Kimberley history uncovered during building renovation
Building owners revealed a bit of Kimberley history while renovating their building on the corner of Mark Street and Wallinger Avenue.
Under the old stucco they uncovered the building’s original siding, still adorned with the painted advertisements from Muraca’s grocery store, originally opened by Antonio (Tony) Muraca in 1936.
Kimberley’s annual Terry Fox Run raises $1705 for cancer research
The annual Terry Fox run took place on Sunday, Sept. 17, one of a string of 43 events that have happened in Kimberley.The event, organized for years by former City Councillor Darryl Oakley, raised $1705, with nearly $100,000 raised by this City over the years.
October
Hundreds join walk for truth and reconciliation in ʔaq̓am
Hundreds of ʔaq̓am community residents, Ktunaxa Nation citizens and guests joined together for a meaningful hike during a rainy Saturday (Sept. 30) morning to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The walk began and ended at the St. Eugene resort, formerly the Kootenay Indian Residential School, and stopped midway at a viewpoint on a ridge above the ʔaq̓am community known as Crying Hill. It’s there Ktunaxa and Indigenous children forced to attend the school would first get an unobstructed glimpse of the building.
Council approves Kimberley expansion proposal
At their meeting on Monday, Sept. 26, Kimberley City Council unanimously voted in favour of expanding some of the City’s transit routes: Route 22, the Kimberley-Cranbrook Commuter, Route 23, the winter shuttle and the Route 24 local on-demand transit service.
Now that Council has approved the expansion of these routes, this expansion initiative will be included in BC Transit’s funding request to the province. Following confirmation from the provincial budget in around February, 2024, BC Transit will begin an implementation process.
Kimberley Fire Department hosts annual open house
The Kimberley Fire Department held their annual open house at the station on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Always a popular event, the street was filled with families and firefighters, who gave numerous fun and engaging demonstrations of things like the Jaws of Life, the hoses and the lifts.
Also on display was a very special piece of local firefighting history, the 1941 Ford Two-Ton engine, freshly repainted, courtesy of Signal Collision.
City of Kimberley launches organic waste collection
The City of Kimberley launched its organic waste collection program in September, after purchasing a truck for that purpose the previous year, at a cost of $367,136 that was covered by grants.
The City said the initial weeks of the program went even better than they expected.
October
Ground broken for new 39-unit apartment complex in Kimberley
A sod-turning ceremony was held in Kimberley on Tuesday, Oct. 3 for the new Harvest Apartments, located at 10 Jim Ogilvie Way.
This was the official kick off for the project and construction is set to begin in the following weeks. The building will consist of 39 one, two and three-bedroom units.
This new building is a project of Harvest Asset Management, based out of Saskatoon, Sask. In attendance at the sod-turning ceremony were president Stephen Gray and CEO Chris Luczka, as well as Andrew Loewen of Canada ICI Capital, one of Harvest’s finance partners.
Federal government funds tourism infrastructure projects in Kootenays
The government of Canada is investing over $4.7 million in Southern Interior communities to revitalize public spaces and enhance tourism experience. Kimberley, Creston and Fernie are three of the communities who will receive some of the funding.
Kimberley and Creston are receiving funds through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund.
The City of Kimberley is receiving $750,000 for their current revitalization of the Platzl parking lot area. The project includes additional parking, new lighting, bike racks, park benches and infrastructure work.
Kimberley to host 2024 BC Hockey Junior A Championships
It was announced in October that Kimberley will host the 2024 BC Hockey Junior A Championships from April 18 to 21, 2024. The announcement comes following the news from July that the three teams that made up Junior B hockey in B.C., the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL), the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) and the Vancouver Island Hockey League (VIJHL), applied and were approved for Junior A status.
Kimberley are the defending KIJHL champions, having narrowly beaten out the Princeton Posse in game seven overtime to bring home the Teck Cup. They then finished in second place at the Cyclone Taylor Cup, with host team, the Revelstoke Grizzlies hoisting the trophy.
Second-annual KORE Summit held in Kimberley
The second-annual KORE Outdoor Rec Tech Summit was held at the Kimberley Conference Centre from October 11 to 13, drawing together a crowd of recreation technology designers, manufacturers and industry leaders to learn, network and share ideas.
Fall Fair returns
After a few tough years of not being able to hold the Kimberley Community Fall Fair, it went off without a hitch this year, and Cindy Postnikoff from Military Ames, who organized the event, could not be more pleased.
Massive season ahead for Dreadnaught Ski Racing in Kimberley
Last winter was the biggest season Dreadnaught Ski Racing has ever had, setting a new precedent for the non-profit, volunteer run organization, but 2023/24 is going to far surpass it.
With nine events booked, including the Master World Criterium, which is essentially the World Cup for Masters ski racing, Donna Briggs of Dreadnaught has calculated that this season will not only continue to cement Kimberley and the Kimberley Alpine Resort (KAR) as a premier destination for ski racing, but will inject around $1.8 million into the local economy.
Purcell Collegiate’s head of school reflects on first month of semester at St. Eugene
It’s been nearly six years since Purcell International Education (PIE) was first formed, with the plan of building a cutting-edge international school on the grounds of the Kimberley Golf Club in Kimberley, B.C., which PIE purchased in 2020 for its school-operating company, Purcell Collegiate Incorporated (PCI).
Through many twists and turns that vision remains the same, but for the meantime, Purcell Collegiate is now officially educating and housing students at the St. Eugene Resort, a former residential school located on the aq’am Community just outside of Cranbrook, owned by the four Ktunaxa communities including the akisq;nuk, aq’am,akinkumasnuqiit (Tobacco Plains), Yaqan nukiy (Lower Kootenay) and the Shuswap Indian Band.
November
Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary donates $150,000 to East Kootenay Foundation for Health
The Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary celebrated 70 years of community service with a $150,000 donation to the East Kootenay Foundation for Health.
$10,000 of the donation is to go towards furniture upgrades for residents at the Pines in Kimberley, with the remaining $140,000 going to the Warm Embrace campaign, raising funds for a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.
Record film submissions at seventh-annual Kimberley Horror Fest
The seventh-annual Kimberley Horror Fest was by all measures a massive success, selling out the day tickets went on sale, and getting the most films ever submitted.
City of Kimberley CAO Scott Sommerville moves on
The City of Kimberley has initiated search for a new Chief Corporate Administrative Officer as Scott Sommerville is moving on.
Sommerville has been Kimberley’s CAO for more than 10 years, but has accepted a position as CAO with a municipality on Vancouver Island.
New Swan Ave Adventure Park opens
The new Swan Ave. Adventure Park is now officially open.
Located in Swan Sub, the park boasts a wide range of activities including a zipline, swing set, rock climbing zone, and other play structures. A large gazebo will house benches for lacing up skates and picnic tables to promote community gathering.
The park was the vision of local Kimberley residents Todd Larsen, Jeff Rees and others who worked diligently to raise the funding needed to support the build.
December
City announces $90 million secured for new waste water treatment plant
Kimberley will get a new waste water treatment plant.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Kimberley Conference Centre on Monday, Dec. 4.
Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick was joined by aq’am nasu’kin (Chief) Joe Pierre and Minister of Municipal Affairs Anne Kang to make the announcement.
Kang said that with thanks to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Agreement, the provincial and federal governments partnered with the City of Kimberley to make this agreement a reality. Together, the investment in the project is north of $90 million, with around $30.2 million coming from the Province.
Proposed solar farm in East Kootenay raises concerns
The possibility of large scale solar farms dotting the grasslands in the East Kootenay has some residents alarmed, and Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok says that at this point he could not support the proposal.
The proposal is a licence area of just under 5,000 hectares and comes from a company called Sun Valley Solar. In its management plan, the company says that the final location of the solar farm is not yet known and will depend on “extensive desk-top engineering and financial analysis of each of the five polygon areas during the Investigative Licence term.”
Kimberley’s newest business The Bellwether opens its doors in Marysville
A new business in Marysville opened its doors for the first time on Saturday, Nov. 25. The Bellwether, with its slogan: “Curate where you dwell,” is the brainchild of Kimberley’s Celeste Needham.
Before this venture, Needham opened Talaria Footwear and Adornment in the Platzl in 2015. A resident of Kimberley for 12 years, Needham has been witness to the progression the business community has undergone in that time period.
Opening Day at Kimberley Alpine Resort
Kimberley Alpine Resort is now open for the 2023/24 season, as of 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 15.
Callum Roche, Luke Stopanski, Tayton Robison, Cliff Jarvis and Ethan Eskelin all camped out since Thursday afternoon for the distinct honour of being on the first chairlift up the hill.
COTR to close Kimberley campus
The College of the Rockies has confirmed that it will be closing its Kimberley campus.
Heather Jackson, Manager Communications and Marketing for COTR, said, “We are ending our lease with Blarchmont School as of May 2024.”