Echo file photo 2009 - Village of Radium Hot Springs Mayor Dee Conklin strikes a pose with two of the four 2010 Olympic Winter Games mascots

Echo file photo 2009 - Village of Radium Hot Springs Mayor Dee Conklin strikes a pose with two of the four 2010 Olympic Winter Games mascots

Remember When? (February 27)

A look back at what happened in the valley over the past 50 years

5 years ago (2008): The Columbia Valley Transit System began service after opening day ceremonies with local politicians at the Lions Hall. The new service brought daily public transportation from Edgewater to Canal Flats.

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Police arrived to a call  to find a drunk, bleeding and shirtless 23 year-old who was being restrained by another man. As an officer was arresting the 23 year-old, the arrestee’s 19 year-old sister struck the officer and was also arrested. The 19 year-old’s 18 year-old friend intervened and tried to obstruct the arrest of her friend; she was also arrested.

10 years ago (2003): Four burglars were caught after a two and a half hour man hunt. The chase began after an attempted armed robbery at the Edgewater Credit Union.

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Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Wendy McMahon launched a website to keep constituents up to date with provincial politics in the valley and in Victoria. McMahon cited the many benefits available for young members of the riding.

20 years ago (1993): There was no discussion at a council meeting when a motion was passed to increase DOI councillors’ income by 10.2 per cent.

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A referendum was being held in Invermere to determine the name of the new high school, asking whether residents prefer the existing ‘David Thompson Secondary School’, or ‘Rocky Mountain Secondary School’.

25 years ago (1988): A cow elk was shot in season and as a rare occurrence, a fetal elk was found inside the mother only a week before its expected birth. As a calf born out of season, the elk would have died shortly after its winter birth, Invermere’s conservation office told The Echo.

35 years ago (1978): A snowball fight between two school-aged boys led the the recovery of $500 in stolen cash. During their lunch hour, Trevor Vollet and Monte Arnold were exchanging snowballs when Trevor spotted a bank book while dodging a throw. The bank book contained cards and an envelope filled with cash. Trevor and Monte turned the banking goods into the police after school. Impressed by the boys honesty, fifty dollars was awarded by the victim.

40 years ago (1973): Cans and bottles required a five cent down payment, an increase of two cents. Twenty-six ounce bottles jumped from five to ten cent deposits.

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A three year old boy went missing at 4:30pm on a Sunday after climbing up a steep hill while hiking with his parents near Swansea Road. Along with friends and family of the boy, the RCMP, Civil Defence, workers of the Radium sawmill and an entire bonspiel of curlers stopped what they were doing to participate in search efforts. The boy was found unharmed around 10 p.m., although he was tired, hungry and missed his parents.

45 years ago (1968): ‘Thinking Day’ was celebrated by scouts, guides, cubs and brownies the week prior, where their obedience and ‘smart appearance’ were demonstrated before their parents.

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A $540 cheque was donated to the Windermere Hospital to assist in the purchase of a new incubator by the Windermere Ladies’ Hospital Aid.

50 years ago (1963): A capital murder charge was not downgraded for Moses Jimmy at a preliminary hearing. Jimmy was accused of murdering a woman who was found dead in his cabin with a .22 bullet between her eyes.

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It was estimated that by 1965, one million more jobs would be needed in Canada to support the growing working population.

 

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