50 years ago: The mosquito control committee for the Windermere district had completed their projects for 1962. Two “sprays” were reported to have been made across the entire district, and a third over “most” of the district. The committee chairman reported that they hoped to continue the campaign for at least two more years after which an occasional spraying were estimated to be able to keep the valley mosquito-free.
45 years ago: There was an open house night at the Edgewater School, and parents had a chance to meet the new principal, Michael George. Over the duration of his introduction to parents, George discussed some of the improvements that were coming to classrooms, including tape recorders which would allow for pre-recorded lessons.
35 years ago: BC Hydro plans were underway for the construction of a new substation and a 69 KV transmission line to feed additional power to the Athalmer substation at the crossroads. As the new line was to cross at least 10 private land owners property, there was a fair amount of resistance from these landowners who wanted to know why their land had to be disfigured. The BC Hydro representative told them that projects were determined based on the lowest possible costs to taxpayers.
25 years ago: Hundreds of land-locked Kokanee salmon were invading the waterways of the Columbia Valley as part of their migratory path. 10,000 salmon had been spotted as far south as Dutch Creek, while another 22,000 were estimated in the Columbia River from the Fairmont highway bridge down to the Fairmont meadows. The largest schools, some numbering over 500,000, could be found from the outlet of Windermere Lake down to Toby Creek.
10 years ago: Radium’s Aquacourt and Redstreak Campground in Kootenay National Park could have potentially become private ventures, provided a federal government review found it viable. In an effort to streamline government operations in the parks, swimming pools, campgrounds, and park gates could have been sold off or leased out to private interests. There was also talk to “reduce the load ofbureaucracy.”