50 years ago: It was announced that Invermere would be the location for the 1961 East Kootenay Drama Festival, eight plays expected to be performed. Competitive entries from other areas were also expected. The event was to run from April 28 to April 29.
45 years ago: The office of the Invermere Building Supplies shop of Invermere Hardware caught fire and was completely destroyed. However, the fire did not manage to get to the lumber supplies.
40 years ago: Fun Day was held at Panorama Mountain Village, with adults and children out in their best costumes for the event. There was also an Easter Bonnet contest and a slalom race that took place on the Showoff run.
35 years ago: A Judo competition was held at DTSS, with 134 participants. The event was described as “very successful and well-co-ordinated”. Several prizes were awarded to competitors for various categories and divisions.
30 years ago: Senior citizens in Invermere presented $300 to the Minor Hockey Association in order to help the youths with recreation. They had also previously given a donation to the Columbia Valley Figure Skating Club. The donations were collected through their regular bingo night games.
25 years ago: The Echo and other officials received several complaints of dogs running loose around Invermere. One such complaint from a female resident was that several large dogs were spotted near the post office on 12th Street.
20 years ago: A seven-year-old girl was struck by lightning during an afternoon surprise storm and was admitted to the Invermere and District Hospital. She was released later the same day with hair singed. Hospital officials did not release the girl’s name.
15 years ago: A fire broke out on the CPR bridge on 4th Avenue in Invermere, with firefighters responding on the scene mere minutes after the call was made.
A 1981 Ford Custom F-250 was destroyed in the blaze. However, no one was injured. The fire was believed to have been caused by an electrical short.
10 years ago: It was announced that Invermere would be the location of the North American Native fastpitch championship, with 20 men’s and 20 women’s teams arriving in August 2001 to compete.
5 years ago: At least 12 Lake Windermere Rod and Gun Club members, and other stragglers in the area, headed up Hawke Road and in the Nature Trusts’s Hoodoos property to help thin out some of the bush and improve the range habitat in the area.