C2 December 31, 1986

1986 diary of local events

compiled by Mary Picton

Ganuary

Jan. 3
Castlegar RCMP’s CounterAttack program is a huge hit
as police check 1,815 vehicles from Dec. 8 to today. Of that
total, only four people are charged with drinking and driving
offenses.
Jan.5
Castlegar’s New Year's baby finally arrives at 3:56 p.m.
at Castlegar and District Hospital. He is Kevin Lizette, the
seven-pound, 13-ounce son of Derek and Patricia Lizette of
Robson.
Jan.5
The Doukhobor Benevolent Society signs a $303,500
contract with Vandongen ion Co. Ltd. of Kamloops
for the construction of a 10-unit senior citizens housing
development at the corner of 2nd St. and 11th Avenue in
. Construction is to start in March, with project
completion scheduled for June.
Jan.9
The Commission of Inquiry on Unemployment Insur
ance comes to Castlegar, sponsored by the Castlegar Unem
ployed Action Centre. About 75 people, most of them
unemployed, hear the presentations, which describe the
impact of unemployment on West Kootenay residents and
suggest changes to the UIC Act.
Jan. 12
Springlike weather is being enjoyed by local residents.
The last two days have set records for warmth for the month
of January, says the weather office.
Jan. 13
Rededication ceremonies at Selkirk College's three
campuses and six centres kick off the college's 20th
anniversary celebrations.
Jan.15
Castlegar school district loses more than 50 students
since September, and Superintendent of Schools Terry
Wyling is concerned about the declining enrolment. He
attributes the decline to parents of students leaving the
Castlegar area in search of jobs.
Jan. 19
Nearly 1,000 fans turn out at the Community Complex
to watch former hockey superstars in an exhibition contest
between the Montreal Oldpros and Kootenay Select
Oldtimers. Among the celebrities are Henri Richard
(“Pocket Rocket”). Norm Ullman, Eddie Shack, Andy
Bathgate and referee Maurice “Rocket™ Richard
Jan, 23
A former senior loans officer of the Bank of Montreal's
Commercial Banking Unit is sentenced in Castlegar
provincial court to two years less a day for embezzling more
than $84,000 from the bank over a four-year period
Selkirk College Board agrees to begin accepting foreign
students, but the move is met with some criticism by the
Selkirk College Student Society. A society representative
says the college is trying to attract “wealthy foreign
students” while some local students can't afford a college

education

Feb.7
More than 50 performers and groups audition at Stanley
Humphries secondary school for regional weeks this summer
at Expo ‘86. Communities within the Kootenay-Boundary
regions will stage their performances between June 29 and
July 5.
Feb. 12
A special agreement between the City of Castlegar and
the Oglow Subdivision’s developers, signed some 20 years
ago, finally runs out. Under the agreement the homeowners
haven't had to pay municipal water or sewer taxes.
However, now for the first time, owners will be paying
frontage taxes.
Feb. 14
Castlegar’s Felix Belezyk and Hans Edblad are among
those competing at the Canadian Men's Alpine champion
ships at Red Mountain. Belezyk places third in the
competition, .01 seconds ahead of Todd Brooker

ELECTION ‘86 . Premier Bill Vander Zalm and wite
Lillian were given a tour’ of Zuckerberg Island

Feb. 15

Canadian Red Cross Society opens its West Kootenay
Communications/Information Centre and Castlegar Loan
Service at the Sandman Inn.

Feb. 19

The City of Castlegar has an official logo — an airplane
flying across a highway inside a circle with the words City of
Castlegar — Crossroads of the Kootenays.

. .

Castlegar school board adopts a policy on the deadly
disease AIDS. Should a case of AIDS occur in the district,
the policy calls for an assessment team to be established
composed of the school medical health officer, the child's
doctor, the child's parents or guardian and a representative
of the school and/or school district. “We don't want to get
caught making an 11th-hour decision,” says a policy
committee member.

. . .

Westar Timber’s Celgar Pulp operations asks the
environment ministry for a delay in meeting tough new
pollution control standards. Instead of complying with the
new standards, Westar proposes a 10-year, $35 million
pollution control and modernization program for the Celgar
mill

Feb. 21

Castlegar Rebels drop a heartbreaking 4-2 decision to
Grand Forks Border Bruins in the seventh and deciding
game of their Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
semi-final series before a packed house at the Community
Complex

. .

Building foundation has been poured for the new
Castlegar Chamber of Commerce building, and framing is
proceeding quickly at the site next to the Community
Complex

Feb. 24

Cross-country ski racers from Kinnaird Junior and
Stanley Humphries Secondary schools combine to capture
the B.C. High School championship held at Whistler.

. .

jack Charters, retired teacher, local historian, author
and CasNews columnist is chosen Citizen of the Year at the
Castlegar Kiwanis Club's meeting.

March 1
March comes in like a lamb, as temperatures rise to 8
degrees, tying the mark for the warmest March 1 on record

Heritage Park by John Charters during their summer
visit to Castlegar.

March 3
Heavy fog forces the cancbllation of Mila Mulroney's
4"-hour visit to Castlegar, but the show goes on anyway.
About 175 people, including representatives of 14 ethnic
groups, local dignitaries, student choirs and the SHSS band,
are on hand at the Castlegar Primary school for the
activities.
March
ntral Kootenay regional board agrees to write the
highways minjstry for a request to declare the provincial
ferries systerh an essential service. The move follows a
letter written by a Glade resident to Premier Bennett citing
various problems encountered by the small community
during government employee strikes.
. *

Delegates to the 24th annual Pulp, Paper and
Woodworkers of Canada convention in Castlegar voice
strong opposition to free trade with the U.S. Inste: they
support enlarging the secondary industry base to create
Canadian jobs and preserve the country's own political and
economic independence

March 11

Castlegar council votes to convert all city vehicles to
propane fuel, despite rapidly falling gasoline prices. The city
hopes to recover the $26,000 conversion cost in less than 18
months.

. 2 6

Council rejects a request from the Robson/Raspberry
Improvement District to hook into the city’s water system,
saying the addition of homes from that area would “overtax”
the city water system.

March 12

Work begins on the new Ministry of Forests office on
Columbia Ave., with the cutting down of many of the trees
covering the lot.

* © «

escent Valley RCMP detachment closes, and the

Castlegar detachment begins 24-hour policing of the area.
March 13

B.C. Health Minister Stephen Rogers put in a brief
appearance in Castlegar to attend the opening ceremonies of
the expanded Central Kootenay (now Rotary) Health Unit
building on 10th Street.

March 18

Castlegar council gives its conditional support to a $2
million recreation/commercial project in Ootischenia that
includes a waterslide park.

March 26

The Ministry of Highways starts extensive landscaping

on the shoulders of the Highway 3 interchange in the first

phase of a facelift. The landscaping is in addition to the
planned Expo ‘86 flower garden at the interchange.

March 30
Tn a bid to combat vandalism, Castlegar council
establishes a standing reward of $500 for the apprehension
and conviction of any vandal.

April

April

Castlegar’s Dale Hockley and the RCMP rink win the
Canadian police championship for the second it year
by ending a Saskatchewan rink 3-2 in Halifax. Hockley and
second Jim Molitwenik are also named to the all-star team.

April 2

Selkirk College goes Hollywood, as a documentary-
drama is shot on the Castlegar campus to promote the
college's Graphic Communications program.

13

Sixty-two West Kootenay residents from 17 different
countries are sworn in as new Canadians in a grand
ceremony at Stanley Humphries secondary school. The
second consecutive citizenship ceremony in Castlegar
includes 33 local residents.

April 14

William Deverell, author of best-selling suspense books,
thrills a large crowd at the Castlegar Library with readings
from his four books. He's in Castlegar as part of the National
Book Festival.

. 28 *«

For the second year in a row, the provinjcial
government agrees to defer the interest due on the $1.2
million industrial park loan. The interest for the two years
totals $220,107 as of Oct. 1, 1985.

17

Westar Timber Ltd. is found not guilty of charges that
the company’s Celgar Pulp operations violated its pollution
control permit on 28 days in May 1985 by emitting excess
amounts of bivalent sulphur compounds from the mil
recovery boiler.

April 20

A series of search warrants are executed on a number of
local residences as part of an investigation by local RCMP
into the activiites of Dixie Dee Powers, a self-proclaimed
Castlegar psychic who says God revealed to her a plan to
eliminate poverty from the world.

April 22

Ministry of Transport reveals a proposed $3.5 million
expansion for the Castlegar Airport terminal, which will
nearly triple the size of the present structure.

April

Castlegar Selkirk Lions Club kicks off its 10th annual
West Kootenay Trade Fair, with organizers optimistic that
the lull in attendance experienced over the last few years
has ended.

April 27

Four people are hired under the Modified Industrial
Labor Adjustment Program grant to dismantle an old
Doukhobor house in Raspberry Village, in the first phase of
the rebuilding of the Doukhobor Village destroyed by fire
last fall

- 2 «6

A little more than a month after it decides to convert all
city vehicles to propane fuel, Castlegar council changes its
mind, feeling it wasn’t “an economically viable” plan.

May

May 1

Castlegar school board votes 6-1 to raise the tax on an
average home in Castlegar by a total of $43 as part of the
board's approval of an $8.6 million operating budget for the
1986-87 school year.

May 2
Sporting a $1.6 billion price tag, Expo 86, the largest
and most expensive ever world’s fair opens in Vancouver,
with the Prince and Princess of Wales as its star attractions.
With every move of the royal pair televised, early crowds on
opening day are lower than anticipated.
May 4
Two local bars open their doors today as part of the
provincial government's decision to allow bars to open on
Sunday during the run of Expo 86.

revitalization plan for Castlegar’s downtown core. The
approximately 30 property holders directly affected agree
‘in general” to the plan.

A bench warrant is issued for the arrest of Laura Grace

after she fails to appear provincial court
charges of fraud and conducting and managing a “pyramid”
scheme.

May7
A Lower Mainland company, headed by Blueberry
Creek resident Sam Conkin, brings high tech to the hotel
and motel business with an automated motel registration
system known as Night Clerk. The invention could mean
10-15 new- jobs for the West Kootenay.
May 10

Kinnaird Junior secondary school's band brings home
the top prize from the 35th annual Spokane Junior Lilac
Parade, beating out 66 American schools for the title of best
band in the parade.

May 13

Castlegar and Distsict Projet ‘Saaity unveils plans for
a $2.4 million aquatic and fitness centre to be located next to
the existing Community Complex.
May 14
A proposed bylaw to re-zone a piece of property in
Robson to permit the operation of a neighborhood pub and
take-out restaurant receives full support at a public hearing
in Robson Hall.
May 24
Regional District of Central Kootenay directors reject a
re-zoning application that would pave the way for
construction of a $2 million waterslide theme park in
Ootischenia.

a May 28

‘The month finishes with a record high temperature of
34 degrees. ‘The hot weather comes suddenly, a direct
contrast to the early part of the month which set record low
temperatures for the area.

Gune

Junel
Cominco Ltd. announces its decision to sell West
Kootenay Power and Light Co. to improve the financial
position of the company. West Kootenay owns four
hydroelectric plants on the Kootenay River with a capacity
of 200 megawatts.
June 3
Selkirk College instructor Fred Wah receives the 1985
Governor General's Literary Award for English language
poetry at a ceremony in Montreal.
June 5
The Glade and Harrop ferries will not be struck and will
continue to run “as usual” during a strike, confirms a
representative of the B.C. Government Employees’ Union.
However, she points out that the decision does not mean the
ferries are essential services.
June 9
Despite pleas and protests from rural parents and
residents, Castlegar school board decides to ask the Ministry
of Education to close four rural elementary schools in an
effort to save more than $100,000 in operating costs in the
1986-87 school year. The Blueberry Creek, Ootischenia, Pass
Creek and Shoreacres schools will shut down July 1
June 16
Castlegar’s Library's long wait for money from the
Expo Legacy Fund ends when the minister responsible for
the fund announces a $200,000 grant to help construct a new
library buliding downtown. Hon. Jim Hewitt, in town for the
announcement, is amazed by the number of books crammed
into the present facility.
June 21
The 1986 Stanley Humphries secondary school
graduating class of 178 students holds its commencement
exercises at the Community Complex. Major award winners
are David Wilson, K.T. and R.E. McGauley Memorial
Scholarship; Warren Schatz, Cal Sookachoff and Steve
Picton, Fishwick Award; Brian Voykin (class valedictorian),
Leaders Award; Lori Dawson, Aggregate Award; and
Wendy Guymer, Stanley Humphries Award.
. .

Castlegar and District Hospital ends its fiscal year with
an operating deficit of $37,859 but the deficit isn't as high as
the previous year when the hospital was $67,147 in the red

June 24

Castlegar school board's recent decision not to
reconsider closing four rural elementary schools prompts a
committee of parents to consult a lawyer about the closures.

Castlegar Rotarian Jim Lamont receives the Paul
Harris Fellowship, the club's highest award, in recognition
of his 24 years of service to the club.

June 28

Ministry of Education’s accreditation team evaluates
Stanley Humphries sécondary school and gives it a passing
grade, but the high school slips from the perfect
score it received in its last accreditation six years ago.

July 3
Langham Cultural Centre in Kaslo is granted a brief
ws asa campaign for funds brings in $19,000 (with
money still coming in) towards paying off the centre's
$25,000 mortgage.
July7
Several well-known Castlegar residents are among 25
delegates elected to the Social Credit Party leadership
convention later this month at Whistler. They are: Burt
Campbell, Cari Henne, Paul Moroso, Mary Wade Anderson;
Gordon Brady and Jim Young.
July 8
Retired Castlegar teacher Alma McGauley presents
Consumer and Corporate Affairs Minister Elwood Veitch
with a 5,088-name petition asking the provincial government
to hold a formal inquiry into the-bagkruptcy of Teachers’
Investment and Housing Cooperative.
July 11
SunFest °86 kicks off this morning with the annual
Chamber of Commerce yard beautification
contest, won by Bruno and Linda Vidizzon of 1813 Connors
Road. Evening brings the highlight of the day's activities
with the crowning of 16-year-old Jennifer Peterson as Miss
Castlegar 1986.
. 7 8

Dixie Dee Powers, former Castlegar resident wanted on

violation of the Wyoming Uniform hiprshosry seh Act. Natrona
County assistant district attorney says “there appears to be
a reasonably good chance of extradition,” but adds further
talks with Canadian officials must be held.
July 15
Castlegar library board abandons plans to expand the
downtown branch and will instead dismantle the 3rd Street
building and construct a new library on the site.
18
Speaking to about 40 party faithfuls during a breakfast
meeting in Castlegar, provincial secretary Grace McCarthy
promises to restore the role of the Social Credit Party's
grassroots and head a government that will be more
accessible to the people if she is elected party leader and
premier after the Socred leadership convention at Whistler.
.

Regional districts of Central Kootenay, Kootenay
Boundary, Central Okanagan and Okanagan Similkameen
commission, a Vancouver consulting firm, to conduct a
$10,000 feasibility study into the purchase of West Kootenay
Power & Light Co. However, the Okanagan districts,
initiators of the takeover proposal, later opt out, pointing to
problems getting provincial approval. Kootenay Boundary
also temporarily pulls out because of its earlier motion to
enter the deal only if all four districts participate.

July 23

Prince Andrew marries red-haired Sarah Ferguson
today at Westminster Abbey in London in a spectacle that
musters all the pomp and glory of Britain's 920-year-old
monarchy

July 30

Bill Vander Zalm comes out on top of all other Socred

leadership candidates in the crucial first ballot in his bid for

Bennett's job.

Aug.6
Nearly 100 people turn out at the Castlegar courthouse
parking lot to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the
bombing of Hiroshima. Participants clasp hands in silent
vigil and then walk to Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park for
the unveiling of a plaque dedicating a Japanese maple tree
Aug.8
Castlegar school board awards a non-union firm, Verigin
Construction Ltd. of Trail, the contract for more than
$900,000 in renovations to Stanley Humphries secondary
school. The provincial government will pay 90 per cent of the