August 15, 2019 The Valley Voice 1 Volume 28, Number 16 August 15, 2019 Delivered to every home between Edgewood, Kaslo & South Slocan. Published bi-weekly. Your independently owned regional community newspaper serving the Arrow Lakes, Slocan & North Kootenay Lake Valleys. Nakusp’s Broadway Street revitalized and reassigned as Village street submitted the Village crew, project manager located in front of the courthouse, people want to congregate and “The other big piece was Nakusp’s Broadway Street is Terry Welsh, onsite supervisor Terry and said another sculpture called interact, and to help ensure that ensuring that the end result was a now owned by the Village and has Flamond, and the funders. He said ‘Searching for Saddle Mountain’ by downtown businesses thrive. very accessible streetscape for people been beautifully renewed in the three bronze plaques recognizing another local artist, Hugh Egener, The project included “a complete with mobility challenges and it’s a Downtown Revitalization project. A each of the three main funders will will be installed in front of the CBT renovation of the streetscape,” Welsh huge improvement over what we had celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony be installed on the new downtown building in early spring 2020. The said, replacing the sidewalks with previously,” said Welsh. was held July 31 at 1 pm in front of benches – the CBT plaque in front of public art was made possible thanks attractive pavers, creating bulb-outs, The $987,000 budget for the courthouse. their office, the RDCK plaque in front to a CBT Public Art grant and a and adding landscaping, benches the project was entirely funded In Nakusp Mayor Tom Zeleznik’s of CIBC and the NACFOR plaque in private donation. and decorative lighting. It involved with grants from Columbia Basin speech, he explained that Broadway front of Novus Glass. In an interview, project manager infrastructure work such as relocating Trust, Nakusp Community Forest was until recently designated as an Mayor Zeleznik also brought Terry Welsh explained that the catch basins, and installing irrigation (NACFOR) Legacy funding, RDCK arterial highway (Hwy 6). In June attention to the sculpture by Nakusp objective of downtown revitalization lines for the new landscaping, Area K, and gas tax funds from the 2017, the Village began negotiations artist Kate Tupper, ‘Moments Later,’ is to create social spaces where designed by Ray Nikkel. Village of Nakusp and the RDCK. with the Ministry of Transportation to “swap” Broadway for 1st Street NW, the street running parallel to Broadway just one block up. “Broadway got its name because in the early times, horse-drawn wagons needed a width of 75 feet to turn their wagons around in the main street – and the other streets remained 55 feet wide,” Zeleznik said. Hugh Eberle, Ministry of Transportation district manager, was in attendance and presented the mayor with the exchange document. Mayor Zeleznik also spoke about the Downtown Revitalization project, which was completed on June 30. The project idea started taking shape during the Common Agenda process in 2014, and after a public meeting in April 2018, council approved the project for three blocks of Broadway, from 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue. Zeleznik acknowledged the Downtown Revitalization Committee, all of the contractors, A ribbon cutting on Broadway in Nakusp on July 31. L to R: Councillor Aidan McLaren-Caux, Councillor Ken Miller, Mayor Tom Zeleznik and Councillor Susan DeSandoli. Visitor Information - Pages 14 & 15 2 NEWS The Valley Voice August 15, 2019 Jumbo Valley to stay wild: Court of Appeals agrees resort not substantially started submitted “substantially started” – should be took the Province to court, arguing the Wildsight’s Conservation Director, “and the best technology is used to avoid the After a court decision, Jumbo reinstated after being previously creation of the Jumbo Glacier Resort beyond Qat’muk, wildlife need long- harmful impacts of large projects like Glacier Resort no longer has a valid overturned by a lower court. Municipality by the Province in 2012 term protection in the broader Central these,” shares Olivia French, Ecojustice environmental certificate and the resort Glacier Resort’s options at this was unlawful and unconstitutional, but Purcell Mountains, all the way from Lawyer. cannot be built until reassessed. point are to appeal to the Supreme lost. “It’s still ridiculous that there is an the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy to The proposed resort’s environmental Wildsight and the Jumbo Creek Court of Canada, or to apply for a new appointed mayor and two councillors Glacier National Park.” certificate expired 10 years after it Conservation Society are celebrating a environmental assessment certificate. to the Jumbo municipality that has Since 2014, Ecojustice has was first granted because by then the win for the Jumbo Valley, part of BC’s “Wildsight and the Jumbo Creek no actual residents,” West Kootenay represented Wildsight and the Jumbo project’s developer had only managed Purcell Mountains, the sacred area of Conservation Society have spent EcoSociety Executive Director Montana Creek Conservation Society in the to pour a pair of concrete slabs in the Qat’muk to the Ktunaxa Nation and an decades fighting to keep Jumbo Wild. Burgess says. proceedings before the minister and, remote mountain valley. At issue in important habitat for grizzly bears. We are thrilled that the court has come The Ktunaxa Nation went to the along with the Ktunaxa Nation Council, the appeal was whether the ministers’ On August 6, the BC Court of to the logical decision that the project Supreme Court of Canada in 2017 made submissions that formed the basis determination was reasonable that Appeal ruled that the 2015 decision of was never substantially started and its to seek protection for Qat’muk, the for the minister’s decision. those concrete slabs did not constitute the provincial Minister of Environment environmental assessment certificate has Ktunaxa traditional name for this region. “It stands to reason that developers a “substantial start” to the proposed – that the project’s environmental expired,” shares Meredith Hamstead of Qat’muk is the critical home to animals can’t be allowed to hang on to an billion dollar resort, planned to include assessment certificate was expired the Jumbo Creek Conservation Society. such as grizzly bears, and to the Grizzly environmental certificate forever. The thousands of bed units and numerous because the project had not been The West Kootenay EcoSociety Bear Spirit. It’s an important spiritual original assessment for this project lifts. place for the Ktunaxa. This right was not was conducted in the 1990s, and was This is an important win for the recognized by Canada’s Supreme Court. based on information which is now Jumbo Valley and was only possible “With the resort dead in the water, outdated. The law in BC requires project due to a persistent, collaborative effort Jumbo is going to stay wild. Now, proponents to start their projects within of more than two decades by many it’s time for Qat’muk to be legally 10 years of receiving their certificates to organizations and individuals passionate recognized,” shares John Bergenske, ensure that up-to-date information and about protecting this special place. PHOTO CREDIT: PAT MORROW PAT CREDIT: PHOTO East and West Kootenay Jumbo supporters gather in the Jumbo Valley. Nelson hosts International Mural Fest submitted The Nelson & District Arts Council presents the second Nelson International Mural Festival. Throughout the summer, muralists will create new artworks on Nelson walls, culminating in the festival August 16 – 18. On Friday and Saturday, enjoy a line-up of live music and performances at the Hall Street Plaza, along with kid-friendly activities and plenty of space to dance. While you partake in the party, tour the 2019 mural route, catch a few more street performances along the way, engage with the muralists, and drop by a Patio Party hosted by one of the local restaurants. Join organizers at the Oxygen arts centre on Saturday for workshops with several of the performance artists and muralists. Sunday holds more workshops, followed by an artists’ panel with this year’s muralists and a documentary screening at the Civic Theatre. All events are free and the festival is a fully accessible event, inclusive of all cultures, genders, ages, and abilities. For a detailed schedule of events, volunteer opportunities and more, check out nelsonmuralfest.ca. August 15, 2019 The Valley Voice NEWS 3 Historic agreement reached on salmon reintroduction submitted ceremonial needs. and as the Minister Responsible the 1950s, and today I am thrilled amongst five governments to In the spirit of partnership This collaborative effort will for the Columbia River Treaty, I am that the five governments that need work together to explore ways and reconciliation, a landmark complement the current negotiation very pleased by this step forward,” to work together are doing just that: to reintroduce salmon into the agreement to explore salmon process between Canada and said Katrine Conroy, BC Minister committing to work collaboratively Upper Columbia River Basin. The reintroduction into the Columbia the United States to modernize Responsible for the Columbia River to see what we need to do together reintroduction of salmon into these River Basin between the Syilx the Columbia River Treaty. Treaty and MLA for Kootenay to bring the salmon back. This is areas, if successful, could restore Okanagan, Ktunaxa and Secwepemc The Government of Canada is West. one small step on the long road to fish stocks to support indigenous Indigenous Nations, Canada and working closely with the Province “The loss of salmon from reconciliation.” food, social and ceremonial needs British Columbia was signed on of British Columbia and the Ktunaxa Nation territory has The construction of the Grand and harvest opportunities for July 29 in Castlegar.