UNESCO’s world heritage committee will consider a petition from 11 Canadian and U.S. conservation groups asking that Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park be designated a world heritage site in danger.

The request, made by Sierra Club B.C., Wildsight, and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society among other groups, follows Cline Mining Corp’s proposed mountain top removal coal mine development in B.C.’s adjoining Flathead River Valley.

“The Flathead River Valley provides critical habitat for rare and endangered species that migrate to and from Waterton-Glacier, and it has the highest density of grizzly bears in the interior of North America,” said Wildsight’s Ryland Nelson.

“We’re asking the world heritage committee to assess potentially grave impacts on water and wildlife in Waterton-Glacier, given that B.C.’s land use plan for the Flathead River Valley prioritizes mining and energy development,” Nelson added.

Sierra Club spokeswoman Sarah Cox says the mine proposal will remove tonnes of coal and dump waste rock upstream from the park.

Waterton-Glacier will become the 31st world heritage site in danger and the only one in North America, if the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization committee decides to add it to the list.

The mine proposal is under review by the B.C. government.

The park is about 275 kilometres south of Calgary on the U.S., Alberta border.

It would spell disaster for some Kootenay blue-listed fish populations and streamside wildlife habitats. It would cut right through the heart of rare old growth forests and protected wilderness areas. It’s the Glacier-Howser Independent Power Proposal (IPP) — and it’s back from the dead.

AXOR Power recently made a second application to the B.C. government to get tenure for its controversial Glacier-Howser-Birnam-Behrman-Suck Creeks Diversion project—a project regional environmental groups say is anything but green.

AXOR made an initial application last year that was denied.

“Wildsight is extremely supportive of green power,” said Dave Quinn, Wildsight’s Purcells program manager. “But this proposal is not green—it affects fish, grizzly and goat habitat and rare intact old-growth forests. Simply put, 100 megawatts isn’t worth the environmental destruction to this sensitive area.”

AXOR wants tenure to five streams that drain into the Duncan Reservoir north of Kaslo. The Quebec company would divert portions of the streams through two massive tunnels, large enough to drive a dump truck through, into power plants on the reservoir. From there, it would shunt power east across the Purcells to Invermere. The new transmission line—over 90 kilometres’-worth — would cut right through the protected old-growth and wilderness areas of upper Howser and Stockdale creeks.

“Glacier-Howser is one of the most controversial IPPs in B.C. right now,” Quinn said. “It involves the damming and diverting of water from five creeks – Glacier, Howser, Berhman, Suck, and Birnam — and would drastically reduce the flow in critical riparian ecosystems, including important spawning habitat for blue-listed bull trout – all in a region that has already lost much of its valuable valley bottoms under the Duncan, Mica, Revelstoke, Whatshan, and Arrow reservoirs.”

AXOR made its latest application to the provincial Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) in early May, but the Environmental Assessment Office was unable to give an exact date.

“The EAO has 30 days to accept or decline the application,” Quinn said. “After that, public meeting dates for Invermere, Meadow Creek, and Kaslo will be announced.”

Conservation groups are calling for a two-year moratorium on all IPP water licenses until the B.C. Energy Plan is updated to revoke Bill 30, to take care of the  “50-megawatt” loophole, and to account for cumulative impacts.

The Province introduced Bill 30 in 2006. “Bill 30 took power from the regional districts,” Quinn said. “Suddenly, they suddenly had no local zoning authority over IPPs. Companies like AXOR aren’t held accountable to any local level of government.

“The loophole is that any IPP under 50 megawatts doesn’t require a provincial environmental assessment—so there are a lot of 49-megawatt proposals right now.”

There are more than 70 applications like Glacier-Howser in the Kootenay region, where huge swaths of rich riparian habitat (300 kilometres, by some estimations) have already been sacrificed to hydroelectricity and flood control. “This makes creeks like Howser and Glacier even more important as remaining intact riparian habitats,” Quinn said. “And it’s important to look at the cumulative effects of all these impacts.”

A moratorium will ensure the projects are “green”—not “greed”
“Green energy is good,” Quinn said. “But what’s happening now is a liquid gold rush, a ‘free-for-all’—not green energy. There are no checks and balances to make sure corporations use public lands responsibly.

“Some IPP proposals in areas close to towns, areas already impacted by development, make sense as green energy,” Quinn said. “But right now local citizens have no way to help determine which projects make sense, and which projects—like Glacier Howser—make no sense at all. And that’s why we’re asking people to join us—ask the Province to put a moratorium on all IPP licenses for two years. We need to reestablish what is acceptable and what is out of bounds.

“Once the waterways are diverted, and the pristine valleys cut up with transmission lines, they’re irrevocably damaged,” Quinn said. “Kootenay citizens need to do everything they can to protect our wild rivers—if we don’t, no one else will.”

About Wildsight
Wildsight works locally, regionally and globally to protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable communities in Canada’s Columbia and Southern Rocky Mountain region. This area is internationally recognized as a keystone to conservation in western North America. For more information, please visit www.wildsight.ca.
Contact: Dave Quinn, Purcell program manager
Wildsight • 250.427.5666 • c 250.427.8878 • dave@wildsight.ca

Thirteen Olympians are among 39 athletes named to participate in Alpine Canada Alpin summer training programs, Chief Athletics Officer Max Gartner announced Monday as the organization intensifies efforts to achieve podium results at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The group led by 18 senior men and 11 senior women includes seven World Cup winners and three World Championship medalists. They will be joined by 10 high-potential development ski racers when dryland training gets underway this week. The team competing on the World Cup during the 2009/2010 season will be selected in November from this training group.

John Kucera (Calgary, AB), the 2009 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships downhill gold medalist, leads a group of ‘Canadian Cowboys’ that also includes World Cup downhill winners Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Vancouver, BC), Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC) and Jan Hudec (Calgary, AB). Michael Janyk (Whistler, BC), a bronze medalist in slalom at last season’s FIS Alpine World Ski Championships headlines the men’s technical team.

The ladies team, affectionately known as the Canadian ‘Speed Queens,’ includes World Cup winners Britt Janyk (Whistler, BC), Geneviève Simard (Val-Morin, QC) and Emily Brydon (Fernie, BC) as well as Kelly VanderBeek (Kitchener, ON), who has three career podium results on the World Cup.

“With finite resources and aggressive Winter Olympic goals, we are sharpening focus to maximize resources for Canada’s best medal hopes,” said President Gary Allan, noting ACA is continuing to implement the strategic plan designed to make a world leading ski racing country.

The training group is smaller than in past years when ACA invited record numbers of athletes to gain experience and develop skills in advance of the upcoming Olympics.

The alpine team at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be announced just before the Games in February.

“The training group announced today reflects a heightened focus on athletes with medal potential in 2010 as well as athletes with the potential for success at future Olympics,” said Mr. Gartner, adding ACA intends to build on the steadily improved international result in recent years, including a number of important firsts achieved last season.

Mr. Allan said ACA is working hard to increase resources in the lead-up to the Olympics and credited the financial support of ACA’s partners for levelling the playing field for Canadian racers.

“Alpine Canada Alpin is stepping up its marketing efforts to ensure we have the resources required to win,” Allan said, as ACA seeks at least $1 million more in funding this season to counter the increased value of the Euro. “Canadian athletes must enter the starting gate knowing we have provided everything they need to medal.”

The FIS World Cup season is scheduled to get underway in Sölden, AUT next October while the alpine events of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games take place in Whistler, BC, beginning in mid-February.

ACA will announce Canada’s Para-Alpine summer training group later this month.

CANADIAN ALPINE SKI TEAM – SUMMER TRAINING GROUP
SENIOR MEN – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Patrick Biggs – Orleans, ON (Ottawa Ski Club) *OWG
François Bourque - New Richmond, QC (Pin Rouge) *OWG
Dustin Cook – Lac Sainte Marie, QC (Mont Ste-Marie)
Julien Cousineau - Lachute, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Robbie Dixon - Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Jeffrey Frisch - Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont Tremblant)
Erik Guay - Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant) *OWG
Stefan Guay - Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Louis-Pierre Hélie – Berthierville, QC (Mont-Ste-Anne)
Jan Hudec - Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Michael Janyk - Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) *OWG
John Kucera - Calgary, AB (Calgary Alpine Racing Club) *OWG
Tyler Nella – Toronto, ON (Georgian Peaks)
Manuel Osborne-Paradis - Vancouver, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) *OWG
Jean-Philippe Roy - Ste-Flavie, QC / Gatineau, QC (Mont-Comi) *OWG
Ryan Semple – Montreal, QC / Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant) *OWG
Brad Spence - Calgary, AB (NATC - Team Panorama)
Trevor White - Calgary, AB (NATC – Fortress Alpine Ski Team)

MEN’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Travis Dawson – Calgary, AB (NATC – Fernie)
Mathieu Routhier – Sherbrooke, QC (Mont Orford Ski Club)
Erik Read – Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)

SENIOR LADIES - RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Brigitte Acton - Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant) *OWG
Emily Brydon - Fernie, BC (Fernie Snow Valley Racers) *OWG
Marie-Michèle Gagnon - Lac-Etchemin, QC (Mont Orignal)
Anna Goodman - Pointe Claire, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Britt Janyk - Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Kelly McBroom – Canmore, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Eve Routhier – Sherbrooke, QC (Mont Orford)
Shona Rubens - Canmore, AB (Lake Louise / Sunshine Ski Club) *OWG
Geneviève Simard - Val-Morin, QC (Montcalm (Val-St-Côme) *OWG
Kelly VanderBeek - Kitchener, ON (Chicopee Ski Club) *OWG
Larisa Yurkiw - Owen Sound, ON (Georgian Peaks Ski Club)

LADIES DEVELOPMENT TEAM - RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Stephanie Irwin – Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Erin Mielzynski – Guelph, ON (Georgian Peaks Ski Club)
Brittany Phelan – Mont Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant Ski Club)
Marie-Pierre Préfontaine – Saint-Sauveur, QC (Club Chanteclerc)
Georgia Simmerling – West Vancouver, BC (Grouse Tyee Ski Club)
Elli Terwiel – Heffley Creek, BC (SunPeaks Alpine Club)
Victoria Whitney – Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)

* OWG indicates Olympic Winter Games experience

With the signing of the 25 year lease with the City of Fernie, the BC Hydro Building is in the care of the Fernie and District Historical Society. This distinctive heritage treasure in the historic centre of town is the perfect location for Fernie’s new museum and information centre, a vibrant addition to Victoria Avenue’s attractions, helping to ensure the downtown continues to be the centre for business, arts and culture in the community.

In order to better understand what the citizens of Fernie would like to see happen at their museum and information centre, they have created a survey that we would love for you to complete for us.

Click Here to take our survey

Thank you for your assistance as we work to bring a new museum to Fernie. Your participation will help ensure that the new museum is a reflection of our community.

For more information check out our new website www.ferniemuseum.com

No longer will you have to drive to Sparwood to fill up on Agri-Green Biodiesel.  Gary and Lila Tomlinson, owners of Agri-Green Biodiesel Inc, have opened a Cardlock fueling station in Fernie following several years of production and service in Sparwood.
The Cardlock is located at 1592 9th Ave across the street from MacDonalds, behind Fernie Real Estate.  They currently have what they call “2010 Diesel Fuel”.  It is the diesel that will be mandated throughout the province as of January 1 2010, just a mere 7 plus months away.  2010 Fuel contains B5, or 5% biodiesel and 95 % petrol diesel.  This will result in approximately 350,000 tonne reduction in CO².  Although this seems like a low blend level we are trying to attract all users.  B5 is accepted by all engine manufacturers and will not affect warranties.  Biodiesel requires no engine modification, a true plug and play fuel without any filter or gelling problems associated with using pure biodiesel.

Biodiesel is a clean burning, non-toxic biodegradable alternative fuel that can be combined at any level with petroleum diesel to fuel diesel engines. It is produced from renewable sources such as canola, soy or palm oils and animal fats, as well as low grade recycled cooking oils and trap grease.

It is important to note that raw or refined vegetable oils, or recycled greases that have not undergone chemical manufacturing are not biodiesel. The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association and National Biodiesel Board (United States) define biodiesel as a fuel that complies with the ASTM D6751 or EN14214 (European) fuel quality standards.

Agri-Green Biodiesel Inc plans to expand its offering of fuels to include dyed diesel and high blend biodiesel.  This will depend on the number and frequency of customers.
The process for using the Fernie station is as follows:
To get signed up they need the last 5 digits of your driver’s license and a PIN, then they use your DL for a magnetic striped card.  This eliminates the need to issue you a card or for you to carry another card around.  If you are not comfortable using your DL they can also use a shopping club card from a local store.   you have any questions please give them a call and they will meet you there to get you setup.

For more information or to contact  Agri-Green Biodiesel Inc visit:
www.agri-greenbiodiesel.com/

Delta Air Lines will fly to Canadian Rockies International Airport for the summer season in 2009. The announcement of continued jet air service between Cranbrook and Delta’s western hub at Salt Lake City (SLC) was made shortly after winter service came to an end with the last flight on March 29.

The summer service will begin June 20 with once a week Saturday flights servicing YXC (Canadian Rockies International) until September 5 (Labour Day weekend.)  The flight times remain unchanged.  The 50 passenger RJ200 departs SLC at 11:10am, arrives YXC at 1:08pm.  The return flight departs YXC at 1:35pm and arrives SLC at 3:33pm.

“Delta has been evaluating all routes within their network since their merger with Northwest Airlines and particularly in light of the economic uncertainty in the U.S,” comments YXC Managing Director, Phillip Elchitz.  “We are delighted that we will be enjoying continued service to YXC for the summer season based on strong results shown during our first winter season, which is now complete. Despite many challenges associated with starting up a new route such as ours, February and March showed strong bookings and solid support from the community.”

Chris Dadson, President of Kootenay Rockies Tourism, is also very pleased with the continuation of service and with the results of the first season.  “Our ski season started slowly in the Kootenay Rockies region and that was reflected in December and January inbound numbers. But, as the season picked up and word continued to spread of our region’s new accessibility through Delta service, our load factors grew quickly and demonstrated a solid trend line right to the end of the season.”

The Delta flights from Cranbrook to Salt Lake City connect to hundreds of other cities worldwide. Bookings can now be made online at www.delta.com

Fore!!!!(or was that five, it couldn’t have been six?) Yes, fellow duffers, hackers, wanna be golfers and real golfers(for that matter too), it is time again to dust off the old sticks of summer, and sign up for the 8th Annual Rotary Golf Tournament.
This year’s golfing extravaganza will be taking place at the prestine FERNIE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB. One of the beneficiaries for the tournament will once again be the STARS AIR AMBULANCE, who serves the Elk Valley so well, along with the FERNIE MUSEUM, who will be using the funds for restoration of the old Fernie Hydro Building, which is their new site.
For $110.00 a person or $200.00 a couple, teams of four will be welcomed with a pre-game beverage, participate in a Texas Scramble(best ball) Tournament, indulge in Nachos and a jug of beer, participate in a putting contest, receive a team photo, consume a delicious roast beef dinner and have the chance to win PRIZES……..
The SILENT AUCTION is the main entertainment for the evening, with many generous donations from businesses up for bidding. The ever popular WINE FEST RAFFLE (where each dinner guest may donate a bottle of wine and along with $10.00 has the chance to win the entire lot of wine) All in all….a day and evening filled with gaiety, frivolity, chit-chat, merriment and mirth.
In the SPIRIT OF FUN, this year’s teams are encouraged to dress up in character (Red-neck golfers, Trailer Park Boys, Old timers, WANNA BE HOT TUB ACTORS, Village People or whatever your imagination can conjure up) with prizes being awarded for the best team entry.
Registration Forms are available at the Fernie Golf and Country Club, or from these Rotarions, Tony Grandoni( 423-7957) Jim and Deanna Dinwoodie (423-7847) and Mike Pennock (423-7016)
Registrations are due and payable by May 18th, to ensure your team is officially entered to play on May 23, 2009. Only the first 120 paid entries will be accepted.

A central Interior heli-ski operator is calling on the province to immediately bring in controls over backcountry snowmobilers, saying the large number of deaths on the mountains this past season has hurt B.C.’s international reputation as a safe and desirable outdoor recreation destination. “It’s not a good image when, in the backcountry, so many people die. It’s not a good image for the province and the industry,” said Mike Wiegele of Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing in the North Thompson Valley.

Nineteen snowmobilers — all but one of them in B.C. — have died in avalanches in Canada this season, according to statistics provided by the Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC). The number accounts for 75 percent of all national backcountry fatalities, which also includes a heli-skier, a mountaineer and four out-of-bounds skiers.

In several of the snowmobile-related incidents, slides were triggered as a result of highmarking—a deadly practice where riders push their machines as far up a steep slope as possible. Wiegele said his company has been called to help out in four rescue operations this winter, putting strain on both the business—which attracts about 1,500 mainly international skiers each year—and its employees. “We have to stop everything, stranding some of our skiers in the mountains to save snowmobilers from themselves,” he said. He said it’s long overdue for the province to license snowmobilers and regulate the sport, in the same way drivers on the roads are regulated. “The problem is that snowmobilers can go anywhere, any time, any day—day or night—any place.

It’s wild,” Wiegele said. “The [current] practices are for accidents, not for safety.” By contrast, he said, heli-ski operators and other backcountry professionals are heavily regulated. And while operators “don’t have a problem with that,” he said, there is growing sentiment that the rules are being applied unfairly. “When we first started our business, we had to go through miles of red tape and mountains of safety training … so why are snowmobilers exempt from that?” he asked.

Wiegele is not alone in the fight to regulate snowmobiling in B.C. Earlier this month, New Democrat Norm Macdonald, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke, initiated a call for the government to improve snowmobile safety, adding that a non-partisan group of rural MLAs and a “grassroots coalition” of snowmobilers have been pushing the government to license snowmobiles. The move would make snowmobilers more accountable for their actions, Macdonald told The Sun at the time, adding, there is “no magic bullet” to avoid avalanche deaths as long as people snowmobile in the backcountry.

More education is needed, he said.

The CAC did its part to warn snowmobilers of the dangers of the sport, releasing a video of riders triggering—and barely escaping—an avalanche in the Monashee Mountains near Valemount.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuU-vnh5M9s

Days later, on April 10, a 24-year-old Edmonton man died in the same area while highmarking with a friend. Phone calls to both the B.C. Liberal Party and representatives of the B.C. Snowmobile Federation were not returned last week.