District of Invermere
914 8th Avenue V0A 1K0 Invermere, BC, Canada

Sadly, last night the Whiteway was vandalized. And sadly this isn't new. Vehicles often wreck the hard work that goes into grooming this incredible resource by... driving on the tracks, making it hard for non-motorized users to enjoy this space. The grooming comes at a financial cost to the club. Last night went a little further though. Someone stole two of our benches and destroyed one of the signs. These are all items the club has paid for so that people can have a better experience on the Whiteway. If you know the whereabouts of these benches, we would love to have them back, no questions asked. We understand that vehicles are welcome to use the lake as well but please avoid driving over the Whiteway itself. It is not a roadway, it is intended for non-motorized use. There is a whole lake to be used, more than enough space for everyone to enjoy responsibly. Last night while out skiing, I saw many cars using the skate lane to travel. Luckily I had a headlamp so they could see me but many of these cars are gaining high speeds and it is a safety concern. Thank you to everyone who continues to support us and spread the message in a kind and respectful manner. Edit- it has come to my attention the benches stolen were ones that had been made and donated to the club. I apologize for the error. We truly appreciate all the wonderful donations we receive both in time, money and effort from our community.

We hope that you enjoy the rinks at Kinsmen Beach and the Whiteway but remember it is in your hands to help keep these rinks open. Please be mindful of these safety precautions: No spitting on or off the ice. Stay home and away from others if you are sick. Following physical distancing by keeping at least 2m apart from others. Practicing good hygiene by washing hands before and after visiting amenities.... Be self-sufficient and carry your own hand sanitizer/wipes. Keeping your circle small. Keep your group limited to members of your household. No congregating in groups and no large group activities. Wait your turn at a safe distance and give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the rinks. Be mindful in high traffic areas such as the parking lot and in seating areas when putting skates on and taking them off. You should wear a mask where it could be difficult to maintain a 2 metre distance from people outside of your household. Have a great weekend, play it safe!!

DEVELOPMENT COST CHARGES Click the link to view the virtual presentation related to the proposed DCC Bylaw 1598 from January 28th: https://invermere.net//2021-01-28-stakeholder-presentation... FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PROVIDE COMMENTS Please visit:https://invermere.net//proposed-development-cost-charge-d/ or contact: Rory Hromadnik Tel: 250-342-9281 Extension 1235 Email: [email protected] Please send comments to the email address above by 4:00 pm MST, February 3, 2021

The Invermere Public Library has moved to curbside pickup service only until February 10, 2021. The Columbia Valley Centre (where the Invermere Public Library is located in the upper portion of the facility) is currently still open for working, studying and hall rentals. The universal public washroom is also open. At this time, the public will only be able to enter and utilize the lower portion of this facility Monday-Friday 10am-4pm. Masks are mandatory in the Columbia Vall...ey Centre. Please follow all other public health protocols listed at the front entrance. Library Curbside Pick up information: Click here for details on placing holds with curbside pick-up: https://invermere.bc.libraries.coop/mess.../library-takeout/ Curbside service will be available during our open hours: Mon, Tues 10-5; Wed, Thurs 10-6; Fri 10-5; Sat 10-2 Please wear a mask when collecting printing, etc. if you will be speaking directly with staff members. This is a preventative measure to help limit the spread of Covid-19. Thank you for your understanding.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, provide an update on COVID-19 in BC.

Today is #BellLetsTalk Day and it’s time to talk about mental health. Today is a great day to remember that mental health affects us all and that we are in this together. Together we can all help to create positive change in our schools, workplaces and in our communities. We remind each other that, it’s okay, to not be okay."

Now that the lake is 90% frozen people are getting pretty excited to venture out onto the ice! Always remember to play it safe if you head out onto the ice and ...do so at your own risk. Residents are advised to use extreme caution when around riverbanks, iced-over lakes and ponds. At this time is it approx. 300 meters out from the shore to smooth ice at Kinsmen Beach. The Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club ( non-profit organization who creates and maintains the Whiteway) has been out on the ice at Kinsmen Beach flooding and chipping away at the ice to help fix the very rough patches in this area. They are working on a path out to the smooth ice in the bay. Please do not walk on the path they are flooding. Currently it is recommended to avoid the ice in this area. The ice formations at Kinsmen Beach are very neat to see but it is quite difficult to walk through and is impossible to skate through. If you are looking to access the ice, doing so from the Windermere Bay Shore Condos or James Chabot Beach would be your best option. Again, doing so at your own risk... Keep in mind that there is always a weak spot in front of Timber Ridge and this area should be avoided. In the meantime, get those skates sharpened and purchase your Toby Creek Nordic day pass, punch pass or season pass / membership! An Annual Club Membership functions as your Whiteway Season Pass, and allows for unlimited use of both Lake Windermere and Lake Lillian trails. https://tobycreeknordic.com/whiteway/ Follow the Toby Creek Nordic Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TobyCreekNordic/

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is expected to give an update today at 3pm PT/ (4pm MST) on the province-wide restrictions that are in place until midnight. Stay tuned for further updates!

Did you miss the Joint Active Transportation Network Plan Webinar yesterday? You can find the presentation slides on our website. A Q&A document is to follow and will be posted on our website next week. Do you have any thoughts on the Active Transportation Plan? Should you have any comments, questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to Sarah or Rory.... Sarah Freigang Urban Systems Transportation Planner [email protected] Rory Hromadnik District of Invermere Director of Development Services [email protected] 250-342-9281 ext.1235

We are seeing COVID-19 continue to spread during indoor group fitness activities and when people gather for sports putting our communities and health system a...t risk. New public health orders restrict team sports and group fitness, to help us reduce our interactions and keep each other safe. Learn more: gov.bc.ca/COVID19restrictions See more