A grab bag of local news briefs

Were you hoping for a speedy answer to the question: How’d that train derail downtown? Yeah? Well, take a Valium; it’ll be a while before there’s a complete official reason.
“The investigation is ongoing,” CP Rail spokesman Salem Woodrow said in an e-mail to The Revelstoke Current on Monday. “It can take six months to over a year to determine a cause.”
The railway’s director of governmental affairs, Mike Lovecchi spoke to City Council on Monday and outlined reasons he said no one in Revelstoke should be alarmed as a result of the recent two-car derailment downtown, even though the volume of dangerous goods, which the CPR must by law transport, is increasing on its main line.
The CPR has a robust safety cultural that is reflected by the fact that it has the best safety record of any major railway in North America.
He also noted that Revelstoke Fire Rescue Service and emergency service officials have trained for eventualities that could include a dangerous goods accident.
“We take that very seriously,” he told Mayor Mark McKee and members of Council. “You should have confidence in our ability.”

Please click here to watch the PowerPoint presentation he showed to Council.

Please activate the YouTube player below to watch his presentation and see his discussion with Council.


***

Mateus Dachwitz and Michael Garvey have been building a rep down in Nakusp as parkour athletes. Parkour? You may have seen it on YouTube or even on conventional television; it’s an athletic discipline that involves participants rapidly running, jumping and climbing urban obstacles.
Their club in Nakusp is quite successful and they’ll be holding workshops here on May 22 and May 23 under the auspices of the Revelstoke Youth Initiatives Committee.
For more information please contact Kai Boggild at kaiboggild@sd19.bc.
Click here to see a Google list of Web entries related to this subject.

***

SD 19 Trustees were left faintly amazed at the magic numbers contained in a report from Performing Arts Centre Manager Miriam Manley on attendance at events during its third year of operation.
The magic numbers?

  • 15,023 attendees at 125 events.
  • The break down shows attendance by:
  • 6,200 people at 53 events featuring professional artistic events;
  • 4,500 people at 36 events by local arts groups;
  • 3,300 people at 22 mountain culture events;
  • 813 people at 12 film events; and
  • 210 people at two events classes simply as “other.”

While Manley and the Revelstoke Arts Council have made the Performing Arts Centre a success, SD 19 Chairman Alan Chell there remain some concerns about its lack of a “long-term sustainable funding guarantee.”

***

  • Speaking of the performing arts there are a number of notable performances coming up this month and next. They include shows on:
  • April 19 at 7:30 pm the United Church featuring singer Laila Biali and The Radiance Project — Anna Atkinson on violin and vocals, Graham Campbell on guitar and vocals, Chris Tarry on electric bass and Ben Wittman on drums. Click here to view the poster;
  • April 24 at 7:30 pm at the Performing Arts Centre featuring the Kamloops Symphony Chamber Musicians’ Bach to the Future. The talented professional musicians in this performance are Catharine Dochstader on flute, Cvetozar Vutev on violin, Ashley Kroecher playing viola, Martin Kratky on cello and Dimiter Terziev on piano. Click here to purchase your tickets online;
  • April 24 at the Regent Hotel’s Selkirk Room one of Canada’s best guitsrists, Bob Shields, will be in concert at the Jazz Club from 7 until 9 pm. Admission is by donation; and
  • April 30, May 1-2 and May 7-9 the Revelstoke Theatre Company presents the award-winning two-act play Proof, directed by Denny Kaulback. Click here to purchase your tickets online.

***

There are also notable local events on the horizon:

  1. The Life-long Learning Awards presentation at Okanagan College on Friday from 2 until 3 pm. Please click here for details;
  2. This is National Volunteer Week. Do you know someone whose volunteer spirit deserves to be recognized? If so then please click here to download a nomination form. Please click celebration on Saturday;
  3. The OPT Clinic’s Askable Adult free information session on how to talk to kids about sensitive issues at Begbie View Elementary School on April 27 at 7 pm. Please click here for more information; and
  4. Community Connections’ Annual General meeting at the Community Centre on May 5 starting at 7 pm. Please click here for more info.

***

Christina Amelio has made it to the second round of voting in CBC’s Searchlight program to discover the country’s next great musical sensation.

Please click here to vote for her today!

***

Geoff Battersby (right), chairman of the Revelstoke Community Energy Corporation, thanks for SD19 trustees' for their patience as the corporation deals with the aftermath of the fire that destroyed the RCEC facility's roof earlier this spring. David F. Rooney photo
Geoff Battersby (right), chairman of the Revelstoke Community Energy Corporation, thanks SD19 trustees’ for their patience as the corporation deals with the aftermath of the fire that destroyed the RCEC facility’s roof earlier this spring. David F. Rooney photo

Please activate the YouTube player below to watch Revelstoke Community Energy Corporation Chairman Geoff Battersby’s remarks to the School District 19 Board of Trustees meeting at Arrow Heights Elementary School on Monday, April 13.

***