Cranbrook city council approved an additional $80,000 for the installation of handrails at the Western Financial Place.

Council had previously allotted $65,000 for the handrails and city staff were expected to install them, however, recreation and culture director, Trevor Thors, said they realized later that they didn't have the expertise needed.

"The initial intent was for city staff to install these," he said.

"We had the stairs x-rayed and you can't use a traditional type of drill, you would actually need to cord out, so it's a special type of drilling and we don't have that on staff."

An additional $80,000 would be needed to pay a contractor to do the work.

The rails were first brought to council back in 2019, but the installation kept getting delayed.

"I appreciate the frustration from the community," said Mayor Wayne Price.

"But it will be done now and you know what? It will be done right."

The installation is expected to be complete by the start of the 2024/25 hockey season.

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Two people are seriously injured after a vehicle collision eight kilometres south of Windermere.

Nine members of the Windermere Fire Department and seven Invermere firefighters were called out to the scene on April 24.

No details about the crash have been released except that two people sustained serious injuries.

The BC Ambulance Service brought them to the Fairmont Airport where STARS took over.

Highway 93/95 was closed until crews could clear the road.

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Cranbrook RCMP is warning residents to be aware of fraud attempts as the detachment has seen a rise in “grandparent” scams.

Police officials said the scam usually involves a potential victim receiving a call from someone claiming to be a family member, usually a grandchild, in some kind of distress.

The scammer will say they need money as soon as possible for a made-up reason such as claiming to have been in an accident, robbed, or they have been arrested.

"The problem with this is that the caller isn't the relative that they claim to be and your money is going to the scammer," said RCMP officials.

"Often, all the information the scammer needs to pull off the scam is provided on social media or simply by the victims themselves."

Police said the scam has become more sophisticated over the years, as fraudsters may use voice manipulation to sound more convincing to their victim.

RCMP notes that you should be suspicious of anyone asking for money or gift cards, especially if that money is requested through a wire transfer or a cryptocurrency ATM.

Once money is sent over this service, it can be very difficult or impossible to recover.

Police recommend you ask for the name of who you are speaking to, rather than offering it and verify information.

"Do not be afraid to make calls of your own. Verify the identities or whereabouts of the caller with other family members. Even if they say 'don’t tell mom and dad.'" said RCMP officials.

"Never give your personal, banking or credit card information to anyone who calls you over the phone, never send cash/gift cards in the mail and never buy someone cryptocurrency under these circumstances."

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The Cranbrook aquatic centre will be closed for two days in May due to the Tritons swim meet.

The Triton Swim Club is hosting its Swim Wars Spring Invitational at the Western Financial Place from May 4-5.

All lessons and family and public swims will be cancelled for those days.

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Public illicit drug use will soon be banned in the province, and police will be given more power to enforce the ban.

This ban includes within hospitals, on transit, and at parks and beaches.

“Keeping people safe is our highest priority. While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe,” said Premier David Eby.

“We’re taking action to make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe and comfortable communities for everyone as we expand treatment options so people can stay alive and get better.”

The province and federal government are collaborating to make changes to “the legality of possessing drugs in B.C.,” which will allow police to enforce against public drug use.

Officers will have the option to make someone using drugs in public leave the space, take the drugs, or arrest the person if necessary.

“Our communities are facing big challenges. People are dying from deadly street drugs and we see the issues with public use and disorder on our streets,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

“As we continue to go after the gangs and organized criminals who are making and trafficking toxic drugs, we’re taking action now to make it illegal to use drugs in public spaces, and to expand access to treatment to help people who need it most.”

The province was clear that this change is not the recriminalization of drug possession in a private residence, legal shelter, or overdose prevention site.

People who are addicted will also have expanded access to treatment, the province said they will be:

• increasing the availability and accessibility of opioid-agonist treatment (OAT), a
  medication-assisted treatment for people who have an opioid-use disorder, by
  implementing a provincewide virtual system;
• integrating addictions services with health care, housing and related services; and
• working with experts to develop methods to track prescribed alternatives with the aim of
  identifying and preventing diversion.

“People across the country are dying from poisoned drugs and B.C. is no exception,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Addiction is a health-care issue, not a criminal one, and we’re going to keep doing everything we can to save lives and connect people to treatment.”

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Kootenay-Columbia MP Rob Morrison says there is nothing positive to say about the 2024 federal budget.

"There is nothing good about an unbalanced budget," he said.

"How can the NDP-Liberals consistently spend more money, driving up interest rates?"

He said this year's budget is full of the same promises the Liberals have been saying for years.

"Look at the last nine years now," Morrison said.

"Every year it's the same thing about how we're going to make life more affordable, but if you just get out of the house and go shopping, you'll realize that life is not more affordable."

The budget talks about taxing the rich to increase taxation fairness for all people in Canada. Morrison said the rich may be paying more now, but everyone else is still hurting.

"Nine years later and who's paying? It's lower-income seniors, and people with disabilities, that's whose paying. The people who go to the grocery store know who's paying and it's them."

The theme of this year's budget was fairness for every generation, but Morrison believes it's just empty words.

"I think we need generational fairness for sure, but I think that starts with seniors. That's a generation we've forgotten about," he added.

"It's easy to say we have a theme that we're going to make life affordable for everyone, but that was the last eight years. They can theme all they want, but it's action with results. Give me a result that we've been successful in actually making something more affordable for the average Canadian and I don't think you are going to see any."

The complete 2024 federal budget can be found below.

MORE: Budget 2024 Fairness for Every Generation (Government of Canada)

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Former pitcher for the Cranbrook Bandits, Edyn Barber, is Ohio-bound after signing with the University of Northwestern Ohio.

Barber said the experience he gained in Cranbrook has set him up for success across the border.

"Everything that I've learned with the Bandits prepared me very, very well," he said.

"I came in here and I was ahead of the game because some of the kids weren't keeping up."

He's not sure how long he'll play for the team, but he likes what they have to offer.

"It depends if I want to transfer out or not, but it seems like it's a really good program so I might be calling that home for a while."

It's hard to predict how good the team will be due to age.

"It's young," he said. "Everyone is building up and they're all going through their four-year development."

Barber will be heading back to Cranbrook for the summer and is expecting to depart for Ohio in mid-August.

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Cranbrook will soon have another transportation option set to launch later this summer.

City officials said they have partnered with Bird Canada to bring almost 100 e-scooters to the community.

"Bird Canada is a Canadian-owned and operated company that offers Canadians, and visitors to Canada, a new way to avoid congestion and get around that is sustainable and uses the most innovative last-mile mobility solutions for urban areas," said city officials.

The first year of this pilot program is expected to run from June until mid-November.

City staff said the scooters will be available 24/7 for $1 plus 35 cents per minute, with monthly subscriptions and daily, weekly, or monthly ride passes available alongside a low-income pricing program.

There have also been safety considerations as well, including measures to deter intoxicated riders, a maximum speed of 24 km/hour and a 16+ age limit.

There is still more planning work ahead before the scooters get rolling.

“There will be public safety and route planning required along with coordinating appropriate parking areas, identifying slow and no-ride zones, and making changes to some of our bylaws before this new e-scooter service can get off the ground,” said Katelyn Pocha, Project Manager.

“We will be working closely with the contractor on many of these important items, with Bird Canada overseeing recruitment of local staff to work on the e-scooters as needed and to do spot checks to make sure these scooters are being used appropriately and safely.”

City officials said pedestrian safety is also a big consideration in their planning efforts, such as sidewalk detection to warn users if they are not using the sidewalk properly.

Scooters will also have a warning sound to let pedestrians know the rider is coming.

“This is an exciting step forward in advancing active transportation in Cranbrook,” says Kristy Jahn-Smith, Executive Director of Cranbrook Tourism.

“Being able to conveniently use scooters to commute short distances in the city will be of benefit to residents and visitors. We are excited to see this new amenity available in Cranbrook.”

The e-scooter program is part of a provincial pilot project meant to expand active transportation options and will not have budget implications for the municipality.

“City Council are very excited to be considered for this pilot program for Cranbrook, that has proven to be successful in other areas,” says Mayor Wayne Price.

“I would like to thank Councillor Graham for championing this initiative around the Council table.”

More information will come as the city comes closer to the scooter program's launch.

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The Cranbrook RCMP has arrested two people after a successful search warrant of a property in the 200 block of 3rd Avenue South.

The Cranbrook RCMP Enhanced Response Unit executed the search warrant on April 16 and found six kilograms of suspected Meth, Fentanyl, Cocaine and Psilocybin.

Officers also seized close to $80,000 in both Canadian and American bills along with some Mexican currency.

Several prohibited weapons and two firearms were also located.

"This was a great team effort spearheaded by Cranbrook’s Enhanced Response Unit," said Staff Sergeant Barry Graham.

"We are thankful we were able to seize these items before they made it to the streets of Cranbrook."

A 52-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were arrested on scene. They have been released to appear in court at a later date.

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Columbia Valley Search and Rescue, Kimberley Nordic Club and the Elk River Watershed Alliance will each get grants from the B.C. Government.

In Fernie, the Elk River Watershed Alliance will get $31,719 to buy a new vehicle to support fieldwork and outreach activities.

Meanwhile, the Kimberley Nordic Club will use its $11,505 grant to buy a snowmobile to provide operational support for the club.

Lastly, the Columbia Valley Search and Rescue will get $13,838 to buy a defibrillator to support medical care for people at rescue sites and during transport to the hospital.

This comes as the province doles out $5.2 million in Community Gaming Grants to 62 non-profit groups across B.C.

"Not-for-profit organizations provide valuable services that help make life better for British Columbians," said Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs.

"Through the Community Gaming Grants, my ministry is supporting organizations to acquire essential equipment and undertake renovations."

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