September
1 – Work begins to prepare the Beaver Valley Skate Park in Montrose. The $300,000 project is expected to be complete next month.
7 – A new era of opportunity began in Trail as the MIDAS (Metallurgical Industrial Development Acceleration Studies) Lab officially opened. The multi-million dollar project in Glenmerry provided entrepreneurs, students, start-ups and local businesses the chance to work with innovative materials and access to advanced equipment such as 3D printers and laser cutters.
13 – Trail council agreed to allow backyard beekeeping within city limits.
18 – Another taxi service has been given the green light for the region. Cedar Taxi Ltd. Will now apply to the Passenger Transportation Board to allow for two cabs to service the Rossland and Trail areas.
19 – Better lighting is coming for the Montrose corridor with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure funding the work, which included crosswalk improvement at 10th Ave. and 5th St.
21 – Trail and Beaver Valley have reached a five-year agreement on recreation. According to the City of Trail press release, B.V. Rec will contribute $125,000 annually to allow Beaver Valley residents access to Trail Parks and Recreation facilities.
25 – A large turnout of volunteers helped make the annual BC Rivers Day clean up a success. Over 100 people came out collected almost one tonne of garbage from the river shores.
26 – the City of Trail has agreed to pay Rossland over $150,000 after flow meter readings from sewers show a high volume from Trail. Meanwhile, Trail officials will use meters to determine where the extra volume is coming from.
27 – Emergency responses throughout the Trail area were tested during a mock exercise. The simulation involved a train derailment on Teck property and subsequent vehicle accident and ammonia gas leak. The exercise involved evacuations, emergency responses, first responders and Teck response teams.
29 – The school district is reporting that its enrolment numbers are starting to climb for the first time in recent memory. It noted a significant increase in kindergarten enrolment at Glenmerry School, which rose from 45 students last year to 59 students this year.
October
4 – The Kootenay Columbia Learning Centre earned national recognition for its H’a H’a Tumxulaux program that provides outdoor education. The Aboriginal program was picked from a list of 47 applicants to be the case study in the 2016 Indigenous “Innovative that Sticks” research program. KCLC received a $10,000 bursary to extend the reach of the program.
Smokies sold
4 – A standing-room only crowd was on hand as members of the Trail Smoke Eaters executive revealed details of the team’s sale to an American businessman. Mired in $400,000 in debt, the team accepted an offer of $600,000 for 90 per cent ownership of franchise from Rich Murphy of Minnesota.
10 – Real estate sales in the region and slowly climbing said realtors. However, on the downside, they also said there is a lack of inventory at this time.
11 – Trail council has approved changes to the entrance to the Trail Memorial Centre to allow easier access for those with physical impairments. The work is to be completed this month.
13 – Teck has announced a $1.6 million donation to the Trail Riverfront Centre. The donation is part of the museum/library’s fundraising efforts and Teck will be recognized in the new building for its contribution. The announcement came on the eve of the ground-breaking ceremony for the $8 million facility in downtown Trail.
20 – Another rain soaked day helped drive up the month’s accumulation to a 50-year high the Castlegar weather office confirmed. A daily record for the month was set on Oct. 13 when 51.8mm of rain fell and with 10 days remaining in the October, the month’s total was already the highest since 1967.
21 – A work stoppage at Kootenay Savings and Credit Union was postponed after the union and the company agreed to continue bargaining talks.
27 – The labour dispute at Kootenay Savings Credit Union escalated with the announcement that unionized employees will be locked out for one day. Although employees were expected to return to work the following day, the union, citing no contract in place, opted to remain on the picket line until the dispute is resolved.
27 – The United Way takes over the reins of the Trail Indoor Market, which was formally run by the Chamber of Commerce. The popular markets are held leading up to Christmas.
29 – Trail is once again ranked as a five-bloom community following the Community in Bloom National Symposium and Awards ceremony in Regina. Trail was recognized with the Outstanding Achievement Award for Community Involvement, which comes with a visit from renown gardening guru Mark Cullen who will travel to the city in 2017. CiB judges also noted Trail’s push to make the city more bicycle friendly.
31 – October’s weather was one for the record books. The Southeast Fire Centre monthly report showed October was the second wettest month ever recorded since weather tracking began in the mid-1960s. There were 22 days of measurable rainfall adding up to a total of 207.6 millimetres in October, which averages around 52mm since record keeping began.
November
7 – Trail council votes to withdraw its funding for the Lower Columbia Initiatives Corporation. Trail paid the lion’s share of the funding, 43 per cent or $78,000. Councillors voting to withdraw cited the city’s long list of projects and priorities, which require financial support.
15 – The City of Trail announced the Nav Canada has approved a lower ceiling for the airport’s north and south approaches. Lesser approach limits are vital during cloudy or foggy weather and will result in fewer cancelled landings and takeoffs.
19 – Trail native Craig Cunningham collapses prior to the start of an American Hockey League game in Tuscon, Az. Cunningham, the captain of the Tuscon Roadrunners was rushed to hospital and was listed in critical but stable condition as well wishes poured in from around the hockey circles.
20 – Searchers scoured parts of Trail for 70-year-old Ida Cragnolini who was last seen near Gyro Park. After three days, the search came to a tragic end when her body was located by a search helicopter.
22 – Citizens of Warfield will be going to the polls in the new year after current mayor Ted Pahl announced he would be resigning to pursue an employment opportunity in P.E.I.
23 – The Trail Health and Environment Committee had good news about lead levels in children locally. The average reading continued its stabilizing trend and is expected to drop even lower as Teck’s fugitive dust program goes into full mode.
23 – The region gets its first real taste of winter as five centimetres blankets Rossland in the morning.
24 – KSCU and its unionized employees announce a tentative agreement. The deal still has to be ratified.
28 – Trail council has opted to revisit its decision on funding the Lower Columbia Initiatives Corporation, stating more communication is needed from the organization.
28 – Teck announces it will be gin construction on a $174 million acid plant in Trail. Construction is set to start in the first quarter of 2017 and expected to be operational in 2019.
December
10 —A cold snap that brought snow and freezing temperatures proved to be the perfect addition for Trail’s Silver City Nite celebrations in downtown Trail. A winter market, outdoor events and Santa’s Candy Parade created a festive atmosphere.
10 —Red Mountain Resort was bustling as a large crowd lined up for first tracks in the new ski season.
13 —Fortis announced that the new year will bring new increases to gas and electricity bills.
Skywalk opens
15 —Over 200 residents ignored the chilly weather to get their first chance to enjoy the columbia River Skywalk. The $15-million suspension pedestrian bridge project was officially opened to the public.
19 —The City of Trail is moving towards banning smoking in public outdoor spaces in 2017.
21 — Residents in Warfield will be going to the polls in February after Mayor Ted Pahl announced his resignation. Not only will the citizens be electing a new mayor but also a new councillor as current councillor Diane Langham announces she’ll throw her hat into the race for the mayor’s seat.
22 —In his first news conference since collapsing on the ice at an AHL hockey game, Trail native Craig Cunningham and his mother Heather detail the quick reactions and life saving measures to saved Cunningham’s life.
23 —Winter road conditions have prompted the RCMP to warn motorists to slow down after numerous accidents in the region including one that claimed the life of a 28-year-old Trail woman.
27 —Winter strikes again at 22 centimetres of snow blankets the region, forces highway closures for avalanche control and puts the snow removal crews into immediate action.