January
4 - Ninety-seven brave souls launched themselves into the Columbia River on New Years Day as hundreds stood on the shoreline cheering them on. The river was a balmy 4 C for the annual Polar Bear Swim at Trail’s Gyro Park.
5 – Nicole Danchuk and Ben Corbett have the first child born in 2011 at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital.
24 – The teen who raped a senior citizen in her East Trail home in 2008 received an adult sentence of 7 1/2 years, after deducting time from an initial 12-year sentence for the nearly three years he spent in custody.
27 – With the Waneta expansion project underway, the delivery of air transit is projected to increase in the Trail area, which could mean expanded service from Pacific Coastal.
February
2 – With temperatures dropping to -10 C at night, various community groups have come together to provide warmth and shelter to those in need. With funding from B.C. Housing and support from the Salvation Army, an extreme weather shelter for homeless people or those needing a safe place to spend the night is opened.
17 – In memory of 100 sled dogs slaughtered in Whistler, two local animal lovers organized walks to raise awareness to lobby the government for legislation change around animal cruelty.
18 – As the B.C. Liberal Party leadership campaign hits the home stretch, contender Christy Clark visited Trail to remind the party faithful to vote for change.
28 – The airport picked up a new runway sweeper, after the federal government granted $216,000 in funding last summer to purchase the modern unit.
March
4 - A capacity crowd turned out at Rossland Secondary School to voice concerns over the recommended school closure. Almost 200 people attended the second of three “planning for the future” workshops, a public consultation forum to help the board of education determine budget priorities for School District 20.
12 – In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the ‘61 Smoke Eaters seminal win at the world hockey championships, local groups commemorated the day and encouraged residents to get into the “Spirit of ‘61.”
22 – Looking out for its sister city, Trail joined forces with Teck to offer $16,000 in support to those impacted by the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan.
To represent one dollar for each of the approximate 8,000 residents of Trail, the city donated $8,000 to Sagamihara of Kanagawa Prefecture, with Trail Operations matching these funds.
April
7 – For the first time, Trail Operations hosts Teck Trades in Action Day, where 80 students from Kootenay Columbia and Kootenay Lake school districts gather insight into career options with a tour of the facility.
8 – Trail’s Laurie Ingersole is named Trail-Warfield Citizen of the Year. The retired Crowe teacher has given back to many local service clubs, including Friends of the Public Library.
12 – Glenmerry parents host a celebration at the community’s new wheelchair acessible park, the first of its kind in the West Kootenay.
15 – Former Times’ sports editor Guy Bertrand is named new managing editor. Bertrand takes over for Tracy Gilchrist, who accepts a job in Kamloops.
18 – Over 1,000 fans take in AM Ford’s Fight Night, including special guests The Ultimate Fighter winner Jonathan Brookins and Cody McKenzie, a contestant on the reality show as well as a former Pride Gym fighter.
27 – Trail selects the undeveloped land adjacent to the chain-up area in the Gulch for a wheel park.