Gillian Francis

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Photos by Melissa Leslie and Heather Cottingham

PHOTOS: Witches conjure up the spirit of adventure at community paddle

The fifth annual Witch Paddle took place on Tie Lake

Photos by Melissa Leslie and Heather Cottingham
Cranbrook Food Recovery coordinator Sophie Larson stands between Healthy Kimberley Food Recovery depot coordinator Shannon Grey-Duncan, on left, and Live for Local representative Christel Hagn, on right. The three women presented at an Ed Talk on food sustainability and accessibility on Sept. 27. Larson mentioned that Cranbrook Food Recovery’s latest project involves building a hydroponic greenhouse to grow food for the people in need (Photo by Gillian Francis)

Cranbrook Food Recovery to build hydroponic greenhouse, anticipates high yields

Greenhouse, to be located near Pop Price Park, could grow over 600 heads of lettuce at one time

Cranbrook Food Recovery coordinator Sophie Larson stands between Healthy Kimberley Food Recovery depot coordinator Shannon Grey-Duncan, on left, and Live for Local representative Christel Hagn, on right. The three women presented at an Ed Talk on food sustainability and accessibility on Sept. 27. Larson mentioned that Cranbrook Food Recovery’s latest project involves building a hydroponic greenhouse to grow food for the people in need (Photo by Gillian Francis)
A crew is hard at work building two electric vehicle charging units at Chevron gas station, on the corner of 7 St. North and Kootenay St. North. The project will be finished by Oct. 6 (Gillian Francis photo)

EV charging coming to Chevron Gas

Two electric vehicle charging units will be installed at Chevron Gas by Oct. 6

A crew is hard at work building two electric vehicle charging units at Chevron gas station, on the corner of 7 St. North and Kootenay St. North. The project will be finished by Oct. 6 (Gillian Francis photo)
A trunk main north of Cranbrook began leaking water on Sept. 22, leaving residents in the north end of town without water for 24 hours. Lee Tengum captured the water leak on video, which is pictured in the screenshot above. A boil water advisory is still in effect for residents in the north of the city (Courtesy of Lee Tengum)

City of Cranbrook rescinds boil water advisory

Advisory officially rescinded Sept. 28, almost one week after water main break was discovered

A trunk main north of Cranbrook began leaking water on Sept. 22, leaving residents in the north end of town without water for 24 hours. Lee Tengum captured the water leak on video, which is pictured in the screenshot above. A boil water advisory is still in effect for residents in the north of the city (Courtesy of Lee Tengum)
The suspect was described as wearing an off-white hoodie, a grey mask, blue jeans and a brown hat. He carried a grey bag with a black strap and had brown eyes (courtesy of RCMP)

RCMP searching for suspect in liquor store robbery

Suspect took off with money from the till and a bottle of vodka

The suspect was described as wearing an off-white hoodie, a grey mask, blue jeans and a brown hat. He carried a grey bag with a black strap and had brown eyes (courtesy of RCMP)
Ed the elephant was the star attraction at Ed Fest on Sept. 9. He wandered around Rotary Park with a team of circus performers. Strongwoman Amanda Casey, ringmaster Landon Elliott and clown Jerrod Bondy kept a close eye on Ed to prevent him from running off (Gillian Francis)

Elephant puppet stampedes the streets at Ed Fest

The festival’s elephant mascot had some playful tricks up his sleeve

Ed the elephant was the star attraction at Ed Fest on Sept. 9. He wandered around Rotary Park with a team of circus performers. Strongwoman Amanda Casey, ringmaster Landon Elliott and clown Jerrod Bondy kept a close eye on Ed to prevent him from running off (Gillian Francis)
The Cops for Kids cycling team will make its way through Cranbrook on Sept. 13 and stop at Tamarack Centre to jail unsuspecting passersby, whose bail money will go to charity (photo courtesy of Cranbrook RCMP)

Cops for Kids arresting locals for charity

The group’s Jail and Bail Fundraiser will take place at Tamarack Centre on Sept. 13

The Cops for Kids cycling team will make its way through Cranbrook on Sept. 13 and stop at Tamarack Centre to jail unsuspecting passersby, whose bail money will go to charity (photo courtesy of Cranbrook RCMP)
Trevor Crawley photo.

RDEK seeks feedback on Columbia Valley trail corridor

RDEK survey is available online until Oct. 16

Trevor Crawley photo.
Clayton Boardman, on right, receives the bronze medal at the award ceremonies on Aug. 7, alongside fellow competitors Matthew Gardner, centre, and Peter Von Niessen, left. Boardman competed in the Hunter 21+ Men category. It was his first time at a national archery competition (Gillian Francis photo)

Local archers bring strong competition at Canadian Outdoor 3D Championships

Six local archers achieved a podium finish at the competition

Clayton Boardman, on right, receives the bronze medal at the award ceremonies on Aug. 7, alongside fellow competitors Matthew Gardner, centre, and Peter Von Niessen, left. Boardman competed in the Hunter 21+ Men category. It was his first time at a national archery competition (Gillian Francis photo)
Photos by Gillian Francis

PHOTOS: Arrows fly at Canadian Outdoor 3D Archery Championships

Cranbrook Archery Club hosted the national competition from Aug. 4-7

Photos by Gillian Francis
Local artist Marcel Dou Roig is building a 16ft elephant puppet for Ed Fest in September, a new event that will feature local music and art. The puppet was inspired by Cranbrook Ed, an elephant who became famous in 1926 after he escaped the travelling circus in Cranbrook and survived in the woods for a month and a half (Gillian Francis photo)

Gentle giant will take first steps at Ed Fest

Festival’s official mascot inspired by Cranbrook’s beloved elephant, Ed

Local artist Marcel Dou Roig is building a 16ft elephant puppet for Ed Fest in September, a new event that will feature local music and art. The puppet was inspired by Cranbrook Ed, an elephant who became famous in 1926 after he escaped the travelling circus in Cranbrook and survived in the woods for a month and a half (Gillian Francis photo)
Rico Naito and her daughter Hana participated in Cranbrook Art’s felting workshop on Sunday. Felters use a needle to join threads of wool together to make shapes (Gillian Francis photo)

PHOTOS: Cranbrook Arts celebrates 50 years of creativity, welcomes locals for Columbia Basin Culture Tour

Non-profit has been a steadfast supporter of local art since it opened its doors five decades ago

Rico Naito and her daughter Hana participated in Cranbrook Art’s felting workshop on Sunday. Felters use a needle to join threads of wool together to make shapes (Gillian Francis photo)
Photo provided by Windermere

Fire Smart tips to protect your home from fire damage

Homeowners should remove debris from their yards and seal vents and doors before vacating

Photo provided by Windermere
The B.C 16U Men’s lacrosse team won silver at the North American Indigenous Games in Halifax. Cranbrook defenceman Caelen Cross played on the team (photo courtesy of Amy Cross)

B.C lacrosse team takes silver at North American Indigenous Games

Team placed second in the finals, after an incredible five-game winning streak

The B.C 16U Men’s lacrosse team won silver at the North American Indigenous Games in Halifax. Cranbrook defenceman Caelen Cross played on the team (photo courtesy of Amy Cross)
Jim Howard photo

UPDATED: Aerial and ground crews battle Sparwood blaze

A wetline is being set up to prevent flames from spreading to Sparwood

Jim Howard photo
(Jim Howard photo) (Jim Howard photo)

Sparwood placed on evacuation alert as fire rages near Lladnar Creek

Residents living on Matevic Rd. and in Sparwood Heights are preparing to evacuate

(Jim Howard photo) (Jim Howard photo)
Athletes Wayne Gowanlock and Erin Thom stand beside Thom’s coach Misty Pagliaro. Gowanlock and Thom won silver medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin. The event gives athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to compete at a high level (photo courtesy of Joanne Thom)

Kootenay athletes bring home silver medals at Special Olympics World Summer Games

Erin Thom and Wayne Gowanlock medaled in golf and bocce

Athletes Wayne Gowanlock and Erin Thom stand beside Thom’s coach Misty Pagliaro. Gowanlock and Thom won silver medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin. The event gives athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to compete at a high level (photo courtesy of Joanne Thom)
The East Kootenay Foundation for Health is fundraising for a new neonatal intensive care unit at East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook (Google maps photo)

EKFH Warm Embrace campaign will fund regional neonatal intensive care centre

$3.4 million centre would provide premature infants with more localized care

The East Kootenay Foundation for Health is fundraising for a new neonatal intensive care unit at East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook (Google maps photo)
A map shows the varying drought levels assigned to regions in B.C. The East Kootenay region is a level four, which means residents must reduce their outdoor water use by 50 per cent (map courtesy of City of Cranbrook)

Drought restrictions increase for Cranbrook residents

Cranbrook enters stage two of water restrictions, East Kootenays move to level four on drought scale

A map shows the varying drought levels assigned to regions in B.C. The East Kootenay region is a level four, which means residents must reduce their outdoor water use by 50 per cent (map courtesy of City of Cranbrook)
Award-winning author Brian Preston is visiting the East Kootenays on a book tour later this summer for his novels <em>Stag: A Novel for Guys Who Haven’t Read a Novel in Years</em> and<em> A Lady Under Siege </em>(photo courtesy of Brian Preston).

Acclaimed B.C author Brian Preston launches East Kootenay book tour

Preston will showcase two novels: Stag and A Lady Under Siege

Award-winning author Brian Preston is visiting the East Kootenays on a book tour later this summer for his novels <em>Stag: A Novel for Guys Who Haven’t Read a Novel in Years</em> and<em> A Lady Under Siege </em>(photo courtesy of Brian Preston).