Have you ever stood on a snowclad hill and looked over the valley below? On every side a sparkling white blanket forming the background for the dark forest green of the pine and varied evergreens. Across a draw the snow-covered roofs of multicolored homes with their thin spirals of smoke wafting upward. Still farther the mist engulfed peaks of the Rockies against the skyline. Behind, stretching upward into the unknown, the snow covered and wooded hillside with its varying hues of light and shadow.
Imagine that same scene on a day of brilliant sunshine beneath the canopy of a clear, blue sky - or on a night on which the moon rides high and myriads of stars twinkle overhead.
A fascinating picture, isn't it? Did someone say "Huh, mighty cold!" No, it isn't; that's the marvellous thing - no matter what the thermometer says — it isn't cold! For that is what we saw from the large picture windows in the Ski Lodge on North Star Hill today.
All around us were the solid cement block walls of the lodge, heated by a huge hot air furnace. This Lodge has been built by the Kimberley Ski Club partly by contract, partly by volunteer labor. It is insulated and finished in Donnaconna. It is electrically lighted, it has running water, piped from its own spring.
To date an estimated $9,500 has been invested with one-third volunteer dona-tions of labor. The caretakers' quarters and canteen have been sealed in by donnaconna. The Canteen is completely equipped with plenty of built-in cupboards, sink, stove, linoleum covered floor and service window. There hamburgers, hot dogs, hot and cold drinks, candy, gum, etc. can be bought. The mainroom is yet to be sealed and the committee are hoping to get sufficient flooring to finish the top floor in the near future.
There is a juke box and benches around. The committee plans on having tables set up and the fireplace finished next year. Wouldn't that be grand!
On the ground floor is the furnace room and the lavatories. The piping should be in next week and these installed. Adjoining the furnace room is the ski room, in which the lower fireplace will also be finished next year. Here skis are prepared, gear stowed and snow removed before going upstairs. 75 lockers are in the process of completion. These will be rented to skiers for storing their belongings.
A ski run has been hued up the hillside at the back of the Lodge to the mountaintop. The ski-tow has been set up parallel to this and the whole course will eventually be floodlighted. Slalom courses, downhills and cross-country trails weave over the surrounding hills and benches.
A good 2-lane road was built from Kimberley right to the door of the lodge last year by the club. The labor on this project was entirely voluntary. This road is open summer and winter.
When we were up at the Lodge today there were two ski enthusiasts out on the slope. One was descending with expert grace. The other was a most disconsolate speck at the bottom of the run, whose skis were sticking and who simply couldn't get going! He was most indignant at daddy gliding along so effortlessly while his, apparently, 3 year old self remained firmly stuck! If we had only had a camera! We can think of no better way of conveying to you what that sports center means to Kimberley!
This isn't some place for just skiers - it is a place everyone can enjoy from little 3-year-old to grandma and grandpa. Skiing is for everyone of every age. It is a practical sport. Remember the wartime ski patrols? Remember the ease with which the Scandinavian people don their skis and travel to town to shop - to the neighbor's to visit?
If you don't ski and don't like the idea of trying, there is a luring fascination watching a skier expertly wend this way to the top of the slope, then glide, swoop and stem his way downward again.
In today's mail Miss Judy Markstrom, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Markstrom, Spokane Street, received official notice that she will be one of the Weston Tour Girls this summer.
Judy, who was born in Kimberley in September, 1935, has a younger sister, Ruth. They are the granddaughters of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carlson who were well-known pioneer hotel owners in Kimberley.
She received her Grades I and IV in Kimberley elementary school. Grades II and III, V and VI she took in Lord Byng Public School in Vancouver. Grades VII, VIII and IX she took at Richmond High and Grades X, XI and XII in Kimberley High School.
Judy is one of fifty Canadian girls to take the 1953 Weston Tour. Four of the fifty are from B.C. - one from each of four areas. Thirty girls in the Kootenay were nominated and the winner selected by a board of inspectors. The scholarship is awarded for all-round scholastic qualifications and the candidate's ability to share her experiences with others upon her return.
These tours are awarded annually by the head of Weston's Ltd., well-known British Biscuit King, who gives the scholarships to fifty boys and fifty girls annually from Canada and Britain who make exchange visits to the two countries. These are all-expense scholarships and are awarded on the basis of the candidate's personal ability only.
The tour embarks on May 22nd returning July 12th. This year's tour is particularly fortunate in that they and the English group who will visit Canada, will have a special section in the throng which will view the proceedings on Coronation Day, June 2nd.
Next.Salute to Kimberley - Index Page
Front Cover - Inside Front Cover
Page One 1896 - 1910, - Page Two 1900 - 1911, - Page Three 1912 - 1920, - Page Four 1921 - 1924, - Page Five 1925
Page Six 1926, - Page Seven 1927, - Page Eight 1928, - Page Nine 1929, - Page Ten 1930, -
Page Eleven 1930, - Page Twelve 1931/32, - Page Thirteen 1933 - 1936, - Page Fourteen 1937 - 1939, - Page Fifteen 1940, -
Page Sixteen 1941/42, - Page Seventeen 1943, - Page Eighteen 1944/45, - Page Nineteen 1945/46, - Page Twenty 1946/47, -
Page Twentyone 1948, - Page Twentytwo 1948, - Page Twentythree 1949, - Page Twentyfour 1950/51, - Page Twentyfive 1951, -
Page Twentysix 1952, - Page Twentyseven 1953, - Page Twentyeight 1954/55, - Page Twentynine 1955, - Page Thirty 1956/57, -
Page Thirtyone 1957/58, - Page Thirtytwo 1958/59, - Page Thirtythree 1959 - 1961, - Page Thirtyfour 1961/62, - Page Thirtyfive 1962/63, -
Page Thirtysix 1963/64, - Page Thirtyseven 1964 - 1966, - Page Thirtyeight 1967, - Page Thirtynine 1968 - 1970, - Page Forty 1970, -
Page Fortyone 1971, - Page Fortytwo 1972, - Page Fortythree 1973, - Page Fortyfour 1974/75, - Page Fortyfive 1975, -
Page Fortysix 1976, - Page Fortyseven 1976, - Page Fortyeight 1977/78, - Page Fortynine 1978, - Page Fifty 1979/80, -
Page Fiftyone 1981/82, - Page Fiftytwo 1982/83, - Page Fiftythree 1983/84, - Page Fiftyfour 1985, - Page Fiftyfive 1986/87, -
Page Fiftysix 1987/88, - Page Fiftyseven 1988/89, - Page Fiftyeight 1989 - 1991, - Page Fiftynine 1991/92, - Page Sixty 1993/94, -
Page Sixtyone 1995, - Page Sixtytwo 1996/97, - Page Sixtythree 1997/98, - Page Sixtyfour 1998/99, - Back CoverReturn to Keepers Index
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