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Salute to Kimberley - Page 51

1981 Brousseau trial

Brousseau Murder Trial - March 26-May 15

The darkest story of the year undoubtedly was the murder trial of three men who took part in the slaying of Meadowbrook resident Raymond Joseph Brousseau the previous year (May 2, 1980).

The one woman associated with the hit job, Giselle Dumolin, had been sentenced to four years imprisonment in October of 1980.

Michael L'Ortye, Wayne Ochs and Daniel Simpson were all convicted of second degree murder in a trial which took place in Cranbrook last spring, after the jury deliberated for two days.

Most of the interest in this trial surrounded the testimony of the three men who described in detail their version of how the Brousseau killing took place.

Cominco 75th

Cominco 75th anniversary celebrations.
On a far happier note, Cominco Ltd. marked 75 years in business with a bash to be remembered, lasting two days each in Kimberley and Trail in September.

There were many events held for the employees and former employees, and some spectacular items for the public.

There were tours, retirees luncheons, school events, barbecues and many sports events but most people will recall the exciting and well staged musical pageants and the evening fireworks display.

September 11-12 in Kimberley and September 18-19 in Trail were set aside for the party which drew major crowds in both communities, and made 1981 a year to remember.

Contract talks

Cominco contract negotiations - February 4-May 14

Like in 1979, talks reached the precipice, but a strike was averted just in the nick of time.

The event would have ended up a lot higher on the list had an agreement not been reached, but nevertheless, it created quite a bit of concern here.

Talks stopped and started several times between February and April, but it was in the latter half of April that matters became more serious, with a strike recommendation actually made.

The contract ran out April 30 and the United Steelworkers agreed to a weekend long talks extension and during that time, a contract was hammered out, then voted on May 14. The result of it was a slim 55.7 per cent vote favouring the agreement which would cover two years.

Cable Television uproar

September
Unknown to the owners of Kootenay Cable, anger had been growing in Kimberley over service and the cost of receiving television signals in private homes.

On Wednesday, September 16 in a hot and crowded meeting hall, residents confronted the owners with the many issues that had been on their minds for months. It was triggered by a rate increase the previous July.

Owners promised changes, and as a result of the meeting, a local committee was struck to examine alternatives to the present cable system. That committee was still at work late in the year gathering information.

CAIMAW raid, July-December

This event gained second place status, high on the list because of what potential effect it would have on the community, if successfully carried out.

At year's end, the raid was still up in the air, but during the last half of 1981 the antagonism between representatives of the raiding union and the established bargaining representative for Cominco workers, United Steelworkers, rose and ebbed.

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CAIMAW staged preliminary meetings in Kimberley and Trail in July before officially launching their signup campaign during a built in 90 day open period from August 4.

They opened an office on Wallinger Avenue in July, submitted their sign up cards to the Labour Relations Board on November 30, and named an executive on November 4.

There were many points brought forth on both sides.

1982 - Watkins to close

School Boards decision to reorganize school system.

The top news story of the year was the budget revision faced by the Kimberley District School Board, this led to a decision in October to develop the middle school concept by moving all the grade sixes in the district to McKim next year, alter finances so that Selkirk could accommodate grade nines now at McKim, but most important to shut down Watkins School.

There were not enough pupils at Watkins to justify the expense in keeping it open but the decision to do this did not exactly meet with universal acceptance by parents.

The trustees faced a meeting of parents at Watkins on October 12 where they were told that this was not a popular move. The parents were in turn told that there was little choice.

Kimberley winners

Achievements of Gerry Sorensen, Patrick Morrow and Kimberley Ambulance Team.

The year 1982 was marked by individual and team achievement of people from Kimberley. Gerry Sorensen led off with a championship ski run at Grindewald, Switzerland.

She took two consecutive races in as many days to become World Cup Champion.

Then on February 4 the 23 year old skier raced to gold in the women's down-hill race at Schladming, Austria in the Alpine Ski Championships.

In March Gerry had a big welcome home in the Platzl, and then in July she officially opened the ski hill road that was renamed in her honour.

In October two other big events. Patrick Morrow became the second Canadian to reach the peak of Mt. Everest as part of the much publicized Canadian expedition.

He reached fame October 7. The Kimberley free lance photographer also received a big welcome of his own in the Platzl later that month.

And in England the Kimberley Ambulance Team competed at the international first aid competition. The team consisted of captain Randy Smith, Mike Harrison, Len Hunt, John Craig, Lloyd Dean (spare) and coach Ted Herron. The men placed fourth overall out of ten teams, second in the best overseas entry and first in stretcher bearing.

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 Cover

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