James (Jim) Wesley English of Coalmont, BC died on the ninth of September 2009 at the Princeton General Hospital of natural causes. At the time of his passing he was surrounded by loved ones. Jim was born on September 22, 1924 in Fort Vermillion, AB to parents Alvin and Mary English. He was the 4th of 11 children. Jim led an extraordinary life, starting when he left home at around age 11. At age 15, at the start of the Second World War, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces (Regimental Number K85494). He later transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders Continue reading Remembering Jim English
Category Archives: News
COMMUNITY PLAN REVIEW
The Regional District is currently conducting a review of the Official Community Plan (OCP).
Christopher Garrish, the planner for RDOS, informs me that so far, Coalmont has the lowest return on the survey. In fact it is at a piddley 2.7%! We can do better.
Everyone should have gotten a copy of the survey in the mail. If you’re like me and don’t check your mail every week, then do it now. This is important to the future of our area and the control we have over it. Anyone who didn’t receive a copy can participate on-line, or call to get involved. Here is the press release which RDOS issued.
Continue reading COMMUNITY PLAN REVIEW
Meeting Highlights Need For Change
Our problem is that the new law can provide a loophole for excessive development. That is what would lead to health concerns and subsequent water and sewerage expenses beyond our means and desires.
It was an exciting meeting we had regarding wells, septics, and future development. There was a full house and it soon became clear that there was a lot of animosity in the community toward the new regulations. All the invited guests showed up. Harry Lally came in a bit later and gave a very encouraging speech from the floor. The minutes of the meeting are available here, but the main result was that our concerns were heard. Continue reading Meeting Highlights Need For Change
MEETING WITH OFFICIALS
Coalmont Town Meeting 7 p.m. April 21, Coalmont Hotel.
Citizens have organized a town meeting at the historic Coalmont Hotel with officials from the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, the Regional Health Authority, the District planning and engineering staff, the local elected representative, and a representative from the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors and Sewerage System Regulation Improvement Coalition.
Everyone with an interest in BC’s septic regulations and a concern for Coalmont’s future is invited. This is also an opportunity for press to learn more about this regulatory failure which is sure to be an election issue.
Continue reading MEETING WITH OFFICIALS
COALMONT WATER THREATENED
When regulations trump drinking water safety and quality, then what? The recent letter from Interior Health regarding our concerns highlights this problem.
Everyone in Coalmont has been concerned about the development of 25 foot lots on the old Works Yard. People have different views and are concerned about various aspects, but the real stickler is how can a developer get away with putting septics and wells that close together?
That is indeed a serious issue and we now know that the septic rules and regulations have changed to accommodate that kind of development. It turns out that this is a “tip of the iceberg” kind of issue. There are likely problems in other communities which just haven’t surfaced yet. Our concerns here have been presented to various authorities with little result other than they now know that Coalmont exists. Oh well. That’s a start.
Continue reading COALMONT WATER THREATENED
Basin Coal Mine
We know it as Blakeburn, but it has many other names such as Basin Coal, Coalmont Colliery, Blakeburn Strip Mine, Mullin’s Strip Mine, Mount Carbon Colliery, Tulameen Coal, Columbia Coal, B.C. Coal, and Pacific West. Whatever you call it, it’s still our neighbourhood. The news is that it’s no longer Canadian. Continue reading Basin Coal Mine
TOWN MEETING SUCCESS
The town meeting was a great success. There was a good turnout and everyone got to add their input. The best part was that we ended up with clear and positive directives. Diane Sterne was kind enough to write up the minutes for us and here is her report. Continue reading TOWN MEETING SUCCESS
Community
The most important thing about any community is the people. Several people have passed away this last year and we are reminded of the fragility, as well as the value, of life.
Ruby and Jim English moved here in 1972 and Coalmont is just not going to be the same without Ruby. Her full obituary is in this edition.
Last summer there was a wake for Linda Pudsey at the Granite Creek campground where she had been host for a number of years. She was much loved by the regulars there. Many people showed up to pay their respects and a bench was erected in her honour. Linda was only 44 when she died.
Peggy Falk, née Lakeland, was born June 20, 1916, and went to school in Blakeburn. Her father was a police officer there. She died July 30, 2008 at the age of 92. Peggy wanted to be buried up here and already had her plot reserved in Princeton some years ago. Her son Al Falk still lives with wife Sheila here in Coalmont.
Just recently, we have had the death of Ken Thompson who had lived here for many years. I saw him not too long before he died. I’ll miss going to his charming little house at the end of Fraser street. He always had Christmas lights on. He called them his “happy lights”.
~ Ole Juul
Ruby English
Ruby Blanche (Ready) Devoted wife and beloved mother, grandma and great-grandma passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 25, 2008 in Princeton, BC at the age of 81. She died of cancer related issues with her family by her side. She was very brave right to the end.
Born in Kindersley, SK on July 1, 1927. Ruby moved to Vancouver with her sister in the mid 40’s where she met and fell in love with her future husband, Jim. After a yearlong courtship they were married on March 27, 1948. They had two children whom they raised at their home in Port Coquitlam and acreage in Coalmont, BC. They so loved the peaceful mountains that in 1972 they moved to Coalmont permanently. Continue reading Ruby English
Ken Thompson
Kenneth John Thompson passed away on January 11, 2009 at Cascade Hospice, Chilliwack at age 61 years. He was born in Vancouver, October 9, 1947. Ken is survived by his mother Jean, brothers; Bruce and Gordon, his daughter Cora-Lee, son Troy, his fiance Elizabeth, granddaughter Shayna and grandson Brendin. Ken was predeceased by his father Rudy.
A Memorial service will follow in the spring, 2009. Condolences for the Thompson family may be sent through www.mem.com
Arrangements entrusted to Woodlawn Mt.Cheam Funeral Home (604)793-4555
Linda’s Bench
In Loving Memory of
LINDA ANN PUDSEY
Nov 9, 1963 – Dec 8, 2007
Forever watching over her
little piece of Heaven on Earth
BRAD HOPE – Tuesday 7pm Coalmont Hotel
Brad Hope is the Rural Pinceton Director for Area-H.
There is going to be a town meeting on Tuesday, January 20 at 7:00 pm at the Coalmont Hotel. Brad Hope wants to get some input from the locals as to what is needed in our area. Continue reading BRAD HOPE – Tuesday 7pm Coalmont Hotel
SPAM
The site has been bombarded by spam for quite a while. Usually a few hundred per day, but occasionally over a thousand. The only way to combat this for now is to turn off comments. Hopefully a better solution can be found in the future.
Because of such a large amount of postings, it has not been possible to look at every single one. If there have been a couple of legitimate ones, then they will have been deleted too. This is truly a shame and I feel bad about that and apologize to anyone who may be effected. With the many thousands of postings, however, I can see no other way.
The software for the site will be upgraded shortly, and a stricter requirement for posters will be implemented. Hopeful this will all pass and we can move on.
NEW PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT IN COALMONT ~ What’s In It For Us ?
A walk down by the old works yard will show something which, to many, is quite frightening. A new subdivision. It looks like Coalmont’s population is about to double. There are fresh white surveyers stakes in a row, even on the side that is zoned industrial, and signs with lot numbers. A pleasant looking little two story house with basement is already framed and construction is moving along. There is a sign advertising “Cottages of Coalmont” Continue reading NEW PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT IN COALMONT ~ What’s In It For Us ?
Shoe Tree Disaster
Cub reporter, Diane Sterne, has just heard via a reliable source (Tony, our construction worker) that the Famous Tulameen Shoe Tree is no more. Tulamites are in mourning today at the loss of their beloved tree which came down in a freak wind storm on July 10, 2008. Continue reading Shoe Tree Disaster