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Soul-stice Jumbo celebration set for Ymir

Get out those dancing shoes for a Jumbo Soul-stice in downtown Ymir on Saturday, June 22.
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Get out those dancing shoes for a Jumbo Soul-stice in downtown Ymir on Saturday, June 22.

Fueled by the Lazy Poker Blues Band at 9 p.m., the celebration kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Ymir Hall with virtual and real guests like NDP MP Alex Atameneko and hockey great Scott Neidermeyer joining the mix.

“This is Jumbo Summer,” said Jumbo Wild co-ordinator K.Linda Kivi. “We are expecting some sort of development to begin soon. This is a chance to learn more about what’s happening, do some fundraising and celebrate Jumbo Wild on the solstice weekend.”

The Jumbo Glacier Resort Municipality recently got the go ahead to begin building a boutique lodge and handle tow this summer. Jumbo Mayor Greg Deck and council passed the permits in May to allow ski lifts, a lodge of up to 150 rooms and a day lodge at the base of Farnham glacier. Opposition remains strong to the controversial resort west of Invermere that has been some 20 years in the making.

Environmental groups question if the investment funds actually exist to build the 6,500 bed resort and have dubbed the appointed mayor and council a “puppet municipality” created to override the opposition in both East and West Kootenays.

Two lawsuits have been launched against the resort. Funds from the solstice event will be used to pay the West Kootenay EcoSociety’s legal fees for a judicial review challenging the creation of the municipality and for education and advocacy.

Jumbo Soul-stice includes a silent auction with a twist: “Wilderness is a basic necessity” featuring services by tradespeople.

“Bring your party hats and let’s celebrate that Jumbo is still wild,” said Kivi.