Dateline: Sept. 2, 1969
The wail of the pipes and the beat of the drums drew record crowds to watch the 27th annual Highland Games, Saturday and Sunday in Nelson.
More than 700 spectators came out to the Civic Centre Saturday evening for the highlight of the games, the Tattoo. The high point in the Tattoo was the display of the Dell Hill Dancers from Edmonton. Appearing with the host band, the Kootenay Kiltie Pipe Band, were the Lethbridge Legion Pipe Band and the Angus Scott Pipe Band from Spokane.
The 27th games had special meaning for the Kootenay Kiltie pipers who were celebrating the golden jubilee of the Kilties, believed to be the oldest continuing pipe band in the province.
Dateline: Sept. 4, 1969
Nelson Mayor Louis Maglio officially opened the permanent quarters for the Senior Citizens’ Association Wednesday afternoon. The lounge, formerly the Bamboo Gardens, next to the Civic Centre was purchased for the city’s senior citizens in May for $22,000. Since then members of the association have been decorating the new quarters.
“Our senior citizens are apt to become a forgotten people, but they have toiled so hard for the things we all enjoy,” Mayor Maglio told about 80 persons. “Without a place to go like this lounge, many of these people would be shut-ins.”
Before the opening of the lounge, the citizens had only the Blue Room in the Civic Centre twice a month. The mayor said that one-third of the purchase funds were given by the provincial government. The city also installed a second bathroom.
Dateline: Sept. 19, 1969
The barricades go up tonight to clear four blocks of Baker Street for two days of entertainment, prizes and selling, selling, selling, Friday and Saturday at the Nelson Sales Jamboree. Indications are that the 300 to 600 blocks of Nelson’s main street will be crammed with merchandise displays, heavy equipment, 1970 cars, bands and dances, contests, demonstrations, bingo and auctions.
As of Wednesday, 84 city businesses were participating. Nearly 100 per cent of Baker Street businesses were planning to take part and a “sound stage” has been set up near the Ward Street intersection. Service organizations are also hoping to set up booths to raise funds for community projects.
Sidewalks will be lined by bazaar-type displays of merchandise being sold by costumed merchants. This is an opportunity for city and district shoppers not only to enjoy themselves in Nelson, but also to get bargains that have never before been offered in Nelson.
Factory representatives, most from Vancouver, will display merchandise for the Nelson merchants – and carry word of the event home with them. Six draws will be held during the two days for a total of $1,000 in cash prizes.
Dateline: Sept. 19, 1969
People living outside the city may soon have to pay more than Nelson residents to use the Civic Centre. Nelson taxpayers subsidize the centre’s facilities and programs in the amount of about $55,000 a year and yet the facilities are used by North Shore and Granite Road residents as well as Nelsonites.
City council recently approached the Regional District of Central Kootenay with a plan for an area recreation commission that would include the city and surrounding areas but the plan received little support. Therefore, it is suggested that fees for programs and activities at the Civic Centre should be higher for out-of-town residents as Nelsonites are now paying twice for the use of the centre; once by subsidizing though their taxes and again when they pay admission to activities.
The recreation commission will take a survey of the number of non-Nelson residents using the Civic Centre and to make recommendations to Council. ($55,000 in 1969 equals approximately $380,500 in 2019)
Dateline: Sept. 22, 1969
What promises to be the best-read book in the West Kootenay this year is hot off the presses. Thirty-eight thousand 1969-70 telephone directories are being distributed by hand throughout the area this week.
In past years the telephone books have been mailed to subscribers. As has been the case for more than 40 years, the books were printed by the Nelson Daily News printing department. Featured on the cover of this year’s is Hudson Bay Mountain, two miles west of Smithers.
Listings for all major West Kootenay communities are carried in each of the Nelson, Trail and Grand Forks directories. The largest number of books, 19,000 will be distributed in the Trail area; 14,000 will go to Nelson area residents and 5,000 will be sent to the Grand Forks area.
