Canmore

Victims of climbing accident east of Canmore identified

The two victims of last Sunday’s (July 29) tragic climbing accident in the Heart Creek area have been identified, but police and Alberta Parks are still unsure about what caused the pair to fall almost 100 metres to their deaths.

Calgarians Ranjit Sidhu, 31, and Jane Vuong, 25, were rappelling down the sport climbing route called Sciatica, which is a 5.10d six-pitch route in the Heart Creek area about 15 kilometers east of Canmore.

According to emergency crews and public safety, the climbers were using a simultaneous rappelling, or “simul-rappelling,” technique when something went wrong, resulting in both of them falling. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Lisa de Soto named new CAO for Town of Canmore

Canmore council revealed the last piece of its municipal government puzzle at a special meeting, Thursday (July 26) when it appointed Lisa de Soto as the new permanent chief administrative officer following a rigorous search that involved about 57 applicants.

De Soto accepted the role after eight months’ experience as interim CAO, which proved to be one of her assets when reviewed by both council and Legacy Executive Search, the consulting company hired to assist the town. Don Kochan left the position last November. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Wounded soldiers to climb mountain near Everest in the fall

For wounded Canadian soldier Dave Macdonald, events over the next four months may be the proudest of his life.

Having arrived in Canmore on July 15, Macdonald is part of a 14-person team of retired and reserve Canadian Forces members participating in a training program that will eventually see them tackle the 6,189-metre summit of Island Peak near Mount Everest in Nepal.

“I wanted the opportunity to be part of this team and be able to tell my story,” Macdonald said at a press conference for the training mission held at Silvertip Golf Course last Wednesday (July 18). Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.