On December 26, 1997, a loud, joyful family Boxing Day in Fernie ended with a midnight trip to the hospital and emergency surgery hours later. What looked like appendicitis turned out to be a sharp piece from a turkey leg that perforated the bowel, triggering a dangerous leak and a week on IV antibiotics. The experience left one clear lesson: even at Christmas, things can go wrong fast.

In the final editorial of 2025, the Pass Herald looked back on years of weekly storytelling, local business support, and the Shop Local momentum that helped make 2025 one of its strongest advertising years in a long time. The column also highlighted a major step ahead: a Documenters program launching in 2026, developed with Mount Royal University to strengthen transparency and expand coverage of public meetings.

Christmas in the Pass can feel timeless, but the holiday is a layered mix of ancient solstice rituals, church calendars, Victorian storytelling and modern retail. From Saturnalia and Yule to the rise of the tree and Santa, the season has kept changing while still chasing the same thing: hope in the dark.

Crowsnest Pass Fire Rescue recognized Captain Darryl Johnson as Firefighter of the Year during a December 6, 2025, presentation, with Fire Chief Jesse Fox crediting him for leadership, mentorship and a steady presence in demanding situations. Fox said Johnson’s impact extended beyond emergency calls through his work improving training and advocating for firefighter safety.

A motion to publicly release the Chief Administrative Officer’s contract and the deputy CAO’s contract arrived amid rising tension in Crowsnest Pass council chambers and a broader debate over transparency, respect and governance boundaries. In an interview with municipal governance expert George B. Cuff, the Pass Herald examined how similar conflicts across Alberta have driven CAO turnover and increased taxpayer costs, while highlighting the legal limits on what councils can disclose and direct.

Castle Mountain Resort has opened for its 60th ski season with daily operations, snowmaking on Huckleberry and a major expansion underway. The new Stagecoach Express high speed quad will add more than 21 runs and boost Castle’s terrain to nearly 3,600 acres.

Elk Valley Resources is committing $500,000 to Avalanche Canada to support the South Rockies field team, funding daily avalanche forecasts, outreach and digital tools that backcountry skiers and riders rely on every winter.

Crowsnest Pass council approved its 2026 operating and capital budgets on December 4, confirming more than 11 million in capital work, over 1.1 million for community groups and full municipal funding for the new outdoor skate park.

Crowsnest Pass’s new council campaigned on change but passed the 2026 budget exactly as written by its predecessors, keeping recreation funding, Gazebo Park upgrades and a fire practice building, along with a 0.26 per cent municipal tax increase.

From the warm shallows of the Sea of Azov to the rocky shores of the Black Sea, a Ukrainian newcomer in Crowsnest Pass shares memories of family holidays, healing muds and seaside food, and describes how Russia’s war has shattered many of these once-peaceful coastal towns.

Piikani Nation Spiritual Elder and Knowledge Keeper Eric Crow Shoe shared Blackfoot teachings on honouring Mother Earth at the Crowsnest Conservation Society AGM, urging Crowsnest Pass residents to see care for the land as an everyday responsibility rooted in love, generosity and kindness.

For decades, Crowsnest Pass Santa visits have sounded like Lions Club volunteer Norm Hanson. From helicopter arrivals to Meals on Wheels fundraising, the 82 year old has used the red suit to support seniors and spread holiday joy.

From a teen immigrant in a Saskatchewan coal mine to cutting props on Crowsnest Mountain and building early logging roads, the Juhlin family story traces how Magnus and Grace carved out a self sufficient life in the backcountry above Coleman.

The Crowsnest Pass Food Bank is seeing more families, seniors and working residents turn to hampers as costs rise, with demand up over last year and donations under pressure even as community events and volunteers work to keep shelves stocked.

From the historic Pepsi mural to the rebuilt neon sign and front canopy, the Roxy Revival is all about process. Don Budgen explains how careful research, skilled trades and community fundraising are bringing Coleman’s landmark theatre back to life.

When hackers took over my Pass Herald email and targeted local seniors with a cruel gift card scam, Rogers left me on hold for 77 minutes. The experience exposed how vulnerable rural small businesses are when giant telecoms stop caring about customer service.

A 39-year-old contractor from Hosmer has died after a workplace incident at Elkview Operations near Sparwood, prompting investigations by RCMP, the B.C. Coroners Service and provincial mining authorities. Elkview has been temporarily shut while probes continue.

On Nov. 11, I attended all three Remembrance Day ceremonies in the Crowsnest Pass to lay a wreath on behalf of Member of Parliament John Barlow. Each service was distinct and deeply moving, and together they showed how strongly this community still honours those who served and those who continue to serve today.

Registration is climbing at the Crowsnest Pass Skating Club as its Pre CanSkate and CanSkate programs welcome everyone from three year old beginners to teenagers and international students. With certified Skate Canada coaches, trial lessons and a focus on footwork that supports both figure skating and hockey, the club is working to keep more local families on the ice.