SEPTEMBER 2022 | ISSUE 189 IN THIS ISSUE: Special Feature with Eveliene Eijsermans on suicide prevention and knowing the signs. Feature Artist the Fernie Arts Co-op shares their story of how they got started 20 years ago, Feature Resident Adrienne Demers teaches us about the educational opportunities at the Kootenay Discovery School, Claire Smallwood passes on a recipe that is so good it must be shared, and Pat Robertson discusses the opportunities to learn and grow beyond Western culture when travelling the world. THE More You Know ISSUE
NEW HOBBY? NEW GARAGE NEEDED?
SEPTEMBER 2022 | ISSUE 189 EDITOR’S FIX p5 THE MORE YOU KNOW SPECIAL FEATURE p7 World Suicide Prevention Day by Eveliene Eijsermans BUSINESS IN THE VALLEY p9 Business News How Are Businesses Feeling? by Brad Parsell ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT p14 Feature Artist - The Fernie Arts Co-op by Keya White and Marcie Welsh Everyone Eats – Glory Bowl “Salad” by Claire Smallwood ArtBeat – By Teaching You Will Learn by Michael Hepher At Peace and Yet on Fire – Smokii Sumac by Sadie Rosgen Rental Fix – The Book of Boba Fett by Andrew Vallance EVENTS CALENDAR p27 COMMUNITY p30 Feature Resident – Adrienne Demers At the Ground Level – Learning About Nature Online by Sylvia Ayers, illustrated by Sarah Pullen Mountain Tails – Dog Parks: What You Need to Know by Valerie Barry HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE p37 Where the Spark Begins – Kirby McDonald by Krista Cold-ClimateTurcassoGardening – The Harvest by Ashley Lortscher Slow Travel – Knowledge Through Travel by Patrick Robertson This is Life – Grief by Tyla Charbonneau BITS AND BYTES p47 The Answer Guy – Stargazing by Kevin McIsaac Astrology – September 2022 by Ashley Kristina Through the Lens – The More You Know Issue The Social Page FERNIE FUN p54 The Last Page COVER: A burst of colour! Mountainside Youth Group raising awareness to help prevent human trafficking. Photo by Olivier THIS@o_studio_photographyThorlaksonPAGE: Exploring the backcountry with our kids. Photo by Charné Baird, @charnebaird THE More You Know ISSUE
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Editor’s Fix
Claris Media acknowledges that the land on which we work, gather and recreate is the traditional and unceded territory of the Ktunaxa people. We are very grateful for this place and the abundance it provides.
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FERNIE FIX | FERNIEFIX.COM
By Krista Turcasso, Editor
Published monthly by Claris Media. To advertise and for general inquiries: info@clarismedia.com Box 1124, 361A 1st Ave. Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 p: 250-423-4062 | clarismedia.com Editor | Krista Turcasso Creative Director | Vanessa Croome All content copyright Claris Media. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.
CLAIRE SMALLWOOD is an avid skier, mediocre snowboarder, former personal chef, and newly-minted hockey fan. When Claire’s not on the slopes or whipping up red chile sauce, you can find her at the helm of SheJumps, the non-profit she co-founded in 2007 with a mission to transform the lives of women and girls through outdoor experiences.
TYLA CHARBONNEAU is a Registered Psychologist (CPBC2385), dog momma, and nature lover. She loves talking with others about mindfulness, selfcompassion, and human nature.
SYLVIA AYERS is a tenacious naturalist and believes each one of us can have a big impact on making things better if we just know how.
Contributors
SADIE ROSGEN teams up with some of Fernie’s brightest young writers collaborating on a given theme. If you are reading this and think that you are that person, drop her a line at sadiepumps@gmail.com.
VALERIE BARRY is the longtime owner and head trainer of Dog Partners (dogpartners.ca). She is a multi-credentialed and highly educated professional dog trainer who specializes in behaviour modification and helping families raise friendly puppies.
ANDREW VALLANCE is a cinephile nerd who currently lives on the west coast. Girlfriendless, he spends his time going to movies, buying DVDs and flirting.
SARAH PULLEN, a recent high school graduate, has a passion for all things creative. She looks forward to heading east and pursuing Fine Arts at University this fall.
“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” ~ Alber t Einstein I never considered the importance of curiosity until becoming a parent. I think we are all born with a natural curiosity but it’s those who have the courage and confidence to continue to use it that innately learn the most and carry this ‘superpower’ through life. As a parent, caregiver or teacher, the wonderment of young people is quite obvious… as they ask questions… a lot of questions… all of the time. Just the other day, my youngest asked me how the people who are on the bottom of the world don’t know they’re upside down and we ended up having a conversation about the vastness of the universe and her eyes were so big I just wanted to jump into her body to her thoughts and feel her amazement! It’s moments like these that make us wish we still had that starry-eyed outlook, that thirst for knowing, that natural curiosity of Aschildhood.adultswe tend to get bogged down with all of the ‘to do’s’ we need to accomplish to keep us afloat, but we still can create space for wonderment, and we should! As Neil deGrasse Tyson says, participating in wonder, even when we are struggling, helps with our resilience and can help us to find meaning even during dark times. So, how can we foster curiosity? All I know is that creating space for it is key. Is there something you love to do that helps you to feel in the moment? For me, it’s biking and it’s during this time that my brain wonders and time slows and everything seems fresh and new and my heart is open. Of course, even though I would like to bike for hours each day, I cannot… so how else can foster Wecuriosity?canread, listen to podcasts, expose ourselves to ideas, topics and material that doesn’t fit within our current wheelhouse, we can acknowledge that what we know is but a small fraction of what you could know. Wow! Imagine the possibilities. As the school year commences, let’s take a moment to acknowledge and be grateful for all we have learned and all we have yet to learn. That sure encourages me to work harder on being passionately curious!
KEVIN MCISAAC haunts the coffee shops and streets of Fernie to find his column source material.
PATRICK ROBERTSON is a travel writer and long-time resident of Fernie. He is an expert in planning independent travel and finding budget travel deals.Visit his website at budgetslowtravel.com and on Facebook at Everyfacebook.com/budgetslowtravel.month
ASHLEY KRISTINA has studied astrology for over twenty years and has been reading/ teaching for five. For an in depth natal chart reading, email mountainashastrology@gmail. com.
BRAD PARSELL is the manager of the Fernie Chamber and loves working with our local vibrant business community. He is also a music nerd with an ever-growing collection of records in his basement.
ASHLEY LORTSCHER of Valley Vitals is a market gardener and local food advocate, here to share her knowledge on growing food in the Elk Valley.
EV EIJSERMANS is passionate about spreading the message that it’s okay to not be okay, and is one of the founding members of the Elk Valley Suicide Task Force, which promotes awareness, prevention and support for those impacted by suicide in the Elk Valley.
MICHAEL HEPHER is a painter, printmaker, sculptor and musician living and working in Fernie. His work is collected internationally and can be seen at Clawhammer Press and a variety of galleries in Western Canada.
The organizers of the Wapiti Music Festival would like to thank everyone that has supported our festival and made our 10th Anniversary so amazing! We would especially like to thank our sponsors and volunteers! And a huge thanks to YOU - the citizens and businesses of Fernie that support the arts and culture in our community. OUR SPONSORS music festival Thank you! wapitimusicfestival.com Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge•Cameron Enterprises•CBT Basin Festival Revival Grants Chinook Scaffolding•City of Fernie•Claris Media•Eldho’s Independent•Fernie Auto Parts Fernie Catering Co.•Fernie Fox Hotel•Flamegaurd Safety Services•Kyle Hamilton•Leavitt Machinery Michael Hepher•Park Place Lodge•Province of British Columbia•Red Tree Lodge•Rocky Mountain Milk Save On Foods•Starbucks•TECK•The Arts Station•Tourism Fernie 8MM QUILTFERNIEWORKSHOPFILMGUILD ARTS & CRAFTS DEMOS & WORKSHOPS SEPTEMBER 9-11, 2021 • HISTORIC DOWNTOWN FERNIE BENJAMINCHARLES FERNIE's GOT KID TALENT INTERPRETIVEEDUCATIONLIVE ENTERTAINMENT CHAUTAUQUAKIDS KNOWSLORD HERITAGEWALKINGTOURS FDHS OPEN DOORS ARTIFACT CENTRE FERNIEFERNIEARCHIVESMUSEUM GHOST SCHOOLS OF MICHEL NATAL • FERNIE AT INTERNMENTWAREXHIBIT&SPINNERSFERNIEWEAVERSGUILD OFWOMENMICHEL CELEBRATINGINDANCINGTHEDARKCOALTOWNMEMORIES
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The major warning signs of suicide spell: IS PATH WARM: I - Ideation: thinking about suicide S - Substance use: problems with drugs or alcohol P - Pur poselessness: feeling like there is no purpose in life or reason for living A - Anxiety: feeling intense anxiety or feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope T - Trapped: feeling trapped or feeling like there is no way out of a situation H - Hopelessness or Helplessness: feeling no hope for the future, feeling like things will never get better W - Withdrawal: avoiding family, friends, or activities A - Anger: feeling unreasonable anger R - Recklessness: engaging in risky or harmful activities normally avoided M - Mood change: a significant change in mood Each and every suicide is devastating and has a profound impact on those around them. By educating ourselves and others, this will reduce the stigma around suicide. We can all create hope through action. The Elk Valley Suicide Task Force (EVSTF) will be holding a World Suicide Prevention Day Event in the evening of September 10 at Rotary Park. This year the Keynote Speaker Adam Campbell. Adam is a well-known mountain athlete and will be sharing his journey of dealing with mental illness, grief and moving forward. There will also be information on suicide prevention to help educate others in the warning signs, the effects and how you can get help.
THE MORE YOU KNOW ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an opportunity to educate others by raising awareness of suicide and to promote action that will reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts globally. The first WSPD was launched in Stockholm on September 2003 as an initiative of International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as a way of focusing attention on Suicide and confirming the message: Suicides Are Preventable Suicide prevention is a global challenge and ranks among the top 20 causes of death globally. Between 3500-4000 Canadians die by suicide each year. However, the stigma surrounding suicide continues to be a barrier and can prevent people considering suicide from seeking Thishelp. year the ISAP’s focus is Creating Hope Through Action. Preventing suicide is often possible and YOU are a key player in its prevention. By learning the warning signs, you can make a difference to someone who is suffering and by taking time to reach out to someone whether a family member, friend, colleague or even a stranger could change the course of another’s life.
World Suicide Prevention Day by EVELIENE EIJSERMANS Vince Mo Photo “Suicides Are Preventable.”
Sept 21-25, 2022 ferniepride.ca Spectrum Queer Arts Day Drag Storytime Flag Raising and Bike Parade Cooking with QueensWorkshops Rainbow Reads CITY OF FERNIE BRITISH COLUMBIA CITY OF FERNIE AmundsenElectric Elk Valley P ri de Drag Shows Galore! Rainbow Reels WORLD PREVENTIONSUICIDEDAY SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER Adam Campbell journeyEnduranceProfessionalAthletewillbesharinghisofdealingwithmentalhealth,griefandmovingforward. CREATING HOPE THROUGH ACTION SEPTEMBER 10 ROTARY PARK, FERNIE 6 - 9 pm Join us for an evening of speakers, sharing stories, music and a memorial walk. Bring your chairs and blankets! Elk Valley Suicide Task elkvalleystf@gmail.comelkvalleysuicidetaskforceForce adamo1979 Check out 2nd Edition Coworking in Fernie’s Historic downtown. 778-761-0800info@coworkingfernie.com|coworkingfernie.com @2ndeditioncoworking Looking for a Professional Space to Work? Whether you are looking for a space to work for an hour, a day or a month – we’ve got you covered.
FERNIEFIX.COM 9 Business in the Valley BUSINESS NEWS
The Fernie Chautauqua (Sept 9-11) is an annual festival celebrating Fernie’s culture, heritage and community, based on the traditional Chautauquas of the 1920s. Primarily located on the lawns at Fernie’s City Hall, the event features live entertainment, children’s activities, arts and crafts and many opportunities to engage and Thisparticipate.year’sfestival is anchored by the Fernie Museum’s new fall exhibit; Women of Michel, featuring the work of four artists who grew up in the former mining community. The exhibit opens on September 9 and will be followed by a panel luncheon on Saturday with a chance for residents to record their memories. A Children’s Talent Show, Fernie Arts Guilds, new historical exhibits and tours, music from Charles Benjamin and Lord Knows, and ‘Dancing in the Dark –a Celebration of Coal Town Memories’ round out the weekend - with more to be announced! ferniechautauqua.com
First up, be sure to watch out for a sweet FBC x FPS t’shirt. Designed by Lev Sonego @glitterburns, of Nelson, profits from this limited release t’shirt will be donated to the Fernie Pride Society. Limited stock, available online and in-store at FBC, early Then,September.onThursday September 22, be sure to head to FBC to kick off the Elk Valley Pride Festival in style, with a glass of the FBC x FPS Collab Brew. Brewed by FBC Brewer Kevin Symington, with the help of some FPS Board Members, this Pea Flower Cream Ale won’t be around for long! Available on tap in the FBC Tasting Room from 2pm on September 22, for a very limited time. Follow FBC at @ferniebrewingco to ensure you don’t miss out!
With the Elk Valley Pride Festival coming up later this month, Fernie Brewing Co. (FBC), is excited to announce two amazing collaborations, with the Fernie Pride Society (FPS).
Submitted Photo Fernie CompanyBrewing ferniebrewingco.com
Fernie Museum
PhotoFree Weekly Prescription Delivery Full Service Pharmacy Cosmetics • Fernie Souvenirs Back to School Supplies 441- 2nd Ave. Downtown Fernie Tel: 250.423.4511 Personal,FriendlyService Craft Beer • World & BC Wine Speciality Liquor parkplacelodge.com 742 Hwy #3 | 250-423-6871
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What does it really mean?
FULL SERVICE REAL ESTATE
In the ever-changing real estate market, choosing a Realtor® who has the knowledge, experience and dedication to represent your home and community can be challenging. As your Elk Valley specialists, our services extend above and beyond traditional Realtors® in order for you to receive exceptional results on your home sale.
FALL IS A GREAT TIME TO LIST!
Marketing With a marketing plan focused on ensuring your property receives personalized exposure & is presented in a superior light. Results Intricate marketing awareness & research, strong negotiator, business leader, professional & educated. Contact us for a no obligation, complimentary current market analysis on your property.
$ Strategies Outstanding photography, staging, impressive videography, impeccable customer service & communication.
Fall is a great time to list your home, so if you are considering selling, reach out to us now so we can help you prepare. Here at Fernie Homes we work diligently to ensure your home is staged and professionally photographed so that it looks its best online, where most buyers see your property for the first time.
BUSINESS NEWS
FERNIEFIX.COM 11
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BOOK A FITNESS Email valkyriepersonaltrainer@gmail.com Call Body Garage at 778-745-3105 and request an appointment with Sarah-Beth today. valkyriepersonaltraining.com
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Kerri McCrady is one of Fernie’s newest REALTORS® at RE/MAX Elk Valley Realty Ltd. With 20 years of personal experience buying and selling real estate, she has naturally turned this passion into her Youcareer.mayrecognize Kerri from her time volunteering at the Wednesday Socials and Fernie Youth Soccer Association, from IDES with her kids, or her friendly face walking down main street and dining on patios with friends and family. Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, your retirement home, a vacation property, or a building lot, Kerri is here to help. She is eager to put her skills and knowledge to work for you as your confidant, support system, and your trusted FollowRealtor®.Kerri on Facebook and Instagram @kerri.mccrady.remax.fernie. Contact her by email at kerrimccrady@gmail. com, on her cell 250-423-0870, or visit fernielistings.com/kerri-mccrady/
Kerri McCrady
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Business in the Valley
Submitted Photo An Educational Club for Horse Crazy Kids
Fernie Pride Society ferniepride.ca Back for its sixth year is the Elk Valley Pride Festival, September 21-25 in Fernie featuring events for everyone of any age with multiple opportunities to meet your favourite Queens at Drag Storytime, Drag Paint and Sip, Cooking with Queens, and the traditional Drag Brunch as well as learning options including Rainbow Reads, Rainbow Reels, and Kootenay Queer BackHistory.on the schedule is Spectr um Queer Arts Day, a free, all-ages event with musical performances by Kimmortal, Hyaenas, and KP Smith as well as seven Queens. New this year is Wheelie Out; a queer skate jam in partnership with Ladies on Edge and Edge of the World. Allies are welcome to join in this pre-Spectrum event. Kicking it off is the Flag Raising and Bike Parade followed by the Rainbow Connections Pride Picnic and Spirits and Songs with Anita Roloff at Fernie Distillers. Stay up to date on all things Fernie Pride and Elk Valley Pride Festival on their socials or at ferniepride.ca.
1241 7th Ave 250-423-0870
Are your employees struggling to find a family doctor? We offer telemedicine for your employees and their families! Better Employee Health Benefits Start Here! timberbenefits.com Flexible and benefitmodernoptions Support your physicalmentalemployeesandhealth Reduce the cost of your benefits plan 250-423-3002 • thebridgebistro.com 301 Hwy 3, beside West Fernie Bridge OPEN DAILY from 9am until 9pm for breakfast, lunch, dinner & drinks. Fernie’sRiversideFavouritePatio! 791 A 2nd Ave, DryingCapturingwww.barkside.com250-423-4332FernietheFinalDaysofSummer!LifeJackets,Backpacks,Coats&PackableBedsOpen7DaysAWeek
Back in the spring the Elk Valley Economic Initiative published the results of the largest business survey ever undertaken in the Elk Valley. Supported by the local governments and Chambers of Commerce in all three Elk Valley communities, the findings were presented as a rolled-up report for the entire corridor as well as broken down into results from each of the communities of Elkford, Sparwood and Fernie. This kind of business sentiment data is critical for local leaders and decisionmakers to understand as they work on policy and programming that will shape the local economy. The idea is to repeat the survey at least every two years to track how businesses are feeling about certain issues, and whether it is getting better (or worse) over time.
by BRAD PARSELL Business in the Valley TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
“The key themes that emerged as challenges to local businesses were lack of workers, lack of workforce housing, and the cost of doing business. ”
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If we look at the Fernie data, we can see that overall businesses are optimistic about the future of their operations while still acknowledging the multiple barriers that exist to growing their business. At the time of the survey, Fernie businesses were still in the grips of pandemic-related health orders and restrictions.Yet 44.2% of Fernie businesses stated they were growing, with 58.6% of businesses planning to expand in the next three years and 47.2% planning to increase the number of employees they have over the same time.
How Are Businesses Feeling?
The results were taken from surveys with 318 unique businesses that operate in the Elk Valley, with 77% of those (245 businesses) identifying as operating in Fernie. What do businesses look like in Fernie at the moment? Well from the data, we know that 42.2% of businesses in Fernie are 51% or more owned by females. Fernie has a strong small business scene with 38.5% of businesses reporting an average gross revenue of less than $250,000, with the average Fernie business employing five full-time staff. 29.3% of businesses in Fernie have been in operation for over twenty years, compared to 31.4% of businesses that are less than five years old. Businesses that own their own buildings represented 32.2% of all Fernie businesses, while the 34.6% that leased their buildings paid an average of $12.20 per square foot (triple net).
Despite the bullish outlook, 88% of businesses stated they have at least one barrier to growth. The key themes that emerged as challenges to local businesses were lack of workers, lack of workforce housing, and the cost of doing business. One in two businesses operating in Fernie reported that employee recruitment had been a problem in the last three years –with the issue more likely to be a problem the more employees a business has. For the businesses struggling with employee recruitment, 69% stated that the issue was simply a lack of applicants. Of course, workforce housing was identified as a major underlying issue for both employee recruitment and retention with 55.3% of businesses listing housing as “very to extremely important” to their business success. Tellingly, 43.3% of business listed housing as Fernie’s top weakness as a place to do business – second only to cost of living (which is clearly related).
So, what are we going to do with all this information? Great question! Next month we will dive into all the ramifications of what we heard, what the next steps are, and why it is critically important for local leaders (including those running for public office this fall!) to understand Fernie’s business sentiment as we all look to a prosperous and sustainable future. For more data insights on how Fernie businesses are feeling, check out the full ‘2022 Fernie Business Retention & Expansion Report’ on the Elk Valley Economic Initiative website (theelkvalley.ca).
Originally located in the Mugshots building (where the Good Earth is today), we have Millie Barnett and Erica Konrad to thank for finding this initial space and for coming up with the idea to have place for local artists to share and retail their works. Millie hosted a meeting of about 10 local artists and Fernie Creations by Hand was born, opening its doors on January 13, 2003. The Co-op’s first president was Debra Brygadyr Cook (a potter). Other founding members included Alice Byrne (jewelry), Troy Cook (bold colourful paintings), Jeannie Grey (stained glass), Patrick and Joanne Burke (wooden ornaments and sewing), Nancy Watson
When you’re looking for a unique piece of local art or a gift for someone special that says “Fernie,” where do you go?
A gallery run by the artists, for the artist in everyone, the Co-op will soon be celebrating a special milestone in January 2023, its 20th birthday. Looking back to December 2002 when two of our founding members were looking for a space for such an enterprise to call home, we have come a long way.
and Entertainment FEATURE ARTIST
The Fernie Arts Co-op
by Keya White and Marcie Welsh
Illustration by Alexandra Kozak
Arts
There may be many incredible options in our community now, but it wasn’t always this way. While many of our members and consignees have changed over the years, the Fernie Arts Co-op continues to feature a diverse range of mediums and the opportunity to meet the artist in person while you shop. Whether you are searching for a painting, photography, jewelry, pottery, mosaic/stained glass, leatherwork, fabric/ felted items, handmade soap, woodwork, mixed media, paper craft or something else, we probably have the medium you’re looking for.
Keya White: Cedar Bowl Sea, Photography on Canvas Bev Delyea: Salmon Sunset, Stained Glass Mosaic
Kari Lehr: Alpha Grey, Acrylic on Canvas Patrick Markle: Spring Thaw, Acrylic on Canvas
As we look forward to celebrating our 20th year in business in 2023, we encourage you to keep an eye on our social media (facebook and instagram @fernieartscoop) for our latest events and happenings. We thank all past presidents, board members, artists, consignees, bookkeepers and managers for their role in shaping the Co-op into what it is today and you, the customer, for your love for local art and encouraging us to do what we do!
From the day we opened in January 2003, it was the intention of our group to have cooperative status, however this took a lot longer to achieve than originally anticipated. After three years of efforts on the part of numerous artists to no avail, a new member Barbara Kosiec was able to achieve this. Barbara, who had experience with attaining cooperative status for an apartment building in Cranbrook, took on the task and on March 15, 2006 her efforts were rewarded when our growing group of artists legally became Fernie Arts Co-op. Since that time, we have been governed by the Co-operative Act and a rotating board of member elected Directors.
FERNIEFIX.COM 15 (also sewing/baby items) and my mother Marcie Welsh (nature collaged switch plate covers.) 20 years later a few of our original members are still continuing their artistic journeys at the Co-op including Alice Byrne, Pat Moore, Kathy Stead and myself (now as consignee rather than working Itmember).didn’ttake long for the Co-op to begin to outgrow its 400 square foot space, so by late fall of 2003 we were able to find, paint and move into a new location at 492 2nd Ave (home to Rooftop Coffee Roasters now.) This allowed for more eager artists to join our core group including Bill Bell, Kendra (Smith) Dixson, Ilona Webster, Bill Mortimer, Ann Louise Joyal and others. When the building sold and the Heinz family began their dream of opening the Fernie Tea and Coffee House, it was time to move once more and thankfully this brought us to our current location at 572 2nd Avenue in May 2006. This beautiful heritage space was being renovated at the time after being the home of Minifie’s Men’s Wear and Shoe Store for decades.
We have been fortunate to remain here ever since and are grateful to our past and present landlords for the opportunity to continue showcasing the works of 40+ artists in this building.
To learn more about the Arts Co-op and its members, visit fernieartsco-op.com or drop by their downtown space, open 10am to 6pm daily.
HeritageLocal Historic Sites & Attractions NatureExploring Forests, Trails & Wildlife Family Fun & Yum! For Youngerthe Ones Taste Fernieof Locally Crafted Food & Drinks Best SpotsView Iconic LocationsPhoto ExplorationsArtistic Local Arts & Crafts Explore Fernie with the new mobile app! Self-guided themed tours with a variety of locations to discover. Choose to collect and redeem points for local rewards. Download the FREE app! #iconicfernie #ferniestoke | iconicfernie.com
FERNIEFIX.COM 17
Arts and Entertainment EVERYONE EATS
“Great recipes are meant to be shared.” — Shelley Adams
POV:You’ve finished a weekend of imbibing, chicken-winging (hey, maybe you made the Pok Pok wings from the last Fernie Fix issue?!), and general indulgence. It’s Monday and you’re not ready for the week. There’s a voice inside your head that is begging for something healthy but fulfilling. After all, no great story started with a salad. Well, maybe this time it’s different. Is the Glory Bowl a salad? Kind of. Does it matter? No. Salad is great but we all have those moments when we want a little more than just a salad. Instead of heaving a piece of greasy garlic bread on the side of your plate, this recipe urges some kind of warmed grain—I like brown rice—but lentils, white rice, or quinoa would do just fine as well. When it comes to toppings? The sky’s the limit. It’s a great way to use up the veggies in your fridge. I’ve skipped the instructions for cooking the brown rice, but did include my tips for cooking tofu. Keep in mind, you can use any protein you’d like with this recipe! I’ve added my own little kick to this by finishing it with toasted pankotrust me, you’ll never eat a normal crouton Shelleyagain!
Adams created this recipe when she ran the First Tracks Café at Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson and she’s been known to say,“great recipes are meant to be shared.” This is definitely not my personal recipe, but Shelley - bless your heart for sharing it with the world. Glory Bowl “Salad” by CLAIRE SMALLWOOD Eats continued
Everyone
on next pageSubmitted Photo
There are No Access, No Hunting and No Shooting safety boundaries clearly signed around all Teck operations and exploration sites in the Elk Valley. For your safety and ours, please do not hunt or travel in the active mining or exploration areas. Teck’s Elk Valley boundary maps are available at your local hunting or ATV Club and at the mine gatehouses. To view the maps online, www.teck.com/coalmapsvisit:
Safety Is At Our Core
1/3 cup Braggs Soy Sauce alternative (you can also use Soy sauce or Tamari)
1/3 cup Water
2 tablespoons Tahini (the best deal on Tahini is at Independent) 2-4 cloves of garlic 1 1/2 cups of oil (any kind will work)
For the tofu: Cut the tofu into 1 inch cubes. Lay out a *clean* kitchen towel or paper towels on one plate, then put the tofu down, then layer one more towel and add another plate on top! Find something heavy to put on there - I usually use a couple of cans. This will press the water out of the tofu. Let it rest there for up to 30-45 minutes if you want, or just 5 minutes will help expel the water as well.
While your tofu is ‘resting,’ it’s time to toast the panko! Pour the cup of panko in a skillet on medium heat. Add about 2-3 tablespoons of oil and season the panko with “everything but the bagel seasoning” (you can use salt, pepper, and garlic powder otherwise!). Get your panko nice and golden brown. Remove it from the pan, and then you can use the same pan to cook your tofu (if you don’t have an air fryer).
Dressing:
Other things: 1 “block” of Tofu 1 cup of “Everythingpankobut the Bagel” seasoning or garlic powder, salt, and pepper Romaine or spinach (cut, washed)
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CarrotGreenRadishesonion(recommend grated)
Avocado (cubed)
Finally! Assemble the “salad”: Put all of your veggies except the romaine/ spinach and beets in a large mixing bowl. (The beets will stain everything purple!) Pour a healthy amount of dressing on the veggies and toss them around so everything is nicely coated, then add your greens and toss. This prevents the greens from getting too soggy - so wait until right when you’re going to serve. The last step is to pour the golden brown panko on top of the salad and mix it up and sprinkle the beautiful purple beets on top. It will be crunchy and Servedelicious!the salad over some brown rice and then add the tofu on top, Sriracha is a nice addition. If you want to see this recipe in action, check out the reel on Claire’s Instagram @ clairesmallwood_
Instructions: Get your rice or quinoa cooking!
VISIT US. tf: 1.855.777.BREW w: ferniebrewing.com e: info@ferniebrewing.com CONTACT US. #DrinkFernie@FernieBrewingCo FOLLOW US. Tasting Room + Store open 7 days a week. Check our website for full details, or to shop online. @FernieBrewingCo #DrinkFernie
1/2 cup Nutritional Yeast (you can find this in the bulk section at Save-On Foods)
1/3 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
Everyone Eats continued
Once you’ve pressed a good amount of water from the tofu (hint: you’ll have wet towels!) toss the tofu in some oil. It’s preferable to use an oil with a high-smoke point, such as avocado oil or coconut oil. Season with generous amounts of salt and pepper. I like to cook the tofu in an air fryer for 15 minutes at 350°, but you could also cook it on the stove top - it should take about 15-20 minutes on mediumhigh heat. Just make sure you use plenty of oil and keep an eye on it for safety and to prevent burning.
For the dressing: Combine the apple cider vinegar, water, Braggs, tahini, nutritional yeast, and garlic (everything but the oil) into a high-powered blender and blend on high until the garlic is incorporated. Turn the blender on low (with the lid on) and then slowly pour the oil in through the hole in the lid and blend again until smooth. Boom, the dressing is done!
Beets (recommend grated beets)
Get ready for a couple of favourites.fall@mark11photographyPhoto:
“Teaching solidified the learning I had gained in the early part of my journey into the stepping stone I needed to propel me towards my goal. To remember that life lesson, I keep a print hanging in my studio that reads: by learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn. ”
Back in 2003 an ancient letter press and mountains of type had found a willing home in my garage. The ensuing years were spent cleaning, organizing and gingerly testing the process. The historic physicality of it was a welcome break from my ‘real’ work designing logos and websites—glued to a shiny screen for much of the day. By the time I figured out the basics of the printing process I knew I had to find a way to turn it into a full-time gig, but acquiring knowledge about a historic trade is not an easy or linear journey. At that time, the internet as we know it today was still in its infancy.YouTube wouldn’t come online for another two years. Websites were more or less just fancy spreadsheets with logos at the top. Clunky FlashTM animation was the flavour of the month. There were no forums or user groups for letterpress printers. To learn how to use this big machine I had to purchase a leather-bound apprentice manual titled ‘Platen Press Operation’ from a fledgling online bookseller called Amazon. The book was written in the typically stiff manner of red-seal trade manuals at the time—most of the chapters started with phrases like ‘the aspiring young printer should never…’ and ‘the apprentice should always…’ which I always imagined being delivered in a crisp British accent. I started at the beginning and worked my way steadily through that book in what amounted to a self-guided apprenticeship.
When I was asked in the winter of 2011 to co-teach that workshop in Fernie, I Teaching You Will Learn by MICHAEL HEPHER Submitted
Photo
A couple years into my journey I met Peter Bartl and Jane Merks at an arts conference. Peter (the master printer) and Jane (the artist), operated PB&J Press in the West Kootenays and they promptly took me under their wing. I spent weekends at their well-appointed home studio and learned many formal and informal lessons printing alongside them. Peter and Jane used a different style of press (which now lives in my studio), but the process was starting to feel more familiar and I had a growing confidence in my ability to troubleshoot and solve the mysterious problems that arise when printing with 100-year-old equipment.
My first significant visit to Fernie was to help teach a letterpress workshop just over 11 years ago. The idea of launching Clawhammer Press in Fernie was not even a twinkle in my eye when a friend asked me to co-teach for the weekend alongside my mentor, Peter Bartl. Saying yes radically changed the direction of my life.
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Volunteers Needed for New Elk Valley Seniors Program
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FERNIEFIX.COM 21 had serious imposter syndrome. I certainly didn’t have the formal training Peter did (though he often eschewed that knowledge in favour of ‘playing with type’ as he put it) and I wasn’t really sure what I had to offer the group, but I said yes because it meant a weekend spent with a letterpress and an opportunity to glean some more knowledge from my mentor. Over the course of the weekend I was surprised to learn just how much knowledge I had acquired in my selfguided apprenticeship. The workshop was conducted on a platen press (more like mine than Peter’s) and he would often defer to me for troubleshooting or technical explanation. By the end of the weekend Peter felt less like a mentor and more like a colleague. That workshop provided me with not only enough confidence in my knowledge to think about making the transition to a vocational printer, but also with a potential town in which to build my dream of a fine-art letterpress studio and Sixgallery.months after that workshop we moved to Fernie. A month after that we signed a lease on the space that would become Clawhammer Press. In truth, I didn’t have enough knowledge about my craft or about retail business to start, but putting myself out there and sharing my knowledge helped me build the confidence I needed to give me momentum to push through the gaps in my knowledge. Teaching solidified the learning I had gained in the early part of my journey into the stepping stone I needed to propel me towards my goal. To remember that life lesson, I keep a print hanging in my studio that reads: by learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn. It’s a good reminder that we rarely feel ready, but each one of us has something unique to share and the process of explaining that knowledge to others impacts us in important ways that in turn change our own lives. Keep teaching. Keep learning.
The Elk Valley Better at Home program supports seniors’ independence to age well in their homes. The program is currently seeking volunteers to support the independence of seniors in the Elk Valley. Contact EVBAH coordinator at evbah@fdx.family or 250-278-5844. We are much more than a fly shop, come check out our gear for all your Fernie Adventures! 791 - 7 th Ave. •
The purpose of the Communities of Interest Advisory Initiative is to foster dialogue and communication between the four coal operations and community representatives within their area of influence.
startsYour250-423-7239adventureatElkRiverGuidingCompany.Guiding,gear&goodtimes!
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2.What has been the most profound experience you’ve had through writing?
FERNIEFIX.COM 23
Arts and Entertainment AT PEACE AND YET ON FIRE Smokii Sumac by Sadie Rosgen
I believe in writing for healing, in writing to find the truth, and in a way, I believe I write myself into being. I find the phase of writing that is just me and the words to be the most personally profound for my own journey—giving a voice to experiences that I often haven’t made sense of until they’re on the page. That said, I also believe that the moment of sharing with an audience is… I’m not sure I can say more or less profound, but I can say it feels like a “bigger” experience. When I’m opening my heart and being vulnerable reading those poems that are pieces of me, whether of my grief, my laughter, my love or rage, there is profundity, for me, in the moment of connection with the audience. In that moment we are all resonating in the feeling of the poem together, and that is an experience I can’t replicate. It takes these exact people in this specific time and place. It doesn’t happen at every show, but more and more, especially in this time since the pandemic lockdowns, I find myself holding the magic of when an audience meets me with an open heart, and I get to feel their own experiences resonating in the room—bringing to life that metaphor of “striking a chord” with someone. There’s an energy of harmony in those moments that lifts me up. It’s an honour to be a part of. for the love of all that is queer and brown for those beautiful disabled bodies for those wedding rings flashing on husbands fingers men so deeply in love with each other a femme with glasses and bangs held onto my glance later i wept through readings of learning to love ourselves our bodies each of our naked burning hearts our lipstick and our binders our canes our love this one is simply for all of our love which can never be wrong (from you are enough: love poems for the end of the world, Kegedonce Press, 2018)
When I was approached by the Fernie Pride Society to interview Smokii Sumac later this month, I was fascinated and overjoyed to meet him and delve deeper into his poetry and story of origin. Smokii is a 2 spirit Ktunaxa author, PhD candidate and decorated academic poet. In preparation for our interview, I asked Smokii a couple big questions about his work. In the meantime, learn about Smokii and buy him a coffee at smokiisumac.com
1. At what point did you realize you wanted to write and publish poetry? I have been writing since I was in high school (shout out to David Thompson Secondary’s Creative Writing teachers!), and I don’t think I ever truly thought of it as a career path. It wasn’t until I went to university and was introduced to Indigenous Literatures that I thought, maybe I could write a book someday. That dream came to life with the support of Kegedonce Press, an Indigenous-run press who reached out to me in 2018, and who helped me bring my book you are enough: love poems for the end of the world into being!
Unfortunately, the budget of The Book of Boba Fett appears to be very low and the scripts are uninspiring, with forgettable villains, horrible pacing and what appears to be a desire on the part of the creators to make Boba Fett, supposedly the galaxy’s most skilled and ruthless bounty hunter, appear as an idiot.
Once Were Warriors is a 1994 New Zealand film which tells the story of the Hekes, an urban Maori family with problems with poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence.
The film isn’t easy to watch, but the raw power of the story and the performance of an excellent cast resulted in its becoming the highest grossing film of all time in New Zealand. The film starred Temuera Morrison as the violent and abusive father, and Rena Owen as his long suffering wife.
This is not a good show and not worthy of your viewing time. If you really want to watch a show that features gun-toting bounty hunters engaging with a galactic underworld in a post empire Star Wars universe, please re-watch The Mandalorian by ANDREW VALLANCE
The Book of Boba Fett
Morrison gained critical acclaim for this starring role and for his role in the film’s 1999 sequel What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?
Arts and Entertainment THE RENTAL FIX Y A M A G O Y A
Outside of New Zealand Morrison is best known for his work in the Star Wars multimedia franchise, playing the roles of Jango Fett, as well as his many genetic clones, including the clone troopers and Jango’s clone son Boba. He originated the role of Jango in the 2002 film Attack of the Clones, and went on to provide the voice of Boba Fett in the 2004 re-release of The Empire Strikes Back, and then portray Boba fully in the second season of The Mandalorian (2019 to present).
The Book of Boba Fett is a Disney Plus series that details the adventures of Boba Fett after the events of Return of the Jedi. It shows how he escaped from the belly of the Sarlacc, one of the most frightening creatures on Tatooine, and establishes himself as one of the most prominent and powerful gangsters on that planet, taking over the territory of feared crime boss Jabba the Hutt.
Morrison is truly one of New Zealand’s national treasures and is a truly dynamic performer, which is why it is so depressing to see him stuck in the middle of a terrible show like The Book of Boba Fett
FERNIEFIX.COM 25
This all sounds like the set up for a very stimulating and action-packed streaming experience but, unfortunately, The Book of Boba Fett does not live up to its potential.
The show is exceedingly boring, with Morrison, the star of the show, giving one of the most wooden performances of his career. The supporting cast, which includes marvelous actors like Jennifer Beals and Ming Na Wen, does no better.
Ming-Na Wen is a Chinese American actress who made her breakthrough in The Joy Luck Club (1993). From 1995 to 2004 she played Dr. Jing-Mei Chen in the medical drama series ER. She was the voice of Fa Mulan in the animated musical action film Mulan (1998) and its sequel for which she won an Annie Award. She had a starring role as Detective Ellen Yin in The Batman (2004-2005).
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FERNIEFIX.COM 27 EVENTS CALENDAR Thursday 1.9.2022 Scott Downhill Race @ Fernie Alpine Resort Pottery Wine & Wheel @ The Arts Station Friday 2.9.2022 Keith Greeninger Live @ Fernie Distillers Heavy Airship Live @ The Central Supernatural Buffalo @ The Kodiak Saturday 3.9.2022 Wam Bam Dirt Jam @ Bike Park Keith Greeninger Live @ Fernie Distillers Road, Spa and Bear Bistro Open @ Island Lake Lodge Sunday 4.9.2022 Fernie Lions Demolition Derby @ Railway Ave, 13th St. Behind TJs Autobody Mountain Market @ Annex Park Road, Spa and Bear Bistro Open @ Island Lake Lodge Monday Educational5.9.2022Cannabis Presentation @ Earth’s Own Naturals Road, Spa and Bear Bistro Open @ Island Lake Lodge Tuesday Singletrack6.9.20226Mountain Bike Race @ Fernie Trails Wednesday 7.9.2022 Singletrack 6 Mountain Bike Race @ Fernie Trails Ghostrider Hockey Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena Booked! David Robertson @ Fernie Heritage Library. Registration required on Eventbrite. Wednesday 7.9.2022 Banner Launch @ The Arts Station Friday 9.9.2022 7th Annual Fernie Chautauqua @ City Hall Gallery Opening: Women of Michel, An Art Installation @ Fernie Museum Project 9 Mountain Bike Race @ Project 9 Tail, FMBC Ghostrider Hockey Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena Sparwood Fall Food Fest @ Sparwood Saturday 10.9.2022 7th Annual Fernie Chautauqua @ City Hall World Suicide Prevention Day @ Rotary Park Repair Café @ Fernie Heritage Library. 3D printing repair for all ages. Registration through Eventbrite. Ghostrider Hockey Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena Sunday 11.9.2022 7th Annual Fernie Chautauqua @ City Hall Fernie Mountain Market and Fall Fair @ City Hall Sunday Sessions: dj jayray @ The Pub, 6-9pm Monday Educational12.9.2022Cannabis Presentation @ Earth’s Own Naturals Friday Chillbilly16.9.2022 @ Kikomun Creek Provincial Park Fall Fair @ Jaffray Community Centre Saturday 17.9.2022 Chillbilly @ Kikomun Creek Provincial Park Fall Fair @ Jaffray Community Centre Intro to Basket Weaving @The Arts Station Ghostrider Hockey Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena Sunday Chillbilly18.9.2022 @ Kikomun Creek Provincial Park Mountain Market @ Annex Park Fall Fair @ Jaffray Community Centre Intro to Basket Weaving @The Arts Station Sunday Sessions @ The Pub, 6-9pm Monday Chillbilly19.9.2022 @ Kikomun Creek Provincial Park Educational Cannabis Presentation @ Earth’s Own Naturals Basket Weaving Masterclass @ The Arts Station Wednesday 21.9.2022 6th Annual Elk Valley Pride Festival @ Fernie Thursday 22.9.2022 Senior Closing @ Fernie Golf Club L’Omelette Live @ Kodiak Lounge 6th Annual Elk Valley Pride Festival @ Fernie FBC x FPS Collab Brew on tap @ Fernie Brewing Co., starting at 2 pm for a limited time. Friday 23.9.2022 6th Annual Elk Valley Pride Festival @ Fernie Drag Storytime @ Fernie Heritage Library. Registration required on Eventbrite. Club Cre8 Kids Arts Camp @ The Arts Station Ghostrider Hockey Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena Peter & The Wolves @ The Kodiak Saturday 24.9.2022 6th Annual Elk Valley Pride Festival @ Fernie Rainbow Reads with Smokii Sumac @ Fernie Heritage Library. Registration required on Eventbrite. 7pm 3rd Annual Lone Wolf Race @ Elk Valley Nordic Centre High Roller Mountain Bike Race @ Fernie Trails, bikefernie.ca Fall Craft Fair @ Fernie Community Centre Sunday 25.9.2022 6th Annual Elk Valley Pride Festival @ Fernie Mountain Market @ Annex Park Mens Closing @ Fernie Golf Course Sunday Sessions @ The Pub, 6-9pm Monday Educational26.9.2022Cannabis Presentation @ Earth’s Own Naturals Thursday 29.9.2022 Gallery Opening: Chasing Light – Aaron Hagen @ The Arts Station LesMondaysTiguidous French activities for toddlers (0-5yo) 10:30am @ the Cokato Park playground Club All Play – Fernie Pickeleball @ Max Turyk Courts, 8:30-10:30am Le Club Baguette Junior @ Rotary Park, outdoor activities and games in French ages 7-12, 3:30pm Jam Night @ Kodiak Lounge, 9pm Pool Tourney Night @ The Pub SeniorsTuesdaysWalking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 11:15am Fernie Options for Sexual Health Clinic Open @ Elk Valley Hospital, by appointment, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of month only Parent-tot Funtimes @ Facebook Page Burger and Beer Night @ The Northern Wing Night @ The Pub Ladies’ League @ Fernie Golf Club Pasta Tuesdays @ Bramasole ClubWednesdaysAllPlay – Fernie Pickeleball @ Max Turyk Courts, 8:30-10:30am Seniors Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 11:15am Curbside Craft @ Fernie Heritage Library, Pickup is from 11am each Wednesday (ages 5-7) Fernie Youth Art Collective @ The Arts Station Trivia @ Fernie Hotel Pub All Night Happy Hour @ Bramasole Men’s League @ Fernie Golf Club SeniorsThursdaysWalking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 11:15am Bellies to Babies @ Zoom, 2pm Club Baguette Junior French tutoring and activities 3pm @ Isabella Dickens library Club Baguette Adults learn and converse in French for adults 7pm @ Zoom Pub Team Trivia @ The Pub (subject to change) Open Mic Night @ Fernie Distillers, 7pm Trail Work Night @ Fernie Trails Alliance Seniors League @ Fernie Golf Club Run Club @ Stag Leap Karaoke @ Kodiak Lounge, 9pm ClubFridaysAll Play – Fernie Pickeleball @ Max Turyk Courts, 8:30-10:30am Storytime (ages 0-5) @ Fernie Heritage Library Fish and Chips @ The Pub Fish and Chips Take Away @ Fernie Hotel, 4pm Meat Draw @ The Fernie Club Cre8 @ The Arts Station Open Mic Night @ Fernie Distillers, 7pm Big Red Fridays @ Bramasole Live Music @ Loaf MeatSaturdaysDraw @ The Legion Supernatural Saturdays @ The Central Heritage Walking Tours @ Fernie Museum, 11am, 1pm and 3pm Chicken Parmie Special @ The Pub HeritageSundays Walking Tours @ Fernie Museum, 11am, 1pm and 3pm Roast Dinner Special @ The Pub WEEKLY MONTHLYEVENTSEVENTS Stay up to date by visiting FernieFix.com/events. Send your events to krista@clarismedia.com for inclusion!
Lisa Grabas REALTOR® C: 250.531.0525 lisa@c21fernie.ca PO Box 989 | 362B 2nd Avenue, Fernie, BC VOB 1M0 | 250.423.2121 Mariah Runions REALTOR® C: 250.430.7732 mariah@c21fernie.ca Tannis Johannson REALTOR® C: 236.593.2882 tannis@c21fernie.ca Luxurious Mountain Estate New Price, Now Offered at $2,299,000 3988 McGiverin Rd, Fernie See MLS® 2465773 for 3D Tour
FERNIEFIX.COM 29 Lauren Gervais PREC* REALTOR® C: 250.946.6758 lauren@c21fernie.ca Marilyn Brock Owner/Managing Broker/REALTOR® C: 250.423.8650 marilyn@c21fernie.ca Deborah Johnson REALTOR® C: 250.278.6867 (MTNS) deborah@c21fernie.ca PO Box 989 | 362B 2nd Avenue, Fernie, BC VOB 1M0 | 250.423.2121 Commercial Zoning New Price, Now Offered at $799,000 1501 8th Ave, Fernie See MLS® 2465395 for 3D Tour
“I burnt out after my first year, it was just really hard… it was the end of the line for students,” she says. Her relationship at the time also ended, and she decided to follow her heart and head out west. Adrienne first landed in Canmore, where she taught at a wilderness school. “I wanted to be on the ground, and it fit my skill set, but I burnt out of this too. There were really hard cases, and not enough funds to offer the support. It just felt like the system constantly failed kids.” Adrienne made her way back to Fernie, and eventually back to teaching.
FEATURE RESIDENT
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We are still learning as we go, and while it seems new to the scene because people are paying more attention to it, it’s been happening for a long time. KDS was an idea that was in the works pre-pandemic in SD5 and this just opened the doors,” Adrienne adds.
Adrienne Demers is originally from Ontario, but admits her heart is in the mountains. After graduating, she attended McMaster University, “I didn’t go into education right away and kind of thought about law.” Adrienne first visited Fernie during a reading week ski trip, “and it just grabbed my heart!” After completing her second degree, she spent a ski season here before attending Teachers College back in Ontario. “I always knew it was where I was headed,” she tells me.
Adrienne was offered a job teaching Special Education prior to graduating. It was at an inner city school, and young and confident she ‘wanted to change the world.’
An opportunity presented itself to work as a blended learning teacher at KDS, “and I was drawn to it because of what I had seen.
“I have been reflecting on why I was drawn to special education, and the personal life experiences I have had as a person with a disability. While it was a small part of my education, it had a big impact on me and through the advocacy and activism I have been doing in and outside of the classroom, I have realized how that life experience has played a role,” Adrienne tells me.
I remember telling my neighbour, once we get back in person you couldn’t pay me to teach online. As things progressed, I allowed myself to lean more into what was going on and watching how it impacted students who had potential in the classroom but it wasn’t showing up. They were able to thrive in this environment. It opened my eyes to the possibilities,” she says.
Adrienne knew about distributive learning and adult education, but “it’s been off to the side. Then the pandemic hit, and we were forced to go online quickly. It was a hard shift, with so much change so quickly.
“I started working at the Academy, appreciating the more flexible environment at the time.” Soon after, she met her husband and started a family. With her kids in school, Adrienne was drawn back into the special ed realm and worked in Student Services at Isabella Dicken.
While in high school, I was somewhat aware of the Kootenay Learning Campus (KLC) but thought it was specifically for individuals who were keen to work on their own, were going to be away, or wanted to upgrade. It wasn’t until the pandemic began that I became more curious about the KLC. The KLC encompasses continuing education, collaborative meeting spaces, and DL/online school. It is also home to the Kootenay Discovery School (KDS) which is an online and blended learning school. “Online learning provides the flexibility and convenience of learning in a self-paced, mobile environment, and expands course options for any students across BC,” it says on their school page on sd5.bc.ca. KDS offers over 60 online courses that meet the BC Ministry of Education curriculum guidelines with fulltime learning for grades K-9 in a blended model of class time and home learning time, and fully online courses for grades 10-12. Additionally, they have courses for graduated adults looking to upgrade. Since the pandemic, a few families we know have shifted at least one child to the KDS for a variety of reasons. Some are increasingly involved in a sport and thus the blended model works best for them. Others have had a tough time with bullying in the school system. A couple have kids with special needs who find this model suits them better. All I have heard is positive feedback, and what better way to learn more than to speak with one of the teachers at this school.
Community Adrienne Demers KRISTA TURCASSO Photo
With a cup of decaf coffee and setting my intentions for the day. Then I’m in mom mode before heading off to school myself.
1. When did you first arrive in Elk Valley and what brought you here?
4. What keeps you here? My family and the connection to the community. And definitely the work that I’m doing at school.
9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you. I think some people don’t know that I was born with one hand. This is just the way I have always been and it feels 100% normal to me. I am always open to answering questions about this.
10. Quote to live by: In thinking about education and where I stand, I really like the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair’s quote in relation to reconciliation. Education got us into this mess and education will get us out of it.
5. Do you have a favourite pastime? I like to do anything outside, but I mountain bike and I ski and do lots of building projects with my family.
And when it comes to her personally? Adrienne plans to continue being a teacher and an advocate as she enjoys engaging in the educational community and Fernie “I’mitself. a strong advocate and am doing a lot of work through the Union on behalf of teachers to change the system to support teachers and students better. That work involves a lot of anti-racism, anti-oppression and meetings with the ministry… with people who can make changes. As a member of the BC Teachers Council, I am working on the standards for teachers who are coming into the system to create more inclusive spaces. I want students to see themselves in the teachers in front of them. I often leave Fernie to do this work, but there is a part of me who just enjoys being with students… creating space where everyone is accepted for who they are at that time. I hope I can continue to co-create those learning spaces, that there continues to be room for it in Fernie, and that Fernie opens its mind to being a more open community. I think it’s happening on a surface level but think we can go deeper.”
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The first time I came was on a ski trip, and then for the 2006/7 ski season. I skied 100 days that season, we were getting so much snow that year! 2. Who did you first meet?
7. Where do you see or hope to see the Elk Valley in five years.
3. Do you remember your first general impression of the Elk Valley? That the pace of life resonated with me, the mountains felt like home, and the people were friendly and welcoming.
Thank you, Adrienne. For being such an advocate for our students, our community, and for helping us open our eyes to the possibilities. To learn more about the Kootenay Discovery School, its staff and programs, visit kootenaydiscoveryschool.com.
I hope the Elk Valley becomes a more inclusive space through a deeper understanding of inclusion. I would love to see us peel back some of the ableist layers in our community.
The fall is the best for me, it’s just kind of like the new year for teachers. All of the opportunities, change in weather, building new connections, the anticipation of winter and the ski season to come. It slows down and speeds up at the same time.
8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals?
6. What time of the year do you love most and why?
We talk a bit about my experience discussing our options when our kids were in grade 1 and 3 when school went back during the pandemic, and how we decided it would not work for us with two working parents. “With younger groups it has to work for the family and the kid. As they get older, there are more opportunities to work alone at home. There isn’t one kind of family and this doesn’t work for everyone.You don’t need to be a stay at home mom or dad. The reality is that a lot of students with IEPs, exceptionalities, mental health issues… it is helping,” Adrienne tells me. “We are in such a time of change and shift, what we’re doing isn’t radical but it’s outside of what most of us know. It’s a non-traditional setting, and parents have to un-learn what they have learned so they can be open to what works for their family. There are lots of possibilities, and families have been stepping outside of that in Fernie for a long time.” KDS has a full team of staff including student services, youth care workers and EA support. The Primary program is K-3 and is very much parent driven, with kids coming in two half days a week. From grades 4-9 the learning is online but also has class time twice a week to work on collaborative projects, core competencies and outdoor ed. “We do a lot of environmental education and take part in all of the things Fernie has to offer, partnering with community groups,” Adrienne says. “We have noticed that there has been no bullying. I think it’s because we build community, and it’s learning individually and not about what everyone else is doing.” KDS is currently at a point of growth, but Adrienne doesn’t think it will be exponential. “We want to maintain the support we provide to the kids that it makes sense for. Supporting the bigger educational goals, with kids who are not engaged in a traditional setting.”
Athena and Allan Knibbs - I have much gratitude for them and the way our paths crossed.
432 2nd Ave // 250.423.6464 // SHOP ONLINE: skibase.com // OPEN DAILY: 9am to 7pm “ Fall in love with biking –come gear up at Ski Base. ” Jeff & Jane Johnson – Owners SERVICE COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLE FUN Ski Base Team Rider Emma Proulx Now you can Shop from your Saddle and pickup In-Store Use discount code DROPINTOFALL20 to get 20% OFF your Online Order* * Discount valid until Sept. 30, 2022. Bikes & Sale Items excluded. Health. Happiness.Beauty.Confidence. 292 - 2nd Avenue, Fernie, BC 250-423-6838 dentist@kahane.cawww.kahane.ca 4Back-to-school checkup 4Help your child brush twice daily 4Protect your athletes’ smiles with Sports guards 4Pack a nutritious, low sugar lunch 4Apply for the Kids Plus school accident insurance Dr. Marcela Kahane, Dr. Amos Kahane, Dr. James Jensen Bright smiles, bright minds for back to school 301 2nd Ave, Downtown Fernie, BC himalayanspicebistro.com 250-430-0399 Delicious, authentic Indian dishes, for dine-in, take-out and delivery. Offering off-sales for wine, liquer and beer. scan for menu!
The Native Bee Society of BC.Play and download Bee Bingo to learn which bees are native to BC (hint -it’s not the honeybee!) Learn how to draw a native bee. Connect with the dynamic group of artists, scientists, educators. And how about a class project involving mason bees?
Learning About Nature Online by SYLVIA AYERS, illustrated by SARAH PULLEN Community AT THE GROUND LEVEL FERNIEFIX.COM 33
Atlas of the Breeding Birds of British Columbiabirdatlas.bc.ca A rabbit-hole for the bird crazies among us! Search any of the hundreds of BC birds and you will get its population trend, where it breeds, what its habits are - beautiful photography and lots of delightful details!
There are lots of fun, engaging websites to learn about anything nature related. “Did you know that anything anyone ever understood can be found on your phone?” ~ Chris Hadfield
East Kootenay Climate Hubeastkootenayclimatehub.ca
Kootenay Native Plant Society kootenaynativeplants.caWhich wildflowers help pollinators most? How do you salvage seeds? Get some seeds! What plants are native and where do they live?
Elk River elkriveralliance.caAlliance-
Learn about a healthy river ecosystem. Learn how to monitor water quality and rebuild river ecosystems. What can we do to make sure the Elk River is protected for future generations?
How can you reduce your footprint here in our Kootenay climate? Are heat pumps a good idea and how can you get the rebate? What does a ‘net zero’ home look like? What kind of home retrofits can work for you to reduce your energy consumption and bills? Also - there are tons of webinars on everything climaterelated!
Call for an estimate: 9847rkcontractingltd@shaw.ca250-423-1964StephensonRoadFernieBCwww.rkcontractingltd.com R&K CONTRACTING SERVICES For all your excavating needs! R&K Contracting Services has the equipment to build roads, dig basements, prepare water and sewer lines, level driveways, landscape and excavate yards and lots, auger holes and prepare foundations. Commercial & Residential Snow Removal Available
by VALERIE BARRY
1. Meeting other dogs and learning how to interact appropriately needs to be taught with care. Dog owners should be involved in shaping their dog’s social skills rather than leaving the job to random dogs of unknown skill. Contrary to popular opinion, dogs don’t always “work it out.”
2. There are some dogs who are generally poor candidates for a dog park:
We need to help them, and dog parks aren’t the best place to do this.
It’s a great benefit to have a dog park in your city like we do here in Fernie! We are lucky to have a variety of trails we can take our dogs to, but the fenced dog park is a bonus, especially for visitors who may not be familiar with or confident on our trails. How do you know if any dog park is right for you and your dog?
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• Even if it’s fenced, dogs still need to have some basic training before partaking.
• fence r unners (or jumpers)
• They are not for every dog. Many dogs don’t like to be in groups of dogs.
• females in heat • easily over-aroused (barkers and “humpers”) • dog “selective” • resource guarders
• They are not appropriate places “to socialize” a dog.
• prone to barrier frustration like “fence fighting”
• any with a bite history (unless appropriately muzzled) These dogs are likely to be anxious, frustrated, defensive or hyper-vigilant in a dog park. They won’t enjoy the experience and, depending on how they’re managed, they can negatively impact other users’ experiences.
Dog parks tend to be small areas with little else for dogs to focus on except other dogs.
FERNIEFIX.COM 35 Community MOUNTAIN TAILS Dog Parks: What You Need to Know
• fearful or shy • under the age of two
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3. To prepare for dog park adventures, your dog should have a reasonably good recall away from other dogs and people, understand the social skill of polite greetings, and know how to defuse the energy of another dog. Dogs should be able to greet and come away from other dogs quickly without chasing, sniffing for too long (three seconds is plenty!), or physically bombarding another dog without permission. As the human end of the equation, be aware of what your dog is doing. Frequently call them to you to check-in, leave fetch toys at home and wait for quiet moments to enter and exit. Having access to a dog park is a privilege. We need to be responsible for our dog’s behaviour and invest in some training. With a little bit of planning, training, and cooperation all our dog areas can be a safe and fun experience!
Encountering multiple dogs all focused on you can be overwhelming and frightening for an unskilled dog, especially a young Ifone.your dog isn’t socially skilled or mature, letting them run free in a dog park could lead to behaviour problems.Your dog could be intimidated or bullied by other dogs or your dog, unsure how to respond, could start acting defensively or bullying other dogs, too.
581A 2nd Ave., Downtown Fernie | 250.423.2680 | OPEN DAILY | Locally owned and operated. ThatThisor Caramel Macchiato vs. Matcha Majic, Purdy Law Corporation Trusted Legal Advice for over 30 years Providing a full range of legal services, including: Real Estate, Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Criminal Defence, Family Law, Business and Corporate, Wills and Estates Fernie Fernie,P.O.592-2ndOfficeAvenueBox369B.C.V0B 1M0 T: (250) 423-4497 F: (250) 423-6714 Sparwood Office (By Appointment Only) 119 CentennialF:T:Sparwood,SquareB.C.(250)425-7216(250)425-0400 www.majicpurdy.com George S. Majic, Q.C. (d. 2003) • Glen A. Purdy, Q.C Caeli H. MacPherson, JD ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Book Online: www.drashleyromanchuk.com VIRTUAL CLINIC
Q. What events / competitions have you competed in and what goals / events do you have coming up?
A. My mom rode horses and got me into doing jumping lessons when I was young. I quit riding after a couple years but picked it back up when I was 18. I love it because every day is a new challenge. It is different from other sports because you connect with an animal that wants to work as hard as you do.
A. Every summer, I go to Paramount Equestrian Center. It was my horse’s first year showing this year which was a great success. For next year, I am hoping to jump in the grass arena.
Kirby McDonald, Age 24
Q. What drew you to riding horses?
A. I started competing when I was about six. I like competing more for my horse’s benefit. It is great to get them to different places, and you can show all the hard work you have put in.
FERNIEFIX.COM 37 Health and Lifestyle WHERE THE SPARK BEGINS Kirby McDonald by KRISTA TURCASSO
A. I love going out to the barn. The atmosphere itself is peaceful where you can get sidetracked for hours. It is a great escape from the world. Get in touch to share your journey with sport!
We are looking for all ages, levels and types of sports. Email krista@clarismedia.com. My daughters are enamoured with horses and have been since they were wee. Last summer, they had weekly classes at Love it or Leave it Ranch and the love only grew. Not only did these lessons teach them how to ride horses, they also learned how to properly take care of them, move around them, and feel at ease with them. I was amazed at the progression. While there, we noticed many individuals who have taken horse riding to the next level, and I was intrigued by this connection and growth as personally was not exposed to it growing up in Fernie. Interestingly, Jen Kennedy, who runs Love it or Leave it Ranch grew up here as well and luckily for many had a different experience and passion. She connected me with Kirby, who shared with us her experience.
Q. What is it like being a part of the Love it or Leave it Ranch team?
Submitted Photo
Q. When did you get into competing and what do you enjoy about it?
FERNIE 250-423-4467 BLAIRMORE 403-562-7144 ELKFORD 250-865-2022 GREEN DOOR C rich@greendoorconstruction.caONSTRUCTION250-423-0960 FERNIE, BC Project Management on New Builds and Small Projects, Renovations and Remodelling The team at Greendoor has positive relationships in the community and puts their clients first. Get in touch to discuss your next project. Unique + Handcrafted Goods Jewellery. Ceramics. Clothing. Leather. Cards. Body Care. Art. + More 562A 2nd Fernie,AveBC
It’s hard to think that Summer is drawing to an end, but that doesn’t mean that you need to stop gardening.
COLD-CLIMATE
Passive Solar Garden Heaters
Did you know that there are lots of tasty greens that you can plant now and still harvest in the late Fall? Quick growing and cold hardy plants such as kale, arugula, and cold hardy lettuce varieties can survive mild to moderate frosts without protection. Cabbages, kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots are all frost resistant but may need a little extra protection to reach full maturity. A layer of greenhouse plastic, row cover, or some extra fluffy straw can help protect plants. Raised beds or gardens on a slight slope can also help protect from frost pockets.
FERNIEFIX.COM 39
Cold Frames
Cold frames are a great way to extend the garden season. They are often south facing and made from layered greenhouse plastic or glass. Straw bales can be placed around them to help insulate the already established veggies. Cold frames can also be below ground level; the garden beds are dug down into the ground, covered with glass or plastic, and covered at night with a sheet or blanket to trap the heat from the ground. I know of a few folks in Fernie harvesting their carrots in January by using cold frames! While the carrots are no longer growing, they can still stay fresh and crisp well into the winter.
Passive solar garden heaters are great for spring and fall as help trap the heat of the day to be released at night. They can help warm the soil for seed germination or help protect plants from hard frosts. They can be as simple as half buried large rocks or small boulders to a more elaborate system using deep wells dug into the ground with air or water circulated through piping.
Submitted Photo “Are you just done with gardening for the season? Well now is a great time to prep your beds to get a jump start on next season! “
and
Happy harvesting and see you next season!
Fall Gardening
Putting Gardens to Bed
Are you just done with gardening for the season? Well now is a great time to prep your beds to get a jump start on next season! Adding “slow” nutrients to your soil such as compost, straw, leaves, and grass clippings can allow for slow decomposition over the fall and winter so you’re ready to go in the spring! Please consider leaving dead or dying plants in the garden instead of throwing them in the compost pile.
While it might be a nice visual to have fully cleared bed, the roots of the dead plant provide important habitat for soil organisms over the winter and the stalks a place for beneficial insects to overwinter.
Health Lifestyle GARDENING The Harvest by ASHLEY LORTSCHER
Valerie Barry, KPA-CTP hello@dogpartners.ca604-868-5145 dogpartners.ca @dogpartnerstraining www.foothillssilva.com • office@foothillssilva.com250-423-8934 Excavating • Road Construction • High Quality Aggregates Professional Service • Locally Owned TherapyMotionFluid Brace BracingallBracingCustomSpecializingYourself!inKneeandotherNeeds Tara Hatch, BHSc, CAT(c) Certified Athletic Therapist tarajmhatch@gmail.com250-946-6722
When we travel to other lands, we find ourselves focusing on the present and find that it is important to be humble while on our journey. Being humble allows us to more easily build positive relationships, gives us better self-control and the ability to cope with the anxiety of travel uncertainty. Most importantly, it allows us Lifestyle SLOW TRAVEL Knowledge Through Travel by PATRICK ROBERTSON
Slow Travel continued on next page
When my wife and I travel, we travel to learn about other cultures in the world. We learn about their history, food, music, theatre, language and their way of life. We make connections to our own culture which allows us to understand and appreciate other cultures.
Health and
FERNIEFIX.COM 41
Summer is coming to a close. School doors open once again as students stream through them to get their formal education. One of the things that we learn is the meaning of, “the more you know, the less you know.” We live in a complicated world. Whether it be economics or culture, there are a lot of steps and a lot of things to learn. Education as a process of learning to develop and improve our knowledge and skills is an essential part of our lives, professionally, socially, personally and emotionally. The ability to be able to travel easily throughout the world is a recent phenomena that allows for a vast amount of knowledge to be transferred through personal interaction. It is easy to plan your own education through travel. Pick a topic, any topic.You could visit the great museums of the world or perhaps visit the major spiritual places in the world. There are an infinite number of educational trips that can be planned. Travel is an important part of education. I see young vintners travel from BC to New Zealand to work their harvest followed by a year in France working at various vineyard wineries and then bring young vintners home to BC to complete the circle. The education they receive allows them to become masters of their trade in a variety of settings. The same thing happens with chefs, designers, and many other Aprofessions.girlIknow
“Learning about other cultures gives us the ability to embrace all ways of life and not to take things we have for granted. ”
Pat (right) at Cordon Bleu, Submitted Photo
spent a month this summer doing her grade 12 English and Socials courses in Europe. Every day they visited historic and cultural places that tied to their curriculum and learned about them firsthand. She visited, reflected, embraced and wrote about these magnificent places and how they fit into our history. The places did not mean a thing to her before. They were just words on a page. She said it was the best learning experience she has ever had.
Enlightening, educational, fascinating information. Well done! “ ” DIANNE FARLINGER - LISTENER Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
FERNIEFIX.COM 43 to appreciate that our Western way of life is not the best way to live and to have a good life. Travel lets us experience people’s happiness all over the world and recognize that people are living a good life in the various cultures and socio-economic levels. Learning about other cultures gives us the ability to embrace all ways of life and not to take things we have for granted. This leads us to enjoy the small things around us; the warm wind in the evening, the sound of birds in the trees, the smell of the earth after an afternoon shower. Travel also teaches us to go with the flow and not sweat the little things. There are always external things beyond our control. Things go wrong with bookings, plans are changed, flights are cancelled; it is necessary to be patient and go with the flow. Travel is my self-education and I have found that it is the best education one can receive. Slow Travel continued French Bakery Open Wednesday to Sunday 7.45AM to 5.00PM Handcrafted Sourdough BreadsCroissants - Pains au chocolats - Pastries Vegan options and more! Fresh every day and baked with organic flour and lots of love 792B- 3rd Avenue, Fernie, BC / 250-278-0109 www.lebonpainbakery.ca • lebonpainfernie@gmail.com @lebonpainfernie Le Bon Pain Fernie La fougasse Le pain au chocolateLa briocheBaguette et pains 441C 2nd Avenue, Fernie BC • 250-423-0560 • evfurniturestudio.com SHOPFURNITURESTUDIOELKVALLEYSELECTIONSHOPPRICESHOPLOCAL Delivering Quality Home Furnishings to the Elk Valley
For more information on courses, please visit our website at cotr.bc.ca/ConEd or phone 250-423-4691? Be Prepared. Start Here. FIRST AID AND SAFETY z OFA Level 3 | October 24 z OFA Level 1 | October 7 | October 29 z Basic Fall Protection | October 3 z Red Cross Stay Safe | October 16 z ST. John Standard First Aid | October 18 z Transportation Endorsement | October 20 z Wilderness First Aid | October 29 z Wilderness Advanced First Aid | November 5 z Wilderness First Responder | November 5 z Wilderness First Responder Recertification November 10 z High Performance Teams | October 7 z Quickbooks Desktop | October 11 z MS Word Bundle | October 17 z Let’s Roll | October 1 z CDN Firearms Safety Course | October 15 z CORE Hunter Training | October 22 z Companioning the Dying | October 14 z Tea Blending | October 4 BUSINESS, LIFESTYLE AND LEISURE z Communications in French | October 6 z Conversational Spanish | October 19 z Fast Track Outdoor Adventure Photography October 30 z Fernie Ambassador | October 21 | November 3 z Opioid Emergency Awareness | October 13 z Wills, Powers of Attorney | October 17
The content provided in this article is for information purposes only. It is not meant as a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you find yourself in distress, please reach out to your local physician who can provide mental health resources in your community.
Write. Grief is irrational. It will convince you to believe many things that are not true or to act in ways that are inconsistent with your character. Write these thoughts out, it helps, and remember to not censor your thoughts, what you write can always be burnt or destroyed later. Talk about it and use whatever language you need to. We isolate ourselves from death, we call it “passing away” to try and lessen the weight of the loss but this can sometimes demean our experiences. Death, divorce, getting fired - use the language that fits best with your experience and avoid trying to make your loss easier for someone to sit with.
Submitted Photo
“...there is no timeline, and no rules for grief. This can be a tough one to embrace but it is so true. Grief looks different for each person and we all grieve for different reasons. There is no wrong way to grieve.”
Perhaps most importantly please know there is no timeline, and no rules for grief. This can be a tough one to embrace but it is so true. Grief looks different for each person and we all grieve for different reasons. There is no wrong way to grieve.
Have you ever had a feeling of such intense pain that you long for the day that it will end? Those moments where you lay in bed unable to move and the thought of getting up, or even breathing, seems equivalent to climbing Everest without oxygen. It can feel like everything you are experiencing or thinking about has become an accumulative weight that is sinking into your chest rendering you unable to move. Tears in such quantity you wonder if you have any water left in your body and your eyes are so red and sore you need to place an ice mask on them to heal but that process gets interrupted by more tears. While it comes in many shapes and forms this is grief, and when we grieve it is often more for what we hoped our life or relationship could have been than for what we lost itself. Often, we reserve the term grief for when people or animals die. This is perhaps the most intense form of grief and it can at times turn into anguish. People are often surprised to learn that they might be experiencing grief in relations to job loss, the end of a relationship (romantic or friendship), selling a home, retirement, or any major life change. It is also the emotion that people try to avoid or look for a way out of more than any other, perhaps because the intensity at times can feel unbearable. The following are suggestions on how to move through grief: Take one day at time. One foot in front of the other. Be kind to yourself if you are unable to do what you used to for a while. There is no way around grief except through it. We will always search for the exit ramp or the by-pass but it does not exist. Unfortunately, we have to feel it. If we try to avoid these emotions they still influence our behaviours and often will show up in less than pleasant ways, such as snapping at a friend or crying uncontrollably in the grocery store. We have to feel it, name it, sit with it. It will, for lack of a better word, suck, a lot. Ask for help. Grief is not the time to be independent and strong. It is the time to call your friends and have them sit with you while you cry. To bring you tea or dinner. It is okay to allow others to show up for you when you need it most. The bonus of this is as you sort through your loss you will see how loved and cared for you are. A second bonus is that once we allow ourselves to be vulnerable with others, we often send an invitation for them to do the same with us, thus creating common humanity and safe spaces for real talk about our emotions.
Grief by TYLA CHARBONNEAU
FERNIEFIX.COM 45 Health and Lifestyle THIS IS LIFE
250.423.7205www.ferniecardlock.com•1592-9th Ave., Fernie Premium off road gasoline • Regular gasoline • Diesel • Marked Diesel 24/7/365 672 D 2nd 250-423-1132Avenue 7 days a week, 10am - 5pm driftandsonder.com@driftandsonder OUR MISSION To support our fabulous community in making lasting change, one small step at a time, and to spark joy in the process!
Email:
Vet care is the most expensive part of an animal rescue organization. We need monetary donations from friends, businesses, grants, and community sponsors to offset these costs. At TMARS, we vet every animal that comes into our care as we feel there is a responsibility to make sure our animals available for adoption are in good health month of September, Fernie Cardlock will donate $0.04/per litre, on all debit purchases. super easy way to become an animal hero! www.Twinmeadowsanimalrescue.com - Twinmeadowsanimalrescue@gmail.com - Meadows Animal Rescue Society.
For the
Twin Meadows Animal Rescue Society (TMARS) is a nonprofit animal rescue organization located in the East Kootenays, British Columbia, Canada. We rescue and rehome local stray animals, animals from nearby reserves, owner surrenders, animals from high kill shelters in the United States, and more.
Facebook: Twin
Website:
A
Here’s what I use: 1. Astrospheric. This is a conditions app. It shows predicted cloud cover, sun and moon rise and set times, and weather conditions on the ground. A glance at the three lines in the middle that indicate cloud cover, atmosphere transparency, and atmospheric turbulence is usually enough to let me know if there will be good viewing tonight.
3. Night Sky. This is my go-to astronomy app. It helps you plan by letting you see future skies. Its augmented reality mode lets you point your phone at the sky and have everything labelled with the ability to drill down into details for any object.
On clear nights the Milky Way is visible along with many stars and often planets. I have a nice telescope which is useful for getting a better view of some things, but I’ve learned that eyeballs or a pair of binoculars are just as good for viewing most things. Good luck catching a meteor in your telescope, for example.
Most of us didn’t grow up at the knee of an astronomer and while we can certainly appreciate the beauty of the night sky, and even recognize a few familiar sites, for the most part, the night sky is a bit of a mystery. Once again apps come to the rescue to help us know more about what we see. So, now you’ve found your dark spot. You’ve got your binoculars. And you pull out your phone to help you identify constellations, planets, nebula, and galaxies. Which one do you use?
“Walking to somewhere dark that’s safe and with a great view of the stars is a luxury that many Canadians do not enjoy to the same extent.”
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4. ISS Detector. Other apps, such as Night Sky do show this too, but ISS Detector does one thing: tell you when the International Space Station is about to go overhead. It’s really fun.
One of the often underappreciated benefits of living in a small town in the Rockies is the ability to see the night sky. Of course, there are street lights and they do obscure the view, but almost anyone in town can get to a pretty dark location within a 5-minute walk. Walking to somewhere dark that’s safe and with a great view of the stars is a luxury that many Canadians do not enjoy to the same extent.
ANSWER GUY
2. My Aurora Forecast. This one is specific to the Northern Lights. When I lived in Northern Alberta we saw them so frequently that it stopped being an “event.” Not so in Fernie. Here it’s an event with text and Facebook message storms flying fast and furious when they are visible. Usually, you see those messages the next morning. Don’t miss out. See them coming with this app.
5. NightCap Camera: This one is the only one without a free version. It’s $3.99.You can do all the things NightCap does without it, but it makes it very easy to take certain night photos with modes like long exposure, stars mode, star trails mode, meteor mode, etc.
Bits and Bytes THE Stargazing by KEVIN MCISAAC Stock Photo
The library has 1.8 billion objects in it. If you find an object not in its database, you should call NASA. It has a night mode so you can use it in the dark. Plus many more features.
Well, first off, don’t wait till you’re in the dark to get your app. I strongly suggest installing it and trying it out a couple of times before heading out to star view. Here’s what I look for in an astronomy app. Easy to navigate, even in the dark. Has a “night mode.” Usually, this turns the display red and removes the background colour to help you retain your night vision. Has time advancing, so you see how the night sky will look in the future, to help plan outings. I also have a few specific apps for determining if there will be good viewing conditions.
Note, unless you have a much steadier hand than me, you’ll probably need a camera stand of some sort to get nice clear pics.
WINNER ’Best New Business 2018’ - Fernie Business Excellence Awards CUSTOM COPPERWORKS DECOR ZINC, Custom Sheet Metal AND FLASHINGS CUSTOM Tables and tableTops Available tim@ferniecopperworks.ca • www.ferniecopperworks.ca • 250-423-0292findusonfacebook retail projects now available at eye of the downtownhistoricneedle,fernie Located in the heart of historic downtown Fernie BC this Ministry of Education recognized independent school offers a full complement of high standard academic programming combined with a focus on athletics and the arts. Hosting students from Kindergarten through Grade 12, The Fernie Academy focuses on individual students preparing them for the challenges of today’s demanding world. To book a tour please call: 250-423-0212 451 2nd Avenue, Fernie B.C. CONTACT OUR PRINCIPAL Jocelyn Sombrowski: info@thefernieacademy.cacontactKindergartentogrAde12,considertheAcademy.AffordableTuitionusfordetails!thefernie academy RESPECT, EXCELLENCE, LEARNING JOIN US THIS BRICKHOUSEATSUMMERTHE A GREAT PLACE TO CHILL AFTER A DAY ON THE TRAILS thebrickhousefernie.com 401 2nd Ave, Historic Downtown Fernie • 250.423.0009 • Featuring a 100% BC only wine list and beer on tap • Open 7 days a week, 11:30am to close • Check out our menu here:
Aries Your month of health: getting (back) into an exercise routine, juicing, detoxifying, sweating, meditation and making sure your home is de-cluttered and ready for the change of seasons! Taurus It’s an ambitious month for you on the work-front as the sun travels through Virgo giving a practical and organized (and hyper-critical) energy on Earth. It’s a great time to finish your to-do list. Gemini A month to trust yourself and follow your inner compass. Write down what you are talented in and follow the route that makes your heart soar.You are in control of your destiny. Friction may occur with your ruling sign (Mercury) in retrograde. Cancer Cancers who do not feel supported emotionally may come to the realization that they are not as independent as the role they are playing. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable to this and vocal may actually lead to a cozier nest. Leo Work and your love life are the focus and if you are internally in balance this will be easy. Make sure you are keeping a good sleep schedule, eating healthy, drinking lots of water and getting exercise.
FERNIEFIX.COM 49 Bits and Bytes ASTROLOGY September 2022
Capricorn Change is taking place in your life thanks to your discipline and good judgement. It is an extra practical and productive month for you, with the workplace taking the forefront but also an important time to make sure your health regime is in order.
by ASHLEY KRISTINA
September blessings! We close down the summer as the sun travels through Virgo into the Autumn Equinox on September 22 where the sun enters Libra and there is equal day and night and Autumn officially Septemberbegins. star ts with the Sun in Virgo (practical),Venus in Leo (happy, jovial, heart-felt), Mars in Gemini (communication), and Mercury in Libra (partnership) and these are the themes of this month. Pluto, Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter and Neptune are all in retrograde and Mercury enters retrograde from 09/09-10/02 allowing the possibility for miscommunication - be wary! The asteroids: Chiron, Juno, Nessus,Vesta, Pholus are all retrograde. It is a karmic time, with much being internalized and the past coming up and being analyzed, realized and released. Look for the themes internally and externally and how retrograde planets manifest patterns on Earth. The aurora borealis is especially prominent around equinoxes as there is twice the geomagnetic activity occurring, so the end of the summer is a great time to spend camping under the night sky. The full moon, also known as the harvest moon and the “Hunter’s Moon” occurs 09/10 at 03:00 at 17º Pisces with the Moon conjunct retrograde Uranus and the North Node: be prepared for a shift in your life and trust the process as this is leading to your destiny (North Node). The New (Hunter’s) Moon occurs 09/25 at 16:00 with a conjunction of the Sun, Moon, Mercury retrograde, Venus and Eros, opposite Jupiter deals with important heart-felt matters.
Scorpio A busy month on the work-front alongside a feeling of achievement. Heart-priorities are also of great importance this month so listen to your inner compass and follow what your heart is whispering.
Virgo Your month to shine! Happy birthday, Virgo. May you get extra-organized and may your house be in perfect condition and may you shine in all your other endeavours of supporting people, helping people and most importantly, your health!
Sagittarius A peaceful and positive month where focus on health is of top importance. A good month to get into a daily health regime: juicing, detoxifying, sweating, exercise and a good sleep schedule.
Aquarius A month of shifting energy, especially on the romantic front. There may be feelings of volatility and speculation as most feel uncomfortable with change. The practice of detachment and peaceful breathing/ meditation can help through any major transition. Pisces A month of deep internal work for Pisceans as karma is being cleared. Partnership is the major theme alongside deep spiritual truthfulness. It’s a healing time and this typically involves deep vulnerability and the peeling away of layers of un/half-truths.
Libra Happy birthday, Libras! This is an energetic month especially concentrated around the home environment: cleaning, organizing, reconstructing. Major shifts leading to success can occur this month.
rockies notary & info@rockieslaw.comwww.rockieslaw.comlegalFerniePO Box 490, Suite 202, 502 Third avenue Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 Tel: (250) 423-4446 | Fax: (250) 423-4065 Sparwood Karen Tse | Graeme R. Nunn | Marian Gravelle Real Estate, Family Law, Business Law, Corporate and Commercial, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Tax Law, Wills and Estates PO Box 1886, #116 - 101 Red Cedar Drive Sparwood, BC V0B 2G0 Tel: (250) 425-2114 | Fax: (250) 425-2204 A Division of Rockies Law Corporation • • o • • plan!Scan here to apply today! “A safe place to truly belong is vital to every child. Providing that as families heal and hopefully reunite is the most rewarding part of being a foster caregiver to a child who needs it.” MEGHAN, FOSTER CAREGIVER If becoming a foster caregiver has been on your mind, please reach out to Halina Wloka at 250-423-9718.
Bits and Bytes THROUGH THE LENS
Mom Knows Best by John Pelechosky pele-photocreations.com
The More You Know, Through Your Lens
The Rocky Mountains in Fernie is a wonderful place to be during the summer months. On this particular day, I was exploring the Elk Valley looking for an opportunity to photograph nature at its best. I came across a clearing in the forest and spotted a mule deer and her fawn basking in the warm sunshine. The doe, for the most part, just ignored my presence but the fawn was a little more cautious and moved slightly behind his mother. I’m sure she taught him to be cautious around people and other wild animals but for now, he had his mother to protect him. I watched them for a while and enjoyed how the fawn was inquisitive but cautious at the same time. The doe was comfortable in my presence and she was not threatened in the least. The best thing you can do with nature in every situation is to enjoy the moment but I was lucky enough to have my digital camera with me. I slowly opened my backpack and took out my camera and both the doe and the fawn stood motionless as if they wanted to be photographed. What a wonderful capture! Today a mule deer and her fawn and tomorrow, yet to come. Another beautiful day and a wonderful memory in the Rocky Mountains of Fernie!
Judy McMahon Photo My son peers down into his grandfather’s medium format camera. The same camera I learned to “see” images through as a very young child. I love sharing our family’s interest in history and art with my son. We are collectors and creators, always fascinated with the the tactile nature of relics and images from a time gone by.
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Since we launched Fernie Copperworks Inc. 2 years ago the Fernie Fix has proven to be instrumental in our booming success, with over 80% of our projects initiating from our ad in the Fernie Fix. ~ Tim Popowich, Fernie Copperworks For a lastingkrista@clarismedia.comimpression...Toadvertisecontact:|250-423-0897 NOW BOOKING FERNIE FIX WINTER GUIDE 2022 Advertising in the Fernie Fix Winter Guide is a highly effective way to spend your advertising dollars. • Excellent quality, with fresh, unique content • On the shelves from October to April • Picked up and read by both visitors and residents To inquire about rates and availability contact: krista@clarismedia.com | 250-423-0897 or visit ferniefix.com/advertise-fernie-fix “The Fernie Fix is vibrant, reflective and inclusive publication that shines a light on Fernie and its people, events and organizations that make up the fabric of this incredible community. For us at Island lake, with its focus, diversity, reach and traction, it’s the perfect medium to share our story” ~ Dave Morrison, Island Lake Lodge
FYI
A candidate for municipal mayor and councillor, regional district electoral area director, school trustee for boards of education, trustee for the Islands Trust, local community commissioner or specified parks board commissioner must:
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election in BC or from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office, or be otherwise disqualified by law Visit elections.bc.ca and gov.bc.ca for more details, and we look forward to learning more about our local candidates.
Flag Raising at Fernie Pride Festival, V. Croome photo Back School!to
September is THE busiest month when it comes to locally held events! Are you ready? It all starts with closing weekend at both Fernie Alpine Resort and Island Lake Lodge as well as the return of the very popular FMBC event, the Wam Bam Dirt Jump Jam on Sept 3, swiftly followed by the Museum’s Fall Festival, Chautauqua Sept 9-11 and the Elk Valley Suicide Task Force hosting World Suicide Awareness Day with keynote speaker Adam Campbell on Sept 10. The following week is the last of the FMBC Little Critter Criteriums on Sept 13, and then we have a very busy weekend ending the month with the Elk Valley Pride Festival, the Lone Wolf trail race and the FMBC High Roller. On top of all of this, many organizations have begun their fall schedules for weekly activities. No wonder everyone always says fall is their favourite time of year – see you out there!
Katya Choroszewski I think the most valuable thing I have learned is to enjoy the present moment. People get so focused on looking back and forward, but then forget what is in front of them then and there. I share this with others by leading by example! Mary Giuliano I learned at an early age that life is about love, honesty and service to family, friends, community and country. This provides meaning and purpose to individuals despite adversity and suffering that is part of living and can only be communicated by good example which was passed to me by my parents and that I hope in some small measure I have managed to do. Stephen Roy Get to know your neighbours. They don’t have to become friends or share political views, and maybe that’s the point: we are kinder, more generous and more tolerant with people we know even a little bit. I think it’s because strangers become human like us. The noisy family next door suddenly becomes Jane, Joe and the kids. Then one morning, Joe worked all night and you will catch yourself shovelling their driveway so the kids can be driven to school on time. That stuff is contagious too. Next thing you know, you will be living on the best street, then the best town, country, etc. I know mine is.
What is the most valuable thing you have learned, and how do you help others to gain this same knowledge or awareness?
Bits and Bytes SOCIAL PAGE Out in the Community:
FERNIEFIX.COM 53 School District No 5 is back in session this September 6, which includes Isabella Dicken Elementary School, Jaffray Elementary / Middle School, Frank J Mitchell Elementary School, Rocky Mountain Elementary School, Fernie / Elkford / Sparwood Secondary Schools, and the Kootenay Discovery School. Additionally, CSF School Sophie-Morigeau and The Fernie Academy are back in session! We would like to wish all students a successful year, as well as those leaving to attend post-secondary education.
This October 15, 2022, local government and school board elections take place across the province with the nomination period for candidates to submit their nomination running August 30 to September 9, 2022. A person may become a candidate in a local election as long as they have not been disqualified from seeking or holding elected office.
• Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day
• Be a Canadian citizen • Have been a resident of BC for at least six months immediately prior to filing nomination documents
Fernie Fun THE LAST PAGE FIND THE Somewhere in this issue is a little apple. Can you find it? Spot the Difference Can you find five differences between these two pictures? Have a picture to submit for Fernie Fun? Send it to info@clarismedia.com. Supplies!SchoolTheseName Here picturesclose-upsareof some school supplies, can you name them? Answers Last Month Djembe, Keyboard, Mbira (thumb piano), tambourine
