JUNE 2016 | ISSUE 114
THE DIVERSITY ISSUE FEATURE ARTIST MARY MENDUK ON MUSIC, POETRY AND DIVERSITY IN ART | FEATURE RESIDENT ASHLEY RETFORD DISCUSSES HOW SHE HELPS WELCOME NEW FAMILIES TO THE COMMUNITY | THE AB CHALLENGE IS BACK, WITH SARAH INGRAM | DR. TAINA TURCASSO DISCUSSES DIVERSITY IN HEALTH CARE
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
1
FLOW FOUND.
#BIKEWHITEFISH
BIKE & STAY for just $80 * Includes Hibernation House lodging, 1 Full-Day Bike Park Ticket and a full breakfast. *Based on double occupancy in the Hibernation House value hotel. Price is per person, per day/night. Two-night minimum stay required. Taxes and fees not included. Based on availability and not valid with other promotions, of fers or specials. Promo Code: Bike & Stay.
SKIWHITEFISH.COM Partially Located on National Forest Lands
| 877-SKI-FISH Photo © Noah Couser
JUNE 2016 ISSUE 114 THE DIVERSITY ISSUE
.
EDITOR’S FIX | 5 BUSINESS | 7 Business News/New Business Business Advice with Patty Vadnais – Diversity in the Workplace
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | 12 Feature Artist – Mary Menduk Reads with Chrisy Hill: Funny, You Don’t Look Like One: Observations of a Blue-Eyed Ojibway by Drew Hayden Taylor Rental Fix – Bored to Death by Andrew Vallance Musical Notes – The Flatliners are Alive and Definitely Kicking by Carolyn Nikodym
COMMUNITY AND EVENTS | 21 Feature Resident by Krista Turcasso – Ashley Retford You’ve Got Male: Classmates by Adam K MacDonald Family Stoke – Sign Me Up by Shelby Cain
FernieFix.com Events Calendar / June at the Arts Station
OUTDOOR LIFE | 30 Down to Earth: The Next Chapter with Lisa Janssen and Holly Kimola by Helen McAllister and Jennifer Heath Never Have I Ever – Planting Trees by Jesse Bell Lift Access Biking – A Guide to Novice Downhilling by Karen Pepper Summer Hikes with the Elk River Alliance: Fairy Creek Falls by Lee-Anne Walker Hitting the Trails with the Fernie Trails Alliance – Come One, Come All by Terry Nelson Outdoor Living by Duncan Maisels: Lawn Care
HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE | 43 Fit to Play – The Annual Ab Challenge by Sarah Ingram, Practicing Kinesiologist Health Naturally – Diversity in Health Care by Dr. Taina Turcasso, N.D., R.M.
Nourish Through Nature by Krissi Hyland, RHN – Bio Diversity Beauty and Fashion in a Fix – Anything Goes by Solange and Zoe
BITS AND BYTES | 51 The Answer Guy – Upgrading to Windows 10 by Kevin McIsaac Astrology with Yann Loranger
FERNIE FUN | 54 Fix Trivia
COVER: Dress shirt? Check. Flip flops? Check. Always wear the proper attire for an evening in the mountains. Photo by Kyle Hamilton | www.kylehamiltonphotography.com THIS PAGE: Not your typical sunset viewing spot in Fernie. Shot from Coal Creek looking back at Fernie. Photo by Nick Nault | www.nicknaultphotography.ca
Your employees are your greatest assets Enable them to leave lasting impressions with your customers and
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
DR. TAINA TURCASSO is a naturopathic generate more business with training provided through the Fernie doctor and midwife practicing in Calgary, Ambassador Program. Alberta. She spends most of her time catching gorgeous babies, anddrives is slowly The ambassador program visitor spending through in-depth inching her wayofback Fernie. knowledge the to destination ‘product’ and customer service training;
ensuring a consistent delivery of a positive visitor experience.
“It is imperative my staff is knowledgeable in what Fernie has to offer. The Ambassador program equipped my team with destination knowledge and customer service skills to be able to go above and beyond for our guests. Improving the visitor experience is beneficial to everyone and this program is doing exactly that.” ~Marina Pauw, Owner/Operator, Fernie Super 8 #1 Fernie hotel, TripAdvisor
Resort Municipality Initiative Investing in B.C. Resort Communities
Business registration starts at $50 for six months. Non-Chamber members are welcome to participate. Please see more info at Ferniechamber.com/ambassadorprogram and contact Merrin Ozols for more information Merrin@Launchlocal.ca or phone 250-946-6241
EFtours/Me-To-We Trip to Kenya Students Grades 10 – 12, Adults Welcome
March, 2017 MEANINGFUL - SUSTAINABLE - UNFORGETTABLE Witness the breathtaking terrain of East Africa as you learn about the challenges faced by rural communities. You’ll explore Kenya’s scenic beauty on guided nature hikes and safaris. With a spectacular African landscape as your backdrop, you’ll go inside the Maasai Mara community, working side-by-side with locals to address challenges in education, water, agriculture and more. As you collaborate with community members on service projects, you’ll be immersed in the Maasai culture, learning from local elders and participating in traditional customs.
“You have to suffer in order to gain.” I carry that lesson with me wherever I go, and it helps me stay strong in times of sorrow and need… I encourage everyone to travel and learn as many lessons as possible.” -Kya Von Matt, Ghana, 2013
Go to: www.eftours.ca (tour # 1820335XP) Contact: Kerrie Purdy | kerriepurdy@shaw.ca
Contributors ANDREW VALLANCE is a cinophile nerd who currently lives on the wet coast. Girlfriendless, he spends his time going to movies, buying DVDs and flirting. CAROLYN NIKODYM loves the diversity of musical genres on offer in Fernie. In June, break out and check out a different show or venue. Live a little! PATTY VADNAIS is the Executive Director of the Fernie Chamber of Commerce, a winter-time wanna-be ski bum, and summer-time golf slice professional. CHRISY HILL is the CBAL Community Literacy Coordinator. She uses her optimistic personality to share her love of learning. SHELBY CAIN was raised in the East Kootenays. After spending a decade wandering the prairies - she’s back, baby. Writing and mothering and enjoying her daily dose of #ferniestoke. Her first novel, Mountain Girl, comes out with Oolichan Press this month! Tweet her @ ShelbyCainWrote JESSE BELL spent the day as a tree planter, hanging with larch, pine, spruce and ticks. She discovers she is better at writing about tree planting than she is at planting trees. While researching for their book Down to Earth: Cold-Climate Gardens & Their Keepers, HELEN MCALLISTER and JENNIFER HEATH spoke with many inspiring Elk Valley gardeners. Always interested to learn more, they continue the conversation with other gardeners who are also passionate about growing their own food. Into his ninth summer of lawn-loving at local landscape company Mow & Snow, DUNCAN MAISELS is currently training Ellie the dog to root out dandelions (you’ve heard of truffle pigs, right?!) A community water champion, LEE-ANNE WALKER loves to SUP, fish, swim and paddle the Elk River whenever possible. Nature fills her soul and her passion is sharing it with others.
KAREN PEPPER has worked at Fernie Alpine Resort for almost 15 years. She looks forward to sharing tidbits about the mountain with readers this summer. KRISSI HYLAND is a Holistic Nutritionist,Ski and Snowboard Instructor nestled in the Japanese Alps in Hakuba, Nagano, Japan. This season Krissi is taking on the challenge of making healthy versions of traditional Japanese dishes. Happy shredding and healthy eating! NourishThroughNature.com This month SARAH INGRAM is rebelling and repeating the Fernie favourite June ab challenge! If you haven’t done it yet, be diverse and let this be your year to take the challenge! If you need help developing a program individual to you, call 250-423-9167 or visit www.sarahsactiverehab.com. The FERNIE TRAILS ALLIANCE is a non-profit organization that works with outdoor recreation groups, government and private land owners to enhance and maintain the Fernie trail network. REBECCA HALL loves to hear and write about the places that Fernieites travel to. If you’d like to share your travel story, write to her at hall.rebecca.j@gmail.com. DR. TAINA TURCASSO is a naturopathic doctor and midwife practicing in Calgary, Alberta. She spends most of her time catching gorgeous babies, and is slowly inching her way back to Fernie. Operators and sisters of No.3, SOLANGE and ZOE have a passion for fashion and beauty combining their expertise into their salon and boutique. ADAM K. MACDONALD wishes all of Fernie’s Grade 12 students a wonderful graduation month. All the best! KEVIN MCISAAC haunts the coffee shops and streets of Fernie to find his column source material. YANN LORANGER from HappyCulture Inc. is your local resource for Astrology, Tarot and Apitherapy. Astrology courses are offered at the College of the Rockies in Fernie. happycultureinc@gmail.com
Editor’s Fix It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength. ~Maya Angelou GROWING UP IN THE ELK VALLEY during the ‘80s and ‘90s had many benefits. From the close-knit, safe community to the recreational opportunities, I look back and am able to understand why these years are often referred to as golden. Fernie and area has evolved in spades since then, while still managing to retain its authenticity and character. Living back here and being so involved with the community through work and other interests, I sometimes take for granted how far this little coal town has come. It seems so similar, until I take the time to reflect on the differences. Diversification is definitely a word I gravitate toward when thinking about these changes. Take for example Fernie’s culinary scene. The options are impressive to say the least. Or consider our sport shops: from the trusty standards of the Ski Base and Fernie Sports to over six operating in downtown and more at the ski hill. Coffee shops? I remember when Cappuccino Corner opened where Big Bang currently resides. It was such a novelty, and the only one of its kind. Now, even though we have numerous cafés with more on the way, each is unique in its own respect. But where the word really shines, is in regards to the people that call this area home or enjoy visiting our mountain community. Residents have always provided a colourful international background. Many of us have ancestors who arrived in Fernie in search of a better or different life. Then it was the industries and the work they offered that drew people. This continues today, but the lifestyle offered here is also a lure.
For example, during the ski season I’ve met individuals from as far away as New Zealand to Sweden, Japan to England. A number of these people stay on for the summer season, some for life. Additionally, with so many countries in crisis, many are fleeing their own country for the safety of their family or to financially support their family back home. Fernie residents, businesses and organizations have been working hard to welcome these refugees and immigrants to our community. Organizations such as Fernie Friends of Refugees and the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy have been operating in our community for this purpose, and these new residents are continually adding a beautiful cultural flare to our community. As Maya Angelou said, “Diversity is something to be embraced, not feared.” Young children can be so honest and genuine when noticing something new or different. They look at the world with wonder, and absorb what they are taught like little sponges. What an opportunity to encourage love and acceptance. What an opportunity to learn from our children, and to recognize that through our differences, we as a community are beautiful and strong. Krista Turcasso, Editor
FERNIE FIX | FERNIEFIX.COM Published monthly by Claris Media. To advertise and for general inquiries: info@clarismedia.com Box 1124, 841 7th Ave. Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 p: 250-423-4062 www.clarismedia.com Editor | Krista Turcasso Creative Director | Vanessa Croome Associate Editor | Carolyn Nikodym All content copyright Claris Media. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
5
250-423-3002 | 301 Hwy 3
Brunch, Lunch, Appetizers, Dinner and Desserts, or just meet up for drinks.
Patio Season is Back!
Custom cabinetry and furniture Drink Specials Monday - Friday 9pm - close!
www.bisarowoodworking.com
Fernie’s Finest Selection of Frolf Discs. Oh, And We Have T-Shirts Too.
Home of the $39.99 Fernie Hoodie
www.givershirts.com
792 3rd Ave. Fernie, BC 250.531.0323 astahl@telus.net
$5 Coffee/Bailey's on Saturday and $5 Caesars on Sunday
10am-10pm daily
Business
BUSINESS NEWS
The Three Sisters Canada’s Best Value Inn & Suites 401 Hwy 3, 250-423-4438 THE THREE SISTERS MOTEL IN FERNIE, BC has exciting news to share, as it changes from Travelodge to Canada’s Best Value Inn & Suites. The owners decided on this move to better serve their guests and community. For more information, visit www.cbvifernie. com or call them directly.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
EF Tours www.eftours.ca KERRIE PURDY WITH EF TOURS is hosting the Me-To-We Trip to Kenya in spring of 2017. Witness the breathtaking terrain of East Africa as you learn about the challenges faced by rural communities. You’ll explore Kenya on guided nature hikes and safaris. With a spectacular African landscape as your backdrop, you’ll go inside the Maasai Mara community, working side-by-side with locals to address challenges in education, water, agriculture and more. As you collaborate with community members on service projects, you’ll be immersed in the Maasai culture, learning from local elders and participating in traditional customs. “You have to suffer in order to gain.” I carry that lesson with me wherever I go, and it helps me stay strong in times of sorrow and need… I encourage everyone to travel and learn as many lessons as possible. -Kya Von Matt, Ghana, 2013 For more information, visit www.eftours.ca (tour # 1820335XP) or contact Kerrie at kerriepurdy@shaw.ca.
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
7
Call Marilyn Brock for all your Real Estate needs! (250) 423-8650 Toll Free: 1-877-423-8650
marilyn@marilynbrock.com
www.marilynbrock.com 4842 Busato Road Elk Riverfront Home on 60 Acres
Riverside Way, Commercial Land 3 & 4.5 acre parcels
$1,499,000
Starting at $749,000
203-36 Rivermount Place Pinnacle Ridge Resort
$252,500
RE/MAX Elk Valley Realty Ltd | 1241 7th Ave. Fernie, BC | 250-423-4444 | Independently owned and operated.
Now Open! Come check out our new Renovation.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE FACTORY OPEN DAILY. 581A 2nd Ave., Downtown Fernie 250.423.2680 Locally owned and operated
Don’t worry, we are reno
Business
NEW BUSINESS
Fernie Syrian Refugee Family Sponsorship
JUDE SMITH, IAN LARSEN, STEVE WHELAN, RACHEL CLINE | SUBMITTED PHOTO
The Little Cabin Company www.thelittlecabincompany. com NEW TO FERNIE THIS SPRING, The Little Cabin Company manufactures unique cabins that have been designed and built to current BC and Canadian National Building Code standards and are highly insulated to keep them warm in the winter but cool in the summer sun. The first model, “The Cobby” is a singleroom cabin perfect for “glamping,” office space, a home studio, spare bedroom
or meeting space. Retailing at $24,995 + tax, The Cobby is equipped with low voltage dimmable recessed lighting, two internal electric sockets with usb ports, double glazed windows, tongue and groove Douglas Fir flooring, cedar siding, and an external power socket. For power, The Cobby plugs directly into a standard power supply and can also be supplied with solar power. For more information and the chance to visit a cabin in person find them on Facebook, visit their site, email hi@ thelittlecabincompany.com or call Rachel Cline on 250-946-6322.
FERNIE LOCALS ARE FUNDRAISING to sponsor a Syrian refugee family, and it’s a perfect time to showcase the contagiousness of humanitarian efforts. Syrian refugees in Calgary recently launched a donation drive to help displaced Fort McMurray residents. “Of all the Canadians here now, these people are most attuned to what it means to lose all your stuff, your house, your memories, even your loved ones. They have lost their entire country,” stated Saima Jamal, of the Calgary-based Syrian Refugee Support Group. Learn more about the gifts refugees are bringing to Canadian communities at the Facebook page “Fernie Syrian Refugee Family Page-Building a Bridge.” If you can help, please contact them directly here, and encourage others by sharing this page. Also consider donating via GoFundMe or nelsondiocese.org. Tax receipts are provided for donations over $20 and links can be found on their FB page. “Thanks for your support,” says Cheryl Sherry, organizer.
2% Realty East Kootenay www.2percenteastkootenay.ca 2 PERCENT REALTY is now operating out of Fernie. Operating a little differently, 2% Realty East Kootenay provides 100% realty services for 2% commission. Get in touch with Trent Mason at 250-946-6608 or trent.mason@2percentrealty.ca to schedule a free home evaluation, or visit the website to view their MLS listings and for more information. “With 2% Realty, you don’t get less, you just pay less.” FERNIEFIX.COM
|
9
Aerial Park now open from June 1 to Sept 30!
Earlybird Summer Season Pass Sale On Now Until June 26 • Mountain Bike Season Pass • NEW! Summer Sightseeing Season Pass
photos: Nick Nault, Henry Georgi & Nicole Matei
Advanced booking required in June & Sept
Open June 25tthh - September 4thth Kids Freeride Bike Camps - July 7-8, July 28-29 & Aug 18-19 NEW Dirt Devils Multi-Week Bike Camp - July 3, 10, 17 & 24 and Aug 7, 14, 21 & 28 Kids Outdoor Adventure Camps - July 18-20 & Aug 15-17 Kids Howl at the Moon Campout @ Lost Boys Café - July 16-17 & Aug 13-14
Open Friday & Saturday 4pm - 9pm Chef's Choice 3 Course Menu $45 Book ahead & SAVE 20% Call now 250-423-2056 or online
Business
Diversity in the Workplace
!
PATTY VADNAIS
100%
GMO FREE MENU
JOIN US ON THE PATIO AT THE BRICKHOUSE A GREAT PLACE TO CHILL AFTER A DAY ON THE TRAILS
THERE IS A GROWING AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE that diverse teams do better. They perform better financially, attract better talent, experience less employee turnover, and offer greater benefits to those they serve. Fernie, while rich in history and holding strong to its roots, also experiences great diversity. I often say one of my favourite things about Fernie is the diversity of people you find here. I have met people that have worked all over the world, and have chosen Fernie as their home. Businesses can take advantage of this diverse population and build better teams. Diverse teams are shown to have better innovation and creativity, easier recruitment and lower turnover, and an increased market share. The Stanford Social Innovation Review recently summarized five steps any organization can take to build a more diverse team.
• featuring a 100% BC only wine list and beer on tap • lunch and dinner menu with homemade burgers • open 7 days a week, 11:30am to close • live music • thursday jam night
1. Customize your vision and strategy. Ensure that your mission, your vision, your goals include diversity. And, that you have ways to measure your progress towards your goals. Review those measures each quarter.
www.thebrickhousefernie.com
3. Focus on recruiting and selection practices. Provide training for unbiased interviewing and selection process, and establish strategic partnerships that
401 2nd avenue 250.423.0009
2. Focus on impact and measures. Set a baseline. Diversity can be measured a number of ways, gender, ethnicity, age, life experience, education and more. Identify key metrics appropriate for your organization and set timelines to review progress.
BUSINESS ADVICE
connect your organization with diverse talent pipelines. Wondering where to start? Try connecting with colleges and universities to talk about the cooperative work programs. Reaching out to them and bringing students in can add to the diversity of your team. 4. Invest in leadership development to retain high performers. This can be informal mentoring or coaching. Leadership development can be education sessions and professional development courses. A popular meme going around social media has been “CFO asks CEO: ‘What happens if we invest in developing our people and then they leave us?’ CEO replies: ‘What happens if we don’t and they stay?’” 5. Prompt ongoing discussion. The joy of a diverse team is the breadth of discussion topics available. Ensure there is opportunity to engage in open, honest, and multidirectional dialogue at different levels. Ensure that the diversity of experience is appreciated and not feared. Building a diverse and inclusive team is not easy. It takes planning and work. Based on research, businesses that put in the effort will be rewarded. Many Fernie businesses are small, less than ten employees. Even in a small office, diversity can still be recognized and celebrated. I encourage you to take a moment and look around your own work team. Explore where people are from and what life experiences they have had. Explore how those diverse viewpoints can add to your company’s offerings or services. Your employees will enjoy the acknowledgment of diversity and your customers will appreciate (and return) for the resulting products and services.
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
11
KYLE HAMILTON PHOTOGRAPHY
Arts and Entertainment
F E AT U R E A R T I S T
MARYMENDUK I was born and raised in a little house on 9th Avenue. The piano my sister played is still in the house. We couldn’t get it out after renovations. Growing up, there was always music. On a summer’s evening I heard the music of button or keyed accordians from backyard gardens where neighbours gathered to sing and chat. Fernie was a very cosmopolitan town, European languages filled the streets. I learned the songs of my Italian friends and they in turn learned my Slovak melodies. Immigrants could not live without music, drama, and dance bands. Every Saturday for a month we could “skip the light fantastic” to a different band. With no extended family, no grandparents, aunts and uncles, people formed ethnic cultural groups for connection. Countrymen became bratia i sestri [brothers and sisters]. After a meal together, my parents and countrymen would sing, recite poetry, and tell stories. No accompaniment was needed. Voices were the instruments. During this time, choir and drama filled my life. My writing practice at this time was largely English assignments. In the ‘60s an ‘70s I wrote some emotional, anguish poems I never shared.
grandparents in Czechoslovakia, their emigration to Canada and early life in Fernie. I wanted to inform them, of their voluntary exile, their love of freedom and democracy, their willingness to participate in community, both politically and culturally. My purpose to urge nieces and nephews to continue our family patterns for living and contributing. In the last few years, in a rocking writers group guided by Keith Liggett, I began writing in earnest. Weekly sessions are informative, invigorating and fun. With this group I rediscovered poetry. This form carries the emotional nature of my stories far better than prose. In retrospect, who am I kidding about purpose? Must my nieces and nephews listen to their aunt? I wrote for me, for clarity, because I had a story of loss and separation and finding community. Life in Fernie today is even more diversified. The early years of drama, music, choir have expanded to include art, sculpture, writing, filmmaking and even a circus, all adding richness to our lives. We are a community of creators of all ages, living in a valley inviting us to make the music, sing the songs, paint the pictures, write the stories, film the action.
Mary Menduk will be launching her new publication, Not Even the Artist Knows the Words Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at the Fernie Arts Station. Join her and guests for appetizers and music beginning at 7pm, followed by a reading and reception.
Originally, I intended to leave my family a series of essays about the life of their FERNIEFIX.COM
|
13
Don’t miss the BEST day of your summer!
r e v i r e h t
Wild
…
or
theriver
Mild
LETS GO PADDLEBOARDING
Summer Specials 1.888.423.7226 or 250.423.7226 www.canyonraft.com
Majic, Purdy Law Corporation
Trusted Legal Advice for over 30 years George S. Majic, Q.C. (d. 2003) • Glen A. Purdy, Q.C • Christopher E. Smith, LLB
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 Office 592-2nd Avenue P.O. Box 369 Fernie, B.C. V0B 1M0 T: (250) 423-4497 F: (250) 423-6714
www.majicpurdy.com
Sparwood Office (By Appointment Only) 119 Centennial Square Sparwood, B.C. T: (250) 425-7216 F: (250) 425-0400
Get your summer ‘Glow’ on Refresh your skin after spending time in the early summer sun Receive 20% off our Organic Glow package when you book in June* *Mention this ad at the time of booking. Valid for treatments 06/01/2016 - 06/30/2016
Free pool and hot tub access with all treatments
Arts and Entertainment
Funny, You Don’t Look Like One: Observations of a Blue-Eyed Ojibway by Drew Hayden Taylor
perfect for the subject matter. It was like Taylor was speaking directly to me and telling me to pay attention. One article began, “Okay, I’m confused” and another finished with “Hmmmmm.” At one point, Taylor tells me, the reader, to ask his mother. His relaxed style is refreshing and makes it a fairly easy read.
CHRISSY HILL
THE LITERARY WORLD is full of books with diversity themes. You would think this would make it easy to find the right one… But no. Did I want a book about immigrants in Canada? A book about multicultural struggles? Maybe something deep and meaningful about the beauty of diversity? After a great deal of inner debate, I decided on a book about a Canadian man with two cultures within himself. Funny, You Don’t Look Like One is written by an Ojibway, First Nations, Canadian Indian. He actually has many more terms for his Ojibway heritage and some would be considered extremely politically incorrect. Drew Hayden Taylor is the son of a “Native woman who apparently couldn’t run fast enough.” His biological father was Caucasian. Taylor says, “I officially secede from both races. I plan to start my own separate nation. Because I am half Ojibway, and half Caucasian, we will be called the Occasions. And of course, since I’m founding the new nation, I will be a Special Occasion.” The author has a dark sense of humour and approaches topics head on that other authors would carefully tip-toe around. At times the book seemed disjointed and I wasn’t sure of its point until I realized that it wasn’t meant to flow from chapter to chapter. In fact, the chapters weren’t really chapters; they were articles and essays from other publications. I feel a bit silly
FERNIE READS
admitting my ignorance, but I hold hope that I am not the first person confused by this. The section that threw me the most was the first article, “The Best of the Best in Native Arts.” I will be blunt, it was boring. However, looking back, it was boring because I was approaching the book like a book and not as a series of articles. This article was a review and discussion of native artists, poets, books, CDs, and plays. I am so happy that I persisted and made it past this piece because the following 35 articles were fantastic. They were thought provoking, funny, sad, frustrating, and made me want to learn more. Taylor spoke of specific events as if everyone knows about them, and we probably should know about them, but sadly do not. He refers often to the events at Oka. I am ashamed to say that I had to Google the Oka Crisis. Maybe that was part of his plan. Maybe he wants us to be ashamed; not ashamed of who we are, but what we fail to see right in front of our eyes. Maybe he wants us to realize we need to pay more attention to what is happening in our own country, to our own people. Well, it worked. Oka, by the way, is home to a 78-day stand-off between Mohawks and the Canadian authorities that ended in a violent gun battle. Funny, You Don’t Look Like One is written in spoken language. I found this technique
Taylor explains that he spent many years living on a reserve, and just as many, if not more years as an “Urban Indian”(his words not mine) living in big cities. This dual experience seems to give him a unique perspective on Canadian cultures. Funny, You Don’t Look Like One, is one of many Drew Hayden Taylor publications. This book inspired me to read two other of his books right away. His books are not long or difficult reads. In Fernie, you can find this book at the Fernie Heritage Library. If their copy is not available, they can access other copies for you.
An Independent Book Store A unique selection of books, gifts, award-winning toys, guide books & maps, stationery and special treasures.
Open Everyday 592 2nd Ave., Fernie • 250-423-3736 polarpeekbooks@telus.net www.polarpeekbooks.ca
Contact us to place a special order FERNIEFIX.COM
|
15
August 12 - 13, 2016 Tickets on Sale Now Online or at Le Grand Fromage Weekend Passes just $79 Teen Pricing available wapitimusicfestival.com
See Yourself at Teck We are seeking individuals from our local communities for the position of Pit Utility/Haul Truck Driver for current and future job opportunities at our five open-pit steelmaking coal operations in the Elk Valley. We’re focused on building a diverse and inclusive workforce representative of the communities in which we operate. Find out more and apply at teck.com/careers
Arts and Entertainment
T H E R E N TA L F I X
Bored to Death ANDREW VALLANCE
JONATHAN AMES IS AN AMERICAN AUTHOR who has written a number of novels and comic memoirs, including I Pass Like Night (1989), The Extra Man (1998), and Wake Up Sir! (2004). He was a columnist for the New York Press for several years and became known for self-deprecating tales of his sexual misadventures. He has also had a longtime interest in boxing, appearing occasionally in the ring as “The Herring Wonder.” With such a varied career, it is no wonder that in 2009 he decided to make a major foray into television and created the series Bored to Death, which aired on HBO from September 2009 until November 2011. The series stars Jason Schwartzman, who made his earliest film appearance in Rushmore in 1998. Since then he has been very busy in television, appearing in a number of series including Cracking up (2004-2006), Bored to Death (2009 -2011), Parks and Recreation (2013) and Mozart in the Jungle (2014-2015). He has also appeared in at least 32 films including Marie Antoinette (2006) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). In Bored to Death, Schwartzman portrays a fictionalized version of Ames, who is a failed writer, moonlighting as an unlicensed private detective. He is assisted in his exploits by his friends, George Christopher, the libertine editor of the fictitious New York magazine Edition, and Ray Hueston, comic artist and Jonathan’s best friend. Together, the three characters battle with their own neuroses, struggle with their love lives, and have thrilling adventures as they bring New York criminals to justice. Ted Danson plays George Christopher. Danson has spent most of his acting career in television, first coming to prominence in the role of Sam Malone, bartender in the ‘80s sitcom Cheers (1982-1993), winning
two Emmy awards and a Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy series. Danson displays his considerable comedic talent in Bored to Death. He is perhaps best known to younger television audiences in more serious roles such as Arthur Frobisher, a CEO guilty of insider trading in Damages (2007-2012), and most recently as Sherriff Hank Larson in Season 2 of Fargo. These roles portray a more sensitive side to Danson’s acting ability. Zach Galifianakis has also had a busy comedic career that started in the television series Boston Common in 1996. He plays Ray Hueston in Bored to Death and continues to entertain us with his comedic turns. The show is low key, and more subtle than other HBO shows such as Game of Thrones or Sopranos, and perhaps this is why it was cancelled after only three seasons, but the acting is great, the scripts are well written and the humour entertaining. It is a shame that shows such as this don’t always attract a faithful viewing audience. Perhaps if Ames had more assistance from co-writers, the series would have had more success. The show is still great and is absolutely worth a very serious look. Two thumbs way, way up. FERNIEFIX.COM
|
17
360 Degrees of Perfection... Visit GolfFernie.com today and: * sign up for news and specials with our E-Club * learn all about our new 360 Loyalty Program... (golf more for less!) * get info on Tournament & Corporate Packages
201 Fairway Drive, Fernie - Pro Shop: 250.423.7773
www.golffernie.com
Join us for:
Like us on Facebook
Operated by:
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Spectacular Patio Dining Daily Specials Weddings & Corporate Functions Off-site Catering
Phone: Email: Website:
250-423-4115 clubhouse@skifernie.com www.skifernie.com/summer
Father's Day BBQ Sunday, June 19th
h
Arts and Entertainment
MUSICAL NOTES
The Flatliners are Alive and Definitely Kicking CAROLYN NIKODYM
IT’S HARD TO FATHOM BEING ON THE YOUNG SIDE OF 30 and already being a seasoned professional. But Toronto punk band the Flatliners is just that. The four musicians have been a band for fourteen years and touring solidly for about ten of those years. Despite growing up and becoming men on the road, the band doesn’t seem to be carrying the burdens of cynicism or arrogance – just a whole lot of gratitude. “I think that’s just the way we have to look at it,” lead singer Chris Cresswell says. “Because otherwise you can cross that line so easily – of feeling, like, fortunate and grateful and then kind of having that feeling disappear on you, because that’s just what you do now. “We’ve accomplished all of these things and it’s great and we’re so proud of ourselves for doing all of this stuff,” he adds. “I think that’s just the way you have to look at it, because you could lose that magic pretty quickly.” This is coming from a guy who is literally doing our interview on his way home from the airport after touring Europe, partially in support of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Jet lag and lugging his gear up to his apartment be damned. Let’s back up a bit. The Flatliners formed in 2002, at the ripe age of 14. With just an EP and one album to its name, the band released its second full-length with Fat Wreck Chords (NOFX’s Fat Mike’s label) in 2007. Since graduating from high school, the Flatliners have been touring relentlessly and have shared the stage with many of the biggest and most notorious
SUBMITTED PHOTO
punk bands. Even on the tour Cresswell is just returning from, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes borrowed Bad Religion bassist Jay Bentley for its tour. “We’ve been able to come up in a really positive way through a lot of people who got us into this whole punk rock thing in the first place,” Cresswell says. “In this tour we just finished, it was two Lagwagons, a Swingin’ Utter, a Bad Religion and a Face to Face.” Sure, it’s luck – and Cresswell makes sure to mention the massive support they get from family, friends and employers – but the Flatliners have also worked incredibly hard. He’s not about to complain, but one year, the guys had their lives chopped into two-week chunks: two weeks “straight” jobs to two weeks of touring, over and over. Despite that, the band has managed to record an impressive amount of music – including so many b-sides that the Flatliners were able to release the double album Division of Spoils: a Collection of B-Sides and Rarities last year without recording anything new for it. Even though some of the songs were ones that were trimmed before landing on any of the band’s previous releases, none of them feel like throw-away compositions. And
Cresswell and his bandmates – guitarist Scott Brigham, bassist Jon Darby and drummer Paul Ramirez – were pleasantly surprised by the stellar reception the album received. Especially because the album doesn’t necessarily have the kind of cohesion a more traditional record might have. “It did kind of end up telling this cool story of, like, the timeline of the band,” Cresswell says. “Actually on this last tour we just finished, we were playing a particular song from Division of Spoils called ‘Sticky Bastards’ and we recorded it for Cavalcade. So we must have recorded it back in 2009, early 2010. I remember vividly recording that song and all of us being, like, ‘Yeah, it’s okay.’ So we already knew, before we were even done that that song wouldn’t make that album. And then a few weeks ago, we were kind of jamming a set, an idea for this tour, and that song came up and we were, like, ‘Man! That song’s awesome.’ So I guess sometimes it just takes years for a song to sink in, even for the people who wrote it! But then we played it almost every day on the tour and it went over great and it’s fun to play.” The Flatliners perform at the Northern on June 22.
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
19
the fernie academy RESPECT, EXCELLENCE, LEARNING
Kindergarten to grAde 12, consider the Academy. Call to book a tour! 250.423.0212
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.
Recreational Diversity!
To book a tour please call: 250-423-0212 451 2nd Avenue, Fernie B.C. CONTACT OUR PRINCIPAL Jocelyn Sombrowski at: jocelyn@igsco.ca
ferniemountainspirits.com
The Leisure Services Department celebrates diversity in recreation by striving to provide many different recreational opportunities to our community! For more information visit www.fernie.ca
1641-7th Ave. - conveniently located on Highway 3 near Boston Pizza 250-423-6522
9am-11pm 7 days a week
GIFT CARDS
Coldest Beer in Town Ask us about our rewards program. Earn points and redeem for merchandise!
Fernie Aquatic Centre 250.423.4466 Facility Inquiries 250.423.2245 www.fernie.ca
Community and Events
F E AT U R E R E S I D E N T
Ashley Retford KRISTA TURCASSO
I WALK INTO THE FERNIE FAMILY CENTRE, through an entrance I never knew existed. It’s surreal, as I spent a lot of time in my youth in this building and in these classrooms every Wednesday after school at Catechism. While this program still runs in this building, today some of these classrooms are used by new organizations, such as the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) and this is where I am headed today to chat with Ashley Retford, a settlement worker and LINC instructor, a program for ESL learners with mixed skills. Ashley and Chrisy Hill, the Elk Valley Community Literacy Coordinator, sit with me at a round table in the centre of the room. Their offices are near the windows, while this space is more open with tables, chairs, a couch, children’s toys, a computer station, snack and refreshment area. It is obvious that this is where people new to our community, and new to Canada can come for help. Ashley has been working with CBAL as the settlement worker and ESL instructor for just over a year. She explains that it has existed for a few years in the community, but recently moved to this new space and find that, with the more central location, it is easier for them explain to people with language barriers how to get there, and also easier for them just to drop by. The timing couldn’t be better, as both Ashley and Chrisy agree that there is an increased need for their services with added refugees in the community and jobs bringing people here from around the world. With a degree in Sociology, followed by a TESL certificate and a Masters in TEAL at the University of Calgary, Ashley is very qualified for this job. But it was actually time spent in Taiwan teaching English that
PAIGE AND KATE | KRISTA TURCASSO PHOTO
KRISTA TURCASSO PHOTOS
originally sparked her interest in this field and also opened her eyes to what it is like to feel different. “When I taught in Taiwan in a kids’ school, they thought something was wrong with my eyes because they were blue. I know what it feels like to have people stare at me, or to have people want to take a picture with me because I look different.
“Many of the people we work with feel nervous, about little things like having to make phone calls, going to the grocery store, or speaking with teachers about what’s going on at school. My experiences have given me a lot of patience to work through it with them and help them to figure out a solution.” As a settlement worker, Ashley meets with people to discuss things such as community information, connections, FERNIEFIX.COM
|
21
THE FRIENDS OF THE F E R N I E H E R I TA G E L I B R A RY PRESENT
A Summer Affair Black Tie Gala JUNE 25th 2016 Tickets available May 24th 2016 at the Fernie Heritage Library
A Summer Affair, Friends of the Fernie Heritage Library
government services, processing important documents, help with referrals, credentials recognition, and setting them up with mentors and tutors. “Mentors are super casual, offering conversational English, meeting up for coffee, while tutoring is more focused with specific help and an end goal,” says Ashley, as she beams about the many volunteers that take on these roles. They are also very proud about their new self-serve Internet access. “We have super flexible hours,” she adds. When asked how their clients are finding life in Fernie, Ashley is very positive. “People have been very receptive. All of the clients have had great experiences so far in the community. We need to realize that diversity is a good thing, these people are bringing things to the community that we didn’t necessarily have before. “I’ve been asked before, why would you bring a refugee to Fernie? It’s expensive, cold, snowy… but these small communities give them a better experience, a more personal community feeling.” Before arriving in Fernie, Ashley spent three years in Tumbler Ridge, BC teaching with an ESL contract at the College and working at the library. She really enjoys this line of work, as it’s the perfect blend of teaching, meeting new people and learning more about new cultures. Being involved in the community is also important to her. “Coming from a big city (Pickering, Ontario) I always felt like just one of many. Here, I’m able to connect with people and say ‘hi’ when I walk down the street. Today I went to the mail and saw four of my clients already. It’s fantastic.” CBAL is working hard to be more visible in the Elk Valley, educating people on the programs available and encouraging them to use their resources. “We want to be ingrained in this community, helping people as best we can,” adds Ashley. “We hope to remove any barriers – transportation, childcare etc. that are stopping people from getting help.”
For more information, visit www.cbal.org/ elk-valley.html or drop in at 521 4th Ave.
6. What is your favourite time of the year in Fernie and why?
1. When did you first arrive in Fernie and what brought you here?
I think spring, right now. It’s been our favourite so far. We get out on our bikes, and start enjoying the patio and BBQ again.
It was two years ago, and it was my husband’s job transfer at Teck. 2. Where did you first live in town? Same place we’re living now, which is in the Ridgemont area. We bought a house right away, as we knew we wanted to be part of this community. 3. What was your first impression? Beautiful scenery. I love the hiking trails, and we do a lot of biking so that’s amazing too. It has such a great small town feel. 4. What keeps you in Fernie? We plan to be here for the long haul, to establish ourselves, start a family here. We’re not looking to leave anytime soon. 5. Do you have a favourite Fernie memory? My favourite Fernie memory is my wedding. We got married in the Annex Park in May… people said we got lucky with the weather, we had such a beautiful day.
7. Where do you see Fernie in 5 to 10 years? I hope that it continues to become a more diverse community, and at the same time inclusive and welcoming. It’s been great for me, and our clients. And of course, to keep that small town feel. 8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals? I usually start my day by looking at the door where the dogs are waiting for me to take them for a walk. It’s the first thing I do. 9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you. It’s probably that I teach Zumba at Vitality, I have a dance background. That’s what I enjoy the most. 10. Quote to live by: Try to learn something new every day.
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
23
www.nufloorsfernie.ca 391 - 1st Avenue Fernie BC 250.423.4314 • 1.800.860.3136
Follow us on facebook
CURRENTLY BOOKING SUMMER 2016
+ 250 430 1872
Community and Events
Classmates
baby of my own. Every few years, Andy and I overlap in Nova Scotia, visiting family at the same time and we catch up over a campfire and guitars and a beer. High school is a long time ago. More than half my life ago. But then we sit around the campfire, recalling the stories that grow into legend with each telling (our memories filling in the increasing blanks). At those times, high school feels like yesterday.
ADAM K MACDONALD
AS WITH MANY THINGS IN LIFE, the further away I get from my high school graduation, the more blanks there are for my memory to fill in. I remember our valedictorian’s name, but cannot tell you what he said. I forget who I sat beside at graduation. I forget what I ate that day, though I’m sure it was some special meal. One of the things I remember most about my grad year is my classmate, Andy Gillis. In Grade 12, I moved out with a few other Grade 12 guys. There were four of us. Andy was the one I was most nervous about living with. He had somewhat of a reputation for getting in trouble (breaking rules, fighting, challenging our teachers). Andy and I had gone to school together since Grade 3. We were friendly enough, but we were not what I’d call friends. My earliest memory of him was in Grade 4. I was climbing up the ladder to the slide in the playground of Dr. Hugh MacPherson Elementary (now torn down) when the boy below me (Andy) yanked my pants down. I also remember him getting into a fight in Grade 4 (and several times after that). In my Grade 12 mind, Andy Gillis and I were opposite. Andy went to most of the parties and I went to very few. I was more comfortable at home with a book than I was at any party. With a few exceptions, I was a rule-follower, a pleaser on the straight and narrow path and prone to shyness. In hindsight, Andy was the best part of my Grade 12 year. Andy surprised me. He broke the stereotype I had in my mind of who he was. For example, he was the neatest of all of us. While studying for our Exams, Andy always made us tidy the apartment first. Clutter drove him nuts. He was also loyal and kind. If he knew one of us was feeling down, he was relentless about finding out what was bothering us and doing things to cheer us up.
YOU’VE GOT MALE
V.CROOME PHOTO
More importantly than breaking stereotypes, Andy is probably one of the biggest influences on me overcoming my shyness. He was always having people over. He was great at taking enough of the spotlight off of me that I was able to enjoy just hanging out. Plus, he was always up to some hilarious adventure or prank and so I didn’t have the time to overanalyze what people were thinking about me. I often credit summer camp counselling for getting me beyond my shyness, but Andy did a lot to loosen me up before I ever set flip-flop at camp. Without ever saying it, he helped me to understand that, “those who mind, don’t matter; and those who matter, don’t mind.” Andy was “cool;” he was a member of the “in crowd” without ever really trying to be. He was comfortable talking with girls, and they loved talking to him. He was a hockey player. He did not follow a lot of rules and did what he wanted. He lied about his age and worked in a pub (they later found out and kept him on because he was such a good worker). And he thought I was great. He liked (or at least tolerated) my lame puns, he loved hearing my thoughts on things. I feel odd saying it, but he made me feel “cool.” I felt cool by association. I don’t talk to Andy as often as I’d like. He lives in Ontario and I am here in Fernie. A couple of times a year we call each other and catch up. We are both married. He has a couple of boys heading into the teenage years and I have a toddler and a
Grads, there can be a lot of stress this time of year. Take some time to reflect, to think of the people who influenced your 13-year journey. Things like your hairstyle and what you wear matter, but they are not what you remember twenty years later. Do your hair, have fun choosing your clothes, and make time to enjoy experiences with the people who matter to you. Have fun, and appreciate these last June days you have together as classmates.
Full Automotive Service & Repair
DEKAUTOS
$85/Hour
Licensed Mechanic
BOOK NO FOR SPRINW G SERVICE!
250.423.9075
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
25
SUP VIDEO
CHECK OUT
PLATTERS
MOBILE CHEF SERVICES
HIGH CLASS TAPAS SERVICE CHEF CATERED DINNERS WEDDING CATERING SERVICES
COMPANY BARBECUE’S
White Water Rafting / Kayaking / Scenic Floats Stand Up Paddleboarding: river tours, lake tours, skills courses
250-423-5008
> RAFTFERNIE.COM
FOODSAFE INSTRUCTION
CHEF MATT SOROCHUK
ironcreekcateringco@live.com www.ironcreekcateringcompany.com
250-423-6856
Large in-store selection of covers and chemicals. For all your hot tub needs! (Formally Alpine Spa and Leisure)
1541 9th Ave. Fernie, B.C. 250-423-3370 snowvalleyspa@shaw.ca • ferniehottubs.com
SUNDANCE SPAS • CHEMICALS • WEEKLY MAINTENANCE • PRE-OWNED SPAS • SERVICE
Community and Events
FA M I LY S T O K E
Sign Me Up SHELBY CAIN
I’M RUSHING. FRANTICALLY RUSHING. It’s 5:15. It’s soccer season. It’s the year-end dance extravaganza. It’s bloody crazy. My girls are at the table. They’re five and seven years old and they’re supposed to be wolfing down the food I just grabbed from the stovetop and slung on their plates like a short order cook. It was a tricky manoeuvre given the fact that I had the missing shin pad and a torn tutu requiring a repair job tucked under my arm. But I managed it. “Ok guys, let’s see how fast we can eat this. It’s not a race – but it kind of is. Don’t choke – but chew quickly. Don’t burn your mouth – but don’t bother blowing on it. It’s fine. You’re fine. Eat.” I rattle off my instructions like a schizophrenic auctioneer. None of it sticks. They look at me like I’m speaking another language, small brows furrowed, and slowly pick up their forks. The snail-like pace they are using to take their first bite feels utterly alarming to me. I wonder if they might be underwater – and I am somehow hovering above them, my words muffled in their thick liquid world. This thought is crazy. I take a breath. We’re not going to make it. I sprint from the kitchen to find a pin for the tutu, prick my finger on a rogue needle in my shoe box sewing kit, and stare at the bulging drop of blood in horror. I feel like I’m Sleeping Beauty, and try as I might to avoid the inevitable, I’m about to go down for the count. I remind myself it’s not quite that serious, but I can’t bleed on the tutu. Disaster. I engage my inner vampire and try to stop the flow long enough to fasten the pin. Done. I hear a giggle come from the kitchen and scream out, “Hey Five! More eating, less giggling!” And then I stop in my tracks. It has come to this. In my benevolent endeavour to produce well-rounded, multi-talented offspring I have somehow lost my mind. Or, it may have possibly gotten scared and just ran
TINY DANCERS | ERIN KINSELLA SLATER PHOTO
away. Either way, it’s gone. I just told my five-year-old to stop giggling. I have to get a hold of myself. And I will, as soon as I get them where they need to be. Now. With budding trees and warmer temperatures comes a plethora of things to sign up your kids for. Not that winter didn’t have its fill – hockey alone can leave you white-knuckled on the steering wheel of life – but for me this is the busy time. And I know, I have created this situation myself. There is the option to say no. No Seven, you can’t be in soccer and dance and singing and post-impressionist art appreciation. Pick one. But I find myself struggling with the fact that as I get older and attempt to diversify my own personal skill portfolio I wish I had some more exotic ones in my bag-of-tricks. If I’d learned to play a B-Minor or do a perfect arabesque or appreciate Van Gogh when I was a kid, it might not be so hard to grasp these things now. So if they’re up for it, why not cram a wide variety of skills into them when they’re young? Why not? Well, I think I’m slowly answering that for myself as the chaotic banshee-like
behavior I have found myself capable of lately begins to scare me. I might need to slow this gong-show down a little. The Elk Valley is rich with a diversity of highly talented people offering up their knowledge and experiences in the form of classes our children can benefit from. Hockey, skiing, rock-climbing, singing, painting, ukulele, gardening…etc. I could go on. What a treasure. I want to take advantage of as much of it as I can – but maybe I’ll try to pace myself a little. Another bonus, some of these experiences are free of charge. For example – Little Sprouts, a Fernie Early Years Program. It is led by the walking sunshine known as Jodie Parker, speaking of treasures in our community. This program runs Thursdays in the summer months and is a great thing to do with your kids – instead of watching from the sidelines. They have a new location this year at Creative Minds Forest School Garden (at Max Turyk School). Check Ferniefix.com for further information. And the best part – no tutus or shin pads required. FERNIEFIX.COM
|
27
June 2016 Monthly Events WEDNESDAY 1.6.2016 Senior Storytime @ Tom Uphill Manor, 1:30pm with IDES Kindergarteners Superhero Pep Rally @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:305pm. Come dressed as your favourite superhere to join in the fun. Drop-in event for kids ages 7+. THURSDAY 2.6.2016 Secure Off-Leash Park Open House @ Senior Citizens Society & Drop In Centre, 4-8pm. Drop by to view and comment on the design plans for the Fernie Pets Society’s Off-Leash Dog Park. Mountain Girl Book Launch with Shelby Cain @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7pm. Fernie Fix columnist Shelby Cain laughces her new suspense novel, released by Oolichan Books. Beautea Night with Spa 901 @ Infinitea, from 6pm with $10 Massage/Manicures/Makeup FRIDAY 3.6.2016 Hearing Trees @ The Northern, a Canadian Indie Rock band hitting the stage at 10pm. Riley J @ The Royal SUNDAY 5.6.2016 Fernie Pets Society Fundraiser: The Madhatter Tea Party @ Nevados. A night of fun with music, raffle and door prizes. Tickets are $15 and includes a membership to the Fernie Pets Society. Tickets are being sold at Barkside and at the door. This is a 19+ event. All proceeds go to the Fernie Pets Society. Starts at 5pm WEDNESDAY 8.6.2016 Senior Storytime @ Rocky Mountain Village, 1pm. All are welcome! Fernie Museum Exhibit Opening: Currents @ Fernie Museum, celebrating the Elk River, a glacial water source and a place of inspiration and relaxation. www. ferniemuseum.com Lemonade Social @ Fernie Heritage Library, 4-5:30pm. Celebrating the end of their afterschool programming. Enjoy games, activities, hotdogs and of course a lemonade stand off! THURSDAY 9.6.2016 - SUNDAY 12.6.2016 Coal Miner Days @ Sparwood. A weekend of fun and activities for everyone! Visit facebook.com/CoalMinerDays for more information. FRIDAY 10.6.2016 Linden Anthony Live @ Infinitea, 8pm Carmanah @ The Royal, folk, funk, rock and reggae
THE ARTS STATION www.theartsstation.com info@theartsstation.com 250.423.4842
Gallery In the Gallery: Shar Czech and Ilona Webster. Opening May 26, 7pm. until June 28. Ilona (INSIDE, OUTSIDE, ALL AROUND THE HOUSE): The inspiration for this mosaic showing was to create unique and whimsical, one of a kind pieces that can be enjoyed by all in home, on the
SATURDAY 11.6.2016 Gerick Sports Wasa Lake Triathlon @ Wasa Lake Special Screening of Elder in the Making @ The Vogue Theatre, 7pm. The Story of a Blackfoot Aboriginal and Chinese-Canadian on a spiritual journey of reconciliation across their shared home. The producer and actor will be in attendance. Nemkae & Strauss @ The Royal SUNDAY 12.6.2016 Gerick Sports Wasa Lake Triathlon @ Wasa Lake Men’s Pro Am @ Fernie Golf & Country Club Summer Opening Day @ Island Lake Lodge. Enjoy amazing summer hiking, canoeing, dining, fishing and relaxation. Islandlakecatskiing.com MONDAY 13.6.2016 Men’s Pro Am @ Fernie Golf & Country Club Little Critter Criterium Ride @ Fernie Dirt Jump Bike Park, 6pm. A fun race circuit criterium style, wee competitors ride as many laps of a short course as they can in 40 minutes. Geared toward riders 12 and under. WEDNESDAY 15.6.2016 Fly Fishing Opens @ The Elk River Mary Menduk Book Launch and Reception @ The Fernie Arts Station, door open at 7pm with reading at 8pm and music to follow. FRIDAY 17.6.2016 Pincha Mayurasana: Light as a Feather Workshop @ Essential Yoga Studio, 7:30-9:30pm Shane Floyd & Nightmare @ The Royal SATURDAY 18.6.2016 Naturalist reunion set @ The Royal SUNDAY 20.6.2016 Father’s Day BBQ @ Fernie Golf & Country Club MONDAY 20.6.2016 Summer Solstice Celebration @ Essential Yoga Studio, 7:30-9:30pm Wildsight Wild Ideas Focus Group @ Infinitea, 7pm with $12 meals TUESDAY 21.6.2016 Cooking Class: Fermenting @ Infinitea, 6pm $35 WEDNESDAY 22.6.2016 Men’s Special @ Fernie Golf & Country Club The Flatliners @ The Northern, 10pm. Join punk rock band the Flatliners with guests Pangea at the Northern deck, and in the yard. All my mosaic art is created with Stained glass, China, Pottery and other odds and ends. Shar (A Life Without Dreams is like a Garden Without Flowers): I am a self taught jeweller and artist born and raised in Fernie B.C. As a stay at home mother of two I have a passion to be create. I started getting creative and making jewelry in 2007 which has now evolved to painting. I am always developing my skills as an artist and trying something new! Gallery Opening: “Nectar” by The Artist’s Collective. June 30th 7pm until Monday July 25th. This diverse show is brought to us by The Artist Collective Studio, a unique artists’ studio and collaborative workspace in the Crowsnest Pass.
CHECK OUT THE FERNIE FIX EVENTS CALENDAR ONLINE AT WWW.FERNIEFIX.COM
for a sick show this June. Tickets available online at theflatlinersfernie.zoobis.com FRIDAY 24.6.2016 Tea and Talk Book Club: Room by Emma Donoghue @ Fernie Heritage Library, 1:30pm Opening Day @ Fernie Alpine Resort, 10:30am. Enjoy lift-accessed biking and hiking, an aerial park, tennis, lodging and dining. www.skifernie.com Two Person Alternate Shot & Comedy Night @ Fernie Golf & Country Club, 6pm shotgun start. 250-423-7773 Staggers & Jaggs @ The Royal My Kind of Karma & Tiger Moon @ The Northern, reggae ska-rock at its best hitting the stage live at 10pm SATURDAY 25.6.2016 Summer Opening Day @ Fernie Alpine Resort. Lift accessed bike park, hiking, aerial park, zipline and more! A Summer Affair Black Tie Gala @ Fernie Heritage Library, 250-423-4458. A magical evening celebrating the library’s passionate relationship with the history and culture of Fernie. The gala begins at the library grounds with guests mingling, and then moves indoors for a formal dinner, champagne, cocktails, music, wine and the opportunity to bid on a fine selection of unique and exquisite auction items. BC Epic 1000 Inaugural Ride @ Merrit, BC to Fernie, BC. A self-supported, offroad, bike-packing ride/race ending in Fernie, BC this summer, in the spirit of the famous Tour Divide style and under the same rules. Racers will be finishing at City Hall in downtown Fernie, and can be tracked at Trackleaders online. Lady E.M.C.I. & Artix @ The Royal THURSDAY 30.6.2016 Gallery Opening: Artist’s Collective @ The Fernie Arts Station, 7pm. A collaborative collection of new works from local artists. Complimentary nibbles and cash bar. Marten Horger @ The Nothern, 10pm . Live DJ from Germany.
Workshops Felted Treasure Bowl Workshop with Becca Musso. June 3 (Pro-D day) Ages 8-12 10am - 3pm $30 includes all supplies
Coming up in July July 10: “Out of the Box” Dumpster Painting and activities for the family. Come out to Station Square on July 10 to watch artists paint their dumpsters, listen to some groovy tunes and take part in painting the community dumspter! Also happening this day is the Artsy Fartsy Summer Social brought to you by the Fernie Chamber of Commerce. There will be loads of crafty things to do for everyone!
CONTACT INFO@CLARISMEDIA.COM TO SHARE YOUR EVENTS, BOTH ONLINE AND IN PRINT. IT’S FREE!
June 2016 Weekly Events
DINING, NIGHTLIFE & SPECIALS MONDAYS Burger and Bud $14.99 @ Boston Pizza Fernie Jugs of Beer on Special @ The Brickhouse Lasagna Specials @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe Wing Night @ The Fernie Hotel $6 Meals all Day and Astrology Drop-in after 7pm @ Infinitea Mexican Mondays! Chicken or Beef Tacos $3 Happy Hour Corona (Bottles) @ Parkplace Pub Massage Mondays @ Trillium Day Spa, $60 for 60 min, $90 for 90 min Ladies Night: $4 House Red or White Wine, $5 $12 Mussels and $4 Wine @ The Northern Local Jam Night @ The Kodiak Lounge Free Pool, Spice Rum Special @ The Royal, 10pm Jam Night with Zac @ The Rusty Edge, 3-6pm TUESDAYS Pasta Specials @ Boston Pizza Kokanee Bottle on Special @ The Brickhouse Wing Night @ Parkplace Pub $12 Pizza Night @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe Two for Tuesdays @ Trillium Day Spa, 2 pedicures for $100, 2 manicures for $70, 2 facials for $130, all three for $275 $10 Beer, Burger and Bingo Night @ The Northern Cheap Night @ The Vogue Theatre
Dinner & Swim Special @ Fernie Stanford Resort Tuesday: Shot gun Karaoke with TOpo @ The Royal $5 Kids Dinner @ Loaf Bakery & Restaurant, 5-9pm WEDNESDAYS $7 Single or $14 Double Wings @ Boston Pizza Wine Evenings @ The Brickhouse Karaoke Night @ The Fernie Pint night @ Kodiak Lounge Zak’s Jam Night @ The Royal $10 Smokie, Beer and Fries @ Parkplace Pub Tarot Card Readings w/ Miss Janeil @ Infinitea Crochet Collective & Sweater Club Knitting @ Infinitea, 7-9pm Waxing Wednesday @ Trillium Day Spa, free underam wax with any other hair removal $15 Jugs and $8 Wings @ The Northern $10 Vietnamese Sub and Beer @ Pho Locoal $10 Pizza Night @ Loaf Bakery & Restaurant, 5-9pm Chicken and Beer for $15 @ The Bridge Bistro Wax On Wednesday @ 901 Spa, 30% off waxing services. THURSDAYS Tacos for $12.95 @ Boston Pizza Jam Night @ The Brickhouse Spiced Rum Specials @ Kodiak Lounge
Featured Pub Burgers @ Max Restaurant & The Pub Burger and Beer Special @ The Fernie 2 Medium Pizza Special @ Elk Valley Pizza RileyJ+Ash / Flatspin+Friends @ The Royal 6oz Cocktail Jugs $20 @ The Northern $10 lasagna @ Loaf Bakery & Restaurant, 5-9pm $8 2oz Cocktails @ Infinitea FRIDAYS Full Rack of Ribs $19.95 @ Boston Pizza Tastings at The Tipple @ The Tipple. 1st Friday of the month only. Live Music Fridays @ Infinitea 8pm TGIF & Chicken dinner draw @ Kodiak Lounge Fish & Chips plus Rib Night @ Parkplace Pub $11 Fish and Chips, Meat Draw and Members Draw @ The Fernie Live bands and DJs @ The Royal Date Night Special @ Spa 901 Live Music @ Loaf Bakery & Restaurant, 6-9pm DJ Aurora @ The Griz Bar Open for Spring @ Cirque Restaurant
SUNDAYS Kids Sunday $4.99 @ Boston Pizza Caesars on Special @ The Brickhouse All day brunch starting at $10 @ The Fernie $10 BBQ and Beats @ Infinitea CLOSED (available for special events/private parties) @ The Royal Dinner & Swim Special @ Fernie Stanford Resort $18 Sausage and Mash @ Parkplace Pub 3-5pm Happy Hour $10 Pizzas, $5 Beers, $12 SATURDAYS Jugs @ Loaf Any Large Pizza for Medium Charge @ Boston $10 Eggs Benny and $5 Caesars @ The Bridge Pizza Bistro until 1pm Meat Draw & Bar Quiz @ The Legion Steak Sandwich & Caesar Specials @ Parkplace Tequila Specials @ Kodiak Lounge Pub Rib Night @ Max Restaurant & The Pub $5 Glass of House Wine, $5 Off Bottles of
OUTDOOR & FAMILY MONDAYS •Dominoes @ The Seniors Drop in Centre 1pm •Mahjong @ Seniors Drop in Centre 7pm •Special Olympics Athletes Bowling @ Sparwood. 4pm •Duplicate Bridge Game @ The Seniors Drop-in Centre •Seniors Drop in @ Senior’s Centre, 9am-2pm •Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre, 9-10:30am •Celebrate Recovery @ Mountainside Church, 7pm, open to everyone •Community Climb Night @ Evolution Climbing Gym, 7pm •Ladies Night Boxing @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, 7:30-9pm •Parent Tot Fun Times @ Knox United Church, 9:30-noon •StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School, 9am-noon •Discover Yoga @ Essential Yoga Studio, 7:30-8:30pm TUESDAYS •Cheap Night @ The Vogue Theatre. $6.50 - 2D & $8.50 - 3D •Crib/Whist @ Seniors Drop in Centre 7:30pm •Storytime @ Library, 11:15-12pm for ages 3–5. •Seniors Drop in @ Senior’s Centre, 9am-2pm •Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre, 9-10:30am •Ladies Archery @ The Elks Hall, 6:30pm •Public Drop in Climbing @ College of the Rockies, 7-9pm •Born to Sing and Dance @ Fernie Arts Station •Climbing and Bouldering @ College of the Rockies, 7-10pm. $7 without rentals, $10 with. •Mixed Boxing Recreational @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, 7:30-9pm •StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School, 9amnoon •Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am •Indoor Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 8:30-10:30am •Knits and Knots @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:30-4:45pm ages 8+, drop –in WEDNESDAYS •Crib @ Seniors Drop in Centre 1pm
Wine @ The Fernie Live bands and DJs@ The Royal Rib Night: $19 Half/$24 Full @ Parkplace Pub Songwriting Workshops and Wine Specials @ Infinitea, 5pm 3-5pm Happy Hour $10 Pizzas, $5 Beers, $12 Jugs @ Loaf $10 Eggs Benny, $5 Baileys and Coffee @ The Bridge Bistro until 1pm Open Mic Night @ The Fernie Open for Spring @ Cirque Restaurant
Bike
•Drop in Workshop @ Clawhammer Press. 6-9pm, $30 •Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre, 9-10:30am •Adult Badminton @ The Community Centre. Drop in for $5 •AA Meetings @ The Anglican Church Basement, 7:30pm •Womens Drop in Climbing @ COTR, 7-9pm •Water Flow Yoga & Tea @ Infinitea, 10:30am •Mixed Boxing Recreational @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, 7:30-9pm •Toddlertime @ Fernie Heritage Library, 11:15am for ages 0-2. •StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School, 9amnoon •Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am •Creative Matrix @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:30-4:45pm. Ages 8+ •Indoor Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 8:30-10:30am •Fernie Women on Wheels @ The Guide’s Hut, 6:30pm. THURSDAYS •Seniors Drop in @ Senior’s Centre, 9am-2pm •RC Club @ Fernie Community Centre. 7-9pm. Flying and practice •Community Basketball @ Fernie Secondary School, 8:30-10:30pm •Mixed Boxing Competitive @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, 7:30-9pm •Kids Sing Along & Play Group @ Infinitea, 11:30am •Youth Archery @ The Elks Hall, 6pm •MOMs Group @ Fernie Heritage Library, 9:30-11:30am •Bellies to Babies @ Fernie Women’s Centre, 1-3pm every 2nd Thursday. •Open Roller Skating Evening @ Max Turyk Gym, $2 dropin fee. 6-7pm •Kids Boxing Boot Camp @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, ages 8-16 5pm. •StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School, 9amnoon
Swim
Library Program
Other
•Lego Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:30-4:45 ages 7+. •Indoor Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 8:30-10:30am •Climbing and Bouldering @ College of the Rockies, 7-10pm. $7 without rentals, $10 with. •Trail Maintenance Night with FMBC @ Fernie Bike Park, 6:30pm FRIDAYS •Cribbage @ Seniors Drop in Centre 7:30pm •Jitney Darts @ Fernie Legion, 7:30pm •Kids Sing Along & Play Group @ Infinitea, 11:30am •Toddlertime @ Fernie Heritage Library Ages 0-2 11:15am •Women’s Writing Group @ Fernie Women’s Resource Centre, 2-4pm. •Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am •StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School, 9amnoon •Breastfeeding Mammas @ Fernie Heritage Library, first Friday of the month. •AFRoS @ Fernie Heritage Library, 10-11am. Sing and play in French. •Red Cedar Book Club: First Friday of Each Month @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:30-4:45pm, Grades 4-6 SATURDAYS •Family French Fun @ The Arts Station, 10:30-11:30am. $12/ person or $5 per family member (maximum $20/family). •Teen Wheel Pottery @ The Fernie Arts Station 10am-Noon $125/month $30/drop in •Karma Meditation Class @ Essential Yoga Studio 8:00am8:45am •Historical Walking Tour @ Fernie Museum, 11am. SUNDAYS •Fernie Pets Society Group Walk @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9am. •AA Meetings @ The Anglican Church Basement, 7:30pm •First Sunday of the Month Family Climb Time @ EvoluFERNIEFIX.COM | 29 tion Climbing Gym, 2-4pm
Outdoor Life
DOWN TO EARTH: THE NEXT CHAPTER
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Lisa Janssen and Holly Kimola HELEN MCALLISTER AND JENNIFER HEATH
“A RESILIENT GARDEN IS A DIVERSE GARDEN” – James Barilla, Urban Gardening Activist When we met with Lisa Janssen and Holly Kimola, talk quickly turned to the popularity of backyard homesteading in Fernie. Whether it’s veggie gardens, chickens or bees, many locals are diversifying their food sources. Lisa and Holly are using their land to bring healthy food to their table. Their West Fernie home, which backs onto a lush wetland, includes seven chickens, a large veggie patch, and a greenhouse.
Winnipeg-born Lisa claims she was a picky eater as a child. Together with her mother, she grew cucumbers for sandwiches. Growing up, she also enjoyed her Opa’s garden, which was filled with tulips and vegetables. As an adult, she became interested in gardening while working at the Fernie Garden Centre, and also from a housemate in Salmon Arm. Holly, from Victoria, says that she is “a farm girl at heart.” She learned to garden with her mother, grandmother, and sister. One of her mother’s favourite outings was getting manure to build compost. “Look at me,” she laughs, “I’ve turned into my mom!” Both Holly and Lisa have diverse professional backgrounds, which has helped make Fernie work for them. Lisa, an engineering technician for the City of Fernie, is working on a Masters in Public Administration. Holly, a former vet technician and wagon driver, is a leather
artist, co-branch manager at Wildsight, as well as a server at Nevados. This summer will mark Holly and Lisa’s third season in their house. When they first bought the property in 2013, they learned that the backyard had been covered in black plastic in an effort to kill invasive horseradish. Keen to plant a garden, Holly and Lisa rototilled the soil, unknowingly spreading the root. Trying to control the nuisance was what they refer to as “extreme gardening.” Adding to this was the flooding of the Elk River, which spread their newly planted carrot seed out onto the road. Holly and Lisa love learning about new ways to diversify their garden. They have recently attended a Wildsight workshop about the permaculture concept of food forests, as well as a seminar in intensive cropping practices. Inspired by what they learn, Holly redesigns the garden every year. They add compost to support crops that are considered heavy feeders – ones that require a lot of nitrogen and other nutrients – and practice crop rotation. Last year, they decided to add chickens to the mix. They are very happy with their Red Sussex and Brown Leghorn chickens, although it has not come without its unique set of challenges. Holly cautions, “When they tell you that you need a certain square footage for chickens, you need to listen.” Without enough space, their hens were feeling constrained and Lisa and Holly discovered the truth behind the phrase “pecking order.” The chickens have since been moved out of their coop – a former wooden outhouse – and into their summer pasture, a larger fenced area closer to the house. Here, they are being useful by “mowing” the grass, eating bugs, and generally feeling more at ease in the open space. Lisa laughs at all their past ideas to help the chickens – many learned from Pinterest. “They look cool enough, but none of them worked. We tried chicken swings and CD mobiles!” Now they realize that more space was the simple answer.
In 2014, Holly and Lisa built a beautiful greenhouse as a wedding present to themselves. This year, new wooden boxes donated by a friend, will be filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and basil. The greenhouse has been ingeniously designed to absorb heat radiating from the wood burning stove in the attached workshop. Last season, the pair were still harvesting fresh tomatoes in November! Today’s challenges include holding back the quack grass, and fighting the robins for their strawberries. One year, they even had a moose and her calf munching on their carrots. Keeping the garden watered also remains a challenge, and they have future plans of a more efficient system. There is no doubt that the diversity of this resilient homestead will continue to expand in the coming years.
This June at 1602 7th Ave. Fernie - 250.423.2634
This year, remember Dad on JUNE 19th. Join us on Father’s Day and spin the wheel. Every Dad gets a gift. Plus lots of food & drink specials.
Fun in the Sun! Enjoy the scenic mountain views & sunshine... our Patio is open
BP Sports Bar Action
handpicked.mountain.goods
UFC June Fight Sat-Tues 11-5 Sunday 11-4 591b 2nd Ave
Sat. June 4th UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Weidman 2
Visit BostonPizza.com FERNIEFIX.COM
|
31
Outdoor Life
N E V E R H AV E I E V E R
JESSE BELL PHOTO
Planting Trees JESSE BELL
I’M IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS. A bag rests on my hips halffilled with baby trees and I carry a shovel in my hands. I find some nice soil, dig a little hole and plant a little tree 350 times until day’s end. If you’re not a tree planter you might think 350 trees is an impressive feat – it’s not. The average worker sows between 1,200 to 2,000 trees a day. My tree success fails in comparison. I take a break on an inviting stump and guzzle water in the sun as other planters in my crew move along the cut block. It is a beautiful day. My body aches. This is tree planting. Earlier that morning I’m awake at five and leaving town an hour later in my friend Kristina’s car. We drive 40 minutes
to planting camp, a field peppered with tents and trailers. I’ve always envied tree planters – their rugged wherewithal, their camp parties, their ability to endure some of the toughest terrain and even tougher weather. Now I get to join in. I meet Jonah Trinkwon, my crew boss for the day. He wears a wide-brimmed hat, his face covered in days-old scruff. Our planting bags loaded, we hit the road to our first job. Kristina explains that we are going to plant trees in a previously planted block, called a fill plant. My bag filled with 55 trees – pine, larch and fir – we hike the bank and begin. “You’re looking for creamy soil,” she explains, demonstrating the best places to plant, the best soil to look for. She pushes her shovel into the dirt, wiggles it and shoves a little larch into the soil. She punches the soil around the tree, gives it a tug and flags it.
I catch on slowly and follow behind the rest of the crew. I manage to get my 55 trees in the ground at the same time as the girls finish planting 200 trees each. I head back to the truck with my empty bag alongside Jonah, leaping between deadfall. Jonah tells me he’s been planting for 20 years; this year is his last. The camp plans to throw a retirement party for him this weekend. He talks about the camp community. “Planting really becomes a part of you,” he says. “A part of your soul.” I fill my bag with 65 trees and my legs burn with the uphill hike. Purple crocuses wrap themselves around trees and Indian Paintbrushes add a splash of colour to the lacklustre landscape. “Mmm, creamy,” I say aloud, digging my shovel into the ground. It’s easier to find nutrient-rich soil for the little saplings my second time around.
“She’s a tree-planter now,” replies Mackie. Witty banter floats between the crew all morning – I’m envious of their camaraderie. The cool breeze disappears with the rising sun and the shady hillside becomes a scorching slope. I wipe sweat from my forehead and head downhill for a snack. Crunching my teeth into a delicious Fuji apple behind the shade of the truck, I look out across the valley to an old cut block on a steep embankment. I’ve developed a newfound respect for planters. A red tick crawls up my leg; I flick it off. Karen hands me a bottle of geranium essential oil and tells me to dab it along my boots and wrists. I plant another 75 trees before we move to the next job. The crew meanders through the next empty cut block, each tree they plant bringing the forest back to life. Although I’m tired, I force my way along the line determined to plant 95 more trees. Jonah tells me about Cathy and Rainer Korn, who together supervise the planting
contracts for Brinkman and Associates. Jonah says that without them none of this would be possible.
A little behind in your cleaning?
When we finish, I unlace my boots and wiggle my toes. Jonah tries to convince me Company coming for the holidays? to stay for dinner. “You’ve got to try Mim’s cooking,” he says, talking up camp life. My bathtub calls for me, though, and I head home, tired-eyed. The following day Cathy tells me that Fernie's #1 her and Rainer’s crews have planted professional approximately cleaning 80 million trees in the area in the last 30 years. They have current company contracts for Canfor, is nowGalloway Lumber, Teck Coal and offering – most recently – Jemi residential Fibre. They employ 47 people. It’s a wild job, Cathy says,cleaning but the hard-working crew services and camp life make it wonderful. My back aches in subsequent days and I’m reminded of my feeble tree-planting attempt. Then I remember that there are 350 new trees in the ground because of me and the ache subsides. Except it doesn’t, because tree planting is hard.
Fernie’s #1 professional cleaning company.
Relax and leave it to us!
Offering residential, vacation home, one time cleans & post construction cleans
250.423.4029 www.goldstarservicesgroup.com
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
33
Outdoor Life
L I F T- A C C E S S B I K I N G
A Guide to Novice Downhilling KAREN PEPPER
WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR “downhlll mountain biking?” Images of armoured-up riders, with full face helmets and goggles, covered in mud or dust going at mock speeds down steep and technical trails? While I would fully agree that gear is important, “downhilling” or lift-accessed mountain biking, isn’t just for the expert, gnarly rider. Being more of a recreational cross-country mountain biker, most of my riding has been on Fernie’s world-class network of bike trails closer to town. But once in a while, it’s nice to mix things up. Liftaccessed mountain biking allows for multiple descents, without the exhaustion of multiple climbs. It can also be a great way to get kids and youth into biking, when uphill riding can be such a chore. For example, a few years ago, when my young son’s bike weighed more than mine, I felt pangs of guilt as he pedaled and pushed up the hills in Ridgemont. Minimizing the uphill riding can be key to creating a more enjoyable experience in a scenario like this. With some basic skills and trail riding experience under his belt, we were ready to try the lift-accessed trails at the ski hill. While there are no “easy” downhill trails at Fernie Alpine Resort (FAR), the novice downhill trails are a gentler, smoother ride, offering a great introduction to downhill mountain biking. These trails are marked with green circles (on signs and trail maps), and are accessed via the Elk Chairlift. Of the 38 mountain bike trails at FAR, 12 are designated as green/novice, giving a great variety of trails to choose from. Here are a few fun routes to get you off on the right foot… or pedal, on your first day out.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Boom Trail (#3) to Cedar Trail (#4) Boom Trail is accessed from the top of the Elk Chair and boasts a wide, scenic fire road trail ideal for first timers to experience off-pavement biking. The trail travels through old growth cedar forest and offers gentle grades with two short climbs. There is an optional gentle single track section starting by the Haul Back T-Bar unload for those who are ready to try off-road riding. The Boom Trail then connects to Cedar Trail – another wide fire road trail that leads you back to the base area – the ultimate first-timer’s loop. Similar to the Boom Trail, Cedar Trail has an optional single track section through forest for those ready to sample small berms, soft soil, and some short steep sections.
Boom & Cedar to Eville (#37) or Honey Bee (#18) Starting on the same routing as above (Boom to Cedar), Eville dekes into the
forest from Cedar Trail. Eville is a wide, flowy, berm trail through a thick cedar forest with hard packed surface. The trail pops out on the Hobbits Trail (#16), which is a wider double-track trail taking you back to the base of the Elk Chair. On your next lap, try Honey Bee – located beside Eville. Here you’ll find a gentle trail through the forest – slightly more narrow than Eville but still a machine packed surface tread. Expect a few wide bridges, roots, and a tight corner or two to work on your bike handling skills.
Deer Trail (#6) The Deer Trail is another novice favourite, and has received a full facelift just this spring. From the top of the Elk Chair, the Deer Trail transitions from wide fire road to a wide, machine made flow trail – similar to Eville but not as steep. The trail snakes its way through a mature forest in a series of berms, corners and rolls on a smooth riding surface.
NICK NAULT PHOTO/FAR
What’s Next? Once you’re comfortable on a few of these trails, try out Ben’s Big Rig (#17) and Duff Dynasty (#41). Still green/ novice downhill trails accessed via the Elk Chair, these are a great progression from the Boom and Cedar routes and offer some variety in connecting to Eville and Honey Bee.
Although most decent dual suspension bikes with disc brakes are fine for these trails, you can rent downhill bikes and full protective gear at the FAR Adventure Centre, located at the base area at FAR, or at one of the bike shops in town. See you on the trails!
250-423-0007
Pick-up or Delivery!
592 8th Ave. Fernie
Open for Dinner & Lunch
We take pride in making our dough & sauce daily from scratch and cutting vegetables & meat fresh daily. We offer an extensive menu that includes gluten-free and vegetarian options.
Hours:
Wed. & Thurs. 11:30am - 10pm Fri. & Sat.: 11:30am - 11pm Sun. to Tues.: 4pm - 10pm Facebook.com/ElkValleyPizzaShoppe
Order online at:
ElkValleyPizza.com FERNIEFIX.COM
|
35
OLL & R IE
T
RA
JULY 2 AND 3, 2016
LE SO
FER 3RD N
UAL N AN
DOWNTOWN FERNIE, BC • Crazy, fun events • Guided hikes, bikes and runs • Cash prizes • Participate or just come watch • Fun for the whole family
T S IL F E
Resort Municipality Initiative
MARK
GALL U
P PHO TO
Investing in B.C. Resort Communities
Want to take part? Pre-register at www.fernietrailsalliance.com or come find our table at the Canada Day celebrations
Find us on facebook/FernieRollandSoleTrailFest
6
ality
unities
t
Outdoor Life
SUMMER HIKES WITH THE ELK RIVER ALLIANCE
Fairy Creek Falls LEE-ANNE WALKER
I JUST RETURNED FROM A MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVENTURE to the desert of southeastern Utah. Few plants and animals can survive the harsh conditions of blazing heat, poor soils and scarce water. Driving north toward Canada, as more freshwater was available, life exploded from scrubland to magnificent coniferous forests. The expansive indigo blue sky and red rock of the desert landscape is a nice place to visit but I prefer the lush forests around Fernie. Driving into the valley, it was so green with the Elk River at peak spring freshet, with the snow retreating to the highest peaks. Over the next few months, the Elk River Alliance (ERA), our community-based watershed group wants to encourage folks to get out and explore its sources, the ecosystems adjacent to creeks and rivers, as well as the plants and animals that thrive there. To celebrate the theme of diversity, take a hike up to Fairy Creek Falls. This 4 km, 1.5-2 hour round trip, is an easy hike and ends with a spectacular waterfall. It is suitable for families with children, but dogs are not allowed due to cows with calves grazing in the first part of the trail. Start this hike at the Fernie Visitor Information Centre on Highway 3. Fairy Creek is significant to Fernie; it is our domestic water supply, so the water for brushing your teeth and coffee this morning likely came from this creek. The upper headwaters are protected from development and human activity. Snow melt from Mount Fernie, the Three Sisters and Mount Proctor permeates limestone charging an underground aquifer ensuring abundant, clean, clear mountain water for our community.
FAIRY CREEK FALLS | CHRISTINE THOMPSON PHOTO
While hiking to the falls, notice the healthy forest ecosystem helping to store water. Rich forest soils act as sponges and cycle nutrients that grow many different plants. I have identified a great variety of trees on the south flank of Mount Proctor – Western white pine, larch and cedar, Interior Douglas fir and Englemann spruce to name a few. During June the forest floor is covered with wildflowers, including clematis, heart leaved arnica, and Oregon grape.
When you arrive at the falls notice the bobbing bird flying up and down the stream. This steely grey, aquatic songbird is an American dipper. It feeds underwater on aquatic bugs attached to rocks. Flip over a few rocks in the streambed to see mayfly, caddisfly and stonefly larvae, biological indicators of high water quality. Standing at the bottom of Fairy Creek Falls I appreciate more that it is water that is essential for all life and a prerequisite for my health and well-being. FERNIEFIX.COM
|
37
Outdoor Life
HITTING THE TRAILS WITH THE FERNIE TRAILS ALLIANCE
Come One, Come All TERRY NELSON
THE FERNIE TRAILS ALLIANCE REPRESENTS TRAIL USERS with a wide variety of interests, needs, and skill sets. We hear many comments about how we should direct our efforts to enhance this diverse group’s experiences, such as “we need more beginner trails” (Lazy Lizard and Montane), “we need more technical features” (Dopamine, and Brads Gay Trail), “we need more areas to build our biking skills” (Aquatic Centre Skills Development Park), “we need safe commuter routes” (Fairy Creek Pedestrian Bridge), “we need more hiking trails” (Fairy Creek/ Mt. Proctor enhancement). We listen, and respond!
MARK GALLUP PHOTO
Come one come all, Step right up, Come this way, Join the extravaganza, Let the Show Begin. The upcoming 3rd Annual Roll and Sole Trail Fest is the Fernie Trails Alliance’s way of getting all of these trail users together in a fun, social event for everyone to either participate, or spectate in some discipline that appeals to them. And ultimately, it helps to make them smile while they are exposed to the diverse group of individuals that use our trails, the expansive network of trails we have on offer, and the numerous activities that take place on these trails. The weekend festival takes place in Downtown Fernie on Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3. The ever popular guided group hike and bike rides will kick-off each day’s events. Groups assemble at Station Square, where the hikers will be taken by bus to one of the trailheads, and the bikers will head out onto the trails that suit their ability. The intent of the guided tours is to get people out onto trails they are maybe unfamiliar with, and to provide a group environment that provides a safe, social
V. CROOME PHOTO
atmosphere to recreate on Fernie’s diverse trail system. The guided tours are actually free, as volunteers come out to share some local knowledge and Fernie hospitality. The event fee is specifically collected to help pay for the group lunch. The participants return Downtown for lunch under the big tent, catered by Yam2-Go and the Chopstick Truck. As the FTA - Event Committee is tasked with delivering trail related, fun,
and inspiring events, along comes the afternoon activities. The “Crazy Fun Events” are characterized by people doing the things that they could not even imagine doing, but give it a good attempt. Events are run by local businesses, who unselfishly take the time out of their busy weekend schedule to come out and share some fun. Saturday, events include: Kid’s Obstacle Course Challenge, Straightline Drag Race
V. CROOME PHOTOS
(Log Pull), Guides Hut Bike Polo (get your team together early), and crowd favourite The Loaf Slow Riser Race. On Sunday, events feature: Big Bang Hiker’s Obstacle Course, Ski Base Strider Race, Gear Hub Inverted Limbo, Giv’er Wheelie Contest, and the Grand Finale Bike Toss (can you say strained muscles?) This year, to further support the interests of our growing membership base we have introduced a “Strider Race” for the little kids to show off their cool bikes, and pumping legs, on a dog trail skill course. Also new this year is Stag Leap Running Co.’s event the King of the Castle trail run. First one to the top of Castle Mountain, no sweat along with the Trails in Motion Film Fest at the Arts Station, 6-8pm. If this isn’t enough diversity to please any trail user, I guess we will just keep trying harder to get to the top. The Fernie Trails Alliance is faced with many challenges in meeting the expectations of everyone, and the Roll and Sole Trail Fest is just the venue where the community can get together and celebrate our differences.
V. CROOME PHOTO
Destination of the Month by Julie Kelly – DIRT JUMP BIKE PARK Distance: N/A Time: Hours of fun Difficulty: Blue The Fernie Trails Alliance has worked hard and given a lot of thought to create a world-class trail network that appeals to a diversity of user groups and skill levels. We have a number of trails geared towards the beginner/ intermediate user including Montane, Queen V and Lazy Lizard. Users looking for more technical riding can head to Verboten, Big Money or the Morrissey Ridge Trails. Our trails are
suitable for many summer activities including biking, running, and hiking. One area that really can be enjoyed by a wide range of users is the Dirt Jump Bike Park at the Aquatic Centre. Beginners can practice their skills on the single track loop to fine tune switch backs and riding in the trees. Intermediates can practice their balance on the skinnies and hit the jumps. The “big kids” can hit the big jumps and get some serious airtime. Don’t forget about the pump track to work on your pump and flow. Really, anyone can play around in there and just have some fun. Get out there and enjoy what Fernie has to offer.
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
39
Fill up your cars, trucks & boats!
FERNIE FIX SPECIAL
Enter for a chance to win a fill up! Drop your receipt into the Fernie Cardlock lock box with your name and phone number and enter for a chance to win a FILL UP. One winner per month.
No membership required Open to the public 24/7 every day of the year For every debit card puchase, Fernie Cardlock donates 4 cents per litre to a local Elk Valley charity. See website for more details.
NOW ACCEPTING
AVAILABLE PRODUCTS: Diesel, marked diesel, regular gasoline and premium off road gasoline 91 octane.
www.ferniecardlock.com • 250.423.7205 1592-9th Ave., Fernie
Call today to learn the locals secret..... When you need a mortgage, you call Zonya!
Zonya Knooihuizen mortgage broker 250.423.1864 zonya@shaw.ca www.eastkootenaymortgage.ca
photo: Robin Siggers 0 20 80 0
0 10 40 0
0 5 20 0
100 70 0 30
Purchase | Pre-Approval | Non-Residence Equity Take Out | Refinance | Self Employed Dominion Lending Centres East Kootenay Mortgage | 462 2nd Ave, Fernie BC Independently Owned and Operated
Outdoor Life
OUTDOOR LIVING
Lawn Care DUNCAN MAISELS
WE ARE OFTEN ASKED how to achieve a thick, green lawn. In Fernie, we have a bylaw that rules against the use of weedkiller for aesthetic purposes. So, poisons can’t be in your quiver. Luckily, lawn grass is amazingly good at overcoming other vegetation (weeds) if it is looked after. The simple three components of routine lawn-grass loving are watering, fertilizing and mowing.
Watering Curiously, a lawn that is watered every day won’t be as strong as one that has to work for it. A strong, healthy lawn should be watered only once or twice a week. Usually one to two inches will suffice for each watering. If you can, apply this in the early morning, so that it can soak in before the heat of the day has a chance to evaporate it. Watering in the evening is next best, but risks mold as it sits wet for hours overnight. Note: if you’ve added seed or even a repair-section of sod, that must be kept moist with daily light watering for a couple of weeks before getting weaned off and onto the twice weekly regime
Fertilizing While you’ll get away with only one application in Spring (after you’ve done your cleanup… you are doing a cleanup, right?), three times a year in May, the end of July and October counts as full-lawnlove. Follow the instructions on the bag for how much to use. Fertilizer mixes are made up for each season. The real lawn expert would take a soil sample first to see what’s missing, before custom-making a fertilizer mix. Yup, some folks are keen!
SUBMITTED PHOTO
inhibit oxygen, nutrient and even water Mowing from getting down to the living roots. A Once a week, with a sharp mower, never dethatcher can be as simple as a handmore than a third off the height of the held (dethatching) rake, or as complicated grass in one cut. Mulch rather than bag the as a gas “power rake.” Your muscles or clippings, and put in diagonal stripes (for machine will slice up this mat and lift it to that super-pro look!). the surface. Unlike aerating plugs, it’s best to gather up this “thatch” and remove it to More Tools and Techniques your compost pile. If your lawn is in poor condition/patchy/ full of weeds, you can get a head start by Weeding aerating, dethatching, weeding, and top Dandelions have a beautiful bright yellow dressing. flower. Unfortunately, they also have a spreading broad leaf base that can squeeze Aerating out lawn grass if you aren’t careful. A little Aerating is the process of punching holes trowel or even better, one of those stand-up to help moisture, nutrients and oxygen get weeding tools works well… and is actually down into the root system. In addition, it’s very calming and satisfying. A little every great help in loosening up compacted soils. day for a week or so and you’ll be dandieThe best aerator will have hollow spikes free… for a few weeks! (tines in the trade) to lift a plug of soil up and out, but cheaper ones with simple Top Dressing/Repairs spikes are better than nothing. Leaving the Apply a mixture of topsoil and seed into plugs on the surface may look messy for bare/poor areas before starting your lawn a little while until they break down and out on the new regime spread back into the grass, but they are topsoil and are great to keep around. If all this work sounds daunting but you still yearn for a neat, green, propertyDethatching enhancing lawn, there’s always the synthetic grass approach. Head on up to Over the years, lawn grass can develop Silver Ridge and see if you can see which a mat of dead roots and stalks that will family is out biking instead of mowing. FERNIEFIX.COM
|
41
NINE MONTHS OF ADVENTURE EDUCATION!
“The MAST program gave me such a wide base of skills and academics. It took me from zero experience to being able to go into any part of the mountains and do any of the activities safely. To me that is invaluable”
Jordan Howard MAST 2012/13
Now accepting Applications for 2016/2017
Mountain Adventure Skills Training in Fernie, BC
• www.cotr.bc.ca/MAST • Toll Free 1-866-423-4691 • Twitter: @FernieCOTR
N!
e
F I T T O P L AY
Health and Lifestyle
The Annual Ab Challenge
Remember, keep breathing during your abdominal exercises and consult a health care professional if you have any concerns prior to commencing your challenge. As the workouts get harder, you may want to break it up into sets throughout the day. Good luck!
SARAH INGRAM, BSC.HONS.KINESIOLOGY, BCAK PRACTICING KINESIOLOGIST
Side plank: On your forearm and outer foot, body straight, chest out and top arm up.
IN THE SPIRIT OF DIVERSITY, I am going to be edgy this month and not be diverse at all by bringing back an old favourite, the June ab challenge! If it makes you feel better, I did change up the exercises. Mark off each day as you finish. In my house, we tear this page out and keep it on the fridge. We all have different colours and try to race to the finish. Sometimes, we get behind and have to do two in one day to catch up.
SUNDAY
1
8
10s side -plank 15 kickouts 10s plank 10 pushups
30s side plank 45 kickouts 30s plank 38 pushups
15 50s side-plank 75 kickouts 50s plank 47 pushups
22 70s side-plank 105 kickouts 70s plank 52 pushups
29
95s side- plank 140 kickouts 95s plank 59 pushups
MONDAY
2
9
15s side -plank 20 kickouts 15s plank 14 pushups
35s side-plank 50 kickouts 35s plank 40 pushups
16 50s side-plank 80 kickouts 50s plank 48 pushups
23
75s side-plank 110 kickouts 75s plank 53 pushups
Kickouts: On your back, alternate legs, keeping your back flat. Closer to the
3
20s side- plank 25 kickouts 20s plank 18 pushups
WEDNESDAY
4
25s side plank 30 kickouts 25s plank 25 pushups
Push up: Bend and straighten your elbows while keeping your abs tight and body straight. You may need to drop to your knees as you fatigue or if you are a beginner. Plank: In seconds. On your forearms and toes, body straight, abs in, and face square to ground. Breathe. Any back discomfort, lift hips.
Hold and breathe. If it is too much, you can drop to your knees.
TUESDAY
ground is harder. One of each leg =1. For more advanced, do both legs together. Any low back pain, kick higher.
THURSDAY
5
rest
FRIDAY
6
SATURDAY
25s side plank 35 kickouts 25s plank 30 pushups
Calf raises
7
30s side plank 40 kickouts 30s plank 34 pushups
10
11
12
13
14
17
18
19
20
21
35s side-plank 55 kickouts 35s plank 42 pushups
55s side-plank 85 kickouts 55s plank 49 pushups
24
80s side-plank 115 kickouts 80s plank 54 pushups
40s side-plank 60 kickouts 40s plank 44 pushups
60s side-plank 90 kickouts 60s plank 50 pushups
25
85s side- plank 120 kickouts 85s plank 55 pushups
rest
rest
26
rest
40s side-plank 65 kickouts 40s plank 45 pushups
60s side-plank 95 kickouts 60s plank 50 pushups
27
85s side-plank 130 kickouts 85s plank 56 pushups
45s side-plank 70 kickouts 45s plank 46 pushups
65s side-plank 100 kickouts 65s plank 51 pushups
28
90s side- plank 135 kickouts 90s plank 58 pushups
30
100s side- plank 150 kickouts 100s plank 60 pushups
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
43
T-SHIRTS
Your One-Stop Shop for: 4 Gifts & Souvenirs 4 Books & Magazines 4 Postcards & Cards 4 Puzzles, Games & Toys 4 Lottery Ticket Centre 4 Full-Service Pharmacy 441- 2nd Ave. Downtown Fernie Tel: 250.423.4511
STICKERS
BALL CAPS
Health and Lifestyle
Diversity in Health Care DR. TAINA TURCASSO, N.D., R.M.
TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON. That’s one of the six principles of naturopathic medicine. The other five - find the cause, doctor as teacher, first do no harm, and the healing power of nature - are equally valuable in their own right, but less relevant to the topic of diversity. Treat the whole person. To me, this principle means that as a naturopathic doctor, and as a midwife, I need to look at the whole person to find the best treatment plan for them, as individuals. There are no two people who are exactly alike, and that means that even if two people walk into my clinic with what appears to be an identical clinical picture, the treatment plan for these two people might differ greatly, and the way they need to be treated by me might differ greatly as well. It is important for those of us who work with a diverse patient population (and even those of us who don’t think we do) to be aware of the importance of greeting these people as individuals, and making no assumptions about their background, health history, lifestyle, religion, living arrangements, language, family support, etc. These very things that have shaped us as individuals can dictate our ability to not only understand the recommendations being made, but also to carry them out. My experience with diversity as a provider has been predominantly within my midwifery practice, where my patient population has varied so greatly that I learned quickly that whenever I am meeting a new family, I need to leave my assumptions at the door. Regardless of age, relationship status, ethnic background, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or any other uniqueness, they all need safe,
V.CROOME PHOTO
THE MORE TIME WE TAKE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US AND THE DIFFERENT LANDSCAPES PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEHIND THEM, THE MORE MEANINGFUL AND EFFECTIVE OUR ENCOUNTERS AND THUS RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE. individualized care, and that care has to start with me developing an understanding of where they are coming from, and what makes them who they are. Every new family that comes through my door is an opportunity for me to learn, to broaden my mind, and to improve myself as a caregiver. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes I get so angry at the circumstances that people find themselves in, or the way they react to life’s surprises, but then I remind myself that their experience is theirs, and theirs alone, and my job is to try to meet them where they are and adjust my recommendations for them based on my constantly evolving understanding of them. For me, one of the biggest challenges of providing individualized care has been
H E A LT H , N AT U R A L LY
establishing communication. There are so many barriers to communication, not the least of which is language itself. Finding a common ground with someone which allows you to communicate with one another in a meaningful way, where both parties are heard, is so important to the development of a therapeutic relationship. Sometimes there is a breakdown in communication, and most of the time, it is not due to a language barrier because though understanding a foreign language can be difficult, people really want to be understood and to understand you. I find, however, that if I am having trouble communicating with someone, and I take a step back and do a little more listening, and less talking, I’m able to find that balance again. If my patients stop listening to me, why am I still speaking? The lessons I have learned on understanding diversity extend so far beyond my experiences with my patients and their families. The midwives, doctors, and nurses I work with on a day-to-day basis are very diverse as well and the same could likely be said for any workplace. All of us bring pieces of who we are into every aspect of our lives. There is so much value in seeing every person you encounter throughout your day as an opportunity to learn and grow. The people we meet teach us who they are, and they teach us how to treat them, if we let them. There is no place for assumptions and judgments. The more time we take to really understand the differences between us and the different landscapes people may have behind them, the more meaningful and effective our encounters and thus relationships will be. Treat every person you meet as a whole made up of pieces of different aspects of their lives. Their background, lifestyles, appearances, etc. don’t make them less or more, they make them different. Understand who they are, where they come from, and figure out a way to communicate with them. Treat the Whole Person. FERNIEFIX.COM
|
45
Health and Lifestyle
N O U R I S H T H R O U G H N AT U R E
KRISSI HYLAND PHOTO
Bio Diversity KRISSI HYLAND, RHN
AFTER 38 HOURS OF TRAVEL, we made it back to Fernie from Thailand. (Does it take 38 hours? Normally, no, but after five months of smooth travelling, there is bound to be some hiccups.) Going from the intense heat (35-40°C) and lush vegetation of Thailand to the fresh bite of mountain air was easier than we thought. We are truly fortunate to live in this valley and country with fresh air that smells so good it feels like you are drinking in nutrients with each breath. And although the vegetation is so different, we live in an incredible jungle-gym of mountains, valleys and forests. Despite the easy transition of climate I was very much jetlagged. Once adjusted to the time, I was back in the kitchen
making all the things I missed while away. After all the family staple dishes, I naturally gravitated back to the smoothie each morning. Truly one of the best ways to get nutrient diversity of foods. You might be sick of the nutritionist approved foodie blogs about smoothies, but I have to say being away from Canada, this was one of the things I missed the most. The difference between this smoothie article and most others is what they fail to mention. The most important or crucial thing to remember is to change your ingredients often. This really goes for everything you eat! Did you know there are around 7500 tomato varieties grown around the world, and yet most of us eat only what is available at our closest grocery store? On average, an American is eating fewer plant species a year – roughly 30 species a year compared to our hunter gatherer ancestors that ate substantially more. Remember that a plant species
includes a variety of plants. For example, kale and cauliflower are of the same plant species. What to do then? Try. New. Things. Always change up your leafy greens, forage, go to farmers markets, eat a vegetable you have never had before, shop around, find different ingredients and get inspired to try odd combinations like spirulina and pineapple or medicinal mushrooms and chocolate, add some nut butter and YUM! Smoothies are a quick, easy, nutrient packed-punch to start your day or fuel you for a Fernie adventure. When you are making a smoothie a meal, think about balance. To ensure balance, always have at least one item from each macronutrient; Carbohydrates, Fats and Proteins. Without balance you can become hungry before your next meal, have a blood sugar spike and crash or just not feel full or satisfied.
Carbohydrates: fruits, vegetables, juices, coconut water Fats: chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, avocado, coconut milk, nut milks (almond milk), nut or seed butters (peanut or almond butter) Proteins: Hemp seeds (1 Tbsp=5g protein), protein powders (organic whey and plant based proteins), spirulina and chlorella (blue green algae high in chlorophyll, protein and micronutrients) Make it green: spinach, kale, collards, beet greens, dandelion greens (forage!), parsley, mint, fennel, romaine, green cabbage, pea shoots, sunflower sprouts
the
BLUE TOQUE diner
where comfort food becomes art
join us on the patio for the return of gin and ginger-mint lemonade
A new spring menu featuring more plant based, gluten free and dairy free options
Optional: nutrient dense superfoods, spices (cinnamon and turmeric), herbs, cacao powder, goji berries, dark leafy greens, cold tea, medicinal mushrooms, bee pollen, etc. Tools/Best Blenders: The Cadillac of all blenders is the Vitamix or the Blendtec, by far the best for consistancy. More affordable and still awesome is the NutriBullet.
Fernie’s Favourite Brunch Spot
open daily: 9am - 3pm closed: tuesday + wed.
250 423 4637 - 601 1st Ave
@ the Arts Station
Everybody has their own smoothie recipe; it’s very personal to your palate. There are lots of recipes out there, but mostly it’s whatever is in season or what you have in the fridge or freezer. To start you off, here is a good guide. Now go get creative!
Smoothie Formula 1-2 cups liquid (H20, herbal tea, nut or seed milk, coconut water) ½-1 cup fruits (or vegetables) 1 serving of protein 1-2 servings of fat 1-2 cups greens Optional superfoods Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Tip: Place your greens in first then pour the liquids, this way they will blend in nicely.
3rd Annual Sunglasses Sale during May and June Enjoy 25% off most sunglasses, prescription and nonprescription! Please call or drop by for all of the details. FERNIE 250-423-4467 • BLAIRMORE 403-562-7144 • ELKFORD 250-865-2022 FERNIEFIX.COM
|
47
Stratton PLUMBING, HEATING AND SHEET METAL
Industrial • Commercial • Residential
250.423.4778 1502 10th Avenue, Fernie BC V0B 1M0 Fax: 250.423.4771
• Custom Duct Work • New Installation and Remodelling • Furnaces & Hot Water Tanks • All Plumbing Fixtures • Radiant Heating Systems • Gas Fireplaces • Full Sheet Metal Shop & Installations • Quality First certified • Licensed and Bonded
Health is freedom... Live well, Be happy!
Kristen Miller
BC Registered Massage Therapist
250-430-7244 • Therapeutic • Sports • Wellness massage 571B 2nd Ave, Fernie BC www.summitmassagefernie.com
Health and Lifestyle
Y A M A G O Y A
B E A U T Y A N D FA S H I O N I N A F I X
ANYTHING GOES SOLANGE AND ZOE We read this statement and couldn’t agree more. “Collections of clothes are not just for wearing. Our wardrobes are sites of social activity and records of personal history.” If you look through your wardrobe or the wardrobe of your mother and grandmother, there will be a personal attachment, memories and feelings towards some of the items. Styles of the past can be brought to the present this summer. The variety in fashion this upcoming season is a great mixture from all sides of the globe. From slip dresses to logo tee’s, prairie inspiration to ruffles and off the shoulder tops, all are must haves. ‘70s-inspired suedes and high collar necklines.
250.423.1665
Info@MowAndSnow.ca
We are even seeing inspiration from lingerie! F S ull Landervice scap in
g
n atioion Irrig at l l a Inst + nce tena main
One of our favourite fashion trends in hair and makeup this summer is inspired by a woman of many talents. A model, actress and singer, and the “Face of 1966” as stated by The Daily Express. TWIGGY. Twiggy’s look consisted of a focus on her doe-like eyes, long lashes, pouty lips and short boyish haircut. When you see an image of Twiggy what will stick out most is her mascara. A look to love this summer.
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
49
ROCKIES LAW c o r p o r a t i o n
Health. Beauty. Happiness. Confidence.
CONTINUING A TRADITION OF SERVICE SINCE 1897
Our Family Caring For Yours!
Real Estate, Family Law, Business Law, Corporate and Commercial, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Tax Law, Wills and Estates
Karen Tse | Graeme R. Nunn | J. Andrew Bird
Fernie
With offices also serving:
PO Box 490, Suite 202, 502 Third Avenue Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 Tel: (250) 423-4446 | Fax: (250) 423-4065
Cranbrook Kimberley Invermere
info@rockieslaw.com | www.rockieslaw.com
12 weeks of summer contest on now! Everything you need for your next summer adventure! Camera Mount Harness Sunscreen Lifejackets ~ Water Toys Self Serve Pet Wash Open 7 days a week 791 A 2nd Ave, Fernie 250-423-4332 www.barkside.com
New Patients Welcome
Dr. Marcela Kahane • Dr. Amos Kahane Dr. James Jensen • Dr. Karl Peach 292 - 2nd Avenue, Fernie, BC
250-423-6838
dentist@kahane.ca www.kahane.ca
Bits and Bytes
Upgrading to Windows 10
took a long time. At the end you could be faced, as I was, with the “black screen of death.” Windows is alive, but shows nothing. There are long periods during the update where there is no feedback; be patient. However, if it just stays black, you may have to attach your screen to your computer via HDMI and reboot.
KEVIN MCISAAC
IF YOU’RE ANYTHING LIKE ME, you’ve likely become enured to the constant requests to upgrade to Windows 10 pop-ups on your desktop. Perhaps you’ve already given in, if so I hope it went well. If you’re still holding out, it may be getting time to make the decision. Windows 10 is a free upgrade for anyone running a genuine activated version of Windows. The free offer is set to expire on July 29 this year. After which the cost is rumoured to be about $119. So, if you’re going to upgrade, you might as well do it for free. The upgrade is actually pretty straightforward. Just click on the little icon on the system toolbar to get started. It looks like a skewed window. More about the process of upgrading in a second, but first, should you upgrade? Well, the first rule of thumb regarding upgrading is don’t if you don’t need it. Windows 10 is more modern and it has tightened up a few things behind the scenes (mostly by dropping compatibility with some old technology.) The start up and shutdown times seem faster to me. It doesn’t appear to run a whole lot faster, and there are risks of compatibility with old software. It’s rumoured to be substantially safer from a security standpoint. Also, as with all new versions of Windows, there are not necessarily drivers available for all your peripherals for Windows 10 yet. Now’s a good time to go check and download updates for them prior to upgrading. Finally, never ever do an operating system (OS) upgrade without backing up your personal files. With the exception
THE ANSWER GUY
WINDOWS 10 IS A FREE UPGRADE FOR ANYONE RUNNING A GENUINE ACTIVATED VERSION OF WINDOWS. THE FREE OFFER IS SET TO EXPIRE ON JULY 29 THIS YEAR. AFTER WHICH THE COST IS RUMOURED TO BE ABOUT $119. of malware and you, nothing poses a greater threat to your files than an OS upgrade. Of course, long-time readers of this column are probably on scheduled backups and are rolling their collective eyes. That’s okay. As long as you’re backed up. Note that Windows 10 does have a “compatibility mode” available for software that you want to run, but won’t in Windows 10. I have an Internet radio app called RadioSure that I had to do this to. Simply right-click on the icon, select properties or right-click again on the app and select properties. Select the Compatibility tab. Check the compatibility mode checkbox and choose the Windows OS version that you just upgraded from. The upgrade is straightforward, but takes a while. I actually started mine and went through all the prompts and went to bed. It does full scans of the hard drives and
Assuming you get through all that, you’re still not done. Now you get a series of screens asking you setup questions. The first screen of customize settings is a bunch of “can we see what you’re doing on your computer” questions. I’d advise turning these all off. Then there’s another screen of browser and protection questions that you can leave as default. Finally a screen of new apps for Windows questions. If you’re like me and have programs you like to use for photos, music, browsing, etc. then go to the bottom and click “Let me choose my default apps.” Now pick the apps you want to use for those tasks and apply it. Otherwise Windows will use its default apps. There’s another long delay after this and then the desktop finally appears. Now go through and check that all your apps are working. Any that are not you’ll likely have to reinstall. Again, if it’s a compatibility problem, see above for a fix. Also check your peripherals. Does your printer work? Did you check if a Windows 10 driver was available before upgrading? If it doesn’t work, try updating with your driver or you can ask Windows to do it for you. Simply click on the Start button and type “device manager.” Select device manager from the list. Find your device in the list and right-click on it and choose Update Driver Software. Select Search automatically for updated driver software. If it doesn’t work you’ll have to go to the manufacturer’s website, but mostly it seems to work. Good luck.
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
51
Coming this summer, the third annual
Fernie Wedding Guide • Personal Wedding Stories • Information on local venues, services, accommodation, dining and catering, photography, flowers, cakes and more
The Best BANG for your Buck!
• Practical tips for the bride and groom • Beautiful photography, glossy magazine • Distributed at bridal trade shows, bridal boutiques and locally
To advertise or to take part in this publication, contact Claris Media at info@clarismedia.com
841 7th Ave., Fernie BC NEW PRICE!
$369,000
Commercial and/or Residential, this listing located in the popular Annex subdivision is a unique property full of possibilities for a family home, a business venture or both. • New kitchen • New bathrooms • 3 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms • Detached workshop with full bathroom
• Handmade bagels baked daily in house • Open 7am-5pm EVERYDAY • Voted ‘Best Quick Food Fix’ Fernie Fix Awards, 2015 502 2nd Avenue, Fernie BC 250-423-7778 www.bigbangbagels.com
Thunder Meadows MASSAGE THERAPY Your source for professional Registered Massage Therapy (RMT) and Acupuncture in Fernie
• Private backyard with shed • Spacious front office or retail space (or can be used as living space)
Now offering RMT services 7 days a week
For more information contact:
Melanie MacKay 250-423-1800
melaniemackay@royallepage.ca
East Kootenay Realty
ROYAL LEPAGE EAST KOOTENAY REALTY 561 HWY 3, FERNIE
632 2nd Ave. 250-423-2673 Convenient Online Booking ThunderMeadowsMassage.ca
Bits and Bytes
June 2016 YANN LORANGER
JUNE PRESENTS A UNIQUE SCENARIO; it is like a movie. We will have a chance to touch realities that are usually hidden from us, hidden because our young mind is not mature enough to face them. Our intellect always needs a reason, explanations that he or she can actually grab, write and file. The great cross and great trine that were formed in the zodiac in May are still active till the end of June. They are formed by the planets ruling our karma, our destiny as well as our own ability to deal with them. The great trine will hold our mind still, away from daily excitements. For those that rely mostly on mental abilities to reach goals, it might be a rough time. On the other end, the great cross clears all the distortions and limitations that usually restrain us from knowing the reality of Venus. The Sun and Venus are kept together, away from Mercury throughout the month of June. At last, a chance for us to see Venus under the light of our consciousness. Venus, this energy of love that is too often overlooked and lived poorly will be protected and will reveal itself to us. June gives us a chance to connect with it in full intimacy away from the restricting patterns we created around it. It is a huge scenario put together simply to offer us this sweet grace. Since we all have a little bit of each sign within us, consider each of the following interpretation as addressing a specific part of yourself. Read it all for every aspect within yourself.
Aries (March 21 - April 29) Joy You are happy. You feel that you have a chance to change your destiny and this makes you so cheerful! Such an incredible access to the beauty of our world gives you a permanent smile.
ASTROLOGY
Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22) Empowerment The whole zodiac looks into the direction you want. You have a unique chance to develop new relationships the way you want. Use this special gift wisely!
Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Quiet Sea
Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Vigilance
Something is transformed in you. Your way of thinking, judging and understanding how life works is being updated. The hamster in your head stops running and peace comes to the surface of your mind.
You see things in a different way. You are used to being different, but this month, you feel it even more. Keep in mind that what you perceive is important and can balance the whole.
Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Revelation You see everything without being able to react. What you see is good and brings freedom in your life, so, you learn to be a good witness.
Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Blessed It is within your feelings that beauty itself leaves her mark. It is in your heart that the treasure of Venus is brought. Never forget the pearl you will find in June 2016.
Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Confident Attitude Your idealistic nature can be a matter to laugh at this month. Keep a healthy pride about your vision, since you know just too well that it is this ideal that allows everyone to really benefit from the sweet grace we all receive this month.
Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Rejoice What is happening this month is such a source of joy! You actually had lost any hope that it would finally happen!
Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) New horizons
Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Melancholy
This month has a different flavour, since you, yourself, receive a visit from Venus. Her beauty has a strong impact on you and you adapt to her strength, more or less clumsily.
You would love to see everyone respect each other in a beautiful way. If you can’t see this happen during this month, a strong desire of changing the world will grow in you once more.
Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22) Mysterious
Pisces (Feb 19 - March 20) Source of Inspiration
You feel that something important is happening. You respect it even if you can’t quite grasp it. It seems too vast, oversized for you. You try to understand it, looking at it from various perspectives.
All your senses are open to feeling this energy from Venus entirely so that you can share your perceptions to others like blessings.
FERNIEFIX.COM
|
53
Fernie Fun
ferniefix
FernieFix
FernieFixMag
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE There are five differences between these two pictures. See if you can find them.
JUNE WORD SCRAMBLE
cseocr nbkgii isltar alyp rnoc qbeeabur doohtg
FIND THE Somewhere in this issue is a soccer ball. Can you find it?
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE ANSWERS MAY
MAY WORD SCRAMBLE ANSWERS Submit an image for Spot the Difference to vanessa@clarismedia.com.
flower, plant, buds, bulbs, spring, clean, birds
x
BOSSIO ROAD PROPERTIES
LOT
3
LOT
Sold
2
LOT
5
Existing House
LOT
LOT
1
6
BOSSIO ROAD
N
1.
.38 Acres (1538 sq. m.) $575,000 (includes house)
2.
.37 acres (1498 sq.m.) $239,000
3.
.466 Acres (1886 sq. m.) $239,000
4.
.184 Acres (745 sq. m.) Sold
5.
.180 Acres (729 sq. m) $209,000
6.
.180 Acres (729 sq. m) $209,000
Bossio Road Properties is a small, local development in the Parkland Subdivision offering five lots and a house along a ridge overlooking the town of Fernie and the Elk River. These properties are located on a private ridge in a quiet, low traffic area. All lots are levelled, gravel building sites and offer amazing views of the surrounding mountains with swift access to the recreation they provide. Contact John Turcasso for more information at 250-423-1148 or turcasso@shaw.ca.
Get Inspired @islandlakelodge #takethepeak #lodgelife
Photos: @mattglastonbury and @mcphoto99
Opening for Summer - June 12th NEW HOURS in the Bear Lodge Bistro - Lunch and Dinner - June 12th: - 11 am - 5 pm. Starting July 1st: 11 am - 8 pm Tamarack Lodge - Dinner - 5 - 9 pm
Date Night Mondays
All Summer! Bring your partner up for a romantic dinner! Get 2 entrĂŠes, 2 glasses of bubbly and an appetizer to share. Just $79 per couple
Wine Tasting Wednesdays
All Summer! 5 course tasting menu perfectly paired with 5 wines from our diverse cellar. $99 per person Avoid disappointment - call ahead to inquire about reservations and availability. Check our website for Spa Specials, Guided Hiking and Accommodation Packages.
islandlakelodge.com 1.250.423.3700