P E O P L E A RTS H O M E S F O O D C U LT U R E R E C R E AT I O N H I S TO RY SUMMER 2014
Life in the West Kootenay/Boundary Region
SUMMER FESTIVAL ROUNDUP
Celebrating sunshine, song and our collective heritage
WHAT’S SUP?
Stand-up paddleboarding is the latest addition to the water sport scene
INCREDIBLE TRAIL
Downtown businesses grow food for all to harvest
Home to Roost Backyard chickens are becoming more common in the Kootenay/Boundary
I’m at the Lake because I want my kids to grow up here. I came because of the small class sizes at the school.
I’m here for the lifestyle and awesome trails.
Check Out Where We’re Living!
Come Home to the Lake ...Christina Lake For more information:
www.christinalake.ca Page 2
ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
PHOTO: JO-ANN DOUCETTE
Don’t forget the fantastic community spirit!
contents
PUBLISHER Karen Bennett publisher@nelsonstar.com SALES REPRESENTATIVE Chris Hammett route3@grandforksgazette.ca
Gloria’s Gallery by Eileen Holland
CPR relic sculptures populate the Trans Canada Trail near Grand Forks, page 5
Summer Festival Roundup by Joan Thompson
EDITOR & ART DIRECTOR Shelley Ackerman sackerman@telus.net
ROUTE 3 is published by Black Press 250-442-2191 or 1-877-443-2191 Box 700, 7330 2nd Street Grand Forks, B.C. V0H 1H0
Celebrating sunshine, song and our collective heritage, page 8
Printed in Canada on recyclable paper. Copyright 2014 by Black Press. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph, or artwork without written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. The publisher can assume no responsibility for unsolicited material.
Home to Roost by Jim Sinclair Backyard chickens are becoming more and more common, page 14
What’s SUP? by Tamara Hynd Stand-up paddleboarding is the latest addition to the water sport scene, page 18
Cover photo by Shelley Peachell, peachellphotography.com Sarah Flood with one of her Rossland-raised backyard chickens.
Q&A with Gina Ironmonger by Sheri Regnier, page 25 Hail to the Chief by Greg Nesteroff, page 29
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Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
Page 3
TIDBITS – a taste of what’s happening in the West Kootenay/Boundary Friendly. Healthy. Community owned.
organic produce hundreds of bulk items prepared foods fresh meat & seafood grocery vitamins & supplements
MOVIES IN THE PARK -FREE
Friday nights throughout the summer Grand Forks City Park KASLO ART WALK
Daily to Sept 20 Throughout Kaslo www.visitkaslo.com DOWNTOWN NELSON LOCAL MARKET
Weekly on Wednesday to Sept 24 www.ecosociety.ca/markets/ nelson-downtown-local-market
healthy bodycare products
CASTLEGAR SCULPTUREWALK
Daily to Sept 30 www.sculpturewalkcastlegar.com
Open every day 7:30am - 9pm
ROSSLAND MOUNTAIN MARKET
Thursdays to Oct 2 www.rosslandmountainmarket. com/
Kootenay Co-op 295 Baker St, Nelson t: 250 354 4077 info@kootenay.coop
vis it us on line :
www.kootenay.coop
f
TRAIL MARKET ON THE ESPLANADE
Every two weeks on Fridays to Oct 10 www.trail.ca/en/play/trail-marketon-the-esplanade.asp
PIRATE DAY ON THE SS MOYIE
Sunday, Aug 10 324 Front St, Kaslo www.klhs.bc.ca
KASLO GUITAR FESTIVAL
Aug 11–16 Master classes, private instruction, ensemble playing, workshops and concert St. Andrews United Church, Kaslo Call 250-366-4623 GRAND FORKS PARK IN THE PARK 2ND ANNUAL CAR SHOW
Aug 15–17 Market Ave and City Park Open to all models of cars, trucks, bikes and vintage trailers. www.grandforksparkinthepark.ca 104TH ANNIVERSARY GRAND FORKS FALL FAIR
Aug 22–24 Dick Bartlett Park (behind rec centre) www.grandforksfallfair.ca
NELSON MARKET FEST
Aug 22–24 Throughout Nelson www.nelsonfattire.com
Weekly on Saturdays to Oct 25 www.ecosociety.ca/markets/ cottonwood-market
KBRH HEALTH FOUNDATION’S GOLF CLASSIC
Friday, July 18 Birchbank Golf Course 18 holes of golf, dinner, and prizes. www.kbrhhealthfoundation.ca DISC BREAK: ULTIMATE FRISBEE TOURNAMENT
July 26–27 Lakeside Park, Nelson www.nelsonultimate.ca CYSWOG 'N' FUN TRIATHLON
Sunday, Aug 3 Lakeside Park, Nelson 32nd annual one quarter Ironman triathlon www.trinelson.com ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
Aug 9–10 Various communities www.cbculturetour.com
NELSON COTTONWOOD COMMUNITY MARKET
Every four weeks on Fridays from June 27 to Aug 22 www.ecosociety.ca/markets/ market-fest
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COLUMBIA BASIN CULTURE TOUR
NELSON FAT TIRE FESTIVAL
QUEEN CITY CRUISE
Sept 5–6 Baker St, Nelson www.NelsonRoadKings.com HILLS GARLIC FESTIVAL
Sunday, Sept 7 Centennial Park, New Denver www.HillsGarlicFest.ca ROCK CREEK FALL FAIR
Sept 12–14 Rock Creek Fair Grounds www.facebook.com/ RockCreekFallFair GRAND FORKS ROTARY LOBSTERFEST
Saturday, Sept 6 Fundraiser for the Rotary Children’s Spray Park Call 250-442-2211 for ticket info.
ARTISTS
CPR relic sculptures populate the Trans-Canada Trail near Grand Forks STORY BY
Eileen Holland
Top: Gloria Bandle with “Draco the Dragon.” Right: “Rock, Paper, Scissors."
W
hen Gloria Bandle and her husband Lew Carswell moved to Grand Forks three years ago, they soon discovered the Trans Canada Trail right in their neighbourhood. Hiking the Trail became part of their daily regimen, and an appreciation for the Boundary region’s semi-arid landscape was born. The concept of a Trans Canada Trail connecting the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans took root during Canada’s 125th anniversary in 1992. One of the longest networks of recreational trails in the world, the Trail links together nearly 500 trails and 1000 communities. Upon its completion in Canada’s Sesquicentennial year in 2017 (150th anniversary of confederation), the Trail will stretch almost 24,000 kilometres. Gloria and Lew had heard that the Trans Canada Trail
winding through Grand Forks was built on a Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) rail bed. Many defunct transportation corridors were donated by the CPR and the Canadian National Railway (CNR), and “rail banked”: should the need resurface in future years, conversion back to rail could occur. When Gloria stooped to pick up a large rusty nut lodged in the trail, the pathway’s history hit home. Several steps later, she dislodged a track bolt. Over the years, the Trail’s hikers, cyclists, horseback riders and skiers had worn thin the earth cocooning the artifacts. CPR history was rising
Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
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EILEEN HOLLAND PHOTOS
GLORIA’S GALLERY
Top row, from left: “Rock-a-Dial,” “Michele’s Horse,” “Plate Man,” and Gloria talking to cyclists on the Trans Canada Trail. Bottom row, from left: “The Owls,” “Gloria and Lew” sculptures, “Wu Li,” and the view of the Granby River Valley just past Gloria’s Gallery.
I
n 1898, the Columbia and Western Railway (C&W) ran from the Red Mountain and Rossland mines to the smelter at Trail, and on to Robson (Castlegar). The CPR bought the C&W from American mining developer Fritz Heinze for its charter, along with the Trail smelter. The charter gave the CPR the authority to build westward to Grand Forks. Reaching the Boundary District was a feather in the CPR’s cap, as it regained Canadian control in southern B.C. from its American railroad rivals. The narrow-gauge C&W connected to the Kettle Valley Railway (also purchased by the CPR) between Grand Forks and Midway. Passenger service expanded to Greenwood in 1899. The building of the Granby smelter at Grand Forks and the CPR extension of a branch line from Eholt to copper-rich Phoenix in 1900 meant ore could be extracted and refined more cost-effectively. Local freight transported and distributed in Grand Forks post-WWI focused on coal, lumber and fruit.
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ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
out of land that once vibrated as locomotives thundered along the tracks. Gloria was a stained-glass artist for 16 years in the eastern U.S. before marrying Lew and moving to British Columbia. The creative side of her brain, which had been searching for an outlet since arriving in town, jumped to life like a bead of water on a hot skillet. “I found a broken piece of curved metal and it reminded me of a question mark. I placed it on a flat-faced boulder with a nut below it. From there the combination of rocks and metal just kept growing and getting more detailed,” says Gloria. Lew is Gloria’s official relic-and-rock lugger, at her beck and call whenever a sculpture design pops into Gloria’s head. “This is me and this is Lew,” said Gloria with a laugh, pointing at a pair of metal people sitting against a granite face. Gloria’s relic body is made shapely by the stacked newer rail anchors forming the curves of her hips. Lew’s relic feet are made from parts of Erickson rail anchor shoes. Employed to stabilize the rails, these historically early anchors were notoriously clumsy to use. The foot-like end was wedged against the wooden tie while the opposite end was attached to the rail. The anchors were covered by the crushed rock
ballast surrounding the ties. A herd of “Heffalumps” with newer rail anchor necks grazes trailside. “M&M Man” gazes at visitors with amused lock washer eyes. A surprised “Plate Man” flings his arms away from his tie plate body as a rock falls on him. A fanciful design based on the cover of a book Lew read, The Dancing Wu Li Masters (Gary Zukav, 1979) has anchors rotating around its nut axis. “Rock-a-Dial” threatens with spike fangs. When Gloria is maintaining the sculptures, passing hikers ask, “Are you the one who made these?” One admirer coined the name “Gloria’s Gallery” and the title stuck, although Gloria herself uses the name “The Gallery”. Other trail users nostalgic about local rail history started constructing sculptures. Michele’s Horse prances on rail spikes, its body stone and its tail flowing grasses. Spike people sit sentinel on stony outcroppings above the trail. Friendships developed. The group lamented together when the Question Mark went missing. Three times it was rebuilt. Each was taken. When no curved relics remained, the question mark, by necessity, became an exclamation mark. A sculpture of a car on a
MARKETPLACE
PHOTOS BY GLORIA BANDLE AND EILLEEN HOLLAND
To advertise contact Chris at 1-877-443-2191
brake pad bridge also vanished. A pipe-and-post retaining wall five minutes past Gloria’s Gallery offers a sweeping view of the Granby River Valley, bales of hay dotting the fields below like golden freckles across a child’s face. It is a fitting spot to ponder whether other trail users across the land have unearthed railway relics. Has the experience touched them the way it has the Grand Forks sculptors? Back at Gloria’s Gallery, a man and a woman on mountain bikes stop to talk and take photos. Having ridden right past the Gallery heading east from Eholt, they were surprised to discover the sculptures on their return trip. The Bandles enjoy such encounters. People from as far afield as Penticton and Princeton have made a day out of travelling to see Gloria’s Gallery. The Columbia and Western Trail Society has spread the word. “I am thrilled that others have contributed their talents, but not so happy about the fact that some pieces have gone missing. All in all it has been a wonderful creative process that I am thrilled to leave behind for the community and other trail users to enjoy,” says Gloria.
• Cheese • Yogurt • Butter • Ice Cream (summer)
Bring the family & visit our Petting Zoo! StoRE opEn Mon–Fri 9am–4:30pm
B.C.’s first certified organic dairy farm is a locally owned & operated family business 2690 Almond Gardens Road East, Grand Forks 250-442-8112
www.jerseyland organics.com
The Goat Mountain section of the Trans Canada Trail starts on North Fork Road in the northern peripheries of Grand Forks, between London Road and Ward Road. Gloria’s Gallery is uphill to the east, 5-6 kilometres past the Ward Road entrance, near a motorcyclist’s memorial stone. Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
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EVENTS
Summer Festival Roundup BY
The summer festival season in the Boundary/West Kootenay has arrived and the long anticipated opportunity to fling wide the doors to celebrate sunshine, song and our collective heritage. We highlight the growing effusion and diversity of festivals on tap in our region this summer.
Joan Thompson
KASLO JAZZ FESTIVAL AUG. 2-4, KASLO
N
ow in its 23rd year, the Kaslo Jazz Festival has been rated by Reuters in 2013 as “one of the top 10 places to enjoy outdoor summer music” and by USA Today in 2007 as “one of the top 10 places to get outdoors and be in tune.” Not hard to believe considering the event takes place a floating stage in the postcard setting of Kaslo Bay on Kootenay Lake. Bent on maintaining its winning mix of “stunning vistas, fantastic natural acoustics, superb musicians and boisterous barefoot dancing,” count on another formidable line-up of “jazz and etcetera” musicians this year. kaslojazzfest.com
PHOTO COURTESY KASLO JAZZ FESTIVAL
PHOTO COURTESY ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN LITERARY FESTIVAL
ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN LITERARY FESTIVAL JULY 10-13, NELSON
O
rganized and hosted by the Kootenay Literacy Society, this festival promises four days of immersion into the life, craft and business of writing. True to the society’s mandate to “augment area writers and readers access to Canadian writers and publishers, and showcase area writers to local audience,” a variety of Canadian writers, publishers and personalities such as Gail Bowen, Donna Morrisey, Douglas Gibson and Eleanor Wachtel will be on hand to share their perspectives on the writing life. Using this year’s theme: “Intersections – Geography, Genre, Genius” as a starting point, the writers’ weekend begins with a social and spoken word on Thursday and continues Friday to Sunday with a series of workshops and readings. emlfestival.com
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ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
STARBELLY JAM JULY 18-20, CRAWFORD BAY
A
PHOTO COURTESY STARBELLY JAM
CHRISTINA LAKE HOMECOMING SUMMER FESTIVAL JULY 11-12, CHRISTINA LAKE
“C
ome home to the lake” is the rallying call for Christina Lake Homecoming Summer Festival. This year’s theme: “Community Shines” aims to inspire the many returning visitors to toast the little community that could, and catch a little of the local sparkle. Imaginative planning makes this an interactive weekend for all, starting with the Volunteer Recognition Reception on Friday, the activity-packed morning that follows and the community-wide “light-up-the-beach” celebration on Saturday evening. Plan to add your own dazzle to the evening celebration (bring a solar light!), and following the barbeque, get ready to dance to local bands and return favourite from Vancouver, Blackberry Wood. Keeping things illumined will be glow volleyball, fire dances and a moonlit boat parade. With enticing prizes for brightest and best decorated boats, organizers hope for a shining finale to their community fete. facebook.com/ChristinaLakeHomecoming
UNITY MUSIC FESTIVAL JULY 25-27, SLOCAN
PHOTO COURTESY UNITY FESTIVAL
O
ffering three days of music “on one of B.C.’s most spectacular beaches and mountainscapes,” Unity Music Festival is marking its fourth year as a community-binding and enlivening event. Organizers cast a wide net when seeking out musical talent for their event, so be prepared to be amazed at who they were able to coax to the Kootenays! The festival features two stages for the artists, a kids’ zone, workshops, local dancers, live arts, and camping near the festival site. unitymusicfestival.ca ➤
KOOTENAY FESTIVAL JULY 26, CASTLEGAR
C
astlegar pulls out all stops for the day for this annual celebration of the rich heritage and diversity that defines their city. Expect the local entertainment, cuisine, artists and displays to pay tribute to the region’s history and artistic traditions while offering creative twists of their own! The vendor line-up is colourful and multifaceted, so make sure you take time to admire the handcrafted local wares, culinary surprises and entertaining exhibitors’ demonstrations. No shortage of activities for the kids, too; youth-focused entertainment, interactive artwork and learning activities are annual features of this family-friendly festival. kootenayfestival.com
➤
COLIN PAYNE
PHOTO COURTESY CHRISTINA LAKE HOMECOMING FESTIVAL
Crawford Bay institution, this annual outdoor music festival is celebrating its 15th annual year! Known for its family-friendly. all-inclusive vibe and “soulfully eclectic choice of music,” Starbelly Jam offers a relaxed weekend of music and fun on the sunny eastern shore of stunning Kootenay Lake. Alongside the music, there will be on-site food, a craft fair, free workshops, jugglers, clowns and plenty of “knee-high entertainment’”and activities for the kids. Camping is available just a few minutes walk from the festival grounds. starbellyjam.com
PHOTO COURTESY SHAMBHALA
SHAMBHALA MUSIC FESTIVAL AUG. 8-11, SALMO, B.C
ROSSLAND RUBBERHEAD BIKE FESTIVAL AUG. 3, 31, SEPT 6, ROSSLAND
T
BRENT KOCHAN.
his small town can host adrenalin-popping mountain bike races that rate with the best of them. The Rubberhead Enduro, Poker Ride, and Huck ‘n Berries Bike Jam all comprise the Rossland Rubberhead Bike Festival. The Rubberhead Enduro, hosted at Red Mountain Resort and scheduled for August 3, is a three to four hour race and will have three to four competitive, primarily downhill, racing stages, with untimed climbing between each stage this year. The deck of Red’s base lodge will serve as ground zero for the event, offering live entertainment, food and beverage for athletes and spectators. The Poker Ride, August 31, is a large, advanced, non-competitive group ride on the Seven Summit Trail. The Huck ‘n Berries Bike Jam on Sept. 6 is “the younger, spazzier sibling to the Rubberhead Enduro and the mustachioed Seven Summits.” Rosslandenduro.com, rosslandrubberhead.com
N
ow in its 17th year, Canada’s premiere electronic music fest is, quite literally, a force of nature (and will be likely sold out by the time this article goes to press!). Transforming 500 acres of Kootenay ranch country into a gangling metropolis of 300 musical acts, six stages, thousands of spectators and tents takes a little initiative and resolve on the part of the organizers. And good networking: many of the artists fly in from afar — Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Berlin — and from North American hotbeds of alternative electronic music such as California and Colorado. shambhalamusicfestival.com
PHOTO COURTESY GOLDEN CITY DAYS
PONDEREROSA ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL AUG. 22-24, ROCK CREEK
B PHOTO COURTESY PONDEROSA ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL
orn in 2013, this festival of art, music and “freshness,” is back with a line-up of stellar B.C. bands and a weekend chilling by the lazy Kettle River in Rock Creek. Visioning itself as a niche festival, organizers are passionate about sustaining the heart, spirit and community of the small backyard festival. Set in the Rock Creek Fairgrounds, a weekend pass includes free camping under the nearby pines. ponderosafestival.com
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ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
GOLDEN CITY DAYS SEPT. 5-7, ROSSLAND
G
olden City Days is an annual family-oriented festival celebrating Rossland’s gold-mining heritage. Weekend events include a parade, outhouse races, children’s games, food and craft vendors, music and outdoor entertainment and the annual Fall Fair. Heritage-themed activities, photos, memorabilia and residents in period costumes will add to the festivities downtown. Rossland.com/golden_city_days ➤
w...shop & strol e i V l er v i R
Trail Market o
Columbia Basin Culture Tour Aug 9 - 10, 2014
10:00am - 5:00pm
Explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites through this free, self-guided tour within the Columbia Basin.
Aug 15, 2009
Meet the artists, shop for fine art and craft, view demonstrations, special exhibitions, interpretive 10:00 am-5:00 displays or chatpm with local historians during this cultural celebration! For further information visit our website or call.
Photo: Brian Findlow
n the Esplanade
10am - 2pm
Every Second Friday June 6, 20 July 4, 18 August 1, 15, 29 September 12, 26 October 10
A project of
Funded by
Lisa Martin Pottery
For more info call 250.368.3144
www.cbculturetour.com 250-505-5505 • 1-877-505-7355
Fall Fair
Grand Forks and district
Friday y, a to Sund–24 aug. 22 ark &
lett P dick Bart ng rink, the Curli orks grand F
So much to do and See! Including: Zucchini Races, Reptile Display, RC Racing, Lawnmower Tryouts and Races, Uncle Chris the Clown, Motivate by Magic, Mechanical Bull Riding, Avalon Garden Terrarium Building, children’s activities galore, Bouncy Castles, ATV performance, Survivor II, Elks Breakfast, NonDenominational Church, and much more.
in
entertainment includes undercover Band, Lisa nicole, almost alan and the River Rock Band! Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
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KOOTENAY SPIRIT FESTIVAL SEPT. 12-14, NELSON
A
model of engaged community and mindful living, Nelson is perfectly poised to host a festival that celebrates yoga, dance, meditation and music and does so with the first annual Kootenay Spirit Festival, September 12-14. Aspiring to “ignite and unite community,” organizers are assembling an exciting array of guest speakers and teachers to help guide participants in their respective disciplines and spiritual journeys. Workshops will be held in various studios, venues and parks throughout the city. kootenayspiritfestival.com
Golf It’s simply awe inspiring
THE WEST KOOTENAY / BOUNDARY
BiSTro
and an RV Park in a Natural Setting. . . What could be ✩✩✩✩ Golf Digest better?
www.birchbankgolf.com
www.golfcastlegar.com 800-666-0324
250-693-5451 18 holes any day after 1pm $49
Carved through majestic pines
Golf
Located between Trail & Castlegar
250-693-2255
Call 250-229-5655 or 1-866-669-GOLF (4653)
Championship
BirchBank GolF Pro ShoP
includes Power Cart (mention Route 3 special)
To Advertise contact Chris at 1-877-443-2191
Nelson, BC 18 Holes & A Cart
$44
Every day except Thursday after 2 pm
There’s Nothing Like it! ORY ION HIST R E C R E AT C U LT U R E ES FOOD SUMMER RTS HOM PEOPLE A 2014
Life in the West
y Region Kootenay/Boundar
AL SUMMER FESTIV ROUNDUP , Celebrating sunshine song and our collective heritage
To advertise in the Fall issue, contact Chris at Home to Roost 1-877-443-2191 or email route3@ grandforksgazette.ca
WHAT’S SUP?
arding Stand-up paddlebo to is the latest addition scene the water sport
INCREDIBLE TRAIL
es Downtown business grow food for all to harvest
RV sites available
Christina Lake
GOLF CLUB Call 250-447-9313
Page 12
Named one of B.C.’s top 25 courses
ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
more ns are becoming ry Backyard chicke Kootenay/Bounda common in the
Call 1-877-677-6077 to book your tee time www.granitepointe.ca
Lobster Fe s t
Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival
auGuSt 1,2,3, 2014
Wil Campa y su Gran Union, CurrEnt Swell, Matt SchoField, Jeff lanG, GeorGe leach, harpoonist and the axe MurdErer, plus 14 more
kaSlojazzfest.coMW250-353-7548 For other activities and accommodation in the area visit www.nelsonkootenaylake.com
The Rotary Club of Grand Forks presents
Lobster Fe s t Lobster Fe s t
A fundraiser for the Rotary Children’s Spray Park
Fresh MaritiMe Lobster paired with the best boundary region produce September 6, 2014
Dance to Live music by maD Dog Refreshments 6 pm • Dinner 7 pm Christina Lake Community Hall Tickets $100/plate Dessert & silent auction Classy casual dress
Golf Granite Pointe, minutes from downtown Nelson
Explore, Dine and Shop Historic Baker Street. A true adventure in itself
Relax and Enjoy Lakeside Park and Kootenay Lake
Visit Touchstones Nelson: Museum of Art & History
ticketS avaiLabLe at theSe LocationS: gallery 2 – phone 250-442-2211 Sears – grand Forks christina Lake Welcome centre
Visitor Centre 225 Hall St. Nelson BC V1L 5X4 Ph: (250) 352-3433 ٠ Toll Free: 1-877-663-5706 Email: info@discoverNelson.com Web: www.discoverNelson.com Photos by David Gluns
Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
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SUSTAINABILITY
SHELLEY PEACHELL
Home to Roost
Backyard chickens are becoming more and more common in the region, but not in every community Page 14
ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
STORY BY
Jim Sinclair
sdfsdf JIM SINCLAIR
STORY BY
Above: Tasha Bates (left) and her daughter Annika enjoy spending time with their chickens in the Fruitvale area. Left: Rossland’s Sarah Flood raises her chickens in town.
F
or the longest time there was nothing remotely controversial about chickens. We raised them, many of us ate their eggs... ate them — a pretty tidy arrangement. Chickens are relatively easy to look after and what they can supply in the way of nutrition is very hard to beat. These days with concepts like food security to grapple with, the idea of domestic chickens in urban environments attracts interest, but opposition as well. From a dietary standpoint there is little doubt as to the attraction of chicken as a main course or as a source of eggs. There is also, however, a familiar NIMBY factor with some residents who prefer the raising of chickens and/or other animals be done in a location far removed from their own neighbourhood. A quick scan of the municipalities in regional districts of Central Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary indicates that the practice of making the clucking birds welcome is not that uncommon. See the column to the right for a rundown for anyone considering chicken husbandry. Residential zones of rural electoral areas are likely to be off limits for the beaked guests while rural and agricultural, as you'd expect, are probably chicken-friendly. In the past year Castlegar has been the scene of a concerted bid to make way for chickens. Peter Wulowka had been a candidate for council in the most recent civic elections, and had pushed hard for city council to approve the keeping of urban fowl. ➤
RDKB: FRUITVALE – no GREENWOOD – no GRAND FORKS – only in the R-4 rural zone MIDWAY – maximum three hens, no roosters MONTROSE – no ROSSLAND – yes TRAIL – no WARFIELD – decision pending CASTLEGAR – no RDCK: CRESTON – no KASLO, NEW DENVER and SALMO – hens yes, roosters no NAKUSP – decision pending NELSON – no; SILVERTON – yes SLOCAN – up to eight hens allowed
Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
Page 15
PHOTOS BY JIM SINCLAIR
Top: Andrew Bennett raises his large flock on a Rossland acreage. Right: Peter Wulowka has been pushing for backyard chickens in Castlegar. Above: Audrey Mann raises her hens near the BlackJack ski club outside Rossland.
Unsuccessful on both counts he was not discouraged. “The issue of the chickens is not put to rest,” he outlined in early May. “It's just resting until we get our facts together. There will be more of an effort to make it clear, what exactly we’re looking for in terms of regulations for the animal control bylaw." Wulowka is also keen on finalizing a design for a critter-proof enclosure for the birds. “A bylaw inspector from the City of Castlegar can inspect it to make sure everything’s up to snuff, and we could take it from there. “We're not asking for 10-20 chickens in a back yard… two to four chickens with a proper coop, I think, could be very beneficial to someone who wants their own farm fresh eggs.” It’s no problem finding positive input on the issue of chickens with the family. Tasha Bates, for example lives in the rural area east of Fruitvale and is getting used to a four-piece clucking combo. The birds have a spacious enclosure and provide plenty in return for their care and attention. “I’m loving it,” said Bates of sharing property with birds. “It’s very rePage 16
ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
laxing. I get to hear them in the morning, I come out and feed them. It‘s very calming and I love having the fresh eggs.” Bates has had a bit of a poultry epiphany, coming to realize she’d underestimated the fowl’s cerebral capacity. “Originally I thought they were kind of stupid,” she related, “but they're really pretty smart,” she said. “I caught them trying to break out of the gate one day.” Bates also said the chickens manage to communicate with wild birds in the area and it‘s fun to watch. The City of Rossland appears to be a location where those looking to keep chickens get an all-but-unconditional green light. The city has no chicken bylaw but there is a noise bylaw. Local resident Andrew Bennett prizes the birds, and with a masters degree in ecology, has valid reasons to do so. “We came to Rossland and loved it,” said Bennett. “I’ve met a whole crowd of people who are interested in much the same things. I think there’s a resurgence of interest in where our food comes from.” Bennett's beliefs and ideals go well beyond chickens, but he says they are “the gateway drug for the keeping of livestock.” He praises the way different animals can co-exist in mutually beneficial ways. and how they can improve the fertility of the land they live on. Sarah Flood is another Rosslander solidly on side with yard-kept chickens, and it’s obvious she’s serious. “I built my own coop and I probably over-engineered it,” she informed. “I have concrete footings and used 6x6 posts and a metal roof, but I had materials left over from the house we built. I recommend building a sturdy coop rather than dealing with the heartache of losing your chickens to a predator.” Like Bates, Flood vouches for the chickens’ intellect, and also for their household habits. “Most people think of chickens as stinky and dumb,” says Flood. “But you soon realize that, while not rocket scientists, they are pretty smart in a chicken sort of way. With not much effort you can have a sweet smelling coop. All my chickens have distinct characters and it is a great feeling to go out and grab fresh eggs from happy chickens.” Perhaps Castlegar and some other communities pondering the pros and cons of the urban chicken issue will come around to the thinking of Flood, Bennett, Wulowka, Bates and others. A main concern of those not in favour of having chickens for neighbours is the concept of the crowing rooster, but that’s an easy situation to circumvent. So, the last word on chickens, here, for now, goes to Sarah Flood: “They recycle kitchen scraps, eat weeds and bugs and their bedding makes great compost. If you can keep a dog you should be allowed to have chickens. They are quieter, less dangerous, have useful poop and provide food!”
DINING out breakfast ✩ lunCh ✩ the best Coffee
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There’s Nothing Like it! ORY ION HIST R E C R E AT C U LT U R E ES FOOD SUMMER RTS HOM PEOPLE A 2014
Life in the West
y Region Kootenay/Boundar
AL SUMMER FESTIV ROUNDUP , Celebrating sunshine song and our collective heritage
To advertise in the Fall issue, contact Chris at Home to Roost 1-877-443-2191 or email route3@ grandforksgazette.ca
WHAT’S SUP?
arding Stand-up paddlebo to is the latest addition scene the water sport
INCREDIBLE TRAIL
es Downtown business grow food for all to harvest
more ns are becoming ry Backyard chicke Kootenay/Bounda common in the
Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
Page 17
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
What’s SUP? STORY BY
Tamara Hynd
I
Imagine breaking the early calm of dawn with the dip of a paddle into the glassy waters of a local lake or cooling the afternoon heat with a rush of white water. The Hawaiian roots of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) have spread to the West Kootenay and Boundary regions, adding a new dimension to getting out on the water. People living lakeside will tell you they’ve been paddling on wooden paddle boards for eons. The reinvented SUP boards of today made their debut in 2005 as a byproduct of dedicated surfers in Hawaii and California who wanted to get out on the water even when the surf was low. What seemed like a trend has turned into a full-on industry. Remember how strange snowboarding seemed when it first came out? No? Well most of us don’t either because it’s been around since the 1960s. From flat water lakes to fast flowing rapids, part of SUP’s appeal is the freedom to choose your own adventure style. It can be as simple as a quiet morning hugging the calm lakeshores. Some folks even tote along a child, a four-legged friend, or a dry bag with snacks and camera. There is an exercise element that will work your core with visible results. It’s a bit like paddling a sturdy canoe, yet you’re standing up. That extra height above the water goes a long way to admire the depths of the clear crisp waters. Looking for a zest of adrenaline? Inflatable SUPs paired with paddling experience can take you down the rivers too.
Relaxing and exhilerating, stand-up paddleboarding is the latest addition to the water sport scene Page 18
ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
SHELLEY PEACHELL
Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
Page 19
Travel NelsON kOOteNay lake feels le incredib
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ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
Fat tire Festival
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ANDREA RYMAN/ENDLESS ADVENTURE
DAPHNE HUNTER/KALSO KAYAKING
Bob Hellman with an array of SUPs at his shop, Hellman’s Canoe and Kayak, located 10 km from Nelson.
exercise or a novelty as it’s user friendly,” said Dupee. “Cabin cruising is popular.” Christina Lake Provincial Park at the south end of the lake and Gladstone Provincial Park at the north both offer camping amenities. Texas Point has pictographs marked by the Interior Salish First Nation. SUP is a great way to view the ochre drawings as they can only be seen from the water because of the rugged shoreline. WildWays provides basic instruction with a board rental and carry new inflatable boards for a combination of performance and portability. They can also connect you with a yoga SUP instructor. Andrea and Chris Ryman at Endless Adventure in Crescent Valley are full on into the SUP scene. They offer SUP practice and Yoga Supness which combines proper forward paddle strokes, abs, a hard paddle to raise the heart rate, and push ups. “There's a lot a fun to SUP if you know the techniques which get you going faster, longer and feeling it more in your body,” said Andrea. Endless Adventure offers an hour of flat water practise on Tuesdays in Robson on the Columbia River and Thursdays at Taghum on the Kootenay. The group paddles up river and floats back down on calm water with a ➤
BOB DUPEE/WILDWAYS
With a warm wind blowing across the rippled surface of the Slocan River, friends Leah Brown and Heath Kroeger suited up with insulated wetsuits to SUP in the June high waters. They began at Slocan Park and exited the river before hitting the Class 2 plus/3 minus S-bends. A SUPer for seven years, Kroeger travelled the Grand Canyon by SUP two years ago. As for Brown, it was her first time to SUP on the Slocan River but she has been on the Columbia and Kootenay. Nervous at the start, her fears were soon sweep away by the tranquility. “It was amazing and beautiful to have the river all to ourselves,” she says. “There was an element of adventure that was exhilarating but once we were on the river, it was relaxing.” If you’re ready to give SUP a try or want to explore a new paddle area, West Kootenay/ Boundary shops have the all the goods, including knowledge of the sweet spots. WildWays Adventure Sports and Tour owner Bob Dupee in Christina Lake was the first to bring SUP to the area five years ago. Boasting the warmest treeline lake in B.C., it’s no wonder SUP has taken off at Christina. Even at an elevation of 1,700 feet (518 m), the lake averages 23 degrees in July and the beginning of August. “The sport holds great appeal simply as
TAMARA HYND
TAMARA HYND
➤ Top to bottom: Work your core on a SUP paddle with Endless Adventure. J.D. Humphries students paddle directly off Lighthouse beach near Kaslo. Friends Leah Brown and Heath Kroeger with wetsuits and inflatable SUPs to paddle down a section of the Slocan River. Ancient pictographs made by the Sinixt First Nation on the edge of Christina Lake.
Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
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current. Endless Adventure and their committee are excited to host the West Kootenay SUP BC Circuit River Race from July 4 to 6 as part of the BC Sup Cup Series for the first time this summer. The 16.5 km river race is in Class 1 and 2 waters and for all levels of SUP. “We have a unique place to paddle,” said Ryman. “Most races are on a lake or the coast.” As far as sweet SUP spots, Ryman said there are many. “On Kootenay Lake there is so much to explore. Slocan Lake can warm up and paddling on the opposite side from Silverton, you can see the Nemo waterfalls (Valhalla Park). On (Lower) Arrow Lake, a guided 45-minute paddle in a kayak or SUP with a 45-minute hike will take you to the natural arch.”
Closer to Nelson, Hellman Canoe and Kayak on the lake also specialize in SUP sales and rentals. Three of their four certified SUP instructors have their advanced certification, and they have been providing lessons since April. Owner Bob Hellman and his two daughters love to SUP. On a recent visit, his youngest daughter Annie demonstrated tricks and pirouettes on her SUP with fancy foot work. Annie was fully decked out in a drysuit, PFD with whistle, board leash, and a helmet and Bob could not emphasize the importance of water safety enough. In Nelson proper, ROAM sells and rent SUPs all year. SUP rentals are available at Lakeside Park in July and August on weekends. ROAM
is also hosting a BCSPCA fundraiser race July 19 at Lakeside and invites all participants to bring their pets. “Be it dog, ferret, or snake, we’re not pet discriminatory,” said employee Kara Montefiore. The Nelson and District Community Complex offers very affordable rates to a variety of SUP programs which range from adult, family, and group paddles, SUP yoga, paddle fit and introductory and advanced courses. Further north, Kaslo Kayaking owners Daphne Hunter and Dean Thorton broke into the SUP scene last year offering rentals and lessons. They offer qualified instruction and “will have you up and paddling like a pro in no time.” Rentals available for half or full days and
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include all your safety gear. Lessons for beginner and intermediate paddlers focus on paddle strokes, turning, stopping, pivots and of course, safety. “Kaslo is the perfect place to paddle,” said Hunter. “We have a wonderful little bay for beginners to try it out, the same bay the jazz festival is held in August. Following the shoreline around the point called Lighthouse Beach will take you to the Kaslo River mouth. That's always fun to play around in, but be prepared to get a little wet as the river pours into Kootenay Lake with some pretty good force which is a very different style of paddling than flat water.” “The Kaslo River is probably a Class 3-4 with a lot of large boulders; even white water SUP enthusiasts would be challenged with that run,” said Hunter.
“On (Lower) Arrow
“Since we don't carry inflatable gear we can't allow our boards up the river; as I said we are all about safety.” Many places rent and sell boards for variable water types and encourage you to try before you buy. Many shops will deduct the rental rate off the purchase price if you choose to take home a newly beloved board. Like a bike, you might get so hooked that you buy one for regular use and rent another for rarer excursions. Whether your recreational tastes prefer skirting the lake edge to cabin cruise and scope isolated sandy beaches, or surf the rugged white water, how you play this water sport is SUP to you. Check out the local social scene at “SUPing in Da Koots” Facebook page.
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ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
Q&A with Gina Ironmonger
IncrEDIBLE Trail
Downtown Trail businesses are growing edible landscaping for all to harvest
A
wonderful opportunity to join in environmental stewardship is growing in the downtown Trail business community. Instead of planting seasonal flowers in storefronts this summer, business owners and community service centres will be nurturing edible gardens and inviting passersby to pick their fruit and veggies for free. We sat down with Gina Ironmonger, a Trail business owner and spearhead of the initiative, “Explore Our incrEDIBLE Trail,” to talk about the edible landscape project and what it means to the community. Q. I’m seeing planters sprouting up all over town. Can you tell us where the idea for edible landscapes came from? A. At Christmas I was over in the Okanagan with family. My mom turned on her television and we started looking through the TED channel (nonprofit channel known for “Ideas Worth Spreading”) and listened to a documentary about incredible, edible Todmorden, a little town in England. They started by planting a row of beans and inviting people to come and help themselves. The idea to increase the amount of food grown and eaten locally took off and now the town has become an international destination.➤
INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS BY Sheri
Regnier
From top: Gina Ironmonger was on hand at the Trail Market on the Esplanade to showcase the Green Route Map and keep the downtown's edible landscape momentum growing. Debra Barembruch, owner of Amore’s Ristorante in Trail's historic Gulch, tends to herbs and tomato plants that in a few months will be ripe for the picking and ready for marinara making. Sabine Mann, owner of Women's Journey Into Fitness in downtown Trail, picks some lettuce and radishes from her incrEDIBLE planter for Eva Fasthuber to take home for a fresh tossed salad.
Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
Page 25
Market on the Esplanade
Trail’s IncrEDIBLE Green Route map shows the business addresses and streets so anyone can find where the location of the planters.
Page 26
As soon as I got back to Trail in January, I sent out an email to Communities in Bloom and a few friends, and anybody that answered back positively I invited to a meeting here in my boardroom. Everybody was so positive to see how we could make something like this work in our community. We brainstormed and thought of different ways to approach it. That’s how we came up with edible landscapes and business-sponsored edible planters. We had to take into consideration that we had no money or endorsement from the City at that time. But the project has just blossomed since then. Basically, we are inviting people to explore our downtown and riverfront and pick produce from the planters. Anything left over will go to the food banks. Q. How did you get the downtown Trail businesses on board? A. When we started, we thought if we had 20 businesses we would be lucky. So far, we have 53 businesses in downtown and the Gulch that are committed to growing food this year. It’s been an amazing transformation throughout the community because I think people instinctively know that this is the right thing to do. We know this is not going to feed our entire community but what it’s going to do is start conversations and make people more aware about food sustainability and food security. I think that can only be a positive. Q. Have people elsewhere in the community pitched in to help launch the project? A. The premise is, “if you eat, you’re in.” What’s happened this year is there has been a lot of transference of knowledge. One of the great things is that people are so willing to help, that the project has become transgenerational. We have many older people who know how to garden that are now sharing their knowledge with others who are planting their very first vegetable garden. We even had some who went around town and looked at the locations of all the businesses and figured out the number of hours the sun would shine on that side of the street. Then they suggested what would be the best produce to plant in front of each particular
ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
store. From that information, we’ve made up a toolkit that tells each business what the best vegetable or herb is to grow in that amount of sun. Q. Are you worried about vandalism to the planters? A. What they found in Todmorden is that the rate of vandalism actually dropped. Part of what this project does is build community pride. We are rubbing shoulders and working side-by-side so age and education don’t matter. We are digging in and moving the manure together (laughs) so it doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor. It’s inclusive. And I think if you feel like you belong to something and that something is good, it can only increase community pride and bring everyone together. Q. Tell me about the “Green Route Map.” A. How it works is we have a map of the downtown and Gulch at the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce and at participating businesses. It shows business addresses and streets so anyone can take a tour through town to find where the edible planters are located. Many of the businesses are creating an experience with unique planters and lots of surprises. Everyone is doing so much more than we ever thought. But each planter will have a little sign that says, “Help yourself. Remember to wash your hands and veggies, and enjoy!” Q. Speaking about washing the produce, what’s your thoughts about Trail being an industrial city, and possible misconceptions of growing organically in this environment? A. I think we really have an advantage over other communities. We have been taught and have learned how to live and grow safely under the umbrella of Teck. We probably had to go through more than other communities because of where we are located. With the cleanup that has already happened in our environment by Teck, and the programs we have for soil remediation, there is no other community that does this. They continually test soil here and so much energy has already been put into it. I think we are fortunate in many ways because we are so conscious of our environment and know how to grow our food and take care of our produce once we pick it. Q. What’s your “explore our incrEDIBLE trail” hopes for this time next year? A. The project has been such a phenomenal community builder in the sense that people are starting to get to know one another. I think since January, I’ve gotten to know more people than I have in the last seven years. We are working together to build something that is beautiful and based on caring, sharing and kindness. So we hope to expand to neighbourhoods beyond Trail because we need each other when it comes to food sustainability and food security. For us, this is only the beginning.
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HAIL TO THE CHIEF
Donald Guthrie left his mark as a firefighter on Nelson and Rossland
D
onald Guthrie’s name isn’t well known today in Rossland or Nelson, but it should be. As fire chief in both cities, he was at the helm during several major crises and convinced the powers-that-be to build new halls and buy motorized equipment. Guthrie spent 13 years as a firefighter in his native Montreal, where he rose to the rank of captain. In 1899, at age 35, he was chosen from among 40 applicants to become Rossland’s chief after a previous man quit in a dispute with city council. According to Rosa Jordan and Derek Choukalos in Rossland: The First 100 Years, Guthrie’s leadership “greatly improved the skill and morale of Rossland’s volunteer firefighters,” and soon the brigade was winning competitions.
That same year, Guthrie was “considered most favourably” among shortlisted candidates to become fire chief of Toronto. He and his fiancee also married following a six-year engagement. Early in 1900, Rossland completed a magnificent brick fire hall on First Ave. and Queen St. with three large arched bays, stables, and upper floor living quarters. The building later doubled as city hall. There Guthrie led a force that included an assistant chief, two drivers, and four firefighters. In August 1902, fire destroyed the business section on both sides of Spokane St. between Columbia Ave. and First Ave., plus a number of homes. There was only one injury: Guthrie himself, who led his men inside the burning Burns block, and then jumped from a secondstory window. ➤
Clockwise from left: Nelson’s fire hall, built in 1912-13, was designed for horses but soon gave way to motorized engines. Courtesy Nelson Fire and Rescue Donald Guthrie as Rossland fire chief, 1901. Courtesy Rossland Museum & Archives Rossland’s fire hall, built in 1900, remains a landmark on First Ave and Queen St., although it is no longer the fire department’s home. Greg Nesteroff collection
Summer 2014 ROUTE 3
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The Rossland Miner reported that Guthrie hit some wires on the way down and was knocked out, but “soon recovered his senses and once more assumed charge of the battle, with a badly marked face.” In 1906, the city laid Guthrie off to cut costs. It’s unclear what he did for the next two years, but in late 1908 he was hired as chief in Nelson. However, he found the city’s fire hall at the corner of Victoria and Josephine “poorly located, unsanitary, and dilapidated,” and called for a replacement. It fell on deaf ears and Guthrie soon applied to become chief in Victoria — but his application was rejected because he wanted too much money. Guthrie’s darkest hour came when Nelson’s mayor suspended him, alleging that after being “absent from duty three or four days, hopelessly intoxicated” he had again fallen off the wagon. City council, however, reinstated him and he then made life difficult for the assistant chief and firefighter who reported his conduct. The mayor concluded Guthrie was exacting revenge and asked that council dismiss him — but they refused, so he remained on the job while the assistant chief quit instead.
Council decided to post the job and let Guthrie apply, but rather than let his pride be wounded further, he quit. It was only after receiving a 350-name petition in support of the beleaguered chief that council relented and Guthrie agreed to stay. In the summer of 1911, Nelson’s fire brigade was kept busy almost nightly as a fire bug targeted lumber yards, brothels, Chinatown, and even a toolshed next to the fire hall. The attacks peaked in September when the brewery and idle smelter burned on consecutive nights. A suspect was arrested and tried several times before finally being convicted of lighting a single fire. No doubt all this helped Guthrie convince council of the merits of a new hall. They wanted to put it on the same site as the existing building, but Guthrie insisted the corner of Ward and Latimer streets was the ideal location as it provided better access to the upper city. He won that argument and the fire department’s new brick home opened there in May 1913. Although designed for horses, within a year Guthrie further persuaded council the future of firefighting lay in automobiles. The
department took possession of its first engine in July 1914 and for the next decade, animals and machines worked side-by-side. In April 1921, Nelsonites were shocked by the headline “Chief Guthrie fails to rally.” “Nelson lost one of its most popular and respected civic employees and one of its most generous workers in patriotic and benevolent activities yesterday,” the story read. Guthrie suffered a brain abscess and couldn’t be saved despite an operation and “all the attention of doctors and special nurses.” He was 57. On the day of the funeral, stores and offices closed and flags flew at half mast. The procession to the Nelson cemetery stretched several blocks. The entire fire department accompanied the casket, which lay on a hose wagon under a huge mound of flowers. Guthrie’s legacies are the two fire halls built under his watch, although Rossland’s is no longer used for that purpose (it’s since been a museum, wine bar, coffee company, and condominium). But Nelson’s hall celebrated its centennial last year and is indisputably the oldest in B.C. still in use. Guthrie’s portrait hangs on an upper floor.
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ROUTE 3 Summer 2014
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