Unwind Magazine by Columbia Valley Pioneer

UnWIND 2018

55+ MOUNTAIN LIVING MAGAZINE UnWind

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UnWIND 55+ MOUNTAIN LIVING MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER/SALES MANAGER

Dean Midyette EDITOR

Steve Hubrecht STAFF WRITERS

Lorene Keitch, Erin Knutson ART DIRECTION & DESIGN

Justin Keitch, IgniteCreative.ca AD DESIGN

Emily Rawbon ADVERTISING SALES

Amanda Nason MAGAZINE NAME

Nicole Trigg, NETWAVES Communications MAGAZINE CONCEPT

Dean Midyette, Steve Hubrecht

N E W S PA P E R

Box 868, #8, 1008 – 8th Avenue, Invermere, B.C., V0A 1K0 Phone 250-341-6299 | Fax 1-855-377-0312 columbiavalleypioneer.com info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Contents 6 PUTTIN’ UP IN PARADISE Arnold Malone on finding Invermere

7 MOUNTAINS OF

GROWING POSSIBILITIES Get gardening

8 5 GREAT HIKES IN THE VALLEY Local hikers pick their favourite trails

12 WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE Lakes, rivers, wetlands and more

14 ALWAYS GOLDEN Resident profile: Doug Anakin

16 GEZELLIG KOPJE THEE

AT DROP BEAR RANCH Resident profile: Willem and Gee De Ruyter

18 THE CURATOR 20

Resident profile: Jami Scheffer

OUTER EXPRESSION OF INNER SPIRIT Resident profile: Alice Hale

22 THE MAGIC OF MONGOLIA Riding reindeer and hunting with eagles

24 THE ORIGINAL MOUNTAIN LIFESTYLE IMMIGRANT

This material, written or artistic, may not be reprinted or electronically reproduced in any way without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions and statements in articles, columns and advertising are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff of UnWind. It is agreed by any display advertiser requesting space that the owner’s responsibility, if any, for errors or omissions of any kind, is limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the space as occupied by the incorrect item and there shall be no liability in any event greater than the amount paid for the advertisement.

History: Conrad Kain

26 A LONG TRADITION

FOR BODY AND SOUL History: hot springs UnWind

Family portrait, wedding & commercial photographic services. 250.409.7404 | info@tracyconnery.com | www.tracyconnery.com

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Included in monthly rent. • Hearty, Home-style Meals • Safety & Security Monitoring • Shuttle Bus • Social Events & Recreational Activities • Maintenance • Housekeeping PLUS Access to Building Amenities: • Games Room • Library • Crafts Room • Family / Community Gathering Room • Mountain View Lounges • Spacious Dining Room • Spa Room

editor’s note Being 55 or older isn’t what it used to be, compared with even just a few generations ago. People in this demographic are these days more active and outdoorsy, more artistic, and more involved with their communities than ever before. And perhaps nowhere is this trend more evident than in the Columbia Valley. The number of 55+, 65+, and even 85+ year old valley residents who act (in a good way) just like their 20 year old counterparts is astounding. Check out the resident profiles on pages 14 through 21 to meet a small cross section of these inspiring people. Or just look at this image of 87 year old Doug Anakin ripping the slopes of Panorama during the resort’s closing day last spring. What better way to celebrate this demographic than with a 55+ mountain living magazine? In this inaugural issue of UnWind you’ll not only get to know a few lively locals who happen to be 55+, but also get some tips on five outstanding nearby hikes, suitable for any reasonably fit outdoors-lover, recommended by five different avid valley hikers (most of them 55+). There’s a scientific-environmental meditation on the central role of water in the life of the valley; advice on getting a garden going here; and historical looks at the legendary Conrad Kain and the valley’s renowned hot springs. Retired former MP Arnold Malone kicks off the Puttin’ Up in Paradise column, written each year by a different person who has moved to the valley to spend his or her 55+ years in the mountains. And in this year’s annual travel feature,

longtime Invermere resident Deanna Empey describes the utter magic of her recent visit to Mongolia. So put your feet up, grab a nice beverage or two, flip through these pages and UnWind. Steve Hubrecht, Magazine Editor

Tracy Connery

Justin Keitch

Kyla Brown

Lyle Grisedale

Deanna Empey

Dauna Ditson

Katie Watt

Nicole Trigg

Carol Gordon

Arnold Malone

Other contributors include Pat & Baiba Morrow, Joe Lucas, Janice Strong, Philip Boyer, Rob Orchiston, Ivan Petrov, Laurie Klassen, and Nancy Smith

Nikki Fredrikson

Kristin McCauley

Elizabeth Segstro

contributors UnWind

P U T T I N ’ U P I N PA R A D I S E

BY ARNOLD MALONE

t was luck that brought us to Invermere. Never once had we ever thought of leaving our home in the wonderful community of Camrose, Alberta. Yet, in July of 2007, feeling overwhelmed by busyness, we yearned for a short vacation. The question was, “Where to go?” Our vacation time was measured in teaspoons so we decided on Invermere since it was just a day’s drive away. Susan booked a bed and breakfast. That vacation provided five wonderful and interesting days scouring the valley and visiting shops. Invermere was an interesting location and the community was exceptionally kind. At our bed and breakfast, our hosts repeatedly expressed considerable concern about some unspecified happenings up a mountainside.

On our return to the sales house we spotted a house under construction and asked, “What is that house?” She responded, “That is my house and I am building it on spec.” We took the tour. The house was perched on a high slope. The shingles were on but there was no glass in the windows and no drywall on the interior, but the view down the valley was breathtaking. To cut to the end of this story we did not leave at 11 a.m. but rather at 7 p.m. with our initials on a contract. There was a $500 payment to take the house off the market. Thereafter, we had four more payments to make and if we made the final payment we were committed.

On our last day we intended to leave Invermere at 11 a.m. We left our bed and breakfast at 8 a.m. and I asked Susan, “Is there anything you might still want to see in the valley?”

It was a strange seven-hour drive home. There were repeating periods of short spurts of rapid-fire conversation followed by long distances of thoughtful silence.

Susan said, “Let’s go up that mountainside to see what was bothering our hosts.”

We were pondering the swiftness of choice versus the possibility of a new adventure.

We entered CastleRock and saw many mountain styled homes and we were curious as to what these homes might look like on the inside. The only way to satisfy that curiosity – and that is all it was – was to pretend to be interested buyers. So, off we went to the sales office with inquisitive intent.

Our one summer vacation turned into a series of weekend trips to view construction and evaluate our doubts. We made the final payment.

The gregarious saleslady drove us to some show homes and described various rules if we were to buy a lot and build. We viewed several homes and many building sites. That process excited our imagination.

Finding Invermere

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This valley has a great first impression and an immense capacity to tighten her grip. We now have two places that feel like home but we are very glad to be here. This valley is quiet and peaceful. It is not the bustle of larger centres and it has a sense of community and therefore a place to call home. The First Nations folks observed correctly, “The mountains will bring you peace.”

OUTDOORS

Mountains of growing possibilites BY NIKKI FREDRIKSON

estled between the Purcell and the Rocky Mountains lies the Columbia Valley, a vast area that has endless opportunities for any gardener. Whether you’re a novice just starting with a few mint and basil plants on your back deck or an expert with an entire garden full of vegetables and herbs, the valley is a great spot to learn and grow, pun intended. Groundswell Network Society board chair Dale Wilker says that, in the valley, there’s no one single day that you should start to plant your vegetables, as every plant species follows its own timeline. Plants such as root crops can be placed earlier in the season, while spinach and kale should be planted before the last frost, and a great many plants need to go in after that final frost. There are also no hard and fast rules on how late you can keep your plants growing in the fall. While cool weather plants do well in the Columbia Valley, other vegetables such as tomatoes can be a bit of a challenge. But this is something that gardeners are increasingly overcoming through the use of homemade mini-greenhouses. Some may think that the comparatively brisk weather of a mountain community may be the greatest obstacle to a thriving garden, but according to Dale it’s something else entirely. “The biggest challenge is our soil type. We have a fairly fine, silty soil that doesn’t have a lot of organic matter in it. So building that up (into a better soil) is the key for most gardeners. If you put all your effort into the soil and into getting the right biology happening down below the surface, then your plants will really benefit from that,” says Dale, adding that in terms of particular tips, putting organic material from compost into your soil and keeping your soil aerated can go a long way. If you’re just thinking about getting into gardening, start small and don’t be afraid to experiment. As Dale points out, you can grow everything and anything, even on the balcony of an apartment. “Work on learning about soil and how to build up good soil and that will solve 90 per cent of your problems,” says Dale. So get outside, enjoy the views, experiment and get your thumb a little green. UnWind

B Y K AT I E W AT T | K AT I E W AT T & KRISTIN MCCAULEY PHOTOS

ife, while complex, is much like the simplicity of a flower. The flower cannot exist without the sun to feed it, the earth to provide nutrients, and the weather to replenish it. When all the components are added together, it is not just a flower, but a mass of all that allows it to exist. However, it is our tendency to view it as individual, when in reality it requires the energy of light as much as its soft petals to be whole. The same can be said for humans; what are we without our relationships? Where would we be without a home for shelter or food to fuel us throughout the day? And, as it is the root of all life, where would we be without water? Water, as we all know, is a necessity in our lives, and it is an essential ingredient to all of our needs and wants. As children we were aware of the basic role it played in our routine: become thirsty, drink; get dirty, shower. But the function of water extends well beyond washing and relieving thirst, and perhaps it’s because we are so used to having it at our disposal, especially living next to Lake Windermere, that we often take it for granted. Consider your average weekend in mid-August, for example. You wake up late, and with a sleepy feeling still swimming in your head, you make the transition from bed to kitchen for a cup of coffee. You take a sip of your standard 125 millilitre cup that requires 130 litres of water to produce, and take a generous bite of apple that requires 125 litres to grow. Soon, you see the sun begin to peek over the mountains’ spines. Setting your cup aside, you decide that it’s a good morning for a kayak on Lake Windermere.

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As you move along the path from upland to shoreline, you cross through an area called the riparian zone. This area is an essential component in the lives of up to 90 per cent of fish and animal species. It is an area rich in plant life, and perhaps you may see a bird’s nest or two on your way out. You launch your kayak at a public beach, and slowly paddle your way towards the wetlands. On your way fish nip the water’s surface for unsuspecting insects, boats rented from local businesses begin to appear, and millions of tiny organisms that help keep our water source safe for drinking oxygenate its contents. So many important processes are occurring all around you, yet so many of them do not attract attention to the human eye. As you reach the wetlands, you begin to notice movement up ahead. Eagles, herons, osprey, and more appear to coexist and populate your surrounding. While they may seem like they’re the only inhabitants, they are just a few of the 260 bird species that call the Columbia Wetlands home. After resting for awhile, and maybe even attempting to get a photo of the eagles, you decide to turn back. Slowly, you paddle back along the Columbia River that will traverse through one province and two states, accounts for more than 40 per cent of the United States’ hydroelectric power generation, and is the fourth largest river in North America. While you may not have realized it at the time, everything you just experienced was not possible without water. Water is the one thing that every living thing relies on for survival, and more importantly it plays a role in all aspects of our lives. The eagles outside our windows could not exist without the fish they rely on for a food source, and in turn the fish could not survive without the lake they rely on as habitat; there would be no town without tourism from Lake Windermere, and a kayak on water is much more fun than one on dry land. Water weaves throughout our lives, especially in the Columbia Valley, and connects us like a thread. Without it we would have nothing, know nothing, and be nothing. It is essential to us, and it’s important that we give it the respect it deserves by keeping pollutants away from it, and making a real effort to keep it healthy. Like a flower, we do not exist independent from anything else; water makes us who we are as much as our friends and family around us do, and for us to live a fulfilled and happy life, we need to treat it that way. UnWind

s e k i h t a e r g THE VALLEY IN

LUXOR-PINNACLE One of the best hikes we did this year came at the end of summer, when we were in top shape. Which is just as well, because this ridge walk, one of a dozen or more unrecorded possibilities visible from the Columbia Valley, was grueling. We drove nearly to treeline in Luxor Creek drainage, and with a minimum amount of bushwhacking, gained the ridgeline in a couple of hours. Spectacular views into Kootenay National Park on the one side, and of the rugged profile of the

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snow crested Purcell Range on the other, carried us along the undulating route on game trails to Pinnacle Creek where we had stashed a second vehicle. A couple of highlights: melted out grizzly tracks in the September snow, and the haunting sound of howling wolves wafting up from a subalpine meadow at the headwaters of the Kootenay River.

Ben Abel Lake autumn splendour. © Joe Lucas

BEN ABEL LAKE BY JOE LUCAS

Ben Abel Lake is a seldom-visited lake in the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy. While you could get to the lake and back in a day, it would be a truly long day (10-12 hours) and might turn a pleasant hiking experience into a forced march. The times I have been in there, I have made it a three-day, two-night affair. While there are a few different ways to Ben Abel, I think the best is through Brewer Basin, using that area as a base camp. It is a short two-hour hike to the two main Brewer lakes. Leave your heavy overnight gear here the first day and give yourself a full day to get to Ben Abel Lake and back on the second day. On the third day you have a quick easy hike out. Norm Funnell surveys the route on the Luxor-Pinnacle Ridgewalk. © Pat Morrow

RIDGEWALK B Y PAT A N D B A I B A M O R R O W

Our median age was 60, but a “trail-less” hike like this needs to be approached with respect, no matter your age and level of experience. Route-finding skills are necessary.

Pat and Baiba are Wilmer residents who have hiked, climbed, biked and skied around the world, and are engaged in conservation efforts here in the headwaters of the Columbia. See www.wildsight.ca/ branches/invermere.

Aaron Cameron and Matt Gunn have a description of Ben Abel in Hikes around Invermere. There is a slight variation to their route that can save you 300 to 500 metres of elevation gain, and loss, but you’d lose the spectacular view coming off a small peak down to the lake. It is hard to imagine a more tranquil setting for a leisurely lunch. Make sure you hike along the east side of the lake, and if there is time, up to the ridge at the far end of the lake. While there are bits of trails along the way, there is no one trail to the lake, so route-finding skills are needed. With all the up and down, and the route finding involved, it is not an easy hike, but well worth it. It is a great hike any time of year, but when the larch turn colour in the fall, it is particularly spectacular.

Joe Lucas is a retired local high school math teacher and long-time Invermere resident. He has been on pretty much every hiking trail in the Columbia Valley, as well as quite a few local hikes without a trail.

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Tom Hoyne, Baiba Morrow, and Chris and Shelagh Wrazej take in the Lake of the Hanging Glacier from above, at a viewpoint halfway to Glacier Dome. © Pat Morrow

LAKE OF THE HANGING GLACIER

BY PHILIP BOYER

This is a recent favourite. It’s a good challenge and a bit of a long day for the less experienced hiker, but between the hike itself and the destination, it is well worth it. What I love about this hike is the diversity in the terrain. A cool, clear creek marks the beginning of the climb and thick forest provides much needed shade for most of the hike in the hot summer sun — a terrific asset considering the distance of the trail, which consistently gains in elevation. As it starts getting tough, there are a couple of well-placed spots to rest offering waterfall views and a gentle misting to cool off.

Philip Boyer lives in Columere Park, and enjoys all the outdoor activities the Columbia Valley offers. He is co-developer of the cvtrails.ca app and website.

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Upon approaching the lake, you get to enjoy a break from the climb as well as a beautiful walk through high alpine meadows. A rocky expanse welcomes you to the water’s edge, a great place for lunch, and plenty of rocks big enough to stretch out a little for a pre-descent snooze. There are options to extend the hike, by bushwhacking up nearby slopes to gain a view from above, or by following the rocky shoreline. © Pat Morrow

Baiba Morrow on the Mt. Bruce trail amid early autumn larch trees. © Pat Morrow

MT. BRUCE BY ROB ORCHISTON

An hour’s drive gets you up high quickly into the subalpine behind Wilmer. This makes a nice one and a half hour run (return) or a two to three hour hike. The trail starts steeply, before entering the forest and immediately crossing a stream, which is your best bet for water. A notched log “pipe” helps to fill your water bottle. Climb sharply beside a rocky moraine, through large trees, and then cut across some shale, before ascending through thinning trees. The trails opens out over some interesting scree and then pulls up suddenly onto a plateau. Take note of the marker trees, as you must descend at this exact spot and the trail is not well marked from this point. Look for the odd cairn as you walk, eventually you roll over the crest of the hill, and are rewarded with gorgeous views over Lake Windermere, Invermere and Lake Enid. You’ll even be looking down on a tiny Mt. Swansea.

Invermere resident Rob Orchiston hikes, bikes, climbs and paddles the Columbia Valley backcountry as much as possible. He is co-developer of the cvtrails.ca app and website. Check out his cvtails. ca description of Mt. Bruce at http://cvtrails.ca/ trails/150.

Silent Pass dotted with mid-summer wildflowers. © Janice Strong photography

SILENT PASS BY JANICE STRONG

Silent Pass is one of my favourite Columbia Valley summertime hikes. A good hiking trail leads to a shallow tarn (Silent Lake) near the base of the Spillimacheen Glacier. A medley of multi-coloured wildflowers, tiny creeks, and open alpine views surround you, as you are straddling the high-country divide between the East and West Kootenay of the Purcell Mountains. Hike through mature forest and dramatic mountain vistas to reach the scenic, alpine tundra around Silent Pass. An additional challenge awaits you with the option of climbing Silent Mountain. Begin the trail from the south end of the McMurdo Forest Service Road and ascend through a variety of terrains.

Janice Strong is a Cranbrook-based outdoor photographer and author of the Mountain Footsteps Selected Hikes in the East Kootenay guidebook (fourth edition to be released in spring). See more on janicestrong.com.

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DOUG

ANAKIN

BY LORENE KEITCH | TRACY CONNERY PHOTOS

oug Anakin’s basement is a treasure trove of history. Family photos paint the rec room fridge. Tributes to his sports achievements, accolades for his teaching career, and mementos from his volunteer efforts argue for attention over the stacks of photo albums and scrapbooks detailing a life lived in full. A faded black and white image shows Doug and his teammates celebrating their gold medal victory in the four-man bobsled at the 1964 Olympics. As he talks, a steady stream of home movies plays in the background: his two girls playing in a backyard snow cave; warming hands by a campfire; raucous house parties in their garage, dubbed ‘the Doug House’; his wife Mary Jean dancing on the table and Doug playing his ukulele, entertaining a cluster of friends. A particular clip prompts memories of cross-country skiing in the woods behind their old house in Quebec, and tapping trees to harvest 25 gallons of maple syrup each spring. At 87, Doug might be considered old but he’s a long way from done. The day we met, Doug was recovering from a full day of cross-country skiing at Lake Louise. Conditions were wet, he admits, but it was a great day. Last year, he only got in 20 days of cross-country skiing and 80 days of downhill. By late November, he’d already gotten in three days of each so far this season, and is aiming for many more. Today he’s taking it easy, at least by his own standards, heading to Fairmont Hot Springs in the afternoon for one of his near-daily swims. Tomorrow he plans to grab his trusty 3-Wood club and hit the closed golf course for a few swings.

RESIDENT PROFILE

“ At 87, Doug might be considered old but he’s a long way from done” The ‘Doug Anakin golf method’ is to hit multiple balls down the fairway and putt each one in the hole, all with the same club. His eyes crinkle with delight when he says it is a much faster way to golf, allowing him to play 36 holes in the same time his friends play 18. Doug is a familiar face to most in the Columbia Valley, be it on the golf courses, ski slopes, or the hiking and biking trails. He can often be seen pedalling Invermere’s quiet streets on summer evenings, and he’s developed a reputation as an ardent Jumbo Wild supporter, waving placards and penning letters to the editor throughout the long battle. He grew up in Chatham, Ontario, with a penchant for adventure and an eye for the ladies. Early photo albums depict a parade of pretty girls, parties, outdoor adventures, and customized cars. His first car – a Model T — was painted in bold primary colours and emblazoned with the slogan, ‘Girls who smoke, throw your butts in here’. Doug’s father worked in a factory his whole life and Doug knew he wanted something different. He became a teacher, one who keenly passed on his love of sports and the outdoors to generations of students. He was also an avid traveler, exploring Europe by motorcycle and climbing the famed Matterhorn. His sporting career hit a high with the gold in Innsbruk, Austria in 1964 (“When you’re a young guy, you just want to go fast. We wanted to sled and have fun,” he remembers), and the unknown, upstart team’s world-beating performance saw Doug and his teammates later inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. Not long after the Olympics, he met Mary Jean and decided to settle down. He likens getting married to fishing: “You got one on the hook, you grab it.”

The hook caught, clearly quite well. The couple celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary this past summer, having spent many active years in the outdoors, raising their two children, and now watching their grandchildren grow. In 1992 Doug retired and the couple built a house in the valley. Through the past 25 years, Doug has helped launch many initiatives here, including a hiking group and the Mountain Friends program at Panorama Mountain Resort. He’s also an active member of the Invermere Lions Club and the Legion. For Doug life out here remains fantastic. “You know you can look back, when you’re old and decrepit, and you can look back at the memories,” he reflects. UnWind

WILLEM & GEE

DE RUYTER

BY STEVE HUBRECHT | TRACY CONNERY PHOTOS

he Dutch language contains a word gezellig (roughly pronounced HUH-ZELL-ICK), that just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be translated into English.

Dutch-English dictionaries certainly try, giving the meaning, variously, as cozy or convivial, or relating to the feeling of togetherness that comes with friends, family or good company. But that only paints half the picture, and the rest is hard to define. But fret not, to get a sense of exactly what the word means, valley residents need only drive up Toby Creek Road onto the Toby Benches, pull off at a small sign reading Drop Bear Ranch,

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just before Lake Lillian, and spend an afternoon with Willem and Gee De Ruyter. Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gezellig. Visitors to Drop Bear Ranch wend up a gravel driveway and park somewhere amid the eclectic fleet of largely stationary old vehicles (an ancient Land Rover, a vintage Airstream trailer, and a classic rusty tractor, among others), their arrival usually heralded by a veritable pack of friendly hounds. Willem and Gee are but one generation of their family in the valley, and on any given day their daughter Catrien, son-in-law Dylan, and grandkids Jack and Tess will be over visiting. Son Nick, daughter-in-law Lauren, and their kids Sophie and baby

RESIDENT PROFILE Sit down and have a cup of tea (kopje thee in Dutch) and cookies on the ranch’s front lawn (take care not to put the cookies within reach of Ninja or the dogs, though), grab a frisbee and give the family’s homemade disc golf course a try, or check out the latest project under construction. There’s always something going on and amid the cheerful bustle, it’s hard not to feel immediately at home. The couple has been living on the Benches for a decade and a half, but it often seems it must have been much longer, given how many people pop by their place. But then that’s what happens when you’re as involved with the community as Willem and Gee, whose list of volunteer initiatives is long indeed (highlights include helping set up the local Special Olympics branch, the Panorama Adaptive Snow Sports program, and Gee’s longstanding work with the local Options for Sexual Health Clinic). In fact, they began helping out even before they technically arrived in the valley: they were in the process of moving here, met an Invermere resident on the flight to Calgary, befriended him and then gave him a ride to the valley. “We like to give back as much as possible,” says Gee with characteristic understatement. All this Willem and Gee manage to squeeze in while marshalling at Greywolf Golf Course in the summer and being Mountain Friends at Panorama in the winter. So what if most of their coworkers are roughly a third their age? They get along with their 20-something year old colleagues like a house on fire (they’re all living the same ski bum mountain lifestyle after all), and the jobs come with big perks — free rounds of golf and free skiing. And, to be sure, the couple are out ripping the slopes and swinging their clubs as much as anybody else. “Golf and skiing, these are things for which you should never pay,” Willem is fond of saying, with a sly wink. “This is living the dream, to be outside as much as possible. We love playing outdoors,” adds Gee. “It’s beautiful here in the summer and the winter. It never gets old.” The De Ruyters are originally from the Netherlands, but Willem’s international banking career saw the family living in New York, Japan, Australia and Ontario, before the couple decided to pack it all in, head to the mountains, and set up at Drop Bear Ranch.

Willem (who live Canmore) are frequently on site too, as are an ever-revolving cast of friends, family, acquaintances and pets. Ninja the pig (former star of the Panorama petting zoo) may be snorting around in the underbrush, a whole brood of chickens will come clucking by, and until he recently passed away, Tumbleweed the horse would come trotting up for a “hello” nuzzle. “We are big suckers for animals. If it’s a horse or a dog or a pig, or whatever, that needs a home, they somehow seem to know where to find it — with us,” says Gee, with a chuckle, adding that the couple’s first potbellied pig, Sherlock, all 70 kilograms of him, actually ended up flying in an airplane along with Gee and Catrien.

So where exactly does the ranch name come from? Rumour has it that a mysterious and fearsome local creature, the drop bear, lurks in the upper branches of the trees surrounding the ranch, and attacks by dropping on unsuspecting victims. Warnings about this dreadful animal are delivered by the De Ruyter family with a straight face, and younger guests at the ranch have been known to scour the forest floor for evidence of drop bear impact craters. Indeed at one point even an adult visitor (ahem, Brent Wilson) was nervously glancing up over his shoulders (“I initially had doubts, but it actually was pretty convincing,” says Brent, in defence). “It began as a joke, but now it’s started to have its own legacy,” says Gee, with another chuckle. That legacy is now emblazoned on the ranch’s entrance sign, a testament to the fun-loving nature of those who live there. UnWind

RESIDENT PROFILE

The Curator JAMI SCHEFFER

BY DAUNA DITSON & STEVE HUBRECHT TRACY CONNERY PHOTOS

hen the mood strikes her, Jami Scheffer heads down to the Toby Creek bridge with her Australian labradoodle Roscoe, walking the river bank.

She gathers river stones, driftwood, maybe a feather or an animal bone, and perhaps a rusty old car part from one of the corroded hulks of former vehicles dumped near the creek decades ago. These she then assembles, thoughtfully, carefully, artfully arranging them into whimsical, nature-based rock sculptures. Sometimes the creations stand for a day or two before, for one reason or another, they cease to be. Others last weeks, even months. But for Jami that’s not the point. It’s all about the cre-

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ative process of making them. “It’s hard to explain. But it fills my cup,” says Jami. “My mind is empty when I’m in the bush, and that opens it up for creativity. When you stand back (when the sculpture is done), there’s a feeling of completeness.” Jami is a familiar face to many local residents as the executive director of the Columbia Valley Arts Council and de facto doyenne of the Invermere arts scene, but she curates much more than just the Arts Council’s gallery at Pynelogs, filling her home with all sorts of found items that are full of stories. “I don’t buy anything new,” she says. “There’s so much beauty in something that’s not new. It’s something that has a history.”

This is a habit she comes by honestly, with her earliest creative memories stretching back to her mother continually rearranging their house in Kimberley while the rest of the family slept. “We would wake up in the morning and the couch was in a different place and the dining room was in a different room, and it was always crazy,” says Jami, adding this is something she herself now regularly does. “I change my whole house around, change rooms around. The dining room doesn’t always have a dining room table. Sometimes it becomes a craft room or something odd. There are no rules.” Jami’s dad, who moved to Canada from the Netherlands in the 1950s, influenced her as well, sparking in her a love of the outdoors. “He really taught me to be in the bush. I think coming from a small European country, he just fell in love with all the open, wild spaces here,” says Jami, adding that as a young kid she was forever driving down logging roads with him, just to find out where they went. The effect was lasting, and these days, when not wrapped up in the latest arts happening, Jami is apt to be found mountain biking, standup paddle boarding, or simply out for a stroll in the forest. For Jami the outdoors and art are inextricably linked. “Nature is creation,” she says of the connection. “Everything falls away and there’s such a pleasure in that simpleness of it. Like finding a rock that has so many striations in it or colours or the shape of it or whatever. I can study that for so long and just love it. And that’s the same with a painting.” Jami left Kimberley for the coast as a young adult. She lived in Pemberton, just north of Whistler, where her kids (now adults) were born, before returning to the Columbia Valley 14 years ago, settling in Invermere, and “falling into” her position

as the valley’s full-time arts champion. After twelve years, the role fits her so well she is reluctant to use the words “work” or “job”. Instead she considers her efforts a delight. Jami’s faithful sidekick Roscoe is almost as well-known around town as she is, and is, as often as not, racing alongside Jami as she bikes the local trails — his brown shaggy curls bouncing — or perched contentedly, if somewhat precariously, on the bow of her standup paddle board. “He’s quite a lot like Kramer from Seinfeld. He’s got that crazy hair, and moves the same way, rushing around and kind of bopping about in a way that basically says ‘look at me’,” says Jami. “He’s a lot of fun, even if he does like to find deer legs on our walks and then try to lick me.” Then there’s Izzy, Jami’s trademark goldenrod orange-yellow Volkswagen van, frequently spotted chugging cheerily around Invermere or sitting genially parked outside Pynelogs. The vintage vehicle was a staple sight for years, but recently finished its stint in the valley, having been sold to a couple in Hawai’i about a year ago. Jami, however, has already replaced it with another classic, acquiring an old school Trillium trailer. “I’m going to camp a lot in it,” she says, adding, “it’s not just cars. Pretty much everything in my house is vintage. I just love the old style.” And style, whether old or new, is something Jami has an eye for in spades. While she mainly helps professional artists, she also spends time encouraging amateur artists and even those who feel they are abjectly not artists. Jami will confide to them that she can’t even draw a stick figure, adding that that doesn’t matter. “There are a lot of ways of being creative,” she says. “Everyone has something in them that wants to express itself… It’s just a matter of looking deep inside and finding what that creative thing is. It might be as simple as when you make a nice meal and how you put the food on the plate.” It’s a fitting outlook for somebody who is every inch a curator, of artwork and of life. UnWind

RESIDENT PROFILE

An outer expression of inner spirit ALICE HALE

BY NICOLE TRIGG | KYLA BROWN PHOTOS

lice Hale’s excitement around creating pottery is infectious. It’s hard to keep up with the spry 83-yearold artist as she darts around her studio, located in Invermere on a rural piece of property on Westside Road. Picking up pottery piece after pottery piece, each at various stages of the creative process, and exclaiming over their unique shapes and colours, Alice is a fountain of energy who still finds tremendous joy in her favourite pastime and doesn’t hesitate to share it. Only when asked what drives her passion for pottery does she pause, but just for a heartbeat. “It’s very creative. If I make a bowl… (holding one up, she adopts a serious tone)… I’ve never made one exactly like this before and I’ve been making bowls for 30 years, so each piece is special.” Alice was one of five children born to a Mennonite couple from Russia who arrived in Canada and settled in Saskatchewan. While Alice’s father was a straight-talking preacher who

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was unpopular among his Mennonite brethren for his direct manner, he was also a poet and writer, penning sermons and two books – a creative streak that possibly gave rise to Alice’s own artistic drive. “All the way through school I was always interested in the art class. Not so much in drawing or painting because I wasn’t good at it, but in creating things.” When Alice was 11, her family moved to B.C.’s Fraser Valley. She went on to attend the University of British Columbia, earning her teaching certificate and continuing to take art classes. Though first and foremost a high school English literature teacher, Alice’s affinity for art could not be suppressed and would go on to shape her teaching career. “It was amazing. When I went to get teaching jobs at schools, I always got the art classes, too.” Alice accepted her first teaching job in Powell River, where she ventured into pottery-making for the first time; then head-

ed off to Europe, where she ended up working in the pottery section of a large department store in London, England as part of her travels. “But I was just barely starting with pottery in those days,” she reminisces. “I didn’t really make anything until I came to the Columbia Valley.” In the late 1960s, with teaching offers in Golden, Invermere and Cranbrook, Alice decided to visit each community. As soon as she arrived in Invermere, she knew it was where she wanted to be and, as fate would have it, another important storyline in her life began to immediately unfold. “I met my husband the first day I was in Invermere. We were both staying in the hotel in town, and I walked across the lobby and a man was looking at me, and I was looking at him. I married him. One year later.” Settled in Invermere, Alice’s passion for pottery began in earnest, thanks to a neighbour who was a serious potter and mentored her. As the years went by and her family and pottery-making grew, Alice decided she needed her own studio, which she and her husband built adjacent to their home in the 1980s. “I remember doing a lot of it myself,” says Alice, fondly looking around the studio space she still uses today for her business, Caraway Pottery. Her tools include a gas kiln (a massive brick structure she built herself), an electric kiln, a humble pottery wheel station, shelves upon shelves of supplies and a gas-fired Raku kiln outside that she uses when the weather isn’t too cold.

“It’s very creative work. Have you ever seen a vase like this?” Picking up a delightfully shaped vase with unusually sunken sides, she giggles. “It was just fun making it! I had to cut it up and put it together to get that shape. And something like this (pointing to a piece that resembles an urn from Roman times), where do you ever see something like this? It’s just a pure creation.” After her husband passed, Alice’s combined love for pottery and travel took her on more adventures, the evidence of which appears in her studio’s display area marked “Not for Sale” and includes pieces she made in Africa, China and Nepal. Alice points them out one by one before stopping at one misshapen attempt that seems out of place compared with the rest. “That’s the very first thing I ever made,” she laughs. “It looks so amazing.” “I really enjoy my history of clay.” UnWind

the magic of Mongolia TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DEANNA EMPEY

didn’t know what “soft” was until I rode a reindeer. An incredible sensation was discovered. They have soft and fuzzy coats, and hooves that splay when they walk, all a part of the softness, which became a feeling of “silk”. The sound, “Ahhh” comes through me to explain the sensation. Truly a magical experience. The nomadic Tsaatan People (known as “the reindeer people”) live in the taiga region of northern Mongolia. Like the reindeer, they are gentle, calm peaceful people living with very little in an unforgiving environment. Their days are about survival, focused on their families, and their reindeer. Life though difficult is managed with a steady ease. They don’t worry about tomorrow, the weather, having or not having. It’s about the “now”. Their summer home is a happy place of people moving about doing chores, popping into tipis gathering around the fire, sharing some food and reindeer tea, visiting, then carrying on to do something else. Always smiles to share and never in a hurry, taking time to enjoy the moments. Arriving unannounced, we were quickly welcomed into their world; it was as though we had previously met and were back

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again. We were taken into the warmth of the elders’ tipi, given reindeer tea, and a bowl — of some sort of meat, fat, and dough balls — was passed around for all to enjoy. Their genuine care was evident. We were then given a tipi of our own, to enjoy the experience of freezing and sleeping on logs. We quickly jumped on that offer. They kindly got our little fire going to ward off some of the frosty air and left us, saying we could join them in the main tipi at any time (oh, we were so grateful for all our own down-filled items). There was enough wood for the night and the morning, no more, no less; the Tsaatan idea of living for today was quite evident. The morning sunrise came and along with it the stoking of fires, milking the reindeer, breakfast, then the herders and reindeer were off to graze for the day. The kids played while mom and grandma prepped food, showed us their crafts, shared smiles and took whatever the day brought forward, in stride. Truly a happy life, simplicity and togetherness. The adventures eventually took us to the western part of Mongolia, the Bayan Olgii area, where the Kazakh (eagle hunting) people live. Here we met Siil and his eagle. He and his family had just made a 150 kilometre journey from their summer home to their winter home. Carrying their ger (a yurtlike dwelling, typically made with felt or animal skins lashed

T R AV E L

weighed about 12 kilograms). Siil gently came over and took off her little mask (which keeps the eagle calm and from being on the hunt). In that instant it was obvious the relationship these two have. They seemed to look into each other’s eyes with knowingness. The powerful and intense eyes of the eagle were balanced by Siil’s calm eyes, his deep smile and gentle demeanour. They have spent six years learning and working together. Siil has been this eagle’s mother, seemingly caring for her as he would his children.

over latticework) and all they own, packed on their camel, and two horses. Despite this long journey and all that is needed to unpack, Sill greeted us with his gentle happy smile and the pleasure of spending time showing us his eagle and how they work together. I decided then and there that I can leave this life now. I can’t imagine what experience can top this, first the reindeer riding, now holding... a Golden Eagle. Oh my goodness. There was an awareness of feeling both cautious and exhilarated. Those talons are huge, and that beak is intimidating. I was so excited. Kneeling down beside the eagle it was as big as me (she

Kazakh people have used eagles to hunt with for hundreds of years. The long cold, snowy winters are difficult. Having the eagles’ keen skills enables the people to potentially have more food and pelts for their survival. The nomadic Mongolians’ hard life is made easier with the symbiotic relationships they have with their animals. They rely on each other for their simple existence. The beautiful people of Mongolia may not have much for choice but therefore they don’t have the suffering of modern society. The choices they do make are: they believe, find joy and peace in their life. It’s truly a heartful way of living. UnWind

The original mountain lifestyle immigrant CONRAD KAIN

BY LORENE KEITCH PHOTOS BY IVAN PETROV & COURTESY OF THE WINDERMERE DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

onrad Kain was a visionary and trailblazer in the world of climbing and the story of the mountains surrounding the Columbia Valley cannot be told without him. His cairns marked peaks across the Rockies and Purcells; his exploits and many first ascents are legendary; and his name is hallowed among the valley’s outdoor community. But who was the man behind the myth? Conrad had gumption and guts aplenty, and was stubborn at times, but always for good reason. He understood the class system he was born into but refused to let it define him. He was born in Nasswald, Austria, a small mountain village, in 1883, and as a youngster helped tramps looking for work find shortcuts through the hills (his first guiding experiences). Conrad’s father died in a mining accident in 1892, leaving him, the eldest son, to support his mother and five siblings. He left school, became a goatherd, then hit the road in search of better work. It was a hard life; at one point he was so hungry he stole bread, at other times he poached chamoix from national parks, acts that, even years later, weighed heavily on his conscience.

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The Bugaboo Spire Centennial Climb (here and above right) re-enacted Conrad Kain’s epic first ascent. © Ivan Petrov

Eventually professional guiding (which he turned to in 1904) gave Conrad a hand out of poverty and he soon garnered a loyal cache of clients, who frequently preferred taking Conrad with them to new destinations, instead of hiring local guides there. This created friction between Conrad and the local guides, who didn’t want an interloper leading climbers into ‘their territory’. But it was hard to argue with Conrad’s stellar track record. He had a boundless sense of humour, which was on fine display the day that, sitting on train dressed in climbing attire, a fellow passenger asked him if he knew of the famed guide Conrad Kain .

HISTORY “Certainly, I’m well acquainted with him,” Conrad drolly responded, never letting the jig up that he was indeed one and the same Conrad Kain that the passenger then proceeded to talk about for the duration of the train trip. He was happiest in nature, writing time and again of the joy found in alpine meadows, atop mountain peaks or in glowing sunsets. In 1909 Conrad left Austria, destined for Banff, Alberta. Conrad’s historic climbing feats in Canada are too many to list, but perhaps most notably he made the first ascents of Mount Robson, Mount Louis and Bugaboo Spire. Conrad conquered Bugaboo Spire in 1916 via a seemingly impossible steep granite ridge. In 2016, four climbers recreated the famous climb, wearing period-appropriate clothing and using 100-year old equipment, and in the process gained even more respect for the pioneering guide. Climber and history buff Brian Thomsen was behind the centennial climb, which was filmed and turned into a documentary Hobnails and Hemp Rope. “Conrad Kain was atypical of most mountain guides of his day,” Brian shares. “He just had this passion for going into the

outdoors to places where no one else had gone, and to go up incredible new peaks.” Conrad settled in Wilmer, making him possibly the Columbia Valley’s first mountain lifestyle immigrant. When he wasn’t guiding, he spent time hunting, trapping, and fishing. In 1917 Conrad married a widow with two children of her own. The early 1920s saw Conrad raising mink, marten, and chinchilla rabbits with his wife Hetta on their Wilmer farm, taking hunting parties out with a pack-train, and earning money as he could from the mountains. He loved his wife and, when she died in February 1933, he was devastated.

That summer he went on a few climbing trips with old friends, bagging Mt. Louis for the third time on his 50th birthday. What turned out to be his final ascents were made in August 1933 into the Bugaboos. He became ill in December of that year and died in the Cranbrook hospital in February 1934. Conrad’s legacy, however, lives on, memorialized in many spots throughout the valley, including the Alpine Club of Canada-run hut at the foot of Bugaboo Spire. “He was such a humble person, he never bragged about his mountaineering achievements,” says Wilmer resident and Conrad Kain expert Pat Morrow, adding that although famous

in climbing circles, Conrad was not well-known in the general community. “He had all these different ways of making a living, and the mountaineering aspect of it was so esoteric that no one here, especially in those days, really understood what the sport was all about anyway.” The man will be forever remembered, not just for what he did, but for how he did it, with his friend J. Monroe Thorington writing that, “Conrad’s approach to mountains was first and foremost an esthetic one; he saw a peak first as something beautiful—the technical problem was always secondary—and nothing counted beside that vision.” UnWind

Hot springs, A LONG TRADITION

FOR BODY &

HISTORY

SOUL

BY CAROL GORDON

he history of the Columbia Valley hot springs dates back much further than the faded black and white photographs around the valley attest to. The local First Nations have been using Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs and Lussier Hot Springs for centuries and for much more than simply splashing around and having a good time. Akisqnuk (–akis“nuk) First Nation Chief Alfred Joseph shares a bit of hot springs history: “our tribe had always used the hot springs, all of them in the Columbia Valley and including Banff, for medicine, and they were utilized for physical healing or spirit connection. When they went there it wasn’t just to have a bath. They had a purpose to go there to ask for healing physically or to reconnect to spirit. There were other places too, but these were speciality healing spots.” Chief Joseph recalls “it was like the guardian angel and (it) would help you. It wasn’t this invisible thing that would just follow you around but was something to help you attain what you were here for (your purpose on earth). So that’s what the hot springs were used for. Even though there were a lot of different difficulties in one’s life, it really was something that they understood they had to go through. It wasn’t all euphoria and happiness.” “There were different challenges in people’s lives, as there are today, and they just needed to go to the hot springs to remind themselves (and) reaffirm the existence of help,” says Chief Joseph.

The Akisqnuk (–akis“nuk), a member of the Ktunaxa (–amak–is) Nation, have occupied the lands adjacent to the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers and the Arrow Lakes of B.C. for more than 10,000 years. They had migrated seasonally throughout their traditional territory to follow vegetation and hunting cycles, obtaining all their needs (food, medicine and materials for shelter and clothing) from nature.

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European settlers in the late 1800s brought with them a dramatically different view of the land from that held by the Akisqnuk (–akis“nuk). In the ensuing decades of contact and with the establishment of Indian reserves, local First Nations gradually lost the control of the hot springs (and much more). “The people of Akisqnuk (–akis“nuk) assumed (that) boundaries for the reserve included the hot springs, but after the pre-emption of the land to a settler, they found out the boundaries of the reserve were a totally different configuration,” says Chief Joseph. In 1922 Radium Hot Springs was included in the formation of Kootenay Dominion Park (now Kootenay National Park); beginning in 1965, Fairmont Hot Springs became the centrepiece of a large-scale private resort development; and Lussier Hot Springs remains in the most natural state of the three within Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park. © Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

the story

behind the cover Photographer and guide Lyle Grisedale (see Our Contributors, page 5), spends more time than most on the far western side of the Bugaboos — a part of the range not easily accessible and consequently seldom seen — where he captured the stunning image stretching right across the front and back covers of the inaugural issue of UnWind magazine. As Lyle details:

meadow, with the impressive southwest profile of the Howser Towers behind them. The Howsers are the highest peaks in the Bugaboos. These meadows produce one of the best wildflower blooms in the Bugaboo area and are home to a large population of hoary marmots. A truly special place in our Purcell mountains.”

“Behind the Howser Towers and the Bugaboo Glacier is an area known as Kickoff Meadows. This is a series of three meadows, each a little higher than the previous. The hikers (in the cover photo) are following the creek on their way to the highest

With his photography, Lyle hopes to inspire people to get out and explore the incredible wilderness of the Purcell Range and the Rockies in this part of the East Kootenay, which UnWind readers have the good fortune to be living in or visiting.

IT’S TIME TO UNWIND BY NANCY SMITH

We all need a way to unwind and relax, so we can recharge our energy to live our lives to the fullest. The Columbia Valley is a great place to unwind and restore balance to your life. Connected by water starting in Canal Flats, the headwaters of the Columbia River, and running north through all the way to Spillimacheen, the Columbia Valley offers a wide variety of ways to unwind throughout the year. While the list of ways to unwind can be long, it certainly includes soaking in the hot springs, biking, hiking, paddling, skiing (downhill or Nordic), bird watching, attending arts and music events, golfing, enjoying local cuisine or just relaxing on a patio enjoying the incredible view with friends and family. Not everyone unwinds the same way and not all unwinding is done through activities. In fact just when you think you know it all about the Columbia Valley, somebody will mention a new spot to explore, a new event will be created, a new culinary spot will open or your ‘unwinding palate’ will change to include something you’ve never thought of. Whether you’re a year-round resident, visitor or part-time

RELAX resident with eyes to moving to the Columbia Valley one day, you’ve surely noticed the pace of life, the friendly faces and how easy it is to get around – there’s no rush hour here. Being in the Columbia Valley surrounds you with natural therapeutic options and is perfect match for your goal of recharging yet keeping engaged. It’s time to unwind. www.TravelColumbiaValley.com. Nancy Smith is the project coordinator for Travel Columbia Valley

JENNETTE ST JEAN Active Aging Specialist Personal & Group Trainer

250-262-9515 jstjean56@gmail.com

Seniors’ Day ~10% off First Wednesday of each month 750 4 St, Invermere, BC

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H E A LT H C A R E

HOSPICE SOCIETY BY ERIN KNUTSON

Bereavement Programs

What is Hospice and How Can We Help? The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley understands that from the time of a terminal illness diagnosis families are on a journey. Many people assume Hospice assistance is only available when a client is at the end stage and palliative however we are available to support clients and their families from the time of diagnosis, through the first year of bereavement with in home visitations. For those needing support you can access our services directly or have your GP or Home Health Nurse fill out a referral form. If you are in a long term care facility, your residential care coordinator can fill out the form on your behalf. To provide visitation services we are always looking for interested volunteers to join our team. If you are interested in any of our programs or joining our team either as a member or as a volunteer, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at 250-688-1143 or info@hospicesocietycv.com Annual sponsors

“Grief is a process, not an event. You can’t avoid it. You can’t rush it. It’s a walk, one step at a time, and it takes time for this necessary process to bring healing and wholeness back to your life.” – Michael and Brenda Pink The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley is dedicated to walking this journey with you. We offer a series of bereavement programs designed to support those struggling with the intense emotions associated with grief, loss and bereavement. Programs include… • Visitation in the home or at another location (on-going) • 12-week bereavement support group (Next group beginning early 2018. Please call for information) • Walk and Talk Groups (various communities dependent on need June - October) • Resource centre and lending library Open Monday - Friday, 12-4 p.m.

All programs are free of charge. Please call for more information.

Proud sponsor of the Lending Library

Proud sponsor of the Bereavement Program

Phone: (250) 688-1143 Address: Unit 103, 926 7th Ave, Box 925 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Website: www.hospicesocietycv.com

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The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley (HSCV) is in its fifth year as a registered non-profit organization. In the last five years the organization has developed programming in three key areas, End of Life, Bereavement and Public Education. While end of life is a topic many have a hard time grappling with, the Hospice Society works to help individuals discuss and work through the challenges that come with the end of life and grief processes. “Our programs help people when they need it the most. We provide a safe space where people can speak openly about their fears, their hopes and the things that matter most to them.” says HSCV executive director Maria Kliavkoff. Sustainable funding is paramount to keeping the hospice doors open and the programs available to all. With the recent creation of an Endowment Fund and an anonymous donor who has offered to match donations received by December 31st, 2017 to a cap of $10,000 the Hospice Society is working to ensure that residents of the Columbia Valley have the resources they need for years to come. Volunteer recruitment is a huge priority for the organization as there is an ever-increasing need for services in the valley. “We are fortunate because we have the best volunteers with the biggest hearts. So far volunteers that have been able to meet demands, but the truth is that need is ever-increasing,” says Maria. “By 2030 one in three residents in the valley will be seniors. To stay ahead of the curve, we have to be continually training new volunteers.” Male volunteer visitors are particularly needed for both the end of life and bereavement programs and volunteers for the various committees that make the hospice a reality are also required, that includes all events committees. Maria reminds all “whether you are interested in becoming a member by purchasing a $20 annual membership, becoming a volunteer, or becoming a donor, we welcome everyone who wishes to be part of Team Hospice.” If you are interested in more information or require end of life or bereavement support, please call (250) 688-1143.

CHARITY

LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY BY LAURIE KLASSEN

How will I be remembered after I am gone? Leaving a legacy is like putting your personal brand on the future. Designating a gift for the Columbia Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) in your will is the best way to ensure that the people, and causes, you cherish most receive the benefit of your estate. Our concept is simple. Your gift is invested and the investment income is used to support local charitable programs

and projects according to your wishes. The principal is never touched, ensuring your legacy lives on forever. In this way, the CVCF acts as a bridge between you and local charities to help create and maintain a strong, vibrant community for generations to come. Choosing to leave a gift from the heart brings meaning and purpose to a life well lived. Your gift, through a will, is your opportunity to participate in the charitable and community work most meaningful to you, in a way that allows these important causes to be well supported now and long after you are gone.

Cele�ate your life by changing someone else’s

Leave a legacy Plan a gift to the Columbia Valley Community Foundation. Contact us for more information.

To learn more about leaving a gift in your will to the Columbia Valley Community Foundation, please call 250342-2845 or email laurie@ valleyfoundation.ca. Together we can make a difference in our community. The Columbia Valley Community Foundation is a collection of endowment funds, now totalling more than $3.2 million, established by donors from all walks of life to enrich life in the Columbia Valley. Funds are pooled and invested with the income distributed as grants to charitable organizations and students, in a broad and inclusive manner that benefits the Columbia Valley between Spillimacheen and Canal Flats. The foundation, on behalf of its donors, has distributed more than $676,000 to the community through community grants and student awards. For more information, please see www.ValleyFoundation.ca. For good, for community, forever.

250-342-2845 • WWW.VALLEYFOUNDATION.CA UnWind

HAPPY FEET, HAPPY YOU BY ERIN KNUTSON

Proper foot care can do wonders for happiness and well-being — no surprise when you consider how much work the average person’s feet do in a day. Foot care is nothing new, with some of the various foot care traditions stretching back thousands of years. And why not? Benefits of regular foot care include improved mobility; better circulation; fewer ingrown toenails, cut and infections; not having calluses; properly moisturized skin; and much else. “Caring for the feet is especially important for seniors, as challenges with foot health get harder to navigate as people get older,” says Invermere resident and Bluebird Foot Care and Massage owner Kelly Smith, adding she has as a few clients in their their 90s who were quite active and habitually hitting the golf course until toenail pain put a crimp in their stride, and their game. “Pain always makes everything a little less pleasant, and alleviating it, in this case, got these people back into their game,” says Kelly. As an essential part of overall health, foot care is not so much a luxury as a necessity, according Kelly. “It’s kind of been made into a feminine spa treatment kind of thing, but the reality is it’s a key part of overall health,” she says. “It’s not just for women who want to have fancy toenails, it’s for everybody, men too. We literally walk all over our feet every day, so we need to take care of them.”

Brendan Donahue BCOMM, CIM, FCSI

Senior Investment Advisor Insurance Agent

Sara Worley CIM®, FCSI®

Investment Advisor Insurance Agent

Take charge of your retirement Effective planning is an important part of achieving retirement freedom. Retirement planning includes choosing the right investments, generating income and thoughtful estate planning. We can help you take charge of your retirement by examining and designing a portfolio tailored to your long-term investment needs. We also specialize in high net worth solutions. For a free, no obligation consultation, please contact us. Manulife Securities Incorporated is a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and a Member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. Stocks, bonds, financial planning and mutual funds are offered through Manulife Securities Incorporated. Insurance products and services are offered through Manulife Securities Insurance Agency. The Manulife Securities logo and the Block Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license.

Holly Jones BA,

Investment Associate, Insurance Agent

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Free consultations! • Ph: 250-342-2112 • Fax: 250-342-2113 • 530 13th Street , Invermere www.invermereadvisors.com

FINDING A RETIREMENT HOME OR DOWNSIZING

The REALTOR that CARES about You and Your Property We recently sold our Invermere home with the assistance of Team Rice. Right from the initial meeting until the deal was done they were prompt, friendly, and professional. We were kept up to date throughout the process and were well represented in the negotiation stage. We would not hesitate to refer friends with real estate needs and will use Team Rice again.

BY DK RICE

When I talk to many of my clients that have chosen to move to the Columbia Valley for retirement or semi-retirement, they often talk about the daunting task of downsizing or how nice it will be to have a smaller home to take care of and have low maintenance living. Tips for finding your perfect retirement home: Get to know the area well, before making a decision – visit the area in different seasons. Check out more than one area so you have something to compare with. Define what you are looking for — size, style, views, price. Make a list of all the things that are a “must have” in your location and property (service groups, doctors, hospitals, walking paths, gym, golf, ski, dentist, etc.). Is this property and location retirement friendly, and within your long term budget?

The Bothwells, Calgary

Call DK to discuss all of your REAL ESTATE needs.

Tips for downsizing: Give yourself lots of time (a few months). Start with a plan of action (know the size of home are you moving into and how much storage it has). Get organized with boxes/bins to label. Start with one small room. Assess your actual needs – make a “yes” pile (items to keep) and a “no” pile (items not too keep) - don’t make a “maybe” pile. Don’t be afraid to sell your things – garage sale, Invermere buy and sell, Facebook, Kijiji. Give your family members legacy gifts now. Give to your local thrift store or consignment shop.

CELL: 250-342-5935 dk@rockieswest.com

www.TeamRice.ca

Invermere•Windermere•Radium•Fairmont

You will get to enjoy a clutter-free life in a new home, with less house and yard work, all while getting to live in one of the most scenic recreational areas in the world.

Brenda Mitchell, Owner • Foot Care Specialist • First Impressions

Foot Care Specialist Are you in need of professional foot care? Brenda specializes in providing foot care to seniors and those unable to care for their feet. Manicure and pedicure services are available to clients of all ages at reasonable rates.

Call 250-342-1678 to make an appointment today.

First Impressions Castings Cast in stone, create lasting memories of your children’s hands and feet with a First Impressions Casting. Brenda creates 3 dimensional artwork, mounted in a shadow box, preserving memories for years to come. Pet paws may be cast as well. Call 250-342-1678 to make an appointment today or visit www.firstimpressionscasting.com for more information.

BETTER at HOME | SERVICES for SENIORS • TRANSPORTATION TO APPOINTMENTS AND GROCERY SHOPPING • FRIENDLY VISITING • PET WALKING

• DAILY PHONE CHECK-IN • LIGHT HOUSEKEEPING • LIGHT GROUNDSKEEPING • SMALL HOME REPAIRS

COLUMBIA VALLEY ACTIVE SENIORS SOCIAL • INTELLECTUAL • PHYSICAL HEALTH FOR SENIORS

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Resource, Development & Advocacy

“Healthy Communities Start at Home”

– www.familydynamix.ca – UnWind

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