Fernie Fix November 2022

THE Anticipation ISSUE

IN THIS ISSUE: Special Feature with Robin Siggers on how Fernie Alpine Resort gears up for winter operations. The Arts Station tells us about Light Up the Arts and their featured artists. The new Fernie council are the Fix Feature Residents this month, learn about how bears are anticipating winter in Sylvia’s column and Pat Robertson discusses the anticipation of a trip and ski season ahead.

EDITOR’S

ANTICIPATION

BUSINESS

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EVENTS

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Editor’s Fix

By Krista Turcasso, Editor

October comes to a close, I begin to feel a bit of a loss… for daylight, warmth and what feels like an abundance of time. Daylight Savings coming to an end November 6 doesn’t help. But I know, once I settle into the month, with its beautiful changing of seasons so obvious from town with the colours creeping up the mountainsides transitioning to snow dusted peaks, I’ll begin to feel the stirrings of anticipation creep in. I tend to continue to ride that bike until the last possible opportunity (I do not fat bike, so you can

Contributors

ANDREW VALLANCE is a cinephile nerd who currently lives on the west coast. Girlfriendless, he spends his time going to movies, buying DVDs and flirting.

ASHLEY KRISTINA has studied astrology for over twenty years and has been reading/teaching for five. For an in depth natal chart reading, email mountainashastrology@gmail.com.

CLAIRE SMALLWOOD is an avid skier, mediocre snowboarder, former personal chef, and newly-minted hockey fan. When Claire’s not on the slopes or whipping up red chile sauce, you can find her at the helm of SheJumps, the non-profit she co-founded in 2007 with a mission to transform the lives of women and girls through outdoor experiences. haunts the coffee shops and streets of Fernie to find his column source material.

MICHAEL HEPHER is a painter, printmaker, sculptor and musician living and working in Fernie. His work is collected internationally and can be seen at Clawhammer Press and a variety of galleries in Western Canada.

imagine some of the conditions I have ‘enjoyed’ late fall), and once that is out of my system, prepare the skis and icebugs for my next favourite endurance sports – skate skiing and trail running!

What has helped immensely for me is my kids. Today, it feels like the last day of fall. The weather is rolling in and their squeaks of excitement at the chance of snow is absolutely contagious. When the snow does come, we’ll be outside building forts and snow people and of course, they’ll begin to talk about the holidays!

I agree with many of our contributors this month, in this valley we are so fortunate to experience all seasons. Sure, winter is a tad on the long side, but wow! It is packed full of fun, and helps us to appreciate spring, summer and fall that much more. (Especially a fall like the one we have enjoyed this year.)

So, I say enjoy the anticipation and take it all in! From what I hear, it’s going to be a good one.

PATRICK ROBERTSON is a travel writer and long-time resident of Fernie. He is an expert in planning independent travel and finding budget travel deals.Visit his website at budgetslowtravel.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/budgetslowtravel.

ROBIN SIGGERS is a lifelong ski bum who has dedicated his life to his passions. Avalanche forecasting, control and safety, and Fernie Alpine Resort. A true legend of the mountain. Every month SADIE ROSGEN teams up with some of Fernie’s brightest young writers collaborating on a given theme. If you are reading this and think that you are that person, drop her a line at sadiepumps@gmail.com.

SARAH PULLEN, a first year University student, has a passion for all things creative. She looks forward to pursuing a Fine Arts degree and discovering a world of diversity and culture beyond our mountain town.

SYLVIA AYERS is a tenacious naturalist and believes each one of us can have a big impact on making things better if we just know how.

TYLA CHARBONNEAU is a Registered Psychologist (CPBC2385), dog momma, and nature lover. She loves talking with others about mindfulness, selfcompassion, and human nature.

VALERIE BARRY is the longtime owner and head trainer of Dog Partners (dogpartners.ca). She is a multi-credentialed and highly educated professional dog trainer who specializes in behaviour modification and helping families raise friendly puppies.

FERNIE FIX | FERNIEFIX.COM

Published monthly by Claris Media. To advertise and for general inquiries: info@clarismedia.com Box 1124, 361A 1st Ave. Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 p: 250-423-4062 | clarismedia.com

Editor | Krista Turcasso Creative Director | Vanessa Croome

All content copyright Claris Media. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.

Claris Media acknowledges that the land on which we work, gather and recreate is the traditional and unceded territory of the Ktunaxa people. We are very grateful for this place and the abundance it provides.

Preparing for Opening Day

by ROBIN SIGGERS

It’s a spooky scene when I pull up to the 7am morning meeting, as Mountain Operations Manager. As everyone gathers outside the maintenance shop, a thick mist and dim light shrouds the crew. Conversation mills around their exceptional weekend adventures. Priorities become the topic. Opening day looms on our calendar. Anticipation creeps in, looking forward to the soon-to-come silent fall of hundreds of centimetres and that gentle caress of floating through deep soft snow, connecting with friends on a spiritual level as you enjoy your common love for winter.

For us, with anticipation also comes preparation. What do we need to do this week? This small crew represents over 150 years of hard-won experience working at Fernie Alpine Resort. These folks know their jobs.

“We need to work in a top-down mode,” the crew agrees.

Tyler says he’ll take his crew to Polar Peak to work on the gen set room, and we will fly the new generator up next week. He’ll also finish building the new Timber sign and Tamarack deck.

Blair and Alina plan to start mowing sevendays a week with the mower cat.

Gen and Ugo will touch up the Rails and paint the new and improved Giant Cannon. “The Cannon will be awesome,” Ugo says. “Great, and we’ll be getting the snowmaking systems ready this week,” Siggers replies.

We’ll place the winter order of bamboo, rope, signage, explosives, transceivers and first aid supplies. Maze gates are sent out for repairs, and public benches are repaired

or replaced. The base area signage upgrades can proceed now that the Electrical Team has completed the locates. Brushing and saw training is complete, so Fraser and Johno will take “The New Guys” cutting brush.

The Polar Peak Web Cam will be mounted and tested asap. Blasting and First Aid courses are coming up.

It’s Oct 13th, and the alarm bells are going off in Siggers’ head. Pretty sure we are forgetting something.

Walking through the maintenance shop, Robin sees that the bays are full. Dave is servicing the Loader, installing a new engine limit alarm, and fitting the plough blade. The grader front end sits in an exploded state as Dan is busy reassembling the new parts. Shane is tinkering with the BobCat. “Is this the new one?” Robin asks. “Yep, this machine is a bit bigger, and the snowblower should work great on the residential walkways to clear those ‘Big Dump’ days,” he says with a grin. I see that the new cutting heads have been installed on the mower cat that sits on the hoist. “These look great, Shane. These will do a great job. Thanks!” Snowmobiles, ATVs and other equipment are scattered about getting the once over.

The mist is lifting, the day bursts out in a clear blue sky and radiant gold foliage, and the air is crisp. Emma’s getting social media photos to feed the Winter Stoke that’s rising like the Moon.

So much to do, so little time, but what a treat it is to look forward to winter in Fernie.

Tentative opening day at Fernie Alpine Resort is December 3. Follow along as the team continues to prepare for this winter season @ferniealpineresort on social and visit skifernie.com for additional details.

Nic Genovese Photo

“Opening day looms on our calendar. Anticipation creeps in, looking forward to the soon-to-come silent fall of hundreds of centimetres...”

Congratulations to all of the nominees, finalists and recipients of the 2022 Fernie Business Excellence Awards

A special thank you to all the sponsors who make these awards possible.

The Free Press

Congratulations 2022 Award Recipients

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24 Dalton Avenue: A Fernie Legacy by Bob Sumka

This November, local author and passionate historian, Bob Sumka is celebrating the book launch of his most recent novel, 24 Dalton Avenue: A Fernie Legacy. The book is an historical fiction, following a fictional family (the Phillips) over the years between 1950 and 2000, alongside the growth of Fernie and the Elk Valley in general over the same time period, with each chapter representing a year.

24 Dalton Avenue: A Fernie Legacy will be available for purchase at Polar Peek Books and Treasures, the Fernie Chamber of Commerce and the Fernie Museum, with locations in Sparwood and Elkford to follow.

BARK

barkfirstaid.ca

Backcountry Aid + Rescue Kits (BARK) were created to provide the basic first aid essentials and know-how during emergency situations involving dogs in backcountry wilderness.

BARK offers in-person courses throughout western Canada through Walks N Wags Pet First Aid, the largest and longest standing Pet First Aid program in Canada. This course is applicable to both dog and cat owners. No previous animal first aid experience is needed. Dogs are welcome!

What infor mation is included in a First Aid Course? Immediate steps to take in an emergency, how to complete a Head to Toe assessment, how to safely approach, restrain and transport an injured animal, recognition of signs of common illness and injury, how to handle various bleeding wounds, bone injuries, choking skills, artificial Respiration + CPR, poisoning, burns, hypothermia, heat exhaustion, strong emphasis on prevention of illness and injury, and more.

Reg ister at barkfirstaid.ca/mans-best-friend for Fernie’s course, November 12 at King Fir Lodge.

Fernie Winter Job Fair

events@ferniechamber.com

The Fernie Winter Job Fair is back! If you are new to town or looking for a change in employment, head over to the Winter Job Fair on Tuesday November 8. It will run from 12pm – 4pm at the Fernie Community Centre. There will be a variety of local employers looking to hire for their winter season and you might just be a great match for one of these organizations.You will get an insight on what it is like to work for different businesses in the Elk Valley, how to apply, and maybe even get hired on the spot!

This job fair is hosted by the Fernie Chamber of Commerce in partnership with KES (Kootenay Employment Services). Please feel free to contact them directly with any questions.You can reach KES at 250-423-4204 or fernie.admin@ kes.bc.ca and the Fernie Chamber of Commerce at 778-761-0800 or events@ferniechamber.com.

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V. Croome Photo

Skier: Brett Galbraith – Ski Base Management Team

Photo: @philipforsey

Saying Farewell

by KRISTA TURCASSO

Over the last three and a half years, Brad Parsell has been the Executive Director at the Fernie Chamber of Commerce, supporting the business community and our community in general. We are sad to lose Brad, who has accepted a position as Executive Director with Tourism Tofino (well-done), not only a valued community member but also as one of our writers!

Brad was born in New Zealand and his family moved to Brisbane, Australia when he was still young. It was in Brisbane that he got his education (graduating university with a Bachelor of Business with a double major in Management and Marketing) and where met his partner, Averil. The two of them moved to Fernie together in 2013 on a recommendation of a friend and became the classic cliché – came for a ski season and never left! Brad worked for Fernie Lodging Company for about five years, eventually becoming the General Manager there. It was in April 2019 that he took on the role of Executive Director of the Fernie Chamber and has been involved in many local groups and events including Wapiti Music Festival, Elk Valley Pride Festival, Tourism Fernie and the Fernie Tourism Master Plan, Canadian Adaptive Network, and Kootenay Rockies Tourism.

1. What made you originally apply for position with the Chamber?

Back then I had been in Fernie already for about five years and had been involved with both Tourism Fernie (on the board and marketing committee) and the Fernie Chamber (on the Fernie Ambassador Program committee). I loved the big picture, community-building aspect of the work these community groups were engaged in. When the role became available, I went for it because I believed

(and still do) that the Fernie Chamber was powered by great people (the membership, board and staff) that did great work to support the business community and residents every day.

2. What has been the most challenging aspect of this role the last three years?

Without a doubt - navigating our organization and membership through the pandemic. It was a scary time in the early days and business folks were vulnerable. Trying to keep our team safe and supported internally so that we were able to help others was no small feat. But I’m really proud of the way we brought our members together with Zoom calls and regular newsletters to ensure there was a feeling of connectivity while we were all apart.

3. What would you say were the big successes you’ve seen at the organization?

I think generally just raising the profile of the Fernie Chamber and the work we do in the community and building strong relationships. Specifically, we were able to launch several key economic development

initiatives during my tenure that I am quite proud of including the Work In Fernie workforce attraction website, opening the 2nd Edition Coworking space in downtown Fernie, helping to facilitate the largest survey of businesses ever taken in the Elk Valley, and refreshing the Fernie Chamber’s website.

4. Moving forward, where do you hope to see the Fernie Chamber accomplish?

I hope to see the Fernie Chamber continue to be successful and a meaningful organization recognized for supporting the local economy. We have an amazing team and are in a strong financial position compared to other local Chambers, so the organization is poised to go on to even bigger and greater things. I’m excited to see where the new Executive Director will take the organization.

5. The big questions: Will you miss Fernie? Will you miss winter?

I will absolutely miss Fernie and especially some of the people I have met along the way that are not just colleagues but have become dear friends of mine. There are a lot of great people doing great work in this community. Fernie has been my home for almost a decade, and we will always have roots here. I will miss it for sure.

I’m not so sure about missing winter. It’s been incredible to live near an awesome ski hill in the spectacular Rocky Mountains, but I won’t miss shovelling my driveway at 7am in the morning! I guess I am trading that in for buckets of rain every winter –so we’ll see what is more appealing!

All the best to you, Brad. Please visit.

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LighttheUpArts

The Arts Station is excited to invite you to “Light up the Arts” starting on November 25 at 6pm. Wander downtown to discover magical lighted installations by local artists in a fun and interactive artwalk.

Light up the Arts will launch at an annual collaborative community event, the Holiday Kick-off, in partnership with the Fernie Chamber of Commerce and the City of Fernie. Downtown Fernie will transform into a magical festive atmosphere with fireworks, light installations, carolers, Santa, and Christmas lights with a Shop Local competition to encourage residents to #SpendItInFernie.

There will be five feature artists presenting installations found outside around Downtown at The Arts Station, Library, Senior Centre, and City Hall. In addition, over 450 local kids have created lighted lanterns and artwork that will be on display. All the kids visited the Arts Station to be led in creative activities in different mediums.

Feature artists are:

Samantha Sedlowsky, @sam_sedlowsky_art

Sam loves all things fabric. She feels that one of the joys of learning to art quilt has been how the natural and man-made landscapes around her have transformed into fabric in her mind. Working from a fabric stash decades in the making, upcycled material, Sally Ann finds, fabric collage can be economical and environmentally friendly. Even the smallest scrap has a place. Sam is committed to

creating her art only from collected scraps, upcycled fabric, and dumpster-diverted materials. For her installation, she will be upcycling from her Moose on the Loose installation to create a new exciting lighted house. Come and view the Moose House structure in a new way!

Sam Sedlowsky lives in Fernie, BC in a multigenerational household where all things fabric is encouraged.

Erich Stoffels, @coast.one

Eric is a local artist and has been living in the Elk Valley for the past 10 years. He is an electrician by trade and loves the winter season, so naturally, this project called his name. Eric has come up with an idea that he calls “The Fernie Tree”. It will be made up of illuminated artwork that he thinks best represents winter in the valley. Eric is very excited for everyone to see and enjoy his creation.

Oli Stoffels

Oli lives in Sparwood, goes to school at The Fernie Academy, and loves to do art. Oli has created a project called “The Gnomes”. It is made up of four gnomes that range from 3-5 feet tall. The Gnomes represent his family and the winter spirit, which you find a lot of in Fernie! Oli was inspired by his dad entering ‘Light Up The Arts’ so decided to enter as well. Oli is very excited to be chosen to build his gnomes and hopes everyone enjoys his project.

Michelle Money, @michellemongeyart

Michelle is a painter, designer, and illustrator from Sydney, Australia, now based in Fernie, Canada.

She has been an avid art enthusiast from a young age and began to focus on painting as

her chief art form in her teen years. Most of her art has been developed for friends and family, with personal meaning and touch behind each painting.

Michelle created a vinyl moose as part of the Moose on the Loose project at The Arts Station collaborating with another local artist. Michelle’s installation will showcase cyanotype lanterns using local flowers and ferns she has been collecting on Summer hikes. Cyanotype is a very cool process and the resulting images are beautiful which she hopes you will enjoy.

Danyal Taylor, @danyaltaylor

Danyal is originally from New Zealand and now resides in Fernie, B.C. He feels lucky to call this place home as it is an adventure lover’s paradise with its incredible skiing, tall mountains, and beautiful hikes. Danyal is an adventure filmmaker, storyteller, and

photographer. Traveling around the world to showcase awesome.

Danyal’s installation will be an opportunity for him to explore a new medium with the result of a fun multicoloured neon light display inspired by the Three Sisters mountains.

Join us on November 25th to see the lighted artwork for the first time. The feature installations will remain for the winter months to bring light to the darkest months of the year!

Thank you to our community partners Fernie Chamber of Commerce and the City of Fernie. Thank you to CKCA for grant funding to support this project.

Burritos are kind of a mythical creature in Fernie. Luchadora was a bright spot in the pandemic but then the burritos disappeared. We thought we might see them again on the Chilango menu, but alas, we are still burrito-less. Fernie is a burrito-challenged town, but I’m on a mission to empower our community to embrace the burrito. And not just any burrito, the Friendship Burrito.

In 2007 I moved to Utah to be a ski bum, but I didn’t have a car and lived far from the ski area. My friend Molly would offer to pick me up every single day to go skiing. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have someone who was willing to drive so far out of their way to bring me up to the mountain. What better way to say thank you than by making her a breakfast burrito for the drive? I grew up in New Mexico—burritos are a way of life down there!

I can’t remember exactly when, but one day I made extra and decided to put them in my pockets and hand them out to random strangers. One day, someone asked “What is this?” when we handed them a burrito. My friend Re quickly responded to them with “Claire Smallwood Friendship Burritos.” So, we started calling them friendship burritos from then on. I would explain to anyone who received one that it was all about “spreading the breakfast burrito stoke.” (I believe those were my exact words!) The look on people’s faces when you offer them a “friendship burrito” is amazing. They are either totally excited or they look at you like you have three heads—either way, they usually take the burrito!

Friendship Burritos

by CLAIRE SMALLWOOD

This particular Friendship Burrito recipe is breakfast focused, but what I’d really love to encourage is to just embrace the burrito. Make a dozen, freeze a few, and make a stranger’s day! Wrap anything in a tortilla! I

have a friend who even wraps thanksgiving leftovers in burritos and freezes them. What makes friendship burritos extraordinary is that they are crisped up on the outside. Once you’ve wrapped ‘em, fry ‘em up!

If this sounds like a lot of work, consider it community service.

And, lest we get any heated discussions about it: no, I do not think there’s a strong difference between a wrap and a burrito except perhaps the sentiment behind it. Friendship wrap just doesn’t have the same ring to it… although I’d offer that a burrito should probably have some reminiscences of flavours such as garlic, beans, cumin, cheese (always cheese), or chile.

Make the Friendship Burritos with love and pass them out to your adventure buddies - make someone’s day with a Friendship Burrito!

Submitted Photos

Directions:

Get a dozen tortillas, the big kind. Whisk up about 12-15 eggs and scramble them as you normally would, except add some hot sauce or salsa to your tasting. Don’t forget to season the eggs. Set aside. Get a big pot of salted water boiling. Chop up some Yukon gold potatoes (or any potatoes) and cook them until soft. Drain and then toss the potatoes with garlic powder, cumin, pepper, and chile powder. Heat a skillet over medium with about 1/3 cup of oil. Add the potatoes into the skillet and start to crisp them up. Optional: add some diced onion, cooked bacon, sausage, etc. Next, add about 2 cups of shredded cheese.You can also just add this to the burritos.

Ar range your ‘workstation’ so you can easily assemble the burritos on a clean cutting board or kitchen surface.

Pile about a fist-full size of ing redients into the centre of the tortilla in a ‘rectangular’ shape. Take the two ‘ends’ (short sides of the rectangle) and fold those parts of the

tortilla toward the middle. Then, take the part of the tortilla closest to you with your thumbs (while holding the ends toward each other) and roll the burrito up. Check the QR code for a video demonstration!

Get your skillet on low and add the remaining olive oil.You might need a bit more depending on how many burritos you are making. Place the burrito ‘seamside down’ on the skillet and then rotate the burritos occasionally, until they are crisp on all sides.

Serve immediately or wrap them in foil for lunch/late breakfast. If you are saving them for later, let them cool completely before wrapping them!

Whenever you decide to share your friendship burritos, make sure you’ve heated it all the way back up in the oven. I suggest re-heating the burritos unwrapped in the oven at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes from frozen. Follow the recrisping steps above!

Now, stuff those pockets with the burritos and share with your friends, neighbours or adventure partners!

Check out this video of Claire making Friendship Burritos!

“Fernie is a burritochallenged town, but I’m on a mission to empower our community to embrace the burrito. And not just any burrito, the Friendship Burrito.”

The Road Goes on Forever

by MICHAEL HEPHER

This morning I am working on a print commission for a dear friend of mine. Andrew (a printer who makes really nice books) is publishing a book about his friend Gray (also a printer) and has asked me to create two hand-printed illustrations of Gray that will be bound in the centre of the book. It’s an honour to be asked to be part of this very printerly project, but it’s a weighty thing to capture a character like Gray in a way that is befitting his personality and also suits a fine publication.

A few days ago, with much relief, I successfully laid down the first layer of ink, but the project itself has been in the works for almost 18 months. We started talking about the project in May 2021. After hours of reading and dialoguing with Andrew, I sketched a few rough ideas. I redrew the scenes about a dozen times until we were both happy. From there, I imported the line drawings into ProCreate (a drawing app for iPad) and played with colours and layers as I tried to imagine what a linocut print would look like on paper.

Once the dig ital mock-up was feeling good, it was time to order the paper. The paper industry is still in supply chain chaos from the pandemic, so it took more than 200 days for the carton to arrive from London—a new record, I think. It arrived right in the middle of the busiest August I’ve had in years, and to tackle an important project like this I need a block of time. Suddenly it is mid-October and I’m finally getting ink on paper. With five of eight colours down, I’m starting to get excited about the finished result. If all goes well, both of the prints will be finished by the time this issue hits the stands. The moment of completion is lovely but fleeting, so if I don’t enjoy the journey

on a project like this it means I live in a world of frustration.

In the cur rent climate of Amazon Prime and Netflix streaming—short turnarounds, speedy delivery, and instant gratification are king—but I can still remember when it took eight years to watch all the seasons of Friends. We have devalued that feeling of anticipation to the point that we don’t know what to do with the thought of just

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“We have devalued that feeling of anticipation to the point that we don’t know what to do with the thought of just waiting.”

waiting.You rarely see anyone standing in a line anymore without playing Candy Crush. I’m also guilty (although I can’t stand that particular game) but I’m trying to catch myself more and just sit.

As I look at my life, I realise I’ve structured it around things that take time: letterpress printing, oil painting, driving a VW van, vintage mountain bikes—all of those things are more about the journey than they are about the destination. I believe it’s that anticipation— the suspended feeling of potential gratification—that is a big part of what makes these arcane things appealing to me. There’s no sense getting frustrated by the pace of a holiday in a Volkswagen… it goes as fast as it goes and in the meantime you have a big screen view out the front window to enjoy. I’ve always preferred the buildup leading up to Christmas to the crash after all the wrapping is torn off. The crash doesn’t minimize the joy of the gift, but it helps acknowledge that it’s a very human thing to want something to look forward to. Our ability to anticipate the next week or month or year, and carry the hope of excitement down the road, is one of the things that keeps us moving.

For many in Fernie the first snow is filled with this kind of anticipation. It’s a bit late this year so there’s been lots of time to get ready: wax the skis, pull out the box of mitts and sort them into pairs, and put on the winter tires. As those things happen, take a minute to stop and breathe in that excitement—that’s the money right there. As I plan a few more projects to keep me peering forward into the winter with eagerness, I too am trying to take some quiet moments to enjoy the journey so that when I reach each destination I can carry that anticipation right into the next project so the journey never ends.

Communities of Interest Advisory Initiative

to

between the four

operations and community representatives within their area of influence.

Thank you Thank you to first responders and everyone involved in keeping

communities safe this fire

As the fall burns up the living things and winter comes upon us, my mind wanders to those new mothers out there and the delicious anticipation of a baby. I am so fortunate to have two babies of my own and as they approach double digits, I am reminded of the slow moments of connection between the old and the new. The coming together of a family welcoming their newest member. The sleepless nights that bring on the delirious delicious love that babies bring.

A magical time to say the least…

Growing Joy

by Sadie Rosgen

Growing Joy

By Sadie Rosgen

the night is wild outside I am here restless a gasp of breath myself and you I am born again forged with love the fresh the unconcerned every swimming piece

I am burning from the guiding light of endless night you are here writhing inside of me proving that I will never be alone again home again gentle sound throbbing movement softening my ways tearing up my every gaze lost in every way from love and you

Moonfall

by ANDREW VALLANCE

The moon is Earth’s only satellite. At about one-quarter the diameter of the Earth, it lacks any significant atmosphere, hydrosphere, or magnetic field, and has a surface gravity about one-sixth that of Earth’s. It orbits the Earth at an average distance of 384,400 km and its gravitational influence is the main driver of the Earth’s tides. During each synodic period of 29.5 days, the visible surface illuminated by the Sun varies, resulting in the lunar phases that form the basis for the months of the lunar calendar.

The moon has had a significant cultural importance on most of the Earth’s civilizations, so imagine what would happen if some mysterious force knocked the moon out of its orbit. Moonfall depicts such an event.

The movie is directed by Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser and Spenser Cohen, three writers/directors who have specialized in special effects-driven action movies. Spenser Cohen was screenwriter for the Netflix science fiction extravaganza Extinction (2018) and more recently Distant (2022), a film which depicts the trials of an asteroid miner who crashlands on a harsh alien planet. Harald Kloser is a composer and writer, known for Alien vs. Predator (2004), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), and 2012 (2009), Roland Emmer ich directed his first feature, The Noah’s Ark Principle (1984), while still enrolled in the Munich film school. The film was a huge success and opened the 1984 Berlin Film Festival. With his flair for special effects, he set up shop in blockbuster-hungry 1990s Hollywood. In his Hollywood debut he directed Jean-Claude Van Damme in the cyborg action fest Universal Soldier (1992) and followed this with Stargate (1994). In

1996 he claimed blockbuster status with Independence Day, followed by lesser success with Godzilla (1998), The Patriot (2000) and The Day After Tomorrow (2004).

This space romp stars Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry, and the wonderful, talented John Bradley, most famous at this point for his role as Samwell Tarly in the epic HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones. Bradley is absolutely hilarious as an internet conspiracy theorist, the film’s comic relief and undoubtedly the best part of this film.

Patrick Wilson began his career starring in Broadway musicals winning two Tony Award nominations. On television he co-starred in the HBO miniseries Angels in America (2003), for which he was nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. He has also appeared in films such as The Phantom of the Opera (2004), Watchmen (2009), and as demonologist Ed Warren in The Conjuring Universe (2013–present). In the DC Extended Universe, he portrayed Orm Marius / Ocean Master in the superhero film Aquaman (2018).

Halle Berry won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance of a struggling widow in the romantic drama Monster’s Ball (2001). She took on high-profile roles such as Storm in four installments of the X-Men film series (2000–2014) and the Bond girl Jinx in Die Another Day (2002). More recently she appeared in the action films Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) and John Wick: Chapter 3 –Parabellum (2019).

Unfortunately, Moonfall does not achieve the same standard as much of Wilson’s, Berry’s and Emmerich’s earlier works. It has a weak script and disappointing special effects.

Two thumbs down.

“The moon has had a significant cultural importance on most of the Earth’s civilizations, so imagine what would happen if some mysterious force knocked the moon out of its orbit. Moonfall depicts such an event.”

City of Fernie Council

by KRISTA TURCASSO

Congratulations to Fernie’s new City Council! As they prepare for their first meeting this month, we thought we would check in with a few questions to see how they are dealing with the anticipation of their new role, representing the best interests of our community!

1. What are you most excited about in your new position as Mayor/ councillor.

2. How will you encourage working collaboratively with your peers and staff members of the City of Fernie?

3. What is the biggest challenge you anticipate facing, and how will you navigate it?

4. In your position, how will you promote respect and kindness in regards to how residents treat one another, City staff and City representatives?

5. Now a fun one: Star Trek, Star Wars, both or neither?

Nic Milligan

1. Building strong, resilient relationships with our new Council and staff. For Council, I am excited about the mix of fresh perspectives and solid experience and anticipate, by both supporting and challenging each other, we can make a real difference for Fernie’s future.

2. Through open and frank dialogue about our respective roles, the needs of all our city employees, and how meeting those needs will help meet the needs of the residents of Fernie. It’s only by listening and learning from one another that we can collectively advance our goals.

3. Over the campaign I’ve come to think of housing as a foundational challenge holding Fernie back in many ways—labour, childcare, seniors’ quality of life, etc.. A robust housing committee that draws on the experience and perspectives of willing, engaged stakeholders is the best vehicle for surfacing solutions.

4. True dialogue must proceed with openness, kindness, and integrity. As I’ve said, I define my work with optimism, empathy, and compassion and encourage everyone to do the same. Respect engenders respect. Let’s all focus on the issues not the individuals.

5 Star Trek! In J.J. Abrams’s reboot Captain Pike says to young Jim Kirk, “Your father was captain of a starship for 12 minutes. He saved 800 lives, including your mother’s and yours. I dare you to do better.” A good reminder to aspire to the expectations you set for yourself.

Tracey Audia-Kelly

1. There are so many exciting opportunities but inviting community engagement back to City Hall is what I am excited to do right away. It’s the foundation for a successful local government. Our combination of new and experienced voices positions us to renew focus on the community. Serving Fernie is an honour.

2. Communication and collaboration are keys to success. Relationship building is the first step, I built relationships over the campaign and will continue to develop those connections. There are protocols to follow when interacting with staff and I am sure our Mayor will set an excellent example. I am looking forward to meeting everyone!

3. There is a huge learning curve as a new councillor, and I have spoken to several current and former councillors to gain perspective. There are also serious infrastructure challenges, a housing crisis, a daycare shortage among others. I expect to dig in, learn, read and ask questions. I can’t wait to start!

4 When you treat others with dignity, listen to understand and not to answer, and you come from a position of empathy you invariably encounter the same treatment back. Respect is something you earn from others when your way of being in the world warrants it. I will continue to follow these principles.

5 Star Wars Spent the past year watching it in timeline order.

Kyle Hamilton

1. The opportunity to continue making hard decisions that continue to improve policy and processes at City Hall that help our community - ensuring that basic infrastructure needs are met to support current and future populations and investing in its maintenance and replacement. It’s unsexy work, but it’s what I’m most excited about.

2. As a councillor, I am one voice, and one vote. Success will only be achieved through collaboration amongst all of my colleagues, whether they be councillors, staff, or community members. Ensuring that everyone has all of the relevant information to make informed decisions will be imperative to ensuring collaboration is successful.

3. The two biggest challenges are managing service level expectations vis-à-vis budgets and developing plans and budgets to address infrastructure deficiencies. Both carry financial impacts, and with affordability already at concerning levels, having clear communication plans, and encouraging engagement from the community will be the best way to navigate it.

4. Setting standards of what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour means that everyone knows what is expected. I hope to lead by example. I know firsthand that mistakes happen under stress. Accepting with compassion, and showing empathy are key. But just as importantly, identifying unacceptable behaviour, is the first step to correcting it.

5. Lord of the Rings!

Kevin McIsaac

1. Normality. COVID made every aspect of governance and management difficult. Meeting with people again. Having people in City Hall. All so important to being an effective councillor.

2. Collaboration starts with respect. Assuming competency and good intentions leads to effective communication.

3. Affordable housing is Fernie’s biggest challenge. It’s affecting staffing, childcare, quality of life, etc. Incentivizing and making diversity of development a priority.

4. I think it’s everyone’s responsibility to hold themselves to a higher standard and we receive what we accept. Not accepting nor requiring staff to accept rude, threatening, or bullying behaviour is mandatory. Set a high bar and hold everyone, especially one’s self to it.

5. Star Trek (Original Series). But I like them both.

Troy Nixon

1. I’m excited to get back to work and truly honoured that the people of Fernie have given me the privilege to serve another term as their representative.

2. Collaboration comes with communication and kindness. We have a mix of old and new and I hope that I can be just as welcoming to the new as the previous incumbents and Staff were with me in 2018.

3. No one challenge will dominate the next 160+ meetings and four years of work for the City of Fernie. Our biggest challenge will be how we will work together as a team to solve these challenges.

4. Leading by example has always been the way I have promoted respect and kindness. Whether it be Staff, Council or Citizens we need to raise the level of decorum in our community to what it once was. The “Be kind” term of Dr. Bonnie Henry has never been more important.

5. As much as I love the fantasy and grittiness of Star Wars, I am a big fan of science-based solutions and clean design so I must say “Engage!”

Harsh Ramadass

1. I am honoured that a record number of Fernie voters took a chance on me. I want to take that mandate as marching orders to help solve tough issues. I am most excited about understanding everything there’s to know about the Liquid Waste Management Plan!

2. While legislative/procedural tools ensure there’s separation of duties etc. I don’t want to get bogged down by procedural hurdles; the best work gets done when people can think freely/challenge one another in a safe environment. I will strive to build the culture of innovation/ idea generation without micro-managing technical experts.

3. Given our infrastructure challenges and fixed revenue streams, I will be failing on my mandate from the people if I do not push for tough decisions sooner than later. The biggest challenge I am anticipating is how we bring our citizens through our journey and decisionmaking process.

4. This is who I am, I live by this motto every day. I’ll continue to lead by example. But one thing I won’t do is, try controlling and stifling free communication. Our citizens have resoundingly said no to this.

5. Star Trek! My brother and I watched it as kids along with totally inappropriate materials that adults let us watch (it was the 80’s after all!). It was the only American show at a certain time on a weekend on the state broadcaster back in India.

1. I am excited to contribute to and be involved in the community. I’ve already enjoyed running, as it involved meeting and learning from a lot of people. I hope to continue as a councillor.

2. I will continue to do what I enjoy, which is to be approachable, and to try and listen and engage with people. There are lots of different skillsets on council and in staff, and I know they have knowledge and perspectives that should be heard and considered before any action is undertaken.

3. The scale of this job is the biggest challenge. To do it justice I need to learn about every aspect of the community, from the top to the bottom. The good news is I’m not alone, there are many well-intentioned and skilled people who are engaged, and a strong group on council.

4. I will promote respect and kindness because that’s just something I enjoy doing. I can’t control what happens or how people act, all I control is my response to it. I can, however, choose to be an example in this regard. There’s no point to being miserable at work.

5. Star Wars. The Empire was a safe and secure society. Shame the series was such a tragedy, with the triumph of terrorists who blew up two peacekeeping battlestations. One of the leaders even attacked his own father, an asthmatic crippled veteran with PTSD! I jest though, it’s my favourite retelling of the classic hero’s journey.

Ted Shoesmith

Stay up to date by visiting FernieFix.com/events. Send your events to krista@clarismedia.com for inclusion!

MONTHLY

Tuesday 1.11.2022

Potters Guild Member’s Night – Surface Decoration @ The Arts Station

Inaugural Council Meeting @ Fernie Seniors’ Centre

Fernie Ghostriders Hockey Game vs Golden @ Fernie Arena Ghostrider Hockey Night @ The Pub Pre-Game Beer & Ticket Special

Wednesday 2.11.2022

Pottery Wine & Wheel @ The Arts Station

Friday 4.11.2022

Paint Night with Sue Hanlon @ The Arts Station

Live Music: SheVa @ Loaf Saturday 5.11.2022

Makerspace Repair Café @ Fernie Heritage Library

FAST Ski Swap @ Fernie Community Centre

Sunday 6.11.2022

Pool Tournament @ The Pub Monday 7.11.2022

Beginner Intensive Pottery Wheel Course @ The Arts Station

Tuesday 8.11.2022

Sew Much Fun: Intro Tee Sewing Workshop @ Fernie Heritage Library Fernie Winter Job Fair @ Fernie Community Centre

Thursday 10.11.2022

Classic Movie Night: Casablanca @ Fernie Heritage Library

Live Music: Bella Cat Blues @ Bramasole

Fernie Ghostriders Hockey Game @ Fernie Arena

Saturday 12.11.2022

Fernie Ski and Board Fest @ Fernie Community Centre

Fernie Ghostriders Hockey Game vs Beaver Valley @ Fernie Arena Ghostrider Hockey Night @ The Pub Pre-Game Beer & Ticket Special Mogul Smoker @ The Central for Shuttle Sunday 13.11.2022

Fernie Ghostriders Hockey Game vs Grand Forks @ Fernie Arena Ghostrider Hockey Night @ The Pub Pre-Game Beer & Ticket Special Sunday Sessions with Bella Cat @ The Pub Monday 14.11.2022

Intermediate Intensive Pottery Wheel Course @ The Arts Station

Regular Council Meeting @ City Hall Thursday 17.11.2022

Quilt Till You Wilt @ The Arts Station Annual Jingle and Mingle @ Interior Envy Friday 18.11.2022

Live Music: Charles Benjamin @ Loaf Quilt Till You Wilt @ The Arts Station

Live Music: Skinny Dyck Country Band @ The Legion

Saturday 19.11.2022

Quilt Till You Wilt @ The Arts Station

Live Music: Lord Knows @ The Legion Comedy Night @ Fernie Distillers Fernie Ghostriders Hockey Game vs Nelson @ Fernie Arena

Ghostrider Hockey Night @ The Pub Pre-Game Beer & Ticket Special Sunday 20.11.2022

Pool Tournament @ The Pub

Monday 21.11.2022

Committee of the Whole Meeting @ City Hall Intermediate Intensive Pottery Wheel Course @ The Arts Station

Friday 25.11.2022

Tea and Talk Book Club @ Fernie Heritage Library Annual Fernie Holiday KickOff @ Station Square, #spenditinfernie Light Up the Arts @ Fernie Arts Station Twilight Craft Fair @ Fernie Community Centre

Live Music: Two Ticks @ Loaf Disco Dress Up and DJ Night with Dorothy @ The Legion

Saturday 26.11.2022

Holiday Craft Fair @ Fernie Community Centre

Fernie Ghostriders Hockey Game vs 100 Mile House @ Fernie Arena Ghostrider Hockey Night @ The Pub Pre-Game Beer & Ticket Special Sunday 27.11.2022

Sunday Sessions - Artist TBD @ The Pub Board Games Night @ Fernie Heritage Library Monday 28.11.2022

Intermediate Intensive Pottery Wheel Course @ The Arts Station Regular Council Meeting @ City Hall Tuesday 29.11.2022

Live Music: Ruby Waters @ The Northern

Mondays

Tiguidous French activities for toddlers (0-5yo) 10:30am @ the Cokato Park playground Club All Play – Fernie Pickleball @ Max Turyk Courts, 8:30-10:30am

Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10am Le Club Baguette Junior @ Rotary Park, outdoor activities and games in French ages 7-12, 3:30pm

Night @ Kodiak Lounge, 9pm Poutine and PBR Mondays @ The Pub

Cannabis Presentation @ Earth’s Own Naturals

Tuesdays Seniors Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 11:15am Fernie Options for Sexual Health Clinic Open @ Elk Valley Hospital, by appointment, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of month only Parent and Tot Funtime @ Fernie Family Centre, 9:30am Burger and Beer Night @ The Northern Wing Night @ The Pub

Pasta Tuesdays @ Bramasole Visual Arts Guild @ The Arts Station, 12pm Fernie Community Choir Practice @ The Arts Station, 7pm Karaoke @ The Legion Wednesdays My Baby and Me @ 551 1st Ave Upstairs, 9:30am CBAL/FHL Story Time @ Fernie Heritage Library, 11am Club All Play – Fernie Pickleball @ Max Turyk Courts, 8:30-10:30am

Seniors Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 11:15am Curbside Craft @ Fernie Heritage Library, Pickup is from 11am each Wednesday (ages 5-7) Trivia @ Fernie Hotel All Night Happy Hour @ Bramasole Thursdays Kids Café @ Mountainside Church, 9:30am Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10am Seniors Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 11:15am Bellies to Babies @ Zoom, 2pm Club Baguette Junior French tutoring and activities 3pm @ Isabella Dickens library Club Baguette Adults learn and converse in

French for adults 7pm @ Zoom Pub Team Trivia @ The Pub (returns Nov. 24) Open Mic Night @ Fernie Distillers, 7pm Run Club @ Stag Leap Drop in Card Games @ The Legion Karaoke @ Kodiak Lounge, 9pm Fridays

Club All Play – Fernie Pickleball @ Max Turyk Courts, 8:30-10:30am Storytime (ages 0-5) @ Fernie Heritage Library Tech Clinic @ The Arts Station, 1pm Fish and Chips @ The Pub Fish and Chips Take Away @ Fernie Hotel, 4pm Meat Draw @ The Fernie Club Cre8 @ The Arts Station Open Mic Night @ Fernie Distillers, 7pm Big Red Fridays @ Bramasole Live Music @ Loaf

Saturdays Meat Draw @ The Legion Chicken Parmie Special @ The Pub Sundays

Fernie Netball @ Fernie Community Centre, 6pm Roast Dinner Special, and free pool after 7pm @ The Pub

Bears Are Getting Ready

by SYLVIA AYERS, illustrated by SARAH PULLEN

Did you know Bears know winter is coming, too?

Bears typically dig dens on slopes at high elevation, with an entrance just large enough for the bear to squeeze in so it will cover quickly with insulating snow, and the space slightly larger than the bear’s body for heat retention.

Grizzlies can eat up to 20,000 calories and put on up to three pounds each day as they survive off their fat stores during hibernation. That is why they’re in berry bushes and your apple tree!

During mating season, fertilized eggs remain in a female bear’s womb but will not implant until later. This helps Mama Bear to conserve energy until hibernation and may be a way to control population if food is scarce. If she has not accumulated enough fat, the egg will not be used.

In the autumn, bears go into hyperphagia, and eat a LOT… sort of like us at Thanksgiving.

Most bears remain healthy during hibernation. Biologists are studying hibernation in the hopes of preventing osteoporosis and Type II diabetes, helping those suffering from kidney failure, and prolonging the viability of human organs for transplant.

Bears are not actually asleep when they hibernate; they are awake in a reduced metabolic state. They can go months without performing usual bodily functions and breathing and heart rates slow right down. This has inspired scientists to explore putting astronauts into “hibernation” for long space voyages to Mars or beyond.

While bears are in hyperphagia they need our help to keep them safe.

Make sure your compost isn’t smelly!

Keep your garbage in a bear safe location and don’t take it out until the morning it is collected.

Collect apples and clean your BBQ.

Bring in bird feeders and don’t leave pet food outside.

Bear Aware | Fernie.com yellowstone.org/bear-hibernation-5-fun-facts/ plt.org/educator-tips/plants-animals-prepare-winter/ kids.nationalgeographic.com/nature/article/animals-prepare-for-winter

Mine!

by VALERIE BARRY

One common reason dogs growl or bite is when people try to take something away from them. This is called Resource Guarding: “Behaviour that discourages another to take, or get too close to, an object or valued area in a dog’s possession.” (Dr. Patricia McConnell)

We’re resource guarders too! We lock our homes, our cars, keep our money in the bank and some of us go to more extreme degrees with home security systems, gated communities, and security guards.

Problems arise when we deal with our dog the same way we deal with a person who takes something that belongs to us. We take it personally, angrily reacting by trying to “make” our dog give up what they “stole” from us.

Resource guarding is a normal dog behaviour. Dogs are genetically wired to acquire and hold on to resources that are valuable to them – it’s part of their strong survival instinct. If something is in their possession, it’s theirs until they give it up. Previous ownership of the item is not part of the equation.

Growling and biting when you approach a dog eating his dinner is a more extreme display of resource guarding that’s hard to miss. The more subtle signs, though, can be hard for the average person to detect, like eating more quickly, moving to block their food or toy, staring, showing teeth, or becoming very still when you approach; or turning their head or running away with an item in their mouth.

A common situation that can be alarming to an owner is when they give their dog something new or special like their first raw bone or beef chew, and suddenly their sweet, cuddly pup turns into Cujo!

Proactive Prevention is Everything

Teach your dog how to trade. Offer a toy or treat in exchange and understand that the dog determines the trade value. If they can’t easily and happily drop what they have for what you’re offering, then you need to offer something more or better until they can. Don’t try the “toss and grab” - it won’t work twice!

Dogs understand trading. Everything has a value, and we need to offer the right value to make the transaction satisfactory for both parties. The concept that dogs should simply give us anything they have because

we said so or because we are “dominant” is a very dangerous myth. Conflict simply isn’t necessary.

Proactively, there are some good skills that you can teach your dog, so they learn to give up what they have and move a safe distance away. Cued behaviours like “Drop It” and “Leave It” can help a lot.

Never “make” your dog give something up unless it’s an emergency. Using intimidation or physical force sets a dangerous precedent and will only make things worse. For more information, training suggestions and resources, see my blog post “On Guard” at dogpartners.ca.

Resource guarding can quickly escalate especially from adolescence into adulthood. If you have a dog who is growling and biting, please hire a professional trainer who has experience in this area. Let’s keep everyone safe!

Submitted Photo

“Dogs are genetically wired to acquire and hold on to resources that are valuable to them – it’s part of their strong survival instinct.”

Winter Dreaming: Les Portes du Soleil

by PATRICK ROBERTSON

Anticipation is the feeling of excitement when you are planning a new travel adventure. It is that anticipation that raises your level of happiness and it can bring your spirits up for a couple of months before you even leave, according to studies. In Fernie at this time of year, the anticipation is for a great ski season. The dream of all those perfect days of blasting down the slopes with a smile from ear to ear.

When I was a boy, I used to dream all day long about skiing for several months before the actual ski season began. The anticipation was the driver to change the exercise routine and work out those muscles needed for skiing. Equipment needed to be serviced, new inner and outer wear had to be found, and a financial commitment was made by buying a seasons’ pass.

In town is a buzz of anticipation. Businesses are ramping up and new people are moving in for the season. There is an increased level of activity. Just think, this is happening all through the many outdoor recreation towns all over North America, Europe and the rest of the world. The ski season is coming.

The trip I am personally anticipating is a momentous week-long adventure skiing across kilometre after kilometre of vast ski terrain in Europe from one ski resort to another moving from valley to valley and country to country just on skis. Relaxing and sleeping in different lodges and eating wonderful foods that are specialties of the village are residing in.

The largest unified ski area in the world is Les Portes du Soleil; Gateway to the Sun. It

consists of 12 ski resorts with 200 lifts, 650 km of trails and 14 villages. Les Portes du Soleil spans France and Switzerland with 10,000 foot peaks as backdrops including the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and les Dents du Midi; the Teeth of Noon. Five main villages offer most of the accommodations. Each one is different and unique to one another.

Getting to Les Portes du Soleil is easy. Thirteen-hour direct flights from Calgary to Geneva are available and then it is an hour car ride to Morzine. I would spend the first night here. A six-day pass runs about $400 that gives you access to all 200 lifts to tour the area.

Local guides say that one of the things that Canadians do not grasp is the enormity and scale of the area. I am planning an itinerary that will take me to all 12 resorts and 14 villages during the six days. Some of the resorts are large with a large variety of accommodations, eating places and

nightlife while others are small lodges with no nightlife. It is nice to have a mixturesome busy and others very laid back.

Timing is important. January is a quiet time right after the New Year with lower prices for accommodations but can be cold with minimal snow. February is a busy month and is high season so accommodation is going to expensive if you can find any as people are booking a year in advance. March is the time of year when the snowpack is at its greatest, the weather is warmer.

Make sure that you go during the full moon. If you get clear skies, you will have spectacular nighttime views of the mountains with stars as the background. Taking a night horse drawn sleigh ride in Avoriaz above Morzine would be the topping of a remarkable ski holiday.

Les Dents du Midi | Submitted Photo

Health and

IS LIFE

Tik Tok is Not Therapy

by TYLA CHARBONNEAU

Just because your ex was mean to you does not make them a narcissist.

I, like so many, have been down my share of internet reel rabbit holes. If I were to follow the advice of several Tik Tok and Instagram mental health stories I might come to believe: All relationships are toxic, any child who has energy or difficulty concentrating has ADHD, my moody family members are bi-polar and should be on medication, but most medications do not work, and therapy is a waste of time. Unfortunately, some of this messaging can cause significant harm as it can be difficult to tease out the healthy information from the unhealthy information.

The stories and quotes are relatable and there is a lot we can learn from the lived experiences of others. These reels tend to be quick, catchy, and are often set in a nice background with calming music. We can all benefit from messaging that hits home or that encourages us to make improvements to our life. The issue with social media is that no one is vetting the information presented. We therefore have no way of knowing if the person speaking is a licenced professional or officially diagnosed by one. Anyone is able to include hashtags for depression, anxiety, and mental health. The algorithms provide you more of what you watch the most of and sadly, not everyone has your best interest in mind. Messages are often repeated and become familiar. What we see as familiar we often begin to see as true, even without doing the research to explore the validity.

It is important to remember that only a qualified healthcare professional can provide a mental health diagnosis. Ethically, none of them would vicariously diagnose someone in your life who is not their client. So, what pulls us then to make decisions about others? These reels play on our emotions and speak to our experiences. We often feel seen or understood and this feels really good. The downside is in these moments we often do not consider our own accountability in the relationship. With the exception of domestic violence, it is extremely rare for an unhealthy relationship to be all one person’s fault. Additionally, much of the information presented is not entirely accurate.

For example, the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorder-5 for Narcissistic Personality Disorder is actually quite different than the symptoms often presented in social media. In watching the stories, we can start to only look for the symptoms presented while ignoring behaviour that may be fully in contradiction to diagnostic criteria. Finally, there is a lot more to a diagnosis than meeting the criteria. One of the most important, and often ignored on the internet, aspects of diagnosing is the presence of significant impairment to social, educational, or occupational functioning. A person showing signs or symptoms of a disorder, especially personality disorders is not enough, it also has to significantly impair functioning in their life.

There are several online sources that can be helpful in learning about mental health. However, none of them are a substitute for consulting with mental health professionals. Please keep in mind that anyone can call themselves Doctor online and it is helpful to use critical thinking skills, research someone’s credentials, and consider the implications of blindly following advice on Tik Tok. If you are looking for a few reliable mental health accounts here are a few to follow:

Romantic relationships @gottmaninstitute

Mental health in general @the.holistic.psychologist @drjulie @psychcentralofficial @brenebrown @ adamMGrant

Psychology Today @psych_today

Children, youth, and parenting mental health @foundry_bc @Keltycentre

The content provided in this article is for information purposes only. It is not meant as a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you find yourself in distress, please reach out to your local physician who can provide mental health resources in your community.

V.Croome Photo

“The algorithms provide you more of what you watch the most of and sadly, not everyone has your best interest in mind...What we see as familiar we often begin to see as true, even without doing the research to explore the validity.”

WiFi 6

by KEVIN MCISAAC

It’s November and after a long warm fall a cold winter will soon be upon us. With winter, there is invariably more time spent indoors. And these days indoors means using the internet. Whether you’re on NetFlix, MasterClass, Tik Tok, or the like, a fast internet makes your online experience better.

WiFi 6 has been a standard (802.11ax for those that care about that sort of thing) since 2019, but it hasn’t made it into too many homes yet. Unless you’ve purchased a router recently there’s a good chance it supports up to WiFi 5. If you have an iPhone 11 or newer, or an iPad of similar vintage, you’ve been carrying around a device that can do WiFi 6 and didn’t know it.

What is WiFi 6? Very simply, it’s a way for your router to communicate simultaneously on both the old 2.4GHz and newer 5GHz frequencies. This effectively makes the bandwidth wider. One way to think about this is imagine you’re moving but now you can carry furniture in a trailer you’re pulling and in the back of your truck. That’s more stuff with each trip.

WiFi 6 has a few more tricks up its sleeves. It has some fancy frequency usages that let it divide up the channels to carry more information to different devices at the same time. And by using different “flavours” of frequencies it allows devices to ignore transmissions destined for another device and start talking before the reception finishes. In gamer-speak this means less latency. Latency is the time between a request for data and the transmission of that data. Lower latency means means the whole online experience

feels much more responsive, especially in offices and household with many devices.

WiFi 6 also has the ability to do what’s called beamforming. This lets the router direct transmissions towards your device

instead of broadcasting omnidirectionally. It’s much more efficient from an energy perspective.

WiFi 6 also comes with WPA3. This is a newer better security protocol than your old router.You won’t notice any change, but your network communication will be safer.

WiFi 6 comes with something called Target Wake Time. This is basically “only talk to me if you need to” mode. Right now your phone spends quite a bit of time chatting with your router even if you’re not doing anything. Less communication means longer battery life and a less busy network which again means less latency.

One thing I want to note is with regards to radio broadcast. Occasionally people have concerns about radio broadcasts especially with newer equipment. As long as you purchase CSA approved routers, the power level is restricted and not a concern. All the new whizbang features of WiFi 6 come with changes in how the signal is used, not by increasing the power of the signal.

Finally, because many router manufacturers are keen to get you to buy a new router by adding features, most of WiFi 6 has been in most new routers since 2019. So, if your router is newer than that there’s a good chance it’s already doing WiFi 6. Otherwise, you can get yourself into WiFi 6 for about $100.You can spend up to $500 if you just won the LottoMax, but you don’t have to.

Stock Photo

“What is WiFi 6? Very simply, it’s a way for your router to communicate simultaneously on both the old 2.4GHz and newer 5GHz frequencies. This effectively makes the bandwidth wider. ”

Sparwood

November begins with the Sun, Mercury and Venus moving in tight conjunction through Scorpio opposite the north node conjunct retrograde Uranus in Taurus. Surprises may occur this month. Trust the process as there are forces beyond us that align with our paths. Mars entered its retrograde October 30 and is travelling through Gemini until January 12, 2023. This time can feel frustrating as our actions may not necessarily reap rewards, but this energy can be used to finish old projects and create order for when momentum occurs again. Recall: Mars rules our sexual energy and our yang energy - our energy to get things done in this world. Mars is the ruler of Aries and known as the “planet of war,” we can see it in the night sky with a red hue.

Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto and Mercury have finally gone direct after a long retrograde so although Mars is retrograde, energy may be lifting and shifting. We are also just past the eclipse portal, this year it’s the TaurusScorpio polarity so expect change over the next six months and in particularly dealing with Scorpio and Taurus factors of life: sexuality, the occult, finances, everything about the self including self-esteem, safety including the home, bank account and our health. To see how this affects you personally, you will need to look at your individual chart.

Aries

A month of a range of emotions as the sun moves through the deepest emotional sign, Scorpio. Shifting into Sagittarius, the energy will begin to get lighter and an understanding of these emotions will come through.

November 2022

by ASHLEY KRISTINA

Taurus

A time when karmic energies are coming up to be shifted and released. It’s a time to embody your hidden gifts and move into your highest self - this may require strong boundaries and some goodbyes. Practice mindfulness and gratitude this month.

Gemini

A month of insights and revelations which may be shocking and lead to huge shifts. We outgrow ourselves many times throughout life. It’s ok if you have outgrown a part of you and have a new truth. Move with your inner compass.

Cancer

A grand trine of water energy occurs this November so it’s a favourable time for Cancers who see the opportunity to take advantage of. Find your inner willpower to make positive change in your life.

Leo

The first half of the month feels very different for you than the last. The first two weeks are intense and a good time to invest in deep inner work while the last two are jovial and great for adventure and exploration.

Virgo

Action this month is best taken in business, financial planning and making sure any legal settlements are organized. It’s a time when everything to do with your money is best attended to.

Libra

Relationships and sense of self, physical body and identity are your ruling themes this month. It’s a great time to practice

mindfulness and self-supportive techniques. It’s also a great time to invest in your health.

Scorpio

A powerful month as the eclipse, planets and the grand water trine support your energy. The shifts that can happen at this time will last for years to come. It’s a date with destiny and a time of spiritual revival.

Sagittarius

Eclipses clear out karma and bring in our dharma. Since Jupiter, your ruling planet, is also finally direct, you will notice momentum in your life this month despite a retrograde Mars.

Capricorn

It’s a good month to devote your energy to aspects of your life that slowed down due to the retrograde activity of the planets over the summer. Know that Mars is retrograde so there may still be some frustration.

Aquarius

It’s a busy month of communication, social engagements and expansion in social arenas. There may be frustrations with Mars retrograde. Travel the path of least resistance over the next three months.

Pisces

Financial luck enters your life as Jupiter expands your finances. Lots of months of building foundation and clarity has led to this fruitful time. It’s all about aligning the inner energy first.

MISSION

“A safe place to truly belong is vital to every child. Providing that as families heal and hopefully reunite is the most rewarding part of being a foster caregiver to a child who needs it.”

MEGHAN, FOSTER CAREGIVER

Anticipation, Through Your Lens

Photo by Auzzie @siriuslywildstudios

A crisp hint of what’s to come as the last of the autumn leaves hang and a golden hue covers the valley giving us a sense of warmth, reminiscent of the seasons past

Enjoy the bee-utiful weather while it lasts, winter is just around the corner!

Taylor’d Images Photography @taylord_images_photography

Snapshots:

Student Intern Position Opens Pottery Studio Doors

In 2021, The Arts Station in Fernie was facing a flattering problem: everyone wanted to use their basement pottery studio. From expert artists who sell their products, to beginners who are just looking to have fun and make something beautiful, The Arts Station was limited in what they could offer. Louise Ferguson is the Executive Director of the Fernie and District Arts Council, which operates The Arts Station. Louise wanted to hire an intern to maintain the studio equipment, teach and support beginners, and provide administrative and technical support for the pottery studio.

She hired intern Caroline Payne, a graduate of Selkirk College’s Ceramic Studio Certificate program. Thanks to the Trust’s program that supports businesses hiring emerging professionals through an internship, The Arts Station pottery studio opened its doors to beginners, increasing the participant traffic significantly.

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Out in the Community:

What is your current level of winter stoke, and how are you preparing yourself?

Emily Park

Current level of stoke is equal to riding away from an overrated front 3 without catching an edge! Can’t wait to ride the new park features off Deer Chair with Fernie Freestyle Snowboard rippers. I have been prepping by doing three sessions a week at Fernie Mountain Fitness.

Tara Higgins

Current level of winter stoke…. medium to high. Looking forward to the lung burn of skate skiing and big snowflake days. Bracing myself for the minus 30 days when you try to do everything at warp speed outside but can’t move any faster than a snail because you just froze to the spot.

Dawn Deydey

My winter stoke starts growing when the snow starts falling. I’ve been prepping for winter by harvesting and preserving locally grown fruit and veggies. I still have lots of wood to chop to ensure our house stays warm this winter.

Jana Wenzlawe

To be honest my stoke level is pretty low at the moment. The fall weather has been just perfect and I wish it would stay all year. That being said, as soon as winter actually hits, it’ll be amazing too. That’s the beautiful thing about living here and experiencing ALL of the seasons. As you say goodbye to one, the next beautiful one slides in.

Emily Brydon

I am finally ready to get excited about winter. Just a couple weeks ago I was chatting about what am I going to do to push myself outside my comfort and into my butterfly zone. I love thinking about this stuff, it makes me feel alive and eager anticipating a season of thrills and spills! As for prepping, I am unfortunately in the fake it to make it camp this year!

Jimmy Vallance

Am still in shorts, shades and tee, hoping thereby to extend the summer. Stoke and tolerance level for winter nonexistent.

November begins with the Inaugural Council Meeting on November 1, 7pm where the elected mayor and councillors will be officially sworn in to serve a four-year term from November 2022 to November 2026. Their first regular council meeting is November 14 and first Committee of the Whole Meeting, November 21 at 4pm. Did you know, ever since COVID, meetings are live on Facebook and also available via zoom? The link and agendas are posted on fernie.ca.

Are you planning a staff Christmas party this year? Make sure to book early as it will quickly fill up – Fernie has a lot of small businesses, doing the same thing! Fun options to explore include Fernie Distillers, Bramasole, Loaf, Kodiak Lounge… and don’t forget the Small Business Christmas Party at the Cast Iron Grill at the Fernie Golf Club. You can also chat with your favourite restaurant and see what options they can offer you this season!

The Fernie Ghostriders, Fernie’s Junior ‘B’ Hockey Team and part of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, is in full swing. This month alone, there are games on November 1, 10, 12, 13, 19, and 26 at the Fernie Memorial Arena. Stay up to date at fernieghostriders.com and follow along throughout the season by attending games – it’s an exciting Canadian pastime!

The Holiday Kick Off is taking place November 25 this year! Join the community by beginning the holiday season supporting our local businesses. Businesses are open late, many with specials or festivities to celebrate the season, and the #spenditinfernie campaign once again offering incentives for finding your gifts in Fernie this year. Make sure to stop by the Arts Station for the Light Up Arts installations created by various local artists, as well as the Twilight Craft Fair at the Fernie Community Centre.

Holiday Kickoff

Spot the Difference

Can you find five differences between these two pictures? Have a picture to submit for Fernie Fun? Send it to info@clarismedia.com.

FIND THE

Somewhere in this issue is a little poppy. Can you find it?

Name These Businesses

Here are close-up pictures of some Fernie businesses, can you name them?

Edge