Fernie Fix April 2016

APRIL 2016 | ISSUE 112

THE GREEN ISSUE FEATURE ARTIST LINDSAY VALLANCE ON WHAT LEAD HER TO PURSUE MASK-MAKING | FEATURE RESIDENT LEE-ANNE WALKER DISCUSSES HER PASSION FOR NATURE AND OUR RIVERS | SHELBY CAIN GIVES US A TEEN’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT | JESSE BELL HITS THE STUDIO WITH AND WHAT APPAREL

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APRIL 2016 ISSUE 112 THE GREEN ISSUE

EDITOR’S FIX | 5 BUSINESS | 7 Business News/New Business

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 10 Feature Artist – Lindsay Vallance Fernie Reads with Ayla Bennet: Raven’s End by Ben Gadd Rental Fix – Grimm by Andrew Vallance Musical Notes – Blondes Have More Fun

by Carolyn Nikodym

COMMUNITY & EVENTS | 18 Feature Residents by Krista Turcasso – Lee-Anne Walker You’ve Got Male: Stargazing

by Adam K MacDonald Family Stoke – Red is the New Green

by Shelby Cain FernieFix.com Events Calendar / April at the Arts Station

OUTDOOR LIFE | 26 Swim, Bike and Jog by Brendan Morgan: Tips from the Trenches Never Have I Ever – In the Studio with And What Apparel by Jesse Bell In the Tracks – Ski Prep and Storage

by Jeff Williams Hitting the Trails with the Fernie Trails Alliance – Trail Stewardship by Julie Kelly The Name Game – Emily’s

by Karen Pepper

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE | 35 Fit to Play – Around the World Workout

by Sarah Ingram, Practicing Kinesiologist Nourish Through Nature

by Krissi Hyland, RHN – Matcha Around the World with Rebecca Hall – Low Impact Travel Beauty and Fashion in a Fix – Fashion Conscious by Solange and Zoe

BITS AND BYTES | 43

COVER: King of the hill. A fun shot from a family photo session earlier this winter.

Photo by Nick Nault | www.nicknaultphotography.ca THIS PAGE: Streaming high on the mountainside.

Photo by Christine Thompson / Mountain Life Photography

The Answer Guy – Podcast

by Kevin McIsaac Astrology with Yann Loranger

FERNIE FUN | 54 Fix Trivia

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

CAROLYN NIKODYM wonders if the energy of dancing fools could be harnessed as a renewable resource.

• Growing Locally for you Since 2000!

• Veggies, Herbs & Annuals

• Hanging Baskets

• Trees & Shrubs

• Planters

• Huge Perennial Selection • Soils, Mulch, Aggregates

The Most Awesome Selection of all your Garden Supplies!

250-423-3666 • located on Highway 3, a few minutes east of Fernie

Fernie Puppy School Cathy Smith-Clark, CAPPDT • Professional Dog Training Instructor • over 30 years experience Start Your Puppy off Right.

Prevent Behavioural Problems.

April Puppy Classes, House Calls Private Lessons Highly Encouraged

Platters

Chalet dinners

Hassle free, full service dining solutions Family get togethers

Like us on Facebook

CHEF MATT SOROCHUK csmithclark2002@yahoo.ca 250.423.7257

ironcreekcateringco@live.com www.ironcreekcatercompany.com

250-423-6856

AYLA BENNETT lives with her family in Fernie, BC and is passionate about environmental conservation working with non-profit groups including Wildsight, the Elk River Alliance and Mainstreams Environmental Society.

She has been an environmental educator and contractor since she graduated with BSc of Earth Science from the University of Calgary in 2011.

SHELBY CAIN was raised in the East Kootenays. After spending a decade wandering the prairies - she’s back, baby. Writing and mothering and enjoying her daily dose of #ferniestoke. Her first novel, Mountain Girl, comes out with Oolichan Press in the spring of 2016. Tweet her @ ShelbyCainWrote JESSE BELL spends a day in the studio with Jesse Druxerman of And What Apparel and designs handbleached t-shirts, uses hair dryers and realizes she is not ever going to be a model because she doesn’t know what to do with her hands. And What Apparel is awesome!

KRISSI HYLAND is a Holistic Nutritionist,Ski and Snowboard Instructor nestled in the Japanese Alps in Hakuba, Nagano, Japan.

This season Krissi is taking on the challenge of making healthy versions of traditional Japanese dishes.

Happy shredding and healthy eating!

NourishThroughNature.com BRENDAN MORGAN would like to encourage people who would like to get fit in the new year to try the great cross training sport of triathlon.

KAREN PEPPER, is the Marketing Coordinator at Fernie Alpine Resort, and will be sharing fun historical facts and stories about the ski hill with Fix readers this winter.

JEFF WILLIAMS has been a coach for the Fernie Nordic Society Track Attack program for four years and is head coach for the race team. This winter his column focuses on technique and training to help you enjoy the sport of Nordic skiing.

SARAH INGRAM, practicing kinesiologist, is channelling your inner traveller this Earth Day with some strength training exercises from other parts of the world. If you need help with your program, call 250-423-9167 or visit www. sarahsactiverehab.com.

The FERNIE TRAILS ALLIANCE is a non-profit organization that works with outdoor recreation groups, government and private land owners to enhance and maintain the Fernie trail network.

DR. TAINA TURCASSO is a naturopathic doctor and midwife practicing in Calgary, Alberta. She spends most of her time catching gorgeous babies, and is slowly inching her way back to Fernie.

REBECCA HALL loves to hear and write about the places that Fernieites travel to. If you’d like to share your travel story, write to her at hall.rebecca.j@gmail.com.

Operators and sisters of No.3, SOLANGE and ZOE have a passion for fashion and beauty combining their expertise into their salon and boutique.

ADAM K. MACDONALD wishes everyone a Happy Earth Day, April 22.

KEVIN MCISAAC haunts the coffee shops and streets of Fernie to find his column source material.

YANN LORANGER from Happy-Culture Inc. is your local resource for Astrology, Tarot and Apitherapy. Astrology courses are offered at the College of the Rockies in Fernie. happycultureinc@gmail.com

FERNIE FIX | FERNIEFIX.COM Published monthly by Claris Media. To advertise and for general inquiries: info@clarismedia.com Box 1124, 841 7th Ave. Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 p: 250-423-4062 www.clarismedia.com Editor | Krista Turcasso Creative Director | Vanessa Croome Associate Editor | Carolyn Nikodym All content copyright Claris Media. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.

Editor’s Fix INDUSTRIALIZATION. MASS PRODUCTION. CONSUMERISM. GLOBAL WARMING. When you take it all in, and really think about our actions and their consequences, it is overwhelming. How can you turn back time? Can the actions of one individual really make a difference?

I believe they can.

When I was little, I took the natural environment for granted. In Fernie, everything seemed so pristine, so abundant, so beautiful, so eternal. I assumed it was like this everywhere.

That even in the “big city” one could easily escape into the wilderness. Climb a mountain if they chose to. Sit next to a babbling brook.

After graduation, I left to university. Along with desiring a good education, I desired things. A car, nice clothes, a modern apartment. Whatever money I had, I spent. I didn’t think about the future, it was all about immediate gratification.

ten years the life I lead here and the work I do has taught me a lot about how I want to live and who I want to be. Every month, we are exposed to remarkable stories of residents and visitors, businesses and organizations. We are continually learning and being inspired, by people and their positive actions, generosity, courage and resilience.

I may only be one person, but I share my thoughts and feelings and passions with my partner. My daughters. My friends and family. And every month, I share them right here with you, our readers alongside those of the many contributors and featured individuals. Whether large or small, for every action there is a reaction.

And the sum of the actions of many, can really have an impact.

Remember this Earth Day, when it all feels too overwhelming and hopeless, know that all positive changes, even those that feel so minute, have an exponential effect.

Krista Turcasso, Editor

School finally completed (oh, if I only knew) I went out to find a job. And it was a rude awakening. I was completely independent for the first time, and as you often do coming out of school, I started at the bottom in my career. I could barely afford my apartment and I had student loans, a car loan, credit card debt… I felt the weight of the style of life I was leading.

Not surprisingly, during this same time I felt a strong lure to Fernie. Every weekend, I explored its nooks and crannies many for the first time, learned to mountain bike, got back into skiing and started trail running. Time slowed down for those two days every week, and before long I knew I had to take a leap and move back. Soon after, nearly ten years ago, I met Vanessa and together we took another leap and started our business, Claris Media.

Living and working in Fernie is a privilege that I am grateful for daily. It truly helped me to simplify my life, and over these last

SET IN MOTION by

Va n e s s a C r o o m e OPENING MARCH 31, 2016 / 7pm until April 25, 2016 at the Fernie Arts Station

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BOSSIO ROAD PROPERTIES

LOT

3

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2

LOT

4

LOT

5

Existing House

LOT

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BOSSIO ROAD

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.38 Acres (1538 sq. m.) $575,000 (includes house)

2.

.37 acres (1498 sq.m.) $239,000

3.

.466 Acres (1886 sq. m.) $239,000

4.

.184 Acres (745 sq. m.)

Sold

5.

.180 Acres (729 sq. m) $209,000

6.

.180 Acres (729 sq. m) $209,000

Bossio Road Properties is a small, local development in the Parkland Subdivision offering five lots and a house along a ridge overlooking the town of Fernie and the Elk River. These properties are located on a private ridge in a quiet, low traffic area.

All lots are levelled, gravel building sites and offer amazing views of the surrounding mountains with swift access to the recreation they provide.

Contact John Turcasso for more information at 250-423-1148 or turcasso@shaw.ca.

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Business

BUSINESS NEWS

Lunchbox Fresh Market 561A 2nd Ave 250-423-4500

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Lilac Media 542D 2nd Ave 250-430-1330 WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN NEED OF QUALITY PRINT PRODUCTS, choose an environmentally conscious business to provide them. Lilac Media is a full design and print solution studio located in downtown Fernie offering everything from business marketing items such as cards, rack cards, brochures and posters to paper décor, and bound presentation pieces.

Focusing on sustainable and renewable products, Lilac Media uses responsible paper suppliers including Domtar, Pacesetter, Mowhawk, Neenah, and International Paper, and carries FSC certified mix papers from responsible sources, Rainforest Alliance certified, 100% and 30% recycled, acid free and lignin free papers, and HP INDIGO certified substrates for premium colour printing. All paper waste is reused or recycled.

Lilac’s Xerox printing equipment meets Energy Star guidelines and all printer and toner cartridges are recycled through the Xerox Eco Box program.

Make an impact with Lilac Media! lilacmedia.ca

JAROD AND ERINRAE, the new owners of Lunchbox Fresh Market, moved to Fernie to get away from the hectic pace of life in Calgary. With that factor and facing the uncertainty of the Alberta economy, the young family searched for a place to raise their young son, Nash, choosing Fernie as a perfect fit, meeting all their needs as a family-oriented town. The move to the mountains was a simple choice for the couple, with the endless opportunities, breathtaking 360° views and welcoming community.

Lunchbox has provided them with a fabulous opportunity to take advantage SUBMITTED PHOTO of Jarod’s 20 years of restaurant/bar experience and ErinRae’s 15 years of similar experience. They plan on keeping the amazing style of food that the locals and tourists love and expanding the concept with some fresh ideas. Jarod and ErinRae look forward to becoming active members in the community and getting to know the people of Fernie.

Property Guys East Kootenay propertyguys.com 250-489-8383/1-866-237-8281 2016 IS OFF TO A GREAT START for the local PropertyGuys.com franchise, which has been nominated for Business of the Year (0-15 employees category) through the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.

The company was also recognized earlier this year by PropertyGuys.com Corporate Office with a nomination for Western Franchise of the Year.

Based out of Fernie and Sparwood, co-owners Lisa Christopher and Amber Biberdorf have expanded once again, welcoming three new Property Marketing Associates to their team. They believe their innovative approach to real estate has brought the future of real estate to

SUBMITTED PHOTO

the East Kootenays, and that real estate transactions do not require an agent.

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Business

BUSINESS NEWS

Soar Cycle Studio 461 1st Ave 250423-1677

Reel Canadian Film Festival www.reelfilmfest.ca IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL CANADIAN FILM DAY AND EARTH DAY, the Reel Canadian Film Festival committee presents the awardwinning 2015 film Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World. This film won Best Canadian Feature Documentary Award at Hot Docs (2015) and focuses on the unique community uniting to protect land and sea for the next generation on the islands. Haida hereditary Chief Allan Wilson, renowned activist Guujaaw and non-indigenous ecoactivist Severn Cullis-Suzuki work alongside scientists, organic farmers, artists and quirky islanders to create a synergy of sustainable development.

This event is free for everyone to attend and screens Thursday April 21 at 7pm at the Arts Station.

Wildsight 891 2nd Ave 250-423-3322 AT WILDSIGHT, EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY, but on Friday April 22, they are showing their love and sharing a glimpse at the work they do at the 10th annual Earth Day Celebrations!

Earth Day 2016 was designed to bring Fernie together to protect the planet,

JOIN INSTRUCTOR KIM SHOPLAND at Soar Cycle for a six-week Spin Enduro Clinic and learn to use heart rate zones to train your body to become more efficient over longer periods of time.

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Heart-rate monitor training for cyclists helps to improve speed, fitness and body composition. Learn how to find the right zones for you and how to train efficiently within those zones.

This course is great for riders looking to get fit for the upcoming outdoor biking season as well as athletes preparing for the summer race circuit.

Participants must provide their own heart rate monitor, know how to use it and be familiar with their training zones.

Proper cycling shorts and SPD shoes also recommended.

Tuesdays 6:15-7:15pm starting April 5, 2016. Space is limited to 12 riders.

Cost is $85, register on-line at www. soarcyclestudio.com.

earth day fernie friday April

22nd

wildsight.ca/elkvalley build a sustainable community, and grow food locally. At Wildsight’s heart, it is a grassroots organization, harnessing its power from the people. That’s why when the opportunity to celebrate our planet and our community at the same time, Wildisight’s passion is elevated! The 2016 theme is Grow Locally: Soil Seeds and Solutions and has inspired a diverse selection of offerings.

A truly community focused event, attendees can enjoy an Eco-Speaker Series, Eat Local Challenge, Soil Secrets, Face Painting, Seed Swap, Nature Hikes and more. Take your passion to action this Earth Day and join the community at the Library from 3-7pm. Learn more at www. wildsight.ca/elkvalley.

Business

NEW BUSINESS

the fernie academy RESPECT, EXCELLENCE, LEARNING

Kindergarten to grAde 12, consider the Academy.

Call to book a tour!

250.423.0212

Located in the heart of historic downtown Fernie BC this Ministry of Education recognized independent school offers a full complement of high standard academic programming combined with a focus on athletics and the arts. Hosting students from Kindergarten through Grade 12,The Fernie Academy focuses on individual students preparing them for the challenges of today’s demanding world.

To book a tour please call: 250-423-0212 451 2nd Avenue, Fernie B.C. CONTACT OUR PRINCIPAL Jocelyn Sombrowski at: jocelyn@igsco.ca

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Roberta Milne, Registered Massage Therapy 250-278-0537 robertamilnermt@gmail.com

ROCKIES LAW c o r p o r a t i o n CONTINUING A TRADITION OF SERVICE SINCE 1897

Real Estate, Family Law, Business Law, Corporate and Commercial, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Tax Law, Wills and Estates

Karen Tse | Graeme R. Nunn | J. Andrew Bird

Fernie PO Box 490, Suite 202, 502 Third Avenue Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 Tel: (250) 423-4446 | Fax: (250) 423-4065

With offices also serving:

Cranbrook Kimberley Invermere

info@rockieslaw.com | www.rockieslaw.com

LONG TIME FERNIE RESIDENT AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST, Roberta Milne, is now a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) practicing in Fernie. She recently graduated from the Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy in Vernon, BC. Roberta’s focus is on therapeutic massage to help restore healthy living and to maintain general well being. She uses a variety of techniques to create a treatment specific to each individual.

While relaxation is the outcome, treatment is the focus. A massage is the perfect way to release tight muscles, destress, and reduce aches and pains.

Get in touch with Roberta directly via phone or email to schedule an appointment. If you work Monday to Friday, ask her about weekend or evening appointments. Gift certificates are available.

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Arts and Entertainment

F E AT U R E A R T I S T

Lindsay Vallance I would like to say that I turned to recycled art virtuously: re-using discarded materials in an effort to reduce waste, reducing exposure to cadmium, lead, and solvents, or commenting on our unsustainable consumer society.

These are all good reasons to do what I do. If I was slightly less honest, I could claim any or all of them, and this would be an inspiring Green art success story.

But really it was much simpler than that.

3300 feet above sea level and had never seen a body of water larger than Lake Koocanusa.) Thanks to my family, I grew up surrounded by art and craft, but it was not a career option – it was just something that was always there, like air, or CBC radio.

By the time I was seventeen, I still had only the vaguest idea of what I was destined to do, but I told myself that art was not going to be it.

I was broke.

When I was a kid, I had no idea what I wanted to be. My choice of future career changed by the week and was wildly impractical, ranging from archaeologist/ explorer to international super-spy and back again. (I also went through a phase where I wanted to be a marine biologist, even though I had grown up

Sure, the arts were fun. Unfortunately, they were also fiscally precarious, impractical, and would probably end in alcoholism, madness and impromptu ear-removal.

No, I would do something, at best, Artish. Something calm. Something reliable.

Something with dental benefits.

Then I went to school, and found myself being dragged, slowly and inexorably, back into the theatre and art departments. After graduation I moved into a small, two-bedroom apartment with two roommates. I was working as a dishwasher on weekends while trying to gain a few employable skills in cooking school.

In university I had painted in oils, but it was no longer an option. My apartment window was tiny, ventilation was poor, and I knew better than to try and use oils and paint thinner over a rented carpet. Pretty much all other art forms would require specialized art supplies, or uninterrupted space, none of which I had.

What I did have was garbage. The restaurant where I worked expelled a constant flow of collapsed cardboard boxes, and the pile of discarded junk mail in the lobby of our apartment building towered like a newsprint Everest. Why pay for art supplies when people were throwing tons of them out every single day? Garbage was the answer – specifically, old, wet newspaper, aka papier mache.

In the hierarchy of creative endeavours, papier mache hovers somewhere between art and craft. If Sculpture is a sleek, jaded sophisticate in a black dress and angular silver jewellery, Papier Mache is her lumpy-but-colourful small-town cousin, who wears sparkly kitten sweatshirts and eats a lot of gluten. Papier mache doesn’t get a lot

of respect, but it is cheap, plentiful, and very, very flexible.

Suddenly, there were other art supplies everywhere. String, wire, Styrofoam, coat-hangers, tin cans, chocolate bar wrappers, doilies, lace, buttons and beads and branches – everything was filled with possibility. I spread garbage bags on my bedroom floor, downloaded a flour paste recipe from the Internet, and started gluing.

This was in 2006. In the intervening decade I have made masks a few at a time, in short bursts between jobs and apartments.

folds of my brain with a variety of alien and mythical creatures. Most of them haven’t moved out yet, so they tend to show up in my work. The patterns and textures are inspired by natural forms, the skins and feathers of insects, birds and plants. For a long time they ended up on the walls of Polar Peek Books, where owners Laura Nelson and then Patty Reedyk were generous enough to lend me their space. More recently they have appeared in the Arts Station as well. They just keep showing up, demanding to be made, and made on demand, until I run out of ideas or old newspapers.

So far, so good.

The masks come from a variety of places. I spent a lot of time reading as a kid, and those stories populated the FERNIEFIX.COM

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Further is: Pioneering a cleaner and more cost-effective fuel solution for our haul trucks.

Teck is the first mining company in Canada to use LNG-powered haul trucks to reduce carbon emissions while also reducing costs. That’s taking innovation further.

Learn more about how Teck is going further at www.teck.com

Booked!

An Independent Book Store A unique selection of books, gifts, award-winning toys, guide books & maps, stationery and special treasures.

Fernie Writers’ Series 2016 Presented by the Fernie Heritage Library

Shelagh RogeRS

2 2 2 2 2

hoSt of The NexT ChapTeR Friday April 8th, 7:00 pm

Fernie Heritage Library “Think of her as Canada’s ear. Then add a brain, a heart...and a very recognizable voice. That’s Shelagh Rogers.” ~Shelley Ambrose, The Walrus

Open Everyday 592 2nd Ave., Fernie • 250-423-3736 polarpeekbooks@telus.net www.polarpeekbooks.ca

Contact us to place a special order

Arts and Entertainment

Raven’s End by Ben Gadd

The novel also provides an outsider perspective on human behaviour and how bizarre we are compared to other animals in the Rockies. For example, early in the story a human dies and the local journalist, represented by a Townsend solitaire bird, reports disappointingly that “as usual, they [the humans] took the body away before anyone could eat it.”

Colin on the other hand is fascinated by humans and interacts with them on a few occasions, despite being warned that they are the most dangerous animals around.

AYLA BENNET

AS PART OF THE GREEN EDITION OF THE FERNIE FIX, I was asked to review an environmentally themed book.

It was a hard choice to make. I wanted to review something educational, inspiring and locally set, that would appeal to many ages and have an environmental focus.

I found what I was looking for when a friend recommended Raven’s End; what I didn’t expect to find was a new favourite book!

Raven’s End is a captivating natural history and adventure novel imposing human characteristics on familiar Rocky Mountain animals. I will never look at the majestic, soaring ravens above Fernie’s mountain peaks the same way again! I knew the common raven (Corvus corax) was a highly intelligent bird, but Raven’s End really encourages the reader to imagine his or her personality while explaining various traits and characteristics of the bird. This book, set in the Canadian Rockies, tells the captivating tale of Colin, an endearing but amnesia-stricken raven.

As a reader, you are hooked from the very beginning. Colin finds himself in a life or death situation (or two…) at Mount Yamnuska (located near Kananaskis, Alberta). He is rescued and taken in by a local flock of ravens, who are confused and suspicious as to how this bizarre individual appeared in their lives.

Colin himself is also very confused and disturbed by the fact that he remembers nothing about his previous life, apart from his name. He must re-learn how to be a raven: how to fly, what to eat, which predators to avoid and re-discover his sense of place. He is a quick-learner, though, and shows endless curiosity about his home ranges.

FERNIE READS

I WILL NEVER LOOK AT THE MAJESTIC, SOARING RAVENS ABOVE FERNIE’S MOUNTAIN PEAKS THE SAME WAY AGAIN! The story is told through the seasons of one year and impels the reader to acknowledge the power and significance of each season for wildlife – from the beautiful abundance of summer to the cold and deadly harshness of winter.

The reader is inspired to think about the struggles animals endure to survive at all times of the year, but especially during the scarcity of winter.

Throughout the book, Colin strikes up many highly amusing conversations with other Rocky Mountain fauna, from pika to lynx, and prairie falcon to ground squirrel. Each animal has its own unique personality and wisdom to impart to Colin. Pikas (aka rock rabbits) are completely at peace with their own mortality and recognize their oneness with nature. Lynx show a cunning charisma and captivating power to trap prey.

Prairie falcons are highly sophisticated air troopers of the sky. Simple-minded ground squirrels seem to have a death wish in relation to dangerous highway crossings, but there might be a purpose behind this madness after all.

Ben Gadd tells this story as only an experienced naturalist could. His wisdom and insight enable him to make the reader laugh out loud while learning about what some of us might consider dull or dry topics (e.g. the types of lichen found in the Canadian Rockies). Gadd, known for this best-selling non-fiction Handbook of the Canadian Rockies (which is an in-depth resource guide), has given us the best of both worlds with Raven’s End. He balances the worlds of fiction and non-fiction as he shares his wealth of ecological knowledge through the lens of welldeveloped characters and a captivating plot. He casually describes how deciduous trees photosynthesize and how the cycle of life continues once they lose their leaves. He eloquently depicts weather systems moving from different parts of the continent. He brings to life and makes relevant everything in the ecosystem from wind and rocks to plants and, of course, animals. I was constantly impressed with Gadd’s breadth of knowledge as well as his ability to engage the reader.

This book is one of the best environmental books I’ve ever read and would make a great gift for any nature lover or inquisitive mind from 9-90 years old! If you’re interested in reading the book, you can find it at our local bookstore Polar Peek, or at the Fernie Heritage Library.

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Challenge

Soil Secrets

Eco Speaker Series

friday April

22nd

@library Free Trees

earthdayfernie

Trash Bash

Seed Swap Eat Local

Challenge

Nature Hikes Get Wild Challenge Crafts & Facepainting

learn more...

wildsight.ca/elkvalley

The effects of UV damage to our eyes are cumulative.

Our most common exposure is sunlight but there are many artificial sources in our homes and work places.

Be sure to protect your eyes from UV in all situations.

FERNIE 250-423-4467 • BLAIRMORE 403-562-7144 • ELKFORD 250-865-2022

Arts and Entertainment

T H E R E N TA L F I X

Grimm ANDREW VALLANCE

Go Green This April!

JACOB AND WILHELM GRIMM WERE GERMAN ACADEMICS and cultural researchers who together specialized in collecting and publishing folklore during the late 18th and 19th Centuries. They were amongst the bestknown tellers of folktales and popularized such stories as Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin and Snow White. Their first collection of folktales was published in 1812 and was called Children’s and Household Tales (Kinder- and Hausmarchen).

The folklore recorded by these brothers has proved so popular that it has been adapted over the last century for numerous versions in children’s literature and for film and television. It is no surprise, then, that Grimm’s fairy tales have been adapted yet again in the 21st Century in the form of the excellent new television series called, simply, Grimm.

April is the time of year when being green comes naturally in Fernie.

We start hitting the bike trails even more frequently and a brisk morning walk to work is just what the doctor ordered after a long winter.

Say goodbye to the car or truck and join us at one of our many trails and parks for a green adventure.

For more information visit www.fernie.ca Fernie Aquatic Centre 250.423.4466 Facility Inquiries 250.423.2245 www.fernie.ca

The series follows the adventures of detective Nick Burkhardt, a Portland police officer, who is “blessed” with the ability to see all kinds of fantastical and monstrous creatures despite the fact that they are able to disguise themselves as ordinary human beings. Nick comes from a long line of monster-hunters known as Grimms, and he is charged with the hunting down of the most destructive of these creatures.

David Giuntoli (13 Hours, Caroline and Jack, Turn the Beat Around) expertly plays the show’s main character as a kind hearted, yet frequently confused, everyman who just wants to do the right thing.

The show also features Silas Weir Mitchell (Flags of Our Fathers, The Whole Ten Yards) as Nick’s wacky hipster sidekick, Russell Hornsby (Meet the Parents, Big Fat Liar) as his partner on the police force. Bitsie Tulloch (The Artist, Concussion, Parkland) plays his

long-suffering girlfriend, and Sasha Roiz (Warehouse 13, Pompeii, 16 Blocks) plays Captain Sean Renard, Nick’s superior officer. It is quite clear from their mediocre filmographies that for the majority of these actors, Grimm has been their first big break, but to their credit, they all give good performances and raise the standard of what could have been another mediocre television series.

Grimm is essentially your standard issue American cop show based loosely on the fairy tales as provided by the brothers Grimm. The villains are always truly evil, and the heroes are dependably good. The police are portrayed as individuals trying to uphold order and decency in a world gone mad. This isn’t the supernatural equivalent of David Simon’s The Wire; there is no subtlety to be had in the show.

It does not specialize in shades of grey.

The creator, David Greenwalt, previously worked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, but in this instance had difficulty creating a truly gritty drama, which may have been on purpose since Grimm airs on NBC, an incredibly mainstream network. However, if you enjoyed Greenwalt’s previous work, you will adore this series. It has enough action, adventure and magical critters to keep you fascinated through the last four seasons, and bring you back to see the fifth season, which is currently airing on NBC. Two thumbs up.

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April Events & Activities April 2 April 9 April 9 April 10

BCDC - Live at the Griz Bar Raging Elk Powder Pedal Paddle Relay Race Fernival MAIN BAND Platinum Blonde Coca-Cola Slope Soaker & Closing Day OPEN FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER! (until April 10th)

Located in the Fernie Alpine Resort Plaza

KIDS EAT FOR $5!

100%

GMO FREE MENU

Blowout prices on: • Brand name outerwear, mid-layers & apparel • Helmets, goggles, gloves & mitts

Sale on until

APRIL 10TH Don't miss out!

END OF SEASON

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Arts and Entertainment

MUSICAL NOTES

Blondes Have More Fun CAROLYN NIKODYM

IT WAS THE 1980S. Music videos hit the mainstream. MTV first aired in 1981, and in Canada, there were a smattering of video shows until MuchMusic launched in late August 1984. Music videos became the way bands expressed themselves to fans. The music video made artists like Madonna, Duran Duran and Michael Jackson (“Thriller” being the consummate example of the form).

My best friend Lisa and I would spend the time between school and dinner glued to the TV, watching video after video, discussing the relative hotness of Duran Duran members. We could stay friends because she liked Nick Rhodes and I was more for John Taylor. But Simon Le Bon would be an acceptable alternative for both of us.

It was around this time that, as my mom tells it, I went from being the polite, compliant and helpful pre-teen to the feared, irrational monster of planet Teen Angst. It was also the time that music really spoke to me in a way that it hadn’t before. Through music and videos, I had evidence that there were others out there that felt as disaffected as I did. Music videos understood.

One of my fave videos of that era was Platinum Blonde’s “Doesn’t Really Matter.” A malcontent Mark Holmes sits alone in front of a television – almost a zombie – with the outside world trying to knock down the door, trying to entice him out into the excesses of the ‘80s. But his television screen is warning him that 1984 is upon us (think George Orwell and Cold-War, nuclear-destruction paranoia). Holmes plays the misanthrope to perfection.

Add to that he was an Englishman in Toronto, and he was a teenage-girl-from-

SUBMITTED PHOTO

a-Toronto-suburb’s dream. And when Fernie Alpine Resort announced Platinum Blonde as headlining Fernival 2016, there was a bit of “squee!” amongst a couple of us women of a certain age.

Platinum Blonde began as a Police tribute band, but the band soon began creating its own music. During the ‘80s, Platinum Blonde released three LPs. Standing in the Dark was the first and most successful, followed by Alien Shores and Contact. In 1990, under the name The Blondes, the band released Yeah Yeah Yeah before disbanding.

Lead singer Mark Holmes rightly sees parallels between ‘80s New Wave and today’s indie and synth rock. He maintains that the band’s reunion isn’t some kind of nostalgic trip, some kind of way to capture what once was. Despite the misanthrope Holmes plays in that iconic ‘80s video, he isn’t the cynical old pop star that hits the

road with decades-old material. The band played its first reunion gig in Toronto in 2010 and released its new album Now & Never in 2012. In the two decades between the band’s third and fourth albums, Holmes kept himself musically current, both running the Toronto’s Mod Club and touring as DJ MRK. Oh, and working out (for anyone who harboured a crush on Holmes back then).

Platinum Blonde plays April 9 at Fernie Alpine Resort.

Correction: Last month I mistakenly wrote that Pharis and Jason Romero were playing at Clawhammer. I apologize to Mike and Anie Hepher and any fans for the error and any inconvenience this may have caused.

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Community & Events

F E AT U R E R E S I D E N T S

Lee-Anne Walker KRISTA TURCASSO

I SHOULD HAVE BLOCKED OFF AN AFTERNOON or even a full day for my interview with Lee-Anne Walker. Even though we used to correspond regularly, as she was a monthly contributor to the Fix, there are still so many elements to this valuable community member I have yet to learn. So many stories and experiences worth hearing. So much knowledge she has to share. Especially when it comes to environmental affairs.

“I need wilderness, clean water and air, healthy soils to grow plants so I can live. Humans have two simple choices – to harm or to help our environment, which supports us. I choose to help my neighbours and friends,” she says. Her passion is so deep that it permeates into all aspects of her life. From where she works to time spent with family and friends, to her volunteer efforts, hobbies and interests, the environment is always at the forefront. For example, she started Wildsight Education programs, has taught the MAST program at the College of the Rockies for ten years. Lee-Anne owned and operated Fernie Nature Tours, and still continues to offer tours even though she graciously donated her business to Wildsight. And most recently, she started the Elk River Alliance.

The Elk River Alliance, “a communitybased water group that aims to connect people to the Elk River ensuring it is drinkable, fishable and swimmable for future generations,” began in the fall of 2010, after Lee-Anne completed her thesis for her Masters in Environment and Management. “I had just interviewed eight community-based water groups in the Columbia Basin and learned interesting things about how to bridge the challenges of how we can operationalize a future,” she says. “I decided to start

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right here, in the Elk Valley.” As an environmental educator for 25 years of her career, Lee-Anne recognizes the value in being aware and understanding.

“People will naturally do the right thing,” she states. When it comes to the Elk River, how do people understand what water quality is, and why it matters?

A recent development through the Elk River Alliance is the ER Flood Solution Strategy, launching this spring just in time for the flooding season. After the 2013 flood, it was apparent that a holistic watershed solution to flooding was needed.

“The strategy will help us to understand the hydrology of the river, chronology of

flooding. It looks at how to protect your home. How to protect watershed function and animal life. Together, we will all be pulling in the same direction, and we can have a major impact,” she says.

This April 12, from 9am to 4pm at the Arts Station, the Elk River Alliance is hosting a Solutions Symposium for Flooding in the Elk Watersheds where people can learn more about the key findings and join the conversation about how to implement the recommendations.

There will also be a workshop on stabilizing stream banks at the College in May. Additionally, the full strategy report is available on the ERA website at www.

elkriveralliance.ca, which includes an emergency response plan.

7. Where do you see Fernie in 5 to 10 years?

“When you look at environmental issues, you realize it’s not an environmental problem, it’s a people problem. The environment is resilient,” Lee-Anne says.

“I want everyone to think more about where their water comes from, how we use it and where it goes afterward, issues affecting our water and how we all play a role in the solutions to steward our water.”

An inclusive community that respects and listens to diverse points of view. A place where we work together to protect what we value about our home.

Lee-Anne has spent years sharing her knowledge, in multiple ways and through this continued education, the changes she has inspired are immeasurable. Thank you, Lee-Anne for sharing your passion and concern. We hope you enjoy your much-deserved move into semi-retirement.

9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you.

1. When did you first arrive in Fernie and what brought you here?

I arrived in the area in 1983 for the summer as an interpreter of coal mining heritage in the Crowsnest Pass. I met Gary at Leitch Collieries and never left.

250.423.1665

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8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals?

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g

Sitting in front of the fire having a coffee with my husband.

I am a grandmother of four fabulous grandsons. I have always been a bit of a tomboy, so I have fun playing with these boys.

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10. Quote to live by: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead

2. Where did you first live in town?

My husband and I built a house on Timberline Crescent at the Ski Hill.

3. What was your first impression?

People are so active here and they are passionate about this place.

4. What keeps you in Fernie?

Diversity – ecosystems, recreational activities, seasons, and my fabulous friends.

5. Do you have a favourite Fernie memory?

My daughter Chalice being born in the Fernie hospital and the amazing care I received as a new mom.

6. What is your favourite time of the year in Fernie and why?

Winter. I love to play in the snow and the peacefulness of nature in winter.

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Community & Events

YOU’VE GOT MALE

Stargazing ADAM K MACDONALD

SOMETIMES STARING UP AT THE STARS is a good enough reason for staring up at the stars. I am a big believer in the power of nature. We can all benefit from making sure we have enough nature in our days and enough days in nature.

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Finding the time and opportunity to spend time outdoors is a challenge. Yet, I cannot remember ever regretting time spent in nature. Even when I lived in New York and Toronto, I was happier after I found the time to walk in the park or to sit by a fountain and listen to the water. Life can be busy. Sometimes I cannot afford the time to get outside… but sometimes I can’t afford not to.

Fernie is a beautiful place filled with opportunities for outdoor pursuits and activities. When I look beyond the town, at the surrounding mountains, I still find myself in awe. Spending quiet time in nature is a reverent experience for me. It is when I feel the most connected to life.

For me, that connection to nature provides me with the benefits many people get from religion. My problems (and sometimes even their solutions) become clearer, my perspective becomes more objective, and my empathy for others grows.

Nature has a way of simplifying life and decisions. The absence of everyday distractions like money and bills and phone calls allows us to see whatever issue is on our mind. I remember when trying to decide whether to go back to university to become a teacher, I kept flip-flopping on whether the timing was right or not. I went for a walk in the woods behind my parents’ house and came back knowing that I wanted to enrol in Education.

One of my favourite jobs ever was leading week-long canoe trips in Ontario for teenagers. The self-growth for the participants (and myself) was astounding.

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The number of participants who made important life decisions on those trips (what to do after high school, how to repair broken relationships, admitting addiction problems) was more than could be chalked up to coincidence. Being somewhere new and in nature, without the everyday distractions that fill our lives, allows people to focus on what is important.

We live in a time of dizzying technological advancement. My phone can do more than the world’s best computer could only a few decades ago. Technology amazes me. Yet sometimes, technology seems more like my master than my servant.

Sometimes I need to unplug in order to recharge. “Unplugging” might sound daunting, but I am not suggesting that we all move off-grid and stop shaving (though that sounds appealing some days). Walking the dog, powering off the phone, biking instead of driving – these are all ways to unplug from technology, all ways to reduce distractions.

This coming summer I look forward to hiking and biking and canoeing and just generally getting outside and to connecting with nature. For tonight, I am going to take my dog for an extra-long walk where we can look up at mountains and maybe just stop and gaze up at the stars.

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Community & Events

FA M I LY S T O K E

Red is the New Green SHELBY CAIN

KIDS SAY THE MOST PROFOUND THINGS. Today I spent my morning with some English classes at Fernie Secondary School. Grade Tens and Twelves taught by the driven and inspirational Miss Prest. What the heck was I doing at the high school, so far out of my customary routine, you ask? I had been requested to come in and talk about writing personal essays. The visit started with a standard discussion about writing styles and techniques. Something I had to Google before I got there because I never really learned any of that stuff.

I tend to adhere to the very strict rules of the “write down whatever comes to your mind, then delete most of the swear words” school of writing. I read them a few of my pieces and watched their eyes glaze over as they stifled yawns. Not shockingly, reading my tales from the mother-hood about the struggle to get my small children to bed or decide what to do with my free afternoons was less than exhilarating. I get it. Tough crowd.

Near the end of the first class I decided, since I have a column due tomorrow and since I am a mother and therefore a master of multi-tasking, I would ask their opinion on being green in Fernie.

Did they think we were doing a good job at preserving our planet? After all – it is their future we’re trying to save. We are attempting to protect the polar ice caps and the ozone layer for them. Right?

Did they care about global warming?

Well. Things finally got interesting. The room began to pulse with the rare and electric energy of teenagers sharing what they actually think and feel. I sat back, stunned into a scared stupor, and let them talk. The grade Twelves – hardened by having done two extra years of life on Earth than their younger cohorts – were

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generally pessimistic. The inevitability of Earth’s demise was obvious to them. It’s too late. The damage is done and now we must suffer our own consequences.

Some actually thought the possibility of colonizing Mars might be the best bet.

As Alisha Garlock put it so fashionably – “Red is the new Green.”

“Isn’t there anything we can do?” I squeaked out between doomsday timeline predictions. Some of the estimates for our remaining days on Earth were so short that if these kids are correct I might actually be present to see the end of it all.

How did this happen? Through all the green initiatives, advances in recycling, and Oscar acceptance speeches by Leonardo Dicaprio, did we somehow forget to offer our ensuing generation a small shred of hope? Oops. Maybe we stuck it way down in the fine print on the giant and obnoxious warning label we have slapped on the planet we’re passing to them. The label that boldly states this planet will self-destruct in X number of years if you don’t immediately act on items A to infinity. And we mean now, people. It’s a tough pill to swallow. But maybe if we let them chase it with a shot

of optimism they’ll be able to choke it down. There are steps that they can take to make a change, and while it’s hard to envision organizing a collective “they” to join together and do something, it is possible. And it really does start with one person having an idea. And talking to another. And so on. One idea that sprouted out of our discussion was to have a mandatory agriculture class for the junior grades. If the school focused on teaching kids how to grow their own food, and maybe provided the organic classroom required to literally reap what they sow, it might cultivate more local growers. Not to mention better nutrition choices and a desire to protect our land and green spaces. I can tell you one thing for sure – these kids inspired me to help foster a little hope. I’m not sure exactly how to do that yet, but I’ll Google it.

“The generation above us seems to be stuck thinking humanity is eternal. I believe our generation has accepted that we are just going with the flow of planet Earth.” Alias Engelhardt-LeChance, Fernie Secondary School

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April 2016 Monthly Events FRIDAY 1.4.2016 Red Cedar Book Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:45-4:45 for Grades 4-6 Tea and Talk Book Club: Adult Onset by Ann-Marie MacDonald @ Fernie Heritage Library, 1:30pm DJ Aurora Live @ The Griz Bar, 3-6pm for après and again from 8:30-11:30pm.

SATURDAY 2.4.2016 BCDC Live @ The Griz Bar, 8pm. Don’t miss out on this famed tribute band rocking out in Fernie. Tickets are $25, call 250-4234655 or visit Guest Services to purchase.

SUNDAY 3.4.2016 Spring Yoga Workshop @ Castle on First, 1-4pm. www.thecastleonfirst.com

MONDAY 4.4.2016 Indie Films Fernie: The Lady in the Van @ The Vogue Theatre, 7pm

WEDNESDAY 6.4.2016 Senior Storytime for All Ages @ Tom Uphill Manor, 1:30pm Spring Registration Fair @ Fernie Community Centre, 6-8:30pm Hot Dog Day @ Fernie Alpine Resort. The first Wednesday of every April, people head to the hill wearing their best Hot Dog… The Movie inspired outfits and enjoy a day of spring skiing, lots of laughs, skinny skis and tight pants.

Coffee & Convo @ Tim Hortons. Brought to you by the Fernie Chamber of Commerce. 8:30am

THURSDAY 7.4.2016 Rose and the Riveters @ The Arts Station, 8pm Spring Registration Fair @ Fernie Community Centre, 6-8:30pm Music Appreciation with Lorraine Kneier @ Fernie Heritage Library, 6:30-8pm. Join Lorraine as she guides you through movements of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2 and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, works to be performed by the Symphony of the Rockies later in the week in Cranbrook.

FRIDAY 8.4.2016 Teacher Training Foundation Program @ Essential Yoga Studio, running until April 17.

21 Day 200 Hour Teacher Training Intensive @ Essential Yoga Studio, running until April 28.

Learn to Meditate Workshop @ Essential Yoga Studio, $205 for a three-day workshop running until April 10.

DJ Aurora Live @ The Griz Bar, 3-6pm for après and again from 8:30-11:30pm.

THE ARTS STATION www.theartsstation.com info@theartsstation.com 250.423.4842

Gallery Vanessa Croome - Set in Motion. Opening March 31, 7pm.

Until April 25.

Workshops Adult Workshop: Felted Squared Workshop (Beginners) with Becca Musso. Sunday April 3. 10am-2pm. All tools and materials supplied $40.00. Create a piece of felt that you’ll embellish using fabrics and yarns that you can then take home to make nto a cushion, bag or anything else that you can imagine!

Kids Workshop: Felted Pictures for Kids 4-6 with Becca Musso. Monday April 11 (Pro-D day). 9-Noon. All materials supplied $20. This is a fun, energetic and active workshop where we’ll create mini works of art in ziplock bags using our hands, feet and whole body!! It’s a great intro to felting!

Adult Pottery Workshop: Handbuilt Casserole Dishes with Penny Rinas . Saturday April 16. 2-4:30pm. Pottery Guild members: $28 + $17 for supplies. Non-members: $38 + $37 for

CHECK OUT THE FERNIE FIX EVENTS CALENDAR ONLINE AT WWW.FERNIEFIX.COM

Fernie Friends of Opera: Aida @ The Arts Station, 7pm Booked! Fernie Writers’ Series presents Shelagh Rogers @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7pm. An evening of conversation with this CBC celebrity, complete with nibbles, cash bar and live music from RedGirl. All welcome, $10 suggested donation.

Old Towns @ Infinitea, 8pm. Live acoustic folk music.

SATURDAY 16.4.2016

SATURDAY 9.4.2016

Food Forest Workshop @ Nevados, 12:30-3:30pm. Hosted by Wildsight, design and plant your own edible garden.

Prenatal Pamper Retreat @ Spa 901, 8:30am – 6:30pm. Energize, educate and then relax as you socialize with other excited moms to be! www.spa901.ca/introducing-our-6-month-wellness-series Fernie 4 Film Festival @ The Vogue Theatre, a four-minute film festival. Sponsored teams and a wild-card team created a ski or snowboard short at Fernie Alpine Resort, and will be competing on screen for the $4,000 cash prize.

Raging Elk Powder, Pedal, Paddle Relay @ Fernie Alpine Resort.

Teams of 1-5 ski, bike, paddle and run in a fun (yet competitive) relay race. Followed by a great dinner and party, a great way to finish the season.

Fernival with Platinum Blonde @ Fernie Alpine Resort. Kokanee Event Gardens open from 12-6pm, opening act on from 2-3pm, with Platinum Blonde hitting the stage at 3:30pm.

Symphony of the Kootenays: Symphonic Energy @ Key City Theatre, Cranbrook. 7:30pm. The season ender with energy opener from John Estacle, followed by clarinetist Nicola Everton performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, and a grand finale with the symphony performing Tchaikovsky’s uplifting 2nd Symphony.

Songwriting Workshop @ Infinitea, 5pm with local musician.

SUNDAY 10.4.2016 Coca Cola Slope Soaker @ Fernie Alpine Resort. Strap on your skis or snowboard, and see if you have what it takes to make it across the Slop Soaker pond on the lower mountain!

Final Day of Winter Operations @ Fernie Alpine Resort

TUESDAY 12.4.2016 Solutions Symposium for Flooding in the Elk River Watershed @ Fernie Arts Station. 9am - 4pm. Register early at www.elkriveralliance.ca

WEDNESDAY 13.4.2016 Senior Storytime for All Ages @ Rocky Mountain Village Serenity Room, 1pm Concert - Cara Luft @ The Arts Station, 8pm

THURSDAY 14.4.2016

Yoga and Live Music @ Essential Yoga Studio, 10:30-11:45am, $29.

Kirtan with Prashant Michael John @ Essential Yoga Studio, 7-9pm. $29

SUNDAY 17.4.2016 MONDAY 18.4.2016 Wild Ideas – Edible Forest Gardens @ Infinitea, 7pm hosted by Wildsight. $12 meals available.

WEDNESDAY 20.4.2016 Claude Bourban @ The Arts Station, 8pm Business, Beer and Banter @ Buds and Bloom, 5:30-7pm

THURSDAY 21.4.2016 Fernie Chamber of Commerce AGM @ The Best Western.

8-10am Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World @ the Arts Station.

Presented by the Reel Canadian Film Festival Committee.

7pm. Free to attend. Part of National Canadian Film Day, www. canadianfilmday.ca

FRIDAY 22.4.2016 Earth Day Fernie @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3-6pm hosted by Wildsight Seed Swap @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3-5pm hosted by Fernie EcoGarden Island Lake Lodge Summer Job Expo @ The Arts Station.

1-6pm. Bring your resumé.

SATURDAY 23.4.2016 Practical Creativity Workshop with Amanda Truscot @ Infinitea, 2pm

TUESDAY 26.4.2016 Cooking Class @ Infinitea, 6pm. $35/person

THURSDAY 28.4.2016 Beautea Night with Spa 901 @ Infinitea, 6pm. $10 massage/ manicures/makeup

FRIDAY 29.4.2016 Tea and Talk Book Club: Secret Keeper by Kate Morton @ Fernie Heritage Library, 1:30pm

Beautea Night with Spa 901 @ Infinitea, 6pm. $10 massage/ manicures/makeup

supplies. Have you always wanted a unique casserole dish? Why not make your own?! Join Penny Rinas from the Crowsnest Pass in the introductory pottery course that produces a functional piece of art.

Adult Workshop: Felted Flowers (Beginner/Intermediate) with Becca Musso Sunday April 24. All tools and materials included $40. 10am-2pm. This is a great intro to felt! The flowers are fairly quick to make - and you can sit down :) You’ll learn how to make 2 types of flowers using resists. These techniques have huge potential for incorporating in to other felt items and are a great intro into manipulating the fibres into 3D pieces!

from birth, yet willing to alter the fabric, stretch the boundaries and fearlessly bend genres and styles. Her much-anticipated third solo album, Darlingford, is a stunning new collection of songs drawn from her recent life experiences and informed throughout with her indomitably optimistic spirit and impeccable musical instincts. http://caraluft.com/ Concert - Claude Bourbon. Wednesday April 20. 8pm Claude Bourbon is known throughout Europe and America for amazing guitar performances that take blues, Spanish, Middle Eastern, and Russian stylings into uncharted territories. Claudebourbon. org

Concerts

Film

Concert - Rosie & the Riveters. Thursday April 7. 8pm. Adult Members $15, Adult Non-members $20, Youth Members $10, Youth Non-members $14. Four fiercely talented and sassy dames from Saskatoon, these ladies perform uplifting folk music with a vintage 1940s flare. Their original songs feature sophisticated harmonies, body percussion, scintillating dance moves, humour and just enough ooh-la-la to charm your socks off! Rosieandtheriveters.com Concert - Cara Luft. Wednesday April 13. 8pm. Juno award winning singer-songwriter-guitarist extraordinaire Cara Luft is that rare artist steeped in folk and traditional roots music almost

Film presented by RCFF - Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World. Thursday April 21. 7pm. FREE. As part of National Canadian Film Day and in celebration of Earth Day, the Reel Canadian Film Festival and Indie Films Fernie (IFF) team presents this award-winning 2015 film.

Dumpster Art Project Deadline is April 15. Apply to be a part of one of Fernie’s favorite beautification programs. See details at www.theartsstation.com

CONTACT INFO@CLARISMEDIA.COM TO SHARE YOUR EVENTS, BOTH ONLINE AND IN PRINT. IT’S FREE!

April 2016 Weekly Events

DINING, NIGHTLIFE & SPECIALS MONDAYS Burger and Bud $14.99 @ Boston Pizza Fernie Jugs of Beer on Special @ The Brickhouse Lasagna Specials @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe Wing Night @ The Fernie Hotel Movie Night from 7pm and $6 Meals @ Infinitea Mexican Mondays! Chicken or Beef Tacos $3 Happy Hour Corona (Bottles) @ Parkplace Pub Massage Mondays @ Trillium Day Spa, $60 for 60 min, $90 for 90 min Ladies Night: $4 House Red or White Wine, $5 $12 Mussels and $4 Wine @ The Northern Local Jam Night @ The Kodiak Lounge Monday Beats @ The Royal, 10pm Locals Day: Burger and Fernie Beer $10 @ Rusty Edge Buck a Shuck: $1 Oysters and $5 Prosecco @ Cirque Restaurant, Lizard Creek Lodge Jam Night with Zac @ The Rusty Edge, 3-6pm TUESDAYS Pasta Specials @ Boston Pizza Kokanee Bottle on Special @ The Brickhouse Wing Night @ Parkplace Pub $12 Pizza Night @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe Two for Tuesdays @ Trillium Day Spa, 2 pedicures for $100, 2 manicures for $70, 2 facials for $130, all three for $275 $10 Beer, Burger and Bingo Night @ The Northern Cheap Night @ The Vogue Theatre Dinner & Swim Special @ Fernie Stanford Resort

Tuesday: Shot gun Karaoke with TOpo @ The Royal Pizza Day: $5 off All Pizzas @ Rusty Edge Kids Eat for $5 @ Loaf, 5-9pm WEDNESDAYS $7 Single or $14 Double Wings @ Boston Pizza Wine Evenings @ The Brickhouse Karaoke Night @ The Fernie Pint night @ Kodiak Lounge Zack’s Jam Night @ The Royal $10 Smokie, Beer and Fries @ Parkplace Pub Tarot Card Readings w/ Miss Janeil @ Infinitea Crochet Collective & Sweater Club Knitting @ Infinitea, 7-9pm Waxing Wednesday @ Trillium Day Spa, free underam wax with any other hair removal $15 Jugs and $8 Wings @ The Northern $10 Vietnamese Sub and Beer @ Pho Locoal Wing Day $0.50/wing and $14 Jugs of Beer @ Rusty Edge $10 Pizza Menu All Night @ Loaf, 3-9pm Chicken and Beer for $15 @ The Bridge Bistro Wax On Wednesday @ 901 Spa, 30% off waxing services.

THURSDAYS Tacos for $12.95 @ Boston Pizza Jam Night @ The Brickhouse Spiced Rum Specials @ Kodiak Lounge Featured Pub Burgers @ Max Restaurant & The Pub Burger and Beer Special @ The Fernie 2 Medium Pizza Special @ Elk Valley Pizza

Rib Night @ Max Restaurant & The Pub $5 Glass of House Wine, $5 Off Bottles of Wine @ The Fernie Live Music @ The Central Live bands and DJs@ The Royal Rib Night: $19 Half/$24 Full @ Parkplace Pub Songwriting Workshops and Wine Specials @ Infinitea, 5pm Lagers and Jagers for $5 @ Rusty Edge 3-5pm Happy Hour $10 Pizzas, $5 Beers, $12 FRIDAYS Jugs @ Loaf Full Rack of Ribs $19.95 @ Boston Pizza $10 Eggs Benny, $5 Baileys and Coffee @ The Tastings at The Tipple @ The Tipple. 1st Friday of Bridge Bistro until 1pm the month only.

Open Mic Night @ The Fernie Live Music Fridays @ Infinitea 8pm SUNDAYS TGIF & Chicken dinner draw @ Kodiak Lounge Kids Sunday $4.99 @ Boston Pizza Fish & Chips plus Rib Night @ Parkplace Pub Caesars on Special @ The Brickhouse $11 Fish and Chips, Meat Draw and Members Brunch @ Nevados, 10am – 2pm Draw @ The Fernie All day brunch starting at $10 @ The Fernie Live Music @ The Central $10 Roast @ Infinitea Live bands and DJs @ The Royal Sunday Roast Dinners and Happy Hour All Day Date Night Special @ Spa 901 @ Rusty Edge Steak Sandwich and Steigl Pint $14 @ Rusty Party Tunes with GOFFles waffles @ The Royal Edge Dinner & Swim Special @ Fernie Stanford Resort Live Music Nights @ Loaf including Doug Pad$18 Sausage and Mash @ Parkplace Pub dock Jazz Trio, Hartt & Zac’s acoustic duo and 3-5pm Happy Hour $10 Pizzas, $5 Beers, $12 others.

Jugs @ Loaf DJ Aurora @ The Griz Bar $10 Eggs Benny and $5 Caesars @ The Bridge SATURDAYS Bistro until 1pm Any Large Pizza for Medium Charge @ Boston Steak Sandwich & Caesar Specials @ Parkplace Pizza Pub Meat Draw & Bar Quiz @ The Legion Tequila Specials @ Kodiak Lounge RileyJ+Ash / Flatspin+Friends @ The Royal 6oz Cocktail Jugs $20 @ The Northern $15 Feature Burger and Team Trivia for $100 Tab @ Parkplace Pub Ladies Day $3 Tacos, $5 off Bottles of Wine and $5 Signature Drink @ Rusty Edge $10 Pasta and Drink Specials @ Loaf, 5-9pm Beautea Night with Spa 901 @ Infinitea, $10 massage/manicure/makeup 6pm, every other week

OUTDOOR & FAMILY MONDAYS •Dominoes @ The Seniors Drop in Centre 1pm •Mahjong @ Seniors Drop in Centre 7pm •Special Olympics Athletes Bowling @ Sparwood. 4pm •Duplicate Bridge Game @ The Seniors Drop-in Centre •Seniors Drop in @ Senior’s Centre, 9am-2pm •Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre, 9-10:30am •ActiveFit @ The Aquatic Centre, 8:30-9:15am •Swimming Lessons @ Aquatic Centre, kids under 3 from 10:30-11am •Celebrate Recovery @ Mountainside Church, 7pm, open to everyone •Community Climb Night @ Evolution Climbing Gym, 7pm •Ladies Night Boxing @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, 7:30-9pm •Parent Tot Fun Times @ Knox United Church, 9:30-noon •StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School, 9am-noon •Adult Shinny @ Memorial Arena, 8:45-10:15am •Public Swim and Lane Swim @ Aquatic Centre, 7am – 1pm and 3pm – 8pm. Waterslide 4-6pm TUESDAYS •Cheap Night @ The Vogue Theatre. $6.50 - 2D & $8.50 - 3D •Crib/Whist @ Seniors Drop in Centre 7:30pm •Storytime @ Library, 11:15-12pm for ages 3–5.

•Seniors Drop in @ Senior’s Centre, 9am-2pm •Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre, 9-10:30am •Ladies Archery @ The Elks Hall, 6:30pm •Public Drop in Climbing @ College of the Rockies, 7-9pm •Red Cross Swim @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9-11am and 3:30-5:30pm •Gentle Fit @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 10:30-11:15am •Born to Sing and Dance @ Fernie Arts Station •Climbing and Bouldering @ College of the Rockies, 7-10pm. $7 without rentals, $10 with.

•Mixed Boxing Recreational @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, 7:30-9pm •StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School, 9am-noon •Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am •Public Swim and Lane Swim @ Aquatic Centre, 7am – 1pm and 3pm – 8pm. Waterslide 4-6pm •Indoor Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 8:30-10:30am •Adult Shinny @ Memorial Arena, 8:45-10:15am •Free Public Skate @ Memorial Arena, 10:30-11:15am •Knits and Knots @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:30-4:45pm ages 8+, drop –in

Skate WEDNESDAYS •Crib @ Seniors Drop in Centre 1pm •Drop in Workshop @ Clawhammer Press. 6-9pm, $30 •Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre, 9-10:30am •Adult Badminton @ The Community Centre. Drop in for $5 •AA Meetings @ The Anglican Church Basement, 7:30pm •ActiveFit @ The Aquatic Centre, 8:30-9:15am •Womens Drop in Climbing @ COTR, 7-9pm •Red Cross Swim @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9-11am and 3:30-5:30pm •Water Flow Yoga & Tea @ Infinitea, 10:30am •Mixed Boxing Recreational @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, 7:30-9pm •Toddlertime @ Fernie Heritage Library, 11:15am for ages 0-2.

•StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School, 9am-noon •Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am •Creative Matrix @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:30-4:45pm. Ages 8+ •Public Swim and Lane Swim @ Aquatic Centre, 7am – 1pm and 3pm – 8pm. Waterslide 4-6pm •Indoor Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 8:30-10:30am •Adult Shinny @ Memorial Arena, 8:45-10:15am •Free Parent & Tot Skate @ Memorial Arena, 10:30-11:15am •Skate & Shoot @ Memorial Arena, 11:45am-1pm THURSDAYS •Seniors Drop in @ Senior’s Centre, 9am-2pm •RC Club @ Fernie Community Centre. 7-9pm. Flying and practice •Community Basketball @ Fernie Secondary School, 8:30-10:30pm •Mixed Boxing Competitive @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, 7:30-9pm •Kids Sing Along & Play Group @ Infinitea, 11:30am •Youth Archery @ The Elks Hall, 6pm •Red Cross Swim @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9-11am and 3:30-5:30pm •Gentle Fit @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 10:30-11:15am •MOMs Group @ Fernie Heritage Library, 9:30-11:30am •Bellies to Babies @ Fernie Women’s Centre, 1-3pm every 2nd Thursday.

•Open Roller Skating Evening @ Max Turyk Gym, $2 drop-in fee.

6-7pm •Kids Boxing Boot Camp @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, ages 8-16 5pm.

•StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School, 9am-noon •Lego Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:30-4:45 ages 7+.

Swim

Library Program

Other

•Public Swim and Lane Swim @ Aquatic Centre, 7am – 1pm and 3pm – 8pm. Waterslide 4-6pm •Indoor Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 8:30-10:30am •Adult Shinny @ Memorial Arena, 8:45-10:15am •Free Public Skate @ Memorial Arena, 10:30-11:15am •Climbing and Bouldering @ College of the Rockies, 7-10pm. $7 without rentals, $10 with.

Provincial Park Paradise Snowshoe Safari with Wild Nature Tours @ Mount Fernie Provincial Park, 1-4pm. 250-423-3322 FRIDAYS •Cribbage @ Seniors Drop in Centre 7:30pm •Jitney Darts @ Fernie Legion, 7:30pm •Kids Sing Along & Play Group @ Infinitea, 11:30am •Toddlertime @ Fernie Heritage Library Ages 0-2 11:15am •Red Cross Swim @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9-11am and 3:30-5:30pm •Women’s Writing Group @ Fernie Women’s Resource Centre, 2-4pm.

•Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am •StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School, 9am-noon •Breastfeeding Mammas @ Fernie Heritage Library, first Friday of the month.

•AFRoS @ Fernie Heritage Library, 10-11am. Sing and play in French.

•Red Cedar Book Club: First Friday of Each Month @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:30-4:45pm, Grades 4-6 •Public Swim and Lane Swim @ Aquatic Centre, 7am – 1pm and 3pm – 8pm. Waterslide 4-6pm •Youth Shinny @ Memorial Arena, 10:45-11:45am •Public Skate @ Memorial Arena, noon to 12:45pm and 7:15-8:15pm SATURDAYS •Family French Fun @ The Arts Station, 10:30-11:30am. $12/person or $5 per family member (maximum $20/family).

•Teen Wheel Pottery @ The Fernie Arts Station 10am-Noon $125/month $30/drop in •Karma Meditation Class @ Essential Yoga Studio 8:00am-8:45am •Historical Walking Tour @ Fernie Museum, 11am.

•Night Skiing on the Might Moose @ Fernie Alpine Resort, 4-9pm conditions permitting SUNDAYS •Fernie Pets Society Group Walk @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9am.

•AA Meetings @ The Anglican Church Basement, 7:30pm •First Sunday of the Month Family Climb Time @ Evolution Climbing Gym, 2-4pm FERNIEFIX.COM 25

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Outdoor Life

SWIM, BIKE AND JOG

Tips from the Trenches BRENDAN MORGAN

THIS MONTH I WOULD LIKE TO dedicate the last in the beginner triathlon series to the veteran Fernie triathletes by sharing their tips to beginner triathletes.

Training “Incorporate bricking into your training sessions, going from a bike to a run is hard to do; don’t experience this for the first time on race day.” Paul Traverse “Have a training plan but don’t worry about life getting in the way. Squeeze in shorter more intense workouts whenever you have to skip whatever was in the plan and don’t lose any sleep over missing the odd day. When you have extra time then you can do some longer less intense sessions.” Todd Loewen

RACE DAY | KRISTA TURCASSO PHOTOS

“Keep flexible; increased biking and running will tighten muscles as they strengthen, hamstring and calf stretching especially.” John Merritt “Practice running out of the water in your wetsuit after your swim workout.

Swim super hard toward the shore and practice getting into a vertical position and running. Push up your goggles, reach for that zipper and get the suit down to your waist, pull your cap off. Do it ten times.

This should cure you of the sense of vertigo for T1.” Scott Dressler

“Doing at least two or three trial runs is vital. Doing a couple open water swims in your tri suit is essential prior to the race.

Attaching the swim to a bike and run is also important to help you understand how your body is going to feel coming out of the water and off the bike. To understand that how your body is feeling at certain times in the race is an essential part of the preparation.” Nicole and Dan Bush “Don’t forget your core – a mushy middle is like riding your mountain bike on the road with your suspension switched full on... and you’d never do that!” Cath Liversidge “If possible find a training partner, making it harder to skip workouts and keeping you accountable to the schedule you are following, plus it’s more fun!” Lori Kennedy

Race Day

“If you plan to do a race with a pool swim, try to do a few training sessions when lanes are busy at your pool to work on the finer points of swimming in a crowd. For open water swimming, it is key to learn how to sight off landmarks and swim next to others in unmarked water.

Invite friends to a lake near you. Have a BBQ after.” Heather Kerr

“Your first mass swim will be the worst.

Your chest will tighten up and it will feel like the suit is suffocating you. It isn’t. It’s the same for everyone. Just breathe and keep those arms moving.” Scott Dressler “A mass start swim is likely to be a new experience – get in the water beforehand and get your heart rate up, swim to the side of the pack as the additional distance to get to the first buoy is minimal, don’t go crazy from the off, find a decent rhythm and try to find the funny side of the craziness.” John Merritt

“On race day when you rack your bike, there could be three or four hundred bikes standing there. I always pick my favourite number lane (4) and then tie red flagging tape on my handlebars.” Paul Traverse “Have faith in the training you have done and the hard work you’ve put into making it to the start line... don’t doubt yourself.”

Lori Kennedy “A well set up transition area is key to a successful race. It will reduce confusion and time wasted in transition, and allow you to find everything you need and move you quickly into the next phase of the race.” Nicole and Dan Bush “The swim is usually the most anxietyprovoking portion of a triathlon for most competitors. I suggest a good warmup swim and then if you are not planning to win, sacrifice a little on your time but make the event far more enjoyable by starting away from the pack and gradually work your way in to the group where you are at a comfortable race pace for you.”

Todd Loewen

“Say ‘good job’ to people you pass on the bike and the run. Same goes for people passing you. If you are too out of breath to do that, give them a thumbsup. You have all made it to race day in good enough shape to be in it together!”

Heather Kerr “Remember it’s a hobby and it’s fun – smile at your family and friends when you pass them – and throw your arms like the rockstar that you are when you cross the finish line!” Cath Liversidge Brendan would like to announce the winners of the Elkford or Wasa triathlon race sponsorships: Rachel Cline Steve Kallies Emily Sauvé Eden MacGregor Laura Bentley Good Luck with your training up to the race and we look forward to reading about your triathlon experiences in a summer edition of the Fix.

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Outdoor Life

N E V E R H AV E I E V E R

JESSE AND JESSE | SUBMITTED PHOTO

In the Studio with And What Apparel JESSE BELL

I CAN BARELY SEW A BUTTON TO A COAT and I usually recruit friends with sewing machines to do most of my sewing for me. Pathetic enough, the only item of clothing I’ve ever actually made was a paper bag princess dress—it is not very green of me.

So when Jesse Druxerman, owner of And What Apparel in Fernie, invites me into his workshop for the day to make some local hand-bleached and hand-made clothing, I anticipate him doing most of the making while I do the watching.

When I arrive at him and his wife Andy’s quaint little home in the Annex on a Sunday morning, however, I am quickly proven wrong. I am welcomed like a close

friend and we share coffee in the kitchen while Jesse explains the first steps of his shirt-making process. He develops designs on his computer and transfers them to a cutter where the unique stencils are cut.

After we ‘weed’ the stencil—eliminating unwanted pieces—we head to Jesse’s workshop in the garage. We take several different t-shirts and fleeces, place them on forms and then position the handmade stencils however we please before grabbing spray-bottles filled with bleach.

Jesse hands me a respirator mask and eyewear and then the fun begins.

We each take a sleeve and spray bleach like giddy, reckless children. I learn there is a technique to creating a starry-skied look on the garment and pay close attention to Jesse working; he has developed a great skill for this.

When my inner perfectionist (or perhaps more appropriately, my anal-retentiveness)

appears following an uneven spray, Jesse assures me not to worry; each piece is unique and that is the beauty of it being hand-made.

We flip the shirts, spray in the trademark AWA logo (which includes ‘Fernie, BC’ on it) and then fire up hairdryers to help the process along. We move the heat back and forth over the stencils and bleached portion of the garments and I quickly realize I am having a ton of fun.

Listening to some good beats, I dance and sing away as we design four t-shirts and three crewneck fleeces while snow falls freely outside. It feels good to see the transformation each piece makes, a favourite aspect of Jesse’s; each shirt, although with the same stencil design, turns out differently.

At times I forget that Jesse can’t hear me when I talk, my voice muffled by the mask and the sounds of hair dryers, but if he could he would hear excitement.

“This is so cool,” I say. “It’s like art.”

“What?” he replies.

“Never mind,” I say, waving my hand away dismissively, smiling. And then I remember he can’t see that I’m smiling either, although I feel that he knows I am.

We finish bleaching all of the shirts and then Jesse throws them in the washing machine and dryer before we cut collars and sew on a kangaroo pocket.

If I’m being honest, Jesse does all of the sewing. He asks me politely if I want to try but I decide that it is probably best if I am the one to trim away the stray threads. I don’t want to upstage him on my first day in his studio.

When the project is complete I try on my new AWA fleece and hand-bleached t-shirt and realize that I’ve just been graced with my own custom clothing of which I helped make.

Jesse, myself, and his friendly dog Kane do a mini ‘photoshoot’ in his backyard before I spend the rest of the day glancing in any mirror I can find, admiring my new AWA fleece. Don’t judge me—if you had one, Company you would docoming the same.for the holidays?

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Outdoor Life

Ski Prep and Storage JEFF WILLIAMS

AS THE SNOW MELTS AND THE VALLEY begins to green it is time to start accepting that winter is coming to an end.

It is easy to put your skis in the basement and forget about them until we see the snow again but preparing your skis for summer storage at the end of the season will make all the difference in how well they will perform at the start of next year.

Whether you have skate, waxable classic or fish-scale skis, it is important to care for your skis so they continue to provide as much glide as possible. The first step is to clean your ski bases, both the kick and the glide zones. For classic skis, begin by cleaning your kick zones or wax pocket with a wax remover to remove all the old wax. Once all the wax is removed wipe the ski clean and let air-dry.

The next step is to clean the glide zones, or the entire ski if it is a skate ski, to remove dirt and debris your skis have picked up during spring skiing. However, you do not want to use a wax remover on the glide zones of a classic ski, or at all on a skate ski, because the more wax you have saturated into the bases the better. The best way to clean the glide zones and skate skis is to use the “Hot Scrape Method�. This involves melting wax onto the base of the ski and then scraping it off while the wax is still warm. The wax will pull out any dirt or debris on your bases.

You can use a specific base prep wax or a soft warm wax, such as Swix yellow, which requires a very low iron temperature. Melt the wax onto the base and iron it in with 2-3 passes down the length of the ski with each pass taking approximately 10 seconds.

While the wax is still molten, use a wax scraper and scrape the wax off the base.

You can usually see the dirt coming off the ski in the scraped wax. Continue to add

NAOMI LENTZ PHOTO

wax and scrape 2 or 3 more times until you do not see any more dirt coming off in the wax.

Let the skis cool for about ten minutes and then brush out the base using a fine steel or bronze brush for ten strokes. The ski bases are now ready to be saturated with glide wax to fill the pores of the base to prevent the base material from drying out and oxidizing. You can use a base prep wax or a non-fluorinated wax such as Swix red for this step.

Apply wax and iron in starting at the ski tip and move the iron in one continuous motion toward the tail. Complete two to three passes and then let the ski cool down to room temperature. If you are short on time one application of wax is good but if you have the time continue adding wax, ironing and letting it cool about three times without scraping in between.

Not everyone has access to wax, brushes and an iron. If you do not have all the tools to clean and wax your skis yourself, do not let it stop you from properly storing your Nordic skis for summer. Having your skis cleaned and waxed for storage by a reputable person is a quick and inexpensive process.

IN THE TRACKS

Selecting where to store your skis is the last step in the process and the most important. Fluctuating temperatures and conditions that are either too dry or too humid can damage your skis. Store your skis in a cool dry environment where there is little fluctuation in temperature and avoid storing them in direct sunlight.

Keep your skis in ski ties on the tips and tails but do not compress the camber of the skis. A closet in your temperaturecontrolled house is perfect location to store your skis. Following these steps will ensure your skis perform well and provide you with every bit of glide possible. After all, glide is essential when trying to ski fast and efficiently plus it makes skiing so much more enjoyable. Next month I will discuss summer training to keep you in top ski form so you can hit the trails early without having to ease into nordic skiing.

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Outdoor Life

HITTING THE TRAILS WITH THE FERNIE TRAILS ALLIANCE

Trail Stewardship JULIE KELLY

SPRING IS A GREAT TIME OF YEAR to get back out on the trails and to review the IMBA “Rules of the Trail” and how we can continue to respect the environment.

1. Ride Open Trails: Respect trail and road closures — ask a land manager for clarification if you are uncertain about the status of a trail. Do not trespass on private land. Obtain permits or other authorization as required.

Specifically in the Elk Valley: • Please respect the No Dog policy on the Mount Proctor cattle gated area.

• Watch for updates on our Facebook page for any closures due to logging.

• Wigwam Flats in Elko, dogs must be on a leash. In addition, bikers are not allowed along the Wigwam River Rim roads and trail from March 1st to June 14th (Bighorn Sheep lambing season).

Signage with maps is posted in this area.

2. Leave No Trace: Be sensitive to the dirt beneath you. Wet and muddy trails are more vulnerable to damage than dry ones. When the trail is soft, consider other riding options. This also means staying on existing trails and not creating new ones. Don’t cut switchbacks. Be sure to pack out at least as much as you pack in.

V. CROOME PHOTO

Try to anticipate other trail users as you ride around corners. Bicyclists should yield to other non-motorized trail users, unless the trail is clearly signed for bike-only travel. Bicyclists travelling downhill should yield to ones headed uphill, unless the trail is clearly signed for one-way or downhill-only traffic. In general, strive to make each pass a safe and courteous one.

5. Never Scare Animals: Animals are easily startled by an unannounced approach, a sudden movement or a loud noise. Give animals enough room and time to adjust to you. When passing horses, use special care and follow directions from the horseback riders (ask if uncertain). Running cattle and disturbing wildlife are serious offenses.

6. Plan Ahead: Know your equipment, your ability and the area in which you are riding and prepare accordingly.

Strive to be self-sufficient: keep your equipment in good repair and carry 3. Control Your Bicycle: Inattention for necessary supplies for changes in even a moment could put yourself and weather or other conditions. Always others at risk. Obey all bicycle speed wear a helmet and appropriate safety regulations and recommendations, and gear. ride within your limits.

Looking forward to another great season 4. Yield Appropriately: Do your on the trails. Thank you to all of our utmost to let your fellow trail users landowners who allow access so we can know you’re coming — a friendly enjoy our wonderful trails. greeting or bell ring are good methods.

Destination of the Month

by Julie Kelly – “Green” Ridgemont Loop Distance: 6 km Time: 1 hour Difficulty: Green/Blue It’s time to dust off the bike and hit the trails. After a great winter enjoying the numerous activities Fernie has to offer, you may be feeling a little “green” on the bike. Start off slow and enjoy this Ridgemont loop, which has mostly green trails. Keeping the environment in mind this month, why not ride to the trailhead rather than drive?

The loop starts at the Ridgemont trailhead by the Cemetery. Start on Cemetery By-Pass, towards the top stay right for an easier climb. Continue straight past the water plant and follow the signs to Kiddy Up. This is a moderate climb with a few switchbacks. It’s not just for kids! The trail brings you out on Ridgemont Rd. Turn right; pass the entrance to What’s Up Doc and watch for the next trail on your right, Broken Hip. This is a fun trail with berms, rollers and a cool bridge feature. The trail spits you out on the road; continue straight then turn right on Coal Creek Heritage Trail. Take this back to the Dirt Jump Bike Park. You can play around in here practicing your skills on the pump track, jumps and skinnies.

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Outdoor Life

THE NAME GAME

Emily’s KAREN PEPPER

AS THE WINTER SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE, I thought I’d share one more story about a run name at Fernie Alpine Resort.

Emily’s (#47) is an intermediate (blue) run located in Cedar Bowl and is accessed by the Haul Back T-Bar, or from Upper North Ridge. It’s a short, wide run with a perfect pitch for alpine ski race training. This run is the “home” of the Fernie Alpine Ski Team (aka FAST).

Originally called Spruce, the run was re-named “Emily’s” in 2010 in honour of Emily Brydon’s accomplished ski racing career, which included 9 World Cup podium finishes, 3 winter Olympics, and 13 Canadian Ski Championships. This is a very appropriate name for the run where hundreds of young alpine ski racers gather every weekend to train and feed their love for their sport.

Emily is now living and working in San Francisco, and I recently had a chance to chat with her via email to find out a bit more about Emily herself – the real person behind the run’s name.

When did your alpine ski racing career start?

I started with the Nancy Greene program at the age of five. I worked my way up through that program until I was old enough to join the local Fernie Ski Team (Snow Valley Racers) – I was around 11 at the time.

As a young racer, where did you train at the ski hill?

Spruce didn’t exist when I was racing in Fernie. I spent a lot of time on Lower Bear and Kodiak. When I was much younger, I spent a lot of time on Incline!

EMILY BRYDON | SUBMITTED PHOTO

Can you share a fond memory of ski racing in Fernie?

My time spent on the hill as a child was incredibly valuable and full of amazing memories. I remember ripping around the hill with my friends on the crazy tree trails.

I remember trying to eliminate my Dad on these trails, but to no avail. I remember doing a race with my Dad and earning my first (of many) speeding tickets. I also remember crazy course settings down the Boomerang and other less traditional race slopes – it taught me a lot about skiing ruts and bumps, but I sure did have a shock when I first experienced “eastern ice.”

What do you love about winter in Fernie?

I love the peace and beauty that snow brings. I love breathing fresh cool air. I love standing on top of the mountain and looking out at the beautiful scenery. There is something magical about being on a mountain with snow and tranquility. I love ripping through the silent trees, only to be disturbed by hooting and hollering (of skiers and snowboarders on the mountain).

Fernie is an amazing place to play – there are limitless options and activities which satisfy a diverse demographic of people.

Fernie is alive in the winter with all the happy winter loving people.

One of the things that brings me so much joy is being able to share my love of sport,

and in particular, skiing, with people who may not have the same opportunities that I did. Through the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation we have been able to expose youth to skiing and the amazing benefits of sports. Sport and skiing are so much more than just clicking into your bindings – it is about learning life skills and being exposed to varying environments and situations. Seeing kids come out of their shells and building self-confidence on the ski hill is what it’s all about. Giving kids hope through sports is the most powerful motivation in the world. I am so grateful for what sport gave me, and I only hope that I am able to pay it forward for the rest of my life.

Thank you Emily – for your inspiring words, passion for skiing and your incredible contributions to our community!

Additional tidbit – The old Spruce name is alive and well, reincarnated into the (unofficial) name of a recently developed run located beside Emily’s – Spruce Lee.

Y A M A G O Y A

Health and Lifestyle

Around the World Workout SARAH INGRAM, BSC.HONS.KINESIOLOGY, BCAK PRACTICING KINESIOLOGIST

IN HONOUR OF EARTH DAY I have chosen five exercises with worldly names for your inner traveller to try.

Stiff-legged-single-leg ROMANIAN deadlift. Targets hamstrings and balance.

Start with one leg behind you and keep a straight line, toe to shoulder, through the motion. Lift your back leg to get up and your chest to get back down. Your standing leg should remain straight. Only go down as high as your leg can lift. Once you have reached your limit, stand back up keeping that straight line, toe to shoulder. Start with 8/leg and progress to increase your repetitions, as well as hold weights in your hands.

TURKISH get-up. Targets abs and cardio (it is hard!) Take a light weight (start with 3lb) and hold it directly towards the roof. While holding your arm straight towards the roof, sit and then lay flat on the floor. Continue to keep the weight straight to the roof and stand back up again. Try 4/side to start and work to increase repetitions and weight.

Incredibly there is yet to be a Ferniespecific exercise, though I am inspired to create a Griz training program next year!

These exercises should all be done slowly with no pain. Do not forget to drink water in your travels!

FRENCH press

Stiff-legged-single-leg ROMANIAN deadlift

RUSSIAN twist. Targets abs. Sit on the ground with your knees bent and feet together. Lean back without arching your back and keeping your chest up. Start by touching the ground with both hands just outside your hips. Once you can do 20, add a dumbbell or medicine ball in your hands.

BULGARIAN split squat. Targets quads, knee stability. Place a toe up on a bench behind you. Keep your upper body tall and bend your front knee. Your back knee should go closer to the bench as you bend. Try 8/leg to start and progress to increase repetitions and holding weights.

F I T T O P L AY

TURKISH get-up 1

RUSSIAN twist

TURKISH get-up 2

FRENCH press. Targets triceps. Sitting or standing, take a dumbbell in two hands and bring it overhead. Keep your elbows pointed to the roof as you bend them and bring the weight behind you. Try not to arch your back, instead keep your abs tight. Do 10.

BULGARIAN split squat

TURKISH get-up 3

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Health is freedom...

Live well, Be happy!

Kristen Miller

BC Registered Massage Therapist

250-430-7244 • Therapeutic • Sports • Wellness massage 571B 2nd Ave, Fernie BC www.summitmassagefernie.com

T-SHIRTS

Your One-Stop Shop for: 4 Gifts & Souvenirs 4 Books & Magazines 4 Postcards & Cards 4 Puzzles, Games & Toys 4 Lottery Ticket Centre 4 Full-Service Pharmacy 441- 2nd Ave. Downtown Fernie Tel: 250.423.4511

STICKERS

BALL CAPS

www.nufloorsfernie.ca 391 - 1st Avenue Fernie BC 250.423.4314 • 1.800.860.3136

Health and Lifestyle

N O U R I S H T H R O U G H N AT U R E

Matcha KRISSI HYLAND, RHN

AS SPRING TOUCHES THE JAPANESE ALPS of Hakuba, Nagano, Japan, the rivers fill with white water and the sasa grass pokes through the snow again. I’ve felt green as grass since arriving in November. For a total of four months I have had no Internet at home, no cell phone, iPad or i-anything for that matter, it’s been freeing in so many ways. I found the present moment with no way of letting anyone else know, but me.

I couldn’t write a “green” article without chatting about something very traditional, ceremonial and sacred to Japan, matcha.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the health benefits of green tea, so let’s turn up the gnar and go for nutrient density by eating the whole tea leaf ! Yes, that is right – matcha is the powdered leaf of green tea.

The stems and vines are removed and the delicate leaf is carefully made into a fine powder. This fine powder is host to many healthful benefits. In fact there are

KRISSI HYLAND PHOTO

more than 137 antioxidants than regularly brewed green tea! If that alone is not enough, consuming matcha improves memory, concentration and metabolism.

This chlorophyll-rich tealeaf gives a boost of energy, but unlike coffee it provides a crash-free experience leaving you feeling refreshed. Just before harvesting, the leaves produce L-Theanine, an amino acid that helps us balance caffeine, therefore a better option for those who are sensitive and can’t metabolize caffeine.

There are different grades and specific times this tealeaf is harvested. Before harvesting the leaves are shaded from the sun to produce more chlorophyll (green

Traditional Matcha Tea 1 tsp matcha powder 5 oz or 2/3 cup hot water Bamboo whisk Place the bamboo whisk into a glass of water so the tines soak and become soft, flexible and supple.

In the bottom of your mug place 1 tsp matcha powder, if you have a matcha sifter or a fine mesh sifter you may use it at this point.

Sifting your tea will break up the fine clumps and guarantee a smooth and creamy cup of tea.

Allow the boiled water to cool to 170 ˚F (just under boiling). Add 5oz of the hot water to the tea.

blood of plants), which makes it a deep and vibrant green. The most prized matcha is the first harvest or ceremonial matcha, where the leaves are carefully picked in the spring, giving it a smooth light flavour. The last harvest matcha is picked in the late summer rendering an earthy and slightly sharp flavour. The later harvested matcha is more affordable and mostly used for lattes, flavouring dishes, baked goods and other drinks. It also works great as a food colouring. Because of matcha’s distinct flavour, if you are new to this, try a matcha latte or adding it to/ sprinkling it over some chocolate – my fave.

Japanese tea ceremonies are an age-old tradition. Although the ceremony centres around the matcha tea, the focus is on the aesthetics of preparation, serving and drinking of the matcha. It is a true art form. The ritual of making tea is about patience and delivering liquid nutrition to our bodies. Tea ceremonies were influenced by Zen Buddhists and the art of preparing it is very meditative. Let’s bring a little more green to our morning and try some matcha tea.

Matcha Latte Using your bamboo whisk, vigorously whisk back and forth for 20-30 seconds to blend the matcha powder and water.

Refrain from using a metal whisk, as an alternative you can use an electric milk frother.

1 cup milk or milk alternative 1 tsp matcha powder 1 Tbsp raw local honey or maple syrup ¼ cup water ¼ tsp vanilla extract

Remove from heat and add vanilla and sweetener of choice. Whisk to combine.

Once blended move the whisk in a zig-zag motion to create a light foam. Be sure not to press on the bottom and bend the prongs of your bamboo whisk.

Bring a kettle of water to just about boil and turn off.

Vigorously whisk back and forth to dissolve matcha.

In a small saucepan, heat milk over medium heat.

Carefully pour milk into matcha and enjoy.

Enjoy each sip of this healthful beverage.

In a mug, combine ¼ cup water and matcha.

Bring to a very light boil, whisking occasionally – this creates froth.

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Health and Lifestyle

AROUND THE WORLD

Low Impact Travel REBECCA HALL

THE INTERNATIONAL ECOTOURISM SOCIETY (TIES) defines Eco-tourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the wellbeing of the local people, and involves interpretation and education.” Here are three holiday ideas that have the protection, sustainability and enjoyment of the environment as a top priority: Adventure Canada – Adventures in the Arctic, Galgapagos, Scotland and beyond.

In 1996 Adventure Canada established a Discovery Fund to strengthen sustainable initiatives and projects in the regions where they travel. www.adventurecanada. com.

The Resurgence – Voted one of the world’s 25 best eco-lodges by National Geographic and situated in the spectacular Abel Tasman region of New Zealand.

The operators plant a tree for every guest, and have extensive resource monitoring practices in place. www.resurgence.co.nz.

Eldhestar – Horse riding tours in Iceland, with hotel accommodation and hotsprings.

The hotel was the first in Iceland to be awarded the Nordic ecolabel, the Nordic Swan. Direct flights to Iceland are now available from Edmonton with Iceland Air, starting from under $800 return. www. eldhestar.is.

Enhance your zero-impact travel plans by purchasing carbon offsets for flights.

There are many resources out there and some airlines (Delta, Virgin, United and Quantas are a few) give you this option when purchasing travel. The David Suzuki Foundation has lots of information on how this works, and cautions buyers to make sure that purchases address the issue of “additionality” to ensure a true reduction in emissions.

REBECCA HALL PHOTO

While I would love to take off on any of these amazing adventures, the budget or schedule doesn’t always allow it. When I’m short on time or cash, Waterton Lakes is my go-to eco-destination for a peaceful and restorative getaway. With the well-known phrase “take only photos, leave only footprints” in mind, I made a weekend visit to the park last Fall.

was exhilarating enough for me, but hardcore hikers will love the extended trail up the mountain for what is known as one of the best mountain scrambles in the region.

Using the Fernie Branch’s Kootenay Carshare Co-operative vehicle to travel, I save money on vehicle costs and help to reduce the overall number of vehicles both on the road and going into landfill.

I stayed at the Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort, an environmentally conscious property and one of the only hotels open in the off-season. They offer affordable rates, comfortable rooms and suites, a full service restaurant and bar, plus a pool and gym complex.

The falls were little more than a trickle in late October, but two white specks caught my eye high on the cliff face. I watched in fascination for over an hour as the agile mountain goats traversed the rocks, and then shared part of my return hike with an inquisitive Capercaillie (Wood Grouse) as I passed through a denser section of forest.

This is a beautiful 4-5 hour moderate hike suitable for most abilities, with spectacular views and lots of wildlife just a few minutes from Waterton Township.

The Red Rock Canyon was closed for repairs, so I decided on the Lineham Falls hike based on a local recommendation.

A gradual climb through the valley to the base of the cliffs below Mount Blakiston

The Fernie Museum is currently showing “Peace Park Perspectives,” a photographic exhibition by artist Norman E. Riley featuring stunning photography from Waterton Park and the surrounding area.

Recycling in Fernie your guide to what goes where Refundables: Where they go:

BC Liquor Store - beside Save-on-Foods, 2nd Ave.

Beer/Wine Bottles/Aluminium Cans Tetra Packs/Pop Bottles/Cans Plastic Grocery Bags Wine Boxes/Paper Based Containers Milk Containers/Pouches

Save-on-Foods - 792 2nd Ave.

Non-refundables:

End-of-life Electronics, Small Appliances, Power Tools, Sealed Paint Containers, Paint Aerosols

}

}

Plastic #1 - 6 Cardboard Tin Cans Paper Glass (food-grade only) Books Toys/Furniture Household Goods Bedding/Linen Clothing/Footwear* Cell Phones Cell Phone/Household Batteries

Also in yellow bins around town

}

iPhones: Apple Stores now offer up to a $500 rebate Fluorescent Bulbs* Accepts all household bulbs (up to 16) Used Engine Lubricants: Motor Oil, Oil Filters, Oil Containers, Antifreeze, Antifreeze Containers Propane Tanks (under 100 lbs) & Car Batteries Scrap Metal, White Goods, Building Materials Any Patagonia Clothing Old Tires (up to 4 at a time free of charge)

}

Consignment Opportunities:

Fernie Bottle Depot - 1291 Ridgemont Ave.

Fernie Bottle Depot - 1291 Ridgemont Ave. City of Fernie - Blue Bag Program Curbside pick-up every 2nd Friday.

Fernie Transfer Station* - 6000 Hwy 3 Book Exchange: Freshies - 632 2nd Ave. Salvation Army - 741 2nd Ave. Aquatic Centre - 250 Pine Ave. City Hall - 501 3rd Ave. Apple.ca - www.apple.com/ca/iphone/trade-in/ Home Hardware - 300 Manitou Road Canadian Tire, Day Auto & Woz Mechanical Fernie Transfer Station - 6000 Hwy 3 The Guide’s Hut - 621 2nd Ave.

Canadian Tire, Day Auto, Fernie Ford, Fernie Chrysler

*Heaven Boutique: (672c 2nd Ave.) Accepts clean, seasonal and in style items (mens and women clothing, shoes, accessories) by appointment only. Email consign@heavenboutique.ca to book an appointment. *Wild Things Children's Resale Boutique: (672c 2nd Ave.) Accepts baby and kids (up to teen) clothing, shoes, accessories (and maternity items), without an appointment. Drop off anytime during business hours. Items must be clean, currently in style, current season and ready to sell. Please only bring in your very best items for consignment. Email wildthingsfernie@gmail.com for more information. *Gear Hub: (1st Ave - 250.423.5555) accepts most small and large sporting goods and some clothing. Commission is a sliding scale, depending on the value of the goods. You receive anywhere from 50 - 92% back once sold. Call in to see if your item qualifies.

Handy Hints:

- City of Fernie garbage bins downtown have baskets on the side for refundables.

- Transfer Station accepts lawn, shrub, hedge clippings, dead leaves & garden pruning. Also has a Reuse Centre for household goods.

- FREEcycle (www.ourfernie.com/classified/freecycle): find something you’ve been looking for or give something a new home.

- For more info on recycling in the Elk Valley, download a guide from the RDEK at ftp.rdek.bc.ca/pdf/recycling/recycleelkvalley_2015.pdf

Great Facebook Buy & Sell pages: Fernie Fashion Swap and Buy, Elk Valley Garage Sale, Fernie’s Facebook Gear Exchange, Elk Valley Garage Sale 2 (Clothing Only).

Excellent Online Resources: Recycling Council of BC (www.rcbc.ca) - www.bcrecycles.ca - www.electrorecycle.ca - www.usedoilrecycling.com

We have regular gasoline! www.ferniecardlock.com • 250.423.7205 1592-9th Ave., Fernie (behind Fernie Real Estate, kitty corner to Tim Hortons)

NOW ACCEPTING

No membership required Open to the public 24/7 every day of the year For every debit card puchase, Fernie Cardlock donates 4 cents per litre to a local Elk Valley charity.

See website for more details.

AVAILABLE PRODUCTS: Diesel, marked diesel, regular gasoline and premium off road gasoline 91 octane.

BUILDING PROJECT IN MIND?

The Elk Valley’s newest full service real estate brokerage

LET US BE YOUR FIRST CHOICE! Design | Planning Construction | Project Management 250-423-3100 | www.lwebuilders.com

W | www.1stchoicerealty.ca P | (250) 420-1102 402A Highway #3 Fernie BC

Proud member of

Proud member of

FernieCHAMBER OF COMMERCE

FernieCHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Health and Lifestyle

B E A U T Y A N D FA S H I O N I N A F I X

FASHION CONSCIOUS SOLANGE AND ZOE When you imagine the future, what do you see? We see a greener fashion future. One in which we not only look good but do good for the environment. We want to challenge you to make greener choices in fashion. They don’t have to be big, as every small changes adds up to making a difference.

HERE ARE SOME GREENER CHOICES FOR YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINES. 1. Ease up on the chemicals! Starting in the lotions and body washes you use. Go for something homemade, natural and organic.

Sugars, coconut oil, and pure essential oils are a start.

2. Hair care: Our favourite organic hair products are a line by John Masters. A line designed out of the desire to create luxury beauty that still treats the earth with respect. John Masters not only has a full hair care line but also skin and body care.

HERE ARE SOME STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TOWARDS HAVING A GREENER WARDROBE. 1. Opt for natural resourced fabric. Hemp, cotton and bamboo are great choices.

3. Greening up your makeup bag. Do some research and figure out your needs. Start replacing what you use the most. You will find a lot of organic and eco-friendly makeup options. Mineral foundations, powders and eye shadows are a great choice over the chemically packed makeup you may not be aware you are using.

2. Reduce, reuse, recycle! Don’t overbuy clothing. Before you go on that shopping spree take a look at what you have and need. Also, buy pieces that can be used with your already fab wardrobe. When you no longer have a want to wear some clothes, pass along to another person that could use the item. Our local Salvation Army, Women’s Centre and consignment shops like Heaven Boutique are always good choices.

3. Clothing care: Do your jeans really need washing after just having them on for three hours? And when you do wash them, go for something environmentally conscious. Every bit helps!

Loving yourself and the earth go hand in hand.

There is only one of each.

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CE Continuing

Education

Continuing Education Courses are Now in Full Swing! n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n

Airbrakes Occupational First Aid-Level 1 OFA Level 3 Recertification Red Cross Instructor Skills Red Cross Instructor CDN Restricted Firearms Wilderness Advanced First Aid Wilderness First Responder Basic Fall Protection Canadian Red Cross CPR C St John Standard for Industry Transportation Endorsement WFR Recert (WAFA Bridge) Traffic Control Wilderness First Aid Class 4 Driver Training Rough Terrain Forklift Occupational First Aid-Level 1 Occupational Health/Safety Pt1 Occupational Health/Safety Pt2

Apr 1 Apr 2 Apr 4 Apr 8 Apr 9 Apr 9 Apr 11 Apr 11 Apr 12 Apr 12 Apr 13 Apr15 Apr16 Apr18 Apr20 Apr21 Apr23 Apr25 Apr26 Apr27

Health Care Assistant Program Fernie program starts September 6, 2016 – March 24, 2017!

Apply today as spots fill up quickly!

Health Care Assistants are valuable members of the health care team and receive competitive wages and job security.

This 7-month program combines classroom and practical experience, giving students the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to care for individuals in residential care, assisted living facilities, community settings and in their homes.

Many people start their health care career in the Residential Care/Home Support Attendant field. Later they can consider expanding their skills with training at College of the Rockies as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse. The program takes place five days per week in-class, followed by clinical lecture and lab placements within local care facilities.

For full information on upcoming courses or to register: Phone: 250.423.4691 or Visit: www.cotr.bc.ca/Fernie

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Bits and Bytes

Podcasts KEVIN MCISAAC

THIS MONTH IS ALL ABOUT PODCASTS. Podcasts are audio recordings. Think of them as independently produced mini radio shows that are downloaded from the Internet.

While “audioblogging” has been around since the early ‘90s, podcasting only started to come into its own about ten years ago. Enabled by the ubiquitousness of audio players and much simplified recording technology podcasting has exploded. There are now over 150,000 active English language podcasts.

So what do you need to podcast? I went to my friend Troy to get some ears-on advice.

Troy does a podcast that pulls in between 7-10K listeners a week just on iTunes.

Here’s what he uses to do his podcast. One note: Troy is a Mac guy, so all his workflow is on that platform. There’s a note for Windows users at the end if you’re on that platform.

First get and use GarageBand. It’s easy to learn and it makes it easy to move your recordings to other programs.

If you’re going to use more than one microphone you’ll need a mixing board.

You can pick up a USB mixing board for $100-300 off amazon.com. Make sure to get one with enough channels for all the inputs you want at once. Troy uses one from Peavey.

You’re going to need some good condenser microphones and pop filters.

Behringer C-4 microphones work well and are very durable. They’re about $60 a piece on Amazon. Pop filters are placed in front of microphones and help eliminate popping sounds made while speaking.

They’re about $10 or so, but you can also make your own just by pulling a nylon sock over a bent coat hanger. If you’re going to be doing your podcast outdoors then you need a windscreen. Those are

big foam or furry looking mufflers that go over the microphone to reduce wind noise.

They run from $2-20.

You’ll also want headphones for everyone.

These are not strictly necessary, but they make it easier for everyone to hear themselves to manage their sound levels.

Finally, create a free SoundCloud.com account. You can export directly from GarageBand to SoundCloud and it’s a good place to start. iTunes comes later once you’ve created a few episodes and the quality of your podcasts is pretty solid.

Once you’ve plugged your mixer into your Mac, plugged in your microphones to your mixer (remembering to set them to mono as each microphone is a single channel), got everyone seated comfortably with headphones on, it’s time to check levels. Have everyone speak for a little bit and listen. You want to adjust the levels of each input so everyone sounds equally loud. This is a good time to mention that you should record your podcast slightly louder as opposed to quieter. The listeners can always turn it down, but it’s difficult to turn up beyond a maximum level.

To get GarageBand to record the input from your mixer you’ll need to go into preferences and pick the USB audio input. A complete setup of GarageBand is beyond the scope of this column, but there are literally hundreds of tutorials online to help with almost any setup you could need or imagine.

Once you’ve recorded your podcast you’ll need to save it. Troy recommends saving everything as 320 kbps MP3 files as the fidelity is very high and MP3 is a universal standard. You can always downgrade for size later if needed, but you can’t upgrade.

Most podcast hosts will modify your MP3 file to meet their output standard regardless.

Now, if you’re happy with your recording, you’re ready to upload. As I said before SoundCloud.com is easy and free, but there are others. Libsyn.com, at $5/month

THE ANSWER GUY

will not only host your podcast, but upload to a wide variety of podcast hosts for you once set up. It saves a bunch of work if you’re hosting at several locations.

Finally, get the word out. Create a Facebook page and upload your podcasts.

Post updates on Twitter and Instagram.

And consider visiting events related to your podcast, to do promotion.

If you want to hear how awesome podcasts can be my favourites are: RadioLab, Memory Palace, Ideas (CBC), Freakonomics Radio, and 99% Invisible.

And of course a big shout out to Troy’s USW 9346 Steelmegaphone podcast. All of these can be found on iTunes.

If you’re a Windows guy/gal and looking to podcast, the major thing you’re going to have to change is GarageBand.

Consider using Audacity. It’s free and does everything GarageBand does, if with a less glamorous interface.

Happy Podcasting

The Best BANG for your Buck!

• Handmade bagels baked daily in house • Open 7am-5pm EVERYDAY • Voted ‘Best Quick Food Fix’ Fernie Fix Awards, 2015 502 2nd Avenue, Fernie BC 250-423-7778 www.bigbangbagels.com FERNIEFIX.COM

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H

841 7th Ave., Fernie BC $384,500

Commercial and/or Residential, this listing located in the popular Annex subdivision is a unique property full of possibilities for a family home, a business venture or both.

• New kitchen • New bathrooms • 3 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms • Detached workshop with full bathroom • Private backyard with shed • Spacious front office or retail space (or can be used as living space)

For more information contact:

Melanie MacKay 250-423-1800

melaniemackay@royallepage.ca

East Kootenay Realty

ROYAL LEPAGE EAST KOOTENAY REALTY 561 HWY 3, FERNIE

Bits and Bytes

ASTROLOGY

April 2016

Aries (March 21 - April 29) Alchemist

Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22) Appreciation

YANN LORANGER

Since the beginning of the year, you had a lot of pressure on your shoulders. This month is the last with that much tension.

Make the best of it, you know just too well that pressure is also a good thing.

It feels good to be able to connect again with others and see that we are all on the same page.

MARCH DID SET THE TABLE FOR APRIL. The aspects remain essentially the same, retrograding a bit and moving slowly. This is a time for growth, to integrate and draw more conclusions from all that has been triggered in March. It is a little bit like a pause in time for our basic nature to accept this new reality brought by the eclipses last month. Think about the insects that go through a complete metamorphosis, when they finally reach their adult stage, they need a little time to get used to their adult body. Well, April will feel like this. It allows our Moon to circle the whole Zodiac and visit each important point set up by the eclipses.

The quick and fast Mercury will also have the chance to aspect most of those points during this month. Through all Mercury and Moon aspects, our mind and our personal emotions will have a chance to welcome, accept and recognize this new “adult” body we have.

Take advantage of this quiet time to feel and connect with your full potential. As you learn to live with it, a new energy will add up to the blend, Neptune. Yes, Neptune steps into this entire dynamic towards the end of the month and will finish the tuning of our “new adult body” by aligning it with the divine source, some kind of baptism.

For those who did not feel the eclipses quite yet (refer to last month for details), this little break gives you an extra chance to finally feel it. It might not be that quiet, but at least you ain’t missing the train!

Since we all have a little bit of each sign within us, consider each of the following interpretations as addressing a specific part of yourself. Read it all, for all aspects within yourself.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) To Temper You like quietness and peace. This month is intriguing for you since it brings calmness into the agitation that brought 2016. You should finally get accustomed to those changes.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Strategist You were ready to move on! The situation was already clear for you. You have time to make plans for the future, such a rare gift!

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Grounded At last, a moment to reconnect with your close ones and share all you felt since the beginning of this intense year! It helps you to feel grounded and comfortable in your own skin.

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) Autonomy You seem to be above the challenge of following the mainstream trend… but there is a resistance to change hidden behind that. You have a chance to “gently” embrace the actual change. You have time, you can choose by yourself to jump into it and therefore, you won’t be scared of damaging your pride.

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22) Purposefulness Your dedication is a pillar for the actual success of things. Keep a positive vibe as your surroundings realize and acknowledge it.

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Restlessness You’re apprehensive of what will come after April. You’re a bit nervous about it opposing the grounding, lulling curve of everyone around you.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Meditation As you contemplate the new situation, you realize the gap between the good intention of serving a greater cause and the actual impact you have. You’ll need all your imagination to reconnect both in a healthy way.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Assurance You are an important part of the general growth and acceptance happening during this month. As the unfrozen, soft ground dries, you feel you can work on a solid base again.

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Accomplishment You feel relieved! You have been pushing into a certain direction for a long time and finally, things naturally flow this way.

Pisces (Feb 19 - March 20) Guidance Your opinion gains importance and you gladly remind everyone of the essential role of aestheticism and spirituality. You were not expecting this as efficiency has had first place lately.

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Fernie Fun

ferniefix

FernieFix

FernieFixMag

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE There are seven differences between these two pictures. See if you can find them.

APRIL WORD SCRAMBLE

lcceery neger sreeu harte unetra basslitaeun rwgo

FIND THE Somewhere in this issue is a little leaf.

Can you find it?

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE ANSWERS MARCH

MARCH WORD SCRAMBLE ANSWERS Submit an image for Spot the Difference to vanessa@clarismedia.com.

easter, colour, egg, bunny, spring, family, chocolate

x

In Canada we don’t hide from the elements, we pursue them. We pray for snow. We plead for powder. We embrace the cold - and after a long day of defeating the mountain?

Well that’s where we step in. We invite you to join us at the new Cirque Restaurant and Bar. Have a seat by the crackling wood fire. Dine on our Italian inspired cuisine. Immerse yourself in hospitality that only the finest Canadian establishments can offer. After conquering the mountain, you deserve it.

Experience Canadian hospitality at its finest: nestled comfortably in the lizard mountain range.

Amongst the wild elements we have flourished by embracing our harsh winters. Such events are not for the faint of heart. In celebration of our Canadian heritage, we invite you to join us at the new ICE BAR in Lizard Creek Lodge to tantalize your taste buds.

250.423.2056 | cirque@lizardcreek.com lizardcreek.com photos by: Henry Georgi & Mark Eleven Photography

What’s on in April IN THE GALLERY

INDIE FILM FERNIE

Concert Series

Vanessa Croome - Set in Motion Opening March 31, 2016. 7pm Until April 25, 2016

The Lady in the Van April 4, 2016 Vogue Theatre

April 7, 8pm - Rosie and the Riveters April 13, 8pm - The Small Glories (Cara Luft and JD Edwards) April 20, 8pm - Claude Bourbon

Check out our new website!

601 1st Ave. Fernie | www.TheArtsStation.com