AUGUST 2022 | ISSUE 188
THE
Give Life Back to Music ISSUE
IN THIS ISSUE: Check out the Wapiti Weekend Scavenger Hunt by Chan, Brad Parsell on the shifts and resilience of the music industry, Feature Artist Electric Blanket Band Club... “Fernie’s most active (and only) emo band”. Michael Hepher gets us back into live music with some helpful tips on how to show our appreciation to musicians, Feature Resident Barbara Bassett and her rise to high school band teacher, and Patrick Robertson on how to enjoy live music all over the world on a Slow Travel budget. FERNIEFIX.COM
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NEW HOBBY? NEW GARAGE NEEDED?
AUGUST 2022 | ISSUE 188 EDITOR’S FIX p7 GIVE LIFE BACK TO MUSIC SPECIAL FEATURE p9
THE
Give Life Back to Music ISSUE
Chan’s Random Music Page by Chantel Vincent
BUSINESS IN THE VALLEY p10 Business News Digital Disruption: The Rise and Fall of the Recorded Music Industry by Brad Parsell
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT p14 Feature Artist - Electric Blanket Band Club Everyone Eats – Pok Pok Chicken Wings by Claire Smallwood ArtBeat – Get Back by Michael Hepher At Peace and Yet on Fire – Finding Summer by Danika Jensen and Sadie Rosgen Rental Fix – The Northman by Andrew Vallance
EVENTS CALENDAR p27 COMMUNITY p30 Feature Resident – Barbara Bassett At the Ground Level – Being Punk About Butts by Sylvia Ayers, illustrated by Sarah Pullen Mountain Tails – Welcome Home by Valerie Barry
HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE p36 Where the Spark Begins –Ruby Heckendorf and Griff Patterson by Krista Turcasso Cold-Climate Gardening – Raised Beds and Hugelkulturs by Ashley Lortscher Slow Travel – Finding Small Live Music Venues Around the World by Patrick Robertson This is Life – Vocalizing the Critic by Tyla Charbonneau
BITS AND BYTES p47 The Answer Guy – Backup CDs by Kevin McIsaac Astrology – August 2022 by Ashley Kristina Through the Lens – Give Life Back to Music Issue Photo Gallery The Social Page
FERNIE FUN p54 The Last Page COVER: Shred Kelly accompanied by Hark Raving Sirens at Wapiti Music Festival Photo by Vince Mo, @findingvmo THIS PAGE: Festival Season Should Never End Photo by Jashan Tamber, @jazz.hits
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Editor’s Fix By Krista Turcasso, Editor I am an obsessive playlist maker and have been since I got my first double cassette ghetto blaster in 1993. I started making mixed tapes with my friend, Heather. Her dad was a DJ and had soooooooo much music for us to choose from. Think 90s dance, rock and grunge and you have an idea of what we were working with. From there, it was mixed tapes/CDs for a run (with a Walkman or Discman), a road trip, or as a gift to my sisters or friends to commemorate an experience we shared together.
Contributors ANDREW VALLANCE is a cinephile nerd who currently lives on the west coast. Girlfriendless, he spends his time going to movies, buying DVDs and flirting. ASHLEY KRISTINA has studied astrology for over twenty years and has been reading/teaching for five. For an in depth natal chart reading, email mountainashastrology@gmail.com. ASHLEY LORTSCHER of Valley Vitals is a market gardener and local food advocate, here to share her knowledge on growing food in the Elk Valley. BRAD PARSELL is the manager of the Fernie Chamber and loves working with our local vibrant business community. He is also a music nerd with an ever-growing collection of records in his basement. CHANTEL VINCENT is the artistic director for Wapiti Music Festival and the owner of Freyja Kootenay Boutique. She is a survivor of hustle culture. CLAIRE SMALLWOOD is an avid skier, mediocre snowboarder, former personal chef, and newlyminted hockey fan. When Claire’s
It’s not surprising that music plays such a huge part of our lives – it can instantly bring us back to a time or experience and can be used as a tool to celebrate or to help us get through challenging times. Looking back, I can see how music has been a constant in my life, always there during the many ups and downs. While I unfortunately never kept the mixed tapes and CDs of my youth, my iTunes library is currently home to 125 playlists. Most were made for occasions such as Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries. Many were made to help me work through the production of Fix magazines. A few were made to keep me moving on some grueling days on the bike. A couple very special playlists were created for my labours with each of my daughters (perfectly titled Baby T and Baby T #2).
And some very reflective lists were made for those lost but never forgotten.
not on the slopes or whipping up red chile sauce, you can find her at the helm of SheJumps, the non-profit she co-founded in 2007 with a mission to transform the lives of women and girls through outdoor experiences. KEVIN MCISAAC haunts the coffee shops and streets of Fernie to find his column source material. MICHAEL HEPHER is a painter, printmaker, sculptor and musician living and working in Fernie. His work is collected internationally and can be seen at Clawhammer Press and a variety of galleries in Western Canada. PATRICK ROBERTSON is a travel writer and long-time resident of Fernie. He is an expert in planning independent travel and finding budget travel deals.Visit his website at budgetslowtravel.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/budgetslowtravel. Every month SADIE ROSGEN teams up with some of Fernie’s brightest young writers collaborating on a given theme. If you are reading this and think that you are that person, drop her a line at sadiepumps@ gmail.com. SARAH PULLEN, a recent high school graduate, has a passion for all things creative. She looks forward to heading east and pursuing Fine Arts at University this fall.
SYLVIA AYERS is a tenacious naturalist and believes each one of us can have a big impact on making things better if we just know how. TYLA CHARBONNEAU is a Registered Psychologist (CPBC2385), dog momma, and nature lover. She loves talking with others about mindfulness, selfcompassion, and human nature. VALERIE BARRY is the longtime owner and head trainer of Dog Partners (dogpartners.ca). She is a multi-credentialed and highly educated professional dog trainer who specializes in behaviour modification and helping families raise friendly puppies.
As you now know, I think playlists are awesome. But nothing beats live music, and this August I encourage you to get out and experience it! We are so very fortunate to have weekly opportunities to hear amazing artists right in downtown Fernie with the Wednesday Socials, and to have hard working volunteers organizing one of the best music festivals you’ll ever attend – Wapiti! And if you aren’t able to attend these summer events, no worries. Of course I made a playlist available on Spotify called Summer of Fernie 2022. Enjoy!
FERNIE FIX | FERNIEFIX.COM Published monthly by Claris Media. To advertise and for general inquiries: info@clarismedia.com Box 1124, 361A 1st Ave. Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 p: 250-423-4062 | clarismedia.com Editor | Krista Turcasso Creative Director | Vanessa Croome All content copyright Claris Media. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.
Claris Media acknowledges that the land on which we work, gather and recreate is the traditional and unceded territory of the Ktunaxa people.We are very grateful for this place and the abundance it provides.
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Our 10 year anniversary in A new location! music festival
It’s almost time to dance!
Things to remember when attending wapiti this year: • bring your old wapiti beer or wine cup! • bring camp chairs, blankets & umbrellas to set up in designated areas • ride your bike & bring a bike lock • Don’t forget your sunscreen, bug spray & water bottles • think cashless! • Please do not bring pets, glass or non-factory sealed beverages
*At this time there are no provincial COVID related restrictions in place - but we do ask that you refrain from attending if you feel sick. please respect others rights to wear a mask or not if it is their choice. be kind!
August 5th & 6th, 2022 | WAPITIMUSICFESTIVAL.COM James white park, Fernie b.c.
THE GIVE LIFE BACK TO MUSIC ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE
Chan’s Random Music Page by CHANTEL VINCENT
Stats Over 115 bands have played at Wapiti since 2011 Takes 200+ volunteers to pull Wapiti off
Fernie Music Trivia 1. What Wapiti alum band when on to win the 2017 Juno for Single of the Year?
ProTip Look for the Cucumber Mint Cider from Howling Moon Cider in the beverage garden this year.
A lot has changed over the last 10 years, but some things remain the same... the fashion.
a. b. c.
July Talk The Strumbellas Black Pistol Fire
2. What Wapiti alum band had a song featured in Grey’s Anatomy? 1. 2. 3.
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald Nuela Charles Reuben and the Dark
Wapiti Weekend Scavenger Hunt
Overalls from 2018
Check off this list while at Wapiti!
Hats from 2017 Flower crowns 2016
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
The Matinee in 2016, Canadian tuxedo
More hats from 2018
A perfectly fitted suit. Elliott Brood 2011
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
A rad Dad An influencer in the wild And old Wapiti merch tee A bride to be A selfie with a 2022 Wapiti Crew Member An actual hipster Someone on someone’s shoulders A couple married 40 or more years Someone who is not wearing Birks, Merrels, Keens or Tevas A Local at their first Wapiti Sushi 2022 Wapiti Merch A wildflower Something that glimmers An act of kindness
Send your photo collection to Chantel@wapitimusicfestival to be entered to win a Wapiti Swag Bag. Upload your finds to Social Media #wapitimusicfestival for extra entries. FERNIEFIX.COM FERNIEFIX.COM
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Music Trivia Answers: 1. b-The Strumbellas for Spirits, 2. c- Reuben and the Dark for “Shiny Happy People” S16 Ep16
Business in the Valley
BUSINESS NEWS
Submitted Photo
Submitted Image
Anything Goes Event Series
ET Hair Salon
info@anythinggoeseventseries.com
ET Hair Salon is excited to welcome Nancy Doucet to their team.
On October 1, the Cranbrook Gravel Grind (CGG), proudly presented by the newly created Anything Goes Event Series, will shed light on the world-class gravel riding that surrounds Cranbrook, BC. Welcoming any and all riders to the first ever event, the 65 kilometre ‘Gold Rush Loop’ will showcase the Cranbrook Community Forest, Chief Isadore Trail Network and Mount Baker Forestry Service Roads. The CGG offers an incredibly unique experience for new and experienced riders with a course that is designed for cyclists with physical impairment in mind, suiting cyclists of all abilities, hand-cyclists and tandems included. Visit ccnbikes.com/#!/events/cranbrookgravel-grind to register, and follow @AnythingGoesEventSeries to stay up to date on upcoming events.
462 2nd Ave 250-423-4813
Kael Klassen Photo
Fernie Mountain Bike Club – Wam Bam Dirt Jump Jam
After a two-year hiatus FMBC is happy to announce that the Wam Bam Dirt After graduating top of her class at the Jump Jam will be back on September 3, College of the Rockies in 2021, Nancy set 2022. Once again, it will be featured as off to start her career at Chatters Hair Salon a Bronze level Freeride Mountain Bike in Cranbrook. She was very lucky to work World Tour Event. This year is extra special with an amazing team who helped her gain because for the first time ever, the event even more experience and confidence as will not only showcase the next up and a new hairstylist. As well continuing with coming men, but also women. It should be Redken education and pursing Redken’s exciting to see how far the sport has come color specialist certificate, Nancy is very for these women and hopefully help inspire excited to bring her passion for blonding, the next generation! colouring and haircutting to ET and is looking forward to expanding her client The Wam Bam Dirt Jump Jam is also base and coming back to Fernie. featuring some local run bikers, little rippers and young talent. Please keep an Call or stop by their downtown location to eye out for online registration as well as for make an appointment, and follow them on volunteering opportunities. The FMBC social media at @ethairsalon on Facebook Team looks forward to seeing you to help and @ethairsalon97 on Instagram. cheer on these riders and close out the summer with a BAM! fmbc.ca
Submitted Image
Three Pines Electric threepineselectric.com Three Pines Electric is the Elk Valley’s newest electrical contractor specializing in residential, commercial installations and troubleshooting. With over ten years of experience, they offer reliable and professional services to ensure that you are completely satisfied. Three Pines Electric is fully Licensed, Bonded, and Insured, so that you can rest easy knowing you are in the hands of a professional. Some of the services they offer are: • Free Estimates and Consulting • New Build Wiring • Installations • Renovations • EV Chargers • Hot Tubs • A/C Units • Panel and Service Upgrades • Mobile Home Inspections • Home Automation … and so much more! Contact them via email at Peter@threepineselectric.com, phone 250-278-8887 or visit their website for more details.
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Get the most out of each workout by working with a certified personal trainer and kinesiologist.
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Mondays:
Jam nights
Thursdays: Karaoke nights
Fridays:
this month:
Happy & Appy Hour Regular live music
August 11 and 12 Kyley Styles: from Calgary August 20 Staja Lu: Singer, songwriter, producer from Ontario August 25 Comedian Scott Porteous: 8pm Tickets available for purchase on eventbrite September 2 Super Natural Buffalo A show not to be missed! scan for details
VISIT US.
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Digital Disruption: The Rise and Fall of the Recorded Music Industry by BRAD PARSELL Remember vinyl records? Cassettes? CDs? I sure do! My basement is full of them. Living rooms and dens around the world used to be bursting with these, with audiophiles boasting about their expansive collection of physical media. Now, every track or album you ever would want to listen to is in the cloud and can be streamed on to your mobile device with the tap of a button. Countless physical collections were relegated to the thrift store with the rise of Napster and LimeWire, then the ability to burn CDs, then iTunes and iPods, and now Spotify and other streamers. Over the past decade, the physical music collection has seemingly become a thing of the past (outside of hardcore music nerds) thanks to these digital disruptions and the complete upheaval of the traditional recording industry. Some folks may not realize that I started my career working in the Australian music industry. My first real job was working part-time in a record store and by the age of 19 I was managing one. This was right around the turn of the millennium as the ability to download and share music (legally and illegally) was beginning to take off. After years of working in music retail, I ended up working as an account manager at a record label. I had a front row seat to watch the rise of the internet and technology completely turn a half-century old industry upside down. When I first started, it was still the tail end of the golden age of CDs. CD sales peaked in 2000, when nearly a billion discs were shipped in the US alone. Record companies would put on lavish album launch parties for industry insiders. Free albums and concert
Beat Street Records in Vancouver, Brad Parsell Photo
“Over the past decade, the physical music collection has seemingly become a thing of the past (outside of hardcore music nerds) thanks to these digital disruptions and the complete upheaval of the traditional recording industry.” tickets flowed like wine, while record company executives and sales reps were paid handsomely. That all collapsed very quickly. Some suits over at Apple decided a song was now only worth $0.99 and this ushered
in a new reality of artists making next to nothing from recorded music sales and streams. Physical music retail chains and record labels also felt the pain, and belts were tightened across the board as physical stores began to shut everywhere. Musicians either fought kicking and screaming (i.e. Metallica!) or tried to embrace the new reality. This meant touring and merchandise were now the primary revenue sources for artists – and that continues to this day.You can imagine then the impact and undue hardship on musicians globally when the concept of mass gatherings at concerts was restricted under the pandemic for almost two years. It’s so great to see concerts and festivals return to our lives finally. I had the opportunity to see Bob Dylan in Spokane back in May and it was transformative and life-affirming. Live music – long may it reign! But from the ashes of the physical recorded music industry, something interesting has started to happen. All of a sudden, vinyl is cool again and is being sold in numbers not seen in decades. In the US, the resurgence in vinyl records sales continued for the 15th consecutive year, as revenues grew 61% to $1 billion in 2021. The last time vinyl records exceeded $1 billion was in 1986! Despite the sweeping and destructive effects of digital disruption on this massive industry, and in the face of all odds – physical music sales are on the rise again and showing that an industry once thought to be on death’s door is surprisingly resilient. And as a total music nerd – this makes me super happy!
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Arts and Entertainment
FEATURE ARTIST
Electric Blanket Band Club
Pop Punk Sad Band. A genre not familiar to our little valley that spends the majority of its time projecting how awesome everything is, all the time. Enter Electric Blanket Band Club (EB), a four-piece supercharged group of action sport enthusiastic sad boiz from Fernie, BC. After starting out as a bedroom art project for frontman Kevin Frank half a decade ago, the band has finally unfolded into a full-sized DIY expression vessel for not only the band but its growing fan base. After two years spent officially on the scene, the band has established itself as a local punk powerhouse. Hosting sold-out DIY punk shows, opening for major bands as they pass through town, and putting on
a now annual skate park bowl show, you can catch them anywhere except where you’d expect.
a genre that had previously felt lost to the ages. The group proudly presents itself as Fernie’s most active (and only) emo band.
Comprised of local faces Kevin Frank, Drew Hampson, Dylan Siggers, and Nick Hill the band is far from “out of town.” However, you may find yourself attending one of their shows without even realizing you know everyone in the band. (True story.)
EB prides themselves on a strict no-cover rule, exclusively showcasing original music at their shows. In their songwriting, the band dares to divert from the easy way out of soft subject matter and starlit guitar solos. Their songwriting is terribly honest and reflective, lending insight into the concept that everything can be just not quite alright every once in a while. And that’s okay.
Electric Blanket’s sound derives from the golden era of emo punk warp tour classics like MCR, Rise Against, and The Used. As the modern-day emo punk train starts back up again, bands like PUP, Mom Jeans, and The Front Bottoms have reinvigorated
Externally, the quartet has been inspired by local acts like The Runs and Shred Kelly. Being included and surrounded
by such successful live acts was a huge driving force in the band’s motivation to get on stage and in front of a crowd. Electric Blanket feels very lucky to have such a supportive music community like Fernie’s. After hitting the gas immediately as COVID restrictions lifted, the band has gained support and fandom from friends, family, and miraculously, mere strangers! Currently, the band is in the process of recording its first album as a full band and can be found practicing in Dylan’s parents’ basement on Tuesdays at 6:30. Check them out on Spotify, YouTube, or Instagram as Electric Blanket Band Club.
Steve Reed Photos FERNIEFIX.COM
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Arts and Entertainment
EVERYONE EATS
Pok Pok Chicken Wings by CLAIRE SMALLWOOD Pok Pok was a famous Thai restaurant in Portland by Chef Andy Ricker. I used to be lucky enough to live down the street from this place, and I remember the chicken wings like it was yesterday. It’s sad that this Michelin star and James Beard award winning restaurant closed during the pandemic, but its chicken-wing legacy lives on. What makes these wings so special is the tangy flavour of the chicken with layers of caramelized sweet chili sauce on the outside. It’s finished with fresh basil and cilantro for a delicious fresh touch. The recipe requires a bit of oven-watching.
The idea is to bake the wings, then toss in sweet chile sauce, bake (or broil again) and then repeat the process a couple of times to make layers of caramelized, bubbling sweet and spicy flavours. This process might depend on your oven or your attention span. For example, if your broil function has a mind of its own you might want to opt for the baking option so you don’t burn/char the wings. Thai sweet chili has a lot of sugar in it, so it’s easy to take it too far if you’re not being attentive.
The quantities below are intentionally blank so you can vary depending on your spice tolerance and quantity/size of the chicken wings.You’ll want to go heavy on the chicken wings because no one can ever get enough Pok Pok chicken! You can also use chicken thighs and drumsticks for this recipe, just adjust your cooking time accordingly for bigger cuts of meat. Always cook dark meat chicken to at least 175-180 degrees and use a meat thermometer to double check if you’re not sure.
Over time, you can make this recipe ‘your own’ by adding fresh ginger, more heat, more lime, less fish sauce, marinade time, etc.
Everyone Eats continued on next page
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August Camps for Kids August 22-25
LOCATED AT TRIT-TROT FARMS 4991 Hwy 3, Fernie, BC Contact: Jennifer Schmidt at 250-278-2147 www.unicornclubfernie.ca
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Solo Meditation Cabin Retreats Your 300-acre meditation cushion in the Kootenays. Full-service private retreats. Local organic meals, your own private cabin and optional meditation guidance.
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Everyone Eats continued
Pok Pok Chicken Prep Time: 2 hours (including marinading) Cook Time: 60-75 minutes, depending on oven. Ingredients: Chicken wings Lime juice (fresh if you have it) Fish sauce Thai Sweet Chili sauce Optional for spice lovers: Sambal oelek (Indonesian chili paste available in local grocery stores) ¼ - ½ cup Chopped fresh cilantro ¼ - ½ cup Chopped fresh basil 1. Marinade the chicken wings in 50/50 mixture of lime juice and fish sauce. You need just enough liquid to cover the chicken wings. It will smell weird, but also delicious. Trust the process. You can marinade these overnight or just for a couple of hours. For 2 pounds of chicken wings, it would be about 2 cups each lime juice/fish sauce - or just enough to make sure the wings are covered. 2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put some parchment paper on a couple of baking sheets to save yourself some clean-up later. Lay the wings out (without overcrowding too much) for 25-30 minutes or until they are cooked all the way through.
Fernie’s Favourite Riverside Patio!
3. While the wings are cooking, get a big mixing bowl out and your Thai sweet chili sauce and sambal if you’re using it.
from 9am until 9pm for breakfast, lunch, dinner & drinks.
4. Pull the wings from the oven and pour some of the Thai sweet chili sauce over the wings. Add the sambal according to your heat tolerance to the mixture. Toss the wings until they are nicely coated.
250-423-3002 • thebridgebistro.com 301 Hwy 3, beside West Fernie Bridge
Here, you have two options: bake or broil to finish (see note above).
OPEN DAILY
SubmittedPhoto Bake option: if you don’t have the attention span to keep an eye on your wings, simply put turn the oven up to 425° and bake the sweet-chili wings for another 5-10 minutes, until the sweet chili is bubbling (this might take longer depending on your oven). Pull the wings out, toss them in more Thai sweet chili/sambal sauce. Place back in the oven and repeat this process at least 1-2 more times, making sure that the sauce is getting hot enough to caramelize during its time in the hot oven. Broil option: Same as bake option, although it will take less time for the Thai sweet chili sauce to start bubbling. Repeat process (tossing wings in chili sauce and baking) 1-2 more times. I’d recommend placing the wings on the lower or middle oven rack. 5. When your wings have a decent sticky, caramelized coating on them, pull out of the oven. Right before you serve them, sprinkle the chopped fresh cilantro and basil on top of the wings for a beautiful pop of colour. FERNIEFIX.COM FERNIEFIX.COM
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Arts and Entertainment
ARTBEAT
Get Back by MICHAEL HEPHER At the height of the folk music revolution that carried the likes of Bob Dylan from obscurity to legend, the Greenwich scene in New York was the place you had to go to see the rising stars—or to be one of them. The Gaslight Café on MacDougal Street was one of those iconic NYC haunts that you walked down below street level to get into. The windows of the café opened into shafts that fed fresh air from above, so audiences would snap their fingers instead of clapping at the end of a song, otherwise the tenants above would call the cops. The Gaslight gave Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell their Big Apple debut. After that Springsteen, Clapton, Hendrix… everyone on the way up made a stop at the Gaslight. It was the golden age of the coffeehouse scene and performers poured their hearts out to audiences that sat pindrop silent while they sang. Over the years the cultural convention of a coffeehouse-style concert has changed: when people sit around tables, it’s now considered acceptable to talk. When people sit shoulder to shoulder facing the same direction, talking is considered rude. Think about the last time you were at the Loaf on a Friday night—they’ve had a band playing there every week for years. Did people sit quietly and listen to the songs? Probably not. So different from concerts at the Arts Station: the lights dim and the musicians march on stage and launch into a set of tasty, tender, or rollicking tunes. Between songs they offer banter and dialogue with the audience—a connection is formed between performer and crowd. If an audience member makes a noise in the middle of a song, they likely get sideways glances from others. Neither modality is better or worse, they are just different. One has become
Redgirl on stage | Murray Hayward Photo
“Over the years I’ve noticed a few common things that help make a live music experience successful, and the single biggest one is making sure the band feels valued and appreciated—there are so many easy ways to do that. ” primarily social and the other primarily entertaining, and we the audience act accordingly. I point out the difference to suggest that one type of listening does not necessarily exclude the other—concert venues often have intermissions for mingling, and coffeehouse-style venues
often get some applause, some interaction, and some kind of connection with the artist. As a fan, promoter, and a musician, I’ve been on all sides of all kinds of concerts and had great experiences at all of them. Over the years I’ve noticed a few common things that help make a live music experience successful, and the single biggest one is making sure the band feels valued and appreciated—there are so many easy ways to do that. I’m so grateful to see we are well and truly putting the restrictive parts of the pandemic behind us, and all kinds of live music opportunities are back online. The last two years have been tough on everyone, but our touring musicians took an extra hard knock because they lost
their income and lifestyle as well as their outlet and passion—and let’s not forget who got us through those first few months of lockdowns with hope-filled live streams piped right to our homes.
“
Gear up the whole family, with our new & returning brands. Jeff & Jane Johnson
”
We might be a little out of practice at seeing live music, so now is a good time to rebuild habits and relearn how to make sure our troubadours know we appreciate them in person again. Regardless of the type of venue, here are a few simple ways we can keep them coming back: 1. If you’re sitting around tables, or chatting with friends, keep one ear tuned to the music and take a second to clap when a song is done. Have all the fun and be conscious of the performers as well. 2. If the band has a tip jar out, and you appreciated the music, drop a few coins in there. Costs of touring have skyrocketed, and a few bucks makes a difference to the gas and food bill. If they don’t have a tip jar, ask the server if you can leave them a tip through the restaurant.
Ski Base Team Rider: Emma Proulx
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3. Request a song, but don’t be a bully about it. Some musicians are comfortable with winging it while others may not be. It can be a simple way to engage the band by asking for a tune you think might suit their style. 4. Buy a CD. That’s the best way to get the money into the band’s hands. 5. Say a quick thank you on your way out. Most humans appreciate that small gesture. If the musician is in the middle of a song you might only get a nod back in return, but I know from experience those kind gestures are huge. 6. Share: snap photos, post on social media, tag them. The algorithm will reward them, and you might just find a new favourite feed.
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Explore Fernie with the new mobile app! Self-guided themed tours with a variety of locations to discover.
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#iconicfernie #ferniestoke | iconicfernie.com
Local Arts & Crafts
Arts and Entertainment
AT PEACE AND YET ON FIRE
Finding Summer by Danika Jensen and Sadie Rosgen Wow, readers! Thank you for your participation in my poetic scavenger hunt in July’s Fix issue. As promised, I am publishing the piece that struck me the most out of the clues found. I am elated to know that you had fun and learned about some new words for your vocabulary. I had many fantastic entries and somehow was able to choose just one. I appreciated getting an email from Danika Jensen, a Danish tourist staying in Fernie for the summer. She was quick to explain how excited she was to find the magazine and was quick to take on the scavenger hunt and learn a few new English words. Here’s the poem she created with the clues she found:
Finding Summer Clues by Sadie Rosgen, Poem by Danika Jensen
Deep, quick, fun. The air is energetic and youthful here. Twin riddle we talk, Twins walk as I solve the riddle… Versatile is the movement around me, Characters I see here. Mercurial beings moving freely. I love clever things!
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August Events & Activities SCOTT Downhill Race Series Specialty Hikes Kids Adventure Camps Kids Freeride MTB Camps Youth Freeride MTB Camp
PH: Matt Kuhn, Mark Eleven Photography & Nick Nault
LEGENDARY SUMMER
For event dates & more info:
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Arts and Entertainment
THE RENTAL FIX
The Northman by ANDREW VALLANCE In the period popularly known as the Viking Age,Vikings, the seafaring people primarily from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden) raided, pirated, traded and settled throughout parts of Europe. They also voyaged as far away as the Mediterranean, North Africa, Bulgaria, the Middle East and North America. They settled in northern France (Normandy) and occupied large swathes of land in England, Ireland and the Scottish Isles, and they were the first Europeans to establish permanent European settlements in Iceland and Greenland. The Vikings had a profound impact on early medieval history influencing languages, cultures and the gene pool of many modern European countries. In the public imagination Vikings were violent and death obsessed, longing for life after death in the banquet halls of Valhalla where they would celebrate forever with their ancestors. However, the idea of Viking society being entirely warlike in nature is not entirely accurate. For every Viking who attacked English monasteries and burned them to the ground, there were at least 10 who farmed and traded quite peacefully. Unfortunately, Dave Eggers, the extremely talented film director of such films as The Witch and The Lighthouse, has chosen to embrace the cliché of the bloodthirsty Viking in his new film The Northman. The film tells the story of Amleth, a Viking warrior prince, and his adventures as he seeks vengeance against the man who killed his father. The film features Alexander Saarsgard as Amleth, Anya Tailor-Joy as Olga, his magical love interest, and Cleaus Bang as the film’s villain. Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård gained his first big role in the US film comedy
Film Festival, and for which Bang became the first Dane to win the European Film Award for Best Actor. Anya Taylor-Joy is best known for her excellent role as Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit (2020), and she has been the recipient of the Cannes Film Festival’s Trophée Chopard. The cast also features Nicole Kidman as Amleth’s mother, and singer, songwriter Bjork plays a bit part as a blind fortune teller. All do an absolutely wonderful job.
“This piece of cinema is spectacular, but it is also exceptionally violent. Amleth is toxic masculinity personified. He is completely cut off from his emotions and spends most of the movie snarling like a wild animal and howling at the sky. ” Zoolander, but his breakthrough came when he portrayed vampire Eric Northman in the television series True Blood. Cleaus Bang is a Danish actor who is best known for playing the leading role of Christian in Ruben Östlund’s 2017 film The Square, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes
The Northman is very atmospheric, with an almost dreamlike quality in parts and some incredibly odd sequences, including one involving a Viking spirit with braces. Contributing to the atmosphere is the terrific set design which includes a historically accurate Viking longhouse. The script is very well written by Robert Eggers and poet, lyricist and author Sjon who previously worked with Bjork on the Icelandic cult film Dancer in the Dark. The script truly draws you in and engages you in this epic tale of revenge. This piece of cinema is spectacular, but it is also exceptionally violent. Amleth is toxic masculinity personified. He is completely cut off from his emotions and spends most of the movie snarling like a wild animal and howling at the sky. Most of his time on screen is spent killing those he perceives to be his enemies. There were times watching this film when all I could think about were the bafoonish and dangerous Trump supporters who stormed the US capital on January 6. I have to admit that while I hated the basic concept of the movie, I couldn’t help enjoying it as well. One thumb up, but be sure to check it out before spending the money to see it. FERNIEFIX.COM
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Your adventure
starts at Elk River Guiding Company.
Guiding, gear & good times!
What we do! We are a non-profit organization that takes seniors and less abled individuals for bike rides on special bikes called Trishaw’s. Sign up to be a passenger... it’s free! OR Join the team and volunteer to become a pilot for CWA today!
We are much more than a fly shop, come check out our gear for all your Fernie Adventures! 791 - 7 th Ave. • 250-423-7239
FERNIE 250-423-4467 BLAIRMORE 403-562-7144 ELKFORD 250-865-2022
Call/text us at 250-278-9773 or email cyclingwithoutagefernie@gmail.com cyclingwithoutagefernie.bike
Y A M A G O Y A
EVENTS CALENDAR
MONTHLY EVENTS
Stay up to date by visiting FernieFix.com/events. Send your events to krista@clarismedia.com for inclusion!
Tuesday 2.8.2022 2Knee Race Series: 3 Kings @ fmbc.ca Keith Greeninger @ Fernie Distillers Wednesday 3.8.2022 Wednesday Socials: Teno2 @ Station Square Kurt Lowen @ Kodiak Lounge Keith Greeninger @ Fernie Distillers August 4.8.2022 Kids Intermediate Freeride Bike Camp @ Fernie Alpine Resort Friday 5.8.2022 Wapiti Music Festival @ James White Park Charles Banjamin Live @ Loaf John Michael Lind Live @ Fernie Hotel and Pub, 8:30pm Saturday 6.8.2022 Wapiti Music Festival @ James White Park Sunday 7.8.2022 Women-Only Social Mountain Bike Ride @ Ride Theory Frank Patrick Live @ The Pub Monday 8.8.2022 Educational Cannabis Presentation @ Earth’s Own Naturals Regular Council Meeting @ City of Fernie, 7pm Tuesday 9.8.2022 Life Drawing @ The Arts Station Little Critter Race Series: James White Park @ fmbc.ca Wednesday 10.8.2022 Wednesday Socials: The Lonesome Ace String Band @ Station Square DJ jayray @ Bramasole
Thursday 11.8.2022 Youth Intermediate Freeride Mountain Bike Camp @ Fernie Alpine Resort Kyley Styles Live @ Kodiak Lounge Friday 12.8.2022 DJ jayray @ Freshies, 4-6pm Lani Folkard Live @ Loaf Kyley Styles Live @ Kodiak Lounge Tai Barron @ Bramasole Saturday 13.8.2022 Club Championship @ Fernie Golf Club Camp Kootenay Comedy @ The Fernie Sunday 14.8.2022 Club Championship @ Fernie Golf Club DJ KTNY Live @ The Pub Tenise Marie @ Bramasole Monday 15.8.2022 Committee of the Whole @ City of Fernie, 4pm Educational Cannabis Presentation @ Earth’s Own Naturals Wednesday 17.8.2022 Wednesday Socials: The Hilltops @ Station Square Thursdays 18.8.2022 Kids Advanced Freeride Mtn Bike Camp @ Fernie Alpine Resort Happy Hobbies Crafting for Adults: Crochet Basics @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3pm Maddisun @ Bramasole Friday 19.8.2022 AFRoS Fernie @ Eco Garden – Prentice Park Saturday 20.8.2022 Staja Lu Live @ Kodiak Lounge Sunday 21.8.2022 Sunday Skill Building: Pottery @ The Arts Station
Guided Hike: Berries and Edible Plants @ Fernie Alpine Resort Women Only Mountain Bike Social Ride @ Ride Theory Charles Benjamin Live @ The Pub Staja Lu @ Bramasole Monday 22.8.2022 Regular Council Meeting @ City of Fernie, 7pm Tuesday 23.8.2022 East Kootenay Ladies’ Team Challenge @ Fernie Golf Club Life Drawing @ The Arts Station Wednesday 24.8.2022 Wednesday Socials: Peach & Quiet @ Station Square Thursday 25.8.2022 Dumpster Project Week Begins @ The Arts Station 30 Printmakers @ The Arts Station TransRockies Gravel Royale Bike Race Finish @ Fernie Youth Advanced Freeride Mountain Bike Camp @ Fernie Alpine Resort Comedian Scott Porteous @ Kodiak Lounge Bella Cat Blues @ Bramasole Friday 26.8.2022 Van Redecopp Live @ Loaf Sunday 28.8.2022 Anita and Lizzie Live @ The Pub Herky Cutler @ Bramasole Monday 29.8.2022 Educational Cannabis Presentation @ Earth’s Own Naturals Wednesday 31.8.2022 Wednesday Socials: Raine Hamilton @ Station Square
WEEKLY EVENTS
Wednesdays Club All Play – Fernie Pickeleball @ Max Turyk Courts, 8:30-10:30am Seniors Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 11:15am Curbside Craft @ Fernie Heritage Library, Pickup is from 10am each Wednesday (ages 5-7) Toddlertime (Ages 0-2 years) @ Fernie Heritage Library Live Instagram and Facebook Fernie Youth Art Collective @ The Arts Station Trivia @ Fernie Hotel Pub All Night Happy Hour @ Bramasole Men’s League @ Fernie Golf Club Summer Reading Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, ages 7-10 Wild Wednesdays Scavenger Hunts @ Fernie Heritage Library, 11am Wednesday Socials @ Station Square Scott Downhill Race – Kids and Youth @ Fernie Alpine Resort Thursdays Seniors Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 11:15am Bellies to Babies @ Zoom, 2pm Club Baguette Junior French tutoring and activities 3pm @ Isabella Dickens library Club Baguette Adults learn and converse in French for adults 7pm @ Zoom Pub Team Trivia @ The Pub (subject to change) Open Mic Night @ Fernie Distillers, 7pm Trail Work Night @ Fernie Trails Alliance Seniors League @ Fernie Golf Club Art on the Deck @ The Arts Station Bless this Mess: An Active Storytime @ Fernie Heritage Library garden, ages 5-6
Summer Reading Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, ages 7-10 Scott Downhill Race – Adults and Masters @ Fernie Alpine Resort Run Club @ Stag Leap Bless This Mess: Active Storyime @ Fernie Heritage Library, 11am Fridays Club All Play – Fernie Pickeleball @ Max Turyk Courts, 8:30-10:30am Storytime (ages 0-5) @ Fernie Heritage Library Live Instagram and Facebook Fish and Chips @ The Pub Fish and Chips Take Away @ Fernie Hotel, 4pm Meat Draw @ The Fernie Club Cre8 @ The Arts Station Open Mic Night @ Fernie Distillers, 7pm Big Red Fridays @ Bramasole Live Music @ Loaf Happy & Appy Hour specials @ Kodiak Lounge Saturdays Meat Draw @ The Legion Supernatural Saturdays @ The Central Baynes Lake Market @ Baynes Lake, 9am – 12:30pm Heritage Walking Tours @ Fernie Museum, 11am, 1pm and 3pm Chicken Parmie Special @ The Pub Sundays Heritage Walking Tours @ Fernie Museum, 11am, 1pm and 3pm Summer Music Sessions @ The Pub Roast Dinner Special (includes Beer Pint or Glass of Wine) for $20 @ The Pub Mountain Market @ Rotary park, 10am – 2pm
Mondays Les Tiguidous French activities for toddlers (0-5yo) 10:30am @ the Cokato Park playground Club All Play – Fernie Pickeleball @ Max Turyk Courts, 8:30-10:30am Le Club Baguette Junior @ Rotary Park, outdoor activities and games in French ages 7-12, 3:30pm Club Cre8 @ The Arts Station Simon Says – Educational Cannabis Presentation @ Earth’s Own Naturals, 3pm Jam Night @ Kodiak Lounge, 9pm Pool Tourney Night @ The Pub Tuesdays Storytime (ages 3-5) @ Fernie Heritage Library Live Instagram and Facebook Seniors Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, 11:15am Fernie Options for Sexual Health Clinic Open @ Elk Valley Hospital, by appointment, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of month only Parent-tot Funtimes @ Facebook Page Burger and Beer Night @ The Northern Wing Night @ The Pub Inventors Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, ages 8-10 Ladies’ League @ Fernie Golf Club Pasta Tuesdays @ Bramasole Summer Reading Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, ages 7-10 Little Sprouts @ Eco Garden – Prentice Park, 9:30am Plein Air Pod @ The Arts Station, location changes weekly Karaoke @ Kodiak Lounge, 9pm
FERNIEFIX.COM
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New Price, Single Family Home 1072 6th Ave, Fernie Offered at $799,900 See MLS® 2465284 for 3D Tour
Lisa Grabas
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C: 250.531.0525
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Community
FEATURE RESIDENT
Barbara Bassett by KRISTA TURCASSO In high school, I was in band… no big surprise there. I played the flute and the piccolo and was often put on piano or percussion in Jazz Band. So, how excited was I to meet up with the head of the Fernie Secondary School’s Music Department, Barbara Bassett only to learn that she also is a flautist.. like a real one? Barbara is originally from Waterford, Ontario, a town about the same size as Fernie known for its tobacco farming. “I was always into music,” she tells me. “My mom played guitar and sang at church. When I was about eight or nine, I wanted to play the flute. My mom convinced me to start with the recorder, but nope. I wanted to play the flute.” Of course, I have to ask, where did you find someone who taught flute? “I was so lucky because Kim Shippey, who plays professionally and has recorded CDs, lived 20 minutes away and I was able to take private lessons from her,” Barbara says. By the time she got to high school, Barbara recognized that this was something that she wanted to do and became more serious about it. “I was in the high school band and the youth symphony and in Grade 12 I sent out applications and travelled to each university to audition. It is very competitive as there are hundreds of flute players. I attended Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo and was one of five flute players who got in.” When attending music school, the ultimate dream is to perform in an orchestra. “Being a member of a pit orchestra for musical theatre was my dream,” she shares with me. “An eye-opening thing happened when I auditioned at the University of Ontario. I mentioned this goal and one of the examiners said to me, ‘you can’t do that, it’s
my wife’s job.’ I realized then what a small number of people had these positions and changed focus in my program.” At first, Barbara dabbled in music therapy, but she knew music education was a good fit for her as had been told often that she was a great teacher. She took Techniques courses so she could teach all instruments, as well a New Technology as anticipated it being instrumental in the future. After graduating and travelling for a year in New Zealand, Barbara attended Teacher’s College at the University of Toronto. “My first job was overseas in England… teaching English! I learned the most about teaching in this job. It was excellent, but very hard work and I’m a better teacher because of it.”
Vince Mo Photo When she returned home, Barbara went into outdoor education as had extensive experience working at summer camps. By January she made the switch to music and it was that spring that Barbara saw an advertisement for a full-time position as a music teacher at Fernie Secondary School. Seven years later, Barbara is still here and happy to see the growth and development of the Music Department. Band starts in elementary school with every student in Grade 6 and 7 taking band and picking their own instrument. “It’s incredible to watch them go from zero to playing at least six notes by June, playing in a band and having their own parts. It’s different coming off of COVID - last year,
they could only do guitar and drums. We just brought it back this year and it’s been really lovely. I always tell the students, when you’re in a band, you can do something bigger and cooler than what you can do alone.” One of Barbara’s strategies is to invest in teaching the grade sevens as they become role models other kids want to be like. “We’re in the build-up phase again, there is so much talent and potential in this community,” she tells me. “It’s such a confidence builder with kids, and I’ve really noticed it teaching English as well. Some of the kids that won’t speak in class get their voice through their instrument. It’s a safe space where they are part of a team. They look out for and help one another. It’s really cool to see.” Many may not know that Barbara is also one of the members of the Hip Flexors, the local band that always gets everyone on their feet. “It’s a good challenge being in an events band – it’s the first band that I have been in that makes people want to dance. I am so grateful to work at the high school as it’s very rewarding, and it’s a bonus being part of the Hip Flexors and developing my own musicianship.” Musicianship indeed, Barbara is mainly on the piano with the Hip Flexors but also plays the saxophone, trumpet, flute and rhythm guitar while on stage. What’s next for this gal of all instruments? She is taking a year off teaching to travel. “It is hard to say goodbye but I’m very lucky to have something that’s hard to leave and will be excited to come back and start it up again!” Enjoy your travels, Barbara. Perhaps you might consider private lessons for a certain someone who has a flute gathering dust in her office… 1. When did you first arrive in the Elk Valley and what brought you here? 2015, and it was the job at Fernie Secondary that brought me here.
2. Who did you first meet? Dan Whillans and Katie Keast. 3. Do you remember your first general impression of the Elk Valley? Oh, that it was just beautiful and such an active community. 4. What keeps you here? The community connections, friends, and colleagues. During COVID, it really hit me how much we really care about one another. I don’t take it for granted. 5. Do you have a favourite pastime? I like my mountain biking and my crosscountry skiing. 6. What time of the year do you love most and why? It’s a tie between summer and fall. Summer I love the slower pace, but fall you’ve got the excitement. The colours, fresh start of a school year, all of the potential. 7. Where do you see or hope to see the Elk Valley in five years. I would like to see arts and music events continue to grow, and for classical events and the fall fair to make a comeback. 8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals? Morning yoga in my living room and a cup of coffee. 9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you.
“Without music, life would be a mistake.” Drift + Sonder’s first customer having her first Wapiti Music Festival experience!
I was a cheerleader for a couple of years in high school. 10. Quote to live by: All of us are better when we’re loved. Alistair MacLeod (No Great Mischief).
672 D 2nd Avenue 250-423-1132 7 days a week, 10am - 5pm driftandsonder.com @driftandsonder FERNIEFIX.COM
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This is the place
TO LEARN. Designed to keep you moving in fun and interesting ways.
BUSINESS, LIFESTYLE AND LEISURE z Restricted Firearms | September 10
z Kids Climbing Thursday | September 22
z Canadian Firearms Safety | September 17
z Cyber Security | September 23
z Spanish for Travellers | September 19
z Stir it Up Bartending | September 24
z Excel Level 1 | September 19
z Excel Level 2 | September 26
z Bookkeeping | September 20
z Essentrics | September 27
z Teen Climbing | September 20
z Let’s Roll | October 1
z Kids Climbing Wednesday | September 21
z Tea Blending | October 4
FIRST AID AND SAFETY z Haul Truck | September 6
z OFA Level 3 | September 19
z Confined Space | September 11
z Food Safety | September 20
z OFA Level 1 | September 12
z Rough Terrain Telehandler | September 23
z St John Standard First Aid | September 14
z Babysitter | September 24
z Transportation Endorsement | September 16
z Mental Health First Aid | September 24
z Airbrakes | September 17
z Basic Fall Protection | October 3
?
For more information on courses, please visit our website at cotr.bc.ca/ConEd or phone 250-423-4691
Community
AT THE GROUND LEVEL
Being Punk About Butts by SYLVIA AYERS, illustrated by SARAH PULLEN
Did you know?
Cigarette butts are the MOST discarded item world-wide. 4.5 TRILLION of us are thrown away every year! We are the number one most common piece of litter in the world.
We are a form of plastic, and made of fine cellulose acetate strands. We also have hundreds of toxic chemicals. Once you smoke a cigarette you start a chemical reaction. The micro plastic cellulose in the butt becomes brittle and, when you throw it on the ground, it leaches into the surrounding environment. The heavy metals and cancer-causing compounds (arsenic and lead are just a couple) also immediately absorb into the surrounding environment and are lethal to freshwater fish, insects, birds, mammals and plant life.
When you butt out make sure you dispose of us safely!
Carry a ‘pocket ashtray’ to collect the waste.
Make sure we are out completely and put us in the garbage where we will end up in the landfill… While this is not 100% ecofriendly it is better than tossing us out into the environment!
braingarden.ca / fctc.who.int/newsroom/news/item/01-02-2022-unep-secretariat-of-the-who-fctc-partnertocombat-microplastics-in-cigarettes
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Enlightening, educational, fascinating information. Well done! DIANNE FARLINGER - LISTENER
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Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
Community
MOUNTAIN TAILS
Welcome Home by VALERIE BARRY Have you just adopted a dog? Here are some recommendations to set your new dog up for success.
Let your dog decompress. Don’t be in a rush to invite all your friends over or to get your dog out to all your favourite spots. Dogs need to feel safe to be relaxed and happy. Give your dog time to get used to a new life and learn to live and relax in a new home. If you have a yard, then it’s easy to get your dog out to do their business while you stay close to home. Do this on leash at first, while you get to know your new companion. If your new dog is fearful and gets spooked, panicked dogs can scale almost any fence. If you don’t have a yard, find a quiet route for toileting that keeps contact with others to a minimum at first.
Make initial outings about exploring, not exercise. Don’t head out for long hikes or rides. Instead, take short journeys on leash to a variety of locations.
Welcome Home, Jack | Submitted Photo
“Dogs need to feel safe to be relaxed and happy.”
Don’t be in a rush to get your dog off leash. Any previous “come when called” skills will not necessarily translate to a new owner. Take your time and teach your own “Recall” until you are confident you can get your dog back reliably.
Come and go at normal times but in much shorter increments so you can assess your dog’s comfort at being left alone. If your dog needs to be confined, take the time it takes to train this at a comfortable pace for your dog.
Show them the ropes.
Put simple boundaries in place from the start. If you don’t want your dog on the furniture, make rules clear by simply preventing access. Don’t let your dog do whatever they want at first, then change the rules later – it’s confusing and unsettling.
Dogs find confidence in predictable patterns, so put something close to your usual routine in place right away so your dog can get used to what happens daily. Go out at frequent intervals for toileting and provide meals at regular times.
Incorporate lots of mentally enriching activities. Use treat-dispensing toys for feeding and daily entertainment so your dog has some easy but mentally challenging activities to enjoy while getting used to your home. If you have a yard, toss kibble around the yard to sniff out – it’s fun and enriching. These simple activities will help your new dog relax and expend some energy while at the same time build confidence. With some thoughtful planning, you can help your dog feel safe and begin building that positive partnership from day one. Enjoy your new dog! FERNIEFIX.COM
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Health and Lifestyle
WHERE THE SPARK BEGINS
Ruby Heckendorf and Griff Patterson by KRISTA TURCASSO This month features two hard-working youth who have become increasingly passionate about their individual sports while growing up in our community. Not surprisingly, the addition of the Fernie Volleyball Club and the evolution of both mountain bike and freestyle skiing in our community have been integral to their success, as well as having dedicated coaches and very supportive parents.
Ruby Heckendorf, 16 1. How did you get into this sport? I got into volleyball at a pretty young age when my dad started running morning sessions at the elementary school. Probably in grade 3-4. He always loved playing volleyball and we had played it for fun, but that was the first time actually playing the game. 2. What do you enjoy most about it? The thing I enjoy most about volleyball is probably how much of a team sport it is. You have to be quite close with your team to perform well. I love how I get to play with a lot of my friends and how close I got with everyone on my team. 3. What has it been like getting into the competitive realm? Getting into the competitive realm has been super exciting especially after being shut down for a few years because of COVID. It has been awesome to start competing again in big tournaments and getting to train, and I’m very excited to see how our team does in the next few years. 4. What events have you recently competed in, and what goals or events do you have coming up? I finished my club season in late May. We had an awesome season and we competed in tournaments in Calgary and Edmonton. Shortly after indoor finished, I started training and playing beach volleyball.
Ruby Heckendorf | Submitted Photo My partner and I competed in a few tournaments around the valley and in Penticton. We also qualified for the BC Summer Games so we have been training for that. A goal I have for myself is to continue to work on my vertical jump and become strong and more powerful on the court. Another goal is to potentially play postsecondary volleyball for beach or indoor. I am very excited to see where volleyball takes me!
Griff Patterson, 15 1. How did you get into this sport? I started skiing when I was little with my parents. I was always in programs as a kid but really wanted to learn how to jump so joined the Fernie Freestyle Ski Team program when I was 10. 2. What do you enjoy most about it? I enjoy learning new tricks, skiing on powder days and having fun with my friends.
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Griff Patterson | Connor Clayton Photo 3. What has it been like getting into the competitive realm? I really just got into competing last season as COVID made it complex and was the reason competitions were cancelled. I also like travelling to other ski resorts, meeting other athletes and making friends.
562A 2nd Ave Fernie, BC
4. What events have you recently competed in, and what goals or events do you have coming up? This past year I went to all the Timber Tour Events in BC and was able to go to Jr Nationals for Park and Pipe at COP in Calgary. I am hoping to get to a few Timber Tour and Canada Cup events this year and qualify to go back to Juniors again. For goals, I hope to keep having fun and maybe get into ski films in the future.
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Health and Lifestyle
COLD-CLIMATE GARDENING
Raised Beds and Hugelkulturs by ASHLEY LORTSCHER Why hello there, mountain gardeners! This month I’m exploring garden beds and how they can help your garden thrive in our ever-changing valley climate. Both backyard gardeners and market enthusiasts love raised beds. There are a few advantages and disadvantages you may want to know about before creating your next veggie patch.
Hugel bed after one month
Awesome things about raised beds: • They are an easy way to create new gardens in small spaces and can be a creative outlet in developing your own oasis. • Raised beds can provide improved drainage if you struggle with clay-heavy soil. • They can extend your growing season by reducing the risk of frost.
Hugel bed after two years
• A copper strip on the bed rim can help reduce slugs.
Images: Paul Wheaton and Richsoil.com
• Tall raised beds with a metal mesh bottom liner can help protect your veggies from being munched by gophers. • Raised beds are a great way to create areas of low soil disturbance. This helps to protect the subsoil environment and create habitat for a host of beneficial insect species. The not so great aspects: • Creating raised beds can be expensive! Buying soil and material can make for a pricy veggie patch. I like to create my raised beds using upcycled cut offs from the local mills. I also keep a large compost and leaf pile prepped the season before, so I have materials on hand to fill the beds with.
“For those of you unfamiliar with a hugelkultur, they are large garden ‘mounds’ that are created by burying woody materials.” • Raised beds have a lot more surface area in contact with the air and therefore dry out much quicker. Mulch and row cover can help mediate this problem, but they still require more watering.
• Be mindful of what you make your beds from. I love seeing raised beds made from recycled materials! However, some materials may leach unwanted chemicals into the soil.You are what you eat! Hugelkulturs have become an obsession of mine. For those of you unfamiliar with a hugelkultur, they are large garden ‘mounds’ that are created by burying woody materials. Some beds are made by digging down to bury the wood, so the beds themselves are then level; but I prefer the larger mounds that are up to 7’ tall.
Hugelkultur mounds can take a few years to develop, but the main idea is that the buried wood creates a rich soil environment that requires little to no irrigation, a source of nutrients from the decaying wood and plant materials, and lots of habitat for beneficial insects and microbes. Another advantage is that hugelkulturs create multitudes of different microclimates: cool and warm, windy and calm, full sun to fully shaded, moist and dryer spots. They can even be shaped to create “sun pits” to create a space for heat loving plants, such as fruit trees. These beds can create excellent homes for a diverse selection of both annual and perennial crops and are ideal for food forests! Here is a great article covering all the amazing ways a hugel bed can benefit your cold climate food production: richsoil.com/ hugelkultur/
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Crowsnest Pass Real Estate
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Health and Lifestyle
SLOW TRAVEL
Finding Small Live Music Venues Around the World by PATRICK ROBERTSON Giving life back to music means attending live music events again after the two years that live music was closed down by the pandemic. There is such a vast range of live music venues that it is mind boggling. As a budget slow traveller, I have no problem finding free and almost free music events around the world from the many offerings. I prefer smaller live music venues. Growing up with several Canadian champion fiddlers in our family, there were frequent jam sessions at our home. Singing and dancing was part of my childhood. Now, I sing at senior facilities bringing the joy of music to our senior citizens. I have been fortunate enough to attend dozens of small music events in a variety of places around the world. On our last trip to Oahu, we went to a classical guitar concert by the first Hawaiian native to receive his Doctorate of Music from Yale. He played his own compositions at the local library. It was free and we found the ad in the local paper. World class Irish musicians with the top ranked male dancer in the world in a room for 20 in Dingle, Ireland for $20. A string quartet moving through different halls after hours in the Doge’s Palace in Venice for $40. Puccini’s Operas in the Church of San Giovanni where he played organ in Lucca, Italy for $35. Free modern classical performances for three days in Nice, France. Free symphony in Singapore. In each place, we just happened to be visiting there. Nightly Barong dance performances with a full Balinese gamelan orchestra for an audience of 50 at the Ubud Palace for $8.50.You can sit right next to the musicians. Magical. The blind handicap
Lincoln Center Stage | Submitted Photo
“Music is the soul of a culture and there are so many ways it can be manifested.” singers in Chiang Mai, Thailand with amazing voices singing for a donation. The Barcelona symphony playing on the cathedral steps, Fado music in Lisbon, Swedish folk musicians playing in the main square in Stockholm or the Wednesday Social in Fernie, all for free. I have gone to the New York Philharmonic full dress rehearsal at the Lincoln Center
for $15 with only a few dozen other people. The next day I’d go to a full piano recital at Carnegie Hall for $10 with a dozen or so in the audience. They are phenomenal. We love visiting Austin, Las Vegas, Nashville and the Florida Keys for the dozens of small live music venues all for the price of a drink. From Country to Big Band, hundreds of talented musicians and singers bringing joy to their audiences. We have no problem spending a week or two at any of these great live music cities. Slow Travel continued on next page FERNIEFIX.COM
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Slow Travel continued We just spent a week on an Alaskan cruise ship with three small live music venues. The Rolling Stone Lounge Singers gave us great showmanship and energy with music from the 70s to today. The Lincoln Center Stage piano quartet played three performances a day from a variety of classical and modern-day composers, and the Billboard piano lounge played music that made the Billboard list. There is no shortage of small live music venues anywhere you go. Music is the soul of a culture and there are so many ways it can be manifested. I like small live events because they are up close and personal; especially when you are watching and interacting with the musicians. I find that you can lose yourself in the music much easier and sometimes it feels that you are an audience of one as the music envelopes you as you give energy back to the music and bring it back to life.
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Health and Lifestyle
THIS IS LIFE
Vocalizing the Critic by TYLA CHARBONNEAU In this column I often write about the critical voice in our minds that can convince us to believe negative thoughts about ourselves. Sometimes this happens without us even realizing it and it can impact our mood and our behaviours.
we often see how unrealistic or downright silly they are. I am not sure why this is but inside our minds everything is more believable. I have a few great friends that I practice this with. At times we laugh at the ridiculousness of the thought. Sometimes we acknowledge the feelings and what it is like to have that thought with compassion and provide reassurance. This can also be done on your own through writing the thoughts out. Remember this can always be destroyed after. Just saying them out loud can empower you to question what you are hearing about yourself thus depowering the pervasiveness of the thought, decreasing the negative influence in your life.
You are so unattractive. No one likes you. You are such an idiot; I cannot believe you just did that. You are going to be alone forever. Any of these, or versions of these, sound familiar? The trouble with critics is that when left unattended and unacknowledged they tend to wreak havoc in our minds, often without us even realizing it. We follow their lies without question and start to believe that what they say is true. In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) this is called fusion, when we come to believe that we are our thoughts. The aim in this therapy is defusion, a concept in which we remember that thoughts are just thoughts, that we are not our thoughts, and that we can take a step back and observe our thoughts. When we practice defusion the outcome is a more peaceful mind, a better sense of self, and improved overall well-being. There are several ways to unattach yourself from the critic. In ACT there is a strategy called Thanking the Mind. This is where you observe the thoughts and when you notice an unhealthy thought you simply say, “Thank you, mind.” and let the thought pass. It sounds quite simple, and it is. Once we notice the thought, we can separate ourselves from it, instead of being enmeshed in it. It would be nice if we could simply stop these thoughts from
V. Croome Photo
“We cannot stop thoughts, but we can change our relationship with them... thank you, mind but I am not following you down that rabbit hole today” happening, but that is not really possible. For example, if I say, “Twinkle, Twinkle” you have likely finished that sentence without me even asking. We cannot stop thoughts, but we can change our relationship with them. Thanking the mind is one way to do this - thank you, mind but I am not following you down that rabbit hole today.
One final way, which may work great if you are musical or have kids is to say the thought out loud in a funny voice or to sing it. This ACT strategy can make you giggle while you see how unhelpful the thought is in your life. Whether you voice it, write it down, sing it, or give it a character voice, finding the strategy that works best for you to defuse from the thoughts that guide your behaviours is an excellent way to practice reframing the thoughts that guide you in your life to more neutral or positive ways of seeing yourself in the world. The content provided in this article is for information purposes only. It is not meant as a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you find yourself in distress, please reach out to your local physician who can provide mental health resources in your community.
Another tactic is to voice the thoughts with people that you trust or out loud on your own. Once we vocalize the thoughts, FERNIEFIX.COM
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Bits and Bytes
THE ANSWER GUY
Backup CDs by KEVIN MCISAAC Don’t throw out your CDs yet. If you, like me, have mostly made the switch over to online music, you may be thinking your days of keeping actual media around are over. However, one thing you may or may not be aware of is that often online music is tied to a subscription or account. End the subscription or account and you may no longer have access to the music. So, before switching over you probably amassed a sizable CD collection that is now collecting dust. Maybe you’re still buying CDs from artists you see at music festivals. (Which by the way pays them better than from any streaming service.) Wouldn’t you love to have that CD on your phone to listen to whenever you want without incurring data costs and without worrying about subscriptions? Some preamble: I am not a lawyer. I cannot give legal advice. It is my understanding that under Canadian law Bill C-32 and Section 80 of the Copyright Act, making private copies and “format shifting” of musical works that you legally own is allowed. I could be wrong. This is Mrs. Answer Guy’s default position. If in doubt contact a lawyer. With that out of the way, here’s what you’re going to need to put those old CDs on your phone for your next road trip. You’ll need iTunes on your computer. You can download iTunes for Windows from support.apple.com/en-us/HT210384 First, let’s set your preferences. Open iTunes -> Edit -> Preferences -> General. Then next to ‘When you insert a CD:’ select ‘Ask to Import CD’ and in Import Settings choose Apple Lossless Encoder. Make sure ‘Use error correction when reading Audio CDs’ is checked. OK. Now
by about half and the quality is still high enough that unless you’re an actual music producer you probably won’t hear any difference. When you plug your phone in it should appear in iTunes. At the top left, there’s a small icon that looks like a phone. Select that and a page should show the settings for your phone. Choose Summary. At the bottom of the Summary page, you’ll see a setting ‘Convert higher bit rate songs to’ with a drop-down dialogue box. Check the box and choose 256kbps.
Stock Photo
“...often online music is tied to a subscription or account. End the subscription or account and you may no longer have access to the music.” check that ‘Automatically retrieve CD track names from Internet’ is checked. I advocate using Apple Lossless Encoder. It makes a near-perfect copy of each track. It does, however, take up a lot of space. Most radio-length songs will run around 12 – 18 MB per song. If you’re planning on storing a lot of CDs on your phone you may not need or want to have the full lossless file on your phone. In exchange for reducing quality slightly in favour of saving space, you may choose a lower quality setting for the actual copy on your phone. I think 256kpbs is a good setting. It reduces file size from lossless
Now choose Music under Settings on the left. Check the Sync Music box on the page. Now you can just leave Entire Music Library checked and then whenever you rip a CD it will be added to your phone on the next sync. Or choose ‘Select playlists, artists, albums, and genres’ and then select which ones you want.Your choice. Now you’re ready.You shouldn’t have to change any of those settings again. Insert a CD.You should see a dialogue box pop-up asking if you’d like to import the CD. The CD Name and track names should be displayed behind the dialogue box. Say Yes to import. Ripping a CD takes time. A lot of time. It runs fine in the background, so stack up the CDs you want to copy and through one in whenever you think about it and eventually, you’ll have them all. Just for fun, want to see if you can tell the difference between various levels of encoding? Try NPR’s “Do you have the ears of an audio producer” quiz - tinyurl. com/3zr2e7fc. FERNIEFIX.COM
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Bits and Bytes
ASTROLOGY
August 2022 by ASHLEY KRISTINA August begins with the Sun and Mercury in Leo,Venus in Cancer and a conjunction of Mars, and Uranus and the north node of the moon at 18º Taurus. Major shifts may occur at the beginning of the month but trust the process. The north node of the moon pulls us towards our destiny and Mars, the planet that moves us. Uranus is electric and surprising so it might feel like a big and unexpected jump.
Aries
We are in yet another time with a number of planets and asteroids in retrograde including Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, and Uranus going retrograde August 24. Pholus,Vesta, Nessus, Juno and Chiron are also retrograde. Patience is the superpower to tune into. We are going through planetary patterns that have not been seen since biblical times. It’s amazing to watch, impossible to predict but we know it’s a time of change.
Gemini
August 11 brings the full moon at 8pm with the Sun in Leo across the zodiac from the moon in Aquarius (19º). The moon is also conjunct retrograde Saturn so there may be feelings of emotional restriction but it’s otherwise a joyous and rewarding time. Venus enters Leo this same day and it’s a good day to celebrate. Mars enters Gemini on 08/20 making life more social. The Sun enters Virgo on 08/22 this year and a new moon at 4º Virgo occurs 08/27 at 0300 while at the same time Venus opposes Saturn retrograde and Mercury opposes Neptune retrograde with a Yod between Pluto retrograde, Mars and Mercury. To say the least, the drama continues.
Mars, your ruling planet will go retrograde at the beginning of September so it’s an important month to get things done.
Taurus It’s a month of surprising shifts in your life and it is refreshing. Trust the process. By mid-month your spirit feels quenched. Mercury, your ruling planet will go retrograde (again! 3-4 times per year) September 9. This is a great month to speak from your heart, write poetry, sing songs. Messages of love.
Cancer It’s a bright and beautiful time for you. Follow your heart towards your nourishment and deeply trust your instincts. Lots of change can happen at this time in your life and it is toward your best place.
Leo Happy birthday Leos. Many planets are in retrograde and soon more will be retrograde so be prepared for some possible stagnation or inwardness, and even some karma to come up.
Virgo Birthday blessings to the early Virgos. This is one of the best months of the year to enjoy your time with your family and loved ones. As the sun moves into your sign, you’ll be motivated for fall clean up.
advantage of doing what you want and need to do.
Scorpio A month of openness, clarity and solar energy. Clarity in direction will occur this month and motivation is supplied via the planets in Leo. Attention to the tenth house is required, this includes work, father, traditions and it’s also a month of a lot of fun.
Sagittarius A month to broaden your horizons and explore. This can include travel, people, foods and cultures. Expression of self is a refreshing way to feel alive and the Leo sun makes you shine.
Capricorn It’s both a refreshing month to relax and enjoy, and also a powerful month on the work-front. Unexpected shifts may occur.
Aquarius All the Leo energy is energizing and August is typically one of the best months of the year for Aquarians. The planets are supporting you on your endeavours so go do what you have wanted to do.
Pisces It’s a month of sharing and learning to be extra vulnerable.Your expression and creativity are enhanced this month and brings opportunities for financial gains. An important time to also focus on your health.
Libra Mercury,Venus and Mars will be going retrograde throughout September - March 2023 so it’s an important month to take FERNIEFIX.COM
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Bits and Bytes
THROUGH THE LENS
Bring Life Back to Music, Through Your Lens Vince Mo Photo 2022 is panning out to be a great year for the local skateboarding community with plans set in motion to redevelop the aging skate park. Fernie celebrated Go Skateboarding Day in style this year with free live music from Electric Blanket Band Club performing right in the middle of the action in the quarter pipe.
Vanessa Croome Photo What I love and appreciate about live music, in particular music festivals is the connection between the artist and audience. It is nuanced, intimate and often emotional. Personal anecdotes are told allowing the listener a glimpse into the artist’s life or the meaning behind a song. Recently at the Winnipeg Folk Festival we had the opportunity to listen and learn from Piqsiq, an Inuit-style throat singing duo from Northwest Territories. Sitting on the grass in front of the stage we fully immersered ourselves into their performance as they used contemporary technology and improvised sounds to create beautiful and haunting soundscapes.
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Bits and Bytes
SOCIAL PAGE Health. Beauty. Happiness. Confidence.
Out in the Community:
How do you think music and cultural events have impacted and continue to impact our community? Ange Magliocco
James Kingdon
Music and cultural events are about sharing knowledge and expressing ideas and emotions through art. They can therefore expand our consciousness and teach us respect and tolerance which helps communities to learn and grow. Music especially brings people together and encourages expression through song and dance and gives us the ability to just let go of our stress which is something that we desperately need after 2+ years of COVID. Community only has meaning if we have a collective sense of purpose and direction. Music and cultural events allow us to shape that identity and to make everyone feel welcome. Take away these celebrations and you take away a community’s soul.
For me, music has always been about bringing people together. Ever since moving here, I’ve been blown away by the sheer amount of talent that Fernie’s musicians and artists are capable of. That’s no accidentthere’s a lot of people that work really hard to make sure we get to see that talent. It’s been a tough, divisive few years, but there’s one thing that brings us all together without a backward glance - music.
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Brad Snell Music impacts our community in a huge way and was by far one of the things I missed most during the “COVID Times.” For a small and fairly remote town, we are blessed to have an amazing community that attracts and supports live music. Whether it’s backyard fire pits, local jam nights, Wednesday Socials, Wapiti, or artists playing at almost every other establishment in town, it’s pretty easy to find music coming from somewhere. Fortunately for us, these places are also occupied by our amazing local talent that just seems to keep growing and diversifying. Now, if someone would just let me front their band, things could be great!
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS www.drashleyromanchuk.com
FYI
Stock Photo
BC Wildfire Service continues to update throughout the summer on fire bans and conditions. On June 30, larger Category 3 open fires were prohibited in the Southeast Fire Centres and on July 15, Category 2 open fires and activities were prohibited. This prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. These efforts are to help prevent humancaused wildfires and protect public safety. Stay up to date by following @BCForestFireInfo on social media, or by visiting bcwildfire.ca.
Mt Baldy at Island Lake Lodge / Facebook Photo
Island Lake Lodge’s summer season looks a little different this year, due to limited staff and many private functions on the calendar. The road is open to the public Sundays and Mondays all August, as well as Saturdays on long weekends, and on these days the Bear Bistro (11am5pm – walk in and waitlist only) and Spa (9am – 6pm by reservation) are open to the public. Their trail system is always open to public, but from the lower main lot on days the road is not available. Visit islandlakelodge.com/calendar prior to planning your trip and make sure to enjoy this magical setting during these beautiful months of the year.
The Sheepdogs / Facebook Photo
August is teeming with music! The Wednesday Socials are in full force and the lineup is fantastic this year. Kick off the month with rock alternative band, Ten02 on Wednesday August 3, followed by some bluegrass with the Lonesome Ace Stringband August 10, The Hillties (Funk/Reggae/HipHop) August 17, Peach and Quiet August 24 (an indie folk duo) and finish off the season with Raine Hamilton, August 31 - a string trio playing chamber-folk. theartsstation.com Of course, August is also the month we celebrate Wapiti! August 5-6, enjoy this popular indie musical festival ‘in a park by a river at the foot of a mountain’ providing one of the most beautiful settings to enjoy music. And the lineup this year is sick! The Sheepdogs, Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer, Shred Kelly, My Son the Hurricane… we could go on, but just do yourself a favour and find a ticket if you don’t have one already. wapitimusicfestival.com
The TransRockies Race Series is back in Fernie this August with the inaugural Gravel Royale fourday gravel race consisting of roughly 400km and 7500 metres of climbing. Starting in Panorama, Transrockies Gravel Royale / Facebook BC this event utilizes Photo stunning backroads taking participants to some of the most beautiful locations and cutest small towns in BC including Nipika, the Cross River, Palliser River, Kootenay River, Canal Flats, the Bull River and finishing in FERNIE on August 25. transrockiesgravelroyale.com FERNIEFIX.COM
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Fernie Fun
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Spot the Difference
FIND THE
Can you find five differences between these two pictures? Have a picture to submit for Fernie Fun? Send it to info@clarismedia.com.
Somewhere in this issue is a little music note. Can you find it?
Name These Instruments
Answers Last Month
Here are close-ups pictures of some instruments, can you name them?
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