Fernie Fix July 2022 by Claris Media

JULY 2022 | ISSUE 187

THE

In the Mix

ISSUE

IN THIS ISSUE: Feature Artist Nick Nault on how he got started in photography and videography, Feature Resident James Takenaka and how he found his way to Fernie, Michael Hepher discusses mixing up his style, Sadie Rosgen gives us a poetry challenge in her column this month, and the Fix mixes things up this summer with new columns - Everyone Eats, Mountain Tails and Where the Spark Begins! FERNIEFIX.COM

NEW HOBBY? NEW GARAGE NEEDED?

JULY 2022 | ISSUE 187 EDITOR’S FIX p7 BUSINESS IN THE VALLEY p9 Business News What is a Chamber of Commerce? by Brad Parsell

THE

In the Mix

ISSUE

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT p18 Feature Artist - Nick Nault Everyone Eats – Never Enough Thyme by Claire Smallwood ArtBeat – The Old, Good Stuff by Michael Hepher At Peace and Yet on Fire – Poetic Scavenger Hunt by Sadie Rosgen Rental Fix – The Batman by Andrew Vallance

EVENTS CALENDAR p29 COMMUNITY p30 Feature Resident – James Takenaka City Corner – Grants, Why Bother? by Ange Qualizza At the Ground Level – Creek-o-systems by Sylvia Ayers, illustrated by Sarah Pullen Mountain Tails – Reactive Dogs by Valerie Barry

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE p38 Where the Spark Begins – Maddox Johnson and Layla Rella by Krista Turcasso Cold-Climate Gardening – Greenhouses vs. Row Cover vs. Innovative Garden Design by Ashley Lortscher Slow Travel – Within a Four-Hour Drive by Patrick Robertson This is Life – The Fear of Joy by Tyla Charbonneau

BITS AND BYTES p47 The Answer Guy – Browser Extensions by Kevin McIsaac Astrology – July 2022 by Ashley Kristina Through the Lens – In the Mix Issue Photo Gallery The Social Page

FERNIE FUN p54 The Last Page

COVER: Golden Hour Photo by Danyal Taylor, @danyaltaylor THIS PAGE: The aqua-marine flow of the Bull River. Photo by Leanne Nanninga, @born.to.adventure FERNIEFIX.COM

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Editor’s Fix

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. ANGE QUALIZZA is a nutty economist who has a passion for policy, governance and everything to do with municipal government! Let’s lift up the carpet and take a closer look inside City Hall. 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. CLAIRE SMALLWOOD is an avid skier, mediocre snowboarder, former personal chef, and newlyminted hockey fan. When Claire’s not on the slopes or whipping up red chile sauce, you can find her at the helm of SheJumps, the non-profit she co-founded in 2007 with a mission to transform the lives of women and girls through outdoor experiences. 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 is a grade 12 student at Fernie Secondary with a passion for all things creative. She looks forward to pursuing some form of artistic studies post-secondary.

By Krista Turcasso, Editor Guys, it’s July and that means that it’s really summer! And it’s going to be sunny and warm, right? Because, let me tell you… this spring felt long and cold and I am 100% ready to immerse myself in all things summer in Fernie. Spending most of the day outside, riding and hiking trails, swimming in lakes and rivers, BBQing with friends, cruising into town on a townie, attending a concert series or hitting up a patio. It’s a time of less. Less alarm clocks and packing of lunches and dropping off and picking up and… and… and! It’s a time of let’s see what today holds, and opportunity for our kids to be curious, to explore with the neighbourhood kids and make lemonade stands and build forts and put sprinklers under trampolines. To truly be in the mix! Are you with me? It’s summer, and I encourage you to take it all in. Get in there and feel alive. Fall back in love with this magical town, feel the embrace of the beautiful mountains surrounding it, and connect with the people and community at its very heart.

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

FERNIE FIX | FERNIEFIX.COM Published monthly by Claris Media. To advertise and for general inquiries: info@clarismedia.com Box 1124, 361A 1st Ave. Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 p: 250-423-4062 | clarismedia.com Editor | Krista Turcasso Creative Director | Vanessa Croome All content copyright Claris Media. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.

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

FERNIEFIX.COM

Mt Proc to

Three S isters

Explore Fernie’s self-guided tours Mt Hos with the new mobile app! mer

Where Your Sense of Curiosity and Adventure Are Rewarded! Download the FREE Iconic Fernie App. Choose to collect points for free and redeem points for local rewards.

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Business in the Valley

BUSINESS NEWS

Submitted Photo

Fernie Pride Society

Lisa Grabas

ferniepride.ca

362b 2nd Ave 250-423-2121

Fernie Pride has a new project in the works, by and for the amazing queer Kootenay youth (ages 12-19) out there. OUTBURST is a zine to show and tell what life is like for you - a rural Kootenay queer youth.

Lisa is a familiar face in Fernie, with strong family roots throughout the Elk Valley, and a proud hockey Mom. Born and raised in Fernie, Lisa and her husband, Michael, have raised their two sons calling Fernie home for over 40 years.

Fernie Pride wants to save space for you through your creativity, your opinions, your thoughts. They are looking for submissions of artwork, crafts, poetry, writing, collages, photography, and anything else that you want to submit.

Lisa found her passion in real estate while working at a local office as an administrator and is excited to take the next step as a licensed REALTOR®! Her personal experience with owning rental property and building multiple custom homes has provided her with valuable insight she uses to better assist clients. Lisa’s connections with the community and her knowledge of Fernie and its surrounding areas, as a lifetime local, are invaluable.

Submissions or questions can be emailed to info@ferniepride.ca. Please indicate if you would prefer to not have your name printed and they will ensure that your submission is anonymous. Fernie Pride hopes to include as many submissions as possible, but cannot guarantee that every piece will be printed. If submitting multiple pieces, please email them separately to avoid confusion. Submission deadline is August 1. OUTBURST will be published both digitally and in hard copy in September.

Lisa is ready to assist you with your next purchase or sale! Email Lisa at lisa@c21fernie.ca or give her a call at 250-531-0525.

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New Spring Counselling and Wellness 5738 Robinson Rd 250-423-9672 New Spring Counselling and Wellness is about discovering tools that will help you to heal and develop better relationships with yourself and others. This can be accomplished through letting go of obstacles such as anxiety or discovering ways to be in relationships that are healthy and align with the life that you envision for yourself. The first step in any growth is selfawareness, and your sessions with licensed counsellor Francesca ter Poorten will guide you in understanding how you process daily events that may be significant in life or may only seem to be significant due to your outlook. Other topics that she can work through with you (but are not limited to) include self-esteem issues, binge eating, anxiety, sexuality, intimacy, anger management, life transitions, addiction, couples counselling. Francesca is here to help you through the process of moving from cocoon to the most spectacular butterfly this world has ever seen. newspringcounsellingandwellness.ca FERNIEFIX.COM

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Business in the Valley

BUSINESS NEWS

Explore our ever growing BC Wine Selection

Submitted Photo

Cheers to another epic summer in Fernie!

Segment MTB

Ski Base

Segment MTB is owned and operated in Fernie, BC. Its main focus is private, intermediate and advanced rider skill development. Many coaching companies in the valley focus on beginner to intermediate, however, owner Nick Quinn saw a big gap in programming for intermediates and advanced riders.

432 2nd Ave skibase.com

If you are interested in advancing your skills, call or book a meeting to discuss what you aim to improve upon and how he can help you achieve your goals. Nick is a 20-year professional racer of DH and Enduro format events. PMBIA - Level 2 Air - Certified to teach Jumps / Drops. Soon to complete Level 3. WFA40 - Wilderness First Aid certified to help with when things maybe don’t go to plan. NCCP Certification in Mountain Biking.

parkplacelodge.com 742 Hwy #3 | 250-423-6871

Check out SEGMENTMTB on Instagram or book a time through Calendly at calendly.com/nrquinn.

Ski Base – Fernie’s original sporting goods store, has grandly reopened its doors with new owners Jeff and Jane Johnson. Started in 1968 by Heiko and Linda Socher and carried forward by the Simpson family, Ski Base has been a pillar in the community for 50+ years. Always up for an adventure, the Johnsons jumped on the opportunity to purchase the shop and feel incredibly honoured to carry on with its history. They look forward to serving you, with a focus on friends, family, fun and community spirit. For summer, Ski Base will gear you up, with a focus on Downhill, Enduro, Freeride and Dirt Jump bikes, service, and protective gear for the whole family. In fall, they will shift their focus back to skiing and winter gear. Ski Base is open daily, 9am to 7pm for your bike sales and service needs. Pop in to say hi or peek at their newly renovated space.

FERNIEFIX.COM

A NEW podcast hosted by Kootenay Mountain Culture Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Mitchell Scott, and brought to you by Columbia Basin Trust, is out now! Listen at headwaterspodcast.com.

Business in the Valley

BUSINESS NEWS

Mckenzie Jespersen Photo

“SMALL ACTS, WHEN MULTIPLIED BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, CAN CHANGE THE WORLD” Together we can make lasting change, one small step at a time.

Tannis Johannson

Valkyrie Fitness

362b 2nd Ave 250-423-2121

1502 9th Ave

CENTURY 21 Mountain Lifestyles is pleased to welcome Tannis Johannson to its team. Tannis was born into an entrepreneurial family, customer service and people skills are in her DNA. Buying, selling, or investing in a property is a major decision; Tannis is here to help make that transaction as easy as possible.You can expect exceptional customer service and a reliable advisor when you work with Tannis.

Are you ready to commit to your fitness?

When Tannis is not at the office, you can find her bingeing a Netflix series with her husband, shuttling her three kids to extracurricular activities, at the gym, or having a visit and margarita with friends and family. If you’re looking to make Fernie your home, vacation spot or simply moving within, Tannis would love to help you.You can reach her at tannis@c21fernie.ca or give her a call at 236-593-2882.

672 D 2nd Avenue 250-423-1132 7 days a week, 10am - 5pm driftandsonder.com @driftandsonder

Submitted Photo

With an emphasis on foundational exercises and solid technique,Valkyrie Fitness promotes lifelong movement learning. Build a solid strength and mobility routine in the gym to ensure no matter what your ideal Fernie active lifestyle is, you’ll be able to move with confidence throughout it. Currently operating out of Body Garage Fitness,Valkyrie Fitness offers initial fitness assessments or personal training packages, which can include goal setting, movement analysis, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular testing. Each workout is overseen by Sarah-Beth, a certified personal trainer (CSEP-CPT) and kinesiologist (Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Calgary) who has over eight years of experience in the health and fitness industry. Sarah-Beth specializes in athletes, post-rehabilitation, and anyone looking to gain confidence in the gym. To book a fitness assessment email valkyriepersonaltrainer@gmail.com or call Body Garage at 778-745-3105 and request an appointment with Sarah-Beth today. FERNIEFIX.COM

Our Team Continues to Grow!

Lisa Grabas

Mariah Runions

Tannis Johannson

C: 250.531.0525

C: 250.430.7732

C: 236.593.2882

mariah@c21fernie.ca

tannis@c21fernie.ca

REALTOR®

lisa@c21fernie.ca

REALTOR®

PO Box 989 | 362B 2nd Avenue, Fernie, BC VOB 1M0 | 250.423.2121

REALTOR®

Luxurious Mountain Estate 3988 McGivern Rd, Fernie Offered at $2,399,000 See MLS® 2465773 for 3D Tour

Deborah Johnson

Marilyn Brock

Lauren Gervais

C: 250.278.6867 (MTNS)

C: 250.423.8650

C: 250.946.6758

marilyn@c21fernie.ca

lauren@c21fernie.ca

REALTOR®

deborah@c21fernie.ca

Owner/Managing Broker/REALTOR®

PO Box 989 | 362B 2nd Avenue, Fernie, BC VOB 1M0 | 250.423.2121

PREC*

REALTOR®

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Business in the Valley

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

What is a Chamber of Commerce? by BRAD PARSELL I am writing my column from Prince George where Chambers of Commerce from across British Columbia are gathered in-person for the first time in three years for the BC Chamber AGM and Conference. It has been an awesome week – packed with amazing presentations from government officials, business analysts, and industry leaders. And of course, being in the mix and networking with people who do my role around the province is worth the price of admission alone. There has been a lot of valuable information that I can’t wait to bring back to Fernie and put in action in our local Chamber. A little while ago I wrote in this column about how the Fernie Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 120 years since its incorporation in 1902, and the BC Chamber of Commerce is also celebrating a milestone anniversary this year having served the province for 70 years. But despite this long history, I still get asked this question a lot (especially by younger people): What the heck is a Chamber of Commerce? According to the brains trust over at Wikipedia, the first Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1599 in Marseille, France, as the “Chambre de Commerce.” Interestingly, the world’s oldest English-speaking Chamber of Commerce and the oldest in North America is the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1750. Chambers of Commerce (including the one in Fernie) are independent organizations that are separate from government. As a non-governmental institution, a Chamber of Commerce has no direct role in the writing and passage of laws and regulations that affect businesses. It can, however, lobby

“There were some excellent policy recommendations adopted this week. Most notable for Fernie is new policies on the books regarding workforce housing and labour shortages – issues that are critically important to Fernie businesses. ”

Submitted Photo

(or advocate) in an attempt to get laws passed that are favourable to businesses.

Each year, all the local Chambers around the province convene at the BC Chamber AGM and Convention where time is set aside to go through each of the proposed policies. These policies are debated and sometimes amended, before being put to a vote. If two-thirds or more of the voting body of the BC Chamber vote in favour of a resolution, it is formally adopted and becomes an official policy position of the BC Chamber of Commerce and its member Chambers.

This advocacy function has been on full display here in Prince George this week. The process of arriving at policy positions to put forward to government starts at the grassroots level. Local community Chambers (like ours) can draft policy resolutions based on input from member businesses, to be directed at either the provincial or federal government – depending on the issue and jurisdiction.

There were some excellent policy recommendations adopted this week. Most notable for Fernie is new policies on the books regarding workforce housing and labour shortages – issues that are critically important to Fernie businesses. The Fernie Chamber looks forward to lending our voice to the mix to advance these important provincial and federal advocacy efforts over the next year. FERNIEFIX.COM

Arts and Entertainment

FEATURE ARTIST

Nick NAULT I never planned on becoming a photographer and videographer. It wasn’t something I dreamed of doing, or decided I wanted to work towards. It started off as a pastime taking photos of friends skiing and mountain biking and gradually evolved into a full-time career. I guess when you love doing something enough, it just kind of finds a way of working out seamlessly. Growing up, the only part of videography that I was passionate about was watching ski and bike videos. I had dreamed about being involved in a ski video, but in front of the camera, not behind it. My passion didn’t really start until my mid-twenties. I bought a camera and enjoyed taking random scenic photos. I quickly realized

how fun it was to capture the moments of my life and experiment with angles, framing and other basic photography techniques. It wasn’t long before I bought my first DSLR camera and dove further into more advanced photography. Once I had my DSLR camera, I began to focus more on producing quality images rather than just capturing the moments of my life doing whatever it was I was doing. I began dedicating time to just take photos. It was a fun way to be social, while still being on skis or bikes, and also brought a new element to the sports I loved participating in. Being a strong enough athlete in both skiing and biking also meant that I had firsthand experience and perspective. I knew where the best terrain was, how to make

a shot look good, and had suggestions for the athletes in front of the camera to help make them look better. After around five years or so, my passion grew rapidly. I started getting into videography too and thrived off of creating content in the ski and bike world through both mediums. I don’t even really remember how I started getting paid, but eventually, people started paying me for my work. Between doing catski photography for both Fernie Wilderness and Island Lake, and a few random side jobs, my name started being more wellknown around town. I got to a point where my 9-5 at Straightline was taking away from the opportunity to make money doing what I truly loved. Gradually, I transitioned

until eventually, doing photography and videography full time was viable. Since going full-time as a photographer and videographer, my portfolio has grown tremendously. I have branched out to fulfill many different contracts, ranging from tourism promotion, real estate, corporate/ small business marketing, and even some weddings. I’ve enjoyed stepping out of my comfort zone and taking on contracts that require me to learn as I go, and also making so many new connections. I love that I’m able to thrive in this industry while remaining purely local—I always thought that to reach the success I desired in this industry, I’d have to travel a lot. But I’m so grateful that I get to be with my family every night, and aside from the odd work

trip that takes me away for a couple nights, I get to watch my girls grow up and can make myself available almost whenever I need to be. I’m not sure how this industry will evolve over the years, but I hope that it continues to fulfill me as much as it has, while still allowing me to spend as much time as I do with my family doing the things I love. One thing is for sure—without this town, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I look forward to many more years of serving this community. To learn more about Nick and his work, visit nicknaultphotography.ca or follow him on Facebook @ NickNaultPhoto and on Instagram @nick.nault FERNIEFIX.COM

Arts and Entertainment

EVERYONE EATS

Never Enough Thyme by CLAIRE SMALLWOOD I spent 12 years working as a sous-chef at one of the most expensive chalets in Alta, Utah. Besides the top-quality skiing right out the door, the chef and I curated memories using one of the best tools in the world: food. One of our favourite guests was Fred Dibbs. Fred’s teeth are like staring at snow without your sunglasses on. He’s barrelchested but trim, and his tanned skin looks out of place in the middle of the Utah winter. Each time Fred visited, he fell in love with our salad dressing, “Are you sure you didn’t change the recipe? I swear, it’s better this time.” It was always the same recipe. By my calculations, Fred ate that salad dressing more than 300 times in his life. I get it, you eat (hopefully) hundreds of salads per year—it’s fair to be eighty years old, retired, on a ski vacation and forget the salad dressing at the chalet. Why couldn’t Fred re-create the salad dressing recipe? Unfortunately, it’s because it takes thyme. Pardon the pun, but it’s true. There can never be too much thyme. It starts with the two most important and time-consuming ingredients: thyme and shallots. Shoot, I probably lost you with that because every other recipe tells you that in 30 seconds, you’ll have food to eat. Stick with me, I promise. Recruit a kitchen helper to pick the thyme. Grab them a glass of wine or sparkling water and have a great conversation. It’s very meditative and is an amazing way to spend time with a loved one. Kids are amazing thyme-pickers. Some thyme is easier to pick than others, try pulling upward from the stem and it’s okay if some stems get in there!

Next: the shallots. What’s a shallot? And why should I care about them?

“Shallots are one of the things — a basic prep item in every mise-en-place — that make restaurant food taste different from your food.” —Anthony Bourdain Shallots have a lighter, more subtle onion taste that is perfect to pair with other, more complex flavours. Dicing a shallot requires a sharp knife. Cut the stem of the shallot (not the root end) and then cut the shallot again lengthwise to have it sit flat on your cutting board with the skin removed. Next, slice toward the root end but not

Submitted Photo all the way through so you can use it to hold the shallot as you dice. Finally, cut 2-3 horizontal lines toward the root (but not through it).You’re now read to chop the entire shallot in the opposite way (vertical) to make perfect tiny dices!

Recipe Makes 500 mL (half litre) mason jar or a little more. 1 - 500 mL mason jar 2-3 finely diced shallots (approximately 1/3 cup) 1/4 to 1/2 cup fresh thyme leaves 1/3 cup Dijon mustard 2/3 cup red wine vinegar 1 cup extra virgin olive oil Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. 1. Dice the shallot. 2. Pick the thyme. 3. Add all ingredients except the oil to mason jar. 4. Shake for about 30 seconds! This emulsifies the dressing. If it’s too thick, add more red wine vinegar and/or Dijon. Adjust as needed - should be tangy, but fragrant. 5. Add the oil and shake for another thirty seconds or so. Pro tip: Put a small to moderate amount of salad dressing with your chopped veggies at the bottom of a mixing bowl before you add salad greens. Then, mix with your hands just before you are going to serve it to avoid soggy salad. Mixing with your hands is okay, I promise - just wash them first.

Other uses for this dressing: • Serve as a light dressing tossed on crudité veggies (toothpicks on the side) with fresh tomatoes, green beans, roasted beets, or avocado. • Roasted beet and bleu cheese salad. Cover the beets in dressing in a separate bowl. Serve with a green salad (little to no dressing) and Roquefort cheese on the side. Guests can choose their own adventure and it looks beautiful! • Add to quinoa salad, tuna salad, chicken salad, or pasta salad. • Use as a marinade for chicken. FERNIEFIX.COM

Arts and Entertainment

ARTBEAT

The Old, Good Stuff by MICHAEL HEPHER In the 1990s I went to see Bruce Cockburn in concert. He was touring his new album Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu. That album was full of new ideas and textures for Bruce—a real departure from his fingerstyle peace anthems of the past. At the beginning of the concert Bruce took to the microphone and said something like, “I was having a smoke out back after the show last night and someone came up to me and asked me why I didn’t play any of the old, good stuff—I told him to f**k off.” The crowd cheered. The concert was fabulous. That album has since become part of a discography of his ‘old, good stuff ’ that spans more than 40 years and a dozen genres woven seamlessly into a body of work that one could call the style of Bruce Cockburn. For those looking in from the outside, things an artist has done can seem definitive, and as an artist I don’t want to be defined. The curiosity that pushes me further up and farther into my own artistic world is the same one that will push me out the other side and into a new dimension once I feel I’ve explored all there is to explore in the current one. When I get to the end of my life, I hope to look back and see this one narrow chord winding its way through everything I’ve made—every sphere of painting, printing, and music I’ve wandered through—and know they are all connected and are distinctly ‘mine.’ I suspect it will look more like a tangle of yarn in a cat kennel than a path receding to the horizon, but it’s still mine. Sometimes the events that change a direction are subtle things; an inkling of an idea that is tiptoed around for a while before poking it gently with a stick.

Left - River Fire • 15 x 30” oil on canvas. Courtesy Elevation Fernie Right - Bugaboo Spire • 12 x 24” oil on canvas. Paintings by Michael Hepher

“For those looking in from the outside, things an artist has done can seem definitive, and as an artist I don’t want to be defined.” Sometimes the events are earthquakes; abrupt changes to the landscape. In 2019 I was asked to paint a mural on the wall of the Beanpod in downtown Fernie, and that has become one of those earth-

rattling events in my artistic life. The sheer size of the project propelled me into new visual places. The way I paint—decidedly impressionistically—would not be effective (or practical) to paint on a 100-foot wall, so I looked to the graphic geometry of my printmaking and there found a solution. Once the mural was complete, it left me with a new question: would it work to paint like this? Ultimately that’s a question I’m still trying to answer. Forgive me this bit of self-promotion: I have a show going on right now at the Fernie Museum gallery.* The pieces in

this solo exhibition are the compilation of my exploration of the motifs, lines, and colours I first started exploring in the mural. I’ve turned over the ideas until I created an alphabet for this new artistic country. I formed those letters into words and phrases and then repeatedly arranged them into stories and poems that attempt to communicate what I’m seeing and feeling. The show, In This Together, started as an exploration of our shared geography, but has grown into a very subjective journey of style, mark-making, and motif. Please go see it, it’s fun. Then go walk across the street to Elevation Gallery and look at my other work there. Maybe you’ll see the thread, too. For the past three years, I’ve been ducking between two painterly worlds looking for some overlap. When I set pieces from each series side-by-side I do see commonalities: the marks are mine, the colours are mine, and yet I feel an internal pressure to choose—to be definite. And yet forcing art and style into a definition prevents it from growing. It’s good to have touchstones we can come back to, but if we let ourselves or others wall us into something strict, we pour a pair of concrete shoes for our curiosity and there it will sit. Immobile. It’s good to mix it up: exploration is all about trying on new clothes and then putting them in the closet or back on the rack—it doesn’t matter. What matters is keeping moving. The answers lead to more questions, and as way leads to way, I never seem to circle round to the same choices.

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Art is in simplest terms an ongoing exploration of uncharted ideas. I have not ended up where I expected on my journey. Sometimes I feel aimless, and sometimes I feel like I’m following someone else around a roundabout, and yet I have ended up exactly where I need to be. Some of the ideas are new, hopefully some are great, but I must keep moving forward so that it will eventually all become the old, good stuff. *In This Together runs for July and August at the Fernie Museum gallery in downtown Fernie. Admission by donation. FERNIEFIX.COM

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dogpartners.ca @dogpartnerstraining

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Arts and Entertainment

AT PEACE AND YET ON FIRE

Poetic Scavenger Hunt by Sadie Rosgen It’s summer, baby and that sun is everything! I remember summers spent travelling British Columbia as a kid. I remember how lush and green everything was, how a unique set of beautiful and fragrant flowers appeared amongst the fresh fruit and abundant veggies. I was completely enamored with this different landscape. Now, I find myself living in this deliciously abundant province, planting my own flowers and food. What comes with summer is fun. As a kid, that meant space and freedom. This month I’ve crafted a poetic scavenger hunt to create my poem and that means we create it together! Find the words around Fernie’s townsite and gather the clues to create your own poem. Submit to sadiepumps@gmail.com by July 10, and I’ll print my favourite in the August issue of the Fix! Wear your sunscreen and happy hunting.

Your clues: 1. A train whistles as the dogs do roam, here these three little words have found a home. 2. Swing a club and grab some grub, this picturesque space is the hiding place of three more words. 3. Now it’s time to sit and lick the most delicious treat. Four words on four legs (MOO!) are waiting for you! 4. Swings and slides are worth the ride to find more words around. Look high and low, up and down, three words lead us to a famous park in the centre of town. 5. Find yourself strolling the street where shops on Victoria Avenue meet. This corner spot is so full of history, find these words to solve the mystery.

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Arts and Entertainment

THE RENTAL FIX

The Batman by ANDREW VALLANCE The Batman character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger and debuted in the 27th issue of Detective Comics on March 30, 1939. In the DC Universe continuity, Batman is the alias of Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American playboy, philanthropist and industrialist who resides in Gotham City. Batman’s origin story features his sworn vengeance against criminals after witnessing the murder of his parents, Thomas and Martha, and the vendetta for justice becomes the theme of his stories. He trains himself physically and intellectually, crafts a bat-inspired persona and monitors the Gotham City streets at night. Kane, Finger and other creators added supporting characters, including his sidekicks Robin and Batgirl, allies Alfred Pennyworth, James Gordon and Catwoman, and foes such as the Penguin, Riddler, Two-Face, and, his archenemy, the Joker. The Batman film franchise began when the first Batman film was released into theatres in 1989. It was dark and strange and starred Michael Keaton (who at that point was best known for comedies such as Johnny Dangerously and Mr. Mom) as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Jack Nicholson as the Joker and Kim Bassinger as reporter Vicky Vale, Bruce’s love interest. It was hugely successful, bringing in $411.6 million. Warner Bros., seeing the success of this dark, edgy take on Batman, decided to further embrace the character, and to date only two films in the franchise have strayed from that formula. The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves, takes this gritty, quasi gothic aesthetic and provides us with a Gotham City that is truly broken, and an anti-social and

unexpected but welcome turn as Batman’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth. This is a very good movie. All of the performances are great. Colin Farrell disappears into the role of the Penguin, Robert Pattinson does a wonderful job playing a clearly traumatized and isolated Bruce Wayne, and Zoe Kravitz does an excellent turn as Selena Kyle/Catwoman. The film is beautifully shot, and features an excellent car chase, well-choreographed fight scenes, and an incredible soundtrack. It is absolutely worth seeing. Two extremely dark, menacing and grim thumbs up!

angry Bruce Wayne with zero sex appeal and charm. The film follows Batman as he hunts the Riddler and tangles with powerful mobsters, psychotic street gangs, the Gotham Police Department and Catwoman. The movie has an excellent cast, featuring Robert Pattinson (Twilight,Tenet) as Batman, Zoe Kravitz (Mad Max Fury Road, Big Little Lies) as Catwoman, Colin Farrell (The Lobster,The Gentlemen) as the Penguin, Jeffery Wright (The Goldfinch, Boardwalk Empire) as Lt. Jim Gordon, and Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood, Looper) as the Riddler. Also featured are Peter Saarsgard (Jarhead, Kinsey) as Gotham’s corrupt D.A., John Turturro (Oh Brother,Where Art Thou?, Barton Fink) as Mafia boss Carmine Falcone. Turturro is an Emmy award winner with a film career that is outstanding, winning the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Barton Fink (1991). Andy Serkis (The Hobbit,The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) does an FERNIEFIX.COM

music festival

August 5th & 6th, 2022 | WAPITIMUSICFESTIVAL.COM James white park, Fernie b.c.

EVENTS CALENDAR

MONTHLY EVENTS Friday 1.7.2022 Flag Raising Ceremony @ City Hall with Yaq?it ?a·knuq?I ‘it First Nation followed by Reconciliation Walk Canada Day Celebrations @ The Aquatic Centre, 10am – 3:30pm Exhibit Opening: In This Together by Michael Hepher @ Fernie Museum, 11am Live Music: Tony Bell @ The Loaf Saturday 2.7.2022 Charles Benjamin Live @ Kodiak Lounge Wednesday 6.7.2022 Wednesday Socials: El Niven and the Alibi @ Station Square, 5:30pm May Davis Live @ Kodiak Lounge Thursday 7.7.2022 Twin Meadows Animal Rescue: Disc Adventure @ Disc Golf Course, James White Park. Skills training with Serge Gosselin, Best Disc Tourny, Custom Twin Meadows Disc, 2pm and 6pm groups Language Café @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7pm Friday 8.7.2022 Live Music: Maddisun @ The Loaf Saturday 9.7.2022 Annual Fernie Golf Open @ Fernie Golf Club John Hewitt Live @ Kodiak Lounge Sunday 10.7.2022 Women-only Mountain Bike Social @ Ride Theory Annual Fernie Golf Open @ Fernie Golf Club

WEEKLY EVENTS 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 Plein Air Pod @ The Arts Station, location changes weekly

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

Specialty Hike: Fossils and Geology @ Fernie Alpine Resort Indigenous-led Interpretive Nature Walk @ Elk Valley Nordic Centre, 2pm Fernie Nordic Society AGM and Volunteer Appreciation Dinner/Social @ Elk Valley Nordic Centre, 4pm Wednesday 13.7.2022 Happy Hobbies: Crafting for Adults @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3pm Wednesday Socials: Wild Honey @ Station Square, 5:30pm Thursday 14.7.2022 Fernie Ambassador Program @ College of the Rockies Tony Servello Senior Open @ Fernie Golf Club Pottery Wine and Wheel @ The Arts Station Friday 15.7.2022 Guided Hike: Polar Peak @ Fernie Alpine Resort Live Music: Two Ticks @ The Loaf Saturday 16.7.2022 Canada Cup DH Dunbar Series @ Fernie Alpine Resort Justin Sutton Live @ Kodiak Lounge Sunday 17.7.2022 Sunday Pottery Skill Building @ The Arts Station Canada Cup DH Dunbar Series @ Fernie Alpine Resort Wednesday 20.7.2022 Splish Splash Sploosh @ Aquatic Centre Splash Park, 2pm

Wednesday Socials: Trio Svin @ Station Square, 5:30pm Business, Banter and Beer @ 2nd Edition Coworking Thursday 21.7.2022 Language Café @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7pm Friday 22.7.2022 Live Music: Herky Cutler @ The Loaf Saturday 23.7.2022 4th Annual Elk Valley Ultra @ Stag Leap Running Repair Café: using 3D printing to repair household or office items @ Fernie Heritage Library, 1pm Live Music @ Kodiak Lounge Sunday 24.7.2022 Women-only Mountain Bike Social @ Ride Theory Specialty Hike: Wildflowers and Wildlife @ Fernie Alpine Resort Wednesday 27.7.2022 Wednesday Socials: Northern Quarter @ Station Square, 5:30pm Thursday 28.7.2022 Exhibit Opening: Becca Davies @ The Arts Station Friday 29.7.2022 Live Music: Sami Valavaara @ The Loaf Envy Dup Live @ Kodiak Lounge Saturday 30.7.2022 Guided Hike: Polar Peak @ Fernie Alpine Resort Envy Dup Live @ Kodiak Lounge

Karaoke @ Kodiak Lounge, 9pm 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 Wednesday Socials @ Station Square Scott Downhill Race – Kids and Youth @ Fernie Alpine Resort

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

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

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 Chicken Parmie Special @ The Pub Sundays Roast Dinner Special (includes Beer Pint or Glass of Wine) for $20 @ The Pub Mountain Market @ Rotary park, 10am – 2pm

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Community

FEATURE RESIDENT

James Takenaka by KRISTA TURCASSO The Fernie Museum has gone through multiple transformations since the Fernie and District Historical Society was founded in 1964. Its first museum space was opened in 1979 in the Catholic Church rectory, which then closed in 1999. In 2004, the Society opened a temporary Museum at Town Centre on 2nd Ave (where C21 is today). It was then that the City of Fernie recognized the importance of a permanent home for the Museum and purchased the former BC Hydro building for this purpose. The Fernie Museum Project was initiated and was completed in 2013 with a beautifully renovated space in one of Fernie’s most beautiful historical buildings – a perfect fit for both the Museum and Fernie. As the organization grew, so did the need for an executive director. James Takenaka was recently chosen to fill this role within the organization, and he couldn’t be happier with the move to the Elk Valley and new direction in his career. James was born and raised in Winnipeg, and after completing high school moved to Lethbridge for college to study renewable resource management. He went straight to work, starting out with Alberta Parks providing interpretive guided walks and shows in the amphitheatres. “I was at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park that first summer and spent the next few summers in Kananaskis country. I always loved the mountains and would have stayed with parks but there were no full-time jobs at the time. So, I went back to school at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary – I enjoyed the whole graphic design thing and doing my own type of art. It’s very interesting, as there is something different all of the time,” he shares with me.

Krista Turcasso Photo After receiving his Bachelor of Arts, James segued into museums developing and hosting programs and events. “The last few decades I have been at the Reynolds Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, which focuses on mechanized history. It’s a big museum, provincially owned and operated,” he adds. “I mostly enjoyed working with people – my colleagues and the visitors. The position was always evolving and was never the same year after year. Wetaskiwin is about 45 minutes south and east of Edmonton

with 12,000 residents, so not a big place to live. I enjoyed the museum, and the town had a great arts and culture community too. I taught Karate there for quite a few decades,” James says, adding that it kept him busy! James’ wife’s family had a condo in Elkford, so as a family with their two daughters, they always spent time in the Elk Valley. “Both of my daughters are in BC,” James says. “One is in Elkford and her husband teaches there. The other moved to Fernie with her three kids, and recently to

Creston to run a cherry farm. My wife moved to Elkford full time in September of 2021 to help with the grandkids. I decided I didn’t like commuting every weekend, and when I saw a posting for the position in Fernie I applied and got the job. I’ve only been here about a month, so I’m brand new, but feel as though I’m living the dream,” he says with a smile. “It’s been very enlightening and very busy. It’s a steep learning curve, but I am enjoying it. It’s great to work with a very active board, they walk the talk and are very supportive.” With James’ background in events and planning, he is looking forward to seeing the museum vibrant and operating as a community hub again after two years of COVID. “We have a lot of re-building, but also a lot of things in the works,” he says. July starts off with a new exhibit in their gallery space, In This Together by Michael Hepher. In the fall, the popular Chautauqua Fall Festival is back and with it the art installation, Women of Michel. “We are also looking at refreshing the standing exhibit and doing some business strategy to see what we come up with. I like how active this community is, and it’s different having a board for bosses. Volunteers are wonderful.” There are also extensive renovations taking place at the museum, including re-doing the stairs, sanding and refinishing the floors, and more, thanks to the support and funding from Canadian Heritage, the CBT and the City of Fernie. While James will be kept busy at the Fernie Museum, he is also excited to embrace Valley life. “I’m going to be doing a lot more hiking, there is no lack of hiking trails here! My wife bought me a fly fishing kit, which I have never done in my life. As a hobby I also custom make knives, so I will approach hunters and restaurants to see if there is interest. I have a whole lot of things to keep me busy, including my pencils and

paints. Living here in the mountains, it’s easy to get back into my art!” Welcome to the Elk Valley, James! We look forward to working with you at the Museum and to attending the upcoming exhibits and events. For more details and to keep up to date on all that is happening at the Fernie Museum, visit ferniemuseum.com. 1. When did you first arrive in Elk Valley and what brought you here? It must have been 20 some odd years ago, and my wife brought me here as my in-laws had a place and we thought it was great! 2. Who did you first meet? I met some of the other condo owners in Elkford around the campfire.

I usually start my day with a shower! 9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you. When I first started out in parks, one of my job duties was moving rattlesnakes. At Writing-on-Stone, it is a desert climate. A rattlesnake would come through to get to water and I would have to move it to the archeological reserve. It was a little more dangerous that I would like, sometimes. 10. Quote to live by: Just Do It. Whenever I want to try something, I usually do. I wanted to know what skydiving was like, so I took some lessons and jumped out of plane a couple of times. Twice was enough. I also decided I wanted to know what it was like to fly a plane, so I got my pilots license. This was before marriage, mortgages, kids and car loans.

3. Do you remember your first general impression of the Elk Valley? I thought the mountains were just gorgeous, and remember seeing deer in the back of our condo and a bear wondering by and thought, this is the wilderness. 4. What keeps you here? Family, friends and mountains. Family especially. 5. Do you have a favourite pastime? I like making knives. 6. What time of the year do you love most and why? I still love the fall, the trees changing colour, when the larch turn bright yellow and the leaves are vibrant. 7. Where do you see or hope to see the Elk Valley in five years. I hope it continues to grow in terms of tourism. Fernie has become a lot of fun, a few years back it was a little quieter. 8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals?

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Community

CITY CORNER

Grants, Why Bother? by ANGE QUALIZZA I’ve heard some grumbling in the community about a few of the projects we’ve undertaken lately, and I often hear - we don’t need it, or why spend the money?! There are a few reasons why we chase grants, but the thing I want to impress most in this column is simply that you’ve already paid for them. Whether a federal infrastructure grant, or provincial grant ear marked for special projects -you the taxpayer- have already paid for them. Our goal is to make sure that investment stays in our community. The more important reason we chase grants is because we are in what we call an infrastructure deficit, and infrastructure deficit is the measure of the amount of infrastructure that has passed its theoretical service life but still provides value to the community. In 2021 Council and staff worked to advance many projects with grant funding and secured approximately $8.78 million dollars that will support our community in meaningful ways. This includes $790,563 of investment in tourism infrastructure through the Tourism Dependent Communities Fund, $197,00 for evacuation route planning, $126,945 in fuel management and Fire Smart funding, and $171, 875 through the Union of BC Municipalities to support modernization of our planning services. We continue to invest in active transportation, and flood protection with the Annex Dike project being valued at approximately $4.8 million dollars (grant funded).

“Whether a federal infrastructure grant, or provincial grant ear marked for special projects -you the taxpayer- have already paid for them. Our goal is to make sure that investment stays in our community.” Just last night in Council we approved another grant application to renew more infrastructure that would specifically support a coordinated capital renewal project to include reducing Inflow and Infiltration, to assist in reducing the flow volume being processed in the City’s Wastewater Treatment system, replace failing manholes and coordinate improvements to implement recommended active transportation features.

Submitted Photos If you take anything away from the article this month, it should be that we have a lot of aging infrastructure that needs renewal and replacement, and chasing grants is critical to our success because we can’t afford to do it any other way. FERNIEFIX.COM

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Community

AT THE GROUND LEVEL

Creek-o-systems by SYLVIA AYERS, illustrated by SARAH PULLEN

Did you know?

Some people build U-shaped rock dams to create pools in creeks and rivers to cool off in the summer. These partial dams are called ‘weirs’ and–while they might look like harmless fun–they can be damaging to the ecosystem.

How are they damaging? Weirs prevent fish from finding refuge and food. Fish travel up and down waterways to feed, reproduce, and find cool areas to escape the summer heat. Restricting their movement can affect their wellbeing and survival.

Weirs change stream shape and water quality. As water is forced around the edges of weirs, stream banks are eroded which increases sediment levels and makes the streams wide and shallow.

A shallow stream, with lower oxygen, and full of sediment impacts the entire river and stream ecosystem. So just enjoy the natural rivers and streams! Find natural eddys to relax in (without oily sunscreens!) and river banks to set up your chair and dip your feet in the water. Make sure to clean up after yourself, and avoid wading in the streams during trout mating season (May-June).

Image and adapted text courtesy of Elk River Alliance

Weirs can decrease oxygen levels. By slowing down water, it doesn’t have a chance to mix with air as it travels through riffles and rapids. Additionally, slow water is warmer, and warm water holds far less oxygen than cold water. Oxygen is essential for all animals that live in the water.

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Community

MOUNTAIN TAILS

Reactive Dogs by VALERIE BARRY Like any dog loving community, reactive dogs are a part of the dog world we occupy. It’s a generally accepted rule that most dogs who react to things in their environment do so out of fear and anxiety. There are other reasons, too, and often more than one, but fear is a common starting point. It’s not fun being the guardian of a reactive dog – I’ve owned several and it can be a life and lifestyle altering experience. There are, however, many things you can do to help your dog. Many factors play into those behaviours we wish would simply go away, but there are always ways to make things even a little bit better. Some simple tips for owners of reactive dogs: 1. If you use a leash and collar, consider a body harness instead. The change in sensation on your dog’s body can make a big difference. At the very least, taking the pressure and discomfort off your dog’s delicate throat area can only help. 2. Teach your dog to look at you when asked, and then use this behaviour to teach your dog not to stare at other dogs. Staring is often perceived as a threat between dogs who don’t know each other. This simple act can make a world of difference on your walks. 3. Train your dog to walk with a loose leash and to engage with you frequently. Tension begets tension – add in staring at dogs and things can escalate quickly. 4. Distance is your friend. Every dog has a distance from which they are most comfortable from things that might concern them; from where they are able to display interest, not concern. Find

Welcome Home, Jack | Submitted Photo your dog’s comfort zone and use it to keep you both relaxed. 5. Daily reactions raise and keep arousal high. Sniff breaks, enrichment toys and mental games help. Use these tools frequently before, during and after walks to lessen the effects of all that adrenaline. Working with reactivity is challenging. A tag line I like to use is, “Training is something to do with your dog, not to your dog.” Nothing is more important than that when you’re working through a troubling behaviour problem with your dog – you need to work together.

Fernie is such a great dog community and such a positive place to be whether you’re a seasoned dog owner, raising a new puppy or adopting your first dog! I’m really thrilled to be here and to be able to connect and collaborate with local trainers and local dog training enthusiasts. I’m looking forward to bringing you some helpful tips and interesting information about dogs and offering fun new things to do with your dogs.

FERNIEFIX.COM

Health and Lifestyle

WHERE THE SPARK BEGINS

Maddox Johnson and Layla Rella by KRISTA TURCASSO

This winter, our daughter joined the Fernie Freestyle club and we were so impressed with her coach, Coach Brian. Like myself at that age (for real!) she shied away from competition and never considered herself an athlete. From day one, Brian referred to them all as athletes. After an entire winter of hearing this positive reinforcement, we saw such a wonderful shift in her. There is something to be said about a good coach, a great program, supportive parents, and all or some of these things leading to a positive experience when it comes to sports. Growing up, we had impressive athletes among us - the Emily Brydons and the Gregg Blackwells. But they seemed like the anomaly. Now, raising a family here I am continuously awed by the opportunities our youth have, and the amazing individuals behind them. Not surprisingly, the number of young athletes in our community seems higher than ever, and I wanted to learn more about just what got them to where they are today by asking them a few questions. This month, we have Maddox Johnson who is a competitive mountain biker and swimmer, and Layla Rella who is an impressive gymnast and swimmer.

3. What events are you competing in this summer?

Maddox Johnson, 14 years old 1. What drew you to these sports?

I am looking forward to the rest of the BC and Alberta provincial cross-country circuits. I have the Wasa triathlon coming up soon. I had so much fun at the Fernie Gravel Grind last year, so I am super excited to race it again. To go along with the Gravel Grind, I have a few local races I might compete in, like the Tuesday Toonie Races, and some races in the Crowsnest Pass. I will also be racing part of the national cross-country circuit.

I have always been really active, and I grew up in a very sports-driven family. This gave me a really easy avenue into sports. I wanted to be able to keep up with my parents and friends, so I was always going the extra mile to go fast. 2. When and why did you decide to compete? I started competing for the school run and track teams, Fernie Alpine Ski Team, and the local soccer teams as soon as I was eligible. I only started to get serious about my competitions when I joined the Elk Valley Dolphins Swim Club. I was able to train as hard as I wanted under the amazing supervision of coach Aidan Chudleigh. I have always loved biking, and I had done the odd local race, but when Carter Neiuwesteeg approached us that he wanted to start coaching it really sparked my growing passion for cycling. I have been training with Coach Carter since 2020.

4. What do you love about competing and being able to train in Fernie?

Submitted Photo

I am so grateful to live in Fernie. We have such great teams, coaches, people, organizations, and volunteers supporting some amazing events. There is an almost endless amount of terrain in and around this beautiful town to explore and train on. Participating in these events allows me to meet really talented people and create even more cool opportunities. I am really thankful for the support of the local shops in my sports endeavours.

3. What events are you competing in this spring/summer?

Layla Rella, 9 years old 1. What drew you to sports? They’re fun! Watching Simone Biles and Penny Oleksiak compete in the Olympics really drew me to gymnastics and swimming. And my friends and family helped introduce me to so many other awesome sports.

I competed in my home swimming and gymnastics events this spring - with crowds again! We’re also going to Radium for an outdoor event soon and then to the United States for another one in Missoula! And the most important swim race is against my Nono at Christina Lake this summer, lol.

2. When and why did you decide to compete?

4. What do you love about competing and being able to train in Fernie?

I started to compete in swimming and gymnastics two to three years ago. I decided to compete in gymnastics because my friends were doing it, and in swimming because some of the older kids that I looked up to were having so much fun! I really love cheering on my friends, travelling to new places, and meeting new friends… and it’s also been awesome to win some medals!

We have the best coaches in the world! They help make competing in sports so fun. It’s also the best to have my school friends as my sports friends too. Fernie is so nice to train in because I can always see the mountains, there’s so many different sports we get to play, and so many amazing, supportive people here.

LEGENDARY SUMMER July Events & Activities SCOTT DH Races (Kids & Youth) July 6, 20 & 27 SCOTT DH Races (Adult & Master) July 7, 21 & 28 BC / Canada Cup Downhill Race July 16 & 17

PH: Jon Canning, Nick Nault & Mark Eleven Photography

Submitted Photo

Are you or do you know a young athlete who wants to share their story with us? Email krista@clarismedia.com!

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Health and Lifestyle

COLD-CLIMATE GARDENING

Greenhouses vs. Row Cover vs. Innovative Garden by ASHLEY LORTSCHER The allure of having a greenhouse in a cold climate is very strong for gardeners, both new and experienced. Greenhouses can be an excellent season extension tool; however, they come with some problems too! They can be a great resource for season extension (growing crops earlier in the spring and later in the fall) as well as creating an environment that provides a little extra boost for heat loving plants such as peppers and melons. However, a greenhouse can become a fiery oven in August and requires some thought in regards to ventilation and air circulation to prevent overheating, excess humidity, and molds. Even in the Elk Valley, greenhouses often require shade cover during periods of extreme heat. Greenhouses can be expensive too! Greenhouses utilizing plastics need to be replaced every five to 10 years depending on the material used. Heated greenhouses consume a massive amount of energy, and even passive solar greenhouse may require electric fans or daily manual interference (such as opening and closing windows). The windows on my greenhouses have a gas spring. As soon as the greenhouse reaches 15 degrees Celsius, they automatically open! It’s just one less thing for me to remember so I can focus on my baby chicks instead. There are also some amazing and innovative people out there trying to solve these issues related to passive greenhouse in northern climates. Paul Wheaton has created a ‘truly passive solar greenhouse’ that requires zero electricity and is designed to be a year-round greenhouse in Montana! Check it out on YouTube. Row cover can also be used for season extension to protect from hard forests,

reduces insect damage without harmful chemicals, provides hail protection, and can shade plants during the heat of summer. Row cover is usually a semi-transparent fabric spread over hoops to protect crops. Unfortunately, row cover still has its downsides: it is usually made of plastics so you risk introducing micro plastics in the soil, it is easily torn, and requires regular maintenance and manipulation. There are cotton alternatives, but they are hard to find. I find row cover so effective in reducing insect damage for crops such as spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, Bok choy,

Submitted Photo and baby greens that I find it well worth my time, money, and effort to maintain. Thoughtful, innovative, and creative garden design can resolve a lot of the issues faced when growing food in a cold climate and can mitigate the need for expensive and petroleum based alternatives. The need for a greenhouse or row cover can often be mitigated by selecting different cold hardy crops, ‘living row cover,’ and creating different microclimates through alternative garden bed design and earthworks. Garden design is a big nut to crack, but I will delve into microclimates more next month! FERNIEFIX.COM

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Health and Lifestyle

SLOW TRAVEL

Within a Four-Hour Drive by PATRICK ROBERTSON Looking for something different to do this summer? Something a bit out of the ordinary? You don’t have to look far. We have a variety of summer adventures and options available in our area that are not available anywhere else in the world. We live in the middle of a World Heritage Site named the Crown of the Continent that covers 10 million acres of BC, Alberta and Montana. The Columbia, Saskatchewan and Missouri Rivers begin here high up in our mountains and drain into the Pacific Ocean, Hudson Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Crown, extending from south of Calgary to Missoula, Montana is full of streams, rivers and lakes that make it perfect for hiking, biking and camping. A drive around the Crown is full of spectacular scenery, history and recreation. Plan your own trip as a circular drive that could be anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. A day historic drive is just east of us with stops at Frank Slide Interpretive Centre in Blairmore, Lundbreck Falls, Fort MacLeod to see the RCMP Musical Parade and Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre, heading back southwest to Waterton National Park to have afternoon High Tea at the Prince Edward Hotel before wandering around the townsite. This is a packed itinerary with a very tight schedule if you are up to it. To the west is the 450 km International Selkirk Loop, North America’s only multinational scenic drive and one of only 32 National Scenic Drives in the USA. Our nearest entry point is Creston and up Kootenay Lake but stop at the KootenayColumbia wildlife centre first which is a great spot for a picnic and to watch birds in the marshy area. This is the flyway for thousands of birds during their migrations.

Mt. Grinelland Swiftcurrent Lake | Submitted Photo Along the loop you will find charming towns like Kaslo and New Denver with historical backgrounds that are joined by unbelievable scenic byways surrounded by nature. Most of the loop follows rivers and lakes and are in National Forests and Provincial Parks. There are interesting stops along the way with many side trips to explore. Just north of Ainsworth Hot Springs is the Cody Caves Provincial Park with just under a kilometre of trails through caverns full of calcite structures of stalactites, stalagmites, ribbons, and draperies. Farragut State Park in northern Idaho does not allow vehicles in the mossy tenting area nestled in among the towering Ponderosa Pines. It is magical in the evening to see dozens of colourful tents scattered through the trees with the lights on. Close by is Silverwood Theme Park full of all types of amusement rides including a Lazy River water feature.

Just a few miles away is the beautiful harbour town of Bayview. The colourful marina on Lake Pend Oreille is full of sailboats making for a picturesque scene as you come down the hill to the town site. The lake is so deep, the US Navy used it to train submariners in World War II. It is a scenic lake that has breathtaking views either on the water or driving around the lake. Rent a boat for the day and cruise around. For sport cars and motorcycle enthusiasts, the road around the lake is full of great windy roads. I would count on spending at least three or four nights in the area. Plan at least a week to explore the International Selkirk Loop. There are so many interesting things within a four-hour drive from here that it literally would take years to see and do all that is offered. For more extensive details of these driving trips browse my website budgetslowtravel.com. FERNIEFIX.COM

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Health and Lifestyle

THIS IS LIFE

The Fear of Joy by TYLA CHARBONNEAU The emotion we fear the most in life is actually joy. Surprised? I was too. We fear joy because when we are in those happy moments, we often become terrified that it could all be taken away in one single moment. We remember past times when we felt so good and then got a phone call with terrible news, or learned that we did not get the job, or a friend became ill. Our brains remember these experiences and then see joy as a threat. If it could be taken away once, it could be taken away every time. And simply, we really do not want those good feelings to end, but they will, and that is okay. The downside of fearing joy is that we rob ourselves of the present and pure happy moments by concentrating on past events or what might happen in the future. Life is not meant to be happy all the time. The endless search for this constant glee is actually causing us more harm than good. This unhealthy belief sets us up for unrealistic expectations and a sense of failure when we cannot achieve it. We are meant to feel the full range of emotions. Remember the movie Inside Out? They did such a great job of showcasing why all the emotions in our minds need a turn at the control desk. If you have not seen it and feel like you are endlessly searching for happiness, I highly recommend it for your next movie night. Joy will always end. So will pain. It is inevitable. Each of our emotions has a time frame and we have to remember that we can get through each and every one of them. The key is to name your emotion and allow yourself to feel it. Once you name it you gain power over it. When you stuff it away or sweep it under the rug

“Each of our emotions has a time frame and we have to remember that we can get through each and every one of them.” it actually has power over you and your behaviours. Once named, check in with your body and notice where you feel it. Is it tension in your chest, your jaw? Is it a nice warm sensation like the sun shining on you? Then simply allow yourself to feel it and remind yourself that you have the capacity for each and every emotion. To date, there is not a single thing that you have not survived and gotten through. Joy, pain, anger, fear, anxiety, sadness, you can tolerate and learn something from each of these feelings.You can also get through and past each one. It might be difficult or uncomfortable, but your track record should be given far more credit.

V. Croome Photo So, the next time you are foreboding joy or embracing sadness, remember that you can simply stay in that moment, accept it for what it is, knowing that it will end. In the case of joy, it is okay and normal that it will end.You can then remind yourself that you can handle whatever emotions come your way. There are no good or bad emotions, just feelings. To live a full well-rounded life we need to allow ourselves to sit with and lean into every single one. Even joy, even if it is fleeting. A few moments here and there are so worth it, do not distract yourself worrying about what could happen and focus on what is. 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.

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The purpose of the Communities of Interest Advisory Initiative is to foster dialogue and communication between the four coal operations and community representatives within their area of influence.

Summer is here, enjoy! After a long winter and over two years of Covid restrictions, it appears summer is finally here with few, if any restrictions hampering one’s ability to enjoy it. Take advantage of the abundance of recreational activities and opportunities the beautifully scenic Elk Valley has to offer and feel alive!

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

Thank you, Sharon. The Communities of Interest committee would like to thank Sharon Strom for all her years of service to COI and wish her well in her future endeavours.

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Providing a full range of legal services, including:

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If becoming a foster caregiver has been on your mind, please reach out to Halina Wloka at 250-423-9718.

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THE ANSWER GUY

Browser Extensions by KEVIN MCISAAC It’s been years since I’ve written a “utilities” article. And in the intervening years, a lot has changed. One significant change has been how much I do in the browser window now that I used to do in standalone applications. So, this month’s column is on some of the browser extensions I use and how they might be helpful to you too. To open extensions in Chrome, click the three vertical buttons in the top right corner to get the drop-down menu. Click Settings -> Extensions. A new tab will open up. To add new extensions, click the three horizontal bar in the top left corner and then look way down at the bottom for Open Chrome Web Store. This is the best place to get Chrome extensions. There are other places, but generally, these are vetted by Google as responsible. From here, you can search for whatever extension you want. Also, be aware of the extension pins in the top right corner of the browser, just right of the URL bar. There’s an icon there shaped like a puzzle piece. That opens up extension management. The pin icons beside each extension let you pin or unpin a particular extension from the bar. It’s very useful when you have a bunch of extensions but want to see just the ones you use regularly. The first one from me is Grammarly. Grammarly helps you write better. In this age of emojis, shorthand, and slang, good writing may seem a bit quaint. But if you’re on the receiving end of communication which is part of an important decision, you want the writing to be clear. It also has a browser extension that, once installed, will make grammar and spelling suggestions in real-time. It’ll

“How many potential suitors have you lost because your profile said, ‘I love travelling to wherever their is a beach?’ The horror.” do this for whatever website you’re typing into, whether it’s google docs, Twitter, or a dating app. How many potential suitors have you lost because your profile said, “I love travelling to wherever their is a beach?” The horror. Next is uBlock Origin. This is the modern version of an adblocker. It’s fast. It blocks most of the stuff you don’t want on websites. It very occasionally can block stuff you do want. If you find that a particular website isn’t working right after you install this, you can go into the extension settings and choose Trusted Sites and add the website to the list. I do this for my banking sites for example. I haven’t noticed problems myself, but others have reported that it can be a bit aggressive in blocking. Another one I like is Google dictionary. This one does what it says.You double click on any word on a web page and it pops up an overlay with the definition of the word. It also, and I find this incredibly handy, has an audio button so you can hear the pronunciation of the word. I’m a Twitter reader for news and politics so I use Minimal Theme for Twitter. It does a good job of stripping out all the stuff you don’t want to give a nice clean interface to Twitter. If you’re like me and still get and send a fair number of PDF documents then you’ll like the Adobe Acrobat Chrome Extension. It gives you quite a few tools to deal with

PDFs right in the browser. Checker Plus for Gmail is an extension that checks your email and shows you an icon with the number of new emails. Clicking on it brings up a dialogue bog showing your emails and lets you quickly deal with them without opening Gmail. And it will deal with multiple accounts! This one requires a bit of setup if you have multiple Gmail accounts but just follow the menus. It’s not complicated. There are plenty more but don’t go hog wild. Be selective. Too many extensions can use a lot of memory, slow down your browser, and cause weird problems that are hard to pin down. So, be selective.

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ASTROLOGY

July 2022 by ASHLEY KRISTINA Happy July! The sun passes through Cancer and enters Leo this month and the planets align to give the major theme of loving communication and change. You may have been processing a lot of emotions the last several years and are finally in a place of clearance, in regards to communication and clarity. The full moon occurs July 13, 2022 at 1pm at 21º of the Cancer-Capricorn axis. The sun is also conjunct (within 5º) of Mercury while the moon is conjunct Pluto. This is an intense full moon with themes of virtue, self-actualization, dynamic interchange -meaning two or more people are involved in the karma of this full moon. There is also an underlying theme of a mountain pilgrimage or a spiritual pursuit. The new moon of this month occurs July 28, 2002 at noon in Fernie. The sun and the moon sit at 5º Leo which is the “leaping into the void” degree of the zodiac. The astrology is indicating there will be change this month, and how it manifests in you depends on where Leo falls in your birth chart. Interestingly, Mars is conjunct the north node meaning you must trust the process. It’s a step in the right direction for progress. A list of the planets and asteroids in retrograde this month, and in brackets the sign they are retrograding through: Pluto (27º Capricorn), Saturn (23º Aquarius), Neptune (25º Pisces), Chiron (Aries), Juno (Pisces), Nessus (Pisces),Vesta (Pisces).

Aries Jupiter continues to travel in your sign all month so expect to feel these aspects of Jupiter: optimism, luck, joy, spiritualconnection, expansion, exploration.

“You may have been processing a lot of emotions the last several years and are finally in a place of clearance, in regards to communication and clarity.”

Leo

Be aware that Chiron, the wound, also continues to travel in your sign meaning: we are all feeling our own wounds at this time on earth and doing the necessary processing of that.

Energy goes to the home, caregiving, cooking, cleaning, gardening, organizing the home and the family. As the sun enters Leo, it’s more of a time to enjoy the sun and not work so hard. Spend time outside and have fun.

Taurus On January 18, 2022 the north node entered Taurus where it will travel until July 12, 2023. This is some of the best support you can have in the zodiac so use it! You have another year to attain and do and build everything you need- and you will be supported to do so.

Gemini The start of the month is fluttery and social for you as Mercury and Venus travel in Gemini. It’s a month of friends, family, home, gardening and cooking. Have fun and enjoy!

Cancer Happy birthday. It’s a month to truly follow your heart and let it guide you. Also, a month to build the hearth and spend time in the garden. The summer is a time of cleansing. Let the sunlight enhance your mood, sense of self, and allow your true nature to shine.

Happy birthday to the early decan Leos! The beginning of the month is busy and a time to get things done with Mars travelling in Aries. As the summer progresses, more of a theme of enjoying the sun and grounded, slower building occurs as Mars enters Taurus.

Virgo

Libra Jupiter is opposing your energy and bringing balance into your life. It’s a lucky time for you so be receptive to what the universe can bring. Practice the path of least resistance.

Scorpio It’s a time of jumping the gun and exploring. The old and worn and mundane can sometimes become painful when the soul has the urge to experience and try something new. Trust this time. It’s a time to move and explore and venture into the unknown.

Sagittarius A month of nurturing! A time to take care of yourself and others. How do you show up for yourself first? The amount we can nurture and love our own self is truly the amount of love we can show to another. It’s a great month to focus on health, love and nurturing.

Capricorn

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A balancing month for your energy and a very important full moon to check in. We have all made a lot of spiritual leadway the last few years as literally everyone on this planet was forced to spend time with self. The manifestation of this progress is showing up in material ways.

Aquarius Saturn is in retrograde in your sign until October. This means this is a time to buckle down, do what needs to be done and you literally don’t have a choice about it. Karma is a truth of this reality.

Pisces Neptune travels in your sign, in retrograde until December. Neptune is your ruling planet, so this ultimately means you are looking to the past and doing lots of spiritual cleansing in order to move forward in life eventually. Keep doing the good work.

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THROUGH THE LENS

In the Mix, Through Your Lens DM Burak-Young Photo All (some) of the things we like to do in the summer: float down the river, have a BBQ with friends, swing a golf club or baseball bat, cut the lawn, run through a sprinkler, guide a horse along a trail, have a lemonade stand, hike or ride a bike up a mountain, canoe and SUP on a small lake, waterski and wakeboard on a big lake, read a book, let a popsicle drip down your wrist, grow some vegetables, smell the flowers, wash the car, churn some ice cream, fly fish, cool our toes in a babbling brook, or just relax and enjoy the sunshine, like Paul.

Jamie Hide Photo One summer day at Silver Springs, the boys took a break from jumping in the water and swimming to explore the shallow water and the fish that live there. The boys demonstrate curiosity for its own sake - the seed of discovery.

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Building a Sustainable Future in the Elk Valley North Coal is committed to working with the Ktunaxa Nation Council and local communities on goals and targets for mine reclamation and restoration that support social and environmental needs. inf o @ n o rt h c o a l.c a | 7 7 8 .5 1 8 .0 775

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S OCIA L PAGE

Out in the Community: How do plan to participate and manage being ‘in the mix’ of all things summer in Fernie this July and August? Vee Quinonez This summer, I’m looking forward to Wednesday Socials, and hitting all of the patios Fernie has to offer. I always love seeing Oscar and his crew of Elk Valley Cruisers doing hot laps in the summertime. I hope I can get a seat one day... Rikki Christie I am excited for our community events to return! Some fun Fernie events and activities I am looking forward to are Wapiti Festival, the Wednesday Socials, and of course hiking, biking, trail running and after work river floats! Karen Clemens We’re going to be busy with an addition renovation project, that I don’t think we’ll be in town participating too much! Frankie Koran I am super pumped for after work rides during the summer evenings to reset my brain from all the stress of managing my companies. I love that I can ride out my yard all summer long and be in the depths of the backcountry in seconds, no phone calls to answer, no problems to solve. Just family, friends, nature and me... only in Fernie.

FYI This July 1, Fernie is celebrating Canada Day starting with a Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall with Yaq?it ?a·knuq?I ‘it First Nation, followed by a Reconciliation Walk to the Aquatic Centre. This will be followed by welcome speeches, Yaq?it ?a·knuq?I ‘it traditional drumming and dancing, and Canada Day cupcakes. The Mountain Market runs from 10am-2pm, there is free swimming at the Aquatic Centre, live Photo Courtesy of music from 11:30am as well as kids’ activities! Be ready for Tourism Fernie bike decorating and a 1pm parade, potato sack races, obstacle course, and more. Please note, due to the high risk of fires in summer, there will be no fireworks. The Wednesday Concert Series is back, and we are all ready. This weekly, live concert in the heart of downtown Fernie at Station Square has become a community staple. The lineup is in, and it’s fantastic with the series kicking off July 6 with ENATA, an Edmonton-based rock band who creates music which is equal parts poetically bittersweet and rank rock and roll. The following week, local favourite Wild Honey hits the stage, with Trio Svin and the Northern Quarter playing the last two shows of the month. See you there! theartsstation.com

V. Croome Photo

The Fernie Museum has a new exhibit opening in its gallery space: In This Together is a collection of new works by Michael Hepher which is a colourful retrospective on the complexities of community. The exhibit opening takes place July1. ferniemuseum.com Fernie Heritage Library also has a fun and exciting event taking place this month – the fifth annual Splish, Splash, Sploosh. Imagine bubbles, music by DJ Jay Ray getting all of the kids dancing, the Book Bike and storytime, splash park and more. A wonderful way to celebrate summer in Fernie. fernie.bc.libraries.coop Things are in full swing with biking and running events for everyone! The Fernie Mountain Bike Club is hosting its popular Little Critter Series, with one coming up this July 12. They also are running the 2knee Tuesday Race Series this summer with the next one up on July 5 on 48 hours. To participate in FMBC events, you need a membership which you can get at bikefernie.ca. Stag Leap Running has had great turnouts at their weekly Thursday night group run, offering shorter and longer routes and usually a post-run social. They are also busy planning the Elk Valley Ultra, which takes place July 23, and the Lone Wolf taking place in September. stagleaprunning.com Fernie Alpine Resort is open for the season and hosts weekly Scott Downhill Race Series for both youth and adults. Wednesdays at 4:30pm, kids and youth race to the trails and Thursday evenings at 6:30pm it’s time for the adult and master races. Additionally, for something a little mellow there are regular guided hikes. Head to skifernie.com for the full details.

Photo Courtesy of FAR

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Fernie Fix July 2022

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