Fernie Fix January 2015

JANUARY

2015 | ISSUE 97

IN THIS ISSUE: FEATURE ARTIST LINDEN GIGLIOTTI | FEATURE RESIDENT BLAIR KNOOIHUIZEN ON WHAT MOVES HIM | JESSE BELL TAKES ON FARNHAM GLACIER | MIKE COTTON DISCUSSES THE LIFE OF A LIFTY | HEATHER IVANY AND THE MEANING OF EGO | EXPERT TRAVEL ADVICE BY REBECCA HALL

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Steelmaking coal builds communities Teck is the largest producer of steelmaking coal in North America with five operations in the Elk Valley and one in Alberta. Steelmaking coal is an essential ingredient in the production of the steel needed to build critical infrastructure such as transit, schools, hospitals, and many other essential products.

JANUARY 2015

Every tonne of steel requires about 700 kilograms of steelmaking coal to create, making steelmaking coal a critical resource for a modern society.

To learn more, visit www.teck.com

ISSUE 97

EDITOR’S FIX | 5 BUSINESS | 7 Getting to Work - Changing Careers

by Amy Boeckner Business News/New Business

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 14 Feature Artist – Linden Gigliotti Abdou’s LitPicks – How Poetry Saved My Life: A Hustler’s Memoir by Amber Dawn

by Angie Abdou Rental Fix – The Equalizer by Andrew Vallance Musical Notes – The Heart is Alive with the Sound of Music by Carolyn Nikodym

COMMUNITY & EVENTS | 22 Feature Resident – Blair Knooihuizen

by Krista Turcasso FernieFix.com Events Calendar / January at the Arts Station

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE | 37 Fit to Play – Hurdling Over Fitness Obstacles

by Sarah Ingram, Practicing Kinesiologist Health Naturally by Dr. Taina Turcasso, N.D., R.M. - Obstacles to Healthy Living Nourish Through Nature by Krissi Hyland, RHN - Positive and Lasting Changes Tales From An Unexpected Yogi – Befriending Your Ego by Heather Ivany Around the World with Rebecca Hall – Ask an Expert You’ve Got Male: Parenthood Lessons

by Adam K. MacDonald

BITS AND BYTES | 51 The Answer Guy – Safe iPhone Travelling

by Kevin McIsaac Monthly Horoscopes by Claire Simmons

FERNIE FUN | 54 Fix Trivia

OUTDOOR LIFE | 24 Never Have I Ever – Farnham Glacier

by Jesse Bell In the Tracks – A Guide to Nordic Skiing: Getting Started by Jeff Williams Hitting the Trails with the Fernie Trails Alliance – 2014’s Achievements

by Julie Kelly Women of the Mountains by Hannah Griffin – Marie-France Roy A Day in the Life of a Lifty by Mike Cotton – Lifty 101

COVER: Chasing the line. Rider: Chris Brock.

Photo by Olivier Gosselin www.oliviergosselin.com THIS PAGE: Julian Tracy with a classic mule kick method in the Gun Barrel at Island Lake.

Photo by Mike McPhee

Booked!

Booked!

Fernie Writers’ Series 2014 Presented by the Fernie Heritage Library

Fernie Writers’ Series 2014 Presented by the Fernie Heritage Library HOW POETRY SAVED MY LIFE

By AmBer DAwn

2 2 2 2 2 Saturday January 31st, 7:00 pm

At the Fernie Heritage Library

“I cannot thank Amber Dawn enough for living to tell this brilliantly gorgeous, needed offering. These poems didn’t just save Amber Dawn’s life: they will save yours.” ~Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

Editor’s Fix WHY CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF, fully aware of the possibility of failure?

For the first 25 years of my life, I lived safely. Any risks I took were calculated with high probability of success and typically the choices or decisions were not solely my own – my parents had a huge influence over me, as did the approval or acknowledgement of peers.

Not surprisingly, I realized I wasn’t as happy as I could be. There were many parts of me I had yet to explore or discover. The ironic thing is it took coming back to Fernie and seeing a different side of this mountain town to realize this.

As cliché as it may sound, mountain biking was my catalyst. Each and every time I took to the trail, I doubted myself, overcame an obstacle and was rewarded

with progress. Being surrounded by women that were encouraging and empowering helped immensely, and it soon became a passion.

A confidence and willingness to challenge myself transferred into other aspects of my life. I took chances I never would have previously dreamed of, and worked hard to see things through no matter what obstacles came my way. If and when any doubts found their way into my thoughts, I tried to focus on the positive and many times took an amazing bike ride on the Fernie trails to help me reconnect.

The process is never ending – I am continually reminding myself to try my best, to help me be the best version of me I can be. And a lot of the time, I am not. It may be a life-long process, but one that is rewarding. I often think to myself, “If it isn’t challenging, what is the point?”

The more I put into something, and the more difficult it is to accomplish, the more

proud I am of the effort, even if I don’t reach my initial goals.

In the end, it is indeed the effort over the end result. Knowing that we have worked hard, and undoubtedly learned and changed in the process is always worth the challenge and risk of failure in my opinion.

Happy 2015. I hope the New Year edition inspires you to take on a new challenge or overcome an obstacle that has come your way.

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

Contributors

BLUETOQUE

AMY BOECKNER works with a great team at EK Employment Elk Valley (WorkBC) to help connect job seekers with employers. Whether you are looking for work or looking to hire, they are your one stop shop for all your employment related needs (www.ekemployment.org)!

ANGIE ABDOU is a local fiction writer.

Her new novel Between was selected as a best book of 2014 by 49th Shelf and by Vancouver Sun’s Tom Sandborn. For more news on her publications and upcoming speaking engagements visit www.abdou.ca ANDREW VALLANCE is a cinophile nerd who currently lives on the wet coast. Girlfriendless, he spends his time going to movies, buying DVDs and flirting.

CAROLYN NIKODYM feels the rejuvenating power of music every single day.

open daily: 9am - 3pm closed: tuesday + wed.

250 423 4637 - 601 1st Ave

SARAH INGRAM, practicing kinesiologist, was never very good at running hurdles but has many tricks to help you get over your fitness hurdles! For specific-to-you training, call 250-423-9167 or visit www.sarahsactiverehab.com.

MIKE COTTON is a writer and photographer from England.

You can find more of his work at www.nomadsontheroad.com.

JEFF WILLIAMS moved to Fernie ten years ago for downhill skiing but was lured to Nordic skiing for its lack of crowds and great fitness. He has been coaching with the Fernie Nordic Society for three years and is the head coach for the Fernie Nordic Racers. When the snow is gone he can be found running on the Fernie trails or playing golf.

KRISSI HYLAND is a holistic nutritionist and whole food chef stoked to be writing for the Fix and inspiring the community to eat not only healthy but tasty foods. Visit NourishThroughNature.com or call 250531-3553 for a nutritional consult or cooking class.

This month JESSE BELL checks “skiing on a glacier” off her bucket list. Because it's far more possible than she ever thought.

HANNAH GRIFFIN is excited to come back to Fernie and looking forward to a winter full of snow and good times.

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

This month HEATHER IVANY takes on the Ego. Learn more about Heather and her yoga practice at www.heatherivanyyoga. com.

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

ADAM K. MACDONALD is glad that he doesn’t write many cheques because he’ll be writing 2014 all month long. Happy New Year, Fernie!

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

CLAIRE SIMMONS is an intuitive Reiki Master living on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia who spent last winter in Fernie. Stay tuned for a link to her blog where she’ll be writing about the intuitive process and posting tips.

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Business

January 16 - 18 It’s cold. It’s dark. It’s January in Fernie...

Vogue Theatre

5

Fernie’s 7th Annual

Visiting Actors & Producers

Children’s Programming Short Films Opening & Closing Receptions

Get your Festival Passes NOW for just $40 each at the Arts Station. Single Show Tickets available at the door.

For full festival details, movie info, trailers etc.:

ReelFilmFest.ca

Let It Snow!

Buying or selling a home is a big decision - you need an experienced professional to guide you through the process. When you work with me, you can count on personal, attentive & patient service, excellent knowledge of the area, great negotiation skills and expert selling strategies.

Loralee Thomas

Elk Valley Realty 250.423.4444

LORALEE THOMAS (c) 250.430.1070 www.LoraleeThomas.com

AMY BOECKNER

F E A T U R E

5 Feature Films

Aileen Shipley Interiors by Design ashipleydesign@gmail.com 250.531.0284

F I L M S

Changing Careers WHILE THEY MAY NOT REALIZE IT or could be astonished at what I have taken forward, my parents have each taught me valuable career planning lessons, which I believe still hold true despite that current generations face distinct challenges when it comes to making choices about work and career.

Monsoon

Mommy

It isn’t the handy model I use in presentations for EK Employment (know yourself, explore your options, get ready, take action). It is that your career is simply the sum total of all your work, learning, and life roles. The words need not knock your knees and should not feel irrelevant.

It is that I should not ignore any one part of this formula because it is otherwise ill-serving. It is that choice is necessary and ideally made by an active participant who decides when and how to be bold or conservative. It is that my career will develop over my lifetime and be unique to me. Opportunities can connect in the strangest of ways. It will be exciting at times and may not at others. It is that nothing is final.

My father was the one who always knew what he wanted to be, what he wanted to do for work. His career path could be described as quite linear, but on closer examination you would see bends and a building toward something. I remember distinctly when I was about ten years old and my parents made a decision about his work. It was a bold choice for them that to the outside world may not have necessarily made sense, but to us it did because the choice aligned with his learning, life roles, and work strengths.

I’m not sure if my mother always knew what she wanted to be. I probably don’t know because I watched my mum with fascination do so many amazing things.

She knew herself. She didn’t limit her

GETTING TO WORK

OPPORTUNITIES CAN CONNECT IN THE STRANGEST OF WAYS. IT WILL BE EXCITING AT TIMES AND MAY NOT AT OTHERS options and was willing to explore. By no means was this easy. I remember when she struggled to return to her line of paid work after the youngest was tucked away in school. I also remember her getting a lay-off notice. I remember the stress and not knowing how to help.

Me, I have always struggled with the question “what do you want to be,” from my first days playing make-believe to many years later after graduate studies in a town I loved and wanting to find work that worked. This struggle is not uncommon.

Making career choices can feel daunting.

It can feel like there are a million choices while having only a few. It can come with intense pressure to get it “right”… and then things can change faster than a prairie fire with a tail wind.

We will all be challenged to make many career choices throughout our lives. Where will you take yourself ?

Resident Feature Name: Leah Wilkie Business: Decoro Portraits What was your first job in the Valley? I started as an on-call Teacher in School District #5, and then got a job as the Community Literacy Coordinator for the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy.

Why is Fernie a great place to work?

The pace in Fernie is so different from other places I've lived and worked. People here work really hard, but there is so much more focus on work/life balance. There is a real sense that work is not an end unto itself, but a piece of a larger picture.

KEVAN WILKIE/6:8 PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO

What is it about your job that you love?

I really enjoy having the opportunity to spend a large chunk of time with clients, and because of that I can really get acquainted with them. I love having real conversations with people, and getting the chance to help them recognize their own value and beauty.

If you could relay one piece of advice to someone working toward their "dream" job, what would that be?

My biggest asset in this process has been my husband and business partner, Kevan. He and I have very different, but complementary strengths and ways of looking at the world. Having a person in your life that can help level the ups and downs is invaluable. And as Kevan always reminds me, being an entrepreneur is about innovation and hustle, so never stop moving!

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Business

Essential Yoga Studio

The only couple’s massage in Fernie.

761 7th Ave 250-423-9672 “FORGIVENESS FOR PEACE OF MIND” is a five-part workshop taking place at Essential Yoga Studio this January 24 – February 21.

Enjoy a luxurious side-by-side massage with your partner, your spouse, or even your best friend in our private fireplace treatment room! ~ 6,600 sq.ft. of luxury ~ Fireplace relaxation spaces ~ Couple’s massage room

One of the biggest obstacles to a peaceful mind and a happy life is not being able to forgive. Not forgiving is at the root of most relationship problems. The challenge is that most of us don’t recognize this simple truth. Forgiveness is not the question; it’s the answer. It’s not the problem; it’s the solution. Learn why forgiveness isn’t weakness; it’s strength. And until we forgive we spend our time ruminating, adding to our list of those who have wronged us and leading a life of bitterness.

~ Infrared saunas ~ 15 trained specialists ~ Outdoor hot pool

Join Essential Yoga in the workshop “Five Steps to Forgiveness” and you will remove the obstacles that prevent you from having peace of mind, because ultimately holding onto grudges, wrongs and resentment only hurts ourselves. Saturdays from 4-6pm, January 24-Feb 21. $169+gst Voted Best of Fernie 2012 - 2014

Stay for an hour or escape for the day.

Downtown Fernie: 901 - 2 Avenue, Fernie, B.C.

www.spa901.ca

250·423·7722

Logo Wear!

1·800·622·5007

BUSINESS NEWS

escape@spa901.ca

NEW YEAR, NEW PAINT JOB.

Goldstar Cleaning Services 1591 10th Ave 250-423-4029 FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS Goldstar has partnered with Cleaning for a Reason, a non profit organization that partners with professional cleaning companies to offer women undergoing treatment for cancer a house cleaning service. 2014 saw them provide assistance to four women, many of whom have continued with their regular cleans after the four-month program finished.

Goldstar’s owner Jill Barclay is proud to be associated with Cleaning for a Reason, and is looking forward to helping more women in the local community in 2015.

The Good Earth 601 2nd Ave 250-423-7121 THE GOOD EARTH HAS MOVED! After more than 30 years of serving the community from the edge of downtown, the store is now in a more central, easy-access location for the community’s needs. Since December 1, the Good Earth has been located at the Huckleberry Plaza.

“We have embraced our new space, and are getting a great response from the community,” says owner Ari Rosen. With the move, the store has picked up new Canadian lines including Kaslo Sourdough Pasta, Kaslo Beeswax Candles, Kogi Naturals, Dish Scrubbies, Routine Cream, St Francis Herb, and more. Give them a call or drop by for a visit, open Mon - Sat 10am-6pm. Visit www.goodearthfernie.ca or like their page on Facebook.

“We have played an active role in the Fernie community since opening in 2003 and are always looking for ways to give back. Cleaning for a Reason felt like an obvious choice for us and we’re happy to be entering our fourth year of participation.”

If you feel you are eligible for Cleaning for a Reason’s services, or know someone who you would like to nominate, please visit www.cleaningforareason.org.

Eye of the Needle 260 5th Street EYE OF THE NEEDLE is a new artisan gallery and studio in downtown Fernie operated by mother and daughter duo Sandra and Florence Barrett.

Fernie Forge blacksmith Sandra Barrett incorporates glass and felt into her sculptural steel work. She was inspired to forge a collaboration with glass artist Katherine Russell and fibre artist Robin Wiltse to showcase glass and felt in the gallery.

Home of the $39.99 Fernie Hoodie

Upstairs in the studio is Sandra's daughter Florence, who is all set up to sew. From clothing repairs and alterations to custom builds, this award winning costume designer and seamstress is fully equipped to bring your ideas to life.

Eye of the Needle Studio and Gallery is owned by Fernie Forge. The gallery will be open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10am - 5pm and Saturdays 11:30am - 5:30pm. The studio will be open by appointment or by chance - phone Florence 778-995-9151.

+ 250 430 1872 SUBMITTED PHOTO

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Business

SHUTTLE & CHARTERS FERNIE, B.C.

BUSINESS NEWS

Thunder Meadows Massage Therapy 632 2nd Ave. 250-423-2673 REBECCA VAUGHAN RMT AND JEREMY GRASSICK RMT at Thunder Meadows Massage are pleased to announce that along with online booking they now provide online gift certificates and direct billing for Blue Cross.

Overwaitea

MORNING

Fernie to Ski Hill

EXPRESS EXPRESS Mon-Fri Mon-Fri

8:15 8:18 8:23 8:25 8:28 8:30 8:35 8:38 8:45

Gear Hub Overwaitea @ 2nd Ave Best Western Red Tree Lodge Raging Elk Hostel Park Place Lodge Super 8 Stanford Resort Fernie Alpine Resort Lot 1

8:45

8:55

9:15

9:25

9:15 9:18 9:23 9:25 9:28 9:30 9:35 9:38 9:45

10:15 10:18 10:23 10:25 10:28 10:30 10:35 10:38 10:45

AFTERNOON

Ski Hill to Fernie Fernie Alpine Resort Stanford Resort Super 8 (by request) Park Place Lodge (rear) Raging Elk Hostel Red Tree Lodge Best Western Overwaitea Gear Hub

EXPRESS Mon-Fri

2:15 2:22 2:25 2:30 2:32 2:35 2:37 2:42 2:45

3:15 3:22 3:25 3:30 3:32 3:35 3:37 3:42 3:45

4:05

4:15

EXPRESS Drop off Mon-Fri by request

4:15 4:22 4:25 4:30 4:32 4:35 4:37 4:42 4:45

4:30

5:00

UNTAIN HIGH O M

SHUTTLE & CHARTERS Calgary Airport Shuttle: 3 times each week guaranteed Cranbrook Airport Ski Resort Transfers Custom: Corporate, Weddings, Staff Events

Late Breakfast, Lunch If you have a Pacific Blue Cross extended Dinner, Dessert and Drinks health care plan please bring in your most A Fresh New Winter Menu

Powder Chaser Ski Shuttle: Fernie's local transportation.

See full schedule online.

4:45

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Full Lunch & Dinner Menu

EVENING

Ski Hill to Fernie 6:00 6:02 6:05 6:10 6:15 6:17 6:20 6:22 6:30

7:00 7:02 7:05 7:10 7:15 7:17 7:20 7:22 7:30

8:00 8:02 8:05 8:10 8:15 8:17 8:20 8:22 8:30

9:00 9:02 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:17 9:20 9:22 9:30

10:00 10:02 10:05 10:10 10:15 10:17 10:20 10:22 10:30

6:30 6:33 6:35 6:38 6:40 6:43 6:45 7:00

7:30 7:33 7:35 7:38 7:40 7:43 7:45 8:00

8:30 8:33 8:35 8:38 8:40 8:43 8:45 9:00

9:30 9:33 9:35 9:38 9:40 9:43 9:45 10:00

10:30 10:33 10:35 10:38 10:40 10:43 10:45

Think of us for Apres Ski... enjoy Happy Hour from 4 - 6pm

EVENING

Fernie to Ski Hill Best Western Red Tree Lodge Park Place Pub Overwaitea Gear Hub Super 8 Stanford Resort Snow Creek Lodge

anywhere in the Elk Valley

One Way Fare $3.50 RCR Staff / Youth $3.00 10 Ride Punch Card $30 Season Pass $300

RAFTFERNIE.COM

Daytime Start Dec 20 to April 12 Express Starts Dec 29 to April 10 Evening Starts Dec 20 to March 28

SNOWPRORENTAL.COM

Visit their website for further information: www.thundermeadowsmassage.ca. “We hope everyone had a great Christmas and wish everyone a Happy New Year.”

downtown

In House Rotisserie Chicken & Ribs

Snow Creek Lodge Lizard Creek Lodge Mountain Pantry Timberline Lodge Stanford Resort Super 8 Gear Hub Overwaitea @ 2nd Ave Best Western

recent ID card and they will take care of the rest.

Looking for a great caterer to host your wedding or other special event? From 40 - 1200 guests, we have you covered.

250.423.7367 - events@enjoyfernie.com

The Reel Canadian Film Festival www.reelfilmfest.ca The Reel Canadian Film Festival celebrates seven years on the weekend of January 16 – 18.

Organizers are pleased to be kicking off the festival on Friday at 7pm with When the Ocean Met the Sky, a made-in-BC comedy/drama filmed on Vancouver Island’s beautiful west coast. Pro snowboarder Lukas Huffman turns his hand to filmmaking, producing this entertaining film about three twentysomething brothers sent on a wilderness adventure designed as the last will and testament of their late and eccentric parents.

Following Friday’s film at the Vogue, the audience is invited to attend the Opening Reception at the Central Bar next door.

Producer Lukas Huffman will be in attendance and he will be joined by two of the film’s lead actors, Terry Field and Phillip Thomas. There will be appetizers and refreshments and a Q&A session with these special guests. For tickets and full festival details visit www.reelfilmfest.ca FERNIEFIX.COM

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Business

Stratton PLUMBING, HEATING AND SHEET METAL

Industrial • Commercial • Residential

NEW BUSINESS

KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW BREW H O T S AW I N D I A B R O W N A L E

250.423.4778 1502 10th Avenue, Fernie BC V0B 1M0 Fax: 250.423.4771

• Custom Duct Work • New Installation and Remodelling • Furnaces & Hot Water Tanks • All Plumbing Fixtures • Radiant Heating Systems • Gas Fireplaces • Full Sheet Metal Shop & Installations • Quality First certified • Licensed and Bonded

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The Rusty Edge

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5369 Ski Hill Road 250-430-7817 THE RUSTY EDGE is putting Fernie Alpine Resort on the map by providing skiers with a fun, family-friendly place to hang out après ski, or to warm up by a wood burning fireplace with a mulled wine (made by the Germans) or a craft beer by the Fernie Brewing Company. Throw in some live entertainment and there's no reason to ever leave the ski hill.

Dug the Holidays a little too much...

Located in the Griz Inn, the Rusty Edge is now open and offering great comfort food including burgers, soup and salads, and a lineup of pizzas baked in a stone oven. Shoot pool, throw darts, play Big Buck Hunter or watch your team play on one of several big screen TVs. The large open space, patio and views are perfect for hosting weddings, conferences or other special events.

Keep Calm and Wag On @ BARKSiDE Follow us on

Open 11am until late seven days a week. Daily specials and happy hour each day from 3:30-5:30pm.

Business News amendments: A D I S T I N C T H O P F L AV O U R , BALANCED WITH CARAMEL AND C H O C O L AT E M A LT I N E S S 26 Manitou Road Fernie BC, V0B 1M5

791A 2nd Avenue, Fernie OPEN 7 days a week Serving you and your pets since 2006 250-423-4332 Natural and raw food, treats, toys & mountain gear

1-855-777-BREW (2739) www.ferniebrewing.com WINTER OPENING HOURS.

7 days a week: 10am-6pm

In the November 2014 issue, Carosella shared news of closing and where its products would be selling. Fernie Mountain Honey and Candles are available at The Cottonwood Tree and The Good Earth, but not at the Arts Co-Op. In the 2014/15 Fernie Fix Winter Guide, Play it Forward Sports Therapy was listed as physiotherapy, instead of Athletic Therapy.

Movement Fernie 201-2nd Ave WANT TO FEEL ENERGIZED, grounded, and clear minded? You may be interested in moveMEnt, Fernie’s Active Meditation classes. These classes are dynamic and include moving to a wide range of music, from tribal through classical. The idea is to get you moving, out of your head and into your body. The movement component is followed by a period of quiet, stillness and relaxation.

To integrate the experience, the class finishes with a mandala drawing activity.

It is not uncommon for participants to say they feel invigorated and more in tune with themselves as a result.

Classes are guided by Anna Weston. Anna has a background in Transpersonal and Emotional Release Therapy (Australia), Speech Pathology, has travelled extensively, and is excited to be offering active meditation classes to the Fernie community.

Check out the moveMEnt Fernie Facebook page or email movementfernie@outlook.com for more details.

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Arts and Entertainment

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

Linden Gigliotti I’ve been through the Rockies, I’ve seen Saskatoon, I’ve driven down the Highway 1, Just hoping that I’d see you soon.

“Comin’ Home” (City and Colour)

Music was never something I could see myself doing. Before my first guitar lesson, life was about video games and sports.

It all started when my friends wanted to start a band – we were 12 years old at the time and I said I would learn bass. The upstairs of my Grandparents’ house was where I found my first guitar, and I don’t think I put the damned thing down – not even having a clue as to what I was doing. Within the following weeks my dad had gotten me guitar lessons. At the end of the first, I was hooked and said, "To hell with the bass; this is awesome!”

Two or three years of heavy metal and rock ‘n’ roll guitar later, singing came into the picture. I blame/owe it to my high-school drama teacher, Lorie Sinclair. See, I was both intimidated and terrified of singing since day one. But sure enough, in 2009, our school put on Grease as its year-end play. Not being able to make it to the auditions – I think we had a basketball game out of town that night – Ms. Sinclair still gave me a role anyway. I thought she’d

made a mistake, but she stuck with it. Little did I know, the role that she'd chosen for me had a solo. Never having sung before, alongside the thought of getting up in front of a crowd, it seemed out of the question. But she believed in me and kept pushing me, and we did it! I sang for the first time and the crowd cheered, and my life changed in many ways.

Thus, opening the door to song writing.

That was when I heard “Coming Home” by City and Colour. The song that altered the way I looked at not only music, but also myself as a person. It made me want to be a musician and ride this train until I fell off. Power, beauty and simplicity all rolled into one string of notes and melodies. I was captivated. Learning about the expression of how you felt or how you wanted to feel – anything really – in such a creative way. It resonated so true, and I have been writing my own material ever since over the past five years.

Last fall I moved to Calgary to study Music Producing and Audio Engineering at SAIT. The course was an absolute blast and the people involved deserve the same praise. Here I was, learning new recording techniques and the science behind it all. It motivated me to start my first “serious” album. I had put out a few amateurgrade demos before but now it was time to step up my game.

Thank goodness for Black Friday sales, because that was when I’d ordered my recording gear. The next thing I know, Trails is put into motion. I did all the writing, recording, producing and even the mastering myself – and did it ever feel good to finish it, the songs were starting to drive me crazy. On July 11, 2013 I released the EP Trails on Bandcamp (lindenanthony.bandcamp.com) and later on Soundcloud (soundcloud.com/lindenanthonymusic) for a pay-whatyou-want price.

let alone invest in my work, means the world. We held the digital CD release party at my favourite spot in town, Infinitea. Stephanie Flemming (Owner) has been a dear friend to me over the last few years. Giving me shows at her shop, even when I was still new to performing. She believed in me just like my friends and family, along with this beautiful town; I owe it all to you.

As of now the plan is to go overseas, travelling with my songs in my pocket. First to Australia and then Europe.

“Coming Home” has been my favourite song since I’d first heard it but I’m sure it will reach a new meaning after all the travels are said and done. To finally be coming home. To seeing the familiar faces and the open arms of friends and family. To breathe the air of the greatest place on earth, and my home, Fernie, BC.

The feedback and support I have received around Fernie is the best part though. Knowing that people are taking the time to listen, FERNIEFIX.COM

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Arts and Entertainment

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

How Poetry Saved My Life: A Hustler’s Memoir by Amber Dawn ANGIE ABDOU

Available at Polar Peek Books and Treasures in downtown Fernie.

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

Contact us to place a special order

A SAFER ROOM FOR PLAY.

Applause ® honeycomb shades with enhanced child safety.

With a variety of cordless operating systems to choose from, Applause® shades are the choice for children. Plus, they offer beautiful fabrics and affordable prices, making every room in your home even more enjoyable.

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

Y A M A G O Y A

IS FERNIE READY FOR AMBER DAWN? I know I am! I first heard Amber Dawn speak at the 2013 Vancouver Writers Festival. She blew me away. She inspired me. She moved me to tears. She gave me goose bumps. However you want to put it: she had my full attention. She made me think about stories that matter and writing without fear. I listened to her frank discussion about her life as a sex worker on the streets of Vancouver and her equally insightful reflection about her life working towards a Masters of Fine Arts at UBC. I listened to her explain the way those two lives – which seem so impossibly far apart – continue to intertwine and depend upon each other. I listened, and I thought: this woman is a force. This woman is just warming up. We’re going to hear a whole lot more from Amber Dawn.

ABDOU’S LITPICKS

to her “controversial” past. Amber Dawn’s response to this not-so-subtle censorship is: “My writing does not stand on its own.

My writing is comprised of the death, struggles, and the work, accomplishments, alliances, and love of many. My writing is indebted to queers and feminists, sex workers and radical culture makers, nonconformists and trailblazers, artists and healers, missing women and justice fighters. My writing stands with those who also have been asked – in one way or another – to edit their bios.”

How Poetry Saved My Life is a powerful book by a powerful woman. It articulates the connection between poetry and activism.

She quotes Jeanette Winterson: “That is what literature offers – a language powerful enough to say how it is. It isn’t a hiding place. It is a finding place.” Amber Dawn’s poems “say how it is” to live the life of a sex worker.

As well as a moving testament to the power of poetry, Amber Dawn’s book is also a call to action. She reminds readers that in big cities like Vancouver there are approximately 10,000 people, mainly women, working as prostitution-based sex workers, “and yet we rarely hear from them.” She complains that “to listen to and include sex workers’ voices in dialogue is a skill that we have not yet developed, just as we have not learned how to include the voices of anyone who does not conform I swore I’d find a way to get her to Fernie, to accepted behaviour or ideas.” The and now she’s coming. She’ll be the fourth publication of How Poetry Saved My Life is writer of this year’s BOOKED! series at The part of a first wave of work giving voice to Fernie Heritage Library. Come hear her those lives. story on January 31 (doors open at 7pm).

At the end of her introduction, Amber Amber Dawn’s second book How Poetry Dawn thanks her earlier street-walking self: Saved My Life: A Hustler’s Memoir won the “I am extremely grateful that the young City of Vancouver Book Award. This woman I once was had the tenacity to memoir is Amber Dawn’s rebellion against write shit down.” silence. With the release of her first novel, I am extremely grateful that the woman Sub Rosa, she penned a bio that revealed Amber Dawn is now had the tenacity her experience touring with the Sex to publish this book, to speak with such Workers’ Art Show. She also included the candour about her life, and to refuse to edit fact that she has won porn awards. Many her bio. I can’t wait to talk to her about suggested that she was “too forthcoming” her life, her work, and her future … on about her private life and that her work January 31 at the Fernie Heritage Library. would stand on its own without reference FERNIEFIX.COM

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Arts and Entertainment

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At almost sixty years of age Denzel doesn't fail to impress. He dishes out huge amounts of old testament justice in The Equalizer, a good old-fashioned action movie that makes no apology for what it is. The film is the story of Robert McCall (played by Washington), a mild-mannered, big-box store employee and ex-CIA agent, who befriends Teri, a teenage sex worker.

The teenager is played by Chloë Moretz.

Moretz first appeared in film as the little sister in 500 Days of Summer, and came to prominence in the action movies Kick Ass and Kick Ass 2. She also played a starring role in the Martin Scorcese masterpiece Hugo.

After seeing Teri mistreated by her employers, who just happen to be violent Russian gangsters, McCall seeks vengeance and goes on an anti-mob killing spree that is the centrepiece of the film. It has to be said that without Denzel Washington's excellent performance, the film could have been absolutely awful. The villains, for the most part, are like one-dimensional cartoon characters.

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DENZEL WASHINGTON is one of America’s greatest actors. From Glory to Training Day, Red Tide to Flight he has shown over and over again that he is a very talented and charismatic performer. His screen presence combines keen intelligence with a confidence that makes the audience empathize with whichever character he is playing. My two favourite Denzel Washington performances are from Malcolm X, where he plays Malcolm, and The Inside Man, where he plays Detective Keith Frazer.

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The exception is Marton Csokas, who is wonderful as a well-dressed, icily polite Russian mobster who serves as the movie's main villain. Born in New Zealand, he has played every role from an Elf in the Lord of the Rings to an Israeli spy in The Debt (with

Helen Mirren), and has acquitted himself admirably in every role he has taken on so far. In this film he does the best he can, given that the character he plays is paperthin and is simply evil for the sake of being evil. Even the character of Robert McCall is not fantastically well drawn, and although Chloe Moretz gives a good performance, her character doesn't have enough substance for her to have saved the film if someone less charismatic had played the equalizer.

The director is Antoine Fuqua. His previous work includes Brooklyn's Finest, Olympus Has Fallen, and the film that got Washington his Oscar, Training Day. In The Equalizer Fuqua does what he does best, creating a bloody, action macho fest that pushes our more animalistic buttons. The storyline may not be particularly complex, thoughtful or inspired, but at least Csokas gives Washington, who at this point should be playing grandfathers, a chance to play a role that allows him to shine.

This isn't a spectacularly terrific film, but if you enjoy the acting styles of Csokas, Moretz and Washington, then you will most definitely appreciate this film. If you like a huge amount of subtlety then I recommend that you give The Equalizer a miss.

One and a half thumbs up.

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In’ ing! t s Fir main ‘ ted s Re i Lim site me o H

Arts and Entertainment

The Heart is Alive with the Sound of Music

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SOME OF MY OLDEST musical memories include putting an LP on the turntable, laying on the carpet beside the speakers and pouring over the lyrics on an album cover. Christmas carols were sung around the piano before gift opening.

I was 13 when I went to my first “real” concert, one that wasn’t the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. As a teenager, music was what defined me and the crew I hung out with.

Music has all kinds of magical properties.

It takes us outside of ourselves. It brings back memories: listening to the Fine Young Cannibals or U2’s Joshua Tree always reminds me of being 16 and my first car; White Snake will forever remind me of a crazy road trip from Niagara Falls to Wasaga Beach; Phish is concerts at the Gorge. Music connects us with people: I have friends who I’d likely lose touch with if we weren’t constantly sharing new album finds. Music allows us to try on different emotions, from heartbreak to elation. And part of that is the idea that music helps us overcome the various challenges life throws our way. Many of us have loud, fast-paced soundtracks for our workouts, and many musicians have released “break-up albums.”

I’ve been writing about music for over a decade, interviewed hundreds of bands.

While I feel blessed to have talked to musicians that cross the gamut from highly recognizable to most obscure, coming up with interesting questions – both for myself and my interviewee – becomes challenging. But it is when I’ve dug in a little deeper for non-generic questions that I’ve come away with a real, honest connection with my subject.

MUSICAL NOTES

EMILY PULLEN PHOTO

...MUSIC IS THE ONLY ART FORM THAT AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY. SOUND WAVES MAKE OUR EARDRUMS AND OUR BODIES VIBRATE AT THEIR EXACT SAME FREQUENCY... WE LITERALLY FEEL MUSIC. A couple of my favourite interviewing moments include having Patrick Watson crack a beer – a distinct sound, even over the phone – at 11 in the morning because our conversation was getting on the esoteric side or having a 20-minute conversation with former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur about our weird last names … and then, mortifyingly, misspelling her boyfriend’s last name in the article. And then there was the time when I got an email from Richard Drew, the AP photographer who took one of the most heartbreaking photos of 9-11, the Falling Man. I’d interviewed folk musician Christine Lavin, who stopped singing one of her songs because the lyrics were eerily

Music has the power to touch us in ways that no other art form can. And I say that as someone who thinks that all forms of art are important to our ability to understand the world. Its appeal is the most universal. You don’t need to know anything about music to know what you like; either it moves you or it doesn’t. After all of the interviews and research I’ve done, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is because music is the only art form that affects us physically. Sound waves make our eardrums and our bodies vibrate at their exact same frequency. Despite the risk of taking the magic away from music, I find this fascinating. We literally feel music.

Way back in the day, when the first recordings of music were being made, there were those who thought that recording music was almost sacrilege – music was to be listened to live or not at all, made for the moment. Today, it’s difficult to imagine a world where I couldn’t turn on the stereo to listen to whatever I want to, to complement whatever I’m feeling. The industry has changed in so many ways, but there has never been a time where so much music was so readily available.

For this New Year, I challenge all of you to expand your musical horizons. You’ll be richer for it. Check out some of Fernie’s live shows, because there is something for everyone. Troll your music subscription for new sounds – many of them have if-youlike-that-you’ll-also-like-this algorithms.

And when you find something you like, don’t forget to support the band, because musicians are true magicians.

Lastly, if you haven’t already heard, Fernie’s Shred Kelly is releasing a new album – Sing to the Night – on January 31 at the Community Centre. It’ll be an awesome party!

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Community & Events

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

Blair Knooihuizen KRISTA TURCASSO

JANUARY IS A TIME that many use to set goals and challenge themselves.

What obstacles do I face, and how can I overcome them in 2015? What better time to feature a Fernie resident that has been overcoming obstacles since birth, and inspiring people in the process?

You may not know who Blair Knooihuizen is if you have never entered Evolution or more recently Crossfit Fernie. For those that have, you know Blair and are regularly impressed if not awed by his athletic abilities, determination and discipline.

Blair was born with Fibular Hemimelia and at eight months had his right leg amputated to provide him with the best opportunity in life. “I started walking at 14 months and have not stopped,” he says.

Blair experienced a normal and active life playing numerous sports and trying every activity that he came across, until he eventually discovered weight training and began working with personal trainers to increase performance and get better results.

3. What was your first impression?

Recently, Blair set his sights on the Working Wounded Games – an event that takes place once a year with athletes coming from around the world to compete. Athletes signed up for the games are also signed up for a charity. If they raised $1000 they were flown to the event for free. Blair raised double that amount (the most raised by any athlete) and donated to the Working Wounded charity.

He also raised a lot of awareness about the games within the Fernie community.

This November, Blair overcame a huge obstacle when he competed in the games, and walked away with a Second Place in the Limb Dysfunction category.

5. Do you have a favourite Fernie memory?

“I am definitely going back next year to go after that Number 1 spot,” says Blair. “I also signed up for another competition called Battle on the Border in Lloydminister, AB this January 16-18.”

This is a team event, which will most likely be void of any other adaptive athletes.

Blair’s life path changed when he fell upon a Crossfit gym in Vancouver, BC. He was immediately drawn to the style of training, and when he returned home to Fernie in March of 2013, began working out at Crossfit Fernie. “I went from working out three times a week to five times, completed my Level 1 Certification and began coaching,” he says.

For those who have never been exposed to Crossfit, it is a physical exercise philosophy that incorporates elements from highintensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics, girevoy sport, calisthenics, strongmore and other exercises. You can imagine that the workouts are challenging, and are probably wondering how an

can tell, challenges and obstacles are the stuff Blair seems to live for. He wanted to share his passion and inspire others to push themselves, so began a blog (www.noexcusesnolimits.ca) to bring more awareness to athletes with physical restrictions. He also hopes to inspire the Crossfit community to host an alternate Crossfit Games much like the Paralympics.

“If this doesn’t happen, then I guess I am going to try my best to be the first amputee at regionals,” he says. And it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he is.

MATT KUHN PHOTO

individual with a prosthetic leg can excel at such activities.

Blair is the first to admit that as a kid, people bugged him. “I was different, but it’s like anything. Kids will always find something to bug you about,” he says. He never let it stop him, or let it be an excuse

for anything. His parents supported him in anything and everything he set his mind to, and always found the best technology to make his life easier. “As parents do,” he adds.

Crossfit wasn’t any different; it just presented new challenges. And as you

The sky is literally the limit when it comes to Blair and the challenges he sets for himself on a regular basis. Thank you for the inspiration, Blair. We look forward to learning of all your future accomplishments!

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

My mother, back in 1988. Born and raised.

2. Where did you first live in town?

Very neighbourly, with a lot of friends and kids my age to hang out with growing up.

We were always doing something outside.

4. What keeps you in Fernie?

The same things that keep me in Crossfit – the community and the people. It doesn’t matter what event, there are always people there to support you or the event or someone they know. Fernie just has a great vibe.

Quite recently would be doing the Murph Wod, I was one of the last people to finish and half of the gym and half a dozen kids went out for the last one mile run with me to finish it off. That’s going to be with me for a long time.

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

I’m a huge fan of probably fall; I don’t know why. It’s probably the temperature, and the colours are out of this world.

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

I could see it being about the same size, maybe a few more amenities here or there, but for the most part Fernie will keep on being Fernie.

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

Getting up at 4:45am everyday for work and putting on my coffee pot. Definitely a must.

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

I play quite a lot of video games. Crossfit by day, video games by night.

10. Quote to live by: I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.

Florence Nightingale.

I lived down in the Annex, by the dike.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Outdoor Life

N E V E R H AV E I E V E R Hoping to reach the top of the glacier in a few hours, we skin upwards, one small glide at a time.

With 30 metres of rope between the three of us, Mel pushes forward up the glacier. If any one of us slips suddenly through a crevasse another will arrest the fall and hopefully prevent injury. We all have equipment to ascend the rope independently and as a team are here to help each other out.

An hour later and nearly a quarter of the way up the glacier Mel stops suddenly, her probe disappearing beneath the snow.

“I’m at a crevasse,” she yells to us, pulling her 320-centimetre probe up and out of the snowpack. She manoeuvres around in search of a safer route and finds one.

As we move on I’m amazed at the vastness of the glacier, which seems to blend with the clouds far off in the distance. There is an absolute quiet, except for the wind that rolls over a nearby ridge.

Clouds begin to move in, billowing down from the glacier top and over the nearby mountain peak called the Cleaver.

Ensuring we have enough daylight and visibility to make it back to the truck, we rearrange our gear and prepare for a beautiful ski.

Mel goes first and then I follow. Our skin track guides us downward and I can’t help but let out a “Woohoo!” as we ride. The stoke-factor is beyond high, today is a little dream come true.

I carry an ice axe for safety’s sake and yet not a single worry consumes me. Instead there is a sense of clarity and awareness that you can only get when you find yourselves in the mountains.

“It’s the most beautiful place I’ve been in a long time,” says Mel as we look up at our ski tracks afterwards, figure eights in the snow. It most certainly is.

THE CLEAVER | BEN ROSS PHOTO

Farnham Glacier

I’m about to ski on a glacier. Life suddenly just got a little more exciting.

JESSE BELL

I’m tethered between Mel Makepeace, a good friend and an even better outdoor enthusiast, and my partner Ben Ross. Both have skied here before and know what they need to about glacier mountaineering. I feel safe, even if getting here was dreadful.

TO PUT IT PLAINLY, glaciers are amazing. If you’ve ever seen one you’ll know they tower like some majestic, unattainable force in the mountains. They tell the stories of thousands of years of snow and ice, daring anyone with the slightest inclination to challenge them.

Or at least, that is how I have always presumed them to be; a powerful piece of history in the natural world that the brave sometimes ski on. I just never imagined I’d one day do the same.

However, here I am mid-November at Farnham Glacier just north of Invermere.

My splitboard is strapped beneath my feet and a harness with a rope is secured around my waist.

We spend the better part of two hours in Ben’s truck, chained up and crawling along the steep, snow-covered road to reach near the Farnham cabin. Mel and I hold tight to the handles in the truck, anxiety impairing our enthusiasm.

Resisting the urge to get out and walk, we finally reach a safe parking area and unload.

Farnham Glacier is relatively untouched.

The Canadian Olympic Development Agency built the access road into the

glacier, previously used for ski team summer training. Now its use extends only as far as those who take the long drive or sled in to visit it.

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Its future is unknown – the current Jumbo Glacier resort proposal includes the development of Farnham Glacier for lift-access skiing if approved. I take in the solitude of it and can’t imagine its beauty scattered with ski lifts and lodges.

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We begin our ascent up the glacier with Mel at the front, who probes the surface every few feet to avoid any crevasses – cracks in glacial ice that vary in depth and size – hidden beneath. Glacier travel is at its most dangerous during the autumn months when snow bridges over crevasses are weakest.

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Outdoor Life

IN THE TRACKS so basically you are poling only on one side.

It is used on flats and gradual down hills where you are going too fast to use one skate.

A Guide to Nordic Skiing: Getting Started

When learning these techniques there are several important factors, each playing a key role in executing them properly: Body Position, Timing and Power. In all sports body position enables the athlete to apply power to each motion effectively. In all ski techniques the whole body needs to work together with the correct timing to transfer the weight from ski to ski and down the trail.

Power in cross-country skiing is the product of force applied quickly. It is vital that the skier is in the correct position and has the correct timing to achieve optimal power.

JEFF WILLIAMS

AS A COACH FOR THE Fernie Nordic Society, I am frequently asked, “How do I become a better Nordic skier?” Over the winter I will explain cross-country skiing from both a skate and classic perspective.

This month the focus will be on some ski basics and the different skate ski techniques. I will start with a breakdown of a skate and classic ski.

A skate ski is similar to your alpine skis in that it is all glide. You wax a skate ski only with glide wax. A classic ski is made up of two glide zones, which are the tips and tails, and then the grip zone in the middle of the ski, also known as the “kick zone” or “wax pocket.” You do not want to apply glide wax to the kick zone of the ski as you will not be able to get good grip or “kick” and you will not make it up the slightest incline, so good luck getting up the first hill at the ski hill trails. Conversely, you do not want to kick wax the glide portions of the ski as you will be able to climb the steepest of hills but will not go very far on the down hills.

Many people in Fernie have waxless skis that have “fish scale” imprints on the kick zone. These can be a great choice for Fernie with our warmer climates plus you can just pick up your skis and go skiing and do not have to bother dealing with kick waxes and klisters. However, do not let the name “waxless” fool you as these skis still require glide wax on the tips and tails every couple of times you ski.

So now that winter is here, it is time to pull out your skis that have been neglected all summer and give them the TLC they deserve. Your first step is to remove the storage wax you put on them at the end

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Next month I will breakdown the body position, timing and power components one skate and two skate. If you want to get a head start on these you can visit fernienordic.com and watch some instructional videos. See you on the trails.

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JEFF DEMONSTRATES THE ONE AND TWO SKATE TECHNIQUE | SUBMITTED PHOTO

of last winter. Lots of people skip this last step, which leads me into oxidation and caring for your skis. Sometimes you will find that your skis have dry, chalky looking patches on the base. These are called oxidized areas.

Oxidization occurs when your skis have not been waxed for a while, where wax remover has been applied, or on the edges of skis after skiing on abrasive snow. Basically, wax is not adhering to these areas well – usually because the bases have dried out or become sealed by applying too hot of an iron to the ski. It is important to wax your skis regularly so they do not dry out. You can take your skis to a ski shop in town and get them waxed up or drop them off at Heaven Boutique on 2nd Ave and the youth race team will wax them for minimal cost.

While it is important to maintain your skis, some people spend a great deal of time perfecting their waxing technique and money on expensive waxes. However,

for most of us, the number one reason why our skis are slow is because of poor technique. I could use Alex Harvey’s skis that he raced on in Sochi and I would not go nearly as fast as he did.

For this month I will focus on explaining the different techniques for skate skiing.

Offset is the first gear in the skate skiing transmission. It is utilized for climbing steeper hills and is noticeably different from other skate techniques due to the wide ski stance and the poles hitting the ground the same time as one of your skis.

One skate is considered the second gear in the skate transmission and is characterized by one skate motion for every poling motion so that you are poling each time you push off your skis. It is used on flat to uphill terrain where offset would be over revving your engine.

Two skate is the third gear in the skate skiing transmission and is characterized by two skate motions for every poling motion

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

January 2015 Monthly Events

THE ARTS STATION

THURSDAY 1.1.2015

THURSDAY 22.1.2015

Night Skiing on the Mighty Moose @ Fernie Alpine Resort, 4-9pm

Elk Valley Hospice Resource Launch @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7-8:30pm. Help for the dying and grieving will now be available at the library in Fernie.

FRIDAY 2.1.2015 Polar Bear Swim @ The Aquatic Centre, 1-3pm. Are you brave enough to enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool? The Aquatic Centre drops the water temperature and adds some ice and snow for the Polar Bear Swim!

Night Skiing on the Mighty Moose @ Fernie Alpine Resort, 4-9pm Fernie Ghostriders Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena, 7:30pm DJ Cellie Reggae Night @ The Royal Local DJ Party @ The Central

SATURDAY 3.1.2015 Griz Kidz Crafy Kids @ Fernie Alpine Resort, free craft night for kids ages 6-12 from 6:30-8pm at Slopeside Coffee Shop.

Night Skiing on the Mighty Moose @ Fernie Alpine Resort, 4-9pm Fernie Ghostriders Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena, 7:30pm Cold Chillin’ Party with DJ Cosmo & Dragon Fli Empire @ The Royal Serial Slayer with Flatspin @ The Central

MONDAY 5.1.2015 Indie Films Fernie: TBA @ The Vogue Theatre, 7pm.

Days for Girls Sewathon @ Christ Church Basement, 561 4th Ave from 1-9pm. Sewing skills not necessary, help make feminine hygiene kits for girls in third world countries. www.daysforgirls.org

TUESDAY 6.1.2015 Clean Eating Reset @ College of the Rockies, 6pm. Learn tips and recipes to get your body on track and maintain your health goals! 250-423-4691

FRIDAY 9.1.2015 Fernie Ghostriders Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena, 7:30pm Canibal Patch Kids @ The Royal, bass music FlatSpin and Friends @ The Central

SATURDAY 10.1.2015 Kinky Rail Jam @ Fernie Alpine Resort Fernie Ghostriders Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena, 7:30pm The Runs @ The Royal, a local punk rock band DJ Stickybuds @ The Central

WEDNESDAY 14.1.2015 SKIP (Seniors/Kids Intergenerational Proram) @ Rocky Mountain Village, 2-2:45pm. Songs and stories for old and young, all welcome.

FRIDAY 16.1.2015 – SUNDAY 18.1.2015 7th Annual Reel Canadian Film Festival @ The Vogue Theatre, featuring films such as When the Ocean Met the Sky, Heartbeat, Maps to the Stars, Monsoon and Mommy. Details at www. reelfilmfest.ca.

FRIDAY 16.1.2015 Dahli Lama @ The Royal, hip hop and breaks from Golden, BC Scrumb with Circus Acts Insomniacs @ The Central

SATURDAY 17.1.2015

FRIDAY 23.1.2015 Fernie Ghostriders Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena, 7:30pm Evil Ebenezer and Factor @ The Royal, live hip hop FlatSpin and Friends @ The Central

SATURDAY 24.1.2015 Kokanee Snow Dreams @ Fernie Alpine Resort, voted Best Deck Party by Ski Canada magazine.

Brckhaus @ The Royal, beats and treats from Calgary, AB Deeps @ The Central

SUNDAY 25.1.2015 Tripple J Hottest 100 @ The Royal, Aussie Day starts at 6pm with games and prizes

MONDAY 26.1.2015 Australia Day Celebrations with The Castle and Meat Pies @ Infinitea, 7pm

WEDNESDAY 28.1.2015 Funkanomics @ The Central, with Riley J

THURSDAY 29.1.2015 Story Feast: Family Literacy Day Programming All Day for All Ages @ Fernie Library Heritage Commit House Party and Shred Movie @ The Royal

FRIDAY 30.1.2015 Blackberry Wood @ The Royal, gypsy alternative circus Local DJ Party @ The Central

SATURDAY 31.1.2015 Booked! Fernie Writers’ Event: Amber Dawn, poet @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7pm. Music provided by local band The Relief Committee, cash bar.

Stoke Folk: The CD Release Party with Shred Kelly, Sidney York and Guest DJ @ Fernie Community Centre, All ages show 6-8pm, $5 for kids and $10 for adults. Grown up show 9pm – 2am, $10 earlybird, $15 presale or $20 at the door. Tickets available at Freyja. www.shredkelly.com Cona @ The Royal, playing party tunes DJ B.Ron with Cona @ The Central

Winter/Spring Swim Lesson Schedule Jan-April 2015 Preschool Ages 3- 5 Years

CITY OF FERNIE

LEISURE SERVICES

Starfish/Duck/Sea Turtle (3 months – 2yrs) T/Th 10:00-10:30 am FIRE DEPARTMENT Sea Otter M/W 9:30-10:00 am and T/Th 9:00-9:30 am Salamander/Sunfish M/W 10:00-10:30 am and T/Th 9:30-10:00 am AQUATIC CENTRE Crocodile/Whale M/W 10:30-11:00 am and M/W 3:30-4:00 pm CITY OF FERNIE

CITY OF FERNIE

Avalanche Awareness Day @ Fernie Alpine Resort, with the Canadian Avalanche Centre providing expertise and backcountry knowledge.

Fernie Ghostriders Game @ Fernie Memorial Arena, 7:30pm A Day as Wolves @ The Royal, Rock ‘n Roll Blues Band Br.D with Nemkea Dubs @ The Central

Swim Kids Ages 6+

SUNDAY 18.1.2015

Lesson Set Dates

JR Louis Plays Live Show @ Infinitea, 8pm

Monday & Wednesday: Jan 12 – Feb 4 (8), Feb 16 – Mar 11 (8), Mar 30 – Apr 22 (7) Tuesday & Thursday: Jan 13 – Feb 5 (8), Feb 17 – Mar 12 (8), Mar 31 – Apr 23 (8)

MONDAY 19.1.2015 JEEP Junior Freeski Comp @ Fernie Alpine Resort

WEDNESDAY 21.1.2015 SKIP (Seniors/Kids Intergenerational Proram) @ Rocky Mountain Village, 2-2:45pm. Songs and stories for old and young, all welcome.

Swim Kids 1 M/W 4:00-4:30 pm Swim Kids 2/3 M/W 4:30-5:00 pm and T/Th 3:30-4:00 pm Swim Kids 4/5 M/W 5:00 -5:30 pm and T/Th 4:00-4:30 pm Swim Kids 6/7 T/Th 4:30-5:15 pm Swim Kids 8/9/10 T/Th 5:15-6:00 pm

Private Lessons

Friday: 3:30 - 4:00 pm, 4:00 - 4:30 pm, 4:30 – 5:00 pm, 5:00 – 5:30 pm Stop by or call 423-4466 to register for swim lessons, gymnastics and fitness classes!

www.theartsstation.com info@theartsstation.com | 250.423.4842

Gallery Mark Gallup. Opening Reception Friday January 2 at 7pm. Exhibition Continues until Monday January 26. The life of a legend is captured in big bold prints by Mark Gallup. Craig Kelly has been called the "Godfather of Snowboarding". "The Master of Style" and "Elmer". The last one was a nickname from close friends and Mark Gallup was one of the closest. Sharing years of friendship, Mark captured Craig from the quietest moments, to the loudest moments. "Craig had his public side and his private side," says Gallup. "His guard would always be up, but when he had someone's trust, the real Craig came out." Mark was able to capture Craig Kelly, the pro snowboarder, and Craig Kelly, the confidant.

Jason Ford, one of the best snowboarders of his time was quoted in the book, Bears Above The Valley as saying "Mark and Craig were like brothers. They lived together, worked together, and travelled together…..I know they loved each other tremendously." This exhibit captures all sides of Craig.

Legend, friend and brother.

Next in the Gallery Graham Fowler. Opening Reception Thursday January 29 at 7pm. Exhibition continues until Monday February 23 Concerts Jazz- Peripheral Vision. Wednesday January 21 at 8pm.

Members: Adult $15 youth $10 / Non-members: Adult $20 Youth $14. Tickets available at The Arts Station, Freshies and Online. www.peripheralvisionmusic.com. Peripheral Vision is one of the most exciting and innovative jazz quartets to have recently appeared on the international jazz scene.

Indie Films Fernie Film to be announced. Monday January 5 at 7pm. At the Vogue Theatre. Members: $9/adults $8/youth; Non- Members $10/adults $9/youth. Tickets available at the door and online Reel Canadian Film Festival Friday January 16 - Sunday January 18.

Visit www.reelfilmfest.ca for full lineup.

Workshops Dynamic Life Drawing with Anna Weston. Thursdays January 15, 22 and 29 from 7pm-9pm. Arts Station Members: $20 per class, or $45 for all 3 classes. Non members: $22 per class, or $51 for all 3 classes. To register, call the Fernie Arts Station on 250-423-4842. Registration deadline is the 7th of January. ** Please note places are limited. $3 for materials (sketch paper and charcoal) per class, or you are welcome to bring your own. This style of class is great for the complete beginner, through to the professional artist.

Get Your Craft on with Kate Moran. Saturday January 24 from 11am-2pm. Ages 12-16. $35 supplies included. Join Kate as she teaches you how to use traditional macramé techniques and make your own unique bracelets. Register early at The College of the Rockies 250 423 4691.

Gelli It Up! With Win Dinn. Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1. $225 Register at The College of the Rockies 250423-4691 http://windinnart.blogspot.ca/ The Gelli plate is a durable surface for mono-printing paper, fabric, canvas and body parts, if need be! In this two-day playshop, we’ll use it with paper and mat board, but all techniques are transferable. Useful for collage, backgrounds, fabric swatches and much, much more, you’ll have more fun than a dozen rats in a dessert maze.

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

January 2015 Weekly Events

DINING, NIGHTLIFE & SPECIALS MONDAYS Wings Night @ Boston Pizza Fernie Jugs of Beer on Special @ The Brickhouse Happy Hour @ The Bridge Bistro, 4-6pm Lasagna Specials @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe Pitcher and Poutine for $20 @ The Fernie Free Movie & $6 Meal @ Infinitea, 7pm Mix and Match Pasta @ Pub Bar & Grill Karaoke with Topo & Special Guest @ The Royal Mani Monday Special @ Spa 901 Mussel Mondays @ The Livery with $6 glass of Proseco Pitchers and Wings on Special @ Lizard Creek Lodge Happy Hour @ Rusty Edge, 3:30-5:30pm Locals Day @ Rusty Edge, $10 Beer and Burger Massage Mondays @ Trillium Day Spa, $60 for 60 min, $90 for 90 min Ladies Night: $4 House Red or White Wine, $5 Pints of Cider, $10 Appies @ The Northern TUESDAYS Feature Pasta and Wine Night @ Boston Pizza and Sports Bar Kokanee Bottle on Special @ The Brickhouse Happy Hour @ The Bridge Bistro, 4-6pm Wing Night @ The Pub Bar & Grill Date Night @ Lizard Creek Lodge, Three-course meal for two with wine for $85.

Happy Hour @ Rusty Edge, 3:30-5:30pm Wing Day @ Rusty Edge, $10 Pound of Wings and Jugs of FBC on special Want to throw a Party? @ The Royal, contact jcomete@hotmail.com $12 Pizza Night @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe Two for Tuesdays @ Trillium Day Spa, 2 pedicures for $100, 2 manicures for $70, 2 facials for $130, all three for $275

$10 Beer, Burger and Bingo Night @ The Northern WEDNESDAYS $7 Off Large Pizzas @ Boston Pizza Wine Evenings @ The Brickhouse Happy Hour @ The Bridge Bistro, 4-6pm Night Bright with Riley J and Friends @ The Central Karaoke Night @ The Fernie Pint night @ Kodiak Lounge 1lb of Mussels @ Lizard Creek Lodge for $14.99 Wine Wednesday @ Max Restaurant with 50% off Select Wines Zak’s Jam Night @ The Royal Happy Hour @ Rusty Edge, 3:30-5:30pm Rib Day @ Rusty Edge, $10 Pound of Ribs and Domestic Bottles on Special Featured Pub Burgers on Special @ The Pub Bar & Grill $12 Organic Roasted & Chicken and Beer @ The Bridge Bistro Locals Night @ Loaf, 5-9pm Spoken Word/Crochet Club/Tarot @ Infinitea, 7pm Crochet Collective & Sweater Club Knitting @ Infinitea, 7-9pm Wine Wednesday @ The Livery Waxing Wednesday @ Trillium Day Spa, free underam wax with any other hair removal $8 Wings, Beat the Clock Draft & Highballs and Karaoke @ The Northern THURSDAYS $3 Off Tacos @ Boston Pizza Acoustic Jam @ The Brickhouse Happy Hour @ The Bridge Bistro, 4-6pm Spiced Rum Specials @ Kodiak Lounge Braised Beef Poutine for $12 @ Lizard Creek Lodge Rib Night @ Max Restaurant & The Pub Bar & Grill

Free Samples @ Sweet Shop with any purchase over $5. $2 Off Appies @ The Fernie, 6-9pm 2 Medium Pizza Special @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe RileyJ+Ash / Flatspin+Friends @ The Royal Happy Hour @ Rusty Edge, 3:30-5:30pm Ladies Day @ Rusty Edge, $6 House Wine or $8 for Two Ounces Hula Hoop workshops or Beautea Night with Trillium and Tarot @ Infinitea Choice of Pizza or Pasta with Wine or Beer for $15 @ Loaf Bakery and Restaurant Spring Clean Spa Day Special @ Spa 901 Pub Team Trivia @ The Pub Bar & Grill House Gun Doubles $7, $5 Fernie Pints, $3 Sliders @ The Northern FRIDAYS Full Rack of Ribs for $19.95 @ Boston Pizza Brewery Tour @ Fernie Brewing Co. 3pm Happy Hour @ The Bridge Bistro, 4-6pm Tastings at The Tipple @ The Tipple. 1st Friday of the month only.

Live Local Music @ Infinitea, 7pm TGIF & Chicken dinner draw @ Kodiak Lounge Welcome Night with Fresh Shucked Oysters and Bubbly @ Lizard Creek Lodge Happy Hour @ Rusty Edge, 3:30-5:30pm Prime Rib and Corona Buckets @ The Pub Bar & Grill $10 Fish and Chips, Meat Draw and Members Draw @ The Fernie Live Music @ The Central Live Bands & DJs @ The Royal, check facebook page for details Date Night Special @ Spa 901 Domestic Bottles $5 and $12 Fish and Chips @ The Northern

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

•Seniors Drop in @ Senior’s Centre, 9am-2pm •Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre, 9-10:30am •Ladies Archery @ The Elks Hall, 6:30pm •Public Drop in Climbing @ College of the Rockies, 7-9pm •StrongStart @ IDES, 9am-12pm •Kindergym @ Holy Family Centre, 9:30-noon. $6 •Knits and Knots @ Fernie Library, age 8+, drop in, 3:30-4:45pm •Adult Shinny @ Fernie Arena, 8:45-10:15am •Public Skating @ Fernie Arena, 10:30am – 11:15am (Free) •Red Cross Swim @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9-11am and 3:30-5:30pm •Gentle Fit @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 10:30-11:15am •Born to Sing and Dance @ Fernie Arts Station •Little Sports @ Max Turyk Recreation Room, ages 3-6 years old $40 per day. charlottecwillis@me.com •Drop-in Climbing @ College of the Rockies Climbing Wall, 7-9pm

Skate WEDNESDAYS •Toddlertime @ Fernie Heritage Library, 11:15am - noon Ages 6 months-2 years •Crib @ Seniors Drop in Centre 1pm •Drop in Workshop @ Clawhammer Press. 6-9pm, $30 •Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre, 9-10:30am •Adult Badminton @ The Community Centre. All levels welcome, drop in for $5 •Introduction to Letterpress Printing Workshop @ Clawhammer Press, $30 6-9pm •AA Meetings @ The Anglican Church Basement, 7:30pm •ActiveFit @ The Aquatic Centre, 8:30-9:15am •Womens Drop in Climbing @ COTR, 7-9pm •StrongStart @ IDES, 9am-12pm •Kindergym @ Holy Family Centre, 9:30-noon. $6 •Paper, Rock, Scissors @ Fernie Heritage Library, age 10+ 3:304:45pm •Red Cross Swim @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9-11am and 3:30-5:30pm •Adult Shinny @ Fernie Arena, 8:45-10:15am •Little Sports @ Max Turyk Recreation Room, ages 3-6 years old $40 per day. charlottecwillis@me.com •Skate & Shoot @ Fernie Arena, 1:15-2:30pm THURSDAYS •Better Babies @ Fernie Women’s Centre. 1pm-3pm, every 2nd week.

•Seniors Drop in @ Senior’s Centre, 9am-2pm •Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre, 9-10:30am •RC Club @ Fernie Community Centre. From 7-9pm come enjoy indoor flying and practice •Community Basketball @ Fernie Secondary School, 8:30-10:30pm •Women & Men’s Night @ Old School Boxing, 7:30-9pm •Kids Sing Along & Play Group @ Infinitea, 11:30am •Youth Archery @ The Elks Hall, 6pm •Red Cross Swim @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9-11am and 3:30-5:30pm •Gentle Fit @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 10:30-11:15am •StrongStart @ IDES, 9am-12pm •MOMs Group @ Fernie Heritage Library, 9:30-11:30am •Bellies to Babies @ Fernie Women’s Centre, 1-3pm every 2nd Thursday.

SATURDAYS Large Gourmet Pizza for Medium Price @ Boston Pizza Happy Hour @ The Bridge Bistro, 4-6pm Meat Draw & Bar Quiz @ The Legion Tequila Specials @ Kodiak Lounge Pizza Night @ Loaf Bakery, 5pm – close.

Porketta Lunch and Prime Rib Dinner @ Lizard Creek Lodge Prime Rib Special @ Max Restaurant & Pub Bar & Grill $5 Glass of House Wine, $5 Off Bottles of Wine @ The Fernie Live Music @ The Central Live Bands & DJs @ The Royal Happy Hour @ Rusty Edge, 3:30-5:30pm Food Specials and $4 wines @ Infinitea Domestic Bottles $5, Jager Bombs $6, Steak Sandwich $12 @ The Northern SUNDAYS Kids Eat for $4.99 @ Boston Pizza Caesars on Special @ The Brickhouse Happy Hour @ The Bridge Bistro, 4-6pm Caesars and Homemade Pizza @ Lizard Creek Lodge Fish & Chips plus Caesars and Pints on Special @ The Pub Bar & Grill Happy Hour @ Rusty Edge, 3:30-5:30pm Men’s Day @ Rusty Edge, FBC Pints for $5 Steak & Eggs & Build Your Own Caesar Bar @ The Fernie $10 Roast Dinner @ Infinitea Orphan Night: $3.50 highballs and draft, warm dinner and ski/snow boarding videos @ The Northern Big Bender with Goffles @ The Royal

Swim

Library Program

Other

•Lego Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:30-4:45pm, age 7+ registration required •Red Cedar Book Club Grades 4-6 @ Fernie Heritage Library, 6:30pm – Last Thursday of the Month •Kids Boxing Boot Camp @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club, ages 8-16 5pm.

•Adult Shinny @ Fernie Arena, 8:45-10:15am •Public Skating @ Fernie Arena, 10:30am – 11:15am (Free) •Little Sports @ Max Turyk Recreation Room, ages 3-6 years old $40 per day. charlottecwillis@me.com FRIDAYS •Cribbage @ Seniors Drop in Centre 7:30pm •Jitney Darts @ Fernie Legion, 7:30pm •Kids Sing Along & Play Group @ Infinitea, 11:30am •StrongStart @ IDES, 9am-12pm •Kindergym @ Holy Family Centre, 9:30-noon. $6 •Toddlertime @ Fernie Heritage Library, 11:15am ages 0-2 •Lunch Bag Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, 12:15-1:30pm, age 7+ •Storytime @ Fernie Heritage Library, 2-2:45pm ages 3-5 years •No School Fridays Kids Climbing @ Evolution Climbing Gym, 9:3011am *registration required •Red Cross Swim @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9-11am and 3:30-5:30pm •Public Skate @ Fernie Arena, 7-8:15pm and 2:15-4pm on No School Fridays •Youth Shinny @ Fernie Arena, 10:45-11:45am on No School Fridays SATURDAYS •Women & Men’s Night @ Old School Boxing, 6:30-8pm •Family French Fun @ The Arts Station, 10:30-11:30am. $12/person or $5 per family member (maximum $20/family).

•Public Skate @ Fernie Arena, 2-3:45pm and 6:45-8:15pm SUNDAYS •Fernie Pets Society Group Walk @ Fernie Aquatic Centre, 9am.

•AA Meetings @ The Anglican Church Basement, 7:30pm •First Sunday of the Month Family Climb Time @ Evolution Climbing Gym, 2-4pm •Public Skate @ Fernie Arena, 2:15-4pm

FERNIEFIX.COM

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CE

Outdoor Life

We have a course for that!

Continuing

Education

Availabilities:

Watch your mailbox for the newest

Continuing Education guide n Basic Bookkeeping

Jan 06

n Sleeping Bear Snowshoe

Jan 17

n Tracking and Stalking Wildlife

Jan 07

n Occupational First Aid-Level 1

Jan 17

n Basic Fall Protection

Jan 08

n Spanish for Travelers

Jan 19

n Windows 8.1

Jan 12

n MS Word 2013 Certificate

Jan 19

n Avalanche Skills Training 1

Jan 12

n H2S Alive

Jan 24

n FOODSAFE Level 1

Jan 12

n Avalanche Training-Snowmobiler

Jan 24

n Companion Rescue Skills

Jan 13

n Photography Certificate

Jan 25

n St John Standard for Industry

Jan 14

n Loss Prevention Officer

Jan 26

n Confined Space Awareness

Jan 15

n Occupational First Aid-Level 3

Jan 26

n HSRC Mining Supervisor Safety

Jan 16

Would you like to Teach for us? Then we want to hear from you!

We are always looking for new instructors and new classes.

Tell us about yourself in an email to fernie@cotr.bc.ca

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

HITTING THE TRAILS WITH THE FERNIE TRAILS ALLIANCE

2014’s Achievements JULIE KELLY

TO OVERCOME “OBSTACLES,” whether for environmental or safety reasons the Fernie Trails Alliance installed a number of bridges on the Fernie trails last year. Our hard-working volunteers play a big role in the construction and placement of these bridges. In 2014 alone we had 4,568 volunteer hours on our trails!

When I think of bridges, one trail that immediately comes to mind is Lazy Lizard. There were numerous hours spent

by Back Country Trail Experts (BCTE) and volunteers installing and making improvements to the bridges. Twenty-four bridges, metal and wooden ranging from 12 ft. to 50 ft. were installed in Phase I. In addition, four boardwalks were constructed.

BRIDGE ON LAZY LIZARD | SUBMITTED PHOTOS

The Fernie Nordic Society has also been busy with the Elk Valley Nordic Centre.

The new bridge over Lizard Creek was installed in the fall. It allows access to the west side, where there is a new 4km loop and connector trail to Fernie Alpine Resort.

Phase II required eight wooden bridges and nine metal span 35 ft. bridges. One metal span 30 ft. bridge and potentially some short wooden bridges will be required on the final Phase III, which will take the trail up to Island Lake Lodge.

On our Thursday night work parties led

by Johnny Shaw, a number of bridges were repaired and constructed on the Ridgemont trails. In addition, on a hot summer night in August, six of us lugged multiple boards across the creek, through the bush and on to Ben Emmett. Three new bridges were installed that night. I can still feel my shoulders!

In the Provincial Park, under the direction of Pat Gilmar, a number of bridges were installed on Stove Trail to help with drainage. In addition, the Interpretive Trail to Lizard Creek Trail Bridge had 8x10 span timbers, which were hauled in last winter by Nick Morris (of Morris Manufacturing, whom has and continues to provide lumber to the FTA), Terry

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Bike Park. Many hours were spent tuning up the bike park, including the pump tracks, jumps and the new single track for kids. If you really want to overcome obstacles, this is the place to be.

LIZARD CREEK BRIDGE

Nelson and BCTE. Of course, we can’t forget the Gorby Cedar Creek Bridge to Old Goat.

Other evenings and weekends were spent by volunteers, including a Saturday work party by the Fernie Fire Department on the revitalization of Roots. One bridge was installed here.

The hiking crew was also hard at work last summer putting in over 1,000 hours, which included building a new bridge in Morrissey Park.

For 2015 a number of the trails will require bridges including Montane Trail, Lazy Lizard, and many others. As well, we are looking for funding to construct the Fairy Creek Pedestrian Bridge. The proposed budget is $100,000. Any local businesses looking for further information or to support this project can contact me at manager@fernietrailsalliance.com.

Thank you to all our funders, private and corporate donors, in 2014. We look forward to another great year on the trails.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Outdoor Life

W O M E N O F T H E M O U N TA I N S same time I want the next generation to be able to do the same thing, and I also felt a bit guilty to represent more consumption through my sponsors.

Marie-France Roy HANNAH GRIFFIN

I thought, to be realistic I don’t think the best thing I can do right now is quit snowboarding and go live in my cob house and try to use as little as possible.

That’s something I can do later, but the best way I can make a positive impact is to use my assets, to use today’s connections and all my friends, and what snowboarding has taught me to make something bigger, to reach a bigger crowd and inspire people, instead of just changing my own lifestyle. Nobody’s perfect, everybody has an impact, but it’s just too urgent. We have to act now, we have to do the best we can even if it’s really little. It’s not going to happen overnight, but we just have to do it.

IT’S EASY TO CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT when you feel connected to it on a daily basis. Spending time in the mountains or even just appreciating their immensity can create huge respect for them, especially when they are in your backyard. Environmental activist David Suzuki taps into this in the recently released, The Little Things Movie, saying that, “you only fight to protect something you love.”

Marie-France Roy, a professional snowboarder based on Vancouver Island and Whistler, used this truth as the foundation to produce the unique snowboard movie, one that blends Darcy Turenne’s beautiful cinematography with profiles of snowboarders who, because of their love of the outdoors, are making efforts to live sustainably. Without the money from major sponsors that fuels many snowboard movies, Marie-France raised nearly $30,000 on Kickstarter, which features her own riding, Gretchen Bleiler, Jeremy Jones, Tamo Campos (David Suzuki’s grandson) and more.

Marie-France, who lives much of the year on the island in a cob house she spent four years building, didn’t want the movie to come off as preachy. She knows that travelling around the globe snowboarding is not a job with a minimal environmental footprint, but she focuses on riders making a range of efforts and tries to convey the idea that being an environmentalist is not black and white; it comes down to small efforts in everyday life.

What was the most challenging part of the natural building process when you constructed your cob house?

There were a few challenging parts but for me most of them are really the best parts.

JANUARY Events & Activities: Jan 03 - Griz Kidz Crafty Kids

(6:30-8:00pm @ Slopeside Coffee Shop - FREE!)

Jan 10 - Kinky Rail Jam Jan 17 - Avalanche Awareness Days Jan 24 - Kokanee Snow Dreams Festival Every Saturday from 4-9pm Night Skiing on the Mighty Moose (conditions permitting)

DOM GAUTHIER PHOTO

I like to do things more manually and back to the roots. The challenging part is dealing with today’s construction codes and building codes; that’s like a logistical nightmare. The actual physical work part, that was a lot of time and a lot of energy, but it was never a pain, it was always so rewarding and I loved it. I think learning all the little techniques and steps was actually pretty simple because there’s a lot of information out there. I think most of all I don’t remember it as a big challenge, I remember it as an amazing experience.

healthy to be able to do all that stuff, I think people don’t even realize how much it balances out to spend time in nature, spend time in dirt. For me, it was all a part of a big cycle getting closer to nature, and even though it’s not perfect, our life is so filled with time inside and computers and it was just really important for me to get that balance going.

What is your lifestyle like on the island?

That actually started while I was building the cob house when I was just stepping in mud, about three years ago.

Snowboarding has been really good but I always felt guilty of using so much.

Snowboarding has given me so many opportunities, so many great memories, has allowed me to travel the world doing what I love, it’s opened my mind in so many ways. It’s made me a better person; snowboarding changed my life. At the same time I want to give back, and at the

It’s nice to be able to live from things you can grow yourself, and trust me I’m far from being perfect. My garden is great but I have a long way to go, I learn every day and it’s not like I can feed myself fully from it. But it’s fun, it’s been a dream of mine for a long time – I had a garden and chickens growing up back in Quebec, and I was really excited to live in a place where I could do that again. It is so rich and so

Ayurvedic Retreat in Costa Rica

How and when did you conceive of the idea for The Little Things Movie?

September 26th-October 3rd, 2015 Let the science of life balance you & promote self-healing www.essentialyogastudio.com FERNIEFIX.COM

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Outdoor Life

A D AY I N T H E L I F E O F A L I F T Y Let’s start with the awesome. As a lifty you have the chance to ski fresh lines before the sun has risen. You’ll experience the sun peeking over the mountains, her warm rays heating your frozen face. You get to enjoy the most epic sunrises for a moment, before returning to digging out your lift.

Perhaps best of all, you’ll get to see Fernie Ski Patrol in action. I have sat at the top of the White Pass countless times as patrol heli-bomb the Timber and Currie headwalls, watching as the cornices and overhangs rip away and cascade down the slopes, often sending an avalanche deep into the respective bowls.

from the moment they stand in the corral, the transition to the load line, the bump and then watch the chair until it exits the station – all the while preparing for the next chair load of powder-hungry skiers. A ski lift can be an intimidating and dangerous place, especially for children.

As a lifty, don’t be afraid to slow or stop the lift. But also learn to read a newbie’s body language – it’s pretty easy to spot the ones who don’t have a clue on how to load.

Rental skis, new jackets and shiny helmets are a dead giveaway. But it’s your job to show them how. It keeps you on your toes and makes for an interesting day.

Now the idiotic. When there is snow, people sometimes forget things such as the fact that they are around a lot of fast moving and heavy equipment. A huge part of a lifty’s job is training people on how to get on and off a ski lift safely.

Pushing buttons is not all a lifty has to worry about. A lifty must watch the guests

Stay tuned for more about life as a lifty, from epic first track runs to work and endless ride breaks on those quiet January days, to the powder day it seems everyone is shredding but you. See you in the lift line, and remember to smile at your lifty.

Lifty 101 MIKE COTTON

YOU’LL HAVE TO GET UP PRETTY EARLY to beat a lifty (a lift operator) to the ski hill; this is true for most ski hills but especially so for Fernie.

Lifties, along with the maintenance guys, are among the first people on the hill, with an early start of 6:30am. Lifties get the chairs spinning early so ski patrol can get to work doing avalanche control, or as the locals here call it – the Fernie alarm.

All employees on the ski hill are important to its smooth running, but it’s safe to say that without lifties, the hill simply couldn’t function. Lifties are the ones who stand outside in all types of weather. They are

Being a lifty is not a glamorous job. No one does it for the money, they do it for the free ski pass, the chance to ride everyday and the camaraderie of working with a close-knit crew. Some of my closest friends are the ones I met working lifts in Colorado and Fernie. You’ll find all sorts working a season as a lifty, from the Aussie farmers to the English graduate, to the engineers, the writers, the photographers, the chefs, the lawyers, the ex-cop. Lifties come from all walks of life and you’ll meet them all on the hill this year.

On some days the employee bus won’t make it passed the lower parking lot and

However, as a lifty you are in the privileged position of seeing some awesome sights as well as being exposed to some of the more idiotic acts that grace any ski hill.

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MIKE COTTON PHOTO

the lifties are left to tramp through the snow to the maintenance hut where the lifty boss is waiting. A lifty, along with the ticket checkers, are often seen as the first line of defense – the public face of the ski hill. You’ll meet a lot of people bumping chairs (the art, yes art, of slowing a fixed grip chair down allowing guests to save their calves and knees for the slopes) on the White Pass. People who are positively frothing on life and the fact they were among the first, if not the first, to drop Currie Bowl. You’ll soon learn about what is known locally as the Currie 500; everyone claims to be the first to drop in.

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Health and Lifestyle

Happy New Year!

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Come in from the cold!

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“I don’t have the time.” Find the time! Schedule yourself in and make it part of your weekly routine. Start slowly; even 15 minutes at lunch or after work will make a difference and slowly increase the duration. The current fitness model is “more activity more of the time” so even taking the stairs or parking at the far end of the lot can help! Set an attainable goal of twice weekly and build from there.

“I am have been working out for awhile but am not losing weight!”

When it comes to weight loss, exercise is only 10-20% of it – the rest is what you are eating. Quality food (make sure you know what every ingredient is: if you don’t know it, don’t eat it!), quantity of food (try to eat a little less at every meal), and regular eating habits (fuel your body every 3-4 hours to keep your digestive system working properly) is the key to success.

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“I have an injury.” Depending on your injury, there is usually a lot that you can still do to maintain your fitness. If you have broken your leg, you can still work on upper body and abdominal exercises while you are rehabilitating. Upper body issues, you can still do cardio and lower body exercises. Stopping exercise altogether can make it hard to get going again!

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Hurdling Over Fitness Obstacles

HAVING WORKED IN A GYM for the last 15 years, I have heard many excuses as to why people have stopped or not started exercise. Here are a few of the most common obstacles I have come across and ways to hurdle right over them, because being fit and strong is well worth the jump!

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F I T T O P L AY

V. CROOME PHOTO

hire a trainer, take a few classes, change up your routine or try some magazine workouts. The only way to get through a plateau is to do something new and exciting for you and your body.

“I am too busy with my sport to go to the gym.” Cross training is the best way to become a better athlete – look at any professional athlete and you will discover they all workout by doing sport specific exercises that strengthen the muscles they don’t use in their sport as well as those they do to keep them balanced and injury free. One to two sessions weekly for one hour can significantly improve performance.

“I feel like I am not fit enough to go to the gym.” I often hear this and for many people getting through the front door of the gym is the biggest obstacle to overcome. Once you are in, it does get easier. Having a friend go with you or hiring a trainer can be a great distraction, and you will discover that people are generally not at the gym to watch other people but to get fit and healthy themselves!

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Health and Lifestyle

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DR. TAINA TURCASSO, N.D., R.M.

JANUARY IS A TIME that many of us are motivated to change. We take stock of our life, and determine what we may be doing right, and more importantly, what we feel like we are doing wrong.

Unfortunately, in making these changes, we are often derailed by obstacles. Life is full of obstacles, great and small. Some of these obstacles may be insurmountable, and others may seem insignificant, and what may be insignificant to one person, may seem insurmountable to another.

Obstacles come up daily for me as I am working with people to change their habits and their lives, and what I have discovered, even personally, is that the answer to overcoming obstacles is priority.

Every time we are trying to reach a goal, either personal or professional, we need to prioritize it and ultimately determine what we are willing to sacrifice to achieve that goal.

There are always excuses to not be doing what you know you should be doing, or what you want to be doing. Not eating organic because it’s too expensive, not exercising because it’s too cold outside, or because you don’t have time. Not meditating because you don’t have the right space in your house, or because you lack the patience. Not doing yoga because you aren’t strong enough. I have heard all of these excuses and more, and each and every one of these excuses represents an obstacle to the desired outcome, which for my patients is improved health and longevity. If we are acknowledging these obstacles, and allowing ourselves to be blocked by them, we are saying that the goal isn’t a priority for us. That it doesn’t matter as much as other things do, and that we aren’t willing to sacrifice time, discomfort, etc, to achieve our goal.

CHANGE IS HARD FOR EVERYONE, AND IT IS REALLY EASY TO GET DETERRED BY EVEN THE SMALLEST OF OBSTACLES. SEE OBSTACLES FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE OPPORTUNITIES. Of course it is not as easy as saying, “I’m not going to allow this obstacle to get in my way.” Some challenges may be too big on their own, and may need to be reduced to several smaller challenges.

We may not always reach our goals. The most important aspect of working towards our goals, however, is in the work and the rewards along the way, and not in the end result.

I have faced (and continue to face) many obstacles in my path to becoming the doctor and midwife I am today, most notably the challenges I faced in choosing a profession that was so foreign to most of the people in my life. There were financial obstacles, personal obstacles, and academic obstacles, but ultimately I was able to overcome all of those obstacles, by prioritizing my goal and being willing to accept some (many) sacrifices along the way. Every day we must prioritize what we decide to spend our most important commodity on - our time. How important is it for you to dedicate some time towards your health today? Towards your relationships with other people? And your relationship with yourself ? What matters most today?

Today, I challenge you to make a change in your life that will benefit your health, whatever day today is. Why does it have to happen January 1? There is nothing about that day that makes you more likely to stick to the changes you want to make in your life. Start today. Today,

H E A LT H , N AT U R A L LY

make that change, be it exercise, diet, or lifestyle, your priority. Think about what that choice means to your health, and your life. Try to make that same choice everyday, and some days you won’t be as successful as other days. Some days, you have to prioritize your family’s needs, your job, or even your social life. Eventually, though, you will find yourself prioritizing your new routine over most other things, and you will have overcome your obstacle.

Challenge yourself to make small goals, and celebrate your small wins along the way.

Change is hard for everyone, and it is really easy to get deterred by even the smallest of obstacles. See obstacles for what they really are - opportunities.

“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.” Dr. Wayne W. Dyer Have a Healthy and Happy 2015!

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VMTravel January Ad 2015.qxp_Layout 1 2014-12-11

Health and Lifestyle

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

Positive and Lasting Changes

A GOAL WITHOUT A PLAN IS JUST A WISH.

KRISSI HYLAND, RHN

I’M WRITING THIS TO YOU not as a Holistic Nutritionist but as a real person.

A person who has struggled with life, too.

I have fallen off the wagon, struggled with weight, not cared enough for myself and let my job become my life. We all go through times when we look back and say, “MAN, I never want to be there again.”

Maybe you are in that valley right now and staring up at all the things you need and want to do. The only way out is to put your foot in front of you and take that first step. It is about making that one small change for a better you. Here are my five tips on making positive and lasting changes for 2015.

3. Meditate on it. Make it real; envision yourself there. Create a mantra for your goal in present tense and say it to yourself – even if it seems impossible. Your mind is an incredible tool for achieving goals.

One of my favourite mantras is: “My

Makes 3 Servings 3 wide-mouth 32oz mason jars with tight fitting lids ¾ cup Creamy Tahini Dressing (recipe on the right) 6 Tbsp (¼ cup + 2 Tbsp) red onion, diced

1. Make one small change. One of my changes when I started taking better care of myself was to buy myself a hairbrush.

Yes, this might sound silly, but it was a huge step for me. I had to push aside the thoughts of wasting money on something so mundane and go out and buy a “really nice hair brush” (I think it cost $8). Up until then, I had been using a hotel comb.

That small change was the first of many towards a healthier and happier me! If your one small change is joining a group activity – make that call. If it’s making a sauce from scratch – buy the ingredients or print out the recipe. If it’s skiing a harder run, get more mileage on your skis.

Work it into your life one step at a time.

2. Write down your goal. This gives it life. The first step is really thinking about where you want to be in 2015. Why not make 2015 the best year of your life?

Comforting Winter Salad – Mason Jar Style

KRISSI HYLAND PHOTO

body is healthy, I am strong, confident and beautiful.” Simple and present.

4. Celebrate your success. Involve your friends or family with your goals.

This way when you achieve them you have someone to stoke you up and be stoked with! Life is too short not to celebrate the positive changes we make.

5. When you fall off, laugh it off and make one small change. We all fail.

Know that, laugh it off and go back to the first step.

Another one of my changes was to plan meals in advance (this was so I would actually eat and not skip a meal cause I was so “busy.”) This pre-made hardy salad is always great to have around.

YOUR MIND IS THE MOST POWERFUL MEDICINE. EVERY DAY IS ANOTHER CHANCE TO MAKE ONE CHANGE. ENVISION YOURSELF ALREADY THERE.

1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed

Creamy Tahini Dressing/Dip

3 Tbsp dried cranberries

Makes approx. ¾ Cup

1½ cups carrot, shredded

1/3 cup tahini (sesame butter)

1½ cups beet, shredded or 3 small beets steamed

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/3 cup pumpkin seeds 3 cups mixed greens/spinach

1 clove garlic, minced or 1/8 tsp garlic powder

1½ cups cooked quinoa

½ tsp onion powder

3 Tbsp goats cheese, crumbled (optional)

1 Tbsp maple syrup, or more to taste

1 cooked chicken breast, cut into pieces (optional)

Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth. If the consistency is too thick, add some water. Store in an air-tight glass container.

Pour 3-4 Tbsp of dressing in the bottom of each mason jar. Add onion, beans and cranberries so they can marinate. Add carrot, beet, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, in that order, and at the very top the leafy greens. Store in fridge for up to five days. Shake jar to coat before eating and serve on a plate or in a bowl. If using goat cheese, add the day of. If using chicken or any animal protein, divide into three portions and place in the freezer. Remove from freezer and place in fridge the day before to defrost.

2 Tbsp tamari

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¼ cup water (or to desired consistency)

Another one of my changes was to become vulnerable, so thank-you for letting me share a side of me that is human.

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Health and Lifestyle

TA L E S F R O M A N U N E X P E C T E D Y O G I

Befriending Your Ego HEATHER IVANY

WHEN THE JOURNEY OF MINDFULNESS CALLS there is a deep feeling of both commitment and optimism. However, the beginning stages of this path can sometimes shine light on where we fall short in behaviours and relationships both within ourselves and with others. For some this is where the journey ends. Old habits and patterns enter back in, or worse we spiral into a spiritual darkness replaying the story of our shortcomings and limiting beliefs. What appeared so clear to us when we started is now so very far away from the direction that we were headed in. Yet if we were to listen a little closer we’d actually see that were are right on course.

The word ego often times has a negative perception, a part within that needs to be conquered. The ego is so incredibly amazing. Here is this piece within whose sole purpose is maintaining our survival. It acts in order to protect us and keep us safe… just like a loving mother. Yet like a loving mother the ego can be blinded. Where behaviours were once put in place, in order to keep us safe or maintain our survival, they may still be playing out even years after the threat has left.

When we turn our attention into the practice of soul or spirit we begin to shift from the need to do (ego) and start to experience the state of being (consciousness). At our core we are human beings not human doers. This shift sends the ego on high alert because the “law of maintenance” states that “that which we feed… grows.” If we are no longer feeding the ego and instead nourishing the spirit then over time the spirit will begin to flourish and the ego will diminish. The ego feels this threat coming on and like a

LESLIE PRENTICE PHOTO

THE INNER CRITIC WHEN USED IN THE RIGHT MANNER CAN BE SUCH AN AMAZING DRIVING FORCE TO HELP INSPIRE HIGHER STANDARDS – TO NO LONGER BE CONTENT WITH PLAYING SMALL. mama bear finds the resources within us to preserve our survival. Ego preservation will transform in many ways such as the inner critic, the skeptic, or the image consultant.

Step back into the scenario of an individual embarking on a spiritual path, but rather than feeling the euphoria and enlightenment sensations begin to feel the opposite. The inner critic may enter speaking statements of unworthiness.

“I can’t believe you just behaved like that… and you call yourself spiritual.” Or perhaps the skeptic enters. “Really, you think waking up at 6 am to meditate is the secret to peace?” Then there is the image consultant. “Hmm, I wonder what Larry would think if he knew I was listening to Deepak Chopra.”

These responses are not a signal to wave the white flag and admit that we are unable to lead ourselves forward. They are instead the perfect opportunity to begin the honest work of bearing witness to our own ego and engaging in a relationship with it. The inner critic when used in the right manner can be such an amazing driving force to help inspire higher standards – to no longer be content with playing small. Engage in conversation with your own critic. “Really you think I’m unworthy? That’s interesting because my kid thinks I’m awesome and my kid is one of the smartest people I know.” Or, “How can I be unworthy if I was born whole? This unworthiness must have somehow been taught to me along the way.” The skeptic, when used honestly, is going to make sure that you validate what you are doing so that you are not led down the path of scams and unsupported product claims. Let’s face it. There is a lot of money to be made in the business of spirituality. So begin to decipher as to when the skeptic has a valid voice and when the skeptic needs to move to the backseat and let go and let be. As for the image consultant, what better way to take a deep look at your relationships and need for approval? If the people you surround yourself with don’t see you as your best self and inspire you to be your highest self, then are they honestly loving you? If you seek the approval of others more than the approval of yourself, why is that?

The beginning stages of going deeper will inevitably point out our ego. The recognition that we have an ego is a deep call for us to start doing the work/play.

The ego is like a new puppy. It wants to be fed often, it enjoys mischief and it needs to be trained. Space in your life for stillness is how spirit grows brighter and ego recedes.

Watch how these tender pauses bloom into your everyday until one day you’ll just happen to notice a difference.

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Health and Lifestyle

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AROUND THE WORLD

PERU | SUBMITTED PHOTO

Ask an Expert

even sent quotes and info while she was on the road herself.

REBECCA HALL

Dee and Amy Hare are Flight Centre Associates in Fernie. I asked for their expert opinions for this column and they started by telling me that January is the perfect time to book a trip as there’s usually lots of great last minute, allinclusive deals available, so read on then send Amy or Dee a message and book your next dream vacation!

HAVING TRAVELLED A LOT, I’m usually pretty comfortable taking care of my own arrangements online, but when I started to look into the trip I was planning for the recent Christmas holidays, I couldn’t find anything that worked. My usual budget flights with Air Transat (direct from Calgary to Glasgow for under $1000 return all-in) were not available, so I turned to Dee Hatina for some help.

I didn’t have very high hopes due to my budget and dates, but not only did Dee find me a very respectable price of $1400 for the exact holiday dates I needed, my layover at London Heathrow was just one hour, and I didn’t even have to leave the terminal. I couldn’t have been more grateful and impressed with the service – Dee answered numerous questions and

Travel agents must get to visit some amazing destinations. What was your favourite so far? AH: Greece and Turkey. DH: Zimbabwe, Malawi and Indonesia.

For all the beautiful places you do get to visit, I imagine there’s a dozen more you’d love to go. What’s on the top of your bucket list, and why? AH: Southeast Asia, for the culture, beauty and food. DH: South America for the culture and food.

What’s the hottest vacation destination right now? Unanimous: Belize!

There are many reasons to travel, and I can’t think of any better way to overcome life’s obstacles. What would you recommend for: Getting over a fear of flying: Both were agreed, any destination where the flight is long enough that you can watch a movie to take your mind off your fears, and get a seat near the front of the plane where the turbulence is less noticeable.

Recuperating after an illness: Both: An all-inclusive resort with a spa credit.

Amy noted that Sandals resorts often include a spa credit, and the Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun is currently offering a $1500 resort credit, $500 of which can be used towards spa treatments.

Taking time to create a new life path: AH: An adventure like Macchu FERNIEFIX.COM

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This January at 1602 7th Ave. Fernie - 250.423.2634

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January 5 - February 8, 2015 COSTA RICA | SUBMITTED PHOTO

Picchu in Peru, or closer to home, the Berg Lake Trail – lots of time for soul searching.

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AH: We have access to more resources than many online companies, and can often offer better prices. As a licensed BC agency, we pay into a travel assurance fund that further protects you if a tour operator or airline does not provide the travel services you purchased. We provide excellent customer service and can assist with any issues before, during or after your trip without charging any booking fees.

DH: We save you time by doing the research, which in turn saves you money.

We have access to a huge network of associates who can advise us of things to do and places to stay if we don’t have personal experience of that location. Our knowledge of airline routings enables us to advise the quickest and most efficient way to reach a destination. (As I found out recently!) We sell everything travel related – we are a one-stop shop so you don’t have to trawl around on different websites.

We have extensive personal knowledge of all the destinations we have been to, and can offer plenty of travel advice and recommendations.

Contact Amy and Dee at amy.hare@ fcatravel.ca 250-423-0910 or dee.hatina@ fcatravel.ca 250-423-1333 and like them on facebook at Flight Centre Associates Fernie.

Zesty Veggie Fettuccine

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Book online

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BP Sports Bar Action At the BP Sports Bar the game is always on and you can watch it on our 80” TV. It’s the place to catch all your favourite sporting events on the big screen!

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Health and Lifestyle

5th Annual

2014

5th Annual

5th Annual

2014

2014

Parenthood Lessons

WINNER OF THREE 2014 BEST OF FERNIE AWARDS

ADAM K. MACDONALD

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Now offering Sunday Brunch 9am-2pm.

Reservations Recommended.

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ETHERIDGE LAW provides a full range of litigation services, including: personal injury (motor vehicle accidents and ICBC claims), civil (debt claims, property disputes, contracts, construction law and builder’s liens), family (divorce, property division, support, custody, cohabitation and separation agreements), criminal, wills and estates.

ANGELA ETHERIDGE 401 – 2nd Avenue (2nd Floor) Tel: 250-430-0007 angela@eastkootenaylaw.com www.eastkootenaylaw.com (by appointment only)

TODAY, MY TODDLER DROPPED one of his favourite books behind the couch. For me, this would be a minor inconvenience, but for my son (for whom the act of walking is still only a monthsold phenomenon) the dropped book presented some significant obstacles.

The height to go over the back of the couch was dangerous. Sliding down off the couch and climbing over the toybox and other furniture was a huge undertaking. He chose the latter. The look of determination (a polite word for stubbornness) on his face was awesome. So much work for a book when there was a shelf full of other books just behind him.

Fifteen minutes of toddler-style parkour later, he had his book (The Little Blue Truck).

Yesterday, in a similar situation involving stairs and a favourite toy, his response was different. There was no look of determination. He looked at the hard-toreach toy, looked at me, then he expressed utter defeat, sticking out his lower lip, crying, and reaching for a hug.

The challenges were similar, a desired item that required hard work to get, yet the results were opposite – determination versus defeat. These types of scenarios play out several times a day in his new life as he explores the world around him.

Even before becoming a dad, I was fascinated with how much kids are like adults. Sometimes when presented with a challenge, I respond with determination, and other times I fail to summon the energy to even try. Some nights I am overwhelmed by the mountain of dishes on the counter and I go to bed, knowing that the next morning I will be upset at myself for having succumbed to defeat.

YOU’VE GOT MALE

Other times, I surprise myself by taking on seemingly impossible challenges and finding the dedication needed to succeed, such as the day-to-day challenge of raising a toddler while balancing having a fulltime job and trying to be a good husband and friend.

I might not crawl over the toy-box, and my lower lip might not pout, but I do the adult equivalent several times every day. I am not that different than my toddler. Each day I encounter successes and failures, some large and some small.

Sometimes I rise to the occasion, and other times I fail to. This has been the case my whole life. Over the years I have learned a few ways to trick myself into finding the energy (such as committing to starting a task, without being overwhelmed by thinking about all the energy required to finish it). Also, I have hopefully improved at knowing when it’s worth summoning the resources to overcome certain obstacles, and when it’s not.

For me, having a kid is teaching me a lot about myself. By watching him, I remember a lot about my childhood perspective and how I used to look at the world. In addition, watching my son experiment with the many new challenges he faces in a day causes me to think about present-day me, and how I interact with my world. He inspires me to rediscover my imagination and creativity, to play. He makes me appreciate how I have come to take for granted certain tasks as easy (like walking, and picking up things that fall behind the couch).

I am blown away at how proud I am when he enters determination mode, and at how difficult it is not to solve his problems for him too often when he enters defeatist mode.

Before having a kid, I thought of parenting as involving a lot of teaching.

And parenting does involve a lot of teaching. However, parenting involves a lot of learning too.

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Safe iPhone Travelling

HIGH PERFORMANCE

SKI RENTALS & SALES

KEVIN MCISAAC

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO I wrote a column about using my iPhone while travelling. One of the issues I didn't discuss in the column is using your iPhone safely while travelling. We often forget in these days of hyper-connectivity that at any given moment there are thousands of bits of data flying about the ether linking you to your friends and loved ones. That data, and the data stored on your iPhone or iPad is in many cases far more important than the device itself.

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If you've ever damaged your phone and then wondered how you were going to get all those baby pictures off it, you know what I'm talking about. This is usually the point where I get a call from a friend and I say, don't worry. All your photos were saved on your computer when you last backed up your phone. And they say, “Backed up my phone?” Note the question mark.

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First and foremost, before you do anything else, if you're not backing your phone up to a computer using iTunes you need to start today.

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Install iTunes on your Mac or PC and plug your iPhone in. iTunes should recognize it right away. Now you have a choice. Backup to your computer or iCloud. Myself, I prefer my own computer as it's backed up as well. Us computer guys love redundancy. There's nothing wrong with iCloud, except the limited size, so you can use that too. Perform a backup. You'll find this under File | Devices | Back Up if you're not already looking at the device summary screen.

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If you select This Computer for backup it will also give you the option of encrypting the backup. This prevents someone from cloning your phone if your computer is stolen. I don't bother, but if you have the nuclear launch codes on your iPhone you'll probably want to say yes.

Bits and Bytes

...BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE, IF YOU'RE NOT BACKING YOUR PHONE UP TO A COMPUTER USING ITUNES YOU NEED TO START TODAY. Okay backup out of the way. Now if you lose your phone you can buy another, restore your backup and carry on like nothing happened.

What about other safety concerns? I use my phone quite a bit while travelling and one of things I've discovered is that WiFi is ubiquitous now. The issue with WiFi and your phone is that WiFi communication is not secure by default. Some communication is secure. For example, if you use the Gmail app for you email then it's secure, but not all communication is done over secure channels.

So, here're some simple rules to follow while travelling. Use a different password on all your accounts. You should do this anyway, but it's especially important while travelling. Otherwise, if your password is stolen, hackers will scan a million sites, checking for access, in about five minutes.

Be careful when typing in passwords.

Cover your screen with your body. Don't leave it lying on the table top while you type it in. Actually don't leave your phone lying on a table top anyway. A lot of phones are stolen that way. Just a quick grab and run. Unless you're Usain Bolt, in which case it may just be for training purposes.

Set up Find My Phone. This is an iCloud service that let's you track your phone, play a beep, display a message (useful if you've left it somewhere and you'd like the finder to contact you), or even wipe the data. Have a passcode (Under Settings | Passcode) on your phone. And don't make it 1234 or 0000. Turn on the Require Passcode and set it to After 1 minute.

You can make it longer at home. Turn on Erase Data. If someone is trying to get

THE ANSWER GUY

into your phone, after ten tries it wipes the phone. This keeps people from accessing all your email, contacts, banking app, etc.

Don't worry you can restore everything from your backup when you get home.

When you get home, change your passwords. It is trivial for a free WiFi site to record many of the passwords that your phone sends across its network. If you reuse your passwords, you could be in for a shock. I don't change all my passwords, but I do change the important ones when I get home. Anything that can be used to purchase things, paypal, banking, and email, etc.

If you're really anal about security, or if your company requires you to be anal about it, then use a VPN while travelling.

A VPN or Virtual Private Network is a network you sign into securely and then passes all your communication through encrypted. There's a good Canadian firm called BTGuard, which will provide you a VPN for a month for $9.95.

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51

Bits and Bytes

January Horoscope CLAIRE SIMMONS

Aries (March 21 - April 29) Rebirth The New Year will be a big one for you, Aries! You are experiencing inner transformation on a large scale and are about to emerge to a new you. Be prepared for things to seem new and intimidating during the first few month of the year. It's all right, you'll still have your old wisdom with you.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Synergy

'kitchen always open'

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You are just in the flow as you head into 2015! This year you’ll have the advantage of an incredible synergy. Continue to let the flow of life guide you, and things will just fall into place as you move about your business.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Emergence You’re still in a phase of emergence that began last month. Your initiation into the New Year began a bit early and life is demanding big things of you this year. What you’re experiencing lately is preparing you for the next stage of what’s to come in your life!

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Effortless 2015 is asking you to move beyond your comfort zone and step beyond the edge.

Allow yourself to do so with ease rather than struggle. Do not TRY to make it effortless - that just creates more strain.

The key word here is to allow. Relaxing and yielding to the movement that is occurring at any given moment makes your life effortless.

M O N T H LY H O R O S C O P E S

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) Completion

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) New Beginnings

Last year was a big year for you Leo! Now you have arrived at the stage of completion. Let yourself feel the contentment and satisfaction of this accomplishment. It is important to not only enjoy this completion but also let go and allow yourself to relax afterward. Give yourself that time to relax and rest before tackling your next assignment.

Kick off the New Year with the new you!

Happy Birthday Capricorn! Embrace the new that the year brings, including new opportunities, people and projects. Be open to new approaches!

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22) Grounding Get grounded. Go outside and do something that centres you and connects you with the Earth. Remember that the Earth always supports you. It is important for you to do this regularly this winter.

Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22) Creation You are continuing with the creativity that began last month in order to bring about the best for 2015. Really take the time this New Year to consciously consider how you are creating your life and what you want to unfold for you.

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Physical Strength

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Passion Passionately bring to life what you want to create for 2015. Unleash yourself in activities that bring you alive. Dive headfirst into all of your endeavours this month and do it all with an open heart!

Pisces (Feb 19 - March 20) Movement Embrace your sign and go with the flow this year, Pisces. Surrender to the movement of life, be grateful, and you will see signs along the way that offer you clues about what direction you are to be making. It’s essential that you flow this year.

Breathe, relax, and you will know.

Health. Beauty.

Happiness. Confidence.

Your body is craving to be used to its full potential! Give your body the attention it desires and focus on physical activity.

Tune into your body and listen for the appropriate way forward for you.

The innate wisdom of your body is an incredible force to be reckoned with.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Breath Take a deep breath in and exhale. This practice will bring you back to the moment and to yourself. Whatever is happening in the outside world can be postponed for one breath. Notice how you feel when you take time out to breathe. Give your lungs the fresh air they are so worthy of by going outside and spending time connecting your breath to the pulse of the forest.

Winter Smiles!

Visit your hygienist today

Meghan Turner and Jan Krawchuk

292 - 2nd Avenue, Fernie, BC

250-423-6838

dentist@kahane.ca www.kahane.ca FERNIEFIX.COM

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53

Fernie Fun

ferniefix

FernieFixMag

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE There are ten differences between these two pictures.

See if you can find them.

FIND THE Somewhere in this issue is a little toque. Can you find it?