reved
Quarterly
WINTER 08/09 Issue #15
FREE!
reved.net
Revelstoke’s Arts and Culture Publication
which will profile volunteer jobs in our community. Volunteering doesn’t have to be like doing chores.
Artist in Profile,
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With Christmas hovering, I am constantly reminded of something whenever I see a Poinsettia plant – that I have a tendency to mix up words. I worked at Safeway once during Christmas and was ringing through a lady’s order. She had a poinsettia. I told her she’d picked out a lovely placenta. Awkward.
Trevor Kehler is on page two... photo: Butch Kibosh
editorial
If you’re reading this newspaper for
the first time, you should know we’ve fattened up a bit. Reved used to be a size four-pages, but in the past few months, this publication has grown to a size eight-pages and counting…whoa, Bertha! And you can blame the people working behind the scenes because we just keep force-feeding the ideas and stories and tidbits of information and it’s only going to get worse (though we say better). As long as Revelstoke sets out the buffet in arts, culture and entertainment, Reved will devour it – we’re greedy that way and fond of recreational eating. As happens with a sudden change in size, wardrobes need to be altered, as well. For the new look, we’ve added some slimming lines and well, we all know black and white is the way to go so no bold patterns or colours here - we’ll save the muumuu for later. In the meantime, we’d like to thank all of you for coming out to the Reved fundraiser slide show on November 1st. We had a great crowd that night at The Village Idiot. This time of year usually brings a good turnout as people are itching to get out, but it sure was great to see you all come and support an important element in arts and culture coverage for our community. And we didn’t even spend the money raised on Coronas after you all left, (although that
was tempting). We were happy to see that our fundraiser brought in enough funds to help pay for this issue’s printing which is good now that Reved is double-sized. Doing the layout and design for this newspaper has always been one of my favourite things to do with Reved that, and the writing - but getting fancy was something I usually left until the last minute because of more pressing matters like coming up with story ideas, chasing ads, or losing it over software malfunctions. That ‘last minute’ for getting more creative with fonts and graphics never seemed to come.
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But then some great staff came onboard and there was more time to think about how to step it up a notch. Feel free to go to our website and let me know what you think. And while you’re there, take a moment to fill in our reader’s questionnaire, “Three Things I Hope Never Change in Revelstoke”. I’m also excited to introduce three new columns: Get Outta Here is a travel column which will feature articles from local globetrotters. The Scene follows Revelstoke’s theatre events and happenings, hoping to draw larger crowds to the theatre community. Each issue will now feature a Volunteer Job Pick
I also get narcissism mixed up with narcissus, but it’s not just plant vocabulary that messes me up. I once walked into a spa and said it smelled like euthanasia in there when, of course, I meant echinacea. I used to think voyeurism was a voyager’s term for exploration, (though this could be accurate, depending on what you’re into…). Not too long ago, I found out there’s actually a word for this kind of misspeak: malapropism. I cringe to think of how many times I've left people weirded-out in the wake of my malapropisms, but I’m glad to hear that this sort of condition affects enough people that they’ve invented a word for it. All this got me thinking of my love for words and how you might be able to help broaden my vocabulary. Choose a word you’d like me to use in the next issue and I’ll find a way to incorporate it into the Editorial on the front page. Write to editor@reved.net. Please also do us a favour and spread the Reved love around. Pass this paper on to a friend or, if you’re one of those outgoing types, run through the streets waving it around – Reved could use the exercise. Heather Lea - senior editor/publisher
what’s in there...? pg. 2... Artist in Profile Good Question, Man pg. 3... Get Outta Here The Scene pg. 4... What Matters pg. 5... Health & You Volunteer Job Pick pg. 6... What's Your Biz'ness Heritage Moments pg. 7... Emerging Music Notes pg. 8... Sleeps n' Eats Sponsor Thanks
Artist in Profile
photo source: recycledseatbelts.com
by Butch Kibosh
Seatbelts, So Hot These Days In the eyes of most, a seatbelt is what keeps you in your seat and your head off the windshield if you crash your car. However, the life-saving nylon straps mean a whole lot more to Revelstoke's Trevor Kehler and his company U.S.E.D,(Unlimited Supplies from Everyone's Discards).
that depend on sweatshop labour conditions, Kehler has chosen to keep his business in Canada and manufacture his products at a family run facility in Manitoba.
Initially, the eco-minded entrepreneur decided to manufacture sandals out of used car tires and seatbelts. Unfortunately, the sandals proved to be too labour intensive to produce economically, thus Kehler shifted his sights towards bags. From his home office/workshop in Revelstoke's southside, he began to produce high-end hand bags, totes, shoulder bags, chalk bags, laptop cases and visors. His products are unmistakably fashioned out of various coloured, durable, reclaimed seatbelts, giving material otherwise destined for a landfill a new lease on life. According to Kehler, one of the auto salvage yards he uses as a supplier sends over six hundred pounds of seatbelts per month to the landfill. Kehler states that it takes on average 48 seconds to harvest the seatbelts from a vehicle. Obviously, he speaks from experience, but as his business has grown, he's turned the reclamation of the material over to the salvage yards themselves in order to direct more of his time towards managing his fledgling company.
When I caught up with Kehler for an interview in August, he was in the midst of his busy season (BC's many festivals and markets have proved to be a source for many of his sales.) and preparing for a tradeshow in Vancouver. His living room had been taken over by his booth for the show and he was rapt in thought as to how he should display his wares. Next to the booth stood a pile of suitcases. He caught me staring at them and explained, "That's my travelling setup. I pack all my goods into those suitcases and hit the road to festivals such as the one in Kaslo." There was a sparkle in his eyes and he said, "Come over here, let me show you some air bags. I'm trying to figure out a way to integrate them into a new product design." We went over to his industrial sewing machine that sat intermingled with bags of seatbelts and boxes of air bags, all salvaged from trashed automobiles. He began to divulge all sorts of ideas he'd been working on for his "new" products.
U.S.E.D. has rapidly grown to a point where Kehler has had to enlist the help of his mother, grandfather and aunt along with several other employees to keep up with the demand for his bags. Contrary to global manufacturing principles
The phrase one man's trash is another man's treasure never rang so true. Check out U.S.E.D. products at recycledseatbelts.com
Good Question, Man!
Where do jokes come from? I've never heard anyone say they’re employed as a joke maker-upper. And I don't mean a comedian; I'm thinking about those jokes you get in your Inbox and forward on because they're hilarious and ingenious. Wouldn’t you brag about that sort of thing? At parties, wouldn’t you want to blurt out “I make up those jokes that you get in your Inbox that are incredibly smart and witty!"? Who are these people? Do they go to an office on Monday and think up funny stuff, slapping each other on the back, saying, "That was a good one!" If so, I want that job...
editor@reved.net
Quarterly
managing editor Colin Titsworth man-ed@reved.net
ad sales/marketing Emily Beaumont sales@reved.net
design/layout Heather Lea design@reved.net
staff writers Alison Lapshinoff Colin Titsworth Butch Kibosh
contributors Dorothee Birker Melissa Jameson Hanna Thomson
Go to reved.net and fill out our reader's questionnaire: "Three Things I Hope Never Change in Revelstoke."
r eved publications writing services
Heather Lea 250-837-4676 reved.net writing@reved.net
Snow Light
Streetlights initiate glowing when the last ounce of daylight fades away. Snowfall observing becomes an armchair activity for skiers, sledders, and shredders who pay close attention to this monitoring device. Your snow-light exists, and it has the power to make you call in sick the night before. Wind direction, accumulation levels, and snow-type can be measured at a glance. A marvelous tool that records the one thing that affects everyone in a mountain town. Reved welcomes you to winter.
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editing/proofreading • newsletter/flyer design • business cards
PLEASE share or recycle this newspaper...
photo: Colin Titsworth
publisher/senior editor Heather Lea
reved
Box 2126 • Revelstoke, BC • V0E 2S0 • reved.net
If you know the answer to this question or have a Good Question of your own, write to us: editor@reved.net
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Colin TItsworth - managing editor
stories from afar....
by Alison Lapshinoff
It was early November in Greece. The cashier inhaled deeply on his cigarette as he rang through my groceries. Outside, clusters of crusty, timeworn men loitered peaceably in the shade of grand, old trees drinking coffee and chain smoking. Their female counterparts were conspicuously absent, likely tending to the housework or doing the shopping. It was a typical scene of idle contentment in a land that has been fought over for millennia. Greece belonged to the Greeks again. The hordes of tourists who descend upon this country in the summer months were all but gone. The air was as warm as summer in Revelstoke; the hotels empty and all the best rooms available at rock bottom prices. In this typical seaside town, boxy, pastel coloured homes spilled haphazardly down the hillside to the expansive central plaza. In the harbour, brightly coloured fishing boats bobbed lazily in the afternoon sun. The roar of a speeding motorbike weaving between parked cars and pedestrians ruffled no feathers. The rider was young, stylishly dressed and bare headed. To the Greeks, fashion is paramount and helmet hair non-existent. Young women sashay through town, sweetly scented and perfectly coiffed, their immaculately fitting designer jeans disappearing into stylish leather boots. They have perfected the art of walking with ease on the uneven cobblestones in astonishingly high-heeled footwear. As I stepped from the supermarket into the broad, shaded plaza, someone’s grandmother, leathery and slightly stooped, rode by side-saddle on a mule. How does this wizened old woman perceive all the noisy traffic that roars through her traditional Greek town? Built long before the automobile was thought of, the impossibly narrow main street wound its way between the old stone buildings, blind corners so tight most wouldn’t consider attempting to navigate them by car. But the Greeks drive where they want, park where they want and smoke where they want. Government regulation seems surprisingly scant and safety precau-
photo: Alison Lapshinoff
get outta here
tions almost non-existent. Cigarette companies advertise on large billboards depicting glamorous young Gythio, small fishing village in the Mani region, southern Greece women and dashing older men enjoying their products in restaurants. Customers linger over meals beneath a hazy veil of smoke. In the sprawling, crumbling castles that brood above many a Greek town, one is free to poke about and explore at will. But don’t expect a guardrail. The drops are vertiginous and one could simply walk off the edge. Kind of refreshing to be responsible for your own stupidity instead of being babied by a system terrified of litigation. Armed with a few groceries and a weathered map I climbed into a small rental car and pointed it towards the country’s mountainous interior, pausing briefly to ponder the meaning of a directional road sign written in Greek script. A portly old woman, clad typically in all black, crossed the narrow street and wrestled her shopping up a cobblestone alley of alarming incline. As I squeezed the car between two buildings, a row of parked cars, a pair of pedestrians and a motorbike, I leaned out the window to ask directions of a passerby. As long as they aren’t officially in the business of providing you with information, the Greeks are incredibly friendly and willing to point a stray, lost tourist in the right direction. Throwing the car into first gear, I began the arduous ascent of the town’s main street, a narrow alley winding around the timeless buildings of solid stone, colourful washing hanging from the windows above, gently flapping in the breeze. Alison travelled to the Peloponesse, a region of Greece south of Athens, this past fall.
THESCENE HEAR THIS! HEAR THIS!
Ballet Kelowna Comes to Revelstoke by Dorothee Birker
theatre in Revelstoke
by Melissa Jameson
Get ready to take a trip back to the roaring 1920s when Chicago hits the stage in Revelstoke this spring. Rehearsals are already well underway for this wellknown musical, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s the same Chicago you’ve seen on film. “The stage performance has three numbers in it the movie doesn’t have,” said artistic director Lyn Kaulback. “Ours is also a more acceptable form of entertainment. It’s not so raunchy because it is family entertainment.” This will be the 12th Community Musical presented in Revelstoke – the last musical was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, which was presented five years ago. Other musicals presented in the past have included: two productions of the Wizard of Oz, Anne of Green Gables, Peter Pan, Annie, Oliver, Sound of Music, Music Man, Hello Dolly and My Fair Lady. “All our musicals have been highly successful. We haven’t done one for five years and this musical is a very modern musical,” said assistant producer Peter Waters. “It involves song and dance and dialogue all working interchangeably which makes it more difficult to show and perform, but it also makes more excitement.” With such a plethora of theatrical talent in Revelstoke, producer Alan Chell said the production is one not to be missed.
“There’s an incredible amount of artistic talent in Revelstoke, not only on stage but with the crew as well,” he said. “The musical provides a great opportunity for people to practice and show their artistic side and gives a chance for the whole community to be front and centre.” Chicago has brought forth a mix of theatre buffs who have been involved in past community musicals as well as a number of brand new faces. “We have four young men out dancing, most of the principles are newcomers and we have two choral directors and two choreographers we’ve not had before,” said Kaulback. Chicago will hit the stage March 4-7, 2009 at Revelstoke Secondary School. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 seniors and students and $10 children 12 and under. Ticket holders will be privy to special discounts at Revelstoke businesses on the night their tickets are valid. There will be a special gala evening on Saturday, March 7 with 1920's formal dress theme. Details for the gala evening are being finalized. For details, ticket purchase, or if you are a Revelstoke business owner who would like more details on how you can get involved, please contact Alan Chell at 250-837-9351.
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Be Moved this spring when Ballet Kelowna comes to Revelstoke February 25th to present The Promise of Angels and Other Works. This magical evening of dance will feature Ballet Kelowna’s “inno-classical” style, incorporating both classical ballets and unique modern dances from two guest Canadian choreographers. Audiences will enjoy the beauty and emotion of The Promise of Angels to music by Gustav Mahler and will rejoice with the remount of Mozart’s exuberant ‘Exultate Jubilate’, both choreographed by artistic director, David LaHay. The second half of the performance will include the wildly successful Negotiating Shifts from the fall tour, choreographed by Gioconda Barbuto, and a new, as yet un-named, work, by choreographer DA Hoskins who thrilled audiences throughout BC with his work Affairs of the Heart last season. Ballet Kelowna was recently named the ‘Touring Artist of the Year 2008’ by the BC Touring Council, breathtakingly beautiful and elegantly bold, captivating audiences with classical and innovative dance. The performance starts at 7:30 pm at the Revelstoke Community Centre on February 25th. For more on Ballet Kelowna and for ticket info, please go to balletkelowna.ca.
what matters....
the Drawing Board art & design Studio
250 837 5070 nicolamcgarry.com nicola_mcgarry@yahoo.com
The Greenbelt Society is 20 years old... by Colin Titsworth
Revelstoke’s Greenbelt Society turned 20 years old this past September thanks to ongoing commitment from community members who understand the importance of this ecosystem. They have established goals for this lush section of the Columbia River Floodplain so human activity can coincide with the flora and fauna. Revelstoke’s Greenbelt hosts a network of marked trails and a society that oversees their maintenance and appearance. Seven Revelstokian's sit on the board of directors who gathered in mid November to discuss the goals and objectives for the Greenbelt. Using the old rail bridge footings as the base for a pedestrian bridge across the Illecillewaet River was an original goal set at the first meeting in 1988. The plans were eliminated due to expenses, but the dream still exists within the society. Various options are being explored to see how practical this major project is. Costs for such a dream have grown exponentially but the results could be a priceless addition to the Greenbelt trail system. The Greenbelt Society is focusing on community awareness and boosting membership numbers for the upcoming year. Having more members will allow the non-profit society to execute plans that will enhance the Greenbelt for all users. Regular maintenance and trail upgrading is completed through volunteers who form work parties to get larger projects accomplished.
consistent output of water through the Revelstoke Dam. Implementing this strategy has changed the seasonal geography of the Greenbelt that once saw more drastic water-level variations. Extensive biological monitoring will exist, but only time will tell if it is beneficial for the flood plains and fish habitat. Last year the society confronted a road proposal that had intentions of going through the flats. Council later revoked the application. Not only does the society speak for the animals, but also for those who don’t understand this biodiversity haven. Many people explore it; many people don’t know about it. The Greenbelt is not the paved walkway that wraps around the Downie Mill. It is the lower ground beside the Illecillewaet River that has happy dogs and songbirds scattered throughout. To become a member of the Illecillewaet Greenbelt Society mail the following information to PO Box 306, Revelstoke, BC, V0E 2S0. Name/address/telephone #/e-mail/membership category. Individual Family Corporate Lifetime
FINE DINING
Open Daily at 5pm
837-5500
604 2nd St.W
$20 $35 (one vote per family) $100 (expires every Nov. 30) $100 tax services
One factor affecting the Greenbelt is BC Hydro’s Revelstoke Flow Management Plan which will ensure
A Factor of One and a Thousand by Butch Kibosh
The state of the environment when viewed from a big world perspective can be an overwhelming issue for an environmentally conscious person. By reducing the scope of the spectrum to a more personal level, one can create a more manageable problem. Each of our lives impacts the earth negatively; there is no way around it, but minute changes to our weekly routines can have a big positive effect. Here are a few ways you can make a difference:
Chill Out
Turning your heat down one degree over the course of winter will save you roughly 150 degree days of energy if you heat your house from November 1- April 1. A 'degree day' is a technical term used to describe the demand for energy needed to heat a home. You won’t feel any colder in your home, but you will have a significant impact on the amount of energy your household consumes.
Embrace Your Inner Dirtbag
One less shower per week equates to 52 less showers per year. Besides, excessive showering leads to dried out skin, hair and scalp.
Don’t Kill Your Television
Just turn it off. If you watch TV, try watching one less hour per week. By the year’s end, you’ll have gained 52 hours of your time and cut a large amount of electricity consumption out of your footprint.
Have You Hugged A Cow Lately?
Meat is a heavy duty contributor to the size of your footprint. It takes 14 pounds of grain to raise one pound of beef. One less meat-free meal per week won’t kill you, but it will drastically reduce the size of your impact on the world.
walk in with your taxes... walk out with your money •Personal/Business/Corp. Tax Returns •Financial Statements/GST Returns •Bookkeeping Services •Payroll •T4S & T5S
Get your hermit on
One less trip eating out per week will leave you with more money in your pocket and a smaller footprint.
Call 250-837-2345
Let's bring it back to the big world perspective for a moment and imagine that a year has passed since you read this article and you've taken 52 less showers, eaten 52 less burgers, watched 52 less hours of television, skipped 52 meals at restaurants and reduced the heat in your home by 150 degree days. Now you’ve got more dough in your pocket and the minor changes you've made to your lifestyle have significantly reduced the size of your environmental footprint. Imagine for a moment, that there were a thousand other people who decided to make the same changes to their lives as you did to yours; 52 less showers becomes 52,000 less showers. It goes to show that small acts in a big world do make a difference.
304 - 3rd Street West Revelstoke, BC www.hrblock.ca
Join Team Power Smart and take the Power Smart Quiz! bchydro.com/powersmart
Presents:
Latitude 89° Explorations on Ice in a Changing Polar Climate Internationally recognized explorer and climate change expert, Bernice Notenboom, will speak on her self-propelled voyages where she skied to the South Pole, North Pole, Siberia’s Cold Pole, and across the Greenland ice-cap. Wednesday, Dec 3rd, 6:30 p.m., Village Idiot Bar and Grill, Admission $15 (includes gourmet pizza dinner), all profits go to local initiatives by the NCES.
What a Way to Go, Life at the End of Empire Film Screening A middle class guy comes to grips with Peak Oil, Climate Change, Mass Extinction, Population Overshoot and the demise of the American Lifestyle. This documentary brings hope for the future of humanity by awakening and informing in the most profound yet lucid way imaginable. Thursday, February 26th. Revelstoke Community Centre, 7 p.m. www.north columbia.org The NCES gratefully acknowledges funding from:
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health For class schedules, visit: www.revelstokeyoga.com 1596 Illecillewaet Road, Revelstoke, BC 250.837.1817
501 2nd St. West Revesltoke, BC 250.837.3440
Neil Jones CFT CPT Rehabilitation/Personal Training hm 250.837.2487 cell 250.837.1351
Join now for 1/2 price and don’t pay until Feb ‘09 at Revelstoke’s Curves! 250-814-0288
revcurve@telus.net
&you
Crown Third Eye Throat
by Heather Lea
Heart Naval
The word meditation is defined as “attempting mental discipline beyond the conditioned, 'thinking' mind into a deeper state of relaxation and awareness.”
Sacral Root
More and more, western societies are becoming aware of the calming effects of meditation for stress-reduction, adding many other benefits to the mind and body, as well. This 5,000 year old eastern tradition has become widely accepted and customized to meet many forms of religious and spiritual systems in our western culture. Crystal Bowl meditation adds an interesting element to regular meditation in that it uses colour and sound in conjunction to radiate energy. Musical notes are sounded to resonate with each of our body's chakras and the result is a combination of Reiki, healing touch and sound therapy. The idea is that colour is visible sound and sound is auditory colour, both of which are said to affect the Chakras.
3) The Navel chakra (yellow) is where you assert yourself and make decisions. 4) The Heart chakra (green) is where you feel love, kindness and affection. 5) The Throat chakra (blue) is where you feel selfexpression and speech. 6) The Third Eye chakra (purple) is where you feel visualization and insight 7) The Crown (violet) is where you feel wisdom and awareness.
As with any exercise, meditation requires self-discipline and motivation, but it is fairly easy to find a quiet place for fifteen minutes, thus making it quite low maintenance. If you feel better off in an organized setting, you’re in luck; The United Church on 3rd Street and What is a ‘chakra'? Mackenzie Avenue has free crystal bowl meditation sessions at 9 am, Monday-Friday and at 6 pm on Chakras are energy centres found in the body which Wednesday evenings. If you are unfamiliar with crysmay be in one of three states: under-active, overtal bowl meditation and would like a bit of guidance, active or open. Open is what you’re aiming for. Wednesday evenings are a good time to go as the sessions are led by Rev. Ken Jones. Even five minutes 1) The Root chakra (red) is where you feel ‘at home’ of meditaion during your day gives positive results! and grounded. 2) The Sacral chakra (orange) is where you feel "Stressed spelled backward is desserts!" intimacy and passion.
This Issue's
Volunteer Job-Pick by Heather Lea
Revelstoke Search and Rescue (RevSAR) looks for individuals interested in volunteering their time to help assist on call-outs. Volunteers are asked to complete a Ground Search and Rescue exam and RevSAR will provide the training necessary in order to become a qualified Ground Search and Rescue team member. Courses are provided in a number of areas, including first aid, avalanche training, map and compass reading, overnight survival skills training and rope rescue, to name a few. Obviously a huge perk with joining RevSAR is the amount of hands-on back country experience you can gain through the courses provided. Experience: Backcountry skills are an asset, though not mandatory. Members thoughts on volunteering for RevSAR: - social networking - meet and learn from an amazing local outdoor talent source - courses further my outdoor skills - a good way to contribute to our community. I feel involved and helpful. - occasional helicopter rides - having the opportunity to learn from courses and co-volunteers - learn outdoor skills - find self confidence - getting to meet and spend time with different people outside your regular circle of friends. - as a parent I like to know I’m doing all I can in the case of kids who may be in need of SAR services. - learn from other's mistakes Interested? RevSAR meets every second Thursday. E-mail revsar@telus.net or go to revsar1.blogspot.com for more information. If you'd like to tell us about a great volunteer job opportunity, please write to us at editor@reved.net.
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WHAT'SYOURBIZ'NESS? by Colin Titsworth
The lounge and bowling opened for business this past autumn under the new name. Bowlers returned to a fresh new ambiance and four less lanes which were deactivated to make room for the retail and skateboard areas. There is a flat screen TV hanging above the lanes incase hockey highlights deserves more attention than your friends who are heckling you and your score. Ten dollars will get you into a stylish pair of rental shoes and two games of bowling. Completion of the retail space has arrived just in time for the Christmas season. Quality inventory is their highest priority for the retail outlet because they want gear that will prove its value. Agnus has her finger on the fashion pulse and it is evident with one lap of the well lit display room. The shop is packed with vibrant apparel, sleek new snowboards and all the fixings to get you ready for the slopes. natural fibre clothing • body products
home decor • local arts
This diverse business plan revolves around fun and is directed by people who want to provide a location that is cool for grandparents, grandkids and everyone in between. If you have an idea for an event, Agnus and Troy are happy to accommodate plans from the ordinary to the extravagant. Call 250-837-2144.
The Cabin - so much fun under one roof.
Heritage Moments by Alison Lapshinoff
250-837-6565 www.talismantrading.org
A Family Business Many a Revelstokian can recall a time, perhaps recently, when they found themselves at the River City Pub at the bottom of their third or fourth pint, wondering how it got so far past their bedtime. The lights are low, the music pumping and the dance floor packed with tourists and locals alike. A smiling shooter girl is greeting newcomers at the door, and there is, perhaps, a young sledder from Alberta trying to pick up your girlfriend.
Scrapbooking & Cardmaking "We specialize in handmade greetings and gifts with that personal touch" www.gotscraps.ca Ph: (250) 837-3329
Surrounded by friends and freshly poured pints, it's easy to forget you're in a small mountain town a fair distance from anywhere. The history dates back to an era long before the days of heli-skiers, sledders and oversized RVs. Fred Beruschi, proprietor of the Regent Inn, the historic downtown hotel in which the River City Pub sits, recalls a time when things were quite different.
414 First Street West
An amalgamation of two hotels - originally the Windsor and the Selkirk - the Regent Inn has been in the Beruschi family since the 1940’s and has seen its fair share of social and economic change happen in the small town of Revelstoke. Until the business was taken over by Fred Beruschi, Jr. from his father in 1976, the hotel consisted of only forty rooms and a beer parlour. In fact, Fred recalls, until 1972, BC’s liquor laws prohibited the sale of anything but beer! Dancing away a blustery winter night in the early 21st century and ordering drinks from a vivacious young waitress, it is difficult to imagine a time when women were actually prohibited from working in licensed bars. Until the late ‘60’s or early ‘70’s, the pub was divided into two sections, one for gentlemen and the other for ladies with an escort! And certainly, in those days, all revelry took place beneath a veil of hazy cigarette smoke. The building that houses the Regent Inn that we know today dates back to the early 1900’s and has been upgraded several times under the ownership of the Beruschi family. The brickwork that adorns the outside of the build-
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photo: courtesy of Fred Beruschi
Once acquiring the building the two entrepreneurs went straight to work and have not stopped since. Transforming the building into a fun factory for all ages has spiraled into a massive undertaking aided by friends and local contractors. A shoestring budget has not blocked the duo from delivering a multifaceted business into the heart of downtown Revelstoke. The building can host up to 150 guests, which makes it the perfect venue for most occasions.
An indoor area for skateboarding is special news for winter skateboarders who are limited to the few dingy underground parking lots in town. Troy has an extensive background in board sports and is designing the space with flow and safety in mind. Similar to a practice net in a golf store, this riding area will allow you to test drive new skateboard products without leaving the store.
photo: Colin Titsworth
I stepped inside the wood trimmed interior of The Cabin on the corner of first street and Orton Ave, and was impressed. Freshly lacquered timber accentuates the décor which includes leather couches overlooking eight shiny bowling lanes. The funky licensed lounge greets you with bold colours, locally milled cedar tabletops and delicious beverages. Top-notch gear garnishes the newest boardshop in town that is striving to provide a wide variety of quality products. Agnus and Troy, the new local owners, built this place with passion and you can tell. They are not just filling a void for entertainment in this town, they are raising the bar.
ing even has a history, Fred tells me over a cornucopia of old photos and newspapers. When the Queen Victoria Hospital was demolished from its former location at Cooper’s Foods, the Beruschi’s bought the bricks and used them to improve the hotel, creating the stately arches that line First Street today. The addition of the One-Twelve Dining Room and Lounge came in 1978 along with Peter Mueller, the spirited Swiss chef who has been grilling his infamous rack of lamb from their kitchen ever since. The Revelstoke Motor Inn, (formerly the Selkirk Hotel), became part of the Regent Inn in 1997, ending nearly a century of competition between the two hotels. A kitchen and banquet room were added, creating the hotel we know today. But more change is in the works. The year 2008 marks the 30th anniversary of the One-Twelve Dining Room and Lounge, and accordingly, the Beruschi’s are renovating. Stoker’s, the dance bar tucked away on Orton Street, has received a major facelift, and so has the restaurant, lounge and kitchen. The Regent Inn, located at 112 First Street, is one of Revelstoke’s oldest buildings and businesses, and is looking toward its third generation of ownership, something that is becoming increasingly rare these days. Steeped in almost a century of history yet embracing the future, the hotel has been spruced up and is ready for the changes that are sweeping through this small mountain town.
Revelstoke's Youth
emerging
by Hanna Thomson, 13 We are the Junior Development team from the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club. Our team has ten participants. We got our beginnings with the Jackrabbit Program where we learned the fundamental skills needed to ski race. Each winter season we compete among other Junior Racing teams throughout BC. The events we take part in are Sprints, Classic, Free Technique (skate), Pursuit (both classic and skate in the same race) and team relay. These are the same events you will be seeing during the 2010 Olympics. Most race events such as BC Cup are short distance while occasionally we race longer distances such as a loppet. What makes our sport so fun is the variety of races that are available. While our team is small, we manage to medal which make us proud of our efforts. Last season, we qualified one athlete to the BC Winter Games, hosted in February 2008 by the community of Cranbrook. The nordic venue was at the Kimberley Nordic Ski Area. Our goal is to have each of our team members compete in the BC Winter Games. Eventually, we hope to send some of our team members to test themselves against the best in Canada at the Junior Nationals. Preparing for cross country ski racing ensures we have the conditioning and the skills to be competitive. This includes the on-snow ski season as well as off-season or "dryland" training. Building a strong cardiovascular system and key muscle groups in combination with flexibility all contribute to improvement. We meet once weekly in the fall period to do two to three hours of dryland training as a team. We start with a high paced active team game as part of our warm up. Then, we usually go for a trail run for approximately 45 minutes. This includes the use of ski poles on the uphill portions as part of ski striding (slower) or ski bounding (faster). This technique is similar to uphill diagonal stride which we use in classic race events.
Our sessions also include sprint work which is difficult. Going hard and fast for short periods followed by rest prepares us for the same high intensity we experience when we ski race. Mountain biking our local trails is also something we do in dryland training. There is a lot of similarity in that you need to quickly judge changes in the terrain as you would on a cross country skiing course. We follow up with a strength workout focussing on our body core as well as stretching. We are encouraged to be active in a wide variety of school and community sports especially those that put demands on our aerobic system. This season we added skate roller skiing to our dryland program. Roller skis allow us to practice skate techniques challenging our balance and coordination with poling action. Watch for us on the Greenbelt trail or on the quiet streets of the subdivisions in Arrow Heights. Nikki Norri, a Revelstoke resident, was a former member of Canada's National Biathlon team. She has lots of experience roller skiing and racing with skate technique. She has been really helpful in advancing our skills. Our team was in the Regional On-Snow camp at Silver Star early this winter where we trained with other provincial clubs and coaches. A bit of advice. Learn cross country ski techniques early or else skiing will feel like hard work every time. Join the Skill Development Program (SDP) with the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club. If you are at least ten years or older and have some basic skills, you can begin with the Track Attack program which introduces kids to fun and low key racing experiences. Then, once you have a good foundation of skills, join our Junior Development team. Our team varies in age from ten to fifteen years in age. Go to revelstokenordic.org to look at our local Youth Club program.
MUSICNOTES
by Colin Titsworth
Bagpipes capture our attention at times when we probably should be paying attention. From the forefront of parades to the background of funerals, the music can strangle your soul. This gnarly wind instrument became popular among photo: Colin Titsworth peasants and herdsmen through the middle ages before hitting mainstream on the Scottish battlefields. Lone pipers teamed up with drummers to help stimulate their clan during warfare. British Commonwealth countries continue deploying pipers to war where they are considered some of the bravest soldiers. Close to 600 bagpipers perished in each World War where they were nicknamed, “Ladies from Hell.” During the First World War James Richardson of Chilliwack blasted his bagpipes on the front lines during the Battle of Somme. His effort cost him his life but earned him the highest military decoration. This young piper was honoured with a Victoria Cross for his bravery in the face of the enemy. Canada has 29 Military Pipe Bands and the Simon Fraser Pipe Band are current World Champions. The Revelstoke Highlanders have been the local pipe band for over three decades. They are lead by pipe major Archie McConnachie who has been with the band since its inception. Band numbers fluctuate, but currently six pipers and two drummers make up the band you see at functions throughout town. The Revelstoke Highlanders are actively recruiting drummers and pipers to fortify their band If you are interested in learning or improving your skills the Highlanders have lessons at the Legion before their Thursday evening practice.
"We offer bag lunches for all outdoor enthusiasts!"
Plenty of scotch and haggis will be on the tables for Robbie Burns day at the Moose Lodge in Arrow Heights on January 24, 2009. Scottish folk celebrate the life of a heavy drinking, womanizing poet with an evening involving poetry and musical performances. You don’t need red hair to attend the Robbie Burns celebration - everyone is welcome to come out for a great time. Bagpipers from the Revelstoke Highlanders will take center stage to display their control of the complex wind instrument.
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sleeps n’
eats Hotels/B&B's
$ = under $60 $$ = $60 - $90 $$$ = $90 - $110 $$$$ = $110 and up
Days Inn 301 Wright St.
Hillcrest Hotel
2 km east of Revelstoke off Hwy 1
Inn on the River
523 3rd St. West
Minto Manor B&B
815 MacKenzie Ave.
Monashee Lodge 1601 Third St. West
1-800-668-3139
Peaks Lodge
5km west of Revelstoke on Hwy 1
Poppi’s Hostel
313 1st St. East
837 - 2191
$$$$
837 - 3322
$$$$
837 - 3262
$$$
837 - 9337
$$$
837 - 6778
$$-$$$
837 - 2176
$$
837 - 2191
$
Powder Springs Inn (under new owners) 201 2nd St. West
Regent Inn
112 1st St.
Revelstoke Gateway Inn 1500 1 St. West
1-877-837-8337
Swiss Chalet Motel
1101 Victoria Rd.
837 - 5151
$$
837 - 2107
$$$$
837 - 2164
$$
837 - 4650
$$-$$$$
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Restaurants/Pubs
$ = under $15 $$ = $15 - 25 $$$ = $25 and up
Conversations Coffee House 205 Mackenzie Ave.
Great White North
5km west of revelstoke on Hwy 1
Hillcrest Dining Room
located in the Hillcrest Hotel
Kawakubo Sushi Sake Steak
109 1st St. East
Manning’s Chinese cuisine
302 Mackenzie Ave.
Modern Bake Shop & Cafe 212 Mackenzie Ave.
837 - 4772
$
837 - 3495
$$
837 - 3322
$$
837 - 2467
$$-$$$
837 - 3200
$$
837 - 6886
$
Powder Springs Restaurant (under new owners) 201 2nd St. West
River City Pub
112 1st St.
837 - 5151
$$
837 - 2107
$-$$
The Nomad Food Company 1601 W Victoria
Village Idiot Pub
306 Mackenzie Ave
Woolsey Creek Restaurant 604 2nd St. West
112 Restaurant & Lounge 112 1st St.
837 - 4211
$
837 - 6240
$$
837 - 5500
$-$$
837 - 2107
$$-$$$
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