Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine September 2021 issue
They
LUNA Reimagined. p · 12. Glass business. p · 14.
called her Jennie. p · 18. Painting through extinction. p · 24.
Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine is a free monthly publication featuring the best of Revelstoke outdoor life, food, style, visitor experiences, lifestyles, entertainment, home style and healthy living.
We are an independent, locally owned publication dedicated to showcasing our amazing mountain town and the great people who create the stoke.
Each issue we distribute over 3,000 free copies to over 200 public venues across Revelstoke, including hotel rooms, shops, restaurants, cafes, community centres — everywhere people meet.
For all inquiries, please contact us at info@revelstokemountaineer.com
For Revelstoke daily news online, please see our sister publication www.revelstokemountaineer.com
Heather Hood, Laura Stovel, Meghan Porath, Alexis Welch
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS
Rob Buchanan
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Benji Lowclass
A fall pause until winter
Changes to COVID restrictions just before deadline have meant we've had to pull stories from this issue after planned fall events were cancelled, leading to a thinner magazine than usual. Although we usually take a publishing pause for November, I've decided that the next month won't be ideal for publishing another issue due to an anticipated slowdown in activity in the coming month or so.
So, we're taking a two-month break this year and our next issue will be our December issue, which will focus on the winter season. We'll also be announcing publication plans for 2022 before then.
As usual, we will be publishing stories on a daily basis on revelstokemountaineer.com, so I hope to see you over there in the coming months.
This issue focuses on the arts scene in Revelstoke, which is growing steadily each year.
I've been to a lot of art openings and shows since I arrived in Revelstoke and have experienced big transitions, which we have tried to reflect.
In the years before 2010, the arts scene was mostly amateur, buoyed by enthusiasts who made so much possible for budding artists of all ages. That vein is still going strong.
In my view, the biggest long-term trend has been a shift towards professional and
is
Our fall arts
commercial arts, which now integrates with and builds up the amateur scene.
Online markets have opened up possibilities for local artists, allowing them to find buyers for their unique creations around the world.
At risk of sounding like and art history class, arts has always had a relationship with commerce because you need to financially support art and artists to make it work. Oftentimes this is overshadowed by more contemporary conceptions of the artist as a bohemian dropout or hobbyist. I feel the new possibilities provided by online commerce is now shifting that conception into a new paradigm. Certainly a lot of the energy I see in the scene is driven by a commercial urge to connect.
Another key trend is the reverberation this new online success has for the local brick and mortar arts scene. Several of the artists featured in this issue have parlayed online revenues to allow them to open studio spaces and provide more local offerings, further building the scene up and enhancing the community.
It also provides a new freedom to be unique and allows creators to represent Revelstoke to the world in their own ways. I hope you enjoy reading about their successes in this issue.
a custom creation by Revelstoke artist Benji Andringa of Benji Lowclass art. It's a celebration of arts in the Revelstoke area.
8
NEWS BRIEFS
Our September news briefs covering notable events in August.
10
CALENDAR: SEPTEMBER EVENTS
A look ahead at events happening in Revelstoke in September. Don't forget to submit your public events for free inclusion in upcoming issues online at revelstokemountaineer.com.
12
LUNA REIMAGINED
Revelstoke's fall art extravaganza is back after a hiatus in 2020. The new LUNA event has been created with pandemic safety issues in mind. Find out what's happening this year in our brief guide.
14
GLASS BUSINESS
Big Eddy Glass Works is a dynamic and relatively new retail and studio space in the Big Eddy. Owner Leah Allison has big plans for the space. We checked in at the gallery and found out about big expansion plans.
18
THEY CALLED HER JENNIE
A collection of local artists have delved into a historical murder in Revelstoke. They uncovered a troubling and revealing story about the victim and her life. Writer Laura Stovel explores the story behind this LUNA exhibit.
20
GLAM COLLECTIVE
A movie and multimedia collective will bring Indigenous stories to the screen as part of LUNA Reimagined. Find out more about the inspiration for the touring exhibit.
22
AZA NABUKO
Young Revelstoke pop music artist Aza Nabuko has been performing to local audiences for years, and is now gaining wider attention for her music and performances, including getting some big exposure for some of her works. We checked in with Aza for a feature on her music and career aspirations.
20
PAINTING THROUGH EXTINCTION
Writer Alexis Welch explores a new permanent public art exhibit by Sinixt painter Ric Gendron. The exhibit features portraits of historical Indigenous people from the Revelstoke area, sharing stories that have been underrepresented in Revelstoke for too long.
26 ON POINTE
Writer Bailey Gingras-Hamilton finds out more about the people behind a new dance studio opening in downtown Revelstoke, offering a variety of classes.
28
RETAIL CHANGE DOWNTOWN
The pandemic years have brought a lot of change to downtown Revelstoke. The challenges have sparked a wave of new renovations and new shops. We profile some of the big changes that came in the past year in this business profile story.
30
ACOUSTIC INK
A Revelstoke tattoo artist uses an ancient technique to create contemporary tattoo interpretations. Bailey Gingras-Hamilton checks in with Kata Polano about her budding tattoo business. 28 14 18
Back to school in B.C.: What to
expect in classrooms across the province
THE PROVINCE ANNOUNCED UPDATED PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES FOR PRIMARY AND POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS ON AUG. 24, WELCOMING STUDENTS BACK WITH LESS PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND MORE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
By Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
Ahead of the transition into fall and a new school year, the Government of British Columbia released updated health guidelines for primary and postsecondary education.
On Aug. 23, the province announced finalized communicable disease guidelines for this school year. Students are returning to classrooms fulltime and in-person, with extracurricular activities including music and sports resuming.
“We know how excited students and families are about being back in school with extracurricular and sports programs and how important it is for children to be connected to their teachers and friends on a full-time basis,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education.
While mandatory physical distancing guidelines are being phased out of K-12 schools, mask mandates will continue through the 2021/2022 school year.
All staff, students in grades four to 12, and visitors are required to wear masks in all indoor areas, including at desks and on school buses. Students in kindergarten through grade four are encouraged, but not required, to mask up.
With the continuation of sports and music programming, masks can be removed if needed to participate in these activities. Additionally, exceptions are made for students who cannot wear masks due to health or behavioural reasons.
Changes to the health and safety measures include the ability for health authorities to introduce additional regional measures specific to individual schools or school districts where community transmission rates are higher.
Post-secondary students are also returning to campus this fall after a nearly two year hiatus. In post-secondary institutes throughout the province, masking is mandatory in all indoor public areas, including lobbies, hallways, classrooms and labs.
Following the Aug. 24 immunization announcement, accessing some nonessential services on-campus will now require proof of vaccination. This applies to indoor venues, including gyms, nightclubs, restaurants, sporting events and concerts. However, officials have emphasized that vaccinations will not be required to attend classes, citing concerns of creating barriers to education.
516 Revelstoke COVID vaccine doses to be redone after improper refrigeration, IH says
INTERIOR HEALTH SAYS 516 COVID-19 VACCINE DOSES THAT WERE DELIVERED IN REVELSTOKE WILL NEED TO BE REDONE BECAUSE THE VACCINE WAS NOT REFRIGERATED PROPERLY.
By Aaron Orlando.
Interior Health (IH) announced that 516 doses of COVID-19 vaccines delivered in Revelstoke need to be redone due to improper refrigeration.
In an Aug. 24 statement, IH said the doses were stored in an “incorrect” freezer. “The vaccine had been administered as 15 first doses and 501 second doses in the community and although it may have provided some protection from COVID-19, Interior Health is contacting each client individually to offer another dose,” IH stated.
The health authority says the “invalid doses” of the vaccine “does not pose risk to the client and fortunately none of these individuals have contracted COVID-19 since their immunization.”
IH said they are contacting people who received the invalid doses.
IH said the situation was “unfortunate,” and it “encourage[s] everyone impacted to re-book their immunization once contacted by Interior Health.” They add that the situation “demonstrates our monitoring and surveillance systems are working,” and that “additional precautions” have been implemented.
IH did not originally provide dates the invalid doses were administered. In response to our question, IH said the doses were administered between July 9-30, but stressed that only a portion of the doses administered during that window are deemed “invalid.”
The announcement came four days after IH reinstated public health measures aimed at fighting COVID-19 outbreaks in the region. At the time of the announcement, 87 per cent of the qualified Revelstoke local health authority (LHA) received their first dose of vaccine. Following the news, the percentage of fully vaccinated individuals dropped from 76 per cent to 73 per cent.
Health authorities say the vaccines needed to be stored at -60C but were at one point stored in a freezer that was -20C.
A school bus near Revelstoke Secondary School. File photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine.
Residents line up for the COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Revelstoke Community Centre in midJune, 2021. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine.
British Columbia rises from the ashes of a destructive fire season
THE 2021 WILDFIRE SEASON SAW AT LEAST DOUBLE THE 10-YEAR AVERAGE OF HECTARES BURNED, BUT FROM THE STORIES OF DESTRUCTION COME TALES OF RESILIENCE, HOPE, AND KINDNESS.
By Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
After two consecutive summers of little smoke and fire, British Columbia faced a devastating fire season this year. From the smoke and flames came a call to action; crews flew in from abroad, and British Columbians stepped up to welcome-in evacuees.
On Aug. 24, B.C. Wildfire Services reported 861,283 hectares of area burned over the 2021 fire season. This is over double the 10-year provincial average, which is 348,917 hectares burned per year. Since 2008, the largest wildfire season was 2018, with 1,354,284 hectares burned.
Coping with this fire season required resources beyond British Columbia’s reach, and over 460 out-of-province firefighters stepped in to help. Crews jumped into action from across Canada and around the world. Personnel from Quebec, Mexico and Australia united with B.C. wildfire crews to join the fight.
The Canadian Red Cross also provided additional financial aid for people evacuated due to wildfires. As of Aug. 24, over 3,700 properties stood vacant due to evacuations. Affected B.C. households received up to $2,000 from the organization, helping meet immediate needs following these traumatic events.
While the province pleaded with tourists to stay away, B.C. residents opened their hearts and homes to evacuated neighbours. In Revelstoke, stables welcomed displaced animals, and community members offered their homes to complete strangers.
Although a blanket of smoke covered Revelstoke most of July and August, the town came alive with activity for the first time since the pandemic began. People danced through smoke and ash in Queen Elizabeth Park, and soaked up live music at Big Eddy Glassworks.
Looking back, this summer was anything but easy for the province. Highways closed, travel advisories were announced, and heatwaves combined with hazardous air quality. But from the ashes, British Columbia rose again.
September RVAC exhibitions draw in diverse inspirations
By RVAC.
This September the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre will be featuring a beautiful eclectic mix of mediums and themes from three different artists. Painter and muralist Jessa Gilbert will be transforming the main gallery while Sandra Flood and Meagan Oxford fill the side galleries with both classical painting and surreal art.
Jessa Gilbert is an experiential landscape artist, muralist and backcountry guide who has collaborated with several outdoor brands and exhibited in international galleries. Part of what makes Jessa’s work so striking is her focus on the interconnectedness of all things.
“I use a single, continuous line to create the foundation for each painting and drawing, (which) shows the physical connection between things; the clouds to the ridgeline, the sand to the sea, the path to the people,” Gilbert said.
Meanwhile, The Sophie Atkinson Gallery at RVAC will host the work of Sandra Flood and her exhibition ‘Inspired by Degas.’ The exploration of Degas’ work and life, for Sandra Flood, combined with her experience in the world of contemporary dance fuelled her inspiration for this exhibition. Sandra has perfectly captured the movement and magic of ballet and its physically demanding practice, resulting in her beautiful acrylic paintings which capture the movement of the human body.
In contrast, Meagan Oxford’s exhibition, ‘Altered State,’ explores the relationship between the human psyche and nature. Her interest in psychology and multi-dimensional theory is often explored through her surreal and psychedelic style. This combined with close attention to detail, surreal composition, and striking colours means Meagan’s pieces are perfect for capturing both the eye and imagination.
This impressive mix of artists highlights the diversity of the talent here in Revelstoke and ensures that there’s something for everyone. Be sure to catch this month-long exhibition running September 2 to October 1 at The Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre.
The sun rises over Mount Mackenzie through the wildfire smoke in August, 2021. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine.
"Begbie in the Storm" is one of Jessa Gilbert's brand-new pieces on display at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre. This exhibition, titled "Flux,” will be on display from September 2 to October 1. Photo: Contributed by Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre.
SANDRA FLOOD, JESSA GILBERT AND MEAGAN OXFORD FEATURED IN SEPTEMBER SHOW.
CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER
2021
WEEKLY EVENTS
MONDAY
REVELSTOKE RAINBOW DROP-IN
@ Community Connections · 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
This meet-up is a safe space for LBTQIA2S+ to connect, discuss support in the community, share information, or just chat and hang out.
TUESDAY
REVELSTOKE READS - FAMILY
STORY TIME
@ Online · 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Join Vanessa, Sasha and Stacy on Zoom for super fun stories, songs and rhymes. Register once to get Zoom invitation for all sessions. Visit the events page at orl.bc.ca/revelstoke for more information.
WEDNESDAY
FREE MEDITATION
@ Balu Yoga · 7:30 a.m. - 8 a.m.
Free meditation every Wednesday morning at Balu Yoga. No experience needed. To view the in-studio COVID protocol visit baluyoga.com
WOMEN’S COLLECTIVE
@ Community Connections · 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Enjoy coffee, light snacks and conversation about everything woman. Call 250-837-2920 for more information.
SATURDAY
REVELSTOKE FARMERS MARKETS
@ Revelstoke Community Centre · 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The weekly Farmers Markets in Revelstoke are still happening, just at a new location to allow for physical distancing. The Revelstoke Farm & Craft Market can be found in the community centre parking lot. You’ll find the Revelstoke Local Food Initiative Market just down the hill at Centennial Park.
Get Everything you need for a fun, creative afternoon of Lego exploration. On the fourth Saturday of every month, drop by the library and get a bagged kit with a selection of Lego pieces, and Lego challenge cards.
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
INTRODUCTION TO FLAME WORKING 101: GLASS BEADS
@ Big Eddy Glass Works · 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
In this beginners class you will work on the torches to create your very own glass beads (approx. 4 -6 beads.) This workshop will teach you the introductory steps to flame working. Sign up at bigeddyglassworks.ca
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
ALPINE CLUB OF CANADA YOUTH SPORT CLIMBING SESSION
Free rock-climbing sessions for kids ages six to 15. Led by Penny Goddard from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
REVELSTOKE WOMEN’S ENDURO
@ Course details TBA · All day event, start times TBA Every September, the Revelstoke Women's Enduro unites about 150 women to ride, race, and have a great time. They believe in camaraderie, challenging yourself, exploring limits, giving back to the biking community and most importantly, fun. The Revelstoke Women's Enduro course is typically at least 25 kilometers long and a mix of intermediate trails. Register online at revelstokewomensenduro.ca
Shoppers browse fresh produce and handcrafted goods at the Revelstoke Local Food Initiative Farmers Market. Photo: Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
File photo: Disc golfers warm up their arms at the course near Bridge Creek. Photo: Laura Szanto.
VISIT REVELSTOKEMOUNTAINEER.COM/CALENDAR TO SUBMIT YOUR EVENT FOR FREE. WE INCLUDE A SELECTION OF THOSE EVENTS HERE IN OUR MONTHLY PRINT CALENDAR.
*Due to ongoing restrictions on gatherings due to COVID-19 some events may have changed or are cancelled. Please check with event organizers for up to date information.
HARVEST HOOTENANNY
Presented by the Revelstoke Local Food Initiative, the annual Farm to Table Fundraiser brings together the community in celebration of local food. The event celebrates the amazing bounty of fresh, sustainably grown foods from in and around Revelstoke and transforms that food into a delicious meal. The creative menu will be developed by a talented local chef with ingredients sourced from local farms. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit revelstokelocalfood.com
SEPTEMBER 11-12
REVELSTOKE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DISC GOLF CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP
A fun charity game of disc golf to help raise funds for the Youth Endowment Fund with the Revelstoke Community Foundation. Teams of four, entry is $25 per player. Registration is available online through the official Facebook event.
ALPINE CLUB OF CANADA YOUTH SPORT CLIMBING SESSION
Free rock-climbing sessions for kids ages six to 15. Led by Penny Goddard from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
STARTUP MEETUP
@ The Regent Hotel· 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Presented by Community Futures, come meet other local entrepreneurs for an evening of sharing highs and lows in business. It's a time to gather, share stories about your business or business idea, ask questions, or get feedback. This casual networking event is open to all entrepreneurs in Revelstoke - established, starting out, expanding, or in the idea stage.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
ALPINE CLUB OF CANADA YOUTH SPORT CLIMBING SESSION
Free rock-climbing sessions for kids ages six to 15. Led by Penny Goddard from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
A racer rips through the course at the 2019 Revelstoke Women's Enduro. Photo: Laura Szanto/ Revelstoke Mountaineer.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
LUNA PERFORMANCES AND ARTWORKS
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
@ Fire Tower · 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., 9 p.m. – 10 p.m.
(Performances run every 10 minutes)
The oceans are rising. The times are not like they used to be. If you were to sit right down and write yourself a letter from the future, what would it say? Message in a Bottle by the Myrtle Sisters (Nayana Fielkov, Candace Roberts, & Kat Single-Dain) asks this question.
CLIMATE ACTION QUILT
@ Mackenzie Avenue, between 1 St. and 2 St. · 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
A stunning 200-foot long hand sewn quilt stretches down Mackenzie Avenue. Created by K-12 students from Revelstoke, this artwork represents the youth’s call to action on climate change.
THE COLLECTIVE BODY
@ Century Vallen Building on 4 St. · 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
A transdisciplinary audio/video project that captures the circumstances of life in isolation during COVID-19. Made by Neil Cadger, Aleksandra Dulic, Miles Thorogood, Andrew Stauffer, Lin Snelling, and more.
THEY CALLED HER JENNIE
@ City Furniture Building, in the alley behind the Roxy · 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
This original paper cut animation by Sarah-Jane Spurr represents an artist’s impression of the tragic story of Jennie Kiohara – a young Japanese Issei immigrant who came from Karayuki-san to Revelstoke in the early 1900’s.
DIGITAL MURAL PROJECT
@ Behind the Legends and Heroes building · 7 p.m. –12 a.m.
A series of unique animated digital murals by five artists, transforming this nondescript grey building in radically different ways and transporting the viewer to galaxies far, far away. Featuring murals by Emily Beaudoin, Daisy Blue Groff Heather Dawn Sparks, Taylor Sandell and Sonia García.
EBB AND FLOW
@ Explorer’s Society side wall · 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
A curated showcase by GLAM Collective, featuring media and performance-based work by six national and international Indigenous artists. This exhibit explores the push and pull of technology in the transmission of Indigenous knowledge.
LIVE MUSIC LINEUP
JODI B
@ Rumpus Alley Stage · 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Jodie B is a multi-instrumentalist live loop performer, blending a seamless mix of electro-soul. Stay tuned for more artist announcements at the Rumpus Alley Stage.
REIMAGINED 2021
British Columbia dance collective Immigrant Lessons will be performing along the streets of Revelstoke during Luna Reimagined 2021, so keep your eyes peeled for this vibrant crew.
Photo: contributed by Arts Revelstoke.
Dreamy sync-pop combines with bold lyricism to form Blonde Diamond. This rising alternative-pop band will rock out the Vaccine Alley Stage at LUNA Reimagined this year.
Photo: Mandy-Lyn Antoniou.
SCHEDULE
BLONDE DIAMOND
@ Vaccine Alley Stage (next to the recreation centre) · 10 p.m. – 11 p.m.
What the 60s thought the future would sound like, Blonde Diamond shape a soundscape of dreamy synth-pop bliss with unapologetic and captivating lyricism. Stay tuned for more artist announcements at the Vaccine Alley Stage.
IMMIGRANT LESSONS
@ Travelling between Rumpus Alley and Vaccine Alley · 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Using an exciting mashup of styles including street dance, hip hop, Dancehall, Afrobeat and more, ‘Immigrant Lessons’ tells stories of first- and second-generation immigrants, navigating Canadian culture and facing questions of identity and belonging.
ART ALLERIES
I HUGGED A BEAR IN REVELSTOKE
@ City Furniture alleyway · Permanent installation
BAMBI (Claudia Simon) infuses a blend of Kawaii-style illustration and street art into this piece, bringing a splash of nature into the urban space. The artwork is a fantasyinspired representation of our landscape and wildlife.
THE SKI DIAL
@ CIBC alleyway · Permanent installation Jess Leahey transforms this familiar brick wall into a ski slope, with dancing shadows and playful skiers in this three-dimensional work. This piece of living art changes with
time, weather and the movement of the sun, much like a sundial. It reimagines and celebrates an often-underappreciated era of Revelstoke architecture, and playfully highlights one of our community’s favourite pastimes.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
LUNA STUDIO
ARTIST TALKS
@ Location TBA · 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join in on a series of discussions featuring LUNA Reimagined artists, including Jess Leahey, BAMBI (Claudia Simon), Ric Gendron and Shelley Boyd.
ANIMATION WORKSHOP
@ Revelstoke Museum and Archives · 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
This paper cut animation workshop is being hosted by Sarah-Jane Spurr, the artist behind They Called Her Jennie.
JENNIE’S ROCK
@ Revelstoke Cemetery · 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Take a solemn moment to remember Jennie, a Japanese migrant who was murdered in a brutal Revelstoke hate-crime in 1905. This dark chapter of Revelstoke history inspired Sarah-Jane Spurr’s piece They Called Her Jennie. More details can be found online at lunafest.ca
Festival attendees strike a pose in Rob Buchanan’s Art Allerie during the 2019 edition of LUNA Fest. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine.
GLASS BUSINESS
AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR EXPANSION AT BIG EDDY GLASS WORKS HIGHLIGHT THE GROWING BUSINESS POTENTIAL FOR THE REVELSTOKE ARTS SCENE.
By Aaron Orlando
It was a hot, smoky August day when I walked into Big Eddy Glass Works to a meeting with owner and glass creator Leah Allison. We’ve done several stories about Leah Allison and her art over the years, including a story shot at her old studio down the road, but never a proper intro to the new studio and retail Big Eddy Glass Works. I took a blank slate approach on this story, just asking about what she wanted to talk about. It turned out to be a good one, because what she shared about what she’s got going on carries the story by itself. :)
Big Eddy Glass Works has been open for three years this June and has survived and thrived through some tough economic times, or as owner Leah Allison puts it, “The challenge is keeping our store stocked.”
The glass works shop located in the Big Eddy creates a broad range of artistic and practical glass, and combines a creator space and retail space with something for everyone.
Allison and I sat on the bench box on the patio for the interview. A family of four in a camper van came and went, the kids stoked on the many things to look at and some touch, including children’s recycled polished glass rocks and many other kid-level displays.
Revelstoke pro photographer Bruno Long came to pick up some glassware for a photo shoot. Kristina Metzlaff from Bird Tree Urban Farms dropped off fresh cut organic flowers grown in Southside, destined for display in an artisanal glass vase. The first sprinkles of rain in forever started falling, and loud thunderclaps rumbled from a distance.
Owner Leah Allison has been in the business for 19 years, first apprenticing at Bavin Glassworks in Invermere, even commuting for work there for four years after relocating to Revelstoke. She then worked from a home studio under the Glass Duck brand she displayed at galleries and shows in town. Three years ago she struck out with the new retail studio and brand.
“Since I started, I’m like, ‘This is what I’m doing now,’” Allison explained.
The retail location carries all kinds of local creations. Glasses, bottles, cups, vases, artistic creations, glass balls, recycled glass stones, DIY kits, beads, sand-blasted glass creations, garden tiles, bulk glass, beads and more — all glass. You can feel the heat from the glass furnace and kilns as you peruse the shop.
The team at Big Eddy Glass works now includes Hunter Haig, apprentice glassblower and workshop instructor; Ariel Hill, glassblower; Meghan Porath, workshop instructor and marketing; and Tyler Kathol, flameworker and workshop instructor.
Big Eddy Glass Works also does a lot of classes and workshops, allowing everyone to try their hand at a variety of glass art projects.
What struck me most and hence the headline was Allison’s ambitious plans for expansion, on a scale that could serve as an anchor for an arts hub in the Big Eddy.
Allison bought the adjacent lot with two old but large warehouse spaces. One is occupied by Metal Mind Forge, which is a very cool artisanal metal manufacturer who have their garage shutters rolled up and some retails sales. The other warehouse space is a former commercial truck service centre.
Allison said one of her visions for the space is an operation on a manufacturing scale and is confident there are market opportunities. She said it’s just something she’s always wanted to do.
She’s working on getting four electric vehicle charging stations as part of a planned upgrade of the currently unpaved large front of the lot. She plans to use some of the underutilized front parking space to expand the building, including a front space with retail and socializing space that integrates with the new parking and road, and also allows the Friday the 13th block parties to continue.
“I’m getting a bigger disco ball that this one,” said Allison, motioning the current one.
New Revelstoke food truck Lucky Pup is planning to locate their soon.
Big Eddy Glass Works is known for their evening parking lot socials, which are held on Friday the 13ths. The August 2021 event featured crafts, food vendors, food trucks and a DJ party in the parking lot and drew hundreds of people. Look out for future events.
Allison said she draws inspiration from Kicking Horse Coffee CEO, Elena Rosenfeld, who created a large regional company from the small town of Invermere. “I want to be known in Canada for Big Eddy Glass,” Allison said, adding that she sees opportunity in the artisanal glass market, which she says is a fairly small community in Canada. “Everyone has to innovate and change the way things are done,” she said.
Anyway, I hope I left you with the impression that Leah’s a creative force and a dynamo with a lot going on, because that’s the impression I got again. A lot of that focus is on the main route in the Big Eddy, which could add an anchor to a vicinity where there’s been increased home manufacturing and some new retail activity.
Arts reporting often focuses on the art itself, sometimes leaving out the business side of things. However, arts and crafts are a pretty big business in many mountain communities, and Allison sees the same potential here.
Allison is talented and determined. The first story I wrote about her was on a glass dress she exhibited at Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre, a stunning piece woven with thousands of red glass links. Looking at the wearable creation, it’s obvious that it took an incredible amount of focus and determination to see it through. Allison has now established a retail location, and is putting more pieces together as she builds her final creation in the Big Eddy.
DJ Spanda plays a set at Bites and Bevys in the Big Eddy on Friday, August 13. Big Eddy Glass Works hosts mini outdoor festivals on Friday the 13ths, bringing in a big art, food and music crowd to the events.
A family vacation home is more than an asset. It’s years of shared memories. That’s why passing it on to your children can be both emotionally and financially taxing.
Memories of summers on the dock may make it hard to talk about the future
A heart-to-heart family chat is a good place to start. Do your kids live close enough to regularly visit the cottage or are they only there once or twice a year? Are siblings ready to share both the enjoyment and work of looking after the property? Start that conversation now, in order to understand what your family really wants and avoid possible disagreements down the road.
Keeping a cottage in the family requires tax planning
The biggest hurdle is capital gains tax, which is the difference between the fair market value of the cottage today, and what you paid for it plus any major improvements like a dock or boathouse.
One strategy to avoid capital gains on the sale may be to designate it as your principal residence. However, this option can become complicated if you have owned more than one property for your personal use during
the time you’ve been living at the cottage. We can determine the tax implications you need to calculate the right way to go based on your financial situation.
What if you leave the cottage to the kids in your Will?
Upon the death of the last spouse, the property will be assessed as if it was sold at fair market value. That means not only the cottage, but the tax bill, will pass to your estate. Without proper planning, your family may have to sell the cottage itself in order to cover taxes.
One solution is to purchase life insurance and let the death benefit pay the taxes on the cottage. Your children may even be willing to pay the premiums if it means the difference between keeping the cottage and selling out of financial necessity.
What about transferring ownership to your children during your lifetime?
You can sell or even gift the property to your heirs, but it will still be taxed as if it was sold at fair market value. Again, careful tax planning is critical. In addition, you will lose control over the asset, so this course of action is generally not recommended unless you are completely certain you will no longer need the cottage for your own use.
Laura’s advice comes with more than 10 years’ experience in financial services. She offers comprehensive, fully customizable financial strategies and solutions, working one-on-one with business owners, retirees, families, and individuals focused on building their net worth. Don’t hesitate to reach out for a holistic approach to wealth management, investment solutions, insurance products, and mortgages.
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This column, written and published by Investors Group Financial Services Inc. (in Québec – a Financial Services Firm), and Investors Group Securities Inc. (in Québec, a firm in Financial Planning) presents general information only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell any investments. Contact your own advisor for specific advice about your circumstances. For more information on this topic please contact Laura Wierzbicki | Consultant | IG Wealth Management
Photo provided by IG Wealth.
COLLABORATIVE LUNA ART PROJECT EXPLORES CHALLENGING ISSUES
IN
A HISTORIC REVELSTOKE MURDER.
By Laura Stovel.
THEY CALLED HER JENNIE
A swallowtail butterfly glides across a pale-yellow circle. A ghostly, white paper crane with feathery fringes floats gracefully across the screen. Mushrooms rise and dance above wind-blown grass. A lily, rooted deeply in the earth, produces three beautiful, white blooms – blooms like those etched in marble on a 116-year-old gravestone at the Revelstoke cemetery.
The butterfly, lily and crane are papercut images that express the life of Jennie Kiohara in a three-minute animation by Sarah Spurr to be featured at the upcoming LUNA art festival in September. There is no narration. A beautiful violin and piano composition by Somei Satoh called Birds in Warped Time II provides the soundscape.
In April 1905, Jennie, a 24-year-old Japanese woman, was brutally murdered in her home around Douglas Street. (Because Jennie is associated with two surnames, I am using her first name in this article). The lichen-blackened gravestone, which inspired several images in the animation, marked her final resting place.
Jennie immigrated from Japan, likely around the turn of the 20th century, and worked in the sex trade in Farwell, the earliest townsite at Revelstoke where several brothels were located.
According to Cathy English, curator of the Revelstoke Museum and Archives, she first appeared in the police record book in 1903 when she was arrested and fined, along with other sex workers, under “Bylaw 9, respecting public morals and convenience.” The police described Jennie as a “keeper” and fined her $25 plus $4.75 for court costs. “That would be the equivalent of $900 today,” English said. Some sex workers who worked for others would have been charged $4 to $5. “It doesn’t actually mean that Jennie had other women working with her but it means that she was not under the control of another woman.”
By regularly fining sex workers, the city profited from their circumstances. Women of all ethnicities worked in the sex trade at the time, but marginalized women had fewer options to support themselves. While prostitution was illegal in B.C., many
Below and at right:
Slides from the They Called Her Jennie exhibit, which will be featured at LUNA Reimagined. Images: Sara Spurr.
mining and railway towns had red light districts. For the women, “sometimes this was the only way to escape from fathers or husbands. There was not such a thing as an independent woman in those days,” English said.
Two years before her murder, Jennie was viciously assaulted by a white man, Alex Mellet, who kicked and dragged her along Douglas Street by the hair when she tried to flee, local newspapers reported. Mellet was charged for the assault and for assaulting a businessman who tried to intervene. Jennie was badly hurt but recovered.
English knew about Jenny’s murder for some time. For more than 30 years she has conducted cemetery tours and always visited Jennie’s grave as part of them. The story “resonated with people,” she said. When she noticed that the base supporting Jennie’s headstone was disintegrating, she spoke with artist Rob Buchanan and they decided to do something about it.
Working with Miriam Manley, artistic and executive director of Arts Revelstoke, and researcher Tomoaki Fujimura, they decided to clean up the headstone and create a new base with the help of anti-racism funding through Okanagan College. Fujimura’s language and research skills allowed them to access Japanese records. They also decided to enlist an artist to create a response to Jennie’s story for LUNA and help restore the grave marker. Sarah Spurr was known as an innovative artist and was invited to come on board.
“I had no experience with animation or historical research so I just dived in,” Spurr said. “Cathy supplied me with books about Japanese prostitution in the West. Tomo provided me with a ton of background information on Japanese history. I dived into YouTube to learn how to do animation.”
Spurr discovered paper-cut animation, which fit the subject beautifully. As the research progressed, it became evident that much of Jennie’s life would remain a mystery so she knew that the animation would have to be abstract. She researched Japanese death poems and haiku poetry, analyzed the research that was coming in, and sat by Jennie’s grave. She wrote a series of beautiful haikus that inspired the animation, although only one appears in the animation itself.
“I kind of saw the animation as a gift to give back to Jennie. If you think of it, 120 years later there’s some white girl from Revelstoke making a film for this person. It’s kind of an offering. So I chose to focus on things that I felt represented life and beauty,” she said.
As the research and gravestone restoration progressed, the team found less information about Jennie than they hoped but they also made some discoveries. They could not find where she came from in Japan or what ship she came over in. Minority women were often listed on ship records as “(man’s name) + wife” and some women stowed away, Spurr said, so their names were never recorded.
On the other hand, the team found some intriguing information from Jennie’s headstone. Police and newspaper reports called Jennie “Jennie Kiohara” but the headstone named her Jennie Fukushima. A man named S. Fukushima had reported the 1903 assault against Jennie and S. Fukushima was one of two Japanese men arrested after her murder then released for lack of evidence. The newspapers said that she had lived with one of the men for some time.
They also discovered that, in a generous gesture, local Chinese merchant, Wah Chung, who owned the brothel where Jennie worked, paid for her beautifully etched, marble headstone that was shipped in from Calgary. The script on the headstone was written in kanji, a Japanese script that is heavily influenced by Chinese. These discoveries raise more questions than they answer.
Because the animation is so abstract, the team “decided we needed a more direct way of telling Jenny’s story,” said Miriam Manley. They chose to work with Katrina Van Wijk to create an interactive web page with more information about Jenny’s life that will also be launched during LUNA.
On the evening of Saturday, September 25, the animation will be projected on a wall in the alley behind the Roxy Cinema. On Sunday the 26, Spurr will give an animation workshop, showing the multi-level glass frame on which she photographed her papercut figures. Following that, people will be invited to the cemetery to view the beautifully refurbished headstone.
See lunafest.ca/web for details.
Artists and researchers went through historical documents to trace Jennie's story. Photo: Rob Buchanan.
Window panes come alive to tell a story in this preview from Ebb and Flow.
Photo: Contributed by Arts Revelstoke.
EXPLORING THE INTERSECTIONS OF TECHNOLOGY AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
PRESENTED BY GLAM COLLECTIVE, EBB AND FLOW IS ONE OF 14 PROJECTION PIECES COMING TO REVELSTOKE FOR LUNA REIMAGINED.
By Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
Dark silhouettes outline a couple of small spectators as they take in the artwork.
Photo: Contributed by Arts Revelstoke.
Projections transform this building’s exterior, filling the blank canvas with desert scenery.
Photo: Contributed by Arts Revelstoke.
This year at LUNA Reimagined, GLAM Collective presents Ebb and Flow, a series of projection pieces by six Indigenous artists. Using media and performance based work, this exhibit explores how technology influences the communication of Indigenous knowledge, and how that relationship changes over time.
Starting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25, Ebb and Flow will be projected on the back wall of the Explorer Society, behind ArtFirst. The series is approximately 20 minutes long, and will be repeated throughout the evening until midnight. Attendees are encouraged to sit down, get comfortable, and enjoy the shows.
As described in the Ebb and Flow program, this “humorous, challenging and transcendent” display explores how Indigenous artists relay cultural practices and memories by transforming customary practices with contemporary arts. Curated by GLAM Collective, this piece is an exciting addition to the LUNA Reimagined lineup.
“The GLAM Collective has created work for Nocturne Halifax and Nuit Blanche in Montréal. Both of these festivals were part of the inspiration behind the inception of LUNA Fest,” says Miriam Manley, Artistic and Executive Director for Arts Revelstoke.
For Revelstoke’s Ebb and Flow display, GLAM Collective selected six Indigenous artists, from traditional territories across Canada and New Zealand. Tania Willard, a Secwépemc artist, was added specifically by GLAM Collective for this edition of the display. Willard brings regional representation for the Secwépemc Nation, whose traditional territory is occupied by Revelstoke.
Alongside Willard, five other Indigenous artists are presenting performance and media based projections in downtown Revelstoke. Each piece has its own story, ranging from parodic interpretations of John A. MacDonald to traditional tales of the land and sea.
About GLAM Collective
Contrary to what one may assume, GLAM Collective’s name is not short for glamorous. GLAM stands for Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums. This differentiation makes sense when considering who makes up GLAM Collective; a group of interdisciplinary Indigenous scholars.
Dr. Carla Taunton, Dr. Julie Nagam and Dr. Heather Igloliorte are the curators behind GLAM Collective. Founded in 2018, GLAM Collective focuses on Indigenous theory and methodologies from an interdisciplinary artistic approach. This includes public art, performance art, digital technologies, and curatorial and artistic practices that engage with space and place.
Revelstoke could be seeing more from GLAM Collective in the future. According to Manley, Arts Revelstoke hopes that Ebb and Flow marks the beginning of a new artistic and curatorial relationship, one that brings GLAM Collective back to LUNA in the future.
To stay connected to all things LUNA, sign up for the Arts Revelstoke newsletter through their official website. More event information can also be found at lunafest.ca
ONE OF REVELSTOKE’S YOUNGEST UPCOMING MUSICIANS, AZA EXPLAINS THE INFLUENCES BEHIND HER NEW SOUND AND POLITICALLY CHARGED LYRICS.
By Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
GROWING UP AND SPEAKING OUT WITH AZA NABUKO
“When it comes
to planning
a career, I wouldn't want to pursue music if I wasn't allowed to say what I want to say.”
Aza Deschamps.
Shortly after stepping up on stage, Aza Deschamps’ dry sense of humour comes out. She jokes about re-learning how to talk to people after spending so long cooped up, despite seeming comfortable addressing the crowd of about 50 people. Also known by her stage name Aza Nabuko, Deschamps is one of Revelstoke’s youngest upcoming musicians. As she evolves from her “pop princess” sound, Deschamps is incorporating the strong opinions of Generation Z into her music.
At only 18 years old, Deschamps has been releasing music for two years. When first starting her career, being a pop artist seemed like the easiest option.
“Getting into the music industry, that's the easiest genre to attain, right? And I kind of fell into that category, but I was a child. I'm trying to
grow through that and figure out my own style of music,” Deschamps elaborates during our preshow phone call.
Her latest album, Indigo, reflects this shift in sound and style. Released in 2021, Indigo intertwines alternative-rock elements with Deschamps intelligently written lyrics. Touching on topics like mental health, climate change, and political activism, Indigo has a significantly darker mood than Deschamps previous releases. These artistic choices come with risk.
“Friends of mine have experienced people canceling their shows and such because of what they say in their lyrics,” Deschamps says. “It's definitely a dangerous game. But when it comes to planning a career, I wouldn't want to pursue music if I wasn't allowed to say what I want to say.”
Finding a voice in politically charged lyrics
The roots of Deschamps’ activism extend beyond her music career. Last summer, she co-organized Revelstoke’s Black Lives Matter protest. However, there are also personal ties that fuel Deschamps passion.
Growing up, Deschamps witnessed the effects of racism and generational trauma. Both her great grandmother and great grandfather were interned in Canadian camps during the Second World War, and the descrimination did not end there.
“There's been a ripple effect of trauma in the family. My dad grew up in Revelstoke being called a chink and getting beat up. It's a very recent issue,
and I myself have been called slurs,” Deschamps says, also acknowledging that her experiences with racism are mild compared to others.
“I try my hardest to be very aware of what's going on around me. And as a young person, the world right now is not how I would want to possibly raise children or how I want to live the rest of my life,” Deschamps explains. “I definitely do have a social justice aspect to some of my music, and more of the music I've been writing currently. To me, that's more important than a breakup song.”
Like many other young adults and teenagers, Deschamps is well aware of the generalizations that follow her age group. When asked about “Gen Z stereotypes,” she quickly came to the defense of her peers.
“We've had a lot of responsibility handed to us. I think that we get labeled as individuals who care too much and go too far. But ultimately, we've been handed all of this information through social media. We're getting so much new information every day that we are made to be responsible for, and we are responsible for,” Deschamps elaborates.
One of the most politically charged songs from Indigo is aptly named “Zee,” paying homage to the stereotypes that Deschamps describes. The prechorus lyrics hauntingly describe a bleak image that today’s youth face:
Childhood spent on a screen
Wash in the cold, it’ll make you green
Sit pretty like the girl in the magazine
Cross your legs don’t make a scene
So many of us are torn between
Quickly running out of gasoline
Starting fires, sit inside until we find a vaccine
All my friends have started shooting up amphetamines
Exploring the future of a new sound
Luckily for Deschamps, her peers at JumpAttack! Records have been supportive of her artistic evolution. Small Town Artillery, who Deschamps opened for last month, have a particular influence on the upcoming artist.
“My first show in Vancouver I played with them in 2018. That was when I was like, ‘They look like they're having so much fun, I want to learn how to shred a guitar like that,’” she explains.
Watching Deschamps perform alongside Small Town Artillery, there is an undeniable chemistry displayed through their high-energy stage presence. Despite having distinct musical differences, the two artists easily combine their respective styles during live performances.
Although risky, this change in sound has paid off for Deschamps. She has more fun performing her
new music than the low-fi pop she used to create. However, Deschamps does not expect that “this will be the last stop on the train ride.” As such a young artist, she acknowledges that her sound is still evolving. In fact, she expects to start working on a new project this winter or spring. For now, Deschamps is focused on finishing up her tour and meeting new people along the journey.
“One time in Abbotsford, I was in Starbucks, and I looked absolutely like hell. I just got out of the car after a six-hour drive, and a girl recognized me,” Deschamps recalls. “Little interactions like that make me so happy. When you're starting out, it's so easy to get obsessed with the numbers and the quantities.”
Photos from left to right:
1. Aza was one of the organizers of a Black Lives Matter rally in Centennial Park in 2020.
Photo: Aaron Orlando
2. Deschamps rocks out with Small Town Artillery, who she describes as “like brothers to me.”
Photo: Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
3. During her solo performance on Aug. 11, Deschamps gazes into the smoke-filled sky behind the BC Interior Forestry Museum.
Photo: Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
PAINTING THROUGH EXTINCTION
In a few weeks, three new contemporary art commissions will take over the unassuming walls of Revelstoke's downtown alleyways. One of the artworks, titled Coming Home, features a local artist who has never set foot in Revelstoke. Ric Gendron is a member of the Sinixt nation whose ancestors are widely accepted as the first inhabitants of this land. However, until recently, the Sinixt were declared extinct by the Canadian government. For this commission, Gendron has created two giant diptychs, both densely populated by Sinixt faces past and present. These vibrant and figurative works boldly reestablish the Sinixt's deep connection to this region, reinforcing that, yes, they most definitely exist.
This curation is the first public piece of Sinixt-made artwork displayed in Revelstoke. "We knew we wanted one of the Art Alleries this year to be Indigenous," says Miriam Manley, Artistic and Executive Director of Arts Revelstoke. "It was important to us that it was Indigenous art of people native to this land. The LUNA selection committee all liked Ric's work and unanimously agreed to feature him." Arts Revelstoke's only request was for Gendron to focus on portraiture to complement Rob Buchanan's Contemporary Landscape Art Allery located across the alleyway.
"What he came back with, which is so fascinating, speaks so much to Revelstoke Sinixt history," comments Manley. Across the four large panels, gaze thirteen Sinixt figures. Many of them have historical significance to this region, such as Chief Edward, one of the last Sinixt hereditary chiefs. Some of the others are Gendron's relatives. "The man with the green jacket and hat, that's my grandfather: Julius Little Alec. I also snuck in a picture of my mom and dad on their wedding day. And to make things even worse, or better, however you want to think about it, I even snuck myself in there when I was in Kindergarten in the far bottom corner," chuckles Gendron.
The entire work is draped in bright colours, a signature of Gendron's style and the acrylics that he uses. Early in his
career, Gendron avoided acrylics, thinking they were reserved for advertisements, but a friend convinced him otherwise. He began to fall in love with the medium and its vibrancy, leading to experimentation and manipulation of colours. This change resulted in more and more paintings outside of the box.
When asked about how he started painting, Gendron responds, "You know, I just started like every other kid. Every kid is an artist until someone tells you, 'You're not an artist,' then you're not. But I have never really listened to people." This nature drew him towards the works of other unruly painters. Matisse and Van Gogh were inspirations in his early work, particularly their use of bright, gaudy colours. Then he became intrigued by Indigenous artists such as Fritz Scholder and TC Cannon. "At the time Native artists were expected to stay in the 'Western Art' and 'Cowboy Art' genre, these artists refused to be put in that box. I have always been pretty rebellious, and I thought 'I want to do that too'," states Gendron.
Many of these themes are seen within Coming Home. A number of the figures wear what would be considered by some "nontraditional" Indigenous dress, such as bow ties and dress shirts. Gendron remarks, "A lot of people still think our people are living in the past. We have had questions like 'Can you leave the reservation?' or 'You don't have to work because the government supplies everything for you and gives you money, [right]?'". These stereotypes disregard the realities of thousands of contemporary Indigenous populations across North America.
In the lower left-hand corner of the painting, one can see the details of a small sweat lodge. The sweat lodge still plays a big part in many Indigenous lives, including Gendron's, who has been attending for around 52 years. It is important to remember that "There was a time where that was all outlawed—ceremony, languages, regalia, everything. I mean, both the [Canadian and the United States] governments tried to totally do away with Native
Gendron’s unfinished
“works in progress”.
Photo: Ric Gendron.
REVELSTOKE ART ALLERIES TO FEATURE THE PAINTING OF SINIXT ARTIST RIC GENDRON.
By Alexis Welch.
people." The sweat lodge was on the list of illegal practices until the 1970s, with many Indigenous peoples getting locked up for simply trying to practice their beliefs. "It is just crazy, this history most of the world doesn't even know about," says Gendron. "I'm not trying to make any political statements even though I do. It's just who I am. It's just how my life is, you know?"
On his father's side, both of Gendron's grandparents were Sinixt, Indigenous Peoples whose traditional territory spanned from the northern region of Washington up to Revelstoke. The Sinixt would travel north each summer, making use of the Sn x ʷn tkʷítkʷ (the Columbia River) with their sturgeon-nosed canoes. In the late 19th century, the Sinixt were pushed off their land by colonial settlers, with many ending up at the Colville Reservation in Washington State. Furthermore, in 1956 the Canadian government declared the Sinixt extinct even though hundreds of descendants still lived south of the border.
After many years of hard-fought legal battles, the declaration of extinction was revoked this April by the Supreme Court of Canada as part of the Desautel decision. Although Arts Revelstoke chose to include Gendron's artwork for Art Alleries months before this outcome, the results of these court cases make this commission feel even more impactful for the community of Revelstoke Gendron's work is one of three new Art Alleries works revealed at the 2021 LUNA Arts Festival. Art Alleries started as a LUNA legacy project, a way to make LUNA last longer than a single weekend of art exhibitions. The idea, envisioned originally by Rob Buchanan, would transform alleyways, commonly overlooked and underutilized spaces in metropolises worldwide, into places where you want to linger and appreciate beautiful works of art.
The painting will have a permanent home on the walls of the Explorers Society Hotel and will be unveiled at LUNA Arts Festival on September 25.
A glimpse into the remarkable stories of people and places in the Columbia Basin.
Eco-friendly Business Hires Apprentices
Upstream on the Columbia River, a unique house-building business in Invermere is teaching apprentice carpenters their energy efficient ways. thinkBright Homes builds “houses for regular people,” and they rely on both experienced carpenters and those new to the trade. With Columbia Basin Trust providing wage subsidies through the School Works Apprentice program, owners Meredith Hamstead and Paul Denchuck say taking advantage is a no-brainer.
One of 126 apprentices supported by the Trust so far, first-year apprentice, Fred Comeau, made the switch to carpentry and he’s glad he did. He appreciates the team he works with and thinkBright hopes to keep him on beyond his apprenticeship, indicative of their model:“careers, not jobs.”
TO FIGHT THE NEGATIVE STIGMA AROUND BODY IMAGE AND DANCE, THE STUDIO DANCE AND WELLNESS IS TAKING A NEW APPROACH TO THEIR TEACHING.
By Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
ON POINTE: OPENING REVELSTOKE’S ONLY DANCE STUDIO
After a long summer of renovations, The Studio Dance and Wellness is finally opening their doors to dancers of all ages. Beyond filling the demand for a dance studio in town, they have a larger goal: creating a body-positive environment that nurtures physical and mental health.
Following the success of their Dance and Wellness Camp in August, dance classes at The Studio begin on Sept. 13. Tucked onto the corner of First Street East. and Victoria Road, The Studio is Revelstoke’s only space designed and built specifically for dancers. As explained by co-owners Jacqui Gardiner and Kenley Knock, this is a gamechanger for their students.
“We were dancing on concrete floors, which is not the best for our kids' bodies,” explains Gardiner. “It came down to me and Kenley just wanting to give them the best we could, because we feel like they're as committed as we are.”
Although there is a focus on children’s and competitive programming, The Studio also offers recreational and adult classes. Styles across the spectrum are available, including ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and hip-hop. With five teachers on their opening roster, Gardiner says The Studio is interested in recruiting more certified instructors to include more types of dance.
Fighting negative body-image in the dance community
Beyond the barres and mirrors, there is a bigger mission that Gardiner and Knock strive to achieve. As indicated by the name, wellness is an important aspect of The Studio’s business model. For the dance world, this means addressing long standing issues with body image and mental health.
“I don't think it's a secret that in the dance community, there is a history of abusive language and practices in terms of body image,” states Knock, adding that both herself and Gardiner have firsthand experience of this treatment. For Knock, these issues followed her into her twenties, influencing her to approach a new teaching model.
“Instead of dance being a thing to recover from in your adulthood, it's actually something that should lift you up and carry you forward through your adult life,” Knock elaborates. By working with wellness coaches and professionals, The Studio aims to create an environment that promotes consent and empowerment.
“[We are] teaching kids that this is their body, and that they have a choice,” explains Knock. As discussions around mental health in sports accelerate, Knock and Gardiner want to be part of the movement that prioritizes wellbeing over performance.
“It's athletes everywhere. We saw a huge part of it in the Olympics this year, and it's just coming out. There's no way around it.”
Exploring the possibilities of the new space
In addition to creating a safe haven for dancers, The Studio offers a versatile space for all types of athletes. Although not quite trading ice skates for pointe shoes yet, the Revelstoke Grizzlies will be using The Studio for dryland training. After spending years shuffling between makeshift studios, Knock and Gardiner understand the struggle of finding commercial rentals.
“Having rented community spaces, it's not top notch, and you get pushed around. If there's somebody that's spending more money, you get kicked out of your space,” says Knock, reminiscing on past experiences. By offering rental spaces, Knock hopes The Studio can help other organizations find a permanent home. “We’re trying to reach as much of the community as we can, specifically the youth of our community.”
After months of renovations, permits and headaches, Revelstoke’s dance community finally has a studio to call home. Now, it is time to rehearse. The Studio is performing at the Local Food Initiative’s five year anniversary market, slated for Sept. 18. Before the stretching, jumping, and practicing begins, Gardiner is excited to finally reunite with her students.
“I think the most exciting thing for me and Kenley will be seeing our kids' faces when they walk into the building for the first time. It is beautiful, and it's going to be amazing. I can’t wait to see them and their reaction to it.”
Photos from left to right:
1. Students from The Studio Dance and Wellness twist and turn among driftwood, flowing with the branches. From left to right: Pearl Pratico, Emma Mair, Emily Hunt, Natalia Morrone and Alexa Powell. Photo: Olly Hogan, contributed by The Studio Dance and Wellness.
2. Dancers leap into action during The Studio’s Dance and Wellness Camp in August. Photo: contributed by The Studio Dance and Wellness.
3. The Studio Dance and Wellness co-owners Jacquie Gardiner (left) and Kenley Knock (right). Photo: Olly Hogan, contributed by The Studio Dance and Wellness.
DOWNTOWN REVELSTOKE RETAIL RENEWAL
The pandemic years have brought a lot of change. One of the surprising outcomes was renewal in the downtown core, where new businesses popped up and others were significantly overhauled. For this story, we spoke with several downtown retailers who have opened up new shops or made significant changes and renovations to existing ones.
What we heard is the pandemic was the impetus for change. People suddenly had more time to plan and got busy with their life goals, taking the plunge and going for it.
Another theme was a broad wave of community support for local business. The sudden absence of connection with community members and friends reminded everyone how much the community, the arts and social connection was important to them and vowed to show support.
Here's a quick snapshot of some, not all, of the downtown retail changes in the past year.
DELILAH GENE
Delilah Gene is Revelstoke's new florist shop, a rebranding from the longstanding Revelstoke Florist shop.
Owner Christine Pavlik sweated over the decision to change the name of her shop, which has been known as Revelstoke Florist since it opened in 1952. In the end, she opted for the whimsical new name to better suit the times and also to clear up some confusion.
"We didn't order flooring," was a common reply when she'd phone customers.
In addition to the new name, Delilah Gene has partnered with Kat Cadegan Jewellery, who now share a space together on Mackenzie Avenue downtown.
The pandemic drove a lot of changes in trends, particularly with people spending more time fixing up their home space.
The floral trends are also changing, shifting away from the boho styles that have dominated in the past few years. Pampas and eucalyptus are examples of some of the looks suiting the new styles. "Instagram drives a lot of purchases," Pavlik said. There's also a trend towards more DIY and customization. People are growing their own flowers more and Weddings, a staple of the business, have also changed during the pandemic, as large gatherings were not possible. "There's been a lot of elopement bouquets and boutineers," she said.
CAT CADEGAN JEWELLERY
Cat Cadegan of Cat Cadegan Jewellery has been an active member of the Revelstoke arts community for years, appearing at local shows and selling with local retailers She also toured the country attending shows and exhibits, which made up a big part of her business. Then the pandemic hit.
"Christmas was coming and we had no shows!" she said of her conundrum in late 2020. Around then, she connected with Christine Pavlik of then Revelstoke Florist, and they got to talking. "We get along like a house on fire," says Cadegan. They decided to split Revestoke Florist into two spaces, and Cadegan moved in with her first retail location, the rebranded Delilah Gene taking up the other half.
Cadegan's unique creations are "organic, strong and defined." says Cadegan. "Our jewellery is not really trend-driven. They are pieces that are designed and made to last." Her creations include castings of hummingbird skulls, honeybees, chicken wishbones, sand dollars, oregano leaves and even shark's teeth.
The shop currently has three workspaces occupied by Cadegan, goldsmith Stefeni Wood, and bench jeweller Bronson Rabismaw.
With more people at home, the pandemic brought a wave of custom jewellery remakes, where people had their old jewellery melted down into new creations.
Cadegan sources jewels through The Gem Legacy Project, a California-based initiative focused on ethically sourced jewels. "Consumer awareness is rising," Cadegan said.
THE PAST YEAR HAS BROUGHT MANY CHANGES TO THE RETAIL SCENE IN DOWNTOWN REVELSTOKE, WITH NEW SHOPS OPENING, SIGNIFICANT RENOVATIONS TO EXISTING LOCATIONS.
Story and photos by Aaron Orlando.
KIDS
Big Mountain Kitchen moved spots during the pandemic, shifting from Mackenzie Avenue to a smaller space on First Street West. Owner Nicole Cherlet, who has always been pretty active with e-commerce and social media, such as running live how-to demonstrations during the farmers market, took the downtime to revamp the shop's digital offerings. "I have much less dusting to do, Cherlet joked.
Her very slick website, https://bigmountain. kitchen/, connects online shopping with the personalized in-store experience. You can order for pickup or delivery, browsing for items in stock or on order, pay online or in person, or as Cherlet puts it, "a true omni-channel experience, an extension of the in-home experience."
The web store allows her to expand offerings well beyond what she could stock in a retail operation, and her "curated collection" brands means you can shop locally for kitchen and linen offerings that are hard to offer in a retail-only setting. She's adjusted some of her suppliers and is always on the lookout for new brands with the right fit for the Revelstoke market.
Like many of those we met for the story, Cherlet says community support has been tremendous through the challenges of the past two years, revealing the true nature of community connection in Revelstoke.
"We all make the values," Cherlet said. "We all want to take care of businesses that support our community and values."
Partners Natalie Harris and Dave Pehowich have combined their passion for stand-up paddleboarding and fly fishing in a new retail location on Mackenzie Avenue, former home to the Revelstoke bookstore. (Don't worry, another bookstore is opening soon!)
The space features high ceilings adorned with antique metal roof tiles, and a raised open balcony used as a fly-tying workshop.
The shop is adorned with all the gear for SUP and fly fishing. On the paddleboard side, Harris, who races paddleboards, stocks Nunova, NRS, Atoll, Starboard, Bad Fish and many other recognizable brands. The offerings range from inflatable boards to high-end racing models, and all the accessories that go with it.
Pehowich is the fly fishing expert. He grew up with it, learning from his dad and now provides supplies and teaches others to tie through workshops. He carries fly fishing gear from brands such as G.Loomis, Waterworks, TFO and G.Loomis.
Fine Line SUP & Fly is also an anchor for outside business. For SUP and fly fishing, they offer tours and sessions of all kinds, including day trips and longer excursions to the lakes. For SUP, they have tours, rentals and fitness classes. For fly fishing, they partner with guiding businesses to offer remote lake tours and specialized guiding trips.
Pehowich says there is a significant destination market available for fly fishing, as hardcore enthusiasts travel here to catch local cutthroat, bull and rainbow trout, including varieties with unique characteristics in the region.
Paddleboarding has been growing in popularity each year, with more and more of them visible on top of cars around town. The boards have been evolving quickly, and Harris said there is more interest than ever in the sport. In adventure-prone Revelstoke, more people are getting into touring SUPs that support multi-day adventures.
Tove Besseling has completely renovated her new space on Mackenzie Avenue, creating a bright, welcoming space for Begbie Kids, which was also previously a kids clothing store known as Kidz on Main.
Besseling has narrowed the age focus, opting away from the teenage years and diversifying options for younger children, including more accessories like lunch boxes, toys, a book section, and lots of essentials.
She's put the focus on natural, sustainable children's wear, opting for wooden toys, timeless pieces that encourage "open-ended play." She's got natural rubber ducks, and the usual collection of dinosaur and unicorn themed clothing and toys. Being a mom with a one-year-old, she's in touch with the needs, demands and thinking of parents, and tries to meet the needs, or, "I'm in it, of you know what I mean," as she puts it.
She's put a focus on buying quality, Canadian made products that are sustainably made and healthy for children. She looks for clothes made from organic cotton and non-toxic toys.
Like most retailers, she's made a big push into the online space, opening a web store that offers free local shipping and offers some unique Scandinavian brands as well.
"I just want people to feel like they're in good hands," Besseling says.
BIG MOUNTAIN KITCHEN FINE LINE SUP & FLY BEGBIE
TATTOO TALK WITH KATA POLANO
SINCE 2014, ACOUSTIC INK OWNER KATA POLANO HAS DECORATED THE PEOPLE OF REVELSTOKE. WE DISCUSSED TATTOO TRENDS, AND CREATING A STYLE BEYOND THE FADS.
By Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
With a steady hand and a single needle, Kata Polano carefully crafts her work across a canvas of skin. Her career started, and flourished, in Revelstoke. As Polano approaches seven years of tattooing, she reflects on the trends that flow through town. Spoiler alert: Mount Begbie is one of them.
Polano started tattooing in 2014, spending six years honing her craft before opening Acoustic Ink in December 2020. Her studio differs from the average tattoo shop; it boasts eco-friendly practices and handpoked single needle tattoos.
Despite taking a different approach from Westernized machine-fired tattoos, Polano still witnesses the same cycles as other artists. As she continues to build her portfolio, Polano observes the trends that flow through Revelstoke. Unsurprisingly, elements of the local landscape are a popular choice for ink.
“I tattoo a lot of Mount Begbie, and am getting more and more floral designs coming to me as well. There was a tree trend for a bit, but that seems to have eased off,” Polano elaborates. Despite repeating these elements throughout multiple pieces, Polano says she is not tired of tattooing these designs.
“Maybe Mount Begbie,” Polano laughs. “But I’ll still happily tattoo it.”
However, observing trends does not always mean following them. As indicated by her slower, gentle approach to tattooing, Polano is more interested in creating a style that caters to her unique clientele.
“I don't really follow industry trends. I'm much more focused on honing and developing my own style and niche,” Polano explains. “I think, like most artists, we want to create what speaks to us, not what's trendy.”
Luckily, some of the current trends lineup with Polano’s style. Many of her tattoos incorporate natural elements, with flora and fauna appearing throughout her portfolio. While she is happy growing her niche, Polano does have favourites when it comes to tattoos.
“My favourite elements are bugs, skulls of any kind and plants. I'd love to do more planet themed elements too,” Polano elaborates, adding that she also wants to push herself creatively through designing more large-scale pieces.
Beyond expanding her artistic horizons, Polano is also expanding her clientele. She has an exciting fall ahead of her, preparing for the Calgary Tattoo and Arts Festival in October. This large event offers new exposure for the rising artist.
These photos offer a snippet of Polano’s work; her full portfolio, and booking information, is available online at acousticink.ca
This astrology-inspired piece uses the oceanic imagery to represent the water sign Cancer.
Photo: Kata Polano.
A busy bee pollinates wildflowers in this delicate rib piece.
Photo: Kata Polano.
Polano infuses two of her favourite elements, skulls and plants, into this intricate thigh piece.
Photo: Kata Polano.
TOURISM TALKS
Banners and Wayfinding
There has been significant attention and a fair amount of Facebook controversy surrounding the changes to our banners downtown and across the City. Rest assured, Revelstokians/Revelfolk, the colourful community banners will be back.
The changes are part of a wayfinding strategy for Revelstoke. The goal of the strategy is to provide a stronger sense of orientation and direction for locals and visitors and improve traffic circulation. Our current signage is inconsistent and unclear in many areas. This is being paid for out of funding provided by the Resort Municipality Initiative. The money used is not city funding but rather from a fund that is administered by the Tourism Infrastructure Committee foryou guessed it - tourism infrastructure. Revelstoke has access to this fund as ihas been designated by the province of BC as a resort community. The program is intended to support small, tourism-based municipalities to build and diversify their tourism infrastructure, deliver exceptional visitor experiences and incorporate sustainable tourism practices and products. Public engagement was done on the wayfinding strategy in 2019, and the project is proceeding in phases. You’ll notice the new highway signs, clearer directional signage, and new signs for things like Williamson Lake. These are all part of the wayfinding strategy.
For the time being, many of the community banners have been taken down as they did not fit the new hardware that has been put up. Ultimately community banners will be displayed in accordance with the wayfinding strategy, alongside heritage banners and branded banners. To see the overall plan for banner placement, head to https://bit.ly/citybanners.
We appreciate the community feel provided by the banners, particularly those hand painted by our younger residents. Neither the City of Revelstoke nor Tourism Revelstoke intends to remove the community banners that represent the heart and soul of our community.. The City has a detailed plan for banner locations. Holiday banners will be put up later this fall, and next spring, you can expect to see community banners along with the branded banners. The City is looking for new holiday banners, and one of the suggestions that we have put on the table is community-contributed holiday photos.
Community and the passion of our residents is something that makes Revelstoke such an incredible place to live. If you have a complaint or a question about something that you see around town, we are receptive and open to discussing it. Please feel free to reach out directly with your feedback. The staff of Tourism Revelstoke are community members with a passion for Revelstoke.
To read previous Tourism Talks columns, check out seerevelstoke.com/about-tourism-revelstoke/
Wayfinding designs by Cygnus Designs, Inc.
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