Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine September 2018 issue by Revelstoke Mountaineer

September 2018

Revy Riding: Exploring our mountain dirtbike trails LUNA Fest: Artists prepare for 2018 show Skatepark builders

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Creative Director Aaron Orlando The 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. Each month we distribute 3,000 free copies to over 200 public venues across Revelstoke, including accommodations, shops, restaurants, cafes, community centres, bars, and everywhere people meet. We are an independent, locally owned publication dedicated to showcasing our amazing mountain town and the great people who create the stoke. For more information, including details on our very affordable advertising rates, please contact us: www.revelstokemountaineer.com on the advertising tab. 250-814-8710 info@revelstokemountaineer.com PO BOX 112, 606 Railway Avenue, Revelstoke, B.C. V0E 2S0

News Briefs

16 Concrete creators

Smoky skies, forest walks and infrastructure struggles

30 Infrastructure focus

Eat the invaders

18 Jordan River Fest

Learn to find and cook invasive species.

Travelling skatepark crew pours new Revy facility

Paddle fest expands in 2018

20 Mountain running

Wild & Scenic

New film festival seeks to inspire environmental activism

Revelstoke runner Justin Nicholas races for Team Canada

Events calendar

23 LUNA fest preview

Find out what’s happening in Revelstoke in September

Local artists share creations for September street art festival

11 Dirt on dirtbike scene

We checked in with Revy Riders for the dirt on the expanding dirtbike scene

14 Female skate scene

Women skateboarders take their own turns

Checking out the Kootenay’s international EDM festival

28 Development dominates

Alex Cooper reviews city’s

Dog’s best friend

Profile: Steven Cross of Revy Outdoors

26 Shambhala 2018

How Revelstoke can make more sustainable infrastructure choices

33 Retail focus

32 Spokin’ Word

development pressure issues

34 Spectacle of place

How art spectacles transform our understanding of place

35 Pillow talk

Better sleep for a better life

36 Style: Go with the Flow

Scarves, blankets and flowy fits for the early fall season

Contributors COVER PHOTO Photographer Laura Szanto takes to the dirtbike trails with Revy Riders to find out about their growing network of mountain trails. See the feature on page 11.

Aaron Orlando

Alex Cooper

Amaris Bourdeau

Bryce Borlick

Fraser Blyth

Heather Hood

Laura Szanto

Claudia Bambi

Sara Sansom

Shannon MacLean

Emily Kemp

Matt Timmins

Lindsay Borque

Louise Stanway

Kate Borucz

Creative Director

Melissa Jameson

NEWS BRIEFS

New Riverside Forest Walk takes forestry museum visitors on a journey through Revelstoke forest Museum has plans to develop a community park for the public to enjoy News Briefs by Melissa Jameson BC Interior Forestry Museum director Glenn Westrup was looking through old files in the museum when he stumbled across a list that included information about land located below the museum. Following up with museum board chair Brian Sumner, Westrup discovered the museum had a 30-year lease on the land. The land was leased with the intentions of completing a project that never came to fruition, but the lease remained. Westrup began walking around on the leased property and was joined by a few of the museum’s directors who started plotting and planning the creation of a forest walk. There were some trails already in existence, but Westrup said many people aren’t aware they exist. The only barrier to completing the Riverside Forest Walk? A separate, city-owned parcel of land between the museum grounds and the leased property. The museum arranged with the city to take on a lease on that land, which has lent itself to creating walking trails leading directly from the museum itself. The main trail takes you on a 1.5-kilometre loop that includes a one-kilometre walk along the Columbia River through a hemlock, cedar, and white pine forest. Westrup said the eventual goal is for the museum to offer daily walks and tours, similar to those offered by the Royal Tyrell Museum, but on a much smaller scale.

Westrup said the museum is planning a soft opening at the beginning of September. The museum was just in the process of commissioning a local artist to create wayfinding signage and develop an icon style map of the property. The museum is also working with a forest specialist who will help to develop signage that includes educational information describing the different plant species found in the forest, and what is happening with the forest due to global warming. Westrup says creating the trails is the first stage of what will become a community space the public can access. In September 2017, a strong windstorm blew through Revelstoke knocking down numerous trees in the area. That windstorm tore through the middle of the forest where the museum was planning to build the trails. Rather than being brought down by the massive clean up ahead of them, the museum is choosing to see it as a positive situation as it provided the catalyst to begin creating the community parkland. “It’s an ongoing project. Where the wind event occurred it’s fairly flat so it lends itself to community usage for smaller events or picnics,” said Westrup. The BC Interior Forestry Museum is located on Highway 23 North, beside the entrance to the Revelstoke Dam Visitor’s Centre.

get Outside & Enjoy

REVELSTOKE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES WI TH

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The BC Interior Forestry Museum’s new Riverside Forest walk includes a 1.5 km loop along through Revelstoke forest. Photo: Tanya McMillan

Canoe Rentals & Small Trip Outfitting Guided Canoe Tours, Trips & Expeditions Whitewater Kayak Lessons and Rentals Top Rope Rock Climbing

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Float Rafting Tours Youth Outdoor Programs Women’s Wellness Weekends Multi-Activity Adventure Holidays

OPEN 9 TO 9 | 1-866-929-3539 | info@flexpeditions.com #connectoutside | revelstokeoutdooradventures.com | flexpeditions.com

Voted Best Shoe Store in Town!

The sun was little more than a faded red orb on many days in August. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

Wildfires contribute to smoky skies, poor air conditions in Revelstoke over the summer

#7-555 ALPINE MALL, NEXT TO SAVE-ON FOODS Monday-Thursday 8:15am-6:15pm Friday 8:15am-8pm

Saturday 8:15am-6:45pm Sunday 10am-4:45pm

At one point during August, B.C.’s air quality was so bad it was worse than Jodphur, India. The World Health Organization views Jodphur as having what can be considered some of the worst air quality in the world. During mid-August air quality levels in the Okanagan ranked at 10+/10 (with a ranking of 10 being extremely poor air quality). It’s nearly impossible to provide precise information about Revelstoke’s actual air quality. BC Minister of Environment George Heyman turned down a request from the City of Revelstoke to re-install an air quality monitoring system in the city. City council had sent a letter to the provincial Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to request the air quality monitoring system be re-established due to the increasing prevalence of forest fires and climate change. In particular, the city’s health advisory committee had concerns around the lack of air quality monitoring due to the number of people being sent to Revelstoke for reprieve from the forest fires during the summer of 2017. It’s also difficult to know if the 2018 fire season saw more people visiting Queen Victoria Hospital in Revelstoke for respiratory issues directly related to wildfire smoke. While Revelstoke itself did not see any wildfires, a number of nearby fires did contribute to considerably smoky skies in the city. Haley Allen, spokesperson with Interior Health said exact numbers of individuals presenting to the emergency department with smoke related illness are not available, since a patient’s chart would only show the symptom of why they were there and not the cause. As an example, a patient’s chart would document them as having a “sore throat” but it would not specify the sore throat was related to wildfire smoke. Allen said she did reach out to administration in the emergency department at Queen Victoria Hospital who said anecdotally they had not seen an increase in visits related to wildfire smoke.

FOOD

Eat your weeds

Burdock root and lamb’s quarter are both edible invasive species that can be found locally. Learn how to find and prepare them at an upcoming edible weeds event.

Here’s how to combat invasive species by chowing down on them By CSISS staff Do you want to improve your food security, to help save the environment, or just to have some free food? Ever wondered what to do with those pesky weeds growing in your garden and in wild areas? Well what about eating these weeds or using them as a healing tea? Several weed species, some of which are classified as invasive due to their detrimental impacts on people, the environment, or the economy, are actually edible and often quite delicious. Dishes range from delicious Himalayan blackberry tarts, to salads of chickweed, lambs quarter, and purslane (which is very high in omega-3), with crispy burdock chips. A healthy tea to have with your weed feast can be made from mullein, a plant originally introduced to B.C. for its beautiful grey-green foliage and significant health benefits as a tea. Mullein grows like a weed (pun intended) and can be found on dry rough ground throughout most of B.C. Its large lower leaves have a soft fluffy appearance, that has lead to it being referred to by some as nature’s toilet paper, though it would be advisable to check any potential allergic reaction before use! Drying the leaves and flowers of this plant is easy, just harvest from a suitable non-polluted site (not a roadside) and spread the plant material on newspaper in the sun. Plants flower throughout mid to late summer. The leaves and flowers will dry in a couple of days and then can be gently crushed and used. Steep

1 heaped teaspoon of dried leaves and flowers in 1 cup of boiling water for 8-10 minutes (add some mint if preferred) and strain through a paper filter. Tea made from mullein leaves is particularly helpful in supporting lung health and can be sweetened with honey if desired. The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) and the North Columbia Environmental Society (NCES) are hosting an edible invasives workshop on September 11, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. at the Revelstoke Workers Memorial. Come along to get specifics on how to ID plants, choosing a safe harvest location, a selection of free recipes, and partake of some edible invasive treats! A cautionary note: any quick search of the internet will reveal many recipes using weeds and invasive plants, however, please rememaber that many of these plants spread very easily and should never be composted, or moved to new areas. There’s plenty of weeds out there already, lets not spread them around! Please see the CSISS website for more information. The CSISS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention, management, and reduction of invasive species in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. CSISS is thankful for the generous support of the Shuswap Watershed Council, Columbia Basin Trust, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, and the Province of British Columbia.

Dandelion Flower Cookies INGREDIENTS ½ cup vegetable oil ½ cup honey 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup flour 1 cup oatmeal ½ cup dandelion flowers

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 375 F. Mix oil and honey together, beat in 2 eggs and vanilla. Remove yellow flower parts from the green parts, (you only need the yellow). Stir in flour, oatmeal and dandelion flowers. Drop batter by tablespoons onto an oiled cookie sheet. Bake for 10 mins.

ENTERTAINMENT

16TH ANNUAL

Wild & Scenic Film Festival celebrates the nature’s inspirationW H E R E A C T I V I S M G E T S I N S P I R E D New film festival seeks to motivate and inspire you to make a difference By Kate Borucz There’s a lot to be said for the beauty that surrounds us in Revelstoke. Endless rivers and streams draining into deep lakes, mountain peaks extending into the clouds, and a valley so diverse in flora and fauna it’s hard not to be impressed. There are many ways to be inspired and many ways to take advantage of these wild places, but what motivates us to sustain these environments so that we can continue to enjoy them? That is the question the North Columbia Environmental Society aims to answer through the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, happening on Thursday, Sept. 13 at The Roxy Theatre. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a collection of films from an annual festival held during the third week of January in Nevada City, CA, and for the first time it is coming to Revelstoke. Wild & Scenic focuses on films which speak to the environmental concerns and celebrations of our planet. The featured films showcase frontline activism and stunning cinematography, and touch on topics such as water conservation, Indigenous perspectives, energy and resource activism, outdoor adventure, and land

preservation. Wildfires, flooding, severe storms, and climate change are at the forefront of conversations nationally and globally. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that individuals propel the environmental movement; whether you’re a veteran outdoor enthusiast or trying to figure out ways to inspire a younger generation, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival will have something for you. One of the event’s featured films is The Curve of Time, where the audience follows professional skiers Greg Hill and Chris Rubens as they peer into the future and have a conversation with their future selves, contemplating the impact of their adventures on the very environment that sustains and fulfills them. Can they each remain committed skiers while significantly reducing their carbon footprints? Is it possible to call yourself an environmentalist while gaining access to remote locations with the use of a helicopter? You may have the opportunity to ask them for yourself, as Chris Rubens and Greg Hill will be at the event to discuss their experience. Along with 11 other

films, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival will be full of opportunities for learning, self reflection, and contemplation. There will also be a raffle and silent auction with items donated by national sponsors such as Klean Kanteen, CLIF Bar, Earthjustice, Peak Design, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, and local sponsors Girls Do Ski, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, the Sutton Place Hotel, Birch & Lace Hair Company, and Revy Outdoors, making the event a fundraising opportunity for the NCES. Of course, adult beverages will be available from Mt. Begbie Brewing Company and Monashee Spirits Craft Distillery, because after a little introspection, the reality of our dependence on fossil fuels will go down a bit easier with their help. Collectively, we can make a difference, but we need to take a long hard look at the choices we make daily. With a little imagination, some light-hearted humour, and less single use plastic, we can take a step in the direction of conservation and sustainable living. We just might need a little push to help us along.

Sept 13 2018

The roxy theatre 6pm

Chris Rubens and Greg Hill are featured in The Curve of Time at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Photo: Bruno Long

NORTH COLUMBIA ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY PRESENTS 16TH ANNUAL

WHERE ACTIVISM GETS INSPIRED

SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 THE ROXY THEATRE 6PM

GROUNDSWELL 12 F ILMS •

raffle •

Drink

Tickets available:

Sept 13 F O R M O R E I N F O : n o r t h c o l u m b i a . o r g • f a c e b o o k . c o m / N C E S r2018 evelstoke Roxy Theatre (115 Mackenzie Ave.) Valhalla Pure Revelstoke (213 Mackenzie ave.) $ 1 0

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CALENDAR VISIT REVELSTOKEMOUNTAINEER.COM/CALENDAR FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT FOR FREE FOR INCLUSION ONLINE AND IN OUR MONTHLY PRINT CALENDAR.

*Please check the event on the day as details may change*

WEEKLY EVENTS MONDAY LOL Monday open night Comedy @ The Last Drop Pub 8:30 p.m.–11 p.m. An open mic, hosted by comedian Katie Burrell w/Special guests Chris Griffin & Maddy Kelly. Tuesday

Downtown Walking Tour @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives 11a.m.–12p.m. Meet at Revelstoke Museum & Archives, 315 First Street West, for a 1-hour guided tour of Revelstoke’s historic downtown. Suitable for all ages. Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome. $5 per person.

TUESDAY Revy Riders Dirtbike Club Group Ride @ Revy Riders Parking Lot 6 p.m. Revy Riders Dirtbike Club hosts a group ride every Tuesday evening. All ages, genders and abilities are welcome. Writer’s Bloc @ Revelstoke Library 6p.m.–8p.m. Writer’s who are working on projects are welcome to come and share ideas, give constructive feedback, and be inspired at this weekly get-together.

WEDNESDAY Brown Bag History @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives 12:15 p.m.–1 p.m. Every other Wednesday listen to museum curator Cathy English talk about Revelstoke history. Wednesday Night Paddle @ Downtown Revelstoke 5:30p.m.–8p.m. The Revelstoke Paddling Association hosts Wednesday Night Paddle every Wednesday. Meet at 5:30 p.m. in the lot behind Apex. For more information visit www.paddlerevelstoke.com. Open Mic Night @ The Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. The Last Drop welcomes all jammers and singers. Come out and join in with a friendly relaxed atmosphere from 10 p.m.

The Marwills perform at The Last Drop Pub on Sept. 6

THURSDAY Flatwater rolling sessions @ Williamson’s Lake 7 p.m. Learn to roll or sharpen up your paddling skills on flat water. Weekly sessions are for members only ($20/yr) and by donation (beer or cash appreciated) for the volunteer instructors. For more information visit paddlerevelstoke.ca.

SATURDAY Farmers Markets @ Grizzly Plaza & Mackenzie Avenue 8 a.m.–1p.m. Stock up on fresh veggies, crafts and more.

SUNDAY Sunday Morning Birding @ Revelstoke Community Centre 6:45 a.m.–9a.m. Meet at the Revelstoke Community Centre parking lot at 6:45. The group then decides where to go birding that day. Leave at 7 a.m. sharp.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Doc Fingers @ 112 Restaurant & Lounge

7p.m.–10p.m. Catch pianist Bruce Gallagher aka Doc Fingers performing at the 112 Restaurant and Lounge.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Doc Fingers @ 112 Restaurant & Lounge 7p.m.–10p.m. Catch pianist Bruce Gallagher aka Doc Fingers performing at the 112 Restaurant and Lounge.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 Doc Fingers @ 112 Restaurant & Lounge 7p.m.–10p.m. Catch pianist Bruce Gallagher aka Doc Fingers performing at the 112 Restaurant and Lounge.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Innovation Night: Sport, Rec & Adventure @ Revelstoke United Church 6p.m.–9p.m. Startup a new outdoor activity, sport or recreational business in the Kootenays. Fuse technology to make it powerful in the digital age. Connect with other entrepreneurs and form a partnership. Hosted by Startup Revelstoke. Doc Fingers @ 112 Restaurant & Lounge 7p.m.–10p.m. Catch pianist Bruce Gallagher aka Doc Fingers performing at the 112 Restaurant

and Lounge.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Mass Registration Night @ Revelstoke Community Centre 5 p.m.–8p.m. The annual fall programs mass registration night for a variety of activities in Revelstoke.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 The Marwills Release Tour @ Last Drop Pub 9 p.m. Catch the Marwill’s on tour in support of the release of their third album!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Little Bear Soccer Tournament @ Revelstoke All Day The annual Little League Soccer Tournament features U11-U17 teams. Doc Fingers @ 112 Restaurant & Lounge 7p.m.–10p.m. Catch pianist Bruce Gallagher aka Doc Fingers performing at the 112 Restaurant and Lounge.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Little Bear Soccer Tournament @ Revelstoke

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 2018 Revelstoke Women’s Enduro @ Mt. Macpherson and Boulder 8 a.m. The first and only women’s race to hit the B.C. Interior! The race involves four stages in the Boulder and Mt. Macpherson trail areas. Visit revelstokewomensenduro.ca for more info. Revelstoke Bike Fest @ Various Locations All Day Enjoy a variety of group rides, live music and explore Revelstoke’s mountain biking scene. Visit facebook.com/bikefestrevelstoke for more information.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Revelstoke Garlic Festival @ Track Street Growers All Day The annual Revelstoke Garlic Festival is back! Enjoy a day of everything garlic, along with family friendly entertainment. Visit revelstokegarlicfestival.com for more information. The Track Street Growers’ Revelstoke Garlic Festival returns on Sunday, Sept/ 16. Photo: Aaron Orlando/RMM All Day The annual Little League Soccer Tournament features U11-U17 teams.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

Kakagi Stay Up Late Tour @ Last Drop Pub 9 p.m. With lyrics as rich as the waters that fill their namesake lake in Northwestern On-

tario, Kakagi writes earnest songs about people and places - themes as universal as the Trans-Canada Highway.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Revelstoke Bike Fest @ Various Locations All Day Enjoy a variety of group rides, live music and explore Revelstoke’s mountain biking scene. Visit facebook.com/bikefestrevelstoke for more information.

Eat your Weeds @ Worker’s Memorial – Greenbelt 6:30 p.m.–7:30p.m. Join the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society team as they delve into the contentious topic of edible invasive species. For more information visit northcolumbia.org.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Wild & Scenic Film Festival @ Roxy Theatre 6 p.m.–9p.m. The North Columbia Environmental Society hosts a night of films connecting outdoor adventure and sustainable living. Tickets $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Tickets available at The Roxy Theatre or Valhalla Pure Outfitters.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Revelstoke Bike Fest @ Various Locations All Day Enjoy a variety of group rides, live music and explore Revelstoke’s mountain biking scene. Visit facebook.com/bikefestrevelstoke for more information.

Kakagi perform at The Last Drop Pub on Sept. 15.

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 2018 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 2018 Emergency Services Food Drive 4 p.m.–9p.m. This annual community-wide food drive helps collect much-needed food and cash donations for the Community Connections Food Bank. For more information visit community-connections.ca

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Kokanee Fish Fest @ Bridge Creek 9 a.m.–2p.m. The North Columbia Environmental Society hosts the annual Kokanee Fish Fest located at Bridge Creek in the industrial park. A Million Dollars in Pennies @ 7 Acres Bed and Breakfast 7 p.m. Folk duo A Million Dollars in Pennies perform at 7 Acres Bed and Breakfast.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Mushrooms 101: Growing and Foraging Workshops @ Revelstoke Community Centre 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Join the North Columbia Environmental Society and Robert Macrae for a day dedicated to mushrooms. Both workshops are $30 for NCES members, $45 for non-members. Visit northcolumbia.org for more information. Lego Day @ Revelstoke Library 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. We have tons of Lego including Duplo so bring your friends and drop into the library to create something wonderful which we’ll put on display until the next Lego Day! 100 Mile Diet: Squash & Roots @ Revelstoke Community Centre 5p.m.–6:30p.m. Get in the kitchen with some local food! $5

for LFI Members / $10 for Non-Members At the Community Center Kitchen. gardenguru@revelstokelocalfood.com for more info!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Opening exhibits @ Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre 6p.m.–9p.m. Featuring exhibitions by Revelstoke artists Zuzana Riha, Agathe Bernard and Julie Kozek. The Statistics & The Fallaways @ Last Drop Pub 9 p.m. Get ready for a night of non-stop rock and roll when The Statistics & The Fallaways perform at the Last Drop Pub. The Hairfarmers @ River City Pub 10 p.m. The Hairfarmers have cultivated their West Coast ski bum musical style to include everything from Johnny Cash to Jimi Hendrix and U2, Bob Dylan to Led Zeppelin and Coldplay, Willie Nelson to the Grateful Dead. The Black Keys to Taylor Swift!

Everyone is welcome to participate – there are courses for all ability levels and ages. http://bcoc2018.ca/ for more information. The Hairfarmers@ River City Pub 10 p.m. The Hairfarmers have cultivated their West Coast ski bum musical style to include everything from Johnny Cash to Jimi Hendrix and U2, Bob Dylan to Led Zeppelin and Coldplay, Willie Nelson to the Grateful Dead. The Black Keys to Taylor Swift!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 LUNA Art and Wonder Exhibition @ Downtown Revelstoke 9 a.m.–4 p.m. This year’s LUNA exhibit includes daytime tours.

There will be an urban sprint and a forest middle race on Saturday. The Long event will be Sunday morning. The Middle and Long will be on a Macpherson map. Everyone is welcome to participate – there are courses for all ability levels and ages. http://bcoc2018.ca/ RCA–Flowt DH Fiver Series @ Revelstoke All Day Race entry is $5 per race and you must have a Revelstoke Cycling Association membership. For more details visit bikerevelstoke.org. RCA–Tantrum Enduro Series @ Boulder 5:30 p.m. Race entry is $5 per race and you must have a Revelstoke Cycling Association membership. For more details visit bikerevelstoke.org.

BC Orienteering Championships @ Mt. Macpherson All Day Sage Orienteering is hosting the BC Orienteering Championships in Revelstoke!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 LUNA Nocturnal Art and Wonder Exhibition @ Downtown Revelstoke 6p.m.–12 a.m. Witness the ordinary become extraordinary as downtown Revelstoke is transformed with eye-catching, intriguing works of art that focus on new media, performance, sculpture and installation. LUNA is an all-ages event. BC Orienteering Championships @ Mt. Macpherson All Day Sage Orienteering is hosting the BC Orienteering Championships in Revelstoke!

Join the North Columbia Environmental Society for mushroom growing and foraging workshops on Sept. 22.

Visit us in our new location 204 First St East CHINESE MEDICINE, ACUPUNCTURE, REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY, NUTRITION Online booking and Direct billing available

OUTDOORS

The dirt on Revelstoke’s mountain motocross scene By Laura Szanto The best part about mountain towns is the culture surrounding mountain sports, and dirt biking is no exception. In a relatively short amount of time, the Revy Riders Dirtbike Club has enabled the growth of a vast network of dirt biking trails and has established a large passionate community of over 140 dirt biking members. With constant improvements and projects on the go, the versatility of these tracks has continued to attract people of all ages and skills levels. There are a variety of reasons that inevitably draws people to the sport. It keeps you active, fit, alert, coordinated and continually craving for more. But what one can find most admirable about dirt biking, from a newcomer’s perspective, is the strong sense of a community that emerges from it. Even if it’s your first day and you don’t know where to start — strangers are ready to lend out valued gear, offer pro tips and share information about trails. I have only gone dirt biking twice in my life, and it didn’t take long for me to start feeling hooked. After spending the day dirt biking with five Revelstoke locals, their cheerful attitudes and contagious camaraderie made me appreciate just how important this dirt biking group is to our community. After my ride, I spoke with club members to find out what makes Revelstoke’s dirt scene stand out. What draws people to the dirt biking trails here in Revelstoke? Emily Roberts: Revelstoke draws a number of riders for many reasons. The club works year round to improve every aspect of the area and determined to offer a versatile trail and track system for riders of all skills sets and niches of dirtbiking; whether this is tracks, enduro, or trials riding. Not only do the trails offer some of the most technical riding in the area, but the recent addition on the motocross track has allowed for Revelstoke to gain in popularity with the dirt biking community. One other incredible thing about the area is the sense of community and involvement you feel when you step foot in the dirt. With dedicated local riders working to keep the trails intact and the club offering weekly rides, it’s easy for new comers to feel at home with exploring the trails and track in Revelstoke. If you could pick your favourite area to ride in Revelstoke what would it be

Exploring Revelstoke’s mountain dirtbiking trails with Revy Riders. Photo: Laura Szanto

OUTDOORS

Ripping it up on the Revy Riders trails in the mountains above Revelstoke. Photo: Laura Szanto/Revelstoke Mountaineer

and why? Kyle Volpatti: Well that for me depends on the season and time of year. After a long winter the only choice is to hit the flats and get some seat time in. Also some dual sports days are possible early season with ski in the morning and biking in afternoon. Once the snow has melted in the mountains it’s time to hit the trails on Frisby and Deadman’s. We have amazing singletrack trails from beginner to advanced riding. Once the snow has melted in the alpine I always enjoy a rip to the top of Mt. Sproat and enjoy the view with a cold one! Are there any improvements you would like to see about the riding trails here in Revelstoke? Matt Elliott: The Revy Riders have accomplished so much in a relatively short amount of time. One of the great things about Revelstoke’s dirtbike club is its culture of continuous improvement. The directors and members are always working on exciting projects and events. They have improved our track to a standard that allows us to host motocross and snow bike events. The improvements that I would love to see include the development of more riding trails that allow us to showcase our valley from the many stunning

viewpoints along the trails. I enjoy dirtbiking because it is an activity that allows personal development. For that reason I am really excited about the relocation of our enduro-cross track because it will really help my technical trail riding progress. After an active day dirtbiking at the Revy Riders’ area, what better way to cool off than to go down to Mexico Beach for a swim? This brings me to the final thing that I am looking forward to: rumoured future improvements at the beach area that will be enjoyed by riders, along with everyone else! Who is someone you look up to in the dirt biking community and why? Holly Colwell: To me, I’ll speak of legendary madams mastering 300 2-strokes. Beautiful doyennes juggling their toddlers, work, life and still have time to hit the trails. I’m talking about women! Your so call stereo-typical putt-putts are giving the guys a run for their money. Worldwide we are becoming leaders in dirtbiking and that’s who I look up to. That’s my inspiration to be better, to work harder and become

stronger. I’ve been dirtbiking since 2012 and I now ride a 350RR-S Beta, which is all because of the female supports I have in Revelstoke. We love the rawness of it, the freedom, and the power. Keeping us thrilled for years to come. What advice would you give to new dirt bikers (question is open, could be about gear or riding techniques)? Sarah Blancher: Bikes, outside and growth. Dirtbiking

encompasses all that and more. We have a fun community in Revelstoke built on the passion of many volunteers and countless hours. If you’re looking to get into riding, have recently started … or are many years into it for that matter, my advice would be the same … get the smaller bike until your skill level out grows the displacement or isn’t hindered anymore by the physical size of the bike. Then start your ride with skills. If you can end your ride that way too when

OUTDOORS you’re tired, all the better prepared you’ll be to pull that out of your bag of tricks during a ride when you really need it! Hello enduro track and wheelies! These crazy stunt-looking things can be broken down and executed by you! I’m serious, you’ll surprise yourself! I’m still working to get there too and it’s a great ride! How do you think Revy Riders club has changed or impacted the riding community in Revelstoke and what do you think is the future of riding here? Chris Pawlitsky: I am a born and raised Revelstokian who wanted to develop a dirt bike area for me, friends and families to ride. I was responsible for forming the Revy Riders Dirtbike Club, all initial applications, fundraising, trail layout, track design, mapping, event planning, and more. I had a great team and we got a lot accomplished in a few short years. The growth of the biking scene has exploded since the riding area was developed. Ten years ago we only had a handful of guys (and definitely not many girls) riding logging roads, the ‘flats’ and the odd rouge trail. Now we have one of the best trail and track systems in Western Canada, 140 club members, and everyone from the rest of Canada has either ridden here or wants to! The Revy Riders Moto Track and Trails with tremendous support from the city and other contributing partners, (Rec Sites and Trails BC, Columbia Basin Trust, and the Resort Municipality Initiative) an almost endless supply of terrain in the existing tenure, and the huge buzz about Revelstoke in general, the future of off road motorcycling will soon see itself, if not already, as the premier dirt biking destinations in Canada!

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LIFESTYLE

Kate Ediger recreates vintage tricks and looks. Photo: Kate Ediger

Female skaters are changing the male-dominated sport Local skateboarders say boom in female skaters is pushing the sport By Amaris Bourdeau The much-anticipated Revelstoke skatepark is set to open in the coming month — and, for a sport that has for a long time been male-dominated, we can’t help but notice and delight in the deafening number of female skaters getting into the sport these past couple years. From more local girls starting out around town to all-female skate comps appearing in bigger cities, there’s no denying the sport is evolving. This makes for a more diverse, accessible game. It also means better film parts and better tricks. Kate Ediger, who’s been skateboarding and teaching the sport since the age of 14, works as a photographer and snow-

stepping out of the norms, trying bigger things, and changing the entire ‘man’s industry,’” she reflects. “I’ve seen a lot of people determined to progress the sport.” For a long time, skateboarding has been a boys’ club, says Ediger. Never before has she had so many girls with whom to skateboard — one of them being Coralie Foucher, who learned how to skateboard a few summers back in Santa Cruz. We sat down with both local girls to find out when they got into the sport and what excites them most about more women getting into it. When did you first start skating?

Coralie Foucher at a backyard ramp in Revy. Photo: Claudia Bambi

board tail guide for K3 Cat Ski. Ediger is also an ambassador for RMR, Avalanche Canada, and Burton Snowboards. On many occasions, Ediger found herself being the only female competitor in skateboard competitions, but believes this standard is changing. “In general, even beyond skateboarding, girls are

Coralie: Two years ago in California. I would go to skateparks with my boyfriend and I would sit on the sidelines and I found that really lame. So I decided I’d try it too. There were never any girls at first, and that’s changing!

Are you progressing more now that you have a girl crew? Coralie: Since I’ve been in Revelstoke I’ve had way more girlfriends skating than ever before. We’re all cheering each other on, we’re always together, and it’s pushing us to try news things.

What has your experience been as a female skater? Kate: It has always been pretty special! When I was younger people thought it was crazy that I liked it so much. I was always being called a tomboy. If I

entered a contest I was always the only girl. I admired girls who could skate well and push themselves. Back then we were not even comparable to the guys and now girls are skating way harder, with more style and grace. What do you love most about the growing number of girls skating? Coralie: It’s Louise on wheels! My crew of skater girls. They’re making skating so fun for me. And there’s so many new people coming to skate with us these days. We’re pushing each other, having fun. I’ve never had that before. How will the skate industry have to adapt to accommodate this boom in female skaters? Coralie: I don’t think it will. It’s so big right now. So many girls are learning to skate. It’s happening naturally. Even when it comes to fashion, it’s the fashion industry that’s adapting to skating. I love it. Do you think skating loses some of its essence as it grows mainstream, or is that a positive to you? Kate: I have only seen skateboarding being a positive in my life. It’s always been an individual sport that was social and fun. Like-minded people come together to cheer each other on or to push themselves in whatever stage they are at. I’ve seen and also built such a rad community from skateboarding and it’s been such a positive influence on my life.

Who are your biggest inspirations? Kate: Patti McGee, the first female pro skateboarder, because of who she was in the sport. My dad, who taught me how to skateboard, would say, “Kate, you’re just a mini Patti.” I finally met her and we connected instantly because there weren’t many of us! Is the boom in girls skating pushing the sport? Kate: I believe it is! I’m watching girls skate so hard and trying tricks I’ve never seen before. It’s inspired me, even though I’m a mom, to want to progress and push myself more than ever this year! It’s such an exciting time to be a female! Do you have a fave trick? Kate: There is nothing I love more than carving in a bowl. Coralie: Boneless. Before we know it the Revelstoke skatepark will have re-opened. Both Ediger and Foucher are excited to have a dedicated meet-up, and to hopefully meet another slew of girls giving the sport a go. “The bowls are calling my name,” laughs Ediger, who can’t help but show her enthusiasm when talking skateboarding.

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New Line Skateparks crew members shotcrete in the transitions on the new Kovach Park skatepark, which is slated for completion in early October. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine

Skatepark crew gives Revelstoke the gift of skateboarding By Emily Kemp Jessy Brown watches as Revelstoke’s long-awaited skatepark takes form at Kovach Park. The morning is warm and heating up by the minute, although wildfire smoke obscures any hint of blue skies and surrounding mountains. Brown, dressed in her bright orange construction clothes, stands near a concrete truck — the second one this morn-

ing. Her job is to operate the pump, sending concrete through a hose over to where the rest of the crew is working. This type of concrete sprayed at high velocity is called shotcrete. It’s reinforced with steel and smoothed to create the perfect finish, ideal for a skateboard bowl. The crew has been doing this most mornings recently and Brown says the

teamwork is a beautiful thing. “When we do the building work, we’re all doing our individual tasks,” she says. “But when it comes to concreting, it’s a big team effort. Everyone has their spot and it’s really awesome.” Brown is based in Rossland and it’s her first season with New Line Skateparks. She’s stoked on how it’s going. “I grew

up skateboarding their parks,” she says. “It’s a dream come true to be part of the magic.” It seems like the main prerequisite to become a skateboard park construction worker is a passion for skateboarding. Everything else can be learned on the job. And when the crew gets to enjoy the finished product, you can be sure

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the quality control is high. “I grew up building skateparks,” says senior site manager Jesse Hale who has been skating for close to 30 years. “We didn’t have anything back in the day so we had to build it.” While Hale didn’t anticipate a life in construction, he has been with New Line since the start in 2001. His friend Kyle Dion, New Line’s president, was one of the company’s founders. After high school, Dion went on a trip to Australia and got involved with building skateboard parks there. He came back inspired and New Line began.

of the job — getting to see places they otherwise wouldn’t but also being away from home for long periods. Hale has kids and tries to get back for one week of every three. Due to his seniority his gig is more year-round while Butler and Brown spend their winters in the mountains. To date, New Line has completed over 250 projects, including some internationally. They recently created an American branch and are building a skatepark in Florida, while they also have about six active projects in Canada. “It is just booming,” Butler said. “Every town now wants a skatepark. It’s the most

HearingLife Clinic Staff Help Revelstoke Community Hear Better amazing to see the positive impact that hearing aids can have on a person’s life!”

Dameion Notte Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner

You may have already seen the Revelstoke HearingLife (formerly Canadian Hearing Care,) clinic staff around town. Hearing Instrument Practitioner Dameion Notte and Client Service Administrator Abbey Renaud have been servicing the Revelstoke community for years. Dameion and Abbey both wanted careers that they could grow with and help people in. They found that in the hearing healthcare industry.

Above: Construction manager Jesse Hale. Below: workers Ian Butler and Jessy Brown. Photos: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine The construction crew becomes family. Not only do they live and work together (the company has put them up in three houses here), they generally play and skate together. Revelstoke’s crew of nine are aged from 21 to 44 and it’s a lifestyle that suits the young and restless and unencumbered. “You don’t see many people with kids doing this job,” Ian Butler says. He’s been with the company for about seven years. Based in Nelson, he came onboard when New Line built a skatepark there. “I was only going to do it for a bit,” he says. “But I love the job so much I can’t stop.” Earlier this year the crew built in Ontario, Saskatchewan and then Alberta. It’s clearly one of the best and worst aspects

used outdoor space and the lowest cost for a parent to get their kids into the sport.” For the crew, they see it not only as a job but a purpose. “I think it’s probably one of the best jobs in the world,” Hale says. “Building gives back to something that has given me so much enjoyment.” And for Revelstoke, the near decade-long wait for this project to be realized is a huge accomplishment. “I was pumped to finally see ground break here in Revelstoke,” Butler says. “Year after year people would say Revelstoke is going down, and then it didn’t. It always seemed a big pipe dream so seeing it come into fruition is pretty sweet.”

“Seeing people hear better as well as seeing the reaction of their family members when they can hear is most rewarding for me,” says Dameion. “The thing I find most rewarding is when a client comes in stressed out about a hearing or hearing aid related issue and seeing their face light up when we help them solve the problem,” adds Abbey. “It’s truly

HearingLife has a hearing healthcare clinic at 305 1st Street West that is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. The HearingLife staff provide hearing evaluations, hearing aid services, and custom hearing protection to Revelstoke residents, but the appreciation that these hearing experts have for the Revelstoke community goes beyond business. Dameion loves the familiarity of the town and Abbey was born and raised here. “I love the small town feel and the ability to walk down the street and wave to everyone,” says Dameion. “I love how I know almost every person in the grocery store, or walking down the street. Most of the time, clients stop me to ask a question about their hearing aids, or to tell me a story about my Dad when he was younger. I like how connected everybody is.” As a Client Service Administrator, Abbey cleans and repairs hearing aids, books appointments, and answers client questions. If you are interested in booking a free hearing appointment with Dameion at the Revelstoke HearingLife clinic, please call Abbey at 1-888-542-1170. Formerly

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OUTDOORS

Jordan River Festival showcases Revy’s budding paddling scene By Louise Stanway “It’s the JRF, yo!” said festival co-organiser, Koby Trinker, as he handed me an ‘80s-themed sticker with scattered lightening bolts and that same phrase on it. I proudly stuck it on the back of my minivan the evening before the event, feeling confident that the Revelstoke kayakers’ philosophy would be imprinted on the festival, as clearly as it was on Koby’s funky stickers. Whitewater kayakers from around the globe regularly file in to Revelstoke to paddle our world-class rivers, but they end up staying for the vibrant and welcoming community. In August, the Jordan River Festival kicked off in various locations around town and attracted an impressive attendance from both paddlers and spectators alike. The JRF is organised and run by Revelstokians

and is just one of many events that the newly-formed Revelstoke Paddlesports Association (RPA), have put on this summer to help grow and endorse the paddling community. The festival itself — which featured six different races on various local rivers, a paddling film night, exciting spectator opportunities and a BBQ and party — was almost unrecognisable from its off-the-grid, low-key former self. This subtle transition from “race” to “festival” has been thanks to the efforts of behind-the-scenes masterminds and local paddlers, Katrina Van Wijk and Koby Trinker. Trinker and Van-Wijk put a heavy focus on expanding the inclusivity and light-heartedness of the event – and it paid off. This year’s event saw over thirty

participants in the expert level Jordan race and almost a third of that figure was made up of female athletes. The race itself took place on a section of river with three challenging drops, characterised by shallow waters and intimidating rocks ledges. As a female kayaker myself, it was a welcome sight to see so many women crushing it alongside the men, on such a technical and consequential rapid. As with many extreme sports, too often the ‘crew’ is male dominated, so it was refreshing to watch both men’s and women’s teams battle together on a level playing field for the winning title. Not just a one-tricky pony, the JRF encouraged paddlers of all abilities to participate. As well as the various levels of race difficulty, there were also oppor-

tunities for beginners and intermediates to get stuck in at several workshops tailored to improve their skills. Further still, the “Huge Balls, Tiny Rapid” was a flatwater, beginner-friendly race that took place on a stretch of river leading into town and ensured everyone had a taste of danger (seriously, give people a blow-up ball and a paddle and you’ll be surprised how violent things can get!) It was during the award ceremony (of all times) that a sense of the event’s non-competitive characteristic really came to surface. The stand-out award on the Sunday night, in my experience, was the Beater Award. In kayaking, it is possible to channel your inner beater every time you miss a roll, run a dodgy line, or take a swim through a rapid where it probably wasn’t necessary to do

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Paddlers compete at the 2018 Jordan River Festival. Photos: Matt Timmins so. Heck, the essence of the beater even lives on through that shabby gear you haven’t upgraded in last five years. The beater award proudly presents itself in the form of a broken paddle-blade, glued to a wooden plaque — its title is etched into the wood, as if with a pocket knife. Yet, its physical form is surpassed by the symbolism behind it. One person walked away with it in hand, but only after roughly fifteen others had gathered on stage and shared their stories of beat-downs and mishaps from their races. Their shared beater experiences helped lighten the mood in what could have otherwise been, a serious situation or a moment of disappointment. The awards ceremony was followed by a classic “Revy-style” bush-rave and bar-

beque, with no shortage of bass music. It was a chance for everyone to mingle, let loose and congratulate each other on their weekend of racing. The dance floor was lit up by uncompromised moonlight which shone through the remote clearing of trees, high up on Boulder Mountain. The diverse events, as well as the welcoming vibe from the locals, has meant that the Jordon River Festival is surely one to mark on the calendar for next year. Even if whitewater isn’t your thing (yet), you can check out some of the many other events that the RPA are hosting to help put Revelstoke on the map, from flatwater rolling sessions, multi-day canoe races to SUPing on Lake Revelstoke.

OUTDOORS

Emerging Revelstoke mountain runner Justin Nicholas earns spot on Team Canada Forest firefighter sets Pulaski aside to focus on international competition By Alex Cooper Running comes naturally to Justin Nicholas. He entered his first race in 2009, not long after breaking both his ankles in a university stunt gone wrong, just to see if he could run 25 kilometres. The next year he entered the 50-kilometre race at the same event and won. His time of about seven hours wasn’t particularly fast, especially by his current standards, but it was enough to place him on top. “It occurred to me you don’t need to be fast to do this, you just need to keep going,” he told me over coffee at the Modern on a smoky day in August. It’s a simple way of looking at things for someone who flies up and down mountains faster than most people do on flats. He recently shattered the course record in the 45-kilometre Idaho Peak ultra-marathon, finishing in a blistering 3:28:26 – 25 minutes faster than the old mark. Before that, he competed for Team

Canada at the World Mountain Running Championships. Nicholas, who just turned 30, grew up in Kelowna. He recalled entering a few short races as a kid, but he didn’t take up running until he started studying forestry at the University of British Columbia. Despite his early successes, it wasn’t a sport he was interested in pursuing. “I wasn’t interested in training. Running multiple days of the week has never been that enticing to me because I have a lot of things I’d rather be doing,” he said. “That was the way I treated it the first five or six years – let’s see how well I can do without really trying. It’s a very immature way of approaching things, but that’s what I was comfortable with.” Instead, he ended up in Revelstoke in 2012 to work as a wildfire fighter. The extensive training and long days gave him the endurance and grit required for running long distances. It helped him succeed despite a lack of formal

Justin Nicholas in training. Photo: Raven Eye Photography

Mountain runner Justin Nicholas. Photo: Alex Cooper training. “I still understood that when I was running it was clunky and hardworking; it wasn’t smooth and impressive. I would succeed through grit and not through talent,” he said. “That’s not a nice way to perform all the time. It’s having to make things as hard as it can possibly be because you’re not prepared.” Running appeals to Nicholas because of its simplicity and how it allows him to move through the mountains quickly, running distances in hours that many people would spend several days on. I first met him while mountain biking the 38-kilometre Larch Hills Traverse. He was the only member of the group on foot and he had no problem keeping up with the leaders. Despite his speed, Nicholas was hesitant to take it to the next level until this year when he decided to take a break from firefighting. It was at the urging of friends and his own newfound maturity that he decided to focus on running. “I felt I could only listen to people say I need to try harder for so long.” In March, Nicholas left the Revelstoke winter behind and headed to Victoria and California to hit the dirt. He returned to Revelstoke in May and on the way home he entered a 50-kilometre race in Kalamalka Park. After a steady start he picked up the pace and wound up in third place with a time of 4:22:50.5. On the way home he learned he made the Canadian team for the Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Karpacz, Poland in June. “It was a change in mindset that this should be fast and as long as you’re constantly fueling, everything should go according to plan,” he said. Dressed in a red Team Canada jersey, Nicholas was sporting a big smile in the race when he crashed on a slippery

cobblestone descent, ending his competition. “It was very impressive to race with people that fast,” he said. “It was obviously the most talented field I’d done any athletic sport with.” Nicholas’ focus has earned him a small sponsorship from Universal Footwear, who provides him with gear and race fees. His big race this summer was supposed to be the Fat Dog 120, a 192-kilometre race near Manning Provincial Park with 8,600 metres of elevation gain. He’d been running 160 kilometres per week in preparation and was all ready to go when the race was canceled at the last minute due to wildfires. For Nicholas, long-distance trail running is at least as much a mental battle as it is physical. He knows what kind of shape he’s in, so when considering long races, it’s a matter of battling through the lows. “I was very worried this weekend about my mental shape, because I don’t think it can ever be good enough,” he said. “It has to be so strong. That doesn’t mean you never get low. It’s just understanding how to deal with those times, when you’ve convinced yourself to quit.” The cancellation had Nicholas contemplating the rest of his season. He spent the race weekend running around Revelstoke, including a traverse from Mount Mackenzie to Mount Cartier and pondered options such as the five-day TranSelkirks Run stage race. What’s next for Nicholas? When asked if he wanted to return to the world championships, he said he was undecided, but “there’s a good chance I’ll want to.”

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— from adding internet services to upgrading to digital TV to rebranding to YourLink Revelstoke. Through it all, much of the core local team have steadily supported our community. We are very proud to have served Revelstoke and appreciate all the support we have received in return along the way. As you may know, Revelstoke Cable was purchased and rebranded to YourLink many years ago. In October 2016, YourLink was purchased by TELUS. The YourLink Revelstoke Cable network will be turned down on October 3rd, 2018. We encourage our YourLink Revelstoke customers to make the switch to TELUS PureFibre. Please call 1-855-502-2332, or email pfconnect@telus.com or visit Tom Harris Cellular 103 1 St. E. as soon as possible to avoid any disruptions of service. We’re confident that you’ll be happy with TELUS PureFibre internet and Optik TV service with Video on Demand. Thank you all for your support. Sincerely, Tracey, Sheldon, Tyler, Shawn, Linda, Kathy, Sophie (and of course Cheryl)

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LUNA ART FEST LUNA returns to transform downtown Revy for second season Local artists revved up to be part of successful art immersion festival By Melissa Jameson

their creative vision a reality.

Taryn Walker — Ancient Forest Location: Revelstoke United Church Artist Taryn Walker says she began working on exhibiting her work in larger spaces as a way to push her Work in progress, by Taryn Walker, pictured below.

Taryn Walker For the second year in a row LUNA: Nocturnal Art and Wonder Revelstoke Arts Festival will transform the city’s downtown core into an amazingly creative art exhibition with many pieces incorporating interactive components to be enjoyed by the public. This year’s LUNA festival includes 41 artists, many from right here in Revelstoke. The Mountaineer caught up with three of this year’s local artists to chat about their Luna projects, what inspired them and how they’re planning to make

drawing practice in a more contemporary direction, and as a way to create art that is more accessible to the public. Walker sees larger pieces as an easier way for people to connect with her art by allowing the public to feel they are part of the experience and to interact in a more personal way. Although she currently resides in Victoria, Walker is a born and raised Revelstokian and says she knew she wanted to participate in LUNA. Her exhibit will feature a large-scale abstract, symbolic line drawing of an ancient forest portraying the cycle of birth, growth, destruction, death, and regeneration. “I find when you think of nature it’s this really interesting almost contrast in itself. On one hand there are elements of the forest that are so soft and beautiful but there’s also this underlying power and almost … something more sinister that I really enjoy … I like looking at those contrasts,” said Walker. Executing a piece as large as the one Walker is planning requires a lot of planning and preparation, not only in terms of the drawings themselves, but mentally as well. In an interview with the Mountaineer, Walker said she has budgeted a week of time to complete her large-scale piece and creating a plan to tackle the logistics involved. To help, Walker says she usually prepares all of her designs ahead of time to ensure she has enough content to fill the space once she’s able to begin working on it. “It’s this crazy creative crunch 23

because I’m not physically able to make anything happen up to that point. It’s exciting for me because it’s really a reaction to that space. There’s always improvization, there’s still a lot of spontaneity. Along with the large-scale forest Walker is also planning to create an interactive component

to compliment her piece. While still in the planning stages at the time of our interview, Walker said she has previously done an interactive drawing project. Her artistic practice works a lot with language and narrative and Walker is considering having small sheets of drawing paper with snippets of language that the public would be

able to interpret through their own drawings.

Zuzanna Riha — Recycled Animals Location: Caribou House Lawn Zuzanna Riha’s inspiration to create sculptures from discarded

Claudia Bambi, Kate Shea, Hayley Stewart items was inspired by a trip to the dollar store with fellow Revelstoke artist Rob Buchanan. The pair were looking for costume parts when she was inspired by spatulas and began thinking they looked a bit like caribou antlers. That was the spark for her project for last year’s LUNA festival — a large caribou that sat on the lawn of the < The Dream Machine by Claudia Bambi, Hayley Stewart & Kate Shea. Zuzanna Riha works on bear sculptures created from recycled bike tires. Photo: Aaron Orlando/RMM

Caribou House (you can go have a look as the piece is currently on display at Caribou House as a promotional piece for this year’s festival). This year, Riha said she wanted to keep with her theme of using people’s trash and discarded items for her art. Driving by Flowt one day, Riha said she noticed a large pile of bike tires in the back alley. After asking about the bike tires, the store generously donated them to Riha —300 bike tires in total. Riha came up with the idea to create two bears using the recycled tires and a wire frame she’s had help to weld together. Riha does have her own welder, but says it’s easier to go to a shop. Since her artwork often includes components that require welding, Riha says she is planning to take a welding course at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops this fall. “I’d like to learn to weld properly. I just like working in all different mediums. I work in concrete sculpture. It’s neat to use all sorts of different mediums. I think as an artist when you are familiar with using different materials and different mediums you get more creative,” she said. Riha’s bears will make their home on the front lawn of the Caribou House, but first they’ll make an appearance at Riha’s solo exhibition at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre at the LUNA pre-event on Friday, Sept. 28. Riha’s exhibition at RVAC includes a number of vibrantly painted animals, along with some sculptures she’s created.

Nicolas Houle — Birds Doing Human Things

Zuzanna Riha 24

Nicolas Houle

“I’m really fascinated with birds, they have bigger eyes on the world. They live above us and they see what we’re doing. They’re really smart, really clever and once you start looking at them the intelligence is just incredible,” said Houle. “I like the colour and everything that comes with the bird, colour fascinates me.”

LUNA NOCTURNAL ART & WONDER REVELSTOKE, BC

Houle said he had plans to create up to 10 acrylic paintings that would be housed inside the cage

Nicolas Houle’s creation Birds Doing Human Things will feature visual and audio landscapes. Photo: Aaron Orlando/RM Magazine

Location: Cage in the alleyway behind Roxy Theatre. Sometimes a location lends itself perfectly to an artist’s vision. Such is the case with Nicolas Houle’s creation titled Birds Doing Human Things. The wire mesh cage in the alley behind the Roxy Theatre will be re-imagined as a larger than life human bird cage where Luna festival goers can walk inside to experience Houle’s multimedia exhibit that will include sounds, lights and paintings of birds taking part in very human-like activities. Houle said he had been drawing birds for a while when he began to explore taking his art in another direction, he loved the idea of taking the bird somewhere else. For Houle, it’s not necessarily about painting the birds doing human activities, but putting the bird into a human perspective. What would the bird do on a regular basis? How do they interact with one another? Do they have a second life no one else knows about?

behind the theatre. Houle had already completed a number of paintings, but was still contemplating including several other birds from his drawings. Those include a watercolour painting of a bird whose body is composed of matchsticks, a red bird that connects with the picture of a red bird on a box of matches, and finally an owl with his head down, carrying a briefcase on his way to work titled “Case of the Mondays.”

2018

“I like to draw kind of realistic things, but in a surreal context,” said Houle.

MIDNIGHT

LUNA: Nocturnal Art and Wonder Revelstoke Arts Festival takes place Saturday, Sept. 29 from 6 p.m. to midnight and Sunday, Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Revelstoke’s downtown core. The Luna preevent featuring Luna artist Zuzanna Riha takes place at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre on Friday, Sept. 28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information about the festival visit http://revelstokeartgallery.ca/ luna/.

OPENING

NIGHT

SATURDAY

SEPT. 29 6:00 PM TO

FEATURING OVER 25 ARTISTS,LUNA BRINGS ART AND ENERGY TO DOWNTOWN REVELSTOKE WITH LIVE PERFORMANCE AND INTERACTIVE ART INSTALLATIONS

WITNESS THE TRANSFORMATION

Luna is produced by the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre, the Revelstoke Arts Council and the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION

Funded by the Government of Canada

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia and the Province of British Columbia's Resort Municipality Funding Program.

Shambhala b

Scenes from the 2018 Shambhala Festival, held Aug. 10-13. Photos: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine

By Aaron Orlando A nondescript, dusty mountain backroad outside of Salmo, B.C. suddenly opens up to acres of even dustier ranch range packed with thousands of tents and camper vans. With about 17,000 staff and visitors on the sprawling site, it’s one of the biggest towns in the Kootenays for an extended weekend in August. The temporary city’s civic priorities are clear: bomber party first, the rest is way down the list. Revellers kick up more dust as they do water and portable toilet runs, their faces shrouded with bandanas to filter the ever-present fine dust and wildfire smoke that chokes the air. They’re getting ready for Shambhala’s prime time, which is somewhere between midnight and 5 a.m. when the seven custom-built forest stages each boast crowds in the

thousands dancing to travelling EDM acts from around the world. The performers and partiers have travelled for the 21st offering of Shambhala, a now internationally recognized electronic dance music festival that attracts enthusiasts from far and wide. Without stewardship, B.C. Interior festivals tend to devolve into drunken gong shows; the Shambhala organizers have been successful in keeping the EDM fam vibe strong, with its themes of techno-futurism, tribal community, artistic exploration and elevated, alternative consciousness running strong. Kootenay-famous with a worldwide following, Shambhala attracts a mix of hardcore EDM enthusiasts, rounded out with punters ticking the festival off a mandatory must-do list for the young-at-heart spending more than a couple seasons in the region.

The seven themed stages, with names like Pagoda, Fractal Forest, and Cedar Lounge, are tucked away in the forest. Each is an elaborate, multi-level setup with heaps of lighting and special effects. With seven separate parties happening at once, the forested stage area is a constant flow of people walking from one multi-thousand-person dance party to the next. The stage areas are complimented by dozens of smaller chillout spaces, with so much to explore. The place is carpeted with art installations. The circadian rythm is this: bedtime is around sunrise, and the last DJ set ends around 9 a.m. Daytime is for sleeping, then rolling out of the tent in the early afternoon. Showers are available, but everyone uses the river instead, where people lounge in the sun until it dips behind the mountains. Then, preparation for the evening begins. Elaborate, revealing costumes replete with LED lights, obscure themes, and creative garnishes are the norm. Once it’s fully dark, the parties get going, peaking in the wee hours of the morning. The vibe is enthusiastic — people are into it. A typical ratio is two thousand people dancing hard to their favourite DJ to few dozen standing on the fringe. Alcohol isn’t for sale at the festival. Although it’d be dead easy to smuggle in, it’s not really part of the vibe. The EDM scene has always preferred synthetics and psychedelics, and they’re very prevalent. The fentanyl crisis has hit home; Shambhala offers drug sample testing, and medical services for people overdosing or just freaking out. If you’re going to go, go all out. Your weirdest will be about normal, your skimpiest clothing conservative next to the topless person beside you. Your enthusiasm will be rewarded, and your anxieties will be washed away in a sea of thousands of strangers dancing under a wash of laser lights. Essentials: Earplugs, water bottle, your wildest party duds, hybrid dance/mud/dust/camping footwear. The 2019 fest runs Aug. 9–12 and it sells out, so look for the ticket release date. Consider booking a premium campsite with your friends.

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NEWS

Development pressures dominate council agenda Looking forward to the October municipal election, former Revelstoke Review editor Alex Cooper summarizes the current council’s term, and the debates to come By Alex Cooper If there’s one issue that has defined the outgoing Revelstoke City Council, it’s development. They’ve wrestled with several major development proposals and have been forced in dealing with the consequences of new development. They were elected in 2014 on a pro-development slate, but the reality has been trickier than they imagined. The current group of councillors largely comes from a group put forward by the Revelstoke Chamber of

Commerce back in 2014. Upset at the previous council’s supposed unfriendliness to business, the new council came in with a promise to change that. Mayor Mark McKee and Councillors Connie Brothers, Scott Duke, Trevor English and Gary Sulz could all be said to come from that slate. They promised to keep spending low, reduce the tax burden on businesses and encourage new development in a city that was stagnating. They immediately got their wish, with

numerous developments big and small coming forward. There was Mackenzie Village, the highway shopping mall, the treehouse hotel, and a surge of single-family home construction. The flipside of all this was that council had to contend with the consequences of all this – notably a city staff that couldn’t keep up with the demands it faced, aging infrastructure, and budget pressures that forced them to step back from promises of keeping spending low and minimizing tax increases. Housing prices and rents have soared. It seems fitting council’s final major decision at the time of writing is the new Development Cost Charges Bylaw that will set a path forward on how the city will pay for its infrastructure going forward. The new council came in promising to be open for business and the town’s developers took them at their word. First up was Mackenzie Village — a planned, 1,200-unit medium-density development in Arrow Heights by David and Shelley Evans. It was approved based on the jobs and housing it would create, but not without concerns about how it would impact the neighbourhood and the city’s infrastructure. A shopping centre proposed for the Trans-Canada Highway was rejected after downtown businesses successfully argued it would hurt Revelstoke’s small-town character. Many said the land should be used for hotels, and not long after the mall was rejected, a Ramada Inn was built on the site, and a Marriott is expected to follow. Council also had to decide the fate of

the Evans’s “treehouse hotel,” a proposal for a multiple hotel development near the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. The plans saw the city squeezed between the resort, which called the development “parasitic” and the Evanses. Council approved it despite RMR’s arguments it would hamper its ability to grow. There was also the surge of vacation rental applications that the city had to plough through, each accompanied by public hearings that pit neighbours against each other and often got ugly. Illegal rentals are still widespread and a new bylaw hasn’t been brought forward — the issue seems to have faded into the background. The last two years have been much quieter on the development front, with the major project applications drying up but home construction continuing rapidly despite issues receiving building permits. A near complete turnover in the city’s planning department at the start of 2017 led to delays that got even worse this year when the city lost its only building inspector. All this development has put increased pressure on the city. Previous focus on restraint meant the city wasn’t ready for the boom. For its first two years, council kept tax increases small; however, the city’s needs has meant large increases in 2017 and 2018 in order to catch up. The city finally dealt with the Trans-Canada Highway intersection, building a roundabout that has improved traffic flow from Victoria Road to the highway. The list of future

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NEWS projects is lengthy, totalling some $70 million, half of which is for a new sewage treatment plant. Lots of the pipes underground are aging and in need of repair, and many roads need to be resurfaced as well. The sewage plant has been plaguing Southside residents for years and it’s still a ways off from replacement. While the city has spent more than a million dollars on short-term solutions in recent years, it is looking at a $35-million upgrade at some point in the future. It’s a known issue, but the city has yet to start its detailed planning for the replacement, and I suspect it’s still five years away from being built. It’s one area the city has been slow to react. I’ve only touched on a few of the issues and initiatives this council dealt with. They had to deal with the almost complete turnover of senior city staff, launched a 15-year financial plan, took over the Big Eddy Water System, and expanded the city boundaries. Housing prices have soared, but only 12 affordable housing units have been built since RMR opened, though funding has been received for another 21 for a project to be located near the BC Ambulance Service station. Council’s last big issue is the new Development Cost Charges bylaw. If approved, it will substantially up the fees payable to the city for developments. The development community is already in an uproar over the proposed hikes, but reducing the fees means existing property owners will pay more for

infrastructure that’s needed because of all the new development. The debate has found council balancing the interests of the development community, which wants to keep DCCs as low as possible,

and residents, who will have to pick up whatever infrastructure costs developers don’t cover.

Development pressure related issues have dominated the agenda at city hall this term. Photo: Revelstoke Mountaineer file photo

The new bike racks near the city hall building are one step in the right direction towards creating sustainable infrastructure solutions for Revelstoke.

Navigating the fork in Revelstoke’s infrastructure path Today’s infrastructure decisions have long-term sustainability implications for the future By Fraser Blyth With the City of Revelstoke’s development cost charges bylaw (DCC) update fresh on everybody’s mind, it’s a good time to talk about our infrastructure and the future of our city. The significant increase in DCCs outlined in the proposed bylaw speaks to a city that is struggling to find ways to meet our future infrastructure needs. DCCs can only be used for the construction of new infrastructure (such as roads, sewer, water, and parks), not for maintenance. Maintaining what we currently have will become increasingly difficult as our infrastructure approaches the end of its lifecycle. Typically the way infrastructure gets built is through new development. In addition to paying DCCs, the developer is required to enter into a municipal development works agreements with the city that sets out how the developer will pay the capital costs to build roads, water and sewer on their development property. If built to the municipality’s standards the city will take over the infrastructure. It is then

the city’s responsibility to manage, maintain and eventually replace these infrastructure pieces… indefinitely! The replacement cost, whether in 40, 50 or 100 years, will come predominantly from residents. This means we need to ensure we’re not building infrastructure that we won’t be able to afford in the future. Even if we don’t expand our infrastructure at all from today forward, we’ll still have to figure out how to pay replacement costs when our current infrastructure reaches the end of its lifecycle. Revelstoke has approximately 109 hectares (270 acres) of paved roads. Using the BC Government’s Community Lifecycle Infrastructure Costing (CLIC) tool’s built in operating and maintenance costs, we can begin to understand our financial commitments, which come in at approximately $14.3 million. In very simplistic terms, this is roughly what we should be spending to maintain our current roads. Infrastructure costs grow even further if we include sewer and water

costs. The two main options for tackling our infrastructure costs are to either increase revenue or decrease costs. With most planning issues, the time to do this is required. Increasing revenue means supporting higher density development in the right areas of the city. This typically means locating townhouses, apartment houses, and mixed use buildings on our busier city streets. This increases revenue by having more people paying for the same length of road or pipe. Higher density can also support mixed-use mom and pop neighbourhood shops, better transit and create walkable, neighbourhood-oriented communities, while preserving the surrounding single-family built form. Decreasing costs is a little more difficult to achieve given the permanence of existing infrastructure. The City of Revelstoke has done the first step of this by adopting an Asset

reduce costs: •First, it’s always best to test the following solutions out through Temporary Pilot Projects. Creating temporary bike lanes or wider sidewalks through the use of pylons or other temporary infrastructure can allow the city to test proposed changes (narrower lanes & extended curbs, narrower intersections, etc.) before spending the capital to make the changes permanent. •A road diet - reducing the average width of our existing roads by 1m (1.6 ft from each lane) would bring our O+M costs down from $14.3M to $12.9M. •Converting roads to other less impactful uses like bike lanes, bike parking or wider sidewalks. Pedal Fort Collins has estimated that for every dollar’s worth of damage that a car does to a road, a bicycle, travelling the same distance on the same road, would perpetrate $0.0005862 worth of damage. •Reduce crosswalk widths - This not only reduces the cost to maintain asphalt, but creates safer, more comfortable pedestrian crossings. •Integrate more surface stormwater infiltration into our street design. Not only does this reduce the need for stormwater infrastructure and result in better water quality, but it can create an attractive streetscape.

Management Policy (Aug. 2017) and completing a Strategic Asset Management Plan (December 2017) that will better consider lifecycle costs. What we may find is that we will need to reduce our infrastructure costs in the near future, so we can afford ones we’ve already committed to.

To me, the infrastructure problem is similar to climate change. It’s easy enough to say it’s not a problem now and put off dealing with it. Leaving it for a future generation to figure out. But, as we’re seeing with climate change, at some point it will start to catch up to us. And the cost of dealing with it when it shows up may be worse than the cost of dealing with it today.

While the infrastructure issues can seem beyond the ability of the average citizen to affect, we can advocate for the following things that can help

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Going to the dogs this month By Coconut Borlick

This column is a bit misguided if you ask me. In every issue my human companion Bryce writes about these twowheel contraptions, which exist only to help humans keep up with the real trail stars — us dogs. So I, Coconut, have taken over the alpha spot and herded two canine athletes to talk about things. I know, not much of a plan but I’m dog and I live in the moment. Coconut: Thanks for joining me. Sit. Speak. Gringa: Humans call me Gringa and I’ve been through seven summer shedding cycles. As a pup, I found myself on the wrong side of the law and got bailed out by Joe Lammers. We’ve been partners ever since. Koda: I respond to the name Koda, or Mr. Koda. Revelstoke born and raised, I come from a Sheppard/Lab/Husky lineage. I’ve spent most of my eight human years on earth hanging out with Miranda Murphy. She’s great, has access

A high five for my two-wheeled companion. Photo: Steve Shannon to quite a bit of food. Coconut. What’s your job? Koda: I patrol my yard and provide 24-hour security for Miranda. I also train her in trail running. She has won ultramarathons under my guidance but still rarely stops during a race to investigate interesting smells so there’s still room for improvement. Gringa: I’m a trail runner. Am I professional? I have a roof over my head and food in my bowl every day so I guess I am. I let Joe handle details like finances. I keep that damn vacuum in line though. Coconut: What kind of training do you do? Koda: I take Miranda for runs on trails. Unfortunately she’s terrible at running on all fours and has to rely on her bike pretty often to keep up. I also take her sledding and backcountry skiing in the winter but as I get older my joints ache in the cold. Humans can throw on

a puffy jacket but by the time I put on a coat, it’s spring. Gringa: I run trails with Joe at least a few times a week in the summer and in the winter I run powder and double him on my sled. And belly rubs — I think that‘s a key element to my fitness. Coconut: Do you manage your diet carefully? Gringa: I’m on the Acana diet, with dog treat supplements from Zuke’s. When I was younger I liked horse poop but I can’t eat like I used to. Still love to roll in it though. Koda: I accept treats from humans just to be polite but I much prefer dog food. White rice and carrots are the exceptions. I think if I a human ever tried a bowl of good kibble they’d never go back to their own food. Coconut: Do you play games? Gringa: I’m a true dog — I’ll chase anything that moves. And sometimes I’ll get a good stick or Kong toy, something

that Joe really wants, and I’ll get him to chase me. Joe‘s a good boy. Koda: I’m not a fan of fetch. Miranda tells people that I have poor mouth-eye coordination — yes, Miranda, I can hear you, my hearing is frickin’ awesome. Coconut: What’s a perfect day for you? Koda: A day on the trails with Miranda is a day well spent. Sometimes when she leaves, I feel like she’s never coming back. I’d also love another trip to the States where a dog can be served treats and water at restaurants. Haute cuisine. And no cats! Gringa: Lots of running and some stinky mud to lay in. And I’d love to play with a bear again — I found one with two cubs one day and we chased each other for a while until she ran up a tree. Joe seemed worried, he was all “Gringaaaa, nooooo!”

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Revy Outdoors

Insider secrets on opening and maintaining a business in Revelstoke By Amaris Bourdeau With multiple types of consumers, an extreme seasonality, and a massive amount of competition, Revelstoke is one of the toughest markets to crack when it comes to outdoor stores. That’s what Revy Outdoors owner Steven Cross tells us—and he knows a thing or two about business. Cross opened some of Canada’s first outdoor lifestyle stores in the ‘80s, acted as general manager for Mountain Equipment Co-op in Toronto, and has been an advisor to Queen’s MBA faculty and students since his graduation from the program in 1999. When he and his family came to Revelstoke four years ago, they had no intention of re-entering the retail market. After speaking with their real estate agent, however, they grew fond of the idea of getting property suitable for a bed and breakfast. And true to their business roots, eventually settled upon opening Revy Outdoors. Being veterans in this business, they knew this time they would do things differently. Cross and his wife Carolyn studied the market and saw an opportunity for an outdoor store with a focus on total value. That’s to say Revy Outdoors aims to offer the best product within a certain affordable price bracket. Cross, having helped bring in big names like Patagonia and The North Face to Canada, had worked plenty with well-known brands before. When opening the shop, he and Carolyn looked long and hard for emerging brands, and opted for opening a store that reached each type of buyer in town. Their business model and the exceptionally welcoming community has made retail fun again, claims Cross. It doesn’t hurt their morale that they get to ski, hike, and camp 100 days a year. Being a business owner comes with its share of obstacles, no matter how fun the job may be. Revelstoke’s various outdoor stores differentiate themselves by being the sole seller of a brand, by dominating a sport overall, by offering the best value, or by having excellent customer service. Ideally, you can pull together a bit of all four elements, says

Revy Outdoors owner Steven Cross brought extensive outdoors retail experience to his Mackenzie Avenue location. Cross. As for the severe drop in sales over the shoulder season, that’s something business owners have to prepare for by managing their revenue. Then again, the change from summer to winter means a new inventory. And how many jobs offer you total creative renewal every six months? Cross’ experience and business savvy helps him stay afloat in Revelstoke’s outdoor store-packed downtown. But competition isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Cross says. “If you have a competition model in your head where someone wins and someone loses, your head is parked in the wrong place.”

Four tips for emerg-

ing business owners Each business is a little different, but these tips on entrepreneurship are universal. Know your value proposition. What you’re offering. Who you’re offering it to. And why they care. “You can have the best widget in town,” says Cross, “but if no one is looking for a widget, there’s no point.” Get the administrative help you need. It’s typical for a business founder to do everything. The books, the buying, the selling, you name it. But you can hire someone to do the paperwork, Cross suggests. You can’t hire someone

to replace you. Tap into local resources. Community Futures, the Chamber of Commerce, and long-time locals are all good people to talk to, Cross found out when opening the shop — and more people should take advantage of their expertise, he says. Collaborate. Collaborate with your competition. Get to know people. If your focus is on doing better than your co-stores, you’re not improving your own business.

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LANDSCAPE

Creating a spectacle Preserving public space and civic identity through local festivals By Lindsay Bourque In the landscape trade, this point in the season can feel a bit like the last 10 kilometres of a marathon: the end is in sight but at the same time seemingly infinitely far away. I can imagine most businesses in town can relate. September also marks the end of the summer tourist season and a time when we have a moment to (almost) catch our breath before the snow flies and another ski season begins. Revelstoke’s popularity as a yearround adventure tourism destination continues to grow along with the opportunities the area has to offer. But amongst all the hustle to shelter, feed and entertain tourists I can’t help but wonder if we will unwittingly go down the road to ‘placelessness,’ on the heels of so many other tourism-based towns. To be clear, I am not advocating against tourism, but I am interested in how to balance an industry that operates on standardization and uniformity, with the local particularity that celebrates the uniqueness of a place. Ultimately it is these qualities that draw people to a particular area to begin with. Iconic destination cities in Europe such as Venice, Barcelona and most recently Amsterdam have dialed back their tourist destinations in response to locals who are pushing back on the inauthenticity of tourist districts in their cities. One of the harbingers of ‘placelessness’ is the commodification and privatization of public space. True public spaces like streets, parks, and public squares have been the centre of public life for as long as societies have existed. Theatre was born in the public square along with public discourse and debate. Urban geographers attribute the creativity that emerges from public spaces to the intrinsic freedom or, perhaps more accurately, to the absence of regulation and enforcement found in these spaces. But public spaces are quickly disappearing from the urban landscape – the lack of public space in Revelstoke, for example, is an issue that has been raised in several contexts. So in the wake of the of endless highway traffic, adventure seekers and tour buses, how do we tap into the creative energy that emerges from assembling as a community in public space, in the true sense of the term? We have a street party. It’s no surprise that public festivals have played an important role throughout history in maintaining, disrupting and rebuilding social norms and civic identity. Traditional civic festivals were sites for annual institutionalized disorder, for rituals of reversal that would turn its back on the established order and allow for a break from day-to-day life. These celebrations typically marked transitionary periods between seasons or social customs and functioned as a social pressure release valve. There have been several attempts made at larger scale fall festivals in

The LUNA festival returns to Revelstoke in late September, trasforming the downtown area into a walkable art spectacle. Photo: Matt Timmins/Revelstoke Mountaineer Revelstoke and granted it is a difficult time to attract tourists, they all fell flat for one reason or another. However, the LUNA Festival debuted last year to wide public acclaim and it seems as though we have finally hit upon a festival that not only promotes the uniqueness of our town and local talent but also provides the pre-conditions for public space in the truest sense. There is no cost to attend, people take over the streets and, most importantly, the art transforms the town — one of the critical elements for public catharsis during a festival is the transformation of the everyday landscape, from the familiar to the fantastic. It is fitting that LUNA is a festival that celebrates the darkness as we shift our sights to winter and the long nights that come with it. As a mountain town whose identity is strongly influenced by its seasons, it makes sense that we would pause to mark their passing and we are fortunate to have this opportunity to connect with our community. Lindsay Bourque has been working in the landscape trade for over a decade, first as a gardener/landscaper then earning her master’s degree in landscape architecture at UBC. Since then, she spends more time on a computer, but Revelstoke allows her to keep a foot in both design and construction – and both feet on a board as much as possible.

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HEALTH

Pillow talk Get smart about sleep By Shannon Zoia MacLean, RHN To sleep is a treasure experienced in some unique form by all animals. Some bird species nap while gliding, nurse sharks sleep in a pile on the ocean floor, dolphins sleep with one brain hemisphere at a time while continuously swimming, and us humans get horizontal in comfy beds. No evolutionary mistake, sleep enriches a diversity of functions, including our ability to learn, memorize, and make logical decisions. Sleeping improves the immune system, reforms the body’s metabolic state by fine-tuning the balance of insulin and circulating glucose, regulates our appetite, and contributes to a healthy cardiovascular system and microbiome. During REM sleep (dream state), protein synthesis peaks, memories are consolidated, and mood regulation is improved. Yet amidst the glow of smart phones, iPads, laptops, televisions, and even home lighting, it’s become increasingly easy — and tempting — to keep our days rolling on well past sunset, sacrificing sleep to continue putting lines through the to-do list, or “relax” in the blue bath of technology. Two-thirds of adults throughout all developed nations fail to obtain the recommended eight hours. One who regularly sleeps less than seven hours a night doubles their risk of cancer, increases their likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s, and elevates their risk of depression and anxiety. Lack of sleep can lead to obesity, as the body overproduces the hunger hormone while suppressing our sense of food satiety, causing us to eat more than we need. Blood sugar regulation becomes so disrupted that moderate sleep reductions for just one week could cause a state of pre-diabetes. This month brings us the first day of fall, and shorter days that ask for more sleep. Read on to fall into healthy sleep habits, or just go ahead and fall asleep. I would be honored.

See the light Circadian (Latin for “around day”) rhythm refers to our internal clock that keeps us in sync with the sun. This clock can be set backward or forward by light. Allowing bare eyeballs to take in the sun’s morning rays tells your brain it’s daytime; this triggers a peak in cortisol and drop in melatonin, setting you up for a healthy bedtime later on. If you wear sunglasses during your work commute or don’t go outside until the afternoon, your body could get this signal late.

Move your body Exercise during the day has been shown to improve sleep quality at night. So move your body — preferably outside. Continued light exposure throughout the day lets your body know it’s still daytime, and it’s best

to exercise no later than two to three hours before bedtime.

Nooner naps Naps are useful and encouraged, but avoid naps after 3 p.m., which can make it hard to fall asleep at night.

Offset stress If your nervous system is in fight or flight mode all day, it’s hard to switch to rest and digest, leaving you tired and wired when ready to sleep. Manage stress during the day by practicing yoga and meditation, being mindful throughout the day, and taking deep belly breaths.

Avoid (afternoon) caffeine and nicotine Caffeine resides in teas, coffees, pops, and chocolate and effects can take as long as eight hours to fully wear off. Nicotine is a stimulant, causing a light sleep and an early rise triggered by withdrawal.

Avoid sceens and bright lighting for two hours before bedtime, and if you can’t, invest in blue-blocker glasses.

Stick to a schedule

We are creatures of habit. Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” – Benjamin Franklin

Shannon MacLean is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist working at Jade Wellness. She is currently studying Functional Medicine and is passionate about wild foraging, recipe creation, and all things health and wellness. Her Instagram is sprucetipnutrition.

Dine early Aim to have dinner reasonably early to avoid eating a large meal right before bed. This can cause indigestion, which interferes with sleep. The digestive system wants to rest, too.

Block the blues Our circadian rhythm is especially sensitive to blue light, the kind that brightens midday sunlight and that emanates from screens. Late-night blues prevent the natural dip in cortisol and peak in melatonin, which cue us to sleep. Avoid screens and bright lighting for two hours before bed. Favour rock salt lamps, warmer bulbs, or candles. If you can’t avoid screens before bed, invest in some blue-blocker glasses.

Calm with chamomile Schedule in some time to relax and unwind before bed. Sip chamomile tea, have a hot bath with magnesium-rich Epsom salts, read a book, listen to relaxing binaural beats, or spend some time on the floor stretching and breathing.

Mind the blinds Your bedroom should be completely dark — this improves sleep quality and overall health by encouraging melatonin production. Use blackout curtains or sleep masks. Wifi should be turned off, while phones and any other light-emitting devices should be kept in a different room to reduce nighttime light and EMF exposure.

SHANNON MACLEAN RHN, CHNC, BA-IR Registered Holistic Nutrition.

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204 First St East, Revelstoke, BC 250 837 3900 35

STYLE

Go with the Flow Why everyone needs a statement flowy garment this fall The thought of a flowy wardrobe with floral accents can often send us into a summer trance. But this year that look is flowing right into fall. The scarves are all about versatility in the season with ever-changing temperatures. In Revelstokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out-of-this-world backyard, soon to be covered in foliage and crunchy leaves, the style will be a given. Luckily, the local shops have got you covered with all the ethically crafted dresses, scarves, and throws youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need this season.

Nomadix Festival Blanket, Valhalla Pure PHOTOS Laura Szanto MODELS Tove Besseling, Bekah McLeod HAIR & MAKEUP Sara Sansom, Birch & Lace STYLING Sara Sansom, LoveMaking, Style Trend, Valhalla Pure

STYLE

The Triangle Scarf This simple flower-covered triangle scarf is breezy and made of both new and used materials. Stay fashionable while keeping your eco-footprint low. Scarf, LoveMaking

Waterfalls Fashion and the outdoors mix well in this flowy T-shirt dress paired with a bike-print scarf. Tip: use this throw as a picnic blanket after your hike. Jackson Rowe T-Shirt Dress in Black, Style Trend. Bike Print Throw, LoveMaking

STYLE

Flower Power Adding a bright wrap-around scarf to a dark flowy dress will quickly become your go-to casual-chic look this fall. Bonus points if you find wildflowers to match the embroidery on your dress. Dex Embroidered Maxi Dress, Jackson Rowe Fiona Scarf in Mustard, Style Trend

Taste the influence of seasonal variation By Heather Hood I happen to love the seasons we have in Revelstoke. In each season I find something I enjoy while I am experiencing it, but also look forward to what is to come. I feel grateful for the environment that surrounds us, and the ability to easily observe the nature within it. Each season or year of growth is different. Sometimes the growth is amazing, other times there is little to none and then there are some unforeseen events. The success or failure at harvest time has been almost completely dictated by the seasons that preceded it. Everything in the last year has led up to influence this year’s harvest and let’s hope this is a good 2018 harvest!

Covert Farms Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc 2016 Oliver, B.C. $24.48

The Jumpsuit Dresses aren’t the only flowy garment getting attention this fall. Rompers and jumpsuits are cute, playful, and just so happen to be ultra-comfy. Jackson Rowe Playsuit in Moss, Jackson Rowe Cultus Scarf, Style Trend Matt & Nat Marion Belt in Chili, Style Trend

Back to Basics Wearing a black dress will never be out of style. Paired with this autumn-coloured scarf and sweet wrap-around belt, you’re undoubtedly dressed to impress. Nanavatee Dress in Black, Jackson Rowe Fiona Scarf in Current, Matt & Nat Marion Belt in Chili, Style Trend

The wine really showcases some of the best characteristics of each varietal, which is a blend of organic Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes. The wine has a variety of flavours ranging from pear and lime with notes of grass and pineapple. It has a viscosity that nicely coats the palate. The finish has a creaminess to it with a nice balanced crisp acidity. I feel the Sauvignon Blanc stands out in the wine when it’s chilled and as it warms up the Semillon really comes forward.

Therapy Pink Freud, 2017 Naramata, B.C. $22.09 A flavourful wine which is fruity on the nose but crisp on the palate. Flavours of strawberries, candy apples, and ripe cherries. This is a blend of Pinot Noir and Merlot. A lovely wine and easy to pair with almost anything you could think of or enjoy on its own.

Beaumont Kelowna, B.C. Heritage, 2014 $23.61 A blend of organic Pinot Noir and Gamay grapes. Although these two varietals are considered lighter reds, this wine is certainly not light in flavour. This wine has flavours of cherries, plum and violets with hints of tobacco and vanilla. The finish is rich and is lovely with how it lingers on the palate. It’s a wine that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a nice meal such as game or salmon. A very enjoyable wine, which provides good value for the money.

All wines available at Cheers! Downtown Revelstoke Open 9am to 11pm Delivery to your door Call 250-837-4550 39

Seasonal Clearance Now On!