Special Features - Prairie Living

rairie PLIVING THE HEART OF ALBERTA

A CONVERSATION WITH HEARTLAND’S

Amber

Marshall FALL 2018

VOL. 1 ISSUE 1

INSIDE

A WALK WITH SCOTT SCHIFFNER PRAIRIE FASHION A CHAT WITH MISS RODEO CANADA PRAIRIE KITCHEN

Welcome to the GREAT INDOORS

BOWERPLACE.COM |

@BOWERPLACE

@SHOPBOWERPLACE |

4900 MOLLY BANISTER DR, RED DEER, AB |

403.342.5240

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

2

FROM THE EDITOR

CONTENT

elcome to Prairie Living – a magazine featuring the very best of the heart of Alberta’s western way of life. It has been a dream of mine to start a magazine since I was a young girl – especially one about the country lifestyle.

Growing up in Ontario in the suburbs of all places – I wanted to take up horseback riding – so that’s just what I did. I was on a horse at age five and rode for 15 years, doing both western and English riding. It was my biggest passion.

Now, I have a passion for all animals and living in Alberta you can really see that come to life with all of the rodeos taking place around the City. This magazine, however, brings together much more than just fashion and rodeos, it brings together a lifestyle of the people right here at home. This quarterly magazine dives into fashion, rodeo, celebrity, food, drink and so much more.

04

W

10 Carlie Connolly

We hope you enjoy the first edition of Alberta’s Prairie Living.

MANAGING EDITOR

CARLIE CONNOLLY

ART DIRECTOR

JESSICA CRANDALL

DESIGNERS

EMMA ROE JESSICA CRANDALL

CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS

ROBIN GRANT MARK WEBER

ADVERTISING MANAGER

WENDY MOORE

• 403-314-4322 • wendy.moore@blackpress.ca

ADVERTISING SALES

DANNELL HAMILTON CARLIE CONNOLLY PAM BEARDSWORTH STEPHANIE RHODES SHAYNE COURT BARB PETTIE

• • • • • •

MARY KEMMIS

• 403-314-4311 • mary.kemmis@blackpress.ca

PUBLISHER

• 403-309-5457 • carlie.connolly@blackpress.ca

403-309-5469 403-309-5457 403-314-4350 403-314-4357 403-314-4358 403-887-2331

• • • • • •

dannell.hamilton@reddeerexpress.com carlie.connolly@blackpress.ca pbeardsworth@reddeeradvocate.com stephanie.rhodes@reddeeradvocate.com scourt@reddeeradvocate.com barb.pettie@sylvanlakenews.com

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY Advertiser contracts to indemnify Black Press against any claim brought as a result of the placement of their advertisement, including an action in defamation. The Publisher reserves the right to charge the advertiser for any revisions to original copy, layout, artwork, photographs, or any other elements of the advertisement that were not included in the original instructions.

Omission and Error: The Publisher does not guarantee the insertion of any particular advertisement on a specified date, or at all, although every effort will be made to meet the wishes of the advertisers; further, the Publisher does not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of an advertisement in which the error occurred. Black Press cannot be responsible for errors after publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors must be called to the attention of the advertising department immediately.

16 20 26

Q&A with Amber Marshall Randi Boulton Preps in the Prairie Kitchen Prairie Fashion - Setting Trends in Western Fashion Miss Rodeo Canada Brittney Chomistek A Walk with Scott Schiffner

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

3

QA &

with

Amber Marshall

Photos by Carlie Connolly

Heartland star Amber Marshall talks animals, family and Heartland she’s often hanging out with her husband, family, friends – and of Amber Marshall, the star of course – her many animals at her CBC’s Heartland, is an animal real life ranch outside of Calgary. lover through and through. When she’s not busy filming the show On the surface not much is different between

BY CARLIE CONNOLLY

the London, Ontario-born star and her character Amy Fleming – a young horse-loving woman who discovers she has her deceased mother’s gift of helping injured horses.

Prairie Living caught up with Marshall on one of her rare days off – and yes – it involved a farm, her horses and one of her dogs Remi.

Sisters Roadside Treasures is a unique and charming hip roof barn full of antiques and collectibles. The atmosphere of the store is both inviting and eclectic. To the casual browsing customers or the serious antique shoppers alike you will discover an interesting selection of vintage and modern home decor pieces. As the names implies Sisters Roadside Treasures is a family owned business, operated by Beth and Jackie, two of the six sisters. The sisters are staunch believers that their mission statement “the fine art of mixing old and new” is a perfect way to add instant charm, beauty and character to any home.

On Hwy #53 North of Rimbey, 6 km North on Range Road 23 • Jackie 403-704-4422 • Beth 403-708-2936 • Follow us on Facebook

Open May – Christmas • Thursday – Sunday • 10 – 5

4

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

Q & A with Amber Marshall

Q

A

Q

A

When did you first come out to Alberta?

I was brought out to Alberta for Heartland. We filmed the pilot of Heartland in November of 2007, so I was cast for the role in Ontario and they flew me out to Alberta to record the pilot. Once that was over, which only took about two weeks, I returned to Ontario and didn’t think anything of it. I didn’t even think it would become a series.

Marshall then got a phone call that the series was picked up and off she went to Alberta to begin filming the first 13 episodes, a show that is now going into its 12th season.

I continued to spend all my weekends out on my friend’s ranch and doing all kinds of things.

Even if the season didn’t come out again, Alberta was where she wanted to be.

I shipped my horses out and I said, ‘This is where I’m going to be,’ and that year I rented an acreage and the year after that I bought my farm and I’ve been here over 11 years now.

What’s your favourite part about living in Alberta?

I think the lifestyle. For me, it’s very much who I am. I love being able to go do any discipline with my horse within half an hour of where I live and it’s very accessible. There’s lots of people that are just into the same things that I’m into. And plus you have the mountains so close if you want to take a day and go hiking, fishing or riding in the mountains – that’s something that I love to do as well.

& Gift CTION E L E S R U O E E S Shop D

HOME OF THE

A L L D AY B R E A K FA S T

OF WESTERN THEME OR GIFTWARE & HOME DÉC

Now Open 6:30am – 10pm

Breakfast Buffet 9am – 2pm Saturday and Sunday

Red Deer souvenirs & postcards 240 teas for your brewing pleasure

125 Leva Ave., Gasoline Alley | 403-346-5448 P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

5

Q

A

Q

A Q

A Q

A

Besides filming Heartland what else do you have on the go?

Heartland takes up all of my life. Typically we’re filming 60, 70, 80 -hour work weeks so it really doesn’t leave much time for family, friends or other projects. In my downtime my husband and I team rope together, so I love doing that. I just started team penning and team sorting for fun. I just enjoy animals of any kind. Most of my free time is spent with them.

Marshall also has a jewellery line and her own magazine called Amber Marshall Life & Style Magazine.

What’s your favourite part about playing Amy Fleming?

I think the fact that Amy and Amber are so much alike is nice because I don’t ever have to try and wonder what my character would be going through because most of the time I go out at my own house and I wake up and feed my horses and I go to work and then I pretend to feed my horses.

It’s just one of those things that I’m living exactly what I’m portraying, so for me that’s really cool.

Going into your 12th season of shooting Heartland, what’s it like to be a part of something like that for so long?

It’s very unexpected. This show is the show that never ends. I love every minute of it.

It’s just one of those things that none of us expected in the beginning, but now we’d be so sad if it didn’t come back because we’ve formed so many friendships and we’ve become used to this being our lives.

This show means a lot to me and I think that I’ve been very fortunate to be able to be a part of it. It’s just so suited to what I love to do.

Tell us about some of the animals you have at your ranch?

I think that’s one thing that I differ from my character is my character is so horse-centered and I’m very animal-centered. I would say that I love dogs more than I love horses – whereas my character loves horses more than she loves dogs. I enjoy all of the animals equally. I love spending time with my chickens almost as much as I love spending time with my horse. The thing that makes my place so special is the different animals. I love my cows. I go out and sit with them every night and have alpacas and chickens, turkeys, dogs and cats and rabbits.

Amber Marshall’s dog Remi came along for the chat.

Nuts for Bolts etc.

Jackie Swainson 403.588.2445 1428 TWP RD. 381 Red Deer County, AB T4E 1W1 www.nutsforboltsetc.com | nutsforboltsetc@yahoo.ca 6

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

Q

A Q

A Q

A

Have animals always been a passion throughout your life?

Oh for sure. I grew up in the city but from a very young age we had dogs, cats, rabbits, chinchillas, every little thing that you could imagine I was bringing home. So that’s definitely always been a passion and I knew that I wanted to live somewhere that would provide me the space and the ability to care for them all properly.

When it comes to role models, who is your biggest one?

My family. My family has always been so supportive. They have taught me wrong from right; they have instilled really good values and morals. That’s where I get my passion and my love for animals and my hardworking ethic and I think that all stems from how you’re raised and who the people are that are around you and that definitely comes back to my family.

Are they still out in Ontario?

My mom lives out west now. She always wanted to come out west.

When I moved out here that was her ticket! She lives near me and the rest of my family is in Ontario, but they come out all the time. I’m really fortunate that my dad’s job brings him out to Calgary quite often so I see him every month or so. My granny was just out here and so she comes out and spends time with me every summer.

Marshall currently resides outside of Calgary with her husband and many animals.

Photos by Carlie Connolly

Come live the good life at this luxury getaway destination in beautiful Central Alberta.

Casual Fine Dining

Luxurious Accommodations Book your reservation today!

1.403.844.2672 • www.theprairiecreekinn.com

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

7

one ele ven Dim lights and ambiance is what makes One Eleven Grill the place to dine.

The restaurant opened on November 1st of 2011 by Mahziar Peyrow, hence the name One Eleven Grill.

“We had eight days to open this place. We came up with a menu and brought our staff in, trained everybody and did it all in eight days,” said Peyrow.

The classy restaurant, nestled right at the corner of Taylor and 43rd Street is known for its delicious steak. And they keep it classy, with their classic steaks and cocktails, which both have a modern flair to them.

With everything hand cut in-house, One Eleven offers only the best for its customers as they bring in only Alberta beef.

“We’re proud of this product and we stand behind that as much as we can.”

Every piece of meat is hand cut, including cuts like their mouthwatering Delmonico steak, an old cut from way back in the dirty thirties.

Your official steak of the CFR “Passionate about the best beef” “Try our signature steaks the Blue Cheese Sirloin and the Delmonico” Whether you are in the mood for a romantic date night, an important business meeting or a wedding reception, One Eleven has you covered with its nice ambiance and privacy.

“It feels like you’re not in Red Deer and people have said that quite often. It feels like something from Montreal or Toronto – the old feel of the bricks, and the dim yellow light makes it really comfortable for people.”

To add to that ambiance and great conversations is the live music, which is provided every Friday and Saturday evening, something the restaurant has had around since its inception.

Peyrow added that the booths offer that privacy with their rounded structure and location behind the wall separating the bar for that quieter time.

“We also have a lot of private dining rooms that people book out for business meetings and certain functions. We have lots of wedding receptions too, because it’s unique.

“The people that come here have been good to us.”

5301 43 St.

Red Deer, Alberta

403.347.2111

Book your reservation online at oneelevengrill.com 8

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

Murray McLauchlan brings current tour to Alberta

I

realized some time ago that I love playing music and if I don’t do it, I lose a big portion of myself and something important in me starts to disappear. I have a great love and a respect for what I do.

Photo by Kevin Kelly

C

anadian singer Murray McLauchlan will be performing tunes from his vast repertoire while featuring cuts from his 2017 release Love Can’t Tell Time across parts of Alberta.

He performs in Medicine Hat Oct. 24th, Lethbridge Oct. 25th, Calgary Oct. 26th, Red Deer Oct. 27th, Camrose Oct. 28th, Leduc Oct. 30th, Edmonton Nov. 1st and Grande Prairie Nov. 3rd Few have made such an indelible mark on the Canadian music scene like McLauchlan, who has released a whopping 19 albums and landed 11 Juno Awards.

And his creativity seems to know no bounds – McLauchlan is also a painter, an author, an actor and a radio host.

Until recently his touring had been restricted to Lunch At Allen’s, whose members also include Ian Thomas, Marc Jordan and Cindy Church.

But with the release of Love Can’t Tell Time, he’s back on the road.

“I like to think of a concert tour as a kind of roving gallery to test your art and your ideas. I try to do my very best to make it worthwhile for folks to be there and to perhaps look at things in a new way when they leave.”

As to Love Can’t Tell Time, McLauchlan said the project started to come together shortly after the release of his Human Writes record. “I went to live in Italy with my wife Denise for a few months,” he

explained.

“And I started to learn a new guitar language, a new chord language. It’s based on a system called Shell Voicings, and what that is is it opens the door to being able to play jazz.

“Essentially, what it allowed me to do once I really started to work on it was to play music that I had always loved but had found that I couldn’t really access very easily because the language that I had was basically folk and rock,” he said.

“Part of the deal too was that I had some songs that I had written – many on piano – that I had written for a project that never came to fruition. But I loved the songs, and I realized that there was sort of a thread in some of those songs. If you wanted to put a word to it, they were kind of ‘anti-ageist’.”

Looking at the title song, for instance, it’s about how love in all its intensity doesn’t just happen to people who are in high school or who are 21 or 22 years old.

“So that idea that life as you get older is a state of decline I think is an idea that’s been sold to us by commercial culture, when in fact I subscribe more to David Suzuki’s idea that as you gain experience and wisdom, life becomes a richer experience.

“I took the whole idea and I decided that I would go into the studio and do a record that was kind of like the ones that used to get made. Sit down with an old 1938 guitar and an upright bass player and a great big old U47 tube mic and just play it right off the floor.

“The result was something I found mixed itself, and that had a really organic, pleasing and emotional feel for me. I think if you over produce things technically, you lose a lot of the soul.”

McLauchlan originally hails from Scotland. The family relocated to Toronto when he was just five.

“Essentially, in order to pursue my life, I fought very hard to go to art school which was my gateway to the world. My first impulse was to be a visual artist – music kind of rapidly followed suit when I was exposed early on to it.

“But it didn’t fully take root until I was in my early years at art school. But I had to leave home at 17 in order to blossom and spread my wings.”

Over the years, he certainly found his niche as a singer and audiences have been quick to appreciate what he’s had to offer over the years.

There is clearly no doubt McLauchlan took the correct path in life.

“I realized some time ago that I love playing music and if I don’t do it, I lose a big portion of myself and something important in me starts to disappear,” he said. “So I have a great love and a respect for what I do. There is a sense in me that I have been subject to the wildest of good fortunes to be able to do what I do on my own terms, for as long as I have, and find that people are still supportive of that to the point where I can still go out there and do what I do.”

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

9

rairie PKITCHEN

S

inger/songwriter Randi Boulton is one busy gal who is always on the go.

BY CARLIE CONNOLLY

She can easily be classified as the Adele of Central Alberta with her strong vocals and inspiring lyrics.

Boulton stopped by her good friend Dave’s place to cook up a delicious salad that tastes anything but bland!

When it comes to cooking in the kitchen, Boulton likes to keep it as healthy as possible.

Because she is always on the road touring, her favourite go-to dish is her famous chicken quinoa salad.

One thing is a must for her recipe – balsamic vinegar.

“I’m a balsamic junkie,” she said with a smile as she prepared the dish.

Once completed, she served up her delicious dish for Prairie Living, who gave it a big thumbs up.

“The thing about this is that I kind of have a lot of it and I don’t feel guilty about it.”

10

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

Photos by Carlie Connolly

RECIPE ON PAGE 11

PRAIRIE KITCHEN COOKING WITH LACOMBE SINGER

Randi Boulton

CHICKEN QUINOA SALAD

Ingredients

6–7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pre-packaged chicken strips 1 cup . . . . . . . . . . . .Quinoa Dash . . . . . . . . . . . .Garlic powder Dash . . . . . . . . . . . .Sea salt Dash . . . . . . . . . . . .Ground pepper Drizzle . . . . . . . . . . .Balsamic vinegar Drizzle . . . . . . . . . . .Balsamic reduction Drizzle . . . . . . . . . . .Extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp. . . . . . . . . . . . .Garlic (chopped) 1 tsp. . . . . . . . . . . . .Ginger 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Avocado (peeled, scoop & cut in half) 1-2 handfuls . . . . . . .Baby tomatos 1 small . . . . . . . . . . .Cucumber (peeled, cut into small pieces) ½ cup. . . . . . . . . . . .Feta cheese (cut into chunks) 3–4 handfuls . . . . . .Field greens Optional ingredients: 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sweet potato (cut into cubes) Drizzle . . . . . . . . . . .Olive oil Dash . . . . . . . . . . . .Cumin Dash . . . . . . . . . . . .Cayenne pepper

Order your

Instructions

Boil half a cup of Quinoa.

Fry up the chicken strips on a saucepan.

Add a dash of garlic powder and salt to the chicken, along with a tip of a butter knife of garlic (about a teaspoon for garlic lovers) and ginger to the chicken.

Drizzle some balsamic vinegar to the chicken to flavour it, along with some sea salt and fresh ground pepper.

After stirring the Quinoa up and allowing for the chicken to soak up the flavour, prepare your salad.

Put three or four handfuls of field greens into a bowl.

Peel and scoop out one full avocado and then cut it in half, adding it to the bowl.

Grab a handful or two of baby tomatos and a small peeled cucumber cut up into small pieces and put into the bowl.

Add about half a cup of feta cheese to the mix.

Drizzle about one tablespoon of the extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar over top of the greens.

Mix it all together to coat everything and then add the quinoa before adding a bit more of the balsamic vinegar.

Add the warm chicken to the salad.

Finish it off by drizzling the bowl with balsamic reduction OPTIONAL: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut up one fresh sweet potato into cubes.

Mix up potatoes with olive oil, cumin, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper into a bowl before placing them on a baking sheet.

Bake them for about 10 minutes and then add them on top of the salad for a nice crunchy flavour.

SERVES TWO TO THREE PEOPLE

Christmas Gift Baskets Today!

Great gifts for - friends - neighbours - corporate gifts See Us at (a _Ta /U\a\Da D_a T 3\a Fair at Westerner Park (aChristmas Artisan Market

Voted the

Best Gouda

in Canada

(a 9/a F;T;\aD3a e>b Aa _>/\;-/a /U\;b > Cheese Farm Store Hours

Mon.-Sat. 9-5

39008 RR10 Red Deer County

10 minutes West of Red Deer or 5 minutes East of Sylvan Lake, just off Hwy. 11A

403-340-1560

www.sylvanstarcheesefarm.ca P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

11

Photos by Carlie Connolly

Prairie Homes in Central Alberta

BY CARLIE CONNOLLY

N 12

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

estled behind beautiful birch trees is this quaint country home. The cottage-style home is located by Gull Lake and is a short drive from the beach. „

PRAIRIE HOMES Main floor

T

his modern-style living room and dining room is the perfect combination. The living room is the perfect place to sit with a tea by a crackling oldstyle fireplace. „

Transforming the ordinary into the extraordinay.

Weddings Events Event Planner Wedding Officiant

Adèle Poratto | 403.391.8819 Red Deer AB | www.beautedecor.com P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

13

PRAIRIE HOMES Second floor

T

his spacious master bedroom offers lots of natural light, the perfect way to wake up.

Once awake, enjoy a nice bath in this large soaker tub in another naturally lit room. „

5 rs 6y +

SERVING RED DEER & CENTRAL ALBERTA

2811 BREMNER AVE, RED DEER | SIMSFURNITURE.COM

SOFAS | SECTIONALS | BEDROOM & DINING ROOM SUITES | MATTRESSES | HOME ACCESSORIES 14

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

PRAIRIE HOMES Kitchen

T

his small but mighty kitchen is all you need to cook the perfect meal. The square island counters allow for visitors to sit and chat with the cook.

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

15

Fashion

PRAIRIE

See more on pages 17 – 19

BERKELEY & TAYLOR: HAIR -

hair.by.bd ON LEFT: SHIRT -

Wild Rose Retro CARDIGAN -

Twisted Label BELT -

Le Chateau PANTS -

Winners JEWELLERY -

Twisted Label HAT -

BCBG ON RIGHT: SHIRT -

Winners PANTS -

American Eagle BELT -

Lammle’s Western Wear & Tack

Photos by Carlie Connolly

10B 7110 50 Ave. Red Deer.

403.986.1663

16

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

Berkeley Taylor

WHAT BERKELEY’S WEARING: HAT - B & B Clothing Boutique OVERALLS - Winners SHIRT - Twisted Label NECKLACE AND BRONZE BRACELET - Twisted Label STITCHED BRACELET - Hooligan Designs (by Lisa Roth, Hinton, Alberta)

Prairie Fashion Central Alberta barrel racers setting trends in western fashion

WHAT TAYLOR’S WEARING: SHIRT - The Bay SKIRT - handmade by her mom NECKLACE - Twisted Label BRACELETS - Lammle’s RING - Giddy Up Glamour (Huntsville, Texas)

May 3 bat att Noon Noon 300, 80 Donlevy Ave, Red Deer Find us on Facebook

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

17

ACCESSORIES:

PRAIRIE Fashion

BLANKET - Etsy BAG - Mission Del Rey

(El Paso, Texas)

A lot of the time you can throw a lot of stuff together that you really might not think will look good, but it does when you’ve got it together,”

• Tops • Tunics • Dresses • Jackets • Sweaters • Leggings • Shoes • Sandals • Accessories

F

rom the dirt to the cabaret, rodeos, believe it or not, are home to some of the most impeccable fashion trendsetters.

BY CARLIE CONNOLLY

Come check out our new store location.

4609 - 50 Ave., Sylvan Lake, AB www.sassyandclassy.ca 403-872-3305

18

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

Some trendy favourites by many, including Taylor Cox of Thorsby and Berkeley Holm of Ponoka, are big jewellery, anything turquoise and graphic t-shirts.

The two barrel racing cowgirls can always be seen going to rodeos in and around Central Alberta, whether they are competing or just going to watch.

“Fashion is a big part of the rodeo because you go there as a barrel racer and you compete, but after there’s usually some form of cabaret if there’s a finals and everyone needs to have a new outfit to wear,” said Holm.

“Our fashion isn’t absolutely beautiful when we’re competing – it’s usually

a western shirt and nice jeans. Even though we look pretty ‘ranchy’ while we’re running, we do like to dress up and look pretty good when we go out,” added Cox. Holm and Cox also help to style other fellow cowgirls. And many of their friends also help with fashion ideas, seeing what’s in style.

“You’ll see a lot of turquoise and a lot of fringe,” said Holm about today’s most fashionable western chic trends.

Cox added, “Graphic tees are really in right now and also any kind of flared jeans. Unfortunately up in Canada we’re late to the game, so usually what’s really popular down in Texas or Oklahoma takes a couple of months before it gets up to us in Canada.”

TAYLOR & BERKELEY: ON LEFT: SHIRT -

Southwest Bedazzle Boutique BLACK CARDIGAN -

The Bay NECKLACE -

Twisted Label ON RIGHT: T-SHIRT -

Ranch Dressing (by Sheona Lucas, Carstairs, Alberta) SKIRT -

Winners NECKLACE -

American Eagle HAT -

Smithbilt Hats Inc. BELT -

Irvine Tack & Western Wear BELOW: BRACELETS -

Lammle’s, Twisted Label

PRAIRIE Fashion

Cox added that a lot of women are bringing the western fashion to the boutiques that are down south to Alberta.

Big jewellery is also something that is in – and places that showcase these types of trends are The Mane Event, trade shows, the Alberta Barrel Racing Association Finals and coming up – the Canadian Finals Rodeo.

Any Canadian Professional Rodeo Association rodeo will generally have a function or cabaret afterwards.

“A lot of the time you can throw a lot of stuff together that you really might not think will look good, but it does when you’ve got it together,” said Holm.

She added, “Any chance that we have to go out, we’ll dress up and showcase what the newest fashion is.”

After the Barrell racing ...Sympli FB, Twitter, Instagram Comfortsthesole www.comfortsthesole.ca

4812 50 Ave Ave, Downtown Red Deer 403 342 7653

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

19

Along for the ride with Miss Rodeo Canada Brittney Chomistek passes off her crown this year

D

own in the centre of the dirt with thousands of eyes on you – it’s a moment every cowgirl dreams of – being crowned Miss Rodeo Canada.

Photos and story by Carlie Connolly

ce

e or th are f air C

A EUM

N

P rairie

LIVING

s

er Howart p r ha 88 #4,

ca . n sig

e Deer d r i ha Red

e reet, g a im h St

ly

ent

intm

FALL 2018

le Who

W

o App An 333 ook To B 1.3 e. .34 elcom 40a3lk-Ins W

20

tak ofte tha afe gred ts li de w They cts and are ma produc cs and s ich are s. The in h t c u a s i i c t d w l x pro produc ther to r ce ziness, y produ z r fe fo o Thei ithout ey’re sa es, or di everyda mple. rice. w h h in t c d d si ble and unted p a d s n d n n an a a u a t e e o o m da ,h sf ren isc That allergies gredient transpa iodegra n at a d b o n from armful i ottle are lves are the sal t e b h the on the s thems ls here a l d le liste he bott ffer refi o t Also ble. We sa u e r

rri

She

Fami

ir? y haair and h t l hea oily h thou i ts tofrizzy hair, fi w e . n it’s , ce n ’s bee dryness your scalp, whether A a M k o i h to d orm NEU ems l refres t out vent problnate and want them. b Perf abou a t r e h e i u r a v c a o p u h u ty ts eh rej A. Q. W roduc also ly wha izz-fre rn so m EUM er S. The p uff. They o exact clean fr a e e m N red l D o , r r d d f e t d e s d u s s n t R i da roduc r provi que She to even es to styl d. In p chni The olume o n Lt hen it comledge g te rience.” de. She as a n g , i l i y u v e s e d st Exp s ma add o yo ? ir D ge base, wthat know d g an lifornia uct wa a n i t w H s t d o t a o cu age owled ring MA Q. H produacining on did the “Cow the pr r Im rsonal kn y love sha NEU e t h e r n u t p A s e w o r e e n v e th ’ve take stylist e y and sa der. d th lk ab Sha eir p EUM N o ta t I n s at ating th iques an t t i r t l u , . i e s i u i c o r S l f o rm fa n d ok. sty Sher A fo EUMA EUMA’s ce. re ab f?

The ways up ling tech cebo list, o a y n F t N N e s l m i n ? y t e er n th ee our are a cts & st omers. ysel sage us onswer any ucts t exp to lear to m t u with a got s a grea es t for m prod prod heir cus t down n t f A a n u a o t o Or eve Me happy to w M a ts I It w U m fi f . i e E y with cently s e r . n ’ t e th re pa . re ben se N Wha s or try k to us he les and w com We roducts ld u ntal u able rmulas. Q. e l P p t m. n a o r i c t i m m a h a a t u H d in and ck of s 7 p. on sus ased fo their o o s yone! r r i a h . p v s e i o b n st om a.m Ever uma d, plant dients in er.

Q. W he e S. C e have a m . Ne rri en 9 sday p . are t ifice pprove n ingre e consu e, s W o r She n t c o d a a ti n h hur th hyd row ut S TA a ques ek a ay & T e Q. W MA? nce witho se are PE tainably gnment and formalded urea. w s u a n r ke per nesd NEU’s Perform ients theye to use su the enviroinogens lis, gluten a who suffe d to ays y, Wed D r t c r d 6 e I r n e a o t a e d n S. ingr every c s good f thout ca parabe r peopl attribu ents Ope Tues The i i n fo e t’ ke

H able

crifi t Sa

rd Affo

testm a L e Fro Thw s Ne

T

his dream came true for Brittney Chomistek of Medicine Hat, who was crowned last November.

“All of us are down in this room waiting to go out into the dirt and you are nervous. I was so calm, but my feet were really antsy so my feet couldn’t stop moving,” she said.

“I just couldn’t stop smiling.”

And off she went, thrown into her Miss Rodeo Canada duties of educating people across the province about rodeo.

Hailing from Medicine Hat, Chomistek has rodeo in her blood.

“I’ve always been involved in rodeo. My dad was a team roper and my mom was also a Miss Rodeo Canada, so I’ve always had that in my lifestyle.”

She has also helped out at her hometown rodeo, whether it was pushing stock when she was younger or helping out on some of the committees.

It was when Chomistek was 18-years-old that she ran for the Medicine Hat Stampede Queen contest – a requirement to be crowned Miss Rodeo Canada.

She ended up being the Exhibition and Stampede Queen for 2016.

And fast forward to present day, it’s been her job as Miss Rodeo Canada to promote rodeo, getting competitors in the zone.

“It’s not like basketball where you get paid for a year to play. With rodeo you only get paid if you win, so we want our competitors getting in the zone.”

Among her many duties, Chomistek can be seen at breakfasts, barbecues, contests and anything to do with western events.

She bridges the gap between the rodeo world and the community.

One of her favourite parts of the job is educating kids and youth

on the sport of rodeo through her school visits.

“I love educating people on the sport of rodeo. It is so much fun to have some of the funny questions people ask me.

Kids ask me if I live in a castle,” she said with a smile.

She added that some of those kids have never heard of a rodeo or have seen a horse up close before, so she brought her horse to a school on one of her visits.

“It’s really cool to see kids excited to learn and that’s why I want to be a teacher in elementary.”

Chomistek is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Education program in Medicine Hat, as she wants to be a teacher.

Although she has taken a year off from school, she plans to be back this January.

“I’m actually working towards by degree by doing school visits all the time, working with children and involving them (in rodeo).”

Another big part of Chomistek’s job as Miss Rodeo Canada is of course public speaking, which, she said, used to terrify her.

“You couldn’t get me to do a high school presentation.

“When I decided to do this, I joined 4-H and I went to Provincials for public speaking because I really put my mind to it.”

And a lot of that had to do with her biggest supporters – her family.

When she competed for the Miss Rodeo Exhibition Stampede Queen for Medicine Hat, she had her family spread out all around the room.

“It looked like I was scanning the room, but really I was looking at my family and that’s how I started to get used to public speaking.”

And now in front of those large crowds and packed stadiums, it’s no sweat, as her family is there supporting her each and every step of the way.

“My whole family has

been there through everything and I’ve looked up to them always for their encouragement and support that they’ve shown me. I don’t think I could get that from anybody else.”

Coming up in Red Deer at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, Chomistek will pass off her crown to the next lucky woman that will get to fill her shoes, embarking on the adventures of rodeo action. She will officially take over in January.

“It can be nervewracking for girls to know how busy I am but the opportunities I get and the people I’ve met, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

21

Photos by Carlie Connolly

Helping others build confidence with horses

BY CARLIE CONNOLLY

T

he power of the horse is proven in so many ways through the teachings at Whispers Equine Learning Ltd. The facility is nestled on 40 acres of land just outside of Red Deer. It’s a place to help youth build confidence and positive life skills by working with a horse.

The curriculum, which is 12 weeks long – sometimes condensed to twice a week for six weeks or once a week for 12 – is led by owner of Whispers Equine Shana Nicholls.

“The big reason that I use horses is because of the impact that they have on the learner, so even if that learner doesn’t like horses they listen to them – they are aware of them,” she said.

Originally from the Lower Mainland, Nicholls was on a horse from the moment she was born.

22

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

“I’ve got pictures of me when I was two years old and they (my parents) would just let me sit out there all day on the back of the horse!”

Nicholls used to be a competitive English rider in jumping horses, but took a step back when she had her son.

“When it came time that I could go back to it I just didn’t have the same passion anymore for competition, so I really was looking for a different way to do something with my horses.”

She started to seek out training on equine assisted learning and found that in Strathmore, Alberta.

A big inspiration for what Nicholls does now stems back to her past.

Growing up, her brother was on the wrong side of the system and Nicholls remembers visiting him in jail as a youngster.

“I’ve seen him and all of his friends going through programs and going

through their rehabilitation, processes and probation orders and I saw that none of their programs were working.”

Nicholls unfortunately ended up losing her brother to that lifestyle.

And she thought back to the time she saw her brother interacting with her horses, seeing the difference it could make.

“I’d seen him with my horses and I’d seen him squealing like a little girl! He

was this big tattooed guy,” she said.

“They set people on a different foot.

They make a difference.”

She added that the improvement is like night and day when she sees these youth interacting with the horses.

“We see kids grow two feet taller right in front of us. The form of delivery grows their confidence.”

Nicholls lives with her two kids and continues to ride for pleasure.

Photos by Robin Grant

Lady’s Hat Farm owner is part of a new generation of young farmers

O

ctober is the time of year for reflecting on the summer harvest for Nikki Wiart, owner and operator of Lady’s Hat Farm. The 26-year-old, thirdgeneration farmer launched her small, ecologically focused farming business last December and has much to think about with only one harvest under her belt.

BY ROBIN GRANT

“I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do,” she said, as her two dogs, a Collie puppy named Honey Bee and a grey-nosed German Shepherd named Sasha, ran playfully around her.

“I wasn’t quite ready to move into large livestock, like cattle. I started a bunch of seeds in my house and planted a garden. I had meat, chickens, pigs and bees and grew some greens. I did a market garden and started playing around with that.”

Wiart grew up on her parents’ cattle farm in Castor about 45 minutes east of Stettler, which is currently also

the location of her business. In her twenty-something years, Wiart has earned two journalism degrees and began her career as a journalist at Global News in Edmonton, where she worked for three years before taking up farming.

“I moved back to the farm with a naiveté that I could farm because I grew up on a cattle ranch, not a market-garden operation,” she said, laughing. “I had this awakening of realizing how incompetent I am at some things.”

Wiart farms what she calls ‘nutritionally dense, ecologically grown’ vegetables, flowers, honey, eggs and pork to those who want to reconnect with the natural cycle of farming. While she grew up on a farm, she considers herself part of a new generation of young farmers who are concerned about the environment and focus on ethical practices. This involves honouring and revitalizing, “mother earth’s beauty and bounty, celebrating all that is natural, healthy and good,” as the Lady’s Hat Farm website reads.

On the farm, a handful of three-month-old pigs in a large pasture dart towards the new farmer when they spot her, a riot of curly tails and cloven hooves.

Wiart climbs over the fence and they become timid, backing away, but they forget their fear when she offers scraps. The pigs are a mix of heritage breeds,

DĐ Ăůů ^ĂĚĚůĞ Ž >ĂĚLJ WĞŶĚůĞƚŽŶ >ĂĚLJ tĂĚĞ

such as Berkshire, Tamworth and Duroc. The sow’s name is Priscilla.

“The biggest learning curve for me has been figuring out what I have a market for and what I don’t,” she said. She recently turned the pigs over to her father’s hired farmhand because she had taken on too much.

“I’ve really struggled finding a market for my goods here, so what I’m realizing I have to do is focus on what I can sell in my area because I grew enough that I could make a good living, but I didn’t account for the fact that I didn’t have a big enough market to sell what I grew.”

KƵƌ džĐůƵƐŝǀĞ ŽǁďŽƐƐ tĂĚĞ Θ tĂĚĞ >ŝƚĞ

ϭͲϴϴϴͲϮϰϰͲϴϮϮϱ &XVWRP 6DGGOHV 7KDW :RUN 6LQFH

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

23

A

t a fenced enclosure, Wiart brings out a bucket of feed made mostly of wheat and barley. She sets it down for the large gaggle of chickens and turkeys that cluck and gobble.

With this cool fall weather, they are housed in the enclosure but will be moved inside for the winter. In the spring and summer, Wiart turns them loose in a large pasture.

“I grew all my own feed for these guys last year,” she said, reaching for a chicken. “The wheat was grown from organic seed and not sprayed, no soy, or GMO. And they are out on the grass when they start laying. As soon as there is grass building up in the spring, I get them out and it gets their yolks nice and orange.”

Farming is more challenging than it looks, as she has learned.

So Wiart and some friends who farm locally have band together to create something like a cooperative to help each other out.

“I raised meat chickens last year and this year they raised meat chickens,” she said. “We just kind of take turns with that because it is hard work.”

The farming friends started the Prairie Farm Project and work together to market their products. In August, they hosted a farm-to-table dinner for 130 people on her cousin’s farm three kilometres south of Castor. She supplied all the veggies.

“We had a really cool mix of people come to it.

There were people from town, people travelled from Edmonton and Calgary and we had a chef cooking

everything over an open fire.”

In early November, the group is hosting another dinner for 30 at the same farm with a chef from Airdrie coming to cook.

What Wiart has learned from her experience so far is to be okay with being more than just a farmer.

Her journalism past comes in handy because she can freelance for magazines. This winter, she is heading to Kelowna to do communications for Big White Ski Resort.

“I’m realizing that it is okay to be a writer who farms or a florist who farms. Part of the reason I wanted to farm was to be more self-sufficient with my groceries.

I have to be okay with it not being my only source of

income. It’s important for my generation of farmers – all these young people who are coming up – you probably aren’t going to be making enough money to just be farming.”

Next year, Wiart plans to ‘up her flower game’ and plant many different varieties, colours and shapes.

Her flowers have already been booked for several upcoming weddings.

Having learned about her limitations and knowing she is not at the point where she wants to farm large livestock like her parents do cattle, she plans to start raising grass-fed lamb.

“I need a more substantial income, especially with the market for vegetables not being where I need it to be for this area, and then pasturing them all here and then selling them for meat.”

WATCH FOR IT EVERY FRIDAY!

One of Canada’s top stylists will be sharing all of her fashion secrets, every Friday across the Black Press Media network!

Style by Kim XO will be the star of Fashion Fridays only available on the Life channel across Black Press Media websites.

Kim Appelt will give style tips and ideas to help you look your very best.

24

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

WHAT I’M

Loving NOW

P

ink, hockey and a whole lot of great gift ideas.

Photos by Carlie Connolly

with General Manager of Red Deer Chapters Laurina Hingst

BY CARLIE CONNOLLY

Wa l k i n g around Chapters, one can easily see some gift ideas for birthday parties, Christmas gifts or a gift for one’s self.

Some particular favourites in the store for General Manager of the Red Deer Chapters Laurina Hingst, are the colours and the hockey items, because what Canadian doesn’t love hockey?

Hingst said that although she doesn’t usually like the colour pink, she loves the pink products they have this year like the stylish wallets, purses, scarves

and gloves. She said they brighten up those dreary winter months.

She also loves the hockey products they have this year including the humourous mugs and stadium throws – a good idea to bring one to those Red Deer Rebels games.

Lastly, Hingst is loving the soft throws, which are something that’s available each year.

You can count on Nutters to bring you quality organic seasonal fruits and vegetables.

FRESH for your main course - FRESH for your salad - FRESH for the school lunch box FRESH for healthy snacking. FRESH to you - from your friends at NUTTERS EVERYDAY NATURALS IN RED DEER

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

25

A walk with bull rider SCOTT Schiffner

estled into the countryside of Strathmore, Alberta on a 720-acre piece of land is one of the best bull riders in Canada – Scott Schiffner.

N

BY CARLIE CONNOLLY

This has been quite the year for the 38-yearold cowboy as he decided to hang up his spurs and retire from the sport of bull riding.

It’s something, he says, has been on his mind for a bit, but it’s been on the mind

26

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

Photo by Mark Weber

of everybody else for years as to when he’s going to retire.

“When I finally did make the decision and announced it, it was like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders just because it was never a question anymore,” he said in a chat on his front porch of his

countryside home where he resides with his wife and three daughters.

“It’s a decision that I didn’t take lightly, but it’s time and I’m ready for the next chapter in my life.”

Schiffner’s last ride will be at the Canadian Finals Rodeo coming up in Red Deer.

When I finally did make the decision and announced it, it was like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders just because it was never a question anymore.

Looking back over his successful career, the best moments are a toss up between his Canadian titles or his Calgary Stampede championships.

“They both have great meaning to me, but the ones later in my career probably mean that much more just for the fact that I had more people to share them with.

I had a family and kids.”

And his family and kids are one of the reasons he decided to leave bull riding. He said the most important job is first and foremost being a dad.

“My family has given up so much. Rodeo and my career was always first and that always took priority and so now it’s my turn to give back to them and go to a few more junior rodeos, ringette games, dance, ballet and all that fun stuff,” he said with a smile.

But he wants to assure people, he’s not dying, he’s just retiring.

“I’m going to definitely still be in rodeo – in what factor – I’m not too sure yet. I’ve got a few opportunities to do some commentating and stuff like that. We’ll see where it goes.”

Growing up in Stettler, Alberta, rodeo was in Schiffner’s blood as his family took part in rodeo on the amateur level.

“I was a typical ranch kid and rodeo kid. I rode sheep and we roped quite a bit when I was a kid – and roping wasn’t really for me at that point.”

Photos by Carlie Connolly

6 C L E A RV I E W M A R K E T WAY # 1 3 0 R E D D E E R , A L B E R TA

403 406-3500 orangetheoryfitness.ca

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

27

And so, it began – the interest in bull riding. He and a bunch of kids convinced their parents to let them ride the team roping cattle.

“From there it went in to the steer riding and from the steer riding, I don’t know why, but there was never a question in my mind once I did the steer riding where I was going. It was into the bull riding.”

From the time Schiffner was 14 years old he knew that’s what he wanted to do.

“I actually had my professional card when I was 17 years old and I was the last guy to be ever able to do that because that same year they put in all the stipulations or regulations that you had to be 18 to become a professional athlete. I went from there and never looked back.”

The biggest thing he likes about bull riding is that it’s an individual sport.

“There’s absolutely nobody to blame things on or take credit for. It’s a very individual sport and you’re against an animal and I don’t have a grudge against him, I’m not trying to run him into the corner like in hockey. He’s got one job and they’re bred to buck and they’re true athletes and his job is to just try to get me to the ground and my job is to try and stay on. It’s true competition at it’s purest, I believe.”

When it comes to a day in the life of Schiffner, it’s different every day, but family comes first.

“I’ve got three beautiful girls and a beautiful wife and we try and do everything together.”

But it all leads back to his western

28

FALL 2018

P rairie

LIVING

roots.

“Pretty much the western lifestyle is my life day to day – whether it be bull riding in the past, which is coming to an end, to ranching and moving cattle and riding horses. One thing about my life is it’s different everyday.”

Lucky for Schiffner is his little ones are into that same western lifestyle, minus the bull riding of course.

His oldest daughter Maysa is into barrel racing and made the Chinook and Amateur finals. She’s also been into roping with dad.

Middle daughter Hadley is what Schiffner calls an ‘obsessive compulsive’ trick rider and had the opportunity to go to a few rodeos, and even got to attend the Calgary Stampede to do some demonstrations there.

And the youngest of the Schiffner clan, Oaklyn, is the fun loving kid that loves anything to do with riding.

“They’re all very different personalities but they’re all very much into riding horses,” said Schiffner.

Throughout the years of his bull riding career, Schiffner said he’s had several role models.

“What I’ve always done is surround myself with people that are better than me. Everybody’s better at something than somebody else is and what I’ve worked hard at is surrounding myself with those kinds of people.”

Some of those people are the Johansen brothers, members of a world renowned bull riding family that’s put on bull riding schools and steer riding schools for over 40 years.

“Every one of them has been very

influential in my life in my bull riding career, to the point now where I’m helping them put on schools.”

He also looks to his family and his traveling partners – Beau Hill being one of them, who Schiffner believes is one of the best in the bull riding world.

“I got the opportunity to spend 20 years with that guy and we always laugh and joke that I spent more time with him the first three years I was married than I did with my wife.”

Another mentor he credits is Jesse Torkelson, a friend and Canadian champion in bull riding.

“Anytime you’re with people like that, they rub off on you if you let them and

some people look at it as competition and I look at it as mentors and idols and then they are your competition, but that’s the greatest thing about this sport is I was never competing against Jesse or Beau. My job was to stay on my bull and then the chips fell where they may,” he said.

Although bull riding will soon be behind him, Schiffner wants to remembered as a man that could still win.

“The biggest factor is that I always wanted to be remembered as a guy that could still go win, beat anybody on any day. I didn’t want to be remembered as one of those guys that hung around too long.”

C

anadian singer/songwriter extraordinaire Lennie Gallant continues to wow his legion of fans with material that never fails to inspire and impress, as reflected on his latest CD Time Travel.

Singer/songwriter Lennie Gallant reflects on latest CD Time Travel

Photos by Dave Brosha

BY MARK WEBER

Local fans will get a chance to hear the exceptional collection of cuts ‘live’ when Gallant makes several Alberta stops including: Calgary on Oct. 26th, Canmore on Oct. 27th, Red Deer on Nov. 2nd and again in Calgary on Nov. 3rd. He also performs in Drayton Valley on Nov. 4th, Devon on Nov. 5th, Parkland Nov. 6th, Grand Prairie on Nov. 7th, Sherwood Park on Nov. 9th and back to Calgary on Nov. 10th.

Over the years, Gallant has released a dozen albums which have garnered him loads of accolades including the nod for 2017 ECMA ‘Entertainer of the Year’.

He was also named ‘Canadian Folk Artist of The Year’ for 2016 and his song Peter’s Dream was voted one of the ‘Top Ten East Coast Songs of All Time’.

Meanwhile, it was fresh on the heels of his 2017 ECMA win that Gallant buried himself in the studio with award-winning Producer Daniel Ledwell to record Time Travel.

“I had long thought about working with Daniel Ledwell – I had heard other projects that he had worked on, and I thought he had a great set of ears.

So it felt right, and there were so many things that happened in putting these songs together that made me realize we were in the right place at the right time,” he said. This included musicians suddenly and unexpectedly being available and in town to lend their talents to Time Travel.

“So much of the subject matter also seemed to be front and centre in the newsfeed while we were

recording the album as well,” he said, adding that ultimately, the whole thing felt very timely.

In addition to performances from his own band, the album features guest appearances by Mary Jane Lamond, Rose Cousins, Jenn Grant, The Fretless and The Atlantic String Machine, among others.

While speaking of the want for strings on a tune and how the Vancouver band The Fretless would be perfect for it, he discovered they were touring the East Coast that week and had a day off where they could drop by.

Meanwhile, the project covers a lot of ground musically and thematically.

“I wanted an album that would be somewhat textural and that would have a bit of a theme running through it, which I think we did. I think the idea of time and space and our time here on the planet sort of runs through the project.”

Looking back, a love for music came early on.

“I got my first guitar when I was about 13,” he recalled. “I don’t know why, but I do remember that I immediately started trying to write songs.

“I also used to go up to my grandma’s house because my uncle had a collection of records in his bedroom including Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen – lots of singer/songwriters, so I would listen to those writers a lot,” he said. “That was certainly an influence on me. Also, a lot of people on the east coast grow up with a lot of traditional music in their homes, but I didn’t really get into traditional music until I was in my later teens, or early 20s.”

It was then that he joined a couple of Celtic bands.

“I understand that music a lot, but songwriting was what I really wanted to go for, so I came back into more contemporary songwriting,” he added. “I also think that because I had an understanding of more rootsy, Acadian and Celtic stuff, that elements of it do show up in my songwriting in more subtle ways I think.”

For Gallant, there’s simply no other path to take.

“When you are onstage, singing something that you created around your kitchen table, and you get those kind of reactions – it really gives you amazing energy.

I do feel like I was put here to tell stories and sing songs. I feel like I’m in the right place.”

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

29

Author Elinor Florence unveils new novel Wildwood

BY MARK WEBER

One-time Red Deer resident and acclaimed author Elinor Florence dropped by the City recently to sign copies of her latest novel Wildwood.

The book was released this past February and Florence, who also enjoyed a long and successful career in journalism, was excited to meet readers and chat about her latest literary offering.

Wildwood, set in the Peace River country, tells the story of a single mother from the city who must spend one year living in Photo by Robin Grant an abandoned off-the-grid farmhouse in order to claim her inheritance.

The main character Molly Bannister (a name which many Red Deerians will indeed recognize) and her daughter must adapt to the pioneer lifestyle.

Florence, whose resume includes a 10-year stint at the Red Deer Advocate from 1978 to 1988, has found the transition to novelist a most fulfilling and enjoyable one.

She now calls Invermere, B.C. home.

She and her family had relocated there from Vancouver, and at the time, Florence felt that perhaps her journalism career had come to an end.

“In fact, I stumbled across a guy who had driven his propane truck off of a cliff and survived, and the words,

‘drama in real life’ sprang to mind. So I typed up the story, sent it to Reader’s Digest in Montreal and they not only published the story, but they also asked me to become a regular writer for them.”

For the next eight years she did just that.

It was also around that time she started to work on an idea she had for her first novel Bird’s Eye View.

“I think it came in part from my newspaper background, because back then, when I started at my hometown paper in Sasktachewan, we had to of course take our own photos and print them in the darkroom.

“I had an interest in photography, and I had also seen a picture of a woman in an air force uniform studying an aerial photography through a magnifying glass.”

Florence then started to research aerial photographs in general and a whole new and compelling chapter of history opened up.

“When I started researching it, I realized that not much had been written about it and also that it was a very important but little known branch of intelligence.”

Florence had a lot on her plate during that time. She also found herself the owner of a successful Invermere weekly newspaper.

“I sold it in 2010, and at that point I thought, I’m

New Year’s Eve 2018

DINNER SHOW Tickets - $45

going to go back and read this old manuscript for (Bird’s Eye View) and see if anything was there. It was on floppy disc, so that’s how old it was,” she said with a laugh.

From there, Florence spent about a year rewriting it and then sent it off to a Toronto publisher. They accepted it and published it in 2014.

It wasn’t long before the book was enthusiastically embraced by readers right across the country. And the book has indeed had a personal impact on many.

With Wildwood, Florence was inspired by the notion of people living ‘off the grid’ and how it would turn out for a young modern woman from the city to basically live the life of the pioneers.

“I think I read about 35 books of pioneer memoirs. I also drove up to the Peace River area and visited the pioneer museums,” she said.

“It’s Canada’s northern most farming community.

“I also have a deep love for old houses, so the house in the book is almost like its own character, so that was part of the motivation.”

For Florence, the feedback she receives from readers remains the biggest highlight that stems from her work as a novelist.

“I’ve met so many lovely people and connected with so many different types of people right across Canada.

I love hearing from people and I really enjoy my book events too,” she said of the joys of writing.

“So many come and also tell me interesting stories of their own, it’s the people.”

Visit elinorflorence.com and check out her blog at ‘Wartime Wednesdays’.

Includes dinner buffet, light snacks, dancing, champagne toast

each

Buffet 5pm to 630pm • Show starts 7pm

Tickets - $80

Doors open 630pm • Buffet 7-830pm • Live Band at 9pm

SHOW & HOTEL PACKAGE - $169 Includes two show tickets, single or double room and hot breakfast buffet

Based on availability. Plus applicable taxes.

February 2nd & 3rd Saturday Dinner Show $60 Sunday Lunch Show $45 SATURDAY HOTEL PACKAGE - $239

Lunch Show $50 Dinner Show $65

SPECIAL SUNDAY HOTEL RATE - $79

SHOW & HOTEL PACKAGE - $239

each

Doors open 1130am Buffet until 1pm Show starts at 1pm

Based on availability. Plus applicable taxes.

Based on availability. Plus applicable taxes.

For tickets or packages please call

1-888-784-8441

camroseresortcasino.com

each

Doors open 6pm Buffet until 730pm Show starts at 8pm

Includes two show tickets, single or double room on Saturday or Sunday night and hot breakfast buffet

Single or double room on Sunday night plus Monday hot breakfast buffet. Show tickets not included.

LIVING

Based on availability. Plus applicable taxes.

Sunday, February 10th

Includes two show tickets, single or double room on Saturday night and Sunday hot breakfast buffet

P rairie

Includes two show tickets, single or double room and hot breakfast buffet

THE SCOUNDRELS

each

FALL 2018

HOTEL PACKAGE - $289

FEATURING LIVE PARTY BAND

each

30

each

3201-48 Ave. Camrose

Follow our Facebook page or subscribe to our e-mail newsletter for exclusive offers, contests and specials

WHAT’S TO COME

W inter 2019 CELEBRITY Q & A WHAT I’M LOVING PRAIRIE KITCHEN SHOP LOCAL AROUND ALBERTA

rairie PLIVING THE HEART OF ALBERTA

P rairie

LIVING

FALL 2018

31

My Name is Cindy and

I LOST 48LBS with HYPNOSIS and Now I can Enjoy my Retirement!!!

Here’s My Story…

“I started hypnosis because I was tired of being tired, and tired of being disappointed with myself. I was lacking confidence and energy and I was concerned about my long-term health. There is a ton of information available on how to eat healthy, but not enough on how to get past the mental roadblocks we set up for ourselves. The combination of hypnosis and healthy eating and activity was what worked for me. I lost 48 pounds to reach my goal weight and feel fantastic!

I can see this being a long-term change! Hypnosis is hugely helpful in preventing selfsabotage!”

After

Why Wait? When you can get the

RESULTS YOU NEED! PROFESSIONAL FACILITIES

Professional Hypnotist with in-depth experience in hypnosis provides individual sessions for custom programs in my office.

STAY WITH IT GUARANTEE

Regardless of how many sessions you may need to attain your desired results and goals, I stay with the problem until you are happy. I offer a Written Service Guarantee.

FREE HYPNOTIC SCREENING

I give a 30–40 minute screening. It’s fun and informative. I will give you an honest and in-depth explanation of hypnosis and evaluate your situation. If I do not feel hyponosis will benefit you, I will tell you so. Call now and make an appointment for your screening.

t WEIGHT t PAIN t SMOKING

FREE SCREENING!

**Results may vary

Call Now 403-33-HYPNO (403-334-9766)

5006-50 St, Castor, AB 5214-47 Ave, Red Deer, AB

403-334-9766

403-33-HYPNO

HypnosisForHealthAndHappiness.ca HypnosisForHealthAndHappiness.ca