Fernie Fix April 2021

APRIL 2021 | ISSUE 172

THE

GREEN ISSUE

IN THIS ISSUE: Green Issue Special Feature with Jen Grebeldinger on how climate action starts locally. Feature Resident Madi Bragg and Feature Artist James Ouimet discuss what drives their passions. Dr. Taina Turcasso suggests effective ways for us to be more “green” in our daily lives.

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ELK VALLEY REALTY

EDITOR’S FIX p7 THE GREEN ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE p8 Bold Leadership on Climate Change Starts Here

by Jen Grebeldinger

BUSINESS IN THE VALLEY p10 Business News Taking Care of Business – Save Money and the Environment by Brad Parsell

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT p14 Feature Artist - James Ouimet Musings of a Bookworm – Crafting a Greener Little Blue Dot by Jessica Bozoky ArtBeat – Where the Wild Things Aren’t

by Michael Hepher At Peace and Yet On Fire – Forest Filter

by Sadie Rosgen Rental Fix – The Mandalorian by Andrew Vallance Events Calendar

COMMUNITY p26 Feature Resident – Madi Bragg City Corner – Spring Optimism

by Ange Qualizza

RECREATION AND OUTDOOR LIFE p31 Hitting the Trails – The Elk Rim Trail

by Julie Kelly

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE p32 Family Wellness – Green Living

by Dr. Taina Turcasso This is Life – Walk and Talk Therapy

by Tyla Charbonneau

BITS AND BYTES p37 The Answer Guy – Spring Cleaning

by Kevin McIsaac Astrology – April 2021 by Ashley Kristina Through the Lens – Green Photo Gallery The Social Page

APRIL 2021 | ISSUE 172

THE

GREEN ISSUE

FERNIE FUN p42 The Last Page

COVER: Not a Kodiak Moment Photo by Aaron Hagen @aaronhagenphoto THIS PAGE: Hosmer Sunset Photo by Aaron Hagen @aaronhagenphoto FERNIEFIX.COM

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THANK YOU

To our skiing/riding & local community for all your support this winter!

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PH: Anatole Tuzlak

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Editor’s Fix

Contributors ANDREW VALLANCE is a cinephile nerd who currently lives on the west coast.

Girlfriendless, he spends his time going to movies, buying DVDs and flirting.

ANGE QUALIZZA is a nutty economist who has a passion for policy, governance and everything to do with municipal government! Let’s lift up the carpet and take a closer look inside City Hall.

ASHLEY KRISTINA has studied astrology for over twenty years and has been reading/teaching for five. For an in depth natal chart reading, email mountainashastrology@gmail.com.

BRAD PARSELL is the manager of the Fernie Chamber and loves working with our local vibrant business community. He is also a music nerd with an ever-growing collection of records in his basement.

JEN GREBELDINGER is the Communications Lead for Community Energy Association. When she’s not playing on Fernie’s beautiful trails, she can be found talking and writing about how individual low carbon choices can make life better today while protecting our future.

JULIE KELLY is the Manager for the Fernie Trails Alliance and loves spending time on the Fernie trails.

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

MICHAEL HEPHER is a painter, printmaker, sculptor and musician living and working in Fernie. His work is collected internationally and can be seen at Clawhammer Press and a variety of galleries in Western Canada.

Every month SADIE ROSGEN teams up with some of Fernie’s brightest young writers collaborating on a given theme. If you are reading this and think that you are that person, drop her a line at sadiepumps@gmail.com.

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

TYLA CHARBONNEAU is a Registered Psychologist (CPBC2385), dog momma, and nature lover. She loves talking with others about mindfulness, self-compassion, and human nature.

JESSICA BOZOKY quit her editing job in Australia to chase the snow. Having settled in Fernie, she’s found herself at home surrounded by mountains (of books).

FERNIE FIX | FERNIEFIX.COM Published monthly by Claris Media. To advertise and for general inquiries: info@clarismedia.com Box 1124, 361A 1st Ave. Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 p: 250-423-4062 | clarismedia.com

Editor | Krista Turcasso Creative Director | Vanessa Croome Associate Editor | Kevin McIsaac

By Krista Turcasso, Editor Two years ago, during my first year on the board with the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), we received a presentation on Climate Change Impacts and Implications.

It was shocking and devastating and I left questioning my choice to have had children. What kind of mess are they going to be left with? I felt hopeless.

In 2020, Basin residents were loud and clear that climate was of extreme importance. In response, the CBT made it a key priority and created the Climate Resilience Committee. I feel grateful to sit on this committee, and while things still feel very dire, seeing the demand and genuine concern from this region and being a part of a team dedicated to making change lightens the load.

We know we’re in this together, and that a lot of people making small changes can result in significant positive impacts.

Every year, I learn so much through putting the Green Issue together and am in awe and inspired by the knowledge and power and impact one person can make. Take for example the members of the Community Energy Association team, who wrote our Special Feature this month and share positive actions already happening in our communities. Or, feature resident Madi Bragg who hopes her new business results in more lawns becoming gardens.

If not now, when? We’re at a turning point, having gone through an entire year outside of our comfort zones. What a fantastic opportunity to keep pushing those boundaries and making some impactful, green changes.

We hope this issue inspires and supports these changes, and that knowing we’re in this together lightens the load for you as well.

All content copyright Claris Media. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.

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THE GREEN ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE

Bold Leadership on Climate Change Starts Here

by JEN GREBELDINGER A full 50% of Canada’s GHG emissions are produced in cities and towns. We all have a duty to be active stewards in protecting the natural environment and reducing our contribution to emissions that cause climate change. Even small towns and rural regions can meaningfully contribute to high-impact climate change solutions.

In Fernie, the women of the nonprofit, Community Energy Association (CEA), believe that not only can small communities contribute to solutions, we can be leaders. This leadership-focused approach defines CEA’s work and has accelerated action on climate change in communities across western Canada.

You’ve likely seen our team in action: Megan on the Nordic trails, Gaëtane sharing her knowledge about permaculture, Sam creating and talking art, Danielle speeding her way up a single track or me (Jen) dancing at Wapiti Music Festival. We are passionate about enjoying and protecting this community and are dedicated to planning and implementing solutions for a future that avoids the harshest climate impacts.

By making strategic choices about how we move, heat our buildings and handle our waste, we can contribute to a shared legacy, locally and globally. The good news is we’re not starting from scratch. Action is already happening right here in the Elk Valley.

Low carbon travel We need to reduce vehicle kilometres travelled, then electrify the rest. But there is an imbalance in the degree to which rural and urban residents rely on cars so options for public transit are limited.

Sam Sedlowsky, Danielle Wiess, Gaëtane Carignan, Jen Grebeldinger and Megan Lohmann make up the Fernie office of Community Energy Association. | Submitted photo

“By making strategic choices about how we move, heat our buildings and handle our waste, we can contribute to a shared legacy, locally and globally.”

This makes a strong case for electrifying transportation. Community connectivity is also a huge opportunity to shift transportation away from personal vehicles to shared and active mobility: bikes, e-bikes and walking.

Local action The Kootenay Regional Districts received

national recognition this past year for demonstrating how rural regions can collaborate to build a clean transportation network. Our team supported Accelerate Kootenays, an electric vehicle (EV) charging network (the first in Canada!) that showed how a bold vision and dedicated leadership can accelerate EV adoption. Four other regions have now replicated this approach. We’re exploring exciting ways to support e-mobility… stay tuned!

Teck has committed to being carbon neutral by 2050 and is leading the way to transition to electric mobility; they’re already operating electric buses and planning further electrification of fleets.

Fernie Lodging Company and Fernie Fox are leaders in providing EV charging, and FernieBnB has EVs in their fleet.

A Mountain Market Store

The City of Fernie is completing an Active Transportation Master Plan which can make choosing to walk, bike or roll safer for everyone. Transitioning even a quarter of your in-town trips out of a car has big health benefits and can connect you to the community.

Providing Elk Valley residents and visitors with year-round access to local food

Healthy, efficient buildings The diversity of buildings in Fernie showcases our history and culture; they make our community distinct by visually connecting our heritage with our present. Now is the time to prepare all our buildings for the future by renewing them to use cleaner energy more efficiently all while improving indoor air quality and reducing heating costs.

Local action As BC moves to building codes that value energy efficiency, our team developed training programs that build knowledge and capacity within construction industry. Builders are taking note and situating themselves to benefit from the shift.

LWE, Element Homes, New Dawn and many others have been building high-efficient homes for several years.

Helicool has expertise in air source heat pumps that save homeowners money while heating and cooling a home with BC hydroelectricity.

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We are inspired by the opportunity to support our communities in a low carbon transition. Fernie: Let’s not be left behind. Let’s continue to build momentum for a healthy and fair future for all residents.

To learn more about CEA visit communityenergy.ca

Dreaming of Summer Days Quality, outdoor patio furniture now available 441C 2nd Avenue. Fernie BC | 250-423-0560 | info@evfurniturestudio.com

Business in the Valley

Submitted Photo

Evolution Fernie 1192 8th Ave 250-423-3344

The Elk Valley’s Newest Garden Centre

Evolution has always stayed true to its name. Since opening in 2002, Evolution has grown and enhanced its fitness facility with each year. This April marks the incredible development of an advanced cardlock system that permits members access anytime 24/7/365. No longer will activity at Evolution be limited to traditional staffed hours. Those early birds who begin their day at 5am or shift-workers looking to get a late-night workout in… they’re looking at you!

Five separate exercise zones are available for cardlock use: strength, cardio and functional training areas, a rowing/stretch room and a new virtual spin studio. In addition, changerooms, lockers and full lavatory with private showers are also available.

3132 Anderson Rd OPEN Daily 9am-5pm threesistersfarmandgreenhouse.com

Regular facility hours are 8am–8pm, seven days a week, during which Evolution welcomes casual visitors (dropins and vacation passes) and opens up the rest of their facility to offer climbing wall, tanning, personal training, yoga and group fitness classes. evolutionfernie.com

BUSINESS NEWS

Submitted Photo

Fernie Heritage Library 492 3rd Ave 250-423-4458 Taking place on Saturday 24 April, Fernie Heritage Library, in partnership with Wildsight and the Fernie Fix, will be hosting a Pick-Up For a Plant and Our Planet program for Earth Day. Their aim is to create an eyesore of piled trash bags in the garden, but they need your help! There’s an abundance of rubbish showing its ugly face during the spring melt.

Thanks to the generosity of Fernie Home Hardware, a supply of heavy duty bags and gloves will be available for you to pick-up curbside at the library between April 20-24.

On Saturday, April 24, take a walk around your neighbourhood, or somewhere you enjoy spending time outdoors, and fill the bag with garbage. Return your full bag to their trash pile and receive a seedling to take home and plant, provided by Wildsight.

After the display, Fernie Home Hardware will thoughtfully dispose of the trash.

Business in the Valley

BUSINESS NEWS

Submitted Photo

Submitted Photo

Grow Children’s Boutique

Koocanusa Recreation Strategy

482 2nd Ave 250-423-4769

koocanusarecreation.ca

Growing again, Grow Children’s Boutique is now accepting infant, child and youth clothing items for consignment. It feels as though our little ones grow bigger each day, and updating wardrobes to accommodate growth spurts and the changing of seasons feels never ending.

The Koocanusa Recreation Strategy strives to support and manage Crown land use and access in the Koocanusa Recreation Management Area in a way that maintains its ecological integrity, cultural values, recreation experience, and economic value for current and future users. It recognizes the importance and value of recreation in the area and works to maintain a balance between allowing recreation use and access to continue, while protecting its valued resources.

“We’ve been searching for a while now for a way to stock childrens clothing, but have struggled to find brands that meet our expectations in both quality and affordability,” says owner, Alicia Clarke.

“Parents spend so much on clothes that get a finite amount of wear. It made sense to us to create a space for them to buy and sell pre-loved items with ease, trusting that the condition is like-new and won’t break the bank.”

Preparations are underway to launch consignment shopping next month, keep an eye on social media for updates. To book a drop-off appointment, or for more information on consigning, call 250-423-4769.

The Strategy identifies designated area for dispersed camping on Crown land, recreation trails for motorized and nonmotorized users, and a network of over 500 kilometres of access roads. It also determines ecologically sensitive areas, priority sites for rehabilitation, and locations where additional signage will be installed.

The Koocanusa Recreation Steering Committee is a partnership between the Province of BC, Ktunaxa Nation Council, Regional District of East Kootenay, and Columbia Basin Trust.Visit their site to access the 2021 strategy.

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North Coal is Different Since we started, our work has focused on solving the most important challenges facing mining, especially impacts we now understand well from a long history of coal mining in the Elk Valley.

We would be happy to share details of our water protection and environmental management systems.

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Business in the Valley

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Save Money and the Environment

by BRAD PARSELL Like individuals, businesses are increasingly turning to look at the impact of their operations on the environment. Being a sustainable company is no longer just about being financially sustainable, but also demonstrating corporate responsibility and leadership in becoming greener. There are simple things that a business can do to be more environmentally friendly without having to sacrifice your bottom line. Here are ten of them:

Ensure a strong recycling program.

Think about ways to increase the amount of recycling in your workplace. Re-use scrap pieces of paper as notepads where possible.

Ensure as a bare minimum there are separate bins for trash, recycling, and glass.

Source products and supplies from sustainable suppliers.

Leave the vehicle at home.

We could not be luckier in Fernie – almost everything is less than a 10-minute bike ride away in our community. Ditch the vehicle to drive to work and encourage your staff to walk or bike.You will reduce emissions related to your business and have healthier staff that are more active.

Reduce water usage.

Fix those dripping taps and plumbing leaks in your workplace. Consider installing low-flow toilets and faucet aerators in your washrooms.

Embrace IT solutions like cloud storage/sharing.

For most small to medium sized businesses, having power-hungry computer servers has become a thing of the past. By embracing cheaper cloud storage platforms like Apple iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox your staff can share and collaborate on files without the need to print out documents or travel to meetings.

Avoid single use items in the workplace.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Americans produced 4.51 pounds per person per day of municipal solid waste

Emily Pullen Photo

“Ditch the vehicle to drive to work and encourage your staff to walk or bike.” in 2017. This is something to consider in the workplace with things like nonrecyclable single-serve coffee pods, paper cups and plastic water bottles, for example.

Encourage staff to bring their own refillable water bottles.

Reduce your building energy usage – LED lights, thermostat, modern/ greener appliances.

The cost of running a building can be the single biggest expense for a business behind wages. Making the switch to greener appliances and fixtures will help you be greener and save money on operating costs.

Consider changing to LED lightbulbs, purchasing more energy-efficient appliances, and running your thermostat a few degrees cooler at night when the workplace is empty.

Try to stock your shelves and supply cupboards with goods that are produced and supplied in a sustainable way. Materials that are made from renewables or are 100% recyclable are ideal. Sourcing from local suppliers instead of shipping things from other provinces or countries is also a good place to start.

Recycle old electronics.

Avoid throwing away old computers, cell phones, tablets and printers that will end up in landfill. There are a bunch of local programs and recycling options for old appliances. If they still work fine, consider donating them to a school or charity.

Keep your Zoom account postpandemic.

In the heady days before the COVID-19 pandemic, I would regularly travel to places like Trail, Golden or Elkford for regional meetings. The last 12-months have really underlined the ease and convenience of teleconferencing without the associated greenhouse gas emissions of travelling for meetings.

Think about what you print.

Do you really need to print that document? Or can you just read it on a screen and save it digitally? Use programs like DocuSign instead of printing, signing, and scanning on a piece of paper that will then be thrown away.

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Arts and Entertainment

FEATURE ARTIST

James Ouimet My woodworking journey always starts with elevating the natural beauty of wood into distinctive, functional heirlooms for one’s home. I’m a stay at home dad and happy husband with a passion to create unique pieces out of beautiful, carefully selected wood. I honour the tradition of my grandfather, a FrenchItalian immigrant to Canada who skillfully and passionately carved his life and community out of wood. What began as motor skill rehabilitation, organically transitioned into a profession that allowed me to work at a pace that one who lives with an acquired brain injury needs to be conscious of. Thankfully, with the amazing support our community

gives to hard-working local artists, I am now going into my fourth year as a woodworker with no plans of slowing down until my hands can no longer hold a tool.

My goal is to bring beauty and reverence into everyday life - through a hand carved coffee spoon for example, a butter knife, a set of family oak bowls and quality handmade furniture. You can see how people are drawn to this natural element that is grounding to the touch. From charcuterie to cutting boards, to cruisy longboards, headboards, workbenches, counters, dining tables and everything in between, there is nothing I won’t try.

I equally strive to prolong the life of the fallen tree, telling its story by showcasing its unique grain and elegant figures in my craftsmanship. In recent years, Ouiman’s Woodworking has transitioned to selectively sourcing local lumber from fallen trees in need of a second life, salvaging useful material and turning it into a lifelong story. Repurposing these fallen trees allows me to truly understand the beauty that one tree has to offer. I look at a piece of wood and see four table legs, a shelf, a bowl… most of the time, the piece of wood tells you what it wants to be, with its own figures, grains, shapes and live edges. Furthermore, you have to respect what the wood is telling

you; when working with a material that moves seasonally, it is important to understand how each piece of wood is going to react to changes in its environment.

By extension, I perceive woodworking as an opportunity to honour a living being that has provided us with life. I repurpose materials and all my pieces are finished with natural products. I also carry out most of my work with hand tools and mill the wood with energy generated by my own body. Although using power tools in many cases is unavoidable, my attention goes into my use of refurbished and vintage tools that have often felt the hands of many woodworkers before me. None of the wood is wasted - scraps are turned into small bowls, carved into spoons, turned into knives and combs, with wood shavings being used as kindling, compost and garden mulch.

Whatever is left keeps us warm during cold winter days.

As a woodworker, I will always remain humble to the profession and the lifelong education you get from creating one piece after another. My dream is to one day have my own store that features a woodshop where I could share the process and trial and errors of creation with our community.

In closing, I can’t thank the arts family enough because of the support one gives to the next. Without the help, encouragement and support of strong makers and entrepreneurs such as Tristen Nichols (Maiden Perras) and Karey Pion (Soco Soaps), I would not be where I am today. Thank you Fernie, we hope to see you soon!

Thank you to Angelique Ouimet for jointly writing this article with James, who says she is the ‘writing talent’ in the family. Find Ouiman’s Woodworking on Facebook @ ouimanswoodworking and Instagram @ouimans_woodworking.

Building a Sustainable Future The metals and minerals we produce are central to the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

Approximately 170 tonnes of steelmaking coal is needed to produce the steel in an average wind turbine.

Together, we can power our future.

For more information, please visit www.teck.com

Arts and Entertainment

MUSINGS OF A BOOKWORM

Crafting a Greener Little Blue Dot

by JESSICA BOZOKY Humanity has played a significant role in changing the climate of our little blue dot.

The past few decades have seen our time in the naughty corner increase, with Mother Nature (and David Attenborough, among others) scolding us to get our act together.

We see her wrath in rising temperatures, thunderous storms, bushfires, floods, and extreme climates. She’s mad, and we did this. We need to do better.

Those conscious of the consequences their actions have to the future of our planet, have implemented lifestyle changes to help - breaking up with single use plastic, walking instead of driving, altering their diet to be more environmentally friendly, composting, adopting more sustainable resources, etc. The sacrifices of these lifestyle adaptations all hang on personal threads, and not everyone can commit to (the sometimes) extreme changes.

Something we CAN all do, however, is educate ourselves.

As with anything, the more we know, the more we understand what we can do, and how we can help. Fernie Heritage Library hosts a large range of resources on recycling, renewable energy, climate change, sustainable living, and more.

We also provide a special collection on greenhouse gases and local environmental information for our patrons. This collection is popular with climate activists and can be found on the reference floor of the Fernie Heritage Library.

From resource sharing within a small town to the province-wide interlibrary loan program, libraries work on a sustainable platform. The shift in society towards a more virtual world has led libraries to equip themselves with e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, and numerous

second hand or donated, to create fun and inspiring activities for children.

With combined efforts and environmental education, we have the power to slow the rate of global warming and help heal our planet. With restoration and reversal techniques, this year’s Earth Day will focus on more than society’s ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra. The ‘Restore Our Earth’ movement is a shift from reduction and adaptation as the only ways to address the issue, towards natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems.

Illustration By Pruthvi Harshan Visit ferniefix.com to find the black and white illiustration to colour in!

“The shift in society towards a more virtual world has led libraries to equip themselves with e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, and numerous electronic databases, making access to information easily accessible and readily available. ” electronic databases, making access to information easily accessible and readily available. We also pride ourselves on having green programming, by using recycled materials that are often bought

With the largest civic observance in the world, Earth Day attracts over 1 billion people yearly who are dedicated to furthering climate action. We at Fernie Heritage Library are some of those people.

This year we are partnering with Wildsight, with help from Fernie Home Hardware for a (COVID-19 responsible) Pick Up For a Plant and Our Planet clean-up day, Saturday April 24. Our aim is to create an eyesore of piled trash bags in our garden - which will be disposed of thoughtfully after display! We will provide clean-up supplies curbside for you to head out and help tidy our town. In exchange for a bag of trash, we will be gifting all helpers with a seedling to take home and plant.

Share The Nuggets We’d love to see what you’re consuming (book, blog, podcast, documentary etc..) this month that’s teaching you how to better care for our planet. Share your reads and thoughts with us through #fhlbookchallenge.

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Arts and Entertainment

ARTBEAT

Where the Wild Things Aren’t

by MICHAEL HEPHER In the 1990s the ecosystem in Yellowstone National park was in trouble. The elk and deer population were ballooning out of control. There was only one functioning beaver colony in the whole park. The willow, aspen and cottonwood trees were stunted and dwindling in the valleys. Small prey were scarce because of denuded vegetation so the hawks and weasels left to find food elsewhere. With the wild grasses and sapling trees grazed heavily every year, the riverbanks and watersheds became unstable, the water growing straighter and faster as they carved through the loose earth. Fish populations, acclimated to warmer meandering water, started to collapse. This national treasure of parkland was slowly turning from wilderness to wasteland.

Ecosystems are unimaginably complex things. Every piece of the cycle is important, but some affect the natural process of the others in more significant ways—known as a ‘keystone species’—and removing one can have drastic consequences on the entirety of the surrounding terrain. Historically, Yellowstone had a healthy population of wolves, but they were hunted out of existence by 1930 and the park ecosystem skewed in the favour of the prey. In a desperate attempt to right that wrong, the wolves were reintroduced in 1995.

After a 70-year reprieve, the lazy ungulates suddenly had to be more alert, moving to safer and more remote places to graze, allowing the valley bottoms to regenerate.

In a cascade of ecological healing, this one small change in behaviour slowed the rivers back down and brought balance back to the ecosystem in a handful of years.

The internal lives of humans are tiny microcosms of the natural world: when

Mike Hepher Photo

“The internal lives of humans are tiny microcosms of the natural world: when we get out of balance, it affects us in unexpected ways. If we push things down, they invariably pop somewhere else.” we get out of balance, it affects us in unexpected ways. If we push things down, they invariably pop somewhere else. For artists, the thing that gives us a unique perspective on our lives is an ability to

watch the gears turning on this complex machine. For us it’s not always about finding balance, but about watching the teetering back and forth and wondering at the complexity of the mechanism. Our work is often an attempt to explain those machinations to the outside world.

But what happens when we get too far out of balance and lose our grasp on those inner workings? Literally nothing. The most well-known version of this ‘nothing’ is called writer’s block. Personally, I had never really experienced it—there’s so many interesting things to make and learn!

But in March of 2020 I put down my paint brush and no matter how I focused, berated myself, inspired myself, I just couldn’t pick it up again. 2020 had hunted my internal wolves out of existence. But almost exactly one year into the blockage,

just as suddenly as the inspiration left, I started painting again.

I keep asking myself what changed, but I can’t figure it out. Maybe it was the sun melting the snow away.

Perhaps the hopeful tone of our Public Health Team helped. Most likely I’ll never know, but the wolves came back. How fragile are we? We like to think of our ecosystems, both internal and external, as robust things, but 2020 has taught us that we are vulnerable. Something as small as a microbe can upset the balance of the entire planet.

What I do know is that I’m enjoying the fresh creativity because if nothing else, I’ve learned to not take it for granted—I now know it can all disappear in a puff of smoke. During the drought I kept busy. I tried to breathe. I kept exploring the wall and eventually it came down.

We are fragile, but we are also very resilient, growing back quickly when missing elements are restored.

During this strange year many of my artists friends were like the elk in Yellowstone Park: growing and producing at an unprecedented pace.

Others were like me: withering and wishing for the return of my wolves.

One variable sending us off-kilter in unexpected ways.

We are all intimately connected with the world—seen and unseen—around us. This past year has changed us in ways we are just starting to grasp.

As we start to collectively sway back into equilibrium, we should take a moment to note the things that we lost, and the things that we learned.

How do we prevent our ecosystems from getting out of balance in the future? What are our keystone species? What have we done with our wolves?

The purpose of the Communities of Interest Advisory Initiative is to foster dialogue and communication between the five coal operations and community representatives within their area of influence.

Celebrating our Earth April 22 Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

– John Lubbock Kiʔsuʔk ʔa·kinmititʔis na ʔamak • Happy Earth Day

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Arts and Entertainment

AT PEACE AND YET ON FIRE

Forest Filter

by SADIE ROSGEN

“The ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness for the space they take and so, neither shall I.” - Becca Lee In a world riddled with worry and wonder, it is the greatest privilege to escape into the wild unknown for regeneration and reflection. But what happens when this lush haven of perpetual seeming landscape begins to vanish? Can protection or reclamation save our safe and bountiful sacred spaces? Environmental concerns are very real as we see the tragic effects of humankind on the planet Earth.

This month I went to the forest to find clarity, to wander, to write, to wish, to reconcile the chaos of my being. I learn so much about who I am in the woods, thankful that the trees are eager to teach me, that the flora and fauna are poised for revelation. I seek the mountains and trees to heal, to feel alive.

at the portal of the forest I close my eyes, my weight shifts feeding my lungs with cedar scents, of pine emptying my expectations ready luxuriant forest floor paper birch waving me through lush samples of decaying wilderness indulging the benefits of spring elevation my legs push on forcing the sweat that frees me the radiant power of the rock a well of energy inside my being

the peak my destination is wrought with emotion salty tears soar from my smiling cheeks ephemeral ambition has led me here relaxed in the majesty

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To book a tour please call: 250-423-0212 451 2nd Avenue, Fernie B.C. CONTACT OUR PRINCIPAL Jocelyn Sombrowski: info@thefernieacademy.ca

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Arts and Entertainment

THE RENTAL FIX

The Mandalorian

by ANDREW VALLANCE

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On May 21, 1980, American movie goers were introduced to Boba Fett in the second movie in the Star Wars trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back. The strong, but silent, Mandalorian bounty hunter, impressive in his beautifully designed armor, only appears four times in the film and speaks one line of dialogue. In the final film of the original Star Wars trilogy, Return of the Jedi, he appears three times, without any dialogue and is unceremoniously killed off in the most ridiculous, cartoonish way possible.

Despite his lack of screen time, Boba Fett became one of the more popular characters of the Star Wars franchise. Because the Mandalorians are such a beloved part of the Star Wars canon, it should not surprise anyone that Disney, after purchasing Lucasfilm, the company responsible for creating Star Wars in the first place, would produce a show called The Mandalorian, a streaming series about a bounty hunter who wears impressive armor and is steeped in the Mandalorian ethos.

John Favreau, the man responsible for kick-starting the Marvel franchise, created this series for the Disney streaming service.

The story follows the exploits of Din Djarin, a lone Mandalorian bounty hunter travelling the galaxy collecting bounties.

Set five years after the events of Return of the Jedi and the fall of the Galactic Empire, Djarin is hired by a remnant imperial force to retrieve an alien child, but instead he tries to protect the adorable infant from sociopathic scientists, gangsters and imperial officers so that it can be reunited with its own kind.

This incredible series stars Pedro Pascal as the title character and features excellent supporting performances by actors such as Gina Corano who plays Cara Dune, a

skillful mercenary and our hero’s occasional partner in crime. Carl Weathers takes on the role of Greef Carga, head of the bounty hunters’ guild, who provides our lead character with work. Other notable guest stars include Bill Burr as a cocky space pirate and Amy Sedaris as a quirky mechanic. Taika Watiti provides the voice of a killer droid, and Verner Hertzog plays a mob boss. Timothy Olyphant is a roguish Sheriff, and the terrific Giancarlo Espasito plays Moff Gideon, the series’ principle villain who wants to exploit the child’s connection to the Force.

It is the first live-action series in the Star Wars franchise, something George Lucas planned in 2009, but which was deemed too expensive to produce. The visual effects company (Industrial Light & Magic) that he founded in 1975 when he began production of Star Wars, was acquired by Disney as part of its purchase of Lucasfilm, and the company’s resources were used to develop new technology for The Mandalorian that uses a 360-degree video wall to create the virtual stage environments. This technology has since been adopted by other film and television productions.

The Mandalorian premiered in November 2019, with an eight-episode first season.

It is a space western, borrowing heavily from the films of both John Ford and Akira Kurosawa. The show is action packed, with wonderful choreography and stunt work, and some absolutely marvelous acting.

I give this series two thumbs up.

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Arts and Entertainment

EVENT CALENDAR

MONTHLY EVENTS Thursday 1.4.2021 April Moose on the Loose @ The Arts Station, with artists Sandra Barrett, April Montague, Annica and Tyra Collombin.

Booked! Fernie Writers’ Series: Ali Bryan and Jael Ricahardson @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7pm

Friday 2.4.2021 Walkie Talkie Book Club: We Should All be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie @ Fernie Heritage Library, 1pm Thursday 8.4.2021 Art History with Jackie: Anniversary Trivia @ The Arts Station Kootenay Pitch Competition: Women Entrepreneur @ Online, 8pm Thursday 8.4.2021 Rainbow Connections @ Fernie Pride (activity TBD) 7pm Saturday 10.4.2021 Mountain Addicts Crevasse Rescue Course: 1-Day @mountainaddicts.ca Shelly Lynch Live @ Jaffray Pub on Facebook Live, raising funds for Angel

Flight and Snow Valley Christmas Cheer. 7pm

Sunday 11.4.2021 Last Day @ Fernie Alpine Resort Monday 12.4.2021 Regular Council Meeting @ City of Fernie, 7pm Tuesday 13.4.2021 Book Launch: This One Wild Life: A Mother-Daughter Wildnerness Memoir by Angie Abdou @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7pm zoom A Bunny Hop Along-Music with Ms Anie @ Fernie StrongStart Facebook Live, 9:30am Thursday 15.4.2021 Wander Wise: Adventure Essentials Course @ Women Who Wander Collective Virtual Annual General Meeting @ Fernie Chamber of Commerce, 9:30am An Afternoon of Mystery @ Fernie Heritage Library, 4pm zoom ages 8-11 Ears for Peers @ Fernie Pride, 6:30pm

Monday 19.4.2021 Committee of the Whole Meeting @ City of Fernie, 4pm Wednesday 21.4.2021 Youth Paint & Plant @ Fernie Pride, 6pm Thursday 22.4.2021 Earth Day @ Fernie Saturday 24.4.2021 Keep Calm and Stay Cozy Adult Craft Kid @ Fernie Heritage Library, 2pm zoom Earth Day Event: Pick Up For a Plant and Our Planet @ Fernie Heritage Library Monday 26.4.2021 Regular Council Meeting @ City of Fernie, 7pm Thursday 29.4.2021 KLF Read Local Book CLub: Bird’s Eye View by Elinor Florence @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7:30pm zoom Friday 30.4.2021 Tea and Talk Book Club: City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert @ Fernie Heritage Library, 1:30pm zoom

WEEKLY EVENTS Mondays Parent-tot Funtimes @ Facebook Page Les Tiguidous – Virtual activities with songs, stories or manual hands-on in French ages 0-5 @ AFRos Fernie, 10am Le Club Baguette Junior @ The Arts Station, art activities and games in French ages 7 and up on zoom, 3:30-4:30pm Tuesdays Baby Goose @ Zoom, 9:30am Storytime (ages 3-5) @ Fernie Heritage Library Live Instagram and Facebook Try it at Home Minecraft Mayhem @ Fernie Heritage Library, weekly STEM/DIY for kids Fernie Youth Art Collective @ The Arts Station, 6pm Volunteer Tax Program @ Fernie Seniors Dropin Centre, 10am-2pm

Fernie Options for Sexual Health Clinic Open @ Elk Valley Hospital, 6:30-8:30pm by appointment Parent-tot Funtimes @ Facebook Page Burger and Beer Night @ The Northern Wing Night @ The Pub Wednesdays Curbside Craft @ Fernie Heritage Library, pick up between 12-4pm, Tuesday through Friday Toddlertime (Ages 0-2 years) @ Fernie Heritage Library Live Instagram and Facebook Team Trivia @ The Fernie Meet Draw @ The Legion Thursdays InterActive Hour @ Zoom, 10am Bellies to Babies @ Zoom, 2pm Art History with Jackie Video Launch @ The Arts Station

Club Baguette Adultes - Practice Speaking French @ AFRos Fernie via Zoom, 7pm Pub Team Trivia @ The Pub Fridays Storytime (ages 0-5) @ Fernie Heritage Library Live Instagram and Facebook Club Cre8 @ The Arts Station Fish and Chips @ The Pub Fish and Chips Take Away @ Fernie Hotel, 4pm Meat Draw @ The Fernie Saturdays Shawarma Take Out @ Fernie Hotel, 4pm Meat Draw @ The Legion Many events are subject to Covid restrictions. As things change and evolve, additional events may be added to the calendar. Make sure to stay up to date by visiting FernieFix.com/events Do you have an event to share? Send it to krista@clarismedia.com for inclusion!

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Community

FEATURE RESIDENT

Madi Bragg

by KRISTA TURCASSO A few years ago, Mike Bragg invited me and my littles for a play date. Our kids the same age, and Mike and I equally bikeobsessed, we walked the few blocks to their place in main-town Fernie (AKA Little Italy) and it was impossible to miss.

Gardens in the front yard, gardens in the back yard, a large greenhouse, and one little corner left for their two-year old’s bike zone.

We sat on the grass, and within a minute out popped his wife, Madi. “Would you like some fresh pressed vegetable juice?”

Hard yes, and it was delicious. I left that day with garden greens, a scoby to start my own kombucha, and a whole lot of motivation to put some love into my garden!

Six years later, it came to no surprise to learn Madi was opening up a garden centre – Three Sisters Farm and Greenhouse.

“Providing tools, plants and provisions for sustainable gardens. Lots of organic options! All our seedlings and plants have been tested and grown here in Fernie, BC or are rated to zone 2 and 3.”

So, just where does Madi’s passion come from?

Madi was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, moved out west when she was two and back east again for high school years. Her mom was a single parent with three kids, and a huge inspiration to Madi.

“After a big grocery shop, with three kids in tow if they wouldn’t let her reuse her own plastic bags for whatever reason, she would walk away.You know as a mom how tough shopping with kids is! It was the early 80s, and she knew then there was too much plastic in the world,” Madi tells

V. Croome Photo

me. “One of my earliest memories is of being at a community garden plot, running around while she was gardening, chasing grasshoppers.”

Madi recognizes she didn’t think too much about the environment as a teenager, but when she settled down and was on her own, it was hard for her not to think about where she got her food.

“It bothered me that my food had been tortured or fruits and vegetables not grown ethically. I can’t turn it off and have to do everything I possibly can, so our food is leaving as little of a footprint as possible.

I know it shouldn’t be happening at the individual level. It should be happening at the corporate level. They need to become stewards, it’s the easiest, fastest and most effective way.”

Growing her own food started slowly.

“At first it was just realizing that strawberries taste better out of my own garden. Then, wow tomatoes taste better.

When I learned how to grow, I started to see how it was making a dent in my grocery bill and kept growing more things.

We were saving $6-700 a month!”

Seeing this kind of impact within their household, Madi started to wonder what else she could do. “How could I make change by helping people learn to grow food? I felt like I needed to contribute beyond my own level and for my kids to have the opportunity to experience what we have. And that’s how we came up with the idea for a garden centre,” Madi says.

They sold their place in town, purchased a piece of property on Anderson Road, which used to be a garden centre, and made their dream a reality.

The goal was to offer people something different by doing it differently. Providing organic seed and soil, carrying things in bulk, selling trees as whips (one-year old) for easy transfer to zone 3 conditions and less shipping costs and emissions, reusing containers, utilizing cloth pots… the focus is really on reducing waste, sustainability,

and offering items that are better suited to our environment.

Most of the time they’re open, Madi is sharing her knowledge and providing tips on how to garden… and this makes her feel great, knowing more people are out there, growing their own food and sharing their own journeys with others.

They currently have one open greenhouse on the property, and another they plan to use once the temperatures warm. They have plans to expand the retail space, with more bulk and continued support of local artisans and businesses. In the long-term, Madi has dreams of an orchard and a market garden!

After chatting with Madi for an hour over zoom, I realize how much more there is to learn, how much room there is to grow and I immediately ask about whether she has considered offering classes.

Her eyes light up, “We will for sure be hosting workshops, utilizing the wealth of experience and expertise of many residents who live right here in the valley. We’ll set out twenty chairs on the lawn and have people from the community giving advice to local gardeners! I just want to help people grow food.”

snowboarded every day. When I came to check it out with Mike it was summer, and I thought oh my gosh the mountains are so beautiful, and the sun shines much longer than in Nelson. The river! I didn’t like the highway through town, but the valley was so beautiful.

4. What keeps you here?

The community, the people who live here.

5. Do you have a favourite Fernie pastime?

Gardening for sure.

6. What time of the year do you love most in Fernie, and why?

Summer, I just love the warm temperatures and eating out of the garden.

7. Where do you see or hope to see Fernie in five years?

I hope to see Fernie getting rid of their lawns and growing vegetables.

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

Thank you, Madi! Now, just how many lawns will turn garden this spring…

Right now? I come in and make sure that the greenhouse didn’t freeze. All of my babies are in here. Honestly, snuggling with my kids.

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

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

February 2012 and Mike’s work brought us here.

I’m a pretty open book! People are surprised by the meaning of the name of the garden centre. Three Sisters is a type of companion gardening… corn, beans and squash which form a symbiotic relationship. I’m also one of three sisters… so there is a trinity of reasons, as cheesy as that is!

2. Who did you first meet?

Tanya Malcolm. Turns out I arrived pregnant and suffered from severe morning sickness. I lost a lot of weight (33 pounds at 7.5 months pregnant) so Mike hired me a doula.

3. Do you remember your first general impression of Fernie?

10. Quote to live by: “Unless someone like you cares an awful whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Dr. Seuss, The Lorax.

I guess technically I lived in Fernie ten years before I moved here to snowboard.

I didn’t even work, just bought a pass and FERNIEFIX.COM

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Community

CITY CORNER

Spring Optimism

by ANGE QUALIZZA I am not an expert in vaccinations, epidemiology or really health care but my world has been and will continue to be filled with these topics for the foreseeable future. There is no doubt it is a strange time to be in local government, but a year into our pandemic response it is starting to feel normal for these topics to be high priority issues. Right now, I have weekly meetings scheduled with our health officers, Cabinet Ministers and ministerial staff on vaccinations, and COVID-19 impact to our community.

Last week the 14- resort mayors had an audience with Dr. Henry, Minister Osbourne and Minister Mark to discuss how vaccinations and COVID recovery are unique in resort communities, and a tailored response is exactly what we are looking for.

It is a whirlwind of information sharing, learning and appreciation. I came away from my meeting with Dr. Henry in awe really for her work and her ongoing commitment to keeping us safe.

The City of Fernie was awarded $1.59 million dollars in a Safe Restart Grant program that is intended to support the ongoing operating and emergency response costs associated with the pandemic. The financial impact to our organization is vast and includes things like the costs associated with an increased safety protocol, a need to shore up our technology needs, specialized equipment, increased signage to support COVID awareness, and a significant loss in revenue from operating our facilities. These are just a few alongside many others we are facing as a result of COVID. The main function of this program is to protect taxpayers from funding the short

V. Croome Photo

“Spring is in the air, and restrictions have relaxed so we can enjoy meeting with our loved ones (under ten people) outside in our yards.” falls associated with COVID, and I can assure you it is a welcome relief, but we will be advocating for continued financial support as we navigate another 12- month cycle in a COVID environment.

In Fernie though, it feels optimistic for the first time all year. Spring is in the air, and restrictions have relaxed so we can enjoy meeting with our loved ones (under ten

people) outside in our yards. We also know that Interior Health will be setting up a COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic at the Fernie Memorial Arena to begin April 12, 2021 through to September.

I’m looking at our future with optimism, and I encourage everyone to keep following the current health orders. Early on in the pandemic Dr. Henry reminded us that all of our actions matter, and this holds true today. In the meantime, however and after an extremely long winter in isolation, I am especially thankful for the opportunity to share a laugh on my front deck in the spring sun.

For information on our regional vaccination plan visit news.interiorhealth. ca/news/covid-19-vaccines/.

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Recreation and Outdoor Life

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Spring is in the air and you are probably eager to hit the trails! April can be a tricky month for weather in Fernie. The roads are a good option this time of year in Fernie or the South Country area.You can find some great options around Baynes Lake, Jaffray, Newgate and Fort Steele.

If you are keen to get some dirt, a solid option is the new Elk Rim Trail, which was completed last June. It’s an easy 30-minute drive from town. Head towards Cranbrook, turning left onto the 93 heading South for about 15km.You will cross the big bridge over the Elk River and climb steeply up the highway. After crossing the Elk River Bridge climb 1.2 kilometres to the top of the south bank and turn right onto a dirt road and across a cattle guard.You will see the parking lot and toilet at the trailhead.

There are a few loops you can put together depending on how long you want to hit the trails for. It’s all pretty mellow with some nice flowy singletrack. There are a couple of nice viewpoints along the way and the signage is great.

An interesting fact is this is a traditional Ktunaxa trail. It was first used by Europeans in 1864 to carry supplies to the gold rush at Wildhorse Creek and smuggle gold back to the US to avoid the 25% BC Tax. Be sure to check out the latest conditions on Trailforks before you head out. A few reminders on trail etiquette include not riding when it’s muddy, ride through puddles not around, and stay on the trail.

Enjoy, and happy spring!

Time: Approx. 1.5 -2 hours Distance: Approx. 20 km Difficulty: Green/Blue FERNIEFIX.COM

31

Health and Lifestyle

FAMILY WELLNESS

Green Living

by DR TAINA TURCASSO, ND RM The annual “Green Issue” of the Fernie Fix is such a great opportunity for all of us to check-in with what we have been doing to green-ify our lives and learn more about what we might be doing to promote health in ourselves and for our planet. Why is this important? Well, it is clear that what we absorb from the world around us impacts our health. Everything we put on our skin, everything we breathe into our lungs, and everything we put into our stomachs and digestive tracts has the potential to either support the function of our cells or interfere with proper function. When dysfunction occurs as a result of a buildup of toxins, it can show up in our lives in many ways, including obesity, hormone disruption, fatigue, and accelerated aging.

The list of potential toxins around us can be pretty overwhelming so I think it can be helpful to first look at the things we can control and then tackle only one or two things at a time in order to create lasting change. There are five areas where we can make changes in our daily lives that can have a significant impact on our body’s function at the cellular level (while also reducing the toxic load on the planet):

Air In Fernie, we are very lucky to have clean mountain air but you might still consider incorporating an air purifier into your indoor environment, particularly if you have a baby, someone with respiratory issues or allergies or an immunocompromised person in your household or if you work with toxins (hair stylist, painter, etc.). Air purifiers are not all created equally so look for one that at minimum has a HEPA filter and a charcoal/carbon filter to trap petroleumbased gases. Some also report good success

“...try to focus on foods that are grown in BC and Alberta, that are seasonal, and that are grown using sustainable farming practices.

Think about where your food is coming from.”

V. Croome Photo with UV filters or ionizers. Do your research and pick one that fits your specific needs as well as the size of the space you need filtered.

Water Every day we drink 2-3 L of water and it is vital for the function of every cell in our body. Unfortunately, water often contains either chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals or organisms that can be toxic to our bodies. The first step in setting up a water filtration system is to figure out what is in the water in your area that needs to be filtered out and then finding the best solution for those specific needs.You also want to consider waste, any energy required to filter your water, and longevity.

Food

Body Care

I talk a lot about making good choices around the food that you put into your body, choosing organic when possible, sticking to good quality meats, and avoiding processed food when possible but even beyond all of that, I think that it is important to consider how far your food has to travel to get to you. Most of us live in a place where we have a shorter growing season, so it is really difficult to avoid food grown in California or Mexico but why not just try? Just try to focus on foods that are grown in BC and Alberta, that are seasonal, and that are grown using sustainable farming practices. Think about where your food is coming from. If you want to choose organic produce, the Environmental Working Group has released their “Dirty Dozen” list for 2021 which is a good place to start.

There has been an increasing awareness around moving towards clean(er) products to use on your body, including (but not limited to) shampoo/conditioner, soap, toothpaste, skincare, and makeup. As a result, there are almost infinite options when it comes to choosing what to try, ranging from economical to very extravagant. There are many great resources that provide comparisons and information on what ingredients to watch out for, including the Environmental Working Group, so that is a great place to start. I would also look at what is being produced locally, and even consider substituting something simple rather than a complex product (coconut oil as moisturizer).

Become ingredient-savvy and start reading those labels.

Plastic Reducing, replacing, or eliminating plastic products can be very difficult, timeconsuming, expensive, confusing, and overwhelming. It’s all around us. We cook with it, store food/water in it, put it on our bodies, on our babies’ bums, play with it, and even sleep on it. Plastic comes in many different forms, and some are more harmful than others, disrupting hormones potentially resulting in male and female infertility and even increasing the risk of certain cancers. Beyond the direct impact on us, we need to consider what happens to it once we are done with it. How does it break down and what chemicals are released when it does? In order to tackle plastic, I would just encourage you to consider, with every purchase, what an alternative might be. Could you use glass storage containers instead of plastic?

A stainless steel water bottle instead of a plastic one? A mattress that doesn’t contain plastic for your baby? Could you fill mason jars with bulk hand soap rather than get a new plastic pump every time? Every small step makes a difference.

we evolve. Unfortunately, not all of these options are available to everyone. Health should not be reserved for the privileged so if you find yourself easily able to make these changes, then figure out how you can help those who aren’t as lucky. If you provide services think about how you can make your services/care/products more available to those with limited access. If you find yourself wanting to make these changes but overwhelmed by the cost/ energy/difficulty accessing any of it, don’t sweat it. Try just one small thing if you can.

If even that is too much, check in next month or a few months from now. Even something as simple as spending more time outside can improve your health. We are human beings and our circumstances are always changing so we have to meet one another (and ourselves) where we are.

Happy Spring!

The move towards greener and more sustainable living is ongoing as we move through life so there is no way to address all of this and be done with it. As we learn,

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Health and Lifestyle

THIS IS LIFE

Walk and Talk Therapy

by TYLA CHARBONNEAU Whenever I give a talk about the benefits of Walk and Talk Therapy, I always talk about how it is not rocket science. The simple combination of walking outdoors while exploring important aspects of our lives intuitively just makes sense. When I conducted my research and wrote a dissertation, I constantly had to defend my inquiry into taking therapy outside of the safety of four walls and a couch and into the great outdoors. People would ask about confidentiality, the logistics, or simply state, “that is not how therapy is done.” I wanted to support innovation in this profession in a way that benefits individuals on a few levels all at once.

When BC allowed therapists to resume in person therapy in June 2020 one of the WorkSafeBC recommendations was to meet people outside when possible. I rejoiced. I felt vindicated for what I knew to be true. When we walk, while talking in nature we increase the likelihood of improving our overall well- being. We know that walking is good for us. Like, really good for us, as is talking. So why not do therapy outside, too?

Outdoor spaces are mutually owned.

Each item I place in my office belongs to me and is a representation of how I view the therapeutic process. Sharing a mutually owned space may decrease the power differential and help to build safety in relationships. The idea that a person could revisit the spaces they engaged in therapy on their own time to continue the personal work really resonated with me. We store our memories through our senses. The ability to return to a spot along the river or on a trail with the familiar sights and sounds can be a helpful trigger to recall important aspects of therapeutic conversations. It can also be a good reminder of grounding tools on difficult

days without needing to make another appointment.

Moving forward with your body means you may also be moving forward with your life. When exploring problems there is something about already being in motion that can help kickstart the problem solving or goal setting work outside of therapy sessions. Additionally, when we walk, we naturally release anxiety and find calm via relaxing our muscles and allowing the blood to pump through our veins in an invigorating way. Walking also releases endorphins in our bodies that can help with depression and pain reduction.

It is important to note that questions about confidentiality have merit. An office space with a closed door ensures that no one will see you or overhear your concerns.

This is an important aspect of therapy and there are times when this is more appropriate that walking. However, think about what you share with your friends

Submitted Photo when you walk. Often these conversations are incredibly deep, and we usually do not notice who is around us or we change the conversation or become silent in the presence of others. Walk and talk therapy requires informed consent and a conversation with your therapist about the risks and benefits. For best practice the option of a private office or video call should also always be available to you as an option.

We know the benefits of being in nature and taking in that breath of fresh air. When contemplating your mental health needs consider the power of taking a walk outside

by yourself, with a therapist, or with friends.

The content provided in this article is for information purposes only. It is not meant as a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you find yourself in distress, please reach out to your local physician who can provide mental health resources in your community.

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Bits and Bytes

THE ANSWER GUY

Spring Cleaning

by KEVIN MCISAAC

How’s your PC doing? Does it feel like you may have purchased it back when Canadian teams were still winning the Stanley Cup?

will make everything on your computer snappier.

If you do not have an SSD then while you have the defragger open you can go ahead and defragment the drive. There’s almost no value in doing this for SSDs but for older drives, it can help a bit.

Our computers do tend to get slower as they get older. This is for a variety of reasons, but typically there are three main ones. 1.Your computer software as it updates typically requires increasing amounts of resources. And by resources, I mean more memory and more hard drive space. 2.Your computer is running too much stuff. Lots of background applications are the culprit. 3.You have malware.

Let’s talk about cleaning this up and breathing some new life into your PC. There are two good reasons why we want to do this. Getting a longer life out of your technology and not replacing it is as green as you can get. Every year that goes by before you replace your technology means you get more for your money when you replace it.

Before you do anything backup your computer and create a restore point in your computer. To create a restore point open Explorer and right-click on This PC. Choose Properties. Choose System protection. Click Create a restore point right now... Give it a useful description like “Before cleaning” so you’ll know which one to go back to if you have a problem.

The solution to the resource problem is to give your computer more or faster resources. Often the best way to speed up your computer is to give it more RAM. Open Explorer and right-click on This PC. Choose Properties. Look for the line that says Installed memory (RAM). If it says anything less than 8 GB you need to upgrade. If it’s less than 16 GB there’s

Stock Photo

“Getting a longer life out of your technology and not replacing it is as green as you can get.” a good chance more RAM will help somewhat. Over 16 GB and increasing it probably won’t help much.

The process of replacing RAM is too long for this column but almost any tech guy or gal can do this for you for the cost of the RAM plus a nominal fee.

If you’re still running an old-style hard disk, upgrading to a Solid State Drive (SSD) will speed up your computer. First, check and see what kind of drive you have. In the Windows search bar, probably located on the bottom left of your screen, type in ‘defragment’ and choose Defragment and Optimize Drives.Your hard drives should be listed, and the media type will tell you if it’s an SSD. If not, you can get a tech person to install an SSD and move your operating system on to it. This

Let’s turn off unneeded background apps. In the Windows search bar type in ‘background’ and choose Background apps.

Turn off any that don’t need to run in the background. There are some things like music and WiFi that need to run in the background, but most applications don’t.

Turn off any you think aren’t needed.You can always turn them back on later if you discover they need to be on.

It’s also not a bad idea to go through and uninstall any applications you don’t need.

In the Windows search bar type in ‘add’ and choose Add or Remove Programs.

Click on any programs you don’t use and choose Uninstall.

Finally, Let’s check for malware. I like Malwarebytes. They have a free for personal use version. It works just fine. Download it from https://malwarebytes.com/ After it’s installed choose Scan. It’ll update itself and scan your computer for malware. It’s very thorough and can take a while.

All this can perk up an old computer for a while.

One last word on registry optimization programs, don’t bother. Windows does a fine job of optimizing already and with the risk that something will go amiss, the cost/ benefit just isn’t there.

Happy Computing.

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Explore new interests or expand your professional skills!

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Bits and Bytes

ASTROLOGY

April 2021

end of the month and definitely major communications of love language. Deep emotional feelings may rise.

by ASHLEY KRISTINA

Aries

April marks the month of initiation, with communication from the heart as the major theme. It marks a new solar cycle and a refreshing time of growth and momentum. Aries is the first energy of the Zodiac and paralleled to the “big boom” of this Universe.

The sun moves in the sky with Venus and Mercury, creating a theme of love on Earth with communication being paramount.

Now is a good time to tell people how much you love them.

The new moon in Aries occurs April 11 (9 pm), putting the stake into this period of initiation. The sun and moon sit at a place in the zodiac that speaks of immediate manifestation potential and a time of joy.

The energy you exude right now means everything. Like Peter Pan says, think of your happy thought and keep it with you. Hold onto it and exude that energy.

The frequency of Earth measured by the Schumann Resonance is spiking to new levels.

Venus moves into sultry Taurus April 14 and life will feel good, moving slowly with enjoyment.Venus in Taurus is about the basics: sleep enough, eat enough, and be comfortable first. Both Mercury and the sun move into Taurus April 19 so the last half of April is a very slow, feminine time.

Spring has Sprung! Align with this energy.

Mars moves into Cancer April 23 and changes the initiatory energy to that of nurture and nourish for the following month. April 26 (10pm) brings a full moon with the sun conjunct Uranus, with Venus in tight conjunction with Mercury, all traveling in the sky together, opposite the moon. Uranus is the planet that rules Aquarius energy, known as “the planet of surprise” so expect the unexpected by the

Blessed birthday to you. There’s a powerful way right now, with the planets supporting love on earth. Quick momentum and initiation for the first two weeks of this month are especially aligned with you.

Go only in the route that aligns with your heart.

Taurus

Happy birthday. The beginning of the month is a pioneering time for you, perhaps even vulnerable. It will feel more secure mid-month. Home life is a major theme and spring cleaning, cooking and maybe even planting seedlings.

Gemini

Mars moves out of Gemini April 23, so the first three weeks of April are still very much aligned to your energy. Use this time to align your life in the way you want it to be. The eclipse energy of 2020 still supports you to make great changes in your life and energy.

Cancer

It’s an uplifting month for everyone and Earth frequency is increasing. Attune to the energy and be outside as much as possible.

Do the spring cleaning and everything that refreshes your spirit. Speak from your heart to allow people to finally understand you.

Leo

Love is your entire theme this month. Even though the sun travels through Aries, the sun is your ruling planet and it is moving in the sky with Venus and Mercury (and Uranus by the end of the month): love, communication and surprise. Trust the journey.

month. Communication from your heart will get you farther than expected.

Libra

It’s not a time of balance. It’s legitimately a time of change that will go down into the history books. Let go of trying to find any balance and simply follow your heart. Let yourself move to new territory.

Scorpio

This is the month of your phoenix rising: your manifestation and spiritual rebirth.

The Scorpio full moon of April 26 illuminates the deepest recesses of your subconscious and only light persists once the dark has been illuminated. Keep a candle lit this month.

Sagittarius

Stay in the light of truth. Earthlings are learning how powerful the thoughts and mind are: energy as real as anything in the “physical” world, so choose them wisely.

Do not forget that you have powerful forces working with you from 2020’s eclipse portal so be positive.

Capricorn

The shield of your heart is being broken down so that the strength of your sternness develops into a stronger form of vulnerable love. Do what needs to be done and say what needs to be said, with your heart open and vulnerable. Connection is accomplished.

Aquarius

The sun is supporting you this month as the themes of late January/early February are manifest. It may feel like an illusion but it’s not. New territory of experience is exciting!

Pisces

Welcome to your rebirth!

Virgo

It’s a bright and energetic month for you, and lots can happen in the first three weeks.Virgos have a strong suite in communication so use this superpower this FERNIEFIX.COM

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Bits and Bytes

THROUGH THE LENS

Green, Through Your Lens Photo by TERRY NELSON Photo: Dome Creek Cedars An old-growth forest has some fine earth enhancing qualities.

Not only do they produce most of the oxygen we breathe, they are efficient carbon sequestering machines as well. Their aesthetic, and overall support of many life forms, can almost be felt when amidst their mist.

These particular Western Red Cedars are growing in the “Caribou Rainforest” near Dome Creek. The expansive forest where they dwell stretches from Wells Gray P.P. in the south, to the McGregor River in the north, the Northern Rockies near Valemount in the east, and Sugar Bowl Grizzly P.P. to the west.

Supporting a vast assembly of life supporting biodiversity, forests of this stature are recognized internationally as not only a timber harvesting resource, but also as the home of the endangered Mountain Caribou. Finding a balance between present and future human needs and those of the long-term survival of this delicate biome is a complicated issue that requires special attention and planning.

A visit to this north central BC region is well worth the effort, and will help all in realizing the need to have a higher level of management and protection assigned to these lands.

Photo by MOUNTAIN LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY Photo: Resident Eagle Joe in the snag at Island Lake Lodge I feel so lucky to live in the mountains, sharing this beautiful landscape with all the wildlife that call it home.

While many people constantly want to see bears and moose, eagles are often overlooked. Their giant wing span, being able to see eight times further than people, their personalities...they’re just so majestic (and funny!).

It’s a privilege to catch these resident eagles in person, multiple times a week and for that I’m grateful. If you ever want to learn about these beautiful creatures, there’s many live webcams online letting us peek into their nest and world. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

Bits and Bytes

S OCIA L PAGE

Out in the Community: What is one important GREEN change you’ve made recently?

Dawn Deydey Increasing the amount of locally grown food that I am consuming.

The new Local store has allowed me to add BC wild harvested mushrooms, Fernie-grown micro greens, eggs, gluten free pie and pizza crusts, frozen meals, potatoes, apples, carrots and so much more. Somehow the food tastes better as I know my purchases support the farmers and local producers that make the food and strengthens our local economy.

Steve and Janet Kuijt We really focused this year on our own homegrown food production. It’s small but we will come close to making it through the year with all of our own carrots and potatoes (no plastic bags or shipping from somewhere far away) and have produced 100% of our jam, jelly, honey and eggs. In addition, we have been buying our peanuts in bulk and making our own peanut butter. The biggest take home from this is reducing the use of plastics, glass and metal (lids) for many of our condiments.

For this coming year we hope to do more canning of vegetables to reduce our impacts and “grow local.”

Lisa Tessler and Randal Macnair Over the past year we have made a number of changes, some voluntary and some imposed. An important one is that we increased our donations to groups that work for the environment and the planet. It’s easy to do with a monthly contribution and even $10 or $25 per month can make a difference. Support organizations that support the earth.

FYI Is the Community Energy Association new to you, too?!

Well, we’re super stoked and super impressed with our local team here in Fernie! The CEA recognizes that climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, believe communities have a critical role to play in avoiding a climate crisis, and are here to support our communities every step of the way! Learn more at communityenergy.ca.

We all love Koocanusa and the many opportunities this body of water, its sandy shores and abundant terrain provide us throughout the year. It is also important for us to be aware of the impact we are having on the land. More than 100,000 people visit the Koocanusa area every year, with tens of thousands recreating on a typical summer weekend. The province of BC, Ktuanxa Nation, RDEK and CBT joined forces to create the Koocanusa Recreation Steering Committee Partnership and have developed a Koocanusa Recreation Management Strategy. Visit koocanusarecreation.ca to read this strategy, see maps for use and to learn more about the area!

Did you know that Wildsight celebrated 20 years of education last fall? In 2000, Lee-Anne Walker was working on how to immerse students in environmental education. “We wanted to create an ecosystem awareness program for students to become literate about our own backyards,” she said. And the Magic Basin Field Trip was created. At the time, Wildsight was known as the East Kootenay Environmental Society and this program allowed students to explore wetlands, grasslands and forests guided by Wildsight educators.

Pretty cool! wildsight.ca FERNIEFIX.COM

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Fernie Fun

THE LAST PAGE

Spot the Difference

FIND THE

Can you find five differences between these two pictures?

Have a picture to submit for Fernie Fun? Send it to info@clarismedia.com.

Somewhere in this issue is a little green leaf. Can you find it?

Name the Location These businesses, buildings or locations are located somewhere in Fernie, can you name them?

Answers Last Month

Fernie Nordic Centre, Fernie Fox Hotel, Husky sign, Fernie Golf Club sign

Contemporary Mountain Luxury 16 Alpine Trail Place

A glimpse into the remarkable stories of people and places in the Columbia Basin.

Solar Panels Help Grasmere Group Focus Funds on Community The Triangle Women’s Institute has been serving Grasmere for over 80 years. The recent solar panel install, supported by Columbia Basin Trust’s Energy Sustainability Grants, lowers utility bills for Grasmere Pioneer Hall, freeing up funds to support the community.

Full stories on

ourtrust.org/stories

Community to Restore Stream Using First Nations Principles By integrating the latest science and principles of sustainability, responsible stewardship, respect and self-sufficiency, the Kenpesq’t community is working to restore Shuswap Creek. With support from Columbia Basin Trust’s Ecosystem Enhancement Program, the project aims to bolster populations of culturally significant fish.