APRIL 2020 | ISSUE 160
TH E The Green Issue Special Feature with Loree Duczek, RDEK on what to expect with local recycling initiatives.
G R E E N
Feature Resident Kate Brennan discusses her passion for the global Fridays for Future movement.
IS S U E
Michael Hepher on the importance of supporting artists as they navigate new challenges and realities.
Dr. Taina Turcasso on facing our biggest challenge and making drastic changes to save ourselves from ourselves. FERNIEFIX.COM
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Elk VallEy Rugby Football Club 2 0 2 0 Se a So n
Men’s & WoMen’s teaMs – neW players WelcoMe! FaCEbook @Elk VallEy R.F.C FoR tRaining datEs and timEs games:
April 25th – Rucking in the Rockies – Fernie May 30th – Rocky Mountain Rogues @ EVRFC June 13th – EVRFC @ Rocky Mountain Rogues June 20th – League final – leader hosts
A new way to recycle is in the valley.
...and it’s going to save you money.
Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling throughout British Columbia. Recycle BC is funded by producers, like retailers and manufacturers that supply packaging and paper products to BC residents, keeping the costs away from homeowners. By adopting the Recycle BC program, we are able to recycle many new products that are not available through the Yellow Bin and Fernie Curbside Recycling Program. These include milk cartons, ziploc bags, styrofoam, coated paper cups, bubble wrap, flexible plastic packaging, potato chip bags, aluminum foil & pie plates. Recycle these items and more at the Recycle BC Depot at your nearest Elk Valley Transfer Station.
Now open at the FERNIE, SPARWOOD & ELKFORD TRANSFER STATIONS. PLASTIC BAGS & OVERWRAP
PAPER & CARDBOARD PRODUCTS
GLASS & STYROFOAM learn more
engage.rdek.bc.ca/recycle
CONTAINERS
FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
If you have any glass containers or rigid styrofoam, bring it along for the ride. We’ll gladly take it …yep, we said styrofoam
APRIL 2020 ISSUE 160
THE GREEN ISSUE
EDITOR’S FIX | 5 THE GREEN ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE | 7 Recycle BC by Loree Duczek, RDEK
BUSINESS IN THE VALLEY | 9 Business News/New Business It’s in the Numbers by Roman Rybar, CFP Is Your Financial Umbrella in Place?
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | 14 Feature Artist – Edwin “Tex” Wiebe ArtBeat - Cope and Hope by Michael Hepher At Peace and Yet On Fire – Dive Inside the Mind by Sadie Rosgen with Spenser Fawcett Rental Fix – The Two Popes by Andrew Vallance
COMMUNITY AND EVENTS | 18 Feature Resident – Kate Brennan by Krista Turcasso Planning Ahead - Green Career Planning by Kerri Wall
RECREATION AND OUTDOOR LIFE | 23 Hitting the Trails - Wigwam Flats with Julie Kelly and Spring News by Brittney Tracey Prehab Challenge - Biking by Bob Maudie Fernie Mountain Mamas – Take it All In by Yvonne Prest
HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE | 31 Bark Break: Go Green With Your Dog by Val Lanthier Family Wellness - Simplifying is Green by Dr. Taina Turcasso, N.D., R.M. Elements of Movement – Back to Biking with Maddy Alaric This is Life by Tyla Charbonneau - Nature is Therapy
BITS AND BYTES | 36 The Answer Guy – Hangout Together Apart by Kevin McIsaac Astrology – April 2020 by Ashley Kristina
FERNIE FUN | 38 Fix Trivia
COVER: Micro Growth. Photo by Spencer Robertson, IG: @collateral.photography THIS PAGE: At Ease. Photo by Kristine Wiess, IG: @kwpcollective
North Coal is keeping our water clean, protecting fish and aquatic life.
HAVE YOU HEARD?
The North Coal mine design will keep fresh water clean. We will reduce our impact on the water and air by minimizing our mine footprint, diverting clean water away from mine activities, implementing progressive reclamation, and ensuring mine rock is stored properly.
We are committed to keeping you informed about our project and its progress.
Visit www.northcoal.ca to learn more and join our mailing list for updates.
EDITOR’S FIX
S
etting the scene: We’re in the midst of COVID-19. It’s the first Saturday of Spring Break, and in true Fernie fashion a chilly storm is upon us and it’s too cold to ski. I have a cold and am selfisolating, so am working from home.You can just imagine the state of affairs in our household. Forts abound on every floor. The dress-up box is a hot commodity. (Wonder Woman and the Wicked Witch of the West are currently lunching to my left.) Walkie Talkies at all times, with secret operations going down. (How can we get another cupcake?)
on our street, along the path behind our house that leads to the Elk River. We have mountains, full of adventures. Snowshoeing, Fairy Lands to discover, imaginative games to explore! We have groomed Nordic, biking and running trails. Back roads that lead into the wilderness, soon ready for biking. We. Are. Lucky. But even in Italy, where there is a very firm lockdown with much closer quarters, people are taking to their balconies and creating beautiful music together. It is truly inspiring how something so devastating and scary can bring out the best in humanity - a global effort of social responsibility for the benefit of everyone.
It is hard not to wonder why we haven’t globally come together to remediate another crisis on our hands, the climate. We have had plenty of disasters around the world specific to this crisis… the Black Summer in Australia is the most That is just day one. Two more weeks, likely recent and alarming. I suppose when it’s four. Possibly more. At first, I started to not immediately in your own backyard, panic. But then I looked out the window it’s easily forgotten or put aside. How can - space. We have a lot of space! In our yard, we forget about the two back-to-back I even made the mistake of letting them watch Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. At its completion, my youngest said, “Why did you let us see that? I am sad for that movie!” as tears streamed down her cheeks. Oops!
ANDREW VALLANCE is a cinophile nerd who currently lives on the west coast. Girlfriendless, he spends his time going to movies, buying DVDs and flirting.
JULIE KELLY is the Manager for the Fernie Trails Alliance and loves spending time on the Fernie trails.
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.
KERRI WALL specialises in group facilitation, mediation, parent coaching, and leadership training. She welcomes inquiries at kerriwall.ca.
BOB MAUDIE is the owner and lead Physiotherapist at Fernie Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic. He has been known to ski 120 day a year, run on a fractured leg for two months, and not miss a day skiing through an ACL injury. He has learned a lot from his own stubbornness and would like to share his wisdom with the people of Fernie. BRITTNEY TRACEY is a local born, winterhating ultramarathoner who spends her free time eating beef jerky and trying to get people out on the trails. She sits on the board for the Sparwood Trails Alliance and hosts their Thursday Night Run Club. LOREE DUCZEK is the Communications Manager for the Regional District of East Kootenay. From emergency communications to educational tours on recycling and solid waste, she and her team provide communication and education throughout the East Kootenay.
KEVIN MCISAAC haunts the coffee shops and streets of Fernie to find his column source material. MADDY ALARIC is a lover of putting things down and picking them back up again, whether it be weights or her children. She loves inspiring people through her classes at Soar Studios and looks forward to sharing this love through her column, “Elements of Movement.” MICHAEL HEPHER is a painter, printmaker, sculptor and musician living and working in Fernie. His work is collected internationally and can be seen locally at Clawhammer Press and a variety of galleries in Western Canada. ROMAN RYBAR has worked in the financial industry since 1996. He became a Limited Partner with Edward Jones in 2004. When he is not helping clients he can be found enjoying bike trails or manning the bbq for family and friends.
summers BC was literally aflame, with fires just over the ranges on all sides of Fernie? It is in our backyard, and soon to be on our doorstep. All it takes is one look at Wonder Woman and the Wicked Witch for me to feel its immediacy and recognize our responsibility to stand up for their future. As I type, environmentalists and scientists around the world are documenting the effects of decreased travel, suspended industry and social isolation on our climate. I have a feeling these figures are going to be eye-opening, and perhaps just the alarm needed to initiate our social responsibility when it comes to climate change. Krista Turcasso, Editor 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 All content copyright Claris Media. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.
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. VAL LANTHIER is the Vet Tech behind local pet sitting and dog walking services, Pet Tech Care. For her, it’s animals all day every day, with a focus on how we can enrich their lives. YVONNE PREST wears a lot of hats: New mom, writer, teacher, councillor, chips and salsa fanatic. Her favourite hat is being a Fernie-ite.
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Special Feature
THE BOLD ISSUE
FERNIE RECYCLE BC DEPOT | SUBMITTED PHOTO
Recycle BC by LOREE DUCZEK, RDEK
T
here are new Recycle BC Depots at the Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford Transfer Stations. These depots are operated by the RDEK at all of its staffed Transfer Stations and are part of a provincially regulated Extended Producer Responsibility Program – known as an EPR program. Many people will be familiar with some of the older Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs for things like tires, oil and electronics, where you pay an eco or environmental fee at the store when you buy. That fee is intended to support a system for that product to be recycled and managed through the end of its life. One of the newer EPR programs is aimed at printed paper and packaging. It is managed by Recycle BC and the eco-fees are charged directly to the producers rather than consumers.
Recycle BC’s structure requires the program to be run with very specific guidelines, including gated and staffed locations and separation of materials. The RDEK’s existing yellow bin program and City of Fernie curbside recycling service currently do not meet their program specifications, so it was decided to establish depots at their Transfer Stations providing an opportunity to increase what we can recycle without costing taxpayers extra. The new Recycle BC Depots give residents the opportunity to recycle over 76 new items and the more recycling we can drive into the depots, the more money it will save taxpayers. The reason for this is that the RDEK is classified as a collector at the Depot – and gets paid by Recycle BC for every tonne collected. By contrast, the RDEK has to pay per tonne for every tonne collected in the yellow bins and City of Fernie curbside recycling. It is important to understand that the new Depot system is a totally separate program from the yellow bin and the City of Fernie curbside program. There are no changes to
the yellow bin program or Fernie curbside program. They ONLY accept paper, cardboard, tin cans, grocery/shopping bags and plastics #1-#6 (no Styrofoam even though it is marked with a #6). People will have to use the Recycle BC Depot at the Transfer Station if they want to access these new recycling opportunities as the RDEK does not have access to the same markets through the yellow bin system. The early response from East Kootenay residents has been fantastic. People are excited to be able to recycle so many more items, and while there will be an adjustment as people learn the new system and some of the sorting required, this is a great thing for our region. Over the next few months, the RDEK will be rolling out an extensive education campaign to provide residents with more information – including helpful videos and tip sheets that will provide residents with the information they need to use the new system efficiently and correctly. To learn more, visit engage.rdek.bc.ca/ recycle. FERNIEFIX.COM
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Fernie Pre Kindergarten Program Now accepting registrations for September All day learning 9am-3pm Ages 3-5
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Business in the Valley
NEW BUSINESS
Kootenay Learning Campus 802 2nd Ave 1-800–423-4919
K
ootenay Learning Campus (KLC) is a new School District #5 facility located in downtown Fernie. This fully renovated building offers numerous services. There are three meeting/ workshop/training spaces which can be rented out to community, business, and industry groups by the hour, half-day or full-day. Each room houses state of the art technology that can facilitate video meetings and electronic presentations. Wi-Fi, printing access, and a self-catering kitchen are all part of the rentals. KLC also has a café style coworking space, offered through monthly subscriptions, with access to all of the same services. KLC is also a continuing education centre for students and adults over 16 years of age who are looking for high school credits, course upgrading, or are looking to graduate. KLC is also the place to find online courses for students still in high school, grades K-12. Drop in to see what it is about! NOTE: Unfortunately KLC is now closed due to current conditions, but you can email them at kds.mailing@sd5. bc.ca for more information on when they will be open again.
Martin Hart - Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary sendaverde.org
I
n June of 2019, Maarten Hart, a retired Fernie veterinarian, spent the month at Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary in Bolivia. During that time, Maarten worked as a volunteer veterinarian in the clinic with two other Bolivian Vets. Senda Verde is home to 835 rescued animals, representing 64 species. “The range of animals treated is vast as the majority of animals that occur in the Amazon are represented at the refuge everything from Spider Monkeys to large Jaguars, bears, Andean Eagles, Owls, and hundreds of parrots,” says Maarten. Since returning, Maarten has begun efforts to raise money for an x-ray machine for the sanctuary. The current political and social situation in Bolivia has had a serious impact SUBMITTED PHOTOS on Senda Verde and every bit of support helps. Maarten will personally bring the machine to Bolivia to ensure it is delivered and set up properly. To help Maarten in these efforts, visit gofundme.com/f/andean-eagleneeds-help. FERNIEFIX.COM
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Business in the Valley
BUSINESS NEWS
Fernie Writers Conference ferniewriters.org
T
he Fernie Writers Conference is back. Its Mini-Conferences brought in bestselling author Susan Purvis (Nov), Banff Award winner Jayme Moye (Feb) and renowned mountaineer/ writer/photographer Pat Morrow (March). Each included a youth session for young writers. In May, the Conference will sponsor the first Fernie Writer-in-Residence to work with writers in the community and on their own project.
Subscribe to the Fernie Fix weekly e-newsletter at ferniefix.com for current and relevant, community information.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
The main conference this August 17-24, 2020 is headquartered at Fernie Alpine Resort and includes Sid Marty (three-time Giller Nominee), Marie Harris (former New Hampshire Poet Laureate), John Keeble (winner Prairie Schooner Prize for fiction), Pam Houston (NY Times Notable Book), and more. A focus on week-long workshops, with three and four-day workshops available. The revival of the Fernie Writers Conference is possible through the support of Fernie Lodging Co, Lizard Creek Lodge and Fernie Alpine Resort.Visit the site for more information, or contact Keith Liggett at t.keith.liggett@gmail.
New Roots Hair Co. THANK YOU to our clients, family and friends for helping make our first year a great one!
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Business in the Valley
Is Your Financial Umbrella in Place? by ROMAN RYBAR, CFP
W
e all know the phrase, “April showers bring May flowers.” Having an umbrella handy is an important consideration at this time of year. Being prepared for weather conditions can teach us a few things – especially if we think about “umbrellas” that can help us protect our financial goals. Consider these key areas: Your vulnerability to emergencies It’s a good idea to maintain an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses. Without such a fund, you may need to dip into your longterm savings to pay for unexpected, and unexpectedly large, expenses such as a new furnace or new roof. You’ll want to keep your emergency fund in a liquid, low-risk account.
It’s a good idea to maintain an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses. Without such a fund, you may need to dip into your long-term savings income. Having adequate critical illness and disability insurance in place can help ensure that income is replaced in the event of a serious illness or injury. Your ability to live independently As you transition to retirement, you may want to consider the importance of longterm care insurance. No one can predict the future – however, the impact of long term care requirements and associated costs of long term care can be high. Plan to give
IT’S IN THE NUMBERS
yourself the choice and flexibility in the event of a long term care need, and protect your retirement assets from erosion, by having adequate long term care insurance in place. The sun may be shining in your life today, but it’s always wise to be prepared for the proverbial “rainy day.” To help you have your umbrella ready, a Financial Advisor can perform an insurance review to help ensure that you have the right type and amount of insurance in place in the event of an unexpected event. * Edward Jones does not provide tax or legal advice. Review your specific situation with your tax advisor and/or legal professional for information regarding, or issues concerning, the tax implications of making a particular investment or taking any other action.
Your family’s financial situation If you passed away unexpectedly, how would your loved ones be affected? Would your family be able to stay in your house? Could your children eventually go to college or university? Would your surviving spouse have enough retirement income to maintain the lifestyle he or she has envisioned? Having adequate life insurance in place can help ensure that your goals don’t get derailed in the event of an untimely death.
the fernie academy
Your current income If a serious illness or injury keeps you out of work, even for a little while, the loss of income could disrupt your family’s ability to pay its bills, leading to potentially big problems down the road.Your employer may offer some type of disability insurance as an employee benefit, however, the coverage may be insufficient to fully support the replacement of your lost
Kindergarten to grAde 12, consider the Academy.
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Call to book a tour! 250.423.0212
Located in the heart of historic downtown Fernie BC this Ministry of Education recognized independent school offers a full complement of high standard academic programming combined with a focus on athletics and the arts. Hosting students from Kindergarten through Grade 12,The Fernie Academy focuses on individual students preparing them for the challenges of today’s demanding world. To book a tour please call: 250-423-0212 451 2nd Avenue, Fernie B.C. CONTACT OUR PRINCIPAL Jocelyn Sombrowski: info@thefernieacademy.ca
FERNIEFIX.COM
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FEATURE ARTIST
Edwin “Tex” Wiebe
Arts and Entertainment
My name is Edwin “Tex” Wiebe and I am a contemporary artist working in mixed media. I was born and raised in Coaldale, Alberta although my wife Louise and I spend most of our time between British Columbia in the summer and Mazatlan, Mexico in the winter. I believe some of my talent in painting was inherited from my grandfather. He drew me a picture of a deer when I was four or five years old. I remember that picture really impressed me and may have been the seed that gave me the inspiration to start. Shortly after I decided to give it a try in the first grade where I got in trouble for showcasing my art on the school outhouse walls, sending me on a trip to
the principal’s office. In second grade my teacher showed a picture of a sailboat that I had drawn to the whole school. After that, I participated in anything art-related that I could and in sixth grade, I placed in a national art contest. In eighth grade, my teacher Mrs. Brower, who was a watercolour and oil artist, started an art club once a week for half a dozen students who wanted to be artists. I bought five tubes of oil paints that were red, blue, yellow, white, and black. Back then we painted on a product called “Beaver Board” because we could not afford canvases at the time. Through school, I was able to sell some paintings to relatives and friends.
At age twenty-three I became a graphic artist working for National Neon in Lethbridge, AB. I continued in the sign business, starting my own company when I turned twenty-five called Southern Signs. In 1975 I sold that business and turned my attention to silkscreening by starting TexStyle Silkscreening and Embroidery. TexStyle specialized in t-shirts, hats, jackets and team uniforms. I sold the company to my daughter Dawn in 1992. With my history as a graphic artist and doing a lot of detail work, I find that I now have a hard time loosening up on my painting. After moving multiple times I found that my oil paints and brushes had disappeared, and it was then I decided to try watercolour,
which I found I really enjoyed. In 2010 I was inducted into the Wall of Fame for the Palliser School Division which consists of 49 schools, for Outstanding Achievement in Fine Art. My spring and summer are spent living off the grid on the pristine Bull River in British Columbia where I have many subjects to paint. I also designed and built a full scribe log home for me and my family to enjoy there. I spend many hours hiking and fishing in the mountains which gives me inspiration for my paintings. I love painting the mountains, trees, and rivers and my favourite trees to paint are Aspens. Each Aspen grove seems to have its own genetics - one grove will turn red every year while others may only turn
yellow. As the season changes the aspens give me the inspiration to get the brushes out and start painting. I am now in three galleries in the Kootenays - Stephanie’s Glass and Art in Fernie, Fernie Art Co-op and Cranbrook and District Art Council, as well as two in Alberta. I am also a regular at the Art Walk in Mazatlan, Mexico from November-April. My art has gone to collectors from Canada, the USA, Japan, Mexico, and Europe.
To see Edwin’s artwork or learn more about him, visit the Arts Co-op in downtown Fernie, message texwiebe@hotmail.com or follow him on Facebook. FERNIEFIX.COM
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Arts and Entertainment
ARTBEAT
Cope and Hope
is the strength of art that is created without an external agenda. For an artist, it means we care more about our art than other trivial things like money. If we want money it is only because it allows us to make more art without being bothered by having to think about money for a while.
by MICHAEL HEPHER
O
n September 7, 2001, a film crew gathered on the Southwest tip of Long Island, New York to record a video for a new song by musician Ryan Adams. Most of the video featured Adams playing his guitar under the Brooklyn Bridge, looking North at the Manhattan skyline where the twin towers of the World Trade Center stood out prominently. Four days later the world stood still as that skyline, and our perceptions were irrevocably changed. Eerily, the song Adams was making the video for, ‘New York, New York’ is a tale of lost love that comes off as a confession of love for the city itself. When the video was released after September 11, reactions were mixed. Of course, the record label knew they were sitting on a gold mine, but the artist himself was hesitant to release it to avoid the perception of profiteering. In the end, they compromised on a dedication statement at the end of the video, and predictably the song became Adams’ biggest hit—the song gained so much more meaning than the artist ever intended. It’s true that every era has had complexities—We’ve survived hard stuff before, but this era feels more complex. Global media brings us strife from every corner of the world—war, famine, environmental disasters, and new epidemics. It is impossible to ignore these things because our daily involvement in social media thrusts news into our consciousness, so how do we cope? We can either ignore the world around us, or we can find ways to process and assimilate the influx in ways that allow us to keep moving forward. Luckily there is a group of people who are committed to helping us with the task: the artists. If you need a distraction or want social change, there’s an artist making work that
FIND RYAN ADAMS - NEW YORK, NEW YORK VIDEO ON VEVO
We can either ignore the world around us, or we can find ways to process and assimilate the influx in ways that allow us to keep moving forward. Luckily there is a group of people who are committed to helping us with the task: the artists. will resonate. If you want to feel some comfort after a breakup, there’s someone writing a song for you. If you want to capture the feeling of being lost in the backcountry on a pair of skis, there’s a dozen of us painting that world for you. If you need to be buoyed, there’s a poet stringing together a stanza that will restore your hope in humanity. We are not a particularly selfless lot, nor are we driven to help humanity necessarily— it’s more that we jolly well can’t help ourselves. For us, our craft is like a pressure valve that has to be released when there gets to be too much cultural steam built up inside. Making things is a byproduct of our lives—which is why we collectively suck at shutting up, but that’s the very quality that makes us valuable to society. Authenticity
We are potentially heading into one of the most challenging seasons in human history: after being hammered by critical climate change timelines and pipeline disputes, we find ourselves now staring down the barrel of the first global pandemic in modern memory. It’s impossible to say how different our lives will look even in the two weeks between the writing and publishing of this article, but I know a couple of things for sure: First, the artists are going to be hit hard. So many of us live as close to the edge of survival as we can because it allows us the freedom to release our art more authentically, but it makes us very vulnerable to economic instabilities. Take a minute to think about how you can support an artist—buy an album, or buy a book of poetry to read during your quarantine. Read it twice. Second, the artists will have a lot to say, and we should listen. Like Ryan Adams’ serendipitous words for a post-9/11 world, it was the artists that gave us the words to grieve and built the statues to commemorate. Art has a kind of prescience, not because we can see the future, but because we can understand how the present will affect us on a unique level. Artists can soak up messages floating in the ether and turn them into substantial, tangible bits of beauty and wisdom— like ropes cast down to us as we cling desperately to the smooth cliff face of life. If we are going to get through this spring (and I believe we will), we are going to need to make sure we have artists around to guide, comfort, and give us wings when we need them the most.
Arts and Entertainment
AT PEACE AND YET ON FIRE
Dive Inside the Mind by SADIE ROSGEN with SPENSER FAWCETT
S
penser Fawcett is a welcoming smile, an avid flower gardener, a gentle pat on the back, a genuine wealth of fun, a Frisbee golfer, and an advocate for cannabis and it’s evolving culture. He is all things knowledgeable when it comes to what you should, could, and want to indulge in to elevate your human experience. For our green issue, I decided to delve into the experience of cannabis and its creative and psychoactive force field. Should you want more information or entertainment, you can follow Spenser on Instagram: #theredeyedrattail or find him in the flesh at Stick and Stone cannabis shop in Fernie.
Dive Inside the Mind by Spenser Fawcett and Sadie Rosgen fuzzy satisfaction is my amplified pleasure adventure vulture shapes in sculpture GOLD RULES OLD RULES Fade In Fade Out escape the dread come by this side instead experimental alienation the canary smokes weed the foundation for its wildlife indeed friendship forward slash devoted time to someone with similar values
calm driven to passions generous with a lazy heart take me back to the start the talk radio show of the delicate ceiling is completely exposed nevermore you sleep I sleep the magnetic relevance is completely benevolent my time is spent: relaxed and fascinated, take the time for resonation my face is happy and my heart follows leave me here FULL no longer hollow
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Arts and Entertainment
The Two Popes by ANDREW VALLANCE
J
orge Mario Bergoglio is the current head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. He was born in Argentina in 1936, and became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, subsequently leading the Argentine church during the riots of 2001. He was created cardinal in 2001.
from theological conservatives, on many questions, including the admission of civilly divorced and remarried Catholics to Communion and the alleged coverup of clergy sexual abuse.
recently, he played Don Quixote in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. Similarly, Anthony Hopkins played Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, Richard Nixon in Nixon, and Odin in the Thor franchise. From 2016 to 2018 he played Dr. Robert Ford in the television series WestWorld.
Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, Bergoglio was elected Benedict’s successor. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.
He is a fascinating man and so it makes sense that a talented filmmaker like Fernando Meirelles should want to make a film about Pope Francis’ rise to power and his relationship with his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. And what a film it is!
Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Gregory III, a Syrian who reigned in the 8th century.
Jonathan Price and Anthony Hopkins play Francis and Benedict respectively. Both actors are famous for their previous work. Jonathan Price has played diverse roles in films such as Brazil, Jumping Jack Flash, Tomorrow Never Dies, The Wife and, most
He is credited with having a less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by previous popes. He has been noted for his humility, concern for the poor and a commitment to interfaith dialogue. He maintains that the Church should be more open and welcoming. He opposes consumerism and overdevelopment and supports taking action on climate change. He has been a vocal opponent of neo-nationalism and helped to temporarily restore full diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba and supported the cause of refugees during the European and Central American migrant crises. Although he maintains the traditional views of the Church regarding abortion, marriage, the ordination of women and clerical celibacy, he has faced increasingly open criticism, particularly
THE RENTAL FIX
They are both excellent in their roles in The Two Popes making a vibrant and engaging film out of what is essentially the struggle between the conservative and liberal wings of the Catholic Church. They capture the complexities of the personalities of the two popes, with the compassion of Francis contrasted with the starch and unyielding conservatism of Benedict. The film does tend, however, to whitewash Benedict probably the most right-wing Pope in recent times. The cinematography is excellent and encourages me to visit the Vatican. Two thumbs up.
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.
Community Coming Together At this time of crisis, the Steering Committee of the Communities of Interest Advisory Initiative wish everyone strength and kindness. Look after yourselves and assist the vulnerable! BC - news.interiorhealth.ca/covid-19/ ALBERTA - albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx
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Community Social Distancing While we are all being socially responsible and practicing social distancing, it can be tough after the days, weeks and months pass us by. We reached out to members in our community to see how they are practicing social distancing in an effort to inspire us and help us to feel connected in our efforts. Share your own practices with us over social media! @ferniefix on Facebook and Instagram. Look for more inspiration and support in our virtual May edition.
Professionals Question: What is your strategy for making working from home productive and fun? Ange Qualizza: “It is probably not a surprise, but working remote or even as we are at the City of Fernie, working with only essential folks in the building is a bit of a departure for me. I am hardwired to love collaborating and sharing a hallway laugh, that is why my self-care really involves getting out once I get home with my family. A long walk along the river is just what I need to reset after a day working remote. We are so fortunate to live here, in this wide open space that allows us some freedom to do the things we love.”
are so “We fortunate to live
here, in this wide open space that allows us some freedom to do the things we love.”
Chris Moulton: “When you watch hockey for a living all over the continent, you’re kind of at a stand still. Thank goodness for the internet and recorded games. My seat is just more comfortable and it’s warmer here. Have to make the best of it. Stay inside. Be safe.” Patty Vadnais: “Home has many distractions – the cat, Teresa, music, a deck with sunshine, to name a few. All things that add to the fun of working from home but not necessarily the productivity of home. A couple of things that have helped me be productive – team meetings and schedules. First once a day, our team connects via Teams to check in on each other. Second – I schedule my tasks. After I write my to-do list, I assign what time of the day I will work on those tasks. Scheduling my day stops me from asking what should I do now? And, slows down the email distraction as there is time scheduled for that too.”
Louise Ferguson: “I believe when working it is important to have a positive space to be productive. As I moved my office to an at home set up, I took the time to create an area that I could focus in but that also made me happy. I brought home items from my office to make it still feel like work and inspire me. I also recreated a mini-gallery wall to replicate my office at The Arts Station but included photos of the building and colleague, Jackie. We are also in constant communication through different virtual platforms as we both work best by bouncing ideas off each other! My new four legged office mate, Stella Blue is also great company!”
“
it is important to have a positive space to be productive... I took the time to create an area that I could focus in but that also made me happy.”
Couples/Singles Question: How are you spicing up your social isolating?
Steve Lala: “We’re lucky to have vast spaces to isolate from crowds in Fernie. With premium grooming… oh, and the track is set 3m apart just to be safe.”
been quite “it’s enjoyable connecting
with each other like when we were young” Mary Giuliano: “Nick and I have been spending a lot of time catching up on things in the house like transplanting some of our indoor plants, dusting ceilings and walls and most of all snuggling on the sofa watching Netflix. Also staying in means we are talking a whole lot and so it’s been quite enjoyable connecting with each other like when we were young and talked for hours and with making a lot of phone calls to friends.”
Families Question: What fun tips can you offer other families as they socially isolate? Nicole Heckendorf: “My own advice to myself is going to be: be flexible and don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t sweat the academics, the state of the house, the volume of TV...embrace the family time, try to make it memorable in the best possible way for the kids.”
flexible “beand don’t
sweat the small stuff ”
Jana Wenzlawe: “It’s all new territory and with my kids and their age spread, it’s a bit tricky. So far we have stocked up on canvasses for painting, added other drawing and art supplies to our craft cupboard. I also pulled out some games such as Uno, chess and our current fave, Battleship. This game works really well for all of my kids’ ages. With school being closed indefinitely, I have plans to continue some sort of education but not until after spring break. I am thinking cooking, home maintenance, car maintenance, gardening, plus accessing the plethora of online courses that are opening throughout this crazy time.” Jeff Zukiwsky: “Here is what we are up to: Get out into nature: We are very fortunate to live in Fernie and have access to great wilderness. We are maximizing outdoor playtime and activities, both for our kids and for ourselves. Getting outside will continue to be an important part of our health and quality of life in the coming weeks and months. Tip: try a new outdoor activity and explore places that you have never explored, that are less crowded. Get creative: Our daughter Elise set up a restaurant in our house with a full menu and prices. Lobster lunch is only 50 cents! We’ve been eating our regular meals as a family and supplementing with breakfast, lunch and supper at Elise’s restaurant. Catch up on work: We are very fortunate to both work remotely and we continue to work full time. Things are a bit slow as everyone adjusts to a new normal, so it’s a great time to catch up on all the reporting writing that I’ve been off for the last few months.” FERNIEFIX.COM
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Community and Events
FEATURE RESIDENT
Kate Brennan by KRISTA TURCASSO
S
itting across from Kate Brennan I am struck by a memory from nine years ago when I was sitting across from her dad, Casey Brennan for the exact same purpose. Now, putting this piece together I’ve also discovered that this is the first time two members of a family have been Feature Residents and what is really telling is that both Casey and Kate are featured in April, our annual GREEN Issue. Like father, like daughter they (should) say. The Brennan’s moved back to Fernie when Kate was just two months old. “My parents had lived here as ski instructors,” she tells me. “They then taught English around the world and moved to Victoria, where my dad got his masters degree.”
Kate really loved growing up in Fernie. “The sense of community, being able to play outside with friends or to go downtown on my own,” she says adding that it felt safe. While Kate enjoys all of the recreational opportunities living in Fernie provides, specifically mountain biking and skiing, she also is a dedicated dancer, pianist, and member of the high school band. Not surprisingly, she was raised being conscious of the environment and how her actions have an impact. “We always tried to walk a lot, do little things like turning off the lights, buying energy-efficient light bulbs, being conscious of what we were and weren’t recycling, composting, and conserving as much as possible.” In elementary school, Wildsight taught a program to the grade six class called Beyond Recycling. It helped educate youth on how our actions have a largescale impact. “When we were younger, the focus was on how we can personally change,” Kate says. Now she feels like there is still this focus but also a shift towards how governments and corporations can and should change.
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In September 2019, more than 6.6 million youth participated in a Global Climate Strike, inspired by the activism of Greta Thunberg who began the movement #FridaysForFuture. Kate and many of her classmates at FSS recognized the importance of these strikes and increasing awareness and decided to be a part of it. “Students and members of the community will be participating in a Climate Strike on Friday, September 27th at 11am, starting at Fernie Secondary School and marching down 2nd Avenue to City Hall. Youth at Fernie Secondary School have been inspired by the global Fridays for Future movement and want to increase awareness around the severity of the
climate crisis. We wish to highlight the need for significant climate action expected by youth in our community. We hope to demonstrate our frustration with the lack of action at the appropriate scale shown by political and economic leaders surrounding the climate crisis. While we recognize the city has taken some action in the past surrounding the climate crisis we believe there is a huge opportunity waiting for your leadership. The support, knowledge, and expertise in this community can be harnessed to make real change in the time scale that this crisis demands.” This first strike and the second strike, held November 29, 2019, were in line with the
international strikes, but as the March date was in the middle of spring break they moved it to March 6, 2020. “The response has been super positive,” Kate says. “Teachers, friends, and community members have been supportive.” But she also shares that she has faced negative comments online. “Not one of them has shown up to a strike, and I’m open to having a conversation.” And local government? Councillor Kevin McIsaac met them at City Hall at the first strike and addressed the youth. “And Morgan Pulsifer has been super supportive,” she adds “But he is the only councillor who I have spoken to other than (Mayor) Ange Qualizza. I feel like we’re being heard, but there’s a lot of ‘there’s nothing we can do’ response to the things we are asking for, or ‘we need more time.’ Maybe our requests aren’t possible or reasonable which I understand… I’m not in local government. But other towns surrounding ours have been able to make these changes so ours can too.”
2. Who did you first meet? I had a baby-sitter when I was young, Kelly Proctor, who other than my parents I spent the most time with when I was young. 3. Do you remember your first general impression of Fernie? I think just community and love.. my parents and their close family and friends have created a sense of love here. 4. What keeps you here? I guess my family, they live here so I don’t have a choice but it’s a really amazing community and I definitely don’t want to leave forever. 5. Do you have a favourite Fernie pastime? I really love skiing, and in the summer I love hiking. 6. What time of the year do you love most in Fernie, and why?
I really love the spring, it’s quiet but everything looks so beautiful and it feels so alive. 7. Where do you see or hope to see Fernie in five years? I see a more sustainable community, a more inclusive community towards the idea of youth. They definitely have a lot to say. 8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals? I get up and get ready for school every morning, and I really like eating breakfast. It’s important to me, to start on a positive note spending time with my family. 9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you. I love baking. 10. Quote to live by: Empowered women empower women.
The next strike is being organized for April 22, 2020 (Earth Day) at 1pm. Graduating this June, Kate is looking to the future which for her includes attending University with her eyes set on being a doctor… but she also plans to continue being a voice for climate change. “I will be in a bigger centre, and there will be infrastructure there for people who have done similar things. I would love to be involved in anything that helps with the climate crisis in future.” As for the continuation of Climate Strikes in Fernie, Kate is confident that there are many students keen to keep this momentum going. Follow @fernieclimatestrikes on Instagram to stay informed. Everyone is welcome to these events. 1. When did you first arrive in the Valley and what brought you here?
Rocky Mountain Optometry has made the difficult decision to reschedule all routine eye examinations until further notice. We are still providing urgent care, but by appointment only in our Fernie and Blairmore locations. If you are experiencing an urgent issue, please call us in Fernie or Blairmore and we will arrange to assist you. FERNIE: 250-423-4467 • BLAIRMORE: 403-562-7174
December 2002, and my parents brought me here because I was a baby.
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Community and Events
PLANNING AHEAD
Green Career Planning by KERRI WALL
W
hen my son started grade 10 at Fernie Secondary we began paying more attention to possibilities for his post-high school life. At the time there was a mandatory class that aimed to, “enable students to develop the skills they need to become self-directed individuals who set goals, make thoughtful decisions, and take responsibility for pursuing their goals throughout life.” The curriculum included financial planning, setting a course towards completion of credits needed to graduate, and exploring future education and career options (among other topics). At the time I wondered if these compulsory lessons would contain hopes and dreams in addition to goals; the former being more thrill-inducing to anyone, but especially to teens. What about their passions and desires? I hoped Planning 10 wouldn’t make adulating out to be too serious. A few years later it was the night of high school graduation, and I found myself sitting outside lost in thought as I gazed at the stars. What would all these fun, talented, unique teenagers do now? Have we prepared them for the road ahead? How would they cope with the necessity of trading their time for money? I worried that parents (including me) had not done enough to make this transition smooth. I was afraid that the education system had let these brilliant young people down. This led me through a mental rabbit hole that twisted around university, jobs, meaningful work, and addressing the world’s suffering. Tough stuff for any seasoned adult to contemplate, never mind a seventeen or eighteen-year-old! Are you familiar with the Japanese concept of ikigai? Ikigai basically translates as one’s purpose in life or reason for being. Some say that you can find your own ikigai by locating the convergent answer to the
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following four questions: 1. What do I love? 2. What am I good at? 3. What can I be paid for? 4. What does the world need? If you can address all four questions with a singular response, you have found your ikigai. That celebration night almost six years ago I wished with all my heart that every graduate would have a personal experience of ikigai. But do you know what concerned me the most? There was no reliable inventory available of pressing global issues and their matching college/ career path. There was no list on the wall that would make everything simple: Weekly Chores: Monday – empty garbage Tuesday – replenish provisions Wednesday – clean bathrooms Thursday – wash solar panels Friday – build community gray water system Saturday – harvest lettuces with child care centre Sunday - cook and deliver meals to seniors with electric vehicle Conventional wisdom tries to line teens up on a track to adequate income, but even that can be a spin of the roulette wheel. Some folks spend decades just trying to live within their means. And while the grad party raged on I wondered not only what
those young graduates could get paid for, but also how humanity could ever hope to slow mass species extinction, remove plastic waste from waterways, or plant billions of trees if bright and energetic young people didn’t have viable options to engage in these kinds of ambitions. In a short time, the world is now a drastically different place. Back in 2014, the school strikes for climate had not happened, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had not yet released its report declaring the urgency of keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and Black Summer was still to come in Australia where 186,000 square kilometres would be burned and an estimated one billion animals killed. Now in 2020, a shift in climate consciousness is well underway. We’ve got abandoned oil wells in Alberta being transformed into solar energy sites and the Regional District of East Kootenay is making detailed plans for a large-scale composting program. There will always be pressing problems to solve in the world. The future will likely bring floods, droughts, and a steady trickle of discouraged and discouraging grownups. Thankfully I think we can also depend on a continuous supply of optimistic young people and adults who encourage them to follow their hearts and make a difference. Let’s do this important work together.
Recreation and Outdoor Life
Wigwam Flats by JULIE KELLY, FTA
S
pring is in the air and you may be keen to hit the trails on foot or bike. April can be a tricky month for weather so please be mindful of trail conditions before heading out. Reviewing the IMBA “Rules of Trail” is a good way to make sure you are respecting the environment and our trail network. Things to keep in mind include not riding when it’s muddy, ride through puddles not around, and stay on the trail. Wigwam Flats Time: Approx. 1.5 -2 hours Distance: Approx. 22 km Difficulty: Blue A good close option for riding or running this time of year is to head out to Elko and enjoy the scenery along Wigwam Flats. If you are keen you can ride there from town for a solid long ride.
If you choose to drive, head towards Elko and turn left immediately after you pass the gas station on the right-hand side of the highway. Follow the road through Elko passing a number of houses. There will be a sharp left-hand turn on to a gravel road that you will take. Park at the small lot on the left-hand side or continue over the bridge and park below the gate. The route starts with a bit of a grind up a gravel rocky road up to Wigwam Flats. Enjoy the views at the top! The road levels out for the majority of the rest of the route. A good turn around point is at the pipeline. Please respect the seasonal closure and keep your dog on a leash. Bikers are not allowed along the Wigwam River Rim roads and trail from March 1 to June 14 (Bighorn Sheep lambing season). Have a great spring!
HITTING THE TRAILS
Spring News by BRITTNEY TRACEY, STA
T
his month the Sparwood Trails Alliance (STA) is busy! The AGM is coming up with the date announced via social media channels. Make sure you show up to have your say as there are board positions opening. The STA is also in full swing of preparing for its next event: The Elk Valley FatAss on May 30. A three or 12-hour timed event on a 7km loop around the Sparwood Golf Club, utilizing trails completed last year. The race sold out in weeks and the STA is really looking forward to it. Recently, the STA replaced its vandalized Sasquatch mascot at the Lookout. It’s been a busy year so far, with more big announcements on the horizon. Instead of a featured trail this month, we’d just like to remind all of our trail users that the bears are awake! Be aware and be prepared when you go out. Carry bear spray and go with a buddy!
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Recreation and Outdoor Life
PREHAB CHALLENGE
Biking by BOB MAUDIE
W
hat does almost everyone in Fernie do in April? Pull their bikes out of the basement and head somewhere dry such as the South Country, Cranbrook, or Moab. Lots of people have new bikes they are itching to get out on, while others are just over the snow and want to see some dirt. It is normal to have a few sore muscles your first two or three days out on a bike, especially if you haven’t been on one since October. However, once you get past those first few rides you should have zero pain while riding your bike! If you do, time to listen up! When a patient comes to see me regarding low back, neck, knee or whatever pain they experience when biking I break down the assessment into two parts; their body and their bike. Do they have any physical limitations in mobility or strength that is the issue? And how is their bike set up for them?
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Below are a few Key Points for bike fit and a handful of exercises to keep you “balanced” off the bike. Disclaimer: If you have pre-existing medical conditions/injuries, pain with these exercises and/or uncertainty on how to do them, please seek help from your Physiotherapist.
4. Your hip and spine angle will vary depending on the type of riding you do, the main point here is you are in a relaxed neutral position, not too compressed or stretched.
Bike Fit Tips: 1. You MUST start with the correct frame size, from here everything is adjustable. 2. Your knee bend should be approximately 30 degrees at the bottom of the pedal stroke (3-5 degrees either side of this is okay depending on you and your knees). 3. Your ankle bend should be 95-100 degree at bottom of the stroke (pointing your toes at the bottom of the stroke usually means your seat is too high, this can end up causing hot feet and a loss of force transferred into pedals).
When a patient comes to see me regarding low back, neck, knee or whatever pain they experience when biking I break down the assessment into two parts; their body and their bike.
5. Break lever for MTB’s should be in a straight line with your forearms while in descending stance, thus keeping your wrists straight when going downhill. Download a free app such as the “Hudl Technique” to film yourself and measure your own angles.
Standing Hip Flexor Stretch Your hip flexors do a lot of work in a shortened position while pedalling. Chronically shortened hip flexors can affect your spinal posture resulting in low back and neck pain. To perform this exercise stand in a split stance with both heels on the ground reach as tall as you can and then lean away from the side of your back foot. Hold for 30 seconds per side, repeat three times.
Plank to Side Planks A strong core is vital for transferring power to the pedals while biking as well as controlling the forces placed on your low back and neck. Start in a front plank, then move directly into the left side, then front again and finally right side. Begin with 30 seconds of each for a two-minutes total and work your way up. If you’re wondering, the world plank record is currently 8 hours 15 minutes set by a 62-year-old man. So, ya…get to work!
Pigeon Pose Pigeon pose is a great stretch on the front and back of your hips. Lack of mobility in these areas can result in low back and knee pain. This stretch usually takes some time to relax into. Aim for two minutes per side.
Banded Y’s Hours and hours in a pedalling position puts your upper back in a rounded forward posture which can lead to neck pain and numb hands. Combat this with some banded Y’s. Fix a resistance band to an object, with your thumbs facing up move your arms into a Y position. This can be done in kneeling like shown or in standing. Aim for three sets, 15-25 reps depending on the band resistance.
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Recreation and Outdoor Life
FERNIE MOUNTAIN MAMAS
Take it All In by YVONNE PREST
W
e learn countless invaluable lessons from our parents. And that learning never ends, even in their passing. Recently, I lost my father. The loss feels big and heavy. So big, that if I give it too much thought, I fear that my sadness may swallow me whole.Yet as we move out of winter and into spring, I too, am slowly coming back to life. Instead of focusing on what I have lost, I’m choosing to look at all that I have gained from being my father’s daughter. He was an intelligent man with a heart of gold. Happiest when working in his garden or sharing good conversation around a summer night’s fire. Upon reflection these last few weeks, I’ve realized that many of the things that I like about myself are reflections of him: his care for the underdog, his kindness to strangers and his ability to be a friend to anyone. Most importantly, he had a lifelong love affair with the natural world, one which he instilled in both my brother and me. To honour his life is to continue the legacy, a profound love, respect and connection with nature. My father, Robert Prest, taught me to take time to immerse myself in nature from a young age. To close my eyes and listen to the waves, the breath of the sea. To walk through the woods and run my hands along the burly gnarls of the trees. To trace roots with my feet and take note of each tree’s connection to another. To pay attention to how big and vast the world is, and to remember our role as its protectors. His values have become my own.Values of environmental stewardship which undoubtedly led me to the community of Fernie. A community drawn to build a life on the doorstep of wilderness. Looking back, the fondest memories of my childhood are summers spent with my dad and brother, camping along the West coast.
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Running wild and free in an oversized t-shirt and no shoes. Going weeks without a proper shower and beginning to form sea-salted-dreadlocks. Building bonfires so big that even if it began to rain, we never got wet! Somehow, my father made the impossible … possible. On his death bed, my father, the storyteller, wanted to leave us with one last word of advice. He asked us to “take time each day to look at the sky.” Even if you’re rushing to work, take a minute to look up and remember just how small we really are. To remember that we are a part of nature; it is not here for us to abuse for the environment’s health reflects our own. We are here to love. To sit in awe as we gaze at the sky in gratitude for what is and for what was. When my father was told that he had days to live, that he had lung cancer and that it was terminal, I’ll never forget his reaction of calm. He never complained because he always accepted the ebb and flow of life with ease. He understood the bigger picture and the natural cycles of the world. He was never afraid.
I understand that this month’s Fernie Fix is our Green issue. I also understand that my article typically shares triumphant stories of local mamas and how amazing they are at instilling a love and care of the outdoors within their children. But, given my personal experience as of late, I could not think of anything more poignant that I needed to share. That my father was a believer in green principles and that he planted the seed to my own passion for the environment. I also wanted to share how much I loved him and how much he inspired me. How much he will continue to inspire me as I raise my own children. Each morning, I hope that he can inspire you too. Inspire you to take a moment to look up at the sky, to take it all in, to let awe fill you with energy for another glorious day of being alive. Happy Sky-gazing! Are you also a Fernie Mountain Mama? Please feel free to share your outdoor adventures, family stories and photos by writing to ferniemountainmamas@gmail.com, or hashtag #ferniemountainmamas to encourage more parents to take their little ones outdoors and share in all the fun that Fernie has to offer. FERNIEFIX.COM
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Health and Lifestyle
BARK BREAK
Go Green With Your Dog by VAL LANTHIER
T
he featured dog this month is Koda! The smiley red-headed boy who has more friends than he can count on all four paws. He’s humble about it, in fact, he’s the balanced social type who doesn’t have to say hi to everyone but always gets along. Koda is extremely in-tune with his surroundings, a real sharp boy.You can see his intelligence through his eyes, and so did his owners when they first saw him. Sure, he needed some training like any good smart dog, but there’s no doubt they hit the jackpot! Koda is the ideal Fernie pal that many of us long for. He’s healthy, fit, and he won’t slow you down on those daylong adventures. He’s just an all-around best hiking, biking, shredding buddy you could ask for. When it comes to dogs and the environment, having one inevitably increases consumer goods and environmental impact. As long as you’re aware of that, you can make eco-conscious decisions and there are lots of ways you can reduce your footprint. Like many green tips, most of them are also cost-saving and who doesn’t love that? Here are a few creative ideas. Dogs go through more beds than most humans in their short lifetime, yet many of them come with these handy dandy zippers that have another advantage - easily tossing the cover in the washing machine. Next time you’re doing that and you notice that the bed is getting flat, dirty or too stinky, consider swapping out the mattress with a used memory foam topper that you can cut to size, or even an old camping mattress or thick blanket. Dogs are simple, anything cozy will do. As for toys and accessories, there are endless sustainable pet products available and it’s becoming easier to choose a brand
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...a lot of pet food packaging is not recyclable, that is until the new and free recycling program opened at each Transfer Station in the Elk Valley! that is environmentally conscious, just look for it on the packaging. One brand that stands out is West Paw Designs where they make non-toxic durable toys from a proprietary plastic that are safe and not only recyclable, but they can be infinitely recycled by sending the used ones back to the company so they can turn them into the same new toys! Speaking of recycling, a lot of pet food packaging is not recyclable, that is until the new and free recycling program opened at each Transfer Station in the Elk Valley! They are now accepting all kinds of items that used to get thrown out. Check it out, make the change and take advantage of it.
Dogs are constant waste producers. Their toilet is our backyard, parks, trails, you name it. It’s just plain gross to not take responsibility for their waste, plus it contaminates the environment. Fernie is super well-equipped with garbages and bag dispensers, there is never a reason to not pick up after your dog. In your own backyard, there is a simple solution to turn a disgusting job that you will inevitably avoid into something you can keep up with regularly within minutes. Take an old plastic basket or small garbage can with the bottom cut off and bury it in the ground in a convenient spot, adding a few rocks inside. Just like that you’ve got yourself a place to put the waste in the form of a poop composter and the scooping job can be done much faster, easier and most of all, a lot cleaner. Place a lid over the area and add some leaves and septic enzymes once a month to keep it composting.You can keep your yard neat year-round and avoid the dreadful spring clean-up.
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ELK VALLEY
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Back to Biking by MADDY ALARIC
A
s much as I love all of the seasons, spring holds a special place in my heart. A time of year that signifies new growth, fresh starts and warmer days. The magical time of year when for many, spending longer durations outside becomes possible.
Health and Lifestyle
ELEMENTS OF MOVEMENT
deepens and my heart beats faster. It’s the sound of tires on dirt, twigs snapping beneath as I take in the smell of the fresh air and trees that I’m surrounded by. Then comes the down, the freeing feeling of letting it all go as the wheels spin under you, so focused on what’s coming next that you don’t have time to think of anything else. A total rush of adrenaline that always leaves me wanting more. I am so ready for another bike season, anyone else?
possible. While I am in full support of this, I am also a big advocate of more fun, less injury.Yes, I said the word that nobody wants to talk about, let alone have happen to them. I wonder, is it possible to prepare the body to a point where we might be able to prevent some injuries? Preseason seems like a perfect opportunity to strengthen and mobilize the body allowing us a long fun-filled bike season ahead. Take a look at the movements below that can be done at home. No equipment? No problem. Grab a heavy home object such as a bag of dog food or flour.
Living in a town that is so active and For me, I can’t help but smile thinking about getting back in the saddle of my bike. fitness-based, it’s not uncommon to hear the chatter and excitement of folks looking The intensity of the climb as my breath to get in as much early-season riding as
Tempo Squat • Standing tall, inhale to fill the belly and engage the core. • Counting to three, slowly lower to the bottom of a squat. • Pause for three seconds.
• Brace core and focus on breathing. • Squeeze shoulders together ensuring that you stay upright and the object doesn’t pull you forward.
• Drive feet into the floor, quickly coming back up to starting position as you exhale.
Goblet Hold • Holding a heavy object out in front, just away from the body.
• Think 3s down, 3s pause, quick to stand.
• Brace core, shoulders down, squeeze glutes.
Bent-Over Row • Stand tall and squeeze shoulder blades down and together as you hold a heavy object.
*bear hug hold tight to the body, goblet held slightly away.
• Hinge at hips, keeping back flat with object out in front.
4 Rounds
• Bring heavy object towards the belly button, pausing at the top. • Exhale as you come back to starting position. Bear Hug Hold • Stand tall wrapping arms around the heavy object.
Once these movements have been mastered try this: 10 - 12 tempo squats *option to add a heavy object in front. 10 - 12 bent over rows 30s - 2 min bear hug hold *increase hold time as the body allows.
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Health and Lifestyle
Simplifying is Green
We learn to be more resourceful, we learn what we can live without in order to save money, we learn how to make nutritious food from what is in our freezer and our pantry, we even learn about alternatives to toilet paper if we have to. If we are truly struggling to feed ourselves and our family, to keep shelter over our heads, to pay our bills, maybe we learn how to ask for help and just maybe those of us who have extra to give, learn to seek out opportunities to help our neighbours.
by DR. TAINA TURCASSO, N.D., R.M.
I
had planned to write an article about trying to be greener when it comes to the products you put in and on your body, the way you consume and dispose of goods in your home, as well as examine options in health care for being a little more green. All of this has become really challenging when we are going through a pandemic. Natural cleaning products just won’t cut it, essential oils, while wonderful for relaxation and sleep, won’t kill this novel coronavirus, we are back to using singleuse cups at our coffee shops, and health care has become more wasteful than ever (out of necessity). Just the increased need for personal protective equipment (PPE) alone for both providers and potentially contagious patients will result in more waste as well as more laundry. So what can we do? Simplify. We are fortunate to be in what looks like the third wave of this illness and our epidemiology and health care experts have had the opportunity to learn from how this virus has spread in both China and Italy. Many of us are practicing social isolation, some of us are in self-isolation or “quarantine” after travel, while others have to work harder than ever to keep things running and more importantly, to keep things safe for the rest of us. This may seem like overkill when you look at the number of cases we have in Canada but there is good evidence to suggest that drastic measures now will go a long way towards reducing long term morbidity and mortality from novel coronavirus (Covid-19). We don’t know how long it will take and we definitely can’t fully imagine the impact it will have on us globally. It will end but things might never be the same. And yet. What an opportunity to make your life a little bit smaller. To embrace the quiet (ok, maybe not so quiet when you are at home with children 24/7)
FAMILY WELLNESS
V. CROOME PHOTO
We will learn that we are capable of big changes, of sudden changes, of having the world as we know it turned on its head and we will apply that knowledge to make those drastic changes to save ourselves from ourselves. and look inwards at what is most important in your life. What if we take this time to really simplify every aspect of our lives. Filter out all of the excess. Everything that doesn’t serve us. Excess stuff, excess stress, excess time wasted away from the people that matter most, and even excess relationships. Maybe we will come out of this with even more appreciation for our communities - both locally and globally - and focus on making changes that will benefit all of us. Consider putting your travel dollars into your own province and country and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time. I don’t mean never getting onto an airplane again but maybe we can become more mindful and intentional about it instead of jetting off by plane several times a year. Maybe we go through the next weeks and months with less (but for most of us, not truly limited) resources, both financial and more practical and we learn from it.
Maybe we take this time (and so many of us will have an abundance of time) to really work on our closest relationships, both in person and over the phone/Facetime. Social isolation does not mean that we can’t have contact with people. Please maintain contact with people. We need to look after our mental health and maybe this will bring us closer to our families and friends. Maybe we will really learn about human kindness. About compassion. About gratitude. Maybe, though, what is most important is that we make it through this (and the vast majority of us will make it through this) and things will never be the same. We will be more resilient, we will perhaps understand the struggles of the generations before us a little bit better, and we may be better prepared for what will really become our biggest challenge; facing the climate crisis. We will learn that we are capable of big changes, of sudden changes, of having the world as we know it turned on its head and we will apply that knowledge to make those drastic changes to save ourselves from ourselves. In the coming weeks and months, please stay safe. Get advice from reputable sources (primarily local health authorities) and not from the nightly news from a different country. Please follow the recommendations and keep the most vulnerable safe. We need them. Please manage your stress and try not to panic as it will impact your immunity as well as your mental health. We will get through this. FERNIEFIX.COM
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Health and Lifestyle
THIS IS LIFE
Nature is Therapy by TYLA CHARBONNEAU
T
here is a spot on the Old Growth Trail heading up to Island Lake Lodge where the cedars make a perfect circle. If you connect your body to the pine needles on the ground and quiet your mind you can lose yourself in the sound of a nearby creek and sight of swaying trees towering over you. It is a magical place and living proof that nature is therapy. The peacefulness of nature has long been a place where humans go to relax and unwind from the stress of daily life. A drive in the mountains, a walk through the forest, or time spent contemplating life by a river can increase our overall sense of wellbeing. We know that there are physical and psychological benefits from exposure to nature and yet I often hear people say that they are so busy they often forget to stop and truly take in this amazing valley. In his book Wisdom Sits in Places, Keith Basso (1996) wrote about how important it is for us to “step back from the flow of everyday experience and attend selfconsciously to places” in order to richly feel and live the gifts of nature. He believes that our connection to landscapes leads to self-reflection, which in turn leads to contemplation about other aspects of our lives including relationships, problems, and experiences.
How do you connect to the landscape that is Fernie? What does this place we call home, or visit regularly, mean to you and how does that meaning impact your life and well-being? How, outside of sport, are you connecting to the mountains and nature that surrounds you? There are healing aspects to our activities in the mountains and yes, exercise is important to our well-being, but we also must appreciate how these landscapes influence our lives in mental, emotional, and spiritual ways. If you find yourself having a difficult time answering these questions, or if you have never considered them, it may be time
SUBMITTED PHOTO SUBMITTED PHOTO
...our connection to landscapes leads to selfreflection, which in turn leads to contemplation about other aspects of our lives including relationships, problems, and experiences. to reconnect to the natural world that surrounds you. I encourage you to go outside, take a deep breath in and draw awareness to your senses. No need to clear your mind, simply allow thoughts to come and go. Next, take a look around and name five things you see, five things you hear, five things you feel (ex. wind on my skin), five things to smell, and when possible five things you taste. This practice brings you out of whatever you fixated on or worried about and back into the moment. Repeat with four items, then three, and so on. The grounding exercise can be used when
you need a break from hectic everyday life when you feel anxious, or anytime you find yourself disconnected from the important aspects of your life. John Muir said, “In every walk in nature one receives far more than he seeks.” Have you ever walked a bike trail and taken in the beauty that normally flies by you so quickly? Slow it down, take a walk every once in a while, and truly drink in the therapy that nature has to offer you. The sights, sounds, and smells are guaranteed to be a mood lifter and perhaps may even provoke a little reflection about your life. 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
Hangout Together Apart
It’s a quick and easy way to get a bunch of people together online.You and your friends/family/partners probably already have a Gmail account. If you all do then you’re away. Simply go to meet.google. com/. Or grab Hangouts Meet from the App Store or Google Play.
by KEVIN MCISAAC
A
s I write this COVID-19 is sweeping the world. Here in Fernie, at the time of this writing, there are no confirmed cases, but it seems likely that like everywhere else we probably have cases that have not been revealed yet.
Click the ‘+’ to join or start a meeting. You’ll need to enter a meeting code (which you’ll have been given if the meeting was created by someone else) or enter a nickname to start your own meeting. Make sure to allow meet.google. com to show notifications if your browser asks you.
This is a scary situation and the experience of China, Italy, and Japan shows the consequences of not social distancing early enough and the opportunities to manage the pandemic if social distancing is embraced.
At this point, your computer should connect to your camera and speaker and give you the opportunity to join the meeting. When you do you’ll see a URL under Joining Info. The URL ends with a string of letters and hyphens after the meet. google.com.You need to send those letters, the meeting code, to anyone that you want to invite to the meeting.
Not being able to assemble in groups can significantly hamper the ability of organizations to get things done. Being able to assemble online productively has been a promised goal for at least 25 years, but it’s only been in the last five years or so that truly ubiquitous, productive, and userfriendly online group meetings have been available. Before then it could be done, but usually with a small team of nerds carefully managing the show like a marionette dance number. There are a bunch of options available for you to connect by video to family, friends, and co-workers and either just catch up or get stuff done. Google has a cheap and easy one.
If you’re using Hangouts from your phone you’ll need to grant the app access to your camera and microphone.You can turn these off at any time. This can be useful if you’re meeting early in the morning or late at night and wish to preserve the illusion that you are perfectly done up 24/7. FBC TEAM VIRTUALLY “HANGING OUT”
Hangouts Chat is basically Google’s version of text messaging. It works.You probably already have a text message solution, so I’m not sure why you’d want to use Hangouts Chat unless you wanted to also use Google Drive and Calendar and other Google products and share all that while chatting.
Video conferencing isn’t perfect and can’t take the place of face to face for everything, but right now and for the foreseeable future it’s a safe and effective way for groups of people to keep in touch.
Hangouts Meet is the more interesting tool. It’s video conferencing. It lets you video, audio, and text chat with groups.You can invite people. Participate in more than one chat at a time. It lets you share files.
And the coolest feature is screen sharing. You can share your screen with the group if you want to show pictures, plan a trip, or just let everyone watch you crush candies.
Google Hangouts Meet and Chat
To share your screen look in the bottom right of the window for the Present Now button. It gives you the option to share the entire screen or a window. If you choose to pick a window it’ll show you a list of windows and ask you to select one. And you’re off to the races. Video conferencing isn’t perfect and can’t take the place of face to face for everything, but right now and for the foreseeable future it’s a safe and effective way for groups of people to keep in touch. Stay safe and happy computing.
Bits and Bytes
April 2020 by ASHLEY KRISTINA
T
he Astrological New Year begins as the Sun moves into Aries to create the new Zodiac cycle. For the new Zodiac year, I have decided to put up monthly teachings for those who truly care to learn about the language of Astrology at mountainashmedicine.com.
Astrology of April Venus travels through Gemini all month making love feel easy and airy.Venus in Gemini loves to socialize while learning lots of details. This greatly contrasts the energy of the heavyweight planets (Pluto, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars) travelling through the true weighted energy of the Zodiac: Capricorn. Capricorn energy has been the theme for several months now: discipline, tradition, restriction, sternness, boundaries. Politically, Canada has been held accountable with regard to Indigenous issues. The blockades of the railways symbolize this. We are seeing huge global restrictions in the population with Corona Virus. This is all reflective of the way themes in astrology affect us on Earth. How is this theme manifesting in your life? Mars travels through Aquarius all month signifying knowledge as a theme in most people’s life. It’s a good month to study and go back to school or gain more knowledge in your area of interest. Define yourself this month. Are you living the life you want? April 7 brings a Libra full moon with a great balance act: those who have done wrong will face the consequences. Spiritual Law is working itself on Earth right now. The focus seems to be on elevating humanity’s level of consciousness to give higher awareness and viewpoints. April 22 is the dark moon —> new moon. Spring Time is naturally yin and feminine and represented by the energy of Taurus, grounded and Earthly life. The energy of this new moon is truly a bloom of new energy and brings our beautiful Spring to its natural fulfilment and the birth of life.
This natural electrical energy is like that of a pure mountain stream that fertilizes the soil and brings us clover, a medicine of the feminine. Themes from the middle-end of January will be revisited the first two weeks of April as Mercury, the planet of thought and communication revisits. Pluto begins its annual retrograde on April 24 and will travel backwards in the Zodiac until October 3. Aries Happy birthday Aries. There is great energy this month of transcendent security and reliance on tradition. Find out your stories, ask your parents, your grandparents. Learn about yourself. It’s important: this is your identity. Taurus The Sun enters Taurus on April 19 this year. A very happy birthday to you beautiful bull.You have a lot to teach by just being your own energy: grounded and stabilized with the Earth. Keep being you, you might not realize how much you help balance people. Gemini Love is in the air. Spring brings a fresh outlook, fresh growth. True revival. A special theme of reorientation is also occurring for many, especially for you. Cancer Set up your hammock and go work outside. It’s another balancing month of finding a happy place with work and home life and supporting others while nurturing self. These themes balanced bring true inner fulfilment. Leo A message of faith while life feels to be in a probation period brings the serene adjustment required for transitioning of times. Allow your mind to elevate to see from a high level while new steps are taken. Peace within begins within. Virgo Your intuition is particularly high this month as the hidden creative spirit speaks
ASTROLOGY
in different ways. A lot can be learned when we slow down and simply listen. Follow your instincts. Libra The abundance of Spring is revitalizing. Spend as much time outside as you can breathing in all the fresh energy. Exalt in your ability to make conscious decisions from your truth so that you can form an allegiance with your life goals. Scorpio Manifestation is strong. Renew your visions and remember your truth. It is easy to be weighed down but it only takes some time in meditation to rise above. Release any heavy burdens you may feel to God, they are not yours to carry. Sagittarius This transition time is supported by high council and there is a transcendent security within these times. Spiritual Law is something your soul is an archer for, this is the ultimate truth. Watch the way Great Spirit balances earth. Humanity has a lot to learn. Capricorn You do know a lot but always remember the greatest teaching of humility.You are the energy of an Elder and definitely stoic however you too have aspects to learn. Exude the energy you truly wish to manifest in the outside world. Love, joy, and happiness come from you first. Aquarius The hidden creative spirit is all around you and within you and often the best ways to teach is through song, dance and other forms of art. Perhaps this is the round of the Zodiac to show these parts of yourself: people love your eclectic nature. Bring out your fun colours. Pisces The great cosmic serpent eats its own tail and this is the cycle of Samsāra. Those that are beyond this and have grasped this cosmic serpent and hold the knowledge while living on Earth gain immortality. This is Brahman. FERNIEFIX.COM
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Fernie Fun
FIX TRIVIA
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Can you find five differences between these two pictures? Have a picture to submit for Fernie Fun? Send it to info@clarismedia.com.
ferniefix
ANSWERS MARCH SPOT THE DIFFERENCE FIND THE Somewhere in this issue is a little tulip. Can you find it?
NAME THE BUSINESS, BUILDING OR LOCATION These businesses, buildings or locations are located somewhere in Fernie, can you name them? Answers: Name The Business/Building March The Green Petal, CIBC, H&R Block, Ski Base
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