Fernie Fix January 2018

JANUARY 2018 | ISSUE 133

The New Year Issue The Importance of Social Media with Christina Pilarski Feature Resident Chuck Shoesmith on giving back to the community Kerri Wall discusses a different way at looking at our time with our teenangers New columnists Rebecca Hall and Crys Stewart share Fernie’s social side and new finds Kevin McIssac talks about Net Neutrality and why we should care

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GREAT CAREERS ARE BUILT HERE IN THE KOOTENAYS APPLY NOW AND UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL

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Slow down and experience the Wonder of Winter! â?Š 2 and 3 hour Snowshoe Safaris.

All day Snowshoe Adventure at Island Lake Lodge.

Experience our winter wonderland with an expert, local naturalist.

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All tours include equipment, gourmet snacks and drinks.

250.423.3322 - WildNatureTours.ca

JANUARY 2018 ISSUE 133

THE NEW YEAR ISSUE

EDITOR’S FIX | 5

COMMUNITY AND EVENTS | 26

BUSINESS IN THE VALLEY | 6

Feature Resident – Chuck Shoesmith Planning Ahead: Make the Most of Time With Your Teen by Kerri Wall Family Stoke – Welcome to the New World by Shelby Cain Out and About with Rebecca Hall A Warm Welcome to Winter

Business News/New Business Making Social Media Work Why is Social Media Important for your Business? by Christina Pilarski Business Advice with Patty Vadnais – Being Effective in 2018 Money Matters – RRSP or TFSA

by Gerald Price, CPA CA GPI Chartered Professional Accountants

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | 18 Feature Artist – Ryan Schultz At Peace and Yet On Fire with Sadie Rosgen and Featuring Amy Attalla – “Inside a Year” and “This Year is Going to Be Different” Rental Fix – Blade Runner 2049

by Andrew Vallance Musical Notes –Let’s Make Really Party

by Carolyn Nikodym

RECREATION AND OUTDOOR LIFE | 36 Two Trails Diverged in a Wood

by Jeff Colden – Winter Picnic Full Throttle: A Stroke of Inspiration

by Shantelle Weir Never Have I Ever – Good Juju

by Jesse Bell Hurt So Good – Recovery by Tom Gibson Hitting the Trails: Fernie Duathlon

by Julie Kelly, FTA

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE | 47 For the Love of Food

by Katie Hamar – Not Just Noodles

The Find – All the Difference

by Crys Stewart Food Intelligence – Claire’s Creating Change by Tiffany Schebesch, RD, BASc Family Wellness – Family Resolutions for a Healthier 2018

by Dr. Taina Turcasso, ND, RM

BITS AND BYTES | 55 The Answer Guy – Net Neutrality

by Kevin McIsaac Astrology with Yann Loranger

FERNIE FUN | 58 Fix Trivia COVER: That Double Hill view gets me everytime.

Rider Justin Boehm.

Photo by Nicole Matei @nicolematei THIS PAGE: Dane Tudor spinning off the Movie Slope at Island Lake Lodge while filming with TGR. Photo Mike McPhee @mcphoto99

YOUR ASSIGNMENT Receive direct actionable feedback on your customer service experience. Choose l of 7 types of mystery shops, from a visitor checking in to your accommodation to a resident buying a product in your shop.

Find out more and sign up at ferniechamber.com/ requestshop. Questions?

Call 250.423.6868

EDITOR’S FIX

Every day we have this opportunity, the opportunity of a fresh start. But it’s the New Year that this resonates most with us.

Whatever you do or dream you can do – begin it.

It’s a time to remember and reflect, and also Boldness has genius and power and magic in it. a time to initiate change, in ourselves, our ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe families, our community, our country, and the world. But whether you choose some I can feel this energy stirring as the New random day of the year, or January 1, it Year approaches, and it’s the energy of all has to begin with you and a conscious change. We can no longer turn our heads effort. To affect change often takes breaking and look the other way. We are not okay old habits. And as they say, old habits die with: I’ll do it tomorrow. Next time, I’ll speak up and let my voice be heard. I’m not hard. This year feels different, though, as the unanimity is a resounding “we’ve had it!” ready; it will be too hard; I’m too busy; I’ll We are in a bold and confident place and fail. it feels good. It feels like it could be easier 2018 is all about boldness. We are energized this time. and empowered. We are ready to say yes to Let’s not allow this feeling and energy to those opportunities and dreams and goals, and have the strength to recognize when to pass; instead, seize it and let it facilitate our next beginning. Harness it for the days say no and do so with confidence.

ahead, remember what has come and what we want to follow. There is no time for tomorrow; the time is today. 2018 has 365 todays, let’s be bold within each one, and release their genius and power and magic.

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 www.clarismedia.com Editor | Krista Turcasso Creative Director | Vanessa Croome Associate Editor | Carolyn Nikodym All content copyright Claris Media. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.

CONTRIBUTORS 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.

JESSE BELL leaps into the New Year with resolutions and revelations! Just kidding.

She loses her good juju, gets hand, foot, and mouth disease, and feels generally terrible. C’est la vie!

CAROLYN NIKODYM has her dancing shoes polished and is ready to groove into 2018.

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

CHRISTINE PILARSKI of CIPR Communications believes in the power of meaningful relationships and strategic engagement, both on and offline.

After a 35-year career in publishing, CRYS STEWART now takes epic road trips with her husband back and forth from Fernie to their cottage in Ontario. When she’s not writing, taking photographs or riding shotgun, she’s sharing a good glass of red with family and friends.

GERALD PRICE of GPI Chartered Profesional Accountants has experience in preparing audit, review and notice to reader financial statements and corporate, personal, estates and trust income tax returns. Gerald enjoys skiing, water skiing, trapshooting and riding motorcycles.

JEFF COLDEN is expanding his horizons all the time, always looking for the next adventure in wine, photography and the great outdoors.

KATIE HAMAR grew up in the Maritimes and has lived in Fernie for the past five years. She is a self-professed foodie, wine lover and works as the Sales and Event Coordinator at Island Lake Lodge.

KERRI WALL does health public policy work for IH, and mediation/parent coaching/group facilitation on the side.

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

PATTY VADNAIS is the Executive Director of the Fernie Chamber of Commerce, a winter-time wanna-be ski bum, and summer-time golf slice professional.

REBECCA HALL hasn’t done it all yet, but she’s working on it. She loves the Everly Brothers, new ice, and William Morris motifs.

Born and raised in the Kootenays, there’s a reason SHANTELLE WEIR calls Fernie home. Owner of Weir Boondocking Snowmobile Clinics, Shantelle spends her winter sharing her passion for snowmobiling with others.

Co

SHELBY CAIN was raised in the East Kootenays. After spending a decade wandering the prairies - she’s back, baby. Writing and mothering and enjoying her daily dose of #ferniestoke. Her first novel, Mountain Girl, is now available!

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

TIFFANY SCHEBESCH is a registered dietitian and owner of Peak Nutrition Consulting located in Fernie, BC. With a basis in mindful and intuitive eating, she helps clients create lasting changes towards their nutrition goals.

TOM GIBSON is all things skiing by winter, all things bikes by summer. “Go fast, be good, have fun, go faster.”

YANN LORANGER from Happy-Culture Inc. is your local resource for Astrology, Tarot and Apitherapy. Astrology courses are offered at the College of the Rockies in Fernie. happycultureinc@gmail.com

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Business in the Valley

BUSINESS NEWS

Ahead of the Curve Physiotherapy 902 6th Ave. 250-430-2115

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hysiotherapist Heather Kerr is excited to announce that her practise has moved to the CrossFit Fernie building at 902 6th avenue.

The new location is accessed through a side door to the left of CFF’s main entrance, with a waiting room where clients don’t just have to sit: they can hang, lie down, stretch, or warm up! One-on-one, hour-long appointments in a calm, focused environment will continue to be standard care, with access to CFF’s area during treatments where appropriate. Heather has more than 15 years of experience treating orthopaedic and sports injuries, and postgraduate training in needling and pelvic floor physio.

For information or online booking, visit Aheadofthecurvept.com.

East Kootenay Behaviour Intervention Program Bip.ccscranbrook.ca

T

he East Kootenay Behaviour Intervention Program (EKBIP) supports children and their families who have received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or require other behaviour intervention supports.

EKBIP provides evidence-based therapies through oneon-one, group and community sessions and falls under the umbrella of the Community Connections Society of Southeast BC.

Early intervention has positive impacts on the quality of life for those within the program. With 97 families within the East Kootenays currently receiving services, the EKBIP, works to provide the best support for families. Assessing new, more efficient and effective ways to implement quality service, while maximizing one-on-one time spent with children, the program is introducing a new component beginning in January 2018. The introduction of Skills©, data analytic software, will reduce administrative and paperwork time to maximize time staff spend directly with children and families.

FERNIE TEAM | SUBMITTED IMAGE

For more information, visit their facebook page @ eastkootenaybehaviourintervention, email coordinator. ekbip@gmail.com or call 250-426-3344.

CRANBROOK TEAM | SUBMITTED IMAGE

Business in the Valley

BUSINESS NEWS

Fernie Fireplace and Appliances 24b Manitou Road 250-423-4216

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ernie Fireplace and Appliances’ Aleatha Hozjan invites you to come check out their new appliance showroom.

Located next to the Fernie Brewing Company, the store boasts an extensive line of fireplaces and appliances including Jennair, KitchenAid, Maytag, Whirlpool, Amana, as well as premium brands including Wolf, Sub Zero and Asko.

Whether you’re purchasing a new fridge or fireplace, our team can handle all deliveries, service warranties, installs, as well as after sales support. From freezers to dishwashers, ranges, ovens, microwaves and even barbeques, the quality selection is unlike any other in the Elk Valley. With weekly deliveries, quality products, competitive pricing, product warranty, and SUBMITTED PHOTO knowledgeable staff, Fernie Fireplace and Appliances is your shop local solution. Come by today to see Aleatha and her team and check out their new showroom.

Visit Ferniefireplace.com, which will include product pricing in the New Year.

Lashed Training and Distributing Ltd. Lashedtraininganddistributing.ca

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#FernieStoke Ski Shuttle FernieSkiShuttle.com

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oth visitors and locals will see a new local ski shuttle bus on the roads! Thanks to a partnership between the City of Fernie, Tourism Fernie, the Fernie Chamber of Commerce and Fernie Alpine Resort, #FernieStoke Ski Shuttle hits the roads December 21, 2017 and will be running all season long.

Local businesses have also supported this service through the purchasing of advertising space on the buses for this season.

The schedule and details are available at FernieSkiShuttle.com. Ride on.

ecember marked seven years in business for Lashed Training and Distributing Ltd. Amore Tolfree was the first lash artist to open a lash studio in the Elk Valley!

The lash extension business is fast paced and ever changing.

Amore has followed her passion by continuing education each year and staying on trend with the newest techniques and products. Five years ago she SUBMITTED PHOTO became an internationally credited lash educator and most recently she became a lash product distributor. Amore’s passion also includes making sure that her students are properly trained and that her clients are well informed about their lash care and about the products that they are using.

Lashed, located in the Best Western, offers a wide variety of lash services including: lifts and tints, classic lashes, Russian volume and, most recently, Mega volume. For more information on services or training, contact Amore at 250-430-7950 or visit Lashed Training and Distributing Ltd on Facebook.

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3 Studios | 2 Doors 1 Movement

EL K VA L L EY

CEMF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

YOU ARE INVITED

CEMF Open House WHEN TIME

Tuesday, January 30, 2018 4:30-8:30 p.m.

WHERE Fernie Senior Citizens Drop-In Centre 562-3rd Avenue, Fernie, BC

Dr. Bram Noble, an expert on cumulative effects from the University of Saskatchewan, will be a guest speaker at the CEMF Open House.

Meet the CEMF Working Group leads and participate in activities.

For more information: lee-anne@elkriveralliance.ca 250-423-1682

Your Body.

Your Community.

Soar.

Book Online:

soarstudios.ca

January 26 - 28 It’s cold. It’s dark. It’s January in Fernie...

Vogue Theatre

Fernie’s 10th Annual

5 Feature Films 5 Short Films Visiting Special Guests Little Reels Showcase Opening & Closing Receptions

5 It’s the perfect time to escape the elements and enjoy a weekend of film!

F E A T U R E

Hey Kids! (14 & under)

Visit our website to find out about entering your short film in our Little Reels Showcase... deadline Fri. Jan. 12th at 2pm.

Get your Festival Passes for just $50 each online or at the Arts Station. Single Show Tickets available at the door.

For full festival details, movie info, trailers etc.:

ReelFilmFest.ca

F I L M S

Adventures in Public School

with special guests

Business in the Valley

NEW BUSINESS

Elk Valley Cumulative Effects Management Framework (CEMF) 250-423-1682

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he community is invited to the Elk Valley Cumulative Effects Management Framework (CEMF) Open House, Tuesday January 30 4:30-8:30 pm at the Fernie Senior Citizens Drop-In Centre.

Since 2012, the CEMF Working Group – made up of First Nations, industry, governments, and community – has assessed the current condition of four valued components (VCs): grizzly bear, riparian habitat/Westslope cutthroat trout, bighorn sheep, and old/mature forest in the Elk Valley. Selected future scenarios were then modelled to explore potential cumulative effects and specific strategies to avoid, reduce or manage cumulative impacts on the VCs.

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Dr. Bram Noble, an expert on cumulative effects from the University of Saskatchewan, is the guest speaker and will discuss the opportunities and challenges of implementing a cumulative effects-based strategy. Meet the CEMF Working Group leads and watch the predictive models in action. Participate in activities that will help the community better understand the scope and usefulness of this exciting new tool.

For more information contact lee-anne@elkriveralliance.ca or call 250-423-1682.

Fernie Fresh Food Share 250-430-1610

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icole Knauf grew up learning to waste as little as possible, but working in restaurants, she saw a lot of good food thrown out and headed for the landfill. Disheartened by the waste, she was inspired to start Fernie Fresh Food Share.

Many citizens are conscious about the environment and their community, and the initial support has been substantial. The Salvation Army Food Bank was immediately on board and has been instrumental in getting started.

Fernie Fresh Food Share is a food recovery program, redirecting surplus food from restaurants and grocery stores to appropriate end users. Food is picked up and brought to The Salvation Army Food Bank to be sorted and distributed to those in need. Anything not fit for human consumption is given to local farmers to feed animals or be composted. The goal is to end up with as little waste as possible.

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Call or email Nicole at ferniefreshfoodshare@gmail.com with any questions, concerns or interest in participating.

January 8, 2018 is the first pick up and start date.

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Calgary Airport Shuttle ~ Fernie to Calgary ~ DAILY Best Western

Park Place/Red Tree

Griz Inn

Calgary Airport

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Griz Inn

Park Place/Red Tree

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7pm or earlier

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EQUIPMENT FOR MOUNTAIN SPORTS

48 hrs advanced booking required for all bookings.

250.423.6464 432 Victoria Ave. Fernie, B.C. manager@skibase.com

CHARTERS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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Minimums may apply.

Cranbrook to Fernie/Fernie to Cranbrook available.

Ask us about wedding and summer charters!

250-423-4023 theshuttlefernie@hotmail.com

A Little Ruff After The Holidays?

We Have Everything You Need To Keep Calm and Wag On! Open 7 Days A Week Modern Self Serve Dog Wash 791 A 2nd Ave 250-423-4332 www.barkside.com

Business in the Valley

NEW BUSINESS

Project K9 Dog Training Projectk9.ca 250-423-0702

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roject K9 Dog Training is a certified dog training service that offers fear free, pain free training methods. These methods are based in scientific canine learning theory and focus on positive reinforcement to teach behaviours.

Project K9 offers a number of SUBMITTED PHOTO services and is able to work with each individual family’s needs. Private training sessions for anything from basic obedience to complex behaviour issues, day-training sessions, and training walks are currently available. Group obedience classes will be available in the near future. Please check the website or the Project K9 Facebook page for updates.

Please call or email katie@projectk9.ca to book a training session, or to find out more information.

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Silver Lining Events 250-439-7818

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ilver Lining Events is a new company based in the Kootenays that specializes in wedding and party planning. The sole proprietor, Angela Magliocco, has helped couples plan and execute beautiful mountain weddings in Fernie in all seasons over the past three years. The secret of her success is her passion, her attention to the fine details, and her access to the best local staff and vendors involved.

Regardless of whether your event is big or small, sophisticated or simple, Silver Lining Events removes the worry and stress that often comes with event planning. Silver Lining Events provides a full range of services including planning, decorating, and equipment rentals.

Give Angela a call or email her at animags@shaw.ca for a free consultation to see if a wedding or event in the beautiful Kootenays could be in your future.KYLE HAMILTON PHOTO

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A WORLD OF ADVENTURE STARTS UNDER OUR ROOF.

Someone left the dog out in the rain.

Whatever your household challenges may be, you will find popular luxury vinyl tiles and planks that are up to it at Nufloors. Visit us today and discover what we can do for you.

www.nufloorsfernie.ca 391 - 1st Avenue Fernie BC

250.423.4314 Follow us on• 1.800.860.3136 facebook

Ski, Ride or Play All Day...

Late night, or anytime, we deliver!

Helping you find your way.

Come visit us at 671 Second Ave

BostonPizza.com

Boston Pizza Fernie is proud to be the official restaurant and bar of the Fernie Snowmobile Association.

Hours: open at 11am daily.

Fri. & Sat.: until 1am; Sun. - Thurs. until 12am 1602 7th Ave. Fernie - 250.423.2634

Business in the Valley

MAKING SOCIAL MEDIA WORK

Why is Social Media Important for your Business?

by CHRISTINA PILARSKI

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hen I have conversations with business owners about social media it always comes back to a few things – time, money, and resources.

Sending that tweet, writing that news release, updating the website… all seem to be tasks that can easily be pushed to the bottom of our to do list, but can often be relatively quick and painless tasks that can yield results for our businesses. So, as we enter the first quarter of 2018, I challenge you to think about these three things and start prioritizing your business’ social media.

Telling your story Nobody can tell your business story better than you can and there is no better place to tell it than through your social media channels.Your website is your home and your social media channels are the directions you give your visitors to get there. Social media allows you to connect with your potential customers and helps you to bring them home where you have complete control of the message. Social media accounts allow your customers to tell your story for you; positive experiences being shared are a no-brainer for your business, but when customers share negative experiences, being active on social media allows you to react, apologize, correct the record, and fix the problem. If you are not on social media, your story is being told for you whether you know it or not – isn’t it better to contribute to the conversation?

Being searchable Social media has quickly become the preferred way to find businesses, learn

SCREEN SHOT OF HOOTSUITE

Nobody can tell your business story better than you can and there is no better place to tell it than through your social media channels. about services, and ask trusted sources for recommendations. I often remind businesses that when you aren’t online you are essentially allowing individuals to talk behind your back without a mechanism to engage in the conversation.

People are going to search for your product or service online – when you are on social media you allow yourself to be found, to be recommended, and to be top of mind for interested customers.

Starting relationships Our business strategies rely on quick conversions AND repeat customers.

Repeat customers do not happen without building strong relationships. As a business owner myself I often think about how I

can strengthen relationships and remain relatable while still staying on top of everything else.

Social media is a practical way to be part of the regular dialogue of your target market. Think of Facebook as your best friend’s birthday party.You are invited in, you build trust by showing photos, having conversations, and bonding over similar interests. Eventually one of those birthday party attendees asks for a recommendation for a realtor, a new pair of skis, or a place to stay – you’re at the party so you are able to chime in that you provide that service.

Being present on social media gives you the opportunity to ensure you are at the top of mind.

My column over the next several months will provide you with practical tips and advice for ensuring your social media presence reflects the goals, personality, and story of your business. I look forward to helping Fernie business owners up their online game and to help you reach your goals for growth in 2018. Share your strategies with me at @CIPRComs by tagging #PRPower and #FernieSuccess.

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Happy New Year 2018!

Will you Buy or Sell this year? We know Real Estate!

Real Mountain Living Inc.

Marilyn Brock

Nancy J McNay, PREC

Broker/Owner 250.423.8650

Manager/Owner 250.423.8882

Toll Free: 877.423.8650

Toll Free: 877.423.8882

marilyn@marilynbrock.com marilynbrock.com

nancy@nancymcnay.com nancymcnay.com

Introducing our Chocolatier’s Best.

For those times when only the finest will do!

Happy New Year!

581A 2nd Ave., Downtown Fernie 250.423.2680

OPEN DAILY Locally owned and operated.

Business in the Valley

BUSINESS ADVICE

Being Effective in 2018

by PATTY VADNAIS

T

he New Year is here, resolutions have been made and 2018 is our year. It is time to be effective. There is nothing more satisfying than finishing a day of work and knowing you got things done. On the reverse, getting to the end of the day with little accomplished is frustrating. In an effort to create a more effective day, I draw on tips and tools from management guru Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive:The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done.

It fascinates me that this book originally published in 1967, citing examples from the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s, still rings so true today. The book lays out five practices essential for business effectiveness: managing time, choosing what to contribute, mobilizing strengths, setting priorities, and making decisions for impact.

These all seem relatively straight forward, but we so often fail to use them. So let us look at each point in a little more detail.

Managing time I once had a job where I felt I had to come in two hours before the work day started so that I could get my work done before I was bombarded with interruptions. I just thought that is how work is. Little did I realize, I could take control of my time.

Drucker recommends analyzing how you spend your time and examine what tasks you must do, what tasks you can delegate, and what tasks don’t matter. It is amazing how we clutter our day with things we think are important, but no one would notice if they were not done. So ask yourself, what happens if you eliminate x task from your day, or you don’t attend y meeting?

Choosing what to contribute To be effective you must consciously choose what you want to contribute to

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 | VINCE MO PHOTO

the organization and ask those who work with you to make the choice as well. Put another way “what can I contribute that will significantly affect the performance and the results of the institution I serve.” Taking time to think about your contribution in outcomes rather than day-to-day doings puts a new focus on the work you do, and back to the first point – how you manage your time.

Mobilize strengths Have you ever heard – do we have the right people on the bus? This is about knowing your own strengths and knowing the strengths of your team. If you really want to dig into this one, read Marcus Buckingham’s Now, Discover Your Strengths.

The goal is to use individual’s strengths as building blocks to the performance of the organization. Being effective means hiring people with strengths and viewing them as such rather than a threat to your own position. It is focusing on the goals of the organization above all else.

Setting the right priorities In Drucker’s words, “good executives focus on opportunities rather than on problems.”

Problems can be solved by good processes.

With good policies and processes in place, the executive doesn’t need to spend time making decisions to solve problems. Think about taking a problem to a front line employee. A company with good policies in place, and a front-line employee who

knows them, means that the problem is solved without bothering the executive to make a decision. The executive’s time is then spent on looking at opportunities and deciding how to pursue those.

Decisions for impact rather than technique The most time-consuming step in the process of decision making is not making the decision but putting it into effect. The effective executive understands that the decision must include systems for putting the decision into action for without action the decision is irrelevant. Just like that time my parents told me I was grounded.

Being grounded was their decision, but when they left town for the weekend leaving me home alone, they rendered their decision null and void or, at the very least, ineffective. A last thought, a decision has not been made until people know the name of the person accountable for carrying it out; the deadline; the names of the people who will be affected by the decision and have to know about it, understand it, and approve it (or at least not be strongly opposed to it); and the stakeholders who need to be made aware of it. These points will help you make decisions for impact rather than focusing on the technique of the decision making.

Drucker’s Effective Executive is a great read.

Add it to your 2018 reading list to help make your 2018 one of the best years yet.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Y A M A G O Y A

5

7 6 9 10 50 3 8 7 7 2 4 1 6 18

9 5 624382 3

GPI Chartered Professional Accountants in Fernie offers a full range of accounting and taxation services for the communities of Fernie, Elkford, Sparwood, throughout the Elk Valley and beyond for a wide variety of business and personal customers.

602 2nd Avenue Fernie, BC 250-423-6881 fernieaccountant.com

SHUTTLE & CHARTERS FERNIE, B.C. Calgary/Fernie Airport Shuttle Guaranteed 5 days a week!

Bus/Van Charters Ski Resort Transfers Airport Shuttles Wedding Shuttles

250-423-5008 (Toll Free: 866-423-4555) info@mountainhighshuttle.com

Business in the Valley

MONEY MATTERS

RRSP or TFSA

by GERALD PRICE, CPA CA

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am often asked the question, “What is better for my savings, a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)?” My answer always is, “It depends.” To make your best choice you need to consider the following: 1. What will the money saved be used for? Saving for a car, vacation or emergency fund would favour TFSA. Saving for your retirement would favour a RRSP. 2. What is the investment time horizon? If you need the money in five years or less, the TFSA may be a better choice. RRSP money is better suited for long time horizons.

3. What is your tax rate now when you acquire the TFSA or RRSP and what will the tax rate be when you draw the money out? If your tax rate now is lower than you expect it to be in the future, the TFSA will save your total income tax outlays. If your tax rate now is higher than you expect it to be in the future the RRSP will reduce your total income tax outlays.

A TFSA is a mirror image of a RRSP. For example, if we assume you have $1,000 to invest over ten years and you are in the 30% tax rate and the tax rate will be constant, your investments will earn you 5% (ignoring compounding for simplicity), and the time horizon is ten years. Here are the results: The TFSA investment will be $700 ($1,000 less the $300 tax). Each of the ten years earns $35 of income ($700 x 5%) for a total of $350 ($35 x 10). The TFSA balance at the end of ten years is $1,050 ($700 + $350). The balance of $1,050 can be drawn out of the TFSA with no additional income taxes owed.

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I am often asked the question, “What is better for my savings, a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)?”

My answer always is, “It depends.”

Using the same facts as above, for an RRSP investment of $1,000 the results are as follows: Each of the ten years earn $50 of income ($1,000 x 5%) for a total of $500 ($50 x 10). The RRSP balance at the end of ten years is $1,500 ($1,000 + $500). The balance of $1,500 is taxed at 30% so $450 income taxes due ($1,500 x 30%) leaves $1,050 after tax dollars.

You can see from the above calculations that the end result for both TFSA and RRSP accounts will be the same if the tax rate is the same across the investment time horizon. If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in the future the RRSP is likely the better way to go and if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket the TFSA is the way to go.

TFSA contribution room is currently set at $5,500 per year. Any unused amounts

earned in a prior year are carried forward and can be used in subsequent years.

Amounts withdrawn from your TFSA creates additional contribution room for subsequent years. Overcontributing to your TFSA results in a 1% per month penalty for the overcontribution. CRA has assessed income taxes on TFSA where there are significant gains from trading securities within the TFSA. CRA’s position is that trading gains are business income from the business of trading, so income tax is applicable.

The RRSP contribution limit is 18% of prior year income to a maximum of $26,230 for 2018. Any unused amounts earned in a prior year are carried forward and can be used in subsequent years.

Amounts withdrawn from your RRSP does not create additional contribution room. Overcontributing to your RRSP results in a 1% per month penalty for the overcontribution in excess of $2,000.

You should consult with your investment advisor as well as your tax advisor to determine what amounts you should allocate to your RRSP and TFSA accounts each year.

For more information please consult with your professional tax advisor.

FERNIEFIX.COM

17

Arts and Entertainment

FEATURE ARTIST

RYAN SCH ULTZ While I have had an interest in photography for a large portion of my life, I had not made a conscious decision to “figure it out” and really explore photography until experiencing a change in physical ability. Severe disc degeneration led to a disc replacement and a fusion in my lower spine, and while this has put me in a much better place, I continue to experience nerve-related symptoms. With these complications I am unable to further pursue my career in finishing carpentry and this is where I hoped photography

might fill the void. As for now, it simply serves as a motive to keep getting me out there, continuing to enjoy life in the outdoors.

There are many reasons why I love photography, but there are two standout points that make it work for me in such a positive way. The first is what it does for me directly, and secondly how it allows me to affect others. Chronic pain and decreased mobility can and usually does put a strain on one’s mental health, with me being no exception. Many days prior

to, and following my surgical procedure, I found great difficulty in simply finding the motivation to leave the house. My camera allows me to get out there and get excited to potentially capture that one great shot, and while that doesn’t always happen, it keeps me inspired. It can also be a great feeling to create beautiful images for someone else, and when that is accomplished, and the gratitude is shown for a job well done, negative thoughts tend to go away.

In the time since cell phones became equipped with cameras, almost everyone has become one form of photographer or another. I personally love to make the most of my cell phone camera too, but my frustrations with the low quality of these photos sort of drives me crazy. Getting a DSLR camera and starting to use the manual modes was a little intimidating at first but it has made it a lot more interesting, challenging, and rewarding. I recognize that there is still a ton for me to learn in photography and I really look forward to seeing where that knowledge and experience takes me.

This past summer, I had the extreme pleasure of capturing FISE WORLD SERIES in Edmonton (the tour for

the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup) as well as the CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP for BMX Racing in Calgary, but I would have to say that I would trade both of those incredible experiences for the chance to photograph BMX racing, on a track here in Fernie. I have my fingers crossed!

Fernie has been home to many talented photographers applying their skills since the early days of Joseph Frederick Spalding. Like with most of today’s photographers, I find his point of view to be very interesting, and I often find myself attempting to figure out how he saw it.

In recent years, many photographers have been capturing some incredible images of this beautiful Valley, and thanks to social

media, it is so easy to follow, and appreciate the great work being done. Sometimes being surrounded by talent can be intimidating, but it also serves as inspiration to create and hopefully be as good as them some day. I feel very fortunate to live in a town where there is such a vibrant photography community and lots of subjects to choose from.

My work can be followed on Facebook via rjschultzphotography as well as my two Instagram pages. Rjschultz19 is where I share photos related to nature, wildlife and general outdoors, while rjschultz72 showcases my passion for bikes, bike riding, and the life that goes with it.

FERNIEFIX.COM

19

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Arts and Entertainment

AT PEACE AND YET ON FIRE

“Inside a Year” and “This Year is Going to Be Different”

by SADIE ROSGEN FEATURING AMY ATTALLA

A

my and I live in the same ‘hood. She always has a warm hello and kindness to share. As she revealed herself as a passionate writer, inspired speaker, and lover of all things artistic, it only made sense for us to join forces for this month’s issue.

Amy and I tackled some big feelings and had some even bigger laughs.

I didn’t just like working with my creative neighbour – I loved it.

“This Year Is Going To Be Different”

“Inside A Year”

by SADIE ROSGEN I pace the labyrinth of this young year I am transfixed a captive audience to my astonishment

By AMY ATTALLA I hear Madonna spinning on the record player I see neon plastic crowns cheap little New Years sunglasses and all I want to do is eat the leftover Christmas cookies that sit on top of the fridge so I am staying up late and sleeping in the next day with my chapped lips ski goals and new clothes I am in charge this is a NEW year bring on the biking the reading the decorating the taking care of my sister because I’m responsible I have new goals this year is going to be different

a suspended piece of flesh floating fervently past the wide open doorway inside my mind where I find the words RENEWAL FORMATION ANOTHER ROTATION an explanation for the beginning begin inside within begin the construction zone in the home I call my body my mind seeming all the time to be a work of art a smart start to a stronger renter an inspired mentor a palace where love is in power and all the other parts clamor in its favor waiting for you is your hungry majesty FERNIEFIX.COM

21

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JANUARY COURSES:

• Work Satisfaction

10-Jan

• Basic Fall Protection

11-Jan

• St John Standard for Industry

15-Jan

• Windows 10

15-Jan

• Effective Communication

16-Jan

• Interview Skills

16-Jan

• Learning to Listen

17-Jan

• Transportation Endorsement

17-Jan

• Facilitating Meetings

20-Jan

• Digital Camera Basics

21-Jan

• Palliative Massage Training

21-Jan

• Photography Cert W Lightroom

21-Jan

• Canadian Red Cross CPR C

22-Jan

• MS Word 2016 Certificate

22-Jan

• MS Word 2016 Level 1

22-Jan

• Teen Climbing Club

22-Jan

• Wills, Powers of Attorneys

22-Jan

• Teen Climbing Club

23-Jan

• The Cloud

23-Jan

• Kids Climbing Club

24-Jan

• Fun Fridays

5-Jan

• Fernie Ambassador Program

25-Jan

• Avalanche Skills Training 1

8-Jan

• Kids Climbing Club

25-Jan

• Custom Computer Training

8-Jan

• Kombucha Tea

27-Jan

• FOODSAFE Level 1

8-Jan

• Digital Photography-Next Step

28-Jan

• Basic Bookkeeping

9-Jan

• MS Word 2016 Level 2

29-Jan

• Minor Wound Care Refresher

9-Jan

• Occupational First Aid-Level 3

29-Jan

• Teck Hazard Energy Isolation

10-Jan

• Payroll

30-Jan

For full information on upcoming courses or to register: Phone: 250-423-4691 or Visit: cotr.bc.ca/ConEd

Arts and Entertainment

Blade Runner 2049

by ANDREW VALLANCE

I

nterest in adapting Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? developed shortly after its 1968 publication.

After a series of failed attempts to bring the story to the screen, with producers such as Martin Scorcese and Herb Jaffe failing in their attempts, Ridley Scott was convinced to direct a script written by David Peoples.

Even Scott declined the job when it was first offered.

Although Dick died shortly before the film’s release in 1982, he was pleased with Peoples’ script, stating that it reinforced the novel; and he felt that the world created for the film looked exactly as he had imagined it. The motion picture was dedicated to Dick.

The story in the first Blade Runner revolved around the bioengineering of synthetic humans, known as replicants, to perform tasks too dangerous for humans in off-world colonies. The central theme was based on the fact that replicants were designed to have limited lifespans, a feature that maintained human control over their actions.

Ridley Scott chose the title for the film, basing it on the central character of Rick Deckard (played by Harrison Ford), a burnt-out Los Angeles cop who accepted one last assignment as a blade runner, or assassin, to hunt down fugitive replicants who have escaped back to earth with the purpose of finding their creator and persuading him to extend their lives.

During his investigation, Deckard meets Rachael (Sean Young), an advanced replicant who causes him to question his purpose. The story ended enigmatically with an uncertainty as to what happened next.

Blade Runner under-performed at the box office, however, it gained a devoted

cult-following that was big enough to justify the creation of Blade Runner 2049, a big budget sequel that provides the answers to the questions raised at the end of the first film.

THE RENTAL FIX

as Niander Wallace, a villainous CEO with a god complex and Robin Wright (The Princess Bride, House of Cards) as K’s superior officer, Lieutenant Joshi.

The film stars Ryan Gosling, who is probably best remembered for his roles in La La Land and The Notebook. He gives a wonderful performance as K, a replicant police detective working in Los Angeles, 30 years after the original Blade Runner ended.

Blade Runner 2049 centres around K’s adventures, as he attempts to find a missing child and solve the mystery of his own origins while running afoul of a giant multinational corporation and a replicant terrorist group.

Blade Runner 2049 also features Harrison Ford, reprising his role as Rick Deckard, Jared Leto (Suicide Squad, Mr. Nobody)

This is an excellent movie in every aspect. The acting is wonderful, the cinematography is beautiful, the story is engaging, and the direction is masterful.

Denis Villeneuve does a good job of bringing us a film with the gritty art house aesthetic of the original film, while making the world of a blade runner accessible for a modern audience.

With all that having been said, however, Blade Runner 2049 has not been doing well at the box office. As of the end of 2017 it has recovered the costs of production, but still cannot be considered a box office hit.

It is therefore imperative for audiences to make a point of seeing what must be considered a critical darling if not a financial success.

Two thumbs up.

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23

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Arts and Entertainment

MUSICAL NOTES

Let’s Make Really Party

by CAROLYN NIKODYM

W

hen you spend a lot of time with someone whose English is good but not a first language, you pick up on the quirky way sentences are formed. My Dad’s Slav accent was so thick that it wouldn’t be uncommon for people to mistake his “fact” for a less gentile f-word. And everybody loved his jolly send off, “Have a fun!”

Back in the first half of the Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra’s eleven-year career, the band got a gig at a restaurant in Vienna. The Viennese guy that hired them was very excited to have the band play at his friend’s high-end restaurant and the prospect of having a great night of boozing and dancing.

“He wrote back – and he said this in person so many times – he said, ‘I am so excited to eat food, drink wine, dance with girls, we make really party!’” says Kurt Loewen, band guitarist and vocalist.

“He would say it over and over again. His enthusiasm was enough that we’ve been making that joke for years now.”

Even though I’ve never met this Viennese guy, I can hear the accent in his words, and his jovial vibe. TMO has known for some time – years! – that it was going to release a recording titled We Make Really Party, and it finally did last summer, shortly before performing at a Wednesday Night Social at the end of July. And it’s a great title for an album, especially one that sees the band return to its overtly party vibe, complete with southern European accordions and Spanish guitars. If you’re not familiar with the Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra, this is the kind of band you could picture playing an Italian wedding, with a Greek guy clapping and yelling “Opa!” in the middle of a dancefloor. The guys have immersed themselves so deeply into this kind of Gypsy folk, European audiences have been surprised that the

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If you’re not familiar with the Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra, this is the kind of band you could picture playing an Italian wedding, with a Greek guy clapping and yelling “Opa!” in the middle of a dancefloor. band consists of a handful of Canadian guys hailing from Victoria… sort of.

The members actually met up and started out in Victoria, but now are flung across the continent, getting together for tours and recording. Loewen is in his home base of Edmonton when we chat. Other members – Ian Griffiths on accordion, Paul Wolda on percussion, Mack Shields on fiddle and Keith Rodger on double bass – live in varied places between Alberta and BC, including “hometown” Victoria.

With today’s connectivity, this kind of arrangement isn’t completely unheard of, but TMO has been living separately for most of its career, and it totally works for them. Although the band takes influences from all over, it still presents

a unified sound. I would also argue that individual cities/music scenes tend to have something similar in their sounds (think Seattle grunge, Detroit Motown for overt examples), and TMO enjoys the benefits of having the influence of multiple scenes.

“I think that is what our sound is known for, as kind of being all over the place,” Loewen says. “But it’s also the joy of playing with these guys, because everybody is really open minded and everybody just wants to try stuff. I think it keeps me open minded in so many other ways in my life.

It just needs to be not normal, I guess.”

The show at The Arts Station needs to be not normal as well. In the spirit of New Years, being bold and pushing personal envelopes, the Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra and The Arts Station are going to encourage a different kind of audience experience to include some room for dancing. Let’s make really party and make for a joyous 2018. Picture that Italian wedding mentioned earlier. Who is going to be in the middle of the dancefloor bellowing, “Opa!”?

The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra performs at the Arts Station January 23.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Community and Events

FEATURE RESIDENT

Chuck Shoesmith

by KRISTA TURCASSO

T

his fall, the community of Fernie suffered a tremendous loss. News of a tragic accident at the Memorial Arena resulting in the loss of three beloved individuals stunned residents and spread across the nation. Through the heartache, there was also a palpable feeling in the air… everyone wanted to reach out and help in any way possible, but many didn’t know how.

On November 27, 2017 Chuck Shoesmith of the Fernie Lions Club alongside Jocelyn Sombrowski, chairperson of the City of Fernie Leisure Services Advisory Board presented a proposal at the Committee of the Whole meeting for an outdoor rink.

“It was really strange how it all started, at a Lion’s Club meeting we were looking for new things for the Club to take on,” Chuck tells me over coffee and carrot cake at Freshies. “We decided we should get a rink going and started talking about locations and getting permission from the City. A Lion’s member who happened to be at City Hall spoke to the CAO Norm McInnis who told him we just got a call from the Calgary Flames wanting to donate a set of boards and it will cost $60,000 to set them up. Next thing you know, Norm and I are driving around looking for sites.” Having decided on the land adjacent to the Aquatic Centre, an ad hoc meeting with potential stakeholders took place, which is where Chuck stood up to take on project management knowing his experience in building would be an asset.

They went to the following council meeting, the Committee of the Whole on Monday morning. “Once we got the go ahead to start on the land, I called a friend at Mitchell Excavating and they were mobilized and starting work by 1pm the same day,” he says.

KRISTA TURCASSO PHOTO

It’s so interesting, sitting with Chuck and his wife going over all of the details on this amazing community initiative… like it’s just another day at the rodeo. I’ve heard of Chuck, having grown up in Fernie I’ve ran by his property countless times, admiring his land and views. I’ve watched the projects his company Shoesmith Construction Ltd. has completed in the Valley. But I never really knew much about him, personally.

Chuck came to Fernie in 1977. Having grown up on the Lower Mainland, he was on his way to Alberta to look for work. “I stopped here to see some friends, got a job I wasn’t looking for, and stayed,” he tells me. Working mainly as a carpenter all of his life, he started his own company. “It was the only way I could get paid fairly, and as an entrepreneur to the core I liked the challenge of the work.” In 1988, Chuck bought a large parcel of property on Burma Road for his family. “It’s awesome, so private. We needed a four-wheel drive

vehicle to get there some times, and the wildlife! The interaction between the moose and kids was unbelievable.”

While busy with family and running a business, Chuck was also heavily involved with the Fernie Lion’s Club. “It’s all about volunteerism – to serve,” he tells me, and I learn about all of the great ways this organization helps our community and the families in need within it. Organizing events like the Demolition Derby, a Fernie staple, and hosting BBQ’s for seniors and kids’ events such as the Kikomun run, the Club generates $40,000 a year. “Being able to give away that kind of money in the town makes you feel good. When someone comes to ask you for something, it’s always there.”

When discussing their interest in the outdoor rink, he immediately says, “there was a need in town, why shouldn’t we do it? That’s what we do – we serve the public.” And they sure have! In

collaboration with the City of Fernie, the Calgary Flames Foundation and countless others, the project was completed on December 21, 2017 with an official opening celebration. “It’s a feel good story,” he says. “We can come away from this with positivity.” One thing Chuck can’t stress enough is the willingness for people to get involved – whether donating time, machinery, materials, or even bringing food for those working on the rink, “nobody said they wouldn’t help,” and in fact people have been coming on their own to see how they can lend a hand.

3. What was your first impression?

5. Do you have a favourite Fernie memory?

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

The following day, I meet Chuck at the rink where he confirms that donations to date has been nearly $250,000. It’s been just over two weeks since the project began, and the rink is ready for skating, the shed (for equipment and the Zamboni) nearly complete, and the boards arriving tomorrow. Stands are in place, poles ready for lights, and the views unreal. I’m in complete awe. The community has come together and created a space to come together. A place we can play and laugh.

Feel gratitude for the hard work and generosity of those who have made this happen. And remember those we have lost.

“They would have been here, helping,” says Chuck. And we both look out over the ice, imagining them right there, doing what they love for the town of Fernie.

I really like to go out on the point in winter between the Wigwam and Ram Creek and look over the valley there.

I used to have long hair, ha I don’t know - I’m a pretty open guy. My life has changed a lot since I got these crutches, especially how I feel about myself. I’m still recovering from a scuba diving accident, which caused nerve damage… and nerves grow forever so I’m still getting better.

Fernie was such a dump with a lot of bars.

It was pretty run down back then.

4. What keeps you here?

Well, I’m a west coast boy and my wife’s a prairies girl, and we can’t go any further west and I definitely wouldn’t go any further east so I guess we’re stuck in the mountains.

6. What is your favourite time of the year in Fernie and why?

I like the summer, it’s warm and there doesn’t seem to be any bugs or mosquitos.

A nice place to be outside.

Well I would like it to stay just as it is. But it will grow and we’ll have more services and amenities and more people, and more enjoyment I guess.

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

Have coffee in the office with my wife, and answer emails. In the summer time we sit outside and watch the sun come up, every day and have our coffee outside.

10. Quote to live by: Don’t waste your time worrying about stuff.

7. Where do you see Fernie in 5 to 10 years?

A full list of volunteers and donators will be posted on FernieFix.com. As you can imagine, it’s rather extensive. Thank you, Chuck, the Calgary Flames, City of Fernie and everyone else involved.You have really brightened up our New Year.

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

1977 and I was on my way to Alberta looking for work.

2. Where did you first live in town?

Right across from the College, a warehouse on 3rd Ave. Stayed in there for awhile until I got caught and thrown out. That’s the truth.

FERNIEFIX.COM

27

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Community and Events

PLANNING AHEAD

Make the Most of Time With Your Teen

by KERRI WALL

A

series of charts on the Internet (in an article called The Tail End) break down how much time there is within a hypothetical 90-year lifespan to spend on things that matter. The author of these charts, Tim Urban, was floored to realize that 80% of all the time he would ever spend with his parents already happened before he turned 18.

Perhaps this is a wake-up call to hang out more with your own mom and dad, but I want to remind you the opposite is also true; once your kids leave home you might only have about 20% of your total shared time together left. Some with teenagers probably think this is good news, but I assure you that when your kids fly the nest it can be deeply disorienting.

Knowing how quickly your window of parenting opportunity is closing, in the spirit of the New Year I’m going to suggest you bring more resolve to your efforts.

Like in other goal-setting endeavours, it’s essential to plan with the end in mind.

How do you want to feel about yourself as a parent on the day you wake up to find your precious offspring living away from you? What kind of relationship do you want to have with your teenager when they leave home?

I am confident many readers are familiar with work planning at the office or strategic planning in an organizational setting. Parenting deserves that same level of special attention! I’m sure if someone asked, “are your children more important than your job?” ten out of ten times you would reply that your children are the top priority. Maybe it seems simplistic or even absurd to apply this level of purpose to family life, but give it a try.

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Ask yourself: do I want to be filled with pride when my daughter departs to travel Asia for a year? Do I want to send my son off to college with smiles and lots of memories to cherish? How much emotional closeness do I hope to have with my kids when they leave home? Form a detailed visualization of the future.You could imagine your son inviting you to his place for a wonderful meal he prepared.

You might picture your daughter calling to tell you about her new boyfriend because she trusts you and cares what you think.

After you get specific with your postparenting vision you can plan back from there. A simple SWOT analysis will help you understand where you’re at and what you could do to steer your parenting ship in the direction you choose. SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. As an example, let’s say my goal for parenting my teenager is that I want us to have a sense of warm and relaxed closeness when he grows up. I know this may not currently be the case because teens are fully occupied with differentiating themselves from their parents and developing an independent identity, but that’s okay. We can be realistic

about the present while still boldly planning for a desired future.

In my SWOT analysis I could write down one of my parenting Strengths is that I am playful; one parenting Weaknesses is that I don’t create a very socially stimulating home environment; one parenting Opportunity is that I could plan a vacation with extended family for more fun and interaction; one parenting Threat is that I go to sleep earlier than my teenager so it’s difficult for me to track what he’s doing and who he is with.

When our kids are teenagers, sometimes we think they don’t need us very much, and we might feel burned out by parenting after more than a decade in the game.

This can trick us into pulling back from our teens and missing out on valuable time when we could be building these relationships for life. Next month I will explore this contradiction at the heart of parenting teenagers.

As you start 2018 a bit of intentionality at this stage goes a long way. They will be young for a short time, but they will be your children forever. Plan accordingly.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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January 2018 MONTHLY EVENTS MONDAY 1.1.2018 Full Moon Ski and Social @ Elk Valley Nordic Centre, 7pm Griz Kidz Activity Night @ Fernie Alpine Resort TUESDAY 2.1.2018 Griz Kidz Activity Night @ Fernie Alpine Resort WEDNESDAY 3.1.2018 Banff Mountain Film Festival @ The Vogue Theatre, 6pm and 9pm. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the theatre or via phone at 250-423-3132.

Griz Kidz Activity Night @ Fernie Alpine Resort THURSDAY 4.1.2018 Gallery Opening: Pruthvi Harshan @ The Arts Station Beautea Night with Spa 901 @ Infinitea, 6pm FRIDAY 5.1.2018 Opera Screening: Dialogue des Carmelites @ The Arts Station Beers and Queers @ The Valley Social, 7:30pm Wadjit (Edmonton) with Aurora @ The Royal, $5 Griz Kidz Activity Night @ Fernie Alpine Resort SATURDAY 6.1.2018 Rumble in the Rockies: Junior and Senior Amateur Boxing @ The Community Centre, 6pm Fernie Ghostriders Hockey Game @ Sparwood Memorial Arena, 7:30pm SUNDAY 7.1.2018 Indie Films Fernie: The Other Side of Hope @ The Vogue Theatre, 5pm MONDAY 8.1.2018 Labyrinth @ Infinitea, 7pm free popcorn WEDNESDAY 10.1.2018 Walkie Talkie Book Club: Bel Canto

by Ann Patchett @ Fernie Heritage LIbrary Senior Storytime @ Rocky Mountain Village, 1pm Booked! Fernie Writers’ Series: Esi Edgyen @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7pm Noble Son Live @ Infinitea, 8pm THURSDAY 11.1.2018 Teaching Yoga Nidra @ Essential Yoga Studio, four day workshop certification.

Tea Blending Workshop by Eternal Roots Health and Wellness @ Infinitea, 6pm FRIDAY 12.1.2018 Knead to Know: Cooking Classes with SJ @ Seniors Drop-in Centre, six week course.

DJ Soup (Pagoda) with Mister Moffat @ The Royal, $5 Wayne Stetski Open House @ Valley Social, 5:307:30pm Linden Anthony Live @ Infinitea, 8pm SATURDAY 13.1.2018 Avalanche Skills Training 1 @ Fernie with Mountain Addicts, 8am The Rock River Rebels @ The Fernie Hotel, Jam Night!

Raging Elk Kinky Rail Jam @ Fernie Alpine Resort.

Skiers and snowboarders will slide with style in the RCR Rail Park as they compete against their peers for top spot in their respective categories. Prizes are awarded to the top competitors in each category.

Open to both skiers and snowboarders.

The Runs @ The Royal, $5 SUNDAY 14.1.2018 Mindfulness and Food @ Essential Yoga Studio, 3:45-5:45.

Community Appreciation Day @ Fernie Alpine Resort MONDAY 15.1.2018 Little Critter Race @ Elk Valley Nordic Centre, 5:30pm Mean Girls @ Infinitea, 7pm free popcorn WEDNESDAY 17.1.2018 Senior Storytime @ Trinity Lodge, 1:30pm THURSDAY 18.1.2018 Pizza League @ Fernie Heritage Library, 6pm for ages 13+ Beautea Night with Spa 901 @ Infinitea, 6pm FRIDAY 19.1.2018 Fun Friday: UKE 101 for Kids @ Fernie Heritage Library, 2-4pm Jamil Apostil Live @ Infinitea, 8pm DJ Mihajic (Golden) with Jenn Frost @ The Royal, $5 SATURDAY 20.1.2018 Avalanche Awareness Day @ Fernie Alpine Resort Weekend Family Storytime @ Fernie Heritage Library, 1-1:30pm Super Saturday: UKE 101 for Kids @ Fernie Heritage Library, 2-4pm Fernie Lizard Skinner Ski Mo Race @ Fernie Alpine Resort, zone4.ca. A fun ski mountaineering race for all levels and ages based at Fernie Alpine Resort.

Draw prizes and a silent auction with proceeds going to the Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club.

Kryptos Rock (Calgary) @ The Royal, $2 MONDAY 22.1.2018 The Castle @ Infinitea, 5pm free popcorn Wildsight Wild Ideas Focus Group @ Infinitea, 7pm TUESDAY 23.1.2018 Cooking Class: How to host a dinner party @ Infinitea, 6pm Concert Series: Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra @ The Arts Station, 8pm. A Fernie favourite, The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra are a collection of musicians, linked by common sonic journeys and familial ties. It doesn’t matter much how they got here, but rather that they are traveling with each other. Now they are here in the room with you, the way music in the folk tradition always is, to bring people together; to share real flesh, blood and feeling.

CHECK OUT THE FERNIE FIX EVENTS CALENDAR ONLINE AT FERNIEFIX.COM

WEDNESDAY 24.1.2018 BC Hydro Community Grant Workshop @ Chamber Board Room, 10:30-noon Business, Banter and Beers @ Snow Valley Spa and Leisure, 5:40-7pm THURSDAY 25.1.2018 Straightline Hosts a Ski Film Night @ The Vogue Theatre Ukulele 101 @ Fernie Heritage Library, 6:30-7:30pm Gallery Opening: Vanessa Croome @ The Arts Station, 7pm FRIDAY 26.1.2018 Tea and Talk Book Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, 1:30pm Fernie Ghostriders Hockey Game @ Sparwood Memorial Arena, 7:30pm Pat Moloney Live @ Infinitea, 8pm Blackberry Wood Circus and Australian Day Celebrations @ The Royal, $5 FRIDAY 26.1.2018 to SUNDAY 28.1.2018 10th Annual Reel Canadian Film Festival @ The Vogue Theatre. The Reel Canadian Film Festival is a weekend long event for Canadian Indie Films, hosted at the Vogue and Arts Station. All the films have a Canadian link, either the content, film makers, actors or writers. Each film is proceeded by a short film, linked thematically to the feature film. Of the five films screened over the weekend, a documentary, french film and aboriginal film is included. This year they are celebrating our 10th anniversary, and following a sold out year last year, they hope to fill the seats of the Vogue again this year. reelfilmfest.ca SATURDAY 27.1.208 Kokanee Snow Dreams Party @ Fernie Alpine Resort Woofax with Cona @ The Royal, $10 SUNDAY 28.1.2018 Snowed In Comedy Tour @ The Northern, 8pm MONDAY 29.1.2018 Hunt for Wilderpeople @ Infinitea, 7pm free popcorn TUESDAY 30.1.2018 Elk Valley Cumulative Effects Management Framework (CEMF) Open House @ Fernie Senior Citizens Drop-In Centre. 4:30-8:30 pm. The community is invited to the Elk Valley Cumulative Effects Management Framework (CEMF) Open House. Dr. Bram Noble, an expert on cumulative effects is the guest speaker.

Participate in activities that will help the community better understand the scope and usefulness of this exciting new tool. Contact lee-anne@elkriveralliance. ca or call 250-423-1682.

WEDNESDAY 31.1.2018 Full Moon Nordic Ski and Social and Toonie Race @ Elk Valley Nordic Centre, 7pm. Join the Fernie Nordic Society for a fun, evening social ski at the Fernie Nordic Centre on the night of the full moon. Bring a snack to share & your headlamp and enjoy the fire and food with friends after the ski!

CONTACT INFO@CLARISMEDIA.COM TO SHARE YOUR EVENTS, BOTH ONLINE AND IN PRINT. IT’S FREE!

Janaury 2018 WEEKLY EVENTS

DINING, NIGHTLIFE and SPECIALS MONDAYS

Pair it up Appies @ Boston Pizza Pool Tourney Mondays @ The Pub Lasagna Specials @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe Wing Night @ The Fernie Hotel Free Movie Night @ Infinitea Massage Mondays @ Trillium Day Spa Ladies Night @ The Northern Local Jam Night @ The Kodiak Lounge Monday Mayhem with Goffles @ The Royal Store and Tasting Room Open @ Fernie Brewing Company Snowshoe and Dine @ Fernie Alpine Resort

TUESDAYS

Gourmet Pasta Specials @ Boston Pizza Wing Night @ The Pub Bar & Grill Pizza Night @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe Two for Tuesdays @ Trillium Day Spa Beer, Burger and Bingo Night @ The Northern Cheap Night @ The Vogue Theatre Dinner and Swim Special @ Fernie Stanford Resort Karaoke @ The Royal Half Price Appetizers @ The Fernie Hotel.

Store and Tasting Room Open @ Fernie Brewing Company Tasting Night @ The Loaf Pasta and Wine Night @ Cirque Restaurant

OUTDOOR & FAMILY MONDAYS Parent Power Hour @ Fernie Chamber of Commerce Dominoes, Duplicate and Mahjong @ The Seniors Drop in Centre Pickleball @ Fernie Community Centre Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre Preschool Climbing @ Evolution Ladies Only @ Fernie Old School Boxing Parent Tot Funtimes @ Knox United Church StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School Drop in Gymnastics @ Elk Valley Gymnastic Club ages 0-4 Tiguidous – Learn French While Having Fun @ CBAL Office Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Cribbage Club @ Trinity Lodge, Grades 1-6 TUESDAYS Crib/Whist, Chess and Drop In @ Seniors Drop in Centre Storytime Ages 3-5 @ Heritage Library Ladies Archery @ The Elks Hall Junior Boxing @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club Indoor Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre Open Climbing @ Evolution English Conversation Cafe @ CBAL Office Drop in Climbing @ College of the Rockies StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School Fernie Community Choir @ The Fernie Arts Station Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre Family Early Years Hub @ Fernie Heritage Library Free Guided Meditation @ Soar Studios

WEDNESDAYS

FRIDAYS

High Flyers Pool Comp @ Kodiak Lounge Wings Night @ Boston Pizza Wine Evenings @ The Brickhouse Trivia Night @ The Fernie Hotel Waxing Wednesday @ Trillium Day Spa Wing Night @ The Northern Wax On Wednesday @ 901 Spa Store and Tasting Room Open @ Fernie Brewing Company Zak’s Jam Night @ The Royal Pizza and Wine Night @ The Loaf Half Price Ice Bar @ Lizard Creek Lodge Ice Bar Tarot Readings @ Infinitea

Nacho Night @ Boston Pizza Fish & Chips @ The Pub Bar & Grill Meat Draw and Members Draw @ The Fernie Hotel Date Night Special @ Spa 901 Fish & Chip Night @ The Pub

SATURDAYS

Kids Pool Party, BBQ and Movie Night @ Lizard Creek Lodge Meat Draw & Bar Quiz @ The Legion Coffee and Baileys Special @ The Bridge Bistro Vinyl Appreciation Night @ Infinitea Rib Night @ Max Restaurant and The Pub Open Mic Night @ Fernie Hotel

THURSDAYS

Pizza Night @ Boston Pizza Jam Night @ The Brickhouse Hot and Cold Cocktail Night @ Infinitea Featured Pub Burgers @ Max Restaurant & The Pub Bar & Grill Burger and Beer Special @ The Fernie Medium Pizza Special @ Elk Valley Pizza Store and Tasting Room Open @ Fernie Brewing Company Pub Team Trivia @ The Pub Bar & Grill Thirsty Thursdays @ Kodiak Lounge Winter Bike and Dine @ Fernie Alpine Resort Seniors Programming

Hip Hop Sundays @ Kodiak Lounge Cocktail Specials @ Cirque Restaurant Kids Specials @ Boston Pizza Caesars on Special @ The Brickhouse All day breakfast @ The Fernie Roast Dinner @ Infinitea Dinner and Swim @ Fernie Stanford Resort Curry Sundays @ The Pub Caesars Special @ The Bridge Bistro Roast Dinner @ The Loaf Half Price Cocktails @ Cirque Restaurant

Kids Programming

Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Book Trailer Films @ Fernie Heritage Library WEDNESDAYS Crib, Gentle Exercise and Tai Chi @ Seniors Drop in Centre Adult Badminton @ The Community Centre AA Meetings @ The Anglican Church Basement Competitive Boxing @ Fernie Old School Boxing Club Toddlertime Ages 0-2 @ Fernie Heritage Library Indoor Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre Open Climbing @ Evolution English Conversation Cafe @ CBAL office StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre Celebrate Recovery @ Mountainside Church Knit Clique @ Fernie Heritage Library Drop in Gymnastics Ages 0-4 @ Elk Valley Gymnastic Club Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Wine and Wheel @ The Arts Station Latin Vibes: Rhumba @ The Arts Station Lego Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, ages 7+ Apres Ski Yoga @ Lizard Creek Lodge THURSDAYS Preschool Climbing @ Evolution Morning Yoga, Drop in, and Canasta/Cards @ Senior’s Centre Pickleball @ Fernie Community Centre RC Club @ Fernie Community Centre Community Basketball @ Fernie Secondary School

SUNDAYS

Swim

Library Program

Other

Mixed Senior Recreational Boxing @ Fernie Old School Boxing Youth Archery @ The Elks Hall Bellies to Babies @ Fernie Women’s Centre Open Roller Skating @ Max Turyk Gym Indoor Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School Free Guided Meditation @ Soar Studios Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Knits and Knots @ Fernie Heritage Library, ages 8+ FRIDAYS Cribbage @ Seniors Drop in Centre Jitney Darts @ Fernie Legion Toddlertime Ages 0-2 @ Fernie Heritage Library StrongStart @ Isabella Dicken Elementary School Kindergym @ Fernie Family Centre Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Evening Uptracking Tour @ Fernie Alpine Resort Pre Ski Saturdays Stretch and Warm Up @ Lizard Creek Lodge SATURDAYS Karma Meditation Class @ Essential Yoga Studio Open Climbing @ Evolution Prenatal Yoga @ Essential Yoga Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre SUNDAYS AA Meetings @ The Anglican Church Basement Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Guided Meditation @ Soar Studios FERNIEFIX.COM

31

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Community and Events

Welcome to the New World

by SHELBY CAIN

A

t the beginning of 2017, I was coming to terms with a harsh new reality.

I struggled to be optimistic. Trump was about to commence his reign, and the uncertainty that good could continue to ward off evil was excruciating. And, let’s be honest, we had reason to worry. As I write this now, Trump is joking about nuclear war, supporting pedophiles, and stirring up shit in the Middle East. I can’t even imagine the stuff we don’t know about.Yet. But, believe it or not, something incredibly wonderful happened when Trump and Putin teamed up to take that office. An estrogen revolution the likes of which we haven’t seen since women were deemed worthy enough to vote.

Last February I wrote a column about the women’s march on Washington. I watched the endless sea of fed-up faces stream past on the TV screen, pink hats united like a giant piece of Bubbalicious.

It was beautiful. My two young daughters sat on my lap, listening intently as I explained to them that the people were marching to make a stand against Donald Trump, a man who – among many other immoral identities – was a proven sexual predator. Proud of his ability to grab women anywhere he wanted and face no consequences. Because he’s powerful.

Because women wouldn’t say anything, he bragged, just meekly oblige his male urges then run home to scrub off the shame in silence. It’s harmless, he thought.

Well, it turns out that historic protest was day number one of the predator reckoning.

I think all those women marching could feel it. There is power in numbers. There is support and courage and the ability to face the shame and to say – me too. Because for 99.9% of the protestors, it wasn’t actually Donald Trump who sexually harassed them. It was a boss or co-worker

FAMILY STOKE

or someone who simply felt, like Trump proudly preached on that fateful bus ride, that they could.

Last February, I wrote: “I wonder if Trump’s the sole source of the problem, or just the nasty farmer who kicked up the dirt so we could see the ugly infestation that’s crawling around below the surface.”

Hello, worms.

As the months of 2017 passed by, brave women with everything to lose shared their stories on cameras and Twitter accounts and Facebook pages. And it worked.

It worked! The men who had all the power in the world – or so they thought – fell like dominos. Clink.

Clink. Clinkety-clink.

Weinstein. O’Reilly.

Spacey. Lauer. And eventually, they just started excusing themselves! Sheepishly stepping aside before the accusers had time to clear their throats. Welcome to accountability, gentlemen. Have a nice day.

I never thought I would have anything remotely positive to say a year into the Trump presidency. But all around that dark, miserable storm cloud called the White House, there’s a silver lining. A beautiful, sparkly awareness that – basically – you can’t do that anymore. Women are going to speak up, be heard and believed.You will face consequences. There are new sexual harassment programs and initiatives popping up in all vocations. It’s not okay.

Anywhere.

Our next generation will be raised with a new standard practice. This type of behaviour can no longer be ignored or

SUBMITTED PHOTO

deemed “just fooling around.” That line doesn’t jive, my friends, and it’s up to us, as parents, to teach our kids what appropriate behaviour looks like. We have to talk about it and give examples and make sure they know boundaries and what is consent. Any confusion on these points could screw up their lives, and the lives of their victims.

End. Stop.

But, here’s a cool thought. When my girls are young women – which seems to be happening at a gut-wrenching pace I can’t bear to acknowledge – they will feel free, and even entitled, to speak up if they’re not being treated properly. Far beyond the sexual realm. They might receive equal pay for equal work, be awarded the promotions they deserve, and be respected and admired for their intellect. Welcome to the new world. It’s a beautiful place to be.

FERNIEFIX.COM

33

Community and Events

OUT AND ABOUT

A Warm Welcome to Winter

by REBECCA HALL

Y

ear’s end in Fernie is a time of excitement and anticipation. I missed last winter in Fernie so the almost three metres of snow that fell before opening day at Fernie Alpine Resort was a real treat for me. I’m also happy to be back at the Fernie Fix and will be out and about in town, looking for happy faces and fun events to feature in future editions. I got to work as the temperatures started to drop and everything turned to white at the end of 2017…

checkered tables dressed with vintage records and Coca-Cola centrepieces. The event raised over $10,000 for Museum programming and a lot of smiles. Two weeks later, on December 1, the Museum’s updated permanent exhibit opened

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You might think the end of November is a time to relax before the holiday onslaught, but for the Fernie Museum, it was the busiest time of the year. The annual fall fundraiser Shake, Rattle & Roll Hop, on November 18 had guests jiving to the lively sounds of Peter and the Wolves and enjoying diner-style delights from

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alongside The Trites Wood Mercantile, a museum gift shop featuring a charming selection of period-inspired gifts, books, and coal-town inspired treasures. Upstairs in the gallery, the winter exhibit Treasures & Curiosities opened. The new show features

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6 a selection of curios and artifacts from the Museum’s 10,000-piece collection, including doctor’s vials of morphine and cocaine, and a child’s toy car that has quite literally toured all over Fernie. Drop in this winter and see if you could have been a “bottle king” back in the day. The exhibit is on display until March 31, 2018.

Fernie’s crafters and artisans were also hard at work preparing for the season. On the last weekend in November, the annual Twilight and Holiday Craft Fairs packed the Fernie Community Centre with trinkets and treasures, all lovingly crafted with the season in mind. One week later, Hearth 7 featured a curated collection of unique local art including paintings by Mike Hepher, glasswork by Katherine Russell, and, of course, Sarah Pike pottery, at Sarah’s annual studio sale.

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Make sure you check out all the wonderful things that are happening in January – from film fests to Freeski, and Nordic races to nightlife, there’s no end of entertainment to enjoy!

5 PHOTO CAPTIONS: 1. Renne and Stephanie at the Museum fundraiser, Shake, Rattle & Roll Hop. 2. Table at the Hop fundraiser.

3. Natalie and Sylvia at the Museum fundraiser, Shake, Rattle & Roll Hop. 4. Museum Exhibit, Treasures & Curiosities.

5. Taking in the sparkling displays at The Elk Valley Festival of Trees was the perfect way to get into the festive spirit. Two of Fernie’s youngest residents – Nadia and Emmy – were enchanted!

6. Brina Schenk and Michelle Galway from Annex Suspended at the Fernie

Craft Fair. Whimsical mobiles, banners, prints, and suspended art are their specialty. Watch for them at future shows or find them online.

7. The Fernie Ghostriders were all smiles as they handed out free hotdogs at the Light Up The Night event. Pictured: Matt, Shaun, and Keelan.

8. Tom from the Fernie Fire Department helps prepare the ice at the new outdoor skating rink. The whole community is overwhelmed with gratitude to the many businesses and organisations that have come together to create this facility following the tragedy at the Fernie Memorial Arena on October 17.

FERNIEFIX.COM

35

Outdoor Life

TWO TRAILS DIVERGED IN A WOOD

Winter Picnic

by JEFF COLDEN

I

n life sometimes we get stuck in a rut, doing the same thing day in and day out. We can be especially prone to this in winter and even those of us who have a winter sport can get into a routine. This winter, add some magic and memory with something that few of us choose to do in the winter – picnic!

Very few people think about having a winter picnic – carrot sticks or cold pizza on the chair lift is not a picnic, it’s awesome, just not a picnic – but it’s the perfect winter interlude. If pretty out, a short walk is a nice escape, the snow makes everywhere a comfortable seat and the drinks stay cold.

The Elk Valley offers a multitude of stunning vistas for a picnic, and your mode of transport options are many; snow biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, backcountry touring, or driving offer different experiences and views.You can even have a backyard picnic with the kids just for fun.

What makes a perfect winter picnic?

A wool blanket, while not the lightest, holds up to the snow and offers a firm place to sit. Add in a Thermos full of warmth, whether it’s full of soup or hot chocolate, plus a flask from the Green Petal with a little addition for the adults. Mix in some salami, cheese, pepperoni sticks and crackers for classic picnic fare. If you stick with cold foods some super fatty foods, like Brie or pate, will keep you warmed from the inside! On the other hand, if Brie is not your thing, Les Stroud, the Survivor Man, advocates whale blubber. Finish off with baking, cookies, or a chocolate bar from Beanpod.

Add a truly Canadian flare by creating maple syrup snow cones. We may not have any cabane à sucre, in Fernie but we certainly have the snow. If you bring a

JEFF COLDEN PHOTO

stove you can boil the syrup to reduce it then pour it over the snow to make tire d’érable or maple toffee. The sugar should power the kids through the snow.

Tips for Winter Picnics • Carefully place your gloves and toques to keep them dry.

• Bring an extra layer or two for your stationary time when you may cool off too much.

• Bring a large Ziplock bag to hold any garbage so it doesn’t float around in your gear. Leave no trace. It’s a ghost move…

• Sunset is early this time of year, so have headlamps or plans to return before dark.

• Stay hydrated. During the winter, there is both less moisture in the air and it’s easier to forget that we’ve been exerting ourselves.

If you want to venture further than the backyard, Google the Fernie Nordic Society to find trail maps indicating which trails are multiuse and which are pet friendly. Maps are also available at the bike and ski shops in Fernie. For beginners or families, the Montane Warming Hut is a good choice, a 4km trip from the parking

The Elk Valley offers a multitude of stunning vistas for a picnic, and your mode of transport options are many... lot with minimal elevation gains and it’s accessible via cross-country or multiuse trails. For an intermediate snowshoe, make a loop of Stove and Dem Bones up to the power line for a beautiful view back over town.

A picnic is a great way to enjoy the valley and create some memories outdoors. Plus, picnics are always a classic engagement move. Grab some champagne, bundle up and remember nature is your ice bucket.

No ring required.

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Outdoor Life

FULL THROTTLE

A Stroke of Inspiration

by SHANTELLE WEIR

Y

ou know those mornings when you wake up and you haven’t even looked outside yet but you can just feel the fresh snowfall? It’s like a strange silent feeling, as if the snow gives off energy you can’t mistake.You look outside, and you can hardly finish your coffee before you’re off to ride your weapon of choice. For me it’s my snowmobile.

I get dressed in my latest Klim gear, load up and race to the staging area. I’m literally five minutes from my house but feel like I’m in a different world. I don’t go any further up the trail than I need to before ducking off into the trees. I delight in the fact that I won’t cross a single track for the rest of the day. It’s like a blank canvas that needs my artistic touch. A deep pow slash here, and a few braaps there, a crisp line across the hill up onto a ridge. I get an epic view with a sense of accomplishment. The excitement is definite.

This is the feeling that gets me stoked.

The feeling I wait for all summer. I’ve mentioned before that sledding was not always my passion and I wasn’t always super jazzed about it, but it’s since become a part of me and a major part of my life.

When I was 27 I suffered a hemorrhagic stroke as a result of a ruptured AVM (arteriovenous malformation). This is basically a tangle of abnormal, poorly formed blood vessels that have a higher rate of bleeding than normal vessels.

Something I was born with but had no idea about, a ticking time bomb you could say. I was just living my life, going to school to be a forest technician at the time. One morning I woke up, headed out to the forest and my world was changed forever. I felt generally unwell from the get go that day, but chalked it up to lots of studying, travelling and dehydration

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perhaps. Nonetheless I carried on with my project. I hiked up a hill, bent down, stood up and POOF; my entire right side had no feeling. It felt as though my right side was no longer part of me.

After a month in the hospital, a tricky craniotomy, 42 staples and a ton of physical therapy, I began my long recovery.

Learning to walk was my first priority, but the trauma of almost losing my life was a lot to swallow. We were told I may never walk again and I may never be who I was before. My husband Andy and I set to work on getting my life back together.

After months of re-learning, I could walk, read and write again. It was time to get back to my life, and time to get back on my sled.

At first I was nervous to be in the backcountry so far away from everything.

What happens if I have a seizure out here?

Despite the assurance from my neuro team that my brain is totally healthy, I was

still anxious. Day after day we’d go riding and I was getting stronger and steadier.

What I found was not only did my body remember what I was supposed to be doing on my sled, but also my soul was fed. Out there I was free. I was in my own mind; I could be present in the moment of just riding. Even on the less epic pow days I was still accomplishing things; as I learned to side hill like a boss, and refined the little techniques that shape me into a smoother rider.

Although sledding was not always a part of my life pre-stroke it has definitely become a way of life in the chapters that followed.

It has inspired me to keep pushing and to help others feel inspired by a sport that can be so intimidating. The things I have learned about my abilities and myself were happening for me out there, in the backcountry where the sky is the limit and the snow is endless.

FERNIEFIX.COM

39

Outdoor Life

NEVER HAVE I EVER

PHOTO BY JESSE BELL

Good Juju

by JESSE BELL

I

love my column, I do. It leads to great things. But this morning, a week past deadline in mid-December, I realize I have nothing to write about. No neighbourly wine-making, no backcountry exploration – nothing. If I had the time and energy I’d find something, surely. But I don’t, so I won’t.

“Hello! My name is Jesse, and I’m in a fallto-winter funk.”

For the past several weeks my usual eagerness melts away with that exciting early-November snow. I might blame

I’m the problem.

Somewhere between early morning dog walks and late nights with Detective Olivia Benson, I lost my good juju. the suffocating cloud coverage, the allencompassing work, an inconvenient gym schedule, but truthfully, I can’t – it’s me.

I’m the problem. Somewhere between early morning dog walks and late nights with Detective Olivia Benson, I lost my good juju.

I sip two coffees in the morning and a third in the afternoon, sleep later as the days grow shorter, hide from the light beneath my down duvet. No great adventure falls into my lap, and I never seek to find one.

On the cusp of a New Year, I ask myself: where did things go wrong?

November.

The month starts off well. I clean out the gutters, fill our hot tub for winter.

A beautiful snow falls, and I dye my hair dark, feel fresh. On November 10, I attend a writer’s conference at St. Eugene in Cranbrook. The conference leaves me more inspired to write than ever before.

Then, as sudden as the snow, red spots appear on my hands and feet. My muscles ache that deep ache only sleep relieves.

Exhaustion weighs down on me the way a train does onto tracks, and I stir awake with icy chills and scorching sweats. Sick for a week, a small part of me wonders if my mental health is responsible for these symptoms – it’s been a dark month, I’ve cried a lot, it seems.

And so, I make a doctor’s appointment.

“You have hand, foot and mouth disease,” says the doctor.

“What?” I reply. Hand, foot and mouth disease? Is that a thing?

It’s a thing.

I leave the office a little relieved. I’m not crazy, just sick. I take the rest of the week off. Then, Saturday in the kitchen I notice a flickering. Light shimmers in my left eye for the better part of an hour, followed by a headache so fierce a vice tightens at

my temples. Too bright, too loud. Hand/ foot/mouth, and my first ocular migraine; November, you suck.

Not until the last weekend of the month do I briefly find myself. A heavy two-day rain washes the good snow away, and in a desperate attempt to recover from the last two weeks failings, I take a walk. I leave my phone at home, and drive past the tunnel into the sunshine. Meandering through hibernated woods alone I reach my sacred space, a lake hidden away from the patter of other people’s feet.

Collecting branches and witches hair, I start a fire on the rocks, sit cross-legged on a blanket with my dog, listen to the flames hiss and the wood crackle. The lake ripples only slightly, a gentle but chilly breeze. Finally, after a suffocating month, I can breathe again. For a few short hours everything falls away.

And then suddenly it’s year’s end. A deadline’s passed, the Ghost of Christmas

present, and I, ill-prepared for everything.

For writing my column, for 2018. But, who actually cares? The fall-to-winter funk exists, the same way resolutions and revelations of a New Year do. The demands ebb and flow. Another bottle of wine in the hot tub with a girlfriend won’t change the outcome of uncertainty.

I’m confident the good juju will come back, it always does. Next week, or next month, after an epic weekend of powder skiing or a road trip to the west coast. And with that good juju, the return of ideas for my column.

Life’s good, even when it isn’t. Even if you have hand/foot/mouth, and watch too much Law & Order.

My New Year’s resolution is this: feel all the feels, even if those feels sometimes make you feel bad. Embrace exactly who and where you are. And then find the thing that makes you feel good, and do the thing.

Embrace the

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41

Outdoor Life

HURT SO GOOD

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Recovery

by TOM GIBSON

H

opefully by now everyone has been out doing whatever their winter activity is, snowboarding at the hill, skate skiing around the Nordic trails or even snow biking. In this segment I met up with David Gillies, a Registered Massage Therapist with a B.Sc. in Kinesiology, currently based out of Spa 901. We spoke about some ways to stay strong and fit all winter long and keep our bodies working the best they can.

During the ski season I’ll start to ache and get sore in my glutes, I don’t think I’m

alone in this. This comes from spending too much of our life sitting: at the computer, in the car, and even on the chairlift. I was surprised to learn that my glutes are tight because they are always stretched, so stretches such as pigeon pose are only going to make this worse.

Instead of stretching, one of David’s go-to moves is tall kneeling with rotation. Set up upright on both knees, which should be slightly wider than shoulder width with the feet together with toes pointed, get tall through the crown of the head but don’t puff the chest out. Take a few deep breaths, then look to the left, slowly rotating while trying to look as far behind you as possible.

You’ll feel the right glute contract and possibly a stretch down the lateral quad.

Visualize breathing into this tight spot and you should feel your glute contract harder enabling you to rotate further. Hold for about a minute and repeat the other way.

All human locomotion is based on rotation; when we’re young we crawl and climb but as we get older our movements tend to become increasingly linear. Being able to hold a plank for five minutes is great if all you plan to do is bomb straight down the ski hill. But since most of us enjoy turning it’s important to train your body for that.

Think of the tall kneeling with rotation exercise as a plank at your end range of rotation. The further you can rotate with control the easier it will be to turn. If you are better at turning left, either on skis or

Rolling out our muscles after sport is not a new concept but rolling is often performed incorrectly. It’s a very simple change to make, don’t use the roller like a rolling pin.You just want to roll up and down in order to find the most tender spot then pause on that spot for a minute or two while gently trying to squeeze that muscle.

This will combine sensory (see: pain, but not too much!) signals to the brain with motor output signals which will cause more permanent changes.

This last move is the easiest one to do multiple times a day.You can perform this while making coffee, waiting for the microwave, in-between commercials while we watch the hockey game or the Olympics coming up. It’s a very simple yet effective deep squat. Keep the knees wide and settle down into a deep squat position.

Maintain contact with the whole foot so your arch doesn’t collapse inwards.You’ll probably feel a pinch in the hip flexor, try to keep the back straight, chest out and head tall and breathe deeply into the front of the hip where you feel the pinch. Try to hold this for 30 seconds to start with, as you get stronger you can hold for longer.

If you are unable to get all the way down without falling backwards gently hold onto something, the kitchen sink works perfectly.

Children will squat in the sand pit for hours in this position; can you?

These simple, easy moves will greatly increase your fun and performance in what ever your chosen sport is. All of these moves can be performed anywhere, in the locker room, in front of the computer or in the kitchen while your coffee is brewing. Don’t be concerned with how long you hold each move for but try to do lots throughout the day. It is way more effective to do each move 10 times for 1 minute rather than once for 10 minutes.

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COAL TOWN 591 b 2nd Ave

Artwork: Merlijne Marell

your mountain bike, you will probably have more difficulty rotating left in tall kneeling.

Doing this exercise will not only increase your performance on your skis and bikes but also day-to-day life, while becoming less injury prone.

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www.montanefernie.ca | 250-423-4136 | info@montanefernie.ca This is not an offering for sale. Lots are sold under a disclosure statement. All maps are for relative location purposes only and are not to scale. All materials and photos, features, dimensions, specification, improvements and amenities depicted or described herein are conceptual in nature and subject to change or cancellation (in whole or in part) without notice.

Certain photographs may not have been taken at the site and views are not from a particular lot.

Outdoor Life

HITTING THE TRAILS

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Fernie Duathlon

by JULIE KELLY, FTA REEK

RY C

Distance: Approx. 25 km Time: Approx. 2.5 – 3.5 hours Difficulty: Green/Blue

H

appy New Year! This month I challenge you to do two activities in one day. Here are two routes, one designed for Nordic skiing and the other for biking or snowshoeing.

Head to Mount Fernie Provincial Park and park at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre or Island Lake lower parking lot. It’s your call if you want to ski or bike/snowshoe first. I like to get warmed up on the skis.

From the hut enjoy a short warm up on flat terrain before crossing the bridge and heading up the Grunt. It has that name

for a reason! You will have a bit of brake at the top before your next climb on Galloway Loop. Take the loop counter clockwise enjoying some good climbing and descending. Finish off your ski down the Runt for a gradual descent, getting some good practice cornering. Cross the bridge and continue back up to the hut for one last climb.

Head into the hut if you need a warm up and grab some fuel before the next adventure on Lazy Lizard. Continue through the Park until you reach the main entrance to Island Lake Lodge (wooden structure and parking area). The trail starts just off the road on the right hand side.

It’s a short climb up from the road then some nice rolling terrain crossing a number of bridges. Enjoy the tranquility as you meander through the cedar trees, taking in the viewpoints along the way. The trail ends

at Island Lake Lodge. Now the real fun begins as you head back down enjoying the long descent to the parking lot. This one will leave you smiling!

Be sure to check out the trail conditions before you go to get the most out of your trail experience.

Lazy Lizard: Facebook.com/groups/ FernieFatbike/?ref=bookmarks Facebook.com/ groups/1591680514481230/ Elk Valley Nordic Centre Fernienordic.com/grooming

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Health and Lifestyle

FERNIE FLAVOURS

Not Just Noodles

by KATIE HAMAR

I

remember the sizzle. Oil on a hot wok.

Shallot. Preserved turnip. Garlic. The finesse, the technique of a master and the clang of her tool; metal on metal as she pushes the noodles around, mixing everything to tangy, salty perfection. I am on the street in Bangkok and this delicacy costs the equivalent of $1. This is Pad Thai, as authentic as Pad Thai gets, and I am in heaven. I came here for food experiences like this.

Food tourism is defined as “the pursuit and enjoyment of unique and memorable food and drink experiences, both near and far,” according to the World Food Travel Association. The final few words of the definition clarify that it does not matter the proximity these food experiences are to your home. If you have travelled across town for the purpose of going to a specific artisanal market or a restaurant you read about, you are engaging in food tourism.

A massive slice of the tourism pie as a whole, it is estimated that food tourism accounts for one third of total tourist spending worldwide, bringing in $201 billion in the United States alone in 2012.

Over three quarters of leisure travellers are deemed food tourists, meaning most of us are driven by what we sink our teeth into when we travel. But, while we may have an out-of-body experience while eating mole enchiladas in a tiny roadside restaurant in Mexico, there is more to food tourism than solely meets the palate.

Food tourism helps communities. A culinary tour company called Global Flavours is helping Puerto Rico’s economy bounce back after its hurricane disasters last fall. Since the business’ inception, the tour’s purpose has been to connect travellers to local food haunts that showcase the area’s culture and history. Following the hurricanes that left most of the company’s

A BALI FOOD EXPERIENCE | PHOTO BY KEVIN MCISAAC

Food tourism is defined as “the pursuit and enjoyment of unique and memorable food and drink experiences, both near and far,” according to the World Food Travel Association. restaurant partners requiring extensive repair, Global Flavours has worked tirelessly to help get Puerto Rico’s food tourism industry back on its feet. The company has restarted their tours and is subsequently aiding the local economy. Similarly, food tourism carries travellers to towns and cities where there aren’t other predominant industries to employ their inhabitants. It also plays an important role in helping to celebrate and sustain a region’s cultural identity. Without food tourism, the

specialties that make an area unique could be traded in for more globalized offerings.

Another advantage of food tourism is that it provides inspiration. When we step outside of our usual habits, whether that means flying to Vietnam or choosing to shop at a different grocery store, we open ourselves to opportunities to be inspired. New culinary experiences, no matter how small, are an education and expand our minds and taste buds to things we didn’t know existed before. Food tourism is rejuvenating and with the knowledge we learn, we go home to try to recreate the experiences we had.

Or better yet, we take aspects of them and create something entirely our own. Most of what I cook at home now has a Southeast Asian influence.

The food tourism industry rebuilds communities, preserves cultures, educates travellers and inspires creativity. Will we ever tire of what food tourism can offer?

We’ll always be hungry for more.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Health and Lifestyle

THE FIND

All the Difference

by CRYS STEWART

D

iscovering awesome local products and services that might just inspire you to look at something or do something in a whole new way.

Living sports, Looking street Can you go from slope or trail to pub or party and look great even if you’re caught in a downpour along the way? Adam Laurin, owner of Commit, thinks so. He and friends at Colorado-based CG Habitat co-designed a new kind of shirt, taking all of last year to get the three-layer, engineered textile construction just right. The result is a remarkably light topper that looks made of denim with an impressive 10k/5k waterproof/breathability rating. Laurin explained, “In the ski world, we tend to see a lot of the same look and concept. In our minds, we wanted to produce functional fashion.” Creating the mashup of sportswear and street wear started with practical considerations. “We’re in a pretty rainy place. This is about making garments for the place where we live,” said Laurin. But it was more than Fernie’s weather that inspired the final design.

Local artist Josh Lloyd created the black-on-black print on the back and a discrete “CG” logo was kept, Laurin explained, in memory of legendary Fernie athlete Connor Gliege. Female readers, take note: Laurin admits his wife snapped up the shirt for herself. Is there a women’s collection on the horizon? Said Laurin, “We’re definitely working on that.”

Black Denim Work Shirt, $109, at Commit Snow & Skate, 462A 2nd Avenue, and online (starting January 15) at commitsnowandskate.ca.

ADAM LAURIN WEARING COMMIT’S NEW WATERPROOF BLACK DENIM WORK SHIRT.

Refreshed Jewellery Fixing jewellery is one thing. Subtly transforming a broken piece is something else.

I watched as artist Kate Moran did just that – deftly repairing a broken gold chain necklace using fine wire and a tiny, uncut diamond to make a new link. “They’re discreet and sparkle only in the right light,” she explained. Tapping into her experience as a wire-wrapping artist, Moran has evolved techniques that produce finely wrought work but she’s no snob when it comes to the value of a piece or the type of repair. “I’ll restring plastic pearls or pearls worth thousands of dollars,” she said with a smile. And a fix can be just the beginning. A single strand necklace can be doubled, embellishments (real or faux) added to a bracelet or an earring, missing its twin, can morph into a new pair.You can think of it as recycling or reinventing.

But the next time you look at your broken or forgotten pieces of fine or fashion jewellery, think of the possibilities.

Jewellery repairs start at $10. A link repair to a fine chain using a diamond is $20. (No, that’s not a typo.) Repair orders accepted at Coal Town, 591B 2nd Ave. For more info, go to www.bykatemoran.com.

KATE MORAN REPAIRS A FINE GOLD CHAIN USING A TINY DIAMOND.

Snurf that Pow The thought of shredding the gnar got you yawning? You need a change. A big one. How about setting those feet free and pow surfing? Yup. Binder-less. Also known as snurfing or NoBoarding, it’s actually a throwback to the original concept of snowboarding started in the Sixties. Warning #1: Be prepared for a really steep learning curve. Local resident Eric Nicolson of Snow Valley Surf Sticks, a ten-year veteran of the sport, said it took him about a year to get the hang of literally surfing powder.

Now he makes binding-free boards of birch and poplar in his Fernie workshop. Nicolson explained to me that it’s a great alternative for “boarders trying to get into low-impact sports. Pow surfing can make mellow terrain fun again.” Warning #2: Backcountry untracked snow is best for this style of boarding so a pal with a snowmobile comes in real handy. But, hey, isn’t freedom meant to be shared?

A custom-made board (average price $400.) takes Nicolson about a week to craft. Contact him on Instagram @snowvalleysurfsticks.

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ERIC NICOLSON WITH HIS SON AND SOME OF HIS HANDCRAFTED BOARDS AND A WORK-INPROGRESS.

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Their thoughtfully curated collection of wares -such as modern couches, gorgeous dĂŠcor items, sumptuous bedding, and unique lighting options, are all displayed in warm and inviting arrangements that ignite daydreams of renovation or redecorating.

The Urban Settler also offers full-service professional interior design. They can help you with everything from articulating the perfect idea, with in-home consultations, detailed floor plans, 3D renderings, and project management to complete every detail to perfection.

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Health and Lifestyle

Claire’s Creating Change

This may be taking a bath, cuddling your pet, or snuggling up with a good book and a cup of tea. Plan to be able to do these on your own, and with little time and money so that they can be an easy “go-to reward.”

Next, be sure to utilize these comforts often, not only when you feel desperate or awful. Aim to do at least one of these daily – make feeling good the new norm!

by TIFFANY SCHEBESCH, RD, BASC

C

laire is a stay-at-home mom of three young children. She is well-organized and excels at taking care of her family.

Eating is her only problem. She doesn’t understand why she can’t control her eating habits when she is able to control everything else in life. She rarely eats during the day while she fixes meals for her toddlers, except some of their leftovers and a few snacks. By the time she’s sitting down for supper, she feels famished and often has a second helping, despite feeling full after her first. Once her children are in bed is Claire’s real “danger time.” After giving so much to her family all day, she feels she deserves a treat and takes her favourite sweet treat, chocolate covered almonds, to the couch to enjoy. By the time her show is over, she looks down to find her entire bag is gone. Claire feels like a failure; she promised herself last night that she wasn’t going to do this again.

“New year, new you!” I think we’ve all heard this timeless sentiment over and over during the season of resolutions. We forget about the past and focus on making this year our best one yet – which I’m fully supportive of, and I believe most health care clinicians would agree. Behaviour change is a large part of a dietitian’s job – guiding others to create the change they’ve been craving in their lives, and to reach their health goals. With our fast-paced society and constant multitasking, goals we set and often methods of reaching them may not be rooted in the healthiest facets.

To prevent the February “goal slump” this year, I have created a checklist with some great solutions to get you back on track and creating lasting change for 2018. If you’re feeling any of Claire’s sentiments, or that you’re ready to get in control of your eating, try one of the tips below!

FOOD INTELLIGENCE

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Behaviour change is a large part of a dietitian’s job – guiding others to create the change they’ve been craving in their lives, and to reach their health goals.

Checklist for change: Tick off the technique you’re going to try this week to curb unwanted cravings!

Nurture, rather than nourish yourself.

Starting from childhood, utilizing food for comfort is a learned behaviour. We look to our favourite bag of chips as a solstice after a long day at work, or reward ourselves for going to the gym by having a dessert. As a child, birthday cake was a once a year treat, and you may have gotten a candy for doing well on a test. So how can we break this learned behaviour? Create a list of ways to nurture yourself, without the use of food.

Quench your thirst.

You find yourself looking for something to eat.You start with a few crackers, but that doesn’t satisfy it…so you reach for some chocolate chips…no, that’s not it either.

You wander around the kitchen aimlessly snacking but nothing seems to hit the spot.

Sound familiar? Often in these situations we’re truly thirsty, not hungry. This means no matter how many snacks you try, you’ll never feel satisfied. To keep these cravings at bay, make sure always have a water bottle with you, drink a glass before each meal and before each snack. This will help you check in whether you’re truly hungry or not.

Ambush your triggers.

Just as Claire sat on the couch with her evening snack, many of us simply eat out of boredom. Often these “trigger times” are when our lives aren’t as scheduled – such as weekends, holidays, or evenings. It may also be around certain people, or in particular situations. The first step to changing this behaviour is to identify these high-risk times, being as specific as possible such as evening snacking during the week. Once you’ve identified this high risk time – plan an ambush! This could be scheduling an evening walk, volunteering on weekends, or knitting while watching TV instead of snacking to keep your hands busy.

Set one of these strategies as an intentional goal, and start taking control of your eating habits today!

Checklist for change strategies adapted from Craving Change™ workbook.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Health and Lifestyle

FAMILY WELLNESS

Family Resolutions for a Healthier 2018

by DR. TAINA TURCASSO, N.D., R.M.

A

nother holiday season has come and gone and here we are the beginning of a bright new year. The start of a new year is a special time full of opportunity and potential, but it is also a time of year that is difficult for many people. The nights are long and dark and there are no longer the festivities of Christmas to look forward to, spring is far away and many of us can’t escape the often oppressive cold. We also tend to feel an obligation to make an unrealistic and unfocused list of resolutions, only feeling worse by the end of January when we have failed to maintain an unreasonable new workout regime or diet. We make such an effort to make everything a little bit more special for our families, our communities, and even for complete strangers during the holidays.

We make time to see the special people in our life, even for a coffee or a glass of wine. And perhaps most notably, we are in general kinder, friendlier, and more open than we are at any other time of year. Why can’t we incorporate some of these ideas into a simpler list of resolutions for your family, and find a bit of that wonderful Danish hygge (which very simply refers to participating in simple rituals or habits that result in a warm, cosy, happy feeling)? Here are four simple resolutions you can make with your family that will lead to both a happier and healthier 2018: Family Meals Perhaps your family already prioritizes having dinner together. For many of us, however, our lives get so busy between work, social obligations, exercise, school, and after school activities, that a simple dinner hour is rarely a priority or even a possibility. Start with picking one night a week, plan a meal, and make it together

V. CROOME PHOTO

Move Together Exercise is such an important part of health and much like healthy eating, our initial introduction to activity is through what we do with our families growing up. Exercise is the single most impactful lifestyle change you can make, other than quitting smoking.

Our family ate whole foods, went cross country skiing together, and as kids we were always playing outside. These habits before sitting down and eating as a family. undoubtedly shaped who I am. These are Allow everyone to take a turn picking different times, and families are definitely their favourite dish/meal, with an emphasis busier with “activities” which makes it on healthy, whole food based meals. challenging to fit family-focused exercise Encouraging your kids to participate in this in, but making the time will give your aspect of making healthier food choices will family lasting memories as well as teaching help shape the way they will be making your kids about how fun exercising can be food choices for the rest of their lives. Be which will result in healthier behaviours adventurous and try new things, maybe when they are adults. Pick an activity with even making a booklet of your recipes your family that you would enjoy doing at the end of the year, complete with together, even if it’s as simple as a half day comments and adjustments. on the ski hill every week. Pick one thing and be consistent.

The start of a new year is a special time full of opportunity and potential, but it is also a time of year that is difficult for many people.

Family, Unplugged Our devices are amazing. Our phones, iPads, and computers have completely changed the way we work, communicate, travel and essentially live our lives. They are a necessity for most of us, but we have to find ways of limiting our attachment to them and our time on them for our sanity, but most importantly for our health. Make a rule for your family about your devices, perhaps limiting time to a certain amount, having no devices at the dinner table, or even just putting them away for an hour before bedtime. There is no right or wrong way to limit your family’s use of devices, but it is important to limit it somehow.

Essential, even.

Sacred Sleep Sleep is such a critical time for our bodies, and even more so for our growing children. Much work gets done while we sleep, and the impact of long term sleep deprivation can be catastrophic, increasing your risk of many diseases down the road.

Establish a bedtime routine for everyone

in your house, and help to create a sacred sleep space with your children that will encourage quality sleep. Create a routine of keeping bedrooms clean, have soft lighting immediately prior to bedtime, reducing stimulation for an hour or so before you want them to go to bed, including no screens. This helps to send our brains the message that it is time for us to shift into sleep mode and will result in longer and better quality sleep for everyone.

These may seem like small things, but it is the art in these simple things that will change your life for the better throughout the year and not just at Christmas. The Danes created hygge as a way of breaking up the monotony of the dark and cold winter, thus having small but special rituals creating a bit of that holiday feeling everyday. Call it what you will, but resolve to make these changes with your family and in a year, see what you have created as a result.

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Stratton PLUMBING, HEATING AND SHEET METAL

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Training for basic obedience to complex behaviour

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www.projectk9.ca katie@projectk9.ca • 250-423-0702

for more details

Check Facebook for all our events this month!

'kitchen always open'

i fi n t e

In -B

T

JANUARY EVENTS LISTING 01.05 Wadjit w aurora 01.06 DUPLEX & Friends 01.12 DJ SOUP w MISTER MOFFAT 01.13 The Runs live Punk 01.19 DJ Mihajic w Jenn frost 01.20 KRYPTOS ROCK 01.26 Blackberry wood 01.27 Woofax w cona

Day training/training walks

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Monday's Free Movie Night 7pm $6 Meals. Free popcorn.

Wednesday's Tarot reading's from 7pm Thursday's All 2oz cocktails & Specialty teas/coffees $8 Friday's Live music from 8pm Saturday's Record Appreciation Night & Wine Specials Sunday's $10 Roast Dinner 6-9pm (book!)

Book a party at Infinitea ph # 778-519-5258

Located on 5th St downtown

Bits and Bytes

Net Neutrality

by KEVIN MCISAAC

B

y the time you read this it may be too late. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the USA is set to vote soon to repeal the 2015 regulations which maintained “common carrier status” on telecommunications companies. This would effectively end “net neutrality” and bring about a new age for the internet.

Net neutrality has been in the news a lot lately because of this potential change, but despite a slew of wellmeaning explanations about what it is, few commentators have delved into the post-net neutrality world to give people a visceral understanding of the consequences of this change.

First some terminology – I promise this won’t be too painful. A carrier is a person or company that transports something.

It could be people, power, parcels, or in the case of the Internet: bits. A common carrier does this for the general public and as such is subject to some regulatory body. In the USA the regulatory body is the FCC. In Canada it’s the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). A contract carrier transports specifically for their clients and can refuse to transport for anyone else.

Think about this for a minute. The internet is not a series of tubes from you to Google and Facebook. It is a large, complex, network of networks. When you visit a website the bits from that website may (and probably do) travel through dozens of networks and over multiple carriers to get to you. If any of the carriers between you and the website choose to not transport those bits then there is risk that your request will fail.

An important legal requirement for common carriers as public providers is that they cannot discriminate, that is refuse the service, unless there is some compelling reason. That word discriminate

The Internet is not a fad. It is the preeminent way that our civilization communicates information to one another now. is important. It extends not just to race, sex, age, religion, etc., but also to competition.

A telecommunications company cannot refuse to carry a competitor’s bits. It also cannot treat them differently, as in cause them to be slower.

The importance of this cannot be overstated. Ten years ago none of these existed: Uber, Airbnb, Instagram, Snapchat, Kickstarter, Pinterest, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger. All of them needed their customers to be able to access them over the Internet. These are large companies employing tens of thousands of people.

All of that would be at risk if the telecommunications companies decided that this new company competed with their car service, rental service, photo service, etc.

Netflix moved from DVD rentals to streaming just ten years ago. Now imagine that you’re a telecommunication company that makes money selling advertising time during your TV shows and movies that you broadcast. An upstart young company comes along with a new model to stream ad-free movies to subscribers.

Well, if you are not forced to allow them to use your network by net neutrality laws then you can simply not allow your subscribers to connect to Netflix.com. Or, more insidiously, you can allow them to connect, but make the connection slow or undependable, thereby stymieing your competition without a shot being fired.

Without common carrier rules, Netflix would have no grounds for complaint and no one to complain to.

Without net neutrality rules and common carrier status for telecommunications companies this is the future: the only new ideas that you will ever see succeed on

THE ANSWER GUY

the Internet will be ideas that make those companies money. Period.

Imagine for a moment that the highways were all corporately owned and not governed under common carrier rules.

You pay a toll to drive on them, which is fine because you don’t pay taxes for them anymore. Awesome, right? Except when a newer, cheaper transportation company starts up that can reduce your business’ costs by 10% you suddenly discover that you can’t use them, because the company that owns the road has their own transport company and they won’t let another one compete with them.Your business cannot access any service that the road owner doesn’t grant access to.Your business cannot deliver goods to an area that the road owner doesn’t allow you to access – for any reason. This is not a future you want to live in.

In case you think this is a hypothetical discussion, it is not. In 2005 Telus blocked access for all of its subscribers to a website that was supporting the union that Telus was in a contract dispute with. They censored the Internet for their corporate purposes. They and every other Internet provider will do this again if given the opportunity. The only thing preventing them from doing this is common carrier status.

The Internet is not a fad. It is the preeminent way that our civilization communicates information to one another now. The thought of handing over the keys to that knowledge to a dozen or so companies, who by law are bound only to maximize benefits for their shareholders, is simply terrifying. Not because corporations are evil, but because they are amoral, and fair and equal access to the Internet is a moral issue made real by the technical ability to pick and choose the winners and losers. p.s. If you have any specific questions for the Answer Guy send them to info@clarismedia. com. Chances are good that if you want to know others do too.

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Bits and Bytes

January 2017

by YANN LORANGER

A

new year is a new start, and the first moments determine how it will unfold. 2018 has been built up from 2017.

The work and effort from this year will finally bear fruits and active forces of materialization will be very strong! Our reality won’t be the same after 2018, and we should have an easier time keeping to our resolutions.

Since we all have a little bit of each sign within us, consider each of the following as addressing a specific part of yourself. Read it all for every aspect within yourself.

Aries (March 21 - April 29) Humility It is time to look with a broader perspective, listen to your guides, advisers, and elders.You feel ready to accomplish great things and will… as long as you stay in tune with those more experienced. They wish for you to bring the change that is anticipated in our society and world, and to do so you must trust something greater than your own intellect.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Commitment You surrender to the strategies, to the greater plan for the greater good and are ready to make the difficult change you’ve been scared of up until now.You are keen to sacrifice your own comfort for the benefit of an inspiring vision and feel blessed doing so.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Freedom You’re happy to share your vitality - your joy to connect, to meet new people! It makes you happy to be useful, carving the energy flow that circulates through humanity. It seems you have wings and can fly from one place to the other, carrying the love, the vision, the concrete that unites everyone.

2018 has been built up from 2017. The work and effort from this year will finally bear fruits and active forces of materialization will be very strong!

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Integrity You are the key to all taking place in 2018. The Moon stands rooted in Cancer, facing Saturn,Venus, Pluto and Sun in Capricorn. Far away from all other planets or luminaries, it stands its ground, its own homey ground. Through imagination, you will keep the connection between family, those within your community and yourself.

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) Generosity You have to learn how to shine through beauty. True beauty inspires ceaselessly and never generates greed because it is always giving. It can be difficult to understand how continuing to give can chase away greed. Learn from the Sun - no one tries to keep all the sunlight for themselves.

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22) Moderation Keep the flag of sobriety well above the ground! With the many possibilities arising, someone needs to make sure nothing gets spoiled or wasted – and this is you.

You’ll make sure no one is forgotten, that everyone is treated with equity.

Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22) Warning

ASTROLOGY

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Activist You are the lever that makes the wheel spin! All actions you undertake will be strong, based on the certainty that there is a real need for them. “We are one with the Force and the Force is with us.”

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Listener If you are able to remain in a receptive state, great ideas will come to you and you’ll have the opportunity to share them with everyone in due time. The trick here is to keep listening to your inner voice even while transmitting what you’ve heard.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Bender Venus passing in your sign in such an important time is like a promise of success.

A promise from the material world that it will be following the direction of your greater plans, without excessive resistance.

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Astonishment The progress is obvious, but it does not necessarily go as predicted.You feel like parents watching their children grow, totally differently than expected, but yet, wonderfully. Life surprises us and goes far beyond our imaginations.

Pisces (Feb 19 - March 20) Miracle You have the opportunity to be open about some of your dearest spiritually inclined wishes. They won’t only be heard, they will also embrace reality like the rest of the “great plan.” Use your creativity and do your part in 2018.

Be very careful with what you wish and hope for. Relationships are powerful and should not be played with or used as bargaining material to obtain what you want. Respecting people is crucial to allowing progress.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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FIX TRIVIA

ferniefix

FernieFixMag

FernieFix

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

BRAIN TEASERS

Can you spot the five differences between these two images?

Credit: Riddles.com

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

1. A pregnant lady named her children: Dominique, Regis, Michelle, Fawn, Sophie and Lara. What will she name her next child?

Jessica, Katie, Abby or Tilly?

2. If the day before yesterday is the 23rd, then what is the day after tomorrow?

3. If you have two coins which total 35 cents and one of the coins is not a dime, what are the two coins?

FIND THE Somewhere in this issue are little fireworks. Can you find it?

ANSWER SPOT THE DIFFERENCE DECEMBER

ph: Mark Eleven photography

Fernie Fun

ANSWERS TO BRAIN TEASERS: 1. Tilly. She seems to follow the scale Do, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, and then Ti. 2. The 27th. 3. A quarter and a dime. One coin is not a dime, but the other one is.

January Events & Activities

ph: Mark Eleven photography

January 1, 2, 3 & 5 - Griz Kidz Activity Nights January 13 - Raging Elk Kinky Rail Jam January 14 - Community Appreciation Day January 20 - Avalanche Awareness Day January 27 - Kokanee Snow Dreams Party

Weekly Winter Activities

Tuesdays - Snowshoe & Dine Wednesdays & Saturdays - Yoga @ Lizard Creek Lodge Thursdays - Winter Fat Bike & Dine Fridays - Evening Uptracking Tour Saturdays - Kids Pool Party, BBQ & Movie Night Sundays - Nordic Sunday For all activities please check out SKIFERNIE.COM

NEW RESTAURANT!

NOW OPEN! Located in the Plaza For more info and to book reservations, call 250.423.2444 or visit skifernie.com

Open Daily: 8am – 10pm

Happy Hour:

Daily from 3–6pm

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59

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