Fernie Fix November 2018

NOVEMBER 2018 | ISSUE 143

TH E This month’s Special Feature, Acheiving Calm Through Community

Feature Resident Ange Qualizza on her goals for Council for the next four years

C AL M

I SSUE

Michael Hepher discusses creativity and the artist’s workspace

Sadie Rosgen introduces us to peaceful mantras with Tricia Clarke

Astrology with Ashley Kristina, what’s in store for us this November

FERNIEFIX.COM

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PRESENTED BY

Elk Valley Snow Avalanche Workshop

NOVEMBER 10TH 2018 - 10am-4pm

Location: Traynor Hall, Fernie Secondary School Tickets: Puchase online at EVSAW.com Advanced Sales only.

Avalanche practitioners & backcountry recreationists joining together in a day of presentations, demos and networking opportunities.

TASTE OF FERNIE Experience Fernie’s Restaurants and Shops

Thursday, November 15, 2018 Only 100 tickets sold. Must pre-purchase to attend.

Available at the Fernie Chamber of Commerce or call 250-423-6868

EDITOR’S FIX | 5 THE CALM ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE | 7 Achieving Calm through Community

by Lauren Fox and Nicky Benzie

BUSINESS IN THE VALLEY | 9 Business News/New Business Making Social Media Work – Being More Mindful on Social Media by Christina Pilarski Money Matters: Infuse Calm

by Gerald Price, CPA CA

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | 18 Feature Artist – Holly Kimola ArtBeat: The Eye of the Hurricane

by Michael Hepher At Peace and Yet On Fire – Mantras with Tricia Clarke by Sadie Rosgen Rental Fix – Netflix Top Five

by Andrew Vallance

COMMUNITY AND EVENTS | 22 Feature Resident – Ange Qualizza Planning Ahead: Keep Calm and Parent On

by Kerri Wall Family Stoke – Getting Back on the Horse

by Shelby Cain Inside and Out with Rebecca Hall – Giraffe Hunting in Fernie

RECREATION AND OUTDOOR LIFE | 34 Never Have I Ever – St. Margaret’s Cemetery

by Jesse Bell Hitting the Trails: Hiking Swine Flu

by Julie Kelly, FTA

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE | 37 Food Intelligence – Brain Fuel

by Tiffany Schebesch, RD, BASc For The Love of Food by Katie Hamar Eating More Sustainably

BITS AND BYTES | 40 The Answer Guy – Navigating Facebook with Shortcuts by Kevin McIsaac Astrology – November 2018

by Ashley Kristina COVER: An Emerging Forest.

Photo by John Pelechosky, Pele-photocreations.com THIS PAGE: Golden Fall dusted with winter beauty.

Photo by Vince Mo, Vincentmo.com

NOVEMBER 2018 ISSUE 143

THE CALM ISSUE

GROUP OF THE MONTH November: Fernie Early Years December: 3300 Club Help support local groups by using debit: 4 cents/Litre

THE

Not*For*Kids

Social

This is Tyler’s sled. Don’t be like Tyler.

Safe sledding.

A Registration Fair for Grown-ups

Premium off road gasoline • Regular gasoline • Diesel • Marked Diesel

Discover all the clubs, sports, organisations and not-for-profits Fernie has to offer adults.

Thursday, November 8 * 6:30pm - 8pm * at the Fernie Heritage Library

24/7/365

www.ferniecardlock.com 250.423.7205 • 1592-9th Ave., Fernie

WINNER ’Best New Business 2018’ fernie Business excellence Awards

CUSTOM COPPERWORKS DECOR

Free snacks, cash bar with beer and cider.

Bring a friend and meet some more!

For more information contact: information@fernieheritagelibrary.com or visit fernie.bc.libraries.coop

AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

Taking your dreams and making them a reality Custom Sheet Metal Also Available

Tim Popowich 250-423-0292

tim@ferniecopperworks.ca www.ferniecopperworks.ca

EDITOR’S FIX

you peruse the calendar you’ll find many like En Pointe, the Festival of Lights or FAR’s Yoga Retreat offer opportunities to be moved and look within. And when it comes to recreation, biking is winding down while skiing is on the horizon.

H

ave you ever been told to calm down?

If not, let me fill you in on a little secret: it does not work. Telling someone to calm down does not in fact help them to calm down. Usually, it results in the complete opposite.

You see, November is a gift. It’s an opportunity. 30 days, just for you to connect with yourself and those around you. To slow down the pace. To feel calm.

It seems like a natural evolution this time of year. Something we don’t need to be told, rather something that happens all on its own.

September and October have become an extremely absorbing time. Back to school, chock-full of community events, preparing for the winter season, engaging in the civil election, squeezing in our last rides or runs on dirt, avoiding getting sick or getting over those first seasonal colds… just trying to get it all in and with shorter days, it often feels as though it just isn’t possible. We’re stretched to the limit, and our patience is thin.

This November, we look forward to embracing calm, and invite you to do the same.

Krista Turcasso, Editor

And everyone is in the same boat.Your partner.Your kids.Your co-workers. We’re all feeling the very same thing.

Fortunately, we have November. Breathe it all in, folks. It’s here and with it comes less. There is a holiday, but it’s one that does not require shopping, dressing up, or hosting. It’s a day to remember and to show gratitude. There are events, but if

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.

ASHLEY KRISTINA has studied astrology for over twenty years and has been reading and teaching for the past five years. In her perspective, astrology is a compass that makes sense. For private consultations email mountainashastrology@gmail.com.

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

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.

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 | Kevin McIsaac

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JESSE BELL spends the better part of her weekend at the local cemetery. She talks to a squirrel, sees a bear, and realizes that more than a place to bury the dead, a cemetery tells stories. That is if you’re willing to listen.

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

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 is hosting her 2nd annual East Kootenay Women’s Leadership Retreat on Nov. 2 & 3. Email her for more information! kerri@kerriwall.ca KEVIN MCISAAC haunts the coffee shops and streets of Fernie to find his column source material.

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

LAUREN FOX and NICKY BENZIE are proud to work for the Fernie Women’s Centre and Columbia Basin Family Resource Society.

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

REBECCA HALL is making the most of summer attending as many events as possible and enjoying the occasional Base Camp Pale Ale. SHELBY CAIN has lived in the East Kootenays most of her life. She’s a full-time writer and musician in the roots band, Wild Honey. Shelby’s first novel, Mountain Girl, is available at a book store near you. Her second novel? Any day now…

TIFFANY SCHEBESCH is a registered dietitian and owner of Peak Nutrition Consulting where she helps clients create lasting changes towards their nutrition goals.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Thunder Meadows

Health & Wellness

Certified Professional Massage Therapy & Acupunture Services

Open 7 days a week.

632 2nd Ave. 250-423-2673

Online booking and more at:

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

Tous les lundis Every Mondays

Au/At CBAL

521, 4TH ave, Fernie, BC

PROUD TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES The Communities of Interest Advisory Initiative assisted in making connections for communities to come together such as: the College of the Rockies and Elk River Alliance partnering to offer summer watershed camps, Elk River Alliance and the Elkford ATV club working together to accomplish more during the annual Shoreline Clean Up, Teck and the Elk River Alliance teaming up to offer educational components to Elk Valley students during Mining Week.

www.evcnpvoice.com

Sign up for the newsletter for more information.

THE CALM ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE

Achieving Calm through Community

by LAUREN FOX AND NICKY BENZIE

Discover Your Holiday Hair

Book online www.sparrowhair.ca 250-423-7175 | 641 7th Avenue

NORESCA INC. Structural + Geotechnical Engineering Construction Management INDUSTRIES SERVED: • Residential • Commercial • Industrial SPECIALITIES: • Complex Renos • Garages • Lofts • Homes • Retaining Walls • Commercial Developments

• Tenancy Improvements • API Tanks • Road Design • Engineering Assessments

250-531-7364 • info@noresca.ca www.noresca.ca

S

ometimes the feelings of calm and personal wellness seem just out of our grasp or even the impossible dream. It is not always easy work to feel connected to ourselves and our community. Many people believe we have to do the work of wellness by ourselves but that is simply not true.

The journey of wellness is a lifelong process without a destination and in our fast-paced, instant gratification world that can be incredibly hard to realise. While we would love to have one good night sleep, one yoga class, or one magic pill make us feel better forever that is simply not the case.

We need to reach out to each other and keep reaching out to each other to stay on the journey of wellness. There are many supports in our community to assist with this.

One of these is the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre. They have been helping women and their families since 1975 and are an established provider of support in the community. They know that wellness is unique, personal and different for each person. They offer a variety of programs to try and assist on the journey of wellness.

There is an outreach worker who helps with information about legal and government systems and referrals to other services. They offer free counselling services to anyone who identifies as a woman and is 19 years of age and older.You do not have to be a Canadian resident to access these services.

They have an emergency support program for women who are experiencing a financial crisis because so often our wellness depends on other circumstances in our lives. Do we have a stable place to live, enough money to survive, safety in our home? These are not small issues and trying to tackle

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them on our own can seem completely overwhelming. Women can access a small amount of funding if they are unable to find financial support elsewhere to help them get through a crisis. In many cases this program is ensuring women’s basic needs for safety, food, shelter and medical care are being met.

This program provides women with the support to continue to move forward with their life.

The Women’s Centre also provides opportunities for building social connections and self- healing through their groups. Recently they ran a women’s walking group that encouraged exploring the amazing trails of Fernie and also personal mindfulness. They offer an ongoing free gentle, therapeutic yoga class every Thursday morning. Starting on November 8 they will be offering a monthly women’s art group. This group is to encourage women to use art to access their inner world. There is no artistic talent required. All of these groups are free and open to anyone who identifies as a woman.

Wellness is critical for all of us. It is a personal journey that helps us to feel calm and peace on a deep and intrinsic level. No journey should be made alone.

Look for support when you need it. The Fernie Women’s Centre is here to provide support and information. Please contact them with any questions you may have.

Ferniewomenscentre.com www.facebook. com/ferniewomenscentre, 250 423 4687 FERNIEFIX.COM

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Business in the Valley

AFRoS

A

BUSINESS NEWS

FIRE Adaptive Snow Program

FRoS, l’Association Francophone des Rocheuses du Sud (your local francophone association) is coming back this year with free French classes for adults every Monday at the CBAL office, behind the town hall. Feel free to sign up even if you don’t speak French.

Also, the Tiguidous (for 0-4years old) and the Club Baguette Junior (8-12 years old) are back, same place, same day (each Monday, at the CBAL), to practice French from the earliest days, with games, stories, and songs. Come learn French while having fun!

fernieadaptiveski.ca

AFRoS also organises events celebrating francophone culture once a month. Inclusive and friendly, these events are opened to everyone. Keep up to date on “AFRoS Fernie” Facebook group to learn more about their activities and events or contact them at francofernie@gmail.com if you want to receive their newsletter.

W

Fernie Brewing Company

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S

ould you like to be introduced to a new way of experiencing skiing/snowboarding? Are you looking for a fulfilling way to share your passion? Do you want to be in one of the best environments this winter season? Consider joining FIRE (Fernie Inspire the Race to Empower) Adaptive Snow Program.

Ferniebrewing.com

FIRE is an adaptive skiing program focused on seeing the ability. FIRE gives individuals with disabilities the freedom to ski/snowboard at Fernie Alpine Resort.

26 Manitou Rd 250-423-7797 ame great beer, new fresh look.

Four years since their last packaging refresh, Fernie Brewing Co. (FBC) is excited for their recent packaging re-design to be released!

Promising the same great beer, with a new fresh SUBMITTED PHOTO look, their new cans, bottles, and packs will launch as early as October, so keep an eye out for your Fernie favourites on the shelves this fall.

Fernie Heritage Library 493 3rd Ave 250-423-4458

A

re you new to Fernie? Have you been here for a while and are interested in joining an organisation, club, play a sport or to just learn more about what Fernie has to offer?

THE

Not*For*Kids

Social

A Registration Fair

This November 8 from 6:30-8:30pm, the Fernie Heritage for Grown-ups Library is hosting the Not For Kids Social, an opportunity for ‘grown-ups’ to discover all of the clubs, sports, organisations, and not-for-profits Fernie has on offer for adults. Basically, a registration fair for those looking to get involved and meet with others while in Fernie… whether living here permanently or new to town.

This free event includes snacks, a cash bar with beer and cider, and if you bring your ID and proof of address, you can get your free library card while there! For more information, email information@fernieheritagelibrary.com or visit fernie.bc.libraries.coop.

FIRE is currently looking for experienced skiers and snowboarders interested in becoming voluntary adaptive instructors. The program runs January to April, with options for midweek or Sunday lessons. Certification courses are provided early January (dates TBA).

So… is your interest piqued? If so, get in touch with Grace to find out how to get involved at fernieadaptive@ gmail.com or visit their website to learn more about FIRE.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Business in the Valley

BUSINESS NEWS

Giv’Er Shirt Works 672 2nd Ave 250-423-6615

G

iv’Er Shirt Works is spreading more love to organisations in the Elk Valley with their fourth bi-annual Giv’Er-Shirt-Away Competition! This competition gives away 50 shirts to a non-profit/ charity organisation in the Elk Valley. These shirts can be used for a fund-raising effort, internal giveaway, staff shirts or some other awesome idea. Past winners include Outdoor Connections and the Seniors Centre who rocked them at the Senior BC Games this year!

This is how it works: in 25 words or less tell Giv’Er why your organisation should win. It’s that simple! Entry forms can be picked up at Giv’Ers’ retail store on 2nd Ave, and the competition will run from November 1 to November 30. The winner will be chosen by the Giv’Er staff and announced on December 3, 2018.

Giv’Er is excited to be helping those who help our fantastic community and encourage you to get your entry in.

Heart to Hand 250-687-1441

A

re you a senior struggling with grocery shopping and meal preparation? Do you have a family member who could benefit from having nutritious, balanced meals delivered to the door?

Then Nourish, a division of Heart to Hand can help.

Nourish is a home cooked meal delivery service designed to meet the needs of seniors in our community. Meals are adjusted to meet dietary needs, are prepared in a commercial kitchen by qualified staff, and delivered fresh to your door once a week. A selection of soups, stews, casseroles, quiche, muffins, sandwiches and more are on offer.

Meal packages are flexible and designed to meet individual needs. Choose one meal a week or choose enough food to last the week.

Heart to Hand additionally offers an array of support services for seniors. Contact Mary MacLeod, Registered Community Health Worker and Registered Holistic Nutritionist for more information and pricing.

Wild Heart Therapies and Farmacy, 561M Highway #3 250-531-0154

W

ild Heart Therapies and Farmacy welcomes Dr. Kallie Doucette, a Canadian board certified and licensed Naturopathic Doctor, born and raised in a lobster fishing community on PEI. She has moved with her partner to Fernie with a passion for the mountains, and longer-term goals and a vision to stay.

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Dr. Doucette works to make health simple and realistic for patients, working with people to identify the underlying root cause of why they are feeling unwell by taking into account physical symptoms as well as mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors. She brings extended hours to the practice as well as other modalities not yet offered.

Dr. Doucette offers free meet and greets if you would like to know more about her services and make sure she is the right fit for your healthcare needs.Visit wildheartT&F.ca for more information.

Business in the Valley

Phil Gadd Licensed Realtor

Return to Health Physiotherapy

philgadd.com 250-531-0470

571b 2nd Ave 250-430-7419

P

hil Gadd is a newly licensed Realtor at Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty offering a fresh approach to buying or selling property in the Elk Valley. Phil has in-depth, local market knowledge along with excellent negotiating skills to give you peace of mind that you are getting the best deal from your real estate transaction.

If you need help navigating the often confusing and complex process of moving home, Phil will make the job simple. Finding the right property can truly enhance your lifestyle and enable you to create lifelong memories in this incredible place we call home.

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To find out how to get your foot on the local property ladder, or how much your current property is worth, call Phil today or visit philgadd.com. Turn your vision of owning property in this amazing community into a reality.

When does a house become a home?

A home meshes chaos with control, eccentricity with sentiment, hip with history and heart with soul. That’s why Nufloors carries flooring full of emotion, depth and character. It’s easy to find your flooring at Nufloors.

We make flooring a beautiful experience.

www.nufloorsfernie.ca 391 - 1st Avenue Fernie BC 250.423.4314 • 1.800.860.3136

NEW BUSINESS

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eturn to Health Physiotherapy is owned by Andrea Gris and operated out of Inside Out Fernie Wellness in downtown Fernie.

Andrea graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Masters of Physical Therapy in 2014. Prior to this, she completed a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Kinesiology. She has also completed post-graduate training in Anatomical Acupuncture, Dry Needling, K-taping, and NeuroKinetic Therapy.

Born and raised in Fernie, Andrea is excited to bring her passion in orthopedic rehabilitation and athletic performance back to her hometown.

She believes in being proactive about injury prevention and her goal is to help patients take control of their health using a multidisciplinary approach. Whether you’re looking to optimise your health, or needing rehabilitation post injury, she will use her training and knowledge to help keep you doing what you love!

Visit returntohealthpt.ca for more information and to book online.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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TruCut Ltd. Congratulations

FERNIE BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWA R D S

to all nominees, and to the recipients of the 2018 Fernie Business Excellence Awards.

A special thank you to all the sponsors who make these awards possible.

Tycoon Sponsors

2018

TruCut Ltd. Mogul Sponsors

Innovator Sponsors

Seed & Development Sponsors: Claris Media, Island Lake Lodge, Three Sisters Day Spa, Rocky Mountain Chocolate and Green Petal

Bronze Sponsors: Fernie FIx, Rooftop Coffee Roasters, Parkplace Lodge, Island Lake Lodge, Three Sisters Day Spa, Freshies, Fernie Brewing Company www.ferniechamber.com

Congratulations 2018 Award Recipients Sponsored by City of Fernie

New Business of the Year

Fernie Business of the Year

Chuck Shoesmith

Sponsored by Fernie Alpine Resort Community Fund

Sponsored by North Coal and TruCut Ltd

LWE Builders

Volunteer of the Year

Fernie Copperworks Inc.

Citizen of the Year

Sponsored by The Free Press

Rick Wiess Spirit of Fernie Sponsored by Telus PureFibre

Wapiti Community Tourism Achievement Sponsored by Tourism Fernie

Fernie Wilderness Adventures

People’s Choice Award Entrepreneur of the Year

Denham GM

Sponsored by Community Futures East Kootenay

Chopstick Truck Team of the Year

Chamber Legacy Award Sponsored by Western Financial Group

Gerald Price

Sponsored by EK Employment

Three Sisters Day Spa Employer of the Year

Outstanding Customer Service

Sponsored by College of the Rockies

Sponsored by Columbia Basin Trust

Giv’er Shirt Works

Big Bang Bagels

Sponsored by Rockies Law Corp.

GPI Chartered Professional Accountants

Community Leadership Award Sponsored by Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge

Fernie Brewing Company

Strengthening Commerce in Fernie FERNIEFIX.COM

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Haul Truck Operator Program Rob Doka: Instructor November 26 to December 21, 2018 February 4 to March 1, 2019

Avalanche Skills Training 1 Tyler Carson: Instructor December 10 to 15 December 17 to 20 January 7 to 12 February 4 to 9 March 4 to 9 $249

Contact the Fernie campus today!

250-423-4691 | cotr.ca/Fernie | fernie@cotr.ca

Business in the Valley

Being More Mindful on Social Media

by CHRISTINA PILARSKI

M

indfulness is the act of focusing on the present and being completely engaged in what is going on in our surroundings instead of being distracted.

In so many ways, social media can be the opposite of mindfulness, the opposite of being present. And while I believe social media is a necessary tool for businesses, I also believe balance is important.

As we focus on the calm before winter this month try taking a step back from social media during your downtime. The time spent unplugging can help you refocus and think about new ideas for content and strategy as we move towards 2019.

Implement some of these practices to help yourself truly unplug when your workday is done:

Mindfulness is the act of focusing on the present and being completely engaged in what is going on in our surroundings instead of being distracted.

3. Sometimes we can spend too much time trying to get that perfect Instagram story or think of a witty tweet. Constantly trying to create original content can distract from the people and moments that matter most during our personal time. On your next walk with friends or family be more present by leaving your phone at home or tucking it into the bottom of your bag.

4. Take time to clean up your accounts. Unfollow people and pages that post things that have no relevance to your business or personal interests. Mute individuals who tend to post negative or distracting content.

MONEY MATTERS

5. Don’t bring your phone into your bedroom – keep it charging in another room overnight, so you aren’t tempted to scroll first thing in the morning or while you are trying to sleep at night.

6. Meeting friends for dinner or drinks? Challenge one another to be in the moment and enjoy your time together. Propose that everyone stack their phones on top of one another in the middle of the table. The first person to check their phone buys the first round!

Social media is important, but balance is too.

Stay connected strategically – and do not be afraid to turn off so that you can enjoy all those things that refresh and recharge your business batteries.

Follow us at @CIPRComs – we would love to hear the ways you are maintaining balance. Use the hashtags #PRPower and #FernieSuccess to let us know how you make sure your business social media accounts are taken care of while you are unplugged.

1. Add a schedule to your social media bios and about sections. Let your audience know that the account is monitored during business hours only, or that comments and questions will receive a response in 24 hours. List a number in case of customer emergencies. This takes the pressure off responses when you are trying to take a break.

2. Set goals for yourself when you are social media surfing on your personal time. I will share my own personal rule – I only scroll through social media feeds strategically. What does this mean? I make sure to set goals before I start scrolling. My goals include: follow a new person or company that would be beneficial to business development, engage with posts in areas I am trying to make new connections, learn something new, or maximize reach for my clients by finding new places to share their posts.

Setting goals makes your time online purposeful.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Lest We Forget On November 11, we pause to remember those who have served and are currently serving our Country—both at home and overseas.

We will never forget.

Business in the Valley

Infuse Calm

activate in your brain enhance your ability to deal with the stress of difficult decisions.

by GERALD PRICE, CPA CA

Being able to forgive others easily and focusing on positive outcomes also serves to reduce stress and infuse calmness. Consider situations where you have been wronged.

You can carry that anger for a long time at the expense of your happiness and peace of mind.You will be happier if you can learn to accept and forgive in such situations, and then let it go.

I

grew up living in a cul-de-sac where I knew all of the neighbours, from the retired seniors to the babies that arrived after I did. There were forty children in that neighbourhood. In the summer we had some pretty big games of hide and seek and tag. With those many children around it was just a matter of time until feelings got hurt and tempers flared up. During one of these games, an incident occurred and I lost my temper. I cannot remember the details, but I do remember that my neighbour, Mr. Hacking, came out of his house to diffuse the situation. Mr. Hacking warned me that I had better learn to control my temper or it would get me into trouble. I must have taken his advice to heart as after that day there were few incidents where I allowed my temper to take over. When it did still arise on occasion, usually fuelled by stressors that I was experiencing at the time in hindsight I realized if I had remained calm I would have obtained a better result in the situation.

With the daily pressures we experience in the workplace and in our personal lives, it is important to develop coping skills that work for us. Here are a few suggestions that have worked for me and my family over the years.

A few years ago, my sister introduced me to a simple meditation site called Calm.

She would call every few days and we would both sign onto the site and choose a five-minute guided meditation.You could choose from various streams of natureinspired sounds such as the waves lapping up on a beach, a small stream gurgling or rustling tree leaves. The guided meditation would begin by instructing us to close our eyes, take slow deep breaths and focus our mind on each part of our body to relax, starting at our feet and moving to our legs, hands, arms, chest, and head.

I am sure we have all been told to calm down and take a deep breath.

Deep breathing increases the supply of oxygen to the brain which stimulates the

MONEY MATTERS

In 1988 Bobby McFerrin released the song “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” He gives the advice in his melody that when life does not go well just Don’t Worry, Be Happy. There is merit in this advice. Worry uses mental energy and increases stress as we focus on things that we may often not have any control over.

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So, take a deep breath, enjoy a walk, run, cycle or ski in the beautiful Elk Valley. Live in the moment and forgive others and you will feel less stress and greater happiness.

So, take a deep breath, enjoy a walk, run, cycle or ski in the beautiful Elk Valley. Live in the moment and forgive others and you will feel less stress and greater happiness. parasympathetic nervous system, triggering neurons in your brain which tell our body that it is time to relax.

My wife enjoys her daily walks with our dog and those occasions when I join them.

Brisk walking boosts endorphins that can reduce stress hormones. A daily walk will serve to reduce our stress levels and keep us all calmer.

My sons work out at the gym. Physical exertion is great for getting our body and mind relaxed and focused. It has been suggested that you should undertake physical exertion such as working out, walking, jogging or cycling before making tough decisions. The endorphins you

Roberta Milne Registered Massage Therapist

250 278 0537 robertamilnermt@gmail.com ferniermt.com online booking available FERNIEFIX.COM

17

Arts and Entertainment

FEATURE ARTIST

Holly Kimola Who doesn’t love the smell of leather, am I right?!

I was brought to Fernie under the pretense that it’s the best town to live in. I was not a skier nor was I too keen on snow so I was skeptical at first. However, some words of wisdom were shared with me upon arrival - to live and survive in Fernie you must get creative. While the advice was likely about working multiple jobs, I chose to take it in the most literal sense and started repurposing meat grinders to create unique lamps and learning how to work with leather. Six years later, I’m living and loving that truth.

As with many bright-eyed people who move to Fernie I had a very open schedule. My big life passion is ‘ahem’ everything horse. I grew up riding horses whenever possible and in my young adult years, spent many years driving two-horse wagons in my hometown Victoria, BC and on the Big Island of Hawaii. I also spent countless seasons trail guiding at ranches in BC’s interior. I feel this must be why I chose leather as my medium and why I reached out to an old family friend, Brian Ironmonger, a saddle maker in Jaffray, BC. I quickly learned that Brian’s door is always open to anyone who wants to learn the art of saddle making (or storytelling). I spent most of my first Fernie

winter in Brian’s workshop where I watched his hands for hours creating something out of nothing. Six years later I’ve continued working and being challenged by leather work.

If you put a pencil in my hand I’m not able to draw a darn thing but put a leather knife and some stamping tools in my hand and I even shock myself with the images I produce. The art of hand-tooling leather can be tedious and take hours. The process has become almost meditative, as it cannot be rushed, started and returned to at a later point, or done while multitasking. I just have to sit and concentrate. Hand tooling requires patience

and being able to quiet my mind and focus to reveal the vision of a three-dimensional image.

Hand tooling leather involves first dipping the leather in water so it’s pliable, cutting in the desired outline with a swivelling knife, and then gently hammering small tooling stamps along the edge of the cut line until the level of definition, texture, and depth is achieved to bring the design alive.

Leatherwork is not unlike being a bike or car mechanic, heck I think I might be a ‘leather mechanic.’ If my rig falls apart while I’m out on the trail it’s imperative that I carry the skills and tools with me to fix whatever broke and get back to adventuring on my horse. It’s pretty incredible the terrain and distance you can

cover in a relatively short time on horseback and I surely don’t want something to break and be stuck hoofing it all the way back.

So, you’ve got your function and beauty and the great part about working with leather is the ability to put the two together. My goal is to take a blank canvas, or hide in my case, and create a functional art piece through the combination of a timeless skill and modern design. I am an extremely practical person, but there’s nothing wrong with throwing in a little style, or a tassel here or there! A few of the items I make include leather and canvas bags and aprons, wallets, keychains, personalized flasks, wool blanket rolls with leather straps, and all the bike accessories.

Leather has two remarkable properties: a smell that has an uncanny ability to surface a flood of memories, and durability that can see through generations. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far, but what really excites me is what’s to come! Every new project I take on draws on every technique I have learned along the way and I learn as much from my failures as my successes. As for my meat grinder lamps, that might be a story for another day…

If you are interested in seeing my work, it is displayed at the Fernie Arts Co-op or come check out the art show ‘Hearth’ on November 30 and December 1.

Arts and Entertainment

AT PEACE AND YET ON FIRE

Mantras with Tricia Clarke

by SADIE ROSGEN

I

n a kingdom of calm, Tricia Clarke is the queen. She is serene in her nature, finding the sea beneath her feet wherever she may travel. Ebbing and flowing, she manifests the wisdom she and countless others before her have generated on the earth through a mantra.

I found Tricia in front of a crystal singing bowl at a free (yup, some things in life are still free) meditation class at Soar Studios.

Her generosity of spirit was contagious and as we chanted together, I was reminded

of how simple connection can be. I was reminded how vibrations can heal and what it meant to me that this gifted healer had shared her free time and powerful energy.

The mantra is born out of the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. This 3,000 year old, daily ritual is everlasting. It’s a sacred Sanskrit utterance, numinous sound, and believed to have psychological and spiritual powers. So, how does one lean into the power of vibration and repetition?

By taking some time away from your distractions, finding a quiet place to sit, and by breathing in and out. Deeply.

Here are a handful of mantras Tricia so graciously shared with me.

First in ancient Sanskrit, then translated into English.

I encourage you to devour them, as they will feed you endlessly…

Let’s begin:

1. So Hum “I am that I am all that is”

2. Om shanti, shanti, shanti “Peace of mind, peace of body, Peace of speech”

3. Sampriya hum “I am perfect contentment”

4. Dharma hum “My life has purpose and meaning”

5. Shreem nama “I honour the abundance of life”

6. Anada hum “I am bliss”

7. Om kleem shreem “I attract Divine abundance and blessing in my life”

8. Dhanya vad “I feel gratitude”

9. Aham prema “I am love”

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Arts and Entertainment

The Eye of the Hurricane

making will help you and others take it seriously. Make sure friends and family know when you’re working so they can keep interruptions to a minimum.

by MICHAEL HEPHER

3. Get Out of Your House. Sometimes a den or spare room can be a good space, but it can be easy to be drawn back into the daily routine if it’s just the other side of a door. I created a room in my freestanding garage as a painting studio. The commute across the yard is short but effective. My space is outside of family life.

A

few years ago I watched a documentary about storm chasers. To collect data, scientists flew a plane through a hurricane and dropped GPS beacons into the wind as they moved toward the centre. I was afraid for the lives of the people on the plane as it rattled and shook.

I was relieved as the plane finally punched through the wall of cloud into the eye of the storm. The sudden beauty and quiet on screen had an emotional impact on me, and I was immediately struck by the parallel between those storm chasers and my own artistic journey. The Artlife often feels chaotic, but at the centre of every artist’s day is a desire to get to that quiet core. If you peel back the layers, everything an artist does is in defence of this sacred, solitary space.

You don’t have to be an artist to experience the calm at the centre of the storm. We all know what it’s like when the world fades away and all that’s left is the task in front of you, being in the zone.

Flow. When I get into the zone I don’t think about eating, or Facebook, or the bills that need paying. In the zone, I have a singular focus that allows me to live in my art for hours at a time.

As artists, we live for our work. We go to sleep thinking about it and wake up thinking about it. How to carve out time.

Getting to our zone can often feel like braving a hurricane: we have to push through the debris of life flying past us trying to distract us from our goal of reaching the calm centre of our daily storm. Getting the kids off to school, phones ringing and buzzing, house chores piling up, inboxes clogging—the flotsam of our lives in constant motion.

American poet Donald Hall, in his book Life Work, describes being in the zone

ARTBEAT

V. CROOME PHOTO

It is important for artists to create their ideal working space, if for no other reason than it gives us a motivation to get there and get creating. when he says, “I know none of these things while I’m writing at the desk. I am utterly happy. I am utterly unself-conscious.”

With persistence, we can escape into our sacred place, and there we can do our best work. It is important for artists to create their ideal working space, if for no other reason than it gives us a motivation to get there and get creating. If it’s too hard or there are too many obstacles, we will constantly turn toward other things.

Over the years I’ve figured out a few things that help get to that place. Maybe they’ll be helpful on getting you to the eye of your own hurricane: 1. Make It Yours. A creative space doesn’t have to be large, but it has to be yours.

Let your family know that it’s your space and your permission is required for anyone to enter it or to use it.

4. Make it Permanent. If you have to set up and tear down every time you want to be creative you will never get to work. For years I painted at the kitchen table (the downside of small-home living) and I found myself less inclined to start something because I’d just have to clean it up before the next meal.Your creative space has to be set up and ready to go when you get there.

5. Turn Off Your Phone. This is probably the hardest thing for us all to do. Our devices are like crack for our brains, but every bing and ring will pull you out of your zone. Studies show it can take up to 15 minutes to get back into the flow after every interruption. If you use your phone for music listening, at least put it on airplane mode so you won’t get drawn out until you’re ready.

6. Make it Sacred. Allow yourself this time and place regularly, because it’s about your personal survival.You need it to create a balance in your being that will allow you to be present for the other important parts of your life.

Armed with these ideas, go make your space. Punch through the chaos and get to your zone. While the rest of the world whirls, you can sit blissfully in the calm eye of life’s storm and create the thing that is in you to create.

2. Tell People You’re Working. Using the word “work” to talk about your art FERNIEFIX.COM

21

November 2018 MONTHLY EVENTS THURSDAY 1.11.2018 Elk Valley Community Job Fair @ Fernie Community Centre, 2-5pm Fernie Poker Tourney @ The Legion, 6:30pm Festival of Lights Workshop @ The Arts Station, 7pm Dia Del Muertos - Day of the Dead @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:45pm ages 7-12 FRIDAY 2.11.2018 All Soul’s Day @ Christ Church Anglican, 6pm Brittany Barber Hosts Local Jam Night @ Infinitea, 8pm Mogul Smoker Fundraiser @ The Royal, 9pm FRIDAY 2.11.2018 - SUNDAY 4.11.2018 Fall Yoga Retreat Begins @ Fernie Alpine Resort SATURDAY 3.11.2018 Fernie Festival of Lights Workshop @ The Arts Station, 10am Judgement Night II @ Fernie Community Centre, 6:30pm En Pointe! An Evening at the Ballet with Hattori/ Williamson School of Ballet and Gordon Milne @ Fernie Family Centre, 8pm. Gala Dinner prior at Park Place Lodge at 5:30pm MILF Night @ The Royal SUNDAY 4.11.2018 Day Light Savings Time @ Fernie - fall forward.

WEDNESDAY 7.11.2018 Story Time for All Ages @ Rocky Mountain Village, 1pm Cyber Seniors @ Fernie Heritage Library, 1:30-2:30pm Drop In. Monthly sessions for seniors to learn more about technology.

Festival of Lights Performance Workshop @ The Arts Station, 7pm with Adriana. Open to all ages and experiences.

Sponsorship Workshop Part Two - Building the Ask @ TBD, 1-3pm THURSDAY 8.11.2018 Women’s Art Group @ Fernie Heritage Library, basement boardroom for women ages 19+ from 1-3pm.

Beatles Partea @ Infinitea, with mixologist Jason Dalsgaard serving Beatles themed cocktails. 7pm, costume and live music party The Not For Kids Social: Registration Fair for Grown Ups @ Fernie Heritage Library, 6:30-8pm FRIDAY 9.11.2018 Club Cre8 No School Friday @ The Arts Station, 9am Fun Friday: Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone @ The Heritage Library, 1:30-3:30pm Festival of Lights: Children’s Dance and Performance Workshop @ The Arts Station, 4pm with Heart and Soul Dance Ensemble ages 4-10.

Shop Late Friday @ Freyja, 6pm Friday Socials with Jeff Steiert (J-Skillz) live @ The Pub

Neana Robinson hosts jam night @ Infinitea, 8pm FAST Ski Swap Gear Drop Off @ Fernie Community Centre Fernie Ghostriders Hockey @ Fernie Memorial Arena, 7:30pm Electro Swing Extravaganza @ The Royal SATURDAY 10.11.2018 FAST Ski Swap @ Fernie Community Centre, 10-2pm Elk Valley Snow & Avalanche Workshop @ Fernie Secondary School, 10am.

Fernie Freestyle AGM @ Elks Hall, 3pm Festival of Lights 2018 @ Station Square, 6pm. An evening of lights, music and celebration.

The Price is Kinda Right @ The Legion, 8pm Brick Haus @ The Royal Fernie Ski and Board Film Fest @ Fernie Community Centre, 6:30pm with HOJI, Far Out, and Ode to Muir.

Fundraiser for Canadian Ski Patrol.

SUNDAY 11.11.2018 Remembrance Day Ceremony @ Cenotaph at the Court House, 10:55am. Followed by ecumenical service at Royal Canadian Legion at 11:45am.

Indie Films Fernie: Kayak to Klemtu @ The Vogue Theatre, 5pm TUESDAY 13.11.2018 Classic French Cooking Class with Tanner Elliot @ Infinitea, 6pm WEDNESDAY 14.11.2018 Walkie Talkie Book Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, 10am Focused Wheel Throwing @ The Arts Station with Helena Dejong, 6-9pm THURSDAY 15.11.2018 Taste of Fernie 2018 @ Fernie, 6-9pm. Explore the restaurants and shops of Fernie. ferniechamber.com Fernie Ghostriders Hockey @ Fernie Memorial Arena, 7:30pm Deekline @ The Royal FRIDAY 16.11.2018 Festival of Trees: Tree Lighting Reception and Spirits of Christmas Kick-Off Party @ Parkplace Lodge, 8:30pm Travelling Composer/Musician Greg Block Live @ Infinitea, 8pm SATURDAY 17.11.2018 David P. Smith in Concert @ The Arts Station, 8pm Mogul Smoker Pre Party @ The Royal Mogul Smoker @ TBA, shuttles leave from and drop off at the Royal.

MONDAY 19.11.2018 Pottery Workshop: Intro to Hand Building with Helena Dejong @ The Arts Station, 6:30pm

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

WEDNESDAY 21.11.2018 Story Time for All Ages @ Trinity Lodge, 1:30pm First Day of Grooming @ Corbin Snowmobile Trails, Tentative Festival of Trees Seniors Tea @ Parkplace Lodge, 12pm Focused Wheel Throwing @ The Arts Station with Helena Dejong, 6-9pm THURSDAY 22.11.2018 Booked! Fernie Writers’ Series: David Butler @ Fernie Heritage Library, 7pm FRIDAY 23.11.2018 - SATURDAY 24.11.2018 Black Friday Holiday Fair @ Park Place Lodge, 5-9pm Friday, 10am-4pm Saturday FRIDAY 23.11.2018 Club Cre8 No School Friday @ The Arts Station, 9am Twilight Craft Fair @ Fernie Community Centre, 5-9pm Sean hosts Jam Night @ Infinitea, 8pm Friday Socials with Jeff Steiert (J-Skillz) live @ The Pub Full Moon Party Theme Night @ The Royal SUNDAY 24.11.2018 Holiday Craft Fair @ Fernie Community Centre, 10am - 3pm Fernie Ghostriders Hockey @ Fernie Memorial Arena, 7:30pm Music and Fundraising for Shelter Canada @ Infinitea, 6pm The Runs @ The Royal MONDAY 26.11.2018 Pottery Glazing 101 for Beginners @ The Arts Station, 6:30pm THURSDAY 29.11.2018 Write it Down - Creative Writing Circle @ Fernie Heritage Library, 6:30pm. Monthly writing group.

Joey Kosolofski Gallery Show @ Fernie Arts Station FRIDAY 30.11.2018 Tea and Talk Book Club @ Fernie Heritage Library, 1:30pm Tentative Opening Day @ Fernie Alpine Resort Royal Birthday with Local Bands @ The Royal Hearth 8: Annual Studio Sale @ 1480 McDonald Ave, 4-8pm with work by Sarah Pike Pottery, Clawhammer Press, Element 7 Nine and Holly Horses.

City of Fernie: Holiday Kick-Off Light Up @ The Court House, 5-9pm Baby Jay Live duo @ Infinitea, 8pm

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November 2018 WEEKLY EVENTS

DINING, NIGHTLIFE and SPECIALS MONDAYS Gourmet Pizza Night @ Boston Pizza Pool Tourney Mondays @ The Pub Lasagna Specials @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe Wing Night @ The Fernie Hotel $8 meals @ Infinitea Ladies Night @ The Northern Local Jam Night @ The Kodiak Lounge Monday Mayhem with Goffles @ The Royal Store and Tasting Room Open @ Fernie Brewing Company Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials Date Night Mondays @ Island Lake Lodge TUESDAYS Pasta Night @ Boston Pizza Wing Night @ The Pub Bar & Grill Pizza Night @ Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe Beer, Burger and Bingo Night @ The Northern Cheap Night @ The Vogue Theatre Karaoke @ The Royal Curry Night @ The Fernie Hotel Store and Tasting Room Open @ Fernie Brewing Company Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials WEDNESDAYS 1/2 Off Wings @ Boston Pizza Wine Evenings @ The Brickhouse

OUTDOOR & FAMILY MONDAYS Dominoes, Duplicate and Mahjong @ The Seniors Drop in Centre Pickleball @ Fernie Community Centre Indoor Walking @ The Community Centre Ladies Only @ Fernie Old School Boxing Parent Tot Funtimes @ Fernie Family Centre Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Drop-In @ Elk Valley Gymnastics, 11-12pm for ages 0-4 Strong Start @ IDES, 9-12pm for ages 3-5.

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 Fernie Community Choir @ The Fernie Arts Station Free Guided Meditation @ Soar Studios Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Teens Drop in @ Elk Valley Gymnastics,7:45-8:45pm Strong Start @ IDES, 9-12pm for ages 3-5.

Kindness Committee @ Fernie Heritage Library, 3:45-4:45 KinderGym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am

All Day Happy Hour @ The Fernie Hotel Wing Night @ The Northern Wax On Wednesday @ 901 Spa Store and Tasting Room Open @ Fernie Brewing Company Zak’s Jam Night @ The Royal Half Price Ice Bar @ Lizard Creek Lodge Ice Bar Tarot Readings @ Infinitea, 8pm Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials Wine Tasting Wednesdays @ Island Lake Lodge THURSDAYS Buy Two Appies, Third for Free @ Boston Pizza Jam Night @ The Brickhouse Essential Oil Basics @ Infinitea, 6-7:30pm 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 Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials FRIDAYS Rib Night @ Boston Pizza Fish & Chips @ The Pub Bar & Grill Meat Draw and Members Draw @ The Fernie Hotel Seniors Programming

Kids Programming

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 Celebrate Recovery @ Mountainside Church Knit Clique @ Fernie Heritage Library Drop-In @ Elk Valley Gymnastics, 11-12pm for ages 0-4 Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Wine and Wheel @ The Arts Station Latin Vibes: Rhumba @ The Arts Station Fernie Women on Wheels Ride @ Bike Park, 6:30pm Lego Town @ The Library, ages 7+ 3:45-4:45pm Adults Drop in @ Elk Valley Gymnastics,7:30-9pm Strong Start @ IDES, 9-12pm for ages 3-5.

KinderGym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am THURSDAYS Morning Yoga, Drop in, and Canasta/Cards @ Senior’s Centre Pickleball @ Fernie Community Centre RC Club @ Fernie Community Centre Community Basketball @ Fernie Secondary School Mixed Senior Recreational Boxing @ Fernie Old School Boxing Youth Archery @ The Elks Hall

Date Night Special @ Spa 901 Fish & Chip Night @ The Pub Live Music @ Loaf, 6-9pm Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials Live music @ Infinitea SATURDAYS Kids Pool Party, BBQ and Movie Night @ Lizard Creek Lodge Meat Draw & Bar Quiz @ The Legion Coffee and Baileys Special @ The Bridge Bistro Pint Night with Overtime Beer Works @ Infinitea Rib Night @ Max Restaurant and The Pub Open Mic and Live Music @ Fernie Hotel Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials Large Pizzas for the Price of a Medium @ Boston Pizza SUNDAYS Kids Meal Specials @ Boston Pizza Caesars on Special @ The Brickhouse Mini Jugs and Caesars @ The Fernie Hotel $10 BBQ and Beats @ Infinitea Off the Grill Sundays and Caesar Specials @ The Pub Caesars Special @ The Bridge Bistro Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials Dinner Buffet @ The Indian Kitchen Fernie, Stanford Inn 4-9:30pm Swim

Bike

Library Program

Other

Bellies to Babies @ Fernie Women’s Centre Open Roller Skating @ Max Turyk Gym Indoor Walking Program @ Fernie Community Centre, Free Guided Meditation @ Soar Studios Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Tech Petting Zoo @ The Library, ages 10+ Knit Clique @ The Library, 6:30pm Strong Start @ IDES, 9-12pm for ages 3-5.

Kid’s Cafe @ Mountainside Community Church, 9:3011:30am. Everyone welcome!

FRIDAYS Cribbage @ Seniors Drop in Centre Jitney Darts @ Fernie Legion Toddlertime Ages 0-2 @ Fernie Heritage Library Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre KinderGym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am 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 Drop-In @ Elk Valley Gymnastics, 3:45-4:45pm for ages 5-12 FERNIEFIX.COM

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Arts and Entertainment

Netflix Top Five

by ANDREW VALLANCE

N

etflix has produced some remarkable films over the years. This month I would like to celebrate their incredible artistic output by providing a list of my top five favourite films produced by the streaming service.

1. Beasts of No Nation Beasts of No Nation tells the powerful and heart-rending story of a child soldier struggling to survive in an African militia run by a cruel warlord played by Idris Elba. Directed by True Detective creator Cary Fukunaga, this is an excellent film, and both Idris Elba and the movie’s young star, Abraham Atta, give great performances.

2. Like Father Starring Kelsey Grammer and Kristen Bell, and directed by Seth Rogen’s wife Lauren Miller-Rogen, Like Father tells the story of Rachel (Kristen Bell) a high-powered advertising executive who attempts to reconnect with her father (Kelsey Grammer) on a cruise after twenty-six years of estrangement. This is a pleasantly inoffensive little film, and it’s a decent first effort from Miller-Rogen. Like Father is a Netflix Gem and is absolutely worth checking out.

3. Alex Strangelove Alex Strangelove follows the trials and tribulations of Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny), a marine biology-loving nerd, as he struggles with relationships, school, and his own sexual confusion. This is a delightfully quirky little movie which deals with the issues around sexual self-discovery in a remarkably intelligent way. The film is

absolutely worth looking into. Two thumbs way, way up.You will not be disappointed.

1. War Machine Based on the rise and fall of General Stanley McChrystal, War Machine tells the wholly depressing tale of general Glenn McMahon (Brad Pitt), an extremely dim military officer with extremely good intentions. The film follows McMahon as he engages in the thankless task of trying to clean up the mess George Bush Jr. created in Afghanistan when he decided to greenlight the invasion of that country in 2001. Darkly funny and incredibly sad, the movie is definitely a must-see.

5

1. Mascots Mascots is yet another funny mockumentary from the brilliant mind of Christopher Guest, the creator of other

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THE RENTAL FIX

comedic gems such as A Mighty Wind and Best in Show. As with his previous mockumentaries, Mascots deals with a subculture that mainstream America seems heartily uninterested in exploring. This time around, Guest tackles the world of sports mascots, or more specifically, the people who play sports mascots who are competing to be recognized as the top mascot in the world. Featuring the comic stylings of Zach Woods (Silicon Valley), Chris O’Dowd (The I.T. Crowd, Bride’s Maids), John Michael Higgins (Pitch Perfect), Jane Lynch (Glee,Wreck It Ralph, Paul), Parker Posey (Super Man Returns, Lost in Space) Ed Begley Jr. (Arrested Development, Better Call Saul, Grace and Frankie) and many, many, more, Mascots is absolutely hilarious and completely absurd. Two thumbs up for this wonderful film from one of the great masters of American comedy. Check out this stupendously goofy romp. I can say with absolute certainty, you will not be disappointed in any way.

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25

Community and Events

FEATURE RESIDENT

Ange Qualizza

by KRISTA TURCASSO

W

hen I entered High School, Ange Qualizza was part of the class of ’93 that us newbies were in complete awe of.

To get a “hello” from anyone in this crew, a nod in your general direction, even brief eye contact would have you lifting your head a little higher.

Today, Ange and I are part of a cohort of FSS graduates who moved back to Fernie to work, raise a family, and enjoy its many recreational opportunities. We’ve seen Fernie change and evolve, and want to be a part of where it is going. And it’s been amazing to get to know these individuals on a different level.

I remember seeing Ange with her wee twin daughters and getting to know her through the Fernie Trails Alliance. I watched as she stepped forward to be on council, and spoke with her regarding concerns I had to get advice. And then, I felt an immense amount of respect when she once again put her name forward, this time for mayor.You see for me, that takes a lot of guts and a lot of passion. It’s something we all should appreciate from anyone in our community, the desire to represent Fernie and work hard to make it better.

Ange was born in Edmonton, and moved here with her family when she was five.

Her dad was in the construction industry which resulted in the Qualizza family moving for work. In 1980, he was part of the Line Creek Housing project, building houses throughout the three communities in the Elk Valley.

“Growing up here was magical,” Ange tells me the Monday after she has been voted in as Mayor. “I lived both in Fernie and Elkford and I loved both. We had so much freedom. It was such a great place to grow up.”

When Ange finished High School, she

V. CROOME PHOTO

went to the ‘University of the Ski Hill’ for one season, followed by a year in Australia on a work visa. From there she worked in Forestry in the Yukon, until at 23 she decided to head back to school where she studied economics for six years, completing her BA and Masters. Interestingly, Ange’s thesis valuated recreational use on the Bull River.

Ange never anticipated coming back to Fernie… until she and her husband Mark saw the second baby on their first ultrasound. “Raising girls in Calgary with a husband out of town made me feel sad, I wanted to come back here because I knew it would be easier with more support.”

Within six months of their daughters being born, they made the move to Fernie.

“Soon after, I was at the post office with my babies buckled in the mini van and Dr. East was watching me struggle. He said, ‘just leave the children and get your mail, I’ll watch them.’ I knew then that I couldn’t have made a better decision.”

Involved with various organisations, once her girls were registered in school Ange was approached by Dave Richards to be a

part of the Trails Alliance. He had learned of her background and thought she could help them move forward. “It was a good opportunity for me to do something different in the community,” she recalls.

Ange also worked on the City’s Official Community Plan, and from there it was a natural segue to go for council.

“I think I just saw an opportunity for engagement. Instead of being a part of five or six boards, you have more opportunity to do as good as work but on a more meaningful platform with more impact. I released my board engagements and joined the City and don’t regret it for a second.”

What’s really interesting to learn is that Ange knew within six months of being on council that she wanted to be mayor, and started building towards that goal.

“To be successful, you need strong relationships. Running for the Association of Kootenay and Boundary Local Governments was the first step,” she says. Being on this association meant working with other mayors, councillors and regional directors. They discuss issues communities are facing, and share how

they solved them. “You can bring this back and use it to inform a Fernie solution.

Most communities are facing the same problems, and we don’t need to start from ground zero. It’s something I’m really passionate about.”

“I think the future is bright, a diverse council is going to be a gift to the community and I want to thank Fernie for showing up, and putting our feet to the fire. Fernie has elected a strong council prepared for the job.”

When asked what her first move as Mayor is, Ange is dedicated to investing in council.

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

“I want to bring in an outside consultant to do a day’s worth of training and reset as a team. This is a bright group of people, and I want to make sure that they understand as early as possible how to move in this organisation. If they don’t, I worry they won’t be interested and want them to have as much opportunity as possible to participate.”

My parents brought me here when I was five.

She adds that she is so excited to work with this team.

“The energy around this election cycle has been amazing, and everyone is bringing something different to the table. Fernie voted in a diverse council and it’s magic to me. I think that the goal of this council will be to keep this community engaged we don’t want to lose what just happened.

We will work as a team to make sure the community that supported us still feels a part of this process.”

2. Who did you first meet in town?

Lance Gravelle.

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

Oh I just loved it. I love the mountains.

4. What keeps you here?

Randy Polacik pushing me down the snow hill at IDES. 6. What time of the year do you love most in Fernie, and why?

Recently, the dead of winter because I have become addicted to Skate Skiing.

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

I hope that we have worked as a team to manage some of the pressures Fernie is facing right now. 18% population growth and all those issues that come along with being a fabulous resort community.

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

Five am, cup of coffee!

Our community, and how strong it is.

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

5. Do you have a favourite Fernie memory or pastime?

I love Tae Kwon Do so much that I recently got my black belt!

10. Quote to live by: Be kind.

Ange recognises that her biggest job is enabling council to feel useful. She realises that it can be challenging by the fourth year to continue to be engaged so will work to ensure all councillors know their contribution is valued. “It’s a representational role, I work for them and want to make sure they feel good and safe!

Employee retention is the same, people need to feel like the process is going to support them… that they have been heard.”

There is excitement in Ange’s eyes, and I can see she is ready to dive in. As I sit across from her, there is still a feeling of awe. But it’s not the kind of awe a 13 year old has for an 18 year old. It’s the kind of awe one has for their peer, who is out there making magic happen.

FERNIEFIX.COM

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Community and Events

Keep Calm and Parent On

and connection unlike anything else.

But we don’t usually acknowledge how emotionally taxing this role is. It’s tempting to think, ‘I’ll be calmer when my teen doesn’t argue so much’ or ‘I’ll be happier when I work less and have more money.’

Is that really true? If we adopt a mindset of thinking happiness lies in the future, that’s where it’s always going to be. Better to notice the sweet moments that occur *now* and what we are grateful for *today*. Practice prioritizing people before things.

by KERRI WALL

L

ife with young people is rarely calm.

From wake up until bedtime, children of all ages require attention and energy from their grown up caregivers. Although parents of teenagers have a little more freedom, the mental demands remain substantial.

Parenting Teens = Planning and Preparation You won’t be feeding and changing and bathing your teen like you did when they were much smaller, but you may be providing safe rides late at night or dedicating weekend after weekend to out-of-town tournaments. Just keeping the fridge stocked is a full-time job! Plus, you are likely selling your time on the labour market to pay for all the things your teenager wants/requires.

The financial cost of outfitting a teen for school or sports is much higher than when they were little, which means the work of parenting has shifted from being direct and ‘high touch’ to more administrative.Your evenings might be spent balancing your budget instead of fishing Lego pieces out of the furniture.

Most Valuable Skill: Emotional Capacity The hardest thing about raising teens is usually the emotional charge we feel about how they act and the choices they make.

Which one of the following examples kicks up your feelings?

- Teen won’t answer your questions - Teen stays out late - Teen doesn’t care about school - Teen refuses to visit family - Teen spends all day gaming - Teen wants money - Teen leaves a pile of dishes

PLANNING AHEAD

V. CROOME PHOTO

...mornings can be a great time for adult self-care. I encourage parents of teens to use the quiet periods when your kid is sleeping in to fill your own emotional cup.

- Teen plays loud music - Teen begs to use the car - Teen comes home with a surprise tattoo or piercing We all have triggers that set us off, and living with teenagers can feel like a minefield. Maybe you are relaxed about your teenager dating but you really wish they didn’t spend so much time in their bedroom on the phone. It would be easy to point the finger and decide you would feel calmer if your teen was more open and available, but your feelings are your responsibility alone.

Calm is an Inside Job It might seem like our children with all their demands and desires are to blame for the stress we feel. If you add on long hours spent at a paying job that doesn’t necessarily align with your personal ideals, calm can feel a long way off.

In reality, parenting is deeply meaningful work that gives us a sense of purpose

Is Calm a Goal?

Consumer society relentlessly markets the idea of ‘calm’ to us. We see pictures of models and actors looking pleased and totally at peace in ads for everything from dentistry to house boating. The sell is always the same: ‘use our service or product and you will look serene and feel contented.’

Parents know the reality of family life includes perpetually long to-do lists and plenty of emotional ups and downs.

Yet research shows that having children doesn’t detract from our long-term wellbeing. Studies indicate that parents of young children rate their life satisfaction as medium-low, however dying people report that what brought them the most fulfillment is their closest, loving relationships.

Calm Can Be Found in the Morning Teenagers are notorious for staying up late and sleeping until noon if they get the chance. Nights can seem long for a mom or dad who wonder why their kid isn’t home yet or worries about underage alcohol use (more on that next month).

But mornings can be a great time for adult self-care. I encourage parents of teens to use the quiet periods when your kid is sleeping in to fill your own emotional cup.

Talk with friends you can be real with, get some exercise outdoors. That way you will have an increased capacity to be open and relaxed when it’s needed.

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29

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Community and Events

FAMILY STOKE

Getting Back on the Horse

by SHELBY CAIN

I

have a new man in my life. A twentyyear-old of Arabian descent who goes by the name Shine. I smile when I think about him. Wish I could reach out right now and touch his neck. Feel his warm breath on my cheek and rub his velvet muzzle. Smell him. Just smell him. It’s hard to describe that smell. It’s earthy and ethereal. Dirt and freedom. Like babies and warm bread, when the actual scent and the emotion that swells up with it are so intertwined you can’t distinguish one from the other. He smells like a long, contented sigh.

Studies on the benefits of equine therapy are so numerous I was captivated for hours reading only a small sample of them.

Humans and horses have been drawn to each other since we first crossed rocky paths at least six thousand years ago.

They’ve stood by our sides. Did what we asked them to, even when it was a bloody march to their own death. They are loyal and sensitive and unique. When mistreated they act out. Over time, if they feel lonely and unloved, they become damaged. Just like us.

I’ve loved horses all my life. I was never lucky enough to own one, but I begged my parents relentlessly to take me anywhere to go galloping into the sunset.

I did so without fear or vulnerability.

Unfortunately, a riding accident at the age of eight left me with a broken face and a newfound nervousness it would take me decades to overcome. I still loved horses, but now it was from the other side of the fence.

This summer my daughters wanted to take riding lessons. Right down the road from our house is the amazing Love it or Leave It Ranch. Jen Kennedy, a born and raised Fernie girl, runs the ranch with her husband and young family. Her philosophy

SHELBY CAIN PHOTO

on horses and their treatment was inspiring.

Kennedy practices Liberty Training. A bitfree method that uses positive energy and enforcement to guide the horse’s actions.

It’s more of a partnership between horse and rider. Gentle and intuitive. Symbiotic and magical to watch. I knew nothing about this technique when I ducked into the beautiful arena on a smoky August day, ready to lean on the rail and watch as my girls walked small ponies around the soft dirt paddock. But there were no ponies in sight. Tethered to hooks were two giant, beautiful horses that my girls would quickly grow to love. Jen greeted us with a warm smile and within thirty minutes my girls were mounted and walking calmly around the arena. The horses responding to the slightest kiss and cluck. I’d never seen anything like it. I couldn’t stand by the rail and watch.

The funny thing about life – the universe, God – whatever you want to call it, is that you can generally look back on a path you’ve taken by ‘coincidence’ and say - oh yeah.That was my path. I didn’t know it at

the time, but the path to the ranch, the path back to horses, was destined for me.

The next lesson, I got back on the horse, so to speak. On my boy, Shine. As I brushed his soft brown coat and detangled his mane, hesitantly to say the least, he pawed the ground and bumped me with his large head. Jen told me to stand my ground. I put on his saddle and walked him around the arena on a lead. I was nervous.

Shine knew. I made the proper command and he stopped on a dime. I loved him for listening and told him so. Several lessons later I walked through the doors. It had been an exceptionally bad day. One of my worst. My eyes were swollen and my kids were unsure what to say to make me laugh.

I felt lost. I walked up to Shine and buried my face in his neck. Inhaled that smell.

He didn’t bump or paw. Instead, he stood perfectly still, head leaned on my back, and sighed. My calm in a nasty storm.

We are so blessed to have facilities like Love It or Leave It Ranch and Fernie Therapeutic Horse and Pony Club right out our doorstep.

You can find them both on Facebook.

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31

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Community and Events

INSIDE AND OUT

Giraffe Hunting in Fernie

by REBECCA HALL

A

s we head into the darkest month of the year a feeling of quiet anticipation descends on Fernie. Many are excited to see the first flakes of snow in anticipation of all the fun they will bring, others resign themselves to the months of shovelling and winter driving ahead. Either way, it is a time of transition; a time to reset and settle in for the season, make plans and create routines. November feels more like winter in Fernie but seasonally it marks the end of Fall - traditionally known as a quieter season, although newcomers might be surprised to hear this.

Over the past month Fernie has buzzed with events big and small from the Gillbilly Festival through six days of the Elk Valley Pride Festival, Thanksgiving with the miniature therapy ponies at the Barn to Oktoberfest at Fernie Alpine Resort and on towards all the fun of Halloween. As these larger events attracted crowds, smaller regular events have started to fill the calendar once again. In preparation for the Festival of Lights later this month the Arts Station has been hosting a series of lanternbuilding workshops (continuing through November), and the Ghostriders made their emotional return to the Fernie Memorial Arena. At the time of writing the ‘Riders sit comfortably in the middle of the division with 14 points and a strong showing for the start of the season.

Following a busy month assisting with the Fernie Chautauqua, Tourism Master Plan Launch and Fuze Pride Party and planning several more events to follow soon after, I was happy to take a break to visit the opening night of Marcus Oclee’s exhibit of paintings Eye of the Soul at Inside Out Wellness. This inviting space regularly hosts small gallery shows with an opening night reception to meet the

REBECCA HALL PHOTO

clearly shows the connection the friends had. In all the hustle and bustle of the month that giraffe was a welcome moment of calm. Whether it’s an art show, a walk through the amber leaves in Annex Park, the Festival of Lights or a yoga retreat, make sure you find your calm this fall before the winter arrives. Marcus’ show can be seen at Inside Out Wellness until December 12.

REBECCA HALL PHOTO

artist. Oclee’s show primarily features a combination of two subjects – motorcycle racing and exotic animals. Striking in their close composition, each piece focuses on simple contrasts and bright colours, or a monochrome palette. A gentle portrait of a giraffe against a black background stood out to me, there is something very calming about the piece. Chatting with the artist, I learned that the study is a tribute to a late friend, inspired by another giraffe painting by the deceased’s husband. Oclee was inspired to work on a gentler piece that

Image Captions: 1. The Reverend Andrea Brennan, along with Mayor Mary Giuliano and Wayne Stetski - Member of Parliament for Kootenay Columbia, welcomed the community with a flag raising ceremony at City Hall on the first day of the Elk Valley Pride Festival on October 9.

2. The artist, Marcus Oclee, at the opening night of his exhibition ‘Eye of the Soul,’ with his wife Karina and gallery visitors Butch and Mike Coultry. The exhibit is on display until December 12.

FERNIEFIX.COM

33

Outdoor Life

NEVER HAVE I EVER

St. Margaret’s Cemetery

by JESSE BELL

A

cemetery is the surest place to find peace. Stones covered in orange and green lichen stand in silence, staggered amongst one another beneath hundredyear-old pine. Some stones are as old as the trees themselves.

St. Margaret’s Cemetery in Fernie is one such cemetery. Old stones mix with old trees, standing quietly together just above town, touched only by the passing breeze.

And no one is hardly ever here—except me.

For many days this September, I walk rows of stones in the Old Section of the graveyard. I carry a bucket of warm water and soap with me and a barbecue brush.

Strange? Absolutely. It’s perhaps the darkest, twistiest job I’ve ever had. It’s also the most fascinating.

I’m a small part of a restoration project by the Fernie Heritage Cemetery Restoration Society, a group created in 2008. Reclamation was first spearheaded in the year 2000, and today the Society’s aim is to clean and repair headstones, verify records, and establish an online database with photographs and GPS coordinates for the graves.

St. Margaret’s Cemetery was first owned by the Crowsnest Coal Company, acquired by the City of Fernie in the 40s. By then, two world wars had passed, several flu epidemics had torn apart families, and mine disasters had shocked the valley for decades.

The cemetery in Fernie, as all cemeteries do, quickly became a place of history.

As I go from stone to stone I read dates of birth and death, prayers, pay particular attention to those who died far too young.

JESSE BELL PHOTO

Some scriptures engraved in languages I can’t interpret, others are names I recognize—ancestors of people I know in town. Some have no marker at all.

“What’s your story, sir?” I say aloud as I come upon a grave of a young man who died at 17. His stone’s covered in fallen pine needles and remnant pine cones, and I brush and blow them off respectfully.

I return the next day, and the day after, walk past war veterans and family plots, all the while feeling incredibly humbled to be a part of something so important, a reconciliation of the dead.

Suddenly, a squirrel chirps just ahead in the next row, flicking his bushy tail twice.

I come across a plaque erected by the City of Fernie in thanks to Len Kosiec, one of the original founders of the Society who spent countless hours restoring gravesites at St. Margaret’s. Mr. Kosiec was my 4th Grade teacher—I had no idea he was a part of such an incredible feat in his later life.

“Hello, little friend,” I say looking up, then realize I’ve disturbed his eating place— and also, that I’m talking to a squirrel. He scurries up a tree and squeaks at me for several minutes in anger.

By the end, I’ve cleaned 170 gravestones.

I drive to the store, buy four bunches of pink and white carnations, and return to place a flower on each stone I’ve cleaned. It feels like the right thing to do.

I go between stones, splashing soapy water, then brushing back and forth. The sun shines, and though the air is cool for September I don’t feel the chill I thought I would in the graveyard. On the contrary, I feel at peace, calmed by repetitive motion; clean, rinse, clean, rinse.

Later that week I meet Patrick Burke, a member of the Society, as he photographs and GPS records gravestones. He uses an egg timer. While we wait the seven minutes for the GPS to capture, we discuss the unexpected beauty of the cemetery.

“There was a man who’d lost his grandfather,” he tells me. “He couldn’t find

his grandfather’s grave for 30 years. But we found it, we looked for it and we finally found it in the records. He was very, very happy.”

We’re interrupted shortly after by a black shadow running behind us.

We’re brewing up a storm.

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“Patrick! A bear!” I yell, and a beautiful, shiny-coated black bear runs up a nearby tree. He soon escapes to some safe sanctuary of his own.

While the Society has a long way to go, with thousands of pages of records and stories to still collect, there’s something peaceful—even magical—about St. Margaret’s. Maybe it’s the untold tales, the lichen clinging to cement crosses. Perhaps even, it’s a conversation with a displeased squirrel.

Either way, if peace and a little serenity is what you seek, spend a reflective moment at the cemetery.

For more information about the project, visit fernieheritagecemetery.com.

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35

HITTING THE TRAILS

Winter is coming, Gear up!

Men’s, Ladies & Kid’s

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Hiking Swine Flu

by JULIE KELLY, FTA

Distance: 7km Time: 1-1.5 hours Difficulty: Black

N

ovember, it’s the time of season to remain calm before the storm. Winter is upon us so let’s hit the trails for one last hike before you slap on your skis and/or snowshoes.

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A great trail late Fall that typically drains well is Swine Flu. It’s also a great spot to take in the views. I love the contrast of the snow on the mountains and the colourful leaves on the trees.

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Start by crossing over the Fairy Creek Pedestrian bridge and follow the single track towards Swine Flu. Cross over the cattle guard and turn right before heading back into the trees. After you cross the Powerline a short way up is Far Side trail.

If you decide to do a shorter loop or the conditions are not favourable this is a good option. Otherwise carry on up navigating several switchbacks and few short steeper sections, until you reach the top. It will be all worth it for the views.

The fun now begins as you head down a number of switchbacks and some rolling terrain. This will take you back out to the bottom of the meadow. Cross over the cattle guard and make your way back down to the bridge.

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Health and Lifestyle

FOOD INTELLIGENCE

Brain Fuel

by TIFFANY SCHEBESCH, RD, BASC

B

rooke is worried about entering her most dreaded month – November. Her often upbeat personality and motivation seem to be suppressed during the long cold days and limited sunlight this month has to offer. She spoke with her doctor and learned she might have mild SAD or seasonal affective disorder. This basically means a short-term period of mild depression in her shoulder season between biking and skiing. Brooke’s found herself craving more carb-rich foods and gaining what she likes to call her “fall five pounds.”

Her doc suggested she visit a dietitian to learn what foods can help with mood and pick herself out of her fall funk.

Three Key Nutrients for Brain Health The human brain is only about three pounds, however, it’s one of the most complex of any animal and contains about one hundred billion neurons passing information at speeds of up to 250 mph.

It’s no wonder this organ takes a lot of fuel to operate efficiently! I’ll take you through three key nutrients for a happy, healthy brain.

1. Focus on complex carbohydrates This one is really a no-brainer (pun intended). Carbohydrates serve a few purposes to our brains. First, carbs break down into glucose, or sugar, which is your brain’s preferred fuel source. They also stimulate the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. Complex carbohydrates are whole, unprocessed foods which have more fibre than their processed counterparts. This fibre slows down the digestion process and releases a consistent flow of energy to our brains. Focus on foods like whole grains, starchy vegetables, fruit, and legumes to get your daily needs of complex carbohydrates.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

2. Fuel your brain with amino acids Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. In the brain, they’re used to create neurons, connective tissue, and neurotransmitters. For example, the amino acid tyrosine and phenylalanine are converted in the brain to the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine acts as an important regular of mood, helps ward off depression while increasing motivation and mental focus. Norepinephrine is necessary for alertness, concentration and forming new memories. Excellent sources of tyrosine include soy products, fish, almonds, avocados, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, bananas, and most dairy products, especially aged cheese. Rich sources of tryptophan include poultry, salmon, tuna, shellfish, soybeans, brown rice, cottage cheese, peanuts, and sesame seeds.

3. Feed your mind fatty acids The human brain is nearly 60 percent fat.

It’s not surprising then, that fatty acids are crucial for our brain health. Fatty acids are comprised of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These are known as essential fatty acids since our body can’t make them, we must obtain these through our diet.

Unfortunately, our diet in North America is often excessive in omega-6 and limited in omega-3 fats. The best-absorbed form of omega-3 is from fatty fish like tuna, salmon, and sardines. Not to fret my vegetarian friends, some plant sources of omega-3 come from chia seeds, ground flax seed/oil, and walnuts.

Bonus tip: Stay active! Studies have shown that exercise can treat depression as effectively as an anti-depressant medication.

Exercise promotes positive changes in the brain including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being. If you’re not exercising right now, start small.

It has been shown that even a 15-minute walk in the evenings can produce feel-good endorphins and allow your brain some time to relax.

Now that we have some ideas for helping feed our brain, try setting a nutrition-goal for yourself to work on this month! Goals give us a sense of purpose and satisfaction, not to mention making it much more likely to create positive change in your life. Take advantage of the extra time we have during this calm, quiet season to feed your mental health.

FERNIEFIX.COM

37

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PO Box 490, Suite 202, 502 Third avenue Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 Tel: (250) 423-4446 | Fax: (250) 423-4065

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for more details

Check Facebook for all our events this month!

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Health and Lifestyle

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD

Eating More Sustainably

by KATIE HAMAR

T

he calm before the winter storm, the shoulder season, is an opportune time to pause, reflect and evaluate if our present habits reflect our deeper values. With environmental sustainability at the forefront of many of our minds, it is encouraging to note that seemingly small everyday behaviours, like choosing what we eat, can result in big impacts. Industrial agriculture and factory farming are responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Excessive food packaging and waste are dire issues. A few simple changes can have a big influence on the food industry’s environmental sustainability.

Following are five ways to make more conscious and progressive choices in regards to food: 1. Seasonal Local Produce Where seasonal produce flourishes, it can be bought and consumed in its most natural, healthy form without being shipped vast distances. It is better for you and better for the planet. By purchasing in-season produce sourced from a nearby supplier, you not only help decrease food mileage emissions, but you’ll also enjoy more delicious nutrient-dense products.

2. Fewer Animal Products In a 2006 report, the United Nations stated that farming animals for food creates more greenhouse gas emissions than all the cars and trucks in the world combined.

Pollution caused by transportation makes up approximately 14% of total greenhouse gas emissions, while livestock is responsible for between 14.5 to 18%. The kicker is that while transportation creates carbon dioxide, livestock farming produces enormous amounts of methane which is 23 times more damaging to global warming than CO2. Meatless Monday is a global movement to avoid eating meat for one day

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a week. If the world took part in Meatless Monday, it is estimated meat consumption would lower by 15% leading to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 240 million cars off the road each year. If one person does not eat animal products for one day, it is estimated they save over 1,000 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 square feet of forest and 20 pounds of CO2.

3. Buy in Bulk Buying in bulk helps reduce packaging waste. Products sold in smaller quantities are oftentimes packaged in excessive plastic.

Purchasing bulk items, whether from the grocers’ bulk aisle with reusable scoop bags or from stores like Costco, helps lower unnecessary plastic use. A study by Portland State University’s Bulk is Green Council found that 26 million pounds of waste would be avoided per month if all Americans bought in bulk once a week.

4. Embrace Imperfection High consumer standards require that produce be the perfect colour, shape, and size or else we do not want it. For this reason, an incredible amount of fruit and vegetables are wasted because they are

perceived unfit for sale even though they are perfectly fine, albeit slightly imperfect.

The next time you are at the grocery store or market and see a twisted sweet potato or wonky carrot, choose that one! Better yet, ask an employee if they have any imperfect produce in the back.You will be helping to decrease the 193-million tons of greenhouse gas emissions that are created by wasted food in North America each year, and 396 kilograms of food wasted per Canadian each year.

5. Whole Over Processed Grains that are used to produce edible oils and packaged foods make up 60 percent of the United States’ crop acreage, while vegetable, fruit and nut farms, only two percent. If we all ate fewer processed foods, the demand for copious amounts of cereal grains like soy and corn would decrease and the resources and land used to grow them could be assigned to fresh produce which hosts much higher nutritional value.

This shoulder season, take a moment to reflect on your food purchasing habits and their impact on environmental sustainability.

If we all made more mindful choices about food, we would contribute positively towards the issues facing the industry.

FERNIEFIX.COM

39

Bits and Bytes

THE ANSWER GUY

Navigating Facebook with Shortcuts

[P] – post a new story

For example:

[L] – like or unlike the selected story

[Alt]+[0] Help

[C] – Comment on the selected story

[Alt]+[1] Home

[S] – Share the selected story

by KEVIN MCISAAC

[Alt]+[2] Timeline

[O] – Open think or expand photo from the selected story

[Alt]+[3] Friends

I

t’s funny how sometimes an offhand comment can reveal how bad assumptions can be. Recently someone asked how people were able to put new paragraphs into a comment on Facebook.

This is frustrating if you don’t know because hitting [Enter] sends the post.

The answer is to use [Shift-Enter] which starts a new paragraph. [Shift-Enter] isn’t new or specific to Facebook. It’s been around at least since early versions of Microsoft Word. So at least 20 years.

I also mentioned that there are a number of other keyboard shortcuts and was amazed that people don’t know these. This is because I’ve been working full time on a computer since before the computer mouse was commonly available. This meant that all the screen movements had to be performed with keystrokes.

Some keyboard shortcuts that are in Facebook are copied straight from the Unix editor Vi.Vi is standard on pretty much every computer around these days with the exception of PCs. If you’ve ever worked on a remote server you probably edited using Vi. In Vi, all the direction keys to move up and down are [J] and [K] respectively. Those same keys in Facebook will take you to the previous and next news feed story – up and down.

Another key borrowed from Vi is [/] which is used to search. Try it on Facebook. It takes you to the search bar. Here are a couple of other shortcut keys that are unrelated to Vi:

and here’s the best one: [?] - shows you all the available shortcut keys for what you’re doing.

Note that these won’t work if you are in the middle of typing in a post or comment.

In that situation, you get the character you entered.

Besides those single-key shortcuts, there are a number of [Alt] key shortcuts that will jump you to a new section in Facebook.

To use these you use the [Alt] key plus a number, shown as [Alt]+[#] If you’re on a Mac you’ll have to use [Ctrl]+[Option]+ the number.

[Alt]+[4] Inbox [Alt]+[5] Notifications [Alt]+[6] Settings [Alt]+[7] Activity Log [Alt]+[8] About [Alt]+[9] Terms That should speed up your moving around Facebook.

Happy Computing.

The winter sports season is almost here!

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From contacts to goggle inserts to antifog treatment, stop in and ask us about your options!

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Bits and Bytes

November 2018

by ASHLEY KRISTINA

Astrological Transits or Astrological Transits visit full article at Ferniefix.com

F

Themes Two different themes happen this month however in all, it’s a really great month bringing lots of improvements in people’s lives.

The first week everyone is spending time feeling the depths of their heart and their love relationships, revisiting old places in love, coming to terms with some aspects in love, and really just feeling the depths of it all.Venus in retrograde is bringing up the unfinished business, aspects are coming up in relationships for momentum forward.

The dark moon and new moon November 7 is sullen, lots of Scorpio energy, our really deep emotions we haven’t wanted to plunge to are going to be felt. This is good, the only way to move emotions is to truly feel them. Sit with them. Jupiter, the planet of expansion and the ruler of Sagittarius moves out of Scorpio and into Sagittarius at this same time so although we are feeling these emotions, we also feel this expansion and a jovial feeling that we have not felt in over an entire year! A true level of emotional freedom occurs this month.

Mid-month is a total switch of energy and this Month gets really happy and jovial.

Mercury does go retrograde mid-month so communication can start to go wanky already by November 7. Mercury rules communication, travel and electronic devices. It’s actually normal to all of a sudden have problems with your computer or your phone breaks or you missed your plane, the text didn’t send, what not. It’s annoying but funny when you recognize how much the planets affect us. Try to be extra careful with how you communicate because it easily can be misconstrued

The dark moon and new moon November 7 is sullen, lots of Scorpio energy, our really deep emotions we haven’t wanted to plunge to are going to be felt. This is good, the only way to move emotions is to truly feel them. Sit with them. during this time and you will be internalizing and revisiting some aspects of the past 3-4 months. Spending time alone is good to do this. Getting up to date with your meditations so to say.

Mars moving into Pisces mid-month gives an ethereal feeling to how you get things done, somehow your to-do list just gets done almost magically. Pisces is special like that :) Aries It’s all about your business and career which will be super successful the next few months, do your TO DO list.

Taurus Partnership is where your energy and attention is, clarity comes with the new moon and momentum comes with the full moon.

Gemini This month has potential to be one of those moments in time for you that changes everything! Major cross roads with a strong love potion in the mix, sail those magnolia winds!

Cancer Work could be changing for you this month.You are more into play-mode for the first half of this month anyway so follow that. After the full moon, the mundane tasks will get done.

ASTROLOGY

Leo Keep focusing on your home, family and emotional wellness. Career matters need more research and important decisions should not be made just yet. Happy money comes easily.

Virgo A very internal month for you and the home front has your attention. Clarity comes at the end of the month especially with regards to your love relationships. A good month for extra meditation.

Scorpio Balance in partnership comes by the new moon; that which seemed to be moving backwards moves forwards again.Your teaching of October was to find your direction and thus momentum is finally occurring since this was completed. Happy birthday.

Sagittarius A happy prosperous month and you just want to adventure everywhere! Do it!

Harmony is felt greatly for you. Happy birthday to some of you too!

Capricorn Spiritual interests, dreams and intuitions are your themes. Deep introspective understandings and internal changes.

Caution with career decisions until after mid month.

Aquarius The first half of this month is for your career, the second half is very social with friends, groups, community gatherings, all up your alley! Enjoy.

Pisces Your career is highlighted this month and communication of all kind with regards to it and surrounding it is happening. Be extra careful with communication as Mercury stations and goes retrograde.

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Fernie Fun

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SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Can you find five differences between these two pictures?

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

1. What 7 letter word is spelled the same way backwards and forewords?

2. What 4-letter word can be written forward, backward or upside down, and can still be read from left to right?

3. What English word retains the same pronunciation, even after you take away four of its five letters?

4. What English word has three consecutive double letters?

ANSWERS SEPTEMBER SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

FIND THE Somewhere in this issue is a little orange leaf.

Can you find it?

ELK VALLEY PRIDE FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY | V. CROOME PHOTO

Answers 1. Racecar. This is a Palindrome. 2. NOON. 3. Queue. 4. Bookkeeper.

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