Fernie Fix October 2019 by Claris Media

OCTOBER 2019 | ISSUE 154

TH E Lily Earl joins Sadie Rosgen to write an inspiring poem showcasing her courageous spirit in At Peace and Yet On Fire.

S P IR IT

Feature Res Sara Funk shows her community spirit through her involvement in various organizations, including the Fernie Pride Society.

IS S U E

Julie Kelly highlights projects the Fernie Trails Alliance was able to execute this year, largely due to the passion and spirit of volunteers.

Dr. Taina Turcasso discusses the importance of making inclusive care a priority in medicine in Family Wellness. FERNIEFIX.COM

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OCTOBER 2019 ISSUE 154

EDITOR’S FIX | 5 BUSINESS IN THE VALLEY | 7 Business News/New Business It’s in the Numbers by Roman Rybar, CFP - Investment Moves to Avoid

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | 12 Feature Artist – Beth Gallup ArtBeat - The Band Plays On by Michael Hepher At Peace and Yet On Fire – Pathways by Sadie Rosgen and Lily Earl Rental Fix – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Andrew Vallance

COMMUNITY AND EVENTS | 20 Feature Resident – Sara Funk by Krista Turcasso

City Corner with Ange Qualizza – Exploring the Columbia River Treaty by Canoe Planning Ahead - Supporting Teen Spirit by Kerri Wall

RECREATION AND OUTDOOR LIFE | 29 Fernie Mountain Mamas – Inherited Spirit by Yvonne Prest Hitting the Trails: Volunteerism and Fall Views by Julie Kelly, FTA

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE | 34 Family Wellness - Inclusive Care in Medicine with Dr. Taina Turcasso, N.D., R.M. Elements of Movement – Find Your Flow with Maddy Alaric

THE SPIRIT ISSUE

A Look Down Second Ave – Sweater Weather by Emma Polit

BITS AND BYTES | 36 The Answer Guy – Have I Been Pwned by Kevin McIsaac Astrology – October by Ashley Kristina

FERNIE FUN | 38 Fix Trivia

COVER: Colourfall. Photo by Kristine Wiess, @ kwpcollective THIS PAGE: Fernie Pride. Photo by Vince Mo, @ findingvmo

NEW FOR FALL 2019!

DRONE OPERATOR PROGRAM College of the Rockies and Skymount Drones are offering a comprehensive program that is designed for anyone interested in learning to fly drones as a career or for general interest. This unique 11-day program, combines classroom and handson training to prepare you to write the Transport Canada Basic and Advanced License exams. Learn about the drone industry, the regulations, future developments, UAV mapping and career/business opportunities. October 21 to November 2 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | $4,800.00 Cranbrook, Gold Creek Campus Watch for the Fernie Campus dates in 2020

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EDITOR’S FIX

Later that afternoon, they surprised me by asking if we could go for a bike ride. I just assumed they were exhausted by their t can often feel like a challenge to morning efforts. We decided to bike to separate spirit and body, to be present in our weekly pasta dinner at my parents’ by the moment… yet, interestingly the physical following the dike trail from our area of self can often assist in the process. town to theirs. Pedals were turning as we basked in the sunlight and listened to the Using the breath in meditation. Following flowing river and leaves flickering beneath a sequence in yoga. Focusing on the our wheels. With smiles on our faces, it movement and repetition while walking, dawned on me… they wanted to feel that running, or biking. again, the connection with self… happiness Last month, my daughters took part in the radiating from within… being in the Fernie Kids’ Triathlon, and it was amazing moment. to see them in the zone. As we watched As adults, our lives are filled with tasks them transition from swim to bike, bike and timelines and schedules, to the point to run, I was awed by their concentration. where we need to actively work on that They were truly present within each connection with our spirit. While our kids experience, and when they crossed the finish line the happiness radiated from their might not be aware of it, they more easily live in this way and it’s something to be little faces. celebrated and emulated. We’ve all been

there, but perhaps just need reminders of the way. Fortunately, we often achieve this through the physical activities we take part in and Fall is the absolute perfect time to practice. Using our breath, finding a rhythm, and letting the majestic colours of this season connect us back to our child-like spirit! Krista Turcasso, Editor

FERNIE FIX | FERNIEFIX.COM Published monthly by Claris Media. To advertise and for general inquiries: info@clarismedia.com Box 1124, 361A 1st Ave. Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 p: 250-423-4062. clarismedia.com Editor | Krista Turcasso Creative Director | Vanessa Croome Associate Editor | Kevin McIsaac All content copyright Claris Media. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.

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. ANGE QUALIZZA is a nutty economist who has a passion for policy, governance and everything to do with municipal government! Let’s lift up the carpet and take a closer look inside City Hall. ASHLEY KRISTINA has studied astrology for over twenty years and has been reading/teaching for five. For an in depth natal chart reading, email mountainashastrology@gmail. com. EMMA POLIT likes to wander the world, swim in the seas and ride in the mountains. You may also find her sipping margaritas and eating tacos.

JULIE KELLY is the Manager for the Fernie Trails Alliance and loves spending time on the Fernie trails. KERRI WALL specialises in group facilitation, mediation, parent coaching, and leadership training. She welcomes inquiries at kerriwall.ca. KEVIN MCISAAC haunts the coffee shops and streets of Fernie to find his column source material.

MADDY ALARIC is a lover of putting things down and picking them back up again, whether it be weights or her two year old daughter. She loves inspiring people through her classes at Soar Studios and looks forward to sharing this love through her column, “Elements of Movement.” MICHAEL HEPHER is a painter, printmaker, sculptor and musician living and working in Fernie. His work is collected internationally and can be seen locally at Clawhammer Press and a variety of galleries in Western Canada.

ROMAN RYBAR has worked in the financial industry since 1996. He became a Limited Partner with Edward Jones in 2004. When he is not helping clients he can be found enjoying bike trails or manning the bbq for family and friends. Every month SADIE ROSGEN teams up with some of Fernie’s brightest young writers collaborating on a given theme. If you are reading this and think that you are that person, drop her a line at sadiepumps@gmail.com. DR. TAINA TURCASSO is a naturopathic doctor and midwife practicing in Calgary, Alberta. She spends most of her time catching babies, and is inching her way back to Fernie. YVONNE PREST wears a lot of hats: New mom, writer, teacher, councillor, chips and salsa fanatic. Her favourite hat is being a Fernie-ite.

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Business in the Valley

BUSINESS NEWS

Fernie Tennis Coaching tennisfernie.com

2 Elk Valley Snow Avalanche Workshop evsaw.com

ernie is hosting the second annual Elk Valley Snow Avalanche Workshop (EVSAW) on November 10, 2019, welcoming avalanche professionals and recreationists for discussions and presentations on winter backcountry topics. Vendors and operators will also be demonstrating the latest in equipment and services. The seminar is a lead-in for the International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW) taking place in Fernie, October 4-9, 2020. Held bi-annually in North America and Europe, Fernie will be in the world-spotlight as over 1000 snow science researchers and practitioners from across the globe unite here to share experiences and ideas, merging theory and practice. The CIL Explosives EVSAW, presented by TECK, will be held at the Fernie Community Centre with lunch and coffee available for purchase on-site. An aprés social at the Curling Club provides opportunities to network and meet backcountry partners. Tickets are by advanced sales online only.

For more information visit evsaw.com.

3 juniors turned out to play in this year’s Fernie Junior Tennis Tournament, showing a great balance of competitiveness and good sportsmanship. Some matches were highly competed and lasted almost an hour! Sadly the rain came in and the final SUBMITTED PHOTO EMILY PARK PHOTOGRAPHY set of the 16 and Under’s finals was postponed with the two finalists Zac Perrault and Tom Medlicott (defending champion), who will play their final set this fall and receive their trophy.

Lucy Harrup of Fernie Tennis Coaching would like to thank this year’s sponsors; North Coal, White Ladder Painting, Beacon Properties Ltd., Emily Park Photography, the Bridge Bistro, Loaf, Fernie Tennis Association, Elevation Showcase, Edge of the World, Giv’er Shirtworks, TD Canada Trust and Canadian Tire. Results 9 and Unders Winner – Noah Glanac Runner Up – Janelle Lloyd

13 and Unders Winner – Nolan Rosenegger Runner Up – Blake Bannatyne 16 and Unders Winner/Runner up – TBC (Tom Medlicott or Zac Perrault)

Fernie Pride Society Ferniepride.ca

s part of this year’s Fernie and Elk Valley Pride Festival, a day of free activities and events will welcome both locals and visitors alike to Pride Central. Pride Central, a new addition to this year’s festival program, will take place at the Fernie Seniors Centre on Saturday, October 12. Pride Central will be a gathering place that welcomes all to take part in free activities and presentations. Free yoga and tai chi sessions, guided bike rides, kids crafts and face painting as well as hands-on ukulele lessons are just some of the free activities.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

A special presentation, Tea with Royalty, will be an opportunity to meet visiting Drag entertainers for a Q & A while enjoying free cake provided by the Knox United Church. For a complete schedule visit elkvalleypridefestival.com and follow on FB ElkValleyPrideFestival, or Instagram pridefestivalfernie. FERNIEFIX.COM

Business in the Valley

BUSINESS NEWS

Fernie WorkBC Centre workbccentre-fernie.ca

re you looking for a job? Don’t miss out on the Fernie Fall Job Fair! This is a free event and open to all ages where you can meet 40 of Fernie’s top employers looking to fill both year-round, temporary, full- and parttime positions in all sectors all under one roof. SUBMITTED IMAGE Prep your resume, dress to impress and join the Fernie WorkBC Centre at the Fernie Community Centre on Oct 23, 12-3pm. If you are looking for work or a new career, don’t miss this event.

Need help with your resume? Visit the WorkBC office at 302C 2nd Ave for a free resume writing workshop on Oct 21 from 9am-12pm! Preregistration is required and there are limited seats available. For more information on the Fernie Fall Job Fair or resume writing workshop, contact Steph Hirn at 250-423-4204 or sh@kes.bc.ca.

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Kim Genovese Yoga 250-423-1184

im Genovese Yoga is excited to offer Senior Yoga and Chair Yoga Advanced Training at Essential Yoga Studio on November 23 and 24, 2019. As our plus 50-year population continues to grow there is a large demand for safe, qualified SUBMITTED PHOTO and understanding yoga teachers and health care professionals. The weekend will include instruction and modifications of postures to accommodate older adults at all levels of ability. This ten-hour advanced teacher training course is taught by Shona Williams (RYT-500hr) and Kim Genovese (RYT-500) who have been teaching this population for a combination of over 20 years. “We have the knowledge and passion for working with seniors that will be insightful, and will provide new/safe class ideas to bring back to your students,” Kim says. For more information please contact them directly at 250-423-1184 or email any questions to kimgenovese@hotmail.com.

n July 2016, the family-run roastery Rooftop Coffee Roasters was born with one café client, a handful of retail customers, and a 17-year-old at the helm. After learning about the industry and growing its presence, they are taking on a new challenge. Rooftop is proud to announce the opening of its tasting room café in the heart of Fernie’s historic downtown in December 2019. “You can say we are returning to where it all began, but this time at ground level,” says Sarah Deschenes. The location is 492 2nd Ave, where Rooftop started upstairs in the family’s condo. “In our first centralized storefront, coffee drinkers can enjoy their coffee while watching the entire roasting process as well. “We’ll be able to prepare our coffee on our terms while telling the many stories from the farmers who produce these delicious beans,” she adds. Stay tuned for the official launch date.

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Business in the Valley

NEW BUSINESS

Elk Valley Chronic Pain Program

he East Kootenay Division of Family Practice works to continuously drive better, more integrated, more effective primary care in the region. Thanks to Shared Care’s financial support, the Division is currently running the Chronic Pain Program to improve chronic pain care in the Elk Valley. The program’s main objectives are: • Help patients live better with their pain • Improve local health care provider knowledge regarding chronic pain • Create local supportive networks of providers and patients • Create a local provider team specialized in chronic pain

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Starting in October 2019, several workshops for providers and people suffering from chronic pain are going to be held in Fernie. If you are interested in learning more about the Chronic Pain Program, ask your family doctor or send an email to Anne-Charlotte, the project lead: acsawatzky@outlook.fr.

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ummit Cannabis Co. Fernie is pleased to announce that they are open and ready to serve this active and vibrant community you are visiting or are lucky to call home. This team is passionate about their work and strive to provide clients with a friendly environment SUBMITTED PHOTO of knowledgeable staff and quality products. Much of their expertise is from their involvement in medical cannabis clinics in Banff, Canmore and Fernie. Summit Cannabis recognises that Cannabis has been a part of the lifestyle in the Elk Valley and they are excited to share it with you. As avid outdoors adventurers themselves who thrive in the mountain landscape, they carry products available to enlighten your experience. They believe that in whatever you’re doing, it’s important to take a moment, slow things down, and bask in your happiness. They invite you to visit their shop, or learn more online at summitcannabisco.ca. FERNIEFIX.COM

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Business in the Valley

Investment Moves to Avoid by ROMAN RYBAR, CFP

f you have young children or grandchildren, you know what’s really important.Yes, it’s Halloween time again, which means you’ll see plenty of witches and vampires scurrying around.You’ll no doubt find these characters more amusing than frightening, but you don’t have to look far to find things that are a bit more alarming — such as these scary investment moves:

Paying too much attention to the headlines. Some headlines may seem unnerving, but don’t abandon your investment strategy just because the news of the day appears grim.

Chasing “hot” investments. You can get “hot” investment tips from the talking heads on television, your next-door neighbour or just about anybody. But even if the tip was accurate at one point, by the time you get to a “hot” investment, it may already be cooling down. And, even more importantly, it simply may not be appropriate for your risk tolerance and goals. Ignoring different types of investment risk. Most investors are aware of the risk of losing principal when investing in stocks. But if you shun stocks totally in favour of perceived “risk-free” investments, you’d be making a mistake because all investments carry some type of risk. For example, with fixed-income investments, including GICs and bonds, one risk you may encounter is inflation risk — the risk that your investment will provide you with returns that won’t even keep up with inflation and will, therefore, result in a loss of purchasing power over time. Another risk you can incur is interest-rate risk — the risk that

If you only own one type of investment, and a market downturn affects that particular asset class, your portfolio could take a big hit. new bonds will be issued at higher rates, driving down the price of your bonds. Bonds also carry the risk of default, though you can reduce this risk by sticking with bonds that receive the highest ratings from independent rating agencies. Failing to diversify. If you only own one type of investment, and a market downturn affects that particular asset class, your portfolio could take a big hit. But by spreading your dollars among an array of vehicles, such as stocks, bonds and government securities, you can reduce the effects of volatility on

IT’S IN THE NUMBERS

your holdings. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification cannot guarantee profits or protect against loss.) Focusing on the short term. If you concentrate too much on shortterm results, you may react to a piece of bad news, or to a period of extreme price volatility, by making investment moves that are counterproductive to your goals. Furthermore, if you’re constantly seeking to instantaneously turn around losses, you’ll likely rack up fees, commissions and possibly taxes. Avoid all these hassles by keeping your eyes on the future and sticking to a long-term, personalized strategy. You can’t always make the perfect investment choices. But by steering clear of the “scary” moves described above, you can work toward your long-term goals and hopefully avoid some of the more fearsome results.

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Arts and Entertainment

FEATURE ARTIST

Beth Gallup Every story begins with colour. The soft rose of dawn. Stirrings in the deep purple-blue twilight. The bleak beigegrey of a late winter day… On one of those bleak beige-grey days, my plans to go to art school turned black. A Grade 11 teacher decided, using all the pass/fail power vested in him, that I’d hired someone to complete my major assignment. The painting’s subject — my friend Bill skiing off Teepee Town Rock — was one I knew well. I spent a lot of out-of-class time capturing the colours of the snow, trees

My parents were strangely disinterested in the false accusation, the life-changing D that would keep me out of Art 30. I started missing even more school, got a second part-time job, left for Banff halfway through Grade 12.

chemistry to produce a kaleidoscope of colours for customers. If the original photo was a little bland, I would hand-colour a blush to the cheeks, dark orange into a setting sun. This old-school, analog process eventually financed my Bachelor’s degree, let me see more of the world through Reuters Newspictures, and got me partway through my Master’s (in Business).

Happily there I could support myself turning negatives into positives. I worked in the dark, mixing cyan, magenta and yellow with light and

Skipping ahead a few chapters, I was still interested in colour — how to pair it with ideas, words and images to engage and persuade. Brainstorm was

and cliff face. The skier, on the other hand, is a short, squat dwarf. Clearly the work of a beginner.

the company I founded to make that happen. Still, like the darkroom, I was one step removed from the creative process. I recruited experienced professionals, graphic artists who HAD been to art school.

It is easy to tell yourself, “I could have been an artist.” It is much riskier to actually try. Risk failure. Risk uncovering your true story.

I kept a spark of creativity burning through my passion for colour, pausing to admire the vibrant green of an avocado, the violet, almost-violent shadow of a spruce. Debating colours to use to communicate clients’ brands. Debating with myself, every morning, on the best complement of socks and underwear.

Painting is technical. It takes skill and study. It requires practice and patience, the ability to capture proportion and perspective. You often want to throw things. Or give up and wonder why you thought it was a worthy pursuit.

Brainstorm was successful. I could have easily continued, advocating for the ideas of others, a confident director. Instead, I brought new partners into the company to give me time to take an entry-level drawing class. Then, promptly got too busy to take that class.

What is the true story?

Thankfully, Tara Higgins decided to offer a weekly painting class, right around the time I left Brainstorm to live in Fernie full time. At another transition point, the Visual Arts Guild welcomed me into their Tuesday gatherings and Fall workshops. I travelled to the Gage Academy, an atelier in Seattle, to learn from Terry Furchgott. An artist and instructor for over forty years, she is remarkably good and remarkably broke.

I marvel at how hard she works – and still must work, despite being a master of her craft. Which leads me to “why.” Why takes risks to create? There are no answers here, in this story. You need to find your own raspberry-chartreuse-canaryhazelnut-sapphire solution to the Spirit that calls you. BURGERS & BIRDS Beth’s first collection of paintings is at The Art Station until October 28, 2019. Laughter was part of preparing for the show, as Beth and her collaborator, Roni Jurgensen, played with ideas. While they never figured out how to stuff a twig chicken inside a bun canvas, they are some happy accidents, like “Mustard Dancing in Ketchup.”

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Arts and Entertainment

The Band Plays On

new piece home. I focus on the love I have for the process of creating: I feel blessed every day I get to make art as a living, hopefully bringing richness to the lives of as many people as I can for as long as I can. As artists, we have a responsibility to give people something to live for.

by MICHAEL HEPHER

ife is full of contradictions: as an artist, I rely on people to fill their homes with things of beauty to make a living. At some point, as we collectively trend towards smaller homes and fewer things, art consumers will inevitably run out of space for art. Where does that leave the artists? Existentially speaking, what is the value of an artists’ particular set of skills if there is no more wall space left to hang art? I recently read a novel: Station Eleven by Canadian author Emily St. John Mandel, set in a post-pandemic world in which 99.7% of earth’s residents have been killed by a deadly virus. The remaining people are left to eke out a living in a crumbling world with few resources. Unexpectedly, the timbre of the book is quite hopeful: it takes a worst-case scenario and imagines how we humans might find our way through it with dignity. The story follows a travelling symphony that moves from settlement to settlement playing Beethoven and performing Shakespeare, raising the spirits of the survivors. On the side of their caravan is painted the words ‘because survival is not enough’—a sentiment that struck me as pointedly true. As we head into times of some uncertainty, my thoughts occasionally turn to questions of existence, and with them comes a wave of anxiety. The temptation may be to cull the unnecessary parts of our lives: art, music, festivals, and lean in to the business of making sure we are prepared for whatever is ahead. Let’s make sound decisions, certainly. Let’s work towards sustainability, yes. But along the way, we have to be careful not to lose our humanity. So what makes us human? There are many life forms on the planet, but one thing that humans alone are good at is creating: we can imagine things that

ARTBEAT

SUBMITTED PHOTO

have never been made and find ways to make them. Our art, music culture makes us unique, and worth saving. Moreover, it is those created things that will bring the hope we need to keep moving forward. I understand the temptation to deempathize things like music and art programs in schools, underfund arts foundations, and spend on ‘practical’ things, but what are we fighting for if not the things that bring joy into our lives? We don’t fund arts in schools so we can raise a bunch of artists, we fund them so we can raise balanced humans. My friend’s grandmother, a stout woman in her eighties and a life-long lover of rich treats, went to the doctor who told her she needs to stop eating so much cream. Her priceless response was: “...but what kind of life would that be?” Every Titanic needs an orchestra to play—to help us find hope in dire situations. A time may be coming when we artists have some decisions to make. Maybe not this year or next, but in ten or fifteen for sure. One of the things I’ve always loved about art was the idea of leaving a legacy of some kind, something that out-lives me—a battery of paintings lovingly hung in honoured locations in homes across the land. A legacy inspires me to work towards making a great future for us all, but lately, I’ve been thinking more about the value of art now. I’ve taken to prioritizing the happiness I see in people as they take a

In the long term, I’ve been looking for ways of creating art that doesn’t take up as much space on walls: paper prints are more temporal, sculptures can be set out in public where they enrich all our lives, and murals have a designed life span of ten years give or take. All of these are simple ways of making sure a spirit of hope runs parallel to our practical choices and emphasizes our continued investment in and support of our public art institutions. As our collective cultural anxiety about the future grows, we will need the writers, painters, sculptors, musicians and actors to continue to remind us how we can really feel alive, because survival is just not enough. I DESIGN TRIANGLE offers fine European cabinetry with the most advanced technology • Environmentally friendly • Certified materials that meet or exceed industry standards.

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Arts and Entertainment

Pathways by SADIE ROSGEN and LILY EARL

had the pleasure of meeting Lily Earl one sunny afternoon at my cousin Kerri’s house many years ago. To look at her, she resembles most of her young contemporaries; curious, bright, and so very full of light. What you can’t see is her courageous spirit. This is something you feel. A spirit that at two years of age was threatened by an all too common disease: Cancer. When I began teaching Shine! Performing Arts Workshops at the Arts Station with Rachel Behan, Lily was signed up for every single one. Lily has been with us every step of the way. It only made sense to include this dynamic triple threat in our spirit issue. Lily, you are a total revelation, in every sense of the word. Thank you for opening your heart and mind for our spirit issue.

AT PEACE AND YET ON FIRE

Pathways

by LILY EARL and SADIE ROSGEN In the dizzy room, I see yellow.

stopping the madness of their sadness watching the film unfold

feeling alone, I close my eyes.

the arm hug the needles pinch prick click my blood

reading the energy: BLUE GREEN PURPLE YELLOW…again loving all of the things: CATS WATER DAISIES SINGING DOGS ELTON JOHN

the spirit of the valley will heal me that’s what the lady at the grocery store said I hear the voice of my ancestors begging me to stay I sing through their craving I’ll be there… strummed on a ukulele a gentle lullaby for my future

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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by ANDREW VALLANCE

n the early morning of August 9, 1969, Sharon Tate and two of her roommates were brutally murdered by followers of the cult leader Charles Manson. The murders are widely seen as the end of Hollywood’s perceived innocence and the beginning of a period of darkness. Given that the films of the 1960s helped to shape the talents of Quentin Tarantino, it makes sense that this famed action director would be interested in making a film about the events surrounding the murders, although what he has created is an alternate history or fairy tale. Tarantino is an American filmmaker and actor. He was born in 1963 and was six years old at the time of the murders. He began his career as an independent filmmaker in the early 1990s with the release of Reservoir Dogs in 1992, deemed by some to be the greatest independent film of all time. Its popularity was boosted by his second film, Pulp Fiction (1994), a black comedy crime film that was also a major success among critics and audiences. For his next effort, Tarantino made Jackie Brown (1997), an adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel, Rum Punch. His films are characterized by non-linear storylines, satirical subject matter, violence and soundtracks primarily containing songs and score pieces from the 1960s to the 1980s. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood focuses on the trials and tribulations of fictional actor Rick Dalton and his stunt man Cliff Booth, both of whom, after spending years performing in a successful western-themed television show called Bounty Law, have fallen on hard times. Dalton is no longer the star he once was and is struggling with alcoholism; Booth is having difficulty finding work because of his shady past.

THE RENTAL FIX

The story follows them as they strive to restore their former success and, in Rick’s case, battle his demons (alcoholism, ego and insecurity). In this fictional story, Dalton lives next door to Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski. Their stories run parallel until, at the end with the Manson murders becoming the film’s climax, the plots intersect in an interesting and unconventional way. Leonardo DiCaprio is wonderful as Rick Dalton. We feel sympathy for this man who is trapped in a world he no longer understands, and frustration with his inability to cope with his addictions and crippling fragility. DiCaprio is best known for his breakout role in Titanic but has also starred in other excellent films such as The Wolf of Wall Street, Inception, The Departed, and The Revenant. Brad Pitt plays the central role in the film. In his role as Cliff Booth, he is Dalton’s best friend and driver, providing him with emotional and moral support. He is also a man capable of great violence, but since Pitt is so charming in the role, we are willing to ignore this flaw in his personality. Sharon Tate is played convincingly by Margo Robbie, who has in the past played Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad and Tonya Harding in I,Tonya. Robbie plays Tate as a sympathetic innocent but gives a comedic, entertaining performance. This is an excellent film and well worth viewing.

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October 2019 MONTHLY EVENTS TUESDAY 1.10.2019 Occupational First Aid Level 3 @ College of the Rockies, 8am WEDNESDAY 2.10.2019 Fernie Youth Art Collective: Canvas Words with Joni Bouchard @ The Arts Station 6pm THURSDAY 3.10.2019 Beethoven Night - Guided Music Appreciation @ Heritage Library, 6:30pm Latin Dance with Adriana @ The Arts Station, 7pm The Game Changers Documentary Premiere @ Infinitea, 7pm. Movie, vegan eats and beverages. FRIDAY 4.10.2019 Grand Opening @ Elk Valley Pilates, 7-8:30pm at 1101A-2nd Ave Fernie Friends of Opera Screening: Maria Stuarda by Donizetti @ The Arts Station, 6:30pm FRIDAY 4.10.2019 - SUNDAY 6.10.2019 Kootenay River Rafting Exhibition @ Mountain High Adventures SATURDAY 5.10.2019 Drawing Class with Liza Gareau Tosh @ The Arts Station, 1-3pm Fernie Craft Fair - Fall Fair @ Fernie Community Centre, 10am Mexican Fiesta Night @ Jaffray Pub, 6pm Cultural Saturdays: Couples Latin Dance with Adriana @ The Arts Station, 7-9pm The Spanish Flies @ The Northern, 10:30pm SATURDAY 5.10.2019 - SUNDAY 6.10.2019 Acro Yoga Weekend @ Essential Yoga Studio SUNDAY 6.10.2019 Fernie Half Marathon, three-person relay and 10km run @ Annex Park, 8am Ironman Open @ Fernie Golf Club, 12pm SheJumps Thanksgiving Meeting @ Montane Barn, 11am Symphony of the Kootenays @ Key City Theatre The Carbons - Acoustic Music @ Infinitea, 6pm Sparwood Town Hall Meeting @ Seniors’ Drop-in Centre, 6pm TUESDAY 8.10.2019 Festival Flag Raising and Kick Off Party @ City Hall, 5:30pm Festival Kick-off Party @ Fernie Seniors’ Centre, 6pm WEDNESDAY 9.10.2019 Senior Storytime for All @ Rocky Mountain Village, 1pm Distillery Discussions @ Fernie Distillers with LGBTQ author Nancy Jo Cullen and Gordon Sombrowski, 7pm Fernie Youth Art Collective: Landscape Painting Watercolours @ The Arts Station 6pm THURSDAY 10.10.2019

Flag Raising and Pride Planting Student Event @ Fernie Secondary School, 9am Pride Party featuring The Pits @ The Northern, 10pm #WriteItDown @ Heritage Library, 6:30-7:45pm. Monthly gathering for those keen to write. Monthly Poker Tournament @ The Legion, 6:30pm The Annual Fall Event @ Freyja Kootenay Boutique, 7pm Elk Valley Pride Festival: Drag Story Time @ Heritage Library, 11am Elk Valley Pride Festival: Drag Teen Bingo @ Heritage Library, 4pm Body Beautiful Body Painting Competition @ The Royal, 7pm FRIDAY 11.10.2019 Club Cre8 @ The Arts Station, K - Grade 6, 9am Diwali Live @ Key City Theatre, 7pm Fernie Ghostriders Hockey Game @ Memorial Arena, 7:30pm SATURDAY 12.10.2019 Thanksgiving at the Barn @ Montane Barn, 11am2pm The Art of Mantra and Sound Workshop @ Essential Yoga, 9am - 7pm The Royal Treatment Drag Show @ The Best Western, 7pm Late Night Glitter Party @ The Royal, 11pm Second Annual Oktoberfest Dinner and Party @ Fernie Alpine Resort Griz Bar, 6:30pm SUNDAY 13.10.2019 Interfaith Church Service @ Knox United Church, 9am Big Gay Brunch @ Park Place Lunch, 11am Fairy Creek Hike @ Park Place, 12:30pm Indie Films Fernie: The Farewell @ The Vogue Theatre, 5pm MONDAY 14.10.2019 Turkey Tombstone @ Fernie Golf Club, 12pm WEDNESDAY 16.10.2019 Fernie Youth Art Collective: Wood Burning with Jennifer Laberge @ The Arts Station 6pm THURSDAY 17.10.2019 PJ Story Time @ Heritage Library, 6:30pm FRIDAY 18.10.2019 Live Music with Linden Anthony @ Loaf, 6pm Ghostriders Hockey Game @ Memorial Arena, 7:30pm SATURDAY 19.10.2019 Drawing Class with Liza Gareau Tosh @ The Arts Station, 1-3pm 5th Annual Great Pumpkin Hunt @ Elk Valley Nordic Centre, 11:30am MONDAY 21.10.2019 Pottery Glazing for Beginners @ The Arts Station, 6:30pm

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TUESDAY 22.10.2019 Hand Stitching for Kids @ The Arts Station, 3:304:30pm WEDNESDAY 23.10.2019 Senior Storytime for All @ Trinity Lodge, 1:30pm Fernie Youth Art Collective: Wood Burning with Jennifer Laberge @ The Arts Station 6pm Intro to Handbuilding with Helena Dejong @ The Arts Station, 6:30pm Fernie Fall Job Fair @ Fernie Community Centre, 12-3pm THURSDAY 24.10.2019 Parent Chat Café: Let’s Talk Apps @ Heritage Library, 6:30-7:30pm FRIDAY 25.10.2019 Club Cre8 @ The Arts Station, K - Grade 6, 9am Fun Friday: Diary of a Wimpy Kid @ Heritage Library, 1:30-2:30 ages 7+ Blue Tansy Live @ Loaf, 6pm Fernie Business Excellence Awards @ The Best Western, 6pm SATURDAY 26.10.2019 Clay as Canvas - Surface Design @ The Arts Station, 10am Tea and Talk Book Club: The Farm by Joanne Ramos @ Heritage Library, 1:30pm Beginner Paint Date with Sue Hanlon @ The Arts Station, 1-3pm ages 12+ Wild Honey @ The Arts Station, 8pm Fernie Ghostriders Hockey Game @ Memorial Arena, 7:30pm SUNDAY 27.10.2019 Clay as Canvas - Surface Design @ The Arts Station, 10am Griz Kidz Halloween Party and Haunted House @ Fernie Alpine Resort, 12pm Trick or Treat the Movies: Hotel Transylvania 3 @ The Vogue Theatre, 10am. Fundraiser for the Fernie Women’s Centre TUESDAY 29.10.2019 BOO! Storytime Halloween Potluck @ Heritage Library, 11:15am-12:30pm Wednesday 30.10.2019 Fernie Youth Art Collective: Halloween Painting with Dejana Lukac @ The Arts Station 6pm Third Annual Halloween Run - Dress up and Social @ Stag Leap Running THURSDAY 31.10.2019 Did Del Los Muertos - Halloween Howler @ Heritage Library, 3:30-5pm Exhibit Opening: Jennifer Van Popta @ The Arts Station, 7pm

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October 2019 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 @ FBC Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials Pizza Specials @ Fernie Pizza and Pasta Kick Off the Week Americano Specials @ Freshies Mojito Mondays @ Smokehouse, Red Tree 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 @ FBC Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials Toonie Tuesdays @ Freshies Pizza Specials @ Fernie Pizza and Pasta WEDNESDAYS 1/2 Off Wings @ Boston Pizza Wine Evenings @ The Brickhouse All Day Happy Hour @ The Fernie Hotel Wing Night @ The Northern

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 (Mon to Fri) Station Theatre Mondays @ The Arts Station, 7-9pm A theme each week for those keen on theatre. 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 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 (Mon to Fri) KinderGym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am WEDNESDAYS Crib, Gentle Exercise and Tai Chi @ Seniors 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

Wax On Wednesday @ 901 Spa Store and Tasting Room Open @ FBC Zak’s Jam Night @ The Royal Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials Coffee With a Friend @ Freshies, two for one coffee Wine and Beer Specials @ Sushi Wood Taro Readings from 7pm @ Infinitea Featured Burgers @ The Pub and Bistro Restaurant Wine and Beer Specials @ Sushi Wood

Live Music @ Infinitea Prime Rib Night @ The Old Elevator Chinese Restaurant

THURSDAYS Buy Two Appies, Third for Free @ Boston Pizza Jam Night @ The Brickhouse 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 @ FBC Pub Team Trivia @ The Pub Bar & Grill Thirsty Thursdays @ Kodiak Lounge Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials Create Your Signature Mocha @ Freshies Cocktail Specials @ Infinitea Brisket and Beer Night @ Smokehouse, Red Tree Lodge Fundamentals of a Wellness Lifestyle @ Infinitea, 7pm

Seniors Programming

SUNDAYS Kids Meal Specials @ Boston Pizza Caesars on Special @ The Brickhouse Mini Jugs and Caesars @ The Fernie Hotel 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

Early Bird Breakfasts @ Freshies

BBQ and Beats @ Infinitea, 6-9pm Rib and Wing Night @ Smokehouse, Red Tree Lodge

FRIDAYS Rib Night @ Boston Pizza Fish & Chips @ The Pub Bar & Grill Meat Draw and Members Draw @ The Fernie Hotel Fish & Chip Night @ The Pub Live Music @ Loaf, 6-9pm Happy Hour @ Loaf, 3-5pm Pizza and Beer Specials Outdoor

SATURDAYS Meat Draw & Bar Quiz @ The Legion Coffee and Baileys Special @ The Bridge Bistro Pint Night with Overtime Beer Works @ Infinitea Rib Night @ 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 Early Bird Breakfasts @ Freshies Dragon Cod Fish Night @ The Old Elevator Chinese Restaurant Central Saturdays @ The Central with DJ Sweet Irie, 10pm

Kids Programming

Open Climbing @ Evolution English Conversation Café @ CBAL office Celebrate Recovery @ Mountainside Church Drop-In @ Elk Valley Gymnastics, 11-12pm for ages 0-4 Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Adults Drop in @ Elk Valley Gymnastics,7:30-9pm Yoga @ Lizard Creek Lodge Fernie Women on Wheels @ Bike Trails, 6:30pm. DH Trail Work Party @ Bike Trails, 6:30pm, FMBC.ca Strong Start @ IDES, 9-12pm for ages 3-5 (Mon to Fri) Unpredictable Wednesdays @ Ghostrider Adventure Riders, 5:30pm KinderGym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am Cyber Seniors @ Heritage Library, 1:30-2:30pm Use Can Play @ Heritage Library, 3:45-4:45pm Fernie Youth Art Collective @ The Arts Station, 6-7:30pm THURSDAYS Morning Yoga, Drop in, and Canasta/Cards @ Senior’s Centre Pickleball @ Fernie Community Centre RC Club @ Fernie Community Centre Mixed Senior Recreational Boxing @ Fernie Old School Boxing 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 Kid’s Café @ Mountainside Community Church, 9:3011:30am. Everyone welcome! FMBC Work Party @ Bike Trails, 6:30pm, FMBC.ca Strong Start @ IDES, 9-12pm for ages 3-5 (Mon to Fri)

Swim

Library Program

Other

Baila Baby - Latin Dance @ The Arts Station, 10am for kids under five Lego Club @ Heritage Library, 3:45-4:45pm Latin Dance @ The Arts Station, 7-9pm Fall Running Club @ Stag Leap Running, 6:30pm FRIDAYS Cribbage @ Seniors Drop in Centre Jitney Darts @ Fernie Legion Toddlertime Ages 0-2 @ Fernie Heritage Library Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Storytime Social @ Library, 11:15-12:45pm ages 0-5. Adult Heels and Pump @ Solebeats, 8pm for 18+ Fernie Women on Wheels Ride @ Bike Park, 9:30am Strong Start @ IDES, 9-12pm for ages 3-5 (Mon to Fri) KinderGym @ Fernie Family Centre, 10-11am Home School Fridays @ Fernie Heritage Library, drop-in gathering for homeschool families. 1-3pm SATURDAYS Karma Meditation Class @ Essential Yoga Studio Open Climbing @ Evolution Prenatal Yoga @ Essential Yoga Public Swimming @ The Aquatic Centre Teen Drop in Card Games @ Heritage Library, 3-4:30pm 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 ages 5-12’

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Community and Events

FEATURE RESIDENT

Sara Funk by KRISTA TURCASSO

aving grown up in Fernie, started a business here and now raising children here, it still surprises me when I get to know somebody new. This month, I had the opportunity to sit down with Sara Funk, who has been in Fernie for over 15 years. While I recognize her through the many volunteer roles she has had since the day she arrived, it is such a pleasure to officially meet and learn so much about another one of Fernie’s great community assets.

Sara and her partner Eric were living in Kaslo, BC when they decided it was time for a change. With a new baby and Sara on maternity leave, Eric applied for a job with the Credit Union soon to open in Fernie. He got the job, and they joined a new community. With Sara’s experience in advertising, design and editing there was not much available for her here, “the Fernie Fix didn’t exist yet,” she says with a laugh so she went back to school for bookkeeping and business administration and payroll as she could do it from home. She also got involved in the community from the get-go, approaching the Canadian Cancer Society, an important organization to Sara having lost her dad in her 20s. Alongside the other directors on the board and the event organizer, Chantel Souliere, they hosted the Elk Valley Relay for Life. From there, Sara began getting involved with the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre. “I am a feminist,” she tells me. “I feel very strongly about women’s rights and girls rights and wanted to help them serve a marginalized population.” Which is why she also volunteers with Days for Girls, an organization that provides menstrual supplies for girls around the world to ensure they do not have to skip school because of menstruation. “They host a monthly sew-a-thon, which has created a networking group for older people,” Sara adds.

GABRIELA ESCOBAR ARI PHOTO

Most recently, Sara has co-founded the Elk Valley Pride Society with Kevin Allen. “Chantel (Souliere) came up to me and asked if I thought people would enjoy a drag show in Fernie. She had met a wonderful drag queen in Banff and was surprised Fernie had not hosted. So we threw one on! At the same time, there was a group who hosted LesBQ. Kevin went and recognized people were excited to be there together and that there was nowhere else in Fernie to do this. We decided Fernie really needed a pride society!” The first task the Fernie Pride Society undertook was petitioning the City to put a gender-neutral bathroom in the public washrooms they were currently building in Station Square. “It was too far along so couldn’t happen,” Sara tells me. From there, they built a resource and referral page on their site to connect individuals with services. “It’s difficult in a small town to find these whether a trans or a lesbian, specific to your needs. We’ve been successful finding resources, and it’s been great as has resulted in people within the medical community and community at large tasking themselves with finding education to better serve this community.

We asked ‘can you’ and they responded ‘let us try!’” Fernie Pride became a member of Fiery Canada Pride, a national pride organization. “We support a lot of initiatives just by signing petitions and going to conferences. One being petitioning the federal government for funding forward pride organizations. We received that funding this year for the first time in Canada.” Additionally, in town, Fernie Pride hosts monthly Beers and Queers, which is an intentional space for LGBTQ to come together and connect. “It’s been rewarding. In the beginning, most people were new to one another. Now, people come to see each other and we don’t have to facilitate. They have a group, a space,” Sara says. Fernie Pride is developing a new group in December specific to mental health facilitation. “We’re still looking to see what that looks like, we do have someone who is keen to facilitate from the mental health community.” Sara admits it’s been a lot of work to get the organization to this point. “Just to get

a non-profit up and running takes a lot of time and effort.” This fall they are hosting the third Elk Valley Pride Festival, which has grown alongside the organization. “The first year, we didn’t know if anyone would come. What we learned was that everyone was interested, the entire community was excited to see it happen. The first two years we focused on visibility, having a good time, and spaces for people to meet and find each other. This year, we’re adding a lot including inviting people who can support the LGBTQ community such as Ankors, the Men’s Health Initiative, and Interior Health,” Sara says, adding that there are also more activities such as biking and yoga. “The focus is really self-care, and how can you do this in Fernie.”

2. Who did you first meet?

Sara believes fun and celebration is important. “It creates visibility.” Events such as Drag Queen Story Time and Bingo with Drag Queens exposes different age groups to the LGBTQ community. “People growing up here will learn how to treat these people, and they will be good allies in the world. It’s exciting times and making a difference and change in Fernie and the Elk Valley. I hope the town is excited, too. Because… we’re here!”

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

So where from here? “I’d love to see the festival become somewhat of a conference, so there is a party element but an education piece people can access. I want to see the LGBTQ community embraced here… for Fernie to become a beacon for people who are LGBTQ. Canada is that place in the world, and Fernie can be part of it. And, in reality, to see the Fernie Pride Society become unnecessary… we are only here because we have to be.” Sara and I finish by agreeing that having everyone in a community at the table makes towns better. “More vibrant, more fun, more interesting, more beautiful. If we are missing a whole group, that shouldn’t be acceptable for any of us!” 1. When did you first arrive in the Valley and what brought you here? In 2004, and we came for my partner’s job at the Credit Union.

I met a lot of people, hard to pinpoint but I do think it was Chantel with the Relay for Life. And we’ve been friends ever since! 3. Do you remember your first general impression of Fernie? So many babies! I had a baby myself, and I went to a mom’s group at the library and I met lifelong friends there. I have never seen so many people with babies in one place in my life. 4. What keeps you here? The lifestyle and my Fernie family. Life is so easy in Fernie, we all look out for each other and I love it.

Gardening, I love the summer season. We don’t go anywhere because we love the summer and we love our garden. 6. What time of the year do you love most in Fernie, and why? Summer, see above. 7. Where do you see or hope to see Fernie in five years? I’d love them to do something about affordable housing, we’re losing too many good people to other communities because of it. Otherwise, it could just be exactly the same. 8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals? So, every morning I stretch for five minutes, meditate for five minutes, and then have tea with my family. And then I start my day. I don’t know if I could go through the day without it. 9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you. That I’m a grandma! Granny Funk. 10. Quote to live by: I don’t have one, but if I did it would be by Louise Hay about self love. FERNIEFIX.COM

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Community and Events

Exploring the Columbia River Treaty by Canoe

of the problems and opportunities for growth within this watershed. We learned about the local effects of climate change, salmon restoration, and youth involvement. Another highlight for me was the last night of the trip where many of us took the opportunity to stargaze next to a creek bed and talk about the journey. Many of these friendships and memories are invaluable and without this trip, I would not have them.

by ANGE QUALIZZA

e are days away from the Sixth International Columbia River Transboundary Conference, and I can hardly wait. It feels like a hundred years ago I wrote my thesis on competing users for water on the Bow River, where I modelled the value of recreation users using a lens that allowed them to be considered with importance, just as industrial users. Water management, accounting for the total value to a region of bodies of water while allowing water licensees is a subject that has always interested me. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be representing the Kootenay Boundary region on the Columbia River Treaty Local Government Committee (CRT LGC) at this conference. In addition to three days of meaningful presentations about the Columbia River Treaty, the CRT LGC will be meeting with the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) Chief Negotiator, Sylvain Fabi and the British Columbia CRT Team. Recently a group of teens in our region participated in the Columbia River Field School, where they travelled by canoe to explore the geography of the Columbia River and learn about hydro-electricity, the Columbia River Treaty, climate change and how young people can have a voice in decision making. I was thrilled to be contacted by Fernie resident Aislinn Dressler, for a followup conversation with her about her experience; AQ. Were you surprised to see my name on the list of contacts as a member of the Columbia River Treaty LGC? AD. I was very surprised to see that your name was on the list. To have another

CITY CORNER

AQ. Before this trip, did you have any idea of how amazing the Columbia Basin Trust is for youth in our region?

MEREDITH DANIEL PHOTO

individual that I know in our small community of Fernie be connected through our interest and knowledge of the Columbia River and its Basin is amazing. AQ. What made you apply for the Columbia River Field School opportunity? AD. I applied for this program mainly because of the adventure. I was also attracted to the canoeing certification and four high school credits offered through this opportunity. As well as this, I wanted to apply because it was a course based on environmental studies and knowledge pertaining to our region. AQ. What were the highlights of the trip? AD. I have many highlights from this two-week journey. Intellectually, I found the Symposium in Castlegar an amazing experience. It was a gathering of interesting and passionate people in the Columbia Basin with an opportunity to discuss many

AD. I had no idea how many amazing projects for youth in our communities and watershed were funded by the Columbia Basin Trust. This amazing field school proves the value of the trust and its success in its engagement. And because of this funding, 16 teenagers from across the Basin have so much more knowledge of their own homes. AQ. Do you want to share how the Columbia River Treaty has impacted our region, and what people should know about the Treaty? AD. The Columbia River Treaty has impacted our region enormously. It allows for the Koocanusa Reservoir, caused by Libby Dam, as well as demonstrates mistakes of our past in regard to the Indigenous Peoples of the Basin. However, the dams also provide clean power for our region. This topic is very complex, and with renegotiations of the Treaty, it is beneficial to educate yourself and others on the Columbia River Treaty’s importance. I couldn’t agree more, renegotiating the Treaty is very complex and I am so pleased a group of teens had an opportunity to join the conversation. For more information about the Columbia River Treaty Process; engage.gov.bc.ca/ columbiarivertreaty/

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Community and Events

Supporting Teen Spirit

it being a hobby and something I did in my spare time. “You mean you might not finish it?” he asked. “Maybe someday,” I told him. He didn’t seem very impressed that I was clearly involved in an interesting project that might never reach completion.

by KERRI WALL

ast month for the fifth year in a row I attended a youth leadership workshop as an invited ally. This is an annual workshop for young people aged 14-21 who want to use listening tools and emotional awareness to build better lives for themselves and their friends, and a better world for all of us. It’s an honour to be invited as a trusted adult into this safe space for young people. The entire three-day workshop was led by a 25-year-old woman (who has been leading this workshop since she was 18; a younger person will take over next year) and organized by one of the adult allies. The allies ranged in age from 22 to mid60s, and there were fewer of us than the young participants. This annual workshop always gives me a lot to think about in the following areas: 1. What can teenagers be in charge of? 2. How can adults/parents play a supporting role? 3. How would society be different if we were smarter about the first two questions? The workshop addressed different topics including racism, sexism, climate change, sex and closeness, and the over-arching theme of claiming power as a young person. In other years we’ve looked at drugs and alcohol, school, and classism. Smells like teen spirit? You can identify teen spirit by its telltale scents of possibility, play, connection, and curiosity.You will also get whiffs of rebellion, skepticism, and independence. It’s quite a creative mix when someone expresses full-bodied possibility with an underlying note of rebellion, or their profile is 80% play and connection with 20% independence. Teenagers can be a dynamic, capable, and risk-taking bunch!

PLANNING AHEAD

V. CROOME PHOTO

The true spirit of adolescence was present at the workshop, with the teens trying new things and challenging each other. Their fresh perspectives and optimistic approaches brought spirit to the serious topics we discussed. Teenagers take the lead If you truly ask yourself the question, “What CAN’T a teenager do?” you’ll find the list is awfully short. They may not be of legal age to engage in certain activities, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the skills or necessary abilities. In fact, most of us tell ourselves regularly that we are incapable of taking actions like running for elected office, public speaking, sharing our art, building friendships, going travelling, or making a difference. Just like the rest of us, teenagers need guidance and support when taking on new challenges. Mentors, teachers, coaches and friends are things every single person needs when starting a new job or project, regardless of age. And remember how often a teenager has shown you how to do something on your phone or computer – these kids are not lacking intelligence. Almost ten years ago I was working on a writing project during the evenings and I had a bunch of papers on the living room floor when one of my son’s friends came over. He asked what I was doing and I said I was working on a screenplay. He thought that was pretty cool and replied, “When will it be done?” I gave a vague reply about

I thought about that conversation for a few weeks, and then I committed to writing the full first draft of the script. It was important to me to borrow that teenager’s perspective and just finish the damn thing. I’m glad I did and I can recall his influence to this day. There is never enough time at the young people’s workshop to talk about all the things the teens are interested in, or to play all the games, dance, sing, and stay up late to their heart’s content. But in the spirit of leadership and making the most of the moments we had (teenagers are so good at that) we were able to gaze at the stars from the beach at 1 am, splash in the ocean, eat a ton of ice cream, and enjoy each other.

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www.rockieslaw.com 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.

WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY Joanne Drain, as the co-Chair of the Crowsnest Pass Senior Housing Board, represents seniors on the Communities of Interest Advisory Initiative committee. She is proud to be part of the new senior housing project with expected opening Summer 2020.

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Recreation and Outdoor Life

Inherited Spirit

protection.” Nana knows that initiating a love for the outdoors will encourage the next generation to preserve it for their children, making the natural world a part of every family.

by YVONNE PREST

e all have a spirit animal. For Fernie Mountain Mamas it is often the majestic and graceful Gran-Mama. Our saviour. Our calm amidst the storm. Our inspiration. Many people count down the days to Thanksgiving or Christmas. I, however, count down the days to when Nana is coming to town. My mama is visiting Fernie this month and I look forward to seeing my home through her eyes. A new guest offers a new perspective and a break from the norm. My son lights up when he sees his Nana. There is a unique love and bond between them: an inherited spirit.

FERNIE MOUNTAIN MAMAS

I’ll leave you with a poem written by my mother, Susan Stenson, when out playing in Fernie. On top of these mountains Grandma, Grandson Wildflowers laughing. Happiness, high up!

SUBMITTED PHOTO

My mother, too, shines in her grandson’s spirit: a genuine care for the town and presence. She feels that they share the same its environment. “The animals and the spirit and stage in life: Retirement and plants can’t do it by themselves. They need infancy. More similar than one might think. Both individuals are free from deadlines, jobs and expectations. Nana and baby are free to immerse themselves in the spirit of the day. Able to venture wherever the wind takes them and nap when needed. Their day is centred around joy, play and curiosity. Not bound by a schedule, they each revel in the gift of free time. Time to explore, observe and wonder. To take in their surroundings and try to make sense of it all.

Are you also a Fernie Mountain Mama or GranMama? Please feel free to share your outdoor adventures, family stories and photos by writing to ferniemountainmamas@gmail.com, or hashtag #ferniemountainmamas to encourage more parents to take their little ones outdoors and share in all the fun that Fernie has to offer. Happy visiting!

Nana is a poet and finds her muse in nature. The pair spend most of their time outside, exploring and giving Mom and Dad a much needed reprieve. Nana Susan loves walking and wandering through Fernie with her grandson. Basking in the wisdom of the old growth forest or watching birds take flight along the Elk river’s edge. She describes the Fernie spirit as welcoming and feels that there is a “distinct guardianship of the community and the surrounding natural elements.” The volunteers and champions of this town, who give their time to ensure that the trails are well kept and managed, inspire her. By growing up in Fernie, she trusts that her grandson will inherit the Fernie FERNIEFIX.COM

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Recreation and Outdoor Life

Volunteerism and Fall Views

on Heikoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trail, a new up track to Space Unicorns, revitalizing Watering Hole, Coal Creek Heritage re-route, Fairy Creek Bridge Phase Two and Fernie Valley Pathway 2020.

by JULIE KELLY, FTA

t takes a lot of spirit to maintain our trail network. With over 300 kilometres of trails, we could not maintain and build our trails without the dedication of our volunteers. They have been working hard this season along with various contractors hired by the Fernie Trails Alliance (FTA). Here are just a few of the highlights of some of the projects that were completed. One major success was the build of the new Swine Flu climb. Our volunteers worked hard to build this new section in record time after gaining approval from Crown and the graze leaseholder. Later in the summer, the FTA gained approval from the City of Fernie to build Kiddy Down, a fun trail for all levels to enjoy providing access to the lower Ridgemont trails on

HITTING THE TRAILS

SUBMITTED PHOTO

City property. As well, both volunteers and contractors worked hard to finish and clean up the Loose Change section of the Trans Canada Trail. And most recently, volunteers Rick Weiss and Pat Gilmar proposed opening a route in Ridgemont with the property owners, and once approved led a Thursday evening work party and successfully opened this route (in one week) for fall and winter use. The FTA still has several projects in progress this fall including further work

Fall is a great time to get out and enjoy the views and change of colours. One of the best views is from the top of Castle Mountain. If you are looking for a great hike head up to Castle Rocks. To access this trailhead, head up Hyperventilation and follow the signs to South Castle. There are a couple of benches along the way, which are great spots to have a rest and take in the views. Continue up taking a left at the next intersection and follow the steep trail to the top. Head back down the same way or mix it up, connecting with various other trails along the way. Distance: Approx. 10 km Time: 2 hours + Gain: Approx. 2,000 ft. Difficulty: Black

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Health and Wellmess

ELEMENTS OF MOVEMENT

Find Your Flow by MADDY ALARIC

hen you live in a town full of non-stop adventure and activity ten months out of the year, it often feels weird to take a ‘break’ during the shoulder seasons. However, the longer you’re in Fernie, the more you begin to appreciate this time of year. Time is available to get on the yoga mat, read books and connect with friends over coffee. All of this happens without feeling the desire to get out for a pedal or a few laps at the hill, simply because it’s currently not an option. October seems to be a seasonal shift from the warmer months to the cooler, shorter days and I tend to find myself craving the yoga mat with the warmth of a regular practice. For some, myself included, finding an hour to yourself during the day seems near impossible. Between family, friends and work it can be tough to find this time. However, scheduling this time and treating it like any other appointment will keep you committed to making it happen. I find the mornings work best for me before anyone else is awake. I go into the spare room, close the door, light a candle and get on my mat. I’m not saying we all need to spend an entire hour in a room by ourselves with the only sound being our breath. What I am saying, is that whether it’s ten or sixty minutes, taking time for yourself each day will help you become the best version of yourself. As we shift seasons this month, I challenge you to 30 days of checking in. Try this yoga flow at home, seeing if you can connect and move with your breathing, following it to that place where the magic really starts to happen. To the regular yogis this is known as a vinyasa or sun salutation, to the newbies read instructions below and follow the pictures. Happy flowing, friends!

1. Standing tall, reaching arms overhead. 2. Exhale as you fold forward. 3. Inhale lifting head and chest half way. 4. Step back to high plank, exhale, lowering to chaturanga, keeping elbows into the body (option to come to knees). 5. Inhale to up facing dog. 6. Exhale to down facing dog. 7. Inhale stepping right foot through to a lunge, reaching arms up for three breaths ( =back leg straight or knee to the mat). 8. Exhale hands to mat, step back, lowering to chaturanga. 9. Inhale up dog. 10. Exhale down dog. 11. Inhale stepping left foot through to a lunge, reaching arms up, transition back to down facing dog for three to six breaths. 12. Bring feet to hands, roll up to standing reaching arms overhead. Repeat this 5-10 times.

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Health and Lifestyle

FAMILY WELLNESS

Inclusive Care in Medicine by DR. TAINA TURCASSO, N.D., R.M.

attended a conference on perinatal mental health earlier this year and though the range of topics discussed and presented was broad, there was a common thread weaved throughout virtually every presentation: inclusivity. Inclusivity there at the conference, in our practices, in simply how we live our lives. It was discussed by people of colour, providers who identify as queer, and most predominantly by a transgender man who was presenting on his experience of being pregnant and giving birth. I learned so much at that conference about mental health and how we can better support and serve our patients/clients (referred to as “clients” from here) but one of the big takeaways for me was the result of me really looking at myself and the way I practice. I hadn’t really thought much about providing inclusive care but my first thought about it was that yes, of course I provided inclusive care. I am open to caring for any individual, and I don’t discriminate which clients I take based on their background, their relationship status, or their sexual orientation. I thought that was enough and it turns out that I was wrong. Truly providing inclusive care is so much more than passively tolerating people with different backgrounds and potentially different needs; it’s an active, constantly evolving way of practicing that results in every individual having care that is tailored to them in a way that is safe, supportive, and will ultimately result in better outcomes. Inclusive care is certainly an important issue in maternity care as we see that people who belong to marginalized communities have poorer outcomes but it is important in all aspects of medicine. In talking to and learning about practices who have made providing inclusive care a priority, I’ve identified some ways I

V. CROOME PHOTO

Ask your patients how they want to be referred to (she/ he/their) and discuss their individual needs as a client. plan to incorporate inclusivity in the care I provide people both as a naturopathic physician and as a midwife and I will share the five simple changes you can make to your practice to provide better care to your clients: Educate Yourself The first step to becoming a more inclusive provider is to simply educate yourself. Maybe you don’t even know what inclusivity means and that’s ok; we all start somewhere. Figure out why this is important, look at the data, talk to other providers about what they are doing. There is room for all of us to do better. Go Public This is a big one: be public about your intentions to provide inclusive care. Write about it on your website/Facebook page etc. Tell your patients/clients that it is your intention to change your language and your care to better serve the population as a whole, not just the cis, straight, white male population. Tell them about how that is going to look and what it means for their care. Forms might look different, language will be different, and your client population will be more diverse.

Go Up It’s not enough to just change your individual practice.You need to think bigger. Change your forms to use inclusive language. Do you use government forms? What are they doing to make their forms more inclusive? Their published material (leaflets, flyers etc.)? Every time you fill out a standardized form think about how it could be improved and work on it. This will be challenging, but with enough people demanding change it will eventually happen. Talk to Your Client Ask your patients how they want to be referred to (she/he/their) and discuss their individual needs as a client. They will usually have an idea about what they need and will appreciate your honesty and openness. Even simply saying, “I don’t know” can be so powerful. Re-Assess Make a few changes and then plan to re-visit these changes every six months or every year. Come together as a practice/ team and discuss what works and what doesn’t work. Include it on your standing agenda for your meetings. Go back to number one and continue your education. All of us health care providers prioritize patient safety and quality of care. I have yet to meet a single health care provider that has anything else at the top of their list other than providing the best care to result in the best outcome for the people they are looking after. Inclusive care is just one other way that you can improve outcomes and the overall quality of the care you are offering to people. People who feel marginalized by the health care system will be less likely to access care when they need it so the onus is on us to make health care safe for everyone and to publicly identify ourselves as a safe place for them to go. We can all do better. Happy Pride, Fernie!

Health and Lifestyle

A LOOK DOWN SECOND AVE

Health. Beauty. Happiness. Confidence. Sweater Weather

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The Brixton Madero Sweater was hard to leave behind. Its moody striped by EMMA POLIT colour pattern is perfect for fall. Add in a high sweater is my whole fall mood, for neck, balloon sleeves and a the love of all things layered and length that will hit in just cozy. Right now is, without a doubt, the PERFECT time to wear a big cozy sweater, the right spot. and that’s what you will find me in most Edge of the World has days. I just counted, and I currently have some great options. Rusty no less than 26 hanging up. My sweater has a classic chunky cable obsession started about five years ago, and I knit called the Folklore am happy to say that it is still going strong. Chunky Knit. It’s a relaxed In fact, I just picked up my new favourite fit with a high neckline and yesterday at Commit. blouson sleeves (definitely

I hate to be cliché, but when it comes to my life in Fernie, I am of the common variety – I came for the winter, stayed for the summer and then fell head over heels in love with fall, but I’m easily swayed, my favourite season is always the one that we are in right now. If you’re new to town, you will soon realize that Fernie is the best, no matter the time of year. But, fall. Fall tends to REALLY show off. The colours will take your breath away. Fall + sweater = match made in Fernie. The knit trend has been with us for quite a long time. I don’t remember a time when they weren’t popular, and it shows no sign of slowing down. And guys, big news - the cardigan is back, baby. The mini (think cropped and tight) version has been on the scene for a while, and now, with thanks to Katie Holmes’ recent viral moment, expect to see a lot of chunky cardigans, one button done up, a bare shoulder with a cashmere bra (or a cute bralette from Frejya) showing. Commit loves a knit sweater almost as much as I do. One of their new brands Sisstr has the Cozy Specs Sweater (also now referred to as, The One That I Bought) and it is just the right amount of classic cardi mixed with retro bubble sleeves. It will be my fall staple - great over everything!

the trend this year), it will look great over jeans, a dress and I’d love to see it with an ankle-length skirt. While you’re in Edge, check out the Volcom Knit List Cardigan. This oversized chunky cardigan is the perfect layer to wrap yourself up in for a cool morning or evening stroll. Speaking of oversized cardigans, No. 3 has the Dex Baked Biscuit Cardigan. A perfect neutral, long length, and soft knit, this will be one of our go-to’s this season! I am a long time fan of Free People. They can always be relied upon to bring the boho, easygoing, vibes. We’re lucky that Freyja always has some of the best of it. This season, a couple of standouts are the Eucalyptus Cardigan and the Easy Street tunic. Both have a slouchy silhouette that will give you the plush and comfy feels. So enjoy the season of the sweaters before the snow starts to fall and the puffy jacket season arrives, which also happens to be one of my faves… FERNIEFIX.COM

Bits and Bytes

THE ANSWER GUY

Have I Been Pwned

They usually tell you some story of how you came to be compromised and include “proof ” such as a password or perhaps just a URL where you can view the proof.

by KEVIN MCISAAC

It’s quite common to have a JPG/PNG/ GIF image attached which has the bitcoin, litecoin, etc. digital currency address.

recently had a friend contact me about a disturbing email they’d received. The writer of the email purported to have compromised my friend’s account. That they had access to their computer, their email, and their webcam. And that they had compromising photos and video of them using their computer’s webcam. They claimed that should my friend not send them money they would send the photos and videos to all of my friend’s contacts. This, as you might imagine, was quite disconcerting. The blackmailer included a piece of information which for my friend, clinched the fact that what they said was true: a password that no one could have known. To me, the most surprising thing about this email was that it didn’t end up in their spam folder. Literally millions of these types of emails went out in the last year (according to Symantec they blocked 300 million of them this year before June) and they almost always included a piece of personal information like a password, username, or phone number that the receiver will recognize as unique to them. What the recipient doesn’t know is that their personal data was compromised, but not by the blackmailer. There have been dozens of significant data compromises for large scale websites. See if you’ve ever used any of these websites: Marriott International, LinkedIn, Adobe, eBay, Uber, Sony, Dropbox, or Yahoo. That’s a short list. The actual list of compromised sites is much, much larger. If you have almost any presence on the internet it’s almost certain that your username and password for some site has been compromised. Want to see? There’s a fun site called haveibeenpwned.com where you can put in your email address and find out which sites your data was

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Long-time readers of this column have read my repeated refrain to use a unique password on every site. It’s probable that a tiny fraction of you take that advice. compromised on. I’m pretty lucky. I only showed up in five. Long-time readers of this column have read my repeated refrain to use a unique password on every site. It’s probable that a tiny fraction of you take that advice. The rest of you will discover that once your username and password was lifted from one site, it was searched for on hundreds of other sites. Hackers have very good tools to do this all automagically for them so it happens in minutes at the stroke of a key. Once a hacker or hacking group has your information it gets packaged up with many other compromised users’ information and sold to the groups which send out the blackmail emails. The blackmail varies. Sometimes it’s about revealing your person, or your browsing habits (think porn sites), or sometimes they pretend to be law enforcement and claim to have found child pornography on your computer.

If you receive one of these mark it as spam. Don’t click on any links. Don’t do what the email asks you to do. If you feel threatened in any way, contact the police immediately. Blackmail is a criminal matter, not a computer matter, so if you think it’s serious treat it seriously and don’t delete the email. In my friend’s case, I advised her to ignore it and make sure she’s using unique passwords on all the sites she logs into. Look at my column on KeePass (“Password Managers.Your Secret Weapon” published in March, 2019) if you need some guidance.

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Bits and Bytes

October 2019 by ASHLEY KRISTINA

all is one of my favourite times of the year, the cooling after the harvest, the change of colours and the decay into winter. This October begins with the Libra theme of relationship which deals with the ‘other’ and its balance and harmony. There is an immediate intensity this month that will continue and grow as we move into the most passionate and intense sign of the zodiac, Scorpio. A major theme is Pluto turns direct on October 3 which has been travelling retrograde in the sky since April 24 and is continuing to travel in the sky conjunct Saturn. Pluto is the ruler of Scorpio and therefore the energies it guides are all about Power, Death, Rebirth, Transformation and Regeneration. Pluto is intense and psychic, it is the shamanic planet of the zodiac and leads us into the deeply psychic and spiritual realms which are typically considered taboo. As Pluto turns direct, we will see direct motion in the area of our lives that Pluto guides. This deals with each of our spiritual paths, working to align more with our higher selves.Venus, the planet of love has exited from the Underworld and is now the Evening Star. She enters Scorpio on October 8 and travels through Scorpio all month making October a passionate and intense month for all involved. Another major theme this month is about following our paths intuitively and not overthinking about which direction to go. Just to go; there is a need to release control and trust the divine. Aries This is a passionate month for you and your fire soars with the cultivation of your relationships, especially your significant other. This a major month of change and momentum for you. The full moon on October 13 is in Aries so you will feel it immensely. Be centred within and enjoy the purifying, uplifting vibes.

Taurus Scorpio is your opposite energy so this month is balancing for you. The middle of the month requires humble knowledge and appreciation of self as you step into new territory. Themes for you are about recapturing the sparks of love and wisdom and parallels the theme of a bee returning to its hive. Gemini Gemini and Scorpio form a very significant energy in astrology as Gemini’s mind is as penetrating as Scorpio’s however it does not have the intensity. Gemini, the Sacred Messenger is the only one in the zodiac that can plunge to the levels of Scorpio’s energy, which is the Underworld and come up to tell the story of it. Perhaps a great story will come from this month. Cancer Moody and emotional is the way of Scorpio energy and you will feel this immensely. This month is highly sensitive to you and an important teaching is attempting to see beyond yourself, that you may not know the reality. Let yourself feel and just feel it, and let them pass. Do not hold on to them. Leo This month is about the momentum of the inner work that is required to align with our highest most divine self, and the planets are aligned to make sure you do it. Everyone knows what they must do so put away the ego and walk the path. Virgo September was a great organizing month and I am certain you feel restored because of it. This month is about paying attention to the people you love in your life and helping support them. It’s a win-win situation so go ahead and ask what you can do to be of support to your loved ones. Libra Happy birthday to many of you! It will feel very aligned with your energy as lots of the planets sit in Libra.Venus in Scorpio for most of the month along with Pluto direct give it a bit of intensity however this

ASTROLOGY

is an energy that helps guide you to move forward. Don’t think so much, follow what feels best instead of being worried about the balance. Scorpio Happy birthday, Scorpio! This month will feel very in tune with who you are and all aspects of the emotions that exist. Centring yourself and waiting through any aspects of life that may feel chaotic. The stillness you hold shows your integrity and reliability. Remember, you are the alchemist of the Zodiac so emit the energy you wish to create. Sagittarius Your energy is not so different from that of Scorpio, you are just as emotional however a little less intense as you have a wisdom that knows the divine writes the great story. Follow the path of least resistance and make sure you are aligned in what you need to be integral with your highest self. Capricorn Saturn, your ruling planet, travels together with Pluto in the sky. Both are in the energy of Capricorn and this month is a hugely transformational time for you if you utilize it. It’s an uplifting month and moving instinctively is recommended. Aquarius The energy of Scorpio is similar to Aquarius.You are both very intense. Scorpio is intense emotionally and you are intense mentally. This month magnifies the good, the light, and the beauty of life. Enjoy the magic! Pisces Going home is the theme this month, in whichever way this manifests for you, figuratively, literally… You have been called for a long time now and the messages are getting too strong to ignore. The best way to proceed is essentially the most obvious and following your heart will bring the harmony you dream of. Drop your ego and drop your mind to return to your hive.

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Fernie Fun

FIX TRIVIA

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Can you find five differences between these two pictures? Have a picture to submit for Fernie Fun? Send it to info@clarismedia.com.

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FernieFixMag

ANSWERS SEPTEMBER SPOT THE DIFFERENCE FIND THE Somewhere in this issue is a little rainbow. Can you find it?

NAME THE BUSINESS/ BUILDING These businesses or buildings are located in downtown Fernie, can you name them? Answers: Name The Business/Building September Big Bang Bagels, Nevados, Ace Ferguson, Guides Hut

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2019

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