GO Cranbrook Issue #10 by THE TRENCH MAGAZINE

FALL 2018 NO. 10

GOLDEN DAYS | THE STRENGTH OF CHARACTER TO FIGHT IT GROUNDFLOOR COWORKING SPACE | THE CATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MEOW

FREE

Open Nominations

YOUTH GAME CHANGER

ARTS & CULTURE GAME CHANGER

FAMILY GAME CHANGER

FIRST NATIONS GAME CHANGER

SENIORS GAME CHANGER

OUTDOORS & ENVIRONMENT GAME CHANGER

HEALTH & WELLNESS GAME CHANGER

SPORTS & RECREATION GAME CHANGER

EDUCATION GAME CHANGER

TOURISM GAME CHANGER

PROTECTIVE SERVICES GAME CHANGER

UNSUNG HERO GAME CHANGER

FOOD & AGRICULTURE GAME CHANGER

LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT GAME CHANGER

Sandor Rental Equipment Ltd.

New Dawn Restorations & New Dawn Developments OK Tire

Peak Family Dental Centre

Leanne M Goddard Chartered Professional Accountant Pacific Coastal Airlines

Cranbrook Flooring Ltd.

ʔaq̓am First Nation Teck Coal Ltd.

Tipi Mountain Eco-Cultural Services Ltd. Isaac Hockley Real Estate

The Heid Out Restaurant & Brewhouse Columbia Basin Trust

Business Networking International Rockies

Nominate now at eknow.ca/gamechangers Four finalists from each category will be treated to a first-class dinner at the Game Changer Gala this fall at the St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino

The Kootenay Game Changer Awards are a Collaboration of Local Media Including B104 Total Country, 102.9 The Drive, E-Know.ca, The Cranbrook Townsman, The Kimberley Bulletin, GO Cranbrook, GO Kimberley, and the Fernie Fix.

Improving customer service is important to us. Whether you dial 311 on your phone or use the app, both offer simple, single points of access for City news, information or requesting our services.

Our 311 service is an important step in our ongoing focus to find innovative and creative ways to deliver better services to you, our customers.

WWW.CRANBROOK.CA

Download the app now from the Apple iTunes store and the Android Google Play store and get connected.

FOR ADVERTISING, DISTRIBUTION, OR GENERAL INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT US AT: grady@kootenaymedia.ca For article submissions contact: karen@kootenaymedia.ca | 250.427.0808

All of the abracadabra. None of the hocus pocus.

Reproduction, in whole, or in part, is strictly prohibited. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved on entire contents. GO Cranbrook Magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, it is not responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. The opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors. GO Cranbrook Magazine is published four times per year and is printed in Canada. GO Cranbrook is published by: Kootenay Media Ltd. Layout design by: Lucas Roach | Big Magic Design www.bigmagicdesign.com

D E S I G N • S T I C K E R S • A P PA R E L

Visit bigmagicdesign.com to find out more.

220 SPOKANE ST, KIMBERLEY BC • 778 481 5262

_ kootenaymedia.ca

managing editor Karen Vold

sales | distribution Grady Pasiechnyk

Britt Bates Dan Mills Jeff Pew Andy Rogers

CONTENTS PHOTO: DAN MILLS

contributors

COVER PHOTO: ROBERTA RODGERS

Monica Karaba

FALL 2018

copy editor | social media

FALL 2018 |

W & P: Dan Mills

Fall is a conflicted season. On the one hand, it is a time of bounty, harvest, and colour; on the other, it is the back sliding of vivacious life into the bleakness of winter. The very term “fall” has nearly replaced the word “autumn” as the descriptor for this season, as it so aptly and poetically describes that later thought. In spring the leaves spring forth, in the fall, well, these same leaves succumb to the inevitability of both gravity and mortality. Blushing red and golden, they celebrate what once was, as well as the destiny that awaits them.

FALL 2018 |

The symbolic potential of a leaf in autumn should not be lost on any of us, especially as Canadians. Heck, it’s what we chose to emblazon on our nation’s flag. The maple leaf is indeed a fine representation of our great country, even if it isn’t totally comprehensive. You see here in the East Kootenay, other than the rarely encountered Rocky Mountain variety, we have very few naturally occurring maple trees. In our part of the world, the harbinger of autumn is neither vibrant red nor leafy; it is rather a needled conifer that blazes golden: Larix occidentalis, the Western Larch. Our larch (not to be confused with the Tamarack which is smaller and grows almost exclusively to the east of us) is a nonconformist conifer that dances to the tune of its own drummer. Unlike the other needled trees that we call evergreens, larch trees are not always green. In autumn, their soft, lime-coloured needles turn dramatically golden and then, taking a page from their leafy, deciduous cousins, they shed those gilded needles. The glorious golden show now over, they stand naked and ready for the worst winter can bring. At first blush, taking on the bleakness of winter in the nude may seem like a blatantly maladaptive behaviour, but in actuality, it makes perfect sense. Being slight of limb, the larch would snap under the heavy snows of winter if those flakes were allowed to accumulate on its boughs. Being needleless, however, the flakes have no place to land and the larch endures, able to stand tall and not be forced to bow down to the coldest season. Up in the high country where the winters are even longer, harsher and the snow deeper, there can be found a subspecies of the Western Larch: the incredibly hardy Alpine (or Lyall’s) Larch.

FALL 2018 |

250.489.2010 • hotshotscafe.ca 1924 8th St N, Cranbrook

MARKET SCHEDULE

Saturdays at 10th Ave S. by Rotary Park Downtown Cranbrook

9AM - 1PM until September 1 Wild Honey

Deep Cedar

10AM - 1PM September 8 to October 6 Brian Brons

Fall Festival

sponsored by

Connor Foote

CRANBROOK

Thanksgiving

Clayton & Joelle *This schedule is subjected to changes

OCT

NOV

DEC

10am to 1pm in the Ktunaxa Gym: 220 Cranbrook St. N. These initiatives made possible with funding from:

Davis Yates & Kiana Tingley

Special Winter Nov. 24: 1 to 7pm Nov. 25: 11am to 3pm Location: 1114 Baker Street

When people speak of the tree line, they are describing the elevation at which trees cease to grow due to the inhospitable conditions higher up the mountain. Well, in the Kootenays, the last trees you will find still stubbornly clinging to the slope at tree line, long after all the other tree species have given up, is the Alpine Larch. At this altitude, the growing season is short, just 90 days, so it takes our tenacious little tree over 25 years just to reach 8 to 16 inches (20 to 40 cm.) in height. It doesn’t start producing cones until it is over 200 years old. Eventually, this determined mountain tree might grow to an average height of 30 to 35 feet (9 to 11 metres), this upon reaching its average age of 400 to 500 years. Many of these Methuselahs of the tree world live to be over 700 years old. There is a Lyall’s larch growing to the east of us in Kananaskis that is estimated to be just shy of 2000 years old, making it the oldest tree in Canada. Try to wrap your head around that fact: this magnificent larch was already over 500 years old when Columbus bumped into North America. If only this tree could talk, the stories it would have to tell.

We humans may not live as long as the ancient Lyall’s Larch but for those of us lucky enough to reach the autumn of our lives, we should have, by that time, accumulated some experience and have some stories to tell. Like the larch, the harder our struggles were, the more complex the hardships faced, the higher up the mountain we tried to take root, the more gnarled and bent with age we will be. Adversity, gentle reader, builds character. It also makes for a much better, and keeping with this autumnal metaphor, more colourful, story. While the alpine larch may never replace the maple leaf on our flag, be sewn on the backpacks of foreigners hoping to appear Canadian, or grace the front of our national hockey team’s jersey, it still stands as an exemplary symbol of strength, commitment, and resilience, not to mention longevity. Be proud my fellow Kootenay folk, of your nonconformist, tough-as-nails, not-always-green, tree. Whether it is blazing golden or standing naked in the snow, it is to be revered.

FALL 2018 |

W & P: Jeff Pew

FALL 2018 |

“I think you see what your work does for other people. I see it in their faces, and how a community’s spirit is uplifted.” When Cranbrook’s Sandy Zeznik retired as Pinewood Elementary School’s principal in 2006, she did what most retirees do: she poured herself a drink, read a book and relaxed. She dreamt about her future. Then, she got antsy. “I thought I’d sit around for a while,” she says from her Cranbrook office of the 2018 55+ BC Games, “but that didn’t last very long. I was going nuts.” Zeznik, 77, a 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award recipient for volunteer work, hasn’t slowed a bit in recent years, still volunteering over 40 hours a week for Cranbrook non-profits (see insert). “Once you volunteer for one thing, you get a bit of a reputation. You fall from one thing to another,” she says. “A friend told me, ‘Just because there’s silence, doesn’t mean you have to put up your hand and volunteer,’ but I’m a slow learner. I’m a pushover if someone needs anything.”

Zeznik is co-president of the Kimberley/Cranbrook 2018 55+ BC Games. A year ago, she walked into the local Fortis office soliciting donations, a task she takes on with a friendly persistence. A few weeks later, she’d secured a seven-room Games’ office, as an in-kind donation. Last August, a month before the event, the headquarters buzzing with activity, Zeznik took breaks from the interview to secure funding for lanyards. “There’s the big picture, and there’s the tiny details,” she says. “I tend to get involved in both areas.” Zeznik appreciates that non-profit organizations and their events wouldn’t exist without the huge cadre of volunteers and the generosity of local businesses. “I shop locally,” Zeznik says. “Otherwise, how can I go into a place like Bridge Interiors and ask for a donation if I don’t support what they’re doing?”

C U S T O M I Z I N G

H O M E S

S I N C E

1 9 9 4

We attribute our continued growth over the years to the quality of our workmanship, our selection of services and affordable rates. We take pride in the solid customer relationships we have built; our longevity in the industry is testament to our commitment to our customers.

C r a n b r o ok , B C

CUSTOM CABINETS | CUSTOM MILLWORK | CUSTOM CLOSETS | PAINTING & FINISHING | KARL FARBMAN DESIGN

info@mearnswest.com

250.489.9109 S A L E S

/ /

S E R V I C E

/ /

I N S T R U C T I O N

/ /

R E N T A L S

/ /

C O M M U N I T Y

All Paddle Sports • Kite Boarding • Scuba Dive • Wake/Water Ski • Clothing & Apparel

2 50.48 9. 28 37 | info @ju s t liq u id . c a | 1 81 7 C ra n b rook S t N or t h

justliquid.ca

“I don’t get these awards alone,” she says. “None of us is as smart as all of us. There are people doing things in a quieter way.” Why Seniors?

On Accolades & Awards

According to Zeznik, there’s a growing number of Cranbrook seniors (36% of the population and growing). “This was an area I felt needed attention,” she says. “Seniors tend to get overlooked. The government should have planned for this twenty years ago.” Zeznik is cofounder of Seniors in Partnership (SIP), whose current mandate is to work towards designating Cranbrook as an Age-Friendly Community, an initiative to support seniors in transportation improvements, increased employment/volunteer opportunities, and infrastructure improvements among other areas.

“When you get to a certain age, they run out of people to give awards to,” Zeznik says, always downplaying being singled out for these awards. “I don’t get these awards alone,” she says. “None of us is as smart as all of us. There are people doing things in a quieter way. People who don’t talk as much as me. I accept them on their behalf.” During her acceptance speech for the 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award, Zeznik acknowledged the “retired women,” the backbone of the wonderful things that happen in her community. She closed with a quote attributed to Bob Hope: “I feel very humble, but I think I have the strength of character to fight it.”

Why Volunteer? “I think you see what your work does for other people,” Zeznik says when reflecting on the importance of volunteer work. “I see it in their faces, and how a community’s spirit is uplifted.” She believes everyone should contribute to each other. “Every little bit helps,” she says. “Just do what you can. It might only be a few hours a week. I’m lucky. I’m retired with a pension, so I can afford to give more time. Plus, it gets me out of the kitchen.”

The Future Once the final duties of the 55+ Games are completed, Zeznik will celebrate with her team, then move onto other projects. “I’m an alternate for the B.C. Seniors Advocate, which monitors and analyzes senior’s services and issues throughout the province,” she says. “In 2019, there’s a possibility I might assume the position. This would be great for our region, as it’s often overlooked.” Zeznik doesn’t hesitate when reflecting on what she might do that doesn’t involve volunteer work. “I’d like to play with my four grandkids a little more. Keep up with my Dragon Boat team. Maybe travel a bit. Who knows? Whatever it is, I’ll keep a sense of humour.” she says. “It’s a good thing I don’t need much sleep.”

Sandy Zeznikâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Volunteer Work Kimberley/Cranbrook 2018 55+ BC Games | Co-president & Friends of the Games Director Rotary Club | President (2016/17) Rotary Club | Membership Director Friends of the Library | Board Member Cranbrook Public Library | Board Member Cranbrook Chamber Info Centre | Volunteer Abreast in the Rockies | Board Member & Manager Key City Theatre | Past Board Member & Current Volunteer Canadian Association of Retired Persons | Secretary Seniors in Partnership (SIP) | Co-founder Cranbrook Healthcare Auxiliary | Past President & Board Member. Current Gift Shop Volunteer & Buyer.

FALL 2018 |

NURTURING ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN THE KOOTENAYS

W: Andy Rogers P: Mikhela Greiner Right now I’m sitting on a leather sofa beside a fireplace. Across from me, my colleague looks cozy in a turquoise armchair, staring intently at her laptop and resting her feet on the edge of the coffee table. Our light comes from a tasteful curved-wood chandelier, and I’m facing exposed-brick walls that I find calming and yet conducive to our creative work. Am I in my new Vancouver loft? Nope, I’m in the new $1.7 million shared workspace in downtown Cranbrook. I’ve been working out of Ground Floor Coworking Space since it opened earlier this year, and last week I got the chance to sit with Tanya Malcolm, the Community and Marketing Manager, to ask her why it was created. I was expecting to write from the business incubator angle, and at first that’s where my questions went. I already knew the different levels and perks of membership there because I helped write Ground Floor’s website content. Yet, when I spoke to Tanya I was soon reminded that the coworking space is all about people. It was created by passionate people to serve the inspiration and aspirations of people. Unsurprisingly then, Tanya really lit up once she started using the word inspiration.

Simply put, Tanya wants to see the place filled with people inspired to grow a business of any kind in the Kootenays, and to help them manifest it. Speaking of that uplifting moment when an entrepreneur is on the cusp of starting their business or taking that bold next step, Tanya wants this space to help them gain momentum. She explains, “If we can play one little piece in helping everyone’s business, knowing that everyone’s business is another contribution to our area, we’ll be making a difference in the Kootenays.”

That’s where Ground Floor Coworking Space fits into the picture. With it’s motto of “Share Space, Create Opportunity,” it’s a community space that provides a cooperative and supportive container for entrepreneurial drive and creativity. Here, you can grow business relationships with influencers who want to share and generate more entrepreneurial energy in the Kootenays. In fact, the building hosts the offices of Community Futures and the Basin Business Advisors, who can discuss loans and give you advice on your business plan.

The thing is, when you decide to become your own boss, it’s sometimes called “going it alone.” Traditionally, it might mean working from home, converting a bedroom or basement, and requiring extra discipline because you’re never away from work. Or, you might rent an office space somewhere, where there’s the financial outlay and added risk to consider. But whether your business is going to the local farmers’ markets or selling services online, do you really want to do it alone?

With a variety of membership levels to choose from, Ground Floor Coworking Space offers affordable options that can alleviate the doubt of starting your own business. You can also take advantage of some of the additional amenities such as the soundproofed digital media room where you can record podcasts or live stream video content. There are even showers for those who bike to work or like to get exercise in during the workday. And, every day there are easy networking opportunities with fellow humans over the free coffee, tea, and fruit.

FALL 2018 |

share space. create opportunity.

And perhaps, that’s one of the biggest bonuses of a space like this. You never know who might need your services or the right partner for a project. As an example of this kind of collaboration, Ground Floor’s video conference and meeting rooms were sponsored by local businesses All 7 Tech Solutions and Isosceles. Tanya is also fostering relationships with the Ktunaxa Nation and the College of the Rockies. So, come claim your free day pass at the Ground Floor Coworking Space if you’re an entrepreneur, a freelancer, a small business owner, or anyone looking for an inspired and flexible workspace. Come, share space and create opportunity!

For more information and to explore coworking options to suit your work style, please visit groundfloorcowork.ca or search for Ground Floor Coworking Space on Facebook.

BEGIN HERE

OVER 50 PROGRAMS OFFERED IN CLASS OR ONLINE.  Adult Upgrading  Business  Child, Youth and Family Studies  Fire Services  Health  Office Administration  Tourism  Trades  University Arts and Sciences  Continuing Education Start your university degree with us – and save thousands on tuition and costs of living. Our Dual Admission partnerships and other transfer agreements make it easy.

UNIVERSITY

SUCCESS INCREASED

AFTER ATTENDING COLLEGE OF THE ROCKIES

cotr.ca Students who began their studies at College of the Rockies completed university with an overall higher grade point average (GPA) than did their counterparts at most other BC colleges and universities.* *2015 British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer (BCCAT) report

FALL 2018 |

W: Britt Bates P: Roberta Rodgers The golden early-morning light reflects off Jim Smith Lake, which is still as glass. Nothing moves — until I catch a glimpse of something shifting near my feet. I glance down from where I’m standing on the creaky wooden dock: a brown duck glides forward with her three small, downy ducklings trailing excitedly behind her. I smile. The gold light brightens ever so slightly. Not the worst place to be at 7:00 am on a weekday morning. I’m here to meet Roberta Rodgers, the head coach and an instrumental lynchpin of the Rockies Rowing Club. She’s gathering up a boat from the storage shed nearby and walks out to the dock to meet me. I find myself startled at the size of the boat compared to Roberta, who, small and athletic, appears to carry it effortlessly despite its size. Enormous and slender, it’s a simple machine that’s somehow both intimidating and strikingly elegant. Roberta places the boat into the water with ease, then greets me with a friendly smile. She’s here for an earlymorning private lesson before the rest of the day unfolds. Jen, her student, is already out on the water in a single boat, slowly gliding around the surface of the lake. I know, though, that rowing isn’t as easy as she’s making it look. I feel wobbly just looking at the skinny boats, which clearly aren’t the most stable of vessels. “The balance is all in your hands!” Roberta laughs, extending her arms in demonstration. A few of the boats have pontoons attached to either side, to make being on the water a little bit easier for beginners. Aside from that, rowing is a hard workout, requiring strength in the arms, back, core, shoulders — and the list goes on.

FALL 2018 |

That’s what Roberta — who has a little pin tucked onto her ball cap that says “I Rowing” — turns to when I ask what made her fall in love with the sport. “It’s a full-body concept,” she explains. “You really have to engage everything, and then you have the ability to move the boat.” There’s something interesting and exciting when I let my thoughts rest on that seemingly simple concept: one small human body powering one enormous boat. Rockies Rowing Club came into existence in 2001, and Roberta joined the crew in 2003. She’s rowed since 1975, and her experience and expertise have lent the club some amazing strengths: members regularly compete in the BC Games; some are just returned from this summer’s event. While the club was previously only for recreation until it began competing in 2014, it has quickly produced many talented athletes during its first competitive seasons. These days, the club welcomes anyone to sign up for either purpose: recreation, relaxation, and fun, or for the chance to compete among some of the province’s most talented athletes at various regattas. Rockies Rowing welcomes both youths

and adults of any age. The youngest that’s joined, Roberta tells me, is a dedicated eight-year-old who found the strength to power the boat himself. Some incredibly successful young athletes have come out of Rockies Rowing Club, such as Katie Clark, who is currently training with her crew in Ontario, before heading to a prestigious U-21 competition in New Zealand. Roberta has also held a coach’s clinic, where she trained a small handful of the club’s young and dedicated athletes to become coaches as well, so that the club can expand its capacity for lessons. “We’ve also just purchased a travel trailer for all the boats,” Roberta tells me, explaining other ways the club is growing. “This allows us a lot more flexibility.” The club usually practises on Jim Smith Lake and makes the occasional trip to Moyie. Lessons are almost always private, so as to focus and build upon individual strengths and improvements. “The first lesson is on land,” Roberta explains. “We talk all about the boats and about safety.” Then, on the water, the coaches move into the details of skill. “It’s always about technique over power,” Roberta says. Her love for the sport radiates from every word.

FALL 2018 |

Rowing, I am determining from our leisurely chat at the water’s edge, is a unique sport, to say the least. It begins with the unusual-looking boats, which, interestingly, use the reverse meanings for bow and stern, port and starboard. But it’s learning the history of rowing that captivates me the most: both Vikings and ancient Romans used the skill extensively for travel. Even around these parts of the world, the sport has a rich past: for example, the club in Nelson, BC was founded in 1896. The passion for the oars is still alive in the Kootenays to this day, and Roberta’s enthusiasm is evidence. She explains that the club is currently looking to train youth for the 2020 BC Games. “If they start now, they’ll have a great skill set to challenge when they try out for the Zone 1 rowing team,” she says.

When I ask Roberta what keeps her coming back to the sport year after year, what fuels her passion, she looks around contentedly: a glimmering lake, a cloudless sky, and stately pines. “It’s peaceful. Meditative, even.” She tells me about the young eagles that come to Jim Smith in the spring and the towering moose she encountered at the other end of the lake recently. As she speaks, a blue jay cries overhead and nestles itself into a nearby tree, rustling its verdant branches. The only other movement around us is the quiet rippling of a reflected morning sky and an oar dipped into the water.

For more information or to join our rowing community, please check out the Rockies Rowing Club Facebook page or visit rockiesrowingclub.ca.

FALL 2018 |

W: Britt Bates P: Bailey Repp Immediately upon meeting her, it’s obvious that Christie King is bright and friendly, and that her kindness is more than just a personality trait: it’s a way of seeing the world. These qualities radiate from her youthful, smiling face, and are confirmed as we chat casually on our stroll around the East Kootenay BC SPCA, where Christie is the manager. It’s a hot summer day, and electric fans are whirring in every corner to cool off the lounging, relaxed cats, but the hum of the fans is drowned out by classical music playing softly for the animals. I spy a particularly regal feline, perched high up on a shelf, gazing at me contentedly in the breeze of a fan. That blithe cat gives nothing away though. “Summer is a crazy time here,” Christie says, without even a single note of exasperation in her voice. She leads me into the room where the newest adoptees are brought for their initial check-up and vaccination. “New litters of kittens are coming in all the time.”

They don’t hire any extra staff for the busy season: the regular three employees work long and busy days, and are thankful for the help of volunteers. “Winter is when we have time to take on more special projects,” Christie explains. But in these sweltering months, the days are hectic and lively with all the logistics of keeping track of incoming animals and having them all vaccinated and spayed or neutered. I look around the warm room, and notice how, despite the few renovations happening, everything is perfectly organized. Charts and file folders are lined up neatly, and each animal has an informative little name tag attached to its individual kennel. It’s clear to me, even as a visitor, that Christie and her team have systems in place to make their branch of the SPCA run smoothly, efficiently, and in a way that prioritizes the care of their animals.

FALL 2018 |

They are particularly careful and concerned with animal health, which is why they only let kittens from the same litter out to roam at the same time. “Kittens are little disease mongrels,” Christie says jokingly with her easy laugh. Prioritizing health also explains why I’m unable to visit the dogs that day: a temporary quarantine is in place while a case of the common kennel cough is cured. The BC SPCA, the governing body that oversees all of the individual branches across the province, is entirely donor-funded, both at the provincial and local levels. Government funding exists only for capital projects, but not for operational costs, which makes individual donors the lifeblood of the organization. While monetary donations are always welcome and are indeed necessary for operations, there are other ways to help the staff at our home branch of the SPCA offer the highest quality of care possible. There is a so-called “wish list” of items that, if donated by the public, help the office run smoothly. The list includes things that per-

haps we wouldn’t initially think of: white printer paper, paper towels, ziplock bags, and pepperoni to give the dogs — all of which can be dropped off at the branch, just outside of Cranbrook. “This allows us to spend our funds on really important care, like vaccinations and vet trips,” Christie explains. Another valuable way to lend a hand to the East Kootenay branch of the SPCA is through volunteering. There is a need for extra hands, so it’s the perfect time to get involved if you feel called. Volunteers work in the Animal Wellness program, in which approximately half the time is spent cleaning and the other half spent hands-on with the animals. As we wander through the halls, stopping to visit a couple of very soft rabbits, Christie tells me about how bigger special projects sometimes rely on grants. For instance, a generous grant from the company PetSmart last year allowed them to spay and neuter 750 cats in Cranbrook for free. Additionally, once a year they offer a voucher program, where families can spay or neuter their pet for a much lower cost than usual.

“There really is a cat overpopulation problem in this area,” Christie says. “Much more than in other parts of the province.” It’s clear, though, that the SPCA is committed to reducing this issue as much as possible and to providing loving homes for as many cats as possible. The branch has, however, cut the number of cats it takes in at any given time by half. This is good news, though: in accordance with the BC SPCA’s Capacity for Care program, it ensures that the cats that do come in receive the best standard of care and are as comfortable as possible. “A lot of research went into this, and the data shows that cats need at least 11 square feet of individual space in their kennel to feel their best,” Christie says. “So we doubled the size of each kennel and halved the number of cats. The result is much happier animals. Before, the number of cats and the size of the kennels were pretty arbitrary, so it’s a relief to have it based on facts now.” Christie, who is obviously devoted to the care of these creatures, casually pets a particularly snuggly orange cat. “We are always looking for new ways to improve,” she says.

FALL 2018 |

Host your event with us! Weddings / Meetings / Dinners Galas / Parties / Fundraisers Family Reunions / Memorial Services Seminars / Award Ceremonies Masquerades / Conferences & Much More!

Contact for more information 250.489.3918 | info@cranbrookhistorycentre.com

c ranb ro o k h i s t o r y c e nt re . c o m | 5 7 Van H o r ne S t re e t S o ut h C ranb ro o k , B . C . V 1 C 1 Y 7

We make our way toward the so-called Kitten Room, and I have a hard time concealing my excitement. As we crack open the door, one palm-sized escape artist makes a run for it, eliciting a knowing laughter from the staff as they pick him up and put him back in the room with his sibling. They immediately begin to play-fight, chasing each other wildly and hiding behind corners before jumping out in an ambush attack. Watching this playful friskiness and the obvious bond between these two little creatures, I feel an easy joy, but I notice how its undertone is coloured with sadness. I ask Christie, who is perpetually smiling, what I’ve always wondered about the hugehearted, courageous individuals who work at shelters with underprivileged animals: “Isn’t it just, well, hard? How do you keep a positive attitude and a joyful outlook, day in and day out?” A flash of emotion quickly passes across her face, and Christie admits, “It is really hard. For sure.” I pick up one of the brown kittens, who is mewing from the cup of my hand while I pet his tiny, soft body. After a pause, Christie continues, “I just try to always come back to this fact: only eight percent of animals ever pass through a shelter. That means 92 percent of animals are out there, happy and well taken care of.” Her optimism feels genuine. “I rely on the numbers. I think the science of it helps calm me down. I just think of that 92 percent, running around happily and living their very best lives.”

For more information on how to donate, volunteer, or adopt a new family member, please check out the BC SPCA East Kootenay Branch Facebook page or visit spca.bc.ca.

FALL 2018 |

coming events FALL 2018

Aug. 25 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave., S. by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm

Oct 12 | Kootenay ICE vs. Regina | Western Financial Place | 7 pm

Aug 26 | The Book of Life — Movie in a Train Car | Cranbrook History Centre | 12:30 pm

Oct 12 | Rita Chiarelli | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm

Sept 9 | Kootenay Country Fair | Fort Steele Heritage Town | TBA

Oct 26 | Blindside – Stephanie Morin-Robert | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm

Sept. 11-15 | 55+ BC Games | Cranbrook/Kimberley | Various Venues & Times

Oct 27 Cranbrook Farmer’s Market (Indoors) | Ktunaxa Gym, 220 Cranbrook St. N. | 10 am – 1 pm

Sept 15 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Music by Brian Brons | 10th Ave., S. by Rotary Park | 10 am – 1 pm

Oct 27 | Spooktacular! | Fort Steele Heritage Town | TBA

Sept 28 | Kootenay ICE vs. Spokane | Western Financial Place | 7 pm

Nov 16 | Kootenay ICE vs. Calgary | Western Financial Place | 7 pm

Sept 29 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Music by Davis Yates & Kiana Tingley | 10th Ave., S. by Rotary Park | 10 am – 1 pm

Oct 4 | Jesse Cook — Beyond Borders Tour | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm

Nov 24 | Kootenay ICE vs. Prince Albert | Western Financial Place | 7 pm

Oct 5 | Kootenay ICE vs. Edmonton | Western Financial Place | 7 pm

Nov 25 | Special Winter Farmer’s Market | 1114 Baker St. | 11 am -3 pm

Oct 6 | Thanksgiving Outdoor Farmer’s Market | Music by Clayton & Joelle | 10th Ave., S. by Rotary Park | 10 am – 1 pm

Nov 27 | The Bara MacNeils — Celtic Christmas | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm

Janis Caldwell Mortgage Specialist Royal Bank of Canada janis.caldwell@rbc.com mortgage.rbc.com/janis.caldwell Serving East Kootenays of B.C. Tel.: 250-417-1336

Janis Caldwell Mortgage Specialist Royal Bank of Canada · ACCOUNTING

250.489.4136 info@hg-co.com _ www.hg-co.com

· AUDITING janis.caldwell@rbc.com mortgage.rbc.com/janis.caldwell · TAXATION · CONSULTING Serving East Kootenays of B.C.

Tel.: 250-417-1336 203-1113 BAKER STREET, CRANBROOK BC, V1C 1A7

50,000 eyes are nothing to sniff at. That’s a lot of people! It means that every year the combined populations of Kimberley and Cranbrook will see this magazine. Wouldn’t it be great if they were looking at your business, too? Our new directory format gives each ad enough space to stand out and ensures that your business has a consistent presence in each issue for the entire year. Our design team will help build it, and the price will probably surprise you. Send us an email or give us a call to find out more.

Janis Caldwell Mortgage Specialist Royal Bank of Canada janis.caldwell@rbc.com mortgage.rbc.com/janis.caldwell

Starting

$299,000

at Serving East Kootenays of B.C.

including net GST

Tel.: 250-417-1336

Quick Possession Available

Call Sherry: 250-426-9709

www.NewDawnDevelopments.com

Janis Caldwell Mortgage Specialist Royal Bank of Canada janis.caldwell@rbc.com mortgage.rbc.com/janis.caldwell Serving East Kootenays of B.C.

K O O T E N AY MEDIA Print is alive. Tel.: 250-417-1336

PUBLISHING

kootenaymedia.ca

Beautiful Flooring with Professional Experience

For your free quote, come to Cranbrook Flooring. Offering superior products, quality service, and professional installation. 1250.426.8471 | 121 Kootenay St N, Cranbrook, BC V1C 3T5

Cranbrook Flooring knows itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than just flooring. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your home.

Discover pure mountain living at Forest Crowne. Just minutes from championship golf, downhill skiing, trail riding, fishing and artisan shops, the natural surroundings offer something for everyone. But with over 300 days of sunshine a year, some of the best days will be spent without ever leaving your yard.

Custom home by Tyee Homes

Cottage by Tyee Homes

OVER 90% SOLD! Located off of Highway 95A, northwest of Marysville and the Kimberley Golf Club. Call 403-265-6180 for more information on pricing, lot choice and availability.

Phase 5

Phase 3

CUSTOM HOMESITES

COTTAGES

From

Starting from the low

$89,000 $100s

FORESTCROWNE.COM

$300s

FREEDOM + ADVENTURE

find us downtown Cranbrook

The Riderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice

SALES

| SERVICE | RENTALS

778.481.5455 BOOTLEGBIKECO.CA 1 9 7 H O WA R D S T. K I M B E R L E Y B C V I A 2 G 5

There’s no raisin not to. Get close to 30 bottles of wine for a fraction of what they cost at the liquor store. We can make any varietal or style you like, and we guarantee you’ll love it.* It’s as easy as coming to see us.

*Seriously! We really do guarantee every wine we make. You can exchange your batch for any reason.

Open: Tues to Fri, 9am-5 pm | Sat, 10am-3pm

www.thewine.works

Kimberley

395 St. Mary’s Avenue 250.427.5155

Cranbrook

109 3rd Street South 250.489.2739