GO Cranbook Issue #8

SPRING 2018 NO. 08

REVISING THE FACTS | A MUSICAL COMMUNITY | EAGER HILLS WHO RUNS THE WORLD | IT’S ALL FUN & GAMES | FILM AFICIONADOS

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contents 06 | Revising the Facts: How a Cranbrook ER Doc Is Changing the Words and World of Medicine 10 | A Musical Community 22 | Eager: Hills with a History 28 | Who Runs the World: GIRLS 34 | It’s All Fun & Games: KEYSA Proposes a New Indoor Sports Facility 36 | Film Aficionados: Rotary Rockies Film Festival

managing editor

contributors Britt Bates Danielle Eaton Monica Karaba Dan Mills Jeff Pew

CONTENTS PHOTO: DAN MILS

Grady Pasiechnyk

COVER PHOTO: DAN MILLS

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SPRING 2018

Karen Vold

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How a Cranbrook ER Doc Is Changing the Words and World of Medicine W: Jeff Pew Portrait: Jeff Pew Internet-in-a-Box Photo: Dr. James Heilman Wikipedia Foundation Board Wikimania 2015, Mexico City Photo: Denis Barthel

In July 2009, Dr. James Heilman found himself on the front page of the New York Times. It was an article describing the controversy he stirred up after posting ten Rorschach inkblot images in the world’s largest online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Psychologists claimed posting the Rorschach images jeopardized the validity of one of the world’s oldest psychological tests which examines personality and emotional functioning based on a client’s interpretation of the inkblots. “Over the next days, I received threats from psychologists and complaints about professional misconduct,” Heilman says. “It was pretty tense.”

in addition to a full-time job as a Cranbrook Emergency Room doctor, he volunteers 40-50 hours per week editing medical information found on Wikipedia. In the last ten years, he’s edited over 10,000 Wikipedia articles. So highly regarded, he’s earned the prestigious honour of being elected one of ten members of the Wikipedia Foundation Board of Trustees, Wikipedia’s ultimate corporate authority.

Eight years later, the Rorschach images still embedded in the Wikipedia article, Heilman defends his action and belief that accurate medical information should be free and easily accessible to the public. He’s so passionate about this position that

Ten years ago, while working night shift, “Doc James,” as he is known on the internet, was perusing a Wikipedia article on obesity. “I came across information that I knew wasn’t as good as it could or should be,” he says. “I found an ‘Edit’ button. I realized I could fix it and since then, I’ve been hooked.”

How did a humble small-town doctor become such a key player in the world’s fifth most visited website and the largest source of medical information?

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“I like to be a watchdog on how pharmaceuticals present information online.”

Heilman’s passion stems from his belief that everyone has the right to access high-quality healthcare information. “Wikipedia is that,” he says. “During the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak, Wikipedia received around 90 million page views on the topic. It was the most-used internet site in Liberia and Sierra Leone, more than CNN. Here I am, a small-town doc in the BC mountains involved in creating healthcare information that’s saving people’s lives.” As well, Heilman is well-aware of the influence pharmaceutical companies can exert on existing medical information. “I like to be a watchdog on how pharmaceuticals present information online,” he says. “It’s essential that doctors do that.”

In addition to editing Wikipedia’s medical articles, Heilman is involved in a variety of other digital health education initiatives: Internet-in-a-Box, is a minicomputer the size of a matchbox, which generates a wifi signal that up to 32 people can connect with and access Wikipedia’s entire medical information, without requiring the internet. The device, which can be purchased for $50, is becoming an inexpensive method to disseminate medical information to developing countries, especially during times of national crisis such as hurricanes and floods, when the internet is commonly unavailable.

As well, Heilman has been involved in establishing collaborations to improve Wikipedia’s medical content, with organizations such as Translators Without Borders, the National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization.

Heilman disputes the notion that there’s potential danger in the public having too much medical information.

“The medical profession is less paternalist than it was a generation ago. We encourage patients to access the same medical information we have so that they can make informed decisions. Wikipedia is one potential source of information. It’s a good starting point.”

When Heilman reflects on what his work with Wikipedia has given him, he bursts into a huge smile. “I’ve always been interested in academics,” Heilman says, “but I never wanted to live in the city. I believe our obligation as physicians is to become better doctors. With Wikipedia, I’ve become a better doctor.”

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“Music is the great uniter. An incredible force.

Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.”

- Sarah Dessen W: Monica Karaba P: Lorraine Hagel, Rodney Wilson & Prettylips Danceyhips Photography You don’t have to search hard in Cranbrook to find your choice of soothing melodies, uplifting beats, or transporting tunes to enjoy. From schools to local bars to all sizes of stages, chances are that on any given day of the week, if your heart is hankering

for music, you can find some being played close by somewhere. GO Cranbrook recently spent some time with a few of the passionate people working hard to ensure that we have a vibrant and varied musical landscape to experience in every season.

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Hometown Legends Made Here Lorraine Hagel has such a joyful and enthusiastic presence that it is easy to imagine her bringing that infectious energy to the Locals, a popular and long-running coffeehouse series heading into its 24th season. Locals was founded by a group of music-loving friends including Van Redecopp, Brian Brons, and their cherished former friend, Doug Erickson, who Lorraine says is still greatly missed after dying in an accident in the Sullivan Mine in 2006. The group produces a family-friendly annual series where local musicians get to experience a taste of the spotlight performing live at Studio Stage Door. “We like to include a variety of performers, especially singer/songwriters with original music, but we’ve also had poetry reading and even a flamenco dancer.”

Lorraine tells me.

In addition to offering a seasonal venue for music lovers to come together and enjoy a fun night created within the community, the Locals also operate as a non-profit, donating all proceeds from the concert series back to music programs throughout the school district. “We have such fantastic music teachers here, so being able to contribute to them and to the up-andcoming musicians they inspire is a huge part of our mission.” Lorraine says. Some performers that have gone on to wider recognition include singer/songwriter Dawson Rutledge, alternative folk band The Good Ol’ Goats, and former pop/rock band Lillix, once signed to Madonna’s Maverick label.

Lorraine began her role of coordinator extraordinaire after taking over for Beth Crawley during the 2012-13 season. “Do you play music, too?” I inquire. She laughs, “I get asked that a lot. No, I don’t play music, but I can make it happen. I am really organized.” Lorraine notes that the shows always have great attendance, and since she’s been tracking have been 98% sold out. “The tickets are just $10 so it’s an affordable night of great entertainment for the whole family, and it really brings our community together.”

During a Locals coffeehouse, each musician or group is given a fifteen-minute time slot to perform, which amounts to about three or four songs. There are usually six acts a show with an intermission for socializing and enjoying many of the homemade baked goods provided by committee members to help with the fundraising objective.

It is no wonder that the Locals Coffeehouse series has become such a rite of passage for so many local musicians. It provides a great opportunity for all genres of local musicians and artists, ages five to ninety-five, to experience performing on a big stage in front of a welcoming and receptive audience. Lorraine explains, “Our real focus is showcasing young people, so we make sure to give at least one young person a slot every show.” And then there are the inspirational performers at the other end of the age spectrum. At 97-years young, Bud Abbott is the Locals’ oldest performer and a crowd favourite. “We invite Bud every season!” Lorraine says.

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The Locals are always looking for new performers, and Lorraine would also like to have more teenagers volunteer because she believes it’s a great learning experience. “And for anyone who wants to practice their public speaking, we like to have a new emcee for every show. You could do it if you want.” she goads me. The Locals even have an official CD, which was produced in 2009 by John Siega and the Locals Committee. As I read over the names on the back of the case, Lorraine explains how they chose who to feature on the album: “We wrote down the names of all hundred-some performers from the very first show onwards and pulled out thirteen winning names.”

Lorraine’s eyes light up as she gives specific examples of how the Locals’ donations have contributed to sustaining a healthy and robust music program in our schools. “Let’s see. Parkland got new sheet music, and Laurie Middle School got music stands. We helped Mount Baker High School purchase microphones and

band equipment, and we even covered some of their travel expenses when they were invited to sing in Vienna a few years ago and at Harrogate International Youth Music Festival in the UK last year.”

Lorraine would not let our conversation end without mentioning some of the many bright lights who also contribute to making Locals the exciting and heartwarming music series that it has become: Mark Casey on sound, Jon Bisset and Doug Crawley on stage crew, Beth Crawley on lighting, Bill and Judy Cleland on advertising, Darcy Russell and Verna Oderkirk-Bungay on concessions, Shawna Plant on tickets/door, and Steve Lungal (aka Pot Luck) as the longest-running committee member. And if you have ever performed, attended, or donated your time or money, the Locals is grateful and considers you part of the extended family!

The next and last show of this season will be March 24th at Studio Stage Door. Tickets will be sold at Lotus Books.

If you have interest in performing or volunteering at a future show, please send an email to locals@shaw.ca or visit the “Locals” page on Facebook.

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We Will All Rock Together Jamie Neve knows what it’s like to live the dream. In the mid-60s, at the young age of 13, he got to tour Western Canada as lead singer and guitar player for a rock-and-roll band called The Fugitives. It was Beatle boots and state fairs, with an appearance on American television. By 1973, he was touring with Tennyson Finch and the band traveled in a 54-seat passenger school bus conversion that served as home base while they travelled from one city to the next from the West Coast to Ontario and back again. They played gigs in bars and cabarets, sometimes six nights a week. “Back then, you could make a reasonable living at it,” he tells me, shaking his head, shoulder-length white hair swaying gently as he reminisced. “I don’t think it would be so easy to do that today. We were pretty lucky to have that experience back then.”

Through the years, Jamie has played and performed consistently, most recently as part of local original roots rock band 60 Hertz, as a singer/ songwriter doing solo shows, and with new bandmates in the 1960s rock revival band, The Choice.

As we chat over coffee, we discuss the active music scene here that many people may not be aware exists. He tells me that there are at least three or four music studios that get a lot of use and plenty of support from local pubs and restaurants in the area. Jamie feels that the arts, in particular music,

is the heart of a thriving community and that is why he such is a champion and advocate for Cranbrook’s music and arts scene. “Part of the quality of life and cultural landscape of a community has to do with the arts. To be well-rounded, people need to have their lives enriched by many things in life. Besides good work and a great community to live in, people need music in some way.” he muses.

“Whether they know it or not, music is a central part of people’s lives.”

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Jamie shares examples of how much music matters to people here and how it can anchor a community.

He describes Mayook Mania, a music and merrymaking event where over 60+ performers come together every August to share music in the sunshine with friends and families spanning generations. “It’s cool to watch the kids grow up into this music milieu.” he says. “They used to be little ones running around in the grass while their parents were making music, and now it’s their turn. It’s great to see the music continue on like it has.” Mayook Mania was started by Doug Erickson more than 20 years ago with Van and Shelagh Redecopp keeping the spirit alive today now that Doug has gone.

Jamie has also been “instrumental” in helping to create and formalize Cranbrook’s Summer Sounds and Dancing in the Park series, a free weekly event held at Rotary Park Saturdays in July and August. Even more broadly, Jamie and some of his fellow music makers and arts lovers have chartered The Fisher Peak Performing Artists Society (FPPAS), now entering its fifth year, of which Jamie serves as president.

The mission of the Fisher Peak Performing Arts Society is to provide support for the performing arts in the Kootenays by raising funds to help musicians and performers of all types and genres. “We really want to help performers develop their talent as well as feel valued, so it’s about creating opportunities for them to gain experience and get paid for what they do.” he shares. He also emphasizes that FPPAS is culturally sensitive, gender neutral, diverse, and community minded. The Society sells memberships and currently has about 165 paid members. Jamie feels that the Society also benefits greatly from a truly supportive network of sponsors. “The City of Cranbrook, the Regional District of East Kootenay, and the Columbia Basin Trust have been real champions for us.”

In addition to producing other local and city events, FPPAS also collaborates with Key City Theatre on the popular Fisher Peak Winter Ale Concert Series now going into its third year. Jamie describes it as “a pub/ cabaret setting where we feature mostly regional performers but always open with a local musician.” Fisher Peak Brewing and The Heid Out are major sponsors of this unique series offering guests great beverages and refreshments while they enjoy the intimate setting of the Gallery Stage at Key City Theatre.

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While it may be called the “Winter Ale Concert Series,” the shows run throughout winter and spring with five shows that began in January. There are three spring shows coming up to add to your calendar:

March 28 The Lovebullies have been performing for more than ten years and are favorites at Calgary events. The local opener will be the trio, Wild Honey.

April 25 The Smith-Fraser Duo weaves musical magic somewhere between folk and jazz, keeping audiences guessing. The opener is singer/songwriter, Darin Welch.

May 15 The Sophistocrats have a sound that is at once warm, soulful, and spunky. The opener will be a new acoustic trio, Slow Joe Crow.

Whatever your tastes or interests, FPPAS is sure to have something on the roster to entice you out for a swaying, shimmying, or simply smiling good time. Show up for yourself but also for your community. As Jamie says, “The more people and kids can have access to and take part in live music and the arts, the more we are all enriched.”

Alongside Jamie Neve, the FPPAS has a dedicated board with Doug Mitchell as secretary, Verna Oderkirk-Bungay as treasurer, Dave Prinn on talent management, Randy Tapp as volunteer/membership coordinator, Howie Mason leading community affairs, and Bill Cleland managing sponsorships. The Fisher Peak Performing Artists Society is always looking for new volunteers, sponsors, or members and would love to grow support for this year’s Summer Sounds and Dancing in the Park series. Help spread the word and be sure to come out to Key City Theatre or Rotary Park to be entertained by the amazing local talent that calls this community home.

To get involved and learn more about FPPAS, please join the “Fisher Peak Performing Artists” group on Facebook or you can email Jamie at familyneve@gmail.com.

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If You Build It, They Will Come Friends were becoming a bit concerned when Bryan Halifax seemed to be missing in action for a long period of time. But Bryan had a vision and was committed to it. Finally, after working every spare hour he could delivering pizza for over a year, Bryan had saved up enough money to buy a professional sound system. The equipment was part of an even bigger

dream – helping to expand the electronic music scene in the East Kootenays. Last year, Bryan brought his dream to life when he and a couple of good friends, John Mitchell and Tyler Mudry, produced their first electronic music festival, Origins, and starting last fall, began hosting a regular electronic music night to showcase local talent at Shotgun Willy’s.

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Bryan discovered electronic music when he was in high school and it sparked his interest immediately. It was way outside the traditional rock and popular music genre he was used to hearing. He couldn’t believe the feeling it gave him and wondered why no one around him knew about it. He later attended a local electronic musical festival called Motion Notion, which he says changed the course of his life.

“It just opened my eyes to something new. The way electronic music could bring so many people together and create community. It was amazing. How it encourages freedom of expression, free thinking, and even other art like live painting and light projection. I hadn’t experienced anything like that before.”

After Bryan discovered this new scene, he changed his career focus, dropping out of an electrician apprenticeship to enroll in music production at Harbour Institute of Technology in Vancouver. There he took a nine-month Ableton Live course. When Bryan came back to Cranbrook, he also started a carpentry apprenticeship which gave him an unexpected skill set that now helps him incorporate other elements into his music vision: “I learned how to design stages and lightboxes, and now I am working on a big hexagon grid that I can use as a projection screen.” he tells me excitedly.

Within electronic music, there are many categories and subgenres with more being created every day. Some of these include dubstep, drum and bass, trip hop, trance, and more. Some intermix samples of other types of music like funk. Some have a more ethereal quality and take you on a journey. “There are so many variations. It can even involve live music playing on top of digital tracks.” Bryan explains.

People travel all over the world to get their fix of electronic music.

Locally, Nelson, Fernie, and Golden have active scenes, and Bryan is hoping to get Cranbrook/Kimberley on the map next.

Bryan says feedback for his shows at Shotgun Willy’s has been great so far, and he is excited for more people to discover and fall in love with electronic music the way he has. “Give it a chance,” he says.

“When I first got into it, I was super shy and would never start a conversation. But then I heard this music and found this scene where you can meet really cool people, get exposed to some mind-blowing beats, and experience new things you won’t find in a normal bar setting.”

To find out about upcoming events Bryan and friends are producing, please message Bryan Halifax or visit his “From the Earth” page on Facebook. Volunteers, DJs, visual artists, and electronic music lovers, Bryan would love to have you join the tribe.

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W: Dan Mills P: Dan Mills & Brian and Lloyd Burgess Collection Just north of Cranbrook there are a series of semi-open hills that the Geological Survey of Canada refers to as “rocky knobs.” We locals know them as Eager Hills, a name that might not rival their majestic mountain cousins across the trench – The Steeples – but one that sure beats being referred to as a knob.

I say cousins because our little Eager Hills and the Steeples are both made of the same stuff: bedrock. The entire trench between them consists of a thick layer of sediment deposited there during the last ice age. Picture it: while the Rockies thrust up through the vast sheet of glaciation towards the heavens, just to the west there was another geographic feature nosing up through the ice sheet, our very own little rocky knob, the one we now lovingly call Eager.

There was a time when those hills had another name altogether. In the mid-1930s, the BC Forest Service built a lookout on the top of the highest hill (3,405 feet), and the little cabin with the huge view, as well as the summit it was perched upon, were christened Mineral Monument 20 or M.M. 20. Eager was then the moniker for the railway siding station across the highway. Named for A.H. Eager, a railroader who worked in Cranbrook circa 1905 and who quickly rose through the ranks and gained enough admiration to have the station named in his honour. Today that rail line is the brand new Chief Isadore Trail and part of the Trans Canada Trail. The remains of the foundation of the old station are still visible just off the path.

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Once the lookout was built however, the hills were referred to as M.M. 20 at Eager and quickly gained some notoriety for their relatively easy access and amazing views.

The Cranbrook Courier newspaper even ran a piece in its July 22, 1937 edition with the headline: “M.M. 20 Lookout Gives Fine District View.” This was quickly followed up with a second article a month later: “Many Viewed Scenery from Forest Lookout.” It gave the total number of visitors as 256 over a fourmonth period “...and from such far-flung places as Honolulu, Hawaii; Edinburgh, Scotland; Oxford, England; Edmonton, Toronto, Winnipeg, Moose Jaw, La Grande, Ore., and Chicago.” It seems our little rocky knob was finally getting the respect it was due.

M.M. 20 may have been making the headlines for its recreational opportunities but it was also a fully functioning Forest Service lookout. Those same views that were oohed and aahed over by visitors, allowed lookout man, George Reece, a former fire

chief of Cranbrook, to spot over 25 fires in the summer of 1938. This number was down considerably from past seasons due to rainy weather. In 1935, the Cranbrook Courier reported that 33 fires were started on a single Friday night due to an electrical storm. It also mentioned a close call: “The lightning was most vivid, striking in several places. The new lookout station at Isadore canyon (M.M. 20), narrowly escaped damage when a bolt struck within a few feet of the structure.”

Signage currently located at the Eager Hill parking lot indicates that a tower was built in 1948. Whether this was a second structure or one that replaced the original M.M. 20, I have been unable to ascertain. (Maybe the lightning didn’t miss the second time?) What is clear, however, is that with the increasing use of aircraft to detect fires, lookouts had become redundant. So in 1965, it was deemed that M.M. 20 had outlived its usefulness and was decommissioned and destroyed.

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Now, no longer a working hill, Eager did what most retirees dream to do: she embraced her inner child and changed her focus back to recreation. With an ease of access to the kind of panoramic views that normally require a longer drive and a longer, more intense climb, Eager Hills’ popularity as a short hike with a big reward grew and grew. In the year 2000, a group of forward-thinking citizens created a society to manage a community forest on the north and east edges of Cranbrook. Eventually, Eager Hills became part of their mandate.

As part of the Cranbrook Community Forest, Eager Hills is now set aside for nonmotorized exploration. Trails have been established for hikers, dog walkers, naturalists, mountain bikers, and anyone else who enjoys wandering through this view-filled wonderland. Kiosks and trail signage enrich the experience, and maps of the complete trail system are available.

It may well be the views that initially entice folks to visit but the hills are treasures in their own right. Being a mix of dry, open grassland and Douglas fir/Ponderosa pine forest, the ecoregion of Eager would be one that is

more likely to be found in the arid Okanagan. This means that more often than not, it is the sun-washed slopes of Eager Hills that melt off first and then erupt into spring and summer glory.

Perhaps the most emblematic plant of Eager’s microclimate is the Arrowleaf Balsamroot flower. Sometimes referred to as the Okanagan Sunflower, it is tough, deep-rooted, robust, and gloriously golden. And there is no surer sign of the end of the long cold and the hope for impending warmth than finding the Eager hillsides awash with the bright yellow of Balsamroot blooms.

In my mind’s eye, I like to imagine myself standing on one of the Steeples’ craggy summits during the last ice age. Staring west across the vast glacial sea, taking in the frozen view, I can see the same little rocky knob I always see. As usual, bravely but barely nosing its way up out of the ice. But this time, something is different. This time that little rocky knob is glowing golden like it was awash in yellow flowers. And the breeze...the breeze seems warmer somehow.

I’d like to give special thanks to David Humphrey, Cranbrook History Centre volunteer, for his help with research; and to the Brian and Lloyd Burgess Collection for use of their photographs.

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W: Danielle Eaton P: Jensen Family

“If you could have one super power, what would it be?” I asked her.

“I would like to have the power to fill things up,” she replied with thoughtful modesty.

While her answer was intriguing, it was the explanation that followed that made me realize she was not the demure girl I thought she might be when she first walked into the room. Her last name preceded her, but my job that day was to make an unbiased decision based only on her interview with the panel.

Her confidence, intelligence, talents, and witty personality made that easy.

You might know her as the young Cranbrook girl who collected one million pennies in 2012, to provide clean water in developing countries. There is a good chance you know her as Cranbrook’s 2016 Sweetheart of Sam Steele. You might have even had the pleasure to know her as Catherine in Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge” last fall. Her name is Jelena Jensen; and while I have no doubt I will find myself writing a story about Jelena one day, this story isn’t about her.

If you have lived in Cranbrook long enough, there is a good chance you have heard of the Jensen family. Rick Jensen is a former Cranbrook mayor, a successful business man, and the Chair of the Columbia Basin Trust. His son Chad, who was born with his dad’s business acumen in his blood, has helped Rick build New Dawn Developments into what it is today and was named BC’s Residential Construction Person of the Year in 2011. I have always had a great appreciation for the Jensen men’s commitment to business and community in Cranbrook. Yet it’s been Leanne Jensen who has truly inspired me as both a mother and as a woman in business. And that is who this story is about.

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FEMININE INSPIRATION Leanne is the owner and president of New Dawn Restorations. She is one of the many women in business that have contributed to Canada’s rapid growth of female entrepreneurs. She is also one of the small percentage of Canadian women who have an ownership and managerial role in a maledominated industry. Additionally, Leanne is an advocate for women being able to fill roles with equal capability to men, which is demonstrated in the fact that two out of three of her project managers are women as well. She purchased the company in 2012 and hasn’t looked back since, growing the company year after year.

Describing Leanne as inspirational feels like an understatement.

Leanne’s impressive dedication to business is rivalled only by her dedication as a mother. Leanne has two daughters, Danica and Jelena, who she has raised on her own for thirteen of their 18 and 23 years. She admits that it hasn’t been easy to balance it all, but it has been incredibly rewarding. Not unlike most mothers in business, this dedicated mom and business owner confesses to not having the luxury of an extensive social life as a result of the work load. But considering that Leanne’s dedication to work and home has also resulted in her daughter Jelena calling Leanne her best friend, she recognizes the trade-off to be quite worth it. The fact that Danica and Jelena have both become impressive women themselves, is an ode to Leanne and her incredible ability to manage it all.

Leanne believes that there is strength to be found in women supporting one another and asking for help. While she is proud of raising her girls and building a career, she acknowledges that she had help from the women around her, which has included her sister-in-law, the women she works with, and her mother Marg, who has clearly been the cornerstone of support for each member of the Jensen family. She also admits that she has had a great deal of difficulty learning to ask for help, but has been thankful when she has received it (another lesson it appears she has learned from the women in her life - a lesson that could afford to be learned much earlier by most of us). A lesson that Leanne says has helped her to become the success that she is today.

What may have begun as a legacy of the Jensen men, has been graced with femininity thanks to Leanne. While Leanne concedes that there may be some people who continue to have a hard time accepting that a woman can have as much knowledge and experience about construction, renovation, and restoration as a man; she does acknowledge that perceptions of women in the industry have changed over recent years. She also attributes a great deal of her success to the unwavering support of men like her dad and brother. And thanks to women like Leanne, her story is a story that we are likely to hear more frequently as more women enter the work force, challenge themselves to balance family and career, and continue to support one another. Her story is one we will hear more of as more people continue to embrace women in the workplace and support them the way Rick and Chad have supported Leanne.

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WHAT’S YOUR SUPER POWER? “You see, if you have the power to fill things up, you can pretty much solve any problem. Empty tank of gas?

Fill it up. Empty bank account? Fill it up. Running out of energy? Fill it up. Is your heart feeling empty? Fill it up.

Fighting a villain? Repeatedly fill up his bladder!”

The irony of Leanne’s reply to my childlike question, is that it proves she is wise beyond her years. As women, mothers, and entrepreneurs; we find ourselves balancing work, relationships, children, chores, and more, on a daily basis. Those of us who learn to do it well are the ones who have learned to stop and “refill,” be it our body, our hearts, or our souls.

Some say that women are behind in the business world because we have been burdened with having to balance it all. Those of us doing it know that, yes, doing both is tough; but it is never a burden. Rather, we consider it an incredibly rewarding “best of both worlds” experience, which we wouldn’t trade for anything. Not only do we get to experience the satisfaction of both our own personal and professional accomplishments, we do it while molding the lives of our young children and closely experiencing their accomplishments as well.

Over the past 100 years, women have conquered the art of home, and now we are building careers at the same time. We have birthed babies, raised children, cooked dinners, maintained houses, cared for spouses, earned degrees, and now we are running businesses. I’d say that is rather impressive.

But then again, if you’re going to learn to run the world, isn’t it best you be well-rounded?

Leanne Jensen’s Top Three Tips for Women Trying to Do It All: 1. Get a house cleaner and appreciate them! You need one and they take so much pressure off your week.

2. You don’t have to do everything, and you definitely don’t have to do it perfectly. Learn to ask for help.

3. Accept that everyone is going through something that you don’t realize, and people aren’t thinking about you nearly as much as you think they are.

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W: Britt Bates P: Mike Robinson & Pexels The East Kootenays are a place of abundant opportunity for families who want to get their kids – at any age – involved in team sports. We all know the proven reasons why it’s such a good idea: chief among these are independence, self-confidence, and an ignited enthusiasm that lasts long into adulthood.

But those opportunities are about to expand even further with the proposed construction of a future indoor sports facility, making field sports possible all year round. This would free up valuable gymnasium time at schools, so that more teams in the community could efficiently get practise time.

Cranbrook could quickly become a city that is ideally hospitable to tournaments, potentially gathering happy visitors from all over Western Canada and beyond.

Not only memorably fun, sports tournaments have

been shown to deliver economic growth to the entire city they’re held in, bringing business to restaurants, storefronts, and hotels.

It doesn’t stop at team sports, though: the facility would also be ideal for concerts of any size, trade shows, and even booths at Sam Steele Days.

The masterminds behind the proposed facility are KEYSA, or the Kootenay East Youth Soccer Association, who would be the primary operators and managers of the facility, and who spearheaded the fundraising for the project. Mike Robinson, a KEYSA coach and board member who is a lead organizer in fundraising, tells me about the overwhelmingly positive response they are already getting from community members and the quick momentum that built up behind the project.

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“We only started fundraising in November,” Mike tells me.

“By mid-January, we were almost 80% of the way there, in terms of public donations.” Public donations are part of a multi-faceted fundraising process, which includes a generous donation from the Regional District of the East Kootenays. Furthermore, the city has offered its official approval for the project and will help find the ideal parcel of land to house it.

The money raised initially is just for the capital to build, of course, and continued funds will be required to get all aspects of the facility underway, but at the rate things are going, it doesn’t look like KEYSA will have much to worry about. A small and affordable user fee will ensure that the facility runs smoothly and to the highest possible standards.

And nothing short of sky high is where KEYSA has set the bar for this project: it’s bound to be an incredible addition to our community. It will boast everything from a fullyequipped clubhouse to state-of-the-art design and infrastructure.

But beyond the logistical benefits at local schools, the potential economic growth, and the delight of new buildings and business coming to town, Mike hits the nail on the head when I ask him what he thinks the facility’s greatest potential is. “It just promotes a healthy lifestyle in our community.”

He’s right, I think, as I look up at a blue Kootenay sky and hear neighborhood kids laughing and yelling as they play outside in the sun-filled alley. Health, wellness, and fun really are fundamental values in this special corner of the region – and the opportunities to access these are about to increase in a very exciting way.

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W: Britt Bates P: Google There’s nothing quite like a night out at the movies.

It’s one of those classic, simple pleasures, one that carries with it a note of old-timey charm. The small joy, perhaps, of getting just a touch more dressed up than usual and heading out on the town with a friend or two. Or, the big joy of sharing a moving and entertaining work of art with your peers. As though you’ve got a secret between you now, about this whole other universe you just caught a glimpse of, together.

Sometimes, though, we don’t necessarily want to indulge in a flashy blockbuster. Perhaps we’re craving something slightly more nuanced, something a little different, a film with heart and integrity that strives to retell an essential, age-old truth in a new way. Often these films are happening outside of the big-budget sparkle of Hollywood, created by talented independent filmmakers. Many of them are quietly garnering rave reviews from film critics worldwide.

But how to know where to start, we might wonder, with so many films out there that are fascinating works of art?

How to choose? Couldn’t someone just curate a selection of them to our taste for us to enjoy?

This is where the Rotary Club of Cranbrook Sunrise steps in. For over 20 years, the club has been hosting the Rotary Rockies Film Series: monthly screenings of a thoughtfully selected, often independent film that would otherwise be difficult, if not impossible, to find on the big screen in this area. At the end of the season, they throw the Rockies Film Festival, a three-day deep dive into excellent filmmaking and a fantastic celebration of the arts. This year the party begins on Thursday, March 1st.

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The Festival will kick off with a wine and cheese gala held in celebration of the patrons of the Festival and Rockies Film Series: a whole-hearted thank you to all the dedicated movie lovers in the East Kootenays. Afterward, there will be two screenings for the price of one. The first is a documentary called Us & Them, which follows four homeless people on the streets of Vancouver for ten years. The second film will be Strong the Wind Blows, about one heartbroken man’s attempt at a death-defying paragliding journey. After this brilliant opening night, three consecutive days of the Festival follow, each of them showcasing two incredible films that have been chosen for their ability to captivate, move, elevate, and excite audiences.

Added to the festivity is the deeply admirable element of fundraising, which offers generous and sustainable support for important community programs and initiatives: the entire Film Series and Film Festival are notfor-profit. Proceeds from the first evening of the Festival go to the Coldest Night of the Year campaign, which works hard to support the Cranbrook area’s homeless and at-risk populations.

The money raised from the rest of the festival and the ongoing monthly film series goes toward programs that empower and uplift our community’s youth. This includes the Sam Steele Youth Ambassador Program, scholarships, the Rotary Youth Exchange, and the Rotary Youth Leadership Training – all of which provide our young people with experiences, inspiration, and tools that enable them to mindfully create a future they can take pride in.

This year’s event is a first-ever partnership between the Cranbrook Sunrise Rotary Club and the Cranbrook Violin Club, a local organization that makes learning music accessible to all families with young children.

This year, the Club approached the Rotary Club in hopes of cost-sharing and working together. It should be the best year yet.

The films are selected by the Rotary Club Film Committee, who receive a wide selection of suggestions and trailers from the Toronto International Film Festival.

The committee looks closely at each, reading several reviews, and tries to curate based on what they think their unique audience will fall head over heels for. As Shelley Balfour, the Committee Chair tells me, they try to make sure there is something for everyone. “Sometimes the picks can get a bit edgy,” she says. “And the films are always great.”

Shelley plays an important role in organizing the Rotary Rockies Film Series and Festival, or as she puts it with a laugh, “I just keep the wheels turning.” It’s easy to understand Shelley’s obvious enthusiasm for the project as it provides such generous support for youth programs. “I’m a teacher,” Shelley explains, “so it’s my world. It means a lot to me. This is like my film family!”

If you haven’t been to the Rockies Film Festival in previous years, why not start this year? It’s an uplifting celebration that is bound to have you laughing at certain points, reaching for a tissue at others, or at the very least, experiencing something new and beautiful.

The Rotary Rockies Film Festival runs from March 1st through March 3rd, and tickets for films an be purchased online at www.keycitytheatre.com.

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coming events SPRING 2018 FEBRUARY Feb 21-24 | Plaza Suite: A Comedy in Three Acts – Cranbrook Community Theatre | Studio Stage Door | Various Feb 23 | Medicine Hat Tigers at Kootenay ICE | 7 pm Feb 24 | Coldest Night of the Year – Walking Fundraiser | Community Connections Society | 4 pm Feb 24 | Ballet Jorgen – Anastasia | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm Feb 28 | Us & Them plus Strong the Wind Blows – Rotary Rockies Film Festival | Key City Theatre | 7 pm Feb 28 | Moose Jaw Warriors at Kootenay ICE | 7 pm MARCH Mar 1-3 | Various Titles – Rotary Rockies Film Festival | Key City Theatre | 7 pm & 9 pm Mar 3 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Ktunaxa Gym | 10 am – 1 pm Mar 4 | Medicine Hat Tigers at Kootenay ICE | 4 pm Mar 8 | Symphonic Rock Evolution: The Light | Key City Theatre | 8 pm Mar 9 | Fred Penner | Key City Theatre | 2 pm Mar 9 | The Compassion Project Photo Exhibit – East Kootenay Addiction Services Society | Key City Theatre Foyer | 6-9 pm Mar 9 | Regina Pats at Kootenay ICE | 7 pm Mar 10 | The Joe Trio | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm Mar 13 | Brett Kissel | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm Mar 15 | Black Umfolosi | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm Mar 17 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Ktunaxa Gym | 10 am – 1 pm Mar 17 | Red Deer Rebels at Kootenay ICE | 7 pm Mar 24 | Locals Coffeehouse | Studio Stage Door | 7 pm Mar 28 | The Lovebullies with Wild Honey – Fisher Peak Winter Ale Series | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm Mar 31 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Ktunaxa Gym | 10 am – 1 pm APRIL Apr 1 | 28th Annual Easter Egg Hunt | Fort Steele Heritage Town | TBA Apr 7 | Classical Fantasy – Symphony of the Kootenays | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm Apr 13 | The Stampeders | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm Apr 14 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Ktunaxa Gym | 10 am – 1 pm Apr 20 | Harry Manx | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm Apr 21 | Robinson Crusoe + Friday | Key City Theatre | 2 pm Apr 25 | The Smith Fraser Duo with Darin Welch – Fisher Peak Winter Ale Series | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm Apr 27-28 | The Sunshine Boys – Cranbrook Community Theatre | Studio Stage Door | 7:30 pm Apr 28 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Ktunaxa Gym | 10 am – 1 pm Apr 28 | Wes Barker – Stunt Magician | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm MAY May 3-6, 9-12 | The Sunshine Boys – Cranbrook Community Theatre | Studio Stage Door | Various May 12 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Ktunaxa Gym | 10 am – 1 pm May 15 | The Sophistocrats with Slow Joe Crow – Fisher Peak Winter Ale Series | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm May 26 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Ktunaxa Gym | 10 am – 1 pm

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