GO Cranbook Issue #9

SUMMER 2018 NO. 09

BRINGING HOME THE GAMES | FILLING IN THE GAPS CELEBRATING CRANBROOK FARMER’S MARKET | RUNNING RIVERS CAILEY CHASE & VAHANA NATURE REHABILITATION

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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

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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.

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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

_ kootenaymedia.ca

contents 08 | Bringing Home The Games 12 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market: 10th Season — Grow with Us! 15 | Filling in the Gaps: East Kootenay Foundation for Health 18| Putt for the Fun of It: Mini Golf at Elizabeth Lake Lodge 21 | To Mark the Way 28 | Cailey Chase & Vahana Nature Rehabilitation 34 | Running Rivers

sales | distribution Grady Pasiechnyk

contributors Britt Bates Danielle Eaton Monica Karaba Marcia Maguire Dan Mills

CONTENTS PHOTO: DAN MILLS

Karen Vold

COVER PHOTO: DAN MILLS

managing editor

SUMMER 2018

40 | The Importance of Farm Kitchen

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W: Britt Bates P: BC 55+ Games

Community. Celebration. Pride. These are the principles that the BC 55+ Games was founded on and that continue to drive the popular event year after year.

The Games were established 31 years ago, in 1987, and were known as the BC Seniors’ Games for most of that time before being switched to a new moniker, the BC 55+ Games. The five-day event, which boasts no less than 23 sports, is held in a different city in British Columbia each year. For this year, Kimberley and Cranbrook put in a joint bid, so that the incredible infrastructure and facilities in both cities could be utilized. And, lucky for us, our communities were chosen: the games run from September 11th through the 15th this fall.

The original aim of the BC 55+ Games was to encourage the athletic and recreational development for those in and past middle age, and that goal is still fulfilled each year. But it’s also so much more than that: perhaps what is most important is the sense of comradery that is fuelled among the athletes — many of whom participate year after year, and who have become close friends with other participants from all over BC who are equally passionate about sports, or even just plain old fun.

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The Games draw a big crowd every year — usually around 2,800 people — and an event of this size requires a lot of manpower. A board of directors is at the helm, and an enormous number of volunteers takes on tasks in every aspect of the event. Alan Rice, one of the fourteen directors on the board, explains the setup to me. “Each board member has a directorate, such as sports, protocol, ceremonies, and more. Under each of those are chairs — the integral volunteers who take on really important jobs. There are around 70 chairs in total, and even more volunteers if you include everyone.”

This year’s board members were required to go to Vernon for last year’s event, Rice tells me, so that they could really get a feel for the Games. “It’s big. There are parts you don’t fully comprehend until you witness them,” he says with a chuckle. “Such as 1,500 people coming to register, all at the same time!”

Registration to participate in this year’s games is in June, and anyone is encouraged to join — locals included.

Thankfully, a lot of sports can take in unlimited athletes, such as ice hockey, curling, lawn bowling, five-pin bowling, badminton, tennis, pickleball, shuffleboard, and soccer.

As for volunteers, Rice tells me that they are greatly needed, right from now up until, and throughout, the Games.

Ideally, volunteers will have registered by August, but Rice emphasizes that they won’t turn anyone away. Registering to volunteer is easy and also incredibly helpful. Simply follow the link on the event’s homepage: www.55plusgames.ca.

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The Games are a great way to shine a light on the tight-knit, wonderful community we have created here and should be proud of.

While chatting with Alan and enjoying his infectious enthusiasm, it becomes clear what perfect cities Kimberley and Cranbrook are to host the Games. We have so many ideal venues that will all be used: College of the Rockies, Western Financial Place, Kimberley’s Conference Center, high schools, tennis courts, and a plethora of rinks. There will even be dragon-boat races at Wasa Lake and Equestrian events at Wycliffe.

“It really is a chance to showcase Kimberley and Cranbrook, and to share more about our communities,” Rice says. With so many visitors flocking to town, the diverse and exciting Games are a great way to shine a light on the tight-knit, wonderful community we have created here and should be proud of, and to share with others the beautiful wilderness that surrounds us.”

The economic impact can’t be overlooked, either, as Rice points out. Thousands of tourists visiting that week will mean an influx of traffic for local businesses of all kinds — from our hotels, to restaurants, to the many gorgeous, locally-run boutiques we’re so lucky to have.

There’s a lot to get excited about and many reasons to lend a hand or register for an event. Rice encourages those interested in volunteering or participating to check out the website for more information on how to sign up. But even if neither of those call you, it’s still a great idea to just come out to watch. To encourage and support others, to have fun, to celebrate the place we live. To feel that heightened energy, in our alreadybuzzing streets.

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W: Monica Karaba P: Livia Lara What is it about a day at the Cranbrook Farmer’s Market that makes it so satisfying? Besides the enjoyment of an outdoors saunter, there is a feeling of excitement in the air. A vibrant array of sights, sounds, and smells tickle the senses and tempt the taste buds. The season’s bounty at its peak ripeness beckons from colourful stalls, while dazzling displays of handcrafted wares showcase the diversity and creativity of our Kootenay culture.

There is also the joy of feeling part of the community, where an exchange of smiles might turn a stranger into a friend. And of course, the best part of all is being able to meet and purchase directly from our hard-working farmers, artisans, and food vendors. You can feel good engaging in commerce that supports our regional economy and promotes its sustainability.

It Makes Cents

The Cranbrook Farmer’s Market is a small but mighty non-profit serving a vital role in linking local producers and consumers. Started more than a decade ago as an initiative of the Cranbrook Food Action Committee, it continues to flourish today as more people become passionate about food security, healthy eating, and ensuring a connected and thriving community. The Market also adheres to the high standards set forth for members of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets. On average, there are between 42-50 vendors a week offering a wide range of locally-grown, baked, and crafted goods. And new for 2018, it’s going to feel like a festival as a variety of local musicians and performers will be sharing their talents in a dedicated entertainment area.

The Cranbrook Farmer’s Market has a positive ripple effect on the City’s entire economy. According to a market assessment conducted last year, the impact of the Market amounts to approximately $1.6 million annually with an estimated 2,200 customers visiting each market. What’s more, it was found that 78% of market visitors also spent money in the same day at other downtown businesses. Everyone benefits when we keep our money close to home!

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A Market for Everyone

In 2012, Cranbrook was accepted into a coupon program to benefit low-income families, single mothers, and seniors. In conjunction with the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets’ Nutrition Coupon Program Fund and local Community Connections, the Cranbrook Farmer’s Market began providing $15 vouchers to be exchanged for fresh produce and locally-made foods to qualifying applicants. Last year, this amounted to over 5,400 coupons worth $16,200 being distributed throughout the community. And just announced, the Province has added $750,000 to this program, meaning an extra $100 this summer for participating families.

Livia Lara, the energetic Market Manager is enthusiastic about the nutrition coupon program. Not only does it allow people with lower incomes to buy local, healthy food, it also strengthens the community by including more people. She says, “This program allows people who may have barriers to shop at the farmer’s market to participate and be part of the community.

It also provides them with a great opportunity to learn about new foods and create healthier habits.” Livia emphasizes that the farmers also benefit by being able to serve more customers.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

If you have always wanted to share your own goods or give market vending a go, Livia has some great encouragement for new vendors. “It’s a great way to test out new products and get immediate feedback. It’s like a low-risk business incubator!” she laughs. She also emphasizes that you have the option of applying for one market or a whole season, depending on how far you want to take it, so why not give it a go?

Why It’s Better at the

Farmer’s Market Good for Health & Heart

The farm-to-market produce reaches you in season at the height of its freshness! Feel good knowing that products are ethically sourced and animals receive humane treatment.

Community Spirit Catch up with old friends and make new ones.

Talk to the farmers, producers, and bakers to learn more about your food. You might even get some new recipes!

Support for Local Farmers Farmers get 100% of the retail price when you buy at the market, keeping them in business and preserving our land for generations to come.

Keeps the Earth Happy Did you know that the average North American meal travels 2,400 km and contains ingredients from 5 countries, while local BC produce travels an average of 300 km? Less use of fossil fuels and fresher foods is good for the whole ecosystem.

For more information about visiting, vending, or volunteering at the market, please visit cranbrookfarmersmarket.com or find “Cranbrook Farmer’s Market” on Facebook. To donate to the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program Fund and support qualifying Cranbrook residents to receive market vouchers, please go to bcfarmersmarket.org/donate.

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W: Monica Karaba P: EKFH & Stephanie Moore Photography Every day that she goes to work, Brenna Baker, Executive Director of the East Kootenay Foundation for Health (EKFH), sees firsthand how important her organization is. She sees the concerned expressions of the people walking past the doors of her office, which sits just inside the entrance of the East Kootenay Regional Hospital, directly past the hand sanitizer station but right before the information desk. She hears stories from both patients and providers about healthcare issues throughout our region. She’s also had medical crises within her own family and knows how frightening and frustrating those experiences can be, especially when certain lab tests or treatments aren’t available locally.

The EKFH, originally the Cranbrook Hospital Foundation, was created in 1983 to raise funds for Cranbrook Hospital’s much-needed healthcare equipment after healthcare governance shifted from local to regional.

The Foundation’s mandate expanded when the Hospital was designated as the regional centre for the East Kootenays. In 2003, the Foundation changed its name to the East Kootenay Foundation for Health or EKFH.

EKFH relies on donations and gifts to provide vital, leading-edge medical equipment, patient comforts, furnishings, and other essential items to the East Kootenay Regional Hospital and its many community healthcare facilities. Its charter encompasses the entire region — from Creston to Golden and Kimberley through the Elk Valley. Brenna and her team of two part-time employees manage over 30 funds supporting five hospitals, five extended care homes, and numerous community healthcare facilities. Brenna does the bulk of the donor relations, grant writing, and fund disbursements, while Erin Pighin and Beth Bennett are an important part of the team in charge of office and financial administration. There is also a volunteer board and a roster of other volunteers who assist with proofreading and other community initiatives.

I survey the mounds of paperwork in Brenna’s office as she tells me how much admiration she has for former Executive Director, Donna Grainger, who managed operations on her own. “I honestly don’t know how she was able to do that. She was amazing.”

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Every single need seems like a priority to me. The work we do changes and saves lives.

The EKFH receives requests for funding almost daily.

Brenna shows me her pages-long list containing hundreds of items in small print. This week, a request has come in for dietary training and another for more equipment for the ICU. Brenna says a major focus for this year is laboratory needs. In particular, she would like to facilitate the purchase of a MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer, a piece of equipment that can analyze bacteria samples in as little as 30 minutes. “Having that here would make a huge difference.” Brenna explains.

“Currently, we have to send lab samples to Vancouver or Kelowna, and it can take up to two weeks to get back the results, which can be detrimental to a patient’s care.” This piece of equipment doesn’t come cheap though at about $290,000. Brenna also tells me how she would like to equip the High Acuity Respiratory Team (HART) with a $60K transport ventilator and is currently partnering with a local credit union to raise those funds.

The annual Starlite Campaign held in November and December is EKFH’s largest and most visible campaign.

It enables the community to track the donations coming in through an installation of large and small stars gracing the top of the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.

Every $2,500 gets a small star lit, while each of the large

stars turns on with every $5,000 donated. “Last year there were a record number of new donors.” Brenna shares. “Our goal was $170,000 and we raised almost $250,000. Because of the generosity of this community, we were able to buy important equipment sooner than we had anticipated.”

One major recent acquisition was a brand-new MRI costing over $3 million. The Foundation raised $650,000 within five months to put towards the cost of this life-changing equipment that received a lot of press recently as it was lowered by crane into the newly-constructed MRI wing at EKRH, set to open at the end of May. Brenna says the role of EKFH is not just to ask for money but to educate the community on the state of facilities and what is needed. Brenna estimates from her list that the total need for our region is currently around $4.5M, while Interior Health’s budget is just $1M. I ask Brenna how she prioritizes such a worthy list. She admitted, “Sometimes it can be really hard. I attend the Interior Health capital assets meetings and hear all the discussions. I admire how everyone works together though to decide what would enable the best possible care.”

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Brenna has made a career out of caring. She spent two years with Fort Steele Heritage Town and then four years managing the BC SPCA in Cranbrook before coming to EKFH where she has now been for one year. Of her experience so far, Brenna says, “I knew this would be a great job, and I never knew that I would become so passionate about healthcare. Every single need seems like a priority to me. The work we do changes and saves lives.”

The EKFH will host two major fundraisers this year. The first will be the annual golf tournament held in August, where EKFH hopes to raise between $20-30,000 with the help of major sponsors, Boston Pizza and Northstar Motors. Additionally, the annual Starlite Campaign will kick off on November 3rd at St. Eugene Resort with a Great Gatsby-style ball featuring a ten-piece band and an auction that Brenna hopes will raise at least $60,000 for Starlite.

In the meantime, Brenna welcomes any and all donations and emphasizes that donors have the option to request a specific facility or medical area they would like to assist. She also urges everyone to shop at and donate items to the local thrift stores operated by the various healthcare auxiliaries. In fact, the Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary and Invermere Health Care Auxiliary are two of EKFH’s largest supporters, with both organizations each raising over $100,000 last year. I am stunned because I have been to Kimberley’s tiny thrift store and saw their prices. It would have taken a whole lot of sales, perhaps hundreds, to add up to such an impressive sum. Brenna also mentions that there are numerous other groups throughout our region who also deserve gratitude for all they contribute to enhancing East Kootenay healthcare — the Rotary Clubs, Lions Club, the Legion, Gleaners, and Shriners — to name a few. It takes a village to keep the village healthy!

For more information on donating, volunteering, and other news from EKFH, please visit the “East Kootenay Foundation for Health” page on Facebook or go to ekfh.ca.

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W: Monica Karaba P: Elizabeth Lake Lodge Did you know there’s an oasis of a mini golf course tucked into one end of Cranbrook’s main thoroughfare on Van Horne Street? Featuring a bit of Kootenay history, a ten-foot water wheel, and some beautiful greenery, Elizabeth Lake Lodge’s 18-hole mini golf course has become a favourite hot spot for locals and visitors alike.

Fun for the whole family, it’s also great for date night or for anyone looking to socialize outdoors over a round or two of putt putt.

This conveniently-located and affordable course has been in operation for almost thirty years and is considered to be one of the “most challenging” in Western Canada. I asked George Freitag, who owns and runs the Lodge with his wife Rachel, to elaborate on this point in the brochure, “Well, for example, our waterwheel hole is a par 5 but takes an average of 23 strokes to finish!” he tells me. The entire course is a par 70.

Known for their impeccable and friendly customer service, George and Rachel have gone to great lengths to invest in and upgrade their course. George says they aim to keep the course interesting as well as “crisp, clean, and sharp.” It is obvious that this high standard of quality extends to the entire grounds and beautifullyfinished accommodations as well as to the details of the golf course.

The visionary behind the golf course was former Ponderosa Motel proprietor Wayne Wills who sparked a lot of curiosity back in the 80s as he poured over $80,000 into developing the course. A lot of creativity went into the creation of wooden structures and water features.

When George and Rachel took over the Lodge in 2004, they set about rehabilitating the course which had become run down during the previous decade. They also transitioned the theme from Western to “History of the Kootenays.”

I got to take a tour but sadly did not get to play through as winter was still dealing its cold, snowy hand the day I visited in early April. I did get a sneak peek at renovations for the mine shaft hole though and also had a chance to admire the working sun dial (albeit without actual sun to put it to the test), jail house, and whimsical “His” and “Hers” outhouses that made up part of the course.

George shared with me another interesting factoid: the course holds the distinction for “Longest Mural in BC,” with a 300-foot winding mural created by local artist, Cristine/CD Mac, who has painted six other eye-catching murals covering the grounds, some of which are noticeable from the nearby highway.

Besides the general fun of the course, the course also boasts misters to help beat the heat and lots of enjoyable shade to relax under thanks to the well-placed and tended Manchurian Ash and Schubert Chokecherry-Bailey trees with their beautiful lush leaves.

Another enticement for the summer is the Lodge’s famed shaved ice, which, if you’re really lucky, is sometimes prepared by smiling resident and shaved ice mixologist Lochlann (also son of Rachel and George). Or you can indulge in some mouth-watering Foothills Creamery ice cream...or both.

The course is now open, and there’s no need to make a reservation — simply show up. However, make sure you leave plenty of time for all those swings you may need to actually complete the course!

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W &P: Dan Mills In my ambitious youth, I would often scramble up some nameless, craggy slope, certain that no other human had ever had the courage, skill, or audacity to attempt such a feat. Then, upon attaining the summit, I would find there a pile of balanced stones, neatly placed by the hands of the many other skilled, audacious souls, who it seemed, had courageously preceded me.

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These constructs of rock balanced one atop the other are known as cairns. They are used by climbers, scramblers, and hikers to mark the way, or in the case of mountain tops, to proudly indicate that this particular summit has indeed been visited before. Self-importance, methinks, looks a lot like a teetering pile of stones.

Although many of us go to the mountains with the heart of a trail blazer, it is impossible to ignore the evidence left by those who went before. The very trails we travel are confirmation enough that many booted feet have indeed trod that same ground. Wilderness wanderers who no doubt, sweated up the same steeps and gasped in awe at the same panoramic views. Grandeur reborn with each set of new eyes laid upon it.

There is a photo, taken around about 1935, of just such a view, and though it is in black and white, it still is able to offer up the splendor of that moun-

tain vista. There are three young men in the foreground, sitting on an open ridge, staring out at a mountain lake far below. The boys have their backs to the camera so it is impossible to recognize them. The mountain-ringed lake, however, is unmistakable. It is a view I stumbled upon while exploring in the Tanglefoot drainage years ago. A secret place that only I know about. Well, me and three sepia-toned boys I suppose.

Through a series of serendipitous circumstances, I did eventually come to know those boys who had preceded me to that windy pass. They and their comrades were members of a scout group in the 1930s called the Cranbrook 3rd Rovers. Good, keen Kootenay boys with a passionate interest in the outdoors and the foresight to document their many adventures in photographs and detailed journals. Many of these treasures I’ve been lucky and privileged enough to have shared with me.

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I found the Rover boys’ story fascinating; their desire to explore the local mountains, the pride they took in being outdoorsmen, even their rough-and-tumble sense of humour, all seemed to parallel that of my own youth.

However, it was in the places they went that I found a truly profound bond — Maus Creek, Tanglefoot, Cliff Lake, Dibble Glacier, Top of the World Park, Lumberton, Moyie Falls, and Eager Hills. These were all “my” favourite haunts. As it turns out, they were the Rovers’ favourites, too, however, they were playing there forty years before I had ever even discovered them.

fireplace, a winding footbridge, and a front veranda, it was here that the boys met up to share time and plan their next adventure.

Perhaps my closest tie, and undoubtedly the major contributor to my knowledge of this group of young men, is my father-in-law, Frank Magro. His uncle and namesake, Frank Morro was a founding member of the Cranbrook 3rd Rovers. It was Morro’s photos and scrapbooks (now in my father-in-law’s possession) that first whetted my appetite for all things Rovers. Amongst the entries in those journals was an often-mentioned cabin the boys called the “Rovers Shack,” a log structure they built with their own hands. Complete with a stone

Perhaps the most treasured of the information offered up by these rodent-nibbled pages, was not the what, when, where, and why but, the who. After reading it front to back several times, I felt I knew these Rovers boys. I recognized them as easily by their nicknames as their given names. Lloyd, Ted, Jim, Len, and Frank had become Butch, Rasp, Moose, Dingpuss, and Tack. A superficial familiarity to be sure, but one that was to be strengthened greatly in 2003, when Tack stepped out of the pages of that log book and into my life.

Luckily for us, this enterprising scout group kept a log book and recorded the comings and goings at “the Shack.” It paints an amazingly insightful picture of what life was like for them. Their plans, their tomfoolery, their insatiable appetites, their camaraderie, it’s all there, written in the sloping script of the logbook entries.

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TACK WOOD, TED SMITH, LLOYD BURGESS, ED WOOD, ED WALCH, JERRY WALCH, FRANK MORRO

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Again, my father-in-law Frank was the catalyst that made this Rover magic happen. His chance meeting in a doctor’s office with an older but still grinning Tack Wood, led to an invitation to visit. It was an opportunity for which I will be forever grateful.

It was an evening full of old movies, photographs, and amazing stories. We hung on Tack’s every word, especially when those words were regarding the Rovers. At one point, after discussing how the boys’ bikes were often their only mode of transportation, Tack said, “I’ve still got mine, ya know.” Whereupon he took us out to his garage and proudly showed us his C.C.M. Redbird hanging in the rafters. The Rovers knew a thing or two about the value of preserving important historical treasures.

There can be no better example of this than the Rover Shack logbook. In one of the very last entries, dated April 26th 1941, Frank Morro wrote, “Came up to the shack to give L. Burgess a send-off party. Had small feed. Argued about war as usual...

Question was brought up about where each Rover would be one year from today...if anywhere. Left Shack at 12:45 — still arguing war.”

Many of the good, keen, Kootenay Rover boys enlisted and fought in World War II. Many of them never came home.

Mounts Flett, Morro, Haley, and Dingley are named for these sacrificed Kootenay boys. I have stood, with deference and respect, on the summits of all four of these peaks.

There is a glade just south of Cranbrook where the Rovers Shack once stood. Overgrown by trees and time, the only indication that it had ever been there at all is the tumbled-down remains of its fireplace, a construct of neatly-placed stones laid by the skilled hands of those who audaciously and courageously preceded us.

This crumbling signpost, however, was not built so that others might easily follow. On the contrary, it now stands as a reminder of those who took this path to war in the hope that it might never need be taken again. A naive and idealistic hope perhaps, but one enduring enough, to be written in stone.

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W: Marcia Maguire P: Kata Schaeffer People usually spend summers boating, fishing, swimming and biking, but Cailey Chase spends her summers transporting her small herd of 120 goats from weed site to weed site in her truck and trailer. She has invested her time and money in maintaining her family of goats who munch on noxious weeds.

Cailey was born in Bassano, Alberta and raised on a farm in Cluny where she learned to herd cattle on horseback. She helped with farm chores tending to the cows and chickens, dogs, and horses.

Her present occupation of nurturing her small herd of goats and transporting them to invasive plant sites satisfies her passion for animal husbandry.

Cailey had initially been taught weed control with pesticides and had received a certificate for the application of pesticides in a course taught by Elaine Armagost. She had sprayed for five years and learned a great deal from a strong influence in her life, Lee Holm. He passed on his passion and skills of finding and controlling the noxious weeds in some of the most precious natural areas in the East Kootenay. While working for Lee, she heard about the idea of target goat grazing from Elaine.

It was while Cailey was helping spray chemical pesticides in mining sites that she met two people that changed her idea about weed control.

Conrad and Donna Lindblom had been target grazing for over twenty years. They were dedicating their lives to demonstrating the effectiveness of target goat grazing as another tool for invasive plant control.

In the summers of 2015 and 2016 Cailey worked in partnership with the ?aq’am Community (formerly the St. Mary’s Indian Band) and Conrad and Donna Lindblom. It was due to Cailey’s influence that the ?aq’am Goat Grazing Project became a reality as she initiated and wrote the grant application to the Columbia Basin Trust for the funding.

It was here that she became acquainted with Donna and Conrad who had brought their herd of 350 goats to target graze the Sulphur Cinquefoil. The Lindbloms were able to travel from their home in Beaver Lodge near Grande Prairie, Alberta to spend the month on the project that will now be in its fourth year this summer.

Mentored by the couple, Cailey learned how to run a good goat camp where you care for the animals, keep a clean camp, and provide good food and good horses for your employees. They worked every day on horseback on the Long Prairie on the LD Ranch Road where the land had been overgrazed and the Sulphur Cinquefoil weed was taking over large tracks of land.

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The goats speed up the natural rehabilitation process.

While living at the goat camp on the LD Ranch Road, Cailey learned about Bitterroot and how the local natives esteemed and valued it highly.

This plant is being threatened by the widespread overgrowth of the Sulphur Cinquefoil.

In keeping with her education by the ?aq’am, Cailey quotes from Brooke Medicine Eagle, “There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of the planet.”

“My dream is to build an environmental business where people can earn money and heal themselves and the environment as they do their work.

For that reason, I call my business Vahana Nature Rehabilitation.” she says.

Cailey gets excited when she talks about weed control. “Noxious weeds create monocultures which are not healthy, but I’ve learned how weeds serve a purpose in the natural rehabilitation of disturbed and damaged topsoils. They create a protective layer, bring nutrients and minerals to the surface, and their roots open the soil increasing water flow, but we’re disturbing so much of

the surface of the earth that the weeds are taking over, which will make for a really rough environment to live in. The goats speed up the natural rehabilitation process.”

“What’s really exciting is that target grazing is a step into the future as we have become too dependent on herbicides and target grazing provides another tool, not to mention goats originated from Eurasia as do most of the noxious weeds that are here in BC. It’s a great match; there are so many positives to the goats.” she explains.

Like people, each goat has a special personality and Cailey has stories to tell: “Joey was a little three-month-old goat the summer of 2017. We were camped out beside the St. Mary’s Waste Water Treatment Plant when Joey bounced along beside the biosolids pond. Boing, boing, boing went the little legs when Joey mistook the slop in the pond for solid concrete and plopped headlong into the muck. We fished him out by the horns, but he was black from the neck down and we had to hose him down. Joey did not appreciate being hosed down and our crew ended up with as much muck on us as Joey did.”

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We have tripled the herd as my does have almost finished kidding.

Cailey’s stories continue as she describes another character in her herd named Bedelia. Cailey calls her “Bad Ass Blueweed Bedelia because she is so good at eating Blueweed. She’s also a peace maker. An older doe was sparring with a youngster. They were butting heads to get to know each other. They were from different herds and they were also fighting to establish a pecking order.

Bedelia just walked between the fighters as the older doe was losing by a little bit. The two goats turned away from each other giving up the fight and trotting off to eat by Bedelia’s side.”

Cailey adds proudly that Bedelia recently gave birth to triplets. All of Cailey’s healthy does reproduced abundantly this year, “We have tripled the herd as my does have almost finished kidding.

We now have over seventy new little goats!”

Cailey wintered her goats on Pighin Road at the ranch of Dawnna and Al Coyle where she lives in her camper inside their garage, close to the goats so she could easily check on them as they were kidding during the cold weather in February and March.

Dawnna and Al and friend Denise Daigle saw the innate value in supporting this environmental business adventure and have been dedicated caretakers, mentors, and sponsors of the Vahana Herd from the beginning.

In the warmer months, Cailey’s one-tonne 4x4 Ford truck with its sixteen-foot trailer transports her from one location to another. With the additions to the herd, she’s planning on renting a bigger stock trailer as she is of course accompanied by the herd of goats as well as an assortment of good friends — Kevin Peel and the Peel Girls, Denise Daigle, the Coyles, Cathy Conroy, and her Mom and Dad. These people are her constant supporters in her dream vision as she works steadily towards her goal of increasing public awareness about the dangers of the spread of noxious weeds and the loss of our natural native flora and the great need for the natural control of the invasive species of plants.

To learn more, please visit Cailey’s “Vahana Goats” page on Facebook or go to vahana.ca.

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W: Britt Bates P: Seekers Media “It was the only way for me to achieve a quiet mind.

That’s ultimately what drew me back to the river time and time again.”

Lija, a local entrepreneur and mom of one, is rhapsodizing to me about the years she spent whitewater kayaking on the remote rapids of the East Kootenays.

I have a hunch her sentiment is shared by many; that those who are drawn to kayaking are so, at least in part, because of the high level of concentration that’s required. The state of mind that eliminates all distraction and hones in on what’s important: just the body, the breath, and the water.

Not too long ago, whitewater kayaking wasn’t a very popular sport around here — just the odd few people navigating the Kootenay canyons. These days, a whole community has grown around the undertaking, and it’s one that’s built on support, education, and friendship.

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Just Liquid Sports in Cranbrook is foundational in this community, and is a valuable resource for both seasoned watersports enthusiasts and those just dipping their toe (or paddle) in the water. Their storefront offers more than just retail and rentals: the friendly staff are always enthusiastic to chat to anyone who walks through the door, and they love sharing tips, tricks, and favourite local spots. They also put on a wide array of instructional courses, such as recreational kayaking and whitewater kayaking, including a “ladies only” option, and even a first aid course.

“We also put on community paddle nights,” Rob Porter, the owner of Just Liquid, tells me. “They’re great for any skill level.” The group meets every Tuesday and Thursday from spring through autumn, leaving at 6:00 pm from the Just Liquid storefront. “Tuesday nights we run the St. Mary river, and Thursday nights, the Bull,” Rob tells me. While the meet-ups aren’t geared to first-time kayakers, beginners are more than welcome.

If you’ve never whitewater kayaked before but feel intrigued, and maybe nervously excited, when imagining yourself on the rapids, Just Liquid’s Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking course is an excellent place to start. You’ll spend half a day on the river with seasoned professionals and certified instructors, learning the basics of the sport: hazard recognition and how to stay safe, important communication cues, and techniques and skills that will help you feel confident on the water.

SUMMER 2018 |

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That secure feeling of confidence isn’t always the most readily available feeling in unforgiving canyons and on wild rapids, Lija reminds me. But being able to find it even in the tangles of fear is what kept her enchanted with the sport. “Whitewater kayaking taught me how to harness fear, and annihilate it,” she says excitedly. “I began to observe how the mind could be led through so many different states.”

Whether her teammate on the water described upcoming rapids with fear and apprehension, or with a calm, laid-back attitude — ‘it’s just rocks and water, baby’ – would hugely impact how Lija felt and performed. After experiencing this over and over again, she began to realize how whitewater kayaking is just as much a mental sport as it is a physical one. “Eventually, I was able to feel that immense fear, but then channel it into an ultimate trust in myself,” she says, that sense of calm radiating from her even now.

Whether it’s learning how to find that zen-like state, hone your physical capabilities, or explore untouched wilderness and see it from a new perspective, the East Kootenays are the perfect place

to do it. There’s no shortage of pristine bodies of water: glassy lakes reflecting the ravens or odd eagle above; winding rivers that crumple into rock-riddled rapids, throwing water high in the air; and tall, imperial canyons that remind us of how small we really are. “This area has some of the best and most renowned whitewater kayaking in all of Western Canada,” Rob tells me. It’s easy to believe.

Feeling a little hesitant, or even downright afraid, about stepping off of dry land and into a small boat, to throw yourself into the rapids? Don’t worry. Lija can relate. But she is adamant: “After a while, whitewater kayaking left no room for doubt in my mind.

It made room for a feeling of bliss.”

Bliss? I find myself intrigued. “I was addicted to kayaking in the Kootenays,” Lija says. “And now, because of that, I’m devoted to living a life without fear — both on and off the river.”

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W: Danielle Eaton P: Pexels There are few things on this Earth that have universal importance to us all. Something that has the ability to transcend age, gender, race, religion, and geography. Something that has the ability to both bring us together and tear us apart. Something so powerful, that if it failed to exist, so would we.

Food plays a central theme in our daily lives. From breakfast in the morning until dinner in the evening, our body requires it to function. We use it to both celebrate and to mourn. We grow it. We buy it. We love it. We recognize that our entire physical and emotional wellbeing is dependent on our ability to access it. So, what happens when healthy food access becomes a challenge in our own community?

Enter Farm Kitchen. A social enterprise that is supporting local food entrepreneurs and raising awareness of food access. The new business is owned by Community Connections and managed by Sophie Larsen, a self-proclaimed foodie, who holds a Masters in Microbiology and Agriculture, as well as an enthusiastic passion for the culinary arts.

Sophie frames Farm Kitchen as a food access incubator that allows culinary entrepreneurs the opportunity to start food businesses without the initial overhead. Farm Kitchen provides food entrepreneurs with an approved cooking space, as well as rentable fridge and freezer space — each of which would come at a significant cost if food entrepreneurs were to make the investment themselves. There is even a refrigerated truck that allows for approved distribution of perishable food products. The Farm Kitchen space

also includes a dining room that allows for chefs to put on workshops and full-service dinners.

While fridge, freezer, and kitchen rentals are already popular; Sophie sees a much greater farm-to-retail future for Farm Kitchen. Farm Kitchen has created relationships with the College of the Rockies, Futurepreneur, the Cranbrook Farmer’s Market, the Basin Business Advisors, and more. With these relationships developed, Sophie is able to direct food entrepreneurs to the resources they need to succeed.

Sophie has hopes of continuing to build more strong relationships, with the goal of creating a full-service incubator for local aspiring culinary entrepreneurs; starting from the beginning stages of business planning, right to the final stages of retail sales.

The current incubator model has already proven to be a success serving multiple food entrepreneurs. But the potential impact of Farm Kitchen goes beyond a simple food business incubator. The business is one of two culinary social enterprises that Community Connections has created to sustain its future and become self-reliant. Community Connections has also started Food Truck, a social enterprise food truck that can be found around Cranbrook during the food truck season. Community Connections hopes, that as these businesses become profitable, revenues can be put back into the organization as a way to sustain it and reduce reliance on grant funding, with the ultimate goal of addressing food access issues in our area.

For more information on Farm Kitchen, find their page on Facebook or visit www.farmkitchenconnect.ca

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coming events SUMMER 2018

May 24 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market Annual General Meeting | 19B 19th Ave. S. | 7 pm May 25 | “Shake, Rattle, & Roll” – Kootenay Dance Academy | Key City Theatre | 7 pm May 26 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Ktunaxa Gym | 220 Cranbrook St. N. | 10 am – 1 pm May 26 | “Shake, Rattle, & Roll” – Kootenay Dance Academy | Key City Theatre | 7 pm June 2 | Carson Cartier – Artist Reception | Key City Theatre | 7 pm June 3 | The Legend of George Jones Tribute w/ Duane Steele | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm June 4 | Recycled Orchestra of Cateura presented by Cranbrook Violin Club | Key City Theatre | 7 pm June 7 | Music of Mozart & Dvorak – La Cafamore’s 10th Anniversary Tour | Knox Presbyterian Church | 7:30 pm June 9-10 | Gerrick Sports Wasa Lake Triathlon | Wasa Lake Park | June 9 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | Ktunaxa Gym | 220 Cranbrook St. N. | 10 am – 1 pm June 10 & June 12-13 | Auditions for Cranbrook Community Theatre | Stage Door Theatre | TBA June 14-17 | Sam Steele Days - Cranbrook City’s Community Festival | Citywide Activities & Events June 15 | Sweetheart Society Youth Ambassador Pageant | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm June 16 | Shaun Majumder Live Comedy Show – Kootenay Concert Connection | Key City Theatre | 7:30 pm June 17 | Father’s Day Celebration | Fort Steele Heritage Town | TBA June 21 | Ktunaxa Nation 18th Annual Charity Golf Tournament | St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino | 8:30 am June 22 | The Comic Strippers | Key City Theatre | 8 pm June 23 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market Outdoors Kick-off | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm June 24 | Round the Mountain Festival (Run, Bike, Trek, Kids) | Kimberley Nordic Centre | 6 am – 4 pm June 29 | Rock the Fort! 2nd Annual Outdoor Concert w/ Jake Matthews, Tristan Horncastle, & Fireworks | Fort Steele Heritage Town | 5 pm – 11 pm June 30 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm July 7 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm July 14 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm July 20-22 | JulyFest | Coronation Park | Kimberley | Various Locations & Events July 21 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm July 27-29 | Motor Mountain Nationals Car Show | Kimberley | Various July 28 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm Aug. 4 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm Aug. 11 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm Aug. 17 | 5th Annual Cranbrook Multicultural Festival | Art Workshop (registration required) | 200 14th Ave. N., Cranbrook | 6 – 8 pm Aug. 18 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm Aug. 18 | 5th Annual Cranbrook Multicultural Festival | Cranbrook Rotary Park | 10 am – 3 pm Aug. 25 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm Sept. 1 | Cranbrook Farmer’s Market | 10th Ave. S., by Rotary Park | 9 am – 1 pm Sept. 11-15 | 55+ BC Games | Cranbrook/Kimberley | Various

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

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