GO Kimberley Magazine Issue 44

FALL 18 NO. 44

HUMBLE HEROES | WHAT RETURNS TO US WHEN WE LET IT GO | THE BANKS OF YORE SLEEP, WHO NEEDS IT? | CLEAR SKY RETREAT CENTRE | A GOOD PLACE TO BEE

FREE

NEW DENTAL CLINIC ON WALLINGER NOW OPEN Kimberley Family Dental is proud to announce the grand opening of our new and modern dental clinic. This allows for greater doctor availability, more appointment times, and a more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for you!

We look forward to providing the best possible dental care for the wonderful people of Kimberley.

We love this town and can’t wait to enjoy the new clinic with each of you.

We’ll keep your whole family smiling!

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Dr. D. Eric Nelson | Dr. Laura Caylor | Dr. Jordan Enns | Dr. Dave Remington

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90 WALLINGER AVE · (250) 427-5366

It is easy to enjoy your après ski at the numerous dining options in Kimberley. Wind your way down the freshly rebuilt Gerry Sorensen Way in your own car or take the free ski shuttle. It is a beautiful stroll down the Peak to Platzl trail which now connects all the way to the Platzl. Savour your experience no matter how you get downtown.

LEAGUES Half Season and Full Season rates available.

MONDAY

Social League

TUESDAY

Open League

Daytimers League

WEDNESDAY

Mixed League

Junior League

THURSDAY

Cash Open League

Daytimers League

FRIDAY

Doubles League

Night Leagues Start at 7:00pm | Daytimers Start at 10:00am Doubles Start at 7:30pm | Juniors Start at 4:00pm

We offer curling clinics & private lessons.

Club available for catered private party packages.

To inquire about rates & availability

curlkimberley@gmail.com or 250 427 2591

Life After Mining Teck’s former Sullivan Mine in Kimberley was once a major producer of zinc, lead and silver.

Closed in 2001 after nearly 100 years of operating, it is now an example of a successful mine closure. Almost 1,100 hectares of former mining area has been replanted, and water collection and treatment have been enhanced to ensure long-term water quality downstream. Many Teck-owned lands were turned over to the City of Kimberley to help them expand the local ski hill, build recreational facilities and develop golf courses. In addition, through a collaborative partnership with the City of Kimberley, the 1.05-megawatt community SunMine solar power plant was completed and began operating in 2015 on reclaimed mine land.

Today, Teck continues to monitor environmental conditions, and work with the community and government groups in support of its ongoing reclamation activities.

Learn more at www.teck.com/aftermining

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I N T H E H E A RT O F T H E P L AT Z L

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For article submissions contact: karen@kootenaymedia.ca | 250.427.0808 Reproduction, in whole, or in part, is strictly prohibited. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved on entire contents. GO Kimberley 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 entirely those of the authors.

GO Kimberley Magazine is published four times per year and is printed in Canada.

GO Kimberley is published by:

LivingAlchemy.com

Kootenay Media Ltd. Layout design by: Lucas Roach | Big Magic Design & Communication www.bigmagicdesign.com

Managing Editor Karen Vold

Creative Director Grady Pasiechnyk

Sales & Distribution Kevin Huibers

Copy Editing & Scial Media Monica Karaba

Contributors Britt Bates Andy Christie Jill Christie Monica Karaba Alison Ko Jeff Pew Andy Rogers Karen Vold

kootenaymedia.ca

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CONTENTS

09 | Humble Heroes: Rotary Club of Kimberley 16 | What Returns to Us When We Let It Go 25 | I Spy...the Banks of Yore 30 | A Bus for Everyone: Kimberley Transit 32 | Sleep, Who Needs It? 38 | Edibles 41 | Clearing the Mind at Clear Sky Retreat Centre

FALL 2018

Contents Photo: Jeff Pew

Cover Photo: Chelsea Boyd Gibson

FALL 2018

48 | A Good Place to Bee

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SEPTEMBER 2018 “The Magic of Colour” by Jenny Steenkamp Ongoing Gallery Exhibition August 28-September 22 | Tuesday–Saturday | 1-5 pm | Centre 64 Gallery | by donation Exhibition Opening Reception September 1 | 2-4 pm | Centre 64 Gallery First Saturday Arts, Culture & Heritage Celebration September 1 | afternoon/evening | Centre 64 & Kimberley’s Platzl Live@Studio64 – Fall Concert Series Concert #1: Gabriel Palatchi Trio Jazz September 8 | 8 pm | Studio 64 Diemm’s Ten Thousand Miracles Album Release Tour Chamber Folk September 13 | 7 – 8:30 pm | Studio 64 | advance $15, at the door $18 Live@Studio64 – Fall Concert Series Concert #2: The Clinton Swanson Trio Blues September 29 | 8 pm | Studio 64 “Awakening” by Jeanie Miller, Marianne Rennick, Sue Pighin, Ilene Lowing & Ann Holtby Jones Ongoing Gallery Exhibition September 25-October 20 | Tuesday–Saturday | 1-5 pm | Centre 64 Gallery | by donation Exhibition Opening Reception September 29 | 2-4 pm | Centre 64 Gallery

OCTOBER 2018 First Saturday: Oktoberfest Arts, Culture & Heritage Celebration October 6 | afternoon/evening | Centre 64 & Kimberley’s Platzl Live@Studio64 – Fall Concert Series Concert #3: Guy Davis Blues October 14 | 3 pm | Studio 64

Home Grown Coffee House Great music by local talented artists October 20 | 8 pm sharp | Centre 64 Theatre Tickets $8 available at Centre 64 and Snowdrift Café Exhibition by Judy Winter Ongoing Gallery Exhibition October 23-November 17 | Tuesday–Saturday | 1-5 pm | Centre 64 Gallery | by donation Exhibition Opening Reception October 27 | 2-4 pm | Centre 64 Gallery

NOVEMBER 2018 Exhibition by Judy Winter Ongoing Gallery Exhibition October 23-November 17 | Tuesday–Saturday | 1-5 pm | Centre 64 Gallery | by donation Cod Gone Wild Celtic Inspired November 5 | Centre 64 Theatre | codgonewild.com Live@Studio64 – Fall Concert Series Concert #4: Cecelia LaRochelle Jazz Combo Jazz November 17 | 8 pm | Studio 64 Invitational Christmas Gift Show & Sale Ongoing Gallery Exhibition November 20-December 23 | Tuesday–Saturday | 1-5 pm | Centre 64 Gallery | by donation Exhibition Opening Reception November 24 | 2-4 pm | Centre 64 Gallery Home Grown Coffee House Great music by local talented artists November 24 | 8 pm sharp | Centre 64 Theatre Tickets $8 available at Centre 64 and Snowdrift Café

DECEMBER 2018 Invitational Christmas Gift Show & Sale Ongoing Gallery Exhibition November 20-December 23 | Tuesday–Saturday | 1-5 pm | Centre 64 Gallery | by donation

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“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart.”

— Elizabeth Andrew

W: Monica Karaba P: Rotary Club Once upon a time, the Rotary Club of Kimberley might have been considered a club for the “elite” business people in town. If you wanted to get a promotion at Cominco, it was highly suggested you become a Rotarian, but first you had to be invited.

While service is still the main focus, the Kimberley Rotarians of today consist of a small but mighty group of big-hearted individuals, representing many different backgrounds, who share a passion for giving back. As former president and longtime member Patrick Barclay told me, “Rotarians leave their egos at the door.

We’re service-above-self kind of people.”

You might be surprised to learn how many of our beloved town’s features, amenities, and events have come about because of dedicated Rotarians working behind the scenes to make this community “A Good Place to Be.” And if you have an opportunity to chat with a longtime Rotarian, you are also likely to come away with some interesting and little-known facts about Kimberley’s history (such as how Rotary Park once had a peacock pen that housed four peacocks).

The Kimberley Rotary Club came into existence on December 1, 1941 during the second world war, so it’s not surprising that its first projects were a blood drive and a victory bond drive. Since then, the Club has undertaken over a hundred projects and supported an equal number of others. Projects have varied in complexity and duration with some lasting a day or two and costing less than a hundred dollars to some lasting four years and costing over one hundred thousand dollars. At the same time, Kimberley’s club has made significant contributions to many international initiatives, most famously global polio eradication and providing ShelterBoxes, which contain essentials to help people in disaster situations.

FALL 2018

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In 1944, the Club looked at a four-year project to develop a park adjacent to Government Road at an anticipated cost of $20,000. Several successful carnivals were held, and $8,000 was raised to purchase the land and start development. The land was rough and covered with trees and shrubs, so club members spent many months clearing it. In 1946, the City renamed Government Road to its present name, Rotary Drive.

In 1997, the Club decided to upgrade Rotary Park with the addition of a much-needed children’s playground, improved vandal-proof washrooms, and even a bear-proof garbage receptacle. This effort required over $120,000, which was raised through creative efforts including a telethon, charity book sale, theatre fundraiser, ads for a pro-am golf tournament, and a City loan. Club members rolled up their sleeves to do a lot of the painting as well as hand laying all of the paving stones for the walkway. The result was a superb playground that hundreds of children, accompanied by their parents or grandparents, continue to enjoy today.

The last major addition to Rotary Park was the splash park. This project was initially started by a group of citizens who asked the Rotary Club for help when it turned out to be too much to handle. The splash park became a $340,000 community-wide project with contributions from other clubs, local businesses, innumerable private citizens, grad classes, the City, and more.

The fundraising target was finally reached thanks to significant grants from the Columbia Basin Trust.

Rotary Park has been and probably will be an ongoing project of the Club for many years to come. The Club raises money for ongoing improvements by holding an annual Gala Lobsterfest event; pancake breakfasts; Beer, Bones and Boogie dinner and dances; JulyFest liquor ticket sales; running an aid station for the Gran Fondo bike race, and more.

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In 1978, the Rotary Club undertook the planning, design, and construction of a trail, bridge, and viewpoint at Marysville Falls. This was a hands-on project with the Club doing most of the labour with the assistance of a group of young volunteers. On November 11, 1982 the new bridge, pathway, and viewing areas were officially opened. Since that time, the city has maintained the boardwalk and replaced the original bridge with the log one in place today.

In 1983, the Kimberley Rotary Club and the Kimberley Lions Club partnered to construct a fitness path between Black Bear and Marysville. Each club contributed $5,000 and employed contractors and hands-on labour.

Upon completion, the trail was handed over to the City and named the Mark Creek Trail.

In 2005, the Club cleared a trail along St. Mary River from the campground easterly in a loop ending back at the campground. Several thousand dollars were spent in placing gravel, while the lower portion was built by club members using axes, shovels, chain saws, and rakes. One of the workers was a former Rotary District Governor, John Swift, and the City named the 700-metre trail the John Swift River Loop in his honour, while another part of the trail was named the Rotary Centennial Trail.

In 2006, the Club was approached by the City to assist in placing signage and trail markers for many trails, a cost for which the City had no budget. City crews were able to auger most of the holes for the signs, while club members dug the remainder by hand. Over one weekend, the members worked for 16 hours installing posts.

More than one hundred bags of cement plus gravel and water all had to be hauled by hand and then handmixed to cement each of the many sign-posts and trail markers in place.

Despite all of the heavy lifting, Mike Cave emphasized over a coffee date I had with some of our local Rotarians that the #1 requirement of the Rotary Club is to have fun. Jaret Thompson, the new president of our local chapter also shared some of his own experiences and reason for joining. telling me that as a newcomer to Kimberley, he never would have met so many people nor established the connections he now enjoys without the Rotarians. I also got to observe the joival bond between Jaret and former president, Pat, as they both tried to answer one of my questions at the same time.

Pat joked, “Sometimes we older ones have to slap ourselves and let the younger folks talk.” Jaret shook his head and smiled, “No, no, it’s a team. I wouldn’t know all of this stuff without you. We’re doing it together.” And perhaps that is one of the biggest benefits of Rotary Club of Kimberley that I observed: it provides an opportunity for multiple generations to connect and learn to work together, all while contributing to the greater good of their community and their world.

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Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world.

Rotarians don’t have that problem.

OTHER ROTARY CLUB ACCOMPLISHMENTS Rotarians played a major role in the planning for the Pines and Garden View Lodge Provided 400 dinner place settings, glassware, and cutlery to Centennial Hall Built 50 round banquet tables for community use Purchased defibrillators for the Aquatic Centre and Curling Club Constructed the Kimberley Community Park and built its picnic table Regular donor to the Helping Hands Food Bank and Special Olympics Supporter of Kimberley Arts at Centre 64 and local literacy programs Service provider at KIOTAC, Fall Fair, the Food Bank Duck Race and JulyFest Supporter of the Breakfast Program in local schools Annually funds Selkirk Secondary School scholarships, the Rotary Youth Leadership program, and sponsors youth to attend Blue Lake Camp.

FUTURE INITIATIVES

GET INVOLVED

There are always new projects and continuous improvements being planned to beautify and support where we gather and play as a community. Some of the Club’s next projects include: a wheelchair-accessible pathway for the splash park, replacement and upgrade of some of the playground equipment, and a possible renovation of the walkway to Marysville Falls. Suggestions and new ideas are always welcome, especially from newer members.

Presently, the Rotary Club of Kimberley holds regular meetings every second and fourth Wednesday at 5 pm at the Green Door in the Platzl. Guests are always welcome, and new categories of membership have been created to accommodate interested but busy people. The Club is also gearing up for its annual Beer, Bones and Boogie party at Centennial Hall on October 13th. Proceeds from this event will be going to the local Seniors Helping Seniors volunteer group to support their plan to purchase a Trishaw for Kimberley.

Special thanks to Mike Cave for his great documentation of the history and extensive accomplishments of the Rotary Club of Kimberley over its nearly 77 years!

Please check online at https://portal.clubrunner.ca/933 or visit the Rotary Club of Kimberley BC Facebook page to find the schedule of meetings and events. You can also email membership chairperson Ken Green at Green_4@telus.net or the club president at kimberleybc.rotary@gmail.com for more information.

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W&P: Jeff Pew Sometimes, it’s the fall lines, the fairways, the french fries. The, “Oh, my God honey! Have you seen the view?” Sometimes, it’s the ribbon-cutting, shovel-digging yodel of something new. The paycheque. The sweaty nightlife. The world’s tallest dinosaur. Sometimes, it’s the grand gestures for why we fall in love, the monumental landscapes of what makes a good, or even great, place to be. Yet, sometimes, it’s the tiny gestures, how we swoom from a whisper. How we ramble down a road on a hot day, a truck full of discarded drywall. A trunk full of last week’s garbage. The way we pull up to a booth at the dump, and this woman with a smile says, “How you doing today? Whatya got there? How ‘bout a treat for your dog? All right then...” she chuckles. “You have a good one!”

Perhaps, it’s the tiny things that make us fall in love.

It’s 8:30 a.m. and the Kimberley Transfer Station has just opened.

Two cars wait at the gate. It’s no regular day: BC’s on fire. Liane Beattie (Beatts) has just discovered that her mom’s retirement home is being evacuated. She’s rattled as she’s scheduled to work the scale booth all day. She recognizes the car pulling up. “How you doing today Dave?” she says. “Going shopping? Atta boy...” In between cars, she talks to her mom. “It’s gonna be OK Mom. Don’t you worry. I’ll find a way up there.”

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Beatts is part of the all-women crew employed by Southeast Disposal, contracted by RDEK, to operate the Kimberley Transfer Station (aka The Dump). They have 26 years of waste management experience among them. This is Beatts’ and Joanie Emery’s fourth year, and Karen Nordby’s eighteenth.

They recognize people by their license plates and plant flowers and shrubs from refuse we’ve thrown away. They collect empties to buy dog treats and go to work early to tidy up.

They take their jobs seriously. “No one has a dump quite like this,” Beatts says proudly. “People don’t just come here to throw away their garbage. They feel welcome. We’re like psychologists. We hear it all. You should see the Christmas gifts we get: chocolate, beer, wine. It’s how you treat people. It’s about kindness.”

Beatts says she learns more about garbage every day. “Sometimes, I wake up in my sleep, dreaming about this stuff.”

These women take pride in their work. It’s a tidy dump, if there’s such a thing. “Our work ethic stems from Karen,” Beatts says. “Things changed when she started here. We’re good ol’ hard workers. See these hands? They’re old man hands.

They haven’t changed since I was in grade five.”

And then there’s the flowers and shrubs planted near refuse bins. “I kept watching people throwing away green waste,” Beatts says, “Roots balls. Bulbs. Withered shrubs. I’ve got a horticultural background, so in my head I’m going, ‘that’s a $35 plant!’ I’d pull it out of the waste pile, stick it in the dirt, and put a hose on it. The next thing I knew, people would come in and say, ‘I’ve got this lovely iris. Do you want it?’”

Later that afternoon, Will Irvin pulls up with four hanging baskets. “Cheryl’s getting tired of constantly watering them in this heat,” he says. “You guys want ‘em?”

This is a great leap from the dump of old days, a scraggy patch of land — with the best view in town — on the fertilizer plant road. Rugged. Raw. Wide open. Oily crows lurked in trees. The feral outlaws feasted on garbage. We’d dodge bear and deer rooting through trash. We’d pick through rotting rubbage, haphazardly tossed out car windows, to find a dresser to take home.

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All this changed in 2000, a year after the RDEK assumed control and recognized that we can’t keep keep cramming the earth with things we throw away. They made changes: Wood was separated from metal and garden waste. They introduced recycle bins for paper/cardboard, tin/ aluminum cans, and household plastics. They created separate areas for auto batteries, propane tanks, appliances, and tires. Yard and garden waste were chipped and mixed with topsoil then spread onto decommissioned landfills. And in 2004, perhaps the most popular feature was opened, where every day feels like a garage sale: The Kimberley Reuse Centre (aka The Marysville Macy’s, The Free Store, The New & Used, The Kimberley Walmart), where customers drop off household items such as chairs, furniture, books, toys, pictures, and kitchen accessories.

Sometimes, things don’t make it out of a truck before they’re claimed.

“Is the sink any good for reuse?” Beatts asks a customer. “Nope? Ok, Thanks. In the bin then.” There’s strict guidelines as to what can go in the resuse. Everything has to be in working order, and items such as clothing are forbidden. As well, they regulate how often people can use the reuse, to avoid what some call the vultures — people who scavenge the reuse for items to resell at markets and on social media sites. “The intention of the reuse is for people to take items they’ll use personally,“ Beatts says. To help prohibit the commercial resale of goods, customers are restricted to accessing the reuse once every second day.

Residents recount their favourite reuse finds: a box of nerf guns (“Best day ever to be an eight-year-old boy,” a dad writes); a pristine fox pelt a young woman hung on her living room wall, only to discover when she came home from work, a massacre of fur all over the house, her guilty cat hiding under a bed; a mother who furnished her son’s first apartment.

People reflect on the significance of the reuse: “When I need something, I go there, and, low and behold, there’s the exact thing I had in mind is waiting for me,” Jessica Swanson writes.

“A visit to the reuse is like date night,” Hogie says.

“My brother and I have been dropping stuff off at the reuse nonstop since Mom passed away,” Ashlin Tipper says. “It’s such a relieving feeling that each time we return, her stuff has been scooped up, or people are getting things out of the truck before we’ve even unloaded. Feels good that people are so psyched on Mom’s stuff and things are going to a new home. The Koots rule.”

It’s just past 5 p.m. and Beatts’ shift is coming to an end, the familiar thunk of the last car over the cattle guard. It’s been a long day, the sun cloaked behind a smoky sky. She recognizes the driver, reaches into a plastic bucket of dog treats, and drops one into a soup ladle taped to a fishing pole. When the car stops at the booth, she leans toward the back window, delivers a treat, and smiles. “I miss seein’ ya walking in the morning,” she says to the fellow. They talk about the evacuation alert. “I had to bring Mom to my place,” she tells him. “Lemme know if you guys need anything.” Beatts chuckles and shakes her head. “Well, all right then, whatya got today?”

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GARBAGE:

WOOD:

Hauled to our Central Subregion Landfill, located in Ft. Steele.

Hauled by bins to landfill in Ft. Steele. Contractor grinds for HOG fuel.

CAR BATTERIES:

GREEN WASTE:

Tervita Corporation (Columbia Recycle) picks them up and pays RDEK by weight.

Hauled by bins to landfill at Ft. Steele. Contractor grinds for HOG fuel.

PROPANE TANKS:

YARD AND GARDEN:

Contractor picks them up and recycles all tanks.

Hauled by bins to landfill in Ft. Steele and composted.

LARGE APPLIANCES:

RECYCLING:

Hauled to Tervita. Crushed and sold to markets.

Contractor hauls to MRF (mechanized recycling facility) where items are separated and shipped to market.

METAL: Hauled by bins to Tervita. Crushed and sent to markets,

FALL 2018

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W: Andy Christie P: Jill Christie & 20th Century Fox

Urban decay has always fascinated me...maybe from growing up in the City and seeing old buildings in various states of disrepair and how nature continues on without notice or opinion. Looking around Kimberley is part of my work ritual and I always stumble upon its past, whether it be old basements, buildings or structures.

This instalment is about the prevalence of banking in this old mine town. From 1892 to 2001, billions of dollars of ore were extracted from the Sullivan Mine and the well-paid mine employees needed a place to put their money. For the miners who chose not to hide their booty under the mattresses or a hole in the ground, institutions such as The Canadian Bank of Commerce, The Bank of Montreal, Kimberley Credit Union and The Royal Bank of Canada happily received the miners’ compensation for the dangerous underground work. Many of the local drinking establishments also benefitted from the boom, but that is another story.

Financial Institutions as we know them today didn’t really exist in the early days of Kimberley, when the Villages of Marysville, Kimberley and Chapman Camp had their own style of banking. Customers used a kiosk style of banking similar to the British system which consisted of ‘wickets’ located in post offices, town halls or mercantile where money was passed through a window to a teller. These wickets were usually affiliated with one of the major employers in the village and offered some sort of protection for your money (unless they became insolvent). The first ‘real’ bank in Kimberley opened in 1919 (the Canadian Bank of Commerce) and was located on the present site of the Stonefire Pizzeria. The CIBC sold the central location to the Bank of Montreal in the 1920’s to better align with Cominco’s company holdings and financial preferences. This location operated for many years in Kimberley. The beautiful, old brick building suffered a catastrophic fire in 2012 and all that remains is a small vault in the basement currently storing the restaurant’s liquor.

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Scratching the surface of many of the other older buildings in Kimberley reveals the previous tally of banking buildings. Our Place Restaurant housed the former site of The Royal Bank of Canada from the 1950’s until 1970’s. Take a trip down the stairs to the washrooms in the basement, and the large sturdy safe is still haunting the halls although its present contents are far less valuable.

Also downtown, the present location of Burley Skate on Howard Street housed the former location of the Kimberley Credit Union and still contains two skookum vaults inside its walls. Many other buildings around the Kimberley still bear the heavy burden of solid steel vaults. Nameplates of the vault makers from eastern cities such as Toronto, Montreal and New York tell of the origins of the steel behemoths. Likely transported by rail, the heavy vault doors now sit idle, the combinations long ago forgotten.

With the heyday of mining in Kimberley a distant memory, the current banking choices are quite evident. Existing today are the Kootenay Savings Credit Union and the Royal Bank of Canada. Even these institutions have changed locations within the City a few times and leave a trail of the previous instalments. With online banking on the rise, perhaps a few more vaults in Kimberley will be repurposed before you know it.

The remaining vaults offer a reminder of the banking past in Kimberley to all who drive by...and spy.

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290 Wallinger Ave, Kimberley // 250.427.2221

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Cathy Graham 250.421.4131

Wayne Gilbert 250.427.0309

Susan Irons 250.427.1927

Rea Jarrett 250.427.5861

Joanne Kitt 250.427.0335

Luxury

KIMBERLEY LODGING & TRANSPORTATION

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KIMBERLEY.COM / 1.844.4SIMPLY

Jeanne Taggart 250.427.6104

1 PARNABY ROAD

$229,900

HWY 95A

Building Lot

MLS 2431834

2015

POLARIS LODGE

SKI HILL

MLS 2419587

$159,900 1 Bed - 1 Bath

200 RIVER RIDGE

ST MARYS

MLS 2432523

$50,000 Building Lot

812 DEER RUN

SKI HILL

MLS 2415857

ROCKY MTN

$119,000 Building Lot

SKI HILL

MLS 2431336

POLARIS LODGE

$135,000 Unfinished Condo

SKI HILL

MLS 2419586

$179,900 Building Lot

Fractional Ownership

Unit

I-3B G6-D J4-C

Q2-A H2-B I3A I4-A J1-C M1-D N2AB

F4-C D2B

Share Bed Bath SQFT

¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼

Information Deemed Reliable But Cannot Be Guaranteed

3 3

3 3

1692 2046

3

3

1645

3 3 3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3 3 3

1722 1692 1692 1498 1514 1519

3

3

1719

2 2

2 2

1109 1109

Price

$39,900 SOLD SOLD $39,200 $48,500 $46,000 SOLD $43,900 $47,900 SOLD $42,900 $33,900

feature listingS SKI HILL

4

3

UNIT 10 - 2578 sqft

$549,900

This is without a doubt the largest condo on the ski hill currently for sale. This unit is unique not just in size, but it’s finish is custom throughout. Fully furnished - Everything you would need to live in full time or use as your vacation property.

MLS 2419453

SKI HILL

4

4

#145 Stemwinder Drive - 3250 sqft

$799,000

2

#206 Trickle Creek - 304 sqft

$300,000

Gorgeous contemporary alpine home at Kimberley Ski Resort.

This Tyee Log Homes build boasts excellent quality and craftsmanship throughout. With stunning posts and beams, vaulted ceilings and loads of windows. 4 full bathrooms (2 ensuites) and 4 bedrooms.

MLS 2430990

SKI HILL

3

Trickle Creek corner condo is priced to sell! Beautiful central kitchen with island, tile back splash with engineered wood floor throughout kitchen, dining and living room. Main living area is bright and open, over looking the pool below.

MLS 2426967

Commercial & Developer lots DEVELOP A MOUNTAIN TOP LOCATED IN CITY LIMITS

Taylor’s Mill

682 Acres in the City of Kimberley on 19 Titles. No services have been put in and no direct road access. Original plan was for 500 residential units in a mix of housing types, additional affordable housing units, recreational uses, light industrial, multifamily, tourist accommodation, restaurant, neighbourhood pub, convenience store, and retail.

682 ACRES

$1,700,000

SKI-IN / SKI-OUT

BUILD ON LEASE SIGNING

2.2 ACRES SKI HILL

$799,900

LEASE $18 / SQFT

MARYSVILLE

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W: Andy Rogers P: Brad Foster Have you heard of the Bunny Bus, Kimberley’s first bus service? I Iearned of it recently while interviewing Carol Rausch, who manages Kimberley Transit. The cute name Bunny Bus came from its charitable funding organization, the Easter Seals. That first service mainly served local children with disabilities, and it turns out that, years later, many people in

In my defense, I did get right that there’s a commuter service, Monday through Friday, which heads out from Kimberley early in the morning and then comes back from Cranbrook late in the afternoon. Right now, it offers one scheduled trip a day, and Carol says that will increase to two in fall 2019. Kimberley Transit calls this service the KC Commuter, or Route 2. Check

the area still confuse it with Kimberley’s current bus services.

So, I wonder if you, fair reader, wanted to catch a bus from Kimberley to Cranbrook today, for example, would you know what’s available to you?

the website for times — we wouldn’t want to print them here, just in case they change.

The day I interviewed Carol, I’d looked at BC Transit’s website to prepare. As you might imagine, you can get route information, timetables, and even a downloadable guide. To be honest, I hadn’t used the service before and wanted to come up with smart questions so Carol wouldn’t think, “Ok, why didn’t this guy just read our website?” I guess it didn’t help me much, though, because I still managed to make wrong assumptions.

Thanks Carol, for setting me straight!

If there’s a Route 2, you guessed it, there’s also a Route 1.

Now, you might wonder how I misunderstood Route 1 even while reading the website. The thing is, Route 1, simply called “Kimberley/Cranbrook,” says it offers a “door-to-door pick-up” on the Kimberley end of the trip. In other words, you can call them up to the day before and the driver will pick you up at home. I’ve even seen it come down my street here in Kimberley. Yet, it just didn’t compute in my head that they’d offer that to me as a regular service. I’d assumed that one of my neighbors had mobility challenges and was using a special service.

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According to Carol, there are still plenty of people making the same assumption. “We’ve been trying to get out of that stigma for years,” she says. In fact, while Kimberley’s buses are fully wheelchair accessible, they are available for everyone. You might like to know that they even have bicycle racks on the back, in case you don’t want to cycle both ways to Kimberley or Cranbrook.

Both routes are public services then, for all of us. Yet, medical non-emergencies do get priority. Whether it’s for a medical appointment or not, though, here’s Carol’s advice if you want to use the Kimberley/Cranbrook service (Route 1). Call to book your place as soon as you know you’ll need it, just in case they’re busy. They make their schedules up to a month in advance. While there are only set drop-off points in Cranbrook, such as the Tamarack Mall and downtown, you can get dropped off at any medical appointment. Otherwise, if you want to get somewhere else in Cranbrook, plan to avail yourself of the extensive local Cranbrook bus routes.

Right now, Route 1 only operates Tuesday to Friday, but there are three services per day. That’s pretty good if you add in the KC Commuter. Still, I had to admit to Carol that one reason I hadn’t taken the bus to Cranbrook yet was that I’d worried about being able to get back. There’s no standing allowed, so what if the last bus is full? Another assumption was about to disappear. When it looks like the bus might be busy coming back, the driver will ask passengers if they want to reserve a return spot.

One final tip for you. At the time of printing, each one-way trip costs $3, and drivers don’t carry change. If you’re like me and hardly ever think of cash any more, you might like to buy your ticket, or a book of ten, in advance.

For more information on where to buy tickets, bus routes, or to check out and download the Rider’s Guide, please visit the BC Transit website at https://bctransit.com/ kimberley/home.

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W&P: Jill Christie Pre-kids, I could pull off repeated ten-hour sleeps. The kind where you hunker down between the sheets, toes wiggling with delight, and you wake up in the same position. As many of us know, continuous lack of sleep creates all sort of nasty mannerisms: frustration, irritation, and lack of productivity, not to mention potential medical implications. So, why then would a person risk tampering with adequate sleep? Why would a family cart themselves into backcountry cabins to experience lack of sleep in very intimate sleeping quarters with people they don’t know? Over the years my husband and our two boys have explored several Alpine Club of Canada huts throughout Alberta and British Columbia and I have chosen three short stories to share, in which sleep was infectiously compromised.

In the Bugaboos Provincial Park, Cain Hut is perched on a massive chunk of granite rock framed by the tongue of the Anniversary Glacier and an awesome backdrop of boulders, rock slopes, and glaciers. The grandeur of the grey rock, in contrast with the beautiful blue sky and the white of the snow, is unprecedented. Sleep, however, is not what you get in that hut. It isn’t the point! This hut is primarily a temporary home to ambitious climbers who use the hut as a place to plan routes and eat.

Sleep comes last on the priority list, and I was reminded of this upon our entry into the hut after our tiring ascent. Ropes, cams, carabiners, webbing, and harnesses laced the walls, occupying every hook, nook, and cranny of the wooden cabin. That is when I had my first “ah ha” moment that we had entered into territory that didn’t quite match up with our participants (four parents, four kids) and our plans. The looks from some of the climbers indicated that they were thinking the same thoughts: “What are they doing here?!”

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The first night we wormed our exhausted selves into our sleeping bags between dozens of skilled climbing athletes, on a three-leveled bunk bed as long as the cabin. Even before sleep came, my husband was eyeballing a young man who was fast asleep but slowly edging his way sideways into Andy’s space. Imagine a can of sardines with one fish stretched up against the rest. How do you move a guy you don’t even know back to his place in the fish can? You don’t. You move yourself closer and tighter to the fish you know best.

The initial wake-up call was by the fire alarm. It was 2 am. (Keep in mind, the cabin is in the mountains, has no electricity, and is as black as...well... night.) With the initial ringing, my body reacted in

the way in which one does when an alarm goes off in the dead of night and your children are in imminent danger. I am glad, however, that I was able to assess the scene and stop myself from plunging into emergency evacuation mode. It was not a fire but burning bacon. Climbers were preparing for ascents to the big multi-pitch climbs they were pining over and planning the night before.

Sigh of relief, relax, doze. The second time I was woken up that morning was at 5 am. It was time for the second round of climbers to head out. They were aiming for climbing routes that had shorter ascents. Apparently, the time to sleep in the Cain Hut is between 5 am – 4 pm if you are an adult.

My kids didn’t flinch and certainly didn’t register burning bacon!

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Stanley Mitchell Hut is located in the wondrous Yoho National Park. It is standing on the edge of a ground squirrel-covered meadow, fringed by beautiful coniferous forests and an incredibly cold, clear running creek. It is a decent-sized cabin offering space for 22 people and hence, a multitude of potential nightly events. This cabin was much more suited to our needs and evidently supported the hopes of four other families with children. While the children played cards, board games, hide-and-seek, and foraged outside, the parents engaged in enthusiastic conversations about life, travels, and children with beer and wine. (Eliminating the weight of bedding, tents, and cooking gear from the pack inevitably makes room for spirits!) During one of the conversations, a father very casually explained his daughter’s quirky and unpredictable night terrors. He spoke about how hard it was to shake her out of her state during the wee hours of the

night. We all shook our heads in knowing understanding, feeling empathy for the parents that were dealing with this unsolved situation on a regular basis.

No one thought much more about it!

As the day shrunk and the night developed into its full self, the parents started nighttime rituals with their families.

In the vast blackness that accompanies cabin sleeping, using our headlamps to guide us, we slipped into our group bunk bed for 22, located on the second floor of the cabin, said our good nights, and slept.

It started with a blood-curdling scream (in my dream it was a train) that lasted far too long. Within seconds my adrenaline kicked in and I was alert ready to jump off the train, take down a bear, or deal with the medical emergency of the dying human. I still wasn’t sure what was happening. I could hear my husband beside me gasping, trying to formulate words and sentences of inquiry, but mostly sputtering and fum-

bling in an attempt to figure out where he was and what the hell was going on.

It wasn’t long before everyone (over 30) was awake and scampering about in total confusion, searching for light sources to make sense of the scream that was not losing vigor. The only person to remain calm was the mother who talked in hushed tones trying to pull her daughter out of her state. Everything around her had erupted into chaos. As things started to be become less foggy, two and two started to connect between the present event and the shared story earlier in the night.

With heart rates running a little on the high side, we settled back into our bags, most of us sleeping with one eye open.

Again, my kids didn’t even budge. The family left the next day and the following nights were only tainted by loud snoring and some minor night murmurings.

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Silver Spray ACC Hut is a slog to get to with 3300 feet of elevation gain in 6 kilometres. The trail is consistently steep and winds its way through an old fire into the Clover Basin and plateaus out at the cabin. It is absolutely gorgeous with grey rocky ridge lines, snow patches, amazing angelic goldenorange larches, mimicking torches, and a robin egg lake that flows into a small river. We were beyond stoked to get into that beautifully-crafted, timber-framed cabin. With a fire going and food in our bellies, we tucked into our sleeping spots with only two other hikers in attendance. It seemed like a nobrainer that sleep would come quickly and solidly with so few people in the space and an entire upper floor for ourselves to spread out.

The wind picked up around the time I began my journey into my subconscious state. I slept lightly at the beginning allowing myself to drift in and out of awareness, to check in with the state of what felt like a growing concern. The wind was persistent and transformed into a full-blown storm with thunder, lightning, and gale force winds. It is times like these when I get deep into internal dialogue with myself on topics like, “Is there a lightning rod on this cabin? What can a timber frame withstand? Should I move the kids down to the ground floor?

Should we move away from the windows? Will it all end here, tonight?” While immersed in a pitch-black veil, I no longer slept and was on full alert trying to monitor the wind speed through the vibrations of the hut and the proximity of the lightning by counting one steamboat, two steamboat, etc.

I woke Andy. “Is this cabin going to withstand this storm?” I asked. His sleepy noncommittal response did not satisfy me, “Yah, it’s a timber frame; it’s supposed to creek.” Boom, back

to sleep, just like that, and I was left to consider an emergency evacuation route. But it wasn’t long before he, too, was fully awake — it was that bad. The winds howled threatening to tear the roof off, pushing and shoving the timbers around like stilts. If that wasn’t enough, the door (a two-inch solid, wooden door) kept blowing open along with all the windows, which would smack up against the sides of the hut. No amount of jamming, piling, or stacking could keep that door or the windows shut. It went on and on for hours, timbers shuttering, roof metal screeching, door smashing, and windows threatening to shatter, right into the early morning.

Finally, a new day slowly etched itself above the horizon as the whole world went dead quiet and still, newly blanketed in a sparkling white quilt of snow. The trees, the mountains, the water — all where we left them the day before. Unscathed, unphased — just like my kids who got a full night’s rest! It was the scariest sleep I never had.

Although these stories highlight the extreme cases where sleep was drastically tampered with, all of our hut experiences have left us groggy and slightly cranky by the end of the stint. So, the question still remains, why do we do this?

To access beautiful backcountry spots with small children and not have to carry tents, sleeping bags, Therm-a-Rests, and cooking gear. To leave these soul-filling spots feeling fulfilled, connected to the land and family, and often to new people. Creating memories and stories that are worth retelling amongst ourselves. When you add up all the positives, I think to myself, “Sleep, who needs it?”

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W: Alison Ko P: Pexels We walk into the forest. Heads down. Silent. Peer over our shoulders to make sure no one’s behind us. We zigzag around giant fir trees, hoping to get a glance of disrupted soil. King Boletus grow here. When summer nights become cooler and rains fall, the conditions are perfect for mushrooms to emerge.

We spot the first mushroom. I can’t contain myself and exclaim over the successful timing. My picking partner scolds me with a hush. Squatting to make a clean cut on the dense stem, the primordial hunter-gatherer within me is inspired. The forest soil awakens childhood memories — being buried under leaves and coming of age, foraging in new territories feeling alive.

Foraging for food can be categorized into picking and hunting. One can go berry picking with a specific plant in mind. However, a hunter’s approach is required to find a bounty of mushrooms, which grow in wooded areas. Some like the earth to be disturbed. Others flourish after a fire. They require organic matter like compost, water, and a specific temperature.

Luckily for me, 15 years ago an elderly couple from the Czech Republic were excited to share their knowledge of wild mushrooms. As we hiked together, their reflections of the past were sparked by seeing familiar fungi and greenery in the East Kootenay forest. The reserved couple walked with intention, slipping in and out of Czech.

I listened to their tales.

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They had a weekend ritual. Rising early they would leave the city and go look for mushrooms, wild strawberries, and greens. Often, they were in the company of young friends, crammed into a small vehicle. After the war, times were difficult. Food was limited. Mushrooms were thought of as a source of protein and good for the health. Mushroom hunting was not only for culinary enhancement but for survival.

It was through these lovely people that I discovered the King Bolete (Boletus edulis). These large cap-shaped mushrooms are also known as Porcini. They are mild and nutty in flavor. I had always thought of mushrooming as dangerous, with the exception of Shaggy Manes and Morels. In the Czech Republic, the people like to joke that all mushrooms are edible, but some only once.

Mushroom harvesting does require a trained eye. The British Columbia Centre for Disease has warned people of the deadly risk of eating toxic mushrooms. When wild foraging, only choose species you can identify with certainty. Eat in small amounts. Some say that mushrooms are not meant to be eaten raw. They contain agaritine that can cause nausea and worse. Heat neutralizes the compound.

More complex recipes call for simmering in reduced heavy cream. I like mushrooms both freshly prepared and reconstituted from dried. As our forest settles into fall and winter, a handful of dried boletus brings the forest to the table.

After leaving the woods with stuff sacks filled, our friends show us how to clean and prepare the fresh, wild bolete.

We slice and fry them with a knob of butter, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper. We serve them on top of saltine crackers and toast, and celebrate a successful day in the woods.

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W: Karen Vold P: Brad Foster A few years ago when I first thought it would be a good idea to learn to meditate, I didn’t find a teacher or a class. I bought a book. The title was “Meditate in 8 Minutes.” Not only did I want to learn how to meditate on my own, I wanted to learn it fast. Not surprisingly, I wasn’t successful. Over the next few years, I maintained an interest but put it under the title “things I’m not very good at” and left it at that.

Then one night at yoga the teacher announced that there was a drop-in meditation class immediately following the yoga class. I decided to stay. It was offered by Andy Rogers from Clear Sky Retreat Centre. He made a comment that night that has stuck with me. He said that meditation, like many things, is easier with others. It went against my assumption that mediation was a solitary sport, but he seemed to be right. I went back for a number of the group meditations over the next few months and felt like I was finally moving forward (slowly) with my meditation practice. A few months later I met up with Andy and he suggested I try a retreat at Clear Sky.

The plan was hatched. Monica, editor extraordinaire of GO Kimberley and I would go for a weekend retreat and write about our experience. Me, from the perspective of never having attended a silent retreat, and Monica, from the perspective of having attended multiple retreats. As Monica and I drove out to Clear Sky Retreat Centre on the weekend of our retreat, we talked as much as we possibly could. I was nervous at the prospect of not talking for the weekend. Friday afternoon as we inched up the last few metres to the parking area, we were now speaking in whispers. We laughed as Andy met us and in an outdoor voice welcomed us to Clear Sky. He explained that we would ease into our silence. We would first dine (and be able to converse) with the rest of the people at Clear Sky before we entered into our silence later that night.

Andy and Ava gave us a quick orientation and then showed us to our cabins — an amazing little 150-square-foot cabin for each of us.

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We joined 20 people for dinner on the deck of the main building. The conversation was interesting, enjoyable and felt very peaceful. I was surprised by the tone and the vibe of the place. It was far more joyful and light than I was expecting. The reason for the silence was explained to us. We use a tremendous amount of energy talking and greeting people all day long. The silence allowed you to harvest that energy and it also helped you to go further inside.

Like most people, I think I must have first expressed “I can do it myself” around two-years old. I just never outgrew the sentiment. I don’t believe it was something I was overly conscious of but when earlier this year a serious health issue took over my life, I became aware of how hard it was for me to ask for and accept help. I guess the universe didn’t think I got the full message because Sunday morning of the retreat I got lost on the rambling 300 acres of Clear Sky at the base of the Rockies. I tried for a long time to work out where I was by myself, but finally I had to break my silence and call Andy for help. Message from the universe or not, I believe the road to a consistent meditation practice is much easier with help. Teachers, guides, friends, a supportive container, and a place like Clear Sky can all help make the journey easier and more joyful.

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W: Monica Karaba P: Brad Foster I love a good retreat. Better even than a vacation, an honestto-goodness, leave-everything-and-everyone-behind-andcompletely-unplug-and-disconnect-from-every-aspect-ofyour-life meditation retreat is something I relish! Not only is it a great way to ensure some relaxation and rejuvenation, it also provides an opportunity to conduct a full, no BS check-in with your body, mind, and spirit.

I felt the Universe was really conspiring in my favour when I was offered the chance to join Karen Vold for a personal retreat weekend at Clear Sky Retreat Centre “on assignment.”

We chose to do the silent Practice and Integrate program which would provide a bit of structure by balancing meditation practice along with alone time and karma yoga — “training in mindfulness through action.”

I was surprised by what an international crew had somehow followed their internal GPS from all corners of the world to this table where I happened to be sitting in such an unlikely (to my mind) part of the world to study this particular Buddhist lineage. Besides representatives of Toronto, Fernie,

and Victoria, there were travelers from as far away as Hong Kong, Miami, Germany, and Australia, as well as one bornand-raised East Kootenay resident.

I was curious about founding teacher Doug Duncan, whose vision (along with his partner, Catherine Pawasarat) this centre had emanated from, who joined us for our first dinner. He was clearly well respected by those around him, and I knew many considered him to be “realized” and even “enlightened.”

I tried to detect how he was different from the rest of us.

Could I feel his level of awareness? Could I perhaps become enlightened this weekend?

After listening to the humour-filled stories being shared around the table, I decided that if this is what enlightenment looks like, count me in. Sensei Doug was down-to-earth, welcoming, and open. Towards the end of the meal, he looked inquisitively at Karen and me and asked, “May I give you some tips for the weekend?” We both nodded receptively.

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Sensei Doug proceeded, “Meditation retreats tend to have an arc to them, whether they are for a few days or a few months.

You may start out with a burst of energy and think how easy and exciting it is, but then your experience might plateau or even dip. As you come to the end of your retreat, you might start thinking about it being over and leaving, at which point you get another burst of energy and feel enthusiastic about meditating again.”

Prophetically, my weekend would indeed follow the trajectory Sensei Doug outlined, and the next point he shared was also part of my experience. “You might also be surprised by how tired you are and how much you sleep. That’s normal since up to 80% of our calories are used by the brain. You might be dismayed when you realize how busy your mind is and how many thoughts you have, but don’t worry. Your body and mind will gradually slow down and relax.”

My favourite session of the three optional group meditations that I attended was held on our last morning. Sensei Doug led us on a journey where we held an intention of healing for all of humanity. We sat in a tight circle with all of our knees touching, imagining ourselves meeting up on a platform without our bodies, so that our souls and pure essence could merge. I loved the group plug-in and it was especially interesting to hear each person share a bit about their experience afterwards. Some had bodily sensations, some got messages, and some had remarkable visions.

There were many more insights and impressions than I have the space to share, some more superficial and some that went really deep, but I left ultimately grateful for what this rich weekend provided. And I know that my retreat at Clear Sky is somehow not yet over, that the moments of stillness, of beauty, of questioning, of frustration, and of observing my thinking that I spent there are still with me and that the experience will continue to unfold.

For more information about Clear Sky Retreat Centre’s meditation and yoga programs, personal retreats, or for venue rental and group bookings, please visit clearskycenter.org or look up “Clear Sky Meditation and Study Center” on Facebook.

If you’re curious about the guiding principles and spiritual lineage of Clear Sky’s founding teachers, Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat, please visit planetdharma.com or find the Planet Dharma Facebook page.

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W: Britt Bates P: Kevin Huibers Save the Bees. It’s a hashtag, it’s graffiti, it’s the name of a Greenpeace campaign. But, as grandiose of a goal as it might seem, Kimberley and Cranbrook are actually doing their small but mighty part to, indeed, save the bees — all thanks to a local family who are boosting the populations of native bees in a collaborative and fun way.

Randy and Krista Moody, the husband-and-wife team behind the popular and charming local business Moody Bee in the Platzl, are the purveyors of a project that brings mason bees to Kimberley. This past Spring, they sold mason bee cocoons — and small wooden houses for the bees to nest in — to over three hundred families in the East Kootenays.

“It was amazing to see how people got on board,” Krista tells me, as she and Randy sip lattes in the late-summer sunshine.

“People really loved their bees — taking meticulous care of their cocoons and really looking after them.”

Randy nods in agreement. “You could see something in people. Like a...” His voice trails off as he searches for the right term. “A childlike wonder.” The Moodys tell me about how, after mentioning in a Facebook post that mason bees might prefer blue houses, locals were coming in with paint chips from Home Hardware to see if theirs was the right shade of blue. Krista laughs heartily. “It was really charming.”

People may feel like they’re just enjoying the presence of bees in their yard, when in fact, they are also contributing to an important global cause. Bees are imperative in sustainability efforts, pollinating a third of the food we consume and providing diverse habitats for all kinds of animals. Sadly, due to modern agriculture and the use of pesticides, bee populations are dropping to lower numbers than ever before. It’s

not without the help of families like the Moodys and the enthusiastic communities they foster, that bee populations can rise and stabilize again.

Mason bees, native to this area, are huge, friendly, and benign creatures; there’s never been a reported allergy to them, and they almost never sting anyways, making them safe for families and schools to adopt. They pollinate 60 to 100 times more than honeybees, making them a vital part of our natural ecosystem.

Now, having them help out around your home garden is easy, thanks to the Moodys. Krista tells me that the initiative was so successful this past spring that they plan on doing it again for years to come; and in the late summer, they’re starting to introduce a different species of native bee, the leafcutter, that thrives during the fall. Once spring rolls around again, they’ll make another species available, too, in addition to the mason bees: the widely-loved, adorable, and cartoon-like bumblebee.

“Once you have your house and cocoons you’re all set up for good; you don’t need to buy anything the following spring.

The bees should just come,” Krista explains. Randy chimes in: “The houses actually get better and better each year, because the bees like them weathered.”

This isn’t a common project for communities to adopt, making Kimberley and Cranbrook fairly forward-thinking when it comes to bee repopulation. Randy explains to me a “shortsighted” study out of the City of Toronto stating that these types of programs don’t actually work, due to the frequency of wasps taking over and inhabiting the bees’ houses instead.

In fact, in our area, “we didn’t see a single instance of this happening,” Randy says.

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That’s not to say there was a one hundred percent success rate, though: a small handful of mason bee houses remained empty around Kimberley and Cranbrook, but only about 20 of the 300 houses that the Moodys provided. This is most likely because, although mason bees are solitary in their pursuits (each individual bee is both a forager and a queen, running its own program instead of cooperating with a hive), they are also social creatures: they like to fill their houses and be around others. Likely, when one yard’s house stayed empty, it’s because the bees moved into a neighbour’s house: just like us, they find comfort in company.

The bees don’t need to look far though: nearly 6,000 cocoons were sold by the Moodys, going to homes all over town. People came from Invermere and even Lethbridge to pick up theirs, too. New bee parents waited excitedly for their insects to emerge, amazed at how the little cocoons would rattle and shake as the bees got ready for their debut.

The males come out first, then the females. After mating, each female returns to the tubes in the house, where she packs a layer of pollen, then lays her egg, then builds a little wall of mud — hence the name mason bees — before continuing these segments for the length of her tube: pollen, egg, mud. She lays female eggs at the back and males at the front. A simple and beautiful little creation. When her eggs hatch, the new bee eats the pollen and mud, then builds itself a cocoon to rest in until spring.

It isn’t necessary to buy the house from the Moodys, of course, and it’s possible to pick them up elsewhere or build your own. But Randy and Krista are quick to emphasize the importance of having the right type of house for the bees: one with tubes five inches or longer for them to nest in. Without that space, they will only have room to lay the female eggs but not the males, which guarantees the end of the bees’ life cycle.

Community members did more than just take care of their bees’ houses and cocoons: many people intentionally planted bigger, lusher gardens this summer for their bees to enjoy. Others kept the dandelions in their yard instead of killing them: the bright yellow “weeds” are, for the first few weeks in spring, the only blooms available to bees.

Perspectives have shifted here over the past year: people engage with insects instead of mindlessly swatting at them. Folks marvel excitedly at a thin stalk emerging from a crack in the sidewalk. And so, too, has our city itself changed: it’s become a town with even more abundant and vibrant gardens, overflowing with colourful flowers. There’s a hell of a lot more dandelions than there were before. And, everywhere you go, there’s a faint, but joyful, buzz in the air.

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FALL 2018 Sept 21| Kimberley Chamber Golf Tournament

Oct 20 | Symphony of the Kootenays with The Canadian Guitar

| Kimberley Golf Club | 11:30 am

Quartet | Key City Theatre | Cranbrook | 7:30 pm

Sept 21-23| Second Annual Couples Open | Trickle Creek Golf Resort | 5 pm

Oct 20 | Home Grown Coffee House | Centre 64 Theatre | 8 pm

Sept 22| 3rd Annual Kootenay Game Changer Awards

Oct 23-Nov 17 | Judy Winter Exhibition | Centre

| St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino | 5:30 pm

64 Gallery | Tues-Sat, 1 pm – 5 pm

Sept 22| Dynamiters vs. Sicamous | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

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

Sept 25 - Oct 20| “Awakening” Art Exhibition by Jeanie

Oct 28 | Kootenay ICE vs. Red Deer + Halloween Funday Presented

Miller, Marianne Rennick, Sue Pighin, Ilene Lowing & Ann

by Ktunaxa Nation | Western Financial Place | 4 pm

Holtby Jones | Centre 64 | Tues-Sat, 1 pm – 5 pm Sept 28 | PechaKucha Night Volume 4 | Paper and Cup | 6 pm

Nov 2 | Dynamiters vs. Columbia Valley | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Sept 28-30 | Speaking Earth: Legends, Land & Language

Nov 3 | Kimberley Horror Fest & Halloween Party | Scary,

- A Canadian Rocky Mountain First Nations Experience |

Strange, & Hilarious Films by Local Filmmakers | Kids Contest

St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino | All Weekend

– Day/Adult Contest – Eve | Centennial Hall | TBA

Sept 29-30 | Community Fall Fair | Exhibits, Entertainment

Nov 3 | A Spectacular Event: Great Gatsby Style – East Kootenay Foundation

& Market | Marysville Arena | All Day

for Health 2018 Starlite Ball | St. Eugene Resort & Casino | 5 pm

Sept 29 | The Clinton Swanson Trio (Blues) | Live@

Nov 3 | Dynamiters vs. Golden | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Studio64 - Fall Concert Series #2 | Centre 64 | 8 pm

Nov 5 | Cod Gone Wild – Celtic Inspired | Centre 64 Theatre | 7 pm

Oct 3 | FREE Public Swim - Sponsored by Kootenay

Nov 7 | FREE Public Swim – Sponsored by Chalet GM | Aquatic Centre | 5 pm

Monument Installations | Aquatic Centre | 5 pm

Nov 8 | Larch Festival | Stonefire Pizzeria | 5 pm

Oct 5 | Dynamiters vs. Kamloops | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Nov 9 | Dynamiters vs. Beaver Valley | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Oct 6 | First Saturday – Celebrate Oktoberfest! | Hiking, High Tea

Nov 10 | Dynamiters vs. Grand Forks | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

at the Chateau Kimberley, Art Exhibition at Centre 64, Art Demos

Nov 16 | 2nd Annual Late Night Shopping Event &

& Workshops, Kids Parade, Bavarian Festival, Kimberley Heritage

Countdown to Christmas | The Platzl | 5 pm - Late

Museum, Elks Oktoberfest Family Street Dance Party – Brats, Beers,

Nov 17 | Light-up Night with Santa - Sponsored by Kimberley

& Pretzels, & More | Platzl and Elks Hall | 9 am – Evening

& District Chamber of Commerce | The Platzl | 6:30 pm

Oct 6 | Dynamiters vs. Castlegar | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Nov 17 | Cecelia LaRochelle Jazz Combo | Fall

Oct 7 | A Taste of Thanksgiving | Fort Steele Heritage Town | TBA

Concert Series #4 | Live@Studio64 | 8 pm

Oct 8 | Kootenay ICE vs. Medicine Hat + Kimberley Dynamiters

Nov 20 - Dec 22 | Art Exhibition: Invitational Christmas Gift

Recognition | Western Financial Place | 4 pm

Show & Sale | Centre 64 Gallery | Tues-Sat, 1 pm – 5 pm

Oct 12-13, 18-21, 24-27 | “Tin Woman” Production by

Nov 21 | FREE Family Swim – Sponsored by Rotary

Cranbrook Community Theatre | Directed by Trevor Lundy | Stage

Club of Kimberley | Aquatic Centre 6 pm

Door Theatre | Cranbrook | 7:30 pm & 2 pm Matinee

Nov 23 | Dynamiters vs. Beaver Valley | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Oct 13 | Beer, Bones & Boogie (Dinner, Music, Fellowship & Hats!)

Nov 24 | Home Grown Coffee House | Centre 64 Theatre | 8 pm

– Rotary Club Fundraiser | Centennial Centre | 5:30 pm Oct 13 | Dynamiters vs. Revelstoke | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Dec 5 | FREE Public Swim – Sponsored by Fortis BC | Aquatic Centre 5 pm

Oct 14 | Guy Davis (Blues) – Fall Concert Series #3 | Live@Studio64 | 3 pm

Dec 7 | Dynamiters vs. Nelson | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Oct 17 | FREE Family Swim – Sponsored by Josh

Dec 8 | Dynamiters vs. Spokane | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Lockhart | Aquatic Centre | 6 pm

Dec 12 | FREE Family Swim – Sponsored by Kimberley

Oct 19 | Kimberley Business Excellence Awards – Sponsored

United Church | Aquatic Centre | 6 pm

by Kimberley Chamber of Commerce | Kimberley

Dec 15 | Dynamiters vs. Columbia Valley | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Conference & Athlete Training Centre | 6 pm

Dec 18 | Dynamiters vs. Fernie | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Oct 19 | Dynamiters vs. Creston | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

Dec 19 | FREE Family Swim – Sponsored by Kimberley

Oct 20 | Local Government Election | Kimberley | 11:30 am

Health Care Auxiliary | Aquatic Centre | 6 pm

Oct 20 | Dynamiters vs. Fernie | Kimberley Civic Centre | 7 pm

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

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

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

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PUBLISHING Janis Caldwell Mortgage Specialist Royal Bank of Canada

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