Golden This Week - June 26, 2015

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Staff at the Golden Hospital have been very active in their fundraising efforts for the new ventilator, with many of the facility’s health care providers, along with their friends and family, donating time to run the concession stand at this year’s softball wrap-up tournament. From left to right are Melissa Sharp, Bella Vollhoffer, Pam Mitchner, Michelle Plenderleith and Amanda Shibley. Missing from the photo: Sue Dukealow. Photo by Carrie White.

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by Carrie White &EJUPS t (PMEFO 5IJT 8FFL

From June 19 to 21, much of Golden hospital’s heath care team and other staff were out fundraising for a new transport ventilator for the facility.

The crew’s second official fundraising event, held on June 19 in the Spirit Square, featured a Rotary Club barbecue and entertainment from a variety of local musical talent. At the end of the event, over $1,000 had been raised – a testament to the generosity of the community.

“We want to provide people with the gold standard, rural health care that they deserve.� ~ Registered Nurse Melissa Sharp On June 20 and 21, Golden’s nurses, their family and friends donated their time, baked goods, cooking and beverage skills to run the concession stand at the wrap up tournament for the Golden softball league.

Registered Nurse Melissa Sharp and Sue McRoberts, who organized the

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Sharp says raising the funds and securing the ventilator is important to her and the other staff. “We want to provide people with gold standard, rural health care that they deserve,� she adds.

Physicians Kirk and Kate McCarroll, who spearheaded the initiative to raise money for the equipment, say the ventilator is currently used only a few times a month when a patient needs to be put to sleep so that the equipment can take over breathing duty. It can be set at a certain volume in order to maintain a person’s individual needs.

We have one now, but it’s quite old,� says Dr. Kirk McCarroll. “It’s also not approved for pediatric care, so we would have to use the old fashioned way if a child were in need.�

The current equipment doesn’t have

the sensitivity to accurately deliver air to a child, he adds. “The unit we have now doesn’t give breath to breath readouts so it creates some guesswork,� explains McCarroll. “This is not ideal for a person whose lungs are sensitive to high pressure.�

Amazingly, the new machine gives a digital image of the lung and warnings if the pressure is too high.

Additionally, with a new ventilator, McCarroll says the Golden Hospital staff will be able to manage situations more $POUJOVFE PO QBHF

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A fun-draising party in the Spirit Square ... Continued from page 3 safely and with a higher quality of care.

The new unit is also smaller and more compact. It isn’t something used for long periods of time, he explains, but is ideal short term transport. Having two units will also solve the dilemma of not having a ventilator at the hospital when it is in use transporting a patient to a larger centre.

McCarroll says the decision to fundraise came after recognizing a need for the equipment, but also realizing that the budget could not support it at this time.

The incentive for the hospital team is simple.

“It will be nice to be on the same page as the hospitals we are sending our critically ill patients to.”

“It will make our work more rewarding and enable us to give better care,” says McCarroll.

Sharp says that for the nurses working with critical patients the new ventilator will definitely help improve care standards.

“When we are consulting larger centres, it is hard for them to coach us through certain scenarios because their equipment is so much more advanced,” she explains.

“It will be nice to be on the same page as the hospitals we are sending our critically ill patients to. This equipment is a lot more accurate and the technology is more beneficial to a greater population than the equipment we have now.”

McCarroll says that fundraising efforts will continue, with a plan in the works to host a lobster dinner in the fall. The cost of the equipment is about $45,000 total and once the group reaches the milestone of $12,500, Interior Health has agreed to match the funds.

Speaking to the efforts of his fellow co-workers, McCarroll says it’s really nice having such involved staff.

“They all really care about the hospital and they all recognize the need for this equipment. It’s been a real team effort.

This is a great hospital to work for.”

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Here’s to Canada, eh?

by Carrie White &EJUPS t (PMEFO 5IJT 8FFL “It’s a great time for a stay-cation in Golden!�

So says Ruth Hamilton, manager at the Kicking Horse Country Chamber of Commerce (KHCCC), ahead of a busy week of events – including Canada Day festivities.

The party gets started on June 30, with Summer Kicks in the Spirit Square featuring Cannery Row with Gary Comeau and local talent, The Pickups.

The fun continues on Canada Day bright and early at 9 a.m. with the KHCCC

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Work off all those pancakes by joining in the 2015 Kicking Horse Country Dash, a

fun, five- and 10-kilometre run, sponsored by the chamber and IGA. Hamilton says the run is open to anyone who wants to participate and will start and finish in the Spirit Square.

“The ambitious athletes will be out front and can be timed if they desire,� she adds.

Registrants receive a free T-shirt plus ... Continued on page 8

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Embracing Transformation Carrie White Editor This weekend marks the “birth” of the Conscious Goddess festival in Parson, B.C. As a title sponsor, a reporter and an interested party, I will be attending to represent Golden This Week, report, take pictures and to perhaps learn a few things from the great women and men putting on and participating in the event.

The theme of the festival is “Transformation” and as I ruminate on that idea, I can’t help but think about the transformations that I have undergone in the past few years and what transformations I have yet to undergo.

Part of that transformation has involved coming to terms with the loss of a loved one and breaking free of a cycle of grief and anger.

It’s funny how we can think ourselves to be strong and even above such things as grief sometimes. I have always tried to be very logical about loss, even saying to others, “We all have to go sometime.”

How thoughtless that was of me and how wrong I was to think that I could deal with such things so much better than others because of my so-called “logic.”

When I had my first real experience with death just three years ago, I spiralled into depression. I was angry, sad and felt completely “ripped off” by life. I was so caught up in my own grief that I lost the wonder and zest for the world around me that I had become known for (at least to those very close to me). That “logic” I had practiced for so long went out the window. I forgot all the good things about myself and life in general. I transformed into a person that I didn’t even recognize and thought that there was no way I could come back.

But, as any of you who have dealt with or are dealing with major loss can probably attest to, that age old saying that “time heals”, is true; and I find myself getting better and better – transforming even - each day. Some things that used to bother me a lot don’t, and some things that didn’t bother me before, do now.

I have a long way to go and I believe now that we never stop transforming. I also believe that part of that process is to try new things, step out of your comfort zone and learn that just because you believe something – that doesn’t make it right or true for everyone.

As I read through the schedule of the Conscious Goddess festival the first time, I felt some of my old hang ups creep up on me. “There are activities on here that I could never take part in,” I thought. I caught myself and asked, “Why do you think that? Have you even tried that before? Maybe, just maybe, you will love it or at least really connect with it!”

I have to admit, some of the activities at the festival are far outside of my wheelhouse, but maybe that is what transformation or change is all about: Moving away from what you consider the norm and allowing yourself to try something new/exciting/scary.

My mom used to say “You’ll never know until you try,” and as I head into the weekend those words have never rang truer.

Check us out online at www.GoldenThisWeek. com

5IJT8FFL Golden

email: publisher@goldenthisweek.com

Advertising deadline is Wednesday at noon. Contact info: Published every Friday.

Box 131, Golden, BC V0A 1H0 FREE distribution in high traffic areas in (250) 344-8137 town and on the Trans-Canada Highway.

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52nd Street Project gives kids ‘experience of success’

by Carrie White &EJUPS t (PMEFO 5IJT 8FFL On July 3, Golden will welcome the Teen Ensemble of the 52nd Street Project as they travel from the Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood of New York, N.Y., to perform their version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

According to their website, the Project was founded in 1981 by actor/playwright Willie Reale in response to a deepening need to improve the quality of life for the kids of Hell’s Kitchen. Though the oncetough neighbourhood of Manhattan is changing, the Project remains active in the community, working to teach kids about community and acceptance. They also get paired up with adult mentors and learn about acting and playwriting.

Golden This Week had a chance to sit down and chat with a few of the teens recently, Brandon Leon, 17 and Jazmine Mikell, 18.

Brandon started the program when he was just nine years old and was introduced to the project by the adults in his life. “I was nervous,� he says of joining the program. Not knowing what kinds of things he would be expected to do, the once-shy Brandon wasn’t too sure about joining the Project. “But then I met so many people and made friends.�

Jazmine, too, started the program at nine years of age. “My godmother attended this program and she asked my mother to have me join,� she explains. “I was nervous at first because I was very shy.�

But just as Brandon met and made friends, so did Jazmine and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Project offers various levels of courses to the different age groups it attracts. By the time Project students reach their late teens, they enter a twoyear program that focuses on advanced acting and existing plays. In the second year, they tackle Shakespeare and are encouraged to add and have input on their own interpretations of the characters and stories as they prepare for a full production.

The kids who have stuck with the Project are treated to a “senior trip.�

-FBSO NPSF BCPVU UIF OE 4USFFU 1SPKFDU BU XXX QSPKFDU PSH When talking about Shakespeare, both teens express their appreciation for the playwright.

Artistic Director of the program, Natalie

“I was very shy before and very self conscious. I feel like it helped me open up and break out of my shell.

It helped me express my creativity.�

Hirsch says that for those familiar with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the play will be easy to follow – though there have been some adaptations made and a more modern twist has been added.

Brandon has been cast as Peter the director of the play within a play, and also plays Mustard Seed – fairy servant the Queen. “I play Hermia’s sister, Cobweb (another of the Queen’s fairy servants) and one of

the actors – Snuggles instead of Snug,� explains Jazmine.

The teens’ “first full-out performance� is on June 26, when they will open the show at their home theatre – The Five Angels Theatre in Hell’s Kitchen.

It’s after that that many of the teens will travel outside the city for their first time – with most coming to Canada for their first time – to perform the play in Calgary, Alta., and then Golden.

The kids will get to partake in some true Canadian experiences – attending a rodeo in Calgary and doing come hiking in Banff before they head to Golden for a few days.

Not surprisingly, many of the teens are not very familiar with Golden, let alone the vast place to the north – Canada, and Brandon and Jazmine say they are excited to travel to the mountains. When queried about what they know of Golden and Canada, Jazmine quips, “I’ve heard of Canadian Bacon!�

Getting serious again, the teens say that the Project has had a positive impact on their lives. “They [the facilitators] are very understanding,� says Brandon. “They are

there to support you and they really want you to stand out and try something new.

It’s a full commitment but it’s really fun.� “I actually wrote my college essay about this program,� says Jazmine, who is graduating high school this year and will attend Buffalo State for Business studies in the fall. “I was very shy before and very self conscious. I feel like it helped me open up and break out of my shell. It helped me express my creativity.�

Jordan echoes her sentiment. He has one year of high school left and is trying to decide on whether to become a doctor or a marine biologist. “On a personal level, I feel with the Project I can come to them [the facilitators] with anything.�

The teens say they are proud of what they have accomplished thus far and are excited to share it with Golden. “We have all worked very hard on this and we have been working for it since January,� Jazmine says.

Continued on page 8

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4IBLFTQFBSF JO (PMEFO Continued from page 7 “But it feels like it went by fast,� adds Brandon.

Natalie, who joined the Project as the artistic director in February this year, says it’s exciting to ease these teens out of the program while also seeing the new kids change and grow. “We all belong, we all get along,� she says, quoting the Project’s mantra. “It’s about community with us. We are all one and we all treat each other with respect and love.�

Natalie says she looks forward to taking on the show on the road, “to take the kids away so that they can have other experiences.�

“I’m most excited about watching the kids experience these new places and seeing their reactions,� she muses, adding that it will also be interesting to see the teens perform on another stage.

“I’m most excited about watching the kids experience these new places and seeing their reactions.� “They have worked so hard and I feel honoured that Golden is so excited to welcome them,� Natalie says of the upcoming show. “We are really looking forward to sharing this experience with Golden.�

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Your 2015 Municipal Property Taxes Reminder of Payment Tools and Dates

Property Tax Notices for the Town of Golden have now been mailed to all property owners on record. If you have not received your tax notice, please contact Town Hall to get one.

Taxes are due 4:30pm on July 2, 2015.

After this date, a 10% penalty will be added to any unpaid current taxes.

If you are participating in the pre-authorized payment program, note that the pre-payment amount on your tax notice includes the May 15th payment. Because prepayment amounts were based on an estimates there maybe still be a balance owing. To avoid a penalty, review your Tax Notice carefully and make sure you pay any outstanding balance prior to July 2, 2015.

Avoid the last minute rush; we accept post-dated cheques, Debit Card payments, and you can pay online through most financial institutions. We recommend allowing at least 5 business days for processing of online payments. Credit card payments are not accepted.

2015 HOME OWNER GRANT (HOG) You can claim your HOG even if your current taxes are not paid in full. Claim it at Town Hall or on-line via the link at www.golden.ca. The eHOG password for the form is identified in the address portion at the top left-hand side of your 2015 tax notice. Penalties apply to HOG’s not claimed by July 2, 2015.

PRE-PAYMENT OF 2016 PROPERTY TAXES We offer a property tax prepayment plan; budget your property taxes and avoid the July property tax hardship. Monthly tax payments are made though your bank by preauthorized debits on the 15th of each month, starting in August 2015 for the 2016 taxation year. Any prepayment toward 2015 property taxes will be applied as a credit toward the 2016 tax year.

Call the Town Hall to order an application form.

Thank you for your support in ensuring our services to you and this community!

a chance to win prizes. A portion of the proceeds from the event go to the Annual KHCCC Bursary at Golden Secondary School, for a graduate who plans to pursue post-secondary business studies. Online registration for the run closes at 12 p.m. on June 30. “The event is building,� says Hamilton. “We are getting 45 to 50 runners out each year.�

Hamilton notes that a lot of volunteers are needed to help at the breakfast and for the run. The KHCCC is still in need of volunteers and is actively searching for more hands. Those interested can contact Hamilton at the chamber office or by visiting the KHCCC website, goldenchamber.bc.ca, and filling out a volunteer survey form.

Canada Day events continue around the community with hot dogs and refreshments at the Golden Museum starting at 11 a.m., followed by a special birthday cake and singing of Oh Canada at 12 p.m.

After you’ve had your cake and eaten it too, head downtown for the Redline Show & Shine and the Golden Farmers Market, running from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

While you’re out walking around, swing by the horseshoe pits to catch some of the

action as the Gentleman’s Leisure Club of Golden hosts a horseshoe tourney from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Don’t forget to stay cool on Canada Day. Swing by the Golden Municipal Pool from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the Canada Day pool party. There will be a host of games and activities for everyone.

At 7 p.m., head over to the Golden Municipal Campground for a Canada Day concert with Jurassic Mike, and take advantage of the Little Mitten’s Animal Rescue Association’s barbecue and beer gardens.

Finish the day of celebrations at 10:55 p.m. with the Town of Golden fireworks display. The best views are along Kicking Horse River Dyke near the campground.

Posters advertising all the events can be found all over town or find out more by visiting the KHCCC Canada Day Facebook page. The idea for advertising all the events together started a few years ago when Hamilton says she was hearing from people that there was “nothing to do� around town on Canada Day. “I took it upon myself to create a Facebook page and have posters listing all the events,� she says. “It’s a big day and always has been, but now people can use this as a one-stopshop for finding out what’s happening on Canada Day.�

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Durand Manor: Grab a Granny and go!

by Carrie White &EJUPS t (PMEFO 5IJT 8FFL Though she has only been in Golden a short time, Durand Manor Residential Care Coordinator Tanis Brown is making big differences in the community.

Brown came to work at Durand Manor early in 2015 and one of the first things she noticed is the gap in transportation accessibility for the wheelchair bound at the facility. “The biggest thing that I saw when I started here was that there weren’t a lot of opportunities to get the residents outside,� she says.

So Brown set out to create those opportunities by starting the Grab a Granny and Go initiative. “My whole vision is around the idea that these folks need to get out more and a lot of it is getting the community to come to them,� she says, adding that it can be difficult for residents with mobility issues to get out on their own. “The idea really started from seeing that everyone here still has so much life to live and they want to be involved in the community. In February, as the weather started to get nicer, I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to get these people outside?’�

Brown says when she started exploring options to do so, she was surprised by a comment from a family member wondering if the residents were “allowed� to go outside. That idea is one she would like to change with the help of the community. “I want this to be intergenerational and have the community involved to get the Grannies and Grandpas outdoors,� she says.

When she started the program, Brown says that the help of the care aide students stationed in Golden at the time was great because there were extra hands to be able to take residents on walks. Those students now work for Durand and still volunteer on their days off, but more volunteer help is needed.

The program runs once a week, every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. “We meet at Durand and walk all over town,� says Brown. “Ideally, we would like to extend the program so that we can take the seniors to different events – like the

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The program has been such a hit at Durand that Brown says residents line up at the door on Tuesdays in anticipation. “It is something so simple for them to look forward to. Just getting outside provides something different in their day. That’s why it’s so essential to have volunteers,� she says. “The more people we can get volunteering the better, so that we can do this without leaving anyone behind.�

Each resident that wants to participate needs a volunteer, and there are currently not always enough hands to bring everyone out who wishes to go.

Tanis says she really wants to change things for Durand residents and help improve accessibility for the residents that live there. “There is no transportation options for the wheelchair bound and until we can get a bus, the only way to get people out is to take them walking,� she says with earnest.

Though she is still in need of volunteers,

Brown says she has so far seen huge support from the community for the initiative. “It’s a healthy activity for the community in so many ways.�

Anyone is welcome to volunteer for the Grab a Granny and Go program. All that is needed is a criminal record check, which is free if you mention you are volunteering for the program.

For more information, contact Tanis Brown at 250-344-3006 or by email at tanis.brown@interiorhealth.ca.

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Motion Notion music festival setting the stage

by Kris King Special to Golden This Week

In just a few weeks, the Motion Notion electronic music festival will bring thousands of people together in the Beaverfoot Valley just east of Golden on the edge of the Yoho National Park.

From July 23 to July 27, a temporary town will spring up, with the purpose of bringing world travelers together for the joy of community, electronic music, powerful visual shows, artisans, performance art and stunning views of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Over the last 16 years, Motion Notion has grown a loyal following and has grown in size and breadth of concept, while presenting all genres of electronic music. New this year is a celebration of the underground electronic music scene, with the development of four independent stages free from the festival lineup.

“This allows people to construct a stage play their music, who wouldn’t normally,” says James Katalyst, creator of Motion Notion and owner of Katalyst Events.

Indeed, the event is big and draws well known bands to headline including Infected Mushroom, from Los Angeles Calif., a duo act who are called “the founders of psychedelic trance.” Also sharing the main stage is, Noisa from Groningen, Netherlands - a trio of artists that have nurtured the drum and bass genre.

This year will see a blend of international artists and a large representation of local and regional artists. Katalyst explains the local DJ representation.

“We bring in people from all towns over B.C. and Alberta.”

On the bill are local favorites DJ WakCutt, Mihajic Touch, DJ Threesixty, Bass Workshop, Serial Slayer, Lefy and Ohm Girl.

Katalyst says it takes a small army of workers to create the Motion Notion festival grounds at the Beaverfoot Lodge.

Because the venue is a popular spot for weddings, time is limited for set up and tear down - to three days each. Within that time seven stages, with full sound and ... Continued on page 11

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16 years of .PUJPO /PUJPO

... Continued from page 10 tank and mobile glass blowers; parking lots, campgrounds and more are set up and torn down.

There is a host of returning staff that come year after year to help build each stage and section of the facilities.

Out in the wilderness, trees, lights and music, festival goers describe a community of people being born.

Festival goer Datsura Nightshade says, “It’s close to home, so many of my friends usually go, and we make a super ballin’ camp! Incredible stage designs in a beautiful pristine mountain setting and a good amount of people for the size of the land, so lots of dancing and camping room.”

When asked why he thinks people come to the festival, Katalyst says, “I think they love the venue and our production is top notch. No fences, a lot of freedom and a real open atmosphere”.

There is something for everyone and families are welcome at the eclectic electronic music festival.

Tickets can be purchased online at motionnotion. com or at the gate. Reduced tickets are available at the gate on days two to four.

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Celebrating Aboriginal Day

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by Carrie White &EJUPS t (PMEFO 5IJT 8FFL On June 21, the Golden Museum hosted Aboriginal Day celebrations – a great wrap up to a week of festivities at home and around the country.

The afternoon saw community members come out to honour Aboriginal heritage with traditional song, dance, food and prayer. Local historian Tom Jobin showcased his collection of hand crafted artifacts, much to the delight of onlookers who marveled at his selection of dolls, clothing and tools. Golden’s Li JigÊurs Mechif performed as did local fiddlers and singers.

Earlier in the week, Rocky Mountain School District (SD 6) signed its first Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement, in its continued efforts to ensure Aboriginal learning in its schools.

The agreement, signed on June 17,

supports the academic, cultural and social needs of all Aboriginal learners in SD 6. “During the event amongst this unique assembly, I feel this agreement, while focused on ensuring Aboriginal students have an improved level of educational opportunity, will reveal other strengths,â€? says Kelly Mason, MĂŠtis Nation Columbia River Society (MNCRS) president. “By bringing a spirit of indigenous perspective, all students can benefit.

Teachings that include attentiveness to

our place in the natural environment, is a return to community-based knowledge that can positively impact everyone.�

According to a release from SD 6, the agreement includes four goals, which are set within the teachings of a medicine wheel. “Each goal (cultural, mental, physical and emotional) has equal importance and provides a holistic approach to enhance school success,� states the release.

The Rocky Mountain School District,

which includes the communities of Invermere, Kimberley and Golden, has 15 Aboriginal education support workers that collaborate with teachers to integrate Aboriginal content in the classroom and provide academic assistance to students.

They also connect elders to the classroom and plan community events.

According to their recent release, the six-year completion rate for Aboriginal students in SD 6 has improved from 55.7 per cent in 2009-10 to 63.4 per cent in 2013-14. “Rocky Mountain school district is very pleased to be signing its first Aboriginal education agreement with our partners,� says Amber Byklum, Rocky Mountain school district board chair. “This agreement is a statement of our shared commitment and vision for all Aboriginal learners and signifies the importance that we all place on the relationships that support the educational enhancement of each student.�

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Photos by Carrie White

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5IF 3PDLZ .PVOUBJO TDIPPM EJTUSJDU 4% TJHOFE JUT mSTU "CPSJHJOBM &EVDBUJPO &OIBODFNFOU "HSFFNFOU PO +VOF 5IF BHSFFNFOU TVQQPSUT UIF BDBEFNJD DVMUVSBM BOE TPDJBM OFFET PG BMM "CPSJHJOBM MFBSOFST JO 4% Photo submitted by the Métis Nation Columbia River Society

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Students work together to paint the town for drinking water Submitted by Wildsight Golden As part of the Columbia Basin Trust’s Know Your Watershed program, last week Grade 8 students from Golden Secondary School (GSS) and 21 Grade 2/3 students from Alexander Park Elementary School (APES) worked together to paint bright yellow faucet symbols beside storm drains around Golden.

“My class had a blast.�

Through this special “Student Action Project,� the students learned that toxic gas spills, chemicals and other waste can wash into storm drains and affect their drinking water.

The students covered a lot of ground, exploring new places and marking 60 storm drains on busy streets and residential areas. “My class had a blast,� said Grade 2/3 teacher, Katie King.

In addition to the painted faucets, the students used sidewalk chalk to draw arrows, fish and messages such as “No Pollution,� “I Love Clean Water,� and “Keep Our Drinking Water Clean.� “It was such a joy,� said Wildsight educator, Carmen Dolinsky. “Watching the bonding between the Grade 8’s and the Grade 2/3’s was so inspiring.�

Wildsight volunteers and school staff from both APES and GSS contributed greatly in helping to make the day a big success. Red Tomato Pies rewarded the hard-working students with delicious pizza at the end of the day.

Know Your Watershed is a regionally based watershed education program of the Columbia Basin Trust delivered throughout the Canadian portion of the Columbia Basin since 2010. Administered and managed by Wildsight, the program is designed specifically for students and supports teachers in delivering the Science 8 curriculum. Students take part in two classroom sessions and a full-day field trip to increase their knowledge and awareness of their watershed and water-related issues in their communities.

For more information, visit wildsight.ca/ program/know-your-watershed.

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Growing through gardening - finding my way home to my heart

by Cat Gibbs Special to Golden This Week

The joy and satisfaction I experience in growing and harvesting my own food, I’m guessing, is similar to the joy and satisfaction that comes with any ‘hand-made’ activity - the simple and miraculous joy of crafting, of creating, be it art or song or clothes or furniture. This year is no exception and it’s been lovely to be eating from the garden so early in the season.

For me, gardening has also been a way of ‘coming home’ to myself and, as I’ve done so over the years, I’ve found my relationship with life shifting. Life in the garden is different. I’m more observant and less controlling. I’ve learned to watch things.

And, though it may sound silly to most folks, I do my best to refrain from killing life in my garden, be it weeds, caterpillars, even slugs; my heart no longer allows it…

Now, write me off for a nature nut or walk with me a ways. When I first started gardening, insects survived and thrived in my garden, not because of any

soft-heartedness on my part, but simply because I was too squeamish to pick them off and kill them. A few years ago, however, I attended a lecture by David Suzuki in Invermere. His speech was lovely and inspiring and his message rang its way home to my heart: the environmental movement had failed, failed utterly and completely, and not because we didn’t have the technical means or know-how to make the necessary change but because we had attempted to tackle the problem from our heads when the problem lay in our hearts.

Is our indifference to other living creatures any different from our indifference to and disconnection from the atrocities being perpetrated on other people around the world? Why is it that we remain largely unmoved in the face of human violence, suffering and despair? How is it that we can go ‘mud-bogging’ in the desecrated and desolate landscape of the drained Kinbasket basin and call this ‘re-creation’?

Why is it that we do the majority of the things we do in life? Our striving and our straining, our reaching and our grasping is… for what? What is it that we are run-

ning from… ourselves? and the desolateness and emptiness we sense within?

“Is our indifference to other living creatures any different from our indifference to and disconnection from the atrocities being perpetrated on other people around the world?

Why is it that we remain largely unmoved in the face of human violence, suffering and despair?”

I ask these questions because I agree with David Suzuki. The problem does lie in our heart and in our spirit. I believe we are a deeply wounded and disconnected people and this woundedness is so pervasive and so normalized in our society most of us don’t realize a healing journey is necessary. As I’ve come home to myself and my heart over the years, a reverence

in me for even the ‘lowliest’ of creatures has organically sprouted and grown and in direct proportion to the healing of my connection to self. This is why I can no longer kill things indiscriminately in my garden.

Rather, these days, I find myself impressed with and fascinated by the big black beetles I occasionally find digging headfirst into a strawberry or the daddy-longlegs I find sucking juice out of a raspberry.

There’s space for them in my garden and, more importantly, there is space for them in my heart.

I’m not sure if I’m really speaking about gardening anymore or maybe it’s just that I no longer compartmentalize things and gardening is as much a part of my life journey as everything else I do. I truly believe the only hope for our world is to heal our relationship with ourselves so that we have healing and heart-full relationships with others and most importantly with our children. So we don’t re-inflict upon them, the ones we love the most, this gaping wound, this disease of disconnect.

Yours in growing through gardening, Cat Gibbs, awakeandworking4change. wordpress.com

Thank you!

Melissa Sharp and Sue McRoberts would like to thank everyone who donated to the concession stand on June 20 and 21 for their generosity in helping to raise money for a new ventilator.

A Special shout out to The Riverhouse, the Mad Trapper Beer Store, IGA, Overwaitea, Pam Michner the baby whisperer, Michelle Plenderleith, Robyn Nutt, Zoe, Ivanka, the amazing community of ball players who supported us, Amanda and Darianne, and the boys hockey team for their donations.

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Goaaaaal-den!

Goaaaaal-den!

Goaaaaal-den!

Golden Minor Soccer wrapped up another successful season with the Soccer Jamboree at Keith King Memorial Park on June 20 and 21.

Photos by Carrie White

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Ice cream for Breakfast: Magical grandmothers and the secrets they share

by Sarah Elizabeth Special to Golden This Week

When my daughter’s “Mimi� (that’s toddler for Grandma) arrived from Ontario for a visit for her second birthday, she was so thrilled she proceeded to take off all her clothes and have “naked-time,� while running around the house for almost three hours (my daughter, not my Mom, just to be clear).

There’s no arguing the great significance of a Grandmother. Seeing my mother so happy and Ruby basking in the spotlight of it, proved that no matter how far away you live and how little time you get together, the truest love can still be felt. When love like that exists for someone, anyone, they thrive and they shine with joy so bright others can see it in the aura around them.

At least this is what I saw in my daughters’ feet during her amazing happy-dance.

I was lucky to know and have a significant amount of time with both of my Grandmothers, who, looking back were polar opposites with two things in common, they knew how to laugh and love.

My Oma taught me the simple joys of a garden in the summer, cooling off under a water spray from a hose draped over a clothesline or an old wine barrel filled with water to sit in while playing with my Father’s old toys - Johnny West and some little plastic animals. We explored all the nooks and crannies of the garden, from the vines of the raspberries to the frog pond.

We followed the many paths around the forget-me-nots and snap dragons, while playing hide and seek among the rhubarb.

She taught me how to make homemade apple-filled perogies and generously fed us chocolate cake and cookies or chamomile tea with honey in it. I can still smell the coffee brewing in the kitchen and hear the sound of her footsteps in her humble home as she ran to the door to greet a friendly neighbour or another family member. “Nah-ya,� she would say, shrugging of the small stuff. She would sing You are my Sunshine and Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be) in her best voice and as a little girl I believed for a long time that the Sera in that song was me, but maybe it was for her.

3VCZ BOE .JNJ 5IFSF T TPNFUIJOH BCPVU (SBOEQBSFOUT UIBU NBLF UIFJS DIJMESFO T DIJMESFO XBML B MJUUMF UBMMFS TIJOF B MJUUMF CSJHIUFS TNJMF B MJUUMF XJEFS o JU NVTU CF UIBU VODPOEJUJPOBM MPWF DPVQMFE XJUI DPNQMFUF TNJUUFO BENJSBUJPO "T B (SBOEEBVHIUFS * SFNFNCFS JU XFMM BOE BT B .PUIFS * USVMZ BQQSFDJBUF TFFJOH JU VOGPME CFUXFFO NZ EBVHIUFS BOE NZ NPUIFS *U T KVTU NBHJDBM She laughed from her belly, gleefully and joyfully. She loved the Golden Girls and thought Betty White was hilarious. She was a wonderful Oma and a very beautiful woman.

My other Grandmother, my Mom’s Mom, taught me a lot about mystery, traveling, writing, dreaming, dressing up and wearing lipstick. She would curl my hair and take me out for lunch. I learned early about cheap places to go for chicken wings and the luxury of toasted tomato sandwiches served with French fries.

In the summer I would spend the weekends with her at the cottage, exercising my independence while swimming all day in the river (she was always on watch of course). We would play with the neighbourhood kids, hide and seek, then sit by a bon fire and roast marshmallows and hot dogs.

My Grandmother would take me shopping and let me pick something out and I would pick her a bouquet of flowers

from the side of the road while walking up to her house. At her house I would admire her many lipsticks, satin night robes, fancy shoes (she had a pair of gold platforms straight out of the 70’s) and shelves of books.

She taught me how to play dominos and enjoy chips. Time would stand still when the game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune were on as we tried to get all the answers. She was great at it and claimed Alex Trebek was her boyfriend – you know, to this day I’m not sure if that was true or not; she was a convincing story teller.

She would give me chores and made sure I did them; spoke her mind and challenged me. She made me laugh with her outrageous comments and off-thecuff-for-shock-value remarks about my Grandfather’s “plumber’s bum,� or, how she once found a sock in my cousin’s thick curly hair while brushing it. Once, she told me she could see up “Martin� and down “Fartin� while sitting down in a pair of jean

shorts that were too short. As I got older, my Grandmother became a confidant for me. She would listen carefully to my trials and tribulations and share stories with me from her childhood and about her parents, which always fascinated me.

Yes, I was truly lucky and am so grateful to have had both of my Grandmothers in my life, and for a very long time.

Occasionally, I look in the mirror for a resemblance of them. I know they live on inside of me, and I do my best to remember their uniquely nurturing ways in small gestures with my own daughter; a piece of chocolate now and then, chamomile tea at bedtime, a date out for French fries, a swim at the pool, or a walk to pick a bouquet of flowers. We play hideand-go-seek at the park, give lots of hugs and kisses and sing songs and this suits her just fine, but can I excite my daughter to the point of whipping off her diaper for a three-hour, naked-time happy dance? No, only her Mimi can.

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The

Conscious Goddess Festival

June 26-28 Parson,BC www.theconsciousgoddessfestival.com

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Eat Pure: Fair Trade - Getting a better deal

by Nicole du Vent Eat Pure Mountain Market

You’ve probably seen Fair Trade stickers on bananas or the logo on your favorite chocolate bar, but what does Fair Trade really mean? Is it just a clever marketing tool or is there proof to the label?

Well, since opening Eat Pure Mountain Market I’ve had the chance to learn quite a bit about what Fair Trade Certification means and why it matters to me and influences my buying choices.

“The Fair Trade program was created to ensure fair wages and working conditions for producers, and gives the consumer assurance that the products they are purchasing are aligned with their values.�

The current Fair Trade Certification "U &BU 1VSF .PVOUBJO .BSLFU BMM PG PVS QSPEVDF UIBU DPNFT GSPN .FYJDP PS GVSUIFS TPVUI JT 'BJS 5SBEF DFSUJmFE program emerged in the late 1980s and is now an internationally recognized program with standards for producers and distributors, as well as third party monitoring to ensure that these standards are met. t DVQT 8IPMF XIFBU QBTUSZ PS ingredients.

The standards ensure safe working Spoon batter into a greased or paper fine Spelt flour conditions, fair wages, long term contracts cup lined muffin tin and top muffins with t UTQ #BLJOH QPXEFS between producers and distributors and t DVQ $PDPOVU nBLFT QMVT NPSF an extra tbsp of coconut per muffin. can provide pay advances to producers. #BLF GPS NJOVUFT BU $ for topping Both producers and distributors are subject t UTQ 4BMU to annual audits and inspections to ensure t SJQF #BOBOBT NBTIFE XJUI B GPSL they comply with regulations. t DVQ $PDPOVU PJM CVUUFS PS PJM The Fair Trade program was created to t MBSHF &HH ensure fair wages and working conditions t UTQ 7BOJMMB for producers, and gives the consumer t 0SBOHF [FTU BOE KVJDF assurance that the products they are purchasing are aligned with their values.

Sift together flour, baking powder, At Eat Pure Mountain Market all of our coconut and salt in a medium bowl. produce that comes from Mexico or further Melt the oil then whisk in bananas, south is Fair Trade certified; you won’t find egg, vanilla, orange juice and zest. any Dole bananas here!

Gently combine wet and dry

Sugar Free FAIRTRADE Banana Coconut Muffins

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Oman - Places visited, Bob and Heather Munro

by Bob Munro Special to Golden This Week

)BQQZ HSBOEGBUIFS #PC .VOSP GFFEJOH %ZMBO GPS UIF mSTU UJNF JO 0NBO One country that was not on our “travel radar� was Oman which is located at the south eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, on the Arabian Sea. That all changed earlier this year when our son Dan and his wife Kelly announced they were moving to Muscat, the capital of Oman, for a 2 year work program. Kelly was eight months pregnant at the time and has since given birth to our first granddaughter Dylan. We quickly made new plans and in May travelled to Oman. Are we glad we did!!

We flew direct from Calgary via Amsterdam, leaving in the afternoon and arriving in Muscat the next evening local time. It was an easy flight with only one short layover in the Netherlands. Other routes fly via London, England and Frankfurt Germany and the travel time of 24 hours is approximately the same.

Oman is a very beautiful country, with friendly people, great beaches, soaring mountains, deep and cool stream/rivers (wadi’s), dry and sparsely populated deserts. It has a rich history with many ancient historical sites and bustling metropolitan areas with modern shops as well as the more traditional markets. It’s no wonder Oman is gaining recognition as one of the top travel destinations for 2015.

Muscat is the capital of Oman and the

%BO TPO PG #PC BOE )FBUIFS .VOSP PG (PMEFO #$ BOE ,FMMZ .VOSP XJUI EBVHIUFS %ZMBO population of the metropolitan area is approximately one million people. It is sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the mountains that rise quickly up from the coastal plain. In Muscat you’ll find the central government offices, the Sultan’s palace, the main shopping districts, several museums, the Royal Opera House, and many historical sites.

Muscat stretches along the coast for 50 kilometers and is comprised of many distinct neighbourhoods, communities and shopping districts. The old town of Muttrah is home to the Sultan’s palace, the national museum and old historic forts that ring the bay and surrounding hills. Just up the coast you’ll find the main harbor with its open air fish market. Nearby is the more traditional Oman market (The Souk). Exploring The Souk is an interesting experience with its many alleys, stores and vendors. Be sure you take your time and wander through this very interesting place.

A word of advice for visitors to The Souk is to stay together and don’t wander off thinking you’ll meet up at the end of the alley.

I learned the hard way and Heather and the kids weren’t too happy with me when we finally found each other 60 minutes later. At The Souk you’ll meet many Oman citizens and expats. You’ll get a sense of what life is like for them and their families.

Further up the coast you’ll come to the government district which houses many government offices and departments. The National Opera House is located here as is the Grand Mosque which is the only Mosque in the country that is open to everyone. The main retail shopping centres and many major hotel chains are also located in this area.

The international airport is just a few more kilometers up the coast but with the modern freeway system it’s only a short journey from one end of Muscat to the other. Close to the airport is a development called The Wave. This is a fairly new and developing residential area that is very popular with Oman citizens and expats from Europe, the middle-east and North America. It features miles of sandy beaches, a major yacht basin, retail and

commercial stores and offices and one of the country’s major golf courses. This course features night golfing with lighted fairways and greens as it’s too hot to play on summer days.

Unlike some other middle-east cities, Muscat does not have many high rise buildings and you get a sense that while in a modern and thriving metropolitan area it is very livable, with many unique and diverse neighbourhoods, shopping districts and public spaces.

Oman is a stable and peaceful country and has been able to develop and maintain good relations with all of the major powers in the area. It is an absolute monarchy and the Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has ruled the country since the early 1970s.

During his reign he has initiated an amazing modernization program, expanding the medical and education systems, enhanced governments departments and built a modern society with infrastructure you’d find in most developed countries. It’s no wonder Oman is often referred to as the “Switzerland of the middle east�.

The country is a Muslim nation and as a visitor you should try and adhere to the customs of the religion and people. While Muslims are not allowed to drink alcohol, tourists and expats can drink in hotels, designated restaurants and in their own homes and rooms.

On this trip we were fortunate to make three journeys into different parts of the country.

Our first trip was to the deserted coast and beaches about one hour west of Muscat. We travelled through Ruwi (a suburb of Muscat) and out towards Yiti. The drive itself is wonderful and the scenery is diverse and colourful. We saw camels, goats and many other interesting plants and birds along the way.

The coast is rugged with rolling hills that lead down to many deserted bays and beaches. When we arrived at our destination we had the beach to ourselves for the whole day while in the next bay a few Oman families were enjoying the water and having a camp out.

The area near Yiti is starting to be developed and several major resorts have already opened and more are under con... Continued on page 21

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Places visited ... continued

Dan Munro at a fish market in Muscat, Oman. ... Continued from page 20 struction or in the planning stage. Hopefully the government won’t over develop the area as the isolated beaches are part of the region’s appeal.

For our second trip we headed east and travelled up the coast to Barka. Barka is a city of approximately 85,000 citizens and has an old fort on the shore which used to protect the harbor. Close by is another fish market that is frequented by the locals.

You can select your choice of fresh fish or seafood that has just been caught by the fisherman.

From Barka we headed inland to Nakhal.

Nakhal is famous for its date orchards, the Ain A’Thawwarah hot spring that flows down from the mountains and its ancient fort. There has been a fortification in Nakhal for over 1,000 years protecting the oasis, the date plantations and the trade routes through the mountains and onto the coast. The current structure dates from the seventeen century and was brought back to its original state as part of the Sultan’s Heritage Project and now houses a musem.

The Nakhal fort is one of the most popular in Oman. It sits at the base of some very high mountains and has fantastic views of the peaks, date plantations and the plains that head towards the coast.

While in Nakhal we visited the Ain A-

The date plantations at Nakhal.

Thawwarah Hot Spring and were pleased to find such a delightful oasis surrounding by date palms. Local families were having picnics along the shore and children were playing in the water. Further upstream one enterprising local was washing his SUV while herds of goats wandered in the stream and along the rocky embankments.

Nahak was certainly one of our favourite stops even though it was 45 C the day we visited.

For our third trip we decided to head west again but this time further inland to Wadi Al Arbeineen which is located about 2 ½ hours from Muscat. Wadi’s are valleys/ gullys which are usually dry except during rainy periods. Wadi Al Arbeineen is like a few other popular wadi’s and has water in it most of the time. It features crystal clear pools that are great for swimming and diving. There are many very good wadi’s in Oman but Al Arbeineen is not as crowded as some of the others and is more remote.

To get there we took Highway #17 which is a modern 4-8 lane road that climbs out of Muscat and over the mountains to the interior. Imagine a 6-8 lane freeway that switchbacks up the Rogers Pass or the Field Hill and you get an idea of the magnitude of this engineering feat. Once over the mountains we were in rocky and ancient mountain terrain. It was a very beautiful drive passing through many small towns and villages until we turned off the

Grandmother Heather Munro with baby Dylan. freeway at Dibab and once again headed deeper into the mountains.

Once off of the freeway we followed a brand new paved road for about 10 Km until it abruptly stopped and turned into a winding gravel road. We followed this trek for about another 20 Km through the mountains until we reached the end of the road. Here we found numerous pools of warm water surrounded by soaring peaks and a small rural community which had its own date plantation. We spent a fun afternoon by ourselves lying in the sun, floating and diving into the pools of water and exploring the local village and date plantation.

The road into the area is a wonderful drive in its own right. If you go be sure to stop and take pictures and enjoy the views along the way.

Oman is a beautiful country and we only had time to see a small portion of it on this trip. In the fall we intend to head into the mountains above Nakhal and visit Nizwa and the “Green Mountains”. This area is steeped in history. Here you’ll find more forts, ancient tombs that are thousands of years old, mountains that are over 3000 meters high and often covered in snow and the “Grand Canyon” of Oman. This area receives more rainfall than the rest of the country and is about 15-20 degrees cooler than other parts of the country.

From a geological perspective, Oman

has ancient mountains that are hundreds of millions of years old, remote desert areas and in the eastern end the fiords of the Musadham Peninsula. Further west you have vast stretches of remote coast line that is dotted with spectacular beaches.

Inland is the large and uninhabited desert known as the “Empty Quarter”. It’s also worth noting that Oman has been covered by ice three times during the past 800 million year. Talk about climate change.

When we go back to visit with Dan, Kelly and our grand-daughter Dylan later this year we plan to explore more of this fascinating country.

If you plan to travel to Oman there are numerous flights via London, England, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Frankfurt, Germany plus Qatar and the Emirates. The best time to visit is in the early spring or fall as during the months of May to September it is just too hot. Temperatures soar into the 40 C to 50 C range with high humidity.

In Muscat you’ll find all of the major international hotel chains and many large modern shopping centres. Once you’re outside the capital you will have to do some research as the tourism industry is still in its infancy stage.

Do you home work before departing but add Oman to your travel list of “must see” countries before it becomes too developed and too popular.

Happy travels.

Page 22

A harmonious evening It was another busy night in the Spirit Square on June 23 as Rococode brought their eclectic music and beautiful harmonies to the Spirit Square. Local talents Jane Fearing and Sue Gould also entertained the crowd as they reunited for the tweener set to sing some classics for happy music fans. Photos by Carrie White

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Page 24

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