theVAULTmagazine ~ Issue 10

theVAULTmagazine Issue #10 - February

17,

Crack the Vault

2012

The Multiculturalism Issue

IN THIS ISSUE...

Breaking Stereotypes Francophone Education Upcoming underground

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F E B RU ARY 17, 20 12

theVAULTmagazine

Issue #10 - February 17, 2012

Letter from the Editors Editor/Publisher Jenelle Lizotte Tormaigh Van Slyke

Social Media/Reception Mary Warren

Logo Design Michael Boone

Layout Design

Jenelle Lizotte Christine Taylor Tormaigh Van Slyke Chris Zwick

Distributor

Michael Russell T&J

Hello Faithful Reader, Welcome to Issue 10! Yep, we’ve made it to our first major milestone: double digits. Thanks for being a part of it.

This issue is not just about celebrating our accomplishment; it’s also about celebrating who we are as Canadians and all of the different and fascinating things this means.

Let’s embrace our brethren, learn about different cultures, and celebrate each other.

This upcoming family day weekend provides several

opportunities to learn about our neighbors. Carnaval de St. Isidore is celebrating its 30th anniversary and Newfoundland Night is celebrating its 5th anniversary.

We at theVAULTmagazine are excited to learn about other cultures and enjoy different cultural traditions and customs.

Remember: if you go into a new experience with a positive attitude, there is a good chance that you will leave with one too.

Until next time friends, your editors,

Jenelle and Tormaigh

Website Design

Sush Wong & Doug Hurst, Wild Card Technology Solutions

Ad Design

Aimie Williams Sush Wong

Ad Sales

Tormaigh Van Slyke

Photography

Jenelle Lizotte Susan Thompson Tormaigh Van Slyke

Contributors

Terry Cameron Raymond Myles Susan Thompson Mary Warren Chris Zwick

Comics

CJ Lyons, Fairview Shannon Brown & Randee Neumeyer, Peace River Crystal Hansen, Hines Creek Jason Hewitt, Peace River

theVAULTmagazine is available free of charge at over 120 locations in the greater Peace Region every other Friday. We publish 2,000 copies every two weeks. We are funded solely through the support of our advertisers. theVAULTmagazine is published biweekly by Plato’s Cave Publishing. No content herein can be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. We accept contributions provided they are the property of the contributor and are offered exclusively to theVAULTmagazine. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the return or safety of contributed materials and therefore will not be held responsible. All opinions or statements expressed do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or staff. The reader must understand that all information presented in this publication is from various sources, therefore theVAULTmagazine cannot be held responsible for any accuracy, completeness or legalities. We ask that each reader take only one copy, unless your grabbing one for your friend. That is all.

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Well, Felix wants to twist you up right.

Email and tell theVAULT magazine what you will do at the next underground to turn heads, and if we like it Felix and the boys will give yo a pair of tickets.

They'll even throw in a T-shirt and a CD.

SECTIONS 04 Inside the Vault 06 Multiculturalism 09 Social Comment 10 Staff Picks 11 Calendar Please 15 Mu s ic Recycle Me. 16 Review 17 Arts 19 Tech 20 Sex 21 Astrology/Oddities 22 Puzzles & Comics WWW.THEVAULTMAG.COM THEVAULTMAGAZINE@HOTMAIL.COM WWW.THEVAULTMAGAZINE.TUMBLR.COM

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INSIDE THE VAULT NEWS SNIPPETS Post-secondary funding Easier The Alberta government announced plans last week to increase access to funds for post-secondary education by eliminating the consideration of RRSPs and student and parental income in the application process for provincial funds.

“The application for an Alberta student loan has been incredibly complicated and in fact has turned some people off from pursuing their education altogether,” Advanced Education Minister Greg Weadick announced at a press conference Feb. 13 in Edmonton. “Instead of complicated calculations about how much you make or how much your parents make, you will know exactly how much you need to contribute and how much the government is willing to provide,” Weadick said.

The government will also introduce graduation grants for students who complete their programs -- $1,000 for a technical certificate, $1,500 for a diploma, and $2,000 for an undergraduate degree. A $1,000 retention grant will also be introduced for those in certain high-demand occupations such

as health professionals, teachers, and social workers.

Students will be expected to contribute a total of $1,500 to their post-secondary tuition, while single parents will have to contribute nothing.

Mind your tweets A 23-year-old Saudi Arabian journalist could be sentenced to death for a tweet.

“I will say that I have loved aspects of you, hated others, and could not understand many more,” was one of the thoughts posted on Twitter by Hamza Kashgari to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed – it’s a post he is now regretting.

Within hours, Saudi imams took to Twitter themselves to decry the young blogger’s post and call for his execution for heresy – resulting in 30,000 tweets against Kashgari in less than 24 hours.

Despite the ultra-conservative, religious nature of the Saudi Kingdom many government and religious officials are actually avid Twitterers themselves and utilize the social networking

service.

Kashgari immediately apologized and tried to escape the country after buying a plane ticket to New Zealand, but he was apprehended by Malaysian authorities in Kuala Lumpur, who claimed to be fulfilling a request for his detainment

by Interpol, something the international policing agency has denied.

to climb, representatives from the Alberta Electrical Systems Operator (AESO), which is responsible for the safe and reliable transmission of electricity around the province, say Alberta’s rates are comparable to other provinces when one takes into account taxes, debts, and heritage contracts and is bound to the whims of supply and demand and the market system.

NDP wants your power bill

More and more Canadians

Alberta New Democrat leader Brian Mason is urging Albertans fed up with high power prices to send him their bills so they can be tabled in the Legislature to show the effects of 15 years of deregulation of the industry on consumers.

Statistics Canada released some initial findings of the 2011 census this month, namely a population boom in western Canada and particularly Alberta due to increased immigration.

Albertans pay the highest electricity rates in the country and many critics, along with Mason, say it is due to the deregulation of the industry under Ralph Klein’s Tory government of the ‘90s.

Wildrose leader Danielle Smith has also called for a revamp of the power system and has vowed to do so if elected.

However, as rates continue

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F E BRU ARY 17, 20 12

Overall, Canada’s population has increased by nearly 2 million people since the last census in 2006. Alberta alone now boasts a population of 3.6 million, a 10.6 per cent increase in five years, with Calgary increasing its numbers to 1.21 million (up 12.6 per cent) and Edmonton increasing to 1.16 million (up 12.1 per cent).

The census also found 70 per cent of the population lives in one of Canada’s 33 urban

centres, with 35 per cent of those residing in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. It was also found that for the first time in Canadian history more people live west of Ontario than east.

WiFi safety questioned An Ontario teachers union is recommending schools stop using wireless internet connections until the longterm effects of the technology can be studied, saying it is a potential health and safety risk to students and teachers.

An eight-page report released last week by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Union last week urged the Ontario government to take a cautionary approach when considering new WiFi networks in schools in the province. In 2011, several private schools in Ontario banned WiFi altogether, citing safety concerns, but the union’s report was the first of its kind from a teacher’s group.

Health Canada has maintained there is no evidence that lowlevel exposure to wireless frequencies are harmful to the health of Canadians.

Genghis Khan Lives On As Genghis Khan and his armies raped and pillaged their way west from Mongolia in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, he accumulated an empire larger than that of Rome at its peak and took whom he found to be the most beautiful women for himself. That was only a legend, until the results of a 2003 study were released, extrapolating there to be more than 16 million male relatives of the ruthless Mongol leader throughout Central Asia.

The scientists found that the Y chromosome in many of the men in the study were of the same bloodline, and dated that common ancestor to Khan’s era.

The Y chromosome typically varies only slightly in a normal sample but the scientists found a totally distinguishable group from the rest of the sample, leading them to conclude that only a male of great social status could deliver such a variation to the genetics of a group.

The scientists then found the geographical spread of those possessing the gene matched Khan’s empire exactly. Many of those genes have since spread throughout Europe and North America, making the exact number of Khan’s modern army even harder to pin down today.

SECOND DAY NEWS

Canadian Multiculturalism: Is an Act? R

BY CHRIS ZWICK

emember Social Studies class, where we learned that Canada is a cultural mosaic? A society inclusive to those who arrive on our shores and tolerant of cultural practices foreign to much of the existing population? Conversely, we learned the United States is a melting pot—willing to take in the poor, the tired, and the huddled masses longing to be free, as long as they were willing to assimilate and integrate immediately into American society. It was something that distinguished us from the socalled elephant to the south, something we were taught to be proud of as Canadians, but the legislation that enshrined multiculturalism into Canadian society didn’t actually come about in an official capacity until 1988—just barely a generation ago.

It was the Canadian Multiculturalism Act (CMA), which received royal assent in July 1988, that cemented Canada’s reputation as the most progressive and diverse society in the modern world.

The CMA recognizes Canada’s multicultural heritage and that that heritage must be protected as well as equal rights before the law and the rights of minorities to enjoy their culture.

The act states: “The Government of Canada recognizes the diversity of Canadians as regards race, national or ethnic origin, colour and religion as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian society and is committed to a policy of multiculturalism designed to preserve and enhance the multicultural heritage of Canadians while working to achieve the equality of all Canadians in the economic, social, cultural and political life of Canada.”

It was a long road to the act we know today. Despite our favourable international reputation, Canada is not unblemished in its defense of civil rights. Just like in any other country, there are examples in

our history that stand out as defiant rights violations due to ethnicity.

From 1885 until 1923, Chinese immigrants paid a specific head tax that was meant to discourage their immigration after the completion of the railroad. In 1923, immigration to Canada from China was stopped altogether.

From 1914 to 1920, that’s two years after the end of WWI, more than 4,000 men, women, and children of Ukrainian descent were interned at 24 labour camps across the country. The War Measures Act forced 80,000 others to register with the government and report regularly to police.

Most were already poor but the government confiscated their meager possessions for its own use.

A decade later, section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms further enshrined multiculturalism as a cherished Canadian quality.

“This Charter shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of

Canadians,” it read.

As a country founded and built by immigrants, a multicultural Canada has always been a reality. During our formative years, there were some rocky patches to be sure, but we appear to be on the right track

in recent years. There will always be critics, but as immigration across the country continues to increase, we should remember we are legislated to be an inclusive society; it is part of who we are as Canadians; love it or leave it.

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The War Measures Act was enacted once again in 1941 during WWII when Japanese residents were forced to register with police after the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. About 23,000 Japanese descendants, two-thirds of whom were legitimate Canadian citizens, were forced into internment camps in British Columbia.

These three particular blemishes in Canadian history were recognized as such and later redressed by future governments with various funds, foundations, and grants being created and official apologies given in respect to these incidents.

This history, along with the findings of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism in 1969, led to a policy of multiculturalism being officially instituted in 1971.

“For although there are two official languages, there is no official culture, nor does any ethnic group take precedence over any other. No citizen or group of citizens is other than Canadian, and all should be treated fairly,” declared Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to Parliament.

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Multiculturalism Issue FRANCOPHONE SCHOOLS IN ALBERTA KEEP FRENCH HERITAGE ALIVE

BY SUSAN THOMPSON

A

lthough many people in Alberta would probably be surprised to learn that Francophone communities even exist in this province, our area is home to several vibrant Francophone communities including Guy, Jean Cote, Falher, Marie Reine, and St. Isidore. Yet Francophonie hors Quebec faces some big challenges. Above all, how can the French culture and language be maintained in a predominantly Englishspeaking area?

Education is big part of the answer. Falher is home to the only fully Francophone school in the area with the next closest Francophone school two hours away in Grande Prairie. Some schools offer French immersion whereby a few classes are taught in French, but with a fully Francophone education system, all courses except English class are taught in French.

Francophone education was first offered in St. Isidore, but that school has since closed down.

In 1988, the Francophone school division was founded and École Heritage opened in Jean Cote. French kids from many of the local communities began learning together at the same school.

Eventually, the aging building where the school was housed became a problem, and in 1997 École Heritage was moved to Falher into a former men’s college where it continues to offer French education services for Grades K to 12 today.

Former student Bernard Pinard attended the school from Grades 3 to 12.

“It definitely helps keep more of a French identity,” Pinard told theVAULTmagazine. “I do see a difference between the kids who had French-speaking parents and went to English-speaking schools and the kids who went to Heritage.”

“When we were younger a lot of us were mixing French and English. Now I don’t do that, and it’s one of my pet peeves actually. At Heritage you’re learning proper French and

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F E B RU ARY 17, 20 12

you’re surrounded by people speaking French.”

Christine St. Laurent also graduated from École Heritage and now sends her own children there.

“My whole family was all born in Quebec. When we moved out west it was a French school for us to go to,” St. Laurent explained. “Our parents didn’t want us to lose the quality of our French.”

Like Pinard, St. Laurent said there is a big difference between the quality of the French children learn at Heritage when compared to immersion.

“My kids spoke very little English before they went to school. Once they started going to school and watching more TV, they started speaking in English more because it’s just everywhere,” said St. Laurent.

For those who may wonder if attending a Francophone school would negatively affect a child’s ability to learn English, in St. Laurent’s experience it’s simply not true.

“Having graduated from a Francophone school, and then going to college, my English average at the end of Grade 12 was just as high if not higher than some of my friends that went to the English schools in Peace River,” she said. “I didn’t find my English suffered at all.”

According to St. Laurent, parents who are looking into local school options should be aware that Anglophones are welcome at École Heritage.

“If people are interested in putting their kids into the French program, the school is willing to work with those who want that for their kids, so it’s a bit more open in that respect.”

In fact, this Anglophone reporter kids are currently enrolled in Francophone École Heritage. In our case, my husband was adopted by an Anglophone family and lost the French language he’d begun learning from his biological, Francophone parents before he could pass it on to his own children. We wanted our children to gain the language they would have spoken had my

husband not been adopted, and Heritage has worked with us to make sure our children get that education.

We had other reasons for enrolling our children there too. As St. Laurent told theVAULTmagazine, becoming truly fluent in two languages is also an advantage for children as they grow up.

“It’s important for me that my kids attend the French school.

It gives them an advantage later on in life to say that they are perfectly bilingual. If that’s the tipping point for them to get the job of their dream, the fact they can read, and write, and speak another language, then I’ll be thrilled,” said St. Laurent.

St. Laurent also pointed out that being fluent in more than one language has other benefits, such as when traveling or even with military options.

“If there was a school that taught three, four languages, that’s where my kids would be,” said St. Laurent. “The more languages you speak, the greater asset you are.”

Multiculturalism Issue Sushi with Kita-san

BY MARY WARREN

F

ebruary 11 was a special day for sushi fans as Japanese intern Masaki Kita hosted a three-hour sushi making course at the Horizon Learning Centre in Peace River.

Masaki Kita, 45, of Okayama, Japan taught 12 eager students the elusive secrets of sushi.

Although Kita-san has come to study our culture and language, he is very generous with the customs of Japan for all who care to learn. His calm and friendly demeanor only enhances one’s desire to take part in what he has to offer.

Many of Kita-san’s students, who had previously attempted to recreate this culinary treat, often ran into trouble perfecting the rice, which is an important component in the

sushi process. Unfortunately, the rice also takes the most time, but Kita-san was prepared and offered free origami lessons.

Laughter erupted frequently as several members of the class missed steps or became slightly lost. Jokes poured across the room, offering a close, friendly atmosphere enhanced by the Japanese green tea and dessert Kita-san shared.

As the rice finished steaming, the origami lesson ceased.

Several florescent-coloured cranes were the result. Kita-san explained in Japan the crane is a holy creature and is said to live for 1,000 years, which is why when a loved one is ill or injured 1,000 paper cranes are often folded for the wish of recovery.

At last the rice was white and fluffy, like delectable clouds.

KITA-SAN TEACHES CLASS HOW TO MAKE SUSHI

FILIPINOS ARE FROM THE PHILIPPINES

E

ver wonder why Filipino/Filipina is spelled with an “F,” but the country they hail from – the Philippines -- is spelled with a “Ph”?

Rice vinegar was added; the rice lightly fanned, spreading the mouthwatering scent of vinegar, then was swiftly put to good use.

Each sushi roll turned out nearly perfect and the taste was light and fresh. What else could you ask for? The class was in its culinary glory.

These 12 lucky individuals will now be able to share their refined sushi skills, but fortunately for those not-so inclined, all hope is not lost.

Kita-san recommends Tokyo Ichiban in Grande Prairie to sate your Japanese cravings.

Kita-san donated all the proceeds of the sushi-making course to the Peace Regional Outreach Campus, the local high school where he has volunteered most of his time since arriving in Canada.

Get your Stereotypes Straight W

ith all the cultural stereotypes floating around in the ether, it can be hard to keep them all straight, but a collection of 25 books by a variety of authors, called the Xenophobes’s Guides, will help any bigot get their stereotypes in order. Billed as “a series that highlights the unique character and behavior of different nations. Frank, irreverent and funny – almost guaranteed to cure xenophobia,” the collection highlights many of the foibles of certain cultures ranging from Icelanders and Estonians to Americans and Belgians while at the same time pointing out the accomplishments each of these cultures has made.

Basically, it’s an example of colonization run amok on language that started in the 1500s when the Spanish declared the collection of 7,000+ islands their own and named it after Prince Philip II – Las Islas Filipinos. The Philippines is only from the English translation.

Essentially, Filipinas is the Spanish and Filipino name for the Philippines, while the people of the Philippines are known as Filipino in English, Spanish and Filipino.

780-624-2586

However, many Filipinos refer to themselves as Pilipino and their county Pilipinas, as the “F” sound of the colonists was foreign to the indigenous languages during colonial times.

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Multiculturalism Issue Breaking Stereotypes: One step at a time

BY SUSAN THOMPSON

“THE TRUEST EXPRESSION OF A PEOPLE IS IN ITS DANCE AND IN ITS MUSIC.”

L

[Agnes de Mille]

eo Letendre is a professional dancer who has travelled the world performing traditional aboriginal dances in places as far away as Italy and South Korea.

He also lived in Spain for three years and while there did work for Universal Studios including film and TV shown in Europe.

He now works with youth at the Ground Level Youth Centre in Peace River. This may seem a lot less glamorous, but it makes sense when Letendre explains why he dances.

“For me I like to use dancing as a way to draw people in and give a message and to break stereotypes that a lot of people still have,” said Letendre.

Letendre gives the example of one Edmonton school class of kids who welcomed him for a performance with a chorus of cartoon-like “Indian” noises, their hands clapping over their mouths at their teacher’s prompting. Letendre uses his traditional dancing to break through to those who still have this false, two-dimensional idea about aboriginal cultures.

He explains the traditional style of dance is only done by men.

Dancers wear eagle feathers and use the dance to tell a story such

as the story of a battle or a hunt.

However, Letendre says the dance is now less about literal battle and more about the battle against stereotypes.

“We say it is still a modern warrior, but today we use our minds, education, and our culture to help create awareness,” said Letendre.

Letendre himself began dancing at a young age at school.

“I started in Edmonton at a school for Native kids that offered dance as part of the programming. I was drawn to it and I really loved dance,” said Letendre. “We would perform in the community and around Alberta, and it really boosted my self-esteem.”

Now Letendre hopes to pass that gift on to others.

“Part of it is using my own experiences of culture and what it’s done for me. It’s helped give me a very positive outlook on life, to believe change is possible for everyone, and that there is something larger than ourselves,” said Letendre.

“When a dancer does these dances, these dances are not for ourselves. They’re not selfish.

They’re for the people to enjoy.”

are fewer people in the area who dance.

“With traditional dancing you can’t train. What I was taught is that it comes from deep inside your heart. If you know the basic steps, you evolve from that,” said Auger.

Like Letendre, Auger also dances as a way to heal old wounds and create something positive.

“The jingle dance is a healing dance. I dance for people who are sick and ill—for people who need help,” said Auger. “I don’t do it for profit. I do it for myself.”

Auger’s mother, Danya Auger, who works at the Ground Level Youth Centre with Letendre, believes that dancing can help improve the local culture and bring something positive to the community that has been lacking.

“Right now I’m starting to see more [dancing] in town.

Moving from the city where I was involved in it on an almost daily basis it was a total shock.

It abruptly stopped. It literally broke my heart. It’s your identity, and it was like, ‘where do I go?’”

Seventeen-year-old Courtney Auger also started dancing through a school program in Edmonton, and now performs throughout the local area.

Danya Auger has seen firsthand the negative stereotypes about First Nations culture, even within First Nations themselves.

“The dancing I do is more based on jingle, but I do fancy dancing and some hoop dancing,” she explains. Auger continued dancing in Peace River after moving here even though there

“When I moved here, I moved to Cadotte [Lake] first, and many people there still had the mentality that their culture is evil,” Auger said, a legacy often left over from residential

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANYA AUGER

Leo Leterndre at the Fundraising Gala at Sawridge Inn February 4.

schooling. “One lady was telling me the drums are evil.”

here wanting to get involved,” she said.

“I was working at the school at the time and the principal made me the cultural educator.

I showed the kids Pow Wow videos, and we painted aboriginal paintings on the ceiling. They loved it.”

Everyone interviewed for this article emphasized that if you want to either book a performance or just learn more about Native dancing, whether you are aboriginal or not, you can contact the Ground Level Youth Centre at 780-6242162. You can also experience aboriginal dancing first-hand this summer at the annual Pow Wow hosted by the Aboriginal Interagency Committee.

Now, Auger is encouraged that people like Letendre have joined the community, and there are more opportunities to join in and express culture positively.

“I’m seeing kids and people

Where Did White People Come From?

If Africa is the “Cradle of Civilization” and all human kind migrated across the globe from there, how did white people actually become white?

It’s still a matter of speculation, but a common theory suggests that those who went north developed a Vitamin D deficiency which caused genetic variations that dispersed across the population. As lighter skin became associated with health and fertility in northern climates, males chose mates that would produce healthier children in that particular environment.

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F E B RU ARY 17, 20 12

SOCIAL COMMENT

They Say Radical; We Say Rational climate change increases.

But it doesn’t have to be bleak.

We could have a healthy and prosperous future. Canada could be seen as a world leader on energy, human rights, and global discourse. The solutions are not radical. They include such reasonable measures as slowing oil sands production, eliminating subsidies to an industry that hardly needs them, increasing royalties, setting up a rainy day fund for the revenues, and encouraging energy conservation and renewable energy development.

Science Matters Vol. 14, No. 6 14 February, 2012

BY DAVID SUZUKI

W

e’re not about to quit oil cold turkey. Does that mean we should continue with business as usual?

In Canada, “business as usual” means rapidly increasing oil sands exploitation and selling the bitumen as quickly as possible to anyone who wants it. It means continuing to import half the oil we use, mostly from the Middle

East, while shipping oil extracted here to other countries. It means continued tax breaks and subsidies for fossil fuel companies while manufacturing and other value-added industries suffer because of our inflated petro dollar.

It means low royalties and not putting away revenues for the future.

This could spell a bleak future: a failing economy as accessible oil starts to run out with few renewable energy sources to replace it; deteriorating health of citizens as water, air, and land become more polluted; increased droughts, floods, and water shortages as

Winter is Fun

BY CJ LYONS

W

inter is What You Make of It. This is especially true in the smaller towns in the Peace Country. Unless you’re involved in some kind of winter sport with the smashing and crashing, there’s really not much to do in the winter months.

So we must take it upon ourselves to make winter a

thoroughly enjoyable time. In my little town, there’s a hill.

From a spark of an idea lit by the nostalgia of childhood, we proceeded to throw ourselves down that hill on bits of plastic, whooping all the way.

I speak of course, of sledding, one of the best winter activities because it’s generally free. Sure there’s the cost of the sleds, and the mandatory follow-up hot chocolate, but the amount

We could also learn to use fossil fuels more efficiently. For example, about 75 per cent of petroleum in North America is used for transportation.

Automobiles waste 85 per cent of the energy from each litre of fuel burned. And the useful energy goes to moving a vehicle that typically weighs 10 to 20 times more than the passengers it carries. That translates to about one per cent efficiency to move passengers.

Part of the solution requires untangling the rhetoric. Consider what our prime minister recently said in China: “We will uphold our responsibility to put the interests of Canadians ahead of foreign money and influence

that seek to obstruct development in Canada in favour of energy imported from other, less stable parts of the world.”

How will selling most of our unrefined bitumen to China and the U.S. make us less reliant on “energy imported from other, less stable parts of the world”?

And how are the interests of Canadians served by selling our industries and resources to countries with atrocious human rights records and rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions? How is it in the national interest to increase our own greenhouse gas emissions and pollution so that some of the world’s most profitable companies can make even more money?

And why, when we know that global warming is serious and that oil will run out, are we hellbent on using it up as quickly as possible? Author and environmentalist Bill McKibben suggests a disturbing reason why people in the fossil fuel industry and the governments they bankroll put profits ahead of the future of the planet and deny that climate change is a problem: the value of these industries “is largely based on fossil-fuel reserves that won't be burned if we ever take global warming seriously.”

As

McKibben

notes,

of fun certainly eclipses the cost.

unless you go home with some bruises.

Doubling up on the sled is also a guaranteed fun booster, since the resulting wipe-out is always amusing for all parties present.

The ones waiting at the top of the hill get the benefit of watching a spectacular double cartwheel flip and bellyflop, and the victim of said acrobatic gets the shock of fear and excitement. And the occasional bit of snow up their nose.

This winter has been peculiar in that it’s been sunny and windy, and it has resulted in a very icy hill, which is almost as precarious to climb up as to sled down. The wind also has the tendency to steal the flimsy crazy carpets we had and throw them on the pond. This brings another adventure—rolling across the pond to retrieve your sled to the cheers of the ones on the shore.

This is all in good fun. A sledding trip doesn’t feel right

The ice has the added benefit of making sleds slide forever.

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“ExxonMobil, year after year, pulls in more money than any company in history. Chevron's not far behind. Everyone in the business is swimming in money.”

If they were to slow down production, or even admit that the future of humanity depends on leaving some of the resource in the ground, it would hurt their bottom lines.

And so we have politicians and industry shills using bogus talking points to discredit or silence those who are calling for sanity for the sake of our future. They falsely accuse us of wanting to shut down all industry and call us hypocrites because we are unable to completely disengage from the fossil fuel economy and infrastructure that humans have created.

All we’re saying is let’s step back and think of a sensible way to go about this. And by “we”, I mean most of us. I mean you and me.

I mean the people our governments are supposed to represent.

They can say we’re radical if it makes them sleep better at night, but we prefer the term “rational”.

Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Editorial and Communications Specialist Ian Hanington.

Learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org.

There’s some kind of arbitrary finish line assigned; ours was marked by a slightly gross abandoned sock—rubbish to anyone else but a sign of our victory to us.

It’s the barest form of euphoria, not caring about pinched red cheeks, messed up hair, runny noses, and rumpled snowy clothing. These are our ranks as soldiers of fun, braving the icy snow hill with plastic carpets.

We made our winter awesome.

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STAFF PICKS

Thevaultmagazine staff dish on their favorite foreign food SUSAN

Finnish Food

M

y favorite food from another country is also my favorite food from childhood.

My Mummu (Finnish for grandmother) was always the head cook and hostess for any major holiday in my family, and her Finnish recipes were served alongside Canadian favorites like turkey. She was also the kind of stereotypical grandma always urging everyone to eat more, so you never left her table hungry.

Finnish foods include a lot of fish and dill, and the country’s signature sour rye bread. Some of our family favorites were Mummu’s fruit soup—a thick syrupy soup made with fried fruits, sour cream cucumber salad, and rice patties with a fluted crust. Her baking was always out-of-this-world too. My all-time favorite though is her Karelian paiste, which is a stew of meats flavoured with allspice and onion that originated in my grandfather’s home of Karelia before the Russians invaded and took the area from Finland.

Now that my grandmother has passed away, her recipe box has

been passed down to the next generation and both my mother, and I will be making her recipes in her memory for years to come.

Whenever I smell that Karelian stew cooking I will think of my Finnish grandparents and smile.

MARY

Spanakopita

O

f all the cuisine I’ve tasted, Greek food is by far the most delicious. To justify my tongue’s desire for such a specific flavour let me expand by stating I have eaten traditional Chinese, Nepalese, Indian, Italian, French, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Mexican, British, and Thai.

However, to select just one dish?

It seems almost impossible! The flavours are fresh and tantalizing.

Every meal offers a delightful culinary surprise. Although my personal favorite is calamari with Greek salad or lamb chops, for a staff pick I will select spanakopita.

My reasoning for spanakopita, aside from its tastiness, is it is a definite crowd pleaser. It can be shared with vegetarian friends and easily converted into a vegan dish. It is also a safe selection for those who are new to Greek food

as the flavours are delightful and ingredients are generally familiar.

Try it, and I bet you’ll love it!

Happy tasting!

JENELLE

Cioppino

M

y favorite foreign dish actually originates from San Francisco. It was developed

by Portuguese and Italian fishermen in the 1800s who settled in the region. The name comes from the tradition of “chipping into” the communal soup pot at the end of a long day. With the varied accents of the fishermen, “chip in” sounded more like “Chip-een-o” with an extra vowel at the end.

Cioppino is a tomatobased soup consisting of a variety of fish and shell fish.

What can I say, I love seafood and I looove soup. This dish is a win-win for me.

The best one I’ve had comes from Ferris’ Oyster Bar and Grill in Victoria, BC. Their broth is thick and chunky with a bit of spice. Sop it up with crust bread and you’re in delicious seafood heaven.

CHRIS

Spanakopita

S

pinach, olives, tomatoes, feta cheese—all things I despise individually. But if you were to throw them all together with a little olive oil in a big wooden bowl, then add a little ambrosia, I would be in Greek food heaven… on Olympus I guess some would say. It is strange how one’s palette changes as they grow older.

I started on gyros and souvlaki, good, hearty dishes with lots of meat, pita bread, and Greek seasonings—mostly lemon and thyme. That’s a good start for those thinking of sticking their tongue in the tzatziki sauce for the first time, but you have not lived until you’ve had genuine spanakopita, also known as spinach pie. It’s not really a pie though.

It’s more of a flaky phylo pastry dish filled with a special blend of spinach and feta, maybe some scallion and spices, and baked to a golden brown. The phylo is so flaky and the spinach and feta filling is so creamy and tangy if you were to serve it on a bed of rice pilaf with lemon roasted

potatoes and a nice fresh horiatiki on the side, it may very well be the best thing ever.

TORMAIGH

Pita Kalamaki—(better known simply as Souvlaki)

S

imple, delicious, and easy to make, Pita Kalamaki is just spiced lamb cubes grilled, (traditionally on a kabob) garnished with tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki sauce, and wrapped in a pita. You can make it in around 15 minutes and two or three can serve as an entire meal—no side dishes necessary.

Lamb is best, but chicken and even pork will do. One of my renditions includes a locally made spiced pork sausage and feta cheese, but these additions take a turn from tradition. Speaking of tradition, this foreign dish has been enjoyed during and prior to ancient Greece. So next time you’re at your local grocery store, pick up pitas, meat, and tzatziki (tomatoes and onions if you they weren’t already on the list), and treat yourself to a tasty, rustic, historical snack.

Albondigas (Mexican Meatballs) Recipe Contributed by Erick Parra of Sinaloa, Mexico Cooking time: 30-40 minutes. Serves four.

FE B RU ARY 17, 20 12

1. Begin boiling the rice in 1 1/4 cup of water.

INGREDIENTS:

2. Slice the onion and tomato into small cubes.

1 lb. ground beef 1 tomato 1 onion 1/2 cup rice Salt Garlic salt Ground pepper

3. In a large bowl, mix the ground beef with the tomato and onion. Season with salt, ground pepper, garlic salt.

Add the cooked rice. Mix thoroughly.

BROTH INGREDIENTS:

5. Bring a large pot of water (about 10 cups) to a boil then begin adding the broth ingredients.

4 bay leaves 4 cloves 2 cubes or packs of chicken bouillon 2-3 chipotle peppers (canned) 2 garlic cloves, minced 4 tablespoons of oregano leaves Salt to taste Fresh lime juice to taste

10 theVAULTmagazine

PROCEDURE:

4. Shape the meatballs with your hands.

They should be sized slightly larger than golf balls.

6. Add your meatballs gently, and allow the broth to boil for about 10-15 minutes.

7. When your meatballs begin to float, they are ready to serve.

8. Serve with broth & extra lime juice if needded. Enjoy!

Commu n ity Ca lend a r Pu llout Email us at thepit@thevaultmag.com to add your event to the calendar ALL INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS CALENDAR IS GATHERED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES. THEVAULTMAGAZINE ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY MISREPRESENTED INFORMATION. WE MEAN WELL. ANY CORRECTIONS OR COMPLIMENTS CAN BE DIRECTED TO THEVAULTMAGAZINE@HOTMAIL.COM

I can't help... buying a shoutout for you for only $24.99

Welcome Home Chelsea!

U nplu g!

l

your televisions, put away the smart phones, leave the iPods at home and devote your entire day to the most important people in your life, your family!

Send us photos of you and your family spending time tobogganing, skating, playing, or being just plain silly on Family Day, and we’ll enter your name into a draw to win one of many family focused prizes! Such as a free dinner & movie night, or a basket filled with oodles of fun activities and goodies for the entire family!

Send your photos to tbell@peaceriver.net before February 22nd, along with your name and phone number.

Winners will be contacted before February 23rd, 2012.

Good luck everyone and have fun!

☆

Happy Birthday☆

Get that special someone a Birthday Greeting For only $24.99

Please note that all photos may be used for future Town of Peace River public promotions and/or publications.

FRI, FEB 17 P STORYTIME (Family) - PR Municipal Library 10:30am

- Every Friday. Up to age 5. Story and Craft. Parent or Caregiver participation required.

S 30th ANNUAL CARNAVAL DE ST-ISIDORE (Family) - St. Isidore - Live Entertainment, Unique atmosphere, family activities, traditional food, Dance on Sat. Weekend Pass: $20/adult, $15/youth (5-17 years). Day Pass: $15/adult, $10/youth. Saturday Banquet & Vegas Soiree: $75. For more info call Chantal Monfette 780-624-8427 or 780625-7070 or visit www.carnavaldestisidore.ab.ca P NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (Self Help) - Peace River United Church 7pm - Every Mon and Fri. For More Info call 780-219-1485.

For more info call 780-332-4005.

M ESL CLASSES (Education) - Community Learning Centre 1pm - FREE. For more info or to register call 780-836-2664.

MILE ZERO REGIONAL MULTIPLEX GRAND OPENING G (Community) - Coffee & Donuts (10:30-4pm), Opening ceremonies (1pm), Entertainment, demos, Live Music, Exhibition Basketball game. For more info visit www.grimshaw.ca

P PEACE RIVER SOUP KITCHEN (Community) - St. James

H FAMILY DAY IN HINES CREEK (Community) - Free Drop-

Cathedral 12-1pm - Volunteers Needed.

SAT, FEB 18 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (Self Help) - Grace

P United Church. 8pm - Every Saturday. For more info

G SHINNY HOCKEY (Community) - Mile Zero Regional Multiplex 4-5pm - $3 (4-17 years), $5 adult, $15 family.

P

call 780-624-4710.

S

F DROP IN VOLLEYBALL (Fitness) - GPRC Community Rec Centre 7-9pm - $6 without gym membership, FREE with a gym membership. Every Friday.

In FAMILY CURLING (2-4pm). ETHNIC SUPPER @ Dave Shaw Hall: Tix ($12.50 adv. $15 door (adults) or $5 for kids (6-12)) available at Ruby's Variety Shop in Fairview or B&E Hardware. Doors open at 4pm, Supper at 5pm.

ICE CARNIVAL SHOW @ Hines Creek Arena 6:30pm.

Theme: Story Book Magic. Admission by donation.

30th ANNUAL CARNAVAL DE ST-ISIDORE (Family) - St. Isidore - Live Entertainment, Unique atmosphere, family activities, traditional food, Dance on Sat. Weekend Pass: $20/adult, $15/youth (5-17 years). Day Pass: $15/adult, $10/youth. Saturday Banquet & Vegas Soiree: $75. For more info call Chantal Monfette 780-624-8427 or 780625-7070 or visit www.carnavaldestisidore.ab.ca

P

DRAWING WORKSHOP (Education) - Peace River Municipal Library 12-1pm - Learn the Fundamentals of Drawing with local artist Shannon Brown. FREE. BILINGUAL STORYTIME (Family) - Peace River Municipal Library 2pm - Ages 3-5. Join us for two stories one in English and one in French and a craft. Parent or caregiver participation required.

H PUBLIC SKATING (Community) - Hines Creek Arena

1-5pm. $2.

SUN, FEB 19 F ZEN MEDITATION (Well-Being) - Fine Arts Centre 10am - For more info call Eileen at 780-494-3410.

30th ANNUAL CARNAVAL DE ST-ISIDORE (Family) - St.

S Isidore - Live Entertainment, Unique atmosphere, family

activities, traditional food, Dance on Sat. Weekend Pass: $20/adult, $15/youth (5-17 years). Day Pass: $15/adult, $10/youth. Saturday Banquet & Vegas Soiree: $75.

For more info call Chantal Monfette 780-624-8427 or 780-625-7070 or visit www.carnavaldestisidore.ab.ca G

FAMILY DAY AT THE MILE ZERO REGIONAL MULTIPLEX (Family) - Multiplex - Live music (1-2:30pm), Hot dogs & Hot Chocolate (2:30-3:30pm), Free Skate, Open Court time (3:30-8pm). For more info visit www.grimshaw.ca

FAMILY DAY AT CUMMINGS LAKE (Family) - Cummings F Lake 1-5pm - Skating, Bonfire, Cross Country Ski Demo, Milk Jug Curling, Dog Sled Racing and more!

B

Berwyn/Brownvale

Hines Creek H

C

Cadotte Lake

D

DIXONVILLE

F

Falher

F

Fairview

G

Girouxville

Peace River P

G

Grimshaw

St. Isidore S

Jean Cote J Nampa N Manning M McLennan M

SUN, FEB 19 (CON'T) FAMILY DAY AT JEAN COTE (Family) - Jean Cote J Outdoor Rink 1pm - Free skating, wiener roast, chili

cookoff, games, door prizes. For more info call Marie at 780-323-4557.

M

P

WHIST DRIVE (Community) - Hotchkiss Hall 7pm Every Sunday until Mar 11. Refreshments provided. For more info call 780-836-3737.

H FREE PUBLIC SKATING (Community) - Hines Creek

Arena 4-5pm.

H FREE SHINNY HOCKEY (Community) - Hines Creek

B FAMILY DAY MOVIE (Family) - Berwyn Municipal Library 2-4pm - $2, Popcorn & Juice Box $1.50. Movie TBA.

dogs & cookies. Bring your lawn chairs and sit around the fire.

10-1pm.

M

FAMILY DAY MATINEE (Family) - Aurora Theatre 2pm - Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked $20/family.

FAMILY DAY AT NAMPA COMPLEX (Family) - Nampa Complex 2-4pm - Door prizes, skating, Shinny Hockey, Hay Rides, Snow Taffy, Hot dogs and bannock. $4/ person or $10/family.

B FAMILY DAY AT THE BERWYN ARENA (Family) -

Berwyn Arena - Free skate, campfire, hotdogs and

G

Gym 10:30am - Mondays. 1h or play and song. All preschool children welcome.

TUES, FEB 21

P LEE & SANDY PALEY'S CONCERT FOR KIDS (Family) -

Belle Petroleum Centre 2:30pm - Tix ($10/adv or $15/ door) available at Main Street Shell or the Belle Centre 780-624-8318.

P FREE SWIM (Community) - Peace River Pool 6:30-

N

M MANNING MINI-GYM (Family) - Manning Elementary

P

P BUSKING AT THE BELLE (Music) - Belle Centre Mocha

FAMILY DAY AT THE MILE ZERO REGIONAL MULTIPLEX G (Family) - Open Court time (10-6pm), Free Public Skating (11-1pm), Free Family Skating (1-3pm), Free Shinny Hockey (3:15-4:30pm). For more info visit www. grimshaw.ca

G PUBLIC SKATING (Community) - Mile Zero Regional Multiplex 3:30-4:30pm - $3 (4-17 years), $5 adult, $15 family. For more info call 780-332-4005.

M FAMILY DAY IN McLENNAN (Family) - Elk's Hall 12pm Loonie Lunch, Games, Belly Dancing, Family Dance. For more info call Maggie at 780-324-3627.

H SHINNY HOCKEY (Community) - Hines Creek Arena

P INDOOR WALKING PROGRAM (Fitness) - Al Adair Rec Centre 12-1pm. Every Mon & Fri. Bring Indoor Shoes and a Friend! For more info call 780-624-3474.

P PEACE RIVER SOUP KITCHEN (Community) - St. James Cathedral 12-1pm - Volunteers Needed.

P

Drop-ins $12. (Sundays from Jan 15 - Apr 15). For more info call 780-624-4249.

MON, FEB 20

780-624-5961, Lee-Anne 780-618-7040, and Tina 780-618-4847.

United Church 7pm - Every Mon and Fri. For More Info call 780-219-1485.

M FREE FAMILY BRUNCH (Family) - Manning Elk's Hall

YOGA (Well-Being) - Senior Citizen’s Centre 4pm -

Room 7:30-11pm - Admission is pay-what-you-can, performers are free. Musicians bring your tip jar or instrument case.

P NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (Self Help) Peace River

FAMILY DAY IN MANNING (Family) - Manning Arena

M 1-4pm - Sledding, Outdoor skating, hot chocolate, hot

Arena 5-6pm.

P Beginner and Intermediate. BYO Mats and Blanket.

Inquire about coffee for your next event.

hot chocolate.

FREE SKATE (Family) - Baytex Energy Centre 5-6:30pm - Sponsored by Clean Harbors Energy Services.

G FREE SKATE (Family) - Mile Zero Regional Multiplex 2-4pm- Sponsored by the ATB in Grimshaw.

PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY!

P

8:15-10pm. $2.

M

8:30 - Sponsored by ATB Financial. For more info call 780-624-3720

G SHINNY HOCKEY (Community) - Mile Zero Regional Multiplex 3:30-4:30pm - $3 (4-17 years), $5 adult, $15 family. For more info call 780-332-4005.

P

G WRITER’S BLOCK (Community) - Grimshaw Library 7:30pm - Every Mon. For more info call Gordon at 780-332-1732.

M GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR (Fitness) - McLennan Elks Hall 10am - Every Mon and Thurs. Socialize while exercising and having fun.

F

DROP IN FLOOR HOCKEY (Fitness) - GPRC Rec Centre 5:30-7pm - Every Mon. $6 with gym membership, FREE with membership.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS SUPPORT GROUP (Self Help) - St. Paul’s United Church (upstairs) 7:30pm - For more information call Sharon at 780-624-8778.

TRADITIONAL NATIVE DANCE CLASSES (Dance) Sagitawa Friendship Centre (Lower Level) 7-8pm - All Ages. 9 & under must have a parent present.

MANNING WALKING GROUP (Fitness) - Legion Hall 11-12pm - Tuesdays and Thursdays. FREE Everyone welcome!

P HATHA YOGA (Well-Being) - Bodhi Tree 7pm -

Beginner classes. Drop-in $12 or purchase a punch card. For more info call 780-624-8838.

C PARENTS AND TOTS (Family) - Mamowintowin Hall 1:30-3pm - Every Wednesday. For more info call 780-322-3954.

P PEACE RIVER SOUP KITCHEN (Community) - St. James

Cathedral 12-1pm - Volunteers Needed.

P INDOOR WALKING PROGRAM (Fitness) - Al Adair Rec

Centre 1 - 2pm. Every Wed. Bring Indoor Shoes and a Friend! For more info call 780-624-3474.

H SHINNY HOCKEY (Community) - Hines Creek Arena

8:15-10pm. $2.

G BOOK BUGS (Family) - New Horizon Centre 10-11:30am - FREE program for children ages 0-6. For more info call Tracey at 780-835-3273.

THURS, FEB 23 MANNING WALKING GROUP (Fitness) - Legion Hall

M 11-12pm - Tuesdays and Thursdays. FREE Everyone

P YOGA (Well-Being) - Senior Citizen’s Centre 5:15pm -

Beginner & Intermediate. BYO Mats & Blankets. Drop ins $12. (Tuesdays from Jan 10 - Apr 17). For more info call 780-624-4249.

MEDITATION (Well-Being) - Zen Spa 5:45pm - Loonie Donation. Every Monday barring holidays. For more info email peacezenspa@hotmail.com

N PARENTS & TOTS (Family) - Nampa Municipal Library 10-11:30pm - For more info call 780-322-3954.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (Self Help) - St. Paul’s United Church. 8pm - Every Tuesday and Thursday.

For more information call 780-624-4710

welcome!

P ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (Self Help) - St. Paul’s

United Church. 8pm - Every Tuesday and Thursday.

For more information call 780-624-4710

P PEACE CHALLENGERS TOASTMASTER CLUB (Self Help)

- Northlands Sch. Div. (9809-77 Ave) 7:30pm - Learn to speak with confidence & professional leadership skills. Every Tues. For more info call Cindy 780-624-4890.

WED, FEB 22 P

READ AWAY PROGRAM (Self Help) - PR Municipal Library 1-2pm - Adult reading circle (improve your reading skills). Every Wed. For more info call 780-624-4076.

P IRISH DECENDANTS (Music) - Belle Petroleum Centre

7pm - Tix ($35/adv. or $45/door) available from Pam

TAKING OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY (TOPS) (Fitness) Grimshaw Hospital 6:30pm - For more info call Linda 780-322-7443

F

P

M

DEVELOPMENTAL PLAYGROUP (Family) - United Church Basement 1-2:30pm - Gross and Fine Motor Skills, Social Skills, Healthy Snacks, Music and Crafts.

Every Thursday.

HATHA YOGA (Well-Being) - Bodhi Tree 5:30 Beginner/Intermediate classes. Drop-in $12 or purchase a punch card. For more info call 780-624-8838.

INTERNET/COMPUTER CLASSES (Education) Community Adult Learning Centre - Basic Internet & Facebook: 3:30pm. Basic Computer: 4:30pm, Basic Computer Level 2: 5:30pm. For more info or to register call 780-836-2664.

M GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR (Fitness) - McLennan Elks Hall 10am - Every Mon and Thurs. Socialize while exercising and having fun.

Gavin Whitworth. $50. Presented by Peace Players.

Application forms available at Style Ryte. Limited positions available.

C KID’S CLUB (Family) - Mamowintowin Hall 4-5:30pm Ages 6-9. Every Thurs. For more info call 780-322-3954.

LAST LAKE LADIES AID ANNUAL STRAWBERRY B TEA, BAKE SALE AND FLEA MARKET (Community) Brownvale Rec Centre 1-4pm - For a table call Mary 780-597-3950 or Dianne at 780-597-3939.

FRI, FEB 24 P

STORYTIME (Family) - Peace River Municipal Library 10:30am - Every Friday. Up to age 5. Story and Craft.

Parent or Caregiver participation required.

M ESL CLASSES (Education) - Community Learning

Centre 1pm - FREE. For more info or to register call 780-836-2664.

G ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (Self Help) - Grace United Church. 8pm - Every Saturday. For more info call 780-624-4710.

BILINGUAL STORYTIME (Family) - Peace River P Municipal Library 2pm - Ages 3-5. Join us for two stories one in English and one in French and a craft. Parent or caregiver participation required.

H PUBLIC SKATING (Community) - Hines Creek Arena

1-5pm. $2.

P NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (Self Help) Peace River

United Church 7pm - Every Mon and Fri. For More Info call 780-219-1485.

G SHINNY HOCKEY (Community) - Mile Zero Regional Multiplex 4-5pm - $3 (4-17 years), $5 adult, $15 family.

For more info call 780-332-4005.

P PEACE RIVER SOUP KITCHEN (Community) - St. James

Cathedral 12-1pm - Volunteers Needed. www.prsoupkitchen.org

F

P

MEDITATION (Well-Being) - Zen Spa 5:45pm - Loonie Donation. Every Monday barring holidays. For more info email peacezenspa@hotmail.com

WRITER’S BLOCK (Community) - Grimshaw Library G 7:30pm - Every Mon. For more info call Gordon at 780-332-1732.

H SHINNY HOCKEY (Community) - Hines Creek Arena

8:15-10pm. $2.

SUN, FEB 26 F

ZEN MEDITATION (Well-Being) - Fine Arts Centre 10am - For more info call Eileen at 780-494-3410.

WHIST DRIVE (Community) - Hotchkiss Hall 7pm M Every Sunday until Mar 11. Refreshments provided. For more info call 780-836-3737.

MANNING MINI-GYM (Family) - Manning Elementary M Gym 10:30am - Mondays. 1h or play and song. All preschool children welcome.

P INDOOR WALKING PROGRAM (Fitness) - Al Adair Rec

Centre 12-1pm. Every Mon & Fri. Bring Indoor Shoes and a Friend! For more info call 780-624-3474.

5:30-7pm - Every Mon. $6 with gym membership, FREE with membership.

INDOOR WALKING PROGRAM (Fitness) - Al Adair Rec

M GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR (Fitness) - McLennan Elks Hall 10am - Every Mon and Thurs. Socialize while exercising and having fun.

H FREE PUBLIC SKATING (Community) - Hines Creek

P PEACE RIVER SOUP KITCHEN (Community) - St. James

PUBLIC SKATING (Community) - Mile Zero Regional G Multiplex 2-3:30pm - $3 (4-17 years), $5 adult, $15 family. For more info call 780-332-4005.

N PARENTS & TOTS (Family) - Nampa Municipal Library

SAT, FEB 25 THE UNDERGROUND MUSIC SOCIETY PRESENTS HURRICANE FELIX & THE SOUTHERN TWISTERS (Music) - Senior Citizen's Drop In Centre 8pm - Cash Bar. Tix ($25/adv or $30/door) available at Danberger's or Village AVU.

CHIBI DRAWING WORKSHOP (Education) - Peace P Regional Outreach Campus 1-4pm - Presented by the Big Asset Committee. Ages 12 and up. Register by calling Danya or Leo at the Ground Level Youth Centre at 780-624-2162 by Feb 18. $10 (Financial Assistance available by request).

J PIRATES OF LAC MAGLOIRE DINNER THEATRE (Theatre)

THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL WORKSHOP (Theatre) P Athabasca Hall - 4-day workshop over 2 weekends (Feb 25&26 and Mar 3&4) w/ Bracken Burns and Gavin Whitworth. $50. Presented by Peace Players.

Application forms available at Style Ryte. Limited positions available.

FIREARMS SAFETY FOR MINORS (Education) Community Adult Learning Classroom 9-4:30pm - Instructor: Ralph Cowie. $80. To register call 780-836-2664.

THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL WORKSHOP (Theatre) P Athabasca Hall - 4-day workshop over 2 weekends (Feb 25&26 and Mar 3&4) w/ Bracken Burns and

Beginner classes. Drop-in $12 or purchase a punch card. For more info call 780-624-8838.

WED, FEB 29 C PARENTS AND TOTS (Family) - Mamowintowin Hall 1:30-3pm - Every Wednesday. For more info call 780-322-3954.

P

P

G

P

BUSKING AT THE BELLE (Music) - Belle Centre Mocha Room 7:30-11pm - Admission is pay-what-you-can, performers are free. Musicians bring your tip jar or instrument case.

TUES, FEB 28

P READ AWAY PROGRAM (Self Help) - PR Municipal

Library 1-2pm - Adult reading circle (improve your reading skills). Every Wednesday. For more info call 780-624-4076.

G TAKING OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY (TOPS) (Fitness) Grimshaw Hospital 6:30pm - For more info call Linda 780-322-7443.

G

P NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (Self Help) Peace River

United Church 7pm - Every Mon and Fri. For More Info call 780-219-1485.

P

CINEMA POLITICA (Film) - Ground Level Youth Centre 7pm - "Living Downstream"-- A powerful reminder of the intimate connection between the health of our bodies and the health of our air, land & water.

BOOK BUGS (Family) - New Horizon Centre 10-11:30am - FREE program for children ages 0-6. For more info call Tracey at 780-835-3273.

THURS, MAR 1 11-12pm - Tues & Thurs. FREE Everyone welcome!

P

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (Self Help) - St. Paul’s P United Church. 8pm - Every Tuesday and Thursday.

M

BASIC BUDGETING & SAVINGS (Self-Help) - Manning Family Resource Centre 11-3pm - Instructor: Carrie Hogg Sexsmith. For more info or to register call 780-836-2664 or 780-836-4222.

P TRADITIONAL NATIVE DANCE CLASSES (Dance) -

C

M

P

Sagitawa Friendship Centre (Lower Level) 7-8pm - All Ages. 9 & under must have a parent present.

P ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS SUPPORT GROUP (Self

MON, FEB 27

PUBLIC SKATING (Community) - Mile Zero Regional Multiplex 3:30-4:30pm - $3 (4-17 years), $5 adult, $15 family. For more info call 780-332-4005.

M MANNING WALKING GROUP (Fitness) - Legion Hall

P YOGA (Well-Being) - Senior Citizen’s Centre 4pm -

Beginner and Intermediate. BYO Mats and Blanket.

Drop-ins welcome. $12. (Sundays from Jan 15 - Apr 15).

For more info call 780-624-4249.

PEACE RIVER SOUP KITCHEN (Community) - St. James Cathedral 12-1pm - Volunteers Needed. www.prsoupkitchen.org 8:15-10pm. $2.

Cathedral 12-1pm - Volunteers Needed. www.prsoupkitchen.org 10-11:30pm - For more info call 780-322-3954.

INDOOR WALKING PROGRAM (Fitness) - Al Adair Rec Centre 1 - 2pm. Every Wed. Bring Indoor Shoes and a Friend! For more info call 780-624-3474.

H SHINNY HOCKEY (Community) - Hines Creek Arena

For more information call 780-624-4710

- Jean Cote - Presented by local actors. Tix $50. For more info call Carol Boucher 780-837-4348.

LUNCH AT ALLEN'S (Music) - Belle Petroleum Centre 7:30pm - Tickets $30/adv or $40/door. For more info call the Belle Cantre at 780-624-8318.

P HATHA YOGA (Well-Being) - Bodhi Tree 7pm -

F DROP IN FLOOR HOCKEY (Fitness) - GPRC Rec Centre

G FREE SKATE (Family) - Mile Zero Regional Multiplex 2-4pm- Sponsored by the ATB in Grimshaw.

- Sponsored by Clean Harbors Energy Services.

Arena 4-5pm.

M

P FREE SWIM (Community) - Peace River Pool 6:30-8:30 - Sponsored by Local Disposal Ltd. For more info call 780-624-3720

P FREE SKATE (Family) - Baytex Energy Centre 5-6:30pm

a Friend! For more info call 780-624-3474.

P

G SHINNY HOCKEY (Community) - Mile Zero Regional Multiplex 3:30-4:30pm - $3 (4-17 years), $5 adult, $15 family. For more info call 780-332-4005.

DROP IN VOLLEYBALL (Fitness) GPRC Community Rec Centre 7-9pm - $6 without gym membership, FREE with a gym membership. Every Friday

P Centre 12-1pm. Every Mon & Fri. Bring Indoor Shoes and

P

Admission is pay-what-you-can. For more info visit www.cinemapolitica.org/peaceriver

PEACE CHALLENGERS TOASTMASTER CLUB (Self Help) to speak with confidence & professional leadership skills. Every Tues. For more info call Cindy 780-624-4890.

GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR (Fitness) - McLennan Elks Hall 10am - Every Mon and Thurs. Socialize while exercising and having fun.

HATHA YOGA (Well-Being) - Bodhi Tree 5:30 Beginner/Intermediate classes. Drop-in $12 or purchase a punch card. For more info call 780-624-8838.

Community Adult Learning Centre - Basic Internet & Facebook: 3:30pm. Basic Computer: 4:30pm, Basic Computer Level 2: 5:30pm. For more info or to register call 780-836-2664.

M MANNING WALKING GROUP (Fitness) - Manning Legion

P - Northlands Sch. Div. (9809-77 Ave) 7:30pm - Learn

KID’S CLUB (Family) - Mamowintowin Hall 4-5:30pm Ages 6-9. Every Thurs. For more info call 780-322-3954.

M INTERNET/COMPUTER CLASSES (Education) -

Help) - St. Paul’s United Church (upstairs) 7:30pm - For more information call Sharon at 780-624-8778.

Hall 11-12pm - Tuesdays and Thursdays. FREE Everyone welcome!

MEDITATION (Well-Being) - Bodhi Tree 7:30pm - -25 degrees or lower cancels meditation.

P

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (Self Help) - St. Paul’s United Church. 8pm - Every Tuesday and Thursday.

For more information call 780-624-4710

Artist Directory INKED IN MALICE

Band (Dan Binks: Lead guitar, vocals, songwriter.

Stephen Knudsen: Rhythm guitar) Melodic acoustics to technical metal. Working on demo. reverbnation.com/inkedinmalice

ART BY TARAS

Airbrushing (custom painted art on canvas, wall murals, helmets, clothing) airbrushartists.org/ hotrodzz34

EPHEMERA

Band (Buzz Lorenzen, lead vocals, guitar, songwriter.

Anjil Shimoon, cello, backing vocals, extreme sexiness.) drbuzzmd@yahoo.com

SHANNON BROWN

Oil Painter (Recently graduated from NSCAD university. Shannon is practising the art of painting through landscape oil paintings, murals and is now using neon acrylics. shane_browndotcom@hotmail.com

CJ LYONS

Works by commission in acrylic, graphite, charcoal and digital design. Gallery at meganekko-bomb.deviantart.com caylah.lyons@hotmail.com

VERNON LEDGER

Musician (Guitar, Bass, Piano, Vocals. Band: A New Direction. Teaches Song Writing, Jams, Available for events.)

780-624-2693 nervedge1984@live.com

MARY WARREN

Graphite & Ink (Realistic to animated, I enjoy working with nearly all mediums and art forms. I also dabble in clothing design.) sickyslimys@hotmail.com

SUSAN THOMPSON

Dancer (Belly dance, fire dance, fire fans, palm torches, LED fans, choreographed or freestyle, go-go dancing) vantom@xplornet.com FB: Sisu Belly Dance

MARIE ELDSTROM

Photographer (Owns House of E Photographic Imagery. Book a session.

Tell your story. Promises a unique and exciting experience. Portraits & Prints.) marieeldstrom@gmail.com houseofphotographicartistry. blogspot.com

CAROLYN GERK

Pencil, Acrylic, & Watercolor (Portraits, landscapes, still life, children’s decor, murals, personalized items, decorative art and gifts. Requests welcome) 780-625-1215 carolyn.2345@hotmail.com FB: Creative Design by Carolyn

ALECIA VOGEL

Singer/Songwriter (Gravitates more towards the pop/ folk side of things. Also in the midst of releasing a demo and loving every moment of it.) aleciahh@gmail.com 780-625-7329

SARAH SHUDRA

LEAH WOOD

Photographer (Do you want unique photos? Order your session today!)

780-618-8204 leahwoodphotography.com leahwoodphotography.com/ blog ARIANA HAMMERBERG Oil, Acrylic, & Watercolour (Landscapes,abstract,mixed media) 780-625-1794 ahammerberg@yahoo.com FB: Paintings by Ariana

Dancer (Director of Bongo Studio, Latin instructor, Zumba instructor, choreographer and professional dancer of Peruvian music) 780-625-7428 sarashudra@yahoo.es AMANDA MANDEVILLE Photographer/Artist (Creative Lark Photography & Fine Art. "I offer professional, artistic, & fun photos for any occasion.")

780-625-5242 creativelarkphotography.com

Are you an artist or musician who would like to be featured in the artist directory?

GRIMSHAW | 780 . 332 . 2132 w w w. c a n t e c h e l e c t r i c . c o m

email your info to

thepit@thevaultmag.com

MUSIC

HURRICANE FELIX TO HIT PEACE RIVER INTERVIEW BY SUSAN THOMPSON

F

elix Calderon heads up Hurricane Felix and the Southern Twisters, a honky-tonk rockabilly band howling in from Calgary on February 25 to play at the Underground Music Society's next event. Felix took time out from his busy schedule playing shows and caring for his new baby daughter to educate theVAULTmagazine about rockabilly.

For the uninitiated, what is rockabilly?

Basic rockabilly is just a white man’s version of blues. It’s based on the 12 bar version of the blues scale. Then the upright bass came in, and [musicians] came up with the double slap and the single slap and that was done as a trio band, the bass was playing along as a percussive instrument, the upright bass slapping along with the vocals and guitar blended into the traditional roots. Then the drum kit was added, and saxophones, and we use steel to add that honky-tonk feel.

You’ve played with both a large band and a threepiece. Where are you at now musically?

With the years of doing it, definitely you go back to your

roots so to speak, so we’re back as a trio, doing a really simple traditional sound. We’ve always had a torch for the rockabilly honky-tonk blues. It’s not set in stone, but basically that’s where our little playground is.

We’ve had horn sections; we’ve done burlesque shows and stuff too, now we’re getting back to our roots.

You’re known as one of the “unholy trinity” of Calgary rockabilly, along with Eve Hell and the Razors and the Smokin’ 45’s. What’s the rockabilly scene like in Calgary?

It definitely has grown. For myself, I’ve seen it going good, there’s a lot of good bands.

It makes everybody play better.

There’s a lot more competition, more venues, more exposure from the internet and things like that. There’s always a lot going on though, so we try to connect with other rockabilly bands and play shows where there are three or four bands.

We want to support each other too, doing what everybody loves. It’s just as valid as any other music. Rockabilly is huge everywhere except Canada.

Don’t get me wrong, Canada is getting big and shit, there’s rockabilly in Toronto, and Vancouver, but now it’s like we’re bringing it back here to Calgary.

So you’ve got a good fan base in Calgary?

It’s a good strong fan base, we have the name and people respect it too, after 10 years in Calgary going strong. But you’ve got to get one extra foot in the door, the expectations should never stop.

How are things going for you and your band? You recorded a CD last summer, what else is new?

We’re just doing shows like this. We’ve got three weddings to do this summer. Stampede’s going to be a good time. So there’s no shortage of work.

Our next album is coming out for late spring. This one will definitely have 20 tracks [on it], when most have been 12. It’s one of those things where you have to let the music do the work. We do have eight tracks already, and I’d say I’m about 60 to 80 per cent confident about the ones we have so far. It’s a definite process but you know you’re on the right track when it flows.

You were born in El Salvador, and your family moved to Canada through a Red Cross sponsorship. How does being born in El Salvador, and spending part of your young life in L.A. before moving to Calgary, still influence your music?

It’s always affecting me, being from El Salvador, seeing the two parts of the world and stuff. I’m 100 per cent Canadian, and I’m proud of that, but I miss it and I do want to contribute in the way a musician does, just get their music out there and be known, but also write about what you know. So there’s times I’ll listen to all these bands from El Salvador, like Los Hermanos Flores, and the lyrics are so pure and simple.

There are some songs I want to sing in Spanish. I just had a daughter. She’s 8 months old.

Her name’s Delilah. I sing to her. She’s got Latin roots so I want to sing some songs like that to her.

So you’ll sing some songs on the new album in Spanish?

That’s part of the reason this album will have 20 tracks. Yeah that’s definitely on the go.

What can people expect from the upcoming Hurricane Felix show?

We put in a lot of energy; we put 110 per cent into everything. We’re not just a 2D band, we’ve got a lot of genres and a lot of stuff we dabble into, and we’re doing cover songs too that people maybe don’t expect, doing everything

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with our southern twist.

We do like three sets. We start off with the blues influence, to start getting the crowd warmed up, then bring them into the traditional rockabilly stuff, then some stuff people wouldn’t expect to hear.

I’m a firm believer in changing the set a couple of songs in depending on how the crowd reacts. Some musicians don’t do that. We know how to play a crowd, and know exactly what it takes to get them going.

Since this is your first time in Peace River, is there anything you want to see from the Peace River crowd while you’re here?

Give it all 100 per cent. Dance your ass off. Do whatever you’ve gotta do. Just show up and play and we’ll do the same.

Hurricane Felix and the Southern Twisters will be playing at the underground Music Society’s next event on February 25. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door and can be purchased at Danberger and Sons or at Village AVU. Don't forget to enter the draw for a guitar signed by all the bands the underground has brought in this season.

The draw will take place in May. It's only $5! One entry per ticket per dance.

theVAULTmagazine

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REVIEW HOMESPUN REVIEW

theVAULTmagazine

“Garth Hudson presents

a Canadian Celebration of The Band” Indeed The Band had quite a legacy.

Along the way, we’ve lost a couple members, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko.

Robbie and Levon have kept quite busy with their solo careers.

BY TERRY CAMERON

A

while back I dug out The Band’s The Last Waltz and once again enjoyed watching that farewell concert from 1976. What a celebration, with guests like Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ronnie Hawkins, Muddy Waters and more.

Directed by Martin Scorsese no less.

When The Band came out with their first album, Music From Big Pink in 1968, it was a breath of fresh Canadian air rising above the smoky clouds of hash and marijuana-induced music erupting from San Francisco and the Hippie pipe dream.

In the early sixties, the members of The Band; Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, (all Canadians) and Levon Helm, the only American, honed their skills backing up Ronnie Hawkins.

Ronnie molded them into a fierce and wild bar band. They had to be—playing rowdy bars n’ clubs owned by the likes of Jack Ruby.

In 1965, Bob Dylan hired the boys, who were known as the Hawks to back him when he made that historic step from acoustic folkie to electric icon.

Garth Hudson was always the mysterious quiet one.

A classically-trained pianist coming from a musical family, he was The Band’s music mentor and the true maestro.

In fact, when Ronnie Hawkins hired him back in 1961, he bought Garth a brand new Lowrey organ and paid him extra to be the group’s music teacher.

And now, 50 years since his beginnings, and about 35 years after the last Band performance, we have a celebration of Garth’s favorite Band songs. And he has left no stone unturned, selecting rarities from The Basement Tapes and later albums, along with familiar classics. Eighteen songs in all, all performed

by Canadian artists backed

by Garth on keyboards and accordion, who also produced the album.

“Out of the Blue” the last song from The Last Waltz is given an emotionally exquisite interpretation by Mary Margaret O’Hara. Melancholy mixed with sweet musings.

Neil Young’s raunchy guitar and raw vocals explode with “This Wheel’s On Fire.” As he sings, “If your memory serves you well,” the Sadies try to keep up, backing this “live off the floor, give it yer all” style that is Neil.

The Sadies, who include 2 sons

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of the Good Brothers, Dallas and Travis, so shine on in “The Shape I’m In.” You’ll also find the Cowboy Junkies, Blue Rodeo, The Road Hammers, Hawksley Workman, and Bruce Cockburn enjoying and celebrating their versions of Garth’s picks.

There are also lesser known artists such as Peter Katz and the Curious who along with Garth on the accordion capture the down-east French flare of “Acadian Driftwood.” This song was written by Robbie Robertson (whose mother is a Mohawk Indian) and is a historic folk tale of how the Acadians were driven out of Canada. “Set my compass north, I’ve got winter in my blood.”

These are songs and musicians that take you places. Chantal Kreviazuk squeezes out every ounce of emotion on “Tears of Rage” while Great Big Sea turn an old relic like “Knockin’ Lost John” into a swaying shanty.

Garth’s Lowrey organ classically introduces the finale, “Chest Fever.” A song that went on to influence groups like Procol Harum.

In a time of pounding beats, flashing lights and deaths by ecstasy it is reassuring to know real music lives on.

Garth once described music as medicine and musicians possessing the power to heal.

Fittingly, a percentage from the sale of this album will be donated to the SickKids Foundation.

Way to go Garth!

P:(780)624-1985 E:thevaultmagazine@hotmail.com

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ARTS Peace of ART holds winter themed Art Show •

SUBMITTED BY WEND WAGNER

P

eace of ART’s Winter Art Show and Gala on Friday, February 10, drew people of all ages to the Peace River Municipal Library. The theme was Winter and all artwork on display as well as all poetry and performances were geared to exploring what is great (and maybe not so great) about winter.

Performances included a beautiful northern lights poem written and read by Tara Harbaruk; two winter songs sung by Melanie Pittman, accompanied by her brother, Shawn Pittman on drum, and Meghan Toker on guitar and backup vocals; and a dramatic recitation of The Cremation of Sam McGee (Robert Service) by Reid Glenn.

The Winter Exhibit will be on display until the end of February at the Library’s Art Gallery. This exhibit displays artwork from many local artists including Shannon Brown, Sonia Rosychuk, Conrad Helfenstein, May Brown, Trudy Plazier, Wend Wagner, Marie Laventure and Sharon Krushel. Many of the pieces are for sale and can be purchased at the Library, though must remain on display until the end of the month. Several pieces have sold already, which is a testimony to the quality and diversity of representation by the members.

The next appearance from peace of ART will be the Peace River Trade Show April 13-14.

Peace of ART was formerly Peace River Art Club. The membership voted to change the name last year in order to better represent their wide spectrum of artists. If you are an artist interested in joining peace of ART, drop by Frameworks in Peace River to pay for a membership ($30) which runs until the AGM in September. Also check out the FB site (search Peace River Art Club) to keep up to our current events and next meeting date. Meetings are held every 2nd Thursday at 6:30pm in the Art Gallery area of the Peace River Library, and you are welcome to attend a meeting before deciding to join. (Dates are postponed for holidays and months of July and August.)

Look for upcoming courses on digital photography, painting and drawing, as well as short workshops and info sessions held at the Peace River Library. Course information is available online if you search Horizon Learning Centre Community Learning Guide.

Also, krushel.com has information on art, photography, website, and Apple classes with Randall Wiebe, coming soon.

Admission was by donation and went to peace of ART. A huge thanks goes to Java Domainn and Kit Business for helping sponsor the event.

JOE (PLAYED BY BRENDA ARMSTRONG) PRACTICES THE EULOGY FOR HIS DEAR DEPARTED FRIEND SNOWY WHYTE AS PETEY (PLAYED BY BRAD SHEEHAN) LOOKS ON.

Local Dinner Theatre Finishes Strong With new Director at Helm

BY TORMAIGH VAN SLYKE

A

man is dead. His coffin is propped upright in the old farm house where he lived, and confusion and hilarity ensue as his twin sons and best friend Joe deal with a several unexpected visitors, a missing inheritance, and a mortician who is trying to repossess the body.

This is the setting for awardwinning-playwright Gregory Neil Pyne’s This Old Man, He Played Three—the dinner theatre the Lac Cardinal Performing Arts Society (L.C.P.A.S.) brought to the Grimshaw’s Elks Hall stage over three weekends.

On finale night, February 11, 2012, caterer Tammy Moore of Tammy’s Catering was getting her kitchen and staff ready.

She explained that each night they prepared about 60 plates.

This night, however, would be different. People poured into the theatre, and it filled to near capacity (approximately 150 attendees).

Michelle Glen has been performing with the society since their beginning.

“Everyone here volunteers and

they’re all doing a really good job,” says Glen.

This year’s production involved the dedication of more than 20 cast and crew—young and young at heart.

“We have a lot of people who have been here for a few years, but we also have some newcomers like Tyrel [Gibson],” says Glen referring to their young and enthusiastic Backstage Manager who plans on trying his hand at acting next year. “Also, there’s our director, Lynne Fredine. This is her first time directing with us, so it’s a new experience for us too because she comes from a really professional background.”

Fredine moved to the region a couple of years ago with over 30 years. She has her Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Alberta where she served as an in-house Production Stage Manager and studied directing, set design, lighting design, and costume design.

“This is my first project with them and I hope the first of many,” says Fredine.

Fredine reflects on This Old Man, He Played Three and says,

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“I have seen three different productions of this play—one student, one a mixed cast, and one professional—and they have all been totally different.

With our version of the play, we have a lady [Brenda Armstrong] playing a male character, and she has to be the funniest, mildly lecherous old man. She’s just hysterical. She’s funnier than the professional actor I saw play the role in Edmonton some years ago.”

An interesting highlight of the night is Morgan Maggs’ performance as Snowy Whyte, the dead guy. During the entire play he lies lifeless and unmoving, with the exception of a quick dance number, as his hair [wig] is ripped off, his shoes are shined, and he is otherwise “tortured” by the cast.

“If you didn’t get tickets before tonight, I’m really sorry because you missed a really good show,” says Fredine.

On March 31, L.C.P.A.S. and the Grimshaw Fire-Rescue Association are putting on a gala night and silent auction at the Grimshaw Elk’s Hall with Don Berner and his Little Big Band. Get your tickets at Beyond 2000 in Grimshaw.

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ARTS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS ZWICK

Peace Players brought theatre-goers a humourous glimpse into the cultural phenomenon that was Elvis Presley’s last weekend with its presentation of Luigi Jannuzzi’s All The King’s Women at Athabasca Hall. Billed as “the story of Elvis Presley told through the eyes of 17 women—some enthralled, some appalled, all obsessed,” the play consisted of five short skits and three monologues ranging from 1946, when Elvis got his first guitar in Tupulo, Mississippi, to the present-day post-Presley shrine that is Graceland in Tennessee.

It touches on some of the events on the Elvis timeline from the perspective of some of the women who happened to cross his path.

Pictured, actresses Julia Martin, Bailey Robinson, and Laurie Horosko re-enact the now famous negotiation that took place before Elvis appeared on Steve Allen’s national television show in 1956, entitled “The Censor and the King” wherein it was decided if a tuxedoed Elvis would in fact sing directly to a hound dog and whether or not his whole body would be shown on television, swinging hips and all.

DID YOU KNOW? Every week we give away prizes on our blog?

Check us out every Friday for your chance to win!

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TECHNOLOGY DON'T KID YOURSELF: Your computer isn't made for home entertainment

BY SUSH WONG

I

n the media driven world we live in, technology has irreparably changed our day-to-day lives—in particular, the digital media revolution.

Computers and other newmedia gadgets are becoming more inclusive and more affordable with each passing week. Their convenience and novelty are hard to dismiss.

Even as I type this on my PC, a laptop to my right is playing some ‘80s TV show on Netflix.

The advent of computers has blurred the lines between work and play. But have we become so

complacent with ever-present technology that we forget what quality entertainment is? I would have to say yes.

Not only are some of us forgetting, but the younger generation of mediaphiles are being cheated with quantity over quality. Are they readily getting the chance to appreciate “Dolby Digital True HD?” Would they know the difference between HDMI and DisplayPort? Do they even care? Probably not, but they should because they are being fooled with smoke and mirrors—digitally compressed media is a simulation without depth, a distorted replica of

the real thing.

Today, the quality and technology of home theatres and home entertainment systems are comparable to that of an actual theatre. And, nothing beats watching a great movie in high def. with Dolby Digital sound in the comfort of your living room with all family members on deck.

Once your audio/video system is set up and ready to go, watching a movie or listening to an album on the home computer should seem silly.

True, a PC can accommodate a home entertainment system

(I’ve installed a few myself ), but it’s definitely more expensive than the alternative.

You’re better off getting a new home theatre entertainment system that does specifically what it’s meant to do—provide a high-quality, rewarding media experience.

At the end of the day, I feel better sitting on my comfy couch in front of my HD LCD TV with 5.1 THX Certified speakers, enjoying the newest Blu-Ray movie, while sipping my rum; as opposed to, sitting at my desk trying to watch the same movie (downloaded), back hunched, eye strained,

reduced to missing more than 30 per cent of the overall experience.

Computers and hand-held devices offer a buffet of media delights, but they should be thought of as fast food complete with artificial flavors. If you are a true connoisseur of music or film, make it right and use real ingredients.

Artist and Technology Buff, Sush Wong has 16 years of experience as an IT Consultant, Graphic and Web Design/Developer, and Home Entertainment Guru.

Online Poll: What's in your home?

Go to theVAULTmagazine's Facebook page and let us know what you're using for entertainment.

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Sex Column true and that make some people feel embarrassed, ashamed or worried about their sexuality. You’re wise to seek out information about your sexuality. I have never seen any clinical or scientific reports about memory loss in regard to wet dreams.

Is nocturnal emission harmful to health? Does it cause damage to memory?

N

octurnal emissions, which are also called “wet dreams”, are when a man ejaculates during his sleep. Although many men recall having sexual dreams around the time of their wet dreams, others don’t recall any such sexual dreams. They may simply wake up and notice, from their underwear or sheets, that they have ejaculated during the night.

Having wet dreams is fairly common

during puberty and adolescence.

It’s less common during adulthood, however I have definitely heard from a number of men who experience occasional wet dreams even in their 20s, 30s and 40s. There is nothing harmful or damaging about ejaculating whether while sleeping or when awake. Unfortunately, there are many myths about sexuality, masturbation, orgasms and ejaculation that simply aren’t

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FE B RU ARY 17, 20 12

masturbating before bed have helped to decrease how often they experience wet dreams. Consider it a “can’t hurt, and might help” type of strategy.

The bottom line, however, is that nocturnal emissions are not harmful and are part of many men’s normal, As mentioned, some men don’t even healthy and often pleasurable sexual notice that they had a wet dream until lives. they wake up in the morning. Other times, men partly wake up while To learn more about men’s sexuality, they are aroused or having an orgasm check out The New Male Sexuality and enjoy the experience. Some men by Bernie Zilbergeld. You can learn don’t like having wet dreams, for a more about this book and other variety of reasons. If for some reason resources on our web site. having wet dreams bothers you, you Dr. Debby Herbenick is a sexual health may see if masturbating during the educator at The Kinsey Institute and author day or drinking less water before of “Because It Feels Good: A Woman’s bed helps to decrease how often they Guide to Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction” occur. There have been no scientific and “Read My Lips: A Complete Guide to studies to say whether or not these the Vagina and Vulva”. Find our blog, sex information, podcasts and archived Q&A steps will help; however, anecdotally, at www.KinseyConfidential.org. Follow us some adult men have told me that on Twitter @KinseyCon drinking fewer fluids before bed and

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY HOMEWORK:

FOR THE WEEK OF FEB 16 - FEB 22

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR NEXT WEEK’S HOROSCOPE

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© Copyright 2012

Exhausted by the ceaseless barrage of depressing stories you absorb from the news media? Here’s an antidote: http://PronoiaResources.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): What do you typically do just before you fall asleep and right after you

wake up? Those rituals are important for your mental health. Without exaggeration, you could say they are sacred times when you’re poised in the threshold between the two great dimensions of your life. I’ll ask you to give special care and attention to those transitions in the coming week. As much as possible, avoid watching TV or surfing the Internet right up to the moment you turn off the light, and don’t leap out of bed the instant an alarm clock detonates. The astrological omens suggest you are primed to receive special revelations, even ringing epiphanies, while in those in-between states.

of metamorphosis that it has become a cliche. And yet I’d like to point out that when the graceful winged creature emerges from its chrysalis, it never grows any further. We human beings, on the other hand, are asked to be in a lifelong state of metamorphosis, continually adjusting and shifting to meet our changing circumstances. I’ll go so far as to say that having a readiness to be in continual transformation is one of the most beautiful qualities a person can have. Are you interested in cultivating more of that capacity, Libra? Now would be an excellent time to do so. Remember that line by Bob Dylan: “He who is not busy being born is busy dying.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Have you ever gazed into the eyes of goats? If you have, you know SCORPIO that their pupils are rectangular when dilated. This quirk allows them to have a field of vision that extends as far as 340 degrees, as opposed to humans’ puny 160-210 degrees. They can also see better at night than we can. Goats are your power animal in the coming week, Taurus. Metaphorically speaking, you will have an excellent chance to expand your breadth and depth of vision. Do you have any blind spots that need to be illuminated? Now’s the time to make that happen.

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): This would be an excellent time to round up a slew of new role models. In my astrological opinion, you need to feel far more than your usual levels of admiration for exceptional human beings. You’re in a phase when you could derive tremendous inspiration by closely observing masters and virtuosos and pros who are doing what you would like to do. For that matter, your mental and spiritual health would be profoundly enhanced by studying anyone who has found what he or she was born to do and is doing it with liberated flair.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In the animated film *The Lion King,* two of the central characters SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): WD-40 is a spray product that prevents corrosion, loosens are a talking meerkat named Timon and a talking warthog named Pumbaa. Their actions are often heroic. They help the star of the tale, Simba, rise to his rightful role as king. The human actors who provided the voices for Timon and Pumbaa, Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella, originally auditioned for the lesser roles of hyenas. They set their sights too low. Fortunately fate conspired to give them more than what they asked for. Don’t start out as they did, Gemini. Aim high right from the beginning -- not for the bit part or the minor role but rather for the catalyst who actually gets things done.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): “He who is outside his door already has a hard part of his journey behind him,” says a Dutch proverb. Ancient Roman writer Marcus Terentius Varro articulated a similar idea: “The longest part of the journey is the passing of the gate.” I hope these serve as words of encouragement for you, Cancerian. You’ve got a quest ahead of you. At its best, it will involve freewheeling exploration and unpredictable discoveries. If you can get started in a timely manner, you’ll set an excellent tone for the adventures. Don’t procrastinate.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You’re so close to finding a fresh perspective that would allow you to

outmaneuver an old torment, Leo. You’re on the verge of breaking through a wall of illusion that has sealed you off from some very interesting truths. In the hope of providing you with the last little push that will take you the rest of the way, I offer two related insights from creativity specialist Roger von Oech: 1. If you get too fixated on solving a certain problem, you may fail to notice a new opportunity that arises outside the context of that problem. 2. If you intensify your focus by looking twice as hard at a situation that’s right in front of you, you will be less likely to see a good idea that’s right behind you.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Thirty-two carrier pigeons were awarded medals by the United Kingdom for their meritorious service in the World Wars. Of course, they probably would have preferred sunflower seeds and peanuts as their prize. Let that lesson guide you as you bestow blessings on the people and animals that have done so much for you, Virgo. Give them goodies they would actually love to receive, not meaningless gold stars or abstract accolades.

It’s time to honor and reward your supporters with practical actions that suit them well.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The caterpillar-to-butterfly transformation is such an iconic symbol

stuck hinges, removes hard-to-get-at dirt, and has several other uses. Its inventor, Norm Larsen, tried 39 different formulas before finding the precisely right combination of ingredients on his fortieth attempt. The way I understand your life right now, Sagittarius, is that you are like Larsen when he was working with version number 37. You’re getting closer to creating a viable method for achieving your next success. That’s why I urge you to be patient and determined as you continue to tinker and experiment. Don’t keep trying the same formula that didn’t quite work before. Open your mind to the possibility that you have not yet discovered at least one of the integral components.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A person who emits a huge angry shout produces just .001

watt of energy. Even if he or she yelled continuously 24/7, it would still take a year and nine months to produce enough energy to heat a cup of coffee. That’s one way to metaphorically illustrate my bigger point, which is that making a dramatic show of emotional agitation may feel powerful but is often a sign of weakness. Please take this to heart in the coming week, Capricorn. If you do fall prey to a frothy eruption of tumultuous feelings, use all of your considerable willpower to maintain your poise. Better yet, abort the tumult before it detonates. This is one time when repressing negative feelings will be healthy, wealthy, and wise.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Jeep vehicles always feature seven slots on their front grills.

Why? For the manufacturer, it’s a symbolic statement proclaiming the fact that Jeep was the first vehicle driven on all seven continents. Let’s take that as your cue, Aquarius. Your assignment is to pick an accomplishment you’re really proud of and turn it into an emblem, image, glyph, or talisman that you can wear or express. If nothing else, draw it on dusty car windows, write it on bathroom walls, or add it to a Facebook status update. The key thing is that you use a public forum to celebrate yourself for a significant success, even if it’s in a modest or mysterious way.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20): A sign outside the Apostolic Bible Church in Bathurst, New Brunswick invited worshipers to meditate on a conundrum: “Why didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes?” After all, if the builder of the Ark had refused to help the pesky insects survive the flood, we’d be free of their torment today. (Or so the allegorical argument goes.) Please apply this lesson to a situation in your own sphere, Pisces. As you journey to your new world, leave the vexatious elements behind.

From theVAULTmmagazine Blog Here in northern Alberta, we still have some time before spring arrives, so why not treat yourself to a gorgeous upcycled hat? You can get this great navy blue slouchy, or any item from Calgarian Etsy seller, LambkinToquesetc for 20% off if you enter the code ‘winter20’. This is a very special deal, just for our readers, so grab it while its hot!

“A navy blue slouchy created from a 100% silk repurposed sweater. The rim can be rolled up to create a beanie. It will fit noggins from 22 to 24 inches in circumference.”

READ ABOUT OTHER GREAT ETSY DEALS AND MUCH MORE AT THEVAULTMAGAZINE BLOG AT WWW.THEVAULTMAGAZINE.TUMBLR.COM

RAVE

I walk by Dr. Blench’s office every day on my way to work. He has a big sign in front of his office where a new inspirational message is posted every week.

His messages always make me smile!

Maybe that is why his clinic is called “Smiles by Design”.

I look forward to your weekly messages, Dr. Blench!

Deb K.

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Jonesin’ Crossword

Wholesome Family Day Weekend Word Search

Matt Jones (editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

“Coldplay”--that's a sick songlist.

Across

1 Poet Sylvia 6 Ultrafast plane, once 9 Senators and representatives, for short 13 Studly 14 Number cruncher 15 "Who Can It ___?" (Men at Work song) 16 Charlie who has tiger blood, apparently 17 Gas station "product" 18 Wombs 19 Band with the 1998 hit "Circles" 22 With 29-across, movie whose soundtrack contains "Stayin' Alive" 25 Hangman's loops 26 Actress Maria Conchita ___ 27 Refine flour 28 Victory run, maybe 29 See 22-across 35 Seacrest show, for short 37 Great Leap Forward promoter 38 Former Polish leader Walesa 39 With 51-across, 2000 solo album by Rush's Geddy Lee 43 86,400 seconds 44 Narrative 45 Delight in cruelty 48 Witnessed 51 See 39-across 53 Travis Barker opening lyric before "lay low and stay breezy" 55 Actor Lash of early westerns 56 It's north of Afr. 57 "Who's there?" response 61 Secluded spots 62 Big buffoon 63 Firming shot 64 Otherwise 65 555-55-5555, e.g.

66 Head of the Slytherin House

Down

1 "Aunt Flo" hassle 2 "Well, ___-di-freakin'-dah!"

3 Card "in the hole" 4 Centerpiece of some kids' science models 5 Accolades 6 La ___ (Italian opera house) 7 With a kick 8 Poi base 9 Upscale place where Fido stays while his owner's on vacation 10 "___ the loneliest number..."

11 "SNL" producer Michaels 12 Quick drinks out of the bottle 15 "Get out of here!"

20 Japanese noodles 21 Foot, fathom or farad 22 Late Iraqi politician Ezzedine (MAILS anagram) 23 "Three Times ___" 24 On ___ the world 27 Serving of 44 ml 30 Hungarian statesman Nagy 31 Moo goo ___ pan 32 Like some Hinduism 33 Online currency of sorts 34 Tears for fears, for example 36 When summer begins 40 Algebraic figures 41 Automotive pioneer Ransom 42 Morales of "La Bamba" 46 Wings it 47 He played Bond between Moore and Brosnan 48 Hogwash 49 "You can't win ___" 50 Long-eared hoppers 51 Really big bras 52 "Jackass" alum McGhehey 54 Lapsang souchong, et al.

58 Depot stop: abbr.

59 Deck swabbing need 60 File extension that runs programs ©2012 Jonesin’ Crosswords

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Long Weekend Together Fun Sledding Skating Wiener Roast Entertainment

February Carnaval De St-Isidore Bonfires Skiing Games Hay Rides Movies

Dancing Live Music Quality Time Laughter Snowball Fight Ice Sculptures

www.thevaultmagazine.tumblr.com LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU To Play: Complete the grid so that every row, column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. There is no guessing or math involved, just use logic to solve.

.PUZZLES & HUMOUR we

can't make comics

we have no arms...

But we have eyes

Obscure Wizardry

By Jason Hewitt

Look for Issue 11 on Mar. 2, 2012

send us your comics!

email thepit@thevaultmag.com for more information

theVAULTmagazine comes out every two weeks...

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