Move Up ~ Issue 2 by VAULTmedia

Fall/Winter 2013/2014

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table of contents 11

Columns Read up on business and economic development in the region

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Paddle the Peace Making memories in our own backyard

Farmers who dream of Flying Fairviewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Canso Crew

Like a Boss 7 take charge personalities in the Peace

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Energy Everywhere Converting waste to power the Peace

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Welcome to the Heart of the Earth The Peace River Aboriginal Gathering & Pow Wow

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Fall/Winter 2013/2014 | Volume II PUBLISHERS

Tormaigh Van Slyke //tormaigh@pcpublishing.ca Jenelle Lizotte //jenelle@thevaultmag.net EDITOR

Chris Zwick//editor@thevaultmag.net LAYOUT DESIGN

Aimie Williams Tormaigh Van Slyke //vanslyketormaigh1@gmail.com Jenelle Lizotte //jenelle@thevaultmag.net AD DESIGN

Aimie Williams AD SALES

Tormaigh Van Slyke //sales@pcpublishing.ca Jeremy Arnold //jeremy@pcpublishing.ca PHOTOGRAPHY

Susan Thompson, Chris Zwick WRITERS

Chris Zwick, Lydia Zilahy, Susan Thompson, Matt Belliveau, Tormaigh Van Slyke, Jenelle Lizotte, Mary Warren, Dan Dibbelt, Jeremy Arnold, Community Futures Staff Move Up Magazine is published semi-annually by Platoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cave Publishing. No content herein can be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. 12,000 copies printed. Move Up Magazine is 100 per cent funding by advertising dollars.

Letter from the Editor

grew up in these parts, the Great White North as some call it, yet, I’ve never lived in an igloo, or any structure made entirely of snow and ice. Truthfully, I’ve never even been in one, nor have I had the desire to be in one. I grew up in a sturdy house in a small town. I’ve survived nearly 30 winters here, some of them harsh, but there have been a few mild ones as well, and I’ve never had the urge or need to cut large blocks out of snow to construct a shelter. It is, after all, the 21st Century, and despite many of the misconceptions held by some of our southern friends in more urban centres, Alberta’s Peace Region is as diverse and modern as any other place in Canada, with a little something extra. That’s not to say there are not those who prefer a more traditional rural lifestyle, and that is available too. There are those who choose to grow and hunt their own food and live

in cabins they’ve built themselves in the wilderness; that’s their prerogative, but they can just as easily drive 10 minutes into town, go to McDonald’s for a Big Mac, run a few errands and be back to the peace of the wilderness within the hour. And chances are, they’ll be carrying a smart phone while they do it.

whenever we desire. It is completely plausible to go for a 10-mile walk or bike ride and see more moose than people. That lifestyle is here to experience. More and more people from all over Canada and around the world are finding out what it is to escape the ironic isolation of the city and become an actual member of a tight-knit community.

That’s the true beauty of northwest Alberta. We have much of the same cultural diversity of larger centres; there are faiths, political persuasions, attitudes and occupations of all types here. We love art and music and live theatre as much as any socialite sipping champagne in a high rise. We have access to the same modern amenities anyone could ask for— hospitals, schools, airports, cellular phone coverage, high-speed internet services and retail stores of all kinds—but we also have the option of escaping that modern life

You may come for the jobs and the money; it’s readily available for those willing to work for it. Or maybe you’re just coming for the experience. Either way, you’ll want to stay for the lifestyle afforded to you. You may not see a reallife igloo, but you’ll see a perfect mix of work and play as the issue before you will reveal. We are an industrious type up here yet civil and friendly. Maybe you should move up.

Chris Zwick Editor

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relocation stories

movE uP cAsE studiEs

what brought you to the Peace region? used to come up for Easter, Christmas and during the summer holidays to visit, so we got to know Fairview and the area well.” As a parent with active kids, the town has been a great fit for Haubrick and his family. “It’s a hockey town and this is the first place we’ve lived that has had a swimming pool, so it’s been good to get them into formal lessons,” said Haubrick. My boys and I dirt bike and I hunt anything that runs or flies. My family and I skidoo, and I’m looking forward to downhill skiing this winter. My wife and my boys snowboard so having a ski hill so close by is another treat.”

haun Haubrick has been in the service of the RCMP for 17 years. Of those 17 years, he has spent eight of them in northwestern Alberta. But as of early 2013, he has settled into the Town of Fairview as sergeant of the local detachment, and he and his very active family are not regretting his latest posting even a bit. “Arriving in Fairview is a bit of a homecoming,” said Haubrick. “My grandmother and grandfather homesteaded out toward Berwyn and my uncle and my cousins still farm the land. We

With an appreciation for recreational sports and the outdoors Haubrick also takes great pride in the great natural beauty of the Peace Region. “Northern B.C. can take their mountains; I’d rather see the bush and the land. The rivers and the sloughs are beauty to me more than mountains,” said Haubrick. For this hard-working family man, Fairview is the perfect place to settle down, raise his children and get back to his roots.

herself from her home city of Windsor, in exchange for a quieter small town setting in Manning. After three months she realized what she found was more than a partner, she’s also found a home. “I absolutely love it. I’ve been here three months and I don’t feel like I’m in Alberta, I don’t feel like I’m far away from home” said Ashley. Having come from a city with such a competitive job market, Ashley was pleasantly surprised to find work so quickly after moving.

hen 25-year-old Megan Ashley came to the Peace Region she wasn’t in search of work but was instead following her heart. After meeting a long-time Peace Region resident who happened to be visiting Ontario, she decided to throw caution to the wind and uproot

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“I went to IGA and got hired that day. When you live in Windsor and you get hired it’s like a big celebration because there are no jobs,” said Ashley. Having acted on a spur of the moment decision, Ashley is taking her new life in the Peace Region one day at a time and holds no regrets about her life altering move.

JErEmy ArnoLd

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intentional inspiration in 7 simple steps “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” ~ Plutarch

You can call it vision, passion, purpose, ambition, aspiration—whatever you want. The reality is it’s hard to find people who have it, which makes things difficult.

rance, 1429. The sun rose as it had for the last 93 years—on a country at war. The end was finally in sight. Paris had fallen and the French were down to one final stronghold in Orleans. Defended by only a handful of young men with little experience and less hope, things were at an all-time low.

As business owners, we want people who will share our drive and sense of ownership. Here’s the problem: they can’t be found—they need to be made, and nurtured. As business owners, it’s our responsibility to lead and grow our people. We get busy, and we forget to water them. We create the drought that causes the famine.

Then something happened. Orleans was saved. The French went on the offensive and, within a few months, several major cities were reclaimed. They went on a winning-spree. The soldiers had found their courage, and the tide had turned. More amazing than the comeback was the force that prompted it—the actions of an illiterate farm girl named Joan of Arc. She was 16, with no military training and not so much as a seminar on leadership under her belt. She understood an important principle though: people need to be inspired. And she was very, very good at doing just that. It was her overwhelming priority. The army needed better strategy, true, but information is nothing without inspiration. Business leaders in the Peace Region share many common problems. When asked to name them, the same complaint dominates the list: a lack of dependable staff. Those at the top really feel the weight. It leads to long hours for owners and senior managers. Holidays are often cancelled, or at least interrupted, and important long-term items are often sacrificed to meet “urgent” short-term needs. Market share is lost as a result. The problem isn’t an absence of qualified workers. There may be a talent shortage in some areas as well, sure, but that is mainly a surface issue. What is truly lacking are people with fire.

Your thinking, “I’m only one person. What can you do?” The answer is a lot, actually, but you must face a hard reality first. As a leader, you are one of two things: intentional or delusional. These are black-and-white, mutually-exclusive categories. You either intentionally make leadership development a priority or you don’t. And, if you don’t, you are delusional to expect results. Don’t worry. If you’ve failed here, you’re in good company. It is a universal problem. No one is born intentional. We need to be confronted by it, and then consciously choose it as a lifestyle. So what things can you choose to do today that will make an impact? 1. Ask your team what inspires them. 2. Document their feedback. 3. Book off an entire day to do nothing except discuss that feedback. 4. Invite others to join the discussion. 5. Brainstorm a concrete list of things you can do in the next 30 days to inspire your team. 6. Do all of them. 7. Repeat. (No less than once per year.)

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work– teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” ~ Antoine de Saint Exupéry

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community FuturEs stAFF

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the 5 c’s of business

eing a successful entrepreneur sometimes depends more on being in the right place at the right time than anything else. A business venture’s success often relies on an entrepreneur’s ability to seize a business opportunity and capitalize on it in a quick and decisive manner. Considering the number of entrepreneurs due to retire and sell their businesses within the next 5-10 years, the Peace Region is rich in opportunity. What will it take when the right time to buy a business comes along for you? There are many aspects to consider when evaluating a business opportunity, but the most critical one is financing the venture. In many cases, the needed cash will come in the form of a business loan and a visit to a lender. No matter which lender you approach; be it a traditional bank or more developmental-type lenders such as Community Futures, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) or the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), they will use similar criteria to assess your eligibility for financing and their risk. A large part of that assessment includes what lenders often refer to as the “5 C’s of Credit”:     

Character: are you the right person with the right skill set to be successful in this business venture? Conditions: are current market conditions favourable; is there a proven need for the business? Capacity: do realistic financial projections demonstrate an ability to operate the business successfully and repay loan commitments? Credit: is there an acceptable history of business and/or personal credit experience (credit bureau/ suppliers)? Collateral: is the value of security to be taken by the lender within acceptable limits?

The 5 C’s of Credit, although weighted differently by the various lenders, form the basis of a financial institution’s risk assessment of lending you money. A successful entrepreneur

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needs to be aware of the 5 C’s of Credit and must be able to answer questions about the business venture precisely and accurately before approaching any lender. A well thought out business plan, along with realistic financial projections, can help an entrepreneur internally assess the business venture risk, as well as paint a clear picture of the opportunity for your lender. Doing a little homework before you need the cash can prove invaluable when an opportunity presents itself. If you need cash to seize a great opportunity, Community Futures can help. Since its inception in 1995, Community Futures Peace Country has loaned over $13 million to 280 businesses throughout the region resulting in 850 jobs and substantial wealth generation for growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Community Futures is a national economic development program funded in western Canada by Western Economic Diversification Canada. Community Futures’ are nonprofit organizations guided by volunteer boards of directors and staffed with business professionals. Together, CF staff and community volunteers are actively engaged in helping to develop and implement community-based economic development and diversification strategies. These strategies create growth within our rural communities—one idea at a time. Community Futures organizations are developmental lenders, providing access to capital for qualified candidates as well as a wide range of business services such as coaching and technical advice including assistance with business planning. Priority is given to viable business ideas that result in wealth generation for the business and economic development for the community or region. CFs may invest in qualified business projects to a maximum of $150,000.00. Terms and borrowing rates are competitive and tied to the cash flow of the business.

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dAn dibbELt

Opportunity awaits in the Peace Region

t was some 13 years ago, on a cold February afternoon, that I pulled my Toyota Camry into the quaint little Francophone town of Falher, in northern Alberta, to assume the role of Economic Development Officer. My job was to bring economic opportunities to the Town of Falher and the M.D. of Smoky River and to lure others, as I had been lured, to the opportunity that lay before me. I had, like many before me, been coaxed to northwest Alberta by the promise of the opportunities that the Peace Region held. Also like many who had come before me, I only planned to stay for two years and then head back south to civilization. Many years later, however, I still call northern Alberta home. The reality is northwestern Alberta, the people, the opportunity and the lifestyle led me to see that the Peace Region was home and would be for a long time to come. Attracting people to the north is a challenge not unique to this region. There are numerous misconceptions about the weather, the lack of lifestyle amenities, the lack of healthcare or simply a lack of things to do. Those are, in fact, all misconceptions. But even if one was to choose to believe they were true, there is one overriding advantage that northern Alberta carries that outweighs them all—opportunity. There are more than $200,000,000 worth of proposed development projects slated for Northern Alberta. Northern Alberta is also home to 100 per cent of Alberta’s oil sands deposits, 86 per cent of its forests, roughly 30 per cent of both conventional oil and natural gas production and approximately 28 per cent of Alberta’s total farm area. The extraction and development of these commodities require truck drivers and mechanics, welders and power engineers and water haulers and general labourers. In addition to the jobs related directly to the commoditybased industry, the service industry also needs employees.

From servers and chamber maids to accountants and lawyers to teachers and doctors, whatever your profession, opportunities await. The average individual employment income in northern Alberta was estimated to be $70,000 per year in 2011, well above the provincial level of $54,000. That figure doesn’t even truly reflect the reality of many salaries in the north where truck drivers can earn more than $100,000 per year, and there are more jobs than people to fill them. Additionally, there is also a large window for entrepreneurs to tackle the marketplace on their own. There are few other places in Canada where an entrepreneur has such great odds for success as in Alberta’s north. While many are drawn to Alberta’s north for a job, many more recognize the benefits of building a business in a region that boasts high wages, disposable income and a thriving commodity sector waiting to hire your company. Staring your own business can be daunting; however, in the Peace Region there are numerous organizations that can help. There are a number of qualified and well-trained economic development officers in the region who can put you on the right track, whether that is how to secure funding, how to find available properties or even where to get advice on possible ventures. The Peace River Economic Development Agency (PREDA) is a regional alliance that can assist you in identifying areas of the region for you to establish your business as well as local economic trends or possible contacts to assist in determining the potential for your business idea. Both Northern Lakes College and Grande Prairie Regional College offer work force training, which is great because potential graduates may be crucial to making your business a success. There is no denying winters are cold in northern Alberta, but those with a desire to secure excellent employment or start an entrepreneurial venture will quickly warm up to the opportunities that await in the Peace Region.

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Making memories in our own back yard

PAddLE the PEAcE

by chris Zwick

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ince a slow-moving glacier inched its way through hundreds of metres of frozen earth and then gradually melted 10,000 years ago, well before the arrival of the first people to set foot on this land, the Peace River has been the lifeblood of northwest Alberta.

Originating in the Rocky Mountains of northeast British Columbia, Canada’s eighth largest river snakes its way east and then north for 1,923 kilometres until it drains into the Slave River in northeast Alberta, then into Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories and eventually into the Arctic Ocean via Canada’s largest river, the Mackenzie. In all those years many paddle tips have dipped into the Peace. Thousands of years before the arrival of the first fur traders in the area, First Nations people hunted, trapped, fished and lived along the banks of the Peace. The Unchaga, as it is known in Cree, even acted as a border when the Beaver and Cree people agreed to cease a long and bloody war between them in the late18th Century. Around the same time, the area was being explored by Europeans for the first time and the fur trade was flourishing, with the river valley and surrounding area supplying the multitude of pelts that drove the early Canadian economy. In the late 1800s, the Canadian government advertised the northwest as an inexpensive settlement opportunity for the many immigrants who came to Canada to start a new life. As more and more people settled the area and railroads and highways began to criss-cross the land, the river was still instrumental in cementing

northwest Alberta’s reputation as an agricultural powerhouse—the northernmost fertile land in the country. Today, there are still many who hunt and trap and fish along its banks, but the Peace River also provides the necessities of modern life. It remains the primary water supply for many of the municipalities and rural homesteads along its banks. It provides hydroelectric power for thousands and propels our largest industries—agriculture, forestry and oil and gas—to international renown. It is also arguably one of the most beautiful and important recreational areas in the province, as thousands continue to dip their toes and paddles into the mighty Peace River every year. August 18, 2013, happened to be a splendid day for a paddle on the Peace, to the great relief of Paddle the Peace organizers, who were hoping and praying the rain would stay away as the annual event had been cancelled in the past due to uncooperative weather and extremely high river flows. Both the weather and the river were very cooperative this year though; the valley was serene and the river like glass as more than 100 canoers and kayakers of all ages hit the water early that Sunday morning. “Canoeing is one of those things all age groups can enjoy,” said Teresa Tupper, a Paddle the Peace organizer and Community Services Clerk with the County of Northern Lights, which is one of four municipal partners involved with the event along with Northern Sunrise County, the Municipal District of Peace #135 and Town of Peace River.

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“We want to train them young, bring that awareness and give them the education and the confidence they need so they can go out and do it themselves and bring their friends,” she said.

ore than 80 people entered the river at Shaftesbury, with about 20 others opting for the shorter route from Strong Creek Park, about halfway between Shaftesbury and the Town of Peace River on the 28 km trek. Upon reaching Strong Creek, participants were able to take a short break from paddling and were treated to a brunch provided by Daishowa-Marubeni Peace River Pulp Division, just one of the corporate sponsors supporting the event. Shell Canada was another, providing transportation in the form of the buses that delivered eager participants from town to the entry point at Shaftesbury. “We really appreciate our partners and our volunteers. It’s a lot of work and it’s early in the morning to get that many canoes into the river at one spot,” said Tupper. Laura Gloor is just one of many volunteers who continue to make the event such a success each year. She has been involved with Paddle the Peace since its inception but having paddled herself in previous years, she decided to stay on dry land as a volunteer for the most recent event. As coordinator for the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre, she also provides a unique perspective on the many layers Paddle the Peace offers to its participants. “It’s such a historic river. It’s just replete with rich, rich history,” she said. “With a self-propelled canoe, there’s some independence there and there’s a survival aspect there. It’s muscle-powered, not gas-powered and there’s a communion with nature, with the environment.” One can soak in the natural history by gazing upon the sloping

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river banks, the many islands and 90 degree rock faces that line the river. In these places, fossils of prehistoric plants and animals can still be found on a regular basis. And the flood plains that were once inhabited by First Nations provide artifacts to this day, dating back as far as 8,000 years, and can still be discovered by those who know where to look and who possess the appropriate tools and skills. Paddling to the middle of the river, it’s not difficult to imagine what it was like for the early explorers and surveyors who were basically paddling blind for months at a time not knowing what may be around the next bend. In the 28 kilometres covered by the participants of the event, the river boasts several important historical sites—locations that were instrumental in the formation of the area we know today. Fort Fork is perhaps the most recognizable and important locations on the trek. Established by Alexander Mackenzie in 1792, the famous explorer wintered there in 1792 and 1793 after paddling upstream from Fort Vermilion, which is hundreds of kilometres away and where the first fort in northern Alberta was established in 1788. David Thompson, another explorer, also resided at Fort Fork in 1803, with his wife giving birth to a son at that very location. Safety is of primary concern, of course, even for the most avid of canoers and kayakers taking part in Paddle the Peace, which is why the event offers a training day the day before at Leddy Lake, north of the Town of Peace River, for those who choose to brush up on their skills and those who have never even been in a canoe before, including children. This is where Teresa Griffith enters the picture. Not only does her business, Flow North Paddling Company, provide the majority of canoe rentals for the event, but she is also a certified instructor who has conquered the Peace and many other rivers on numerous occasions. Griffith has even written

Paddling to the middle of the river, it’s not difficult to imagine what it was like for the early explorers and surveyors who were basically paddling blind for months at a time not knowing what may be around the next bend.

a book, York Boat Captain, about her experiences leading a modern expedition in the footsteps, and paddle strokes, of early explorers 500 km down the Peace River in a York boat—the same boats used by the North West Company to transport furs to various locations throughout western Canada. Each paddler is equipped with a mandatory lifejacket, a rope, a bailing bucket and a whistle before hitting the water. Each person is also trained to use specific gestures to communicate to others on the river that they are running into trouble. At this time of year though, the Peace River is relatively calm. “I thought it would be more treacherous but it was really calm. It was nice,” said Garret McKen, who took part in Paddle the Peace for the first time this year. McKen, 27, grew up in Berwyn, just down the road from Peace River, but had never actually paddled its waters. He works in the conservation field but doesn’t necessarily consider himself to be an avid outdoorsman. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience though. Paddle the Peace gave him a chance to not only take in the great outdoors with a beautiful day on the river but to soak in the shared cultural history and consider how important it has been to those who lived here throughout the centuries. His brother convinced him to give it a try, and he says he would love to do it again next

year or even sometime sooner in his spare time. “It seemed like an opportunity to get a different vantage point of the river. I’ve never seen it from down there and it had never occurred to me to do something like this before,” he said. “I would definitely do it again. Living in Peace River, we tend to take it for granted, and it’s nice to see it from a different angle.” McKen is not alone. For the first time in its four years, Paddle the Peace registration had to be closed early due to the high volume of potential paddlers trying to sign up for the event—a good sign for organizers who hope to bring even more people and businesses on board to help grow the event in coming years. “I think now the challenge is continuing to keep it fresh,” said Tupper. “Where do we go from here? We’ve already filled our capacity in the last two years. We’d like to get more businesses involved. It has potential and I think the thing is to encourage people to vacation and make memories in their own backyard. With the price of fuel, who wants to be driving all the way to Edmonton or Jasper when we have all this to enjoy.” “I see huge potential,” said Gloor. “I only see it growing. I really think we can build on this as a region.”

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FArmErs who drE 24

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rEAm oF FLying FAIRVIEW’S CANSO CREW

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by susAn thomPson

he Peace Region is known for its pioneering spirit. That indomitable spirit is what has driven people to settle in the north and build the communities we live in today, despite the distances involved and the infamous Canadian winter weather. Even a few years ago it was still possible to homestead not too far from Fairview. Perhaps it’s no accident then that it took a group of farmers from the Fairview area to save a piece of Canadian aviation history most people thought couldn’t be saved. Don Wieben is a farmer who started his career as a bush pilot. Wieben, who had already restored a Beech 18 aircraft, was upset to see some of the last remaining Canadian-built, World War II-era Canso planes being sold off at an auction in Red Deer in 2008. Originally built by Boeing, and called the Catalina, over 3,000 of the planes used to fly skies around the globe, with 800 of those built in Canada under license to Vickers and Canadair. They were used during the war to hunt enemy submarines and perform search and rescue missions because they could land on the open ocean. In peacetime, they were used to fight forest fires and deliver supplies. Only a dozen or so still remain airworthy today. When Wieben complained to Buffalo Airways that at least one of the planes being auctioned off should be kept in Canada for history’s sake, he was told there was a Canso PBY5A still sitting abandoned next to a remote Arctic lake where it had gone down years earlier. The plane, RCAF 11094, had been based in Newfoundland during the war and used to hunt for submarines. Later, like most of the Cansos, it was converted into a water bomber to fight forest fires and was used by Buffalo Airways until it crashed in 2001. Wieben was able to spot the plane on satellite maps, and eventually talked a group of his friends and neighbours into helping him with the rescue of the plane, which was not only 2,200 km from Fairview, but 40 km from the nearest road. Other groups had already tried and failed to reclaim the plane, and when Wieben first started looking into buying it, it had already been promised to the Alberta Aviation Museum. However, the museum eventually dropped out of the running after trying to find the money to fly the plane south by helicopter. Wieben was finally able to buy it “as is, where is.” From thE toP: (1) thE FAirviEw ArEA’s tEAm oF FLying FArmErs during thE rEscuE oF A historic Canso Pby-5a airCrafT from a froZen laKe in The norThwesT TerriTories in 2008. From LEFt to right is JoE gAns, norbErt LukEn, briAn wiLson, don wiEbEn, doug roy and henry deChanT. (2) thE nEwLy modiFiEd cAnso AirPLAnE, As it is PuLLEd AwAy From thE LAkE bEd on skis, whErE mAny thought it wouLd stAy AFtEr crAshing thErE during A firefiGhTinG mission in 2001. (3) The Canso is helPed alonG wiTh a liTTle Pull. (4) AFtEr hAuLing thE cAnso 20 km Across sitigi LAkE, nwt, it wAs LoAdEd onto A barGe and TransPorTed down The maCKenZie river To hay river. from There The PLAnE wAs LoAdEd onto A trAiLEr And hAuLEd AnothEr 740 km to its nEw homE in fairview.

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It was welder Brian Wilson who suggested they drag it out of the bush with skis, and who modified the skis for the Beech 18 to carry the Canso. The founding members of what is now known as the Fairview Aircraft Restorations Society (FARS), including Wieben and Wilson along with Henry Dechant, Joe Gans, Doug Roy and Norbert Luken, travelled north and braved -35 degree Celsius temperatures to get the plane over the frozen lake and down the northern rivers and roads to its new home at Wilson’s rural welding shop, south of Fairview. The rescue was a success thanks to the ingenuity of the farmers and a lot of help along the way, including everyone from the tribal council who gave the group permission to be on their land as well as the companies who loaned them heavy equipment. Before the group left the Arctic with the plane, they were guests at a special barbeque where the crew remembers the head of the tribal council saying, “Many others have tried, but we had six farmers from Fairview come up and get it out in six days.” “Coming with the farming background, it’s all a matter of looking at how you get things done. The idea of putting it on skis and pulling it out was something that we understood and could work with,” said Doug Roy. “It’s sometimes referred to as the pioneering instinct—the urge to get something done no matter what it takes to do it,” agreed new addition to the Canso crew Jim Allan.

nce the crew completed the epic journey to bring the plane home, it was only then that the real work of restoring the plane began. “It went down in 90 feet of water,” explained Roy. “Nobody knows how it hit, but there was quite a bit of damage in one wing.” Much of that damage has since been repaired including the major damage to the plane’s nose and pylon. “Two years ago in the summer, we actually took the air frame out, took the wing out of the other shop and lifted it up. There are two bolts that actually hold the wing on the pylon, and those had to fit. They did. At that point we knew we were going to be able to fix it,” Roy remembered. Other damages may have come from the war, such as three holes that pass right through the plane, which FARS believes are old bullet holes. The plane’s long history has also created some other mysteries for the crew. One mystery they didn’t solve until recently was the purpose of a hole in the nose of the plane. “Actually it was triangular before, and there was a window in there, a heavy Plexiglass window,” said Roy. “The bomb sighter would lay up there in the nose and watch out the window so he could line it up for dropping depth charges. But that little hole, we found out, was actually a flap where he could open and reach out and wipe the glass from the spray and whatever was there.”

“The Great Canadian Aircraft Engine Exchange” with members of the Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society swapping engines with a Canso in St. Anthony, Newfouundland.

All Photography submitted by Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society Fall/Winter 2013/2014

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Don Wieben poses with an engine from the historic airplane he hopes to fly in 2014. Below: regular maintenance must still be performed during the restoration process

From the armhole “windshield wiper” to the engines, the restoration must also be completely historically accurate, which has made it a time-consuming challenge. For one thing, the entire plane was put together using rivets, and even the rivets must be certified. “That was the 1935 technology. I would be tempted to TIG weld a bunch of it if I was doing it now,” laughed Wilson. “There are protocols for all of the riveting and braces.” The restoration has to be authentic to the period not only for historical accuracy, but also because for the plane to be flightcertified, it must be rebuilt to the original engineering standard.

“If you change the original standard, you’re changing your design. Then you have to go through a whole protocol for a supplementary type certificate, and that is major,” explained Allan. “For example, we can put the original engines on and it can be certified. But if you modify the engines, then you have to go through a whole engineering certification.”

ortunately, FARS founder Wieben is certified to oversee the restoration and make sure it is up to Department of Transportation standards, with some help from the DOT itself. But the engines were still a major challenge for the crew, mostly because the Canso didn’t have any. They’d been removed by Buffalo Airways and reused in another aircraft. It wasn’t until Wieben and fellow crew member Joe Gans were vacationing with their wives in Newfoundland that they found out a Canso with working engines had been donated four years earlier to St. Anthony, a town of 2,400 people. That plane was on display as a memorial to honour two pilots, Ronald Penney and Yannick Dutin, who were killed in a Canso crash while on firefighting duty in 1967. A plan was hatched to exchange the Newfoundland Canso’s engines for similar engines provided by FARS, a crossCanada trip that was triple the distance the crew had initially travelled to rescue the plane in the first place. They dubbed the trip as “The Great Canadian Aircraft Engine Exchange.” The crew also used the trip to travel to Halifax and exchange a section of a wing they had for a section they needed. Their second epic journey was also a success thanks to the generous help

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of people in Newfoundland and across Canada, and because of that, the crew hopes to one day paint the plane in Newfoundland’s colours. While the plane is being restored, it must also still receive regular maintenance. That has brought unique challenges as well. For instance, in order to cycle the hydraulics once a year, Wilson had to build a set of special stands for the plane that allow it to be moved up and down on either side. Even with the engines now installed, and most of the major work now done, the Canso crew estimates it won’t be taking its first historic flight until the fall of 2014. When it’s airworthy, one of the first trips they plan to make will be to Canada’s north. “We did talk about that because five of us went almost to the pole in the Beech 18 in 2006, so it keeps coming up. We’re realistically probably going to go further south in Canada, maybe to Inuvik,” said Roy. “We promised people we would come back if we had a chance. And then [we’ll fly] across the country because we owe St. Anthony and Stephenville now too. It may not be rides [in the plane], it may just be a chance to see it.” The slow flight speed of the Cansos not only made them perfect for spotting subs; they also had incredible endurance and gas mileage, making them perfect for long flights. “It has an amazing range on it,” said Roy. “It will fly about 14 hours easily. It still holds the record at 32 hours, for this model of airplane.”

he plane would fly between Perth and what is now known as Sri Lanka during the war. Since it was unable to land safely anywhere in between, it was important to use a plane that could make the vast distance. “They would take about five people and a heck of pile of fuel. It did 32 hours and they called it the ‘double sunrise’ flight,” said Roy. The plane’s range meant it could also patrol Canada’s Arctic— the sovereignty of which is now in question to some in the international community, thanks to a changing climate and an opening northwest passage. “That’s part of sovereignty, to show that we were capable of things like that, that we were capable of doing it in 1943,” Roy said. The planes were also vital to supplying Canada’s most remote northern communities. “They would fly into some communities that you couldn’t get into any other way. Sort of like our STARS air ambulances today,” said Allan. The Canso crew clearly has a lot of respect for the plane’s past, and part of their mission is to educate the public about what the Cansos once did to protect the country—both as part of the military and when used in times of peace. To date, FARS and the Canso crew have faced every challenge big and small that has come their way and solved it, from how to move the plane thousands of kilometres to how to move it around the farmyard. There’s no doubt that thanks to their pioneering spirit, this classic Canadian plane will soon fly again.

Don Wieben tells tales and shares pictures of his and FARS’ ongoing adventure with the public on a regular basis

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An apple a day

MDFP • Kim & Réal Arseneault

By Lydia Zilahy

or Réal Arseneault, the general manager of Manning Diversified Forest Products (MDFP), running a mill is in his blood. It is a profession he clearly wants kept in the family as his wife Kim Arseneault discovered.

Originally from Manning, Kim Arseneault moved away only to be lured back by the call of the mill. “I was raised here,” she said. “We came back in 1993 when we had the opportunity to invest in the business. We grabbed the opportunity. December 18, 1993 was when the first board was sawed, so we are coming up on our 20th anniversary!” In the 20 years since the mill opened, the shareholders have been working with the community in mind. When the most recent recession hit, the forestry industry was crippled and many mills were forced to close their doors but Manning Diversified Forest Products stuck it out without a single layoff. This was of the utmost concern amongst the five shareholders because, as Arseneault identified, MDFP is “the largest employer here, employing 110 people. If you don’t work here, then a friend, a family member or someone you know surely does. I believe that what goes around comes around and this is a good community.” Today, the market is recovering and MDFP is growing. Even in the midst of growth, Arseneault indicated that they are mindful of the future. “We want to ensure long term viability. We are offering different products by diversifying,” she said. Environmental awareness is also crucial for the Arseneaults, not just for the company’s longevity but also in light of social responsibility. “This is not our resource—it is the resource of everyone in the community. We aim to get as green as possible, including new equipment to enhance recovery and minimize waste. Réal is really keen on being green; we are in the early planning of putting in a power generation facility which would use our waste material and would feed back into the grid,” said Arseneault. The Arseneaults vision of a greener future is not narrowly confined

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to the mill; it includes the community as part of the bigger picture. One initiative involves giving students an inside glimpse of the mill. “We try to promote being green through the schools,” Arseneault said. “We take Grade 5 classes through both the forest and the plant to show them how to be the most efficient.” This year, they will be building on their outreach efforts through the brand new Apple-a-Day program. This program will be providing each child with a healthy snack and encouraging the students to compost the cores. At 350 apples a day, the impact on a small community is significant. Giving back to the community is very important to the Arseneaults as they benefit from the community’s ongoing support. Aside from being a business shareholder and resident, Arseneault is also a cancer survivor. When she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2009, it coincided with the diagnosis of K.R. Vreeling, another Manning resident, with multiple myelomas. They went through treatment at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton at the same time. Living in a northern community during such a trying time is something Arseneault speaks glowingly about. “The support from the community was unbelievable. In the four hours that we were fundraising in Manning, we raised a total of $80,000. If you have to go through cancer, you can’t go through it in a better place. It was the biggest honour of my life to take that cheque to the Cross Cancer institute.” To commemorate MDFP’s landmark 20th anniversary, $20,000 was donated to the Ag Hall for improvements. The company also regularly supports the local North Peace Hockey League team, the Manning Comets. According to Arseneault, “they are our local team and it is something the whole town supports. It is so important because we live and work here.” This philosophy, investing back into the community, is at the crux of the Arseneaults motivations and the beating heart of Manning Diversified Forest Products.

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Captain Gravel

Tim Hortons • Gord Drummond

By Tormaigh Van Slyke

magine traveling 7,000 km across Canada with a crew of 10 people over a period of 12 days. Now imagine doing this on a pedal bike.

Meet Gordon Drummond, 52, husband, father, Tim Hortons franchisee, celebrated philanthropist and cyclist extraordinaire. “One thing about cycling is it pays you back every time you go,” said Drummond. Born in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, Drummond moved to Peace River in 1990 with his wife Barbara. Today, with the help of his wife, he juggles raising four children—Annie, 20, (who is attending university in Calgary), Emma 17, Harrison, 10, and Clark, 9—and owning two Tim Hortons restaurants, which are 150 km apart. For Drummond, a typical day is jam-packed with adventure. “Well, the alarm never goes off because we don’t even set the alarm. We’re always up and at ‘em. Within 15 minutes of being awake, you’re on duty. You really are. So, you have a lot of things ready the night before and you get dressed and then off you go,” said Drummond. Drummond arrives at his Peace River restaurant early. His first order of business is to confer with his “team leader” to assess customer concerns, general morale and to find out where his time can best be spent. He pays close attention to ensure his restaurant is neat and tidy and that his team is organized with everything they need, which he says, is not as easy as it looks. “And I coach. I’m constantly coaching because our business is ever changing and you have to be up for the challenge,” says Drummond. “It’s about keeping the crew motivated. In today’s world change is the status quo.” Once things are in order, Drummond makes the hour-and-a-half drive to his Valleyview location, repeats the process and then drives back. While on the road, he takes care of business by phone. After the work day is done Drummond drives home to his acreage just west of Peace River. There he can relax with his family and, when weather permits, they try to spend their time doing outdoor activities.

rock climbing, motor biking and going for hikes on their property, which Drummond estimates has 6-7 km of self-made trails. Drummond’s passion, though, is for cycling or as he calls it “being a road rider or a roadie.” Drummond’s biggest ride was in 2010, when he participated in the Sears National Kids Ride for Cancer, a 12-day and 7,000 km endeavour. “The back wheel started on Kitsilano Beach, British Columbia, and the front wheel went to the bay in Halifax, Nova Scotia,” said Drummond. It was the longest, most exhausting bike ride of his life. Each day Drummond pedalled approximately 190 km over varying terrain for 12 days straight. He was nicknamed Captain Gravel and Getaway Gordie by members of his team because he had an impressive knack for avoiding crashes. During this time Drummond says he was burning as much as 10,000-12,000 calories per day. “You know those roasted chickens? You can sit down and eat two of those. You couldn’t pile enough food into your body at times,” said Drummond. Although he no longer trains four days per week, Drummond still hits the pavement for a ride every once in a while and loves sharing these experiences with his wife Barbara and daughter Emma who have both taken to the sport. “Even if I can just get on my bike for a couple hours, it just changes me completely,” said Drummond. When Drummond rides alone, he averages 60 km, which takes him 2-3 hours, but he says he always wishes he had time for a 100 km ride. Either way, Drummond loves being a roadie in the Peace. “The truth is after riding a big chunk of Canada, I can tell you right now, the roads here are as good as anywhere. If not, they are some of the best roads right here,” says Drummond. “And most drivers have a phenomenal amount of respect for riders here. They really do. They give you room and don’t come by you at 130 km an hour.” So, what’s next for Captain Gravel and his extreme cycling? Perhaps the Tour de France, but not until after retirement says Drummond.

“It’s just that experience of being in nature and being out in some elements. I think more and more of us are missing that. I just think the more you can get outside the better,” said Drummond.

“I might be interested when I retire, but if you are going to pedal the Alps and the Pyrenees you’d better be ready,” said Drummond.

Some outdoor hobbies include fishing, canoeing, bird watching,

Chances are, when the time comes, he will be ready.

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Healing through horses Northbase Ranch • Jellie Borger

By Susan Thompson

estled at the top of the rolling hills of the Peace River valley, Northbase Ranch is a paradise for horse lovers of all ages. The ranch boasts 320 acres of stunning views and serene trails as well as a brand new large indoor riding arena for year-round lessons and horse training. The ranch was founded and originally run by Egbert “Eppie” Borger. When he passed away in 2012, many people thought the business would fold. That’s when his daughter, Jellie Borger, stepped in. Her love of horses has driven her to earn her coaching certificate and work for her father at the ranch. With his passing she knew the future of her father’s dreams for the business depended on her. With the help of her sister Frances, who is also a certified coach, Borger has managed to maintain the ranch as a thriving and vital part of the community. “Not everyone believed in us because we’re just girls, right? They’ve asked if we’re going to sell it or if it’s not going to run anymore,” Borger said. But with the determination clear in her voice, she added firmly, “Whatever it takes, we’re not selling.” Under the next generation of Borgers’ direction, the ranch has continued to shift its focus from trail rides and riding lessons to using horses to teach and heal. The ranch has been running an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program for about two years, teaching human development through horsemanship to local kids. Over 12 sessions, students from Peace River’s Glenmary and T.A. Norris schools work on different exercises with horses at the ranch building skills that can help them deal with life challenges through their interaction with the horses. “They learn to work better as a team, to be better leaders, they work on personal accountability—all the things you need in life to become something,” Borger said. The horses themselves do most of the teaching as Borger observes and records close by. “Horses don’t judge at all,” Borger said. Instead, the horses mirror the behaviour of the children working with them, creating teachable moments.

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“For example, if there is a kid who is really dominant, [the horse] will be really dominant too and he will just stand there and he won’t move until they start to work together as a team,” said Borger. “It’s the same if a kid is not confident in what they’re doing; then, the horse won’t be confident either. Sometimes the kids will have to walk over poles, and if the kid is not confident, the horse will start tripping and look down. They mirror what the student is really doing.” Through the program, Borger has seen first-hand the changes it can make in the lives of children. “We’ve had a couple kids who didn’t want to talk at all; they were so shy they didn’t say anything. For the first six sessions they didn’t say a word. Every time we asked them a question they looked down and didn’t say anything. And then, by almost the last session, they started talking. We were very impressed by that,” said Borger. “There are kids too who already have a big leadership role and like to take over. We notice that those kids actually start to work more as a team and not telling everyone ‘you do this; you do that.’ They start to work together to get roles for everyone that they’re good at.” However, healing through horsemanship is not only for kids, it’s for adults as well. Northbase Ranch offers horse therapy with Rhonda Cann, and Borger hopes to go to California within the next two years to train in horse therapy herself. So is Borger only interested in horses and nothing else? “No,” Borger laughed. “I like decorating. In the spare time that I do have, I decorate.” Along with being a certified coach, Borger is also a certified interior decorator. She makes homes beautiful through her own artistic talent. She even takes on the occasional client and plans to continue building her passions into successful businesses. “I’m able to follow in my Dad’s footsteps and hopefully go in the direction he wanted for this company,” said Borger. “That gives me the biggest satisfaction.”

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The Family Circus

Hell ‘N’ Back Welding • Doug Thompson

By Jenelle Lizotte

oug Thompson has a rough exterior. He is tall and confident. He sports a mohawk, a leather jacket and is covered in tattoos. When he enters a room, he commands attention. Aside from being the punk rock owner of a Peace region welding outfit, Thompson, 37, is a hard working, devoted husband and father. It just goes to show, you can’t always judge a book by its cover. Thompson moved to Nampa, AB, with his family in mind. Thompson was originally going to start a welding company in Calgary, but didn’t feel as though it was right for his young family. “In Calgary, how they treated the couples with young families, it’s like scourge… but up here everyone is so family-oriented,” said Thompson. “We love the community up here. We love the valley. We love the people.” After settling in the Peace, Thompson worked for a few local outfits before starting his own company, Hell ‘N’ Back Welding in 2004. Thompson and his wife, Susan, 34, wanted their company to embody their own unique style. Founded on the values of hard working craftsmanship and exemplary service, Hell ‘N’ Back had humble beginnings from running a portable welding truck to building a shop at the Thompson home outside of Nampa. The company also had a short-lived partnership that brought them into Nampa-proper before moving back to their roots at Thompson’s home shop in 2013. Thompson knew that building a company up from scratch wasn’t going to be easy—he mostly feared for the strain on his relationship and his family. “Not a lot of welders survive—not just the business side, but not a lot of relationships survive. I looked [Susan] in the eyes and grabbed her hands and I said ‘this is going to be hell, but we’ll come back,’” said Thompson. “So we became Hell ‘N’ Back.” While conceptualizing their ideal business, the Thompsons wanted to stand out from the other welding outfits in the region. The branding of Hell ‘N’ Back certainly speaks to that. From the company’s black truck with yellow flames to the company’s unique pinup-style logo to the leather jackets that employees earn after a year of dedicated service to Hell ‘N’ Back—the company is definitely distinctive in the region. “It’s all about customer service. That’s why so much of our branding is post-war because of the sense of brotherhood, craftsmanship, quality and customer

service,” said Thompson. By day, Doug Thompson is a hardworking welder and business owner, but by night, he eats and breathes fire as a member of the Circus of Hell—a troupe of fire eaters, spinners, breathers, and dancers, which his wife started. The Circus began when Susan started belly dancing. She saw performers with fire wings, so Thompson made her a set of fire fans. Eventually, the couple and their friends were regularly playing with fire props at the Hell ‘N’ Back shop. “We heard the rumour in Nampa was, “Oh, look the circus is in town.” And we were like, “Yeah, that’s right. We are a bunch of circus freaks. We’re the Circus of Hell,” said Thompson. The circus is continuously expanding and getting larger-scale bookings. They currently have members from all across northern Alberta. The Circus of Hell helps bring the Thompson family closer together. Thompson and his wife are the managing duo of the Circus, while their two young daughters, Trinity, 13, and Aurora, 12, perform in the Circus as a fire-hooper and contortionist, respectively. “It’s a family activity that doesn’t involve anything but pure creativity. We try to focus on fun more than anything else,” said Thompson. Thompson has worked hard to get to where he is now. In fact, the Thompsons are currently being courted by an LA-based media company for a reality TV show based on Hell ‘N’ Back and the Circus of Hell. “The show is about us, and Peace River—its people and our clients. It will be so good for Peace River. It will be great for tourism,” said Thompson. Thompson and his family have rooted themselves in the Peace Region. They have embraced the community and appreciate the fruits of their labour. “If you support the community, the community will support you. You don’t find that just anywhere,” said Thompson. By night, Thompson certainly lives an unconventional lifestyle and by day he runs a just-as-unconventional company. Thompson acts with integrity and is unwavering on his principles. It is this steadfast mentality that has carried Thompson and his company to where they are today. “Don’t judge a book by its cover. We are who we are and we mean what we say,” said Thompson.

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Endlessly Fantastic 24/7 Tags Food & Gas • Tanya Wearden

By Lydia Zilahy

f you have ever been travelling through the Peace Region in the dead of night, you may already know about Grimshaw’s Tags, a convenience store and gas station, and you probably have thanked your lucky stars for it.

Tanya Wearden and her business partner keep Tags running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hours of operation were a definite factor when the previous owners decided to sell back in 2002. However, Wearden is a species unique to northern Alberta, blooming under these conditions where others have wilted away. September 2013 marked Wearden’s eleventh year in the business and she’s had a good run. Neither Wearden nor her business are typical; she laughingly provided a glimpse of what a “typical” day in a 24/7 business looks like. “Every day is different,” she said. “It depends what needs to be done first. If there is school, I take the kids to school. Otherwise, there is payroll and scheduling. I might be doing payroll at 10 p.m., but I like that Tags is flexible.” Contrary to the business owner who lives to work stereotype, Wearden works to live. “You can easily fall into the trap of only work but my mantra some days is ‘this too shall pass.’ Owning your own business can afford you those luxuries with prioritizing and an excellent staff,” said Wearden. Over the years, Wearden has worked every position in her business. She has been fortunate in the staffing department though and Tags typically employs between 9-13 people at one time. There are employees who have been with Wearden since 2002, yet her expectations are realistic. “We realize that sometimes this is a stepping stone for some employees, but we are happy to have some stay with us.” Wearden’s philosophy might have something to do with her employee retention. “If you treat your staff well, they will treat you well in return. We have staff who have been with us since we bought the business!” she said.

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While Wearden identified some practical challenges of owning a business in northern Alberta, such as a degree of isolation, her customers help her to keep up on current trends by making requests and suggestions that she earnestly looks into. She takes their opinions seriously. “They are the customer base; they are our foundation,” she said. Wearden has lived in Grimshaw for 21 years now, and it’s not just for business. Staying is a personal choice. She wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Wearden appreciates the camaraderie of Grimshaw. “People have helped us and in return, we help other people out. This quality is what is unique about a small town,” said Wearden. Volunteering her time for others is something that is particularly important to Wearden. She chuckled a little about her dedication and explained her motivation. “I have a saying: if you are going to complain about something, you better do something about it. I don’t want to sit back and give my two bits without doing anything.” she said. True to her word, Wearden sits on multiple boards and was once a municipal councillor. While her children were her initial push to join some of the boards she has been on, and to improve programming, she sees the impact volunteers have on the community every day. “Being a volunteer adds depth to the community. For example, I am part of the Multiplex society. That project is one of my babies and I want to see it flourish. Yes, there is some focus on betterment for my children, but I do it for me too. We are so lucky to have a facility of this calibre. The fantastic things we are capable of are endless,” said Wearden. While Wearden revealed she will actually be leaving Tags in the near future, it will definitely be on a high note. She plans to keep up with all her volunteer work in the community and to continue striving towards realizing the goals she believes her small town is capable of. It would seem that Wearden serves as a living example of the endlessly fantastic—balancing the needs of her community, her family and her business 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Art Entrepreneur

Stroke of Genius Gallery • Peggy Smith

By Susan Thompson

lowers are part of many of life’s most emotional moments, whet her they are used to celebrate love at a wedding, to comfort someone who is sick or to mourn the passing of a loved one.

Peggy Smith has been creating artful flower arrangements for every mood since she was in high school. She began her career when she took her first work experience at Grimshaw’s Blossom Boutique. She then went on to work at a flower shop in Red Deer, and at the main shop for Central Alberta Florists before returning to Blossom Boutique to take over the business with her mother, Dorothy Malone, and her sister, Debbie Higginson. Smith and her family ran the business until April 2012 when they sold it. Today, Smith and her mother both still work at the boutique arranging flowers, even though the responsibility for running the business is no longer theirs. “You don’t realize how involved you become emotionally,” said Smith. In a small town, she has often found herself intimately involved in the major moments of people’s lives and has done her best to do those moments artistic justice.

well. Instead, she has painted everything from Ozzy Osbourne to sugar skulls. “That’s the culture,” she said. “But I enjoy painting it. It’s not just because that’s what the demand is in that area. I found that’s what I really like to paint—faces especially. You can do zombie girls. You can do sugar skulls. Skulls are fun because you can give them personalities. You can give them mood.” In November of 2012, Smith branched out and founded a new business venture to reflect her love of painting, a combined studio and gallery called Stroke of Genius. She freely admits her choice of subject matter surprised some people who knew her from Blossom Boutique now that it’s on display for the general public. “[Some people have said] ‘I had no idea you painted; I had no idea you painted this,’” she laughed. Those skills, however, are exactly what she needs to display to potential customers for her work. “Although I look quite benign, I can paint evil,” she said. In fact, she thinks her subjects often draw in people you wouldn’t expect.

“I thought, ‘I need to try that,’” Smith said.

“When I had [my painting of ] Elvira here, lots of people were quite taken with her. It was a stunning portrait I had found of her that I painted and I had a lady come in and she said ‘We all look at her and wish just a tiny little bit that we could be more like her,’” said Smith.

After starting to learn how to paint with an airbrush from DVDs, she began going to workshops, without knowing what type of people she would find there or if they would accept her.

Now, she is working hard to make the gallery a success, showing work by numerous local artists and artisans as well as holding art shows, fashion shows, and even art camps for kids.

“The very first time, I was terrified. It took everything I had to phone and register,” Smith remembered.

“I think the most rewarding part of this business is how excited the artists who display out front are that they now have a venue for 12 months of the year and how accepting people are of my style of art,” said Smith.

Still, Smith’s creative urge doesn’t stop there. A few years ago, she progressed from early artwork in oils and pastels to airbrush after seeing Mike Lavallee paint “true fire” on a TV show.

However, she found nothing but a warm welcome and encouragement. She still continues to go to airbrush workshops today. “It’s probably been seven years since I first went, and it’s stayed the same core group of people, so it’s a little community,” said Smith. “And there are more women than you’d think.”

For Smith, being an artistic entrepreneur means business is not only about the bottom line, but also about working hard with others to create and promote new art. “We all work together to keep raising awareness of the artistic talent in our area,” she said “It’s good for the community.”

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The birds, the bees and tiaras Honey Bunny • Sharon & Paige Wolfe

By Lydia Zilahy

haron Wolfe learned all about the birds and the bees when she married her husband Gilbert: quite literally.

“I didn’t know a thing about beekeeping. Other beekeepers taught us to grasp bees. Now, the kids and I work with Gilbert,” she laughed. The Wolfe family business, Honey Bunny, is in the hamlet of Guy where the population is a grand total of 35 people. Yet, Honey Bunny is the largest organic apiary in all of Canada and the recipient of numerous awards including a Canadian Grand Prix New Product Award. How exactly did a small family business in northern Alberta end up on the map? According to Wolfe, it took a lot of hard work as well as thinking outside the box, or jar, as it were. Most honey products are sold in plastic containers or glass jars but Honey Bunny products are well known for their innovative pouch packaging. “When Gilbert used to sell honey in bulk containers, one of his mentors suggested packaging his honey by himself in Canada. He wanted to catch people’s eye. So we trademarked Honey Bunny and, to keep the plant processing, Gilbert added barbeque sauce and ketchup. He came up with the formulations himself and worked with scientists from the Leduc Research Centre to get the products shelf-stable,” said Wolfe. Even as the company has grown and received national acclaim, it is still very much a family business. For Sharon and Gilbert, it is a full time job, but they are proud how involved their kids are in the business. Accordingly to Sharon, “all of the three kids extract during the summer. We’ve had this business since before they were born, so they grew up with it. We spend a lot of time at work with our kids.” With the whole family so deeply committed to Honey Bunny, it

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is a wonder that the Wolfe children are each involved in their own school sports and social activities. Their extracurricular activities are not for the faint of heart, as their eldest daughter Paige has demonstrated. Paige was crowned Miss Teen Northern Alberta-World 2013 and was one of the top 20 finalists in the Miss Teen World Canada competition. Not too shabby for a girl from a hometown with a population of 35. Knowing that Paige had always dreamed of being a model, a friend sent her the link to apply. “After a few weeks, I forgot about the application but I got in! At first, I was worried it was a scam, but after the Skype interview with the pageant director, I knew it was the real thing,” said Paige. When Paige was accepted, it was the first time her mother even heard she had applied, as Paige recalled. Paige’s motivation and independence might have come as a shock to some parents, but not to the Wolfes. “They have always been so supportive,” said Paige. “They gave me photo shoots and modelling workshops for my birthdays. It was actually at a Top Model Workshop when I was 14 that I met Linsay Willier, a contestant on cycle 3 of Canada’s Next Top Model. She is originally from Sucker Creek First Nation. She helped me a lot and she understands what it is like coming from a small community.” For Paige, there is nowhere else she would rather have grown up. Having travelled extensively, she said very openly and honestly, “it sounds crazy but how small Guy is has been an asset. Everyone helps you to realize your goals. One little girl even asked me to her birthday party. I have done a lot of community events. Everyone has been so supportive.” To the Wolfes, this is very special. “If we were in a larger centre, we might not have that hometown community support,” said Wolfe. Whether supporting honey production or tiaras, the Wolfes know they have the community they call home at their back.

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By Matt Belliveau

nergy cannot be created nor destroyed; it merely changes states. That’s the first law of thermodynamics, and it’s a law that one company in the Peace Region is taking to heart. Heat, pressure and gas are byproducts produced by industrial processes in the oilfield. They have long been treated as waste material and released into the atmosphere— releasing with them their potential as power sources. Genalta Power, a Canadian-based renewable energy company, is now harnessing this lost energy and turning it into electricity—a practice that is quickly spreading through Canada’s oil and gas industry. And as the green energy giant reaches north, the Peace Region stands to reap serious environmental and economic benefits from letting nothing go to waste.

Genalta’s Piles Turbine Building, near Peace River. [Photography submitted by Genalta]

In the oil patch, a lot of energy is lost in the form of natural gases, which escape to the earth’s surface when oil is extracted at well sites. Usually, if there isn’t enough gas in a well to justify building the pipelines needed to ship it, the gas may simply be vented into the air or “flared” off.

once in a sorry state. The company can re-route natural gas from existing operations before it is flared and generate power by combusting it at temperatures high enough to incinerate all of the harmful contaminants. A change in state occurs during the process—from waste to electricity.

Flaring is notable for producing a visible flame and unpleasant odour, and the contaminants it releases into the air are both a hazard to human health and a source of emissions. The Clean Air Strategic Alliance—a group of industry, government and other stakeholders—has been working to regulate against the practice of flaring since the late 1990s. Despite this, gas venting and flaring have been on the rise in recent years due to the falling price of natural gas and a growing number of remote drilling operations located far away from natural gas infrastructure.

“There’s no smoke, there’s no flame, there’s nothing visible coming out because it burns that clean,” Illingworth says of the company’s power plant operating east of Peace River. “We have the technology to eliminate 100 per cent of every flare out there. We’re generating enough power from previously flared gas to energize all of Peace River,” he said in a phone interview in August.

But where others see waste, Genalta sees green, and CEO Graham Illingworth is after the energy that was 54

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In addition to recycling the oilfield gas that would normally be wasted and negatively affect the environment, Genalta can also harness energy from heat and pressure, which are two other waste byproducts that typically result from everyday operations in the oilfield. For example, waste heat can be drawn from the hot water trapped in reservoirs of oil and gas. In this

process, the water is extracted along with oil and gas during production, and if there is enough water flowing at high enough temperatures, it can be used to generate electricity before it’s re-injected back into the reservoir. In addition, waste heat can also be collected off reciprocating engines, which are used to pump oil from the wells, and from the gas-turbine compressors, which keep major pipelines pressurized. Here are two more example of how Genalta is recycling waste: Natural gas moving through the pipelines must often drop from a high pressure to low pressure. The pressure lost during these letdowns can also be conserved and used to produce power. Finally, both waste pressure and waste heat are a byproduct of treating “sour gas,” gas that is characterized by higher levels of hydrogen sulfide. Due to its chemical makeup of sour gas, it can degrade pipelines through sulfide stress cracking, but as a solution the gas can be “sweetened” and thereby enough of the hydrogen sulfide is removed. As it turns out, this method of sweetening the gas uses an amine solution that must be heated and pressurized. These and other sources of waste heat and pressure provide ample opportunity to generate clean energy from oilfield operations.

onverting waste energy to power can help the environment by reducing forms of energy production that result in heavier emissions. As Illingworth explains, “one benefit is eliminating the flare and the toxins from going into the environment, but you’re displacing electricity that’s being generated by coal, so there are actually two benefits, environmentally speaking.” Making power from waste is also more reliable than some other

An exhaust header with butterfly valves at Genalta’s site near Peace River. [Photography submitted by Genalta]

sources of green energy because, unlike wind or solar, the power is always available during peak hours. “We’re not dependent on the sun or the wind when it decides to blow, we’re 100 per cent predictable,” said Illingworth. Genalta can use the recovered energy onsite to lower operating costs, or they can sell it back to the grid. The company believes this could eventually lead to lower electricity costs in the Peace. Northern Alberta residents will also benefit from the jobs Genalta is bringing to the region. Based in Calgary, the company opened a new

office in Edmonton late last year and now has workers in Whitecourt with ongoing recruitment efforts underway in the Peace Region. Genalta has experienced steady growth since it was formed as a privately-held corporation in 2007, and now the company has operations spread across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Genalta currently has eight projects in operation with three more under construction and 16 in the design stage. “We just keep growing, so we’re not stopping hiring in these areas,” said Illingworth. “As a company, we Fall/Winter 2013/2014

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haven’t stopped hiring for four years.”

enalta’s steady rise can be credited in part to the success they’ve had reaching agreements with big players in the oil and gas industry. These companies allow Genalta to build power plants near their existing oil and gas operations in exchange for a long term option to purchase the generated electricity. Over the past year, Genalta has signed deals with Baytex, Pengrowth, Husky and Harvest. In February 2013, they also signed a 10-year contract with Shell Canada to harvest waste energy from facilities in the Peace River Oil Sands. For Shell, partnering with Genalta was the next step in an ongoing initiative to reduce emissions from their cold bitumen production. At the company’s Peace River Complex, steam is used to heat up bitumen that is otherwise too cold to be pumped to the surface. Shell also owns the nearby Cliffdale Battery where the bitumen is not as thick and does not need to be heated. Waste gas from Cliffdale was

being shipped and used to generate steam at the Peace River Complex, but as more wells were drilled at Cliffdale, soon there was more gas than Shell could put to use. “We were seeking other options to conserve this gas,” said Shell’s Peace River Operations Manager Bob Blachford. “The Genalta facility provided an opportunity to use the additional gas to produce power, thus providing a regional benefit while also allowing us to avoid flaring as part of routine operations.” Genalta’s waste energy to power applications will work in conjunction with Shell’s existing systems designed to lower emissions. Vapour recovery units are now used on all the tanks at the Cliffdale Battery to conserve gas that would have been wasted in the past. “Today all our tanks in the Cliffdale area are tied into vapour recovery units and no gas is being vented from these tanks. We also don’t have any flaring at these pads,” Blachford said.

Arrival of Genalta’s turbine building at its site near Peace River. [Photography submitted by Genalta]

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“Since 2010 we have constructed infrastructure that has significantly reduced emissions associated with our cold production.” This is not the first time Shell has converting waste gas to energy, but Genalta scales their technology to operations has finally made the accessible.

explored the way fit new process

“Shell has been involved in other larger power generation applications, but this is the first time we have been involved in a smaller gas-topower project like this in northern Alberta,” said Blachford. Genalta’s waste-energy-to-power applications can be implemented at a wide variety of sites because the technology is so customizable.

very high. Evidently, it’s hard to turn down a project that improves efficiency and reduces emissions while generating revenue. Asked about the future of waste-to-power applications in the oil and gas industry, Illingworth said, “Absolutely, I see it as a standard practice.” Genalta is by no means limiting itself to the oil patch though. Right now the company is targeting mid-sized to large industrial applications in a number of different industries. “We’ve got projects underway in the cement sector and the chemical sector,” Illingworth said. “We can apply the technology to any industrialbased energy source.” The only limit for Genalta is the size of that energy source, Illingworth explained. “There’s only so much heat or pressure or wasted gas; there’s only so much

Genalta is poised to take out some serious trash by saving energy from slipping into thin air and lowering a fume hood over the hazardous practice of flaring. As Illingworth explains, “Every project we do is unique; we take well over 100 very specific site parameters into play when we design one of these. It might even be approaching 1,000 individual elements of the project.”

wasted energy at a specific site to be captured.”

These elements range from the volume and quality of the gas, heat or pressure being produced, right down to minute details such as the elevation and ambient air temperature on site.

“We could literally pull the energy off the heat from the exhaust in your car,” said Illingworth. Although applications at this scale are not yet economical, it shows that with the right technology one company’s trash can be another’s treasure.

The biggest challenge Genalta faces is tailoring their technology to fit each new operation, but it can also be difficult convincing companies that their waste doesn’t need to be wasted. “Much like all new technology, it can take a while to get them onboard and get them to actually believe in what we’re doing, or believe it’s obtainable,” said Illingworth.

Considering there is energy leaking out of almost everything, waste energy to power technology has amazing potential.

Genalta is poised to take out some serious trash by saving energy from slipping into thin air and lowering a fume hood over the hazardous practice of flaring. This sustainable sense of purpose is not lost on CEO Illingworth. “Ultimately,” he says, “it’s just awesome working for a company that does something positive.”

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relocation stories

movE uP cAsE studiEs

what keeps you in the Peace region?

ike many university graduates in London, ON, Jon Myles was not working as a teacher as he had initially planned following graduation. The job market was saturated leaving Myles with few opportunities at a career in teaching. “There were literally no jobs for teachers in London unless you had connections. The substitute list had a two-year wait list just to get on it,” said Myles. “With no obligations to stay in London, I was eager to get my career started and applied all over Canada. Peace River School Division (PRSD) called first,” said Myles. It’s been seven years since he accepted a job with PRSD. Today he lives in Peace River and is the Social Studies teacher at Grimshaw Jr/Sr High School. He didn’t initially intend on staying in the Peace Region, but he found it had so much to offer. “My original plan was to stay for one year, get

some experience and then move back home and hopefully get a job, but I really enjoyed the school, the principal and I met a girl,” said Myles. Myles lists some of his favorite things about the Peace Region: “The money for teaching is better—about $10,000 higher for starting teachers. The geography is beautiful. The late sunsets in the summer are great. The wildlife. It’s a new experience that none of my friends have done.” He came for the work, and like many others found so much more. With no reason to leave and being continually captivated, Myles has even purchased a home in Peace River and plans to stay for the long-term.

ome Thorburn, originally of Barrie, ON, spent 25 years living in Edmonton, and until six months ago, had never found a reason to visit the Peace River.

River for the first time. It was spectacular! It’s so beautiful and clean. On our first day we saw a cinnamon bear and so many deer. It was like a little piece of heaven.”

“I had been to Grande Prairie and knew it had all the amenities, but I didn’t realize Peace River also has everything you need,” said Thorburn.

Thorburn warmly remembers a late work night when she gazed upon the northern lights. “I hadn’t seen the northern lights since I lived in Ontario. They were so beautiful and spectacular I called my husband on the phone and we watched them together.”

It wasn’t until Manitoulin Transport offered Thorburn a position that she visited the Peace Region for the first time and was immediately captivated. “Manitoulin has taken steps to become a leading company through raised standards, encouragement, support and initiatives. So when I was offered a position as depot manager I wanted to be a part of it,” said Thorburn. “I’ll never forget the day we came over the crest and saw Peace

Impressed with the nature and warmth of the local population, Thorburn and her husband have settled in Grimshaw and plan to remain there for the long haul—hoping the Peace Region will entice friends and family to join them. “The people here are so welcoming, it feels like home and I want to be a part of it,” said Thorburn.

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Welcome to the

heart of the Earth The Peace River Aboriginal Gathering & Pow Wow

By Lydia Zilahy

tepping on to the pow wow grounds is a little like crossing an invisible threshold separating this world from another. It is as if a cave of wonders has opened before your eyes giving you access to the deepest recesses of the earth. The sound of prayer and the aromas of the pipe guide the way until you arrive at the very centre. In this wondrous space, you can close your eyes and reach out until your fingertips connect with the beating heart you find there. You become one with other hearts beating in time together. It is a return to the womb of the earth, to a place before time and the world as you know it. Sound a little too surreal for life outside of legend? If that’s the case, one has only to experience the power of the drums ringing in your ears and the swirl of colours and feathers in front of your eyes directly. In this place, your heels are the first to connect with Mother Earth—you feel her heartbeat resonate through your feet with each drumbeat. Certainly, this is a modern setting with children laughing, parents calling and concession stands and shops, but if amongst the hubbub you close your eyes during the drum calls, the ground can melt away until you are quite alone in your thoughts. That’s when the real magic happens; if you let your spirit wander, it will soar. It may come back down again, firmly tethered to the earth to enjoy a tasty treat or two, but make no mistake that the Peace River Aboriginal Gathering and Pow Wow is transformative in manifold ways. Firstly, the pow wow is the finest kind of education. It is a living, breathing, dancing, colourful, wide-open door into many aboriginal cultures. Seeing is believing and—in this case—perhaps coming to an understanding. Don’t discount the possibility of being swept away by the sheer beauty of the many cultures combined. Creating awareness is a vital element of the event for Larry Stewart, Community Development Officer for Alberta Culture’s Community Development unit. “It shares some of the diverse cultures up here in the northern part of the province. It gets people excited about the aboriginal perspective,” he said. The event permeates the minds and imaginations of all attendees. However, the most engaged participants are often the children. They come wide-eyed, full of excitement and with open minds.

The impression it leaves on the youth is something Peace River Deputy Mayor North Darling has witnessed firsthand, in his own family. “My nieces are young and they want to go to the pow wow— you don’t see that with many other events. It is a great example of how we are one community growing up and how the cultures are intertwined,” he said. For some, the gathering is an initiation into a brand new world. For others, it is touchstone to all they hold dear. It can also be a life-changing event that alters misconceptions. Challenging stereotypes and nurturing a sense of pride in young aboriginal people is a critical aspect for event co-chair Wendy Goulet. “It is important. It is an opportunity to see aboriginal culture in a different light. The youth get a chance to celebrate their culture where they are accepted. The way the dancers show pride is important for the youth to see,” she said. For Darlene Cardinal, Deputy Reeve for Northern Sunrise County, where the pow wow is held every June, giving the youth a sense of pride and place in the world is highlighted through the graduation ceremony. According to her, it is the pinnacle of anticipation and achievement built up over the year. “The kids look forward to it. They have reached the end of a goal when they receive their feather and blanket—you can see how much the achievement means to them in their eyes,” said Cardinal. It is a deeply profound experience, a coming of age acknowledged by the aboriginal community and witnessed by the public. For Judy Ostrowski, Co-Chair of the Peace River Aboriginal InterAgency Committee, this pow wow created a cherished memory for her family. “It was very moving for me this year—my daughter was a graduate recipient.” Ostrowski went on to explain why these gifts are so meaningful. “To my understanding, the eagle feather is a significant symbol for wisdom, symbolizing strength and foresight as well. The blanket is the motherly aspect to our culture—the youth are being supported and we hope that they make good and smart choices,” she said.

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Nothing is without meaning at the pow wow. From the drumming, the dancing and the ceremonies to the regalia—all are part of a rich history tied to powerful ideas such as mentorship, respect and timehonoured rituals. For instance, the Grass Dancers traditionally come first. They flatten down the grass to the beat of the drum and effectively create a dance circle for the other dancers. Attentive spectators can pick out some differences among the dancers. If you happen to have a mentor sitting beside you, or have the requisite amount of curiosity to ask, someone will surely explain that the single, loud drum beats are honour beats, and they dictate specific responses. The dancers have certain moves to complete—for a Jingle Dancer this may be lifting a feather—to earn points. Each dance tells a story and sometimes fulfills a particular purpose. The pow wow programs available at Peace River’s Sagitawa Friendship Centre are a great way to learn some of this information beforehand. The Chicken Dance is a story-telling dance. It tells the tale of the prairie chicken. As the legend originating from the Blackfoot people tells us, the prairie chicken sacrificed himself to feed the people. In return, they dance to honour him. A jingle dance is a healing dance. Elders will tell you that its origin was a vision. On a traditional jingle dress, there are 365 jingles. Each jingle was earned by the young woman making the regalia, and she earned one jingle for every day she fasted from berries. Before metals were known to the aboriginal people, the jingles were made of bone or shells. To make this dress and to dance in it is to evoke healing. For event co-chair Denis Whitford, there is no doubting the sheer power of the practice. “Dancing and drumming are healing in themselves,” he said.

aboriginal culture. Dancing and drumming builds on these. For Whitford, this is the most precious gift the pow wow has to offer. “It is my hope that people take something away,” he said. “People will be deeply moved by their pow wow experience. Dancing and drumming convey spiritualism more effectively than any speech or any other human way of communicating. The tools were given to us by the Creator to move us deeply; my belief is that when people are exposed to drums and dancing, people will be impacted.” There is evidence that Whitford is correct and the pow wow has affected and touched people: the numbers have steadily risen over the years. Goulet confirmed this with some sound figures. “We probably pull in up to 1,500 people and dancers. Many people are dedicated to following the trail,” said Goulet. The trail Goulet refers to is the circuit of pow wows all over Canada that have a strong following. It connects communities in the north, spreads awareness, builds and strengthens relationships and boosts the economic health of the places it touches. This year marked the 18th Annual Aboriginal Gathering and 10th Annual Pow Wow—the event has proven that it is here to stay, and it’s getting better every year. Cardinal identified the potential of the pow wow as an economic driver. “There are over 100 participants and it keeps growing. The hotels are booked and people are stopping. It is an instance where the promotion of culture and giving the economy a little boost work together. It promotes a lot of positive things,” she said.

If you stop to talk to a dancer, you may notice hereditary pieces of regalia. By wearing an ancestor’s regalia, a dancer honours them and it connects the dancer to the past.

Whether the draw is being exposed to dazzling cultures, with the dances, the drums and the spirituality, it is important not to forget just how fun it can be to lose your heart and feet in abandon. It doesn’t matter if you are a trained dancer or you have two left feet, Goulet stresses the importance of having fun. “There is the element in the pow wow where people can just dance!” she said.

The pipe ceremony and the prayers are the spiritual manna of

After all, even Mother Earth knows how to have a good time.

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what keeps you in the Peace region?

his Peace River business owner did not expect to find a career and home in the

Peace Region eight years ago when he came to visit family. He had travelled from Quebec and planned to backpack to the Okanogan to pick cherries, but the vast amount of potential in the Peace Region was too good to pass up. “Because the Peace Region was developing I was able to get a great opportunity to do amazingly meaningful work in my career as an apprentice,” said Ducharme. “I had just finished my course in Montreal and I eventually went to the airport and dropped off my resume for Peace Air and got hired as an aircraft mechanic, and that’s how I ended up staying in Peace River. The job opportunities and experience I got really boosted my career. I did tasks a fourth year apprentice might have done back home so the tasks and job itself were worth it,” said Ducharme.

eff McIsaac’s move from Halifax, NS, to Alberta in 2009 resulted in a career change. He got out from behind the bar where he was serving drinks and got into law enforcement. He is now an Alberta sheriff. McIsaac was posted to Peace River in 2010 after living in Grande Prairie where he worked as an armed guard. Since moving he has bought a home in Grimshaw with his dog, made several good friends, and spends a great deal of time outdoors. “When I came here I thought it was really scenic and the people were friendly” said McIsaac.

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Today Ducharme owns and operates Java Domain, a café in Peace River, with his partner Jessie Krushel. He has found it advantageous to operate a business in a community that is still growing. “There’s plenty of room for a lot of ideas. For my business it’s a great opportunity because not too many people have done this, and with the economy being so stable people are willing to buy,” he said. Not only has the business strongly tied Ducharme to the Peace, but the community has grounded him as well. “There’s a sense of community here that is very nice. There are a lot of small towns that are very intrinsic and not really open-minded. Peace River is small but not closed. The Peace Region’s got everything we want, It fits with our lifestyle, and I don’t see any reason to go anytime soon,” said Ducharme.

In his spare time, McIsaac also enjoys hunting, taking his dog out on the many available trails and snowmobiling in the winter months. Although McIsaac was brought to the Peace Region for work, he has since made several new friendships and is kept busy during the changing seasons with his love for the outdoors. He’s unsure where his career will ultimately lead him, but for now he’s enjoying everything that Grimshaw, and the rest of the Peace Region has to offer.

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