North of 50 LOCAL LATITUDE, GLOBAL ATTITUDE
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August 2010 Vol. 8, Issue 8
INSIDE: BEEF IT UP AT THE 111TH IPE WILDFIRE! A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FORESTRY FIREFIGHTER Publications Mail Agreement 41188516 ISSN# 1710-4750 northof50.com
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Local Wisdom When you shop locally, your money stays in your community. Local retailers use local accountants, printers, lawyers, office supply stores and financial institutions.
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We call it good old-fashioned common sense.
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CONTENTS
August 2010 Vol. 8, Issue 8
SEE YOU AT THE FAIR!
The I.P.E., Western Canada’s largest agricultural fair, takes place in Armstrong, Sept. 1st - 5th. With over 8,000 entries, the Wrangler Rodeo Tour Finals, West Coast Amusements midway, countless commercial and agricultural displays, the I.P.E. has survived the tests of time by honouring, retaining and reinforcing traditional values. Cover Shot: Back row from left - Brecken Peters, Robert Reid, Baylee Out, Edward Out, Daniel Reid. Front row from left - Chelsey Reid, Caden Peters, Rylan Peters, Colton Reid.
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FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
COLUMNS
12 BELOW AVERAGE FIRE SEASON - SO FAR: Krystal Kehoe spends a day with “Hotel 22” one of six Initial attack crews based at the Kamloops Fire Centre. By Krystal Kehoe
28 STAYCATIONS Canada’s Literary Festivals By Noah Richler
6 FROM THE EDITOR
30 AWAY FROM HOME Six Sleepless Nights On the Roof of the World By Patti Lefkos
14 REGIONAL ATTITUDE An Interview with Michele Spicer
16 WINE WOMEN & WOODS: Golf Tourney raises funds for a digital Faxitron, a state of the art x-ray machine that will help speed up the process of biopsying breast cancer tissue in the operating room By Leila Meyer 20 HUNTING FOR HIDDEN TREASURE: Geocaching in the Thompson Okanagan and around the world By Dawn Renaud 4
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36 HEALTH MATTERS 40 ARTS HAPPENING 41 COMING EVENTS 43 JUNE ACTIVITIES 44 COMMUNITY EVENTS 46 CLASSIFIEDS & DIRECTORY
7 YOUR LETTERS
18 CALVIN WHITE These Are Not Normal Times 26 DON SAWYER Fair Comment: You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby? 34 LISE SIMPSON Modern Communication 37 IT’S YOUR WORLD Are We Estranged From Earth? By Bob Harrington
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LOCAL LATITUDE, GLOBAL ATTITUDE North of 50° is an i n d ependent, free m o n t h l y publication, locally owned, produced and distributed throughout the Thompson / Nicola/ South Cariboo/ Okanagan and Shuswap areas by 0727724 BC Ltd. Disclaimer: The publisher will not b e responsible for errors or omissions. In the event of a typographical error, the portion of the advertisement that is incorrect will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid at the applicable rate. T h e opinions and views contained in submitted articles to North Of 50° magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. T h e publisher retains t h e right t o e d i t a l l s u b m i s s i o n s , including a r t i c les and letter s to the editor, for brevity and clarity. Copyright is retained on a l l m a terial, text and graphics in this publication. No reproduction is allowed of any material in any form, print or electronic, for any purpose, except with the ex p r essed permission of North of 50 Public ations (unless for private reference only). Publications Mail Agreement 41188516 ISSN# 1710-4750
FROM OUR EDITOR Last month’s cover story, The Battle for Creighton Valley by Don Sawyer, generated a lot of interest from readers and we are thrilled to tell you that the story was picked up by CHBC-TV news and Black Press. Hopefully, this media coverage will raise awareness and translate into results for the Echo Lake residents. This month, North of 50° is relishing summer fun in the Thompson Okanagan Shuswap. Few would argue that the area boasts some of the most stunning landscapes in the country. It’s surprisingly easy to take that natural beauty and glorious sunshine for granted when you live and work in it every day. Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the orchard blossoms. We start off this issue with a look at some of the Interior Provincial Exhibition’s (IPE) youngest participants; they represent the future of agriculture and sustainability. The IPE attracts well over 120,000 people annually into little ol’ Armstrong, which just happens to be base camp for North of 50°. The sleepy little city, with just one street light and a bizarre four way stop system based on courtesy rather than traffic laws, suddenly wakes up! It’s five days of rodeo, midway rides and lively entertainment. In keeping with our summer fun theme, Dawn Renaud’s story on geocaching (page 20) will no doubt pique your interest. What better way to explore our spectacular countryside than with this high tech version of a treasure hunt! You don’t have to be a techie or physically fit to enjoy this new sport! All you need is a GPS and an adventurous spirit. Our Away from Home feature is big on adventure. Vernon writer, Patti Shales-Lefkos and her husband, trekked to Everest Base Camp (brrrrrrr). Whilst I read this story, my core temperature dropped a couple of degrees, which was most welcome in the recent heat. Yikes! Was that the sound of me taking the sunshine for granted? Momentary lapse, I promise. Summer lets us replenish our Vitamin D stores while we catch a few rays at the beaches, lounge around regional campsites, and enjoy backyard BBQs. We are fortunate enough to have a lot of hardworking volunteers who ensure there are plenty of summer festivals and free concerts for us to enjoy throughout August and September. One such festival is the 22nd Downtown Kelowna Association’s (DKA) Mardi Gras, coming on August 7. See our Regional Attitude interview (page 14) with Michele Spicer, Marketing and Communications Director for the DKA to learn more about this event and other downtown initiatives that are aimed to promote tourism and business. Unfortunately, while summer rocks in the Okanagan, it sparks, too. Summer is fire season, and despite having significantly less fires so far this year, many people have already been evacuated from their homes to wait for the danger to pass. At the time of this writing there have been 647 fires in BC this year; 115 of those are in the Kamloops Fire Centre region. Kamloops writer, Krystal Kehoe spent a day with “Hotel 22”, one of six initial attack crews based at the Kamloops Fire Centre. This is grueling, hot, grimy work, and as much as this crew loves its job, they urge the public to be vigilant with recreational activities to prevent human-caused wildfires. Enjoy your summer and at the same time, be a good steward of our natural environment.
TJ Wallis 6
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FOLLOW-UP:
BATTLE FOR CREIGHTON VALLEY The initial meeting between the Creighton Valley Residents and Resort Owners Association and local Ministry of Forests and Range (MFR) personnel took place at the Vernon MFR office on July 20. Ten residents took the time to drive into Vernon on a Tuesday afternoon, where they were joined by Ray Crampton, Operations Manager; Richard Toperczer, Tenures Officer; and Rita Winkler, Regional Hydrologist. Forestry Advisor to the Association, George Zorn, a retired Professional ForesterBiologist, also attended. This was a serious meeting, lasting well over two hours, as the residents and Forestry officials worked hard to understand each other’s positions and concerns. While the most important outcome was the laying of a foundation for future cooperation and discussion of strategies that will ensure responsible logging in the area and address water quality and quantity issues, some specific short-term activities were agreed upon. One of these is an on-site visit to the Bonneau Plateau above Creighton Valley that will involve MFR personnel, including a groundwater hydrologist, Creighton Valley residents, and logging contractors working in the area. This joint assessment is scheduled for early October.
YOUR LETTERS I picked up the magazine yesterday & am making my way through the articles. It just gets better & better - easier format to read during breakfast! and the articles are so relevant - I had no idea such scary things were happening in the Creighton Valley - if you don’t have water, you don’t have life! when will we ever learn?
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THE BATTLE FOR CREIGHTON VALLEY GARDENING IN THE NEW ERA OF WATER METERS AND PESTICIDE BANS BOATING SAFETY AND THE PCOC Publications Mail Agreement 41188516 ISSN# 1710-4750
I just had to comment after reading your article in North of 50. I am a retired logger (faller) and have worked in most areas of BC. You clearly see what you look at as well as seeing it clearly! A great piece, I hope it will get printed and reprinted in many,many papers. I have forwarded it on to a couple myself. We must understand that government is not a benign, benevolent big brother. It is more like a malignant cancer and must be controlled. The disaster taking place in the woods was a main reason for retiring when I did. This government is ripe for the plucking for it has (pl)ucked us all. Many Thanks Don, Barrie Hawes
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Publisher Dean Wallis dean@northof50.com Managing Editor TJ Wallis editor@northof50.com Advertising Sales Dean Wallis dean@northof50.com Kamloops & Area sales@northof50.com Layout & Design Kristi Carter krist@northof50.com Administration Caralyn Doyle caralyn@northof50.com Deadline for Ads to be submitted is the 20th of the month for publication the first week of the month Office Location: Suite 102 2516 Patterson Avenue Armstrong, BC Mailing Address: Box 100 Armstrong, BC V0E 1B0 ADS & SUBMISSIONS Phone: (250) 546-6064 Fax: (250) 546-8914 Toll Free: 1-877-667-8450 (877)NORTH50 Website: www.northof50.com ISSN 1710-4750 0727724 BC LTD Printed in Canada
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OUR CONTRIBUTORS CHRISTINE PILGRIM gives voice workshops at Summer Arts Day Camp for 10 to 14-yearolds Aug 1 – 7 (www.sasfy.ca ). On Sat. Aug. 14, as Emily Carr, she invites the public to “take tea with Emily” at Gallery Vertigo and the following Saturday (Aug 21), as HM Queen Elizabeth II, she’ll host the Gallery’s Almost Famous Art Auction: www.galleryvertigo. com). Between times she writes, tells stories and acts out history (www.christinepilgrim. com). KRYSTAL KEHOE grew up in Kamloops. She recently received her journalism degree from TRU. When she is not writing, she is enjoying living in the peace and quiet of a rural area and loves spending time with her dog.
DAWN RENAUD realized she needed an excuse for ignoring her chores and sinking into the alternate reality of a good book. Today she channels her creative imagination and affinity for words into more lucrative pursuits, writing for businesses and magazines and helping other writers hone their craft. Dawn lives in a tiny house in Penticton. PATTI SHALES LEFKOS spends winters at Silver Star Mountain downhill, cross country and back country skiing. She enjoys summers on a remote Ontario island, a base camp for rowing, flat water and white water canoeing. She loves to introduce others to the joys of wilderness travel.
LEILA MEYER has been a professional writer for over 12 years and specializes in writing about technology, animals, and healthy natural living. She is also a freelance editor and member of the Editors’ Association of Canada. She lives in Salmon Arm, BC with her husband and four cats.
Barry Thorbergsen, 1942-2010
North of 50 is saddened to report the passing of cartoonist Barry Thorbergsen on July 9, 2010, from cancer. Since 2003, Barry contributed close to 100 cartoons to North of 50, as well as several feature articles, profiling Okanagan personalities. His cartoons were published in other area newspapers,too, but here at North of 50, he was always “our” cartoonist. Last year, Barry wrote about his cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments in a plain talking, honest and wry personal experience article. He once said, “I draw cartoons because I can’t help myself.“ His unique perspective of the human condition inspired his drawings. Over the past year, as in life, his cartoons poked fun at the doctor patient relationship. Barry was born in Winnipeg of Icelandic ancestors and spent the first 15 years of his life there before moving to Richmond “when there was still a streetcar service between Steveston and Marpole.” He studied Political Science and English at UBC, and these subject became the passion of his life. He moved to Germany for 2 years before he started his work with BC Hydro at Mica Creek Dam for 18 years. In the late 1980’s he moved to Enderby and worked for Aldon’s Waste Disposal retiring in 2008. During these years Barry made a significant intellectual contribution as a writer and cartoonist. While living in Enderby he met and married Sharon. The couple moved to Salmon Arm in 2005. Barry leaves to mourn, his wife Sharon, step-sons Robert and Jonathon Sengotta; father in-law Alfred Thomas; cousin Janice Bell and numerous Icelandic cousins. northof50.com
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Makayla Hentges (on horse) with family, dad John, mom Cheryl, brother Mitchell, and along with neighbour Rosene Ryan-Lewis all exhibit at the I.P.E.
NO ONE’S TOO YOUNG (OR TOO OLD) TO PARTICIPATE AT THE IPE By Christine Pilgrim
EVERY ONE IS IN GEAR for this year’s Interior Provincial Exhibition which runs at the Armstrong fair grounds from September 1 to 5 - livestock groomed; pumpkins measured; apple pies tested and tasted; photographers’ lenses and mechanics’ pistons polished – all is tuned and toned up and ready to roll. Agricultural fairs have come a long way since BC’s first one, set in Victoria in 1861. Not only do they provide a focal point for the celebration and promotion of local agriculture and food, but they also offer opportunities for the sharing of local art, crafts and culture, along with the thrills, spills, fun and frolics of rodeo and roundabout rides.
Some of the youngest participants in this celebration of all things rural are with the 4-H Children’s Club where youth between nine and 19 pledge their Heads to clearer thinking, their Hearts to greater loyalty, their Hands to larger service and their Health to better living. Local branches also pledge to raise swine, poultry, goats and cattle to exhibit at the IPE each year. This 111th event will be no exception. “Since the first 4-H Club was formed in 1913, its aim has been to develop well-rounded, responsible, independent youth,” says Lorna Kotz, key leader of the Armstrong, Vernon and Lumby 4-H District. “What better way to develop their life skills than to put them in charge of rearing animals!” An example: Baylee Out won Grand Champion Market Hog with her first pig, Mr Bacon, when she joined 4-H, aged nine. In her final 4-H year she exhibited two females - a sow named George who again won Grand Champion Market Hog, and a gilt named Toby who won Grand Champion Gilt (A gilt is a pig that’s not “wed” as it were). Baylee Out’s knowledge of all things swine-related is extensive and fascinating. Who knew, for instance, that a sow with an even number of nipples is considered a better breeder than one with an odd number? Apparently, if piglets are lined up in two neat, even rows they feed easier and keep each other warm. And of course the more nipples a sow has, the more piglets she can accommodate (Toby has 14!). When asked what she intends to do with the science degree that she’s currently working toward at Thomson Rivers University, Baylee smiles, “My options will be extensive. Who knows, I may return to agriculture.” Meanwhile, Armstrong’s young Brecken Peters won First Prize for Poultry Showmanship and his rooster won Best in Show in his first year of exhibiting in 2008. In 2010 he will exhibit swine and his 15 laying hens. Brecken’s mother, Karen, says the entire family always looks forward to the IPE when they camp on the grounds for the week in order to care for their poultry and pigs. In keeping with this year’s Beef It Up theme, 4H member, Allison Speller, will exhibit some of the prize Aberdeen Angus she and her family breed at their Monte Lake ranch. When she’s not studying at South Kamloops Secondary (an hour’s bus ride from home), the 15-year-old spends much of the spring, summer and fall months grooming, halterbreaking and preparing her animals for exhibition not only at the IPE but also at the 4-H Stock Shows in Armstrong and Kamloops. Predictably, her career plan is to be a large animal vet. Three times 4-H Grand Champion winner, she also enjoys the fun of the fair, particularly the rodeo bull riding and barrel racing.
The 4-H Clover Bud Club where six-to-eight-year-olds learn about photography, sewing and baking, as well as caring for livestock, will also exhibit. But young people don’t have to join 4-H clubs to enter for IPE awards. Its own Peewee Club provides opportunities for six-to-eight-year-olds to show their animals too. Colton Reid (eight) will exhibit his hog Dusty alongside those of his older siblings, Daniel, Robert and Chelsey. He reckons Dusty has a very good chance of winning because he’s the biggest, longest and friendliest of the litter, “Although,” he adds diplomatically, “The others might have a fighting chance.” Apart from livestock, the Photography and Crafts sections attract Dustin, Jesse and Josie Larsen. They will enter all seven categories for young photographers, from “Viewpoint of a Small Child” to “Welcome my Community.” Josie (nine) took her favourite photographic entry for this year when she was visiting her Grandma and Poppa. She noticed a big spider wrapping a stink bug in silk so she borrowed her Grandma’s camera and, in her words, “Took a pretty cool picture.” Another Grandma, Rosene Ryan-Lewis, inspired her neighbours, Makayla and Mitchell Hentges to join her two grandsons in Native regalia for the IPE Parade last year. In fact, she inspired the entire Hentges family to exhibit - from Mrs Hentges’ delicious cloud biscuits to Mr Hentges’ raspberry jam; from Mitchell’s motorized Lego drawbridge to Makayla’s prize-winning black Cochin Bantam. Makayla (now 17) also won prizes for her knitted afghan, crocheted scarves and rooster drawing. Her sketch of a cougar, as well as her crafts and exotic poultry, will doubtless attract the judges this year. She says the IPE is a great thing for Armstrong. “It’s our quiet, little town’s moment to shine.” And shine it does. First to agree is Lindsay Blackburn. He visited the IPE as a baby 63 years ago and hasn’t missed a show since. His draught horses are a regular feature in the rodeo. The IPE has become part of his life, as it has done for countless others – young and old. In 63 years’ time, it will be interesting to see if the currently young Reids, Outs, Peters, Larsens, Spellers and Hentges will encourage their grandchildren to join in Armstrong’s “moment to shine” and prepare them for a “well-rounded, responsible, independent” adulthood.
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Kamloops IA fire crew sees By Krystal Kehoe
It is fire season and the Kamloops Fire Centre has seen fewer fires this year than the 10 year average, but that doesn’t mean that their fire crews are not keeping busy. At 10:30 a.m. on July 20, Craig Wallace and his crew are geared up to go and check on the site of a small forest fire from the previous day. Wallace is the crew leader of “Hotel 22”, one of the six Initial Attack (IA) crews based out of the Kamloops Fire Centre. On his crew are Laura Plouffe and Graham Sigalet. The Initial Attack crews are the first to respond to forest fire calls and are equipped to be self-sustained for up to 24 hours. “A lot of times, when it’s really busy, like last year, there were times when my crew had four fires in a day, and [were] working well beyond 24 hours because we didn’t have the resources,” Wallace said. The IA crews can be sent to a fire by truck or helicopter, but Wallace’s crew all agree that their job requires them to spend a lot of time in the truck together. “On occasion it can take us two and a half hours to get to a fire sometimes. It all depends on where we’re going,” Wallace said. Earlier this season his crew was deployed to Fort Nelson and had to endure an 18 hour drive together. Before the crew heads out, Plouffe and Sigalet split a protein bar and make sure the truck is stocked with extra drinking water. Their equipment is packed and the 400 gallon water tank on the truck is full. The crew is heading to Monte Creek for cold trailing. Cold trailing is done with their bare hands, Wallace explained. The IA crew has to dig through the soil to make sure that the fire is completely out from the previous day. Flagging tape marks the entrance to their path. It’s important that, when they get to a fire, they cut a path and flag it, to make it easier for other fire fighters to find, Wallace said. Once out of the truck the crew members put on their hard hats and have a short briefing. The crews always have a safety briefing before they fight a fire to discuss any danger trees and two escape routes, Wallace said. Their escape routes are down away from the fire. “We’re putting ourselves in a safe position,” Wallace Hotel 22 crewmembers Graham Sigalet, Laura Plouffe and Craig Wallace stand in front of a former fire site in Kamloops (top). Graham Sigalet cleans the chainsaw while back at the Kamloops Fire Centre (middle). Laura Plouffe runs her hands through the dirt at the Monte Creek site where a lightning strike fire had occurred the previous day (bottom). 12 northof50.com
said. He said that it is important that his crew be calm while fighting a fire. At the Monte Creek site the crew gets to work digging around with their hands in the dirt. There is a dark outline where the IA crew dug a guard around the fire the previous day. Wallace calls this fire out and reports it to dispatch. The crew then heads back into Kamloops. Wallace’s crew will spend the remainder of the day on stand-by at the Kamloops Fire Centre. But this is not a typical season for the IA crew. So far this year Wallace has been called to 15 fires, whereas last year his crew was called to 70 fires during the season. “Well below the average right now, for us,” he said. When there is a fire the crew leader is responsible for the initial fire report, pictures, the GPS co-ordinates of the fire, and uses the GPS to report the size of the fire. If the crew is on 24 hour stand-by they need to be within 30 minutes of the Kamloops Fire Centre to respond. “Depending on fire activity, if we’re in high or extreme conditions, then we have crews at the base all the time and pretty much a helicopter sitting at the pad,” he said. If the crew is on red-alert they need to be in the helicopter within five minutes. As a crew leader Wallace is responsible for falling any danger trees at a fire before the other crew members are sent in. He said that is the second most dangerous part of his job, the first is riding in a helicopter. “I always say I appreciate every time I get to ride in helicopters,” he said. For now, this below-average year has given the Kamloops IA crews time to do fuels management project work around the Kamloops area, to help reduce fire activity. This includes falling pine beetle trees, removing tree limbs and cleaning up the ground debris, Wallace explained. “For the areas that we’ve worked it reduces fire hazards in that area,” he said. But when there is a fire, the IA crew is ready. Their work schedule allows them opportunity for daily physical activity. Along with a 200 pound weight restriction (including gear), they have to pass periodical fitness tests throughout the season. The fitness test includes a pack test where they need to pack 45 pounds for just under five kilometres, with a time restriction of 45 minutes, and a pump hose test where they need to carry four lengths of hose on their backs in four minutes and 10 seconds, in order to work for the Ministry of Forests. And, after 13 seasons, Wallace said that his favourite part of the job is the people he gets to work with. “That’s what makes it the most fun for me,” he said.
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REGIONAL
ATTITUDE Michele Spicer is the Marketing and Communications Director for the Downtown Kelowna Association. She has been with the DKA for 3 years and was previously working in Vancouver in the Film and Television industry. Michele not only works in Downtown Kelowna, she lives there too. And is therefore a true believer in this beautiful, vibrant lakefront neighbourhood that is Downtown Kelowna.
Please tell North of 50° readers a bit about the Downtown Kelowna Association and the group’s mandate: The Kelowna Downtown Business Improvement Area Association (Downtown Kelowna, Downtown Kelowna Association, DKA) is a registered not-for-profit society with a mission to ensure that our downtown neighbourhood is a safe and desirable place to conduct business, live, work, and recreate. While initially formed as a volunteer grass roots organization in the mid 1980’s, the DKA officially came into existence as an entity in November, 1989 funded through an improvement levy collected by the municipality from commercial properties in the area. The annual levy becomes the Association’s base operating budget upon which the organization leverages additional funding from partners,
including various levels of governments and corporate sponsors to support our programs and initiatives. The 22nd DKA Mardi Gras Festival is on August 7th. It still attracts 12000 to 15000 people to the downtown core. Why do you think it continues to be so successful? Our event is hugely successful due to it attracting people of all ages for a free event. Family’s can bring their kids to Downtown Kelowna for a whole day of fun filled activity and entertainment at little or no cost. Obviously we do have vendors and downtown businesses selling goods or food and beverages, and who can resist those little donuts?! But overall our event has something for kids, teens, adults and seniors and is a non-ticketed day. We have a huge kids zone, 3 stages of entertainment, sidewalk sales, roaming street entertainers and so much more! How has the Mardi Gras changed/evolved over the years and what can people expect this year? The Mardi Gras format hasn’t really changed too much over the years, it’s simply become bigger! We close off Bernard Ave from the Sails to Richter Street now and fill the street entirely with this event. We’ve had to increase the number of stages to accommodate the musical entertainment; as well we’ve had fashion shows in the past, climbing walls, and a bigger Parks Alive concert at the end of the day. This year will be much the same, but we are expecting a larger number of Downtown Business members and vendors to join us. As well, our stages are packed with some really talented local performers.
the years, that we are having trouble finding Downtown venues that are big enough to hold us comfortably! We see, on average, approximately 350 people at each of our events. Our business networking evenings happen on the last Wednesday of every month and serve as a Downtown business ‘mixer’. Our events are a bit different from other business networking events in that they are very casual and social. We often have some live music, lots of door prizes and then when you throw in the wine, beer and appies, it becomes more of a party type atmosphere. And our event is open to anyone, so the crowd is as varied as the businesses that are being represented. If people would like to sign up for an email reminder the week before the After 5 they can do so on our website at www.DowntownKelowna.com How can readers find out more about some of the programs / events that DKA sponsors? I would suggest that our new website is the best starting place (www.DowntownKelowna.com). We have just launched a new site that can help readers find businesses, events, and our in-house programs. We also have a facebook page, a You Tube channel, and are on Twitter, all of which you can access from our website. After that, our door is always open and the coffee is always on! We’d love for people to pop in and see us and find out more about who we are and what we do.
The DKA hires students each summer for the Concierge Service. What exactly is the Concierge service? The Biz Patrol Concierge is a team, of college students who assist locals and tourists throughout the months of May through September. They offer directions, dining and shopping suggestions, take photos, communicate with the Downtown members and assist with DKA events. The Biz Concierge also produces a weekly You Tube video that highlights the best places for Downtown entertainment, dining and shopping, as well as introduces you to a variety of areas in Downtown that you may not even know exists. The Biz Concierge would love to meet you, be sure to pop by at see them Tuesday through Sunday right beside the Sails at the foot of Bernard Ave. I heard that the DKA’s Downtown After 5 draws quite a crowd. How is it different than traditional networking events? Yes, our Downtown After 5 event has grown so much over northof50.com 15
Wine, Women, and Woods to Raise Money for Faxitron at Vernon Jubilee Hospital By Leila Meyer
The 8th annual Wine, Women, and Woods “Tee off for the Cure” charity golf tournament will take place on September 10th and 11th at the Vernon Golf and Country Club. Over the past seven years, this tournament has raised $340,000 for the BC/Yukon Region of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. The tournament is continuing its tradition of raising money to help fight breast cancer, but this year the organizers have chosen a more local goal: raising money to buy a Faxitron for the Vernon Jubilee Hospital. The Faxitron will be used to help women with breast cancer, other breast tumours, or breast calcifications. According to Dr. Glenn Scheske, Radiologist at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, “a digital Faxitron is a state of the art x-ray machine that is a compact stand-alone unit and allows small pieces of breast tissue to be x-rayed independently of the mammography procedure.” The Faxitron will help speed up the process of biopsying breast cancer tissue in the operating room. Once the doctors have removed the lump in the operating room, they send it to radiology to be x-rayed to determine if the whole tumour has been removed. The Faxitron can then x-ray the tissue in a few seconds, much more quickly than the current process. “The addition of a Faxitron machine will reduce the actual time spent in the operating room, as well as the length of time that a patient must be under anaesthesia,” says Dr. Scheske. The Faxitron will also expedite the process of removing breast calcifications. For this procedure, the woman is placed in the mammography machine. The radiologist removes the calcifications with a needle and then images the tissue to determine whether all the calcifications have been removed. Currently at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, they use the mammography machine itself to image the biopsied tissue, but in order to complete that step of the procedure, the woman must be removed from the mammography machine. If the x-ray reveals that some calcifications were missed, the woman must be repositioned in the mammography machine – a process that can take a half hour – to start the whole procedure over again. Often there is not enough time, and the woman must return for a second appointment. With the Faxitron, the radiologist will be able to x-ray the biopsied tissue while the woman remains 16 northof50.com
in the mammography machine, so if further samples are needed, they can remove them on the spot. The woman does not have to return for a second appointment, which frees up time to treat more women. According to Travis Thompson, Professional Practice Leader for Diagnostic Imaging at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital, the Faxitron “is very dedicated to women’s health. It benefits everything from breast cancer to basic screening. It’s a fantastic tool, and we’ll be glad to have it.” The Faxitron will cost approximately $75,000, and Wine, Women, and Woods hopes to raise most or all of the money for it through this year’s golf tournament. People who would like to contribute to or participate in this fundraiser have a variety of options. The golf tournament opens on the evening of Friday, September 10th with the “Jazz It Up for Wine, Women, and Woods” wine and cheese featuring a silent and live auction. Tickets are $25, and everybody is welcome. Money raised from the auction will go towards the fundraising goal. People who want to get involved with the tournament itself can register as players, caddies, or sponsors. Golf skills are not required for participation in the tournament. Dee Paterson, the chair of Wine, Women, and Woods 2010, says “it’s a fun tournament, no handicap required.” Many of the holes on the course will have contests and fun games on them. “For example, we have ‘designated drivers’: On some of the long holes, we’ve got volunteers whom you can pay a toonie, or whatever you want, and they’ll hit your drive for you,” she says. Many of the teams also dress in costumes and some even decorate their golf carts. “It’s emphasis on the fun,” says Paterson. If you’re interested in playing, register soon because there are a limited number of player spots available, and they usually sell out. The tournament is also looking for caddy volunteers who will be auctioned off at the Friday night wine and cheese kick-off event. There are also various levels of sponsorship available, and the organizers will be looking for more sponsors throughout the summer. For information about registering as a player, caddy, or sponsor, visit the website at www.winewomenandwoods. com. Alternatively, people who want to contribute to the 2010 fundraising goal for the Faxitron machine, but cannot participate in the tournament, can donate online through the website. Click the “Online Donations” link, which takes you to the secure online donation site of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
TV Star and Winningest Player Featured at Tennis Classic THE RETURN OF THE world’s winningest senior player plus a tribute to a man who found TV stardom after working as a placer miner will highlight this year’s Celebrity Tennis Classic. Bill Barlee, former minister of tourism and agriculture, co-hosted, alongside Mike Roberts, the TV series Gold Trails and Ghost Towns. The popular program ran for 10 years and Don Cherry listed it as his favourite TV show. Born in Grand Forks in 1932, Barlee worked as a placer miner, teacher, writer and publisher. He played in the first Celebrity Tennis Classic and, with Ernie Winter, taught a host of kids to play the game. He won the Kalamalka Tennis Club championship seven times. Barlee now resides in Victoria, but is in poor health following a stroke. Lorne Main, known as “the world’s winningest senior tennis player” came to Kelowna last year and lived up to his billing by adding the Celebrity Classic to his long list of victories. At the awards banquet he told the audience, “I’ll be back next year and I’ll be 80.” His wit and charm off the court and his quick, fluid movement on the court made the audience want to see more of him. The Celebrity Classic takes place at the home court of Walley and Marietta Lightbody, 2302 Abbot St., Kelowna, with opening ceremonies set for 4 p.m. Sept. 17. The event, with competition continuing Sept. 18 and 19, has raised $350,000 for Kelowna General Hospital over eight years. A $40 donation to the hospital allows spectators to watch some of the best tennis players in B.C. in competition while enjoying, at no additional charge, beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres provided by Coast Capri, Cedar Creek and Quail’s Gate. Spectators may also return on Saturday, watch more tennis and enter the bocce competition for the Tom Capozzi trophy. The winner receives $500 that they generously donate to the hospital. Handsome and skilled Italians will be available to introduce newcomers to the sport and help them in the fun tournament. Tennis players with basic skills or better can compete for two days, enjoy a banquet and watch the opening ceremonies for a donation of $225. This year’s event raises funds to purchase cardiac event recorders. These are worn by patients for a week or two after an apparent cardiac malfunction and they collect data when the heart acts abnormally. Doctors study the data to help determine the cause of the heart problem.
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These Are Not Normal Times
THE GUY IN THE BLUE CAMOUFLAGES was big enough to break boards with just the meanness in his eyes. His partner, not as huge, but equally serious. This wasn’t Checkpoint Charlie, but a small gate into the Kaozak refugee camp, just over a kilometer away from the Kirghiz border. In normal times there wouldn’t be any military at this summer retreat, its large walnut trees, corn field just a few metres away. In normal times the creek that cuts through the property and stretches into tributary rivulets would be just as swollen, just as keen to move the old metal water wheel as it does now. In normal times there would be hundreds of children here just as there are now, but they would be thinking only of play, only of excitement at being away from home. These are not normal times. There are two thousand refugee women and children squeezed here in their UNICEF tents, the big ones of dark green canvass, and their United Nations Humanitarian Relief tents, the Quonset rounded white ones, smaller but just as packed with sleeping mats,
disappear from consciousness rather quickly, in minutes if not sooner. Refugees are there for themselves. The rest of us come and go. With the great, great emphasis on go. Calvin White is a retired high school counsellor who lives in the North Okanagan. He has over 70 essays published in various Canadian daily newspapers, including the Globe and Mail, the Ottawa Citizen, Toronto Star, Vancouver Sun and Province. If you have any comments on this column, you can write to Calvin White at calvinwhite@northof50.com or to Calvin White c/o North of 50, Box 100, Armstrong, BC V0E 1B0 Calvin White is currently working with Doctors Without Borders in Uzbekistan, a landlocked former part of the Soviet Union. He will be there for about a year, working with victims of drug resistant tuberculosis and training counsellors to do the same. He continues to submit his columns to North of 50 from there.
August 1960 - 50 Years Ago This Month
just as packed with fear. They have all fled their homes a few hours walk away to come here to their ancestral Uzbek land for safety and, as it would be, acceptance and sustenance. The Uzbek authorities have opened their resources to care for their ethnic kin and there is ample food and shelter and medical attention. But still these people have been here two weeks now in their unexpected summer camp with all these unexpected neighbours and each day many live with the images of homes burning, of screaming in the street, of rat-tat-tat sounds from weapons they could not see. Others live with the simple fear of what comes next, what now, where will they return to. This is the common experience of all refugees. Safety is great, a place for shelter and food is great. But what of the future? How does one continually only live in the present, especially when there has been so little choice of that present? It is like having one’s eyes to look only so far and then stop seeing. Not possible. And the children, of course, they keep asking questions. When do we go home, mother? I want to sleep in my own home again, mother. I want to see father. When? When? When? These are easier than the why’s. All these women, young, old, hobbling, the spring of youth in their step. These women, a great joint family now, a family of fear, of hope, of waiting. And no one knows for what. One young mother stands over me, dark eyes staring a hole into my face asks rhetorical questions: if we go home how can I go away to work and know my children will be safe? Our jobs must now be taken by Kirghiz since someone will have had to do them, so how will we work again? There are nods. Another woman speaks with more urgency, emotion, rawness: they went wild, we lived together all these years and they just went wild. How could they do that? What did we do? That is our home. We have been there for generations. Another says, they killed my uncle. Then they burned his home where he and my aunt live. They are both dead. This woman is young and pregnant. As she speaks she touches her belly. Around us more have gathered. All listen. All watch the interaction, this discourse of no answers. The large, leafy trees surround us. It is cool here away from the hot Andijan sun of late June. We are one small group in the midst of the earthen paths, the rivulets, and trees, the rows and rows of tents, the hubbub of humans busy with waiting. I have come here for these minutes. These minutes during which nothing happens but the flow of words, the exchange of eyes, the forming memory within each of us that I have been there. This is the way of us. We are only what we are. We give only what we can, what we know to give. Our faces will
1st - Aretha Franklins 1st recording session 1st - Chubby Checker releases “The Twist” 10th - Actor Antonio Banderas, was born in Malaga Spain. 18th - 1st commercial oral contraceptive debuts. 18th - 1st photograph ever from a spy satellite was taken. With 3,000 feet of film, the satellite took more pictures than all 24 of the U-2 spy plane flights put together, and revealed the existence, not previously known to the U.S., of 64 airfields and 26 missile bases 19th - Soviet Union launched Sputnik 5 into orbit, with the dogs Belka and Strelka (Russian for “Squirrel” and “Little Arrow”), 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants. Recovered the next day after 18 orbits, the menagerie became the first living animals to return safely to Earth after being placed into orbit 23rd - Oscar Hammerstein II, 65, American lyricist, died. 26th - The 1960 Summer Olympics opened in Rome, with a record 5,348 athletes from 83 nations competing. Competition continued until September 11 northof50.com 19
HUNTING FOR HIDDEN TREASURE By Dawn Renaud
20 northof50.com
Michelle Parkin on Yakutania Point in Skagway, AK. Photo by Michael DeGroot
IT’S LATE ON A FRIDAY EVENING. Todd Moore is leading us on a trail along a Kamloops riverbank. To the casual observer, we’re merely walking his dog, Brew. In reality, we’re searching for hidden treasure. Glancing at his GPS unit, Todd stops. He retraces his steps, stops again. “Probably this tree,” he says. Brew sniffs the trunk; we peer into the shadows, parting grass and jiggling branches. No luck. My first foray into geocaching ends in defeat. According to the Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site (www.geocaching.com), there are over a million active cache sites in the world today—impressive, especially considering the pastime has only been around for a decade. Early in May 2000, an Oregon computer consultant wanted to check the accuracy of the global positioning system. He hid a bucket containing “prize” items in the woods not far from Portland. Then he posted the site’s waypoint online, inviting others to find the stash, sign the logbook, and “take some stuff, leave some stuff.” Within three days, two readers found the stash and posted their experiences online. The game quickly went viral, with stashes hidden all over the world. By the end of the month the term “stashing” had been tossed in favour of “caching,” preferred for its connotations of pioneer adventure and pirate treasure. Unlike most computer games, geocaching gets you away from the keyboard and out of the house, exploring new territory and seeing familiar spaces in a whole new light. And, other than the initial cost of the GPS unit, it’s virtually free. Kelowna’s Michelle Parkin, who’s boyfriend talked her into geocaching three years ago, says that while on a family trip to Alaska they didn’t have extra money for entertainment. Instead they went geocaching. “We saw lots of places my parents didn’t see,” she says. To date she has located some 1,100 caches—and hidden plenty, too. Back at Todd’s house, he shows me the geocaching. com website. Without logging in I can use my Penticton postal code to pull up nearby caches; there are nine within a kilometre of my house, and dozens more in the area covered by city transit. I’ll need to create an identity and log in to access their coordinates, or waypoints. There’s no cost to join, although a few caches’ waypoints are only available if I choose the paid-membership option. For each cache site, the website provides ratings for how difficult the terrain is and how hard the cache is to find. There’s also a an encrypted hint. Todd says kids are especially enthusiastic about using the key to decipher the code, although clicking the “decrypt” button works too. This hint provides clues to help pinpoint the cache’s exact location. “I don’t do that unless I have trouble finding it,” he says. To illustrate, he pulls up the page for a cache site above Margaret Falls near Salmon Arm. He has already northof50.com 21
been unsuccessful there, so we read the hint. The cache site’s page also shows what others have said about their experience looking for this cache. Some of it’s geocache shorthand: TNLN (took nothing left nothing), DNF (did not find). Geocaching.com reminds geocachers to stay off private property and respect the environment—cache in, trash out— and the website is very user friendly. With the right GPS unit, you can select several sites to download directly to your GPS, where they’ll show up as closed chests. When you’ve found a cache, you can change its icon to an open chest. Sign the log while you’re there (pack along a pencil; some caches don’t have room for one), and swap “treasures” if you like: think cereal-box prizes, key tags, collector pins. Once home, go online to log your find and add your comments. If you’ve picked out a trackable—an item tagged with a tracking number—be sure to record this leg of its journey; then move it along soon to keep the fun going. Some trackables make amazing global expeditions; Michelle dropped a couple of trackable coins in a Skagway cache, and she’s watching to see which one finds its way home first. Todd has decided to relocate a cache he had previously hidden near his former home. He deactivated the cache on the website and is debating what to add as a “first-to-find” treasure—something more valuable than the usual trinkets, sometimes included in a new cache. “The first person to find it gets the really good prize,” he says, “so it’s almost like there’s a race to get to it.” He once arrived first and collected a Leatherman tool set. In the morning, we hide Todd’s cache in its new location and head for Margaret Falls. We wander around for quite some time on the trail above the falls, but tree cover prevents Todd’s GPS receiver from getting the precise location. Neither of us can recall exactly what the hint said. (Note to self: If you decrypt before you go, print the page or make a note of what the hint says!) Although 22 northof50.com
we haven’t found the cache, we’re Some geocaches are cleverly not particularly disappointed; camouflaged in easily we’ve enjoyed a strenuous hike accessible locations. Others through some incredible scenery. might take you well off the In the late afternoon, our attempt to find a cache in beaten path, where weaker the Rose Gardens in Kamloops GPS signals can add to the is thwarted by throngs of challenge (top left). Booty! muggles—geocache-speak for You never know what you’ll non-geocachers. The grads are in the midst of their photo find in a geocache. Bring along shoot. Already conspicuous some treasures of your own for our lack of formal wear, we to swap (middle). Michael quickly figure out where we need DeGroot on a bike path in to look. Getting there means bringing unwanted attention to Wenatchee, WA (bottom). the cache (and, in all likelihood, Photo by Michelle Parkin. an unwelcome intrusion into someone’s family photos). Instead we head back to the house, collect Brew, and resume the search we’d abandoned the evening before. In the daylight, a slightly out-of-place detail catches my eye. Success at last: we find a tiny scroll inserted into a weatherproof vial and hidden inside a hollowed branch. On our way back we look for another cache Todd had downloaded to his GPS some time ago. I immediately zero in on a park bench. We poke around a bit and find nothing. Todd figures it’s part of a cryptic, or puzzle cache. Back at his computer, he checks the cache’s webpage. Turns out I need the fourth letter from the surname on the bench’s donation plaque, plus three more letters from other signs at listed waypoints. I need to identify a particular song, use its title to complete the decoding key, and turn those four letters into numbers. These are the co-ordinates of the cache. Clever! Exercise, adventure, and word puzzles. Great game to share with the grandchildren. Now, I just need a GPS.
RAILWAY TALES – “RATTLESNAKE RAIN” BY JACK GODWIN Imagine working outside and suddenly you hear the thud thud thud of objects crashing to the ground from the sky above. Imagine your horror as you discover that the falling objects are angry rattlesnakes! In 1913, that was the real life nightmare faced by the “gandy dancers” (railway construction workers) who were building the Kettle Valley Line just north of Naramata. Blasting through bedrock along the mountainous east side of Lake Okanagan using traditional black powder proved to be a long and expensive task In an effort to speed the process, railway officials decided to employ new technology -- the recently invented nitroglycerine. Nitro was five times more powerful than black powder but on the downside, nitro was far less stable than dynamite and somewhat of a mystery to the “powder monkeys” (blasters). Nitroglycerine froze during winter nights and should have been placed in the warming jackets provided by the supplier. However, the literacy challenged workers failed to read the instructions and attempted to thaw the nitro by stacking it next to their campfire. Limbs and lives were lost as a result. While rattlesnakes are shy creatures that shun the activity
associated with living on the Okanagan valley floor, the ample supply of small mammals for food and the sunny rock ledges of the east side hills create an ideal environment for rattlers to thrive. As winter approaches and the temperature drops, these cold blooded critters seek out cavities amidst the rocks where hundreds den up together to keep warm. It was during the construction of Little Tunnel above the tranquil village of Naramata that KVR powder monkeys, using their newly acquired nitroglycerine, blasted into a giant nest of rattlesnakes. The unanticipated strength of this explosion caused a shower of rattlesnakes to begin falling on the startled workers who were grading the line. Along with darkness and heights, a fear of snakes is common to all human cultures. While rattlesnakes are timid by nature, having their home blown up definitely would have left them…testy. The result was panic and understandable mayhem. The song “Rattlesnake Rain” by The Kettle Valley Brakemen is available on the CD “Early Tracks”. To discover more about the group including concert schedules, other CDs and bookings please visit www.kvbrakemen.com
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THE ATLANTIC IS A MAGAZINE full of thoughtful, provocative pieces by some of the world’s foremost writers and thinkers, but in the latest version it outdid itself, billing its July/August magazine as “The Ideas Issue” containing the “14 ¾ most powerful ideas of the year.” And the cover story, presumably making it THE most powerful idea of the year, sticks one idea to us with a sharp stick: “The End of Men: How Women are Taking Control of Nearly Everything.” Now I confess that as I read the title, not to mention the rather rambling article itself, I felt a slight contraction between my legs. But at the same time, I was left scratching my head. (Yes, men can multi-task too.) Is this the gender equity women (and men) have been struggling to achieve for centuries? Or are we just seeing the manipulation of sexual politics to better placate, domesticate, and dominate?
Don’t get me wrong. The article makes many important points about the extraordinary strides women have made. The author’s most significant observation, perhaps, is that “As thinking and communicating has come to eclipse physical strength and stamina as the keys to economic success, those societies that take advantage of the talents of all their adults, not just half of them, have pulled away from the rest.” She bolsters this with figures from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that shows, almost without exception, that in 162 countries examined, the greater the power of women, the greater the country’s economic success. Even more fascinating is how quickly all of this has happened. In the US, women hold more than half of all managerial and professional jobs, up from 26% in 1980. Women now earn 60% of all master’s degrees and half of all law and medical degrees. Most stunning, women now earn nearly 2/3 of all bachelor’s degrees, fast emerging as the threshold for “an affluent life.” All of this translates into significant family and social change, of course. In 1970, women contributed 2 to 6 percent of family income. Today it is over 40%, and four in ten women are the primary family income earners. As a result, child-rearing, gender and power relations, public images, and institutions such as marriage are undergoing radical transformation. Fascinating stuff. But as often seems to be the case in what is coming to be called “post-modern feminism,” there seems to be a conscious, almost urgent, need to uncouple gender issues from economic conditions. In a puzzling sidebar, the author argues that fathers are becoming “obsolete.” Her evidence? It seems that children adopted by lesbian couples (how large could the research base be?) get along just fine without a man in the house. Plus, as more professional women choose not to marry and are successfully bringing up their children (though the article seems to assume not being married means there is no ongoing relationship or father on the scene), men just seem to be a bother, little more than an unnecessary nuisance. Yet we have known for a very long time that there is no significant correlation between children’s school success (at least) and whether or not they come from a two-parent family. There is, however, a staggeringly strong correlation between school success and a child’s socio-economic background, regardless of the number of parents at home.
What this tells us is that when children grow up in enriched home environments filled with books, bedtime stories, verbal interaction, exposure to arts and literature, structure and routine, high expectations, strong personal and academic support, and a history of parental school success, kids will succeed whether they come from homes with one, two or more parental figures. (I’m willing to bet that the lesbian couples referenced fit snugly into this pattern. And as for the obsolescence of fathers, I’d also bet that children of gay couples would perform similarly well.) The article argues that women are stampeding over men in a cloud of stiletto heels because of a mix of mystical feminine traits that include (but are not limited to) “selfcontrol, focus, verbal aptitude” (or compliance, tolerance for tedium and agreeability?) As we saw in the 60s, dominant economic and political interests are willing to concede cultural and social skirmishes (see women’s suffrage) as long as the captains of industry (who, interestingly, represent the last bastion of male dominance) are left to burn their way unimpeded to the sea. Small wonder, then, that they are only too happy to welcome “focused, loyal and capable” female recruits to the corporation. Those of us, men and women, who fought so hard to break down gender and racial barriers weren’t out there so that the powerful would remain venal, ruthless, short-sighted and relentlessly profit driven, but wear bras. Our vision was not just about changing the sex or colour of the elite, but of creating a more equitable, fair and compassionate society. That vision is ill-served by this brave new world of business as usual, but with more X chromosomes. Don Sawyer is a writer, educator and former director of Okanagan College’s International Development Centre. He lives with his wife in Salmon Arm. You can contact Don Sawyer by email at donsawyer@telus.net or by mail at Don Sawyer c/o North of 50, Box 100, Armstrong, BC V0E 1B0. For more information on Don’s writing and development work, visit his web site at www. northerned. com.
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STAYCATIONS
49° 16’ 29”
A staycation is a bit like being a tourist in your own town. Instead of travelling afar for a vacation, you stay home and relax, taking day trips close to home. Living in the Thompson Okanagan is a bonus for staycationers, considering all there is to do here. Plan your staycation just like you would a regular vacation. Set a time and date for your ‘departure’. Buy a local guidebook. Go on a winery tour. Spend a day at the beach. Have dinner out. Visit a museum or art gallery. Tee off one of the more than 50 golf courses in the Thompson Okanagan. Experience live theatre. Attend a musical festival or sports event. Find a new hiking trail. The trick to enjoying a staycation is to make sure you do what you would do if you were on vacation: relax and explore!
BEST OF CANADA’S LITERARY FESTIVALS: A LIST
We’ve got world-class writers, but we also cherish literature of other places. By Noah Richler
OPENING THE PAGES of a novel is often the best way to know the place you’re in—or to get away to others on the magic carpet ride a good story provides. Canada has a wealth of terrific writers producing books of international renown, but also a huge appetite for the literature of other places. Nowhere is this more evident than in Canada’s plethora of exciting literary festivals in settings that offer pleasant avenues into the wonderful variety of the country. Here’s our list: 1. Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival in Vancouver, BC, is the best of the large festivals, with a busy combo of panels, readings, one-to-one interviews as well as poetry jams and a mix of invitees from all over the world. What really makes it splendid is its setting on Granville Island. Attendees spill out of literary events into a bustling, joyful mix of theatres, art galleries, the Emily Carr University of Art + Design and one of the loveliest markets in the country that is at its height in October, when the festival takes place—all set by False Creek with its splendid view of the city’s downtown towers and the Coast Mountain range. 2. Writers at Woody Point is a small and compact festival that takes place in late August at Bonne Bay in western Newfoundland in the dramatic embrace of Gros Morne 28 northof50.com
National Park, a breathtaking landscape of fjords and high mountains. Newfoundland’s identity does not depend on culture, it is culture. The Writers at Woody Point festival shows the rich fabric of this province in all its intimate, convivial and often ribald splendour. The emphasis is on Newfoundland writing, though each year also features an internationally celebrated literary guest. Music is also an integral part of the festival—so expect some dancing; Newfoundland, remember, is the home of the “kitchen party.” This is not a literary festival you’ll take sitting down. 3. Saskatchewan Festival of Words in Moose Jaw, SK, is an enjoyable festival on a modest scale that occurs in mid-July in one of the most marvellously eclectic settings in the country. Saskatchewan is the quietly beating heart of the country and its spectacular vistas offer a singular enchantment and syntax of their own: big sky, vast horizons and the golden palette of the prairie in midsummer. What makes the small city of Moose Jaw also remarkable is what lies beneath—the labyrinth of tunnels and underground shops and bunkers in which early Chinese immigrants worked and sweated in extraordinary conditions, and also the hot water of natural springs at Temple Gardens Mineral Spa Resort, enjoyed alike by writers and hardworking farmers in for a city break.
4. The Frye Festival in Moncton, NB, in April is named after one of the English-speaking world’s most celebrated literary critics and philosophers of the 20th century, Northrop Frye. This small, bilingual literary festival takes place in one of the most historic parts of Canada—territory that the great Acadian writer Antonine Maillet, winner of the French Prix Goncourt, has immortalized in works such as Pélagie-la-Charette and La Sagouine. A lot of its charm is derived from its bilingual nature in events staged in a couple of the town’s old theatres, as well as the library and town hall, and the easy and quintessentially Canadian way people move between languages. The causeway gates on the river here, the Petitcodiac (also known as the Chocolate River for its rich, silt-laden, muddy brown colour), were recently opened as a first step to the restoration of waters renowned for its “tidal bore,” when strong tides create the odd sight of a single high wave proceeding over the top of the river in the wrong direction. 5. The Lakefield Literary Festival is perhaps the most Canadian of festivals, one that celebrates the country’s writing in July in the leafy arbour of southern Ontario, near Peterborough, and with the legacy of the late, great Canadian writers Susanna Moodie, Catherine Parr Traill and Margaret Laurence. All lived and wrote in the community, which is surrounded by the region’s exceptionally beautiful lakes. There’s literary fiction, but also children’s and mystery writing, a Young Writers evening and a service at the church Margaret Laurence attended in an Ontario town where the Main Street in July is at its prettiest and most salubrious. 6. WordFest is Calgary, AB’s international literary festival. It holds events throughout the year, but celebrates in a large way in October at the height of the country’s book season. Its busy program has played a significant role in the revitalization of the Albertan cultural capital’s handsome downtown core. It reaches out, too, into the city’s green university campuses (the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University), The Art Gallery of Calgary and the superb Glenbow Museum. The centre of activity is in the Vertigo Theatre each night, where the busy lobby is a thriving indication of cultural activity in a city where One Yellow Rabbit and the Loose Moose Theatre Company are but a part of the city’s vibrant arts scene. 7. Read By the Sea is an altogether different kind of literary festival that takes place in late July in the small and picturesque village of River John on the Northumberland Strait on Nova Scotia’s northern shore. It makes a point of its intimacy, with just a few authors and practically the entire village becoming involved. The ambience is as cozy and comfortable as a good summer read should be. The festival’s small size guarantees companionable encounters with the
writers—and nowhere else will you be visiting beaches as beguiling as these or eating such succulent sea-fresh lobster, scallops and haddock afterwards. 8. The Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts is the most blissfully summery festival in all of Canada, taking place in August in the luxuriant confines of the Rockwood Centre in Sechelt, BC. Visitors enjoy the gardens’ rich, verdant setting, and the readings take place on a grand and absolutely beautiful stage. Evening feasts of local salmon and fine dining are an arranged part of the schedule, and at no other festival—ensconced like this one in the rainforest— will you find the necessary instruction “Absolutely No Climbing on Trees.” 9. THIN AIR Winnipeg International Writers Festival takes place in September in one of Canada’s most distinctive and idiosyncratic of cities (in Manitoba). Its downtown turn-of-the-century skyscrapers are an architectural treasure; its music and art gallery hideaways are full of life; The Forks, a revitalized area (named after the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers that were pivotal avenues of Aboriginal life and, later, the fur trade), is a hive of activity where many of the festival events take place. The Manitoba Museum with its striking replica of the Nonsuch, the 17thcentury English vessel that first sailed into James Bay looking for furs, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery with its stunning Aboriginal collection, as well as the city’s fine restaurants, are just a few of the THIN AIR Festival’s concomitant joys. 10. Canada’s two largest and busiest cities also have their festivals. The International Festival of Authors takes place in Toronto, ON, in October by the waterfront of Lake Ontario. It features perhaps the most distinctive lineup in the country of authors from all over the globe. The Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival takes place in late April as spring is arriving in Montréal, QC, the country’s most culturally dynamic and engaging city. The festival has a bilingual, even multilingual aspect (calling itself “the world’s first multilingual literary festival”), and like the country’s other large ones, puts Canada’s Aboriginal literature on stage, too. This is Canada’s most storied city, where writers—like its visitors to its streets, bars and restaurants—compete for the terrain and discoveries they can call their own.
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AWAY FROM HOME
SIX SLEEPLESS NIGHTS ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD
27° 59’ N
By Patti Shales-Lefkos
Mt. Kailash, considered the most sacred place in the world by devout Hindus and Tibetan Buddhists. Photo by Barry Hodgins 30 northof50.com
PILLOWS FLUFFED BY CHING, a cheerful sometimes aspire to the nine-year-old attendant, lie toastily tucked in, luxuries afforded by five star Icocooned in several soft, freshly laundered pastel hotels, but in doing so we blankets. The room is miss authentic experiences midnight dark. The only the faint murmur available only to those ready sound, of a gentle wind in concert with the burble of a to rough it. The incredible nearby river. A leisurely rewards of adventure travel walk followed by the of fascinating are richer if you are willing to company dinner companions has left me downright drowsy. endure a little discomfort. So why can’t I sleep? Could it be the bed, a stiffly carpeted bench, one of forty lining the perimeter of the communal sleeping quarters of the Tibetan Nomad Hotel, part of the yak-tent compound nestled in the shadow of Chomolungma, mother goddess of the universe, Everest? Or is it the fumes from the yak-dung fire, the lack of oxygen or the apprehension of what’s to come?
As adult travellers we
This afternoon we passed Rongbuk, the highest monastery in the world at 4,980 m. Tomorrow, the trek to Everest Base Camp. Heaven help me if I can’t find my headlamp when nature calls. The corrugated tin and cement, slot-in-the-floor- biffy lies somewhere out there, beyond the compound; ebony wilderness populated by mangy wild dogs and cranky yaks, boulders in the dark waiting to trip me. Moments later – or so it seems – I wake to the sunrise with an altitude induced headache. The morning light frames the long anticipated sight of Mount Everest. After a few bites of egg and chappati we grab our walking poles for the breathtaking two-hour trek through the oxygen thin air at 5,200 m. Our Tibetan guide takes us past the Chinese army checkpoint, and we use our allotted half hour atop the prayer flag festooned moraine to gaze at Everest base camp and take photos. We made it. A definite accomplishment but for me, neither the literal or spiritual high of the trip. The week before we set out on the arduous three-day kora around mystical Mount Kailash, considered the world’s most holy place by Buddhists and Hindus. We spent the previous night in a bone-chilling room in a cement hovel in Darchen. The electricity in each room consisted of a clear bulb hanging from the ceiling, the filament barely discernible. However, we were warmed by the haunting singing and joyous
laughter of twelve Tibetan Buddhist female pilgrims, jammed into a room intended for three. I felt privileged to be among such contented company. Tashi delek, hello, they called out each time I passed their room. Their evening chorus stopped early. They planned to rise at 4 am to complete the trek, as is the Buddhist tradition, in one long day. I would take three. The second evening of the trek began a horrifying night of worry in darkened tents awaiting the arrival of fellow trekkers from Drolma La, the 5,630 m high pass of the kora. Our incredible sense of fulfillment was dampened by the fact that my husband and I were the only two of our group of twelve who made it to the next camp in the expected time. As night fell, the warmth of the sun rapidly disappeared. Snow began to fall. Where were our trekmates? But by 11:30 pm each member of our group was accounted for. One by one several dangerously chilled women appeared on hastily hired mountain horses led by hardy Tibetan guides. We settled them in sleeping bags in their tents and served them warm soup and tea. The last to arrive brought news of the three still missing who had decided to bunk down in a tea house tent two hours behind. The following morning brought sunshine. The team was reunited and enjoyed a warm, full day’s downhill trek along a scenic river gorge. The return journey to Lhasa was punctuated by a serene but sneezy sleepover in a dusty, tired guesthouse. We chose a Tibetan style room with two daybed bunks across from a brightly painted altar and a rustic wash stand complete with ragged but clean hand towels next to the door. Hot water for washing was proudly presented by the shy but smiling female Tibetan inn keeper, her dark eyes shining as much as her long, turquoise studded braid. It took several throat lozenges and a puff on my inhaler to stop my bouts of coughing making a restful snooze nearly impossible. Our fitful sleep was interrupted at first light by the thunderous babble of studious Tibetan elementary school children who paced the courtyard chanting their lessons in preparation for government exams. Clad in identical turquoise and white tracksuits they continued the cacophony for several hours until the breakfast bell rang. Back in Lhasa, our home base for the trip, we enjoyed a final dinner of momos and Lhasa beer with out trekking mates, then headed out into the Barkhor to buy a few souvenirs before packing. My husband felt a spray of water hit him. Unusual, he thought, for a still sunny evening in late June. He caught sight of an impish elderly Tibetan vendor with a spray bottle in her hand, partly hidden behind the pile northof50.com 31
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Yak hair nomad tent camp glimpsed from the Roof of the World train that runs between Lhasa and Beijing (top of page). Overlooking Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side, a dream come true for Patti (above). Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet, the chief residence of the Dalai Lama from the end of the 17th century until 1959 when the 14th (present) Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India (bottom right). Photos by Barry Hodgins.
of prayer flags she was selling. We laughed with her and continued on. What followed was a never-ending night of barking dogs, smoke and incense in our Lhasa Hotel next to Barkhor. Square punctuated by the child-like laughter of locals, armed with water bottles, squirting each other in celebration of the first hot night of summer. Our last impression of Tibet came from the cramped bunk of the Roof of the World train as it sped toward Beijing. For a seemingly endless evening one more glorious sunset illuminated the plain and its iconic Tibetan culture: waving children, yak hair nomad tents, Tibetan houses and prayer flags. I lay sleepless, bathed in magic.
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northof50.com 33
MODERN COMMUNICATION By Lise Simpson
Karen is in the courtyard of the Junction Cafe in Armstrong, enjoying lunch in the dappled sunshine with a special friend. She’s in the midst of telling him something very personal when his cell phone bleeps. He quickly snatches up the phone, mutters “I’ve got to take this” and begins talking to someone, leaving Karen to stare into space and pretend she isn’t listening to the call. Dave runs into an old high school friend in the Village Green Mall. They greet each other enthusiastically and begin catching up on the latest news. While chatting, Dave’s cell phone trills, and without hesitation he checks the screen and reads a text message. He begins to punch out a text reply, looking down at his phone, while still talking with his old chum. Ah, communication in the modern world. The changes brought about by ever-evolving technology have certainly affected our lives, and vast improvements have definitely been made in many areas. The impact of technology is now so deeply embedded into the fibres of our lives that it scarcely registers. But in the arena of human interaction, are we becoming so obsessed with instant, rapid-fire dialogue that we are losing the ability to truly communicate with each other? Have we succeeded in developing technology, while diminishing a deeper human connection? Certainly our manners are deteriorating. Back in the day, it was unthinkable that someone would sit talking on a phone in a restaurant while ignoring his companion across the table. On a rudeness scale, many of us perceive that to be the equivalent of just standing up and walking away. For some of us it’s impossible to have a worthwhile conversation with someone who is pecking away on his phone texting someone else. Is he really listening to us (or to use modern parlance, is he picking up what we’re putting down?). We hesitate to pour our hearts out to someone who has i-Pod 34 northof50.com
cables dangling jauntily from their ears. The communication gadgets that people use can create a barrier between them and the world happening right in front of them. The i-Pod cables seem to say “I’m listening to my music, and only sort of listening to you”. The gadget prevents the user from being engaged with us, from being in the moment with us. And isn’t that ironic! We are failing to communicate because we are communicating! But hang on to your Blackberry - millions would disagree. Ask anyone born since about 1980, and they would insist (while texting someone) that there is no communication breakdown. They aren’t annoyed if their companion answers his cell phone, because they would answer theirs too. They can text and talk as rapidly as Apple can invent another gadget. They are stupefied by ancient tales of waiting three weeks for a letter to arrive by Air Mail, because they have become used to communicating instantly with all their friends and family - no waiting required. They argue that modern technology allows them to communicate better, faster, and more often than at any time in the past. That technology makes things faster today cannot be disputed. But are we communicating better? Is faster necessarily better? The letter that took three weeks to arrive was certainly a letter of substance, thoughtfulness, deeper meaning. It meant something. Why are we quickly grabbing our cell phones to read a text message that says “hey, wazzup?” THIS was worth reading in a hurry? Surely we do enough things in a hurry these days. Perhaps the depth and quality of our modern communicating is diminishing, simply as a by-product of the frequency with which we do it. We’re dumbing down, in other words. Maybe it’s time to back away from the gadgets, look each other in the eyes, remember our manners and really listen to each other, before we forget how.
DARREL ARMAN
W
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HEALTH MATTERS
ARTHRITIS EXPECTED TO INCREASE The already staggering social and economic costs of arthritis in Canada are set to explode during the coming decades, says The Arthritis Society in response to a report released July 19 by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
of arthritis, caused by joint inflammation and degeneration. According to the report, about 60 per cent of Canadians with the disease report difficulties with participating in recreation, leisure, hobbies or social activities.
Life with Arthritis in Canada (available at http://www.phacaspc.gc.ca/cd-mc/arthritis-arthrite/lwaic-vaaac-10/indexeng.php) documents the latest trends and data regarding arthritis among Canadians over the age of 15.
The Arthritis Society says many of the risk factors associated with arthritis, such as physical inactivity and poor diet, can be modified to reduce pain and increase joint flexibility. “We hope this report will serve as a wake-up call for people to take control of their disease through a healthy lifestyle and with the benefit of current treatments,” added McNair. Life with Arthritis in Canada brings together data from national population health surveys, provincial physician billing, drug databases, hospital admissions and mortality statistics, among other sources. It was developed in consultation with leaders from the scientific and research community, as well as stakeholder groups such as The Arthritis Society.
“The devastating impact of arthritis on Canadian society has gone unnoticed in the public arena for too long,” said Steven McNair, President and CEO of The Arthritis Society. “This report confirms that arthritis is becoming a major health challenge for Canada, as more people consume more healthcare resources to manage their pain and disability. This means we need to step up our efforts to find better treat ments and a cure.” Among the report’s many findings: •Arthritis is among the leading causes of disability in Canada, costing the Canadian economy $6.4 billion every year in health-care expenses and lost work days. Long-term disability accounts for two-thirds of that. •More than four million Canadians aged 15 and older (16 per cent of the population) reported they had arthritis in 2007-2008, with three out of five being under 65. This number is estimated to increase to seven million by 2031. •Arthritis is the second and third most common chronic condition reported by women and men, respectively. •Arthritis accounted for six per cent of all hospitalizations in Canada in 2005-2006 (132,000 out of 2.2 million). •Joint replacements more than doubled in Canada from 2001-2005. Arthritis affects people of every age, physical condition and ethnic background. There are more than 100 types 36 northof50.com
IT’S YOUR WORLD Are we estranged from Earth? A radio commentator called BP’s Oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico the “Chernobyl of the petrochemical industry.” A scientist later declared that we are creating conditions that may ruin the Earth. Obviously urgent changes in human behavior are needed. Technology has provided us with means of subduing Earth for often questionable purposes. Many technological innovations are useful. Others dangerous to Earth’s ecosystems need severe regulation. Earth sustains us. It is not a mere commodity for development. The Greek philosopher Plato commented on “techne” (technology). He saw that a heavy reliance on technology would lead to an extreme narrowing of reality and weaken spiritual, logical, and aesthetic concerns; making people a servant of their tools. Thus the “whole person” can become a fragmented individual easily tempted to meaningless pursuits. Since the ability to contemplate deeper meanings is reduced, the temptation to obsess oneself with trivia is increased. As Plato said, people can thereby be lured away from the good and noble. This is the beginning of spiritual ignorance. The Old Testament revealed ancient awareness of intelligence and divinity in all living things. Consider these verses from the 12th Chapter of the Book of Job: “…speak to the earth and it shall teach thee,” and “the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind, is in the hand of the Lord.” A modern scientific text, Microcosmos by Dr. Lynn Margulis, reminds us that, “Our own bodies are composed of ten quadrillion animal cells and another one hundred quadrillion bacterial cells.” You will learn from this book that bacteria “invented” fermentation, the wheel - known as the proton rotary motor, sulfur breathing, photosynthesis and nitrogen fixing (p. 77-78). In short, higher technology than we now have preceded us by millions of years. Prior to the Industrial Revolution sagacious and moral observations were made about Earth and also about technology’s possible effect on life. Sir William Temple (1628-1699 AD), the Archbishop of Canterbury offered this thought: “The existing industrial order leads to recklessness and sacrilege in the treatment of natural resources…it is largely responsible for the problem of the ‘mass man’ who easily develops the herd psychology.” His remarks are applicable today in regard to the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and the consequences which are exemplified by humanity’s possibly lethal addiction to petrochemicals.
By Bob Harrington
Several hundred years before the birth of Christ the Chinese religion-philosophy known as the Tao Te Ching (the Way of Life) provided insights such as the following:
As for those who would take the whole world To tinker it as they see fit, I observe that they never succeed: For the world is a sacred vessel Not made to be altered by man. The tinker will spoil it; Usurpers will lose it. Translation by R.B. Blakney - The Way of Life: Lao Tzu
A belief system called Stoicism emerged about 300 BC. The tenets of Stoicism are historically recognized as underlying many of the beliefs of Christianity. Stoicism helped pave the way for a dogma which stressed the necessity of faith. It called for lives of simplicity, morality and asceticism. It emphasized a concept that is now basically ignored. This was the realization that all things exist within the Divine. Some Stoics embraced a life of retreat and were called anchorites. Others practiced strong selfdiscipline and were known as ascetics. Some retreated into contemplative life and were known as “monachi” and their retreat was into a “monasterium.” Beneath all this was the basic Stoic concept, that people are a part of God and Nature and must observe, honor, and protect the law of the world. The universe was spoken of as a living organism of which God is the soul, as well as the source of universal law and the infusing spirit that sustains all. Live according to the benevolence and orderliness of the universe said the Stoics and enjoy “euthymia” which signifies peace and well being. Living according to the divine will brings about a happy inner spirit which comes to resemble the Deity. In short what religions call the Creation is itself Divine, and Earth merits honorable and even reverent treatment. Human leaders have forged an “economy” addicted to wealth and power which ignores the health of the planet that underwrites the “real” economy. Unless we once again recognize the holiness of Creation and begin to treat it with the respect it deserves we may be drastically shortening our days (daze?)on Earth. A book of Bob’s essays, Listening to the Earth, originally broadcast on CBC Radio is available for $10.00 postpaid. Telephone 1 250 369-2281 for autographed copies. Bob Harrington lives at Galena Bay, B.C. His latest book: Testimony for Earth and a new edition of The Soul Solution with a foreword by Dr. David Suzuki are now available at www.hancockhouse. com or telephone 250 369-2281 for autographed copies $23. pp.
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PEDDLING GHGS:
The Carbon Footprint of BC’s Fossil Fuel Exports By Marc Lee
BASED PRIMARILY ON THE CREATION of a carbon tax two years ago, the BC government has been propelled into the position of North American climate action leader. While there was much to applaud as first steps on climate action in BC’s 2008 “green” budget, two years later there remain some glaring contradictions between climate action and BC’s transportation and industrial policies. In particular, British Columbians need to have a frank conversation about the province’s fossil fuel industries. We are all addicted to the energy provided by cheap and abundant fossil fuels, and so have reshaped our economy and society in fundamentally unsustainable ways. But BC is more than just another addict; it is also a dealer. When it comes to law and order, we have learned not to crack down on the users of drugs, but instead focus our efforts on the dealers. So what if it turns out that beautiful BC is running the resource economics equivalent of a meth lab? The extraction and processing of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal) was responsible for one-fifth of BC’s emissions in 2007. But the footprint of BC’s fossil fuel production is actually much larger because official inventories only count emissions released within the borders of a jurisdiction. The combustion of coal, oil and gas outside BC in export markets is not counted. As a result, the emissions attributable to BC’s fossil fuel industries in the province’s official inventory are vastly understated. In 2008, natural gas and coal together hit a record $8.5 billion in BC exports (with the recession, this fell to $6 billion in 2009). While BC has become a more diversified and service-oriented economy, resource extraction remains a major part of the provincial economy and a large source of export revenues, and as a result continues to dominate thinking in Victoria. Converted to tonnes of carbon dioxide exported, BC natural gas and coal exports combined for 104 million tonnes of carbon dioxide elsewhere – more than double the emissions from fossil fuel combustion within BC, and 7.6 times BC’s own emissions from the extraction and processing of those fossil fuels. More troubling are plans for expansion. The BC government is putting oil and gas at the top of its industrial policy priority list, highlighted by a recent $404 million auction of land for exploration of shale gas in the Northeast. BC has extensive stockpiles of CO2 awaiting release into the atmosphere – if extracted. In fact, BC’s fossil fuel reserves represent more than three years of global CO2 emissions. 38 northof50.com
A reality check comes from estimates of the world’s carbon budget – the total stock of emissions that can be emitted between now and 2050 by everyone worldwide, consistent with a reasonable probability of keeping global temperature increase under 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Above 2 degrees Celsius, it is widely believed that humans lose the ability to stop climate change, and runaway global warming could be the result. This global carbon budget is estimated to be just over 1 trillion tonnes of CO2. BC’s fossil fuel reserves are equivalent to nearly one-tenth of the world’s remaining carbon budget. It seems clear that the status quo of extracting and exporting fossil fuels cannot continue. BC’s fossil fuel resources are not going anywhere, and will only be worth more as time goes on. Given the sheer urgency of getting over our addiction to fossil fuels, this inevitably means a moratorium on new oil and gas development is needed – unless 100% of the emissions can be captured and stored underground. Forever. An important social justice concern in taking an aggressive approach to fossil fuel extraction is the negative impact on many workers in those industries, and the communities they live in. While there is a strong case to be made for new green jobs in renewable energy, the promise of green jobs in the future is not the same as a good job today. The BC should therefore make serious commitments to a “green social contract” for affected workers, including income supports, retraining provisions and mobility allowances. Confronting GHG emissions from the oil and gas sector, and emissions from fossil fuel exports that are combusted in other jurisdictions, is perhaps the biggest challenge BC faces, and the most glaring contradiction when it comes to climate policy. This challenge, and its social justice transitional issues, must be acknowledged if BC is to be a real climate action leader. Marc Lee is Senior Economist with the BC Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Co-Director of the Climate Justice Project, a five-year partnership with the University of British Columbia looking at the social justice aspects of climate action policies. His recently released brief, Peddling GHGs: What is the Carbon Footprint of BC’s Fossil Fuel Exports? is available for download at www.policyalternatives.ca.
LOCAL LATITUDE, GLOBAL ATTITUDE
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Centre
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august
KAG kelownaartgallery.com
SAGA sagapublicartgallery.ca
August 7 - PAINT THE TOWN: 30 local artists paint downtown Salmon Arm 10am to 2pm. Reception at 7pm. Show and Silent Auction: Aug 7 to 28.
Now to September 26, DYSFUNCTIONAL CHAIRS - Trevor Mahovsky and Rhonda Weppler, The Searchers. For their commission in our Dysfunctional Chairs series, they proposed that their chairs are dysfunctional because they are absent. Instead, the architecture of the Kelowna Art Gallery itself substitutes as seating for a series of sculptures. PENTICTON ART ART GALLERY pentictonartgallery.com
ARTS HAPPENING
VPAG vernonpublicartgallery.com
EXHIBITIONS
FIRST FRIDAY’S at the Penticton Art Gallery This event is our Open Mic and Art sharing night, happening on the first Friday of each month. Bring instruments, paints, poetry, your voice, an open mind etc. First Fridays is completely FREE. Doors open at 7:30. All creativity welcome! We have a large tv if you would like to screen something.
August 14 & 15 - PAINT THE FESTIVAL at Salmon Arm Roots & Blues. “Coffee Break” held on the third Thursday of each month. It is an informal drop-in where the artist(s) are often in attendance.
PERFORMANCES CREEKSIDE THEATRE www.creeksidetheatre.com
Augusts 21, ALMOST FAMOUS full Regalia Gala and Auction. It’s an over-thetop FANCY event, so bring out your boas, your berets, your ball gowns and dust off your snakeskin cowboy boots for a tonguein-cheek (in)formal occasion!
VERNON PERFORMING ARTS ticketseller.ca
August 6 to 8, RAREARTH MUSIC FEST 2010.
GALLERY VERTIGO galleryvertigo.com
Now to September 15, RECOLLECTIONS: Recent Work By Gale Woodhouse at Kalamalka Vertigo.
August 5 - October 14, DAVID ALEXANDER MOVING TARGETS: IN FLUX, Topham Brown Gallery. The Gallery will organize an exhibition of paintings by David Alexander, a senior Lake Country BC-based artist, titled Moving Target. The exhibition will focus on the process of landscape image development and will include four large-scale paintings created in the studio and up to a hundred preliminary works created directly on several sites in Canada.
September 11, THE FAB FOUREVER: Tribute to The Beatles, 7pm. The band now in its fourth year, features a core of four members with the addition of a fifth virtuoso keyboard player. The show takes the audience through ‘A Musical History Tour’ of the classic hits that made the Beatles famous.
August 24, STOMPIN’ TOM CONNORS. This summer one of Canada’s most iconic artists Stompin’ Tom Connors is hitting the stage in 13 cities beginning July 31. This tour also marks Stompin’ Tom’s first time back to BC in six years. August 25, FRED EAGLESMITH. Don’t miss this rare opportunity for am intimate solo performance by Fred Eaglesmith, Juno nominated and critically acclaimed country-music storyteller, at Caravan Farm theatre.
COMING EVENTS August 5 to 28. Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery presents Molly March and Stephen Bircher in the exhibition “Ends & Beginnings”. The Reception will be held on August 6th from 7 to 9 pm. Please come and join us. 250.546.8318. August 22. Everyone, a spectacular musical comedy in seven horse drawn acts at Caravan Farm Theatre. Bring your family and friends out to share in this Okanagan tradition! Everyone promises to be a night of side-splitting comedy, live music and horse pageantry; all under the Okanagan stars! Shows nightly at 7:30 pm. No shows Mondays. Call Ticket Seller at 1.866.311.1011 or reserve online www.ticketseller.ca. For show information visit www. caravanfarmtheatre.com August 7. Salmon BBQ Annual Fundraiser and 30th Anniversary Party at the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre. Tickets on sale soon or call KIC at 250.838.0444. August 7. The Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake Presents 2010 SPrKL Soiree! At The Log House on Kalavista Drive in Coldstream , 7 pm. Greek dinner by Gumtree Catering, local wine, silent auction. Music by James and the Country Gentlemen. Tickets only $35! Proceeds to Coldstream Creek restoration and educational Kalamalka Lake kiosks. Tickets at Kalvida Surf Shop. www. spkl.ca. August 8. Meat Loaf with special guest Lisa Bouchelle at the SOEC The Hang Cool Tour will feature some of Meat Loaf’s new tracks, plus a selection of his hits, and a major focus on his rock-classic Bat Out Of Hell album. Tickets go on sale on Friday May 14th at 10:00am online at www. ValleyFirstTix.com, by phone at 1.877.SOEC.TIX (763.2849), the Wine Country Visitor Centre or in person at the SOEC Box Office. SOEC August 15. Classic/Antique Car Show at RJ Haney Heritage Village & Museum, Salmon Arm. Come & enjoy the display of classic, antique & new automobiles along with several vendors displaying heritage items & wares. The Shuswap Vintage Car Club & others from the surrounding area as well as local dealers put on an interesting show. Help pick the “Peoples Choice” in several categories as you chat it up with the vendors & owners. For info phone 250.832.5243.
august August 21. Terri Clark brings “Long Way Home” Tour to Canada. South Okanagan Events Centre Box Office, charge by phone at 1.877.763.2849 or order online at www. ValleyFirstTix.com. Tickets are $57.50 and $37.50; or buy 4 - $37.50 priced tickets at the box office for only $150 including all taxes, fees and charges. August 24. A Canadian Treasure, Stompin’ Tom Connors, at the Westbuild Centre, 3345 43rd Ave, Vernon. 8 pm. This tour marks Stompin’ Tom’s first time back to BC in six years Last month, the Toronto Musicians Union awarded Stompin’ Tom their Lifetime Achievement Award and 50 Year Membership Pin to add to his unbelievable list of accolades. At the end of 2008, Stompin’ Tom released one of his most critically acclaimed albums ever, The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom, of which there is also a very popular theatrical play about his life. For tickets call 250.549. SHOW. August 25 to 29. Cirque du Soleil’s critically-acclaimed production Alegra will perform at Prospera Place. Alegra is a Spanish word that means happiness, joy and jubilation and features an international cast of 55 performers and musicians from 17 countries and showcases breathtaking acrobatics. Acts include the Synchro Trapeze and the intense and high-energy Aerial High Bars in which daring aerialists fly to catchers swinging more than 40 feet above the stage. Tickets (250)762.5050. August 29. HAAO Holistic Market monthly fair: 10am to 5pm. Free mini demo 10 to 10:30 only, at Kelowna Royal Anne Hotel. Health, healing & readings sessions.More info at www.healingartsassociation.com. Free admission with donation to the Food Bank. August 20 to 22. The Princeton Traditional Music Festival presents traditional music from southern BC. Traditional music includes Celtic music, songs made by loggers, miners, sailors, settlers, or songs made for fun about local characters and communities. We are looking for performers who make this kind of music. Call Rika Ruebsaat 250.295.6010 or Princetonfestival@telus.net. Website: www.princetonfestival.wordpress.com.
northof50.com 41
WELSH MALE VOICE CHOIR TO PERFORM IN VERNON St. George and St. David’s Societies in Toronto. The famed Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir will perform a one-time-only concert in Vernon on Thursday, August 5 at 7:30 pm. The Choir, under the baton of Artistic Director William Woloschuk, will perform at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Accompanist will be Julie Sanke. One of the highlights of its recent concert seasons was a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2008. The choir was joined in the concert by their Honorary Patron, Bryn Terfel, world-renowned bass/baritone.
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250.542.7727 morgansglass@shaw.ca
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The Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir has grown gradually over the years in both membership and reputation. It has been recognized with awards from both the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Trillium Foundation and enjoys the sponsorship of the New Classical FM 96.3 radio station in Toronto, the Ontario Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the
In celebration of its 15^th anniversary this year, the choir will be embarking on a “Rocky Mountain Tour”, with concerts in Calgary, Vernon and Edmonton as well as an appearance at the annual Ponoka Gymanfa Ganu (Welsh song fest) south of Edmonton. The choir’s performance in Vernon will feature well-known Welsh selections such as “O Gymru”, “Calon Lan”, “Myfanway”, “Gwahoddiad”, “Ar Hyd Y Nos”, as well as familiar Canadian songs such as “Song For the Mira”, “Wood River” and “Four Strong Winds”. Tickets for the concert ($15 for Seniors 60+ and Youth 16 & under; $20 for Adults) are available at The Ticket Seller Box Office, Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre. The appearance of the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir is sponsored by the Vernon Welsh Society. For further information, contact Les Parsons (250-549-4348), Committee Chair, or Donna Phillips (250-558-0830), Publicist. The Choir’s website is www.twmvc.com
TEKAMAR
MORTGAGES LTD
www.chrisheidt.net CHRIS HEIDT Registered Mortgage Broker 20 years experience
Tel: 250.546.6698 Cell: 550-MTGS (6847)
Fax: 250.546.3398 Email: cheidt@sunlite.ca
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Your tax-deductible gift to Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation will support health care needs for residents living in the North Okanagan, Columbia/Shuswap. For more information call (250) 558-1362 or visit www.vjhfoundation.org
Authorized Dealer 250-542-8191
• Topsoil • Compost • Sand & Gravel • Bark Mulches • Decorative Rock •Flagstone •Landscaping Supplies • Concrete Pavers
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www.vernonlandscape.com • Behind ICBC Offices, off Silver Star Rd.
AUGUST ACTIVITIES GEOCACHING ACTIVITY ADVENTURE BENCH BOOK CONTAINERS DEVICE EAST ETREX EXPLORE FAR GAME GEOCACHING GLOBAL GPS HAND HEAD HELD HIDDEN HIDE HUNT
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Cooking oils 5 Compass point 8 Caspian ____ 11 Antiaircraft fire 12 Satisfy 13 Hallucinogen 14 Ethereal 15 Secondhand 16 America 17 Get worse 19 A hunchback’s name 20 Royal residence 23 Pounds per square inch 25 Titanic sinker 27 Drive- in 30 European sea eagle 31 Addis____ 33 Whiz 35 Orient 37 Jewish King 39 Oolong 41 Affix
LAND LOCATION LOG MAP MARK MUGGLED NAVIGATE NEAR NORTH OUTDOOR PARTICIPANT PINPOINT PLACE PLUG POSITIONING RATE READ RECIEVER REWARD ROCK
42 not a happy fate 45 Out-of-date 47 Hubbub 48 butt 49 Dark blue 53 Twelve (abbr.) 54 Queries 55 Unearthly 56 Lode yield 57 Modest 58 ____ Koontz DOWN 1 Future Farmers of America (abr.) 2 Brew 3 Binding material 4 Space station 5 Guff 6 Infuse 7 Marry 8 Slimy insect 9 Happy motoring company 10 Jewish calendar month 12 Excellent
SAFE SEEK SITE SYSTEM TECHNIQUE TRACK TREASURE TYPE VALUE WIDE WORLD
18 Activate 19 Caesar’s three 20 Steak & kidney ___21 Land measurement 22 _____ Horne 24 Fleeces 26 Radon 28 Brand 29 Economics abrv. 32 Brags 34 Omega 36 Short-term memory 38 Unwrapped 40 Imitative 42 Pedestal part 43 Smell 44 Slime 46 Alcoholic 48 In possession of 50 Be 51 Travel term 52 Shekel
northof50.com 43
Community Events ARMSTRONG Knitting Circle. A relaxing evening of sharing, learning & meeting new friends. Bring a project, needles & yarn or just yourself. Beginners always welcome. Now accepting yarn donations for local charitable projects. Judy at 250.546.9475 or Marlene at 250.546.6325. www.knittingcircle.ca Armstrong Toastmasters. All ages welcome! The best communication & leadership training you can get in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. Every Tuesday, 7:20pm to 9:30pm. Coffee, tea & snacks. Armstrong Spall Chamber of Commerce, 3550 Bridge Street. 250.546.3276 or 250.558.8110 or visit www.freewebs.com/armstrongtoastmasters/ ENDERBY Enderby and District Wheels to Meals Society Luncheon held every Wednesday at the Seniors Complex. 1101 George St. Come for a home cooked meal & visit with friends. Meals $6. You must be 65 or older. Enderby Cliff Quilters meet at Enderby Evangelical Chapel, 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month, 1pm to 5pm. Call Sonia at 250.838.0685 or June at 250.903.1799. Enderby Women in Business Meeting, Thursday July 15, at 7:30 am, Enderby Chamber. Doors open 7 am - Breakfast $2. Guests welcome! Contact Maureen 250.306.3379 for details. KELOWNA The Kelowna Newcomers Club meetings 7pm, 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Seniors’ Centre on Water Street. Interesting and informative speakers. Many activities available. Coffee & goodies served 250.764.9686. Kelowna Singles Club Upcoming Dances at Rutland Centennial Hall - 180A Rutland Rd. N. Doors Open - 7:00 pm Dancing 8:00 pm - 12 am Bar & Refreshments Available. Contact 250.763.1355 or 250.763.1867. August 7th Music by Sierra Western Theme, August 21st Music by Glory Days. Ballroom dancing every Sunday evening. 7:30 to 10:30 pm at the Water Street Senior Centre, 1360 Water Street Dress code: no jeans, runners, or sandals. Dance lessons 1/2 hour before the dance. Cost $6.00 Tea, coffee and cookies included.
or mwasylyshen@alzheimerbc.org. Also a support group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer Disease & related dementia on the 2nd Tuesday of the month in the evenings. The Rug Hooking Circle meets every second Monday at 1pm in Room 204, Rotary Centre for the Arts. Practice a traditional Canadian art form in a group setting. Angela at 250.767.0206 www.rughookingteacher.ca Westside Jam. Open mike jam every 1st and 3rd Friday, 6:30 to 9pm. C & W, blues, bluegrass; old-time, gospel, etc. Meets at Westside Seniors Hall in Westbank. Carl 250.707.1030 or Gerry 250.768.4421 LUMBY Lumby Legion. Thursday, darts, Friday, pool, Saturday meat draws. 250.547.2338. PENTICTON The Penticton Seniors Computer Club drop-in days at the Leisure Centre, 439 Winnipeg Street, are: Monday 1 to 3pm, Wednesday 1 to 2pm, Friday 1 to 3pm. Mac Computer Support Monday 10 am to 11 am. Members and visitors welcome. 250.492.7373. The Penticton Concert Band rehearses under the leadership of Gerald Nadeau on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30pm at the SeventhDay Adventist Church Hall in preparation for upcoming concerts. Intermediate to advanced players www.pentictonconcertband.ca or 250.809.2087 Penticton South Okanagan Seniors Wellness Society 696 Main St. Programs for the community. Volunteer Development, Friendly Visitor Program, Health Education, Elders Leading & Adopt-AGrandparent. 250.487.7455. Royal Canadian Legion. Monday Night is Miser Monday with chicken wings & baron/beef $3 each, bar specials. Entertainment 5 to 9:00pm every Monday. Friday is membership appreciation night. 5:30 to 6:30pm full course meal & entertainment, 6:30 to 10:30pm. Wednesday is Bingo Day, 1:00pm & 6:30 pm Bingo. Meat Draw every Saturday & Sunday; 250.493.0870 The Franco 50+ group meets Thursdays to socialize in French, from 1:30 to 3:30pm. Lina at 250.492.2549
Raging Grannies; a group of concerned ladies who express their concerns with satirical songs & other activities. Meet 2nd & 4th Mondays, 11 am, Kelowna Legion, 1380 Bertam. 250.860.1576.
RUTLAND Dance with live music every Saturday night at the Rutland Activity Centre. 7:30 pm. For those 50+. $4 members, $6 non-members.
The Alzheimer Society of BC holds a support group for people in the early stage of Alzheimer Disease & related dementia on Tuesday mornings at 865 Bernard Ave. 250.860.0305
SALMON ARM Salmon Arm Duplicate Bridge club meets at 6:45pm every Tuesday at the downtown Activity Centre & every Sunday at 12:45
44 northof50.com
pm at Branch 109. 250.832.7454 or 250.832.7323. Fletcher Park Seniors Resource Centre 320A 2nd Ave., N.E. Meals on Wheels, Lunch With Friends, Monday Morning Market, Shop & Drop, Income Tax Service, Advocacy, Foot Care, Volunteer Drivers for medically related appointments, up. 250.832.7000. SICAMOUS Senior Citizen’s Meals (Wheels to Meals) at the Eagle Valley Haven in the C o m m o n R o o m . Phone ahead, 250.836.2437 or 250.836.4718 or 250.836.4302 or 250.836.2031. Sicamous Family Market at the Seniors Activity Centre, Saturdays 8:30am to 2pm. 250.836.2587. TAPPEN Carlin Hall, Bluegrass/Slowpitch Jam. Tuesday nights 7 to 9pm. Bluegrass instruments only. 250.835.2322. VERNON North Okanagan Seniors Action Network Meetings at the Schubert Centre every 2nd Tuesday of each month. Hosted by seniors Resource Bureau. 250.545.8572 The Vernon Seniors Choir under the direction of Lyn Taron rehearses each Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:30 pm at the Halina Complex in the Vernon Rec Centre. Our motto is “ Music is our contribution.” 250.545.3119 or 250.542.2264 Elks Lodge, 3103-30th Street. ELKS CRIB TOURNAMENT -first and second Sunday of each month. Cost $ 10 Please bring your own lunch . Registration at 9:00 am Everyone welcome. ELKS MEGA MEAT DRAW - Third Sunday of each month at Elks Hall - 3103 - 30th Street. Doors open at 1:00 pm Mega Meat Draw - Meat Basket - 50/50 draw and concessions available. Bar open at 1:00 pm Draws start at 2:00 pm . Everyone welcome. All monies raised go to children and charities in Vernon. Vernon Singles Club. Upcoming Dances, held at the Eagles Hall, 5101-25th Ave. or at the Schubert Center - 3505-30th Ave. Dawn 250.558.9974 or Lottie 250.549.2495 Fun Time Seniors 50+ Thursdays at the Schubert Centre from 10 to 11:30am. Free event including games, entertainment, talks & videos. 250.545.5984 or 250.549.4201.
second Thursday of the month, 7 pm. Pat at 250.549.2219 or Mary 250.545.3939. Sunshine Seniors meet 2nd & 4th Friday of the month, downstairs at the Peace Lutheran Church, 1204-30th Ave. 1:30 pm. All 55+ invited to fellowship, devotions, games & always excellent treats & coffee. Annual membership is $3. Vernon Horseshoe Club - practices at 6:30PM Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Clubhouse on Alexis Park Drive. No charge to come out and try pitching horseshoes. For more information call 250-503-1639. Schubert Centre, 3505 30th Ave. Shuffleboard, Monday to Friday at 8am 250.549.4201 1st & 3rd Saturday of every month from 10 am to noon. Knitting Circle at Gallery Vertigo. Admission is a $5 donation to Gallery Vertigo’s Smarties Family Sunday Art Program. 250.503.2297 or see www.galleryvertigo.com Vernon Lawn Bowling Club in Polson Park offers 3 free lessons to beginners! Appropriate footwear the only requirement. Wednesday, Friday & Sunday at 1pm and every Tuesday & Thursday at 6:45pm. For details, www.vernonlawnbowlingclub.com or e-mail vernonlbc@gmail.com or call the club at 250.542.0212. WINFIELD Cribbage Tournament at the Seniors Activity Center 9832-Bottomwood Lake Rd. Each 3rd Sunday of the month. Entree fee $12. Excellent lunch included. Games start at 10am. Play partners & meet new friends. John 250.766.3026
List your community event by calling toll free 1-877-667-8450 or email details to info@northof50.com. Wordsearch Solution: Modern Day Treasure Hunting Crossword Solution:
Oil Painting. Drop-in Fridays 1 to 4 pm at the Vernon Community Arts Centre. Fee is $3 for members, $4 for non-members. First Tuesday of every month the Vernon Placer Miner Club (gold panning club) meets at 7 pm, bsmt of Peace Lutheran Church at 1204-30 Ave. Guests welcome. Memberships for family, $20/yr. Donna Smith 250.545.3832 or mrspumpkin36@hotmail.com or Jerry Stainer 250.549.4395. Brazilian Embroidery Chapter Stitching group gathers every
northof50.com 45
Classified & Directory Professional Magic Props plus magic video tapes, dvd’s and books. Good for beginner age 9 or advanced. Selling for health reasons. Value $2000, asking $800 cash. Phone 250.770.2042. Sony Certified Data Computer AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Processor MS Windows Vista Home Premium Keyboard Mouse Flat Monitor $225. Phone 250.763.8316. Amana electric clothes dryer. Like new $160. Baldwin electric organ, 2 keyboards, pedals c/w bench and music $150. Phone 250.542.1766. 2 rototillers 2 leaf and branch shredders, 11 gallon portable air tank with compressor, bargain prices on all. Phone 250.492.8501 any time. Patio Heater. Dual head propane standing 10’ high. Used twice $564 new asking $250 obo. Small granite stand up bar attached. Phone Bliss at 250.549.4561. 1988 Pontiac 600, grey color, $500. Phone 250.542.0028. Starchoice digital receiver, $15 with remote. No dish, 1 yr of use, model #DSR317RTC. Phone 778.478.3132 - 8am to 5pm.
Free Classified Ad Policy We’ll place your ad, up to 25 words FREE, as long as the value of the item you are selling is under $1000. This offer is available to individuals only and is not available to businesses or commercial enterprises. One ad per household, space permitting. The rate for business / commercial ads or for items valued over $1,000 is $14 plus tax up to 25 words then 25 cents for each additional word. Email your ad details, along with your phone number and address to: classifieds@ northof50.com or fax to: 250.546.8914
FUNERAL SERVICES
150th Anniversary FATHER PANDOSY’S MISSION August 7th PROGRAM OF EVENTS
10:00 Doors open to the public – Free Admission 11:00 – 12:00 Entertainment – Bob Corbett trio 1:00 – 2:30 Welcoming & Opening Ceremony Chief of Westbank First Nation, Mayor of Kelowna Oblate Representative, MLA Representative, Okanagan Historical Society 3:00 – 4:00 Entertainment – Square dancers 4:00 – 5:00 Entertainment – Old Time Fiddlers 5:00 Mass at St. Charles Garnier church 5:00 – 7:00 BBQ on site and Cutting of Cake 6:00 - 7:30 Entertainment – White Sails Chorus Group 7:30 Announcement of Silent Auction winners and Alex Fong Original Watercolour 8:00 SITE CLOSED
ALL DAY
Outdoor Quilt Show, Sale and Raffle, Vintage car Show, Antique Power Equipment demonstrations, Petting Zoo, Westbank First Nation Artisans, Crafters Marketplace, Father Pandosy Statue Marquette display.
September 18, Rockhounders Tailgate Sale, 9am to 3pm in the south parking lot of Swan Lake Nurseryland, Hwy 97, Vernon. Rocks, Minerals, Beads, Hand Crafted Jewelry, Crystals, Gift Items, Used Lapidary Equipment. Call Gloria Bordass at 250.493.1027 or Fran Brooks 250.546.0177 or fbrooks@sunwave.net for more information. “Everything Hobby Related”
Valley Monuments
Full Funeral Services •Pre-Arrangements Cremation • Memorial Markers Independently owned & operated Serving Enderby, Armstrong & Vernon
2980 Smith Drive, Armstrong Tel. 546-7237 Fax. 546-8237 email:pafsarmstrong@telus.net www.personalalternative.com
Keith or Evelyn Franklin
Armstrong Wine and Brew
1996 - 2010
Lisa, Owner/Operator 46 northof50.com
Braun Denture Clinic
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Box 339, 2545 Patterson Ave. Armstrong, BC V0E 1B0, 250-546-6954 www.armstrongwineandbrew.com
Memorials of Distinction 4316 29th Street, Vernon, BC V1T 5B8 Phone/Fax: 250.542.6411 Toll Free: 1.877.511.8585
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PSYCH!
Google Study Shows
Print Advertising Works
Made you look!
Business owners have relied on print ads for generations, and the internet won’t change that. Even Google says so. A recent study commissioned by Google has revealed some interesting facts about the relevance of print advertising. • About 47% of people responded to print ads and logged on to the internet to browse through the site advertised. • 72% of people who responded to a print ad actually made the purchase. • 50% of respondents admitted that their confidence in a product advertised on the Internet dramatically increased when they also saw it advertised in print. • 26% of readers cut out an ad for future reference. • 64% of people admitted that they paid more attention to print ads than those that appeared online. The study showed that people find on-line ads to be an interference and more than one in four consumers said that they would rather pay for online content in order to avoid ad exposure. A study by Deloitte on how advertising impacted readers showed the same result.
North of 50
Magazines and newspapers have a wide reach and are deeply woven into the collective conscious of the readers. It is precisely because of this they trust a product that is advertised in the print media more than a product that is advertised online. Print media gives advertisers significant local reach and so it is the best advertising medium for companies that wish to target a local audience.
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