North of 50 LOCAL LATITUDE, GLOBAL ATTITUDE
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July 2010 Vol. 8, Issue 7
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 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.
Local retailers have local owners who buy houses, cars, clothes and household goods. They visit local doctors, optometrists and generally spend the income their business earns in the community they live. Business owners support the projects and events that are important to you with their time and money. Shopping locally keeps your money circulating, helping it to grow and prosper locally. Economists call this the multiplier effect.
We call it good old-fashioned common sense.
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View our current specials at: askewsfoods.com
8th Annual Wine Women and Woods
“Tee Off for the Cure” at the Vernon Golf & Country Club
Friday, Sept. 10, 2010 Jazz it up for Wine Women and Woods Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 Golf Tournament A Future without Breast Cancer!
HOW CAN YOU HELP? Become a Sponsor Donate Live or Silent Auction items Cash Donations Volunteer your time “Our commitment has always been to a future without Breast Cancer and we are very pleased to continue with that goal for 2010,” said Dee Paterson, Chair of the Wine Women and Woods 2010. “After meeting with Vernon Jubilee Hospital, we have been able to identify the need for digital diagnostic equipment at VJH specific to breast cancer. Through the cooperation of the BC/Yukon Region of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation, we are thrilled to announce our goal for 2010. All of our funds raised in 2010 will go to that equipment, a Faxitron, and will benefit women throughout the North Okanagan - right here at home! Our medical community is very excited about this...And so are we!”
DID YOU KNOW? Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women and the second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. Despite declining death rates for breast cancer in all age groups, breast cancer is the most common cause for cancer death for women under 50. One in nine women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime and 1 in 28 will die from it. Wine Women and Woods “Tee Off for the Cure” has raised more than $340,000.
PLAYER REGISTRATION Information available at www.winewomenandwoods.com or through the Vernon Golf & Country Club
Women only golf tournament will be held at the Vernon Golf & Country Club on Saturday, September 11, 2010. The format is an afternoon shotgun start, 18 hole Texas Scramble. The tournament kicks off with ‘Jazz It Up for Wine Women and Woods’ featuring the live music of the Neil Fraser Quartet, wine, appetizers and our main fundraiser, a live and silent auction.
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CONTENTS
July 2010 Vol. 8, Issue 7
THE BATTLE FOR CREIGHTON VALLEY By Don Sawyer
With logging scheduled to begin this summer, homeowners, including George Zorn and Haral Hatterscheid (pictured left) worry about negative impacts on ecosystems & water quantity & quality.
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FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
COLUMNS
20 GARDENING IN THE NEW ERA OF WATER METERS AND PESTICIDE BANS By Sherry Bennett
26 HEALTH MATTERS
6 FROM THE EDITOR
28 STAYCATIONS Vancouver’s Outstanding Gardens
7 WORLD CUP FEVER By Lise Simpson
30 AWAY FROM HOME Maria Island, Tansania
13 IT’S YOUR WORLD By Bob Harrington
40 ARTS HAPPENING
14 REGIONAL ATTITUDE An interview with The Okanagan Master Gardeners
23 KELOWNA SISTER CITY SHIP SLIPS INTO BERMUDA By Jim Couper 32 GARDENS GALORE By Dawn Renaud 34 ALL IN THE SAME BOAT By Shannon Linden 38 BACKYARD PHOTOGRAPHY By Paul Desjardins
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41 COMING EVENTS 43 JUNE ACTIVITIES 44 COMMUNITY EVENTS 46 CLASSIFIEDS & DIRECTORY
18 CALVIN WHITE Letter from a Cemetery 36 DON SAWYER Fair Comment: The Foxes are Guarding the Hen House
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North of 50
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.
FROM OUR EDITOR Look down, way down, to the bottom of the page. Now a little to the left. See the black logo that looks like a bit like a magazine. North of 50° has recently applied for, and been accepted as a member of the BC Association of Magazine Publishers (BCAMP) and that’s their logo you are looking at. Having that logo there is a big deal for us. It means our publication “meets established advertising-editorial criteria set by the Canadian magazine industry” and we’re very pleased about that. Dare I toot our own horn and quote from the association’s literature? Yes, I dare! “BCAMP membership demonstrates that a magazine produces the kind of trusted editorial that draws devoted readers, offering advertisers positive affiliation with access to a potentially loyal market.” Membership does have its privileges. Not only does the association offer professional development and educational opportunities that will help us to continue to improve this magazine, North of 50° is also now entitled to membership in the Canadian Media Circulation Audit (CMCA) under the Vertical Publications & CCNA Sustaining/Associate Members category. Gosh, I’m all a fluster with pride. Seriously. It’s a big deal to be accepted as a reputable, credible magazine by your peers. In this issue, North of 50° continues to demonstrate our commitment to “trusted editorial” with some thought provoking articles, like Don Sawyer’s piece on the impact of logging on the Echo Lake and Creighton Valley watershed (page 10) . Shannon Linden wades through the new Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) regulations (page 34), which is important for anyone planning to spend time on Okanagan lakes this summer.
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.
We’re also dedicating a substantial sum of our editorial real-estate to gardening themes this month. After all, it is summer in the Thompson Okanagan Shuswap and all the gardens are a-bloom. Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in North America and it crosses all age groups. If you want to learn a bit about “Gardening in the New Era of Water Meters and Pesticide Bans,” see Sherry Bennett’s informative piece on page 20. If you do not wish to put your own green thumb to the test, and would rather enjoy the beauty of someone else’s garden, check out Dawn Renaud’s story about some outstanding Penticton Gardens.
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).
On page 38, photographer and writer Paul Desjardins shares fantastic photos and instructive tips on how to capture excellent images of birds in your own backyard.
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There’s something about the summer sun that allows people to shake off negativity and sends them in search of new and exciting adventures. Next month, North of 50 is about having fun. With no shortage of summer festivals and fairs, August promises to make you smile. Until then, I give you this wonderful essay on the World Cup, submitted by former hockey Mom and soccer fan, Lise Simpson. As it is a timely subject, I wanted to print it in this issue. Enjoy. I did.
TJ Wallis
WORLD CUP FEVER By Lise Simpson
At the Admiral Wells Pub in London, the bartender tidies his display of 32 international flags before he opens the doors. Halfway around the world in Montevideo, school is cancelled for the afternoon so the children do not miss a moment of action. A group of co-workers in Hamburg, faces painted white and black, sit at La Paz Cafe and argue the merits of tactical defence. The streets of Copenhagen are virtually deserted, and it’s standing room only in every sports bar and coffee house from Rome to Naples. World Cup soccer fever has struck the globe. To the din of seemingly millions of vuvuzela horns, the largest sporting event on the planet is underway in South Africa. Beautiful new stadiums in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban play host to 32 teams, and Canada is not one of them, having failed yet again to qualify (in fact Canada has only played in the World Cup once, in 1986). Living in a country obsessed with hockey, we can perhaps be forgiven for underestimating the global popularity of soccer, but the statistics do not lie. Game Six of this year’s Stanley Cup final attracted 8.3 million TV viewers. By comparison, Game Seven of the justcompleted NBA basketball final attracted 28.2 million fans. That seems like quite a jump, but hang on to your Crosby jersey... the last FIFA World Cup final, played in 2006 in Germany, was watched by 260 million soccer fans. That Canada is predominantly a hockey nation is no more an announcement than “Pamela Anderson has had some work done”. Children barely old enough to feed themselves can tell you who the Canucks should bring up from the farm team. We Canadian can deliver fifteen solid minutes on Bobby Orr versus Wayne Gretzky. We yelp in horrified disbelief at the zipperhead who walks in front of the TV during a two-on-one breakaway. We are pleased, but not entirely surprised, when a Canadian NHL player gets seven teeth knocked out but returns to play in the game. But although the hockey tradition runs deep in this northern land, we are not just a one-sport nation, and soccer is quickly rising in popularity. Sports-minded Canadians are happily switching skates for cleats and jumping onto the World Cup bandwagon. There is a unifying force to sport, and there is perhaps no sporting event on earth that exemplifies this better. Since 1930 the FIFA World Cup has inspired global enthusiasm and displays of patriotism in near-hysterical levels. It seems that Canadians are suddenly chatting knowledgeably about the
brilliant scoring touch of Argentina’s Messi, the performance anxiety that haunts England’s Rooney, the superb goaltending of Spain’s Casillas, the cheekiness and brilliance of Portugal’s Ronaldo. One area of concern regarding international soccer has been the tendency for “diving”. We have all seen footage of soccer players writhing in complete agony on the turf, dangerously near death, while their teammates pound their chests and implore the referee to card the attacking player. Mere moments later, the grievously injured player is jogging back into the game, having apparently been cured by divine intervention. “You wouldn’t catch a hockey player doing that”, we scoff. The 2010 World Cup has seen its fair share of such embarrassing antics, and FIFA is being encouraged to start using video evidence to punish players that dive. Hopefully this problem in the sport can be rectified, but it is a small part of the game and shouldn’t distract from the pleasure of watching the world’s best players dazzle us with their skilful playing of the beautiful game. The 2010 World Cup final match is scheduled for July 11th.
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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 Since DON SAWYER retired as Okanagan College’s director of the International Development Centre, he has come to realize that retirement just means it’s easier to work evenings and weekends. Don and wife Jan emigrated from the US in 1969. Don has published more than 10 books and his essays have appeared in most major Canadian dailies. SHERRY BENNETT is a jack-of-all-trades by day, creative non-fiction writer by night, Sherry’s fondness for the written word developed decades ago in high school. With kids all flown the coop, and a Volkswagen topped up with gas, she’s recaptured her enthusiasm to head out on the road and track down people and stories that inspire the pen.
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. Kelowna writer SHANNON LINDEN has a combined background in broadcast journalism and elementary education. Five years of working and traveling throughout the Middle East with her husband and two children inspired her to write about crossing the chasms of culture. Her work has been published in the United Arab Emirates and Canada.
Avid photographer of Canada’s flora and fauna, PAUL DESJARDINS, has provided text and graphics for many magazine articles relative to western Canadian history. His work can be found in publications such as : Teldon Calendars, Western People, Okanagan Life, and World Magazine. He lives with his wife, Anita, in West Kelowna.
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THE BATTLE FOR CREIGHTON VALLEY By Don Sawyer
THE 18 PEOPLE WHO GATHERED in Kim and Harald Hatterscheid’s dining room last month live in homes and operate resorts strung along 15 miles of the narrow, scenic Creighton Valley just east of Lumby. But they were all there for the same reason: They are deeply concerned about the deterioration of the magnificent valley they share. “It sneaks up on you,” Berthold Hettrich, a homeowner and hobby farmer, comments. “It accumulates. And then one day you are looking from your bridge and realize the creek is dry, and you remember your kids catching trout there just a few years before. Now there are no fish. There is no creek where there was a creek before. That’s when it hits you. Something is wrong here.”
And, they say, turbidity is also a growing problem. The lake used to clear to its usual beautiful aqua hue in early spring, but now it takes until May or longer. One resident comments, “I always told my friends about Echo Lake and its blue water. Then when I took them, they asked me what I was talking about. The lake was murky and filled with algae.” Residents report that wildlife has also been affected. Valley resident Gillian Browning, who has worked with the Ministry of Forests in the past, notes how the riparian zones along the ponds and creeks have dried up, reducing the frog population. In turn, bird life on the lakes, including eagles, ospreys, herons, loons and many species of duck, has almost disappeared. Don Elzer, a member of the OkanaganShuswap Land and Resource Management Plan board, reports that with the drying of local creeks and waterways, one of the easternmost runs of Coho in North America, which spawn in ponds in the valley, is threatened.
Resident after resident describes how they have seen water levels in the lake system drop dramatically, and how streams and creeks have dried up or been reduced to a trickle since accelerated logging began on the Bonneau plateau above their properties about 10 years ago. Harald points out that last winter, Erosion too is a for the first time in 60 problem. Browning, years, the spring used who is also a pilot, for the Hatterscheid’s has observed new drinking water dried slides in clear cut up in January. Several areas on steep mention that smaller inclines above the lakes that feed into valley. She worries Echo Lake are many feet about the stability of below normal, and seem the entire ledge. to shrink every year. “It Creighton Valley residents examine forestry maps at community meeting. takes longer and longer While all of this is Cover shot, Echo Lake and the eastern end of Creighton Valley. Photo: George Zorn each year to fill up our concerning enough, reservoir,” comments nearly two years ago, Bob Williams, manager of a Bible camp in the valley. “If we Harald and his neighbours were notified that a series of new hadn’t had the rain we did this spring, we would all be in clear cuts were planned for the plateau and mountains on the serious trouble.” south side of the valley. “We know water levels are dependent on a lot of factors,” Harald says. “But what we have seen makes us pretty sure the logging is changing the hydrological system in the valley. In the spring, the water just rushes down from the clear cuts, and then nothing. All the creeks dry up.” And it’s not just water quantity. Water quality is being affected as well. Gail and Georges Boucher, owners of Echo Lake Lodge, describe algae blooms they never had before.
“When we received the notice, we were floored,” Kim, recalls. “I had just seen the clear cut down the road. It was hideous. I couldn’t imagine what the same thing on the mountainside would do to us. We’re already seeing our lake drying up because of the cutting above our property. And now they’re going to do more? It makes no sense.” Alarmed, Harald attempted to discuss his concerns with the Ministry of Forestry and Range. “I kept trying to speak to northof50.com 11
someone about this,” Harald says. “It was so frustrating. I would be passed from one person to another. I felt like they just wanted me to shut up and go away.” He finally found a person in the Ministry that would talk to him. “Basically he said there was nothing I could do,” Harald recalls. “He just brushed me off. He said that the licensee had fulfilled all the necessary environmental requirements. I told him that he hadn’t seen what was happening. That I lived here and could show him the damage. “The guy just laughed,” Harald says. “He told me there was no way he could visit every site. That’s when I told him that he didn’t give a damn. That he only cared about the forestry companies who paid his salary.” Harald smiles grimly. “So then he reminded me that all calls were monitored. That I’d better be careful about what I said.” Harald is a big man who has worked hard to build his resort over the past 13 years. But in this case, he says, he felt helpless. “What could we do? I don’t have any money. I couldn’t afford to fight these big corporations in the courts.” Now, the battle for Creighton Valley is heating up. With logging scheduled to begin this summer, Harald, Alan and his neighbours are fighting back. They have formed the Creighton Valley Resort Owners and Residents Association and have engaged a retired professional forester to advise them on their options. They have also scheduled a meeting with the Vernon Forestry office, which will be attended by regional hydrologist, for the end of June to discuss the threat to their valley. “We can’t just stand back and watch our valley ruined,” farmer John Fawcett says. “We need to stop this before the logging gets started, and the water situation gets worse.” In a letter to the Ministry of Forests and Range, copied to the Ministry of the Environment, as well as the ministries responsible for Parks and Tourism, the group lists their concerns, emphasizing the decline in water quantity and quality they have observed over the past years. They go on to note that policies which allow this sort of massive cutting in a sensitive area like the Creighton Valley are based on research rendered obsolete in a new era of climate change, which, they feel is already affecting the region in the form of erratic rainfall, increased droughts, and rising temperatures. The group also points out the potential devastation of the commercial resorts in the area through hydrological and aesthetic impacts and wonders about the negative impacts the proposed logging will have on Echo Lake Provincial Park, which would have a dramatic effect on the economy of 12 northof50.com
the entire region. The group is asking for a five-year moratorium on any further cutting in the Echo Lake/Creighton Valley watershed “to allow full consultation with local stakeholders and a thorough review of the impacts the proposed cutting could have on the complex of environmental factors -- including wildlife, aesthetics, lake water levels, quality and quantity of drinking water -- present in the delicate, mixed-use ecological system we deeply value and share.” But is anyone listening? In a response to a request from the Creighton Valley group, Devon Page of Ecojustice, a leading environmental organization in BC, had this to say: “The [Creighton Valley] scenario seems like so many others where people are dissatisfied with the location or nature of logging. But in 2002, the Liberals changed the forestry laws so that practices are almost non-reviewable and there is very little basis to challenge logging before it begins. The MOF itself has very little discretion about approval of logging. Onus has shifted to people affected by logging to either campaign or sue for damages after the fact.” When contacted about this issue, Vicky Husband, named to the Order of BC for her years of work in protecting sensitive eco-systems in Haida Gwaii, the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, the Carmanah Valley and Clayoquot Sound, was even more scathing about the situation in BC’s forests: “The Ministry of Forests have had their mission statements changed, and now they are there to not protect the public interest but the corporate interest and no one knows what is going on. The MOE has been cut to shreds, the people with the knowledge have retired, and they have no one coming up and no operational funds. This is the Liberal legacy: abandonment of the public interest.” But this time Harald and his neighbours aren’t giving up. “We can’t roll over and play dead,” Harald comments. “We live here. This is our home. It’s also our livelihood that is at stake. Each year the beauty of this area brings in thousands of visitors from all over the world, and hundreds of thousands of tourist dollars. The logging has already had serious impacts on our property. New logging will only make it worse. “That is the reality. Our ministries have a legal obligation to listen to our concerns and act responsibly. We are going to make sure they do that.” Editor’s note: The group’s meeting with the local Forestry office occurred after we went to press. North of 50° will provide an update on that meeting and further developments as they unfold in future issues.
IT’S YOUR WORLD By Bob Harrington
IN SPITE OF ALL TALK to the contrary, a conservation ethic is a long way from becoming a reality. We may be an enlightened race, but as long as the dollar ethic is more important that a conservation ethic little will be changed. Unfortunately, the question of worth must become attached to all our deeds. That is one of the reasons why many conservation-oriented people have questioned the political and economic philosophy of our time, and asked whether it is committed to the long-term success of the race or only to expediency. We are so busy pursuing the illusion of accomplishment that we fail to see ourselves in the world of nature. The symbols we substitute for more honest ones are measured in meaningless digits called dollars. By the number of these we can stack alongside ourselves, we measure our worth. The choice of the dollar as a measure of our value as humans, rather than a symbol of nobler merit is unfortunate; and perhaps depicts the yet primitive nature of the human beast. Dollars in the bank or bones in the cave are valued because the mind must measure in concrete terms and seems incapable of abstraction. It easily follows that a dead grizzly bear represents x number of dollars spent in its chase, while a live one has incalculable value because it is harder for statisticians to pin down cash value in an aesthetic framework. Unlike those who believe that freedom is license to turn all ends to their own gain, a conservation ethic involves sacrifice of present gain for future good. It involves a restriction of freedom. It involves recognition of the fact
that the accumulation of wealth at the expense of ravaging the Earth is not justifiable. However, soothsayers of the modern age will have their way. They will avoid truth by citing half truths. The wrecking of some portion of the Earth for monetary gain or political capital will be smoothed over with neat packets of figures indicating how many people will be employed, how much a region will increase its net worth, or how much it will increase its tourist potential. The only answer to this kind of oratorical banditry is the adoption of a binding ethic – that immediate gain will not be justifiable when long range ecological damage may occur. “Heresy!” will be the cry in the market place. Stupidly idealistic, the destroyers will chant. The canned answers are all available to be opened and thrown at anyone who proposes that something less than an ideal situation exists. “Look at the Gross National Product” will be the shout. How can we exist if we don’t continue the upward trend of the GNP? The answer ….better that the market collapse but the world still be able to exist. Better that the trees continue to grow on the slopes than that money stack up in the vaults of the already wealthy. Better that the birds return with the spring and that the people be poor than the Earth be saturated with pollutants and the people be dead! Better that we live a life of principle than that the rivers be great sewers. Better that we enjoy the awesome wonders of nature than proving that we know how to produce and export, while we wear gas masks in the smog. In North America’s relatively short history of settlement, many species of living things have passed over the Great Divide and are now forever gone from the Earth. The passenger pigeons will no longer bow the branches beneath the weight of their flocks. The great auk, the Carolina paroquet, the giant sea mink, the heath hen, the Labrador duck and other species will never be seen again alive on Earth. Sadly enough, North America has lost more species in the last 100 years than Europe has in the last one thousand years. Yes, it has also been suggested that another species be added to the list of endangered animals – this one is a bit more personal – for it is us – the species Homo sapiens. Do we need a conservation ethic ?– only as we need life. It’s Your World! 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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REGIONAL
ATTITUDE In June, North of 50 caught up with members of the Okanagan Master Gardeners, a group that provides crucial services to backyard gardeners who present a variety of issues and needs, often related to soil conditions, fertilizer options, composting, care and maintenance of plants, plus installation of xeriscape gardens. In 2007, Okanagan Master Gardeners averaged 2,068 volunteer hours and answered 1713 inquiries from home gardeners.
What is meant by the term master gardener? A Master Gardener is someone who has completed a training program, available throughout British Columbia, and approved by the Master Gardeners Association of B.C. As well as the classes, participants complete their certification with 70 hours of volunteer work in the community over a two year period. Master Gardeners Association of BC (MGABC) is a non-profit volunteer association based in British Columbia. Okanagan Master Gardeners support the delivery of quality education and environmentally responsible gardening advice to the public. Our members are enthusiastic amateurs; some are experienced professionals — all have a passion for gardening. The purpose of the Okanagan Master Gardeners is to educate people about environmentally responsible gardening practices and to provide information to gardeners in the Southern Interior of British Columbia.
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Tell North of 50 readers about some of the projects or events you are working on and why those projects are important. Volunteer activities include, but are not limited to, education clinics at nurseries and plant sales, gardening shows and garden tours, Communities in Bloom involvement, Community Garden development. Activities with Brownies, school children, The Okanagan Master Gardeners Assocation is an expanding organization, with an increasing and more varied role in providing gardening support to its community.
How does one become a master gardener? The Master Gardener Program welcomes enthusiastic gardeners with a willingness to share their interest and experience with the public. To become a Master Gardener you must take the Master Gardener Basic Training Program offered through a Master Gardener Chapter or an associated Educational Institution offering the Master Gardener Basic Training program. For those gardeners who want to be better educated about their passion for plants, and use that knowledge to give back to their communities, there will soon be an opportunity to do so. On Saturdays, from September 11 to December 11, the classroom component of the Master Gardener basic training program will be offered in Kelowna. Highlights of the program include basic botany, plant identification, sustainable landscape design, waterwise gardening, lawncare and alternatives to grass, diagnosis of pests, disease and weeds and integrated pest management. Being a Master Gardener provides one with research skills, a commitment and confidence in having good information, and an association with like minded people. What are the most common concerns / questions local gardeners bring to you or inquire about? The most common concern is having the right plant in the right place to maintain a healthy and beautiful garden environment. Also, gardeners want information on good irrigation practice for the Okanagan and knowledge about Xeriscape.
Why do you think gardening is so popular, and does gardening appeal to a certain age group? Few would argue that gardening can be therapeutic for the body and soul. The joy and satisfaction derived from adding to the earth’s greenery through one’s own efforts are why so many people garden. From hobby farms to small home gardens to tomato pots on a balcony, there is much scope and for us to indulge our desire to grow something. Even for those with physical limitations, there are ways to enjoy gardening with adapted tools and planting plans. For many, the renewed interest and rewards of growing food for the family is their main reason for gardening; for others, simply providing beauty in the landscape is enough. Proper selection of plants can bring desired wildlife to your garden, and few can resist the beauty and appeal of birds and butterflies outside their windows Gardening appeals to all generations. About half of the 800-plus volunteer Master Gardeners in BC are over the age of 50. This is not surprising when you think that it may not be until mid-life and retirement that people find the time to indulge their passion for gardening, and to contribute volunteer efforts to the community. The novelty of “going back to school” while taking the Basic Program training course can be a great stimulant to the mind, and as the Master Gardeners include people of all ages, there is the added stimulant of learning and working with those of other generations, to learn from their experiences and their perceptions. After the training, there are many opportunities available to Master Gardener volunteers to provide gardening advice in the community, which is always rewarding and can lead to development of other links and interests. How can readers contact Okanagan Master Gardeners if they want more information? Interested people can visit our website, www. bcmastergardeners.org or email lorrie1218@gmail.com or okanagan@bcmastergardeners.org. We’re having an information session in Kelowna, at Choices Market, 1937 Harvey Avenue, on August 21st from 10:30 to 12:30. northof50.com 15
150 YEAR COMEMORATION OF THE FATHER PANDOSY MISSION AND MUSEUM SITE
IN 1859, FATHER PANDOSY, Father Richard, Brother Surel and their traveling companions arrived at the end of Duck Lake and made camp for the winter. It was a very cold harsh winter and to survive they had to kill some of their horses. Father John Felix Adolph Pandosy was born in In spring, the France in 1824. He died in Penticton in the arms Oblates decided of Chief Francis. to search for land further south and they chose 160 acres near what is now Mission Creek. In one of Father Pandosy’s letters to his superior he wrote: “It is a great valley situated on the bank of a great Lake Okanagan. All who know it praise it. The cultivatable land is immense”. The priests, under the direction of Brother Surel, built a dovetailed cedar log Chapel. The lands of Oblate Mission of Mary Immaculate were registered on November 30, 1860, by Father Pierre Richard OMI with Magistrate 16 northof50.com
William George Cox, at his office in Rock Creek. The Oblates taught the Catholic religion and are credited with planting the first orchard. They grew ground crops, built the first irrigation ditches and raised cattle and horses. Over the years the Oblates were very resourceful, becoming architects, agriculturalists and sometime physicians, as the local population grew. In the early 1950’s, the three most important Catholic historical buildings had been slated for demolition. With the intervention of Norman Carter, a salesman for Eaton’s Co. of Canada Ltd., started the ball rolling on this project. He was able to recruit others to become involved in the project, including: Bishop Fergus O’Grady OMI, Lawrence Guichon, H.C.S. “Shorty” Collett, T.A Dohm, a lawyer friend of the Bishop’s, Jack Bedford and the Father Pandosy Knights of Columbus and Father James Mulvihill OMI from the Kamloops Indian School. With their help, the buildings were saved. In 1954, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), repurchased the abandoned Mission buildings located on eight hectares of land. It took four years to complete the transactions, from finding the buildings, restoring the buildings and rededicating the buildings. The group decided that Sunday,June 15,1958 would be the re-dedication of the restored buildings. For the Oblate fathers it was not only a celebration of the restoration of the historic buildings, but a celebration of 100 years of the Oblate order in B.C. In 1966/67, with no heritage organization in the Kelowna area, the Okanagan Historical Society Executive Council along with the help of the Father Pandosy Knights of Columbus undertook to maintain and preserve the site. On February 17, 1967 the land was transferred from the Oblates of Mary Immaculate to the Diocese of Nelson. In 1983, the site was officially designated a B.C. Heritage site. At that time Bishop Doyle, Bishop of Nelson Diocese, presented a lease to the Okanagan Historical Executive Council for the front two acres plus a further two acres at the back of the property. This August 7th, 2010, a commemoration of the building of the historic Chapel and registration of the lands will take place at the original Mission site at 3685 Benvoulin Road from 10 am to 8 pm. It is a FREE fun filled day at the Mission site. There will be many “old fashioned” demonstrations, entertainment, refreshments, and a special area for the young at heart throughout the day. At 1 pm. a full program of speeches, will
take place while at 5 pm a celebration of Mass by Most Rev. Gerald Wiesner, OMI Bishop of Prince George will be held in St. Charles Garnier Church. A BBQ (tickets to be purchased ahead of time) from 5 to 7 will be held on the grounds. An Alex Fong painting of the Mission is up for silent auction and can be viewed at the Rotary Arts centre in June and in July at Hamilton’s Art Gallery on Bernard Ave. Bids can be e-mailed to mberr11@shaw.ca. Story contributed.
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Dorie Wright of the South Okanagan Women in Need Society (SOWINS) shows off re-fashioned garden art, created by Deborah Webb and destined for the 2010 “WING It” creative re-use project. The South Okanagan Women in Need Society (SOWINS) is asking hobbyists, artists and crafters of all ilks, to take a glance around the house, crawl space, basement, carport, garage, shed and barn and to create something wonderful. Un-used forgotten items past their prime will spark ideas for the sewing machine, hammer, glue gun and/or welding torch. The deadline for submission of re-fashioned creations is August 13. They will be on display for viewing at the library/museum lobby display case throughout August. The items will then be auctioned off September 15, with all net proceeds in aid of regional women and children facing domestic abuse. For more information about the WING It creative re-use project, log on to www.sowins.com, e-mail donna@sowins.com or phone Donna at 493-4366 ext 105.
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Letter from a Cemetery
EACH DAY WHEN I WALK down my dusty street to go to work, these little kids come out of houses almost as if on cue. Little kids, maybe 3 to 6 years old, teeth missing, the girls with their heads shaved bald for the great heat of summer. They skitter out from the ornate wooden doors that mark entrance to the otherwise nondescript walls of their family home. Or from the pale blue metal doors that open to other homes. Always homes with large inner areas of hard clay or greenery or rows of vegetables, a cow tied, or a dog with pups, and then other doorways to other living areas for the large extended families that they are. These little children clamoring at me with the perfect blend of “hello! hello!, photo! photo!?� in both daring child innocence and sweet child respect. They come closer to touch my hand and smile and chirp on in elegant wonder at my strangeness. I look at them and wish I could pick them up and put them on my shoulders or stop and tell them stories of bears and otters, wish I could grab hold of that universal beauty, that universal charm that is all children at 18 northof50.com
that age when there is no culture, no gender, no differences at all, simply joy at being alive and seeing something new. To stop and stay with that moment and not be anything but there with them forever. And later watching another small boy by the big leafy tree, straining his arm upward to reach one of the few ripe and sweet white mulberries low enough for him to catch. Stopping with him and trying myself to reach some of the sweet fat ones curling off the higher branches, also straining to get them. For these interjecting seconds forgetting about the thick heat of mid day here on the other side of the earth, forgetting about everything that needs forgetting about. There are many children here. An easy thing in this land of fear and sickness in which the Aral Sea has been stolen away to leave a plague of misery. Bear more children. Bear more innocence, more joy, more beauty. As long as it all can last. Here where more than 50% of deaths come from respiratory diseases, the air laden with salt, pesticide residue, and toxic chemicals all whisked up from the empty sea bed and swept into all the lungs of the land. Whenever we drive past the huge cemetery on the way to TB2 hospital 19 kilometres from town, the cemetery separated from the road by the brick wall above which jut domes, pylons, crosses sometimes, and all manner of yellow brick structures to ornament the final resting place of all who were once children, the others in the truck offer blessing. We are on our way to keep patients alive, but the trained and deeply aware counselors with me always take note of the cemetery whenever we pass by. Regardless of the conversation, there will be a pause and silence as the hands are swept up and over the cheeks as though to wash them with air. This is not an empty ritual. Not religion nor superstition. It is the gesture that comes from awareness and from family. In this reality everyone has indelibly learned what no power means, what smallness
July 1960 50 Years Ago This Month
means, what cannot be thought or said or done. Everyone knows how much is broken. How bribes are the hello to results. How nothing can be done easily. How believing that hedgehog meat or donkey milk can cure the lethal disease might be better for some than no belief at all. Family is all that can be counted on. The one certainty, ancient and unassailable. Family that is fluid, a changing and evolving organism in itself. New members emerging, others departing. The gesture, so brief, such a gentle motion says this: Let my blessings touch you who have died. Let my support go to you as food in your world. Let peace come to you and may you be blessed by God. And let my blessings reach each of you individually so that you wont all have to take from the same plate and thus someone not get enough, someone be left out and go hungry. Thus are the sinews that bind, the ones that are not severable regardless of power, regardless of fate. Thus the joy because of the new baby, because of the little fingers of the four year old which grip those of the hunched grandmother, because of the ripening of mulberries. Thus the joy.
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.
July 1. In Canada, Status Indians were given the right to vote. July 1. A Soviet MiG fighter shot down a 6-man RB-47. Two United States Air Force officers, First Lts. John R. McKone and Freeman B. Olmstead, survived and were imprisoned in Moscow’s Lubyanka prison. July 4. Mickey Mantle is the 18th to hit 300 home runs July 11. Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird was first published July 12. The Etch A Sketch was first manufactured. Licensed to Ohio Art Company by French inventor Arthur Granjean, it quickly became one of the most popular toys of all time July 22. Jean Lesage replaced Antonio Barrette as Premier of Quebec, and began the Quiet Revolution reforms to that province. July 23. The Soviet Union launched a space capsule with two dogs, Pchelka and Mushka, in advance of manned space flight. Korabl 3 burned up upon reentry into the atmosphere northof50.com 19
GARDENING IN THE NEW ERA OF WATER METERS AND PESTICIDE BANS Story by Sherry Bennett
FOR SEVERAL YEARS, water meters and pesticide usage have served as fertile fuel for heated conversations over the backyard fence. Following in the path of other Canadian municipalities, Kamloops City Council enacted a bylaw last March that bans the use of cosmetic pesticides on lawns, flowers, shrubs and ornamental trees by anyone other than a licensed commercial applicator. Earlier this year, council approved a universal metering program that will see water meters installed in all residential homes over the next four years. Some Kamloops gardeners predict the cosmetic pesticide ban and impending water meter program will conspire to undermine a horticultural landscape that has served as the foundation for great civic pride for well over a century, and earned Kamloops horticultural accolades on the international stage. Though the two initiatives will undoubtedly modify the way residents conduct their gardening business, a growing number of local horticulturalists believe they hold the real possibility of luring even more coveted blooms to the semi20 northof50.com
The flowering Achillea in Elaine Sedgman’s garden attracts birds and bees from afar. (left) A beautiful xeriscape garden, managed on a volunteer basis by Master Gardeners John and Jannette Moslin, was planted on the grounds of the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home in Kamloops in May 2009. (inset)
Though residents are permitted to water their yards every other day, Sedgman says doing so is neither necessary nor beneficial as overwatering can contribute to weak plant growth, insect and disease problems and weed growth. “My garden is hooked up to a sprinkler system, but I am the one who sets it, not the computer,” says Sedgman. Performing what she coins the ‘poke the finger in the ground test,’ if the soil is moist the sprinkler dial remains in the off position; regardless of whether it’s her watering day. Last year Sedgman volunteered to have her home hooked up to a water meter. Despite maintaining a garden that rivals the best in the city, her household water consumption registered half the residential summer average. City of Kamloops statistics state that while the average Canadian uses 326 litres of water per day, the average Kamloopsian uses about 800-850 litres per day; in the summer that number rises to 1,800 litres, with lawn watering accounting for much of the increase. arid desert. For Elaine Sedgman, president of the newly formed Thompson Shuswap chapter of the Master Gardeners Association of B.C., water meters and pesticide bans have not prompted any loss of sleep. Having practiced xeriscape principles since the 80s, Sedgman’s green thumbs have spent no time gripping the toxic insecticide/herbicide sprayer and little time reaching for the garden tap. Two years ago Sedgman replaced the thirsty lawn covering the front yard with a colourful tapestry of fragrant and drought-resistant perennials and vegetables that attract not just the bees and butterflies, but garden enthusiasts by the dozens. Illustrating with a garden exploding with Yarrow, Seaside Daisies, Needlegrass, Feather Reed Grass, Sweet Potato, Sage and Kale, that xeriscaping is not zeroscaping, Sedgman’s thriving plants receive water every seven to 10 days during the sultry summer months.
With the new water metering system, homeowners will be permitted to consume over 500,000 litres of metered water annually before incurring a cost increase. Through strategic planting and watering, Sedgman is certain city gardeners can weather water meters without sacrificing any of their landscape’s beauty and health. Maintaining a green lawn in England, where the concept of lawn originated, is easy in lieu of the natural rainfall the region receives. Contrary, maintaining a healthy lawn in a city like Kamloops where the mercury in the thermometer climbs above the 30 degree mark on more days than any other large city in the country is problematic. With such, Karla Hoffman, integrated pest management coordinator with the City of Kamloops, predicts lawns will be the landscape component to face the most scrutiny. Though water meters have not yet come into play, Hoffman says she’s already begun to notice a shift in resident’s perceptions towards leaving the lawn as the dominant element in the landscaping process. Not only are xeriscape pamphlets flying off the shelf, northof50.com 21
“When pesticides came on board, people thought about how they saved labour and time, but not so much about how they impacted health and the environment. That line of thinking is changing.” Hoffman says that during community gardening workshops she’s continually being approached by people like Sedgman who are converting lawns to gardens. “In the past, when water wasn’t as much of an issue, turf went down,” says Hoffman. “But not anymore; we [the City] are now using things better suited for our own climate – things that need less water and attract fewer pests.” In efforts to conserve water and minimize pesticide use, Hoffman points out the City is continually evaluating its green spaces to determine which areas of turf are necessary, which are superfluous, and which are suitable candidates to have pesticides removed from their diet. In the process of removing select sections of lawns and replacing them with gardens filled with drought-resistant plants and shrubs better suited for the city’s dry climate, the City is also in the planning stages of a project that entails replacing turf-filled medians with broadleaf clover. “Being that we are Canada’s Tournament Capital, sports
fields have to be maintained and kept weed-free based on safety concerns,” says Hoffman. “But in a lot of other aesthetic areas such as road medians, we’ve determined that turf is not the best choice for the region’s semi-arid climate. “When people see turf they tend to want to see it perfect and without weeds. It’s a perception thing. Some of the things that we’ve thought negatively about in the past, like dandelions, are they really so bad? Not necessarily. There are many people who plant perennials that flower just like dandelions.” “When pesticides came on board, people thought about how they saved labour and time, but not so much about how they impacted health and the environment. That line of thinking is changing.” Hoffman says when people think about pesticides, their mind tends to default to more toxic chemicals like 2, 4-D and Malethion, which are still being sold in local retail outlets; but there are a number of lower-risk products like Btk (bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki) that are just as effective. A $14.6 billion industry in 2009, the Canadian Ornamental Horticultural Alliance predicts the horticultural industry will grow 10 per cent in each of the next six years. With more flower and shrubbery choices appearing on local nursery shelves, including some exotic plants that are poorly suited to the Kamloops climate, selecting the right plant for the right place can be a daunting task; which is where the master gardeners enter the picture. Trained in a litany of horticultural topics ranging from botany to natural pest control strategies, the master gardeners host information clinics at farmer’s markets, local nurseries and garden centres during the growing season; chapter members also act as consultants to community and school gardens.
Employing environmentally-friendly gardening techniques, Elaine Sedgman’s colourful garden incorporates a variety of drought-resistant ornamentals and edibles including Kale, Achillea (Yarrow) and Salvia. 22 northof50.com
The 24 master gardeners that comprise the Thompson Shuswap chapter are helping gardeners in Kamloops, Lillooet and Salmon Arm make environmentally-responsible horticultural decisions that lead to less time spent watering, weed-pulling, fertilizing and mowing. And more time sitting in the lawn chair enjoying the lazy days of summer.
KELOWNA SISTER CITY SHIP SLIPS INTO BERMUDA By Jim Couper Downtown Hamilton, Bermuda, street festivals are steps away for Veendam passengers. HOLLAND AMERICA LINE’S cruise ship Veendam, named after Kelowna’s sister city in Holland, has resurrected its New York/Bermuda cruising connection, a service discontinued 27 years ago because of the demands of Alaska trips. Now that Holland America’s fleet has more ships the Bermuda cruise has been reinstated. Okanagan residents can fly to New York in six or eight hours, usually via Toronto or Calgary. The week-long cruise includes two days at sea and five days on the British island cluster that lies several hundred kilometres north of the Caribbean. The Veendam holds 1,300 passengers and the Bermuda cruises are its first since being refitted with an outdoor theatre and new balcony cabins. The Veendam’s moderate size allows it to tie
up at the dock in downtown Hamilton, the Bermuda capital. Veendam, with a population of 30,000, has been Kelowna’s sister city since 1980. Veendam Gardens, in City Park, pays tribute to the friendship of the two cities and the efforts of Kelowna soldiers in WW II to free Holland. I was a passenger on the Veendam’s third Bermuda trip in late May. We moored at the quaint town of St. George’s and the British heritage emerged with narrow cobblestone streets, limestone walls, lush gardens, English spoken (with an odd, but understandable accent) and small cars (and scooters) driving on the left side of the road. The next day we steamed to Hamilton where the main attractions included botanical gardens, historic forts, caves, aquarium and typical tourist shopping. Every Friday night the main street comes alive, right in front of the ship, with street dancing, markets, food and crafts. For the most part my wife and I enjoyed walking in the spring-like weather and talking to the locals who are quite unlike their Caribbean neighbours far to the south. I would be happy to have a Bermudian as my banker or accountant (many insurance companies have head offices here), but I wouldn’t want to watch a Bermuda comedy show. Crime is rare, walking the streets is stress free and just sitting in the town square watching the intermingling of locals and tourists makes for an interesting afternoon. Cleanliness, wealth (average wage is $90,000) and a unique culture provide the keystones to this agglomeration of Atlantic islands.
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HEALTH MATTERS BREATHING IS POSTURE’S PRISONER By Diane Neuman
Neither your ribs nor your lungs can draw in a single breath without help. Your basic chest-box is brought to life by the performance of muscles sandwiched between your ribs in partnership with the wide, powerful diaphragm that stretches like an elastic floor across the bottom of your ribcage. Lung tissue is completely dedicated to delivering oxygen to your blood and to carting away carbon dioxide and other spent gases. The expansion and release of your ribcage is what draws in fresh air and dumps out depleted air. Lung tissue is far too busy to share in that responsibility! Your major breathing muscles turn your chest into a kind of accordion - squeeze and release. So these primary-breathing muscles must have freedom to do their very important work. When primary breathing muscles are cramped and restricted,
you process less and less oxygen. Less oxygen makes you feel more and more like slumping. Effective posture produces the greatest amount of oxygen while investing the least expenditure of energy. Effective posture translates as bone balanced lightly on bone, with as few muscles involved as possible in the support of that balance. We first do the slump but eventually the slump does us. Muscles across the front of the chest grow short and tight while muscles across the back become overstretched and useless. Spinal discs and vertebrae are eventually worn down by rag-doll posture. What began as a muscle habit eventually becomes a crisis of bones and joints. The human body is simply not designed to sit on a chair. Sitting still for long periods threatens your circulation, your digestion, your concentration and your respiration. To make the best of a bad situation, keep your weight evenly distributed along the backs of your thighs from your bottom to the backs of your knees. Keep equal weight on your right and left sit bones (those bony points that hurt when you sit a long time on a hard bench). Never allow your tailbone to touch down on the chair seat. Balance your head directly above your tailbone. “Float” the top of your head lightly toward the sky. Whenever possible, let your elbows stay in line with the side seams of your shirt. Notice how your breathing capacity improves when your bones are properly balanced. You look like a dancer or cellist in this position and people may tell you to “sit back and relax.” You are actually more relaxed than those people who lean back in their chairs (tailbones touching the seat). The spine shortens and curls forward as we age, almost as if we are returning to a fetal position. The loss of bone calcium, especially in women, is a major villain coupled with years of lazy posture. Since the main support-pillar of your torso is the stack of spinal vertebrae toward the rear of your ribcage, the breakdown of bone quality in that area will rob you of your
26 northof50.com
youthful and functional carriage as well as your easy, free breathing. Remember the lungs are only as good as the cage they are carried in. Long years of straining forward to read the computer screen, of carrying a heavy purse on one shoulder, of bending over the sink or desk, of sitting like a wilted daisy, is finally written permanently on your body and can no longer be erased. As usual, prevention is the best medicine. Refuse to shrink as you age. Stretch. Bend. Research your hormones and your nutrition. Your body remains totally deaf to all your best intentions regardless of how frequently, loudly and elegantly you state them. Diane Neuman founded The Yoga Workshop in San Francisco where she taught for 11 years. Neuman wrote and illustrated How To Get The Dragons Out Of Your Temple (Celestial Arts). Neuman writes and illustrates a self-health blog breathingdeepexcercises.com where you can find a new breathing lesson every week.
REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS AND BINS Health Canada is reminding Canadians to take steps to prevent cross-contamination of foods when shopping using reusable grocery bags and bins. As an environmental choice, many Canadians are now shopping with reusable bins, reusable plastic bags and cloth bags to reduce the amount of plastic they are using. Health Canada supports the proper use of these products, but it is important that Canadians use them safely to prevent cross-contamination of food with bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. Because these bags and plastic bins are reused frequently, they can pick up bacteria from the foods they carry, or from their environment (the ground, the back of your car or the items stored in them between grocery trips). The following steps can help you prevent crosscontamination: •When using cloth bags, make sure to wash them frequently, especially after carrying fresh produce, meat, poultry or fish. Reusable grocery bags may not all be machine washable. If you are using this type of grocery bag, you should make sure to wash them by hand frequently with hot soapy water. Plastic bins should be washed using hot soapy water on a regular basis as well.
Approximately every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood. According to a recent poll, 52 per cent of Canadians say they, or a family member, have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for medical treatment. Eligible individuals can give blood every 56 days or six times a year. Each blood donation can help save up to three lives and one person can help up to 18 patients in just one year! If you have always thought about giving blood or haven’t given in some time, please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888236-6283) today to book your appointment. *Source: Canadian Blood Services
•Put your fresh or frozen raw meat, poultry and fish in separate bins or bags from fresh produce and other ready-toeat foods. •Putting your fresh or frozen raw meat, poultry or fish in plastic bags (the clear bags found in the produce and some meat sections work well) will help prevent the juices from leaking out and contaminating your reusable containers and other foods. Fresh produce should also always be put in plastic bags to protect them from contamination. •If you are using your grocery bags or bins to store or transport non-food items, they should be thoroughly washed before using them for groceries. It is estimated that there are approximately 11 million cases of food-related illnesses in Canada every year. Many of these illnesses could be prevented by following proper food handling and preparation techniques. northof50.com 27
STAYCATIONS
45°29’ 55” N
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!
With Vancouver’s temperate climate and soft, plentiful rains, is it any wonder that gardens, parks and green spaces can be found all around the Lower Mainland, enhancing its already natural beauty of mountains and ocean. Here’s just a small sampling of these outstanding gardens, which are only a half day’s drive away. Bloedel Floral Conservatory & Queen Elizabeth Park Vancouver’s Little Mountain, the city’s highest point, is a 150-metre (500-foot) granite outcropping that, for years, was an industrial rock quarry. Now, it’s a spectacular setting for a 52-hectare (130-acre) city park-and-garden complex. It gets more than six million visitors a year - a number second only to the much larger Stanley Park. A lot of visitors arrive in wedding parties, as it’s the location of choice for photographers with spectacular views and stunning natural surroundings. The gardens were designed by Vancouver Park Board Deputy Superintendent Bill Livingstone and were opened in the 1960s. The park’s centrepiece is the Bloedel Floral Conservatory, a huge bubble dome (officially a triodetic dome) and is the second largest dome greenhouse in the world. The Conservatory, with more than 500 plants, is open daily (except December 25), with an emphasis on exotic plants and birds, which fly past as you wander its circular, winding paths. It was built with the help of a $1,250,000 donation by lumber magnate Prentice Bloedel in 1967. Nearby, to the northwest, is the park’s Arboretum, with one or two of nearly all native Canadian trees, plus some exotic specimens from around the world. Each tree has a tag with the proper botanical and common name. Call 604.257.8584
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Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research at UBC The oldest and one of the finest botanical gardens in Canada, the UBC Botanical Gardens is really five gardens in one. Each has a different theme and character. Spread over 28 hectares (70 acres), the gardens launch you on a trip around the botanical world. The Asian Garden, nestled in a secondgrowth coastal forest of firs, cedars and hemlocks, has fragile magnolias and more than 400 varieties of brilliant rhododendrons - the largest collection in Canada. Climbing roses and flowering vines twine around the trees and the rare blue Himalayan poppy and giant Himalayan lily also bloom here. The BC Native Garden, displaying more than 3,500 plants found in British Columbia, offers more than three hectares (eight acres) of diversity, encompassing water meadows, dunes, bogs and a desert. The Alpine Garden lives up to the challenge of growing high-elevation plants at sea level. Specially imported soil, boulders and rocks give protection for vibrant, rare, low-growing, mountain plants from Australia, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The Physick Garden re-creates a 16th-century monastic herb garden. The traditional plants, which grow in raised brick beds, are all used for medicinal purposes. The Food Garden is an amazing example of efficient gardening. Tucked into a third of a hectare (.75 acre), it’s a patchwork of a dozen raised beds and more than 180 fruit trees. The trees successfully grow a cornucopia of crops. Fruit and vegetables are harvested regularly and donated to the Salvation Army. Regular lectures, on everything from pruning to growing trees in tubs, are given for gardeners. Call 604.822.9666 or visit www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
VanDusen Botanical Garden
If you’ve ever found yourself swamped by the mid-day, downtown madness and wished you could instantly escape to a world of pure, natural serenity, then you have a lot in common with the Ming Dynasty scholars of ancient China. As civil servants living and working in large cities in China, scholars built sanctuaries of nature - tranquil, garden homes guarded from busy sights and sounds of the city by high, solid, pure white walls. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a true retreat in the heart of Vancouver’s bustling Chinatown. This treasure of tranquility is all the more valued for its rarity - built at a cost of over $5.3 million in 1986, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden is the first, full-scale Classical Chinese Garden built outside China. All components of the Garden were carefully selected from nature or hand-built by skilled artisans in China. These 52 artisans brought with them all the materials and traditional tools needed to spend 13 months building this historical, architectural, and horticultural masterpiece in Vancouver. More info is available at www.vancouverchinesegarden.com
When the Shaughnessy Golf Club moved a few kilometres south in 1960, the aim was to turn the 22.25-hectare (55-acre) course into a posh subdivision of sprawling mansions. The local community lobbied city and provincial governments, as well as the Vancouver Foundation, then led by W.J. Van Dusen, to buy the grounds and turn them into a botanical garden. The result: a world-class bed of flowers and a ranking among North America’s top 10 gardens! Set against the distant backdrop of the North Shore mountains, VanDusen Botanical Garden offers a series of small, specialized gardens within the framework of the main garden. Among its famous flora are hundreds of variations of rhododrenons. In the spring, the garden’s Rhododendron Walk blazes with colour. Nearby, the hexagonal Korean Pavilion is a focal point for the garden’s Asian plant collection. Sculptures abound on the lawns, under trees and between shrubs and several are in the Children’s Garden, where a cherub presides over a wishing fountain. A latticework of paths wanders through 40 theme gardens-skirting lakes and ponds, crossing bridges and winding through stands of bamboo and giant redwoods. There is a maze walled by 1,000 pyramidal cedars. Planted in 1981, the maze is a children’s delight and a favoured location for local TV and movie producers needing a spooky setting. The gardens are open every day except Christmas, starting at 10am it closes between 4pm and 8pm-duskdepending on the season. Call 604.878.9274 or go to www. vandusengarden.org
Minter Gardens Nestled against 7000 foot Mt. Cheam in beautiful British Columbia is one of the most magnificent show gardens in the world! This 32-acre world class show garden features 11 themed gardens designed to dazzle the senses with massive displays of colour and fragrance. After a leisurely stroll through the Gardens, visitors can relax and have a light meal or refreshments in Envision Garden Cafe & Conservatory or enjoy our gourmet lunch buffet in the Trillium Restaurant & Conservatory. Visitors also enjoy shopping in our Gift & Plant Shop, which has a great selection of gifts, souvenirs and features exciting plants seen throughout the gardens. In spring, summer and fall, Minter Gardens is ablaze with colour and fragrance. >From over 100,000 tulips blooming in April and countless millions of blossoms in summer to the gorgeous fall colours of October, Minter Gardens is ever changing and will dazzle your senses in every season. Brian Minter, renowned gardening expert, author and international speaker, travels the world to find new and exciting plants for the Gardens every year. Minter Gardens is also an AARS Public Garden containing over 800 rose bushes, featuring special displays of outstanding new varieties chosen by AARS for their beauty, novelty and vigour. They are also home to the largest collection of Penjing Rock Bonsai outside of the Peoples’ Republic of China. To accommodate the growing demand for weddings, receptions and corporate functions, Minter Gardens built two amazing Victorian style conservatories back in 2003. The Envision Conservatory accommodates up to 300 guests and the Trillium Restaurant and Conservatory up to 150 guest. Group bookings are available between April and December. The gardens are open daily April to mid-October. For more information on Minter Gardens visit www. mintergardens.com or call toll free 1-888-MINTERS.
Nitobe Memorial Garden, at UBC This tranquil garden should be explored at leisure. It’s named for Dr. Inazo Nitobe, a Japanese educator, scholar and international diplomat whose personal goal was “to become a bridge across the Pacific.” Looking for his picture? His portrait appears on Japan’s 5,000-yen bank note. As you stroll along the garden’s gently curving paths, note the care that went into the placement of every rock, tree and shrub: each element harmonizes with nature. Wander counterclockwise, accompanied by the soothing sounds of the lake, waterfalls and tiny streams - the gardens move from a beginning through growth and change to an ending. Native and imported plants and trees, azaleas, flowering cherry, irises and maples provide colour the year round. Call 604.822.6038 or visit www.nitobe.org Story courtesy of Vancouver Tourism Board
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AWAY FROM HOME TASMANIA: GREAT WALKS By Greg Clarke
Painted Cliffs, Maria Island, Tasmania, Australia. 30 northof50.com
42˚38’S
The wombat is the koala’s closet relative. On Maria Island, just off the mid-east coast of Tasmania, even visitors who’ve never heard of Darwin and the Beagle are a chance of working this out. There are more wombats than people on Maria Island. Maria (the ‘i’ is pronounced the same as the ‘i’ in island) Island is approximately 20km long and, at its extremes, 12km wide. All of it is national park. There are no paved roads or access for private vehicles. Every visitor to the island either walks or rides a bicycle. That there are no cars or top predators on the island, visitors are the only meat eaters, is good news for the large families of Cape Barren geese, wallabies, wombats and kangaroos. Endangered birds including the forty-spotted pardalote and wedge tailed eagles have also taken quite a liking to the safety of island life. So chuffed are the wombats about the lack of predators, ones with or without motors, these supposedly nocturnal folk are readily seen during the day: which means, assuming you’ve seen a few koalas before, you almost trip over the fact that they have the same squat legs, the same sturdy and rounded behinds as koalas. Cold Beer, Wine and Cheese Now for a declaration: my memories of all the wildlife may be enhanced by cold beer, some of Tasmania’s first class wines, plates of cheeses, strawberries and grapes, a thick salmon steak on a bed of mashed potatoes, and the wonderful bonhomie of my fellow walkers on the Maria Island Walk. The Maria Island Walk is one of the finest ecotourism operations in Australia: the muttering isn’t mine alone. In 2008 Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine awarded the walk the best eco-tourism experience in Australia. This easy four-day walk mixes wildlife, beaches, little visited pockets of the island and fantastically personable guides who do a fine line as naturalists and historians and, each evening, as chefs who cook and serve gourmet fare on candlelit dining tables. Accommodation during the Maria Island Walk is in private beachfront standing camps but the final night is spent in the heritage-listed, beautifully appointed Bernacchi House at Darlington (solar panels provide power and are discretely hidden). Walk On Even just a few years it ago it would have been largely inconceivable to contemplate multi-day walks around parts of Tasmania’s national parks and World Heritage Areas supping on wine and fine food. Noodles, kerosene food stoves, wet sleeping bags and fantasies of warmth were far more common among bush walkers than fine fare. On The Maria Island Walk, The Freycinet Experience Walk, Cradle Mountain Huts and The Bay of Fires Walk and the South Coast Track walk (run by Tasmanian Expeditions), guests trek through World
Heritage Areas or national parks and yet savour fresh (as possible) local produce and wine along the way. In some cases they stay in architect-designed standing camps. That these trips come with bundles of comfort doubtless horrifies people who consider that some parts of Tassie should only be experienced by those with the ticker to endure privations. These walks have however opened up Tasmania to people who would never have otherwise experienced some of the state’s most valuable natural assets: never have some of Tasmania’s most dramatic landscapes been more accessible. Prime Minister and Freycinet Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his family went on the Freycinet Experience walk during their holiday in Tasmania in January 2010. In the stylish yet wonderfully simple award winning lodge there are breakfasts by candle light and, after a day’s walk, canapés and beer and wine by an open fire while the group (maximum of 10 people on each trip) deconstruct their day. During my four-day visit, Sophie, one of the hosts told a charming tale of trying to iron Mr Rudd’s pants on the morning he was leaving (as he was off to a meeting). There is no power at the lodge except for the solar-powered lighting. Sophie boiled a pot of water and while the hot water was still in the pot, endeavoured to iron the prime minister’s pants. The guides are crucial to the success of these experiences. Typically there are two guides and from eight to ten walkers on the Great Walks’ trips. The multiplicity of their skills – they flit effortlessly between naturalist and chef – and their indefatigable bonhomie is remarkable. You’ll not meet one who you wouldn’t want to take home to marry your son or daughter, sister or brother. The Great Walks of Tasmania Group was launched in August, 2009. “It is an exciting new opportunity where operators will work collaboratively to raise awareness of the wonderful guided walk experiences Tasmania has to offer,” said Ian Johnstone from the Maria Island Walk. “Our wilderness, our wildlife and heritage and are all special points of difference for Tasmania and combining this with friendly and passionate guides, we offer experiences as special as any in the tourism world,” says Mr Johnstone. Whether by design or good luck these great walking companies have spread themselves across Tassie. Which means guests can walk with a light backpack and a very satisfied stomach over much of the finest regions in the state. And learn lots about the local wildlife too. More Information The walks cost from around $2000 and last from four to nine days. For more information visit www.greatwalkstasmania. com. www.discovertasmania.com is a comprehensive guide to the island. northof50.com 31
PENTICTON IS NESTLED in one of the most forgiving hardiness zones in Canada, so small wonder the area offers a garden for every taste. Here’s a sampling. Tranquil Ikeda Japanese Garden is tucked behind the Penticton Art Gallery on Marina Way (just off Front Street). Maintained by volunteers, the garden was initiated in the early 1990s and is based on a plan provided by the mayor of Ikeda, Penticton’s sister city in Japan. Some of the garden’s walls incorporate chunks of black obsidian rock, carried home from Ikeda by visiting Canadians. A tall, rustling stand of bamboo, several burgundy Japanese maple, clumps of maiden grass and various evergreens provide a backdrop for showy blossoms. Plants fill the gentle slope around the pond, and in spring the garden is a riot of yellows and pinks. The gravel path surrounding the pond offers strollers a different perspective around each bend, including views of Okanagan Lake. Alongside the stone patio, a platform extending into the pond from its southern shore makes the perfect stage for weddings and events—or for quiet contemplation—while the nearby waterfall soothes away the sounds of the city. Just up the hill from Ikeda, area gardeners get their hands dirty growing their own produce and posies at the Penticton Community Gardens. A co-operative group of individuals maintain plots in raised beds on Vancouver Hill, where they grow everything from beets to marigolds—enough to keep themselves (and their lucky friends and neighbours) in fresh veggies all summer long. Some growers preserve food
to enjoy through the winter, while others donate much of what they grow to the local Soupateria. The Community Gardens have an “organic only” philosophy, and seasoned gardeners share their knowledge with budding growers. Society president Carol Allen says that while some urban community gardens have struggled with their city’s expectations—no bean fencing allowed, for example—the City of Penticton has been an extremely supportive landlord, and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has recently helped them improved their composting area. With the increased interest in eating local, home-grown foods, the group is looking at expanding to include more gardeners. The meandering paths at Linden Gardens are the perfect setting for a leisurely stroll. A few years ago, Margaret and Ken Hayter were listening to Brian Minter on the radio while pruning the orchard, family-owned for nearly a century. When Ken wondered aloud if Minter Gardens made any money, the couple decided it was time for a change. Today Linden Gardens is several acres of lush English country and West Coast influenced perennial gardens, an ever-changing palette of colours, ponds and paths from spring through fall. Several benches provide seating, and there’s even a picnic table in one secluded spot. The on-site Frog City Café has some of the best food around: fresh baked breads and goodies, tasty soups and wraps, and more. Enjoy a snack or a meal on the patio, or inside where you’ll marvel at the architecture. (There’s plenty of room for
Gardens Galore by Dawn Renaud 32 northof50.com
events, too.) Linden Gardens is above Skaha Lake in Kaleden, just a few minutes south of Penticton. ECOmmunity Place offers a glimpse into the South Okanagan’s pre-development days. Traditional knowledge keeper Richard Armstrong strolls the grounds with school children and scientists, explaining how the local flora (and fauna) have co-existed on the land for centuries. He relates how his people used various plants to create everything from fishing nets to medicines to toys, and can even tell you all of their names in his first language, Syilx. Pointing out several areas where introduced species have been overwhelming the natural vegetation, Richard explains some of the reclamation projects currently underway. ECOmmunity Place borders the river channel. To set up a tour, Richard recommends you have a group of six or so, and call up the En’owkin Centre.
Views like this are an invitation to linger. When you visit Linden Gardens, plan to stay a while. Penticton Rose Garden is the perfect setting for a photo op or an impromptu picnic. (inset)
For a more traditional garden setting, stop and smell the roses at the Penticton Rose Garden. Located on Riverside Drive next to the SS Sicamous, it’s a favourite location for photo shoots: gorgeous colourful blooms from grad season and continuing into the fall. While away some time with a good book or just sit back and enjoy; there’s a water feature, a gazebo, several benches, and plenty of lawn for your blanket. Those travelling with a group can send the more boisterous members of their party next door to Loco Landing or across the street to rent a bicycle cart; history buffs will enjoy viewing the SS Sicamous, just a few steps away.
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ALL IN THE SAME BOAT:
The Federal Government Wants Competency Behind Watercraft Wheels By Shannon Linden
It’s summer in the Okanagan, when the sizzling sun reaches out to embrace valley lakes, beckoning boaters to take to the waves. With more than 250 lakes scattered throughout the region, including the popular Kalamalka, Okanagan, and Osoyoos lakes, the area is a Mecca for boating enthusiasts. Sailboats and ski boats; jet skis and wake boats; zodiacs and houseboats—even the popular party barge—just about every kind of vessel can be found on the water but the summer of 2010 will bring a commonality to them all. If a leisure craft is motor powered, its driver will need to be competency certified. There have been murmurings of the move by the federal government for the past ten years but as of September 2009, it became official: all persons operating a pleasure craft fitted with a motor for recreational purposes, must carry proof of competency on board. Regardless of the operator’s age, the size of the craft or the motor, drivers need to have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC). And if they don’t? They’ll need to carry cash because RCMP, along with federal peace officers, will be patrolling waters and handing out fines of $250 to drivers without identification and their PCOC cards. According to Kelowna RCMP media spokesman, Constable Steve Holmes, the new regulations shouldn’t come as a surprise to boaters. “There’s been talk of this coming down 34 northof50.com
for the past ten years,” he explains. “The grace period is over.” Different than a pleasure craft license (a legally registered number assigned to the craft and visibly displayed on the boat’s side) PCOC’s apply to drivers and are designed to include knowledge of 150 basic boating principles such as nautical terms, steering and sailing rules, safety precautions and equipment, navigational aids, weather terms and what to do in emergencies. According to Transport Canada’s website (www.tc.gc. ca), to be deemed competent, boat drivers must complete a certified boating safety course resulting in a valid PCOC or show completion of a boating safety course in Canada prior to April 1, 1999. The only exception? Those who rent motorized watercraft must carry a completed rental boat safety checklist, including basic operations of the craft and safety equipment on board, but the PCOC will not be required. And that—along with lack of regulation of the test itself— raises many enthusiasts’ ire. Randy Proust, manager of the Kelowna Yacht Club, is an advocate of the PCOC but he’d like to see it applied to renters too. “There is a marina right beside us,” he says. “They do a great job but it’s still an issue that renters don’t need the cards.”
Brad Bonner, a Prince George resident who boats on Okanagan Lake, agrees there should be stricter regulations when it comes to testing. “I think the new requirements are overdue but I have concerns with how some people get their cards. I have my CPS certification but people can just go on-line and take the test. My neighbor asked me to write it for him!” Scott Kirschke, who splits his time between Kamloops and Kelowna, concurs. “Just because you’re certified doesn’t mean you drive a boat properly. It’s just another tax grab by the government.” According to Transport Canada boating safety officer, Chris Marrie, however, the objective of the government initiative is to increase knowledge of safe boating practices. “Our mandate is to reduce the number of boating injuries and deaths,” Marrie says. “We’ve already witnessed a downward trend in accidents over the past decade.”
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With more than 1, 000 club members, most of them Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS) certified, Proust encourages boaters to take more thorough courses. “The CPS course runs a full day and is classroom based with a certified instructor. We’ve been offering it quarterly for ten years but now the demand is so high, we run it bi-weekly.”
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Like many, Jim Nixon, Innkeeper at the Hotel Elderado and Marina in Kelowna, has mixed feelings. “I think, to some degree, it absolves government of liability. What they’re asking people to learn is not terribly taxing so will it improve safety on the lake? I’ve seen some crazy stuff out there and that’s still going to take place but hopefully it will make people more aware.” Nixon doesn’t see the new regulations affecting his business since they don’t apply to renters and neither does Patrick Paulhus, manager of Malibu Marine in Kelowna. “Not one client has been distraught about needing the card,” he says. “It’s for the safety of families out on the lake.” Paulhus encourages both buyers and renters to take the course on site when they pick up a boat. “We have books for sale and we offer the course right here. We can help drivers make sense of it.” A perusal of the Transport Canada website will offer detailed information about the new regulations as well as classroom course and on-line certification options. Boaters can also contact Chris Marrie of Kelowna at chris.marrie@ tc.gc.ca.
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PROFESSIONAL RELIANCE MODEL. Just the term itself seems dodgy. Who are these professionals and what are we relying on them for, exactly? As it turns out, just about everything that has to do with environmental protection, oversight and enforcement. In effect, it is a formal policy of government turning over protection of the hen house to various associations of foxes. Remember the infamous Stones concert at Altamont in 1969? They showed blindingly good judgement by hiring the Hell’s Angels as security. The result? One dead, dozens injured, the name Altamont an enduring metaphor for chaos and disaster. Professional reliance is kind of like that. Where do we see it? Well, let’s start in the Gulf of Mexico, where offshore drilling regulations were essentially
abandoned – and moratoriums lifted – by US federal and state governments when the price of oil skyrocketed in 2007 and 2008. Environmentalists reacted with alarm and pointed to the dangers of unrestricted offshore exploration and drilling. But those tasked with ensuring the public’s environmental interests were served had already checked out. In 2008, Roland Guidry, in charge of regulating off-shore drilling for the state of Louisiana, commented, “Offshore drilling is the safest way to go. Those guys don’t spill oil.” But that’s America, right? Where they have a pathological fear of anyone regulating anything. Things are much better up here. Well, not really. In an article that appeared last month in the St. John’s Telegram, we learn that “Canadian regulators relaxed offshore drilling regulations last year, giving the energy industry more flexibility when putting in place safeguards against oil spills.” This meant that specific regulations and requirements for safety valves and blowout preventers were abandoned in favour of “soft regulatory outcomes,” which, according to Craig Stewart of the World Wildlife Fund, “is a leap of faith that industry will put the public interest in front of self interest and shareholder profits.” So why did governments agree to this puzzling shift? Regulators, it seems, “had been receiving a growing number of requests from companies to use technologies or processes not included in the regulations, resulting in increased challenges and costs.” Goodness. No wonder. But we don’t have to look south or east to find this same insidious process of shifting oversight from government to private industries that stand to profit from relaxed regulations. Our very own British Columbia government has embraced the concept of professional reliance with a vengeance. In a 2008 report titled Applying Professional Reliance under the Forest and Range Practices Act, the authors, made up of government and forestry industry representatives, tell us why the Ministry of Forests and Range had essentially abandoned regulating the industry: “The regulation of forestry practices has matured to a result-orientation with less regulation and less government oversight of methods or processes used to achieve the results. This model is meant to promote greater reliance on the judgement of resource professionals and remove duplication of effort by government staff systematically reviewing the method-based judgement of professionals
employed by licensees.” Got that? OK, now check this out. According to the Forest and Range Practices Act, “The minister must approve a Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP, euphemism for a logging scheme) ...if it conforms to section 5.” And how does he or she determine if it conforms to section 5? “A FSP...conforms to section 5 if a person with prescribed qualifications certifies that it conforms to section 5...” Another example? I bet you thought the Ministry of the Environment actually looks after protecting such sensitive environmental areas as, oh, say, fish habitat. Well, actually no. According to the MOE’s web site, Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) “uses Qualified Environmental Professionals (QEPs), hired by land developers, to assess habitat and the potential impacts to the habitat; develop mitigation strategies; and avoid impacts from development to fish and fish habitat...” Sound a little fishy? Hey, relax. “QEPs submitting RAR assessments must certify that they have the qualifications, experience and skills necessary to conduct the assessment.” I bet you feel better already. But surely, I hear you say, the government reviews these assessments? Approves them? Wrong again. “The MOE provides local governments with confirmation that an assessment report has been received, enabling local governments to move forward in approving urban development...” They are not reviewed, or even read, unless another QEP should find the time – or be hired by locals raising money through bake sales – to intervene. As we face a world of bewildering environmental dangers, our governments, whom we trust to look out for our interests, have decided to gut regulatory agencies of actual regulation and enforcement personnel and handcuff the few that are left with policies that render them toothless. Our governments seem content to let critical environmental policy decisions to be made in the boardrooms. This cannot continue. Instead, more than ever, our elected officials need to protect public interests by finding the courage to stand up to the foxes rather than hiring them. Hey, trust me. I’m a professional. 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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BACKYARD BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY Story & Photos by Paul Desjardins
IT’S 7:30 A.M. mid-January and frost clinging to window edges fractures the rising sunlight, casting grotesque shapes along the far wall of our bedroom. I hear a fluttering outside. Two raspy squawks follow in rapid succession. To someone unacquainted with our early morning ritual, this behaviour most probably would go unnoticed; but for me, I know exactly what’s happening. A steller’s jay has arrived in the backyard and he’s hungry. The drama is so well scripted that, with a little luck, the bird will be fed and concurrently captured for posterity – forever caged behind ‘pixelated bars’ or glued to celluloid. For me, to heed the call of a steller’s jay and for that matter other birds that endure the harsh winter months of the Central Okanagan of British Columbia is less 38 northof50.com
the product of a sense of obligation to provide food than a photo opportunity. Notwithstanding the fact that once cold weather feeding is started, it ought to continue throughout the season, the chance to seize a full-framed ‘feathered’ portrait is tough to resist. To attract birds to your backyard (apart from feeders of which there is a vast array) is like running a landscape company; it sometimes requires clever planting. By extension, a short visit to a local nursery will pay large dividends in determining the number and variety of plants to choose. Oddly enough, some plants appear to compete for bird attention. For example, when the sumac shrub dishes out a berry buffet for robins and bluebirds in the early
A northern flicker clings to the face of a pine prop mildly accented with winter holly. (top right). A dash of winter berries adds a subtle touch of red to an otherwise monochromatic scene. Steller’s jay. (bottom right). California Quail garnished with grapes. What a dish! Of course, it makes a great photograph as well. Cracked corn sprinkled lightly on the ground or in this case a tray-style feeder will make a feathered friend forever. (far left) spring, the Mountain Ash tree does the same, dispensing its berries in copious amounts to ravenous cedar waxwing and northern flicker. Once in your backyard whether enticed by natural food sources or retail means, birds commonly look their best when framed against a ‘natural’ setting. Often this outdoor studio is constructed with products consistent with bird behaviour. For example, the steller’s jay ofttimes prefers to perch before gathering food. Consequently, the photographer might choose a section of tree trunk with a short protruding branch. On the other hand, the California Quail, who every so often roost in trees, prefer to forage on the ground. In this case, their prop would be best represented by a log or rock. Whatever the case may be, select materials that conform to the bird environment that you are attempting to simulate. Granted some photographers opt for a more flashy look and add flowers, grapes, red berries, etc., under the guise of promoting a ‘seasonal image’ – autumn grapes, winter berries; this approach produces a photo more akin to art deco. For myself, a subtle compromise between the two seems to work best. Employing this strategy, let’s examine two birds, the steller’s jay and the northern flicker and the means by which a satisfactory photograph can be obtained. Cognizant of the fact that the steller’s jay enjoys a perch, a 60 cm. section of dead ponderosa pine with a 15 cm. protruding branch is mounted on a tray-style feeder. Peanuts in the shell, a well-known jay delicacy, are scattered on the feeder in close proximity to the branch. Albeit very aggressive, normally the steller’s jay will only tolerate your presence at a certain distance; therefore, it is necessary to hide. After years of experimenting with homemade photo blinds constructed from tarps and scraps of lumber, in the interest of ease of setup and convenience of use, a commercial hunting blind that couples as a bird blind is recommended. Secure your blind close enough to ensure a full frame shot from the lense of your choice. (personal preference – a 300mm f 2.8 nikkor telephoto) Since most birds tend to be more cooperative when accustomed to familiar surroundings, leave your blind unoccupied for a few days. Once you have noticed that the jays are feeding regularly and occasionally lighting on the illusory forest bough, it’s time to go to work. To obtain the sharpest rendition of your bird, three basic elements of practical photography demand attention:
ISO, focus, and depth of field. Firstly, whether using film or digital, select a low ISO, e.g. 50 to 80, and a minimum shutter speed of 1/250. Secondly, to further aid in gaining optimal detail, manual pre-focus on the anticipated landing site. If this option is not available, use the AF (auto-focus) lock featured in many contemporary digital cameras. Most pundits will agree that a soft, uncluttered background is preferred to one that is not. “With a little practice, you’ll soon find that a super-shallow depth of field is something to cheer about”, declares Kerry Draper, author of Scenic Photography 101, “rather than something to complain about!” Consequently, to impede depth of field, a lens aperture of between f 4 and f 2.8 is advisable, assuming that the background is not too close to your subject. Our journey to acuity would not be complete without mention of the tripod. Always use a sturdy tripod and cable release, especially when handling a long lense; any camera movement will compromise clarity. Finally and probably most importantly, be patient for as Ovid, a Roman poet who lived in the time of Emperor Augustus, contended, “Everything comes gradually and at its appointed hour”. Assuming all things being equal, to capture the northern flicker incorporates all the essential tenets of photography mentioned relative to the steller’s jay with the exception of the tricks associated with attracting it. To my knowledge, the northern flicker does not share the jay’s fondness for peanuts, but would rather scamper across summertime lawns or cling to the sides of trees lapping up ants with its long tongue. However, in the spirit of winter expedience and management, for the photographer, suet takes the nod as a more appropriate means to luring this handsome member of the woodpecker family to your backyard. In as much as the northern flicker is adept in anchoring itself vertically to a tree trunk, I use the same 60 cm. section of forest product as with the jay. With the aid of a 2.5 cm. wood bit, a small hole is bored 15 cm. from the top of the log. This enables the wood prop to extend beyond the top of the bird’s head and the frame, serving the illusion that the flicker is grasping a much taller stand of timber. Lastly, fill the hole with suet and patiently attend the ‘appointed hour’. Be kind to your camera and nurture it and yourself with great photographs. Fortunately, with a bit of thoughtful preparation your backyard can be transformed into a treasure trove of photo delights. And they often come flying in when you least expect it. Adopting a diet of birds as part of your photographic consumption will ensure their presence and above all, your enjoyment. Relish their company, learn their idiosyncrasies, and of course, don’t keep them waiting.
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july
VPAG vernonpublicartgallery.com
EXHIBITIONS KAG kelownaartgallery.com
SAGA sagapublicartgallery.ca
July 3 to 31, HERS: The Sky is the Limit, portraits by Izabella OrzelskiKonikowski and Bogdan Koral-Konikowski.
Now to July 29, UBCO BFA GRADUATING CLASS INTUIT, Topham Brown Gallery. Now to July 29, KATIE BELCHER, HOUSESCAPE, Up-Front Gallery. Now to July 29, GLENN CLARK, IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE, Caroline Galbraith Gallery.
July 24 to September 26, THE TREE: From the Sublime to the Social. The 34 works included range from historical paintings by Emily Carr and members of the Group of Seven, through to works by contemporary photographers fascinated by the layers of social meaning linked to the image of a tree. The Kelowna Art Gallery has augmented the show with six additional loans of works from the Vancouver Art Gallery.
ARTS HAPPENING
PENTICTON ART ART GALLERY pentictonartgallery.com
July 10, 33RD ANNUAL STARRY STARRY NIGHT ART AUCTION, Cocktails from 6 – 7:30 pm, Hors d’oeuvers by Joy Road Catering, Wine by the Naramata Bench Wineries, Live Music by the Darylectones, Live Auction at 7:30 pm, Auctioneer Doug Levis of Levis Fine Arts in Calgary. Auction preview starts June 22.
LAKE COUNTRY ART GALLERY lakecountryartgallery.blogspot.com
Now to July 13, GLASS ARTISTS EXHIBITION at Lake Country Art Gallery, 7:30 pm. The artists, who create out of their Working Glass Studio in Lake Country, have been busy producing some new pieces with glass retrieved from the Lavington Glass Plant, which closed in October 2008. Some of these new works, along with previously created pieces, will be on display at the Lake Country Art Gallery from June 3 to July 18.
PERFORMANCES CREEKSIDE THEATRE www.creeksidetheatre.com
VERNON PERFORMING ARTS ticketseller.ca
July 9, SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY PIPE BAND
July 21, FRED EAGLESMITH with opening act The Fabulous Ginn Sisters, 7:30 pm. Fred Eaglesmith is an awardwinning and acclaimed music auteur of the highest order, with 17 albums over the last three decades, he has forged a singular and distinctive legacy with his songs, recordings, live performances, achievements and impact unlike that of anyone else in contemporary music.
July 20 to August 22, Caravan Farm Theatres EVERYONE, 7:30pm Shows nightly Rain or Shine. Caravan’s new musical comedy, staged spectacularly with six horse drawn wagons, live music and a cast of Canada’s finest performers, EVERYONE is a play about the Everyman (and Everywoman) in all of us. August 5, TORONTO WELSH MALE VOICE CHOIR, 7:30 pm.
COMING EVENTS July 8 to 31, SAME TIME NEXT YEAR by Man Hats Theatre. Same Time, Next Year begins in 1951 with a chance meeting in a California inn when George buys Doris a steak. The resulting night of adultery sets the pace for their annual meetings over the next twenty four years. The audience is invited in for six of those nights giving us unique insights into the lives that George and Doris have together and apart. Same Time, Next Year is one of the most successful Broadway shows winning Tony nominations and enjoying a long run-almost 1500 performances (1975-1978.) Same Time, Next Year opens on the Cannery Stage Penticton (1475 Fairview Road) on July 8 followed by a gala reception. Shows are Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights at 8pm with a Sunday matinee at 2pm. Tickets are $17.00 ($15.00 students/ seniors) plus HST and may be purchased in person at the Wine Country Visitor’s Centre, 553 Railway Avenue Penticton, or by phone by calling 250.493.4055. July 9, MONI FUNK & THE GROOVEMACHINE 70’S SOUL/FUNK RETRO NIGHT A night of Hot Funk & Cool Soul grooves. Come in your funkiest 70’s attire! MoniFunk & The Groovemachine is a Soul/Funk inspired multi-piece show- band based in Kelowna, The band incorporates the idea of retro 60s Motown Soul and 70s Funk/Disco into a great night of memorable fun. Funk grooves & Soul inspired melodies that will get a crowd off their seats & dancing are all part of the show. MoniFunk & The Groovemachine’s set list is made up of well known songs from a wide range of recording artists like Earth Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, The Commodores, Stevie Wonder to name a few. www.monifunk.com. 8:30 pm at the Creekside Pub, 3929 Lakeshore Rd.
july Crusoe, Conceived and Written by Jim Caron. Music by Greg Boris. Lyrics by Jim Caron. Additional Concept Development and Dialogue by Annie Caron. Performances on July 17th 2010 at 3:30 & 5:30PM at Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. For Registrations Contact the Ticket Seller at 549-SHOW (7469). Participation fee: $100 (includes two tickets to one of the performances) Tickets for performances: $12 All Seats. July 12. JIM HOLE, GARDENING EXPERT. The Kelowna Garden Club offers all Gardeners a rare opportunity to hear Alberta’s garden expert, passionate horticulturalist, writer, CBC Radio and CTV Television personality, Jim Hole, as he separates fact from fiction passed down through the ages, (often leading gardeners astray) in his entertaining talk, Garden Myths. At 7pm at Senior’s Centre, Branch 17, 1353 Richter Street. Please pay $5.00 at the door. Open to the public and all Garden Club Members. For further information contact Rosemary Botner at 250.769.2836 or email rosemary@accountingfortaste.ca or go to www.kelownagardenclub.ca. July 17 & 18, The 1120 Rock Club & The Vernon Lapidary & Mineral Club present the 4TH ANNUAL OKANAGAN GEM SHOW - Featuring Fossils, Footprints of the Ages. Winfield Memorial Hall, 3270 Berry Road. Dealers with rocks, crystals, minerals, beads & jewellery. Displays & Demonstrations. Lunch counter open during the show. Adults - $4.00, Children 12 and under - $2.00. For more information contact Dave Barclay at 250.766.4353 or Ken Dewerson at 250.707.0618.
July 10 & July 24. LITTLE STRAW VINEYARDS will be hosting two Artist receptions as part of their Art at the Vineyards during the month of July. July 10, Okanagan painter Evelyne MacMillan & July 24, Okanagan painters Jim Laing,Carol Ursel and Gerry Chambers. Both events will be held on Saturday afternoon from 3:30 to 5:30 at Little Straw Vineyards, 2815 Ourtoland Road, West Kelowna. Meet the artists, enjoy a tasting of a selection of Little Straw Wines, and complimentary tapas from the Barrell Top Grill. This is a wonderful afternoon to see some fine original Okanagan art in a casual, relaxed atmosphere, with live music by Steve Kresta. For more info contact Anita McComas mccomas@shaw.ca or 250.764.1308.
July 17 & 18. POTTERS AND ARTISANS 20TH ANNUAL FOR THE LOVE OF ART ALMIGHTY! SALE. It’s the Biggest and Best Quality Art and Crafts Sale in Kelowna. Featuring Local Artisans and their Wares, Pottery, Clay Art, Mixed Media Paintings, Digital Arts, Drawings, Glass work, slumping and stained glass, Sculpture, Soapstone, Marble, Clay and Bronze Jewellery, Silver and Gold Smiths, Fabric Art, Textile Arts, Weaving, Photography, Print making, Wood work, Quilting, and, other high quality Art and craftsAt the Rotary Centre for the Arts 4210 Cawston Ave. Saturday, 10am to 6pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Sponsored by Potters Addict Ceramic Art Centre and the Rotary Centre for the Arts. Info at 250.763.1875
July 12 to 17. MUSICAL THEATRE CAMP. Based on Missoula Children’s Theatre’s Production of Robinson
July 24, BC HOCKEY HALL OF FAME SUMMER CLASSIC at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Doors northof50.com 41
open at 6pm. Game at 7pm. Tickets, charge by phone at 1-877-SOEC-TIX (763-2849) or order online at www. valleyfirsttix.com. Tickets $15, $20, $25. July 24 & 25. THE ENDERBY AND DISTRICT ARTS COUNCIL PRESENT THE ENDERBY ARTS FESTIVAL. Outdoor Artisan Market and Entertainment Stage in the Maud Street parking lot 9 am to 3pm. Features over 35 artisans and crafters with continuous musical entertainment. Across the street in the Masonic Hall ,”Snapshots and Shutterbugs”, a photographic contest and display open to all amateurs runs from 11am to 4pm. In Belvidere Park the Society For Creative Anachronism returns to Enderby presenting a Medieval Fair featuring costumes, jousting and medieval fun from 11am to 4pm. On Sunday at 7pm join the Evans Sisters for a free Music by the River Concert in Belvidere Park (bring a chair). On Saturday and Sunday evenings at the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre, Runaway Moon Theatre stages its “Reflections Community Performance” the culmination of Reflections Community Arts Project –a celebration of water. 250.306.3935 or info@ runawaymoon.org for Runaway Moon, or 250.838.0577 or enderbyartscouncil.com for The Enderby and District Arts Council.
Windshield Repair & Replacement lWindow & Door Renovations lRollshutters & Rollscreens lCustom & Standard Shower Doors lGlass/Mirrors lSealed Units lScreens/Plexi Glass
July 30. MARTINA MCBRIDE brings her powerhouse Shine all Night tour to Penticton at the SOEC. McBride has created an exceptional evening flavoured with boisterous revelry and honest reflection. Fans will be dancing in the aisles to “God-Fearin’ Women” and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” fist waving to the likes of “This One’s for the Girls,” holding on tight with “I Just Call you Mine,” and will remember what matters most with “In My Daughter’s Eyes.” For info call 250.490.2460 or 250.490.2353 or visit www. soec.ca. Charge by phone at 1-877-SOEC-TIX (763.2849) Order online at www.ValleyFirstTix.com Tickets (incl GST): $115.50, $ 85.50 $ 75.50 (plus FMF and applicable service charges) The Healing Arts Association of the Okanagan will be hosting HAAO HOLISTIC & HEALTH FAIRS on the last Sunday of every month: July 25th, Aug 29th, Sept. 26, Oct 24 & November 28th. Sundays 10 - 5pm Special Free mini sessions 10 -10:30 only. Held at the Kelowna Royal Anne Hotel 248 Bernard, one block from the sails. Enjoy the benefit of Yuen healing, reflexology, crystals, massage, spiritual readings, EFT, healing touch, Reiki + more services & sessions. HAAO is an non-profit and we welcome new members. www.healingartsassociation.com Free admission: donation to the Food Bank.
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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.
JULY ACTIVITIES SUMMER FUN ANTS BARBEQUE BASKET BEACH BIKE BIRD BOARD BOATS BOOGIE BUGS CAMPING DRINKS FIRE FISHING FLOAT FRESH FROG HIKE HUMID ICE
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Account (abbr.) 5 Expression of surprise 8 Robert E._____ 11 Scratch 12 Note of debt 13 Lighted sign 14 ____skirt 15 Limited (abbr.) 16 Loving 17 Express emotions 19 Make a call 21 South by east 22 the game’s_____ 24 Umpire 27 Buck 28 Large african animal, for short 30 Complain 33 Cleanser 34 Toothbrush brand 35 Intent 36 Artist’s creation 37 Blood sucker 39 Electronic stability control(abbr)
JULY LAWN LAZY LEMONADE LIFEJACKET LIGHTNING PADDLE PICNIC PLAYFUL POOL RIVER SAILING SAND SKI SKIPPING STORMS SUMMER SUNSHINE SURFING SWIM
42 Swerve 43 meddlesome woman 45 flightless bird of New Zealand 48 Regret 50 Parkinson Rec. has one 51 Twin_____ plane 52 Used for tatoos 53 Yucky 54 Chop 55 Vane direction 56 Crispy squares cereal DOWN 1 Peaks 2 Knox Mtn. Hill _____ 3 Kayak 4 Foolish person 5 Get sick 6 Ballpark food 7 ___ and Video 8 Sign of the zodiac 9 Billion years 10 Finale 13 National football
TABLECLOTH TEMPERATURE THUNDER WADE WALK WATER WEED WINDY
league 18 provision 20 Wither 23 _____belt 24 Rest in peace 25 East northeast 26 Tea___two 27 mexican beer (name) 29 Derby 30 Snake 31 Make a mistake 32 Tangle 33 Pouch 35 Old TV shows 38 Spooky 39 Cain’s eldest son 40 Get a fire going 41 Sepals of a flower 42 Dignitary 44 Heroic 45 Speed measurement 46 Wrath 47 Great! 49 Stretch to make do
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
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 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.
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/
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
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. 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. Friends of Knox Mountain Park - Annual General Meeting, Wednesday, June 9, 2010, 7:00 pm at Simpson Pavilion, Top of Knox Mountain Park. Contact: Maureen Lisle 250.868.9396 (evenings) Newcomers Welcome. 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. Dance with live music every Thursday night at the Water Street Activity Centre. 7:30 pm. For those 50+. $4 members, $6 nonmembers. 44 northof50.com
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-A-Grandparent. 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 RUTLAND Dance with live music every Saturday night at the Rutland Activity Centre. 7:30 pm. For those 50+. $4 members, $6 non-members.
SALMON ARM Salmon Arm Duplicate Bridge club meets at 6:45pm every Tuesday at the downtown Activity Centre & every Sunday at 12:45 pm at Branch 109. 250.832.7454 or 250.832.7323.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Schubert Centre, 3505 30th Ave. Shuffleboard, Monday to Friday at 8am 250.549.4201
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. Every Friday Nite, Supper at 6pm Cost $7.50 for Home cooked meal & Mini Meat Draw, 50/50 draw after dinner. Everyone Welcome, members & non-members. 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.
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 Breathing Exercises for relief from asthma, allergies, COPD, bronchiitis and other chronic issues. Every Monday at 1-2 pm and Friday 11 am-12 noon at the People Place, Vernon. Donation Only. For more information email Melissa: blueeagleyoga@yahoo.ca 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: The Okanagan Summer is Sensational 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 second Thursday of the month, 7 pm. Pat at 250.549.2219 or Mary 250.545.3939. northof50.com 45
Classified & Directory Moduline Home For Sale in Westbank. 2 bed, 2 bath, own land, $35/month strata, 12x32 insulated garage, maintenance free yard, $265, 900. Phone 250.769.6446. One early 1900’s antique Singer treadle sewing machine, $200 obo. Parts and 3 new springs for an antique Gramaphone, $50 each obo. Call 250.495.7372. Two rototillers, 2 leaf & branch shredders, 12 gallon Craftsman compressor, 11 gallon portable air tank, bargain prices on all. Phone 250.492.8501. Pressure Canner, will do quarts, stack rows of pints, and two quart jars, $60.00. Canning Jars $3.50 a dozen. Phone 250.558.1456. Lovely white oak, 5 piece bedroom suite, as new, $600. Sofa rollaway bed, excellent condition, plus 2 recliner chairs, $200. Phone 250.549.1798. Soloflex Home Gym, used once, includes butterfly and leg attachments, plus two weight strap sets, $999.99. Revelstoke 250.837.3741. Telex noise cancelling aviation headset, brand new, never used, $250.00. Revelstoke 250.837.3741. Lawn bowling balls, set of 4 older-type glenselite super grip size 1, $100. Phone 250.542.0236.
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
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Advertise your Business in the Directory for as little as $65 per month. 1.877.667.8450
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Armstrong Wine and Brew
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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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Box 339, 2545 Patterson Ave. Armstrong, BC V0E 1B0, 250-546-6954 www.armstrongwineandbrew.com
Serving Enderby, Armstrong & Vernon
2980 Smith Drive, Armstrong Tel. 546-7237 Fax. 546-8237 email:pafsarmstrong@telus.net www.personalalternative.com
Spring cleaning, Moving, downsizing?
CASH PAID for antiques, records, collectables & miscellaneous items. Will buy whole collections, household and estate items.
Full Funeral Services •Pre-Arrangements Cremation • Memorial Markers Independently owned & operated
Doug Braun, R.D. Erika Braun, R.D. DENTURISTS
OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE New Dentures - Partials-Relines - Repairs 250-549-4745 McCulloch Court #114-3400 Coldstream Ave. Vernon
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.
LOCAL LATITUDE, GLOBAL ATTITUDE
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People often do other things while they watch TV or listen to the radio, but they usually put their full concentration into reading print. You can’t drive a car or talk to your spouse while you read ads. North of 50° is a socially relevant and responsible regional magazine that publishes original, provocative feature articles. North of 50° prides itself in being a credible magazine that brings global issues home.
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To advertise, call 1.877.667.8450 or email sales@northof50.com
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