JULY 2017
Haskaps
A super-food berry with a future in the Okanagan?
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IN THIS ISSUE She’d rather fight mosquitoes in a swamp than work a desk job
Page 12
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EDITOR
RICHARD MCGUIRE editor@oksun.ca
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RONDA JAHN production@osoyoostimes.com
4
Seniors share secrets of life
6
Italian student immersed in Canadian culture
8
Do haskap berries have future in Okanagan?
10
Stroke survivor lives to write a book about it
12
She’d rather fight mosquitoes in the swamp
14
New Vaseux bird blind sends packrats packing
16
Training for the Invictus Games
18
Oliver teen wins national bronze for culinary skills
20
Osoyoos Music in the Park is back for third year
22
Oliver Music in the Park is collaboration
23
Around Town events calendar
JULY 2017
Haskaps
A super-food berry with a future in the Okanagan?
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BRIAN HIGHLEY brianhighley@aberdeenpublishing.com
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ON THE COVER Art and Ewa Ardiel got their first real harvest of haskaps this year on their property on Road 22 between Osoyoos and Oliver. Haskaps are new to the Okanagan and some consider the berry to be a super food. (Richard McGuire photo) See story Page 8.
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We welcome feedback from our readers. Send comments to editor@oksun.ca or mail to Box 359, Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V0, Telephone 250-4957225. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in whole or part by any means without the written permission of the publisher. While every care has been taken with this publication, the author(s) and publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors it may contain. No liability is accepted for any loss or damage resulting from the use of this publication. © 2017 Aberdeen Publishing. We reserve the right to refuse any submission or advertisement. ISSN 2291-2991.
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OKANAGAN SUN • July 2017 • 3
Sisters Lily Edmonds, 98, and Mary Ferris, 100, were known as “The Bell girls” when they were young and lived in Holden, Alta. They fought a lot, egged on by their brother. Lily thought she was stronger, but she wasn’t, and Mary beat her up. Their secrets to longevity are happiness and gardening. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
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With 3,623 years between them, seniors share their secrets of life By Lyonel Doherty Three thousand, six hundred and 23. That’s how many years were represented at a recent 90-plus Tea at the Oliver Senior Centre. It was unbelievable when Helga Aston totaled the ages up on the adding machine. But Lily Edmonds, who’s 98.5, thought it was a lot of fuss. “I’m not a tea party person,” she said, next to her older sister, Mary Ferris, who enjoyed the attention at 100.5. The siblings were known as “The Bell girls” when they were young. But they fought a lot, thanks to their brother who instigated many of the spats by saying one sister was stronger than the other. Then he sat back and watched the show, laughing. “We fought over everything,” Lily said. “I thought I was stronger than her, but I wasn’t . . . she beat me up.” But Mary said she had a lot of scratches to show for it. The Bell girls grew up on a farm in Holden, Alberta, where their mother looked after 10 kids. To this day, Lily doesn’t know how her mother managed to raise so many children under one roof. She recalled having no toys to play with, just the animals on the farm. When asked about their secret to longevity, the siblings agreed that the key was happiness. They believe that gardening also helped, recalling that their mother gave them a piece of their own garden to look after. “We ate what came out of the ground,” Lily said.
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Later on in life, the sisters practically lived in their gardens. Mary wanted to add that her secret to reaching 100 was rolling with the punches (but she didn’t mean during her scraps with Lily). Mary lived by the saying, “And this too shall pass.” But she has a secret yearning to return to her favourite community. “I’d like to run away back to Okanagan Falls . . . but they got me branded,” she noted, pointing to her Sunnybank Centre wristband. When Lily was asked what she thought of the world today, she said it was going too fast. Meanwhile, 100-year-old Bill Fedoruk was rather content sipping tea at his table. When asked what his secret was, he slowly held up a fist. (Oh no, was he going to biff me? What did I say?) But Bill would never do that, unless I tried to steal his gold. You see, Bill has been all over the world, including the Yukon, working as a gold miner. And he found lots of gold, too. “I couldn’t cheat anyone without thinking I’d be cheating myself,” he said. Bill admitted that he has been nourishing a bad heart for most of his life. But determination, exercise and hard work have kept the reaper away. Bill said he was active in the church, noting the Bible was an important part of his life. However, he doesn’t like what’s going on in the world today. “I see what’s happening in the world, and I’m sad to say that the worst is yet to come.”
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Carlo Geat, the Rotary Youth Exchange Student from Italy, is wrapping up his year in Oliver and Osoyoos where he was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Osoyoos. He returns to Italy July 12. Pictured with him are Rotarians Marieze Tarr and John Robertson, who look after the exchange program and helped Geat get settled when he arrived in the Okanagan last August. (Richard McGuire photo)
Exchange student returns to Italy after year spent in Oliver and Osoyoos By Richard McGuire When Carlo Geat first arrived in the Okanagan from northern Italy more than 10 months ago, he had never tasted fast food. During the time the Rotary Exchange Student has spent since then in Oliver and Osoyoos, he’s been immersed in Canadian and American culture, and much of it he likes. But when asked how his immersion experience may have changed his impression of fast food, he struggles to
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be a diplomat. “It’s for sure a cheap, fast way to eat when you have nothing else better,” he concedes. But when pushed, he readily admits he’d much prefer a leisurely sitdown meal as is the custom in his home city of Trento, just south of the Austrian border. Geat was sponsored to come to the South Okanagan by the Rotary Club of Osoyoos, but he attended Southern Okanagan Secondary School (SOSS) in Oliver, making many friends in Oliver, while also getting to know Osoyoos. He returns to Italy in mid-July.
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He recently graduated from SOSS, where he impressed his schoolmates with a classical violin performance. Back in Italy though, he plans to take another year of high school, becoming a rare student who actually graduates high school twice. He had not even landed in Canada yet at the end of August when he began seeing differences – from his plane he noticed the grid-like road patterns and planned neighbourhoods of Canadian cities, which contrasted sharply with the random Italian street patterns built over the centuries. His first experience of real cultural shock came when Rotarian John Robertson met him at the airport in Kelowna with a big hug. “I wasn’t used to it, because in my region, in northern Italy, we don’t really hug,” he told the Rotarians when he gave them a wrap up of his experiences recently. The Italian stereotype of warm, effusive, demonstrative people is probably more of a reality in the south than in his region of Trentino that was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire until the end of World War I. But other aspects of Canadian and American culture were very positive for the young student, who hasn’t ruled out returning to Canada or the United States to study economics in university. He found the people here warm and outgoing generally, but it was the festivities and gift exchanges at Christmas that impressed him the most. “Christmas is quite different from how it is in Italy,” said Geat. “Being together with family that much, for that many days, really was one of the best parts of my exchange.” As well as staying with Rotarians Robertson and Marieze Tarr and their spouses when he first arrived, Geat also lived with three different host families, who became like his own family. And probably the most memorable of all his experiences was a road trip to California with the second of those host families. “I never liked road trips,” he admits, pointing out that distances in Europe are much shorter. “So I was kind of scared with seven people in a minivan for two and a half days driving all the way to Disneyland, but it wasn’t that bad. It was a lot of fun.” They took in San Diego and San Francisco, but it was Disneyland that he found to be “magical.” “Even though I’m not a kid anymore, I really felt the magic,” he said. “So it was magical for sure.” He had numerous other North American cultural experiences, including taking in a Canucks hockey game and a BC Lions football game in Vancouver. “That was my first football game,” said Geat, though of course in Europe what they call “football” actually refers to soccer. “I didn’t know anything about football, so I didn’t really follow the game. But it was still really cool to see this huge stadium and this huge group of people screaming and yelling. It was really impressive and it was a beautiful city.”
He also had a chance to go on excursions with groups of other Rotary exchange students staying throughout the district from Central B.C. down into Washington State. An avid skier, Geat took numerous trips to Mount Baldy, but a highlight was a trip with other exchange students to Silver Star Mountain Resort near Vernon. The exchange students swam at Revelstoke and travelled through the B.C. Interior down to Osoyoos, Omak and on to Yakima and other points in Washington, forming friendships that were very hard to break off when they went their separate ways. He even managed a trip to Banff and on to Lethbridge with a former exchange student friend from Taiwan. “Banff was on my bucket list of places to see in Canada,” Geat said. “It was stunning of course. Then we went through the Rockies and to Lethbridge, which is really windy and really flat.” He went camping in a trailer with his third host family and tried fishing, which he had never done before. Of course much of what Rotary is about is helping others, and Geat says he was especially proud to be involved in a Rotary project called ShelterBox, which provides boxes of necessities to families who have lost their homes in natural disasters. He and others managed to raise $1,300 for the project. “My exchange was great,” he said, crediting all the people he met. “It was awesome to be sponsored by you.”
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Art Ardiel shows some of the haskap berries in cool storage. (Richard McGuire photo)
Are haskap berries a super food with a future in the Okanagan? By Richard McGuire If you’re like most people, you’ve probably never heard of haskaps. Art Ardiel hadn’t either until he was looking for something to grow on the property he owns with his wife Ewa on Road 22 between Osoyoos and Oliver and his mother suggested they should try this berry. “My mother was the one who suggested that we look at this plant, because we had some concerns about what to do with the land because of the high water table,” says Ardiel. They tried hay, but that seemed to be a waste of opportunity, so three years ago they took the plunge and planted haskaps, a shallow rooting plant that comes from the boreal forest and isn’t native to the Okanagan. They got a few berries last year, but this is the first year they’ve had a real harvest from the shrubs. Not only that, but they had fresh berries for sale at the start of June, a couple weeks before the first cherries arrived. There are numerous varieties of haskaps, but the taste 8 www.oksun.ca
and texture have been compared to a blueberry with a hint of raspberry. They are long in shape, like slightly shrivelled large capsules. They are not self pollinating, so plants are either male or female, both producing berries, and the male berries are slightly more tart. But aside from the enjoyable taste, haskaps have developed a reputation as a super food, one that’s said to have two to three times more antioxidants than blueberries. It’s sold fresh, dried and is used as an ingredient in health drinks. And because it’s still rare and is considered a super food, it sells at a premium. “It’s very comparable to goji,” says Ardiel. The Ardiels grow 12 different varieties that they license from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. There, Dr. Bob Bors has spearheaded efforts to breed different varieties of haskaps, which are also known by other names such as honeyberry, blue-berried honeysuckle or sweetberry honeysuckle. Bors crossbred Russian and Japanese strains to come
Art Ardiel shows haskap berries growing on a small bush. (Richard McGuire photo) up with tasty hybrids. The berry thrives in cold climates, doing well in boreal forests with extemely cold winters and poor, soggy soils. This made Ardiel unsure how it would do in the Okanagan, where winters can get cold-ish, but summers are anything but. “We took a gamble and came to the conclusion that we have the right soil conditions,” said Ardiel, who lives on the valley bottom and says haskaps like more alkaline soil. “The only thing that really concerned us was the heat,” he added. “The plant seems to do quite well in the heat, because after you bury it, usually around the end of July, the plant will start to go into a dormancy state. So it requires a little bit of water. Not a lot.” Hot temperatures are a challenge for harvesting though, because it is a delicate berry. “Hand picking them, we find that if the temperature gets above 25 degrees outside, they get a little soft, so we stop picking,” he said. “The pickers have been showing up at six and we usually pick until about noon and then we process.” The plants themselves, however, are quite hardy and require little care other than keeping them free of weeds. Because they are a shallow-rooting plant, there is competition for moisture. This becomes a little less critical as the plants become established, but the plants still need to be kept free of
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weeds when they are harvested mechanically, which the Ardiels hope to do next year. When the plants reach maturity, Ardiel said they should be able to produce between seven and 10 pounds of berries each. This year, however, he’s expecting a more modest 3,000 pounds of berries from 7,000 producing plants. He has 3,000 more plants of North American and Russian varieties that were planted two years ago and aren’t yet mature. While the Ardiels are likely the only haskap producers in the South Okanagan, a few other growers have started up in the Southern Interior. One couple, the Kirkpatricks, running Kirkaberry Farms near Midway, are several years ahead of the Ardiels in the process. “They’ve been excellent, steering us away from where they’ve already been,” he said when asked if they’ve shared their knowledge. “But it’s still very much a learning experience for everybody,” he added. The pickers were mostly new to haskaps, though some were returning after helping the Ardiels with their plants last year. “The younger people seem to be more aware of it because it’s a new super berry, it’s an energy berry, it’s a power berry,” said Ardiel. “So most people that are athletically motivated and they’re out hiking and doing extreme sports, they are well aware of it.” In Asia, the berry is said to promote longevity and good eyesight among other claims. Ardiel said he’s grateful that Buy Low Foods has been selling their fresh haskaps in its local produce section. The couple has also taken their haskaps to Okanagan Falls to have some dried. “That is probably the way that most people would want them because if they’re backpacking up in the wilderness, you want the dried version,” he said. When interviewed in mid-June, the couple was also planning to try selling the berries at farmers markets. “You could do anything with this berry that you could do with a blueberry as far as baking, smoothies, that type of thing,” he said. “Our idea now is to capture some of the fresh market to give people an idea what it tastes like. The challenge is it’s the first product out this spring and nobody knows about it.”
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OKANAGAN SUN • July 2017 • 9
Ron Smith and his wife Pat were recently in Osoyoos to speak about his new book, The Defiant Mind: Living Inside a Stroke. Ron only survived his stroke because Pat insisted he go to the hospital. (Keith Lacey photo)
Stroke survivor lives to write a book about it By Keith Lacey Canadian researchers are on the verge of the most dramatic and effective treatment for stroke sufferers in more than two decades, said a Nanaimo college professor and publisher, whose life was changed forever five years ago after suffering a massive stroke. Ron Smith, the proud new author of the book called The Defiant Mind: Living Inside a Stroke, visited Osoyoos recently and made a presentation about his new book and his personal journey since almost dying as a result of his stroke five years ago. During a 75-minute presentation, Smith detailed his near-death experience, the challenges he faced in writing his new book while recovering from a stroke and major advances being made in Canada to improve patient outcomes. 10 www.oksun.ca
The most promising development in stroke research anywhere in the world is currently taking place by Canadian researchers, led by Dr. Michael Hill, and his team at the University of Calgary, said Smith. A randomized controlled trial showing that a clot retrieval procedure, known as endovascular treatment (ET), can dramatically improve patient outcomes after an acute ischemic stroke, he said. Ischemic stroke is caused by a sudden blockage of an artery to the brain that deprives the brain of critical nutrients, such as glucose and oxygen. Currently, the international standard of care based on Canadian, U.S. and European guidelines is to administer a drug called tPA when appropriate. Known as a “clot buster,� the drug dissolves the blood clot. In the University of Calgary trial, 316 patients who fit the criteria for ET and arrived for treatment within 12
hours of their stroke were randomized to standard medical care (which included the clot-busting drug tPA where appropriate) or standard medical care plus ET. ET is performed by inserting a thin tube into the artery in the groin, through the body, and into the brain vessels to the clot. This is done under image-guided care using an X-ray. The clot is then removed by a retrievable stent and pulled out, restoring blood flow to the brain. Close to 85 per cent of strokes are ischemic, while the other 15 per cent are hemorrhagic, said Smith. Positive outcomes for patients have increased from 30 per cent to almost 70 per cent and instead of suffering major neurological disability, patients can go home once the clot is removed and resume their normal lives, said Smith. Incredibly, the treatment to remove the clot in the brain is still effective up to 12 hours after someone suffers a massive ischemic stroke, said Smith. “This is the leading scientific study in the world on stroke … but so few people even know about it,” said Smith. This procedure has recently been offered at Victoria General Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital, he said. This latest research is encouraging, but most stroke sufferers know nothing about it and neither do most medical professionals, said Smith. Smith recalled the day he almost died from his massive stroke like it happened yesterday. He was on his computer at home and knew something wasn’t right, but he choose to ignore his symptoms, until his wife Pat insisted he go to hospital. “I had been feeling odd since noon … I thought I had the flu,” he said. Even though his right hand had formed “a lobster claw” and he knew something wasn’t right, “a certain amount of ego takes over” and he ignored the symptoms and went to bed, said Smith. When he told his wife in bed about his day, she insisted he go to the hospital. If he hadn’t finally agreed, he would have died, said Smith. “We drove in and thank God we did, because I would have died,” he said. “She saved my life.”
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While he passed some basic tests given to all patients relating to possible stroke, the doctor in charge told him he was keeping him under observation for up to five days. “I had my stroke in the Emergency Room,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t gone to the hospital that night.” Over the past five years, his road to recovery has been long and frustrating and he and his wife have had to overcome many major hurdles, but he’s thrilled to be alive and enjoying life, said Smith. One harsh reality is “too many doctors don’t listen” to what patients have to say and believe there’s only so much they can do to assist stroke survivors, he said. When you suffer a massive stroke “a part of your brain dies” and it’s difficult to deal with, but the human brain is capable of amazing things and not enough time and effort has been directed towards utilizing other parts of the brain in stroke recovery, said Smith. “It’s simply a fact that they (medical professionals) don’t have enough information about the brain,” he said. “I had one doctor tell me there are two frontiers … outer space and the other is the three-pounds sitting on top of your shoulders.” Before his stroke, he was able to type more than 80 words per minute, but could only type eight to 10 words per minute using one finger after his stroke, said Smith. He knew within eight months after leaving hospital that he wanted to write a book about his journey from suffering to recovering from a massive stroke, he said. He wrote the book because so many stroke survivors suffer alone in silence and he wanted to provide a voice, he said. “So many of us feel alone in the world,” he said. “Part of my brain is gone and I knew that. There were many things I couldn’t remember and I felt adrift. When I talked to other stroke survivors, most of them clammed up and no one said anything. “It takes courage to get up and talk about things you are experiencing … and that’s what I’ve tried to do with this book.” Copies of Smith’s book are available on Amazon.com and in most major bookstores in B.C.
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OKANAGAN SUN • July 2017 • 11
Cindy Boehm, wearing hip waders, enters a swamp at the north end of Osoyoos Lake to spray mosquito larvae. She’s one of two mosquito control employees of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen’s mosquito control program. The spray is not toxic to other wildlife or humans. (Richard McGuire photo)
She’d rather fight mosquitoes in the swamp than work in a desk job By Richard McGuire Cindy Boehm spends her days slogging through mosquito-infested swamps, but most of the time she enjoys her work. She’d rather do that by far than work in a desk job. Boehm is one of two seasonal employees of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen’s (RDOS) Mosquito Control Program. She shares the work with Connor Linning, who helps her load insecticide into her truck each morning as the two start work. Then she works her way up the Okanagan Valley as he covers the Similkameen. The two spray a granular bacterial larvicide into swampy water, which kills mosquitoes and biting black flies at their larval stage. It’s embedded on bits of crushed corn. The product, called bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that doesn’t 12 www.oksun.ca
harm other insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds or mammals. This year is especially busy with recent flooding creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes in places where they don’t usually exist. Each morning, Boehm and Linning start with a list of areas to spray that are mosquito-breeding hotspots. And this year the list of such spots has been getting longer as a result of the flooding. “We have a lot of sites,” said Boehm. “When we started this year we had almost 350. I believe now with what’s been going on with the lake, we’re over 400.” Osoyoos Lake flooded, but it also pushed up groundwater to the north of the lake, sometimes suddenly flooding hayfields. As the lake recedes, it leaves pockets of water everywhere, which are ideal for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Boehm parks near a swamp north of Willow Beach at the north end of Osoyoos Lake. As she puts on her hip
waders and lifts her spray equipment onto her back, an older couple in a truck stop to thank her for the work she does to rid them of mosquito pests. “Keep up the good work,” they tell her gratefully. Soon she’s wading in the shallow swamp, careful not to lose her balance, which could be dangerous when she works alone. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in shallow water, she said. They don’t like water that gets deep close to the edge. Being eaten alive by mosquitoes is not the kind of work that would appeal to many people, but Boehm puts on bug spray before wading into the mosquito zone. Still, she’s been doing this work for three years and Linning has been at it for five. “I’m a ski coach, so I work all winter,” she said. “This is a perfect summer job… I like to be outside. I’m not really fond of being in an office, so it’s a good job.” She doesn’t have a background in entomology, the study of insects, but she said she’s done a lot of reading. There are about 40 species of mosquitoes in the South Okanagan, but some of them just bite birds and reptiles and some don’t bite. Even of the ones that do bite, it’s just the females that seek out blood for their eggs. The males are content with nectar. One of the most bloodthirsty as far as humans are concerned is the aedes vexans, which lays its eggs in mud of flooded areas. These, she said, can fly great distances and their eggs can survive for many years, becoming viable when they get wet again. Another genus of mosquitoes is the culex, which normally come a little later in the summer and lay their eggs in shallow water, Boehm said. She encourages people to play a role in controlling this mosquito by getting rid of standing water that can be used by the culex mosquitoes to lay their eggs. “Clean up your yard, put in proper ditching, clean out your eaves trough, just get rid of places where water tends to pool,” she said. “If you’ve got a depression, fill it in – for your own sanity and for your neighbours. You can’t just rely on a mosquito control program to kill everything. We can’t even come close.” Bird baths, dog dishes, all kinds of containers of water can become home to mosquito larvae. Unlike the aedes vexans, the culex mosquitoes don’t fly far so they’re easier to control. “The problem this year is there’s water everywhere,” said Boehm. Recently the RDOS brought in a helicopter to assist with the spraying because there are some areas that are hard for Boehm and Linning to reach on foot. There are also areas that are off limits to the Mosquito Control Program such as properties near Road 22 that are owned by Ducks Unlimited, Nature Trust of B.C. and other conservancy land. “We’re not allowed to treat them,” said Boehm, who acknowledges that mosquitoes do breed on those wetlands and do affect nearby human habitation.
Cindy Boehm (Richard McGuire photo) The RDOS says that this year’s flooding will likely result in increased nuisance mosquito issues in 2018 as eggs laid this year become viable in the future. “That’s a good possibility,” says Boehm. “But who wants to be the bearer of bad news.”
OKANAGAN SUN • July 2017 • 13
New Vaseux bird blind sends packrats packing
Eva Durance, Jason Bieber (middle) and Matthias Bieber check out the new bird blind at Vaseux Wildlife Centre, a popular spot for bird watchers. (Lyonel Doherty photo) 14 www.oksun.ca
By Lyonel Doherty BC Nature has sent the packrats packing at Vaseux Lake with the construction of a new bird blind that was officially opened in May. The three-story public viewing platform replaces the old platform that was a favourite refuge for rodents. “This (new) blind was architecturally designed, and the only group disappointed with it is the packrats,” said avid bird watcher Richard Cannings. The platform is situated at the end of a boardwalk at Vaseux Wildlife Centre on Highway 97 south of Okanagan Falls. Built by Don Parmenter and designed by Chris Allen, the all-wood platform has greater floor space and an internal staircase. Parmenter began rebuilding in October of 2016 and completed the blind this March. From the top covered deck, one has a panoramic view of the lake, cliffs and surrounding grasslands. The second level is enclosed via a door (with a bone handle) and shutters over openings at various heights. This protects visitors from inclement weather and deters rodents from moving in. The entry level is wheelchair accessible. The project has been a labour of love for the Important Bird & Biodiversity Area run by BC Nature. Eva Durance is the volunteer caretaker and the platform’s project manager. “It’s a lovely place for youth groups and an important conservation education place,” she said. She explained that it took four-and-a-half years to bring the project to fruition, noting it has been a “frustrating” and “wonderful” fourand-a-half years. Durance said the project was a result of large and small contributions from non-profit organizations, local businesses and individuals. For example, the Rotary Club of Penticton provided the benches in the blind. She pointed out that the boardwalk will eventually be rebuilt wider to accommodate the public. Bob Handfield, president of the BC Naturalist Foundation and South Okanagan Naturalist Club, said people have no idea how hard Durance worked on the project. “It was a real struggle to keep it going, but Eva kept it going.” According to Handfield, this bird blind is one of the best he has seen in North America. Cannings, who is also the local Member of Parliament, said this platform will be enjoyed by visitors and residents for years to come.
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OKANAGAN SUN • July 2017 • 15
Training for the Invictus Games
Lutz is blind, Mark is partially deaf, together they are a force to be reckoned with Lutz Stelzner (in back) trains for the Invictus Games with partner Mark Cunningham. (Dan Walton photo)
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By Dan Walton Athletes are travelling around the world to be in Toronto this fall for the Invictus Games, and representing Oliver at the international event will be MCpl Lutz Stelzner. The Invictus Games is an athletic tournament for veterans who became injured while serving in their country’s armed forces. Stelzner was serving a career in the Canadian Armed Forces until 2006, when he was forced to resign due to the onslaught of blindness. Training is well underway for the Games, which begin in September. Stelzner is preparing for the road cycling event, which he’ll be doing in tandem along with LCdr Mark Cunningham, who is partially deaf. “He’s good,” Stelzner said about his partner. “Me and him together, we could be a force to be reckoned with.” “He’s got a great attitude,” Cunningham said of Stelzner. “Imagine you’re riding your bike at 40 km/h, you have no brakes and you can’t steer. Now close your eyes. That’s what it feels like for Stelzner as a blind cyclist sitting in the back of a tandem. I wish I had his courage.” The two first met at a five-day training camp in Victoria. “We only have one more camp, so between the two camps, we only have 10 days of training together,” said Stelzner. “But he’s willing to come up here if we find a tandem to practice on. We only have one more camp.” Stelzner said the first camp was exciting and euphoric, and that there’s a deep sense of brotherhood when among military veterans.
“Even people with PTSD, they deal better with people in the military, they trust their fellow soldiers more.” Since he began training for the Games, Stelzner said he already feels and looks much better, though he isn’t always able to maximize his training schedule due to issues with depression. But he feels like his depression is slowly getting better, partially thanks to the Games, and he’ll be participating in a study that measures the effects of sports on depression. The Games aren’t very competitive; instead, the emphasis is on personal improvement and camaraderie. Nonetheless, Stelzner plans on pushing himself hard. He plans to keep training hard, lose 10 kilograms before the event and then put on an impressive performance. “I don’t want to be patronized. I don’t want people cheering me on just because I’m a disabled veteran.” Getting the right tandem bicycle won’t be cheap though. The Soldier On Program assists athletes with $1,000 each and Sport Chek is offering equipment at 40 per cent off, but the cost of a new bike suitable for the event is over $10,000. “Finding funds is the hard part,” he said. In the meantime, Stelzner makes the most out of training on a stationary bike in his basement. “But when you go from a recumbent bike to an upright, it’s a little bit different; it’s a bit of a disadvantage with respect to which muscles are being applied.” The 2017 Invictus Games run from Sept. 23 to 30, with athletes coming from 16 different countries. The tournament was founded by Prince Harry in 2014.
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OKANAGAN SUN • July 2017 • 17
Siobhan Detkavich won a bronze medal at Skills Canada’s national competition. (Contributed photo)
Oliver teen wins national bronze for culinary skills By Dan Walton The Oliver teen representing British Columbian culinary at this year’s Skills Canada National Competition won the bronze medal. Seventeen-year-old Siobhan Detkavich, who’s a chefin-training in Grade 12 at Southern Okanagan Secondary School, was representing the province on the national stage last month. Earlier in the year, her impressive performances allowed her to advance through the regional and provincial qualifying rounds. Then last month, she travelled to Winnipeg, Manitoba to face off against her culinary counterparts from the other provinces and territories (except Nova Scotia and Newfoundland). “It was really cool seeing all that diversity come into one area,” she said. “I’ve never met anyone from Nunavut or PEI before.” Detkavich’s reputation as an impressive chef followed her to Winnipeg, where other young chefs were warning to watch out for British Columbia. She wore a stern game face, “but inside I was so nervous – I even danced at one point to get the nerves off my back.” For Detkavich’s birthday, she was given a custom jacket by the chef who she apprentices under at Hester Creek’s Terrafina Restaurant. The jacket has a symbol representing the Okanagan, which she proudly showed off by wearing it at the Skills Canada competition. “With so many people watching you and the pressure 18 www.oksun.ca
to represent your entire province – you just have to make the best of it.” Beyond their ability to perfectly prepare plates of food, competitors were judged on their professional attire, cleanliness and ability to reduce waste. Detkavich’s performance was strong enough to earn her a podium finish, but her use of eggs may have docked her a few points. “I’ve never been screwed over so hard by eggs,” she said of the meticulous challenges. But in the end, the contest only strengthened her abilities. “I’m really good at poaching salmon now.” And the intensity of the competitions forced her to become even more efficient with her time. “What’s cooking while you’re cooking?” is her multitasking philosophy. Winning the gold medal was Manitoba, and silver went to Alberta. “The girl from Manitoba definitely deserved it, she put in a lot of hours and her plates looked really good,” Detkavich said. The event attracted over 10,000 spectators. When Detkavich wasn’t busy with the culinary contest, she had a chance to watch some of the competitions that involve other trades. Skills Canada, she said, is doing a very effective job attracting the youth towards the trades.
MEETINGS
Osoyoos Rotary meets Thursday at noon at McKia’s Restaurant in the Best Western Hotel, Osoyoos. Osoyoos Woodcarvers meet Monday 9:30 a.m. upstairs at the Osoyoos Arts Centre. Call Joe at 250-495-5079 for info.
Kiwanis Club of Osoyoos meets at noon on the second and fourth Monday of each month at McKia’s Restaurant. For info contact 250-495-7701.
Soroptimist International of Osoyoos meets the third Tuesday of the month at McKia’s Restaurant, Best Western Hotel, Osoyoos at 6 p.m. Call Joan 250-495-2929 if wanting to attend.
Stroke-Brain Injury Recovery group meets Friday from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at the Osoyoos Health Centre, 4816 89 St. Osoyoos Elks #436, second Wednesday meet at 7 p.m., Elks Hall, 8506 92 Avenue. Call Annette at 250-495-6227 or Ken Thibault at 250-495-3936.
Women’s weight loss, “Lean Living”. Weekly meetings, Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m. Phone Althea at 250-460-0391 or email Althea@womengrowingstrong.com for more information. Osoyoos Autoimmune Support Group meets every second Wednesday of the month at the Osoyoos Health Centre, 4816 89th St., from 1:15 -3:15pm. Join us for discussions on Sjogren’s, RA, Lupus, Fibro, etc. Everyone welcome. Call Marilyn 250-495-0666.
OLIVER THEATRE
O’s Own Writers meet the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Osoyoos Arts Centre. New members welcome. Call Jody 250-4952170.
Enjoy your evening out, taking In a movie at the Oliver Theatre!
July, 2017 Programme
Visit Our Website
Osoyoos Photography Club meets the first and third Monday at the Sonora Community Centre, 6:30 p.m. Except summer. For more information 250-4954960 osoyoosphotoclub@gmail.com.
www.olivertheatre.ca
Summer Showtimes 7:00 & 9:00 p.m. Nightly (unless otherwise stated)
Phone 250-498-2277 Oliver, BC
Sat. – Sun. – Mon. – Tues. – Wed - Thurs. – Fri. July 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21
Sat. - Sun. - Mon. - Tues. July 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
The Multiple Sclerosis group meets the second Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Interior Health office, 4816 89 Street, Osoyoos. Call Ron at 250-4984372 or Donna 250-495-5001. Osoyoos Quilters meet on the first and third Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. Call 250-4952254 or 250-495-4569. Evening quilting every first and third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Vera 250-495-2738. Elks Lodge, 8506 92 Ave.
There will also be a matinee of this show on the Sat. at 2:00 p.m. All seats $6.00 for the matinee.
Wed. - Thurs. - Fri. July 5 - 6 - 7 Wed. Thurs. Fri. July 5 6
Showtimes nightly @ 7:00 & 9:10 p.m. There will also be a matinee of this show on the Sat. at 2:00 p.m. All seats $6.00 for the matinee.
Parkinson’s Support Group meets on Monday from 1 - 3 p.m. at Sunnybank Lodge in Oliver. Call Rod Freeman 250498-8427 for more info.
Sat. – Sun. – Mon. – Tues. – Wed - Thurs. – Fri. July 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 Showtimes nightly @ 7:00 & 9:30 p.m.
Toastmasters ... “Where leaders are made”. Drop in any Tuesday 7 p.m. at the Osoyoos Baptist Church, north side entrance, Hwy. 97 and 62nd Ave. Contact Sam 778-437-2130 or samdimou@ yahoo.com.
Violence, may frighten young children, coarse language.
AA meetings every Monday 7 p.m. St. Anne’s Catholic Church. Every Friday 7 p.m. St. Christopher’s Anglican Church. Call Louise 250-495-1627 or 250-6890415.
Sat. - Sun. - Mon. - Tues. - Wed - Thurs. - Fri. Sat. Sun. Mon. Tues. Wed Thurs. Fri. July 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 One Showing Nightly @ 7:30 p.m. Violence, coarse language.
Sat. - Sun. - Mon. - Tues. July 29 - 30 – 31, Aug. 1 Sat. Sun. Mon. Tues. July 29 30 31, Aug. 1 Showtimes nightly @ 7:00 & 9:30 p.m.
The Osoyoos Library Book Club meets the third Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the library. Artists on Main paint Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. upstairs at the Osoyoos Arts Centre. Sue 250-4957664. The Osoyoos Royal Purple meets the third Wednesday (except July and Aug.) at 7 p.m. at the Osoyoos Elks Hall, 8506 92 Ave. For info call 250-495-7788 or 250-495-7561.
Coarse language, violence.
Violence, may frighten young children.
Programme Subject To Unavoidable change without notice
OKANAGAN SUN • July 2017 • 19
Rusty Copeland performed at last year’s Music in the Park finale. Copeland has stepped down as one of the “Three Amigos” organizing the event and has been replaced by Roland Berg. (Richard McGuire photo)
Osoyoos Music in the Park is back for third year By Richard McGuire The Osoyoos Music in the Park concert series is back this summer for its third year with an all-new line-up and a few format tweaks. The free concerts, which kicked off June 30, run every Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Gyro Park Bandshell. This summer there will be 10 concerts with the final one on Sept. 1, the Friday of the Labour Day weekend. The biggest format change is that all performers will play the full two hours. Last year, especially when solo performers were involved, some concerts were done as double bills with performers switching during the break. 20 www.oksun.ca
“Two hours I think is a good length of time,” said Janis St. Louis, one of the “Three Amigos” who organize the concerts. “It’s easier when there’s only one group setting up and most people can handle two hours easily.” The “Three Amigos” have also lost a member – Rusty Copeland – and gained another – Roland Berg. Copeland, a musician, has moved to Kelowna, but was active in the planning of this year’s series. The other Amigo is Alan Bleiken, who also books concerts for Jojo’s Café. St. Louis books concerts for Market on Main. St. Louis said Copeland, as a musician, was able to help with many sound system issues. “Roland Berg is a musician himself, so it’s helpful when
a band is setting up for sound checks and stuff like that,” she said. While some of this year’s performers have played in Osoyoos before, this summer will be the first time any of them have played at Osoyoos Music in the Park. There’s a mix of music styles including reggae, ska and folk, but most of the music will be pop, rock and country. “We have a better idea of what the crowd likes and we choose accordingly,” said St. Louis. “You have to hold the audience so it has to have activity and enthusiasm. Certain kinds of music like slow jazz and quiet low-key kind of background listening music are not going to hold people.” Last year the most popular performance was the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy and St. Louis tried to bring them back. “I had them booked right away,” she said. “Then about two months ago they emailed me and said they were being shipped overseas.” But they recommended Jet Stream from the Royal Canadian Air Force in Winnipeg and St. Louis was able to book Jet Stream to perform on Aug. 11. The seven-piece reggae band Foundation Stone from the Kootenays plays on Aug. 18. Local band August Accord also plays reggae along with ska and folk. They perform on July 14. St. Louis is also excited about Daniel Gervais, from Edmonton,
the 2016 and 2011 Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion. He performs on July 7. Country musician Aaron Halliday, from Penticton, plays a tribute to American singer and songwriter Alan Jackson and performs July 28. “I’m looking forward to him,” said St. Louis. “It seems like we do have quite a following of country rock people here.” The series opened June 30 with the Rob Robertson Band, which has played their country rock at Jojo’s Café. Closing the series on Sept. 1 is local rock and country singer Diane Ball. Other performers include Chase the Dragon (July 21), Uncorked (Aug. 4) and Route 33 (Aug. 25). St. Louis said the Three Amigos start choosing the performers in January and many of the performers are now initiating the contact, sending music samples. “We sit around and listen to it and see what we think,” she said. Music in the Park is funded under the province’s Resort Municipality Initiative, which funds projects through the town to promote tourism. St. Louis said the concerts draw a mix of locals and tourists, with some regular attendees setting up their chairs in favourite spots long before the concert starts. “I think it offers local people as well something on a Friday night, to enjoy your own community,” she said. “Anybody from any age would enjoy it.”
Coming to Terms With Hearing Loss Hearing loss is the most common sensory impairment caused by aging. The early signs usually go unnoticed, but Greg Wheeler, once the loss Pharmacist of hearing has become evident, it can be a frustrating condition to come to terms with. Hearing loss can also be brought on by noise exposure, heredity, head injury, or neurological problems. Adult warning signs of hearing loss include: Speaking or listening to music louder than necessary Preference for listening with one ear Constantly asking for words to be repeated Thinking people are always mumbling If you suspect you have hearing loss, it is important to get a hearing test to determine the degree of hearing loss and treatment. Devices such as hearing aids can greatly improve your ability to hear. Speak to your Remedy’s Rx pharmacist about help with hearing loss.
105-291 Fairview Rd The Naden Band was a huge hit last year. (Richard McGuire photo)
Oliver
250.485.4007
OKANAGAN SUN • July 2017 • 21
Oliver’s Music in the Park is scheduled every Thursday starting on July 6. (File photo)
Oliver’s Music in the Park is collaboration By Carol Sheridan All summer long the popular Music in the Park concert series and evening market in Oliver will go on, thanks to the collaboration between Oliver Parks and Recreation, the Oliver Community Arts Council, and a new market coordinator, Audrey Enixon. The 2017 Oliver market and music events will take place every Thursday at Community Park between 4:308 pm July 6 to September 7. Enixon, also the owner of Made in Road 9 Bakery, moved to Oliver from Bordeaux, France with her husband a few years ago. She is very passionate about creating a market that supports the local food economy as well as provides a place for people to come together and socialize. “A strong market is the window of a healthy town and helps to create a strong community,” says Enixon. “People in Oliver make good stuff and need to share that.” The market will once again offer fresh, local produce and products, French bakery, artisan vendors and picnic food to enjoy at the concert. Farmers who are growing fruit and vegetables, those who make their own food products, and artisans who are making their own items are invited be a part of the market. The cost for a booth space is $10 per market; tables are available on site and all vendors are encouraged 22 www.oksun.ca
to bring a tent for shade. Oliver evening market vendor forms are available at www.oliverrecreation.ca or at the Oliver Parks and Recreation office. Interested parties are encouraged to visit the Oliver music and market (OMAM) Facebook page. The Oliver Community Arts Council has a fantastic Music in the Park series planned for this summer, starting with big band tunes from the Penticton Concert Band on Thursday, July 6. Music starts each Thursday at 6:30 pm at the Community Bandshell, and the rain venue will be the Community Hall (in case of bad weather). Concert-goers are invited to bring a lawn chair and come down to enjoy music by donation. The Arts Council will wrap up their series on Thursday, August 24 with the popular party rock band “Uncorked.” To keep the momentum of the market going during the week before the kids get back to school and provide a season wrap-up celebration, Oliver Parks and Recreation will partner with Oliver market and music for two additional weeks from 4:30 – 7:30 pm on Thursday, August 31 and Thursday, September 7. Each night will feature live entertainment, a food truck, children’s activities and the market. For more information about Oliver market and music contact Audrey Enixon at enixonaudrey@gmail.com or through the Facebook page. Evening market vendor applications are available on the Oliver Parks and Recreation website at www.oliverrecreation.ca.
JULY The Osoyoos Desert Centre’s night tours started on June 29. $10 per person and advance registration is required. Please call 250-495-2470. Future dates are July 6, 13, 20, 27, Aug 3 and 10. ‘Radiant Land’ a solo exhibition of new work by Penticton Artist Robyn Lake from June 29 to July 13 at the Lloyd Gallery, 18 Front St., Penticton. Opening reception on Thursday, June 29 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Everyone welcome, free admission. Osoyoos Music in the Park runs free concerts on Friday evenings until Sept. 1. Music is from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Gyro Beach bandshell at the foot of Main St. The Osoyoos Library Summer Reading Club will be held on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. starting on July 4. This year’s theme is Walk on the Wild Side. There will be night tour at the Osoyoos Desert Centre on July 6. $10 per person and advance registration is required. Please call 250-4952470. Future dates are July 13, 20, 27, Aug 3 and 10. Oliver Music in the Park presents the Penticton Concert Band on Thursday, July 6. Swing, jazz, big band and Dixie. 6:30 – 8 p.m. Oliver Community Stage bandshell. 6359 Park Dr. Admission by donation. Bring a lawn chair. Rain venue is the Oliver Community Hall. 250-498-0183 or OliverCAC@gmail.com for info. Osoyoos Music in the Park this Friday, July 7 features Daniel Gervais. Music is from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the
Gyro Beach bandshell at the foot of Main St. The Front Street Gallery presents guest artist Deb Tougas ‘Colour in Bloom’ from July 7 - 20. Deb will be demonstrating her painting on July 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gallery located at 60 Front Street, Penticton and is open Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Enjoy the work of local artists, wine tasting and a walk in the desert under a full moon at Art in the Moonlight Saturday, July 8 at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. Admission to the art show and wine tasting is free. $10 charge for desert night tours leaving at 6, 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. Come out for a weekend of curling on grass at The Green Speil July 8 and 9. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Barbecue, refreshments, prizes. Fun for all on the Green at Gyro Park in Osoyoos. Register at the Sonora Centre by June 30. $20. Hosted by the Lawn Bowling and Curling Clubs. Oliver Music in the Park presents the Broken Bones on Thursday, July 13. Classic rock music. 6:30 – 8 p.m. Oliver Community Stage bandshell. 6359 Park Dr. Admission by donation. Bring a lawn chair. Rain venue is the Oliver Community Hall. 250498-0183 or OliverCAC@gmail.com for info. The first Osoyoos street dance will be on July 15 at bandshell in Gyro Park. Come down from 7 – 10 p.m. and shake your bootie! Next one August 19.
ists exhibit will be held at Tinhorn Creek Winery from July 21-Aug 6. Daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information please visit http://fca-sos. ca/show. A Tom Petty tribute played by Phil Dunget, with his crowd-winning showmanship and likeness to Tom Petty shows at the Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver on Saturday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Women of Rock includes tributes to Chrissie Hynde, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar all played by Linda Maze. Information at venablestheatre.ca. The Little Mermaid – The Musical shows at Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver on Sunday, July 30 at 3 p.m. This family show takes you on an underwater adventure with magical characters. Recommended for children aged one to 10. Information at venablestheatre.ca. The Art Gallery Osoyoos Summer Artisan Market is open to Sept. 5. Pottery, paintings, art cards, jewelry and more. Tuesday – Saturday noon – 4 p.m. Corner of Main and 89th St. Motorcycle meetup Tuesdays through to October. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at Tim Hortons in Osoyoos. Ride out at 7 p.m. weather permitting. All riders welcome. Send your events to: events@osoyoostimes.com
The Federation of Canadian ArtOKANAGAN SUN • July 2017 • 23
Fri, May 5 — 5:30 5:30-7pm 5:307pm Free ‘Pizza n’ Games Night’ as part of BC Youth Week | OK Falls Gym Sat, May 6 — 10:30am 10:30am-12pm 10:30am12pm Guided Hike (Peach Cliff) Sat, May 13 — 10am 10am-12:30pm 10am12:30pm SprocKids | Basketball Courts— Courts—OK Falls CC Sat, May 14— 14—2—22-4pm MITP - Amigo Diego & Friends | Bandshell Sat, May 26 — 55-7pm Paint Night | OK Falls CC Sat, May 28 — 10am 10am-12pm 10am12pm Lion’s Club Dog Walk | Lion’s Park
Sat, June 3— 3— ‘Community ‘Community Activity Day’ as part of National Health and Fitness Day | Keogan Park Sat, June 17— 17— Pharmasave Junior Triathlon Sat, June 18— 18—5—55-9pm MITP - Jeff Bodner |Terri Brenner | Bandshell Fri, June 30— 30— 10am 10am-12pm 10am12pm Family Beach Party | Kenyon Park Sat, July 1— 1—Canada 150 Celebrations | Kenyon and Centennial Parks Wed, July 5-26 5 26 526— —What’s on Wednesdays | Kenyon Park Fri, July 7— 7— Party in the Park | OK Falls Winery Association | Kenyon Park Sun, July 16— 16— 55-7pm MITP MITP— —Revel Luv| Bandshell Thu, July 20— 20— 55-7pm Teen Beach BBQ | Kenyon Park
Sun, July 30— 30—5—55-9pm MITP MITP— —Buzz Byer and Cindy Doucette | Bandshell Wed, August 5 -26 -26 26— —What’s on Wednesdays | Kenyon Park Sat, August 12 — Shriners Car Show | Kenyon and Christie Memorial Sun, August 13 — Ultra Swim | Skaha Lake Sun, August 13 — 6-8:30pm MITP - Sax Among Friends | Bandshell Sun, August 20 — Interior Savings and B & G Club Movie in the Park | Kenyon Park Sun, August 27 — 55-8pm MITP - Flashback | Bandshell
Indicates an Okanagan Falls Parks and Recreation event
24 www.oksun.ca
Please call: (250) 497 497497-8188 for more info!