March 2023 Trends Magazine

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O K ANAGAN

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MARCH 2023

Dialogue on addiction

THROUGH THE CRACKS

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ISSN 2816-3761

ISSN 2816-377X (online)

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senior editor | founder Yvonne Turgeon

associate editor David Wylie

design

Mishell Raedeke Yvonne Turgeon

contributing writers Aly K. Benson Viola Cohen Marshall Jones Stephanie Gauthier Helene Scott Myrna Stark-Leader Yvonne Turgeon Glenna Turnbull David Wylie

photographers

Jon Adrian Aaron Hagen Leila Kwok Myrna Stark-Leader John Thiessen Yvonne Turgeon Jay Wallace Abigail Weins

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MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 3

voices editor

Happy? Clap your hands Photo by Shanelle Connell

E YVONNE TURGEON Publisher & Senior Editor

Saddle up for some smoky barbecue p38 Reisling rendezvous p41 Decoding relationship texts p42

arly last spring, I found Award winners, The Washboard myself rejoining a group Union, one of Canada’s I hadn’t had the privilege preeminent Country music of membership for a very artists and a down-home act. long time—an audience Vocalist and banjo listening to live music. player Chris Duncombe and It was an intimate brother Aaron Grain (vocal experience rejoining my tribe. and guitar) grew up in West Tucked into the dark tables Kelowna before heading in Penticton’s Dream Cafe, to Vancouver where they we awoke from our slumber began writing and singing and put our hands together. music with David Roberts.

The sweet sound of applause.

To the north, the return of In the midst of the outdoor concerts on a grand revelry, I stopped and scale saw thousands flock reflected. I handn’t clapped to Salmon Arm for one of my hands in over two years.

Western Canada’s largest music The music was festivals, Roots and Blues. Box stirring—award-winning office records were crushed singer-songwriter Steve at what could be dubbed the Dawson sharing his shelter-in“coming out party for COVID.” place productivity—but the It had been two years sound of the crowd joining since Roots and Blues last together was captivating. brought the community I needed more—and together. Crowds were perhaps a crowd where I thrilled with the intimate could also hoot and howl. live experience—and the The return of the Gonzo chance to hug friends not seen Okanagan music industry golf since the pandemic —while tournament and the outdoor the artists themselves concert did not disappoint; poured out gratitude for nor did headliners and Juno their return to the stage.

On Sunday night, multiplatinum award-winning singer-songwriter Jann Arden closed the festival with a stunning and heartfelt performance, the 13,000 in the crowd joining in singing wellloved lyrics from her top hits.

Her encore was an impassioned plea to come together, to remember how great Canada is, and “to count your mercies.”

Two years was also an agonizing wait for Kelowna’s ballet company, whose first commissioned full-length ballet, Macbeth, finally took to the stage last spring. Originally scheduled to premiere in 2020, the production was postponed due to the pandemic.

Set to an original score, the dancers brought to life the iconic figures of Macbeth, Duncan, Lady Macbeth and the witches through movement and gestures.

To witness performing arts live is to be in the presence of grace. Let us never pause to welcome arts into to our communities and hearts. T

[front cover] Local massage therapist Brad Friedrich of Lake Country tested his mettle at the Spartan extreme race held last summer at Big White Mountain.

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With rugged single tracks, alpine views and challenging climbs, the Okanagan Highland provided an epic terrain for the more than 5,000 racers.

Brad completed the

Spartan Super 10K in a time of 1h52m32s.

The weekend event returns to Big White on Sept. 2 and 3, 2023, giving racers the ability to complete a trifecta (Sprint 5K, Super

10K and Beast 21K) in just one weekend.

Kelowna’s economy benefited from just over $2.2 million in economic activity from hosting the championships. T

Contents

12 Welcoming recovery

voices 6 first person

leading the journey home with Stephanie Gauthier

46 last word

Is Marshall Jones coming out of the cannabis closet?

24 Extreme

PHOTOS FROM TOP NICHOLAS RADAR WELCOMES RECOVERY COURTESY OF THE FAMILY; SPARTAN RACES, AIR B&B AND CHEF RYAN BYRNE PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

races

DESIGN

Beach vibes beckons renters to Kelowna vacation home

8

beer 35 Play craft What’s brewing

on Highway 97?

40

wine

TV dinners + Riesling rendezvous

7 Culture

42

design

dating

Vacation hues

10

shopping

Nearly-new beds

11

Texting to find love

38 DINE Slow

roasted riches at the Hatching Post

45

outdoors

Cross-country craze

home

Composting collection

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 5

first person

POVERTY PRESSURE OPINION STEPHANIE GAUTHIER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL OKANAGAN JOURNEY HOME SOCIETY

hat causes homelessness in Kelowna?

I get asked this question a lot and there isn’t a straightforward answer.

Many people point to mental health and substance use. It’s true they can play a role, but there are people who experience homelessness who don’t struggle with substances or mental health, so it’s not the whole story. We also know that most people who drink alcohol, use drugs or encounter mental health issues never experience homelessness.

Poor physical health, discrimination, trauma and disability can lead to homelessness. As can where you live, the social supports available to you, your family structure, your level of education and even plain, dumb luck. Bad things happen sometimes for no good reason.

There’s one factor I want to pay special attention to here. It’s the most important one: poverty.

Money provides a safety net when things go wrong. Imagine the townhome you’re renting goes up for sale and you have to move.

You discover rent has increased more than 20 percent, and that’s only in the last year. Can you make that work with your budget?

Maybe your 2007 Toyota Camry that always starts, suddenly doesn’t. It’s $1,500 to fix and you no longer have a way to get to your worksite.

There are a million hiccups that can happen and, when you don’t have savings and you’re struggling to keep up with the bills, even a tiny disruption can spell disaster.

It’s true that many people who live in poverty never experience

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homelessness, but we’re seeing more and more people in Kelowna arrive into homelessness for purely financial reasons.

It’s a troubling trend.

You may have seen it for yourself in the cars parked outside of big-box stores overnight, packed full of someone’s belongings, a clear sign it’s serving as their home; it might be home for a whole family. You may have a friend or family member who’s had to crash on your couch until they get back on their feet. It’s heartbreaking, but stories like these are becoming a lot more common, not only here in Kelowna, but across Canada.

These are people who have never experienced homelessness before and never imagined they would. They’re terrified, they’re ashamed, and they often blame themselves.

They shouldn’t.

In 2021, Living Wage for Families B.C. pegged Kelowna’s living wage at $18.49. This is well above B.C.’s current $15.65

minimum wage, but it’s also miles below today’s actual living wage.

We see it in the grocery store, at the gas pump, and nearly everywhere else. Everything seems to cost so much more than it did last year.

We’re in a critical time where the economic dice we’ve thrown have landed and we’re feeling the effects in our community. People are squeezed, and the result is poverty that’s turning into homelessness, and that means suffering.

It’s time to change the way we think about poverty and the people who experience it. It’s time we stop blaming poverty on the poor.

So, what can we do about poverty in our community?

Learn more about social issues like homelessness and poverty, donate to or volunteer, and support projects, policies and politicians who are focused on solving these issues.

If you’re an employer, see if you can increase

employee pay, especially if they are lower wage earners.

One of the simplest, but most profound things you can do right now is to simply show kindness and compassion.

If you see someone who’s struggling, treat them like you would anyone else — flash them a warm smile and say ‘hello.’ You’d be surprised how much of a difference this can make. It’s a small act but it has big meaning. It shows that person that they’re still welcome, that even if they’ve lost their home, they haven’t lost their community.

At the Central Okanagan Journey Home Society, our Face Homelessness public awareness campaign is highlighting the impact stigma has on people experiencing homelessness with stories of real people in our community.

Let’s make our community better by solving stigma.

Find out how at journeyhome.ca/stigma. T

Photos contributed

W

Culture

PHOTO ABIGAIL WIENS

taqəš

Based on a traditional Coast Salish story of the Raven Returns the Water, taqəš launched Ballet Kelowna’s 20th season. The work was choreographed by Cameron Fraser-Monroe, the company’s first artist-in-residence and a member of the Tla’amin First Nation. A graduate of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Monroe has danced with numerous companies. Watch for the performances of his new works this year.

design

8

shopping

10

home

11

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 7

trends design

PHOTOS JON ADRIAN STORY YVONNE TURGEON

Vacay rental

pops with colour Design duo creates fresh, playful look with a twist of the traditional

M

aking your listing pop is a top priority in the competitive vacation rental market. However, veteran Kelowna property owner Tony Otto knew the stunning view from his condo at the corner of Bernard Avenue and Abbott Street would only be the beginning.

In his first reno a few years ago, he raised the ceiling and blew out a wall so the lake view could be seen from the kitchen. This time, he worked with City Hall to gain approval for an additional corner window—adding safety glass and additional sprinklers to get a stamp of approval.

And then, he took the bold move to bring on vacation rental consultant Suzanne Young to manage and market the property.

Young named the locale “Urban Shores” and reached out to designers Mercedes Brennan and Karen Campbell from 1 Chic Retreats based in Southern California to take the rental to another level.

“The view is so beautiful we needed to match that with the interior, if that was possible,” says Campbell. “We didn’t want to have a difference between that gorgeous view and what is going on in the inside.”

It’s all about colour, says the designers of this Kelowna vacation rental.

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Cupboards were painted a “non-serious” blue, evocative of the water but with added hues to echo the playful theme, and bright enough to feels happy even in the winter. [below] Textures and prints add coxiness to the living room.

A playful and whimsical theme emerged.

“We wanted to have a feeling of lightness, creating a place where you could enjoy yourself but also evoke some curiosity,” says Brennan.“The lightness keeps people happy, even in the winter.”

For Campbell, it was important to design a place that was going to pop in the listings, but also to create an experience for the renter. “We wanted to create the home that they wish they had.”

Grass cloth wallpaper gives the bedroom distinctive beach vibes. Making the bed is a breeze with wrinkled white linens.

“We like to have fun with art,” she adds. “People don’t often think about artwork in a rental.”

The design duo urges property owners to become more confident with colour and textures.

“When we look at vacation rentals, our eyes just glaze over,” says Brennan. “Everyone does beige because they don’t know how to put colour into a space or to juxtapose patterns. They’re scared.

“When we get in there, we are all about colour: the more colour, the better.”

A beach feel is brought forward in the grasscloth wallpaper used in the bedroom, a design trend from the 1960s and 1970s. The organic, natural look is back.

“Wallpaper adds a different element and can soften a room,” says Campbell.

“As it is all about the view, the colours, the

cabinets, and the grasscloth marries the nature outside.”

Every detail is essential, stresses Young.

“Coffee is a serious matter for vacationers and can mean the difference between getting a review or not.”

At Urban Shores, fresh coffee beans, a grinder and the baristacompetition calibre Moccamaster greet guests.

“You can’t get this level of comfort at a hotel,” she says. T MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 9

Photos courtesy of CBC

trends shopping

A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP Kelowna’s Second Slumber founders sleep easy after deal on Dragons’ Den

[from left] Second Slumber executive director Rick Maddison and founder Scott Amis.

“Y

ou got a deal!” exclaimed Scott Amis. The founder and CEO of Second Slumber enthusiastically partnered with Michele Romanow—a thriving tech titan—during an appearance on season 17 of CBC’s Dragons’ Den. The high-stakes TV show draws millions of viewers from across Canada.

Second Slumber is Canada’s first factory authorized reseller of open-boxed mattresses.

But let’s back up a bit.

When it first went online in August 2021, the company had trust issues.

“People thought it was a scam,” says Rick Maddison executive director of Second Slumber. “They thought because it was so new and because the prices were so low that they were getting scammed. It took a long time and plenty of conversations to get people to believe in the business model.”

Nearly-new beds that are returned under the 100-night Photo by John Thiessen

10 | T R E N D S M A G . CA

Dragons Arlene Dickinson and Robert Herjavec have some fun on the set during Second Slumber’s pitch.

comfort trial become inventory for Second Slumber. The company finds a buyer (within the same region as the original purchaser) and facilitates the transaction—usually for about half the cost of the original purchase price.

Amis says the company keeps premium mattresses out of the landfill and allows access to high-quality beds for thousands of people from across Canada.

“It puts a spring in my step knowing we are saving waste and helping people get a better night’s sleep for far less.”

The founder added that the company also donates a portion of proceeds to help those struggling with mental health.

“I lost a best friend to suicide years ago; I didn’t want his death to be meaningless,” says Amis. “It gives us purpose and hopefully more of that good karma.”

Now that the Dragons’ Den episode has aired with their pitch on it, Amis

trends home

PHOTO | STORY MYRNA STARK LEADER

It puts a spring in my step knowing we are saving waste. and Maddison have lofty dreams They’re excited to start working with Romanow, who has co-founded several businesses, including Evandale Caviar, Buytopia.ca, SnapSaves, and Clearco.

The duo is looking forward to benefitting from her network and insight.

“I think she can open a lot of doors for our scrappy, but kind, start-up,” says Amis. “She did a deal with Endy Mattresses, which is one of the biggest sellers in Canada, so that opens a lot of opportunity for our company going forward.”

Maddison said he doesn’t have any regrets about making a deal with Romanow, the youngest of the dragons.

“We gave up a bigger chunk of the company than what we anticipated— but she is a tough negotiator, and she didn’t back down. For what she offers us it will probably make sense in the end,” he says.

Before the Dragons’ Den deal business was a slog, he adds. “Overnight successes don’t happen a lot.

“The beautiful thing was, once people understood the concept and realized our heart was in the right place, they kept coming back and purchasing more beds and telling their friends and coworkers.” —Editors T

Positive trash talk Organic waste bins on order for Kamloops

B

y the end of 2023, when you take out your trash in Kamloops, you’ll be doing more for the environment.

City-provided residential garbage and recycling bins will be joined by a new one dedicated to all things organic—veggie peals, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and the like.

City Council greenlit the triple-play collection program in mid-August after three years of planning, and a pilot conducted in five neighbourhoods.

Turns out, Kamloops households tossed over three kilograms of organic waste a week on average.

More than three-quarters is food and soiled paper;

the rest yard waste. Crunching the numbers, expanded city-wide, the tripartite collection program should divert 4,600 tonnes of green matter from the landfill annually, lowering dump greenhouse gas emissions about the same as taking 2,000 passenger vehicles off Kamloops roads for an entire year.

The City is examining pilot data to tweak the all-neighbourhood rollout, but streets and environmental services manager Glen Farrow says Council’s official earlier “Go” is a plus.

Ordering organic waste bins sooner rather than later may beat supply chain issues and also inflation, saving taxpayers’ dollars in addition to saving gas emissions.

The new organic bin service will set residents back about $1/month tagged onto their utility bills. It’s less than going greener could have cost since the start up is being funded through current city reserves, plus a $1.78 million grant from the Clean BC Organic Infrastructure and Collection Program. The city is currently negotiating with third parties figuring out how and where organics will be composted.

Next up, residents should see an informational campaign letting them know where what they throw should go: bin 1, 2 or 3. T MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 11

Photo contributed

12 | T R E N D S M A G . CA

STORY GLENNA TURNBULL

The struggle and suffering of

Addiction Every day, B.C. is losing lives to overdoses from the

increasingly toxic illegal drug supply—an epidemic touching every layer of society. Will a historic investment in substance-use treatment and recovery services stop loved ones from falling through the cracks?

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 13

A

ddictions. They are everywhere.

And while some addictions (like that morning coffee or too much screentime) are seemingly harmless, dependence upon brain-altering chemicals such as oxytocin, fentanyl, alcohol and heroin are now causing an average of six deaths per day in B.C. Whether it’s yourself, your child, your parent or a friend who is caught in the deadly web of substance abuse, trying to navigate the system for help is not easy.

People publicly sharing their struggle with drug dependence is rare. Not many who have lived experience want the world knowing about their struggle, and affected family members generally opt to protect their privacy. But mom, life coach, yoga and business owner, Pam Rader is speaking out.

Rader self-published a book, Through the Cracks, about her experiences in hopes of opening up dialogue on addiction.

14 | T R E N D S M A G . CA

Rader has lived with the consequences of addiction her entire life. She remembers a lot of heavy drinking by the adults around her when she was a child but notes, “alcohol was such a big part of our culture when I was growing up, I didn’t recognize it for the addiction that it was.

“I never saw my father drunk and he never missed a day of work because of it,” she says, “so to me there was nothing wrong with heavy drinking and I didn’t know the difference until I got in too deep.”

And sadly, Rader found herself in very deep when she married an alcoholic. In her book, she recounts a constant stream of her husband’s drunken, abusive episodes — from being shoved out of a moving vehicle to nearly being choked to death. The final incident: being held hostage with a knife. And while living with a violent alcoholic (whose addiction eventually led him to drink himself to death) was harrowing, what has been even harder for Rader is watching how it affects her son.

Nicholas has an addiction to heroin.

The first time she checked Nicholas into a treatment centre, he was 17 and the cost was $18,000.

“They kicked him out after a week because they realized they were in over their heads, then they got shut down by the Ministry of Children and Family Development and left the country,” she recalls.

Rader estimates her son has been in and out of treatment a dozen times since then.

Photos contributed

Pam Rader has learned that by creating boundaries she can continue to have a relationship with her son Nicholas, such as not letting him live at home when he’s using.

“

Relapse is part of the

disease. If you think it’s over, you’re setting yourself up for a massive disappointment.”

–Pam Rader, mom and author

Nicholas went back in again in early February 2022, but the day Rader was leaving her Peachland home to visit him at the Vancouver facility, she received a call saying he’d been discharged three days earlier.

She prepares herself for these setbacks.

Each time he went back into treatment, patterns would repeat.

“What you get is 30, 60 or 90 days of peaceful sleep while they’re in care, but relapse is part of the disease. If you think it’s over, you’re setting yourself up for a massive disappointment.”

After that failed attempt, Rader says Nicholas was often in psychosis, convinced people were trying to kill him.

When he messaged her so they could meet up, she agreed. “He was standing on the corner, the skinniest I’d ever seen him, soaking wet with everything he owned in a black garbage bag.”

They agreed that he could detox while living on her property and signed himself into The Last Door addiction treatment centre in the Lower Mainland to try again.

“He was there four or five weeks before he used, and they kicked him out.

I called them and said, ‘knowing that relapse is part of the addiction disease, do you really think kicking them out on the street if they use is a good idea?’”

WHEN YOUR BRAIN CRAVES

C

urrently there is a movement to see addiction as a disease in hopes of finding an underlying physical aspect that can be easily detected — similar to how a blood test can reveal cancer.

According to Zach Walsh, clinical psychologist and substance use researcher at UBC Okanagan, while there are some differences that can be identified in people with problematic substance abuse, he says, “that’s not how we diagnose it and it’s not necessary in order to have an addiction.”

In studying the brains of persons with substance use disorders, Walsh notes, “we sometimes see reduced activity in the frontal cortex — the part of the brain associated with planning and impulse

“There is a sort of hunger that develops in the brain.” control, and increased activity in the limbic system — the emotional part of the brain that gives you cravings.”

But the brains being analyzed are after addiction has already taken hold, and there is very little data on how those same brains functioned before being bombarded with chemicals.

When using drugs that mimic a natural substance in your brain, the brain becomes accustomed to the drug.

“When it’s taken away, there is a sort of hunger that develops in the brain,” says Walsh. “The brain is used to receiving all that stimulation whether it’s dopamine, opioids, cannabinoids, diazepine or alcohol.”

However, he stresses there is more to addiction that just what’s going on in the brain.

“We need to examine the social consequences and social situations people find themselves in.”

Trauma can also play a part. “There certainly are high levels of trauma among people who struggle with substance abuse and we know stress can sensitize the brain to the reinforcing properties of drugs.

“Not everyone who struggles with substance abuse has been traumatized. It’s usually a constellation of risk factors and life situations that best characterize problematic substance abuse.”

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 15

Photo contributed

16 | T R E N D S M A G . CA

2,272 lives lost As the province’s drug toxicity public health emergency continues into its eighth year, at least 2,272 British Columbians lost their lives to toxic drugs in 2022.

Last year, the number of deaths being investigated by the BC Coroners Service was the second-largest total ever in a calendar year, and only 34 fewer than the deaths reported to the agency in 2021. Toxic drugs were responsible for an average of 189 deaths per month in 2022, or 6.2 lost lives each and every day.

So, he disappeared out onto the street again and went into psychosis right away. Rader suspected that would probably be the end of him.

But she was wrong.

He was picked up by one of the owners of West Coast Sober Living in New Westminster. Run by a veteran and his partner, they integrate those struggling with substance abuse into their homelife.

Nicholas’ stay kept him clean for over two months.

Rader is allowing herself to be hopeful that Nicholas just might make it.

“This is a different approach because he feels loved, cared for and accepted,” she says. The traditional models had left Nicholas shamed and blamed, feeling like a “shitty goof.”

“We understand that connection is the antidote to addiction, and yet very few treatment centres have found a way to create that connection,” she says.

If Nicholas can’t maintain sobriety, Rader says it’s enough to see him finally feeling like he’s found somewhere he belongs.

“He’s helping people and being a contributing member of society, and for him to have this time where he can feel proud of himself and accomplish something, it’s so beautiful to witness.

“It gives us all hope that there’s a possibly good outcome.”

became addicted to the powerful effects of painkillers,” says Jessica (not her real name.)

“Once that supply became harder to get, things slowly went downhill, and he got into harder drugs from there.”

Jessica’s brother hid his substance abuse by withdrawing from family and friends.

“We kept trying to see him and talk to him — make sure he was doing OK,” she says.

With a new girlfriend enabling him, the family had no idea how bad it was getting.

“He really needed help with the addiction, with his recovery attempts and withdrawal symptoms, and most of all with what was happening inside that created a kind of pain and chaos that the drugs would relieve,” she says.

“He didn’t want to be a drug addict, he wanted to feel peace and connection and good about himself like everyone does, and the addiction was his way to find that.”

Illicit drug toxicity is the leading cause of unnatural death in British Columbia and is second only to cancers in terms of years of life lost.

Surgery Scare

Photos contributed

While Nicholas continues his fight with the addiction cycle, Jessica’s story ends in defeat.

“My brother was a successful businessman who had everything life could offer. But he also had some shadows and deep pain that hadn’t been dealt with, and after a routine surgery, he

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 17

drug

decriminalization T

he province of B.C. took a critical step to end the shame and stigma that prevents people with substance-use challenges from reaching out for lifesaving help with the decriminalization of small amounts of some drugs.

Health Canada granted the province an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. For the next three years, adults in B.C. will not be subject to criminal charges if they possess a small amount of certain illegal drugs for personal use.

“We know criminalization drives people to use alone,” says Jennifer Whiteside, provincial minister of mental health and addictions.

“Given the increasingly toxic drug supply, using alone can be fatal.

“Decriminalizing people who use drugs breaks down the fear and shame associated with substance use and ensures they feel safer reaching out for life-saving supports.”

2.5 grams

of opioids (such as heroin, morphine, and fentanyl), crack and powder cocaine, methamphetamine (meth) and MDMA (ecstasy) are exempt.

This exemption does not mean drugs are legalized. The drugs included in the exemption remain illegal; however, adults who are found in possession of a cumulative total of as

“We know criminalization drives people to use alone. Given the increasingly toxic drug supply, using alone can be fatal.” much as 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA for personal use will no longer be arrested, charged or have their drugs seized, if abiding by the scope and conditions of the exemption. Instead, police will offer information on available health and social supports, as well as local treatment and recovery options.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry sees the decriminalization of possession of drugs for personal use as an important step to save lives.

“This exemption will help reduce the stigma around substance use that leads people to use alone and will help connect people to the health and social supports they need,” she says.

Kathryn Botchford, who lost her husband to an overdose says, “This epidemic touches every layer of society.

We need to change the narrative around substance use and break down barriers so people can access the care they need and deserve. We need to end the stigma and start the conversation.”

To prepare for Jan. 31, the province has worked with police leaders to develop training resources and practical guidance, which are now available to more than 9,000 frontline police officers. In addition, the government is building new pathways into the health-care system by hiring health authority specific positions dedicated to building connections with local service providers and people referred by police. These positions will also help connect people with resources and information on voluntary mental-health and addictions supports in their own community.

Drug possession in any amount will continue to be a criminal offence on K-12 school grounds and at licensed child care facilities.

Together, the federal and provincial governments will be working closely to evaluate and monitor the exemption to ensure the desired outcomes of decriminalization are met and there are no unintended consequences. 

Decriminalization is not legalization. These drugs remain illegal and unregulated and will not be sold in stores. Drug trafficking and related offences remain illegal.

18 | T R E N D S M A G . CA

“

Put the person who is suffering at the centre of the discussion: what do they need and how can we support them.

Then be patient just like you would with any other illness.”

–Zach Walsh, professor, Dept. of Psychology, BC Center on Substance Use

“I think that’s really important to remember that we are all trying to feel whole, and we all have external ways we try and make it easier to do that, and some methods are a lot more destructive than others.”

Like so many others, Jessica’s brother used one too many times, at the wrong time, with the wrong batch. And then he was gone.

“I feel such a huge loss but also huge compassion for when I imagine what it was possibly like for him in his mind and heart in those last years before his death.

“Even when I felt helpless or angry or exhausted with him, I always felt love.”

Photos contributed

Getting help Often only a small window of time opens when a person suffering with addiction will want to seek help, so when they do reach out for help, it’s important to act as quickly as possible.

Clinical psychologist and UBCO substanceuse researcher Zach Walsh says the best way forward for parents or loved ones who are trying to help is to go through the medical system.

Jamie McGregor, who worked as the recovery and addictions manager at The Bridge, says adults can gain access to their detox program by simply picking up the phone.

“You don’t need a referral or connection to a mental health and substance worker for this. Just phone our number and touch base with a nurse at detox who can do the intake assessment over the phone.”

The Lifeguard App was launched in 2020 to help prevent overdoses. For people who use drugs alone, it provides quick access to the supports they need.

But of course, like everything else to do with mental health and substance abuse help, there is a waitlist that can be up to a couple of weeks.

McGregor says those wanting to gain access need to check in by phone daily until a bed becomes available.

If an adult is lucky enough to get a bed in detox, once they’re through the five-to-seven-day detox program, the next step would be to get into a facility-based treatment program. In order to do so, an adult must first obtain the written consent of a physician saying they’re physically capable of going through the treatment and must also have secured a mental health and substance use clinician through Interior Health to work with.

Both of these require making appointments, and both of those require more waiting time yet.

McGregor estimates that the wait time to get through hoop number one would usually be a few weeks. When it’s a youth who is in need of help, the good news is that both the detox and treatment component are handled at the same time, and the current waitlist is smaller.

The bad news is the process can take even longer than for an adult due to several factors.

“The detox program can last up to 15 days, and if they want to apply for the treatment program, that application gets sent into a screening committee that meets once a week to go through the referrals to see if they’re a good fit for either the Kelowna or Kamloops program,” he says.

“After they’re approved, we reach out and do an interview with them and their care team.”

And that’s where things will often go off the rails.

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 19

The province continues to enhance B.C.’s response to the toxic drug crisis, investing $430 million through Budget 2022 over the next three years.

“Often it’s the parents and care team who want them to go into treatment, but the kids have no interest,” says McGregor.

With current staffing shortages, most facilities are not running at full capacity at the moment.

Sadly, what Rader and many others have found is finding your way through the government’s maze has proven harder than navigating a Tough Mudder obstacle course.

“If you’re trying to get into a Ministryfunded bed, there are too many hoops to jump for the average person who has no money, no resources and is trying to sustain an addiction that is now dangerous to them — because you cannot just withdrawal from heroin or fentanyl, or even alcohol, without serious consequences,” she says.

“We need to have immediate access when the addict is ready.”

Rader feels the government is solely responsible for so many deaths.

“There’s a harm reduction group called Moms Stop the Harm, and they talk about how many times their sons and daughters went for help, couldn’t get in, and died.”

And even with help making Nicholas’s appointments, Rader says she still hit obstacles.

“My problem was the (intake worker) we saw didn’t even know how to fill out the forms, and I ended up having to drive all the way to Vancouver to get it done.”

In frustration, Rader finally went to the local news with her story. “Within a couple of days, an MLA pulled some strings and got things sorted.

“I thought, if I hadn’t stamped my feet and shouted a bit and provided a place for my son to stay while waiting for treatment, he would have probably been dead by now.”

Words matter Make the connection.

Have the conversation.

Stop the stigma.

The slogan on stopoverdosebc.ca, a website launched in 2019 by the B.C. Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions draws attention to the way we talk about substance use matters.

The stigma around addiction can cause people to feel shame or blame.

It can also cause people to hide their drug use, which increases their chance of toxic drug injury or death.

“The best thing a parent can do is to stay close and not judge,” Walsh advises parents.

“Listen and work with family doctors.

And if the doctors for some reason are not on board, then look to other community services to get the help they need.

“I think it’s so important to put the person who is suffering at the centre of the discussion: what do they need, what are their goals, and how can we support them,” he says. “Then be patient just like you would with any other illness.

“We need to do everything we can to help them. Don’t blame them as it only makes it so much worse.”

Rader learned that by creating boundaries — such as not letting him live at home when he’s using — she continues to have a relationship with her son.

“My son says the opposite of addiction is community.”

$150-million settlement

Ottawa and provincial governments have reached a $150-million settlement with Purdue Pharma Canada to recover health care costs associated with what they allege are deceptive marketing practices the company used to sell opioid medications, contributing to increased rates of addiction and overdose.

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Photos contributed

$430 million

As of Sept 2022, there were 3,260 publicly funded beds.

Further investments will add 195 new transition, treatment and recovery beds over the next three years. People living near Kamloops and Kelowna with severe mental-health challenges have access to community treatment teams that provide 24/7 supports.

To increase the number of clinicians who can prescribe medications for opioid-use disorder—particularly in rural and remote parts of the province—RNs and registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) can now complete training to begin prescribing treatment.

Learning to accept her son for who is has been for Rader the key to keeping a good relationship with him. She also suggests that those affected by their loved one’s addiction learn self-care.

“I realized the old saying of ‘you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before you assist someone else’ is very apt when dealing with addiction. We cannot heal the other person, but we can heal ourselves.

“His addiction will rob my son of a great deal of his life, if not his entire life, but how much it robs me of mine, I have to decide.”

She summed it up by saying, “I realized I could let his addiction take down the two of us or I can heal and learn to love and accept and live with what’s in front of me.”

B.C. Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction has a commercial on TV where neighbours come over with food when a woman’s husband is sick, but when her son gets sick struggling with addiction, nobody knows what to do.

“This is a trauma-related illness so let’s talk about it,” says Rader, “bring the lasagna over. The mother of the struggling addict is going to appreciate it as much as the mom of the child with the broken leg.” T

6 deaths a Day The province continues to lose an average of six lives every day, and many more people experience serious health consequences as a result of the unpredictable, unregulated drug supply.

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 21

STORY VIOLA COHEN

Tackling toxic drugs A student nervously knocks on the door before entering. She is soon greeted and ushered into the room by second-year nursing student Adrian Van De Mosselaer. “I’m here to get my drugs checked,” the student says quietly as she pulls a small package out of her pocket.

She hands it to Van De Mosselaer, who—as a student himself—understands all too well the complex feelings students experience when deciding to get their drugs checked.

“A lot of people are nervous coming in. They may be excelling in school and are afraid of the academic repercussions of taking drugs, or they may be going through a difficult time in life and want to ensure they’re using drugs in a lower-risk manner,” he explains.

“Our ultimate goal is to get the word out that it’s OK to get your drugs checked. We really want to facilitate opportunities to sit down with students and have an open dialogue about drugs, so we can

Available to anyone, the Harm Reduction Team offers free, confidential drug checking in the Okanagan area including Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton.

reduce the stigma as much as possible. We want to be known as a place where students can safely get their drugs checked and then go from there.”

It’s all part of a program run by HaRT (Harm Reduction Team), which is supported through collaborations with UBCO, Interior Health, the BC Centre on Substance Use and the local community. HaRT enables students to access free harm reduction services on campus and in the community, including drug checking with a spectrometer and test strips, single-use injection and inhalation supplies, workshops, overdose awareness training and general substance use education.

Started in late 2020, the program marks the first time a local health authority has partnered with a university to offer drug checking. In addition, HaRT consists of an interdisciplinary student team from the School of Nursing, along with students studying international relations, electrical engineering, medicine, computer science and social work.

Together, the team works closely with the student recovery community and peers with lived experience to provide interventions that can prevent harm related to substance use.

“We know there’s an incredible need for this service not only with the student community but in the Okanagan in general,” says Lauren Airth, a doctoral student from the School of Nursing who serves as HaRT’s team lead. “We had to do a lot of innovative thinking with our partners since we were the first university to offer this kind of drug checking on a regular basis—during a pandemic no less,” Airth’s thesis is examining the feasibility of the drug-checking program model, and she’s played an integral part in the program’s evolution since 2019.

“Young adults in the Okanagan use significantly more substances than young adults in the rest of B.C.,” she says. “There’s lots of pressure for university students to

Find resources from the UBCO Harm Reduction Team online at hart.ok.ubc.ca.

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Students typically bring drugs such as cocaine, MDMA and ketamine for drug checking.

“The bigger picture is that there isn’t a safe, regulated drug supply in the community and people are rolling the dice on unregulated substances,” she says.

“HaRT has given us an opportunity to educate students and staff, so hopefully they feel more comfortable, connected and supported.

We want to open up important conversations about health and wellbeing, which can then help people decide how they’ll use their substances.”

Both Airth and Van De Mosselaer want UBC community members to know that it’s OK to get their drugs checked without fear of academic repercussions.

“It’s a scary thing for students, so we’re working to facilitate these opportunities to sit down with them and have an open dialogue that reduces stigma,” says Van de Mosselaer.

Partnerships have been key to the program, adds Airth. While oversight for the program lies with UBCO Campus Health, Interior Health and the BC Centre for Substance Use, other partners contribute to the program in various ways, including people with lived experience.

In addition to offering free, confidential drug checking on campus twice a week, HaRT also operates in the community, with locations in Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton.

“There are so many people involved in this program, from volunteers and students to numerous community partners and people with lived experience,” says Airth.

“We have so many different people with different skill sets who have come together to do what they do best, which is trying to help others open the conversation around drug use.”

Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Karin Goodison sees real value in the program.

“When people access drug checking they’re able to talk openly about drug use without judgement, and receive information about what’s in their drugs so they can reduce risk,” says Goodison.

“Drug checking technicians require a unique skill set. They understand the science and can translate it into meaningful harm reduction information, while creating an atmosphere where people who are often stigmatized and penalized for using drugs feel safe.”

“Drug toxicity is the leading cause of death for young people in B.C., and it’s only getting worse,” adds Airth. “We have to let people know there are options available.” T

“

“People talk about mental health and substance use as if they’re independent of one another, but it’s all just mental health at the end of the day.”

–Lauren Airth, team lead, HaRT (Harm Reduction Team)

Lauren Airth leads the drug-checking process, using technology such as a spectrometer.

Photos contributed

have a persona of confidence, and it impacts their mental health. There are many layers to substance use but at the end of the day, it’s very much related to mental health.

“We want to reduce that stigma while also improving student access to various harm reduction supports.”

Airth first developed an interest in mental health following high school—even though at the time, people didn’t speak widely about mental health issues. During her undergrad at UBCO, she chose to focus her studies and work on mental health and substance use.

“People talk about mental health and substance use as if they’re independent of one another, but it’s all just mental health at the end of the day—and when people don’t understand how substance use is related, it contributes to the stigma.

“Every single person at UBCO either uses substances or knows someone who does.

No matter who they are or where they’re located, substance use is a relevant thing.”

The toxic-drug emergency is further complicated by the rise of benzodiazepines, which are typically prescribed as a sedative to treat anxiety, difficulties sleeping and seizures.

But when combined with other types of depressants, like fentanyl, benzodiazepines can significantly increase the risk of overdose.

In fact, benzodiazepines were detected in as many as 51 percent of drug samples tested in the B.C. Interior in January 2022, a trend that has been on the rise since the start of the pandemic.

Drug checking is crucially important because it can detect benzodiazepines, which can be found in illicit drugs and don’t respond to naloxone, a publicly available treatment that reverses an opioid overdose.

HaRT’s spectrometer, which is provided by Interior Health, detects any substances in a drug sample that has a concentration of five percent or greater, including stimulants like cocaine or ecstasy and adulterants added to drugs.

To ensure that fentanyl and benzodiazepines are not missed by the spectrometer, immunoassay strips are then used to test for these two substances. While the strips cannot provide a specific concentration like the spectrometer, they provide a yes/no for when these substances are present at concentrations less than five percent.

“When we’re checking the sample, we’re able to get students involved in the process because we can show them what the machine finds as it’s detecting the different substances,” says Airth.

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 23

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Seeking

STORY DAVID WYLIE PHOTO JAY WALLACE

Epic runs.

Ultra-distances.

Overcoming obstacles. When simply running a race isn’t enough to satisfy the spirit, some batter their bodies to the breaking point in outlier competitions of endurance and grit.

From the cortofondo distance of 48km to the granfondo of 153km, the Okanagan Granfondo has evolved into a must-do event on the North American cycling calendar.

E

vents of such scale have not been seen in years. Groups are gathering by the hundreds and thousands; crowds of weekend warriors, glory seekers, past high school athletes, and fitness enthusiasts, all out to compete against each other—and push their limits.

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 25

Driven by adrenaline, camaraderie and personal goals, the infectious feeling spills over to the spectators, who will inch as close as they can to the edge of the action.

Many will go to great lengths and overcome the obstacles to be called a 'Spartan.'

Some of the best Spartans on the continent competed outside of Kelowna last year during the North American Championship at Big White Ski Resort in August. There was about $80,000 in available prize money.

Along with seasoned veterans, weekend warriors also tackled the ‘mud run.’

“The racers that are there for fun are competing on the same course as the racers who

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are going for the prize money,” says Gary Belanger Jr., director of global consumer insights and analytics for Spartan Race.

There are a variety of events at Spartan races, from a 5K race with about 20 different obstacles up to a 50K race that has between 55 to 70 obstacles.

(The penalty for not completing obstacles is typically 30 burpees.)

“You’ll see barbed wire crawls, you’ll see heavy bucket

Jason Tassoni from West Kelowna tackles the barbed wire, one of 23 obstacles he faced in his Spartan Super 10K at Big White Mountain last August.

carries, different sized walls going up to 10 feet tall,” he says.

Big White’s rugged terrain was perfect for the championship. It was the first time the North American Championship took place outside of the U.S. Spartan Race also has a World Championship and a few different European championships.

All racers are timed and ranked.

BY THE NUMBERS Big events are big business. The North American Spartan Championship in Kelowna at Big White in August generated an economic impact of

$2.2 million

The competitive aspect draws former high school athletes who are looking for a throwback—and are drawn to a distinctive title.

“It’s being a Spartan,” says Belanger. “I think it’s a great brand. Everyone likes to call themselves ‘Spartan.’”

“They’ve met people. They feel successful.

Maybe they didn’t think they could do some of these things. They’re overcoming obstacles they didn’t think possible, and they want to go back and do it again and improve on it.”

Spartan Races are a growing phenomenon. When Belanger first started with Spartan in 2012, they had about 20 events. “They all fit on a T-shirt,” he says.

Now there are over 200 races across the globe in 20 countries. It has expanded to the point where the World Championship last year was in Abu Dhabi, across the globe from where it started.

“We’re expanding further and further away from our epi-centre,” he says.

Belanger explains they want to avoid making “one and done” racers.

“They may come in as bucket list item, but then they realize that they want to push themselves and see where they can compete next time,” he adds.

“We still want racers out there having fun and having a good time, we are trying to push them to overcome some obstacles and keep going.”

Belanger is also a Spartan himself. He’s personally run a number of races, and the ski resort courses are particularly gruelling with all the uphill climbing.

“Some of the ski resorts still scare me,” he says.

“I’m great at suffering for a long time. I am not quick like these guys. It’s amazing to watch them run full speed up these mountains.”

Some prefer to take their car up a steep mountain.

The annual Knox Mountain Hill Climb pits cars and drivers on timed runs up the iconic Kelowna mountain. The paved road course has 10 major turns and climbs 800 vertical feet over 3.5 kilometres.

About 60 drivers competed in last May’s event.

Garrett Mealing, one of the race organizers, enters his own car—a 570-horsepower 1995 Eagle Talon with an Andrew Brilliant aero kit.

“It’s a handful,” he says.

Mealing first entered the race in 2015, and has floored it up Knox every year to 2019, when the event was postponed due to the pandemic.

He loves racing.

“You’re in the moment. It doesn’t matter what’s going on in the world for that few minutes if you’re on the track, the hill climb, or even a drag race, you don’t have time to think about anything else. You’re just driving the car and that’s all that matters. Once

The Spartan event drew nearly 2,500 visitors. About 20% from the US, 28% from BC, and the rest from across Canada.

It was the first time the North American championship was held outside of the US. [middle]Amanda Nadeau from Kaleden pushes through the 21K Spartan Beast.

you get to the top and everything’s good, it’s hard to explain that feeling. Puts a big grin on your face and nothing else matters,” says Mealing.

It’s also a fantastic spectator event, he says.

“At the start line, spectators are standing six feet off the side of the road,” he said.

“You’re right there.”

Hillclimb is one of the few motorsports not heavily regulated, meaning a considerable diversity of cars.

Spectators can also mingle with drivers and walk among the vehicles.

“You’re not coming to watch one car go up the hill. You’re coming to watch 60 cars go up the hill,” he says. “Hillclimb is one of the last remaining motorsports where there’s no rules. In the GT classes, the sky’s the limit, as long as your car’s safe. 1,000 horsepower, whatever you can make it do, the biggest tires you can fit on the thing.

If you want to build an absolute brainchild of power and speed, that’s where you do it.”

A welder by trade, Mealing says he got into cars at a young

Spartan photos contributed

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The Okanagan Granfondo in Penticton takes place in July. The mass cycling event attracts thousands of recreational, elite and pro cyclists for a ride through wine country.

age, as his dad had an interest. He grew up on a farm, which led to opportunities to drive.

Mealing has owned the Talon since 2004, turning it into a fast streetcar before tearing it down to a bare shell and a wiring harness.

That’s how it sat for years until 2015, when he decided to rebuild it into a race car.

“I’ve always been into cars. It was a natural progression,” he says. “Racing is expensive so I had to make my own money to make it happen.

Almost everything I do on this car I do myself.”

People were happy to be back together, says Mealing.

“There was definitely a lot more buzz around the event than there usually is.”

The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation JoeAnna’s House and the Westbank Museum benefited as the charities.

Some ride on two wheels instead of four.

The 10th Okanagan Granfondo drew about 3,000 participants to the South Okanagan in July.

“It was a perfect day,” says Jodi Merckx, the event’s organizer. “It was a great atmosphere.”

The major cycling event attracts all levels of skill for a weekend of road cycling in the middle of Okanagan wine country.

There are four different distances, all starting and finishing in Penticton.

“Our course is known for how spectacular it is. We go past all the vineyards in the South Okanagan,” says Merckx. “It’s the challenge and being around people who enjoy that kind of stuff, a healthy lifestyle, it’s motivating. Life’s too short to sit around and do nothing.”

There are eight stations along the way where people can stop and get food and drinks.

This event has a family feel, and a lot of people come with loved ones and enjoy wine tasting in the region together.

“They bring family and friends,” she says.

Merckx raced when she was younger.

While she isn’t able to participate herself due to her commitments as an organizer, she rides the course before the event each year.

“I go down and ride it every spring before the race, I do the whole course. Every time I ride it I think wow this is just amazing.”

She says she’s proud that more than 1,000 out of the 3,000 are women, as cycling has traditionally been a male-dominated sport.

She says residents in the Penticton area know how to support such events and what they mean Photo by Jay Wallace

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 29

Melissa Sinclair has run ultramarathons across the globe, including Canada, the US, South America, and Madagascar.

Photos contributed

Turn 17 Garage driver Jorgen Krause from Calgary completed the Knox Hill Climb in a Rush SR race car in 16th spot. Rush Auto Works was founded in late 2017 in Houston, Texas, to produce affordable, high-performance track cars.

King of the Hill honours went to Mark Uhlmann from Port Moody with a pace of 1:39.

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“

You’re destroyed.

Completely destroyed.”

–Melissa Sinclair, ultra-distance athlete

to the community. There were 350 volunteers this year and they’re each rewarded for their work with small honorariums—with about $10,000 in total given away.

“We’re thankful to the community, without them it wouldn’t happen,” says Merckx.

Registration is open for the July 2023 race, and it’s already drawing a crowd.

Some have a higher cause.

In the case of Melissa (Gosse) Sinclair, running is personal. She ran from Kelowna to Vernon and back again, a 100-kilometre distance, starting at 5 a.m. on Nov. 28, 2020. She did it to raise awareness around mental health.

“I was in a pretty bad car accident earlier that year, where a motorcycle came head on into our truck. They crossed into our lane,” she says. “I dealt with that scene and it had taken a toll on me mentally. I’d gone through counselling for PTSD. I realized how many people will post, ‘hey I’m at the gym working out,’ or ‘look what I can do physically,’ but when it comes to mental fitness it still has a huge stigma around it.”

Her goal was to help people feel safer opening up about mental health and counselling. With matching donations from TD Benefits, Sinclair raised $10,000 for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

From Kelowna, Sinclair has been running ultra-distances for nearly 10 years all across the world, including Canada, the U.S., South America, and Madagascar. (An ultra or ultramarathon is technically anything over the traditional marathon distance of 42km.)

She says running long distances helps her to learn about herself.

The longest race she’s ever run in one go was the Tahoe 200-mile (330km). It took just over 90 hours.

“You’re destroyed,” she says.

“Completely destroyed.”

Top photo and Spartan photos contributed, cyclist photo by Jay Wallace

Running long distances helps Melissa Sinclair to learn about herself and that she’s capable of pushing herself beyond her mental boundaries.

Climbing is a key skill to complete a Spartan race.

Saving energy, Granfondo racers join the peloton.

Camaraderie spurs the Lake Country Barbarians onward.

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 31

“

“You’re in the moment. It doesn’t matter what’s going on in the world for that few minutes, you don’t have time to think about anything else.”

–Garrett Mealing, race car driver

Photo by Deon Nel

[left] World Masters Champion cross-country skier Nikki Kassel of Prince George finished in the top 10 women in the Okanagan Granfondo. [above] Spartan Races are a growing phenomenon and have spawned hundreds of events all over the world.

She’s completed other ultras that take place in stages. For example, in Madagascar she ran a marathon every day for seven days in a row—one of those days was a double marathon.

“It’s been one of the coolest ways to see a country. You’re running along and being able to see and feel and smell things that a lot of times you can only get to by foot,” she says.

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“You’re out there and don’t have a lot of distractions. You’re pretty worn down physically.

The amount you can learn through that and your selftalk is phenomenal. I haven’t really found another way to tap into that type of learning.”

There are multiple times in other races where you hit ‘the wall.’ That’s when selftalk can turn negative.

Sinclair says her inner voice can be very convincing and she’s learned that she’s capable of pushing herself beyond her mental boundaries.

Sinclair is considering her next run, including a bucket list adventure that would bring her to Antarctica for a stage race.

“You should be able to impress yourself. We don’t give ourselves enough opportunities

Spartan photos contributed

to impress ourselves, to really go for something. Maybe you’ll fail. Maybe you’ll fall flat on your face. And that’s OK. You’ll probably get a great lesson from it. Or you get to this point of ‘holy shit, I did that,’” she says.

“It created a snowball effect of wondering what else have I stopped myself from doing that I thought I couldn’t, I convinced myself out of it?”

Runners in the Half Corked Marathon weave through the vineyards in the South Okanagan with a winery or wine station every kilometre.

Minions photo by Aaron Hagen; other photos by Leila Kwok.

Some exercise in moderation—and libation.

For those who like both running and imbibing, the Half Corked Marathon is the perfect pairing of sport and indulgence. After being delayed over COVID-19, the 2021 Half Corked Marathon hit the ground running in April.

“It was great,” says Jennifer Busmann, executive director of Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country.

“We’ve already seen some lovely feedback from participants who just truly appreciate being back to in-person events again. The last two years have been immensely challenging as we’ve had to repeatedly find creative ways to pivot as we’ve navigated the restrictions of the pandemic.”

The popular event was in full swing again last September for the 2022 Half Corked Weekend event, including the pre-race Primavera dinner, party at the finish line, and dinner at the farm.

The event returns to its traditional spring time slot in 2023, celebrating its 15th anniversary weekend May 26-28.

“We love to tell our participants that if you cross the finish line first, you’ve missed the point of the race,” says Busmann.

“The Half Corked Marathon is incredibly unique as it’s the only

way that guests can truly soak in the picture —perfect vineyards of Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country —areas that aren’t open to the public at any other time.

“The energy is vibrant, our participants’ competitive nature is focused on who has put together the best costume so it’s a very happy and relaxed experience that allows the opportunity to truly immerse in wine country life.”

The event has grown over the past decade from 200 participants to more than 1,000 participants, as well as hundreds of volunteers.

Runners often dress in costume. There’s a maximum of 3.5 hours to finish the race to prevent too much dawdling. T MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 33

TOP BC WINE AWARDS B.C. wineries are invited to enter this premier wine competition presented by Thompson Okanagan Trends Magazine.

Watch for top trending wines in our May issue.

THOMPSON OKANAGAN

T R E N D S M A G . c a /awards

31st Annual Where Musicians Go to Play!

Tickets & Info: Rootsandblues.ca

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Play

STORY I PHOTO YVONNE TURGEON

Craft beer License plates from across the country — and the century — line the backwall to the tasting well in salute to the location and moniker of Highway 97 Brewery in Penticton. >>>

dining

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wine

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play craft beer STORY | PHOTOS YVONNE TURGEON

Two generations brew up expansion Penticton’s Highway 97 adds canning line

L

icense plates from across the country — and the century — line the back wall to the tasting well as a salute to the location and moniker of Highway 97 Brewery in Penticton.

Nick Kapusty and his father, John, nearly tripled the number of brews on tap when they moved from their original highway location (opened in 2017) to downtown Penticton in the summer of 2021.

What began as a side project has expanded to a 150-seat indoor-outdoor restaurant with live music, on-site production and a canning line.

“We make beer for everyone and every occasion,” says Nick. “We’ve got a lot of pretty mellow beers, a couple of hoppy beers and 22 taps.

“Yeah, so we’ve got lots of beer.”

PEELIN’ OUT ORANGE JUICE SOUR

A fun sour ale that takes you back to your childhood.

Fermented heavily with Cara Cara oranges and a touch of tangerine, this summer bevvy will have your taste buds watering as you head to the patio.

4x 473 ml $14.89

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The canning line started with six labels, with plans in the works to expand to ten.

Among the offerings are some of the brewery’s top sellers and most traditional beer.

Popular in both cans and on tap is the Czech Pilsner—a demand that sees 8,300 litres brewed over two weeks. Josef Groll invented this mighty pale lager in the mid-19th century in the city of Plzeň (Pilsen). Highway 97 keeps true to this clean, crisp traditional brewing style.

The clean taste of the pilsner stems from the commitment to quality malt and hops —without the corn syrup added by most commercial beer brands.

The pilsner is followed in popularity by the High Alpine Hazy IPA, also available in a can.

Okanagan fruits add some authenticity and diversity to the many taps.

SUNDAY DRIVES SESSION PALE ALE

This full-bodied Pale Ale offers notable fruity and citrus flavours.

Impart distinct tangerine, coconut and stone fruit aromas.

Brewed with some favourite hops: Sabro and Ekunol.

4x473 ml $14.89

[from left] Brewmaster Nick Kapusty, his father Nick and staff raise a glass to the successful expansion of Highway 97 Brewery in Penticton.

A top seller is the Cherry Lager, lagered for 12 weeks as it matures on the yeasts and then conditioned on Okanagan cherries for five weeks.

The team has also gone big on the fruit with their Peelin’ Out Orange Juice Sour, with each batch requiring 900 lb.

Cara Cara oranges and 200 lb. of tangerines. T

CZECH PILSNER

The roots of this smooth, crisp premium beer go back to the city of Pilsen, where the traditional Czech style of brewing originated.

The light straw colour is complemented with a balanced hop/malt flavour, light bitterness and spicy aroma.

6 x355 ml $14.30

LAKESHORE AMBER ALE

A balanced beer with a ratio of sweet bready malt flavour with hints of toffee to hop notes. Shows a subtle nutty finish. Lighter than expected, which makes this brew a great sessional beer.

6 x 355 ml $14.89

HIGH ALPINE HAZY IPA

This juice bomb of an IPA offers big flavours and aromas from a perfect combination of Simcoe, Citra and Galaxy hops.

Tropical fruit notes and a touch of bitterness make this a go-to Hazy IPA.6 x 355 ml $14.89

play bookshelf

Finding the courage to love in fiction Local author explores sapphic fantasy in her first novella

T

he woman with the green pulsing scepter did not belong in a library. She did, however, peek my devilishly bored mind into a semblance of curiosity.

She leaned against the library shelf, one arm propped against a row of books and one leg cocked against the foot of the bookshelf. She read a strange book titled Hearthwood Grove, which to my wonder, I had not set eyes on until that day. I had memorized every book carried by that dull hunk of brick where I spent most of my waking hours, floating from one dusty aisle to another dusty aisle, trying not to sneeze on the fumes of idle work and undo pay.

The book looked ancient. I smelled mold seeping from its bind from the end of the aisle where I paused to

admire her strangeness. I felt very much that she had transpired from the book she read, so I went up to her and I said, “Hello, can I be of service?”

Her velvelt hat tilted over one side of her sharp nose. She tipped her chin and looked at my mouth in a way that made me feel quite uncomfortable, yet quite flattered in the same pitter-pat. Her green eyes dazzled like a far-off planet.

“Actually,” she said, “I am late for an appointment.” She snapped the book closed. “I lost track of the time.

Libraries do get the better of me.”

I placed an arm on the bookshelf, blocking her exit in a most forward stance unbecoming of a lady. I felt an urge to make her stay.

— excerpt Beyond the Grove

it’s time

to raise the curtain on a new Performing Arts Centre in downtown Kelowna.

Join us.

Paperback | $19.99 rachelcneale.com

K

elowna author Rachel C. Neale writes LGBTQ+ themed high-fantasy and sapphic romance. Released in January, Beyond the Grove, is her first published novella, involving a grim librarian who meets a monster hunter, the last of a long line of gatekeepers.

Fast-paced, witty, and layered, Beyond the Grove is a Victorian-era lesbian romance filled with action and mystery.

Rachel is passionate about writing emotionally complex female leads who refuse to stop fighting. As an editor at her freelance business, Third Sister Editing, Rachel is an advocate for queer stories and marginalized voices. T

kelownaperformingarts.ca MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 37

play dining STORY | PHOTOS YVONNE TURGEON

Saddle up for some smoky BBQ The Hatching Post a must stop on the Westside trail

From the chef’s special hot sauce and pickled veggies to Wonder Bread, patrons can choose à la carte sides to build their custom BBQ platter.

38 | T R E N D S M A G . CA

P

ast the swinging saloon doors, the sounds, sights and smells entice you into the West Kelowna eatery.

From a king-size chandelier to the dark wood tables, the vibe at The Hatching Post Brewery and Smokehouse is as authentic as the traditional southern, Texas-style barbecue.

The saloon’s decor has all the detail and delights as the other jewels in the crown of Jason Parkes Customs, a rag-tag group of wineries, a ciderhouse and a brewery in West Kelowna.

Chef Ryan Byrne checks on the smoker. He uses local fruit wood to smoke the meats.

The early days of the pandemic marked chef Ryan Byrne’s first foray into barbecue, setting up a food truck outside of Crown and Thieves winery.

The success story has transformed into a popular sitdown restaurant that opened its doors a year ago — and the wood fires have been burning steadily ever since.

Wood from fruit trees is mainly used to fuel the smoldering fires.

“We use a lot of cherry wood; sometimes we use pear and peach,” says Byrne.

“Down in the South, the traditional barbecue is with oak or mesquite, but it’s not native to us. It doesn’t make sense to ship the wood up here for that reason, for the amount that we’re burning.

We have such an abundance of fruit wood around here.”

Each night at about 8 p.m., the brisket goes into the smoker overnight; it’s about a 12- to 14-hour process.

“The cool thing about barbecue is it takes a long time and when it’s done and it’s ready, it’s great,” he says. “But when you’re out, you’re out.”

Byrne is cooking up anywhere from 10 to 14 brisket every night.

“We use Alberta beef,” he says. “I’m from Alberta, originally from Edmonton, so for me, it is tried and tested.”

The trio of smoked meats includes beef, chicken and a simply scrumptious pulled pork. Add to that a full complement of housemade barbecue sauces and madefrom-scratch sides: potato salad, coleslaw, cornbread (with whipped maple butter) and vegan baked beans.

EXPLORE THE SLOPES IN A BRAND NEW WAY

Then there is the Wonder Bread.

“We thought it was kind of a fun thing, just basic white bread,” says chef. “That’s how they do it in the South. People often think the bread is there to eat as an accompaniment, but it’s actually a utensil. Maybe there’s a little bit left on the tray or just use it to clean your fingers.

“To me, barbecue is it’s about like excess,” he says. “It’s true you shouldn’t want to you eat it every day, but it’s an awesome treat, and it makes you feel good.” T

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Craft beers brewed on site by Adam Potter pair well with southern barbecue. [inset] Malt ready for grinding.

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play wine STORY YVONNE TURGEON

New series shine spotlight on local wineries

F

inding the perfect pairing can sometimes be a puzzle—both in food and in love.

For a small B.C. winery, CTV’s new reality dating show, Farming for Love, may hold the answer. Growing up in the family vineyards, Charley Cottrill, now 25, is opening up the farm, and his heart, to find his soulmate.

If Charley was looking for good role models for love on the farm, he needs to look no further than his parents, Tim and Caroline, whose hearts are in the Similkameen.

Charley’s mom and dad have put their love and labour into establishing the family winery, Robin Ridge. The 18-acre organic vineyard was established in 1997, each row planted by the couple. They have crafted small lots of Bordeauxinspired wines for more than two decades.

Caroline says, “It’s a very nice grapegrowing area, that’s for sure. And a pretty nice place to live as well.”

The Robin Ridge property was no more than dirt and rocks when they started out and Charley was small enough to pull in a wagon.

Chef Evan Robertson shares his passion for the outdoor, gourmet ingredients and wine on his YouTube channel.

40 | T R E N D S M A G . CA

Charley Cottrill from Robin Ridge Winery is Farming for Love on CTV this season. [right] Look for Chefs vs Wild airing on Disney+. [below]

Following in his father’s winemaking footsteps, Charley created his first signature Rosé wine, Flamingo, while still in high school—and it was the first wine to sell out that summer. If watching love on the small screen puts you in a flirty mood, this off-dry Rosé would be a great sipper.

For those who take matches of the heart much more seriously, try the award-winning intense but luscious 2015 Frigate Meritage, $35.25—a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot ripened during the sun-soaked days on the Similkameen estate.

Hillside Winery’s executive chef Evan Robertson is also starring on the small screen. He’s the perfect pairing where refined meets rugged.

While Chef Evan generally packs in his ingredients when he heads out to the wild for a gourmet meal—yes, you read that right, in 2020, he launched his own Youtube channel, Chef Evan Outdoors, to inspire adventurous hikers to think beyond rehydrated food packs—his hikes in the Canadian Rockies had him well prepped for the upcoming Disney+ show, Chefs vs. Wild.

It was a definite yes when the call came in from the producers: would Robertson join a reality show that would see him surviving in the wilds of the B.C. for five days, foraging and cooking along the coast for his meals? Oh, and create and prep for a three-course gourmet dinner on the final day in a timed competition of his culinary skills?

While there was no wine in his backpack, Hillside Syrah was definitely on his mind those cold December days during filming. “It just pairs so well with so many foraged ingredients.”

My picks (with a nod from chef) to pair with your viewing are the silky and elegant 2019 Heritage Series Pinot Noir ($30) and Hillside’s icon blend, Mosaic ($54). All grapes are sourced from the Naramata Bench, where hot days and cool nights create quality fruit.

The Bistro menu reflects Evan’s passion for in-season ingredients and “the bounty of the Okanagan.” While he grew up on the B.C. coast, he trained and worked in Alberta and loves to grill. Indeed, he’s serving up a 50-oz. Northern Gold Beef Tomahawk steak with sides enough for two.

Now, that definitely calls for a bottle of bold Mosaic. T

Photos contributed

WINE PAIRINGS FOR A TV DINNER

Rendezvous in the Riesling lab

Cellar hands explore the noble grape

T

he lab program at Tantalus Vineyards was born in 2011 after the coldest vintage in the last 15 years. That year, the noble Riesling grapes weren’t picked from the vineyards on the eastern slopes of Kelowna until November.

Worried that the juice may be too acidic, winemaker David Paterson pressed the last of the grapes “really, really hard.” The result was a brown phenolic juice that after fermenting wild in old Chardonnay barrels appeared clear, full-bodied and full of aromatic compounds.

Looking to find the right balance for the vintage, he says, “the idea was to have a higher pH wine to blend back into the regular Riesling, but the resulting wine almost presented like Gewürztraminer aromatically and a little bit more oily, almost like Viognier or a Roussanne.”

Questions kept surfacing if the right choice was to blend “oily, hard pressings” into their flagship wine, made from pristine juice that sees less pressure on the press and is known for its dry nature and minerality.

David remembers the discussion, “What are we doing with this crazy wine? It’s actually kind of interesting by itself, so why don’t we just bottle it and see what happens?”

So they bottled it, and people really liked it. “It’s that nice, sweet, easy drinking, summer kind of wine,” says David.

The next year, after pressing one of the decade’s finest grapes, he decided to hard press the last 100 litres from the harvest again. Ever since, cellar staff and assistant winemakers have had the chance to play around with the science of winemaking with the small batch Tantalus Riesling Lab. T

play wine

STORY YVONNE TURGEON | REVIEWS HELENE SCOTT

Lake Country

PEAK CELLARS 2020 SPARKLING RIESLING

Star bright. Traditional method, 15 months on lees. Lively mousse, crisp green apple, fresh lean acidity. Bone dry finish but a party on your palate.

Refreshingly dry. Cheers to celebrating life. $32.99 East Kelowna Slopes

SPERLING VINEYARDS 2016 OLD VINES RIESLING

Rich golden hue. Two years in bottle before release. Wonderfully unctuous, complex layers of acidity and turpentine notes with rich honey and apple flavours lingering on the palate. Holding up well with lots of life left. Exceptional. A jewel for sure. $35

TANTALUS VINEYARDS 2021 RIESLING

Pale straw colour. Hints of honey, golden delicious apple on the palate. Slate and herbaceous flavours with great acidity and off dry on the aftertaste but finishes a bit short. $27.83

Thompson Valley - Kamloops

MONTE CREEK 2020 RIESLING LIVING LAND SERIES

A bracingly crisp expression of tree fruit, lime zest and flint. Mouthwatering acidity. Youthful but will develop in the bottle. Taut and intense with a lingering farewell. $21.99 Naramata Bench - Penticton

LANG VINEYARDS 2019 FARM RESERVE RIESLING

Light golden straw. Delightful floral, tropical fruits, citrus and hints of oily petrol on the nose.

Smooth mouthfeel with luscious mouth-watering acidity. Dry crisp finish and well balanced. $23

MORAINE WINERY 2020 RESERVE RIESLING

Clone 49 Riesling grapes from Naramata Bench. Pale golden colour. Honey, apricots and petrollike aroma on the nose. Crisp acidity and minerality expressing a mature complexity on the palate. Will pair well with spicy food and sushi. $28 Golden Mile Bench -Oliver

TANTALUS VINEYARDS 2021 RIESLING LAB

David Paterson checking ripeness in the Tantalus vineyards.

A wine geek’s treat. Hard pressings of all the Riesling blocks fermented with wild yeast in old oak puncheons.

A small amount (5%) of Gewürztraminer contributes a slight floral note. Viscous with aromas of lime oil, honeycomb.

Limited edition. $21.74

GEHRINGER BROTHERS 2021 PRIVATE RESERVE DRY RIESLING

Pale yellow with a tinge of green.

Great weight with a wonderful balance. Subtle peach, apple and melon carried by great acidity and stony minerality. Age worthy and incredible value. Versatile and food friendly. $14.99

MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 41

play dating

A new love language Decoding relationship texts

‘S

tay out of the blue’ is the warning to those dating in our tech-crazed world.

The blue references those bubbles in your message app. Excitement can quickly bubble over to text after text. But if your own thoughts are filling your screen (a lot of blue), are you much more invested than your suitor? Are you truly a match?

Whether you’ve met in real life or on a dating app, we live in technological times, and a lot of the getting-to-know each other will be in chat.

So, what can our screens tell us?

Here to decode those messages is psychiatrist and author Mimi Winsberg in her book, Speaking in Thumbs.

“Snippets of a text conversation can help us make predictions about an individual’s temperament, personality and other “art,” and “always.” dynamics that may Others may reveal their manifest themselves conscientiousness— throughout a relationeven rigidity—like Rob, ship,” she writes. “These who texted, “Hmm. I elements are often usually come to a date visible during our with blueprints, open earliest text exchanges.” to changes. But my Looking for an intensity and I had a adventurous partner? chat, and she is going Openness to experience to take some time off.” will show in their words; Word choice can be watch for “folk,” “human,” telling. Extroverts use

Humans have a behavioral tendency to mirror another’s language. People who like each other will use similar styles of speech, says author Mimi Winsberg.

“Don’t even think of swiping right again until you read this book.”

—Christie Tate, New York Times bestselling author of Group

Hardcover | $36.00 Published by Doubleday Shop local at Mosiac Books 411 Bernard Ave, Kelowna

42 | T R E N D S M A G . CA

Speaking in Thumbs is an entertaining, essential, and ultimately practical guide for anyone navigating the most vexing feature of modern romance: text messages. Drawing from of-the-moment research and a treasure trove of real-life online dating chats—including her own—author Mimi Winsberg helps you see past the surface

and into the heart of the matter.

What are the hallmarks of healthy attachment? How do we recognize deception?

How can we draw out that important-but-sensitive piece of information—Do you want kids? Do you use drugs? Are you seeing someone else?—without sending a potential partner heading for the hills? ¢

Photos contributed

STORY YVONNE TURGEON

the word “mouth” more frequently along with “drinks,” “restaurant,” and “dancing.”

In contrast, those high in neuroticism are drawn to using the words “awful,” “though,” “lazy,” and “depressing.”

Winsberg believes the most important thing learned from a person’s courtship style is the level of risk they are willing to take. “If you are seeking out someone with healthy attachment patterns, their ability to offer a compliment and demonstrate vulnerability — as long as it is not too rushed or too much — is likely a good sign.”

She warns of the red flag of too much information too soon.

“People who display ‘instamacy’ are pleasers, can lack boundaries, and may revert to an anxious or avoidant pattern in a relationship after it gets underway.

“Gathering too much information before getting to know someone IRL is akin to what podcaster Emily More refers to as ‘premature escalation.’”

The type of humour can also be revealing. Winsberg warns, “selfdefeating humour can be quite funny and charming, but they may suffer from low self-esteem.” She shares Ryan’s text: “I must admit between your intellectual accomplishments and good looks… I am totally intimidated even thinking about a coffee.”

In the end, humour can be an attractive quality, building rapport over text. One does well with “lol,” “haha” and even “hehe” but textspeak terms such as “u” “ur” “r” “ya” and “what” all make a bad impression.

Text can also announce that your partner is ready to speed things up. Winsberg throws out the misconception that texting right back can be a mistake and urges couples to find their own rhythm.

“When you experience another person as highly rewarding, your brain’s dopamine pathways light up. In person, this is triggered by eye contact, mutual gaze, touch and body posture. The choice to engage over text, our response rate, and the care we take to craft responses are a reflection of our interest and effort.

“In the animal world, courtship involves a series of rituals, almost a dance. Over text, the dance becomes about paying attention to language.” T

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MARCH 2023 T R E N D S | 43

play cannabis REVIEWS ALY K. BENSON

Reading list for cannabis bookworms Reads that delve into history, myths and self-care ith so much happening W in the Canadian cannabis industry, it can be challenging to know what’s important and how to stay relevant.

Dive into a lit reading list of Canadian authors, covering a variety of cannabis niches.

Terpenes for Well-Being offers a hands-on, DIY approach to terpene-infused topicals, foods and beverages.

The book provides readers with botanical breakdowns and a comprehensive guide to aromatherapy-related techniques for relaxation, natural stress relief, and anti-anxiety treatments.

Andrew Freedman gives readers an exciting peek into herbal self-care, supported by the distinct characteristics of different terpenes. Freedman’s expertise in pairing cannabis with craft beer, cocktails, and wine creates a one-of-akind craft cannabis culinary experience. He has worked in the cannabis industry for over a decade and currently works in events, education, and consulting.

Freedman is currently based out of Calgary.

44 | T R E N D S M A G . CA

In an illuminating book, The Little Book of Cannabis, renowned cannabis journalist Amanda Siebert educates readers with her in-depth research. Siebert reveals 10 evidence-based ways this potent little plant can improve your life and busts a few myths along the way.

By speaking with experts in medical research fields, Siebert has created a great resource for new cannabis consumers. The book is an easy-to-follow, stepby-step guide for how to enjoy the possibilities of cannabis, such as how to apply cannabis for insomnia, increased libido, appetite control, and more.

Siebert is a Vancouverbased freelance cannabis writer, award-winning journalist, author, photographer, and public speaker passionate about cannabis and other plant medicines. She has been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Leafly, and The Georgia Straight.

One of Canada’s most prominent cannabis advocates, Dana Larsen, has written a trilogy of history books about the plant.

These highly educational and entertaining reads put the focus on cannabis.

The first three volumes of Cannabis in Canada present the early history in illustrated format.

The first volume (16061895) is a variety of ‘unknown’ tales regarding the use and significance of cannabis, cannabis hemp, and cannabis remedies throughout early Canadian history. Volume Two (1800-1938) discusses the history of Canada’s cannabis prohibition, early anti-marijuana propaganda, and how alcohol and opium laws were connected to cannabis prohibition.

The third volume (1930-1971) examines the history of cannabis prohibition, demonization, and penalties. During the 1950s and 1960s, cannabis use and culture expanded in Canada, influencing groups like beatniks and hippies.

Larsen is one of Canada’s well-known political advocates for cannabis reform and an end to the global war on drugs. Larsen served 10 years as editor of Cannabis Culture magazine, and he was former vice-president of the Canadian Association of Cannabis Dispensaries and founder of Sensible BC, Canada’s largest grassroots cannabis reform organization. Larsen currently operates the Coca Leaf Cafe in Vancouver. T

play outdoors

STORY DAVID WYLIE | PHOTO YVONNE TURGEON

CROSS COUNTRY CRAZE

Seeking family-friendly, affordable adventure

C

ross-country skiing is enjoying a revival throughout B.C. Membership surged 60 percent at Telemark Nordic Club in West Kelowna postpandemic, from 1,100 to 1,800 people. At one point, the club’s membership hit 2,100.

“It was a trend across the sport,” said Mike Edwards, general manager at Telemark.

Cross-country skiing is an affordable and accessible sport that has drawn families with kids. More than 200 children aged three to 12 now participate in Telemark’s programs.

It’s also an attractive pastime for middle-aged and older adults, as a great low-impact workout and a serene venture through the wilderness.

There’s also a K-9 trail where dogs can accompany skiers off-leash.

“You’re right in the middle of the woods. You feel like you’re on an adventure,” says Edwards, adding there are moose tracks all along the trails.

Cross-country skiing’s history dates back 5,000 years, starting in Scandinavia. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, its Canadian roots date back to the 1890s. The sport had a considerable

boost in popularity during the fitness boom in the 1970s.

Today, the equipment is evolving with a throwback to the past.

As Edwards says, skin skis, a wax-less type of ski, are taking off. Also, the binding system used to attach boots to skis is heading toward a single style instead of two, adding consistency to that piece of equipment.

The not-for-profit club focuses its energy on creating a great experience. To that end, they used the off-season to increase the size of the parking lot to accommodate greater numbers

and do significant work opening up and maintaining the trails.

They are wellknown for their snow grooming, says Edwards.

The season got off to a great start. A nice blanket of snow covered the ThompsonOkanagan landscape in early November and has stuck around.

“We got lucky with that early snowfall,” he says.

New members are experiencing the fireplace inside the lodge this season for the first time, as the space has been closed since COVID restrictions hit. “People are really happy to be back in the day lodge,” he says.

Chelsea Francis, general manager of the Overlander Ski Club at Stake Lake Nordic Centre near Kamloops, says she also saw

memberships climb during the pandemic.

Pre-COVID, the club had about 1,000 season pass holders.

That number peaked at 1,800 and has since levelled out to 1,300.

The busiest day during the heart of the pandemic saw 850 day passes sold at the club.

“It was really fun seeing that many people get out and try something,” says Francis. “It’s something anyone can enjoy.”

Besides enjoying skiing through oldgrowth trees, there’s also a strong chance of a wildlife encounter.

The uptick in skiers does pose some challenges for operators, including parking and extra grooming.

“I’m sure we’ll continue to see it grow,” she says. T

WHERE TO SKI Overlander Ski Club 30 km outside Kamloops Sun Peaks Resort 57 km outside Kamloops Silver Star Mountain Resort 24 km outside Vernon

Freshly-groomed tracks attract skiers to Telemark Nordic Club.

Sovereign Lake Nordic Club 23 km outside Vernon

Telemark Nordic Club 22 km outside West Kelowna Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club 50 km outside Kelowna Big White Ski Resort 62 km outside Kelowna Nickel Plate Nordic Centre 41 km outside Penticton

The Larch Hills Nordic Society 24 km outside Salmon Arm

Apex Mountain Resort 36 km outside Penticton

Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club 11 km outside Revelstoke

Manning Park Nordic Centre 180 km outside Osoyoos WINTER 2022 T R E N D S | 45

voices final word OPINION MARSHALL JONES

Coming out of the cannabis closet Class began when she sat across from

me, cross-legged on an outdoor chair on my back deck, and loaded up her bong.

It was just after legalization, and my niece had just started working in retail cannabis.

She was given samples and had to write a couple of hundred words on each strain, and she was turning it into a lesson for me.

I knew she had been taking the reefer for some time, sneaking behind the garage. But now here it was, all out in the open, a foot-high glass bong on my coffee table. She took a big hoot and launched into her cannabis sales lines about indicas and sativas and terpenes and what to look for and probably some other stuff.

I just sat there a bit frozen as she went on, not entirely sure how to handle this new openness of legalization. Never did I imagine my family smoking pot on my deck, but here we were. And she’s giving me lessons like I haven’t been smoking pot for 30 years and trying diligently to keep that secret from certain audiences—including her.

My older brother and his friends were hot-knifing hash on our gas stove before school in Grade 6. I’d mostly watch since I was still in elementary and they weren’t keen to share. About a year later, my mom and soon-to-be stepdad accidentally exposed themselves when they burnt some cannabis butter, and it stunk so bad it woke up my brother and me. Then my brother found their stash, and things became complicated between them after that.

I must have just finished some middle school anti-drugs class because I confronted my mom about how this marijuana would destroy us all. The combination of finding their stash and my lecturing led them to hide it all much better.

I didn’t really start until Grade 9. The first time was with this guy who was using alcohol in a shot glass to heat up knives for hash. He accidentally tipped it over and set the carpet on fire, both of us laughing while terrified and trying to stamp out the fire. Once I started, it was a lot. We’d sneak out in cars and listen to music, mostly because we could barely speak, and the music overwhelmed. I briefly tried getting into the business, but I was conned out of my seed money twice, and I knew that wasn’t for me.

I quit when trouble kept finding me, though most of that was the guys I was hanging out with—the potheads. After college, I found it for what it was good for: stress relief.

But until that day on my deck, there was always some fear around it, a need to share it with only those who needed to know.

It wasn’t just police, it was coworkers, bosses, certain friends who I knew would be former friends. Also procurement.

I actually feel pretty good that my niece will never know driving to a dead-car acreage in the middle of nowhere for a three-hour stare-down with armed shirtless strangers who are just as frightened about selling to a square-looking dude from town as I was buying. Or waiting around in smoky bars for hours with dudes you don’t know until they finally want to do business—all for a little bag of weed.

Until I found regulars, I was always pegged as a narc.

And all this is going through my head as she’s going on about flavours and hybrids and effects without any compunction, me still puckered at the thought of her knowing I have smoked her weight in ganja already.

She went on for an hour, me politely listening as she describes what it’s like to be high. That’s what finally did it, finally got me to relax and come out of the closet. I just couldn’t take it anymore.

“Hang on a minute, I can’t do this sober. My bong is much better,” I said. “Let me get it.”

Young people have a way of moving things along quickly—blazing new trails, if you will. T Marshall Jones is a veteran journalist currently at the reins as managing editor of the local news site, INFOnews.ca

46 | T R E N D S M A G . CA

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