Scene PG | October 2014

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LOCAL EVENTS AND MUSIC

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SCOTT DUNBAR PAGE 26

ERIKA CALLEWAERT PAGE 8


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local events and music

04 THERESA RIGGAN 07 SHIRAZ 08 ERIKA CALLEWAERT 10 CBC’S DAYBREAK NORTH 12 MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM 16 DAVID WAHLUND 22 LAUNY “THE” SCHWARTZ 26 SCOTT DUNBAR 28 2015 GAMES 32 HORSES AND BAYONETS 34 GURINDER PAUL 38 MANDY PAAVOLA 44 TAYLOR JAMES AUCOIN 46 GET IN THE LOOP

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putting your best face forward from persia to pg the voice within

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from coast to cattle field quick, bright things key questions

may the schwartz be with you…

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one-man-band escapes from solitude behind the scenes song of salvation

clicking it old school pretty in pink

celebrate everything until further notice are you in the loop?

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AVAILABLE ON-LINE AT:

www.pgcitizen.ca or thescenepg.com General Inquiries ‹ 250-562-2441 Publisher ‹ Colleen Sparrow Editor ‹ Neil Godbout Reader Sales ‹ Alan Ramsay Director of Advertising ‹ Dave Smith Founder/ Promotions Executive ‹ Norm Coyne Graphic Designer ‹ Candice Rosenbaum Writer ‹ Charelle Evelyn Photographers ‹ Trevor Moore, Christos Sargiogos & James Doyle

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Many things contribute to the production of each issue of the Scene PG. Articles are written, photos are taken, advertisements are designed, magazine is laid out. This would seem to be a fairly accurate portrayal of the process but there is a lot more that comes into play. One of the themes for this particular issue is Heroes and I thought this would be a good opportunity to give praise and thanks to the otherwise unrecognized players who contribute to the success of our magazine. A special thanks to all of our models from this issue that really make the pages shine. A tremendous thanks to the hair & make-up artists that make those models shine. Huge thanks to Brent Marshall and the team at Northland Dodge who always come through for us in helping with vehicles and props for the shoots. A massive thanks to the Prince George Cougars for supplying players for our hero shoot. A crazy amount of thanks and gratitude to our clothing retailers at One Boardshop, Extreme and Homework for coming on board for the shoots in each of our issues. And of course, to the design, creative, editorial, photography, and street team that pour energy and drive into every single issue. Thanks! - Norm Coyne Scene PG

THE SCENE PG IS A PRODUCT OF Please Recycle ON THE COVER: Photo Credit: Trevor Moore

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Make-up: Mandy Paavola | Clothing Available at: Homework & One Boardshop

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Putting Your It’s a tale as old as time. Girl leaves the Lower Mainland to attend postsecondary school at University of Northern B.C, girl flounders around dabbling in various disciplines, girl watches America’s Next Top Model and it opens her eyes to a career she never dreamed was possible.

Best Face Forward

Okay, so it’s not the most traditional of stories, but it is Theresa Riggan’s. “It never occurred to me people could have a happy job working with their hands,” she said. “I always thought, in order to be successful you needed to go to university and get a degree.” After years as a professional student, Riggan discovered the world of professional makeup artistry and moved back to the Lower Mainland to enroll in the Blanche Macdonald Centre’s makeup school. Riggan tried her hand at

By Charelle Evelyn

working on film sets after graduating, but quickly found it wasn’t for her between the minimum 12- to 14-hour days, being the first to arrive and last to leave, and the tedious – not to mention quiet – process of actually filming. “You don’t get to really interact with a lot of people,” said Riggan, which can be akin to torture for someone talkative and outgoing, “because you’re so busy keeping your mouth quiet while filming.” Riggan, who was working in television after leaving film sets behind, and her husband

moved to Prince George about six years ago to open Hummus Bros. restaurant. Now, Riggan can be found at Razor’s Edge Hair Studio and Day Spa as well as getting faces camera ready for Scene PG fashion photo shoots and other film projects. Riggan was the make up artist for director/ writer Chad Magnant’s short film Through Blood Like Ice as well as for Jeremy Breaks’s recent Barkerville-shot music video for the tune Come Down. Continued on page 6 Photo Credits: James Doyle

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theresa riggan

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putting your best face forward


theresa riggan

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putting your best face forward

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Continued from page 4

On her favourite looks:

“I always want to make someone look healthy and a lot of that revolves around skin and adding a nice blush to their skin so they look vibrant and optimistic.”

On make-up on social media:

“Often [Pinterest] photos are very whimsical, country chic… It’s like taking the best pictures out of a magazine… Pinterest has sparked everyone’s enthusiasm. I’ve definitely noticed people coming in with their phone saying ‘I want to look like this.’”

On YouTube tutorials:

“A lot of great make-up artists are self-taught. If you have an enthusiasm for make-up you should absolutely share it. If you’re really good at your craft, if you’re humble, if you’re coming from a good place, I want you to share what you know.”

On a common make-up misconception:

“Make-up can eliminate discolouration and change the shape of a face, but it can’t eliminate or disguise wrinkles. There’s nothing you can do except serious exfoliation.”

On the importance of a good eyebrow:

“If you’re doing a look, doesn’t matter if it’s dramatic or not, if you’re applying eyeshadow on to hair… it’s going to look black. With a brow that’s shaped, if a window to the eye is beautiful, it will make them look regal.

On pampering yourself:

“It’s worth it to invest in yourself, whether it be brushing your hair or putting on make-up. Even if you’re really busy and exhausted, spending a few minutes in the morning can impact the rest of your day and make your day go a little bit better.” 6

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theresa riggan

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putting your best face forward


Shiraz: From Persia to PG by Chris Dias (PG Gastronome)

Photo Credits: James Doyle

Despite claims from my great Aunt that my Portuguese blood tracks back to Vasco Da Gama, I believe there must be a drop of Persian flowing somewhere in my veins. How else can anyone explain my appetite for rosewater?

The inclusion of this ingredient in several dishes at Shiraz is as much an indicator of the restaurant’s pride in its heritage as its colorful décor or ethnically-titled dishes. Where some people testify that it’s akin to eating perfume, I find it in small quantities an incredibly robust addition. Try a drop in your butter chicken next time (a drop-for god’s sake, a drop). shiraz

| from persia to pg

What’s most impressive about Shiraz is it’s resistance to compromise. When it first opened, it offered no westernized cuisine, no American hallmarks, a stance it maintains today. To indulge a metaphor, Shiraz is Koenigsegg. No, I didn’t just have a stroke or mash my keys frustratingly on the keyboard, though you could’ve made that assumption; I just mashed my keys and got “farthinder”, which is also Swedish and sounds a little dirty (though it’s not). Koenigsegg is car a manufacturer focusing on oddly enough cars. They’re not about selling t-shirts, caps, or novelty mugs. They refuse to concede to any pressure to conform, which is why their cars go 242 miles per hour and have 1300 horsepower. Shiraz matches that level of commitment and is equally proud of its heritage…I’m just

happy it uses less syllables to do it. When I first encountered Shiraz, I exclaimed to friends, family, and my hypnotherapist every second Tuesday that it was proof that patrons in Prince George were not single-minded fataholics (copyrighted). The success of the restaurant lends itself not just to the owners of Shiraz but to Prince George as a whole. It was like opening the gates of Troy, only this time, the horse was full of diverse cuisine (though some of it was Greek, so…you got me there). We’ve already been blessed by a second Persian restaurant; how long before we get Lebanese, Turkish, or Spanish (TAPAS!). Meanwhile, Shiraz isn’t standing on its laurels, expanding its menu by pulling inspiration from Morocco, Nepal, and Brazil (coincidentally where the chefs are from) while still clinging onto its Persian roots like a G.I.

Joe doll with plyer-like kung-fu grip. Those roots permeate the foundations of the restaurant. When I first passed through its entrance less than a month after opening, Shiraz was like Hannibal Lector from Silence of the Lambs—still parading in the skin of its predecessor. Over the course of its first year, its culture oozed to the surface like Albertan oil, and we as a city embraced them. In many ways, I’m as proud of my city for welcoming Shiraz as I am to Reza Akbari, the owner, for opening it. One only needs to encounter the insane buzz on those occasional Saturdays when live bands are present, an occurrence so frequent that Reza stopped tearing down the stage. I hope its success continues, for it validates the faith in my initial review, in the restaurant, and in my city entire. OCTOBER2014

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The

Voice Within By Charelle Evelyn

In speaking with Erika Callewaert, it’s difficult not to see her path laid out as a movie montage.

First, picture a mini Erika, whose head barely reaches the top of a piano working through classical voice lessons. Next, Erika is a young teenager who has left classical behind to train in more contemporary fare with Dawn Boudreau.

Erika strikes out on her own, attending Nelson’s Selkirk College where a voice teacher – coincidentally, named Melody – discovers that Erika’s softer folk stylings are masking a booming belt, yearning to be free. But just when Erika finds this magical voice, tragedy strikes. Swollen vocal cords mean the fledging singer is on vocal rest for two months, right as exam time hits. Thankfully, everything rights itself and Erika finds herself auditioning to front a classic rock ensemble, not really

believing in her ability to pull it off, but determined to try only to have the moxie pay off. Post-graduation with a diploma in voice/performance in hand, Erika returns home and begins molding young voices and performers as a teacher herself. But her story doesn’t fade to black there. “Music is really calming. It makes sense,” Erika said, who has recently made the switch from teaching at Long & McQuade to the new Dreamland School of the Arts. Erika has been pounding the pavement, making doors open

for herself as a singer. With a voice that’s a solid mixture of country and blues, Erika is taking to stages at local venues such as Nancy O’s, Shiraz and the Prince George Farmers’ Market. Beginning Sept. 10, Erika will also complete a minimum four-week run of live music at Coach’s Corner. Visit Erika’s artist Facebook page (facebook.com/ erikamichellecallewaert) for up-to-date information about her shows.

Photo Credits: James Doyle 8

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erika callewaert

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erika callewaert

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FROM COAST TO CATTLE FIELD CBC’s Daybreak North connects listeners across northern B.C. Photo Credits: James Doyle

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cbc’s daybreak north

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from coast to cattle field


It’s 6:45 in the morning. From her studio in downtown Prince Rupert, CBC Radio One host Carolina de Ryk is speaking to a man standing in the middle of a field. He’s practicing for a cow dog championship in Vanderhoof, and says the key is to communicate with the dogs herding the cattle through a series of whistles.

Neither Bowers nor de Ryk is originally from the north, but both feel strong ties to their adopted homes. de Ryk came to Prince Rupert to pursue a career in broadcasting, and now isn’t sure she could ever leave. Her husband has started a small brewery there, and she is just returning to the airwaves following the birth of their second daughter.

“Can you give us a quick example?” she asks. The man hesitates before a emitting a high-pitched sound. “That’s a walk-up whistle.” Another whistle, this one more sustained. “A long steady one is a stop whistle.” He’s on a roll now. “And then for a go-to-the-right…” “That’s beautiful,” de Ryk encourages. Then the cows start mooing. This is the sort of moment that radio is made for, particularly the type of radio listeners expect from Daybreak North, CBC’s morning drivetime show heard across northern British Columbia. While most radio shows consist of a single host speaking from a single location, Daybreak North is a pan-northern experience. de Ryk broadcasts from Prince Rupert while her co-host Russell Bowers speaks to listeners from downtown Prince George. The two trade off interviews, which on any given day will range from a hardhitting political conversation with a government minister to a conversation about a new heavy metal festival in the Bulkley Valley. What holds it all together is both hosts’ genuine interest in the people and voices that make up northern B.C. cbc’s daybreak north

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Bowers is also marking a return to local radio. He used to host Daybreak North from Prince Rupert, but left to pursue other offers including his most recent stint on a weekend arts show in Calgary. He enjoyed the job, but found himself missing the unique experience of life in B.C. Then he heard there was an opening to host Daybreak North from Prince George while regular host Betsy Trumpener took time off to pursue other projects. “Northern B.C. has really felt like home for me, more so than anywhere I’ve lived,” he says. “So when the opportunity to come out this way came up, I jumped at it.” Now the two are re-united on the air, and listeners couldn’t be happier. Daybreak North is already the number one radio show in Prince George, and producers of the program say the response to the new onair team has been nothing but positive. As for what to expect as the fall season gets underway, stay tuned. Between the Canada Winter Games, major anniversaries for Prince George and UNBC, and the increased economic importance of communities like Fort St John and Kitimat, there’s plenty of optimism in the north right now, as well as a lot of challenges. Daybreak North plans to reflect it all from coast to cattle field. Daybreak North airs weekdays from 5:57 to 8:37 on CBC Radio One, 91.5 FM in Prince George or streaming online at cbc.ca/daybreaknorth.

from coast to cattle field

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QUICK, BRIGHT THINGS By Charelle Evelyn

The course of true love never did run smooth. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream In a season where music festivals were making headlines for all the wrong reasons, the organizers behind MidSummer’s Dream could breathe a sigh of relief.

Photo Credits: Kayla Hughes 12

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More than 400 revelers attended the Prince Georgebased transformational music festival July 18-19. “We had to remove two people the whole weekend,” said Dave Mothus. For attendees who managed to stay the entire weekend, they indulged in an emotional and beautiful experience, he said. In addition to live and electronic music, festival goers

also had visionary art and installations, performance art, ‘prayer-formances’ and sacred spaces, an artisan market, seminars and workshops and magical trails to explore. ~ Out of this wood do not desire to go. ~ “Everyone really connected and took part in all of the little workshops… In past it was more about the party and this time it ended up being more about the workshops and the community,” said Mothus. “You had people spending more time in the forest at the little stages and huts and tree forts that were built than anywhere else. So that was a pretty cool experience.” The festival was also able to make at $1,300 donation to the SPCA when all said and done, which Mothus said was the weekend’s largest success.

a midsummer night’s dream

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quick, bright things


a midsummer night’s dream

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Continued from page 12

It’s a success that wouldn’t be possible without the cavalcade of volunteers. “It’s a $40,000 event pulled off for $15,000. So many people stepped up,” said Mothus. ~ I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was. ~ And while there were no complaints from the technical and artistic standpoint, Mothus acknowledged that the event is on less-secure financial footing, especially given the introduction of a new festival that kicked off the following weekend. Mothus indicated that he would be taking a step back from the event and posed the question of finding a way to make such a festival more financially viable. It’s a question he’s not yet able to answer. “If you’re going to put 10,000 hours into something, it would be nice to be able to make a $10,000 donation, not $1,000,” he said. “This festival is purely about the community – it would be a shame to lose that.”

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a midsummer night’s dream

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quick, bright things


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KEY QUESTIONS By Charelle Evelyn

Changing your life doesn’t have to be a painful process. According to life coach, spiritual teacher, author and motivational speaker David Wahlund’s, there are 10 key elements to making that change. Photo Credits: James Doyle

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Wahlund’s latest book, The 10 Keys, is a pocket-sized guide that was released in mid-July outlining the 10 decisions he recommends for achieving personal success and fulfillment. Q: What started you down this path? David Wahlund: I remember when I was about 18 I read Think and Grow Rich [a selfhelp book published in 1937] for the very first time and it was like reading a whole new language. And there was one thing that’s written in there about having specialized knowledge and I remember I didn’t have any knowledge to offer. At that age, I had no idea what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go, but I remember I was little bit bummed out, I guess you could say, about not having

david wahlund

that knowledge yet. So I didn’t know where to go or what to do so I just started to study, started to go on my own path and spent a lot of years bumping along life knowing that nothing was clicking, wasn’t finding my calling, if you will. Q: What changed? DW: I’d always fallen back on personal growth. And I’m very fortunate to have some amazing mentors who saw something in me and really helped me and encouraged me and believed in me. When you bump around long enough, all of a sudden it just clicks. In 2007, I was watching a random movie playing on TV – it was called Finding Neverland. What [Johnny Depp’s character, J.M. Barrie] would do, he would carry around a leather journal and

| key questions

he was capturing his ideas… Everything became clear after watching him and watching that character, how he would capture his ideas it was just like a floodgate opened and I just knew right then when everything was going to start. Q: Did you start your own journal? DW: I did, yeah. And then the journal upgraded to a laptop. I still carry a journal. I haven’t stopped writing since. Now 11 books in, I’m just working on getting them out there now. It’s just been such an exciting ride for ideas and projects. Q: Is there anyone you’ve coached that you think back on and think, ‘This is why I do this’?

If you can share an idea with somebody, you can just watch them take that idea and start to apply it in their lives in some way. And all of a sudden they start to think a little bit differently, they start to act a little bit differently, they start to believe a little bit differently... There’s a brightness in their eyes, their face is smiling without even having a smile. It’s a whole different type of a person now that you see. They’re no longer bogged down with all the stuff that keeps us trapped. It’s like there’s a freedom about them and a confidence they exude. That makes it worth it every time. The 10 Keys is available at Books and Company and InJoy Studio and Boutique.

DW: There’s been a few actually.

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Clothing available at One Boardshop & Extreme 18

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photocredits: trevor moore & christos sargiogos hair & make-up: theresa riggan - razors edge hair studio & day spa


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Clothing available at Homework & One Boardshop 20

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photocredits: trevor moore hair & make-up: mandy paavola - mp make-up artistry


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MAY THE SCHWARTZ BE WITH YOU… “There goes my hero. He’s ordinary” – Dave Grohl. My hero is only ordinary if you never had the privilege of taking one of his English classes at Thornlea Secondary School in Thornhill, Ontario. His name? Mr. Boles.

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launy “the” schwartz | may the schwartz be with you…


I will always remember my first day in his classroom for grade ten media. His opening words to our group were the following, “This is an English media class. If English is not your first language, I suggest you drop this course. We are not here to watch movies and TV shows all day.” He then followed with, “if the word ‘like’ is repeatedly used out of context, I will fail your presentation. Once again, this is an English class”. In closing Mr. Boles would go on to say, “When presenting a video, if I see popcorn on the screen and hear that annoying fuzz, I will fail your presentation”. For the disc generation, that ‘popcorn’ was the fuzz on a TV if you did not have your input selected for the VHS player that was hooked up. Yes. I am that old. And yes, it was very annoying to hear that fuzz. The only sound more annoying was hearing ‘like’ out of context. Once the herd was trimmed down to those who weren’t intimidated by his introduction, it was time to learn. And learn we did. What solidified him as a hero to me is how he was outside of class. When my mother passed away, many visitors came to my home. Two teachers decided to pay a visit, and as you may have gathered, Mr. Boles was one of those who knocked on my front door. It humanized

him. Here is my hero coming over to pay his respects. He didn’t have to walk over to my house, but he did. Clearly there was a mutual respect between peer and professor. There is a reason I am full of the back-stories that go along our pop culture. There is a reason I watch commercials and television differently. There is a reason I don’t take all the news and words people say at face value. The reason? Mr. Boles. I will forever be grateful to this man for his insight, and his teaching our class to think about the words we say and write. To think critically of the words we hear and read. In essence? To think. Years after I had graduated, I would see him at random places around Toronto. He asked me at one point to call him by his first name – Derek. To this day I can’t. It just wouldn’t feel right. He may be ordinary, but every hero has a name. His? Mr. Boles. Launy “The” Schwartz is one half of the Morning Show on 94.3 The GOAT. You can tune in from 6am-10am so when you read his articles in SCENE Magazine, you can picture him sitting right next to you as your faithful narrator. Rest assured, he smells better than a goat. Mind you, no one ever said it was “a lot better”.

launy “the” schwartz | may the schwartz be with you…

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ONE-MANBAND ESCAPES FROM SOLITUDE By Charelle Evelyn

Shortly after the news of Robin Williams’ death hit the world, Scott Dunbar found himself atop a schoolroom desk.

“Just like something out of a movie,” Dunbar croons in a

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YouTube video, “O Captain, my captain. I’d never stood up on this desk if not for you.” His musical tribute to the actor, who committed suicide Aug. 11, is just one example of how Dunbar has steadfastly adhered to a determination to write music that adds something to the conversation. As far back as 2005, Dunbar told the Prince George Citizen: “I don’t want to write apathetic

music. I want to be part of the discourse that is going on worldwide in music – to be a part of the ongoing discussion in the media, and make our work an answer, a rebuttal to it.” It’s something Dunbar said he still thinks of often. “[The tribute song] was exactly what that was about; all of a sudden there’s a conversation about Robin Williams and

scott dunbar

| one-man-band escapes from solitude


his place in culture and his significance of what he did and the significance of his death,” Dunbar said. “All we’re doing in the arts is participating in this evolving discourse. As an artist, you want to encourage other people to participate.” Though his approach to the music remains static, Dunbar has evolved as a musician. In 2005, Dunbar was part of Floored, a band that reached about as high as a local Prince George group could go. “PG’s music scene was such a bubble,” said Dunbar. “I don’t know if any of those guys would admit it, but we though we would get discovered right out of Prince George – because we were that good.” If there was a battle of the

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bands or a prize up for grabs, Floored was it. “We were young enough and stoked enough and confident enough because we thought we were going to do it that way.” But reality held something different for the bandmates (which included previous Scene cover artist Jeremy Breaks). After the band went its separate ways, Dunbar found himself in Montreal. He spent five years in what is arguably Canada’s musical hotbed, busking as a one-man band – and gaining a following. “That was kind of my education, in many ways, of the music world,” he said. “I think in many ways it takes a

| one-man-band escapes from solitude

lot of travelling around a lot of experiencing the larger music scene in order to understand how things get done in the world.” And how things get done is by doing them yourself. “There are a lot of different ways of trying to crack the egg,” said Dunbar, who discovered what might be his favourite method through his Records-for-Rent series of albums released in late 2013. The concept is fairly selfexplanatory: Dunbar takes up residence in a friend’s home and writes and records an album based on the experiences shared for that month. “That’s my greatest hope, that’s what I want to get back towards

doing,” said Dunbar, who will be spending the next stretch of months back in Prince George teaching at the new Dreamland performing arts studio. “It’s almost an anti-capitalist idea really. You play a house show – arrive at a place in the beginning of the month – and you earn a bit of money for food. You’re going to stay with your friends and have a bit of fun for a whole month and at the end of the month you release it, you have a party, people donate again, maybe, and then you’re on to the next town. You really don’t require much more than that.”

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BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE 2015 GAMES GEAR PHOTO SHOOT By Christina Verticchio

Photo Credits: Trevor Moore 28

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2015 games | behind the scenes of the 2015 games gear photo shoot


On August 27, Downtown Prince George was transformed into a multimedia studio as we worked with two of our Official Media Partners, the Prince George Citizen and the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, to film a commercial and a photo shoot highlighting our new 2015 Games Gear line of merchandise, available online at: www.2015gamesgear.ca and in store at Canadian Tire Prince George.

Featuring 2015 Games hopefuls and athletes, board members and volunteers, the 2015 Games Gear commercial and photo shoot was set up on Quebec Street to show off two focal points at 2015 Games time – the Canada Games House and Canada Games Plaza (at the Civic Centre).

Our models included snowboarder Colby Graham; judoka Kristen Yawney and ringette player Sidney Irving, as well as 2015 Games’ volunteers, Will Cadell, Stephen Duck, Sarah Nelson, Garth Frizzell and Board Member, Alison Hoskins. Using models who are involved in the 2015 Games was important for us and highlights the huge community effort required to host the largest event ever to come to Prince George and northern BC. The photo shoot--like the 2015 Canada Winter Games-was a team effort, to say the least! 2015 Games Gear is available at Canadian Tire Prince George and online at www.2015GamesGear.ca. Get your 2015 Games Gear and share the spirit of the 2015 Canada Winter Games today! To learn more about the largest multi-sport and cultural event for youth in the nation, visit www.canadagames2015.ca.

2015 games | behind the scenes of the 2015 games gear photo shoot

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L I V E carn Northland Dodge presents

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SONG OF SALVATION By Charelle Evelyn

The second album from Horses and Bayonets is a new release in more ways than one.

For front man Bryce Lokken, it was a catharsis 10 years in the making. “I hate the world that we live in where when somebody does something horrible, victims and anyone else affected are taught to stay quiet and keep secrets,” said Lokken. “But those secrets and the silence are what give these people power over the rest of your life.” The seven-song Safety vs. Shelter, out Sept. 20, is Lokken’s way of coming clean and finally addressing those

demons that have haunted him since growing up in what he calls a “sometimes abusive and destructive environment.” At first blush, the choice between safety and shelter may seem like a misnomer, almost redundant. But it was a deliberate – and agonizing – choice that ultimately had to be made. “My brother and I, there were periods where we were often faced with the choice of do we stay here and become the receiving end of this psychological and physical abuse just whenever this person fancies or do we run away from home,” Lokken explained. “It took me a long time to realize my home wasn’t my home.” Safety vs. Shelter is a dark concept album, following the

path of abuse through the pain, getting help and eventually seeing the light. The lead single, Dawn, is the album’s penultimate track, marking a shift towards optimism. The new album follows on the heels of 2013’s This Is Who I Am, Not Who I Want To be, but it wasn’t one that was written on the walls. As a musical entity, Horses and Bayonets had fractured. “We finished up the last album, finished up our run of shows and I think we had almost just become very stressed and very overworked and very underwhelmed by the response,” said Lokken. Drummer Landon Hilde and guitarist Jake Olexyn left for other projects but songs still bubbled out with bassist Alex

Chin and guitarist Devon Meyer. A handful of demos later, producer Connor Pritchard from Edgewood Studios was brought in to help record an EP. “A month later, we had a more-than-30 minute, sevensong album,” Lokken said. The new lineup includes Cale Sharp and Nick Tindale. Lokken is effusive with his praise of Pritchard. “He’s the reason we were able to get this album done,” he said of the young, but highquality Prince George-based producer. “I’ve never seen anybody work so hard.” Find Horses and Bayonets music online at www. habmusic.ca or follow their Facebook page for gig dates.

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horses and bayonets | song of salvation


horses and bayonets | song of salvation

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Clicking it

Old School By Charelle Evelyn

Mount Robson is still waiting to be captured by Gurinder Paul. An elementary school trip to the provincial park was the catching spark for what would eventually become GSP Photography. “It was unbelievably beautiful up there,” Gurinder recalls, “but I didn’t have a camera. I kept thinking, ‘I would love to come back here if I had a camera.’”

Now 22, Gurinder hasn’t made it back to the mountain, but he does have a camera. And he also has the makings of a name for himself in the local photography scene. Self-taught, Gurinder used YouTube and lots of time spent outside familiarizing himself with the camera he bought three years after graduating

high school. “I would mostly go to Cranbrook Hill. I used to drive up there almost every day,” he said. “It helped inspire me to capture things differently.” Now, Gurinder is taking that sentiment to another level. In a landscape where digital reigns supreme, Gurinder is dialing the technology back

and transitioning to shooting in film. “It has a unique look to it,” Gurinder explained. Big on colour, Gurinder’s photos are always richly hued. Film, he said, has a more dynamic range and really captures skin tones in a beautiful way. The switch to film was inspired

by a book Gurinder stumbled upon while working on a research project for Youth Mean Business. What he found was a collection of fine art wedding photos shot by American photographer Jose Villa. “I was blown away,” Gurinder said of the work by Villa, who was named one of the top Continued on page 36

Photo Credits: James Doyle 34

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Photo Credits: Gurinder Paul Photography 36

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10 wedding photographers in the world by American Photo magazine. The young photographer has begun sending his own work to the same Los Angeles lab as Villa to get his prints developed. While he’s still in the transition process, Gurinder said the response from his engagement portrait and wedding clients has been positive so far. If he fills the niche like he wants to, perhaps shooting with film will help Gurinder reach his goal of being the go-to photographer for destination weddings. But first, he needs to get back to Mount Robson. For samples of Gurinder’s work, visit www.facebook.com/ GurinderPaulPhotography. gurinder paul | clicking it old school


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Pretty in

Pink

By Charelle Evelyn

A self-proclaimed girly-girl, Mandy Paavola’s home make up studio is decked out with the brightest pink you can imagine.

Photo Credits: James Doyle 38

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But despite the seemingly dainty exterior, Mandy has a gruesome side. So yeah, her studio might smack you in the face with colour, but Mandy can actually make you look like you had a run in with a two-by-four. The mother of two behind M.P. Make-up Artistry is a film set veteran and winner of two Leo Awards – handed out by the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of B.C. – for special effects makeup. A P.G. native, Mandy and her family relocated to the city from Vancouver nearly four years ago. But just because you

take the girl out of Hollywood North, doesn’t mean you take the Hollywood North out of the girl. “I have a warm spot in my heart for special effects. If I can cover someone in blood, I’m really happy.” Naturally, Halloween is Mandy’s favourite time of year and she’s constantly studying for her next disfigurement, whether it’s taking a peek at injuries online, collecting photos from friend’s nursing textbooks or even documenting her own children’s scrapes and bruises. “It’s kind of neat because my kids – who are almost four and almost six – they almost always ask to have a photo taken if there’s something going on,” said Mandy, who trained as a visual artist before studying to become a make-up artist. “My

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daughter got stitches and that was my first experience with real stitches and we took lots of pictures because it’s good reference material.” But even more than playing with prosthetics and fake wounds, Mandy loves to make people beautiful. Whether she’s doing face or body painting or preparing a bride for her big day, Mandy said she sets out create a memorable experience. “I want whoever comes into my studio that when they leave we’ve made a connection somehow. I don’t want you to

just feel like you came in and paid me to do your hair and makeup. I want you to feel like you’ve made a new friend.” It’s a strategy that pays off, as Mandy said many clients have turned into close friends over the years. Being a make-up artist can be a little like being a psychiatrist, according to Mandy. But it’s an easy role for the outgoing brunette to fill. “It feels good to be able to help people.” See what Mandy has to offer at mpmakeupartistry.webs.com.

Photo Credits (middle & bottom): Trevor Moore 40

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DANCING GAMES PERFORMERS

A Halloween Party for Grown-ups

Saturday November 1st 8 o'clock

PRIZES

BEST COSTUME GROUP COSTUME

TICKETS

Group Tickets

Thru Sept 30: 10/$400 Oct 1–Nov 1: 10/$600

Individual Tickets Thru Sept 30: $60 Oct 1–15: $70 Oct 16–Nov 1: $80

BUY ONLINE: www.tworiversgallery.ca 250-614-7800 42

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Absinthe § Scotch Tasting

LATE NITE LUNCH


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CELEBRATE EVERYTHING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE By Taylor James Aucoin

Awakening. A fitting name for what transpired in early July within the valley along the Sukunka River. Those inspired to make the journey would protest to it as so.

For a higher vibrational way of life was seen and experienced by those who attended,

leaving with them a lasting impression and restored vitality with hope for what is to come. It was a place where all were welcome and all were embraced as they were, coming together to celebrate the moment in unity for all it had to offer. Here a renewal took place. From far and wide people came to join in on the festivities, each with their own intentions of what they would put forth, and hoped to equally receive. What they left with was a sense of community and togetherness

that is not commonly seen in today’s world. The lessons and experiences gained in this place vary for each, but together we achieved something unprecedented as a collective. A culture was created. A way of life was established. A new civilization built, even for only a short while. Those that were there to bear witness to the first Awakening can hold this true, that in its first year Awakening defied the odds and became what it hoped to be. A place far from normal, where the fairyfolk play, and the adventurous

show their true colors. It was something out of a Dr. Seuss book where the rules of the land seem to be turned upside down and everything seemed possible. That was the goal of intention. To create a place where possibility comes first. To take the limits of expectations off and hope for the best of what can be. A mindset like this can be powerful. It can be liberating to the spirit and the soul to create a movement unlike anything else. Seeing what can be rather than what is. This is the spark

Photo Credits: Jordan Demeulemeester 44

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taylor james aucoin | celebrate everything until further notice


that ignites an awakening. Seeing how far a possibility can take you, knowing that there can be no limit to what has yet come, and while learning the reality behind the illusion. To do this is to see the infinite. This is what took place at the Awakening music festival. It was a collection of unified people coming together to celebrate the infinite moment as if it were a dream that we all shared. Serving as a model of how life can be.

The story of Awakening is one that goes beyond the length of what is written here, as this article serves as an introduction piece into the full length version that can be found on TheScenePG.com where the full story of the weekends festivities are told.

taylor james aucoin | celebrate everything until further notice

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Are you in the loop? There’s a certain amount of courage - and crazy required to give everything up and follow your dream.

Photo Credits: Chuck Nesbitt

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Three years ago, Matt Crowell took his degree in marketing – earned while playing Division I hockey in Rochester – and $800 from his chequing account and put it all on the fanciful notion of starting his own company. The Kelowna-based Get in the Loop started as a way to provide local golfers with deals at premium courses, but has grown into a subscription service where scores of businesses can connect with customers. “It started first with text messages and then translated to emails and now with iPhone and Android notifications all within three years,” Crowell said. What does it mean to be in the Loop? Within the app, a “Loop” is a collection of the company’s partners providing premium offers based on the user’s lifestyle and interests. Don’t like golf? Simply turn off the golf loop. Members can customize the app to only receive the deals in the categories they want - no spam. Offers are automatically sent to your Apple or Android mobile device - no printing of coupons necessary - as soon as they’re made available. And unlike other deal services, there’s no

need to pre-purchase the deals months in advance. For example, Get in the Loop has partnered with the local WHL team. Members (who get free access if they hold Prince George Cougars season tickets) can check the Cougars loop to see what deals are available if you want to grab a bite before or after the game. Get in the Loop memberships are also free for UNBC and CNC students as well as Prince George Citizen subscribers. All other memberships are available for $29 per year. And with deals such as two-for-one appetizers, 25 per cent of green fees and cheap nights out, it’s a membership that quickly pays for itself. Once Get in the Loop began to grow, Crowell took another leap. “All in the same day I quit my job, I sold my condo and I sold my car and I enrolled myself in a master’s degree at Antwerp Management School in Belgium,” he said. Today, Get in the Loop has a crew of 17, connections with businesses in 12 cities and, on average, a couple of hundred deals available per day. “So I kind of put it all on the line and it seems to have worked out,” Crowell said. “You have to take risks while you’re young and you’ve got to take chances to find out that there’s cool opportunities out there.” For more, head to GetintheLoop.ca or download the app from the App Store or Google Play.

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