WHAT’S IN THERE? pg.2.... - What Matters - Artist in Profile
pg.3.... - Music Notes - Health & You - Good Eatin’
pg.4.... - What’s your Biz’ness - Sleeps n’ Eats - Sponsor Thanks
www.reved.net
FALL 2008
REVED! Revelstoke’s Quarterly Arts
I had a conversation with a guy not too long ago about the concept behind arranged marriages. Still in his twenties, I was surprised when he let out an exasperated sigh and said he wasn’t totally against the idea; think of all the time and energy it saved having someone already picked out for you. I’d always been disturbed by the idea, of course, being female and wanting to make my own choices - especially about something that significant - but for a moment there, I could see his point. It got me thinking: Are we as a race prone to being indecisive and dissatisfied because we have too many choices? Basically, we can have whatever we want, whenever we want it and it’ll come with a list of options. We can order food to our tastes and cell phones to our styles. We can paint our walls different colors, select from ten thousand items in a store and whatever we can’t find where we are, we can order on-line. For me, life sometimes feels like I’ve just walked into an ice cream shop with 64 flavours. I can’t make up my mind. I want to ask for samples so I can try something new without having to commit. Maybe I’ll get a triple scoop so I can cover more bases. Sometimes I even ask my friends if I can have some of theirs.…Making decisions can be tricky when there are more than two
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writers. Each of these great individuals lends an energy, talent and a level of fun that REVED needs and I’m happy to say that our first issue together went off without a hitch (though we’re a little worried about Kibosh who has all the makings of a Russian spy). Glad to have you all here! Thanks also to Melissa Hemphill and Doreen McGillis who contributed to this issue with their articles on pages two and three. And now with the luxury of more time on my hands, I’ve fallen into the trappings of Facebook where I originally went to launch a cyber REVED club (search under REVED Quarterly) and ended up worrying about Facestalking and how people could find me if they options and sometimes I wish there was just chocolate and really wanted to: “HaHA! There you are. I’ve vanilla in that freezer. It’s still ice cream, after all! There’s no been looking for you…” But it’s not as sketchy wrong choice… as I thought, (you can deny these people and But having options and being free to make choices is that’s fun in a sick way…) and I’m more worried something I’m lucky to have. When I think about the about the fact that there’s a Facebook Scrabble possibilities for a four page arts and culture publication team and I want in. in a prospering community like ours, I get a little over REVED is also on-line again as of Septemwhelmed. And yes, sometimes indecisive. But decisions have ber 15 at www.reved.net, so now there’s just no to be made. I’ve always welcomed people’s suggestions and darned excuse not to get in contact with us. Like advice in regards to REVED, but in order to expand, I needed Crimestoppers, your confidentiality is ensured to get some like-minded people on-board. unless you say something really mean, then we And that’s how it came to that REVED has four new mem- publish your name. Happy autumn to you! bers! Emily Beaumont is the new ad sales and marketing rep. Alison Lapshinoff, Colin Titsworth and Butch F. Kibosh (which Heather Lea may or may not be their real names) are regular contributing editor@reved.net
Artists in Profile
Heritage Moments
Emerging
A Military History at Trans Canada Fitness by Alison Lapshinoff
Riding in the Hood by Colin Titsworth
It is the end of the First World War. The first returning soldiers are lining up at the boxy building at 501 Second Street West where they are waiting to turn in their equipment and receive their discharge papers. The year is 1919. Revelstoke is a typical frontier town whose streets are lined with simple frame hotels, general stores, brothels and saloons. It is also one of interior BC’s most important towns, housing CP Rail’s main operations facility and a major supply centre for a thriving mining industry.
Expansion of bike jumps is probably happening in your Revelstoke neighbourhood. The culprits are energized youngsters who do not have shuttle rides to the top of Boulder Mountain. Local schoolyards and empty lots are prime targets for these brick/plywood shovel-hauling kids who are out pushing the envelope on their two wheeled cruisers.
The armoury to which these soldiers used to report still stands, although today, one will find stairmasters and treadmills, dumbbells and body balls within its sturdy walls. Many patrons of what is now Trans Canada Fitness may not know that the building’s stone basement where they pump iron was once a shooting gallery! Completed in 1903, the Drill Hall was one of many built throughout the country at the time, to facilitate an enhanced rifle training program. Built by John Kernaghan at an expense of $9000 to the BC government, it is one of many heritage buildings that still stands in Revelstoke today. As well as being dispersal station during the First World War, it was also used as a centre for relief camps during the ‘hungry ‘30s’ and later served as a base for cadets and the Rocky Mountain Rangers. The Drill Hall remained a military building until the 1970’s. Today, with three floors of modern equipment, a lofty ceiling and lots of space, Revelstoke’s old armoury makes an excellent gym. Owned and operated by Neil and Theresa Jones since 2007, the building that houses Trans Canada Fitness still retains the Drill Hall look; long and rectangular with a peaked roof. It is one of many well preserved heritage buildings in downtown Revelstoke that tells a story of the town’s interesting and evolving history.
Riding solo or in groups, these grade-schoolers are travelling on everything from single speed BMX bikes, to elaborate full suspension-college fund-bikes. Courage and creativity help them visualize natural features for fluid riding, airtime, or escapes. Loitering at the advanced dirt jumps can continue for days on end with competitions paying off strictly in bragging rights and bruises. Most say it is an addiction for speed and freedom that fuels this behaviour. I had one biker confront me in my driveway; “Watch this” he says. Circling the far driveway this adrenalin crazed daredevil accelerates through my boulevard and recklessly launches off the driveway between a telephone pole and a truck. I knew it was my time to leave. Commitment by local trail builders has advanced the network of mountain bike trails to a premier level. Soon the young neighbourhood rippers that you see jumping gaps over your flowerbed will be advancing to the shuttle-drop masterpieces in the surrounding mountains. Valuable bicycle skills that are essential for survival on the big terrain are learned within Mom’s call for dinner. Quality bike/skate parks provide an intrinsic value for the community that is not understood by everyone. Current resurfacing or rebuilding of our existing skate park is an issue that will inevitably need a lot of local commitment and fundraising to see a quality project completed. Beyond creating a place to ride, these projects become community focal points for the energetic youth who are looking for recreation, camaraderie, and time away from their parents. A skate park committee is getting off the ground to lobby for a new park which will encourage locals to show their support for this worthwhile project.