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June 2019
Summer festivals guide!
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CONTENTS
Creative Director Aaron Orlando The Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine is a free monthly publication featuring the best of Revelstoke outdoor life, food, style, visitor experiences, lifestyles, entertainment, home style and healthy living. Each month we distribute 3,000 free copies to over 200 public venues across Revelstoke, including accommodations, shops, restaurants, cafes, community centres, bars and everywhere people meet. We are an independent, locally owned publication dedicated to showcasing our amazing mountain town and the great people who create the stoke. For more information, including details on our very affordable advertising rates, please contact us: www.revelstokemountaineer.com on the advertising tab. 250-814-8710 info@revelstokemountaineer.com PO BOX 112, 606 Railway Avenue, Revelstoke, B.C. V0E 2S0
COVER PHOTO Shambhala is the queen of the Kootenay dance music festival scene, but there are many new upstart festivals seeking to put their stamp on the summer fun. Check out our guide to regional summer festivals and the Revelstoke Street Fest in this issue. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine
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4 Revelstoke Adventure Park
Scope of proposed Greeley area adventure park grows
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15 Spokin’ Word
30 Local sips
Enduro World Series is coming What’s on trend for summer to Revelstoke this month cocktails?
16 East Coast connection
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Vacation rentals increase
Data crunched: Vacation rental listings continue to increase in Revy
20 Summer Music Festivals
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June events guide
Find out what’s happening in Revelstoke in June
12 Summer Street Fest
Free, live entertainment every night in downtown Revelstoke
14 Men moving mountains
We caught up with Revy locals 32 Ladies crews who hail from the East Coast Getting together to get after it
35 Everything Shuswap
Our guide to established and A thoughtful traveller’s guide up-and-coming regional music to adventure in the festivals Shuswap
24 Mountain caribou issue
A rundown of big developments on this major issue for Revelstoke, and a new glimmer of hope
Find out how you can help
37 Easing your kids into healthy food
28 Dogs of Revelstoke
Checking in with a Revy men’s healing movement
36 Tourism students need housing help
Paddling in the Columbia with our local furry pals
Taking the icky out of the picky
38 Instagram
Don’t forget to hashtag #revelstokemountaineer to get in the magazine
Contributors
Aaron Orlando
Alex Cooper
Amaris Bourdeau
Louise Stanway
Shannon MacLean
Bryce Borlick
Vilja Arnsteinsdatter
Heather Hood
Cara Smith
Claudia Bambi
Creative Director
Melissa Jameson
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NEWS
Adventure park expands plans as it slowly moves forward Scope of Revelstoke Adventure Park expands to include riverside hotel, RV park By Alex Cooper
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wo years after being given approval by the province, the Revelstoke Adventure Park is looking to expand its footprint to include a stretch of land along the Illecillewaet River in the Greely area east of Revelstoke. New plans for the adventure park submitted to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District site a proposed RV Park to the riverside lands, and also call for construction of a hotel on one parcel next to the river. It’s all part of a revised development plans that most notably will increase the amount of accommodation units to 612, up from 362, but also proposes to add uses that will allow for hosting festivals and construction of a train station. “All the changes really came out from the environmental assessments and planning,” developer Jason Roe told me at his office in April. The expansion, if approved, will take place on 21 lots that were previously sub-divided and approved for use as hobby farms by the Agricultural Land Commission. Now, Roe hopes to reconstitute the properties as 14 lots that would be incorporated into the Revelstoke Adventure Park. The plans for the Greeley property go back more than a decade. When I first reported on the Roe’s ownership of the property in 2010, brothers Jason and Brydon said they envisioned developing it into a second base village of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. A few years later, Jason confirmed rumours of a downhill bike park using vehicle shuttles. The much bigger plans for the adventure park were unveiled in 2013. They include everything from downhill bike trails to zip lines to a bungie jump to a man-made lake with an artificial surf wave. Since then, the proponents have been going through the regulatory process. They received permission for non-farm 4
use on agricultural land, though a second application to remove the property from the Agricultural Land Reserve was rejected. They had the project approved by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District and signed a Master Development Agreement with the Province in early 2017. Jason Roe said the latest changes had to do with on-the-ground environmental work that was conducted since then. Initially, the plan was to sell the riverside lots to raise money for the adventure park. Plans changed when they realized the land slated for the campground was intersected by numerous water courses. Only then did they decide to move the campground to their property north of the river. Concurrently, they applied to the ALC to build a hotel on a one-hectare section of that property, and subdivide it into 14 lots instead of 21. Last year, the ALC approved the new uses, writing in a letter that they were “in substantial compliance” with the 2014 decision to allow the 21-lot “hobby farm” sub-division. A report by Dan Passmore, a senior planner with the CSRD, states: “This application represents a significant intensification as well as expansion of the land base for the proposed development.” Roe notes the hotel was part of the initial plans that went to the CSRD in their first proposal years ago. It was removed after the ALC wouldn’t approve it, but now that they’ve received permission to build it on their other property, they’ve added it to the plans for the park. The CSRD report notes they were not consulted on the change in use and an ALC representative did not reply to questions about the decision. So, when’s the adventure park actually going to open? Like many major projects that take years to come to fruition, I’ve developed a cynicism about ever mountain biking down one of its trails or zip-lining through the forest. The latest plans calls for installation of infrastructure this summer and construction of phase one next summer. Roe hopes there can be a soft opening of phase one in the fall of 2020, but he was hesitant to give a date because of all the inherent challenges; at one point they were hoping to open in 2018. “Phase one will include six adventure activities and the RV park,” he said, adding financing is in place. Future phases would include the hotel, a gondola to a mid-mountain lodge, an artificial lake, a bike park, mountain coaster, and more. One question I had was what RMR’s summer developments meant for the adventure park. When it was first proposed, RMR did not have any summer activities. Since then, the resort has built the hugely popular mountain coaster and a number of hiking trails, and is
opening a ropes course and mountain bike trail this summer. Roe replied he felt there was ample demand for multiple “more than one activity centre” in Revelstoke. “It’s been no secret of ours and they were going to do summer development,” he said. “If you look at those Telus numbers, there’s a lot more base than we thought there was, and more traffic flow.” Telus Insights data indicates about 13,000 people are living in the Revelstoke area during the summer and roughly 200,000 different people spent
tenures, but the resort’s master plan update doesn’t contain any mention of connecting to the adventure park. The revised plans for the adventure park were given first reading by the CSRD’s Board of Directors in March and have since been sent out for referral to various local, provincial and First Nations governments. Roe said they will press on with development of what’s been approved while the new re-zoning application goes forward. “We’ll get there. I feel good, I’m happy,” he said. “I mean honestly, I wish it
Top left: Jason Roe is the Chief Operating Officer of Black Tie Properties, the company behind the Revelstoke Adventure Park. Above and below: The Revelstoke Adventure Park will be located at Greeley Farm and will extend up the north flank of Mount Mackenzie. Photos: Alex Cooper
time in Revelstoke in May 2018 alone. What about that initial dream to develop Greeley as a second base for RMR? When I asked Roe about that, he said it’s still there, but that the RAP alone isn’t allowed to offer any winter activities, and that any winter use would have to be initiated by RMR. RMR is a silent partner in the adventure park and they have overlapping
could happen much faster, but the ducks are lining up and that’s good.”
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Revelstoke vacation rental listing numbers increase, occupancy up AIRBNB & HOMEAWAY LISTINGS IN REVELSTOKE
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Just like hiking... but without the hiking. Stunning vistas drift in and out as you ride along on this natural roller coaster of cool refreshing glacial river!
May thru June brings spring run-off and typically the highest most exciting river flows. A great time to come ride the river.
MARCH 2019
MARCH 2018
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AVAILABLE LISTINGS
OCCUPANCY RATE
By Cara Smith
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AVAILABLE LISTINGS
58.5% OCCUPANCY RATE
It’s no secret that vacation rentals in Revelstoke have exploded over the last few years and, for better or worse, it appears their availability is still on the rise. According to data from AirDNA, a business based in Denver, Colorado that provides short-term vacation rental data and analytics, the number of vacation listings in the city has continued to increase. As of March of this year, there were a total of 221 Airbnb and HomeAway listings available in the city. The number of entire home listings has increased by six per cent year over year from 208 in March 2018 and the number of entire home bookings has gone up by 12 per cent from 187 to 209 in that time. The average occupancy rate for entire home rentals has increased by 18 per cent from 58.5 per cent to 69 per cent since then as well. This is fairly consistent with other areas in the province such as Fernie and Nelson. Fernie saw an increase in available listings of eight per cent since March 2018 from 222 to 239, while Nelson saw an increase of nine per cent from 122 to 133. The price of vacation rentals has also gone up in Revelstoke, with an increase of two per cent in the average daily rate. In March 2018, the average daily rate was $394.12, whereas in March of this year, the rate was $403.70. The actual revenue for hosts and property managers grew by 21 per cent over that year, from an average rate of $230.63 in revenue per available room in March 2018 to $278.63 this year. While Revelstoke has seen an uptick in rates and revenue, the opposite is happening in Nelson as the average daily rate there has gone down by nine per cent from $171.86 to $155.60 and revenue has dropped by 12 per cent from $113 to $98.67. AirDNA representative Keti Rostomashvili says this is due to a decrease in occupancy rates. “[This is] great news for tourists, but of course, bad news for vacation rental hosts and local property managers who are making less in revenue this year than they were last year,” she says. The City of Revelstoke effectively stopped issuing new vacation rental permits over a year ago, and although there have been signals that a new vacation rental policy would be unveiled early in the new year, so far there has been nothing. The increase in listings doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in illegal vacation rentals; the Mackenzie Village development allows for short-term rentals under its strata rules and is a significant short-term rental hotspot on the AirDNA map. In addition, vacation rentals are permitted on many other strata and commercially zoned properties in Revelstoke.
27 years on this river. We still love it! We're pretty sure you'll love it too.
apexrafting.com All Equipment is provided. Rafting trip photos, fresh fruit and pastries are included with all our river trips. Entire trip takes 4 hours, covers over 20km of river and departs twice daily at 9am and 1pm from the Regent Hotel, downtown Revelstoke.
Book Online or call 250-837-6376 7
ENTERTAINMENT VISIT REVELSTOKEMOUNTAINEER.COM/CALENDAR FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT FOR FREE FOR INCLUSION ONLINE AND IN OUR MONTHLY PRINT CALENDAR. *Please check the event on the day as details may change*
WEEKLY EVENTS MONDAY Soup and a Smile @ Revelstoke United Church 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Enjoy soup and a sandwich each week at the Revelstoke United Church. Cost is by donation or free for those who cannot afford to pay.
Guided meditation using the practice using the practice known as Sadhana. No experience necessary and all are welcome. Open Mic Night @ The Last Drop Pub 10 p.m.–1a.m. The Last Drop welcomes all jammers and singers. Come out and join in with a friendly relaxed atmosphere from 10 p.m.
THURSDAY
Moto-Monday Motorcycle Tour @ Tim Hortons Parking Lot 7 p.m. Bring your street legal motorcycle and enjoy a ride before meeting up at a local patio. For more info contact John @ 250-837-1430.
Pedal ‘n’ Pint @ Revelstoke Community Centre 6 p.m. The Pedal ‘n’ Pint series is a weekly gathering of riders for a Thursday evening pedal. Meet at the community centre parking lot. Riders meet at the pub for pints afterwards. All skill levels welcome.
TUESDAY
FRIDAY
Bikes, Beers & Babes @ Revelstoke Community Centre Parking Lot 6p.m. A fun and friendly weekly ride for women of all skill levels. Meet at the community centre parking lot ready to ride. Rides are usually planned in advance and the group goes for food and beers after.
Friday Night Darts & Karaoke @ Revelstoke Legion 7 p.m. Enjoy a game of darts or sing karaoke every Friday night at the Revelstoke Legion.
WEDNESDAY Free meditation @ Balu Yoga 7:30 a.m.
Daring Greatly
metal and woodworks, food vendors and more. Saturday Morning Drop-In Squash @ Revelstoke Racquet Den Squash Club 9a.m.–1p.m. The Revelstoke Squash Club offers public drop-in squash every Saturday. Cost is $10/person and court booking is available. The club is located at 207 Mackenzie Ave, below Mica Heliski.
JUNE EVENTS
SATURDAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Revelstoke Farmers Markets @ Grizzly Plaza 8a.m.–1p.m. Fresh local fruits and vegetables, local honey, baking, preserves, locally-made crafts, knitting, fresh flowers, unique
Recreation & Parks Bingo Contest @ Revelstoke June 1-30 Celebrate Recreation and Parks month by taking part in the city’s bingo contest and enjoying the every day bene-
fits of the different activities and parks Revelstoke has to offer. To enter: Pick up your bingo card fat the community centre or visit revelstoke. ca/1684/June-is-Recreation-andParks-Month Mountain Paradise Show & Shine @ Downtown Revelstoke 8a.m.–3p.m. Don’t miss Revelstoke’s annual vintage car show. Check out classic cars, and enjoy the many things to see and do downtown during the show. Daring Greatly @ River City Pub 10 p.m. Daring Greatly perform classic rock/ soul at the Last Drop Pub.
SUNDAY, JUNE 2 St. Arnaud @ The Last Drop Pub 8 p.m. St. Arnaud performs folk music at The Last Drop Pub.
BC Hydro operations update open house We’re hosting an open house in Revelstoke to provide information about our operations, programs, and activities in the area. When: Time: Location:
Monday June 17, 2019 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Revelstoke Community Centre
Come meet our operations planning staff and find out about how we operate our facilities in the area and our summer reservoir water level forecasts. There will also be information about our Columbia River Water Use Plan programs and other projects and initiatives. For more information, please contact Jen Walker Larsen at 250 814 6645. 5613
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ENTERTAINMENT
JUNE 2019 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 XC Fiver Series @ Mount Macpherson Trails 6 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Whether you’re feeling fast or you just feel like riding your bike, come on out for the RCA’s Cross Country Fiver Series. All you need is $5 and an RCA membership. More details at bikerevelstoke.org.
Fiver Series. All you need to race is $5 and your 2019 RCA membership!More details at bikerevelstoke.org.
TUESDAY, JUNE 11 Pits Plant Earth @ The Last Drop Pub 9p.m. Pits Plant Earth create a dance party on stage with electric guitar, synthezisers, drum & bass and three-part vocals.
Paddling Film Fest @ Revelstoke Seniors’ Centre 8p.m.–10p.m. The Revelstoke Paddlesport Association hosts the Paddling Film Fest World Tour. Enjoy the world’s best paddling films of the year.
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
Mixed Shamble @ Revelstoke Golf Club 9:30 a.m. Call or stop by the proshop to register. Game day registration June 8 from 7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m. Tee times start at 9:30 a.m. Visit golfrevelstoke.com for details.
Enduro Fiver Series @ Revelstoke 6 p.m.–8:30 p.m. The 2019 Enduro Fiver Series kicks off. All you need is $5 and your 2019 RCA membership. Details @ bikerevelstoke. org
Demo Day @ Martha Creek Provincial Park 11 a.m. Get on the water with free kayak, canoe and stand-up paddleboard sessions hosted by the Revelstoke Paddlesport Association. Shuttle to Martha Creek from the RPA’s booth at the Farmer’s Market starting at 12 p.m. Details at paddlerevelstoke.ca.
THURSDAY, JUNE 13
SUNDAY, JUNE 16
Roller Derby Bout — Derailers vs. Okanagan Roller Derby @ Revelstoke Forum 7 p.m. Come see the Revelstoke Derailers take on the Okanagan Roller Derby team in their first bout of the 2019 season. Doors open at 6 p.m., game starts at 7 p.m. Family friendly with beer garden area. Tickets $8 in advance/$10 at the door.
Friends of Foes @ The Last Drop Pub 9 p.m. Saskatoon-based indie-alternative band Friends of Foes perform at The Last Drop Pub.
SUNDAY, JUNE 9 Downhill Fiver Series @ Revelstoke 10 a.m. Get stoked for the 2019 RCA Downhill
Enduro World Series North American Continental Series @ Boulder Mountain 9a.m.–5p.m. New this year to the Norco Canadian Enduro Series is an Enduro World Series Continental in Revelstoke, BC. Visit Canadianenduro.com for more details and registration info.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20 Organic Pest & Disease Management Workshop @ Terra Firma Farms 5p.m.–6:30p.m. Learn about some of the most common pests and diseases in our area and strategies used for preventing them. Part of the Garden Guru Series hosted by the Revelstoke Local Food Initiative. Admission by donation.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Paddle at Demo Day at Martha Creek. Photo: John Dumouchel
FRIDAY, JUNE 14 Preteen Dance Celebrate Summer @ Revelstoke Community Centre 6p.m.–9p.m. In coordination with the Stoke Youth Network, a celebrate summer dance with live DJ for grades 5-7 on Friday, June 14. Tickets are only $2 and on sale at the community centre. For more info call 250-837-9351.
Emily Beaumont
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ENTERTAINMENT Summer Solstice SUP Rally @ TBA 5 p.m. Celebrate Summer Solstice on the water for the longest day of 2019. For more info check out finelinesup.com.
kids ages 7-12 enjoy a fun packed evening of swimming, pizza and a movie. $25 per child, register at the Community Centre or call 250-8379351 for more info.
Ladies Only Triple B Dirtbike Rally @ Glacier House Hotel & Resort June 21-23 Join the Revy Riders Dirtbike Club for a full day of riding and fun for the Triple B Rally. Come for the weekend or just the day, ride with your crew or meet new friends. For more info visit revyriders.ca or email emily@motorcyclemojo.com
Ancestry: The Art of Belongings @ Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre 6p.m.–9p.m. The Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre’s new exhibitions include Jenn Ashton’s Ancestry: The Art of Belonging and a Member’s exhibition, My Latest (Current Works). The exhibitions run until July 19.
SUNDAY, JUNE 23
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Downhill Fiver Series @ Revelstoke 10 a.m. Get stoked for the 2019 RCA Downhill Fiver Series. All you need to race is $5 and your 2019 RCA membership!More details at bikerevelstoke.org.
Bank Heist Time Trial Run @ Revelstoke Mountain Resort 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Join us for the 3rd annual Bank Heist time trial up Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s most iconic ski run, Kill the Banker. For more info or to register visit revelstokemountainresort.com.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28 Swim, Movie & Pizza Party @ Revelstoke Community Centre 5p.m.–8:30p.m. Parents, enjoy a night out while your
Summer Street Fest @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30p.m.–9p.m. The Revelstoke Highlanders Pipe Band kick off this year’s Summer Street Fest.
Enjoy live music in Grizzly Plaza every night throughout the summer.
SUNDAY, JUNE 30 Revelstoke’s 120th Celebration Gala @ Revelstoke Community Centre 6p.m.–1a.m. Celebrate Revelstoke’s rich history with a formal gala and live entertainment by the Timebenders. Cocktails at 6p.m., buffet-style dinner at 7 p.m., cash bar
and free shuttle from 8 p.m. on. Tickets $65 each, available at the community centre. This is a 19+ event. Summer Street Fest @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30p.m.–9p.m. The Carbons perform at Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live music in Grizzly Plaza every night throughout the summer.
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ENTERTAINMENT
From local talent to world vibes, Revelstoke Street Fest is filled with summer beats The annual free concert series is a favourite of locals and tourists alike By Melissa Jameson
A staple of local summer entertainment, the Revelstoke Arts Council’s annual Street Fest features a wide array of musical performers from local talent to award-winning Canadian groups like The Long War and unique world fusion sounds like Diyet and The Love Soliders’ Indigenous Canadian folk and Namgar’s unique fusion of traditional Buryat and Mongolian
melodies with modern instrumentation. Held nightly in Grizzly Plaza, beginning at the end of June and running through the end of August, the long-standing free-to-attend concert series attract both locals and tourists alike. There’s a family-friendly vibe and it’s not uncommon to find Clockwise from above: The Long War; MNGWA Band; Diyet and the Love Soldiers; The Dirty Catfish Brass Band. children freely playing and dancing in front of the stage while adults spend a moment or two catching up with one another. While it’s worth attending all of the Street Fest performances, here are six you definitely shouldn’t miss:
The Long War return with their uniquely Canadian-folk sound With a dynamic sound ranging from folk to rock, The Long War have made Revelstoke’s Street Fest part of their touring schedule for the past several years. The group’s familiar folk sounds
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are interjected with emotive instrumentation and incredible vocalization, raising their music to the next level. The 2017 CBC Searchlight winners may be based out of Vancouver, but its members hail from all across the country, a factor the group credits for helping to craft its uniquely Canadian sound. Not content to be known only as a “contest band,” The Long War have created a buzz in the music scene by singing about what they know best, Canada. The Long War play Revelstoke Street
Fest on Monday, July 22.
Diyet and The Love Soldiers combine Aboriginal stories, melodies. With stories strongly grounded in Diyet’s Indigenous Northern Canadian roots and a strong desire to preserve her language (the Kluane dialect of Southern Tutchone), Diyet and The Love Soldiers’ weave each musical tale together with the catchy melodies of alternative country, folk, roots and traditional Aborignal sounds. Diyet, who was raised in a cabin in the Kluane region in the Yukon Territory, draws inspiration for her songs from the harsh reality of living in Northern Canada. Performing as a trio with husband Robert van Lieshout on guitar and foot percussion and multi-instrumentalist Bob Hamilton, Diyet’s musical presence has been described as both diverse and unique. Diyet and The Love Soldiers play Revelstoke Street Fest Tuesday, July 23.
Dirty Catfish Brass Band aim to have you up on your feet with traditional New Orleans brass sounds If you missed the Dirty Catfish Brass Band’s performance at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre last fall, this year’s Street Fest is your chance to catch them live. The Dirty Catfish Brass Band may be based out of Winnipeg, but their big sound comes filled with the powerful, soul-drenching rhythms of New Orleans brass tradition. The Dirty Catfish Brass Band play Revelstoke Street Fest Tuesday, August 6.
Namgar fuses traditional Buryat and Mongolian melodies with modern instruments. Fusing traditional Mongolian instruments with electric bass and drums, four-piece music group Namgar has crafted a unique sound that has been shared on festival stages across the world from Norway to Malaysia. Vocalist Namgar Lkhasaranova first learned to sing as a child growing up in a small village in South Central Siberia, on the eastern borderland where China, Russia and Mongolia meet. The melodic music she creates was passed down to from her grandparents and father, who sang to her as a child. Using inventive arrangements that encompass the melodies shared by Buryats and Mongols, Namgar tells the tales and myths of ancient Mongol fighters, champions, horses and famous battles. Namgar perform at Revelstoke Street Fest on Sunday, Aug. 11.
MNGWA ‘s polyrhythmic sound has roots in South America’s cumbia music With roots in South America’s Afro-Lation cumbia music, MNGWA string together the cultural sounds of salsa, psych rock, reggae and hip hop to create a uniquely eclectic, polyrhythmic sound. The group’s musicians come from across North America, Europe, Mexico and Asia, and their songs often weave together lyrics in multiple languages. MNGWA (pronounced “MINGWAH”) describe themselves as a “party band” — so you might want to come with an extra pair of shoes.
Driving the group’s creative force is Canadian-born front-woman Sherri Anne. Although Sister Speak sometimes performs solo, the groups high energy shows have landed them headlining concerts and a residency with hall-of-fame guitarist Greg Douglass from the Steve Miller Band.
Sister Speak perform at Revelstoke Street Fest on Sunday, August 25. Revelstoke Street Fest Runs nightly in Grizzly Plaza (off Mackenzie Avenue) from June 29 to August 25, 6:30p.m.–9:30p.m.
Summer Street Fest 2019 Grizzly Plaza 6:30pm - 9pm JUNE 29 Sat 30 Sun
JULY 1 Mon 2 Tue 3 Wed 4 Thu 5 Fri 6 Sat 7 Sun 8 Mon 9 Tue 10 Wed 11 Thu 12 Fri 13 Sat 14 Sun 15 Mon 16 Tue 17 Wed 18 Thu 19 Fri 20 Sat 21 Sun 22 Mon 23 Tue 24 Wed 25 Thu 26 Fri 27 Sat
JULY Continued.... 28 Sun El Niven and The Alibi The Carbons Revelstoke Community Band 29 Mon Bill Price & Grover Parido 30 Tue This Way North 31 Wed The Paperboys The Staggers & Jaggs Myra Morrison & Denis Severino Broken Brothers Under The Rocks Jackson Hollow Wooden Horsemen WiL Naomi Shore The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra The Al Lee Soundscape Holly Hyatt Willy Blizzard Groovineers Coldwater Road Flint & Feather The Red Hot Hayseeds The Rev Nice Verdes Kutapira Class Action Hanne Kah The Long War Diyet & The Love Soliders The Nova Scotiables Lester Mclean Tennyson King Mountain Sound
AUGUST 1 Thu 2 Fri 3 Sat 4 Sun 5 Mon 6 Tue 7 Wed 8 Thu 9 Fri 10 Sat 11 Sun 12 Mon 13 Tue 14 Wed 15 Thu 16 Fri 17 Sat 18 Sun 19 Mon 20 Tue 21 Wed 22 Thu 23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun
Elage Diouf Mariel Buckley Frank Rackow & The Black Sea Terence Jack Matt Blais Dirty Catfish Brass Band Maggie Davis & Katie Marti West My Friend Locarno The OM Sound Namgar Maritime Kitchen Party Sean Ashby Bob Rogers Band Marble Canyon MNGWA Band Gabriel Palatchi Band Ben Klick The Jessica Stuart Few Sarah Jane Scouten Danny Bell Trio Viper Central The Sturgeons She Hangs Brightly Sister Speak
MNGWA play Revelstoke Street Fest Friday, August 16
Sister Speak celebrates women through musical collaboration Indie-pop/rock/blues/ world group Sister Speak is a collaboration of women with diverse musical backgrounds.
MAIN
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CAFE REVELSTOKE
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LIFE
Men moving mountains Test test test
The men’s Moving Mountains group meets up at the Revelstoke Forestry Museum. The goal of the group is to foster an occasion where men can meet and feel free to talk about their issues. Photo: Alex Cooper/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine
By Alex Cooper
It’s a cool Wednesday night at the Revelstoke Forestry Museum and a fire is roaring. A quartet of burgers are squeezed in a grill – backups from the one that were dropped on the ground earlier, much to the chagrin of the culprit, and the gentle teasing of his friends. “Put that in your article,” someone joked. I was at the bi-weekly men’s campfire night at the forestry museum, part of the Moving Mountains weekly men’s group meetups. They are the result of a collaboration between Moving Mountains and the Revelstoke Aboriginal Friendship Society. The former is an initiative of the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter aimed at providing men with a support network. The latter was hosting a men’s campfire night designed to connect Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. For the organizers, it seemed like a natural fit to combine the two events. While they had hosted a variety of activities, recently they’d been alternating between the campfire and a wood carving night at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre. I attended with a promise to keep people anonymous and have not used 14
any real names in this article. They knew I was writing an article and I wasn’t sure how open the men would be, but the ones I spoke to chatted candidly. I didn’t take notes and just listened. A diverse group was out, one that has never been part of my social circle. The attendees ranged from a youth in his twenties to retired seniors. There was a father a son, an ex mill employee, a former social worker, and a recovering cocaine addict. Brian Sumner was the organizer, supplying the food and making sure everyone had a ride. “Sometimes it’s healthy to not talk and be in the present moment and have a rest from the busy mind,” he said. “Just the simple act of getting together and cooking food and being outdoors is a healthy thing to do to slow down the relentless mind.” The goal of the group is to foster an occasion where men can meet and feel free to talk about their issues. As was written by the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter in the Mountaineer last December, it’s part of a larger effort to target a culture of “toxic masculinity” and break down the traditional gendered expectations of men. It’s a drug- and alcohol-free environment for men to meet that isn’t a locker room or a bar.
Douglas was the first to introduce himself. A retired mill worker, he spent decades working up Highway 23 North, and then at Downie Timber. He had endless stories about his past, talking about working up the Big Bend and the time he nearly destroyed an expensive piece of machinery at Downie. He was invited out by a neighbour who felt it would be a good thing for him to do. John was open to telling his story. A former electrician, his life changed irrevocably when he was attacked in Cambodia. He was open about a cocaine addiction that he kicked only six months ago, and his struggles with alcohol. He made good money and was good at spending it too, but now couldn’t work because of a brain injury and the loss of one eye. The campfire was a social event that kept him out of trouble. Gary was a former counsellor, there for himself and to support the others. Very talkative, he was retired and recently separated, and attending the weekly events was good for his own mental health, but he was also ready to provide support to the organizers and help others if needed. Jack was a recent transplant to Revelstoke, having moved here in the fall to be closer to his son and daughter after
his wife passed away. He’d been living at the Powder Springs because of Revelstoke’s housing crunch. He talked about having his history working in alternative medicine and with First Nations. He was enjoying Revelstoke, but also faced with going home to sort out his old life on the Prairies. His son was also there and we spent some time talking cameras after I busted mine out to take pictures. I didn’t get a chance to speak oneon-one with everyone. Eventually the burgers were served, along with baked potatoes and a desert. Before I could leave at 10, they picked my brain about what I thought of Revelstoke and how it had changed since I moved here in 2009. While everyone had their reasons for being there, I can say they all felt relaxed in each other’s company. “There’s been a lot of fun and joy in amongst all the other stuff,” Brian told me. “I hope that comes through as one of the main things, that we’re having fun and being in the present moment.” I left after three hours with the fire still roaring and the conversation flowing. I thought about my own circle of friends, where the conversations are dominated by biking and skiing and usually accompanied by beer.
OUTDOORS
New lift-access biking at Revelstoke Mountain Resort provides another way to access alpine trails. Photo: Ian Houghton
Open season By Bryce Borlick
The sun is shining and the weather is sweet, so let’s get to it since it’s June and the biking season is already firing on all cylinders. The ever-popular Fiver racing series, organized by the Revelstoke Cycling Association, will be back again this summer with four races in each of the disciplines: cross-country, downhill, and enduro. Similarly, the even-more-popu-
lar Women’s Enduro returns September 14 to run racers ragged around the valley, or at least the ones lucky enough to nab a spot in this sold-out event. Not to be overlooked, the classic Steamer hill climb race will once again ascend the Meadows in the Sky Parkway in the heat of August. But the big news for race fans is the Enduro World Series staging the only Canadian round of their North American Series on Boulder Mountain on June 16. Add to this the weekly Pedal and Pint ride, Bikes Beers and Babes ride, and Dig Night and you’ve got your social card pretty full. Every summer the riding options in Revelstoke grow by leaps and bounds and this year is no exception. In 2018 the Beaver Lake area and Frisby Ridge saws significant improvements and by 2020 we’ll likely have new terrain open
at Sunnyside. So what about 2019 you ask? In mid-July Revelstoke Mountain Resort will be opening its gondola doors to mountain bikes, transforming a once arduous 1,170 meter climb to Mackenzie Outpost into an easy breezy Clif bar chompin’ 15-minute fiesta. Upon arrival, you can head up the seven-kilometre Stoke Climb, ride out and back on the optional five-and-a-half kilometre Greeley Trail, and take the Fifty Six Twenty trail a brake cooking 15 kilometres back to the base area. For a rookie year of mountain bike operations, offering 27.5 km of sub-alpine and downhill trails is a great way to come out swinging. And, yes, you can ride your e-bike there. Trail access for e-bikes has been a hot topic lately and in May the Ministry of Forests updated its policies to permit their “safe, appropriate use… on desig-
nated trails managed by Recreation Sites and Trails BC.” What this translates to locally is that class-one e-bikes (pedal assist) are allowed on all Boulder trails. Due to the dual-directionality of Frisby and Macpherson trails, e-bikes will only be permitted for disabled riders. E-bikes are also permitted on some National Park trails, on the Revy Riders moto network (fees apply), and on the newly-approved Sunnyside network once it opens. Will we see a new category in the Fiver Series? It’s a brave new world. So put the magazine down and get after it! The ski swap will be here before you know it.
Traffic advisory for Highway 23 north of Revelstoke We’ll be doing minor rock scaling of the slope across from Revelstoke Dam and need to close Highway 23 North periodically while rocks are being removed. Please expect delays up to 30 minutes when crews are on site. When: Start date is June 18, 2019. Work is expected to take about three weeks. Time: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Location: North of Revelstoke along Highway 23 across from Revelstoke Dam. Please stay safe and follow all traffic signs and directions from flaggers. If you have any questions about this work, please contact Jen Walker-Larsen at 250 814 6645 or jennifer.walker-larsen@bchydro.com. 5623
Publication:
Revelstoke Mountaineer online
15
FROM THE
EAST COAST REVY TO
COME FOR ADVENTURE, STAY FOR COMMUNITY Words and photos by Cara Smith
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NEWS BRIEFS Canada is really big. We learned that fact in elementary school and we’re reminded of it every time we check the flight prices from one end to the other. But I don’t think I grasped how truly vast this country of ours was until I packed up my car and drove nearly five thousand kilometres from Fredericton, New Brunswick to Revelstoke, British Columbia. Wanting to get the full patriotic experience, I chose not to cut through the States and instead drove the entire distance through Canada. After stopping for poutine in Montreal, navigating the winding roads along Lake Superior and crossing the Prairies for what felt like ages, I nearly cried tears of joy when I caught my first glimpse of mountains on the horizon. Now a month into living in Revelstoke, I’ve come to realize I’m not the only one to leave behind the salty air of Atlantic Canada for an adventure in the Columbia Mountains. I spoke to a few East Coast transplants to find out exactly what motivated them to drop their Storm Chips and Moosehead and come to Revelstoke.
Exploring caves at St Martin’s, NB. Photo: Cara Smith
LEANNE HAWKINS
ADMIRAL COVE, NEWFOUNDLAND
Leanne Hawkins has been in Revelstoke since the end of 2016. She moved out here to learn to snowboard on the suggestion of her boyfriend. “We just really liked the lifestyle out here. I find there’s a big difference [culturally],” she says. “Everyone here is really into being active, into taking care of themselves by getting outside.” When asked what she misses most about Newfoundland, her answer is a common one. “I definitely miss the ocean because my parents’ house was literally 50 feet from the ocean. I constantly had the smell. You could always hear the waves crashing.” As a Newfoundlander, Hawkins says her particular way of speaking still comes out sometimes, mostly when she’s angry, drinking, or talking with her parents back home. “If someone’s being difficult or clumsy, they’re ‘tangly’ or ‘tangly as a bag of nails.’ That’s a good one. Sometimes when my accent comes out, people ask if I’m from Ireland.”
So what’s the difference between a Maritimer, an Atlantic Canadian and someone from the East Coast? The Maritimes includes New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Since Newfoundland and Labrador didn’t join confederation until after those three provinces in 1949, the term was likely already in use. The term Atlantic Canada is used for all four provinces
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ETHEL MCCRACKEN
FREDERICTON JUNCTION, NEW BRUNSWICK
Ethel McCracken may very well be the Maritimer who’s been in Revelstoke the longest. Now 92 years old, McCracken moved to the area to continue her career as an X-ray technician after training in Saint John, New Brunswick and working in Calgary. Her daughter, Linda Chell, told me her mother’s story as McCracken occasionally piped up in agreement. McCracken and her older sister left Fredericton Junction for the “Wild West” of Calgary, where McCracken married. In 1960, she moved to Revelstoke and started a family. “She said to her husband ‘I’m staying here. I’m never moving. You can go wherever you want,’” Chell says. “She loved the mountains and the scenery. She always said the snow back East blows and drifts and in Revelstoke is just falls down, beautiful falling snow.” “When she told her mother she was moving West, her mother cried because in those days, when you moved West, you never came back. But whenever she had enough money, She always went East. She came West because of the adventure of it.”
Kaleigh Wilson came to Revelstoke to improve her snowboarding in 2015 and after leaving for a summer, has been here full-time. Wilson says when she goes on vacation, she is just as excited to come home to the mountains and the network of friends she’s built here as she is to leave for a trip. “It’s been four seasons and I still go up the mountain and I’m still vocally expressing how beautiful it is. It just astounds me that I’m able to live in such a beautiful place. It feels like you’re living somebody’s vacation when you come out here but it’s just your everyday life.” Wilson hasn’t completely left her roots behind, though. “There are a lot of people I meet here from Ontario and they just talk shit about it. Nobody wants to go back to Ontario. I genuinely have found that the more I leave New Brunswick and the more I go back, the more love I have for it.”
MIKE GRAVES
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
KALEIGH WILSON
RIVERVIEW, NEW BRUNSWICK Mike Graves is on his fourth year in Revelstoke. While he leaves every summer to run skateboard and scooter camps for kids across British Columbia and Alberta, he says Revelstoke is always his home base and he comes back whenever he can. “Growing up, I was a very competitive snowboarder,” he says. “I knew when I finished university that it was time to go to the mountains and find what my true calling would be for the next few years.” Graves says he too has found a community of like-minded people in Revelstoke but adds that there’s a quality in people here that’s typical of people back home. “Of all the places I’ve been in B.C., this reminds me most of the East Coast. Even though we don’t have the ocean or anything, when you’re walking on the Greenbelt and everyone’s saying hello to you, that reminds me of home. I find the people are just as friendly out here.”
Cara Smith: While the skiing and snowboarding conditions here seem to be the initial draw for many who’ve come to Revelstoke in the past few years, I think what unites them most is an innate desire for adventure and what keeps them here is a community of people who feel the same way. Graves says he too has found a community of like-minded people in Revelstoke but adds that there’s a quality in people here that’s typical of people back home.
18
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Summer Music Festival G U I D E
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M O U N T A I N E E R
Summer Music Festival G U I D E
With something for everyone — from rock & roll to roots & blues — it’s time to free up your calendar and slip on your dancing shoes.
BASS COAST JULY 12-15, MERRITT, B.C.
SUMMER STOMP AND BURNOUT JULY 18-22, STOMP GROUND, SICAMOUS B.C.
Rooted in collaboration and participation, festival-goers are just as important as the performers when it comes to shaping the ‘bass coast experience’. The festival invites you to let go of your inhibitions and fully immerse yourself in art and nature. With world class music, art, and dance performances scheduled from dusk ‘til dawn, there’s no better time to celebrate the diverse beauty that B.C. has to offer. Although this is an intimate festival (approximately 5000 attendees), the line up is still big. Expect to see EDM crowd-pleasers such as Fort Knox Five, Lazy Syrup Orchestra, Sticky Buds, The Funk Hunters and others.
It’s time to get revved up for the 30th annual celebration of motorcycle stunts and rock and roll. This year marks the event closure party, so make sure you find time to stop by sunny Sicamous and cool off with some wet T-shirt games and cold beers before it’s too late. There will be some adult-only shows in the evening, as well as family activities on the Main Street on Friday and Saturday. FULL WEEKEND: $50 (INCLUDES CAMPING)
GENERAL WEEKEND ADMISSION: $350 + TAX (INCLUDES CAMPING)
AMISSA FESTIVAL JUNE 21-23, MEADOW CREEK B.C. AMISSA truly is a grassroots event that celebrates art, music, and the outdoors. The festival encourages you disconnect from the hustle and spend time in the beautiful woods of the West Kootenays, listening to quality music through a world class sound system. New this year, there will be a strong focus on games and activities. To give you an idea, participants can expect a human-sized foosball game. REGULAR ADMISSION: $155
ARMSTRONG METAL FESTIVAL JULY 12-13, ARMSTRONG, B.C. What started as a backyard party in 2009 has now, a decade on, become a renowned heavy metal celebration that attracts metal heads from all over Canada to attend. What could be better than a weekend of head banging and moshing with the beautiful backdrop of the Okanagan Valley? Trick question. I’ll tell you what: Thrash Wrestling. The organizers believe that metal music and wresting come hand-in-hand, so the sport will be a big presence alongside the music. Wrestling styles will range from traditional to hardcore, but a ‘balls to the wall’ attitude is essential. GENERAL ADMISSION: $135 IN ADVANCE OR $175 DOOR PRICE
ROCKIN’ RIVER COUNTRY MUSIC FEST AUGUST 1-4, MERRITT, B.C. Known to many as the ‘Country Music Capital of Canada’, the city of Merritt, B.C., will once more play host to the family-owned and operated, Rockin’ River Music Fest. In previous years the festival has attracted performances from the likes of country legends, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, and Kasey Musgrave — just to name a few. If the music alone isn’t enough for you, swimming, biking, helicopter rides, and rides on a mechanical bull are just a few of the non-musical activities on offer at the festival too. GENERAL WEEKEND ADMISSION WITH CAMPING: $275-$425 (DEPENDING ON PARTY ZONE)
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NEWS BRIEFS As things start to heat up this summer, get ready to submerge yourself in the music, art and culture that the B.C. southern Interior has to offer. Whether you enjoy foot-tapping to country tunes, moshing to metal bangers, or boogying to hypnotic bass, we guarantee there’s something out there for you! By Louise Stanway
KASLO JAZZ FESTIVAL AUGUST 2-4, 2019. KASLO BAY PARK, BC
SALMON ARM ROOTS AND BLUES FESTIVAL AUGUST 15-18, SALMON ARM, BC
What makes Kaslo Jazz Festival so special is its equal appreciation for newly discovered gems and established big-name artists. This year is no different. Expect performances from Nahko & Medicine for the People, Moontricks, Shred Kelly, and Elliott Brood, as well as a multitude of up-an-coming artists. Festival goers dance in the sand, swim around the stage, or relax in the grass and enjoy the delicious offerings of local food and drink vendors. The intimate, laid-back vibe of this festival has been seducing audiences and performers since 1992.
This family-friendly event will showcase a selection of bluegrass, blues, celtic, afro-beat and Americana music across its four daytime and two evening stages. Featuring an artisan market with handcrafted Canadian creations, a global food village offering a selection of Western Cuisine and ethnic delights, and a family fun zone with a great selection of Children’s activities — there is much more than just great music on offer at this festival. ADVANCE WEEKEND PASS: $189, GATE PRICE: $209 (DISCOUNTED ENTRY AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS, YOUTH AND SENIORS).
ADULT WEEKEND PASS: $225 (INC. TAX), YOUTH WEEKEND PASS ($112.50 INC. TAX)
WICKED WOODS SEPT. 13-16, FAIRMONT HOTSPRINGS B.C. The end of summer has never felt so sweet, as wild things gather for one more magical weekend under the stars. Overlooking the majestic Kootenay River Valley, the 12th annual Wicked Woods Music Festival features three nights of rumbling bass and welcoming community. There will be many comfy zones throughout the grounds as a fantastic reprieve for sore dancing feet. New this year – participants will be able to navigate between the three stages (Ursus, Hallow and Unicorn) with guidance from the interactive art and light displays that will be dotted around the venue. FULL WEEKEND PASS: $275 + TAX (INCLUDES CAMPING)
SHAMBHALA MUSIC FESTIVAL AUGUST 9-12, SALMO RIVER RANCH, BC Since its inception in 1998, Shambhala festival has grown to be one of the largest and longest running electronic music festivals in Canada. Heck, it’s even one of the biggest EDM festivals in the world. With world-class acts performing across six impressive stages, the line-up is guaranteed to hit you as hard as one of Troyboi’s basslines. Drum and Bass Grammy-award winning artists, Chase and Status, will be taking the spotlight this year on The Village Stage, with Griz, Bonobo, and Zhu headlining the various other stages. We’ll be seeing a return of some Shambhala favourites too — don’t miss performances from K+Lab, Defunk, and The Funk Hunters and more. GENERAL WEEKEND ADMISSION: $450 + TAX (INCLUDES CAMPING)
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A new hope for caribou recovery?
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FEATURE FEATURE
The issue of endangered caribou is once again very prominent in Revelstoke after a new draft federal/provincial plan was unveiled in late March. The draft plan is fairly high level and contains few on-the-ground details. This lack of detail, which both governments say is coming later on in the process, has created uncertainty and anxiety amongst those who use the backcountry for commercial and recreational purposes. An April 15 information session (pictured below) on the plan drew about 700 attendees to a packed forum at the Revelstoke Community and Aquatic Centre. Photo above: Mark Bradley/Parks Canada; Photo below: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine. Illustration opposite: Benji Lowclass
By Aaron Orlando It’s been over a year since the Revelstoke Mountaineer started publishing stories on new developments in Ottawa that seemed destined to put the mountain caribou back on the front burner. Those developments did, and since we published last, the pot boiled over. If you’re just joining us, mountain caribou preservation issues have been a fact of life in Revelstoke for decades. The woodland caribou are endangered and their numbers continue to decline across much of their habitat. The B.C. government has been in charge of caribou recovery plans, but the dynamic of the situation changed significantly in May 2018, when the federal Minister of Environment, Catherine McKenna, declared mountain caribou were facing “imminent threat” and issued an order to government to take action on the issue. The order, under federal Species at Risk Act legislation, put pressure on the B.C. government to take immediate action to protect the species. One potential outcome is that if the provincial government’s response is inadequate, the federal government could step in and enact caribou conservation measures that would have a more dramatic effect on socio-economic concerns, such as added restrictions on forestry and the backcountry recreation industry. During the waves of caribou habitat protection enacted in 2007 and 2008, a majority of core habitat across B.C. was protected, but less so in the herd areas around Revelstoke.
In late March, the federal and provincial government unveiled two plans. The first was a draft “partnership agreement” between B.C., Canada, the West Moberly First Nations and the Saulteau First Nations. That plan covers an area in the central/
northeast of B.C. and doesn’t have effect in the Revelstoke area. The second plan is the draft “Section 11” agreement, an agreement between the provincial and federal governments to conserve and recover 25
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TREATMENTS: maternity penning GRA (347) λ 0.93 – 0.65
wolf removal moose removal
KZA (40) λ 0.86 – 1.14
WOL (362) λ 0.95 – 0.86
SCE (36) λ 0.98 – 1.11 QUI (62) λ 0.86 – 1.13
control
translocation
POPULATION
POP SIZE AT START
LSM (>50) λ 0.91 – 0.97
PAR (200) λ 1.00 – 0.95
AAA (000) λ 0.00 – 0.00 λ BEFORE/AFTER
RPC (>50) λ 0.87 – 0.83
KSI (50) λ 0.90 – 1.08
HAS (359) λ 1.09 – 0.94
ALP (>50) λ 0.97 – 1.10
CHANGE IN λ
CON (129) λ 0.95 – 1.02
WGS (144) λ 0.93 – 0.97
COS (40) λ 0.90 – 0.81
GRH (16) λ 0.91 – 0.96 FBQ (16) λ 0.92 – 0.96
PUS (20) λ 0.95 – 0.68
SSE (18) λ 0.73 – 0.64
Fig. 2. Population growth rates (λ; 1 = stability) before and after treatments were initiated, with controls matched by a similar time period (SI Appendix, Table S1). Solid arrows indicate λ > 1. Population values apply to the beginning of treatment. Black outlines show woodland caribou range boundaries. (Inset) current (gray) and historic (dashed line) distribution in the contiguous United States and Canada. ALP, À la Pêche; CON, Columbia North; COS, Columbia South; FBQ, Frisby Queest; GRA, Graham; GRH, Groundhog; HAS, Hart South; KSI, Kennedy Siding; KZA, Klinse-Za; LSM, Little Smoky; PAR, Parsnip; PUS, Purcells South; QUI, Quintette; RPC, Redrock–Prairie Creek; SCE, Scott East; SSE, South Selkirks; WGS, Wells Gray South; WOL, Wolverine.
Photos clockwise from above: partially because of density-dependent
processes (31, 38, 39). dynamics. For example, previous theory suggested caution when Indeed, caribou in both the PAR moose reduction and the asremoving subsidized prey because of demographic time lags of 1.sociated This graphic from thecontrol paper, Savingtoendangered using published Hart South (HAS) continued decline, likely species predators and adaptive depensatorymanagement, predation that can exacerbateindebecauseinmoose were reduced of by the only National 40%. Similarly, when ofclines of rareofprey 38). States An empirical example shows occurred March the Proceedings Academy Sciences the (31, United of America wolves were reduced justfor a portion of ALPcaribou and SSE,groups. cariwithin our Proceedings system when deer populations crashed in 1997 of and population growthover rates woodland Image: of the National Academy bou λ did not improve. But when the treatment was adaptively cougars (Puma concolor) switched to eating caribou (see ref. 31). Sciences ofthe theentire United ofλAmerica/Creative licence expanded to rangeStates of ALP, increased substantially. Commons This information must be adaptively incorporated into recovery Conclusions from these actions are becoming clear—half measures public confidence when the outcome is unlikely achieve Serrouya. Photo: file photo contributed 2.erode Revelstoke-based caribou researcher Dr.toRobert recovery. Resources should be directed strategically and toward Table 1. Analysis of covariance explaining change in λ (Δλ) based on treatments for woodland caribou recovery treatments of sufficient intensity to achieve results. 3.Finally, A group of caribou make their through thetosub-alpine. Photo: Parks Canada as with many translocations (40),way moving 20 caribou Factor Estimate SE t value P value PUS was unsuccessful because most of these animals were shortly Intercept −0.093 0.056 From −1.642left:0.125 predators (41),panel driving at home 4.killed Thebygovernment theCaughley’s April 15 primary cariboumesrecovery plan open house in Revelstoke. Treatment level sage of first removing agents of decline before attempting such Blair Hammond, Canadian Wildlife Service – Environment and Climate Change Canada; Darcy Peel,0.389 Moose reduction 0.079 0.089 0.891 actions (1). Director – Caribou Recovery Program for the province of B.C.; Leo DeGroot, Wildlife Biologist – B.C.0.016 MinWolf reduction 0.220 0.080 2.763 The appeal of adaptive management lies with the simple logic Wolf reduction and Penning 0.372 Laroche, 0.149 2.496 0.027 istry of management Forests, Lands, Resource Operations Rural Development; Russ Director of of using actionsNatural to test a hypothesis and, if possible, and Translocation −0.232 0.144 to test alternate hypotheses contrasting policies Lands, (4, 6). Natural Strategic Initiatives, B.C. with Ministry of Forests, Resource Operations and 0.149 Rural−1.553 DevelopThese actions follow detailed modeling of the system to Intercept represents control populations. Multiple R2 = 0.57; adjusted R2 = ment. Photo:should Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer help minimize risks of unintended consequences (3, 31, 42) but 0.44. Analysis was performed on change in r, where r = ln (λ). Less parsimoalso to refute or validate conceptual models of ecosystem nious models are presented in the SI Appendix, Tables S2 and S3. Serrouya et al.
ECOLOGY
mountain caribou. The so-called Section 11 agreement is named after a section in the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA); it allows the federal government to enter into partnerships on species recovery plans. That Section 11 agreement covers all areas in B.C. where caribou are present, including the Revelstoke area. Following the announcement, the provincial government laid out plans for public consultations in affected communities, including Revelstoke. However, community groups concerned about backcountry closures for logging, commercial and personal recreation, had been actively organizing against further caribou closures for months, especially in the northeast of B.C. These groups were largely organized around social media, including Facebook pages. The Section 11 agreement is essentially a high-level framework agreement between the federal and provincial governments, and it is light on details, many of which are promised to come later with promised herd-by-herd planning processes, which would outline any new restrictions on forestry activity or backcountry recreation, for example. This void of information from the government helped fuel a situation already fanned by online hyperbole and the usual misinformation so common in contemporary public debates. The response was encouraged by opposition BC Liberals, who hold seats in a majority of the areas where caribou roam the mountainsides. Those responsible in government did themselves no favours, either. On the same day of the public info session on April 15 in Revelstoke, Premier John Horgan travelled to northern B.C. to acknowledge issues with the consultation plan, and, for a second time, extended the public feedback period, this time until May 31. He also appointed former Liberal MLA Blair Lekstrom, who is from the area, as a special “community liaison” to help facilitate the situation. Although the consultation sessions were a bit of a gong show — senior government scientists and staff got thrown under the bus trying to answer often political questions — it’s likely the meetings would have been heated anyway. By the time the federal/provincial open house made it to Revelstoke on April 15, the stage was set. About 700 residents attended the info session, and a vast majority of them were there to voice their displeasure with the Section 11 agreement, or at least ask pointed questions about it. Their questions and statements overwhelmingly focused on what impacts the plan would have on logging, sledding, heli-skiing and other backcountry activities. The government panel of four didn’t get much relief from those interested in more protection for the caribou; environmentalists focused on how the plan, and its lack of detail, wasn’t sufficient to preserve the caribou. The four-hour session was hot, sweaty and heated. It featured speeches and questions from the audience, many of which expressed concerns that the plan would cut off their way of life, be it work or recreation. (If you are interested in watching, find the full-length video on revelstokemountaineer.com). Ahead of the public session, the Mountaineer sat down with several stakeholders who went on to make statements at the meeting. Downie Timber plant manager Angus Woodman expressed concern about the caribou plan, but was careful to contextualize that the Section 11 agreement is a higher-level framework agreement with not much detail yet known. “We just want to make sure all factors are considered, both the socio-economic impacts of certain treatments, and certain biological science-based plans,” he said. “We’re not even 100% sure of what the plan is. We’re doing what we can with what the plan is to date.” Woodman said Downie, as the company is known in Revelstoke, has been involved in caribou management plans in their woodland operations for over 20 years, and that caribou recovery-related reductions in the mill’s fibre supply has had a cumulative effect. “Our options are less and less in terms of finding that adequate timber supply to keep the plant here operating as efficiently and productively and possible and keeping that many jobs as well.” Mike Copperthwaite, the Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation’s general manager, expressed concerns about the plan development and management
PNAS | March 26, 2019 | vol. 116 | no. 13 | 6183
SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE
FEATURE
framework that would be instituted if the federal/ provincial agreement were to be adopted as presented in the draft plan, saying that he didn’t have confidence that its structure would allow for adequate local consultation as further details are developed. “It’s very weak on community and stakeholder engagement, so we’d like to have more of a commitment to making sure we all sit at a table and come up with a solution that works for everyone: the caribou, our industry, the other industries that will be affected and just the community in general.” He said that local expertise and involvement is key. “We’ve done this in the past in Revelstoke over the years on different plans. It’s always been a positive way for us to ensure that the local concerns [are] met,” Copperthwaite said. “What we really don’t want to see someone from Ottawa or even Victoria just telling us, ‘This is what it is, comment.’ We want to be part of making a plan that works.” Revelstoke Mayor Gary Sulz joined the representatives of the forest companies in asking for more local input into the plan. Sulz said that there has been some misinformation out there about the nature of the plan as proposed. “I don’t want to be a fear-monger,” he said. “We want to be the partners at the table in managing our resources. We’ve done that in the past. We’ve been very good at that. Our local foresters and our biologists have done extremely well with the maternity penning with the caribou.” His hope is that the community can be assured a seat at the table in the future, “to help with an action plan going forward,” he said. “We understand that the draft agreement is a framework. So if we can work with inside the framework and then dial down to how the protection is going to be done then we’ll have a better understanding.” He characterized the current engagement sessions as a “rushed process” and fears that any future management regime won’t allow local stakeholders the ability to provide ongoing feedback. The North Columbia Environmental Society is a Revelstoke-based environmental group. Spokesperson Sarah Newton spoke with the Mountaineer about their decision to file a Section 80 request under the Species at Risk Act to federal environment minister Catherine McKenna in early 2018. The request asked for an emergency stop order on logging in a specific area of federally designated old-growth forests. “It was not something we considered lightly at all,” Newton said, adding that they do understand the socio-economic concerns, such as job losses and loss of access to the backcountry. “Things do get divisive when it comes down to this crunch. We don’t have any more time for these animals or the old growth,” Newton said. “While we really
understand it’s a risk, it’s worth it. We are speaking for these trees and we’re speaking for these animals and we’ve run out of time, unfortunately.” Newton also said that there is a balance between short-term job losses and the long-term survival of the species and forest habitat, such as old growth forests that it needs. “The stakeholder groups and interest groups have something to lose, whether it’s jobs, which is a big issue, or it’s recreational access — there’s something to lose,” Newton said. “Those can all be mitigated, but the fact is the caribou and the old growth have everything to lose. There is no coming back. That’s why there is a time crunch.”
Government approval needed before next steps Now that the consultation period has ended, the provincial and federal government will tweak the plan based on feedback, then send it for potential cabinet approval by the federal and provincial cabinets, which seems likely to happen, but is not assured, especially since the federal election is scheduled for the fall. Delays in the consultation period could push it beyond the date the writ drops on the election. From there, the next step is to engage with stakeholders on herd-level planning. It’s likely at this stage that the full scope of the plans, including missing details, will be revealed.
A new hope in adaptive management? The endangered mountain caribou have been the subject of countless studies over the past decades. Usually, they are smaller studies aimed at answering discrete questions. What do they eat in summer? What eats them? What are their causes of mortality? What is a particular herd’s range? How does helicopter traffic affect their stress levels? That sort of thing. A new research paper published by a Revelstoke scientist in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) builds on the foundation of many studies to suggest a new, comprehensive approach to recovering mountain caribou. Dr. Robert Serrouya led a team of biologists to create the paper entitled, “Saving endangered species using adaptive management.” The large-scale study of woodland caribou took place over a 90,000 square-kilometre area in B.C. and Alberta, including the herds around Revelstoke.
The study looked at the effects of different recovery options for woodland caribou, such as reducing predator numbers, preserving habitat, trans-locating caribou to other herds, maternity penning, and removing other ungulates — such as moose and deer — that support increased predator populations. The study found that deploying multiple tools at once led to the greatest increase in caribou herd numbers. “The continental scale of forest alteration and extended time needed for forest recovery means that relying only on habitat protection and restoration will likely fail,” the paper states in its abstract. “Therefore, population management is also needed as an emergency measure to avoid further extirpation. Reductions of predators and overabundant prey, translocations, and creating safe havens have been applied in a design covering >90,000 [square kilometres]. Combinations of treatments that increased multiple vital rates produced the highest population growth. Moreover, the degree of ecosystem alteration did not influence this pattern.” The team working on the study included several B.C. government scientists, which allowed the research project to piggyback on the existing efforts of the B.C. government to recover caribou. By contrasting the effects of the various tools, including places where more than one recovery option was used, they were able to track the results. “We were simply reporting on what society and the federal recovery measures were recommending,” Serrouya said. The results were most encouraging in the Klinse-Za area, near Mackenzie, B.C., where a combination of predator reduction and maternal penning was used. The declining herd’s numbers reversed, and began to increase at a rate of 14% by the end of the study. A focus on habitat recovery — specifically halting old-growth logging — has been the focus of most environmental groups. Serrouya said that habitat preservation is key to the long-term survival of the species, but that takes time to achieve. It takes decades for a clearcut forest to return to suitable caribou habitat, but it does happen eventually. The caribou are suffering from the effects of well over a century of industrial disturbance on the landscape, such as logging, but the long timeframe means that some of the habitat is returning. Most environment groups focus on habitat preservation for caribou recovery; Serrouya said that’s absolutely necessary for long-term recovery, but it doesn’t address the problem of their continuing decline. “That’s the real rub. You could protect all the remaining habitat tomorrow. We could stop everything we do, but these herds here in the mountains will still decline, some of them to extinction in short order, unless you also at the same time manage the predator-prey system,” he said. “If society wants to do it, you have to reduce wolves and cougars for a short time until the habitat recovers.” Serrouya said that the data isn’t complete, and there is a lot of variety across the province, but the rate of habitat recovery in some areas is in equilibrium with forest areas lost to harvesting. Serrouya said that the data generated by the adaptive management study provided new hope for the recovery of mountain caribou. “In terms of the global loss of biodiversity, caribou are the best umbrella we’ve got,” Serrouya said of the caribou’s role in the regional ecosystem. “We used to think it was grizzly bears, but it’s not. If you’ve got caribou in the forests out there you’re going to have biodiversity.” He expressed disappointment in the way the federal and provincial governments structured their consultation plan, saying going to a public forum without concrete plans was putting the cart before the horse. “You do the science, then ... you’ve got to figure out what it’s going to cost, then you go to the public after you develop a couple of categories of options, and then again, whose turn is it? It’s the decision-makers, the politicians to decide.” Is he hopeful that we will be able to recover the mountain caribou? Serrouya noted that government management has led to increases in numbers for six different herds, and the lessons learned there can be applied to the other herds. “I am totally hopeful,” he said. “As long as those actions are followed up with habitat recovery, then I am for sure hopeful. I wouldn’t be in the game if I wasn’t.” 27
DOGS OF REVELSTOKE PADDLING AROUND WITH OUR PADDED FRIENDS A spring heat wave has just started to spread across British Columbia as Marika Koncek loads ten dogs into her pickup truck and heads for the Columbia River flats. She weaves the truck around potholes caused by frequent use in muddy conditions and picks an out of the way spot, careful to avoid other visitors to the area. Finding somewhere to take the dogs on these “adventure walks” where they won’t be disturbed makes her job of keeping control over them all a bit easier.
Words and photos by Cara Smith As a dog trainer and professional dog walker, roaming around outside with nearly a dozen canines of different breeds, personalities and temperaments is just a regular Thursday for Koncek. The pack runs excitedly along the beach and in the dry grasses of this wide open space, but never wander too far from Koncek’s side. They’re trained to stay close, regularly leaping back to her for a taste of the treats she keeps in a pouch on her belt. Koncek talks about each dog’s personality and quirks along the way. Some in the group are insecure or a little more aggressive. She says it often takes time and work for a dog to be comfortable in this kind of situation and that some dogs may never adapt, driving home the point that dog ownership doesn’t automatically mean a companion who will happily fit into every part of your lifestyle. “If we can make them adapt to our life, that’s great,” Koncek says. “But if it doesn’t work out, you’ve got to be flexible. You’ve got to make the change.” “You’re trying to get this dog to fit your mould, but that’s not always possible.” While it used to be the norm to keep dogs tied up outside near a doghouse or let them roam free, dogs are becoming part of the family more as people bring them inside to live side by side with people and participate in their owners’ daily lives. As the role of dogs in our lives becomes greater, so too does the responsibility that comes with them. “I think people learn a lot through owning a dog,” Koncek says. “While there are a lot of similarities to owning a kid, you can’t talk to them so you need to learn about them what their needs are. If something’s not working, you need to be flexible to be able to make that work with that dog.” Koncek says she believes most people don’t realize the responsibility of caring for a dog before they make the decision to bring one into their lives. “A lot of people do… But the ones who don’t realize, half of them give up on the dog early and take it back to where it came from and the other ones just struggle and maybe the dog gets neglected because they didn’t realize how much was needed.” “When you don’t fulfil the dog’s needs, you have a lot of problems. If you don’t address those problems by putting more time into your dog, then they’re never
NOT COMPLETELY SURE WHERE YOU CAN TAKE YOUR DOG OFF-LEASH IN REVELSTOKE?
According to a map provided by the city, off-leash dog walking is permitted on the flats on the south side of the Columbia River, Big Eddy Park and Big Eddy Flats, the north side of the Illecillewaet River, the south side of the Illecillewaet River, the old snowmobile track area and flats, and the flats west and south of the Downie St. sawmill along the Columbia River. 28
Dog trainer and dog walker Marika Koncek takes her charges for a paddle on the Columbia River. going away.” Revelstoke seems to be a particularly unique spot for dog ownership. Here, it’s rare to go through a day without seeing dogs with their owners on the trails, by the river, or strolling around downtown. One of these owners who walks her dogs Chewie and Molly along the river in Centennial Park says the town is a good place to live for dog owners and that having them has made an impact on her life for the better. “I think my lifestyle is just healthier,” Jennie Sosnowski says. “I think there are a lot of days when I wouldn’t do as much if I didn’t have them. They are a huge responsibility and expensive and all that, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons.” Another Centennial Park trail frequenter, Catherine Allen, says it was important to find a dog breed with a personality that would be a good fit for her lifestyle. Her dog Dizzy, a 15-year-old kelpie, was traumatized and nervous when he was first adopted, but Allen says with time and patience, he adapted well. “I know that they take time,” she says. “Once he realized that things were fairly safe then it was easier for him to acclimatize and be a much more easy-going dog.” “I definitely would go back to getting this kind of dog. We specifically sought out a dog that was active but had a good personality.” Koncek’s clientele in Revelstoke are primarily people who don’t necessarily need someone to take their dog out on walks because they don’t have the time, but people who want their dogs to get that bit of extra enjoyment and excitement out of living here. “We live in a really different place,” Koncek says. “People are getting out and doing active things, but everyone has this feeling like ‘my dog’s not getting enough fun or enough exercise.’ We live in this really fun community and they want their dog to have fun too.” “It’s just for the bit of extra social fun really. I think because we live in a town of such passionate outdoor people that they want the best for their animals as well as themselves.”
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1 1 2 R estau r a n t
Our Favourite
Local Sips
By Amaris Bourdeau
This savvy list of must-try summer cocktails means you can spend less time searching, more time sipping With summer being practically in full bloom, we’ve decided to round up our favourite hot weather favourites — and we’re rooting for locally distilled alcohol this time around! As it happens, our beloved small town knows how to do cocktails right. From garden party-inspired drinks to fiesta-grade margaritas, this list has it all. And don’t be fooled, these a-game beverages are DIY-friendly too.
M o n as h ee S p i r i ts
B C Negroni
by J o s h M c La fferty
For the more dedicated amateur cocktail makers (this one has a few more steps than the others!), this smoky Negroni is nothing short of formidable. We’re talking smoky cedar flavours, Monashee gin, and grapefruit bitters. If this isn’t our mountain town’s cocktail alter ego, we don’t know what is. 1oz Monashee Spirits Ethos Gin 1oz Bittersweet Vermouth 1oz Amaro or Campari 2 Dashes Bitter Hearts Grapefruit Bitters •Burn cedar and maple chips on a board and cover with wine decanter to fill with smoke •Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice •Stir for 10-15 seconds. Strain into a pre-smoked wine decanter •Swing decanter to infuse cocktail with smoke for 15 seconds •Strain into rocks glass with 1 large ice cube •Garnish with a dried orange wheel and sprinkle with dehydrated Campari dust on top
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Cease & Sekkle by A lex B er r i ll
If you’re looking to take a piece of Revelstoke swank to your patio this summer, 112 has got you covered. This rum and lychee cocktail is chock-full of fruity tropical flavours.
1 oz Appleton rum Lychee liqueur Strawberries Freshly muddled pineapple Pineapple shrub • Muddle together fruit. Cover with ice cubes • Pour both alcohols, starting with the rum • Garnish with pineapple shrub
Qua rt er m ast er Eat ery
Garden Party
by I zzy La m o u r eu x-La m b ert Did someone say garden party? Every occasion is good enough to host people this sunny season— and this elegant summer classic is calling our name. Lemon, soda water, gin, Campari. (Leave it to the Quartermaster to make art out of their cocktail selection.) 1 oz Gin 1 oz Campari ¼ oz Simple syrup ½ oz Lemon juice 1 oz Soda water • Muddle basil in a shaker. Combine all ingredients and shake with ice • Double strain and serve in an old fashioned glass • Garnish with a lemon slice and a basil leaf
J o n es D i st i lli n g
Grapefruit G&T by M e ga n M o o r e
Cucumber & Mint Refresher
Jones’ twist on the classic G&T is simple yet irresistible. Special shootout to the local favourite for keeping us supplied in the smoothest gin out there. A little grapefruit is all we need to accompany this rosé-tinted, Revelstoke-flavoured gin.
Warning: This incredibly refreshing cucumber and mint vodka bevy might just become your summer staple. We’re thinking post-bike ride, post-work, post-nap—we could go on.
1.5 oz Revelstoke Premium Gin No. 1 ½ oz St Germain Squeeze of ½ a grapefruit Grapefruit wheel garnish
1.5 oz Mr. Jones Premium Vodka ½ oz St Germain Squeeze of ½ a lime 3 Mint leaves 3 Slices of Cucumber Cucumber and mint garnish
• Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice • Strain into glass with fresh ice • Garnish with grapefruit wheel
• Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice • Strain into glass with fresh ice • Garnish with fresh mint and cucumber slices
T h e Ta c o C l u b
Southside Margarita by A n n e-M a r i e Ta n g uay
This dazzling lime-and-pineapple margarita from the Taco Club speaks for itself. But since we’re on the topic, we’ll give you an insider tip to make it even better: try a half sweet, half savoury rim to add a much-welcomed oomph. 1.5 oz Jarral de Barrio Mezcal 1 oz Triple Sec .5 oz Fresh lime juice 1 oz Pineapple juice • Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice • Half sweet, half savoury rim for taste
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OUTDOOR LIFE
Louise on Wheels rider Sophie Marques at the Revelstoke Skatepark. Photo: Kate Ediger
Breaking more than just nails: lady crews are changing the way we play sport A recent rise in all-female sports groups proves that Revelstoke is the ‘right place’ to challenge the male dynamic. By Louise Stanway All-female crews in Revelstoke are changing the way we see and access outdoors sports. Tearing up the traditionally masculine roots of skating, biking, and skiing, these ladies are growing something fresh from the ground up. Now that’s not to say that they’re taking over — that would be contradictory to the cause. Instead, it seems the goal here is inclusivity and expansion. So, who are the players that are changing the game? With strong social media presence and, in some cases, swag such as branded T-shirts, stickers and jackets available at certain downtown stores, it’s hard to ignore the visual cues of change. I spoke with the masterminds behind Louise on Wheels (a skating group that 32
welcomes all abilities levels, from competitive skaters to “Am I too old to try this?” first timers), The Blondes (a sponsored skiing trio comprised of Janelle Yipper, Emily Childs, and Tonje Kvevik), as well as Bikes, Beers, and Babes (five years on and still going strong, this is a weekly mountain biking meet-up event that encourages friends to go ride in a fun, non-competitive environment), to better understand the trend behind emerging female-orientated crews. RM: Was your group born out of a need to change the male dynamic? Or did it come together organically, as simply a group of girls who enjoyed the sport?
each other amongst some of the best of times, during the ebbs and flows of the winter highs. We realized that we could all ski at a similar level and challenged one another to push it — so we naturally decided to combine forces. It started mostly as a joke. We said we would form an all-girls ski crew — “The Cariboo Blondes” — with our only sponsor being beer. Yet because of the current demand for something like us in the industry, it blossomed. We received a lot of positive feedback from people in town and professionals that we look up to. I think the industry was calling out for somebody to challenge the male dynamic and we just happened to be in the right place for it. RM: Would your all-female crew be celebrated the same way if it were all-male?
Louise On Wheels: Being a girl starting out in a male-dominated sport can be super intimidating; we created Louise on Wheels so that it doesn’t have to be. The intimidation factor disappears when you have a group of ladies feeding off one another’s energy, stoke, and support. Together, we make taking those pushes on the board feel just as much empowering as they are fun!
LOW: Probably not. We women are strong and powerful, but at the same time we can also be delicate like a flower. What is more beautiful than a single flower? A whole garden of unique flowers blossoming together. Through skateboarding together in Revelstoke, a sisterhood has flourished — and the truth is, most guys just don’t appreciate flowers the way girls do!
Bikes, Beers, and Babes: Bikes, Beers, and Babes was formed to make mountain biking less intimidating for women starting out. It was also a great way meet new people and riding buddies. The Blondes: The three of us found
BBB: We don’t really know if we are celebrated, but people definitely are starting to take notice. There has been huge growth in the number of women mountain biking in recent years and we think it makes sense that it should
sport are sometimes intimidated to go to ride group with men, where the atmosphere can be, or at least seem to be, more competitive. In our experience, women often underestimate their abilities and riding with other women helps them build confidence. TB: We’re so lucky to have reached this point in the industry where a lot of the hard work has been done by women like Leah Evans, Myshell Parker, Sarah Burke — only to name a few. These real OGs of the sport have been pushing the boundaries of the sport on their own for so long they’ve paved the way for crews like ours to ban together and film as three ladies. It’s kind of like a domino effect. One group of ladies decides that they’re going to represent themselves and show off their talent and then the next group of ladies is inspired by that. Women are starting to realise that banding together with other like-minded ladies makes it easier and way more fun. RM: Is it true that all-female sporting groups create a different learning environment to mixed gender groups? Above: Two of the trio The Blondes, who are Janelle Yipper, Emily Childs, and Tonje Kvevik. Photo: Sabine Burns Below: The Bikes, Beers, and Babes crew out for their weekly Tuesday ride. Photo: Robyn Goldsmith be highlighted. If there has been an increase in the number of men mountain biking too, the media would take less notice as it is a sport that has previously been male dominated.
female representation. That said, we pride ourselves on skiing and making content that equates to the same quality and excitement.
TB: I think it gets everyone fired up because it’s new and exciting and we’ve experienced decades of male coverage and maybe it’s time for them to step over a bit and make some room for
RM: Why do we keep seeing more female-only groups popping up across a variety of sports? LOW: No matter what sport you’re
into, all girl gangs have something in common: we’re here for each other. We’re all part of a movement that encourages us to push our limits as females. It takes courage and determination to overcome your fears, it can be a long road of bruises and tears but when your girlfriends are there helping you enjoy the ride, anything feels possible.
TB: It’s valuable in some circumstances to learn with girls, especially when you’re starting out, because it can offer a less intimidating learning environment. Women tend to propagate their fears, whereas men tend to brush off and ignore fear. However, being surrounded by those above your skill level will always help push your progression; skills develop a lot faster when you’re trying to match the level of male counterparts. Finding a balance between the two is crucial to success.
BBB: Women who are newer to a
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OUT OF TOWN
A thoughtful guide to summer adventures in the Shuswap By Vilja Arnsteinsdatter Jim Cooperman’s first volume in his three-volume geographic handbook series, respectfully dedicated to the Secwepemc people, is both a rich and informative guidebook and a declaration of love for the Shuswap region. The Shuswap is a 1.55-million hectare watershed, extending vastly in all directions – from the Thompson Plateau in the
erything Shuswap, one gets the impression that the author has all these qualities, and he is very excited to share them with his readers. US-born environmentalist Jim Cooperman has made the Shuswap region his home, and his fondness for where he lives shines through in this carefully constructed work. The pages are filled with a mix of stunning landscape and nature photography, detailed maps and colourful infographics, and historical images tying in with the stories. I enjoyed the book for what it is – a passion project showcasing years of research and hard work. The book seems to have two aims: one is to inform, teach, and guide those who visit and live in these areas. The other aim seems to simply be born out of a wish to create a better understanding and appreciation of the places. As the author himself says: “The goal for this book is to provide the information needed for readers to gain an improved understanding of everything Shuswap and thus gain a better appreciation of our region. With knowledge there comes respect and hopefully a passion to help protect all of the Shuswap’s outstanding values.” Everything Shuswap is a sharp portrait of the land, waters, wildlife and humans that make up the Shuswap. Cooperman takes us on a deep journey through what is one of the lesser-known regions of B.C.; a journey that is extensively researched and well-observed. Rather than passively travelling through the natural landscape, Cooperman gives the reader a front seat view, accompanied by rich history and detailed
descriptions. Everything is connected, and Cooperman’s book serves as a reminder of how intertwined we humans and nature are. Blended in between images and maps are essays of geography and on indigenous and settler history, photos showing the current states and photos of archival value, as well as historical documents providing context to the history and biodiversity of the Shuswap. The 240-page long book contains five chapters dedicated to different areas, highlighting (in order) the watershed, geology, ecology, the Secwepemc people, and the history of settlement. Everything Shuswap also includes an illuminating foreword, penned by Canadian writer Alan HaigBrown, as well as an extensive bibliography and source material. Everything Shuswap is a treasure chest for those interested in history, ecology, geology, and bioregions, and for those who share Cooperman’s love for the area. This is not a guidebook in the most common interpretation of the word – you will not find trailheads, hiking times, and lists of elevation gain. What you’ll find is rather a guide to understanding and appreciating a region, and to gain knowledge of how it came to be. Written with an approachable syntax and graciously lacking overly technical and scientific prose, this book can be enjoyed by a wide range of readers looking to explore this unique region both in person and on the page.
Everything Shuswap: A geographic handbook - Volume 1 Jim Cooperman
Clockwise from top: The Bear Creek Flume, ca. 1912, where the Tsútswecw Provincial Park Flume Trails are today. Photo by Walter Montgomery, courtesy of Frank Fraser; The cover of Everything Shuswap by Jim Cooperman; The final climb up to the top of Mount Fosthall. Photo: Jim Cooperman
west, to the Monashee Mountains in the east, the Aberdeen Plateau in the south, and north to the Upper Adams River. It encompasses five large lakes and nine rivers. The Shuswap includes seven incorporated communities: Lumby, Enderby, Sicamous, Chase, Salmon Arm, as well as parts of Spalumcheen and Coldstream. It is therefore no wonder that to describe and capture it all, one needs patience, structure, and more than a keen interest – perhaps even a lifetime of study. When reading Ev-
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A departure from your conventional whites By Heather Hood Warm weather is dominating the forecast these days, which creates a change in energy around us. Patios are open, backyard barbecues are in full swing and the days are getting longer. Along with the change in weather is also a shift in the wines we drink. Rosé wines and wines with pinkish hues are at the forefront again with reds taking more of a backseat for the next few months. The wines this month are very different which means one should make time to try each one of them. gods.’ As well, the origin of the word honeymoon comes from drinking mead. outcome of this process.
Housing help needed for new tourism program students
Nichol Pinot Gris, 2017 Naramata, BC $23.83 Pinot Gris is considered a white grape but actually is pink when it ripens. The orange and pinkish hues that are seen in this wine are from extended contact of the grape skins soaking with the grape juice prior to being pressed off for fermentation. This Pinot Gris is an incredible wine with flavours of green apple, apricot and citrus with a slight minerality. The flavours dance in your mouth and awaken the palate. The finish is nice and delicate with flavours of honey and green apple. Pairs well with fish, creamy sauces or soft cheeses
The opportunity to learn – and play – in one of the world’s greatest tourism destinations should help attract students to Okanagan College’s new Tourism Management Diploma. Photo: Royce Sihlis
Sponsored by Okanagan College Monster Vineyards Rosé, 2017 Penticton, BC $17.74 This Rosé is a blend of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. It has lovely flavours of strawberries, candy apple, rhubarb, honey and a hint of citrus. A wine that is crisp and bright on the palate with a hint of sweetness that is nicely balanced with the acidity. Pairs well with charcuterie, shellfish or poultry
Fresh Perspectives and Backyard Vineyards Satin Red, 2016 Langley, BC $16.22 This wine is a result of a collaboration with a winemaker from Ontario and a winemaker in the Fraser Valley. It is an easy drinking wine with flavours of black cherry, plum, tobacco and a hint of pepper. The finish is flavourful with nice medium tannins. Pairs well with tomato sauce, roast vegetables or hard cheeses
All wines available at Cheers! Downtown Revelstoke Open 9am to 11pm Delivery to your door Call 250-837-4550 36
The advent of Okanagan College’s new tourism management diploma program means there is significant need to accommodate students who will be arriving in Revelstoke to take advantage of the unique learning opportunity this fall. “This program will be drawing students from within the region, across B.C. and Canada, as well as from around the globe,” explains Joan Ragsdale, OC’s Regional Dean for Shuswap-Revelstoke. “We know what the housing situation is like in Revelstoke, so we’re reaching out now to the community to ask for their help.” The College, Tourism Revelstoke, the City of Revelstoke, and area employers such as The Regent Hotel, the Best Western, and Revelstoke Mountain Resort are collaborating to ensure that international students especially can find homestay opportunities, to help them integrate with the community. The goal is to find 15 homestay opportunities at approximately $800 per student. “This is an opportunity for our community to show its support for the local industry. These students will be the tourism workers who live, work and learn in Revelstoke. We’re excited that this program will help our businesses secure these future skilled workers,” notes Meghan Tabor, Tourism Revelstoke’s Marketing Director. The need for the program, and the human resources it will attract, is one that resonates with industry. “Tourism is one of the biggest growth sectors in the province,” explains Peter Nielsen, VP Operations for Revelstoke Mountain Resort. “Workers are in demand.” Nielsen is one of the many local tourism experts who has worked with the College over the past year to ensure the program would hit the mark – for students and for those who’ll be hiring them. The two-year diploma program combines in-class learning with work placement opportunities. The timing of the work placements ensure students will be available when employers need their talents most during busy times of the year. And it is showcasing Revelstoke nationally and internationally as Okanagan College recruits the students. While OC, Tourism Revelstoke, and employers are focused on homestay opportunities for students, they’re willing to talk to any landlords about any rental opportunities. “We want to see this two-year program – a pilot for Okanagan College – succeed and help reinforce Revelstoke’s reputation as an innovative, supportive community that is at the forefront of sustainable destination tourism,” explains Tabor. “From the location, to the access to tourism employers, to the quality of instruction at Okanagan College, all the components are there to set students up for success and help them distinguish themselves in tourism management roles,” says Nielsen. “I couldn’t be more excited to see the program roll out this fall – and to be able to tap into this new pool of talent before and after they graduate.” Those interested in providing homestay or rental accommodation to international and domestic students can contact Danielle Tighe, Okanagan College’s Manager of Community Relations and Administration for the Revelstoke Centre. She can be reached at 250 837-4235, ext. 6515 or at dtighe@okanagan.bc.ca
NEWS BRIEFS
How to encourage kids to expand their culinary palates Taking the icky out of picky By Shannon MacLean, RHN, CHNC, BA-IR
Be specific
Using child-centric nutrition phrases has been studied to increase kids’ openness to trying new foods. Phrases such as: “vegetables keep you from getting sick,” “protein helps you learn,” “fish makes us smarter,” “eggs will make you grow stronger,” and (especially effective for aspiring superheroes), “this grass-fed meatloaf will help you run faster, jump higher, and move with lightning speed!” These work much better than vague phrases such as “this is good for you,” which is often too abstract for a child to understand or make relevant to their own aspirations
Hide and go tweak Smoothies are a great place to hide vegetables, as their flavor and texture can be concealed by fruit. Rotate your leafy greens, adding spinach, romaine, radish greens, kale, or swiss chard to your classic fruit smoothie. Cucumber, broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower, beet, carrot, avocado, lemon and lime can all be added in smaller amounts. Fresh herbs such as basil, mint, cilantro, cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger can also be added in moderation, boosting nutrient density, blood-sugar balance and flavor. Avocado, nut butter, coconut milk, hemp hearts, chia seeds, hemp oil, ghee or coconut oil can provide healthy fat and protein. Unplug the blender and let children pick their additions, or let them press power once everything is locked and loaded. Another trick is to mix canned wild salmon with grated carrots, finely chopped celery, fresh dill and mayonnaise. Try chopping large bags of carrots and celery ahead of time, storing in water. If kids ask for food before dinner is ready, they may be hungry to enough to gobble up a tray of those vegetable sticks while still saving room for dinner.
State change Vegetables change greatly depending on how they’re prepared. If your child doesn’t like a certain vegetable, try roasting, which caramelizes and adds desirable flavor and crunch. Other ideas include chopping in a new way, or changing texture by blending vegetables in soup or making into a smooth sauce. Hand blenders work well for this. Adding healthy fats to vegetables make them more flavorful, comforting, satiating and enduring. Top soup with a swirl of olive oil, add avocado and cheese slices to dinner, or serve veggies with hummus.
Tapas Young children can get overwhelmed by a wide variety of food on one plate, and even by different foods intermingling. Try serving on plates with separate compartments, or using a tapas approach, with a variety of foods in separate bowls, allowing them to feel in control of their selection.
Participate to appreciate When children participate in the many stages of food prep, from gardening to meal planning, meal prep, and clean-up, they are more likely to appreciate and explore new foods. We can all benefit from contemplating all the stages of our foods’ journey that leads to our plates. Start a garden, grow herbs or sprouts on your windowsill, harvest fruit trees, pick berries, or take kids fishing. Make dishes personal by allowing kids to invest time learning and forming opinions about them. Discuss seasonal foods, colors, and shapes. Pick a meal and allow them to steer its direction with fillings or toppings. Let them taste food while it’s cooking, asking their opinion. They may learn to discern whether they desire a different texture, or more spice, salt, sweetness, or citrus. This will help them form more helpful feedback than, “I don’t like it,” and could even steer them toward being adept cooks themselves.
Getting children involved in the meal planning, prepping, and preparing can increase likelihood they will be adventurous enough to try out new flavors and ingredients.
Lead by example To suspect new food could be scary and poisonous is actually a deeply ingrained survival instinct that has gotten us where we are today. It’s natural for kids to be suspicious. Lead by example by eating a wide variety of whole foods yourself, and continuing to put them on the table, whether they are shared or not. One day those once-strange foods will look and smell familiar, and maybe even become appealing. Aim to keep dinner-time positive. Not only does this increase digestive secretions (and in turn digestive efficacy) for everyone, but will make it easier to get kids to try new foods. Get creative, cutting food into shapes, giving meals fun names, or serving dinner in an unconventional dish. And finally, if all else fails, keep it simple. Kids don’t generally crave fancy meals; they are more likely to partake in nutrient-dense, simply prepared whole foods. And that’s a blessing in more ways than one. Shannon MacLean is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist with a BA in International Relations. Open for bookings at Balu Yoga and Wellness, she offers holistic nutrition consulting and menu plans. Shannon is passionate about wild foraging, recipe creation, and all things health and wellness.
SHANNON MACLEAN RHN, CHNC, BA-IR
Registered Holistic Nutrition.
BOOK NOW www.baluyoga.com
Fatigue? Weight gain? Mood swings? Indigestion? Anxiety? Insomnia? Pain and inflammation? Autoimmunity? IBS? Skin issues? Depression? Heart disease? Diabetes? Hormonal imbalance? Food allergies? Low immunity? Bloating? Bowel Irregularity? Health optimization? Pre-and-post-natal nutrition? I CAN HELP.
NEW LOCATION 414 1st Street West sprucetipnutrition@gmail.com 37
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Create your own gin
Botanical basics
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Create your own bottle of gin The first of its kind in Canada. Learn about the history of gin, how it is made & make your very own bottle to take away.
Build your own botanical bottle
Sip on a G&T whilst learning about the botanics which go into making gin. Afterwards select your favourite botanics and build your own decorative bottle.
Tasting & tours Enjoy a Canadian Gin Guild tour of the craft distillery & discover how award winning spirits are made while tasting samples.
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