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Retail openings: New spaces help you get outdoors New wellness retreat at Williamson’s Lake in early development stage Remote workers: A growing segment of locals now find work online
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DISCOVER SUMMER NEW HIKING TRAILS | DISC GOLF | BUFFET BREAKFAST PIPE MOUNTAIN COASTER | PARAGLIDING | SIGHTSEEING
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V I S I T R E V E L S T O K E M O U N TA I N R E S O R T.C O M
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 Revelstoke photographer Laura Szanto captures the alpine riding season at the Sol Mountain trail network, located south of Revelstoke. Pages 2-3: Local artist Benji Andringa welcomes August with a custom illustration.
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The Long War
18 Remote workers
26 Worker shortage
Emerging band plays Revestoke Street Fest
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Events Calendar
Find out what’s happening in Revelstoke in August
One of Revelstoke’s emerging industries isn’t based in Revestoke at all
Revelstoke businesses struggle under severe summer worker shortage
20 Williamson’s Lake
26 Gardening Q&A
12 Retail moves
Our garden design columnist Lindsay Bourque answers your questions
22 Never been back
31 Eat for healthy teeth
14 Garden & Art Tour
A once in a lifetime MTB trip — as in I’m never going back
24 Sewage woes
We profile three new dowtown Revy retail offerings Check out what’s behind the neighbour’s fence
Plans emerge for a mixed agricultural and tourism re treat next to Williamson’s Lake
16 DCC Debate City wrestles with controversial development fees debate
Diet is an important part of oral health
The fix for the smelly sewage lagoon will be pricey, but who’s going to pay for the fix?
Contributors
Melissa Jameson
Laura Szanto
Jake Sherman
Bryce Borlick
Lindsay Borque
Heather Hood
Shannon MacLean
Claudia Bambi
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ENTERTAINMENT
The Long War a highlight of August Street Fest performances
The Long War plays the Summer Street Festival in Grizzly Plaza on Aug. 21. Photo: contributed
2017 CBC Searchlight winners say more communities should offer opportunities for free, live music By Melissa Jameson Vancouver-based indie band The Long War know they have a journey ahead of them when it comes to proving their staying power in the Canadian music scene. The group had been together less than a year, and had performed only a handful of times when they found themselves thrown into the deep end of early band success when they won the 2017 CBC Searchlight Competition. The band itself began its formation
only a few years ago in a somewhat inherently organic manner. Singer/ songwriter Jarrett Lee first connected and collaborated with vocalist/guitarist Chad Gilmour after meeting with him after a show in Ottawa. They then added vocalist/drummer Neil Williamson and bassist Carson Webber along the way. After their Searchlight win, Lee’s sister vocalist/keyboardist Jess Lee joined, rounding out the group at five.
After their Searchlight win, and consequently releasing their first album Landscapes, the five-member band found themselves touring across Canada. That tour included a stop at Revelstoke Arts Council’s Street Fest last summer. “The band found success very soon, so it’s almost like working backwards,” said singer/songwriter Jarrett Lee. “We have this image of success, but we aren’t really there yet. We’re still going through
it, still trying to prove to ourselves we’re more than just a contest band.” Winning the competition came with a number of prestigious awards — and hard work. Members of The Long War were provided with a residency and recording opportunity at The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, performances at the Banff Centre’s “Performance in the Park” and at the National Art Centre in Ottawa and the 2017 CBCMusic.ca Festival. The Long War was also commissioned to collaborate with fellow Canadian singer Royal Wood to create an original song for Canada’s 150 celebrations. The result was Oh Canada (Carry the Flame). The recording of that song also includes vocals of a 30-student high school choir from North Vancouver that happened to be in Banff at the same time. “It was really fun. It was a nice collaboration and neat to be commissioned like that,” said Lee. The Long War also collaborated with Royal Wood for a few other songs on Landscapes, the album they recorded while at the Banff Centre. Lee describes the album as being a collection of songs he has written over a long period of time, along with a few new songs. The Long War is looking forward to their return to Revelstoke Street Fest. Lee said he thinks the free nightly music offered during the summer should be offered in other communities. “Revelstoke is such a beautiful place. I love the mountains. We’re going to do our best to show you a good time.” The Long War perform, along with Small Town Artillery, on Tuesday, August 21 from 6:30–9:30 p.m. in Grizzly Plaza. This is a free, outdoor event, open to all ages. Street Fest runs every night throughout the summer until Sunday, August 26. To find a complete list of bands, see the Revelstoke Mountaineer Calendar on pages 8–10.
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There have been many changes to Revelstoke Cable over the last few years
— from adding internet services to upgrading to digital TV to rebranding to YourLink Revelstoke. Through it all, much of the core local team have steadily supported our community. We are very proud to have served Revelstoke and appreciate all the support we have received in return along the way. As you may know, Revelstoke Cable was purchased and rebranded to YourLink many years ago. In October 2016, YourLink was purchased by TELUS. The YourLink Revelstoke Cable network will be turned down on October 3rd, 2018. We encourage our YourLink Revelstoke customers to make the switch to TELUS PureFibre. Please call 1-855-502-2332, or email pfconnect@telus.com or visit Tom Harris Cellular 103 1 St. E. as soon as possible to avoid any disruptions of service. We’re confident that you’ll be happy with TELUS PureFibre internet and Optik TV service with Video on Demand. Thank you all for your support. Sincerely, Tracey, Sheldon, Tyler, Shawn, Linda, Kathy, Sophie (and of course Cheryl)
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CALENDAR 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*
singers. Come out and join in with a friendly relaxed atmosphere from 10 p.m.
WEEKLY EVENTS
THURSDAY
MONDAY Community board games night @ Revelstoke Alliance Church 6:30p.m.–9p.m. Community games night every second Monday. Join for some tabletop game fun: board games, cards, dice, tile, strategy and more. Lots of games provided but more are always welcome.
LOL Monday open night Comedy @ The Last Drop Pub 8:30 p.m.–11 p.m. An open mic, hosted by comedian Katie Burrell w/Special guests Chris Griffin & Maddy Kelly.
TUESDAY Downtown Walking Tour @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives 11a.m.–12p.m. Meet at Revelstoke Museum & Archives, 315 First Street West, for a one-hour guided tour of Revelstoke’s historic downtown. Suitable for all ages. Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome. $5 per person.
Revy Riders Dirtbike Club Group Ride @ Revy Riders Parking Lot 6 p.m. Revy Riders Dirtbike Club hosts a group ride every Tuesday evening. All ages, genders and abilities are welcome.
WEDNESDAY Brown Bag History @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives 12:15 p.m.–1 p.m. Every other Wednesday listen to museum curator Cathy English talk about Revelstoke history.
Wednesday Night Paddle @ Downtown Revelstoke 5:30p.m.–8p.m. The Revelstoke Paddling Association hosts Wednesday Night Paddle every Wednesday. Meet at 5:30 p.m. in the lot behind Apex. For more information visit www.paddlerevelstoke.com.
Open Mic Night @ The Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. The Last Drop welcomes all jammers and
Cemetery Walking Tour @ Mountain View Cemetery 3p.m.–4:30p.m. Join the Revelstoke Museum & Archives at the Mountain View Cemetery every second Tuesday. Meet at the garden gates or call the museum at 250-837-3067 for a ride. Children are welcome but there is some adult content. $5 per person.
SATURDAY Farmers Markets @ Grizzly Plaza & Mackenzie Avenue 8 a.m.–1p.m. Stock up on fresh veggies, crafts and more at the very popular downtown market. Sunday
SUNDAY Sunday Morning Birding @ Revelstoke Community Centre 6:45 a.m.–9a.m. Meet at the Revelstoke Community Centre parking lot at 6:45. The group then decides where to go birding that day. Leave at 7 a.m. sharp.
AUGUST EVENTS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1
Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band @ River City Pub 10 p.m. The dance floor is sure to be hoppin’ as the band performs originals and covers by the likes of Howlin Wolf and Bo Diddly.
The Apollo Suns @ Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. The Apollo Suns bring an instrumental musical experience you won’t soon forget.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3 Jordan River Festival races @ Revelstoke 3p.m A whitewater weekend celebrating the local classics, with the 8th annual elite Jordan River Race, skills clinics, intermediate and beginner competitions, a delicious BBQ, and film festival. Visit paddlerevelstoke.ca for details.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Paul Silveria performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
River Reels Whitewater Film Festival @ Big Eddy Pub 9 p.m. Part of the Jordan River Festival, films from the River Reels Whitewater Film Festival are being shown at the Big Eddy Pub. Visit paddelrevelstoke.ca for ticket information.
Bubble Wonders @ Revelstoke Library 2:30p.m.–3:30 p.m. Bubble Wonders is an uplifting show full of laughs and surprises, using bubbles to inspire others to follow their dreams! www. BubbleWonders.com.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Amelie Patterson Trio perform at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 Jordan River Festival races @ Revelstoke All day A whitewater weekend celebrating the local classics, with the 8th annual elite Jordan River Race, skills clinics, intermediate and beginner competitions, a delicious BBQ, and film festival. Visit paddlerevelstoke.ca for details.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.—9:30 p.m. Red Hot Hayseeds perform at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
MONDAY, AUGUST 6 Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Sam Spades performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza
TUESDAY, AUGUST 7
6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Barefoot Caravan performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Les Poules à Colin perform at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Bob Rogers Jazz Quartet performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
Revelstoke All day A whitewater weekend celebrating the local classics, with the 8th annual elite Jordan River Race, skills clinics, intermediate and beginner competitions, a delicious BBQ, and film festival. Visit paddlerevelstoke.ca for details.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 Jordan River Festival races @
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Echo Nebraska performs at the Revelstoke
CALENDAR
AUGUST 2018 for more information. Lots of fun for the whole family.
Midsummer Night’s Green @ Terra Firma Farms
Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Son De Madera performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
Zulu Panda @ Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. Indie singer/songwriter Zulu Panda performs at the Last Drop Pub.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Bella Cat performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 Railway Day @ Revelstoke Railway Heritage Museum 11 a.m.–4p.m. Join the Railway Museum for their annual Railway Day. Visit www.railwaymuseum.com
4p.m.–10p.m. The Revelstoke Local Food Initiative’s annual fundraising event celebrates local food with a five-course dinner, wine pairings and local entertainment at Terra Firma Farms. Tickets are $99 available at revelstokelocalfood.com.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Marble Canyon performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Conscientious Objectors perform at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
John Michael Lind @ Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. Folk and roots musician John Michael Lind performs at the Last Drop Pub.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 14
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza
David Thompson Paddle Sport Classic @ Lake Revelstoke
6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Danny Bell Trio perform at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15
SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 The North Face Dirty Feet Black Forest Trail Run @ Mt. McPherson Trails All day The Dirty Feet Trail Running race returns to Revelstoke for the fifth year in a row. This year’s race includes options for 5km, 10km, 21km, and 42km runs. Visit dirtyfeet.ca for registration information.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Nova Scotiables perform at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
MONDAY, AUGUST 13 Revelstoke Summer Street Festival
get Outside & Enjoy
REVELSTOKE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES WI T H
performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
@ Grizzly Plaza
• • • •
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Sarah Jane Scouten performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 16
All day Catch a glimpse of paddlers as they take a three-day, 125 km journey following in the wake of David Thompson on the Columbia River now known as Lake Revelstoke. Visit paddlerevelstoke.ca for details.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza
6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Paperboys perform at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live
Canoe Rentals & Small Trip Outfitting Guided Canoe Tours, Trips & Expeditions Whitewater Kayak Lessons and Rentals Top Rope Rock Climbing
6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Gabriel Palatchi Trio perform at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest.
• • • •
Float Rafting Tours Youth Outdoor Programs Women’s Wellness Weekends Multi-Activity Adventure Holidays
OPEN 9 TO 9 | 1-866-929-3539 | info@flexpeditions.com #connectoutside | revelstokeoutdooradventures.com | flexpeditions.com
CALENDAR
AUGUST 2018 Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza
@ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Brother Octopus performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 21 Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza
Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26
Bobby Dove @ Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. Roots and country singer/songwriter Bobby Dove performs at the Last Drop Pub.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Matt Blais performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Holly Hyatt and Jon Burden perform at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza
SUNDAY, AUGUST 19
6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Sister Speak perform at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. WiL performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
MONDAY, AUGUST 20 Revelstoke Summer Street Festival
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. The Long War performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
RCU Movie in the Park @ Queen Elizabeth Park
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22
Dusk Watch the animated musical hit SING as the Revelstoke Credit Union hosts an outdoor cinema event you shouldn’t miss. Food, film and fun for the whole family. Showtime will be at dusk.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza
6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Tiger Moon perform at the Revelstoke Art
Mt. Revelstoke Road Bike Steamer Climb@ Meadows in the Sky Parkway 7 a.m.–11a.m. This 26 km climb starts at the Tournament of Champions Monument on Track St W near the Railway Museum. The course climbs 1450m and finishes near the summit of Mt Revelstoke. Visit bikerevelstoke. org for details.
Revelstoke Summer Street Festival @ Grizzly Plaza 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Rio Samaya performs at the Revelstoke Art Council’s Summer Street Fest. Enjoy live performances every evening in Grizzly Plaza during the summer.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 31 Pizza, Swim & Movie Night @ Revelstoke Community Centre 5p.m.–8p.m. Plan a night out and drop the kids (ages 7-12) off for an evening of pizza, swimming and a movie. Cost is $20 per child. Call 250-837-9351 to register.
Blue Heron Night of Music An small, new festival featuring bluegrass and country music, food and beer. 3:30-11 p.m., free shuttle from town. Kids under 10 get in free! Tickets $35 available at the Revelstoke Visitor Information Centre.
6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Sister Speak perform at the Revelstoke Art
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AROUND TOWN
New retail spaces focus on getting your out there Three new retail openings in downtown Revelstoke put the focus on the outdoors experience By Jake Sherman
Wandering Wheels You’ve probably seen them around town or on the trail, advocating for environmental stewardship, guiding clients, or just having a beer. For Matt Yaki and Sahana Browning, partners in life and business, Wandering Wheels has slowly grown from a far off dream to a steadfast reality. The two met through friends some eight years ago just after Browning had moved to Revelstoke from Nelson. The first time they hung out, Browning, Yaki and a number of friends tried to climb Mt. Begbie. Browning says that by the end of the day the entirety of their crew had abandoned the mission, leaving just her and Yaki to conquer the peak. They made it as far as the glacier. On the way down, Browning says Yaki jokingly talked marriage. Eight years later that chance encounter has blossomed into a long time partnership and a business with its own storefront on Mackenzie Avenue. Browning says it’s been kind of diffi12
cult sitting behind a desk, and having standard hours, but that it’s been a really great experience. “It’s a bit of an experiment,” said Browning, speaking from behind a desk at the Wandering Wheels brick and mortar home base. “We could never previously afford to do it, but we were lucky to find this space. It’s been really, really cool.” Browning says that the idea for what became Wandering Wheels started when Yaki moved to Revelstoke and decided he just wanted to be on his bike as much as he could. Previously, Yaki had managed grocery stores in Ontario. He did the same here before pursuing his Mountain Bike Guiding certification. Wandering Wheels currently offers guided mountain and heli-bike tours and manages Skookum Cycle & Ski’s rental fleet out of their adjacent storefront on Mackenzie Avenue, in Grizzly Plaza.
Revelstoke Trading Post Joey Norsworthy says retail is in his blood, sitting behind the till of the Revelstoke Trading Post’s new location on Second Street East. Norsworthy has lived in town for seven years, and for the Ontario native and long time action sports sales representative who comes from a family of merchants, having his own storefront was a natural progression. “I’ve worked in the action sports industry for years,” said Norsworthy, walking across his new location, which sports an art deco façade and was the location of a former grocery store called the Red and White. “I just got tired of seeing the same things over and over again.” The concept for the store came to him while briefly living in Calgary. When he returned to Revelstoke, Norsworthy approached long time friend and current business partner Mark Baron, who runs Integrative Apparel, located just next
door to the Trading Post. Baron got on board and the business was born. Instead of just being another retail outlet, Norsworthy says the Trading post is all about lifestyle and personality, showcasing unique and small brands from across Canada and the U.S. He says he likes to think of the store as being about everyday lifestyle, highlighting soft goods that’ll take you from the trail, the crag or the beach, to downtown Revelstoke for Aprés. “Being where we are, we are a destination store,” said Norsworthy, demonstrating the utility of a short that is a classic stylish chino designed to function as a regular garment or a bathing suit. “We try to support your adventure, whatever that is.” On top of just selling soft goods, the Trading Post has also started renting townie bikes, light adventure rentals, stand up paddleboards, canoes and e-skateboards. Norsworthy and Baron say to stay tuned. They have big plans for the Post over the next two years.
Clockwise from left: Sahana Browning at mountain bike tour and rental shop Wandering Wheels’ new location in Grizzly Plasa. Joey Norsworthy and Mark Baron at the new Second Street West location of the Revelstoke Trading Post. Natalie Harris-Pehowich shows off her SUPs at Fine Line SUP, located at the corner of Mackenzie Avenue and Second Street downtown.
Fine Line SUP For Natalie Harris-Pehowich, it was love at first paddle. The former firefighter, photographer, sea kayak guide, and mother of two, says she had always loved the feeling of gliding on water, but that when she got on a stand up paddle board for the first time seven years ago, it all changed. “It was just exhilarating,” said Peho-
wich-Harris. “I had always loved that feeling of floating in and gliding on the water, and spent a lot of time swimming, rafting and kayaking back East—but it was just different.” Harris-Pehowich, along with her husband Dave, who is a heli-ski guide and operates a glading company in the summer, has just opened Fine Line SUP, a stand up paddleboard retail outlet located at the corner of Mackenzie Avenue and Second Street.
The one stop SUP location, which offers rentals, lessons, a number of different kinds of SUP options, and guiding on bodies of water surrounding Revelstoke, shares the space with PULSE Boot Lab & Ski Company, who occupy the location between October and May. It’s a new venture for Pehowich-Harris and her husband, who have never operated a retail outlet before, and have just become members of the local chamber of commerce. But as much as much as it’s challenged her, Pehowich-Harris says
it’s been rewarding to help introduce others to the sports. “I know boards and know the sport, but retail is new to me, so it’s been challenging and exciting,” said Pehowich-Harris. “I really just want to share the experience out on the water with other people. It’s great getting into it, and I hope we can turn some people on to the sport.” Fine Line SUP will be open in its present location until the beginning of October. 13
OUTDOORS
Art ‘n’ gardens Revelstoke summer tradition links artists with splendid local garden offerings By Aaron Orlando The Local Food Initiative’s Garden & Art tour combines local artists with impressive Revelstoke gardens for a one-day tour of botanical hidden gems. Gather a pack of friends and hop onto your townies for an afternoon of meeting talented local gardeners and artists and their creations. The 2018 event was on a glorious sunny July 22. Clockwise from left: 1. Anne Keller’s small flower garden is tucked away in a quiet corner of Columbia Park. She was paired with Revelstoke newcomer Oriana Rollo, who creates a range of paintings and jewellry. 2. Sunnyside Farm is a local organic farm that sells veggies to a variety of local shops and restaurants. Gardener Loris Colangelo cultivates a broad range veggies, trees and other ornamentals in his large Southside lot. He was paired with local artist
Dana Parsloe and her watercolour floral art. 3. Sharon Kelly’s mature garden on Second Street West features fountains, brick work and luscious flowers, like these amazing lillies. 4. The tour starts and ends at the Revelstoke Art Gallery, where the Local Food Initiative hosts their organic garden. Tour participants ate organic popsicles, sampled Monashee Distillery gin infused with local wildflowers, and took in the works, which included outstanding new creations from local artist Pauline Hunt. The gardeners put the woodshop in the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre to work creating snow shelters to protect your plants from the crushing Revelstoke snow. After, local artists jazzed up the plywood and pressboard A-frames with their original creations.
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NEWS
A new build in Columbia Park. Photo: Aaron Orlando
Balancing act: The politics behind Revelstoke’s development cost charge bylaw updates Increasing demands on sewer, water and roads have the city scrambling to come up with money while trying to please both developers and taxpayers By Melissa Jameson It’s no secret that over the past decade Revelstoke has shifted from its roots as an industry-based community to one focused on gaining traction as an internationally recognized tourist destination. What began as an increase in seasonal visitors throughout the winter months has grown to include an almost year-round rise in total population, be they seasonal visitors or just the added number of people in town for the weekend. The increased interest in Revelstoke as a tourist destination, and as an attractive place for new residents keen on calling one of the most beautiful places in B.C. home, has begun to put a strain on the city’s already aging infrastructure system. Simply put, infrastructure refers to a community’s sewer and water systems, roads and parks. As a community grows and new development takes place, local governments can implement what are known as Development Cost Charges, a source of revenue applied as one-time charges to help offset costs directly associated with providing, altering or expanding a community’s infrastructure system to help meet 16
the needs of growth directly related to increased development. From an outsider’s perspective implementing Development Cost Charges (DCCs) may seem like a simple exercise. In truth determining DCC rates is more like a political strategy game where municipal governments must carefully consider the backlash from potential developers as well as current taxpayers who are at-risk of being on the hook for what is known as the “Municipal Assist Factor.” The Municipal Assist Factor is the amount a local municipality is willing to put towards the cost of upgrading or expanding its infrastructure that is directly related to the needs of current use, rather than new development. In layman’s terms the Municipal Assist Factor usually means an increase in taxes for existing taxpayers. Richard White, former city planner with the City of North Vancouver and current subject matter expert with the Planning Institute of British Columbia, says it’s a dilemma for city councils and senior staff who almost always want to ensure a level playing field for those
footing the bill. There’s also a risk involved since any changes to a community’s DCC bylaws are scrutinized, and given final approval, by the provincial government prior to adoption. “Basically [the city] is throwing themselves into a situation where they don’t have control over what they end up with as the province has oversight,” said White. The province may have a lot of clout when it comes to updating a city’s DCC bylaws, but that doesn’t include contributing any sort of funding. The costs associated are normally absorbed into a city’s budget. In Revelstoke’s case, the current city council made a decision to include the costs of updating its DCCs into the 2017–18 budget. To top that all off the city of Revelstoke is embarking on making significant changes to the DCC bylaw only months before the municipal election set for this fall. While current city councillors are keeping their cards close to their chests (so far only mayor Mark McKee has announced he will not be throwing his name in the hat again), the DCC bylaw update has quickly become a hot topic
that is likely to become central to the November election. As reported on revelstokemountaineer.com, a stakeholder meeting on the topic of DCCs hosted by the city for members of the development community in late June devolved into a near shouting match as angry members of the development and construction community verbally confronted staff and a consultant present. They followed up with letters criticizing all aspects of the DCC bylaw review, which were included in a council agenda package.
Revelstoke’s extensive (and expensive) infrastructure repair list To use a current pop culture reference, Revelstoke’s “honey-do” list when it comes to infrastructure required to
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Members of the development community gather for a contentious meeting on the Development Cost Charges bylaw review. Here, consultant Elisa Becker answers questions from those gathered. Photo: Melissa Jameson meet the demands of its existing and growing population is extensive. In an interview with the Mountaineer Magazine, the city’s director of engineering Mike Thomas said a 2015 study across B.C. municipalities showed a majority of communities similar in size to Revelstoke were significantly underfunding their water and sewer systems. Currently the city is working towards completion of an asset management plan for water and sewer networks, which will help to either validate or refute the findings of the 2015 study. Thomas said the majority of the approximately 100 kilometres of water mains in the city were built before 1980. “In many cases the pipes are well past half of their expected useful life, and a proactive replacement program will be required, based on risk, pipe materials, and cost of replacement,” said Thomas. To stay ahead of the potential cost of water infrastructure failure, Thomas said the city could be looking at spending around a million dollars per year on water main replacement alone. While city staff believe the majority of the city’s $600 million in overall infrastructure operations assets are adequately sized for current and future use, there are definitely some large ticket items that will be impacted by growth. These include a variety of road intersection projects, improving access to Queen Victoria Hospital via the Illecillewaet Bridge and upgrades or a potential total replacement of the existing sewage treatment plant. Overall the estimated costs included in proposed versions of the updated DCCs are listed at $71 million. That number is based on the estimated cost of growth-related infrastructure that can be cost-shared with new development by using DCCs. At the time of publication Revelstoke city council had yet to review a background report and draft DCC bylaw being prepared by engineering firm McElhanney Consulting. Council deliberated on several options during a July 12 meeting that lasted more than three hours before deciding to settle for a draft bylaw based on a Municipal Assist Factor of 1% for water and transportation, 50% for parks and 60% for sanitary sewer. That leaves the remaining costs related to each DCC sector in the hands of new development —something Revelstoke’s construction and real estate communities have vocally opposed. In an effort to appease the development community, city council is considering phasing in the full costs of the DCCs over a five-year period. It’s a move
that still needs provincial government approval and one that White says can be risky, especially with developers and real estate agents raising concerns that an increase in DCCs could halt development, and therefore growth, altogether. The impending result could mean the city would need to scramble to find the funding for large-scale infrastructure projects. “You have to have new growth or you won’t have that payment. Or if the city wants to move forward they have to finance the project and hope for new growth. There’s a risk of big bills to pay then and existing taxpayers get foot with a really big bill. It’s a tricky business you don’t want to get into,” said White. White said when a city is looking at replacement of an entire infrastructure system, such as the sewer treatment plant, it really boils down to politics. On one hand the city won’t want to upset the real estate and construction sectors, while on the other hand there is an entire existing tax base that is unlikely to welcome news of a tax increase. That there is upset among the construction and real estate communities over the potential DCC increases is not surprising for White, who said it’s a natural part of the dynamic of those types of business communities. “It cuts into their margins and development is a business [where] you can lose your shirt in quite easily,” he said. What has been clear so far is that few, if any, involved parties seem particularly pleased with how the process has played out so far. Local building and real estate stakeholders were quick to accuse the city of not following the B.C. government’s Development Cost Charges Best Practices Guide. In the same vein city councillors have voiced concern over a lack of open communication and transparent process. In response, McElhanney Consulting and city staff have argued the process is one that includes steps best left to professional decision prior to seeking out comments from public and stakeholders. The bottom line is that Revelstoke’s infrastructure is in need of upgrades and replacement, and a portion of that is related to growth in the community. How cost sharing of those upgrades and replacements will be divvied up between taxpayers and development cost charges has yet to be finalized. The DCC bylaw update process is scheduled to be completed late in 2018, and should produce more contentious episodes in the months to come.
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!
LUNA is powered by the energy and creativity of our amazing community! Help us transform Revelstoke with art, music and performance on Saturday Sept 29th 2018. 2 hour shifts and all types of jobs available. Volunteers will receive an exclusive sneak peek on whats coming up at LUNA this year, an invitation to the opening reception on Sept 28th, and a LUNA t-shirt. Sign up via the Volunteer form on the LUNA FEST Facebook Page (facebook.com/LunaArtFest) Luna is produced by the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre, the Revelstoke Arts Council and the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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In pursuit of the dream: could remote workers transform Revelstoke’s economy? A growing number of remote workers are leaving the woes of city life behind in favour of meaning found in the mountains. It could transform Revelstoke’s economy, contributing to as much as 10 per cent of the city’s working population if the trend continues to grow. By Jake Sherman Among the evolving number of employees who don’t have a fixed office are engineers, environmental consultants, photographers, writers, tech workers, and students. Amaris Bourdeau, who left Vancouver for Revelstoke less than a year ago, is one of them. Bourdeau, 25, works as a copywriter for Canadian communications giant TELUS, producing content for their website and managing internal communications. She says she was nervous to ask her managers for the opportunity to work remotely and leave city-slicking Vancouver behind, where she attended graduate school and studied publishing at Simon Fraser University. But fortunately for her, her employers, who valued her work ethic and drive, were happy to have her work remotely. The best part? Instead of sacrificing lifestyle for career, the young writer with two degrees is able to balance her chosen lifestyle with her chosen work. “It’s a really great opportunity for people who want to have a career and still live this kind of lifestyle. And It’s just such an amazing community,” Bourdeau says over coffee in her Southside home. “I would never want to leave. It’s really special. I have so much freedom to work and build the life I want here.”
Tech Strategy bolsters Revelstoke’s economy According to Karilyn Kempton, who is the technology strategy coordinator at the City of Revelstoke, TELUS is far from the only major corporation with employees who work and live in Revelstoke. In an e-mail to the Mountaineer, Kempton wrote that two city surveys have identified at least 25 remote workers working for companies like Adobe, Mapbox and Shopify. Those numbers only account for tech workers who work distinctly remotely, meaning they don’t pick up any local work or clients. While Kempton’s estimate of workers who do absolutely no local work is modest, another survey completed by the city in 2017 — according to an article published by Imagine Kootenay — found over 100 workers living in Revelstoke who worked remotely in the tech sector, balancing local work with external opportunities. Which is a number that is growing as a result of a concerted effort on the part of the city to attract entrepreneurs and remote workers through its high tech strategy, which it has developed over the last three years. Among the main goals of the strategy
Amaris Bourdeau takes a break from remote work. Photo: Jake Sheman/Revelstoke Mountaineer
is to strengthen and diversify the local economy, one that has traditionally relied on energy, forestry, and transportation. So can remote workers stack up?
A look at the numbers Consider for a moment that there are
100 remote workers in the tech sector. Add to that the number of students, engineers, photographers, environmental consultants, non-profit, NGO workers, and contract workers, who have made Revelstoke home over the last five years. Suddenly, that small number begins to grow pretty quickly. In fact, as early as 2015, the same year high-speed fibre-optic Internet was introduced to Revelstoke, at least 230 Revelstokians were working from
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home, according to the most recent census data. Making it fair, and perhaps modest, compounded with the city’s survey, to estimate that there are between 150 and 300 people living in Revelstoke right now who work remotely. I mean, we all know one, right? Compare that rough number with the number of employees who work for BC Hydro, CP Rail, and in the forestry sector. According to the most recent census data they account for about a quarter of Revelstoke’s working population — which sits at just over 4,000. The service and hospitality industry in turn, accounts for about nine per cent of local workers. So by comparison, that 150 to 300 — a number that is estimated to grow, starts to stack up at
professional opportunities for career development here. “There’s a limited number of opportunities for long term professional growth in Revelstoke,” says Smith, working out of the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre. “That’s the reality here. Many of us have to look elsewhere.” That reality forced her to look elsewhere to balance her career with the lifestyle and community she wanted to be able to provide for her son.
A call on the horizon
Fun wines for the hot summer month By Heather Hood Hot summer days and hopefully abundant opportunities to slow down, regroup and to enjoy your surroundings during the month of August. The wines this month were not only refreshing but quite different from one another. The commonality of all of these wines is the fun and lighter side of life that these wineries appear to outwardly showcase to the consumer. However all of the wines are very well made and can hold their own. If I can gather anything from these wineries it is that there is something to be said for approaching your craft with not being to serious, remembering to have a little fun and seeing the amazing products that can be the outcome of this process. Perseus Pinot Gris 2017 Penticton, B.C. $19.26
Eight years later, Smith’s claim holds
Jewelles Smith made remote work match her family needs. Photo: Jake Sheman/Revelstoke Mountaineer
A nice Pinot Gris that needs a bit of time to open up to appreciate the characteristics of this wine. There is a variety of flavours in this wine ranging from lemon zest, melon, apple with a hint of floral. It has a nice acidity with a flavourful lingering finish kissed with notes of honey. This wine would pair well with a cheese platter, fresh seafood or your favourite mushroom dish. The Hatch Gobsmacked 2016 West Kelowna, B.C. $16.22
between about 4 to 7.5 per cent of the total working population.
Born out of necessity Jewelles Smith is one of Revelstoke’s original remote workers. She’s an artist and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. candidate at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus, where she works out of the Centre for Inclusion and Citizenship. Smith, in addition to holding numerous contract positions, has worked as research assistant and teacher’s assistant, Skyping in to class from Revelstoke to work with her students in Kelowna. She was born in the region and moved back to the Kootenay-Columbia some eight years ago so that her son could attend high school here. But it wasn’t a decision she made lightly. Much the same as her decision to work remotely was, it was born out of necessity. Smith’s son is autistic and she was worried he would be ostracized as by the Vancouver school system, who she says segregates students with disabilities. So the Ph.D. candidate who studies disability rights, called up the local school district and put together a program for her son, allowing her to move back to a community she says she has always loved. The only problem: there aren’t really a lot of
true. It’s not easy to live and play in the mountains, and cultivate a professional career in a small community where everyone knows your name and cares about you. So remote working, which is as much about cultivating lifestyle and community as it is about cultivating professional growth, could significantly impact Revelstoke’s economy if the trend continues to grow, which the statistics indicate it will. A 2017 report from Randstatd Canada, (a national division of a global human resource consulting company,) found that “non traditional workers” currently make up between 20 and 30 per cent of the workforce of the companies surveyed, with a quarter of those employees freelancing. Randstad also estimates that by 2025, 32 per cent of workers employed by the company’s surveyed will be “remote workers,” and they say 85 per cent of those companies anticipate that the number will continue to grow, meaning more and more workers may have the freedom to pick Revelstoke as a home base. Whether a tech strategy and the growth of remote working can transform Revelstoke’s economy by bringing in more companies and people remains to be seen. But for the many who’ve made Revelstoke home, and will make Revelstoke home, and for those who have worked with city to cultivate the growth of that community, it certainly appears to be an expanding horizon.
Once again the Hatch has produced a totally sweet (sweet as in cool not sugar) wine. It is comprised of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Auxerrois and Pinot Gris. Pinot Auxerrois is a white grape that is widely used in the Alsace region of France with similar ancestry to Chardonnay. I found this wine to be full of pleasant surprises such at the subtle nutmeg on the nose, with buttery characteristics and a nice minerality on the mouth. This wine is bright and zippy with a nice lingering finish of lime. The label was drawn by the daughter of the Assistant Winemaker in a series of labels entitled ‘take your kids to work.’Pair this wine with spicy or rich foods or just enjoy it on its own on a hot day. Elephant Island Pink Elephant 2015 Narmata, B.C. $28.56 Elephant Island was the first fruit winery in B.C. and was acquired as a retirement investment in the early 1970’s. The husband of this duo believed this investment to be a white elephant which turned out to be the opposite! If there was ever a wine that I would encourage you to splurge on and you enjoy bubbly, this is the wine you should treat yourself to. If you could bottle whimsical, fun and happiness in a bottle this would be it. The Pink Elephant is like a variation of the Kir Royal in a bottle. A Kir Royal is Bubbly wine with a splash of Cassis added
to it. This wine is made with apples and cassis. The fine bubbles are flavoured with caramelized rhubarb, ripe strawberries and cassis. The wine is acidic with a nice sweetness with a creamy finish. Bubbly is actually quite versatile to pair food with. Honestly this wine would pair well with the fanciest dishes of lobster and duck but would go equally well with a Thursday night movie accompanied with popcorn, which is an alternate way to feel fancy.
All wines available at Cheers! Downtown Revelstoke Open 9am to 11pm Delivery to your door Call 250-837-4550 19
NEWS
The proposed wellness re end of Williamson’s Lake Photo: Aaron Orlando/Re
Williamson’s Lake wellness retreat originally envisioned as educational facility Sewage access, waste management and irrigation methods have been left unaddressed by a pending Agricultural Land Commission application for a proposed wellness retreat and farm at Williamson’s Lake By Jake Sherman A Canadian subsidiary of a Korean construction company that has developed bridges, high rise apartment complexes and hotels in Asia, has big plans for a seven acre piece of property on Williamson’s Lake. According to a representative of the Hyeum Properties, (HP) formerly BK C&D, a division of the Hyeum construction company, the proposed educational facility, farm and wellness retreat will employ up to 70 people, 30 of whom will be housed on site. HP previously developed a number of luxury properties located on Birch 20
Drive in Arrow Heights. The HP application to develop the Williamson’s Lake property for nonfarm use is currently under review process by the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District, and pending approval by the Agricultural Land Commission. The ALC application does not include information pertaining to water, irrigation for a planned greenhouse facility, fish farm, or sewage. Keith Stevenson, who is the local manager for the project, said that HP has had companies out to the property to investigate the feasibility of drilling
water wells, and that they have water rights to a nearby creek, meaning that they can draw surface water from a nearby source. As far as sewage, Stevenson says they are looking into a septic treatment plant, as they don’t have access to lines. He says that if the application proceeds through the process then they will hire more consultants to determine the next steps for water, sewage and irrigation. The project will have to go through two stages of public review and comment before it is approved. First, it will have to get approval from the ALC,
who will make their decision based on the application and information received from the CSRD Electoral Area B Advisory Planning Committee. (APC) The APC was scheduled to tour the property on July 24, according to Stevenson, before meeting to discuss the proposal on July 25. The CSRD board will then make a recommendation to the ALC, the regulatory body for the Agricultural Land Reserve. If the ALC application is approved, which will be made based on information received from the CSRD APC, then the company will then need to be
ellness retreat would be located at the south n’s Lake, a popular summer recreation spot. ando/Revelstoke Mountaineer
pass through a zoning and building application process. That will also involve public consultation. Loni Parker, the director for CSRD Electoral Area B, says she met with the proponent before they submitted their application and recommended they meet with the ALC before the development move any further. She says that they originally told her the facility would be educational, and called the agricultural component of application, which boasts a aquaponic fish farm and hydroponic greenhouse,
“a dolled up way to get (HP’s) foot in the door.” “They added the agricultural land component to what they originally stated. They originally said it would be an educational facility,” said Parker speaking to the Mountaineer. “They wanted to expand that to include the wellness centre and it looks like they’ve added a more of a garden component then they initially expected to. What it looks like to me is that it’s a wellness centre, or a spa, and they will have paying customers. Whether the community thinks that is acceptable or not will be up to the community to decide. I expect a whole lot of questions will be raised.” Parker said developers will typically come to the area, speculate, buy up land, and worry about the development process afterwards. She said the proponent initially mentioned using the facility for second language English education. Stevenson, who has a background teaching ESL, corroborated Parker’s claim. He said that when he first approached Parker he envisioned a summer and winter camp for children. “The actual idea was a summer and winter camp for kids,” said Stevenson. “But since meeting with people and realizing the nature of the ALC process, I realized you can’t just throw up a little garden. So we’ve incorporated a big facility that could produce fruit and vegetables year round, at a rate beyond what the land could naturally produce.” He said the farm will be used for educational initiatives for the local school district. Stevenson also said fish from the on-site aquaponic fish farm will be sold to local restaurants and transferred to holding ponds on site when they grow too big for holding tank. The ponds will be located on site. According to the artist’s rendering of the project, they are slated to be located fairly close to the lake’s shores. If their ALC and subsequent zoning applications are approved, it will likely be years before the facility opens. The CSRD APC was scheduled to meet at on July 25 in the Boulder room of the Revelstoke Community to discuss the project. The meeting is open to the public. “We’re not trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes,” said Stevenson. “We will be open and transparent will everyone in the hopes of making this the best possible project.”
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population grew to 1,500. Prosperity brought all sorts of amenities — a hospital, an ice rink and a telephone system to name a few — but just 40 years later the mine doors swung closed and the streets fell silent once again. It was late afternoon when I pedaled my mountain bike through town, past forgotten driveways dotted with rusting relics, beneath the watchful gaze of the mining ruins on the hillside above. The upper town site is remarkably well preserved, enough so that squatters had apparently taken up residence in a shuttered house and I could hear their faint music and voices. Ripe apples hung from a tree in an overgrown yard, reminding me of the lives well lived here. Above Bralorne is a network of trails. Some are new, built specifically for mountain biking, but others are century old routes to the mines, boot beaten by the prospectors who guarded these
claims so fiercely. My ride took me along fast and fun singletrack, under a high canopy of cottonwoods, on a trip through times past. On a particularly straight and fast section of trail I was suddenly pulled off the back of my bike by something. I landed flat on my back, slightly winded and confused. Had I hit a branch? Or perhaps an old rusty cable hanging at chest height? I staggered to my feet and surveyed the area and, much to my confusion, I found nothing. I paced back and forth and eventually concluded that whatever had knocked me down, wasn’t there anymore. It was disconcerting. I rolled back down to town casually in the evening’s golden light. A signboard outside the Mineshaft Pub advertised “Pizza Night” so I stopped in to indulge. Locals seemed to be in good spirits — it was a Friday night after all — and I struck up a conversation easily with two
Exercising demons in Bralorne B.C. By Bryce Borlick If you follow the old highway 40 until it dead ends, you’ll find a valley so deep with mountains so high that the summer sun hardly shines. In that valley you’ll find an old town with a rich history in gold, and you’ll find that the history comes alive in unexpected ways. At least that’s what I found the last time I visited Bralorne, B.C. When I arrived at my friend‘s cabin, I unloaded my gear and eyed up the town
and got the distinct feeling that they were eyeing me up too. It’s only natural in a town with less than 50 inhabitants. Nevertheless, I felt right at home on the dusty streets, amongst the quaint houses and the ones long abandoned. Bralorne today is a shadow of the bustling mining town it was in the mid twentieth century. During the Great Depression the mines extracted a whopping $370 million worth of gold and the local
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Venture to the former mining town of Bralorne, B.C. for an MTB ride, if you dare. Photos: Bryce Borlick
miners at the bar. When I mentioned my odd crash and roughly where it happened, their jovial mood seemed to drop and they turned back to their pints. And when I mentioned the squatters at the abandoned town site I got a sharp response. “No one lives up there,” one miner stated bluntly. “Pretty sure I heard music and voices,” I replied. “No one lives up there,” he reiterated, turning to look me in the eye. “Those buildings aren‘t safe. Best to stay outta there.” The palpable tension in the air was broken by a fresh pizza landing on the bar in front of me. I paid, thanked them for the conversation, and sauntered home slightly bewildered and intrigued by his comments. Was it a grow op? There was no power in the area and none of the tall grass was flattened by footsteps. What was going on? As I devoured my pizza
and poured over backcountry maps that evening I kept asking myself this. The next morning was cool in the deep valley and I got a late start on my full day hike-a-bike to the alpine. It was tough going and I pedalled, pushed, and carried my bike for hours up steep singletrack and over slide paths choked with avalanche debris. The panoramic view from the ridge was a fair reward though and the long ride back down was a good mix of buff trail and rugged backcountry riding. It was a long day though and I was tired by the time I reached the valley.
got up and dusted myself off and turned to look back up the trail one more time. It was then that something odd caught my eye. Boot prints. A pair of them, side by side, in the middle of the trail, just a few meters away and facing me. Someone else was in these woods. But how and why were they doing this?
I walked up to the boot prints and only then did I notice something that sent a shiver down my spine. The prints were fresh. And they were on top of the tire tracks I had put down just moments earlier. And yet those woods were dead silent with not a soul in sight. I left Bralorne immediately and haven’t been back since.
Nearing the spot where I had crashed the previous evening, I slowed and surveyed my surroundings for obstacles. Nothing. Clearing sailing, I thought, and yet once again I was pulled straight off the back of my bike. It was the exact same crash, in the exact same spot. I sat on the ground for a while. Eventually I
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LOCAL NEWS
Revelstoke’s sewage smell woes waft into another season The DCC bylaw update stirs the pot on sewage treatment plant issue, highlighting the costly nature of possible long-term solutions By Melissa Jameson Ask almost anyone in Revelstoke what the biggest issue is when it comes to the city’s aging infrastructure and the answer is sure to be the same: something needs to be done about the sewage treatment plant. The spring turnover, when the warm weather churns up the witches’ brew that has accumulated in the bottom of the lagoon over the cold winter, leading to near-gagging smells nearby, has become an annual thorn in the city’s side. Over the past few years, city staff has struggled to find a cost effective and semi-permanent solution, while residents are forced to endure the nauseous odour most prominent in spring and during hot summer spells. Residents of Revelstoke’s Southside neighbourhood, the residential area closest to the sewer treatment plant, take on the biggest hit when the smell begins to waft into town, often unable to open windows or sit outside during the evenings. The sewer odour has become so bad in recent years, Southside residents created a Facebook group to share information and ideas. Last year, Southside residents became so fed up they took their concerns to the Ministry of Environment. It was the return of the all too familiar sewer smell that prompted Revelstoke mayor Mark McKee to issue a public apology during a May council meeting. Over the years the city has issued apologies and attempted numerous solutions to fix the smelly issue with the most recent being replacement of pond aeration equipment in late July. The new equipment replaces existing aerator pipes that line the bottom of the lagoon. In a nutshell, the new pipes will add more oxygen to the lagoon, and also churn up the water more. It’s hoped the added oxygen and better mixing will solve the WorkBC_July2018_Revelstoke.pdf 1 10/07/2018 problem of accumulating sludge at the
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Workers replace aeration equipment at the City of Revelstoke’s sewage treatment lagoons. Photo: City of Revelstoke bottom, which leads to anoxic conditions that contribute to the odours. At the time of publication it was too soon to know if the new equipment would effectively eliminate, or at the very least reduce, the odour. In the past few years, the city has tried several interventions, with mixed results. A new filter system on the headworks building reduced odours from the sewage pipe outfall. However, that didn’t address the issue of smells coming from the main lagoon. Physical mixers that look like giant food processer arms were then added to the lagoon, with, erm, mixed results. The city has also tried tweaking the air pumps, adding chemicals that promote digestion, and other enzymes that are supposed to promote healthier digestion. The city has had difficulty quantifying if these interventions 4:06:05 PM have made the situation better or not, but
Need help with your job search? Revelstoke WorkBC Employment Centre offers a range of self-directed and case-managed services including free workshops, job postings, training opportunities, and community resources.
residents in the neighbourhood will tell you that regardless, it’s not good enough. While it’s obvious to everyone that something, and that something is big, needs to be done about the sewer treatment plant, who pays for it has become the elephant in the room. Replacement of the sewer treatment plant is the big-ticket item included among a myriad of other infrastructure projects on the controversial Development Cost Charge bylaw update. The entire list of projects included as part of the DCCs totals $71 million. Replacement of the sewage treatment plant and other sewage work takes up the bulk of that at an estimated $35.3 million. Mike Thomas, the City of Revelstoke’s director of engineering, said city staff are currently working on a sewage treatment planning plant, and plans are in place for a sewer network asset management plan in the near future.
“Long-term, staff are still working on the Sewer Treatment Plant Upgrade review and considering how to move forward with the Liquid Waste Management Plan process and manage growth related requirements and upgrades,” Thomas said. “In 2018 we are working through this using the [development cost charges bylaw] update project and a dedicated larger consulting sewer upgrade project that will be out for [request for proposals] in the next couple of months.” As for DCCs, Thomas said the existing DCC bylaw was intended to collect 100 per cent of the costs through the bylaw with 99% of the cost of the upgrade of the plant being attributed to new development and 1% to sewer ratepayers. The new DCC bylaw, which has yet to be adopted, could see that change to only 40% being collected from new development and the remaining 60% through the Municipal Assist Factor (the amount contributed by the city through various means of collection such as taxes). “The proposed DCC rate structure has a much greater percentage of the cost of upgrades payable by the sewer rate payers than the existing. This is in part because about 10% of the project cost was directly attributed to existing sewer users and secondly council has the ability to set a Municipal Assist Factor, which can be anywhere between 1% and 99%,” said Thomas. The updated DCC bylaw has yet to be finalized, and is scheduled for completion late in the year. However the costs are divided between new development and existing taxpayers, with little in the sewer reserves, it’s likely that significant borrowing will be necessary to match any potential grants if the sewage treatment plant overhaul is to happen anytime soon.
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427-B Second Street East | Tuesday - Saturday Noon - 7 p.m. | 250-837-2002
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!
August is Awesome... and a fantastic time for families to ride the river.
ELEVATE YOUR DESIGNS.
26 years on this river. We still love it! We're pretty sure you'll love it too.
apexrafting.com All Equipment is provided. Free rafting 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. GRAPHIC DESIGN + ILLUSTRATION bambi@turbobambi.com | www.turbobambi.com
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Collaborative solutions needed to fix worker shortage in Revelstoke Businesses in all sectors are struggling to hire staff, but the problem runs deeper than wages By Melissa Jameson The lack of available workers is hitting Revelstoke businesses hard; hotels are having to close down rooms and stores and restaurants are closing early to make up for limited staff. It’s a situation that’s being replicated across the province, and across the country, as many potential employees struggle to balance paying high rent and working jobs that pay less than the living wage. The most recent numbers released by the Living Wage for Families Campaign sets that at $19.37 per hour for Revelstoke. Tourism Revelstoke marketing manager Meghan Tabor said the worker shortage in Revelstoke is a multi-faceted issue with intertwining factors including affordable housing, foreign worker programs, immigration, and provincial nominee program. It’s a combination of those, said Tabor, that has led to the current situation here. “We are nearing desperation here, with numerous businesses aching for staff,” Tabor said. La Baguette Cafe is one such business. Recently, owners Sonia Ratté and Olivier Dutil made the decision to switch from having serving staff to using a Table Tracker. The computerized system uses a digital coaster given to customers to take with them to their table. Later, food or drinks are delivered by table runners. While it’s an efficient system, Ratté said initially it was to help curb the cafe’s lack of staff. Fortunately, that situation has now changed as Ratté said they found people showing up later in the season looking for work. She said it’s a lack of affordable housing that makes it difficult for anyone to make ends meet in Revelstoke working a cafe or other lower earning job.
“We would love to be able to pay more,” she said. Raising wages isn’t a sure solution however. In a letter to MLA Doug Clovechok and MP Wayne Stetski, Taco Club owner Mike Brown said the restaurant has introduced financial incentives including: raising wages by almost 20% over the past two years, improving tip sharing among back and front of house employees, and creating new employee driven community minded initiatives. “At the moment, every single restaurant in Revelstoke is desperately trying to hire staff. Speaking with my restaurant colleagues, many are in despair over their inability to meet businesses demand,” Brown said in the letter. In Revelstoke foreign workers after an adventure in the Canadian mountains often make up the bulk of workers who fill part time seasonal jobs during the busy winter months. Traditionally many of those workers have come from Australia, but Rana Nelson, job developer with WorkBC Revelstoke, said potential changes to requirements may mean that avenue of workers may become limited. Nelson said summer students, typically those who are on break from university or college, are often choosing not to take on employment during their time off from studying. This has led to positions in Revelstoke typically filled by students left empty this year. So what are the solutions for Revelstoke? It’s clear the lack of available long-term affordable housing is turning workers away. Nelson said she knows anecdotally of at least one business who had a potential employee turn down employment simply because they were able to find a job in another city with affordable rent. There is also the matter of
Businesses that rely on seasonal staff such as restaurants are feeling the cruch of the Revelstoke worker shortage. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer the Labour Market Impact Assessment classification, a document employers in Canada are often required to get in order to hire foreign workers. The key factor in the classification is that Revelstoke is lumped in with a larger geographic area, and the unemployment rate is higher in the region. This leads to a more restrictive rules on hiring. “We absolutely need to be excluded from our economic region for the LMIA classification. We understand that this is dictated through Employment and Social Development Canada, but how do we get through to them?” said Nelson. Other possible solutions include creating a regional employee pool. Nelson is part of the Kootenay Workforce Development Team out of Selkirk College. The group has been exploring the possibility of a project that would see the creation of an employee task
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force in the region. That project would see foreign workers be able to experience various parts of the region, while still providing staffing for businesses. As an example a worker could come and work in Revelstoke over the winter and then go to a different part of the region to work and spend their summer. The focus on foreign workers often comes with the argument that this means fewer jobs for locals, and that they create downward pressure on wages. Nelson said this isn’t the case for Revelstoke. Often people locally are either working already, working full time or have made money elsewhere and have come to Revelstoke to live the mountain lifestyle, she said. It’s a difficult problem to solve and one that Nelson says requires many levels of government to address the numerous pieces that will result in workers being able to fill a variety of positions.
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GARDENING
Landscape fabric, mulching & fertilizer, oh my! Lindsay Bourque of LIMINAL DESIGN + YARDWORKS answers some of your burning garden questions. By Lindsay Bourque Summer is in full bloom and it is a busy season – I’m getting lots of questions about garden maintenance so I thought I would answer some of the most common this month. Landscape fabric: Yea or nay? I get it, it’s difficult to let go of the promise of permanent weed suppression – but landscape fabric is not an effective long-term weed deterrent and can also have detrimental effects on the health of your soil. Firstly, organic matter will still accumulate on top of the fabric, creating prime growing conditions for
air-borne annual weed seeds. Additionally, landscape fabric will do nothing to supress our more thuggish invasives like horsetail and knotweed. The barrier also prohibits decomposition of your mulch layer, a necessary process in the health of your garden and, if you have ever renovated a fabric-covered garden, you know it makes even minor changes infinitely more difficult. Speaking of mulch, what should I use? My first suggestion is always to try and use the resources you have available.
Stone is a common ‘mulch’ in Revelstoke – it looks great but requires more maintenance hours to properly top-dress.
Wood chips make a great mulch and are easy to come by in this town. Photo Credit: Lindsay Bourque Know someone with a wood chipper? Wood chips make a great mulch (a note about chip size: you want to shoot for small-medium chips; too fine or too coarse, the chips will fail to decompose). We are lucky to have mature trees in our urban forest, and they provide us with ample material to help condition the soil. Make an area in your yard to make leaf (and needle) mould; well-rotted leafmould (more than two years old) can be used as seed-sowing compost or mixed with sand and quality soil to use as garden or potting compost. If you have a lot of pine on your property, make a separate pile for the needles – they will create an acidic leafmould and is great for many of the plants that do well here (for example, ericaceous plants like rhododendrons, azaleas, etc). However, I believe that plants make the best mulch and try and encourage clients to use groundcovers. As Claudia West, co-author of “Planting in a PostWild World” points out, one of the core principles of the natural world is that plants cover soil and refers to mulching a “perverse tradition.” When should I fertilize? We all need to eat, right? A biannual compost top-dress in the spring and fall will pay huge dividends down the road. If you are using a slow release granular fertilizer, you’ll also want to spread it in the spring. These fertilizers will feed plants for 3–6 months and by this time of the year should not be used anymore – it can disrupt the dormancy cycle in plants and push new growth into late fall, sending energy into new shoots instead of into the rootstock, where it is stored for the following spring push.
People tend to overfertilize if they see a plant in distress, which can cause more harm – think of fertilizer like food, not medicine. I don’t want to do any maintenance or irrigate my garden, what should I plant? Artificial plants? One of my former landscape bosses pushed this point one year at a xeriscape demonstration garden show: much to the horror of the Sunday garden crowd, he lit a bunch of spot fires in his installation to “demonstrate” how we are creating tinder boxes by pushing the idea of waterless gardens. He was never invited back to the garden show but I think he said everything he wanted to say. Mic drop. There is a myth that native/drought tolerant plants don’t need to be watered – as a general rule, all plants will need to be watered for the first couple growing seasons, even if we are having a fairly rainy spring/summer like we are experiencing now. As for maintenance, no garden is maintenance free – it is an extension of your home and, just like the building that sits on the land, the yard will require routine maintenance to remain serviceable. Lindsay Bourque has been working in the landscape trade for over a decade, first as a gardener/landscaper then earning her master’s degree in landscape architecture at UBC. Since then, she spends more time on a computer, but Revelstoke allows her to keep a foot in both design and construction – and both feet on a board as much as possible. 27
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HEALTH
Biting into the dental diet Because there’s more to it than brushing and flossing By Shannon MacLean, RHN Many of us grow up thinking of our teeth as inanimate hardware to be repaired by dental mechanics. Yet our teeth are very much alive, connected to every organ and gland via the bloodstream. Their direct relationship with the body means that optimal nutrition and overall health lead to healthy teeth and gums (and vice versa), while any infection that the mouth harbors negatively affects our overall well being. Despite their vulnerability to our lifestyle habits, our teeth are capable of healing and regenerating. Read on to discover that it’s all about going with the flow, even when that means swimming upstream. Regulated by the hypothalamus, a constant microscopic flow of fluid in the teeth originates near the intestinal area and flows upward and outward through the tooth. This dentinal fluid prevents tooth decay by flushing toxins from teeth, providing nutrients for the mineral matrix, neutralizing acid on teeth, and repelling biofilm on surfaces. This fluid also forms a protective fluid layer atop enamel, not unlike sap oozing from a tree. When foods that elevate blood insulin levels, such as refined carbohydrates, cereals, and sugars, are eaten in excess, fluid flow is reversed or suppressed. Other factors that can suppress the dentinal flow are stress, low thyroid activity, lack of exercise/ lymph stagnation, antibiotics, nutritional deficiencies, and fluoride. A diet that nourishes our dental health includes foods that are rich in minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, silica, and magnesium, and high in fat-soluble vitamins A, D3, E, and K2. These minerals and fat-soluble vitamins are high in grass-fed meat and dairy and low in factory-farmed meat. One can see this difference by comparing pale conventional dairy to the rich yellow, orange, and golds of grass-fed butter or ghee, pastured egg yolks, and high-quality cheese. While vitamin K1 is found in leafy greens, vitamin K2 is found in pastured meat and dairy, and fermented foods such as natto, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, and aged cheese. Vitamin K2 is vital for dental, bone, and heart health because it removes excess calcium from tissues and deposits it in bone. Vitamin A comes in two forms; beta-carotene (found in orange foods such as carrots and squash) and retinol, found in grass-fed meat and dairy as well as cod liver oil. Because almost half of us have a genetic variant which prevents effective conversion of beta-carotene to retinol, it
is important to include both forms in a healthy dental diet. Fat-soluble vitamin E, an antioxidant found in sunflower seeds, almonds, avocados, and dark leafy greens, promotes bone health by protecting the bone-making process from free radical damage. Vitamin D is integral for bone growth and maintenance. This “vitamin” (a misnomer as vitamin D is a steroidal hormone precursor) can be found in fish, eggs, organ meats, and fish liver oils, while safe sun bathing provides another source. A diet high in minerals is important for both building teeth and preventing their breakdown; deficiencies in minerals signal the body to take minerals from the teeth and bones to maintain homeostasis. Grains, beans, seeds, and nuts should be soaked or fermented before eating to reduce their phytic acid content. This is because phytic acid binds with minerals and reduces absorption by the body. Bone-healthy minerals are abundant in fresh, local, and in-season fruits and vegetables. Silica can be found in leeks, green beans, chickpeas, strawberries, cucumber, celery, asparagus, and rhubarb. Magnesium can be found in wild-caught seafood, nuts and seeds, and dark leafy greens. Finally, staying well hydrated during the day encourages saliva production at night. Saliva is vital for dental health as it can remineralize teeth, control bacterial flora in the mouth, prepare food for digestion, and produce vital hormones. Despite the importance of diet in nourishing dental health, topical oral bacteria do lead to biofilms, plaque, tartar, and calculus, which all translate to a roadblock for saliva. When saliva can’t cover teeth with a protective coating, enamel weakens, and decay begins. Therefore, proper oral care is still important; a healthy diet doesn’t mean you don’t need to brush and floss! Effective oral habits include oil pulling with coconut or sesame oil, tongue scraping, swishing with salt water, gently brushing with non-toxic toothpaste, and flossing daily. *** Shannon MacLean is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist with a BA in International Relations and an open practice at Jade Wellness. Her Instagram is sprucetipnutrition.
Brushing and flossing are essential, but that’s not all you can do to promote good oral health. Photo: stock
SHANNON MACLEAN RHN, CHNC, BA-IR Registered Holistic Nutrition.
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204 First St East, Revelstoke, BC 250 837 3900 31