Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine October/November 2016 issue

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October/November 2016 edition

Rethinking Revelstoke street design Inside Revelstoke’s climbing caves Finding solutions to our housing crunch Arts feature: Kip Wiley’s search for the Holy Grail Our guide to ethical mushroom foraging Wine picks for the fall season

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Thanks for your support, Revelstoke!

Welcome to the sixth issue of the Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine! Our mission is to highlight the best of Revelstoke by sharing stories about the people who make this community a great place to live. We’ve really enjoyed the journey so far.

Personally, I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to give us positive feedback about the magazine. I’ve been working in Revelstoke as a journalist for the past eight years, and I’ve been taken aback by how many positive comments we’ve received on our first six months. I think we’ve hit on a formula that resonates with the community — readers really like our focus on the great things happening here.

One key element of this formula is inviting diverse voices to participate in the magazine. We’ve worked with many writers, photographers, artists and creative types over our first six months, and we’d really like to invite many more to participate. This month, we welcome new wine columnist Heather Hood on board.

She’s an experienced viticulturist who’s been my go-to person for wine advice. We’re happy to share her wine selections with you.

If you’re like Heather and have an area of expertise you’d like to share with the community, please be in touch. We want to share stories about outdoor experiences, healthy living, food, style, the arts, home style, professional services, and visitor experiences. And of course, we’re always on the hunt for great story suggestions.

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I’d like to thank all our advertisers for their help getting the magazine off the runway this year. Without them, our magazine wouldn’t be possible. We ask our readers to support our advertisers (and as many local businesses as possible). We’d also like to thank the over 200 local venues that distribute our magazine.

Like virtually all of our advertisers, we’re also a small, locally-owned business whose staff work really hard to provide a service to the community. We’re still building our magazine and our business. Our longterm goal is to grow into Revelstoke’s go-to source for great stories about our community.

This is our fall shoulder season issue, covering the slower months of October and November. Enjoy.

We’ll be using that extra month to create our biggest issue yet. Our December offering will be a celebration of the arrival of the snow season. We invite you to get involved.

And finally, a thanks to our readers for supporting the Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine! And be sure to check out our online sister publication www.revelstokemountaineer.com, where we publish hyperlocal news on a daily basis.

— Aaron Orlando, Creative Director, Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine

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October/November 2016

News Briefs Plan to highlight popular Revelstoke trails Entertainment: Great Lake Swimmers perform October/November events calendar Rethinking our city’s street design Active: Inside Revelstoke’s climbing caves News: A look at Revelstoke’s housing crunch Buildings of Revelstoke’s past Outdoor Life: Horse-lovers unite

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Feature: Aussies flock to Revelstoke Artist profile: Vanessa St-yves Art feature: Kip Wiley’s love of snow Guide to ethical mushroom foraging Recipe: Wild mushroom pilaf Wine picks for fall Style: Fall fashion DIY Revelstoke Get fit for ski season

Cover photo: Check out our story on page 22 for more. Photo: Vanessa St-yves

The Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine is a free monthly magazine featuring the best of Revelstoke outdoor life, food, style, visitor experiences, lifestyles, entertainment, home style, and healthy living.

Creative Director Aaron Orlando

Each month we distribute free copies to over 100 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.

Staff writer Emily Kemp Graphic Design Chris Payne

For more information, including details on advertising rates, please call, or visit our parallel online publication at www.revelstokemountaineer.com and click on the advertising tab.

Phone: 250-814-8710

Mailing Address: PO BOX 112, 606 Railway Avenue, Revelstoke, B.C. V0E 2S0

Contributors

L-R Imogen Whale: When Imogen Whale isn’t moonlighting as a journalist and writer based in Revelstoke, she’s out playing with her family or horses.

She’s happily tripping the light fantastic.

Heather Hood aspires to never be too serious, see the wonderment in every day life and take advantage of any opportunity to rhyme. She can always find an occasion to drink bubbly and has a great passion for wine.

Matt Timmins is an Ontario-born photographer with a background in photojournalism. He moved to the Rockies in 2008, and made the move to Revelstoke three years later. His love for travel and the outdoors have kept him on the move the last couple of years, but he always finds his way back to Revelstoke. You can see his work at matthewtimminsphoto.com.

Emily Kemp is a Revelstoke-based journalist and writer. Originally from Queensland, Australia, Emily moved to Revelstoke to take in the experience of our vibrant mountain community. You’ll find her snowboarding in the winter and tackling multi-day hikes in the summer.

Jodi Kay is originally from Quebec, but considers herself lucky to have called Banff, France and now Revelstoke – home. She is a recipe developer, food blogger and farmer's market shopaholic. She loves hiking the trails, doing yoga and any adventure involving trail mix. You can find her work and recipes at www.happyheartedkitchen.com Sarah Mickel is a Revelstoke photographer who specializes in portrait, fashion and commercial photography. She has lived in Revelstoke for 12 years with her husband and two children. Find her work in our style session shoot at the beach and at sarahmickelphotography.com Sarah j Spurr: Sarah is a mixed media visual artist originally from the 705 / Kawartha Lakes Ontario, and has been a Revelstoke resident for the past three years. Heavily inspired by the natural environment and her relationship with it. Stoked on all the things she's discovering in British Columbia and the way these fresh influences have found ways into her home, heart and art-making.

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NEWS BRIEFS

Get the latest stories here, as reported on the revelstokemountaineer.com — your daily source of Revelstoke news and information. By Emily Kemp

Revelstoke Adventure Park gets key tenure approval Revelstoke city council approves Ramada Inn development The latest hotel development in Revelstoke is anticipated to be a big welcome sign for the city, with a Ramada Inn earmarked for the empty highway lot near the entrance to Revelstoke.

A wave park, zip lining, lift-access mountain biking and many more outdoor activities are planned for the Revelstoke Adventure Park, one of the most-anticipated projects for Revelstoke, Now, the adventure park has received key approval from the provincial government.

Based in the Greeley area on the side of Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Illecillewaet Development Limited Partnership (IDLP) was offered conditional tenure in September on 257 hectares of Crown land to be used for the park.

A key condition of this is rezoning approval from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District board. If approved, this could free up the possibility of construction.

IDIL has been trying to get RAP going for several years.

The plan is to build an 85-room, four-storey hotel at 1750 Trans-Canada Hwy, which will most likely have the Ramada Inn branding. The lot is past Subway on Bend Road.

The 1,478-square-metre hotel will include a pool and water slide, a patio at the rear, and 102 parking spaces. The hotel will employ about 22 staff although no staff housing has been allotted.

Golden, B.C. group Canwest Hotels Ltd. is behind the development, working with Texas-based land-owner Steve Platt to secure the lot.

Canwest Hotels is a development group with members who own Golden’s Ramada Inn, Days Inn, Rockwater Grill and Whitetooth Bistro. They were part of plans last year for the Revelstoke Crossing shopping strip, whose zoning amendment application was defeated by city council after many local downtown businesses protested the potential impacts. The site will now contain the hotel and a future restaurant chain is expected to be added.

The development permit application was submitted by Horizon North, a Calgary-based construction company. If Ministry of Transportation gives final approval, construction is expected to start in October and be finished April next year.

Revelstoke writer Leslie A. Davidson wins CBC prize

Locally based author Leslie A. Davidson was the grand prizewinner of CBC’s creative nonfiction for her story Adaption.

Davidson will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and her story will be published in Air Canada enRoute magazine. She will also receive a 10-day writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

When Davidson retired from teaching, she started submitting her stories, collecting “rejections and advice, discipline and humility for my wannabe writer-self,” she said. In 2011 she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease while soon after her husband was diagnosed with young-onset dementia.

“Telling our story began as therapy but became the articulation of a journey, full of sorrow but coloured by astonishing love, humour and compassion,” she told CBC.

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New Eagle Pass Lodge to open in Revelstoke in 2017 Eagle Pass Heliskiing’s new ski lodge and summer adventure resort is expected to open January 2017 in time for the winter heli season.

The 9,500-square foot, 12-bedroom lodge is situated on an eight-acre parcel on Mount Macpherson. It’s eight kilometres from Revelstoke’s downtown and a stone’s throw from renowned mountain biking at the Revelstoke Cycling Association’s trail network.

The lodge will have a dedicated helicopter. Eagle Pass Heliskiing vice president and lead guide Scott Newsome said construction of the lodge was an exciting time for the business.

“As the company has continued to evolve over the last six years, the need for a lodge of this magnitude became extremely apparent,” he said.

The lodge will have a private executive chef on-site.

“It’s modern contemporary,” Eagle Pass Heliskiing’s Ryan Mischiek said. “It’s going to be functional and will serve the needs of our guests more than being lavish and extravagant. As a company we’ve always put our heliskiing first and we have gotten the reputation for being really good at that, so this compliments it.”

Eagle Pass Heliskiing also has a day ski private heli-ski base, which was built in 2013.

Drive-in campsite planned for Mt. Revelstoke national park A new 50-site campsite that will accommodate motorhomes, trailers and tents has been announced for the lower portion of Mount Revelstoke national park.

The new front-country campground will be located at a formerly used Parks operations site near the beginning of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway. Parks Canada said the campsite is a $4.5 million investment from the federal government.

In the letter to stakeholders, park superintendent Nicholas Irving said the campsite will augment tourism opportunities: “Visitor demand for camping in the par has been growing over the past decade,” he said Fees will range from around $27.40 to $32.30 per night, and the site is expected to open in 2019.

Revelstoke city hopes $1,000 fines for illegal vacation rentals will free up rental housing As Revelstoke enters its pre-winter rental crunch, moves to regulate vacation rentals in the city are hoped to have a positive effect on the supply issue, among others.

While vacation rentals are considered a unique and cost-effective accommodation choice for tourists, plus a side-income for property owners, this share-economy market has impacted on commercial accommodation as well as local housing and rental markets.

A number of cities across the U.S. and Europe have come up with regulations to police this new market, and now it’s Revelstoke’s turn. Revelstoke City Council in September approved a proposal to cap the number of legal vacation rentals in Revelstoke to five per cent of the housing stock (125 bedrooms), and move to

active enforcement of those that are not legal.

With the new cap on vacation rentals, the city is hoping some properties might again be put up for rent.

“When they consider the fees ($1,800 to apply), what we’re hoping is that some people will make the choice to go to full-time residential accommodation instead,” manager of development services Dean Strachan.

The cap was determined keeping in mind the market of tourists that would exclusively choose this type of accommodation, or go elsewhere. For those that continue to operate illegally, fines begin at $1,000.

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A new trails plan is in the works for Revelstoke. Photos: Aaron Orlando

Revelstoke trail plan to highlight popular biking and foot trails A plan to identify Revelstoke’s vast offering of trails to increase users is underway, and your input is wanted

By Emily Kemp The beauty of being a long-term resident in Revelstoke is knowing all the secrets spots in town to go. But do you want these trails to become common knowledge? That’s up to you.

The data has been collected and now it is being studied to discover Revelstoke’s most popular known and hidden gems for a new master trail plan for the city.

The point is to figure out what trails are being used by the public and to identify those that need to be maintained, upgraded or need linking trails. These will be eventually collated into an easy-to-read map for residents and tourists to use.

During the process for the Parks, Recreation & Culture Master plan, trails emerged as a key area in which there is opportunity to improve the current system.

Parks department director Laurie Donato said the trails strategy will be used to inform future amendments to the Official Community Plan, the Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan, the Transportation Master Plan and act as a working document for critical decision making in future parks department works.

One of the tools being used to track where people walk, run, and ride is the ride tracking app Strava.

Through the app, the city is tracking walks, runs, and rides in Revelstoke from 2015 to 2017, and will use the data for purposes such as determining popular routes and frequencies.

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Planner Fraser Blyth of Selkirk Planning & Design said the plan is to improve the network and incorporate the ad hoc or renegade trails. “[The plan] is to identify the existing trails we have and to look at the strategy to either build new trails or enhance existing trails in the short, medium or long-term,” Selkirk Planning & Design planner Fraser Blyth said.

Blyth has been hired by the Revelstoke City to compile a report as part of the $25,000 action plan.

“I think we’ve seen with the Macpherson trails and the Boulder Mountain trails, that we’re starting to grow and have a reputation for mountain biking,” Blyth said. “And I think we can diversity that with different offerings for different user groups.”

There are plenty of informal trails around town, including some on public property. While this report may identify some of these popular ones, such as those on CP Hill or on Mount Mackenzie, if the community does not want those to be officially marked, they have a chance to make that known.

Part of planning process includes a public house and an online survey in January 2017, which Fraser encourages the community to get involved with.

“The more people that show up to that and provide comments, the better the plan is going to be,” he said.

The Great Lake Swimmers

Great Lake Swimmers to play in Revelstoke

by Emily Kemp

Great Lake Swimmers have made a transition over the past decade from fiercely loved but little known indie darlings to critically acclaimed national treasures.

Featuring a blend of acoustic instruments, rural soundscapes, and wistful vocals, Great Lake Swimmers are a folk group led by songwriter/vocalist Tony Dekker.

For their Revelstoke performance, the group will be a trio. Alongside Dekker is guitarist, banjo, and harmonian player Erik Arnesen,with Bret Higgins on upright bass, mandolin and keyboard.

They plan to perform a quieter aspect of their rather large catalogue of songs, a move they found popular on a recent tour in Europe.

“It’ll be a quiet show,” Dekker said. “Our music is a bit more listening music, it tells a story and has a narrative to it, it has a bit of an art form to it.”

The group recently played at the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival but this will be their first ever show in Revelstoke. They’ll be joined by Toronto singer-songwriter Megan Bonnell, who will open the show. She released her second album Magnolia earlier this year, which offers songs that range from quiet piano ballads to bigger, poppier tunes.

Great Lake Swimmers is also promoting their latest and sixth album A Forest Of Arms. It follows their 2012 album, New Wild Everywhere.

The title is taken from album track “The Great Bear,” a song inspired by a trip Dekker took to the northern rainforests of British Columbia with the World Wildlife Fund. It’s a pristine wilderness area that is under threat of a pipeline construction.

The group’s dedication against this move is indicative of their strong social and environmental conscience.

“The natural world informs the music and inspires the writing,” Dekker said.

“I did find [the rainforest] a life changing inspiration. It’s just such a beautiful place.”

Megan Bonnell

Saturday November 5, 2016 - 7:30pm. at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre Tickets $25.

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October/November 2016 Events Calendar Events times and details are subject to change.

Saturday October 1 Summer Farmers Market @ Grizzly Plaza 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Weekly) Find fresh local produce and crafts at this popular and vibrant outdoor market.

Wednesday October 5 Open Mic Night @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m. (Weekly) All jammers and singers welcome.

Charlotte Diamond @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Adults $10, Kids $5 Special family concert with favourite songs Four Hugs a Day and I am a Pizza (Je suis une pizza) plus a ton of new ones.

Diamond’s son Matt will accompany her on electric guitar.

Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn Tuesday October 11

Kayla Howran Thursday October 6

Revelstoke Oktoberfest @ Beside Signs Ink From 3 p.m. Donation Dress in your best Bavarian fashion and come celebrate Revelstoke’s second annual Oktoberfest! Under heated tents enjoy traditional food, games, live music and beer. Kids are welcome with a special kids corner.

Kayla Howran with Express & Co @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m.

Howran sings country music, not by virtue of a Wrangler shirt, but a childhood in Peterborough, ON, spent fishing and wrestling dogs. Her songwriting is a fresh but faithful interpretation of the genre and proof that classic country doesn’t have to be old, but it does have to be timeless.

Friday October 7 October art exhibition – opening night @ Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre From 6 p.m. Donation Check out the newest exhibitions which will run until Oct. 28: Seeking the Holy Grail: Kip Wiley, A Thousand and Two Wild Horses: Jacqueline Palmer, Generations: Jewelles and Pierce Smith, Susan and Kristi Lind.

The Fred Eaglesmith with Tif Ginn @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre From 7:30 p.m. $25 42 years on the road. 22 studio albums. 5 different band configurations. 15 band members. 11 buses. Countless stories. 1 man. Eaglesmith is a Canadian alternative country singer-songwriter veteran who will perform with his talented wife Tif. Wednesday October 12 Brown Bag History @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. $5 Hamber Provincial Park – Guest speaker Ben Bradley Open Mic Night @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m. (Weekly)

Saturday October 8 Summer Farmer’s Market @ Downtown 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Weekly) Find fresh local produce and crafts at this popular and vibrant outdoor market.

Arrival — Abba ARRIVAL – ABBA Tribute Band @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre From 7:30 p.m. Adults $35, Kids $10 This seven-piece tribute band from Vancouver is dedicated to performing an authentic ABBA style show. They take you back in time so you can experience the amazing music all over again.

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Hawking @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m.

Progressive indie rock foursome from Vancouver. The group strives to keep their songs as enigmatic as they are catchy.

Sunday October 9 Rob Moir @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m.

Toronto’s punk-poet continues to share his passionate and provocative stories through song.

Poppa Dawg Friday October 14 Poppa Dawg @ River City Pub From 10:30 p.m.

Blues like the slinky grooves of New Orleans to the down and dirty rawness of Chicago. Gritty and dynamic, this band takes music from rushing peaks to hushing lows.

Saturday October 15 Summer Farmers Market @ Grizzly Plaza 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Weekly) Find fresh local produce and crafts at this popular and vibrant outdoor market.

Saturday October 22 Final Summer Farmer’s Market @ Grizzly Plaza 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Find fresh local produce and crafts at this popular and vibrant outdoor market.

John Jenkins @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m.

Rooted in in Golden B.C., this two-man trio plays roots, rock, blues, funk and folk.

Sunday October 23

Sunday October 30 Amberwood @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m.

This potent, guitar driven, alternative rock band comes from the musical epicenter of greater Toronto.

Monday October 31 Duotang and The Uptights @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m.

This two-piece band has been going since ‘95 (with a 12-year hiatus), sharing their mix of mod-rock and post-punk.

Cedar Shaker Cyclocross @ Revelstoke Mountain Resort From 9 a.m. Entry fee Part of the BC Interior Cyclocross series.

River Jacks @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m.

River Jacks’ brand of punk rock is a direct and spirited response to Calgary’s cutthroat industry doctrine. As the city grows bigger, richer and prouder, matters of the heart grow ever skewed. This band never take themselves too seriously and rock their little hearts out Sunday October 16 Ultimate Frisby downhill race @ Boulder Mountain From 11 a.m. Entry fee The fifth and final downhill race of the series run by Revelstoke Cycling Association.

Brown Bag History @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. $5 Sunday Oct. 16: Votes for Women – Suffrage in Revelstoke Sunday October 16 Ultimate Frisby downhill race @ Boulder Mountain From 11 a.m. Entry fee The fifth and final downhill race of the series run by Revelstoke Cycling Association.

Brown Bag History @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. $5 Sunday Oct. 16: Votes for Women – Suffrage in Revelstoke Wednesday October 19 John Porter @ Revelstoke Library From 7 p.m.

Author presents his book One Day as a Tiger about climbing legend Alex McIntyre.

November

Wednesday October 26

Thursday November 3

Sonita @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre From 7:30 p.m. $8 Director: Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami, Country: Iran, Germany, Switzerland Languages: English, Farsi. Rating: P.G. From the Toronto International Film Festival.

If 18-year old Sonita had a say, Michael Jackson would be her father and Rihanna her mother. A refugee from Afghanistan, her family has her future planned for her: as a bride she’s worth $9,000. Women aren’t allowed to sing in Iran. How can Sonita still succeed in making her dreams come true?

Revelstoke Winter Market @ Revelstoke Community Centre 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Shop for fresh fruit and veggies, baked goods and plenty of arts and crafts.

Open Mic Night @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m. (Weekly) Thursday October 27 Leslie Davidson @ Revelstoke Library From 7 p.m.

Author presents her book In the Red Canoe and talks about her writing career.

Friday November 4 Exhibition opening night @ Revelstoke Art Gallery 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Donation.

The November exhibition runs until Nov. 25. It includes: Art in the Park: Glacier National Park and Photographs from Glacier Adventure Stewardship Program Saturday November 5 Revelstoke Business Excellence Awards @ Revelstoke Community Centre From 6 p.m.

The Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce’s annual evening gala honours the best in local business.

Blackdaze @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m.

This foursome brotherhood came together in the in the name of Rock ‘n’ Roll, early heavy metal and Ozzy Osbourne.

Saturday October 29 Sierra Club @ Revelstoke Library From 7 p.m.

Science-based environmental group gives a presentation about the controversial Site C dam project.

Johnny P. Johnson @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre From 7:30 p.m. $15 Expect folk, roots and Canadiana from this singer songwriter and organic farmer from Shoreacres, in the West Kootenays.

Johnson grew up in Saskatchewan and his prairie upbringing has influenced his sound.

Great Lake Swimmers Great Lake Swimmers @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre From 7:30 p.m. $25 This indie folk group features a blend of acoustic instruments, rural soundscapes, and wistful vocals.

Open Mic Night @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m. (Weekly)

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Thursday November 17 Revelstoke Winter Market @ Revelstoke Community Centre 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Shop for fresh fruit and veggies, baked goods and plenty of arts and crafts.

Friday November 18 5th Annual Scotch & Spirits Festival @ The Cabin From 6 p.m. Entry fee Enjoy the finer things in life with a night focused around scotch and spirits.

Wednesday November 23 (cont.)

Meru @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre From 7:30 p.m. $8 Director: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. Country: India, USA Language: English. Rating: 14A. From the Toronto International Film Festival. Three friends and some of the world’s best professional climbers battle their complicated pasts and nature’s harshest elements in an attempt to climb the Shark’s Fin on Mount Meru, the ultimate prize in the exclusive high stakes game of Himalayan big wall climbing.

Sunday November 6 Revelstoke Ski Club Ski Swap Fundraiser @ Revelstoke Community Centre 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Entry fee Whether you need an entire fresh set-up, or some items to replace your holey ones, you’ll find a bunch of equipment at this market.

Wednesday November 9 Brown Bag History @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. $5 Nov. 9:Rogers Pass and Major A.B. Rogers Friday November 11 8th Annual Girls Night Out @ The Cabin From 6 p.m.

Revelstoke’s premiere ladies night event! Come out with the girls and enjoy a night of shopping, pampering, wine and delicacies.

Friday November 11 8th Annual Girls Night Out @ The Cabin From 6 p.m.

Revelstoke’s premiere ladies night event! Come out with the girls and enjoy a night of shopping, pampering, wine and delicacies.

Saturday November 12 Junie B. Jones by Bumbershoot Theatre @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Adults $10, Kids $5 Featuring a tremendously loveable character and fun-filled songs, Junie B. Jones will capture your heart just as the books captivated an entire generation of students.

Sunday November 13 JSéan McCann of Great Big Sea @ The Roxy Theatre Doors 6 p.m. $30 Séan McCann’s love for Newfoundland and Labrador folk songs shot him to international fame as a founding member of the renowned group Great Big Sea. Now Séan tours solo in intimate venues where he can connect with his audience face.

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Elk, Run & Riot Elk, Run & Riot @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m.

Alternative folk rock quartet from Canmore, Alberta. With catchy melodies, harmonies and lyrics, their live show is high energy.

Saturday November 19 Fifth Annual Welcome Week @ Various locations Welcome Week is an opportunity to connect newcomers and the community, to showcase the town, businesses, events, facilities, and services. Grab a brochure or go online to get involved in the week’s events.

Soupalicious @ Revelstoke Community Centre 12 – 3 p.m. $10, kids under 12 free. Funds go to Revelstoke Food Bank A multicultural, soup-tasting, harvest celebration. Around ten types of soup to try, all you can eat while kids will have a play area.

Wednesday November 23 Brown Bag History @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. $5 Ferguson, B.C. – Ghost town in Lardeau Staying Alive @ Revelstoke Community Centre From 6 p.m. Free Hosted by Avalanche Canada, learn the basics of avalanche safety from pro skiers, avalanche professionals and experienced backcountry pros. A must do for those looking to venture into avalanche country for the first time.

The Revelstoke Project Thursday November 24 The Revelstoke Project @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre From 7:30 p.m. Donation - funds to Revelstoke Food Bank Professional theatre maker from Nelson, B.C., Lucas Myers applies his formidable talent for storytelling and observational humour to celebrate the many facets that make up the world of Revelstoke.

Friday November 25 Moonlight Madness @ Downtown Revelstoke From 6 p.m.

Check out late night sales before the holidays.

The Revelstoke Project @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre From 7:30 p.m. Donation - funds to Revelstoke Food Bank Double Fuzz @ The Last Drop Pub From 10 p.m.

Deep grooves, gnarly guitar riffs and head bobbing backbeats are the foundation of this fiery, garage rock duo from Calgary, A.B..

Saturday November 26 Volunteer Fair, Community Dinner & Spirit Fest Awards @ Revelstoke Community Centre From 4 p.m.

Learn about volunteer opportunities in the community and honour the best in community giving.

La Rambla in Barcelona is a thriving commercial strip made possible by the conversion of a street into a pedestrian thoroughfare. Writer Fraser Blyth asks you to imagine Campbell Avenue converted into a pedestrian strip with room for outdoor markets, small vendors and other public uses. Photo: Katherine Price/Creative Commons image

It’s time to rethink Revelstoke streets

New thinking about how we use our streetscapes has created amazing public spaces in other cities.

Why not in Revelstoke?

By Fraser Blyth A city’s largest public space is held in its streets. For most people, streets are a place to drive and park. These two uses are held paramount above anything else.

Recently many cities have begun to rethink their streets. By doing the math around streets, communities are realizing that they need to be more than just a place for cars. Think about all the other ways we as a community use Mackenzie Avenue. It’s where we stop to meet friends, wave hello, advertise, shop, run, bike, display art, and host public community events. Streets are dynamic places where most of our public city life happens.

Streets are one of the easiest public spaces to change. Cities have realized this and are acting on it. Cities can focus on one section of street, test how a change works and then implement it on other similar street types throughout the city.

And cities are now doing this by testing different designs with low-cost methods.

These methods are as simple as painting new street lines, removing parking spaces, building parklettes or installing planter box street trees. This allows cities an inexpensive test of these interventions before committing major funding to largescale changes.

Typical street interventions include removing parking. While cities are often hesitant to remove parking, there are benefits. First, streets cost more to maintain than sidewalks or plaza space. That’s because cars produce more wear and tear than shoes and bike tires do. Second, parking is often underused. We build for a maximum number of spaces that are often never fully used. Think about all the on-street parking we have in Revelstoke. If you drive down Third Street you’ll notice that the on-street parking is rarely more than 10–15% full. Quick, name another city service that our taxes pay for where we’d be willing to accept 10–15% efficiency.

This is one example of why rethinking streets can be beneficial for cities financial, social and environmental well-being.

One of the most famous examples of this is when New York City decided to close Broadway around Times Square. At the time it was one of the busiest streets in the entire world. The city closed the street using simple, inexpensive measures such as barricades, paint and makeshift street furniture. The plan was to keep the street closed for six months and test the outcomes.

Traffic and safety saw huge improvements. The big surprise was that this closure actually helped businesses. The realization that ‘cars don’t shop, people do’ was emphasized by the fact that retail sales rose 50%.

I think we all realize that Revelstoke is not New York City. But the lesson to be learned is that even a small city can test small changes to our public streets to see whether not they will be a benefit.

So with that in mind, here are some candidate streets in Revelstoke.

Grizzly Plaza This is an easy one. Because we’re already doing this for short periods of time for markets, events and music. It is the most versatile and dynamic public space in Revelstoke. So rather than just closing it for an hour or two at a time, why not

try keeping it closed for an entire summer? There is no parking lost by doing this and it can be complimented with more street furniture, planter boxes and I would anticipate, more people.

The benefits of this closure would be to create a dedicated public space in the downtown useable 24 hours a day. It could also increase pedestrian traffic to surrounding businesses, meaning more potential customers. If successful, Revelstoke could look at a more permanent closure that would involve levelling the street and curb, removing the bollards and designing a more permanent plaza space. If this test is successful, similar designs could be considered in other areas of downtown.

Campbell Avenue Campbell Avenue is a wide street with tons of potential. It’s also one of the prime gateways from Victoria into our downtown. It represents an opportunity to make downtown more attractive and inviting by making it more pedestrian friendly.

What I see in Campbell Ave. is its potential to function similarly to La Ramblas in Barcelona. Vehicle lanes on either side, with places to park, with a large central median with trees that hosts numerous public and business activities. This street layout could be tested by changing the parking from angled to parallel along the median, and allowing surrounding businesses to use the median as patio space for cafes, restaurants, street retail, and other commercial uses.

The result is a minimal loss of parking and a huge expansion of potential commercial space. One of the potential benefits is the ability for a business to test its own ability to grow into a bigger space, without having to commit 100% before knowing whether or not it is a good idea. This can be good for growing businesses and create something unique to our area.

Third Street The final example to look at is Third Street. With one of the largest right-of-ways in the city at 24 metres wide, it represents an opportunity to enhance the street for bikes, pedestrians, and cars. A simple test would be to use planter boxes or non-permanent bollards to create separated bike lanes. This may mean removing parking on one side of the street, but could be easily removed if it’s not effective.

I think we all understand that Third Street is the major bike route through town.

So why not support it with dedicated cycling infrastructure? Not only would this show our commitment to cycling, but it would create something unique that would surely draw tourists and persuade them to return. We marvel at Amsterdam and Copenhagen for implementing bike routes. Third Street represents our best opportunity to create something similar.

The examples above are only three of many possibilities of utilizing Revelstoke’s streets in different ways. Not all will work, but by testing different options in a low cost way, we can start to build new streets that will be unique to Revelstoke, benefit businesses, pedestrians and cyclists, and encourage us all to walk/bike a little more.

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Harry Van Oort inside one of Revelstoke’s many climbing caves. Photo: Matt Timmins

Climbing caves

Revelstoke’s climbing scene goes indoors during the cold, wet shoulder season

By Matthew Timmins There is no question that Revelstoke boasts epic winters and summers, but the often dreaded shoulder season, with cooler, wet weather and sometimes marginal conditions for outdoor activities can feel like it drags for eons. That is, unless, you have an indoor climbing gym in your home.

With no public indoor climbing gym, many locals have taken it upon themselves, building their own walls, caves and gyms.

For Harry van Oort and Mandy Kellner, building a climbing cave in their basement was the first thing they did when they moved to Revelstoke in 2004.

Like many others in town, they had to build their own cave, says van Oort, a board member of the Revelstoke Climbers Access Society says, as there wasn’t (and still isn’t) an indoor gym in town.

While he once thought of having a ‘rotating crag’ community group of locals going to each other’s houses to climb every week, he said his wall has become more of an evening thing, mostly for him and his wife, and sporadically for friends.

Van Oort and Kellner think an indoor gym in Revelstoke would be great for the city, but for now, they climb in their home.

currently doesn’t charge for the use of the gym.

Cherry’s vision was to make The Crackhouse a community project, and a place to climb in the rainy season and winter days, (or this summer, avoid the mosquitoes at the crags). Still in its first year, he expects it to become more popular as winter approaches.

While Cherry’s gym may be the largest and becoming the most known in town, prior to his built, other locals have taken it upon themselves to make climbing a year-round sport in Revelstoke.

When Manuela Arnold and her husband Ryan Wil-

“It would be a huge game-changer. It would be awesome for the community and also for the sport of climbing in Revelstoke,” Harry says, pointing out that it gives kids something to do on a rainy day — teenagers in particular.

Already, some locals have done their part to bring indoor climbing onto the Revelstoke scene, albeit an underground scene.

One of them is James Cherry, the founder of what has become known as The Crackhouse, an indoor climbing gym built on his property by himself and a handful of local volunteers and woofers.

Named after the 7 wingate style cracks built into the walls, The Crackhouse is a high-ceiling, multi-walled gym, which includes a kids’ area and a moving treadwall. After a call for volunteers over the winter, a complete demolish and re-framing of the building led to the community project, which even has a bed in the loft where volunteers could sleep while helping with the build.

Revelstoke doesn’t have that many serious climbers compared to some other climbing towns, says van Oort, who donated some holds to The Crackhouse, “But James, he’s the guy that made it (a community thing). I think this winter we’ll see his gym take on a bit more; I’m going to go over there more. It’s a great climbing scene at James’.”

The gym took about a year to build, Cherry says, and with exception of the treadwall, is built from nearly all recycled material. He says the treadwall was something he always wanted and never expects to get the money back, as he

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This fireplace at the Bison Lodge doubles as a climbing wall. Photo: Aaron Orlando

The Crackhouse owner Matt Cherry at his Revelstoke facility. Photo: Matt Timmins

liams were looking for a house to rent (and eventually buy) a key factor in the one they chose was the built-in climbing wall in a separated garage. It was also big reason Brad Patchin and Kristin Demchuk, the house’s previous owners, chose them as tenants.

“They wanted to rent it to us because we were stoked on the wall,” Arnold says, “and they put their heart and soul into building it and didn’t want it taken down.”

In the summer the couple hardly use the wall at all as they are always doing outdoor activities. But as the days get shorter and winter approaches, Arnold says they will use it more, including many days of half skiing, half climbing in the winter.

With a wall that would be considered large for inhome climbing, and plenty of space to accommodate

friends, Arnold says it is mainly her and her husband that uses it.

“It’s nice to climb with other people, but once winter comes around, you often don’t hear from them too much,” she says, adding that they are more into winter sports.

She still does know a lot of people in town who climb over the winter for training, but most of them have their own gyms in their houses and simply use them instead of going elsewhere.

“We used to climb (at a friend’s wall), quite a bit”, she says, but now that they have their own, they mostly climb at home. Come winter, Arnold also says she will try out Cherry’s gym as well.

A proposal for an indoor climbing gym in Revelstoke is already in the works, but for now, van Oort suggests

that climbing isn’t a very ‘clubby’ sport, emphasizing that most serious climbers use their own homes at the moment. “There aren’t many people that want to train (in the winter), and those people that do have built their own wall, because they had to.”

But perhaps The Crackhouse marks the beginning of the end of Revelstoke’s solitary climbing scene in basements and garages. As it heads into its first winter, climbing in Revelstoke has nowhere to go but up.

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Revelstoke homes. Photo: Aaron Orlando

Revelstoke’s housing crunch

It’s getting worse every year. People leave town because they can’t find a home, let alone afford it.

Businesses can’t find staff. What needs to be done to address our housing crisis?

By Emily Kemp Prices are up, rentals and properties are getting scarce.

Welcome to Revelstoke’s 2016 winter housing crunch.

“The word is out, Revelstoke is on the map now,” a Revelstoke landlord tells me.

Aussies, Kiwis, Europeans, French and, due to the low Canadian dollar, Americans are flooding into our upand-coming ski resort town this year. Each year, the word of this unique town spreads further.

“I met a bunch of people who had been road-tripping through the states, who had heard about Revelstoke in California,” the landlord said.

With the rental rat race starting earlier than ever, and houses being snatched up barely before they have cooled on the for sale list, what can we expect to see this season?

Some will leave, but this landlord believes people will start cramming more in, typical of Banff and Whistler share houses, as spaces shrink and rents rise.

“There’s definitely more people asking for rooms, every year,” the landlord said. “Like right now (mid September) it’s ridiculous, I put an ad up on Facebook and had 40 replies.”

Many are offering to take places, sight unseen, so they can secure their winter haven. They’re also offering to pay for a space months before they get here.

“They’re not nice houses, these are ski houses. We put six to seven skiers in there,” the landlord said.

Revelstoke sold!

We often hear in Revelstoke, we don’t want to become the next Banff, or Whistler or further afield, Aspen.

It’s easy to see why people want to live here. We have easy access to national parks, an advanced ski resort, backcountry, plenty of sweet pow, a quaint heritage town and tight community spirit.

We’re growing. Royal LePage realtor Emily Beaumont said the market right now is fast-paced.

“Revelstoke is cool, and people want to live here,” she said. “So people are seeing investment potential, they’re seeing that it’s a good time to buy in a very unique market. We’re not Vancouver, we’re not Calgary, and we’re not Salmon Arm.” As the housing rotation goes, those who come here, rent and decide to stay, move out of rentals and buy 14

their own. Beaumont said this is what we saw at the start of 2015 when prices were low.

“That huge influx of buyers were also from people that know Revelstoke is their home. And they were afforded a chance to get into the market.”

Now housing inventory is getting low, and many who are approved for a mortgage around $250,000–$350,000 can’t find anything in their range. In mid-September this year we had a mere 45 single-family homes on sale — and that’s not counting the one that had offers on them.

Beaumont said a healthy number would be about 150.

This year, to mid-September, 77 homes have been sold.

At Revelstoke’s peak in 2007 120 homes were sold.

Now, with less to choose from, lots are being bought.

11 lots were sold last year compared to 36 this year by mid-September. But with a bumper year for builders in Revelstoke and the interior, getting them built has been difficult.

“There is not enough builders to build all the houses we want to build,” manager of development services Dean Strachan said. “It’s been fairly uniformly busy in the Interior.”

This means families in the higher end of the rental market who have bought a lot are stuck there until their home is built.

What Whistler did Housing is a common issue in desirable resort communities, but allowing it to get out of hand means creating a place that only the rich can afford to reside.

“We really are in a situation where housing is probably the greatest social issue we have in our community,” Revelstoke City’s social development coordinator Jill Zacharias said.

Many point the finger at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, asking about requirements for the resort to build employee housing. But the resort has no obligation to provide that housing until it reaches phase two of their development, and that could be many years away.

“We need staff accommodation not just for the resort but for many of the different businesses in the community that are having a real hard time of finding employees,” Zacharias said.

Whistler has often dealt with resort growing pains that Revelstoke is now facing decades ahead of us. We spoke to general manager Marla Zucht from the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA), an independent municipally

General manager of Whistler Housing Authority Marla Zucht stands outside an affordable rental building.

owned corporation founded in 1997. We wanted to understand how they have handled their housing issues.

“We’ve been providing housing for the local workforce for 20 years, through restricted housing both affordable home ownership and rental units,” Zucht said. “We’ve amassed 6,200 beds of affordable housing under our program. For a town with a population of 10,000 that’s quite impressive.”

Running a resort town depends on available and affordable accommodation to attract and retain staff.

“We found in Whistler that the market just can’t take care of all the housing for the workforce,” Zucht said.

“So intervention through creative solutions such as providing units that are restricted in price and are exclusively for employees working in town has worked well.”

“We’ve also been very fortunate in Whistler to have strong support from the local government to ensure we proactively address our housing challenges through bold and innovative strategies.”

The Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort provides about 1,200 beds of staff accommodation and many of the big brand hotels also have staff accommodation. Whistler also has a bylaw that requires new developments to provide staff accommodation or payment in-lieu of housing, which goes into a municipal housing fund for the creation of new employee units.

A design concept of the upcoming Mackenzie Village housing development on Nichol Rd. Photo: Selkirk Planning & Design

“This bylaw has been very instrumental in creating a housing program for the local workforce,” Zucht said.

Revelstoke City Council has similar type of tools it can utilize to manage the situation and once official housing statistics for Revelstoke comes through, future policies will likely be set through the updated Official Community Plan which is slated to be finalized next year.

Like Revelstoke, this year and last has been extremely busy over both the winter and summer.

“We’ve been so busy in town that housing is no longer a challenge for us in the winter, but throughout the entire year,” Zucht said.

WHA is in the process of building a new affordable rental apartment building on land the city gave them.

When complete, it will provide 100 new rental beds for the workforce. A potential second building is also in the works.

Like Whistler, Revelstoke is looking at a multipronged approach that involves the business sector, the city and local residents.

“Our economy is doing really well, with all the developments on the table, we’re an amazing community to raise a family, people want to move here, and they’re finding it very challenging because of a lack of housing,” Zacharias said. “It’s impacting on our ability to grow as a community [and the solution] has got to be housing that people can afford.”

Revelstoke City’s social development coordinator Jill Zacharias stands inside one of the 12 units at Revelstoke’s Bridge Creek affordable housing project. Photo: Aaron Orlando

Revelstoke’s Bridge Creek affordable housing project was finished this year and added 12 units to the market.

Photo: Aaron Orlando

Possible solutions: • Future strategy and affordable housing policies: Crucial data on Revelstoke’s housing and population and its projections will be used toward the city’s new Official Community Plan, summer 2017. The new OCP will help guide future policymaking for the city.

• Denser housing: Encourage more housing developments. If Mackenzie Village on Nichol Road goes ahead next year, it will begin to add a range of single to multi-family housing, with potential for over 1,100 units by full build-out.

• Fewer vacation rentals: The arrival of online services like Airbnb has led to a proliferation of longterm rental homes being converted into more lucrative short-term rentals. Will the shift to active enforcement of the short-term rental bylaw starting in October make a difference?

• More affordable housing for all residents: this year the Revelstoke Affordable Housing Society finished 12 units for fixed income earners and in 2012, 24 extra units were made available for seniors.

• Political will: The City of Revelstoke has completed affordable, social housing projects, but it has fallen short when it comes to embracing innovative market-based or mixed social/market solutions, such as tweaking the rules to allow for solutions like carriage suites, more economical legal suites, tools to require developers to contribute to affordable housing, or a dedicated housing authority to work on the issue.

Density-adding options These options are typically affordable and help mortgage-payers. The city looks at applications on a case-by-case basis, determining if the addition will not negatively affect the character of the neighbourhood.

Secondary suite: a self-contained residence in a single-family house. A building permit (depends on value - $75 for the first $1000, then $8 per $1000) and a business licence ($50 a year) is required to make the suite legal.

Carriage home: an unattached residence located on a subdivided lot with street access and parking stall. Revelstoke’s residential zoning does not allow two storey accessory buildings or unattached suites but property owners can apply for a bylaw variance.

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Buildings of Revelstoke’s past 5

They speak of a time gone by. The many booms and lulls of Revelstoke’s meandering path to now. We lament the loss of grand old buildings no longer standing, such as the Selkirk School, while others were forced to be demolished due to damage and fire. The Revelstoke Museum & Archives has a wealth of stories of times past and here, museum curator Cathy English takes us back as we discover buildings that used stand along Revelstoke’s streets.

1. Selkirk School was built on Sixth Street East in 1911 and was originally known as Strathcona School. The bell tower was later removed. The school was demolished in 1983 despite community protest. Selkirk Gardens was later built on the school site.

2. C.B. Hume built his general store on the corner of Mackenzie Avenue and First Street in 1903 and by 1910, it was the largest department store in the interior of B.C., both in terms of size and volume of sales. Hume stayed in operation until the mid-1950s, after which the store was used by the Revelstoke Cooperative Society as their main store. The Royal Bank of Canada purchased the building and altered it drastically, covering the original brick façade. A fire in the building in the late 1960s destroyed most of the original structure and it was rebuilt as the current Royal Bank.

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3. Central School was built in 1903 on what was recently the playing field of Mountain View elementary. It served as an elementary school until it was severely damaged by fire in 1959, and had to be demolished.

4. The Imperial Bank was built in 1904 by contractor John Kernaghan. After the Canadian Bank of Commerce and the Imperial Bank of Canada merged to form CIBC, the stately brick building was demolished for construction of the current CIBC. 5. St. Francis of Assisi Church was originally built at Mackenzie Avenue and First Street in 1893, and moved to the Mackenzie and Fifth Street in 1899, where it served as the church until the current church was built in 1964. The old church served as the parish hall until it was demolished in 1982 to make way for the current hall.

6. Selkirk Hall, the meeting hall of the Revelstoke Lodge, Independent Order of Oddfellows (IOOF) was originally built in Donald, and moved here and reassembled in 1899.

It served as a lodge and hall until it was demolished around the 1990s. The building that currently houses the City Council chambers was built on the site.

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Down at the saddle club

We explore the not-so-secret world of Revelstoke horses and their riders

By Imogen Whale They’re lurking all over town. Equine enthusiasts.

While some have horses at the Selkirk Saddle Club (SSC) or at various pastures or private properties, there are plenty of riders without a current equine partner. With the influx of people to town, it’s not uncommon to meet someone who grew up around horses, whether they competed jumper courses or rode bareback through their neighbour’s fields. It’s safe to say once you have horses on your brain and in your heart, you always will. The burgeoning horse riding community in Revelstoke is a testament to it.

Undercover professionals in Revelstoke Revelstoke is a mecca for sport professionals. Most residents could probably name a couple professional skiers or riders. Lesser known is the small but highly qualified population of horse trainers and coaches in town.

Getting to international competition levels in equestrian pursuits often requires a large wallet. Flying for a competition in Toronto could cost ten thousand dollars. Horses who get to grand prix level do so through breeding and training programs, personality, and luck.

They are worth tens of thousands of dollars. This leads to a relatively small group of international competitors.

Fortunately it also breeds a wealth of talented individuals who train and teach. The following is but a sample.

Amanda Battrum Lovenuik Amanda was introduced into the world of riding as a child when she joined Pony Club, a program aimed at teaching young English riders all aspects of equine care and husbandry and giving a strong foundation in equitation (riding position and ability). “I moved on to jumping in the jumper/hunter arenas across Alberta, competing several times a year at tournaments at Spruce Meadows (a world respected equestrian facility),” Amanda explains. “Then I was involved in three day eventing and, for eight years, worked polo horses and played polo in Calgary.”

Amanda went to Olds College in Alberta and majored in sport horse training. She is certified through the National Coaching Certification Program. “I work closely with Equine Canada to maintaining my coaching to their standards,” Amanda says. “I’ve also been blessed to work with wonderful mentors, from world renowned Niel Ishow in Dressage to Rege Ludwig in Polo. There have been a lot of gifted coaches and trainers who have shaped my career.”

Kim Rienks on her horse.

Photo: Imoge Whale

Now settled in Revelstoke, Amanda travels from town to teach clinics and lessons while also working with local students and training client horses.

“My love of coaching goes beyond the ring, and I strive to share my passion with others through coaching and training.”

Shandelle Mathusz A fairly recent arrival to Revelstoke, Shandelle started riding when she was 12 at horse camp. By 15 she was sponsored by a local farm. She then spent six months being trained by German young rider eventing gold medalist Norbert Schattsman.

While at university Shandelle co-founded the Lakehead Equestrian team with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. “I rode the highest level of open division. This is a competition where you draw names out of a hat and ride horses you have never ridden before over hunter courses.”

Shandelle met Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill at a riding clinic and ended up getting a job with her.

“I worked with Beth and some other top riders as a groom and exercise rider. I was fortunate enough to travel through Europe, the USA and across Canada with them.” Being mentored by the best in the world exposed Shandelle to multiple training and coaching techniques.

“I have plans to purchase solid lesson horses this spring and offer English riding lessons in Revelstoke,” Shandelle enthuses, addressing the dearth of lesson horses available for the public. Shadelle will also be buying young horses to train and show herself, and training horses for clients locally and across the country.

Traci Ludwig Traci Ludwig retired from competition years ago, but her students have just started to enter shows.

A high school rodeo champion whose favourite event was barrel racing, Traci now spends her time focusing 17

Traci Ludwig during her barrel riding days.

Dana Tennant with Indy.

Photo: Imogen Whale

on improving her skills in numerous western disciplines and working with local clients horses.

What she loves the most though, is imparting her knowledge on the next generation of riders.

Traci is the go to children’s instructor for western riding in Revelstoke and has four horses at the SSC. She teaches everything from trail rides to barrels and pole bending in the arena.

“It’s great watching the kids improve and fall in love with the sport,” she explains. Many of the students she has mentored started as complete beginners and are now competent and safe riders. Traci has around fifteen regular students in addition to those who hire her to take them trail riding.

The Rise of the Selkirk Saddle Club As of 2016, there are 45 adults and 71 children who are active club members in the SSC. Interest in the club is at an all time high and this past year a new barn was built by two members.

Another build has been approved to start this autumn.

Timo getting a pony ride at a SSC fundraiser, led by Dawn.

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Members come from all walks of life. Kelly Richards has had horses at the grounds for several years. “I joined after my kids grew up.

My good friend Dianna Jones has had horses here for years, and I just started to get involved,” she says. Emily Wright keeps her retired hunter horse Tyke at the SSC. Previously a top competitor in the 3’6” hunters in Ontario, Emily and her partner Matt are now training their mini donkey to pull a cart. Kim Rienks practices horsemanship and has passed her third level of parelli, thriving on the communication it promotes with her horse. These are but a few of the many faces of the SSC. In recent years the SSC has fundraised and

gained generous grants allowing them to build a covered riding arena. The SSC also reworked their oversized outdoor arena this past summer, replacing the footings and all railings. The arena, which was prone to being home to the cities largest puddles come spring and fall, is now usable three seasons a year. Tanya Secord, club secretary and one of the most public faces of the SSC, hopes the SSC can continue improving the facilities. “We want to acquire a tractor with proper grooming attachments for the arena so we can host larger events, and as for infrastructure the last large projects are the clubhouse and new overnight stalls,” she says.

The SSC’s first British Columbia Barrel Racing Association event took place this past summer. The sanctioned event allowed competitors to come to town and compete for points, of which they are provincially ranked. “The BCBRA race was a great success despite terrible weather,” Secord explains.

“We had 20 riders come in from out of town which is great for a first time event. They liked the footing and loved the location and all want to come back again. We plan on hosting more in the future.” It would be wonderful, Secord notes, to build these competitions to a point wherein the SSC could host the BC Finals, bringing in a substantial amount of competitors. “The trick is having money added to the jackpots which requires either fundraising or corporate sponsorship of the events. The riders like to go to the races wherein their chances of winning more money is available,” Secord explains.

Later that same evening the club hosted a gymkhana (a not for ranking competition) where nine local youth ran barrels, poles and keyhole. Two of the youth are now wanting to race in the BCBRA youth division.

ABOUT RIDING ENGLISH English riding uses small and fairly flat saddles that allow for freedom of movement.

Some popular disciplines include: Dressage: It’s history is steeped in the military. It features complicated flatwork movements showing the ability for horse and rider to work together.

Racing: flat speed races of various lengths.

Jumpers: It features arena jumping courses of varying heights with faults for taking too long or knocking rails off jumps.

Hunters: The discipline includes jumping courses of various heights with scoring based on horse’s form.

Three Day Eventing: It’s a three-day competition including dressage, jumpers and cross country (timed event outside with fixed jumps.)

WESTERN Larger saddles originally meant for being in the saddle for long periods of time, modern western riding evolved from ranching and warfare. Western also boasts many different disciplines.

Some common ones include: Barrel Racing and Pole Bending: It’s running a pattern on horseback around three barrels or through several upright poles with penalties for knocking them over.

Cutting: It involves separating a cow from the herd and directing said cow.

Reining: This features precise flatwork movements in various gaits requiring discipline and teamwork between horse and rider, often seen as the western version of dressage.

Emily Write with her mini mule

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Hayley Johnson, Sab Werner and kids Phoebe and Archie.

Photo: Emily Kemp

Aussie vanguard establishes itself in Revelstoke Why so many Australians choose our mountain lifestyle

By Emily Kemp IIt should be fair to say that when the answering machine for local businesses comes over in a strong Aussie accent, the unmistakable ‘ah’ instead of ‘er,’ then the Australians have infiltrated.

You’ll hear the accent on Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s (RMR) phone line, tourist company Everything Revelstoke, and many more. This isn’t a new phenomenon — where there are ski towns, there are Aussies.

For Revelstoke, the strongest influx of Aussies began about a decade ago, once RMR opened. Cathy English, curator at the Revelstoke Museum and Archives, said the number of Australians here (myself included) have increased over time. We’re not just snow seekers though, the town has benefited from many workers and their families who bring their skills in return for the lifestyle Revelstoke offers.

What Australians miss in Revelstoke

• Australian coffee • The fail-proof lunch stop — bakeries with meat pies and iced coffee • Sunshine and beach culture • High wages

What Australians love about Canada and Revelstoke

• • • •

Tim Hortons RMR & local national parks Walmart Outdoor culture

After a few years, the old chalet burned down and life was changing. Michael, on return from visiting friends in Revelstoke, declared they were moving.

With two kids aged three and five, Hayley said it was important to her that Revelstoke was a safe place to raise kids.

And while many Australians might have come for the winter wonderland, the summer might be what surprises them the most.

“I think what catches a lot of people off guard nice spring and summer is here,” Joel Asher, manager of Chubby Funsters who has seen his fair share of Aussies said.

“There’s a ton of Aussies that I know and who like, over everything, the fishing here. I would say summer is getting a lot more popular.”

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Jan chose Canada because of her father’s extensive travel. She had often watched him leave home for long stretches of time due to his work in electrical engineering and his contacts in North America would help her on her journey.

Like many Australians today who plan to travel, live and work in Canada, Jan started off in hospitality in Canada’s typical postcard outdoors. She worked all-season as a waitress on Grouse Mountain, on the North Shore mountains. It was here that she met her husband Michael, a Hungarian immigrant who had escaped the Russian occupancy. Jan remembers it as a great time within a small community of other couples on top of the mountain.

“We already had established careers,” Johnson said.

“We basically immigrated here for the lifestyle of the mountains.”

“You can’t compare the two countries,” Johnson said.

“It’s beach culture versus mountain culture. I’m not sure where you can find a similar type of community like Revelstoke in Australia.”

“After the war, Australians travelled,” Jan explains.

“They all had the urge and most of them went to the United Kingdom and then onto Europe.”

Jan is the oldest of three girls and her daring trip encouraged one sister to follow in her footsteps four years later.

English’s own part-time researcher Hayley Johnson (who originates from Bathurst, New South Wales) moved to Revelstoke with her partner Sab Werner (from Byron Bay, New South Wales) in 2009.

The uniqueness of Revelstoke is also difficult to replicate on home soil.

When Jan left Australia, it was after the Second World War, and people had started to spread their wings.

“I guess I always wanted to travel after hearing from father, all the stories he had,” Jan says.

“There have been several families that have made Revelstoke their home and settled here and brought whatever their skills and expertise,” English said. “I think it has added to the diversity of the community and added a different perspective.”

“It’s just the most amazing place to bring up kids,” she said. “There is so much on offer. I think the uniqueness of this community and its outdoor offerings is what makes many Australians stay.”

‘This is the place I want to be,’” Jan says over coffee at Revelstoke’s Conversations Coffee House.

“Revelstoke has been a wonderful place,” Jan says.

“I’ve really enjoyed it and our two sons, Mark and Grant, really had lots of opportunities while growing up here.”

Australian Jan Feldinger has lived in Revelstoke for 53 years. Photo: Emily Kemp

Australian teacher finds home in It took 15 days on the S S Orsova to reach Vancouver on May 15, 1958.

When Jan Feldinger left Australia, a customs official asked her, ‘Are you going for two years or will you be not returning?’ and she said ‘not returning.’ While she could not have been sure — this solo teacher in her twenties only planned to travel — that’s indeed what she ended up doing.

“I think when the ship came into Vancouver Harbour, it was an absolutely glorious sunny day, and I thought,

Today, Jan is a grandmother to five and has lived in Revelstoke for 53 years. Her life here has been simple but busy and fulfilling. The family and close friends skied and snowmobiled in the winter and golfed in the summer.

Jan was involved with the local school district and was part of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce during the downtown revitalization. Michael worked up at Mica Dam and later Revelstoke Dam. He passed away suddenly in 1993.

Family visits to Canada and trips back home have kept the connection to Australia alive over the years. Revelstoke has changed vastly over the years and although Jan does miss the ocean in Australia, the beauty and lifestyle here continues to captivate her.

“Everything changes from what you remember it to be,” she says. “I have thought about [returning home], but I can’t see myself settling there. It’s lovely to visit.”

Aussie soldiers try on skis in Revelstoke. Photo: Revelstoke Museum & Archives

Australian soldier T. Elliot in Revelstoke in the 1940s. Photo: Revelstoke Museum & Archives

Aussie soldiers get as good as they give in Revelstoke

Review, produced by the local ski club, challenged the Aussies to a ‘ski-out’ upon word about town that the Aussies said the Canadians just “can’t take it.”

While Aussies are known for dishing out playful ribbings, the Revelstoke folk gave as good as they got during a visit of soldiers from ‘Down Under’ in December 1942.

“We’ll show you fellows, on the ski run tomorrow night, whether we can take it or not,” the column reads. “Come There was also mention of ‘Snowy’ the Aussie, who on out and meet the ski crowd boys. We’re not such a bad the club wished would live in town. lot, once you get to know us, and we can guarantee lots “He’s such a “whizz” on skis. Having been on the of fun.” planks little more than half a dozen times, he claims that the road from the “Suicide” ski jump is far too Following the event the following was reported tame for him, and comes tearing down along the trail yelling “blue murder,” the column reads.

“To “Butch” we would like to say that we think his favourite sport must be swimming, for we saw his person stretched out in a crawl position on such places as the ice

The contingent was stationed in Calgary during the Second World War and visited Revelstoke for Christmas celebrations. Many enjoyed their time so much that they returned in January.

The Skeen and Skiheard column in the Revelstoke

at the skating rink, the bowling alleys at the Y.M.C.A., and the slopes of the slalom hill. We are only joking, “Butch”, old kid, because we really had fun just watching you.”

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Acrylic on wood - Art by Vanessa St-yves

Acrylic on wood - Art by Vanessa St-yves

Beauté Naturelle

The photography and art of Vanessa St-yves

By Sj Spurr I met with Vanessa to pour over her computer as we pulled images from her portfolio to make this autumn infused toast to the season. The scarlet of spawning salmon pair perfectly with warm hearts pressed between two lovers.

She is a French Canadian living in Revelstoke who is nurturing the creative energy that comes from discovering life in an inspiring British Columbia. I first encountered her while climbing by the east wall of the Shaketown Crag where she manoeuvred a strong lead straight up the Poncho and Lefty face. I later discovered her handiwork at creating eye-catching portraits and about how she has begun the ‘do-it-yourself’ journey to create her own genuine visual art brand. With an education of photography in her pocket, she has been out working to hone her skills in the art of picture-making, focusing on the experience of being natural and out-of-doors.

While shooting using digital professionally, she often produces a retro look of film in her camera work. Subjects are suspended in a moment of light and shadow, careful never to over expose or saturate the shot. Vanessa has found opportunities in outdoor adventure photography taking pictures for stoked shredders at Selkirk Tangiers Heliskiing and Chatter Creek, but her current passion is focused on projects where she can apply her style to record lifestyle and milestone moments. She gives me a sneak peek of her recent captures, including a sweet sixteen shoot, a pretty palette from a road-trip with friends, and an intimate series of anglers and their wedding portraits.

Classic beauties accented by natural landscapes.

This summer she brought her paintings to the table at the Revelstoke Farm and Craft market. Her wooden canvases compliment her photography, featuring wilderness and busts of North American animal icons. Her favourite is an acrylic of mist lifting off the trees on raw wood. Keep an eye out for fresh works of VS and future installations around town as we move indoors for the winter season.

It’s interesting keep tabs on a thriving scene of local photographers and makers, each with their own tools, backgrounds, specialties and affections for colour. Vanessa St-yves is one of our budding artisans to watch for and welcomes you to follow and contact her for custom projects and inquiries.

Find VS and explore examples of her work here: vanessastyves.com Facebook: Vanessa St-yves Photography Instagram: @vanessastyves and @vsartshop

Vanessa St-yves. Photo by Sj Spurr

he Millers - Photo by Vanessa St-yves Photo by Vanessa St-yves

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Zooming in on Revelstoke’s Holy Grail

October Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre show features macro reflections on snow by local photographer Kip Wiley.

By Imogen Whale “When I first saw the image, my jaw dropped,” says photographer Kip Wiley. Keen to pursue a new photographic challenge, Wiley decided to tackle the subject of snow. When faced with the first results of his efforts in macro and magnification, he was taken aback.

“I just stared and stared,” he explains. The William Blake poem, Auguries of Innocence that Wiley had learned back in his days as an English Literature major, sprang into his mind.

“To see a World in a Grain of Sand And Heaven in a Wild Flower To hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour…

“That verse captures how I felt about the images,” Wiley notes. “[They are] incredibly beautiful, symmetrical creations full of texture and design elements; and it’s just frozen water. I was dazzled by the wonderment of snow.”

Kip Wiley

It’s this sense of wonder that Wiley hopes viewers of his latest art exhibit, opening October 7 at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre, experience when viewing his work.

“Here in Revelstoke the snow is near and dear to us,” Wiley says. “Residents’ lives and hobbies are shaped by snow.”

It is Wiley’s love of skiing that inspired the name of his exhibit, Seeking the Holy Grail. “As a skier, the holy grail is those epic powder days that come few and far between. I realized, for me, those holy grail days aren’t something you can be aware of or understand until you have years of experience skiing in the backcountry. Those years give you a benchmark for comparison. It’s only when you’ve seen and skied enough those rare days hit home.”

Wiley’s exhibit expresses the inherent beauty of snow and how, sometimes, skiing in it can shift your perception to one of gratitude and amazement at the nature that surrounds us.

Images by photographer Kip Wiley from his upcoming show entitled Seeking the Holy Grail, which opens Oct. 7 at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre.

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Photos by Jodi Kay

Our guide to ethical mushroom foraging Learn the tips and secrets to harvesting in ways that ensure a healthy bounty in the future

By Jodi Kay Everyone loves a good treasure hunt, and come fall the Revelstoke forests are abundant with edible treasures.

As a new forager, I was a bit nervous about heading out on my own, but after talking to a few knowledgeable locals, I had to confidence to get out there and start foraging myself, and you can too!

On any given day you might see Christy Shaw, owner of Mountain Goodness Natural Foods, walking into the store with a basket full of freshly foraged mushrooms. Christy has been foraging here in Revelstoke since 2003. She says she’s pretty sure she spent the first day picking russulas when she thought she had a basket full of chanterelles, but after a second or third time out she was hooked, almost obsessed.

“After an evening of foraging, I would go home to bed, and when I closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep, all I saw were mushrooms!”

Anyone who knows Christy knows that she doesn’t even like mushrooms, but prefers to give them away.

So why forage then? “I have always spent most of my free time in the woods. It is like a meditation for me. After I got myself the world’s greatest dog Sadie, I found that romping through the forest looking for mushrooms was a great way to exercise her while I recharge myself. It is just something that is in my blood, to harvest from the land and be surrounded by mossy green.”

A Few Tips for Foragers Know the land: It’s important to know what land you’re picking on. Because we are surrounded by 360 degrees of nature, we sometimes forget that some land is off limits. National and Provincial Parks and Ecological Reserves don’t allow for any picking at all. Be aware of private properties and get permission when needed.

Do some research: There are some incredibly knowledgeable people in town that might love to share their skills, but maybe not their secret spots! As far as books, Christy recommends All that the Rain Promises and More, by David Arora. The Mushroom Hunters: On the Trail of an Underground America is a great read for anyone who loves mushrooms. It’s important to do a bit of research before you head out because not all mushrooms are picked the same. There are also some mushrooms you need to be wary of. That is why it is imperative to know what you are looking for or to go with someone who does.

Be equipped: For equipment Christy always uses a basket but it is also recommended to use mesh bags.

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It is suggested not to use a plastic bucket because this doesn’t distribute the mushroom spores back onto the forest floor. She has also switched to using a plastic knife, “I don’t take a sharp knife into the woods anymore as I have lost some before and then I worry about someone or something stepping on it. This is just my personal preference.”

Respect the woods: Mushrooms have a relationship with the forest and its critters and it is really important to keep that in mind when you are picking. Try not to disturb the moss around the mushroom or the tree root and be careful to keep the mycellium (what forms the mushroom) intact so they produce in the same spot next year. Only pick what you can use. There is no need to clean out an entire forest if you are not going to use them. Show your gratitude to the mushrooms by not leaving any garbage behind when you leave.

Get creative: Foraged foods have incredible flavour and it’s fun to get creative with how we use them. If you want to keep them for fresh eating, make sure they are not too damp or they will spoil quickly. The most common ways of preserving foraged mushrooms are drying or cooking (a quick sauté) and then freezing, but that it just the beginning. Pickled mushroom soup, anyone?

The first step is just to start, so if you think foraging is for you, just get out there and do it. Be mindful of what you are picking, where you are picking and remember to be thankful and show gratitude for what you are getting by keeping the forest as you found it (or better!).

If you are interested in more information about foraging, the North Columbia Environmental Society (NCES) is running a Hunting and Gathering workshop this fall.

“The Hunting and Gathering Guru Series is meant to educate people on alternative sources of food that can be harvested sustainably, ethically, safely and cost-effectively,” explains Anna-Maria Stone, the project coordinator. “Ultimately the goal of the series comes down to environmental protection and eating local is one small, but huge, way that people can reduce their environmental footprint.” The event that Anna-Maria is most looking forward to is the Local Wild Potluck happening at the end of October. It will be a fun way for people to show off all the ways they like to eat local or wild — in any capacity — from venison steaks to garden salads to food purchased from the farmer’s market. It’s sure to be a delicious way to bring everyone together to celebrate the local bounty!

Keep updated with events hosted by the NCES on their website, http://northcolumbia.org/events/ and happy foraging!

Wild mushroom pilaf

A forager’s potluck you say? What could I bring?

Definitely something wild.

By Jodi Kay Believe it or not, wild rice is not actually a rice but a grass — the seed of a grass to be specific and it is grown primarily in the Great Lakes region of Canada. Cooked wild rice has a nutty flavour and a chewy texture and pairs nicely with mushrooms of all sorts for an earthy autumn meal. Here I’ve added garlic, shallots and lots of fresh thyme and sage. Add some walnuts for crunch, some kale for colour and some creamy goat’s cheese and you’ve got a crowd pleasing pilaf of all the wild things.

Wild mushroom Pilaf

Serves 4–6. Double or increase quantities as needed to feed a crowd.

Ingredients: 1 cup wild rice 3 cups of stock or water, or a mix of both 1/2 teaspoon salt Olive oil or butter, as needed 1 pound wild chanterelles, or mushrooms of choice, sliced as desired 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced 5 sage leaves, thinly sliced 3 sprigs of fresh thyme 1/3 cup walnuts, roughly chopped 3 cups curly green kale, stems removed and roughly chopped 1/2 tablespoon white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar Salt + pepper to taste 1/2 cup soft goat’s cheese or ricotta

What to do Place wild rice in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse under cold water. Shake to drain.

Notes on cooking mushrooms Wild mushrooms have a high water content, so it’s important to cook the mushrooms over medium-high heat until all the liquid has evaporated, it’s then that the mushrooms will begin to develop a nice brown color.

Don’t overcrowd the pan. Give the mushrooms room to do their thing and release their juices. If you pack them in, they will simply steam, so allow room for the liquid to evaporate.

If the pan ever looks a little too dry, don’t be shy to add a little more oil or butter.

Because the mushrooms contain so much water, they will shrink significantly once cooked. You don’t need to slice and dice a wild mushroom; you can keep them whole or halved to preserve all the beauty that mother nature gave them!

Bring stock to a boil and add rice. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 40–45 minutes, or until kernels puff open. Uncover and fluff with a fork and simmer for another five minutes. Drain off any excess liquid.

While the rice is cooking, prepare you’re mushrooms. Heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil in a pan and add the mushrooms. Stir occasionally as the mushrooms cook and release their water. Continue cooking until all the water was evaporated and the mushrooms are golden brown. Add a splash of oil to the pan if it starts looking too dry. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside.

Heat another tablespoon of oil in the pan over medium heat and add garlic and shallots.

Stir often to prevent burning and cook until shallots are soft and tender. Add the vinegar and stir until evaporated, then stir in the thyme, sage and walnuts. Add the chopped kale, and cook until just wilted, then stir in the cooked wild rice. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Add in cooked mushrooms and warm through.

Transfer to a large serving bowl and top with soft cheese, fresh thyme and a few more walnuts. Drizzle with olive oil, add a splash of your vinegar and garnish with sage. Enjoy!

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Transition into autumn with B.C. wines

By Heather Hood Autumn is a season of transition, where the last of the crops are harvested and the final preparations are completed in anticipation for the cold months ahead.

During this seasonal changeover, there is a shift where the chilled white wines of summer taper off, and for some of us are replaced with richer red wines. When I think of fall I get excited for Thanksgiving, a slower pace of life, and lots of shared meals paired with wine.

My suggestions for this month would all be great to drink with turkey dinner, baked ham or with the last of the freshly foraged mushrooms. Since it is harvest time, what better way to toast the season than with local B.C. wines.

Inniskillin, Oliver, B.C. Pinot Grigio $16.13

Inniskillin has locations in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. This is a nice Pinot Gris with an abundance of flavours, this Pinot Gris produces floral, apple and citrus notes that is not too sweet and has a nice acidity. It has a nice finish (the taste left behind after you have swallowed the wine) of honey on the palate.

Noble Ridge, Okanagan Falls, B.C. Stoney Knoll Chardonnay $17.09

I might be a bit biased in my opinion of this winery as this is where I got my start in viticulture. This small winery located just above Vaseau Lake in Okanagan Falls has views in the vineyard that are just as spectacular as the wines they produce. This is a very well made Chardonnay, it has a great minerality (think wet stones), flavours of apple, ripe stone fruit and hint of butterscotch.

Gehringer Brothers, Oliver, B.C. Pinot Noir $17.09

Gehringer Brothers is one of the oldest wineries in the Okanagan and continues to produce consistent, quality wines that provide excellent value for the money. This is the first time I’ve tasted a Pinot Noir from Gehringer.

Every once and a while, there are wines that catch you by surprise with how fantastic they taste, and this one was impressive. This Pinot Noir had wonderful flavours of cherries and black olives. The long finish (the taste left behind after you have swallowed the wine) was spectacular with a rich flavour of blackberries.

All wines available at Cheers!

Downtown Revelstoke Open 9am to 11pm Delivery to your Door Call 250.837.4550 26

Images by Sarah Mickel Photography Styling by Britt Cochrane Models – Stacey Paseska and Ryan Shaver Stacey wears Brixton sweater - $99.95 // Society Snow & Skate, leggings and necklace supplied, Kamik rainboots - $69.95 // Universal Footwear, Aunts & Uncles bag - $220 // Wearabouts Ryan wears Brixton pants $79.95 // Society Snow & Skate, Royal Robins merino shirt - $90, Woolrich sweater - $110, Tense watch $215 // Wearabouts, Merrell Turku Trek shoes - $100 // Free Spirit Sports (FSS)

Stacey wears Volcom hoody - $45 // FSS, Toad&Co jeggings - $100, Smartwool crystal lake scarf - $65, Aunts & Uncles bag - $380 // Wearabouts, Blundstone 585 rustic brown - $199.95 // Universal Footwear Ryan wears Toad&Co jeans - $100, Woolrich plaid shirt - $110, Kuhl burr vest - $180, Tense watch - $215 // Wearabouts, tentree shirt // FSS, Coal hat - $32 // Skookum, Vans in glazed ginger - $119.95 // Society Snow & Skate

Stacey wears Carelli Jeans - $90, Lolë Brooklyn vest $230, Lolë toque - $48 // Wearabouts, Somewon plaid - $54.95 // Society Snow & Skate, Blundstone 585 rustic brown - $199.95 // Universal Footwear Ryan wears Mountain Hardware piero pants - $90 // FSS, Fjällräven jacket - $349.95 // Revy Outdoors, Brixton snapback - $34.95 // Society Snow & Skate, Blundstone B587 rustic black - $199.95 // Universal Footwear

DIY Revelstoke

Each year, the selection of homemade Revelstoke products increases. For our DIY Revelstoke section, we highlight some products and gift ideas available around town. By Emily Kemp

Everyone wants to live in Revelstoke, so make it a little harder for friends further afield and send your condolences with these greeting cards.

Professional photographer Zoya Lynch has made her stunning imagery into functional art with a variety of cards that epitomize the love of mountain life. $6 —zoyaphotography.com

Another Aussie who can’t say no to Revelstoke, Nicole Macklin has based her studio here. Inspired by mountain life she handcrafts these earthy and contemporary wearable art pieces from brass, copper and recycled silver. $65–$330 — Garnish, 118 MacKenzie Ave or ntmjewellery.com

When the sun shines in Revelstoke, you want it shining through a sun catcher that shares your enthusiasm for bikes. Local husband and wife team Marla and Jim Manson create these popular recycled pieces of art from old bike gears and stained glass. $10–$34 — 250-837-5063

Don’t touch the morning monster and certainly don’t steal their mug! Get your own outdoor-inspired cup handmade by local potter Nancy Geismar, with a satisfying shape to grip and enjoy your morning fix. $34 — Art First! 113 1 St W

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You’re not a true Revelstokian if you don’t enjoy Stoke Coffee brewed in a percolator on your latest outdoor adventure. Stock up on this proud blend and whip it out to impress houseguests with how locally conscious you are. $16 — The Modern Bakeshop & Cafe, 212 MacKenzie Ave.

JG Michaud is an electrician by trade but has a knack for custom carpentry. This wall-mounted coat hanger (24 inches x18 inches) is made from wood offcuts from the local mill, which he burns and stains for a look that screams Revelstoke. Vintage nails from the old railway to Arrowhead will sturdily hold all your new-season jackets. $200 — 250-814-4065

Try the eco-friendly Board Butter Glide Wax for your skis or snowboard, hand poured with love in Revelstoke by local genius Kaz Hayashi. Toted to help you glide along the flats from the top of the Ripper Chair to the Stoke Chair, without unstrapping or the penguin waddle. $12 — Society Snow & Skate or boardbutterglidewax.com

Get ski season ready Shoulder season preparations

By Emily Kemp Fatigue and injury versus stamina and flexibility — the difference between a good ski season and a great one might be the amount of effort you put into your pre-ski season training.

Revelstoke-based Chris Rubens has been a professional skier for over a decade and knows what works for him. In his youth he was a ski racer, which is known for its regimented training schedules. These days his approach is more holistic.

Photo: Chris Ruebens

“I’m definitely quite active and I’m trying to do some sort of exercise everyday,” he says. “For myself it’s not going into the gym, it’s doing biking and running and stuff outside. That works for me, it might not be the best way to train, but I’m staying in shape and that’s better than not. I think anything you can do is better than nothing.”

“I like the snowboarding dreams,” Jost said. “That’s mental training right there.

Despite the shoulder season weather being unpredictable and often rainy, most of it comes down to motivation. Mountaineer, pro-skier and Revelstoke resident Greg Hill recommends doing wall sits for the quads and downhill hiking or running to simulate the muscle flex of ski turns.

But if you really need to get moving, any type of board sports will help you hone your balance for on the hill.

“Overall fitness helps you in so many ways,” he says.

“Keep fit so that you’re more energetic and more responsive when you are skiing. So that you recover better when relaxing and are ready for the next powder day.”

“Yoga doesn’t help at all, it’s better to be stiff than flexible when snowboarding. All yoga does is make you fart in a room with others, and most snowboarders are already pretty good at that.”

“Quit being a baby and get a skateboard,” Jost said. “If you can skate good, you can snowboard good.”

Society Snow & Skate owner Karl Jost. Photo: Aaron Orlando

Disclaimer: Karl Jost is not responsible for the actions of those who take his advice.

Party like it’s ski season For some, getting ready for ski season is as much about honing your alcohol tolerance and partying skills as it is preparing for your 100 days on the hill.

Films to watch to get pumped for ski season

“Going out to the bar is definitely considered training,” owner of Society Snow & Skate Karl Jost said.

• For local riders – Wasted Youth: The Move • For big mountain skills – Absinthe Films • Street jibbing – Videograss • Creative boarders – Think Thank • YouTube – Salomon Freeski TV

“Some of your best days can still happen when you’re still drunk in the morning. You have that liquid courage so you’re not afraid to try anything.”

Jost recommends using your eyes and brain to help you simulate the moves you want to achieve on the mountain.

“The couch potato way is to watch snowboard videos,” he says. “You refine your technique by watching other people, by drinking beer and eating chips. That would be considered cross-training, I would say.”

CrossFit Revelstoke

Fitness programs in Revelstoke • Trans-Canada Fitness has three floors dedicated to exercise. They will be running a general conditioning class from around mid-October.

• Helios runs a pre-season Hard Core Ski Conditioning course that runs for six weeks from October.

• The recently opened CrossFit Revelstoke provides a variety of workouts that strengthen the natural movement of the body to safeguard against injury.

• Revelstoke’s multiple yoga studios offer classes that help with flexibility and loosening tight hips.

Ski season prep • Get skis or snowboard waxed and tuned • Check your outwear and do any necessary repairs and waterproofing • Do an avalanche refresher course and make sure all your equipment is in good working order and practice using it • Think about your technique and set some goals for the season and how you’re going to achieve them

Now, skiing and snowboarding isn’t just about ability. You need to exude an aura around the lodge that makes people automatically assume you’re kickass on the mountain.

“Snowboarding is 90 per cent how you look and about 10 per cent how you ride,” Jost explains.

He welcomes everyone to his store to get fitted in all the latest gear. Keep the tags on to let everyone know the brand and that you’ve got money to splash.

“Looking at yourself in your new outerwear in the mirror helps,” Jost advises.

“If your gear matches it’ll make you 10 per cent faster and about 12 percent more likely to go bigger.”

If you really want to do some exercise, do it in your head, where you can control the terrain and ensure you’re always looking as good as you hope you are.

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