P e o p l e A rts H o m e s F o o d c u lt u r e r e c r e at i o n H i s to ry Summer 2011
Life in the West Kootenay/Boundary Region
Life Cycles Kootenay filmmakers reinvent the mountain bike film genre
SUmmer Bounty
Explore the cornucopia of farmers’ markets in the region
Purple Yummies
In search of the elusive wild huckleberry
ARTS & THE ENVIRONMENT
The Living Arts Centre opens at Christina Lake
BC’s Best Kept Secret ...the view is only the beginning! Call any of our realtors for information On properties in our area.
250-442-2711
Toll Free: 1-800-567-3199
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contents Publisher Chuck Bennett chuckbennett@ blackpress.ca Account Manager Chris Hammett route3@ grandforksgazette.ca Regional Sales Coordinator Karen Bennett publisher@ rosslandnews.com Editor & Art Director Shelley Ackerman sackerman@telus.net
Route 3 is published quarterly by Black Press Telephone: 250-442-2191 or 1-877-443-2191 Courier and mail: Box 700, 7255 Riverside Dr. Grand Forks, B.C. V0H 1H0
Fresh produce from Grand Forks at the Rossland Mountain Market. For a guide to farmers' markets in the region this summer, see story on page 20.
Gardens
Honouring Community The Kohan Garden in New Denver invites reflection and contemplation, page 7 Outdoor adventure
Life Cycles
Kootenay filmmakers reinvent the mountain bike film genre, page 10 Arts & Culture
Arts & the Environment The Living Arts Centre opens at Christina Lake, page 15
Events
Summer Bounty Explore the cornucopia of farmers’ markets in the Kootenay/Boundary region, page 21 Food & Drink
Purple Yummies
In search of the elusive wild huckleberry, page 25
Rachel Roussin
Route 3 is distributed through the following newspapers, and on racks throughout the West Kootenay and Boundary regions.
Printed in Canada on recyclable paper. Copyright 2010 by Black Press. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph, or artwork without written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. The publisher can assume no responsibility for unsolicited material.
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Q&A
Community in Bloom An interview with Bill Garnett of Columbia Valley Greenhouses in Trail, page 30
Cover photo by Derek Frankowski: Don’t try this at home kids! Rider Brandon Semenuk launches out of a hayloft in the Life Cycles film.
Summer 2011 Route 3
Page 3
Tidbits – a taste of what’s happening in the West Kootenay/Boundary Kootenay Festival July 16, Heritage Way, Castlegar A multi-faceted event encouraging the recognition and appreciation of our community diversity through entertainment, cuisine and interactive educational activities, displays and performance. www.kootenayfestival.com Kaslo Jazz Etc. Summer Music Festival July 29 – 31 , Kaslo Every August long weekend in Kaslo, stunning vistas, great acoustics and superb musicians combine to create the festival. www.kaslojazzfest.com Kettle River Festival of the Arts Aug. 4 – 14 , throughout Boundary Country An all-encompassing, region-wide celebration of arts, music, theatre, culture, heritage and food. www.kettleriverartsfestival.com
Shambhala Aug. 5 – 8, Salmo Canada’s premiere Electronic Music Festival. Tickets sold out! www.shambhalamusicfestival.com Rock Creek Agri-Art Festival Aug. 13, Rock Creek Local vendors, farmers’ market, artisans, entertainment, games, skits, wine and local food pairing. For more info call Dennis 250-4462797 or Ann 250-446-2409 Columbia Basin Cultural Tour Aug. 13 – 14, throughout the Kootenays The CBCT is a self guided tour showcasing local arts, culture and heritage offered at no charge to the general public. www.cbculturetour.com Kootenay School of Art: Connections Materialized Aug. 13 – Oct. 9 Gallery 2, Grand Forks
With a Flexible Choice Mortgage, you’re set for life. 1 888 368 2654 www.kscu.com Page 4
Route 3 Summer 2011
Connections Materialized celebrates contemporary craft and art created by 26 artists who teach and work at the Kootenay School of the Arts at Selkirk College in Nelson. This exhibition is dedicated to Tom Lynn, who was involved in the early developmental stages of the school.
2011 Quilt Show Sept. 2 – 4, Grand Forks Curling Rink The Sunshine Quilters presents Quilting in the Sunshine Valley 2011. Refreshments, raffle quilt, door prizes, vendor’s market For more info call Rae 250-442-3333 or Cathy 250-442-0661
2011 Seniors Games Aug. 16 – 20, Castlegar, Trail, Nelson With 3200 athletes expected to compete in 27 sports, the WK Senior Games will be hosting more athletes than the Vancouver Olympics! Participants aged 55 plus will compete in social and sporting events as diverse as mountain biking, bocce, slo pitch, bridge and ice hockey. www.2011bcseniorsgames.org
9TH ANNUAL QUEEN CITY CRUISE Sept. 9 –10, Nelson Car collectors from far and wide show off their cars. Show and Shine Saturday morning on Baker St., trophy presentations at 3:30 pm followed by a poker run and a rooftop dance at the Nelson Parkade. www.nelsonroadkings.com
Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament Aug. 31 – Sept. 5 James Donaldson Park, Grand Forks This year the Aussies are coming! www.grandforksbaseball.com
2011 Kaslo Sufferfest,
Oct. 1 – 2, Kaslo Cross Country mountain bike race, Ultra Trail Run, Monster Downhill Bike, Kid’s Races. Test yourself on foot or pedal over Kaslo’s steep, rugged & legendary trails. www.kaslosufferfest.com
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Take a Look! contributors Tyler Austin Bradley lives in an old corner store in Rossland. He divides his time between reading, writing, eating, sleeping, producing films and managing the waste stream of residents in the greater Trail area. He is originally from Vancouver. Nelson-based photographer David R. Gluns has captured moments in many special places in the world, creating images for numerous magazines, books and commercial clients, but “nothing beats the Kootenays as a place to live and photograph. I love the challenge of getting a great image whether it be flying in my plane, making food look great for the latest cookbook, or just hiking in the backcountry!” He can be reached at david@gluns.ca
selkirk.ca
Selkirk College - exceeding expeCtationS Offering over 70 certificate, diploma and degree programs.
After numerous years as a camera store and photo lab owner/operator at the coast, and 30 years’ experience as a professional photographer, Chris Hammett decided it was time for a change, so she moved to Grand Forks to enjoy the slower-paced, rural lifestyle. It was a chance to unwind and be inspired in a region of spectacular scenery. Exploring the backcountry in her Jeep, she still shoots professionally while being true to her own creative vision. Trail freelancer Lana Rodlie spent 16 years as a reporter with the Trail Daily Times. She’s also written for The Province, BC Business and a variety of travel magazines. Besides writing, she spends a great deal of time volunteering (Rotary, Community in Bloom, and Japanese Twinning) and also dabbles in genealogy, local history and travel. Graham Tracey is a constant musician, a frequent writer, and an occasional cook. He and his wife are aspiring Canadians, but their son is the real deal. After a decade of working in New York City as a composer and producer, Graham moved to Rossland to ski and breathe freely. Fran Wallis works from her home office in Silverton. She has published articles and photographs in Canadian Gardening, Cottage Magazine, Small Farms Canada, and North West Travel. When not researching stories, Fran teaches ballroom dance or can be found paddling the pristine Slocan Lake or hiking the Goat Range. Hailing from the west coast of British Columbia (Vancouver), Karl Yu is the Associate Editor of the Grand Forks Gazette. It is through his work with that newspaper and Route 3 that he witnesses the richness and beauty of the Kootenay/Boundary region. He is very impressed with what he has seen so far.
1000 Business Cards, Full Colour, Full Bleed, Double Sided, Varnish Front Side Delivery every second Friday. Camera ready artwork must be submitted the Tuesday before delivery date.
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Summer 2011 Route 3
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It’s Brilliant!
THE OLD WORKHORSE AND THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK PROVIDE A LEGACY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN
C
ommuters travelling between Nelson and Castlegar on Highway 3A are blessed with one of the most scenic commutes imaginable—with the dams and hydroelectric facilities on the Kootenay River being one of the most spectacular—and richest in history.
greater self-sufficiency for present and future generations. Through its Delivery of Benefits program, CBT supports programs and initiatives which focus on fostering quality of life and address critical issues in the Basin.
The hydro facility closest to Castlegar, just upstream of the recently The Partners continue to invest and upgrade both the Brilliant Dam and restored Brilliant Suspension Bridge, is the Brilliant Dam and Generating Expansion to ensure long life and reliability of the facilities. In the spring Station. It was built by West Kootenay Power and Cominco (now Teck) of 2010, a concrete rehabilitation project began on the Brilliant Dam, as during World War II, with local Doukhobour men—who were exempt well as ongoing work to refurbish the spill gates and a dam stabilization from military service—making up the majority of the project. workforce. The first unit began operating in June 1944 Following capital The next time you’re driving on Highway 3A between Nelson with the second unit coming on line two and a half improvements, the and Castlegar, take a moment to stop at the viewing area months later. Unit #3 was not added until 1950 and the fourth in 1968. Brilliant Dam was above the Brilliant Dam and Expansion, where interpretive explains the history of the facilities. You can also named one of the signage Crown corporations Columbia Power and Columbia Basin view the turbine runner from unit #3, which was removed Trust (the Partners) purchased the Brilliant Dam from Cominco most reliable dams from service in 2002, at the Ministry of Transportation’s in 1996 and have invested $100 million to upgrade the in Canada in 2006. Brilliant Rest Area, just north of Brilliant on Highway 3A. dam and increase the life span and reliability of the power plant. Upgrades to the power plant increased the generating capacity by For more information on the Partner’s power projects, visit approximately 20 MW, bringing the total plant capacity to just over 145 www.columbiapower.org. MW. In 2003, work began on the Brilliant Expansion Project, which involved building a second powerhouse just downstream of the Brilliant Dam. At its peak, the project employed over 400 workers, with nearly 85% being local residents. In commercial operation since 2007, the Expansion has the generating capacity of approximately 120 MW—enough power to supply 50,000 homes! In recognition of the Partners’ commitment to the environment, the Expansion project was the recipient of a federal EcoEnergy grant in 2008. The Brilliant Dam and Expansion are providing a legacy to the people of the Columbia Basin. Using the income earned from its investment in hydro projects (and other investment programs), Columbia Basin Page 6 3 Summer 2011by the people of the Basin to create a Trust (CBT) isRoute supporting efforts legacy of social, economic and environmental well-being and to achieve
Concrete rehabilitation work at the Brilliant Dam, 2010
Honouring community The Kohan Garden in New Denver invites reflection and contemplation
StEve Phillips
W
story by Fran
Wallis
hether you are a keen gardener, an avid photographer or just a weary traveler on a road trip, put “must-visit” beside the Kohan Reflection Garden in New Denver as you travel Route 6 through the Slocan Valley this summer, and take a welcome respite from the road. Open throughout the year, the Kohan (by-the-water) has hundreds of plant varieties — an eclectic mix of indigenous species along with traditional Japanese plant material. It’s also a showcase for Japanese-style gardening methods and structures and offers a beautiful, intriguing and contemplative spot to stop. Now mature, the first sod for the garden was turned in 1989 by members of the Slocan Lake Garden Society (SLUGS). The purpose of the garden was to serve as a reminder of the thousands of Japanese-Canadians (Nikkei) interned here during the WWII and to honour their contribution to the valley community. The Japanese-Canadian community, through village hands, gifted the one-acre ➤
Summer 2011 Route 3
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Stan Wilson
gardens
StEve Phillips Stan Wilson
Opening page, top: Several large flowering cherry tress were planted by members of the Fujinkai, a women's organization during the time of their internment. Below: The water garden is a brilliant repurposing of a cinder block structure, formerly the foundation of the TV tower. This page, top: Evening light captures the magic of the grass garden — a point of interest throughout the seasons. Above: A bridge over the dry stream bed and a lantern leads the way towards the main garden. Opposite page: Archival photo of the original tea house which remains in the heart of the garden and once used for ceremonial purposes by the Nikkei.
waterfront location, and a thousand dollars seed money from the Kamageya family got the project off the ground. From these modest beginnings, and lots of scrounging for mulch chips and donated plant materials, the garden flourished. Over the past twenty years, with ongoing fundraising, grant writing and weekly work parties, the memories have been kept alive and the garden today is a magnificent tribute. A modest ceremonial tea-house built during those troubled years remains still as a focal point along with five hardy old cherry trees, Page 8
Route 3 Summer 2011
their embracing branches provide a thick canopy of pink blossoms and shade for May Day. The first few years saw the completion of the entryway — a post and log beam pavilion-style building. Its approach is graced by delicate weeping birch and a show of Siberian iris. Ground covers of moss and kinnikinick amongst massive boulders and weathered driftwood suggest a remote mountain retreat. Through its portals, plant key in hand, the garden begins to unfold. To the right your eye glimpses the lake and a generous sweep of fast-growing sumacs. Birch trees, locust and mulberry screens the garden from the municipal campsites beyond. Underfoot, Irish moss contrasts brilliantly with the red leaves of a Japanese maple and purple-leaf foliage of the copper leaf beech nearby. The Kohan, designed in the tradition of the Japanese “strolling” garden — ideal for a flat linear site — masterfully captures the moods of mystery and discovery. Rather than one static view, the visitor is intrigued to explore around that next curve, down those stone steps, or into the shadows. While not designed for lavish floral displays that arouse the senses, the entire garden is a riot of colour when the several huge azaleas, many rhododendron shrubs, and the flowering pink spireas come into bloom. The pink theme continues at the teahouse entrance with a flowering Korean spicebush and a collection of bamboo, ribbon grass and silver brocade artemesia. A unique specimen witch-hazel with its spidery lime green tendrils and magenta throat greets early spring visitors. On the south side of the teahouse, an imposing wall juts mid-way into the garden, “to inspire curiosity and encourage them to wander beyond,” says Ray Nikkel, local landscape designer and president of the garden society. A thyme-covered path curves up to the ponds and a surprising lake view. Here, an inviting stone bench provides the stroller to linger in the long view, or reflect on what is close at hand. Five carp now live in the two-tiered pond, and ligularia and water lilies make the resident frogs at home. In contrast, nearby, a gnarly misshapen blue spruce with its pastel blue needles, a dwarf spruce with a tortured look of a bonsai, a weeping mountain ash, a contorted hazelnut and an alpine fir, all convey again the feeling of a high-altitude landscape. Beyond the wall is an example of Japanese-inspired artistry in the garden: purple barberry bushes are sheared to resemble boulders to complete a half circle of the real ones, which creates a feeling of an ancient, sacred ritual site. Hidden around the right you’ll discover the raised water gardens containing delicate pink and white water lilies. A brilliant exercise in repurposing, the container was a legacy of unsightly cinder blocks, formerly the foundation for the TV tower. Re-textured with cement, the top edge was clad with local slab rock and the entire structure skirted with box wood shrubs. At the south end of the garden, a Millennium grant achieved another dream and the result is breathtaking. An elegant Japanese lantern lights the way to an arching bridge over a dry stream bed, and a waterfall of contorted blue spruce tumbles into the stream along with waves of blue fescue into the pebble-line pool below, home to a boulder turtle almost enveloped in moss. Purple Siberian irises adorn the stream banks, and in nearby terraced beds, the plum-
age of exotic ornamental grasses undulate in the wind. Above it all are graceful giant cedars. Towering like sentinels, they lend their ancient majesty to the garden and provide winter shelter for the deer. A deerproof hedge of hemlock installed in 1995, however, keeps them at bay now and provides an evergreen buffer zone from the adjacent roadways and neighbours, thus securing the sanctuary. The Kohan Reflection Garden is much revered by locals and visitors alike. Each year weddings, graduations, birthdays and memorials are celebrated here and for many years it served as the centrepiece of a community garden tour. Designed to have interest throughout the year — with evergreens, interesting perennials, grasses and shrubs with colourful berries — during the Christmas season the garden comes magically alive with hundreds of coloured lights. In keeping with the original altruistic purpose for creating the garden, entry to the garden is without charge. A detailed plant key can be purchased from the municipal campground attendant.
Golf
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There’s Nothing Like it! ORY ION HIST R E C R E AT C U LT U R E ES FOOD SUMMER RTS HOM PEOPLE A 2011
Life in the West
Historic Nelson
ary Region Kootenay/Bound
Life Cycles akers Kootenay filmm ntain reinvent the mou bike film genre
Nelson, British Columbia Since 1920
SUMMER BOUN
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pia of Explore the cornuco in the region farmers’ markets
IES PURPLE YUMM elusive
In search of the wild huckleberry
Affordable 18-hole course Call 1-877-677-6077 www.granitepointe.ca
ONMENT ARTS & THE ENVIR Living Arts Centre
The Lake opens at Christina
The Flag
To advertise in the Fall issue, contact Chris at 1-877-443-2191 or email route3@ grandforksgazette.ca
Summer 2011 Route 3
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outdoor adventure
Life Cycles
M
Tyler Austin Bradley Photos courtesy Derek Frankowski & Stance Films story by
Kootenay filmmakers reinvent the mountain bike film genre
Page 10
Route 3 Summer 2011
Mountain biking is a mostly individual effort, the pedal-up and downward descents boiling down to an individual’s limbs, lungs, and other co-opted bodily bits working in tandem to assert themselves over a variety of often life and limb threatening terrain. Single-track trails, narrow inroads etched into mountainsides and ridgelines, dominate the Kootenay-Boundary mountain bike scene, solo or grouped up riders tearing down the slopes one at a time, rarely if ever riding shoulder to shoulder, even less frequently astride a specialized tandem bike; unlike canoeing, mountain-bike equipment, trail design and the activity itself, does not easily lend itself to teaming up or putting one’s life in the hands of a co-pilot. From time to time, though, if not literally in a tandem-bike formation, a partnership forms that bucks the trends and sees a pair or more of visionaries carve a new line down the mountain in a wholly unique and never before seen fashion. The film Lifecycles is one such effort, the creative team of Rosslanders Derek Frankowski and Ryan Gibb intentionally setting out to dump the clichÊd, die-cast mountain-bike-movie monster and effectively recreate the mountain bike film wheel, suspension, gearing system, everything. Riding a line somewhere between art-film,
homage, bio-pic, and action-sports flick, it is a genre bender of a venture, an adventure experience that is in every way a do-ityourself, pedal-pumping Kootenay success. Embarking on their mission to create Lifecycles almost six years ago, Frankowski and Gibb took the route of scripting their thematic through-line and specifically composed shots in mind of pairing them with the latest in HD (High Definition) camera technology, and the best talent the Kootenays have to offer. From the unconventional use of narration penned by Nelsonite Mitchell Scott in the film’s opening sequence, to the on-location filming of various Kootenay trails and talents, Lifecycles is a cinematic triumph created locally that has since diffused and impressed internationally, a bike film with a message. Of their concept and approach to the material, co-producer and creator Gibb, a Rossland-based transplant originally hailing from Utah, states that, “As filmmakers, we wanted to tell a story that relates to the human condition.” And for Gibb and Frankowski, both avid mountain-bikers, the vehicle through which to translate and span that condition and experience, to ideally augment and speak to our collective drives, that which inspires us, is the bike itself. From the opening narrative: “This isn’t a bike movie. It’s a movie about a bike. Big difference.”
So vocalizes another Rossland-based contributor, musician and voice-man Graham Tracey. Bringing Scott’s words to life, the involvement of so many local talents in such an ambitious, internationally scoped project speaks to not only the skills available in the area, but the calibre of those skills, too. “Over fifty percent of the film is Kootenays,” Gibb observes. “From our living and working here, to a lot of the locations in the film, to our riders like (Mike) Hopkins, production and post-production, so much of it could be done right here.” The finished film has served as a springboard for many involved, several contributors, whether atop a bike or behind the lens/scenes, cutting a trail or path deeper into the wilds of action sports related notoriety. For some, lucrative sponsorships have followed, while for others the film has bolstered already significant CVs with an eye-popper of a film-credit. Warfield’s Andre Nutini, for example, transitioned from production assistant to co-creator with Lifecycles, and has since secured work in Europe, his latest project “Legs of Steel” a well-equipped foray into the progressive freeskiing world. Of Nutini, Gibb notes that, “His progression as a filmmaker was so amazing to watch. He was such a quiet, perceptive kid, so good at internalizing lessons learned during (Lifecycles). He’s going to go far.” Both Frankowski and Gibb take obvious pleasure in the success ➤
Summer 2011 Route 3
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FILM FACTS Released Nov 2010 Length - 46:55 Picture aspect ration 2:1 Surround sound 5.1 Timeline – 2K Available on DVD or BluRay & iTunes
FESTIVALS / AWARDS Best Film - 2011 X Dance Best Directing - 2011 X Dance Best Cinematography- 2011 X Dance Best Film – 2011 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival People’s Choice – 2011 Bovec Outdoor Film Festival Best Mountain Bike Film – 2011 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival Official Selection - Banff Film Festival Official Selection – Beijing International Film Festival Official Selection - 5 Point Film Festival Official Selection – SHAFF Film Festival
Available at: iTunes, lifecyclesfilm.com and local bike shops
Page 12
Route 3 Summer 2011
Opening page, main photo: Rossland rider Mike Hopkins on verdant Kootenay single-track. Inset photos: Stills from the Life Cycles film. This page, left: Filming on-location in Vancouver. Right: Filmmakers Ryan Gibb, left, and Derek Frankowski.
of the film both as a creative venture/outlet and as a tool to inspire. Traffic to the Lifecycles website is consistently heavy, comments and kudos from around the world pouring in on a daily basis. Mountain bike and film forums are abuzz with accolades, and the continued momentum of the film on the festival circuit keeps the wheels turning. Fresh from the road, back home in Rossland from the Telluride Film Festival, Saskatchewan-born Frankowski continues to see the effect Lifecycles is having, delayed gratification the name of the game in a project that took upwards of five years to realize. The economic downturn didn’t help either. “Budgets tightened up fast. We had already decided that we wanted fewer sponsors, but the reality was that, almost overnight, sponsor dollars were even harder to come by.” So, where avoidance of the constantproduct-placement-shot approach had been sidelined from the get-go, completing the film was made all the more difficult by the financial clime. In turn, the uphill climb and self-financing/self-sacrifice involved made the furit of their labour that much more sweet. “So much sweat equity went in. We didn’t have money for quads, support vehicles or a
lot of specialized gear. A lot of our dolly and track systems we built ourselves.” But the production values are there. Investment in their Red One camera (a second generation HD, film-quality motion picture camera) and in their creative vision paid off; Lifecyles took Best Cinematography, Best Director, and Best Film at the 2011 X-Dance Film Festival, the action-sports industry’s preeminent motion picture event. More awards have followed, but the true benefits and rewards of the film are more difficult to quantify. Both Gibb and Frankowski are reflective as to what the future holds. “I want to do things I want to do,” Frankowski states emphatically. “Not to just follow the dollars. Money comes second.” “We wanted to create something that people had, and wanted, to think about,” adds Gibb. “Everything we conceived, everything that was within our control, we were able to create. It was a huge confidence builder… In terms of what comes next, I’m going to take a while. The work, the product, will suffer if I’m not passionate about it.” And what of the bike itself, the pivotal, abstract, conceptual protagonist of Lifecycles? Efficiently and effectively elevated to nearheroic status. Mission accomplished.
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Summer 2011 Route 3
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gallery 2
Grand Forks art & HeritaGe Centre Summer exhibitionS Art Galleries
may 14 to August 6 Rick Cepella: In, Above, and Around | Heather Aston: Above and Below Boundary Artisan Association: Magnus Opus - Hocus Pocus August 13 to october 9 Kootenay School of Art: Connections Materialized
Heritage Galleries
Grand Forks Heritage Permanent Exhibition June 13 to September 12 Shashin: Japanese Canadian Studio Photography to 1942
Summer hours: Monday to Sunday – 9:00am to 5:00pm 524 Central Avenue Grand Forks, BC • 250-442-2211 • www.grandforksartgallery.ca
201 1
Aug 13 - 14, 2011
10:00am - 5:00pm
Aug 15,
Explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites through this free, self-guided tour within the Columbia Basin. Meet the artists, shop for demonstrations, special exhibitions, interpretive displays or chat with local historians during this cultural celebration! For further information visit 250-505-5505 our website or call.
toll free 1-877-505-7355 www.cbculturetour.com Funded by
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250-505-5505 • 1-877-505-7355
Page 14
Route 3 Summer 2011
Let’s Celebrate!
Kootenay Festival July 16, 2011
Featuring live music, dance, and performances, July 16, 2011, brings the inaugural Kootenay Festival. Encouraging the appreciation of the community’s diversity, the festival will give residents and visitors an exciting opportunity to sample the cuisine, culture, and heritage of this dynamic region. The true excellence of art in the region will be on exhibition as well, with the Kootenay Gallery and a resident artist’s studio located on the festival grounds. Art easels will also be available for use, surrounded by artists creating alongside the public.
To become involved with the festival, or for any inquiries, please visit www.castlegarculture.com
arts & culture
Arts & the Environment
Karl Yu Photos by Chris Hammett story by
The Living Arts Centre opens at Christina Lake
I
t’s hard to miss if you’re headed eastbound on Highway 3 crossing what the locals refer to as the Christina Creek Bridge in Christina Lake. The complex is to the left in the area’s community park, with the wooden exterior and a glass building partially obscured beside it. For project manager Bob Dupee, the Christina Living Arts Centre is one that has been in the works for quite some time. “The whole community park area was given over to the (Christina Lake) Chamber of Commerce, probably 15 years ago, with the idea of it being a place to build a welcome centre for tourism and visitors,” Dupee explains. “Over the years, the chamber and others have come up with a number of different plans to build something there and each time we weren’t able to get funding or something fell through for one reason or another.” ➤ Summer 2011 Route 3
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SOLD OUT
Wednesday, August 3rd, early entry $50 per person. Thursday, August 4th, early entry $25 per person. New Park & Camp fees apply, see online for more details. All tickets subject to HST and service fees. For more information call 250-352-7623 or email us info@shambhalamusicfestival.com. Visit us at www.shambhalamusicfestival.com
Meet me at the village!
illage Christina Lake
“Christina Lake's Full Service Resort" Our amenities include: Motel, RV Sites, Camping, Restaurant, Grocery, Video Rentals, Laundromat, On-site Pool, and more...
Weekly, Monthly and Seasonal Rates Make your reservation today! T:250-447-9421 TF:1-866-460-9447 www.christinalakevillage.com
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Subsequently, he said that a local group called the Christina Lake Artists and Artisans Society (CLAAS) was established in 2006 to spearhead a building that would not only be a welcome centre but one that would showcase the arts — Dupee is also president of CLAAS. “(There) will be a whole studio centre where people can come and learn disciplines in the arts including pottery, woodworking, glass blowing, torch work, stained glass, metals, fibre, painting etc., in the next phase” says Dupee. In addition to the studio arts, an on-site “Now you’ve got a amphitheatre will provide a much-needed stage and sound opportunities for the area’s beautiful mural on incredibly talented performing artists. The Living Arts Centre is also a stage to the floor that’s 3-D showcase the area, explains Grace McGregor, Area C director for the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, who also played when you walk in, a role in the centre’s establishment. telling the story “I saw the opportunity with the welcome centre to tell a little bit of the history of Christina Lake along with its future,” Mcand the highlights Gregor says. “Now you’ve got a beautiful mural on the of Christina Lake...” floor that’s 3-D when you walk in, telling the story and the highlights of Christina Lake, you’ve got a (cultural) pole from First Nations telling a story, you’ve got a quilt from the quilters on the wall that tells a story of the whole Kootenay Boundary area.”
Two shades of green
Besides the arts, the centre is also meant to showcase the environment in a number of ways. This was key to the project’s sustainability, according to Lucinda Dupee, CLAAS’ director of marketing. “It’s the most sustainable green building of its kind in the region. It was built specifically with the intention of showcasing green building as an educational tool for people to see first hand. The internal workings
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Opening page: At a recent reception in the Welcome Centre, volunteers were recognized for their dedication and hard work. Left: Grace McGregor, RDKB Director for Area C, Bob Dupee, president of the Christina Lake Arts & Artisans Society, Dianne Wales, current Chamber president, and Sheldon Weigel, Chamber vice-president "balance" atop an old trestle bridge that used to cross the Kettle River, painted as a 3-D mural on the floor. Right: Lucinda Dupee is hosting environmental education and art drop-in sessions for children at the Welcome Centre. Left: Cassidy Caron, a student employed by the Christina Lake Chamber, is eager to assist tourists and community members alike with information about the Christina Living Arts Centre, the Lake, and points of interest. Right: This photo of the inside the Solar Aquatic building was taken pre-operational. In full commission, these waste water treatment tanks will be full of lush plant life.
of the building are featured as well as the timber frame, living roof and solar hot water,” explains Dupee. “It’s also what’s called a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building and we haven’t quite completed all the paper work.” The LEED certification, which seeks to promote sustainable and environmentally sound building practices, uses a point system (100-points being the most) and according to Dupee, the Centre is aiming for a silver certification (50 to 59 points). That the materials were locally sourced, environmentally friendly, and recycled are some of the parameters taken into consideration. Another green feature is the centre’s Solar Aquatics water treatment system, which is housed in a glass building off to the side of the Living Arts Centre. Developed by Eco-Tek, it mimics the processes which occur in a natural wetland system says Lucinda Dupee. “It’s kind of tricky because you don’t want to say it’s a waste water treatment plant because it puts it in the wrong light but it’s a system that treats human waste in a natural form using plants and snails and things like that,” she explains. “Waste is cleaned through a natural process centered around a combination of sunlight, oxygenation and absorption of the nutrients. People are always saying ‘Oh, it’s waste,’ but actually, it’s just a nutrient load that’s being recycled.” ➤
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The Christina Living Arts Welcome Centre is hard to miss as you drive through Christina Lake. Situated at the community park, the Solar Aquatics building can be seen in the background and a clearing in the back sits waiting for phase 2 — the Studio Centre and Amphitheatre.
There are also ultraviolet and sand filters, which take out possible trace elements. In addition, the centre uses geothermal heating and cooling, solar hot water heating, a living, green roof and there is 25.4-centimetres of insulation in the walls and Bob Dupee says that it is very economical to heat and cool. A recycled tire walkway around the outside of the centre is another feature. In terms of another kind of green (the financial side) McGregor says that the Christina Living Arts Centre didn’t cost local taxpayers a dime as it was funded largely by grants, including Towns for Tomorrow, the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust (SIDIT) and gas tax money. “They (grant money) always hinge on 80/20, where you’ve got to find some money to put in or how many people are on board with this. There’s always partnerships; you rarely ever get a grant that’s handed to you without any strings attached,” explains McGregor.
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She says that grants come with strict guidelines on how and what they can be used for. Bob Dupee echoes McGregor’s sentiments when asked about the role of grants for the arts centre — he says close to $2 million has been raised in grant money and $30,000 of that came from private donations through art auctions, etc. showing the community’s commitment to creating this facility. “The key grants we were able to get for this, with the help of Community Futures and Wendy McCulloch, was the Western Diversification mountain pine beetle grant and that was close to $1 million,” he says.
Team effort
Both the Dupees and McGregor acknowledge the help of the community in the building of the Christina Living Arts Centre and say that they were crucial.
“In many cases, the contractors basically did the work for little or no profit — I’m sure a lot of them were wondering why they ever got involved with it,” Bob Dupee jokes, “but they did because they saw it was a good community asset.” He also said unpaid volunteers like Sheldon Weigel, past president of the chamber of commerce, helped in many ways including paperwork for grants. “Community Futures and Ron Trepanier of Whalebone Productions Ltd. had an awful lot to do with that,” says McGregor. “Quite frankly, if it wasn’t for Wendy McCulloch and Jennifer Wetmore and Community Futures on a whole, working with us and bringing Ron and Whalebone into the mix, there’s some funding we would not have received.” While the centre is now open, seven days a week, the grand opening is scheduled for July 22, during the annual Christina Lake homecoming.
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Route 3 Summer 2011
Grand Forks
Courtesy Nakusp Market
Courtesy Grand Forks Market
Rachel Roussin
events
Summer Bounty Nakusp
sometime in March. The green thumbs among us take a first hopeful peek outside for any sign that winter might be letting loose its epic hold on the West Kootenay/Boundary region. Mild disappointment usually ensues. True spring is a tall order in these parts, but for the patient and knowledgeable farmer or gardener, it arrives eventually, giving way to a glorious summer’s worth of dirt-covered hands and vegetable-fueled meals. By harvest time, the farm stands and grocers are overflowing with an endless variety of local products and produce culled from across the region’s four hardiness zones, prompting more forgetful onlookers to wonder if winter could ever possibly return. Nowhere is this yearly ritual more aptly represented than within the walkways of our farmers’ markets. On any given weekend, an intrepid enthusiast might visit nearly a dozen of these openair bazaars without expending so much as a tank of gas, and they would travel through some of the most beautiful country on the planet to do so. The cornucopia of local produce is often backed up by hand-knit clothing, honey, crafts, specialty foods, soaps, baked goods, live music, children’s activities — the list is as big and varied as B.C. itself. In addition, the towns that act as host for these markets are worth a trip on their own. From the funkiness of Nelson, to the jaw-dropping scenery of New Denver and Rossland, to the pastoral peacefulness of Grand Forks, the communities of the West Kootenay/ Boundary region reflect the friendly and diverse nature of their residents. ➤
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A guide to the cornucopia of farmers’ markets in the Kootenay/Boundary region Summer 2011 Route 3
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Nelson Downtown Market
Andrea Klassen/Nelson Star
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Weekly musical guests and a revolving door of hand-made B.C. products, food, and produce.
Tuesdays and Fridays from 8am – 2pm at City Park, May long weekend through Thanksgiving. Saturdays from 10am – 2pm at Gyro Park, July and August. Organic fruits, vegetables, and local products at the junction of the Kettle and Granby rivers. Take a stroll through historic downtown Grand Forks, or access the many parks and lakes close-by.
Saturdays from 9:30am – 3pm at 400 block Baker Street, June 15 – Sept. 28. Right in the heart of Nelson’s famous business district, the Downtown Market is a shopper’s dream, featuring the best that Nelson has to offer.
Nakusp Farmer’s Market
Market Fest 2011, Nelson
Saturdays from 9am – 1pm, downtown between the Credit Union and What’s Brewing, May long weekend through Thanksgiving. On the shores of beautiful Arrow Lake, Nakusp is in the heart of it all. Go mushroom picking, walk the promenade, take a hike, or soak up the local culture from the confines of one of the area’s numerous hot springs.
Three Fridays from 6pm – 10:30pm at 200-300 block Baker Street, June 24, July 29, August 19. Come join the locals as they celebrate life in Nelson at this series of nighttime market concerts. Vendors, dance performances, and music on two stages into the evening hours.
Cottonwood Falls Market, Nelson Saturdays from 9:30am – 3pm at Cottonwood Falls Park, May 14 – Oct. 29. Hear the rush of the falls near the beautiful Japanese gardens on the edge of downtown.
Nelson Downtown Market
Winlaw Farmer’s Market Sundays from 10am – 2pm at Spicer Centre on Route 6, May 31 – Sept. 20 The little market that could, offering the Slocan Valley’s best home-made, home-grown products. Browse the shops and cafes before taking a lazy float down the crystal clear Slocan River.
Fridays from 10am – 2pm on the corner of 6th Street and Kildare, June 4 – Sept. 24. Stuck in between Valhalla, Goat Range, and Kokanee Parks on the shores of Slocan Lake, New Denver augments its own astounding natural beauty with this expose of local artisans and growers. Go fishing, take a hike up Idaho Peak, or just unwind in the relaxed atmosphere.
Rossland Mountain Market Thursdays from 3pm – 6:30pm at Columbia Ave. and Queen St., June 30 – Sept. 29. The Alpine City, The Golden City, The Birthplace of skiing in the west — Rossland goes by many names, and its low-key and welcoming market has just as many faces. Local musicians, baked goods, arts and crafts, and the best of the area’s produce come together beneath the shadow of Mt. Roberts. Bring your mountain bike and see why they also call Rossland the “mountain biking capital of North America.” For more information on any of the markets, please visit: www.bcfarmersmarket.org
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raiser, and features numerous Pass Creek Fall Fair, contests like “best garlic poem.� Castlegar, BC Coordinator Ellen Kinsel says, “We Saturday, Sept. 24 – Sunday, Sept. are looking forward to our 19th 25 at the Pass Creek Fair Grounds DEALER STAMP AREA annual festival! Most of our usual The 16th annual Pass Creek Fall vendors are returning along with Fair maintains an emphasis on a few new food and craft vendors horsemanship, with all the necesthat are definitely worth checksary equestrian events. Entertaining out. Let’s hope for a return to ment, vendors, free bus service, sunshine this year!� and a dog show too. http:/www.hillsgarlicfest.ca http://www.passcreekfair.com
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he days get a bit shorter, and a favourite sweater neglected for months gets the call of duty once again. A hint of wood smoke in the air reminds you that your axe handle is broken and your chainsaw is dull. Perhaps you have an 800-pound pumpkin in your yard you would like to show off? Maybe you just love fried dough balls? What better place to indulge both interests, and so many more, than at a fall fair? Tradition and agriculture collide headlong with live entertainment and good eating at these large scale events, which have occurred regularly throughout the course of human affairs and show no sign of stopping.
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food & drink
Purple Yummies In search of the elusive wild huckleberry
P
ick them by the handfuls while walking a woodsy path on a summer’s day. Pick ‘em by the bucketfuls during a hike to your secret place in the hills, then bring ‘em home to make into jam, or bake, or freeze, or effervesce, if you don’t eat them first. Wild huckleberries are a tasty seasonal treat, round like a blueberry, but with a full bodied, richer flavour, slightly tart and delicious. From Kaslo to Sproule Creek, Blewett to Ymir, Bonnington to Christina Lake and beyond, the huckleberries beckon every July and August, promising that wonderful elusive taste of the Kootenay/Boundary region. Bird Creek resident K L Kivi muses, “Mostly I pick on my way home from hiking, emptying my water bottles and then filling them with berries as I
descend from some beautiful mountain idyll. I’ve picked huckleberries in so many places in the past 20 years I couldn’t possibly name them all: the Purcells, the Selkirks, the Valhallas, the Bonningtons. In years of scarce berries, I only pick a few to eat, so as to leave plenty for the animals that depend on them as a primary food source. In years of abundance, I pick enough for half a dozen jars of jam, which I then treasure as priceless.” The huckleberry, after the English “hurtleberry” was named around 1670 or so by European settlers in North America. Huckleberries, which can be found throughout the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest, somewhat resemble blueberries but have a tarter, more intense taste, a somewhat crunchier texture and a thicker skin. In the West ➤
Sandra Hartline photos by David R. Gluns Story by
Summer 2011 Route 3
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Kootenay, look for Vaccinium membranaceum (black huckleberries), a shrub about 1.5 m. tall, with oblong, elliptical or egg shaped yellowish green leaves with finely toothed edges and pointed tips, somewhat angled twigs, and large, purplish or reddish-black fruit. You’ll find them in dry to moist coniferous forests, old burns, openings and clearings, at mid to high elevations or almost to valley bottom. The fruit can help reduce your
risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and inflammation, and may even help in anti-aging. Bears, birds, racoons, squirrels and skunks are also partial to Vaccinium membranaceum, or black huckleberries. Since meeting wild bears isn’t such a good idea, try to avoid picking berries at times when the bears will likely be there, like the early morning, or late in the evening.
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Other species of Vaccinium common at mid to high elevations in the West Kootenay, east shore of Kootenay Lake and west of Grand Forks are grouseberry (V. scoparium) and dwarf bilberry (v. myrtillus) Both species are low growing and have small, red and tasty berries, although the berries of dwarf bilberry are darker in colour. Oval-leafed blueberry (V. ovalifolium) is also widespread and common in wet Columbia
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mountains in moist to wet coniferous forests, openings, clearings and bogs. Barbara Reid, a 26-year resident of Christina Lake, started picking huckleberries at the age of four. For many years, she picked in the area around Christina Lake and Grand Forks. “Run a taste test if you can,” she says, “in early July when they first turn dark and look tasty. It could be they’ll sweeten up a little later in the season, two to three weeks later or even in to August. Don’t trample the bushes — that’s my pet peeve! Treat ‘em gently.” “In making huckleberry pie,” Reid continues, “my secret is not to use too much sugar. Try 2/3 cup sugar to 3 cups of berries, plus a little cinnamon. I thicken with 3 tablespoons of tapioca, plus a little chopped apple, which doesn’t take away the tangy taste of the huckleberries.” One person’s taste is not always another’s palate. Shawn Lamb of Nelson finds huckleberry pie “a little rich” but loves huckleberries in muffins, and says they freeze really well. Many people enjoy huckleberry cobbler, or huckleberry crumble, or huckleberry syrup, or huckleberry ice cream. Want jam? “My jam is simple,” says K. L. Kivi. “I like to supplement the huckleberries with wild
black gooseberries, which often grow in wetter places along the same trails. The gooseberries are more bitter and add a kick to the sweeter huckleberries. If the berries need it, a dollup of honey goes into the pot when I’m cooking up the purple yummies. A bit of pectin makes it all jell.” Here’s a good way to freeze huckleberries: Wash and remove any leaves, then place berries in a single layer on a cookie sheet pan and put them in the freezer. When they’re frozen, pack them up into heavy duty ziplock bags, and you’ll have huckleberries ready to go.
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There’s Nothing Like it! Page 28
Route 3 Summer 2011
then drain before using. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare pie pastry. Using a floured rolling pin, roll pastry 2 inches larger than an inverted pie plate. Fold pastry into quarter folds and ease into pie plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side; set aside. In a large bowl, combine sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and tapioca (making sure brown sugar is well crumbled). Gently fold in the huckleberries and lemon juice; let mixture sit for 15 minutes. Spoon huckleberry mixture into pastry-lined plate; trim overhanging edge of pastry 1/2 inch from rim of plate. Roll other round of pastry. Fold into quarters Place over filling and unfold. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1 inch from rim of plate. Fold and roll top edge under lower edge, pressing on rim to seal; flute. Cut slits so steam can escape. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar onto top of pie crust. Cover edge of crust with aluminium foil to prevent excessive browning. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in the top crust. Remove aluminium foil during the last 15 minutes of baking. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack before cutting and servings. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 8 to 10 servings. (Linda Stradley, What’s Cooking America) — You can also fashion a lattice top for the crust, the better to showcase your berries, and make some huckleberry tarts with the extra dough. Marty Horswill, a third generation Kootenayite, makes huckleberry pie with a pre-baked crust and raw huckleberries. “Boil 1/3 of the berries to a pulp, then strain and add this jelly-like substance to 2/3 raw berries, mix quickly and pour into the shell. The pie will have a wonderful, fresh flavour.” If you don`t want to make huckleberry jam, or pie, or muffins, or cobbler, you can always make barkshack gingermead, a delicious honey wine with huckleberries, honey, ginger root and champagne yeast (enjoyed for many years by Marianne Tremblay of Nelson — “Fizzy!” she reports) from Charles Papazian, author of The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing (1991). Like all good wines, making it involves some effort but it should only improve with age. Some folks find they can pick better and faster using a huckleberry rake, or berry scoop. These lightweight tools can be thrown into a backpack, and may be found online or in retail garden outlets in the lower mainland. Huckleberries can take up to 15 years to get to the fruit bearing stage. The plants aren’t easy to propagate — they rarely grow from seed and don’t transplant well, generally reproducing from a rhizome, or underground stem. With human intrusion into the wild places, huckleberries are becoming harder to find. In fact, scientists have been working to perfect a commercial huckleberry that tastes as good as wild, and is viable to grow. Researchers at the University of Idaho are getting closer to producing a cultivated huckleberry that tastes as delectable as the wild kind. “Give the bears a break,” opines Michael Keefer of Keefer Ecological Services in Cranbrook, one of the authors of What About the Berries? Managing for Understock Species (2010). “Larger mammals such as grizzly bears depend on huckleberries during certain times of the year, ingesting up to 70,000 berries a day.” For now, the best way to find huckleberries is still a hike through the Kootenays on a sunny summer’s day, discovering the wild and indescribably tasty fruit growing in your own secret patch.
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Page 29
Q&A
by Lana
Rodlie
Community in Bloom
Page 30
Route 3 Summer 2011
Brian Findlow
Lana Rodlie
B
ill Garnett remembers being asked to come to Trail`s first Community in Bloom meeting back in 2002. Since then, he has steered the city`s floral displays into a not-to-bemissed summer attraction. Several show gardens are interspersed from the Italian garden at the top of the Gulch to the bridge, with small patches of florals, large pots and hanging baskets throughout town. Garnett is also responsible for the colourful entryway to Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in summer and the lights display at the hospital in winter. The gardens earned top marks in the national Communities in Bloom competition’s floral component, helping the city win the provincial title (in the under-10,000 population category) in 2004, and the national title in 2006 and 2010. This year, Trail is competing for the International title in the category for small towns. Although Communities in Bloom is about civic pride and making an environmentally clean city, it’s the gardens that stand out, delighting both residents and visitors. Where did your love of gardening come from? I started as a child. It’s just in my blood. I was crazy about plants – used to drive my parents crazy. When I was in Grade 10, Cominco sponsored a garden contest and I won for the best rose garden. I had 200 rose plants that I bought myself. People would come after church, or take wedding photos in our garden. I started the nursery when I was in Grade 12. What’s your favourite flower? Roses and geraniums. How do you come up with ideas for the show gardens? I sit down and scratch it out and then when planting, sometimes I will make changes as something might look better. We have such a wide selection of plants at the greenhouse, I can change to whatever I want. I change each garden every year. How many gardens do you manage for the city/Community in Bloom? About 14 in all. We also do 140 hanging baskets and 70 big pots. What makes your spring tulip gardens so spectacular? It’s all in the bulbs. There are various grades and you get what you pay for. When buying, I’d rather have 20 good ones, rather than 50 substandard. At the greenhouse, I don’t bring in junk. I’m very specific about quality and grade. Everything we sell is guaranteed from spring to freeze up. What is the biggest challenge for area gardeners? It all boils down to the soil. Plants take up the nutrients and you must put them back into the soil every year. This year, we replaced all soil for our bedding plants and we have the best bedding plants ever. The (Trail) valley is Zone 5 and even Zone 6 in some places, so that makes a huge (usable) plant base compared to Rossland or Cranbrook. There are three zones of plant material we can use . . . almost close to Vancouver’s (zones).
Above: Bill Garnett amongst the pansies at Columbia Valley Greenhouses. Below: One of the gorgeous municipal plantings in Trail.
What’s the best quick advice you’d give area gardeners? In October, when it turns cold, people turn off their water, but you need to hose and soak all the roses and shrubs with lots of water before freeze up. If the ground gets dry, you’re toast. So what is next? The White Garden on the Esplanade. The idea for the White Garden comes from the White Garden at Sissinghurst in England. There will be a huge rose arbour and all the plants will be white with different flowers and textures. It will harmonize as there is so much colour in the city. To see a garden all in white will be stunning and it will have something blooming from spring until fall. Do you think Trail benefits from the Community in Bloom program and the gardens? Ever since I was a kid, I felt if the City of Trail developed public gardens, it would be a huge tourist draw. In 2011, Garnett celebrates his 45th year owning Columbia Valley Greenhouses on Old Waneta Road in Trail. He also has satellite nurseries in Castlegar and Cranbrook. This year, he purchased Ye Flower Shoppe in downtown Trail.
Welcome Home to Christina Lake, Where Families Play! Christina Lake Homecoming July 23, 2011 www.facebook.com/christinalakehomecoming
RDKB Area C director GRACe MCGReGoR
Supporting arts, culture and heritage in your community. Created by the people, for the people, CBT works closely with Basin residents and assists communities in addressing their needs by encouraging collaboration and partnerships. CBT partners with the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance which delivers CBT’s arts, culture and heritage funding program. Celebrate artists in your community during the free, self-guided Columbia Basin Culture Tour, taking place August 13 and 14, 2011. www.cbculturetour.com CBT works with communities and residents to strengthen the social, economic and environmental well-being of this region.
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Photo: Dar McDowell of the Selkirk Weavers and Spinners Guild weaves a colourful display Twitter as part of the 2010 Columbia Basin Culture Tour.
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