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routesmagazine.ca

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contents DEC

NOV 2012

Features 6 A Quest for Prey 10 Being Santa 12 The Giving Spirit 14 Winter Fashion 18 Holiday Gift Guide 26 Holiday Pheasant Dinner 28 Little Bow Pheasant Ranch

Departments 19 Dining Guide 20 Arts & Entertainment Spotlight on Talent

20 Book: Bonfire 22 Music: Folk Club

32

Routes Salutes Teen Challenge

38 Detours

Columns 34

Stargazing The End is Not Near

30 Financial Insights Clearly for You

36 Family Mindmumming 6x

CULTURE

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Cover photo: Doug Elliott aka: Santa.

Photographed at the Highwood Memorial Centre

by Neville Palmer

Photo by Neville Palmer

PM 41979554

Editor’s Note

W

It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

It came without packages, boxes or bags...

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!

Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store.

Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!”

- Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

ith the harvest and changing weather we all look forward to cozy evenings at home, great scarves and awesome new boots – well maybe that’s just me, inspired by this issue’s fall fashion shoot!

Yes, the holidays are closing in on us and it’s time to think of dinner plans, shopping and giving to others. Fortunately this issue has it all covered.

For me, the busyness and expectations of the holiday season can be overwhelming but I find the best remedy is to take time to do kind deeds for others.

True giving is its own reward (sorry for the cliché), but when you get an opportunity to see how your giving has affected someone else’s life, it can change your own.

That said, I know you will be moved by the two touching stories in this issue of some very special people who have given extraordinary gifts that changed them and most certainly enhanced the lives of others.

And speaking of gifts, I recently had the pleasure of meeting Santa (well three Santas actually).

As one of seven children, I grew up in a home where fun and family were more plentiful than money, hence the concept of Santa was really just a fairytale.

However, this year, some 40 years past my childhood, something changed for me when I met these three mysterious and magical characters. There was something about their spirit that made me wish they would stay all day; something that left me with a smile on my face and my heart a little lighter.

Am I a believer in Santa Claus now? I am closer. I am certainly more aware that there is a certain joy in giving to others at Christmas time or any time.

Here’s a toast to finding your inner Santa and don’t forget your routes…

4

Sandra Wiebe and Santa Photo by Neville Palmer

Sandra Wiebe Publisher/Executive Editor

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November | December 2012 Issue #19

Publisher Routes Media Inc. Executive Editor Sandra Wiebe Copy Editor Pat Fream Art Director Sharon Syverson Photographer Neville Palmer Sales Rae Jamieson Melissa Driver sales@routesmedia.ca Contributors James Durbano, Pat Fream, Veronica Kloiber, Sandra Wiebe, David and Heather Meszaros Proofreader Doris Daley Routes Media Inc. 19 – 3 Ave. SE High River, AB T1V 1G3 Ph: 403.652.1100 ext 102 info@routesmedia.ca Subscriptions: 1 year: $18.90 (GST incl.)

2 years: $29.40 (GST incl.)

Routes magazine is published six times per year. We print 13,000 full colour, glossy copies. They are distributed throughout southern Alberta via Trader Distribution, local retailers and by subscription.

We want to hear from you.

Please post comments on stories at www.routesmagazine.ca Printing by TC Printing For permission to reprint articles, excerpts or photographs, please email info@routesmedia.ca Copyright © 2012 All rights reserved.

Non-deliverables, please return to:

Routes Media Inc. 19 - 3 ave SE, High River, AB T1V 1G3 Canada Post Publications #41979554

Contributors

routes team serving up a holiday roast beast

Head of table: Rae Jamieson, Sandra Wiebe Left: Deer head aka: Melissa Driver (M.I.A), Veronica Kloiber, Pat Fream Right: Sharon Syverson, Neville Palmer

5

Photographed at Little Bow Pheasant Ranch, by Neville Palmer

Norman

ll Rockwe

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Quest

Feature

for Prey

by Veronica Kloiber

photo by Neville Palmer

A falcon diving for its prey is a surreal spectacle. One moment this feather-light creature is perched on its handler’s arm and the next it’s careening towards the earth in a stoop, reaching speeds of almost 300 kilometres per hour, then seizing its prey in a breath-holding display of untamed power.

T

he air is sharp and cold the morning I set out on a hunt with falconer Mark Williams.

Prior to leaving, Williams spends a good hour weighing his birds (Coal, Wallace and Lucky), and takes copious notes on their weight and condition. After packing his gear - camera, electronic tracking devices for the birds, and portioned raw meat to trade for the (hoped for) fresh kill - he is ready to load the falcons.

The three hooded birds perch securely in the custom truck topper. Williams’ two

6

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hunting dogs, Gromit and the very vocal Lewis jump in the back too, spinning with excitement.

A faint pink hue brushes the dark sky as we head east into the rising sun. Leaving the foothills behind, we head for the flatlands. The prairie is where these birds fly best. Better prey, fewer fences and less cover make for satisfying hunts.

Bumping along the back roads, Williams’ eyes are trained on the stubble in the fields, not on what lies ahead. His truck is easy to spot, the license plate reads FALCNR and the vehicle is usually

The bird allows you into its life.

It teaches you patience, humbleness...”

pulled to the side or stopped on the road, the operator busy scanning the grassland.

Once spotted, we park a ways back from the quarry (prey). Williams chooses a falcon, un-hoods the bird and removes its jesses. He then releases the bird into the open sky, most likely saying a prayer that it returns. Then the dogs are out and the hunt is on.

“The falcon watches the dogs and the dogs watch the prey,” comments Williams of how all his animals work together. He goes on to explain that it’s not training that made this team, it’s experience and some innate peculiarity that all predators seem to possess.

The rush of watching the raptor corner its prey never gets old for Williams. He has been hunting with falcons and hawks for going on four decades, making him somewhat of an expert on this 4,000-year-old field sport.

“Believe it or not, I’m rooting for the prey,” says Williams. It’s all part of the enjoyment of the hunt in which Williams deems - nature at her best. “We just arrange the meeting,” he explains of being a falconer. “The only reason you need to catch prey is for the falcon’s sake.”

Once the dogs flush out the quarry, the falcon, fixed on its prey, dives from unseen heights. Just missing a direct hit with the ground the falcon brakes and in

an almost cartoon like maneuver changes course from vertical to horizontal, catching its prey from behind. When the deed is done, Williams moves in for the trade off.

“It’s my feathered shotgun,” says Williams with an exhilarated grin as he swaps the fresh kill for a pre-portioned morsel. Feeding hawks and falcons just the right amount is imperative, and something every falconer takes very seriously.

“You have to weigh it (the bird) to know if it’s too hungry or too fat to fly,” explains Williams. “The only bond we have is trust and food,” he adds.

Becoming a falconer or even an apprentice to one isn’t something that happens overnight. As Williams points out, falconry isn’t so much a cool hobby as it is a way of life. It defines you.

“If you’ve ever owned a dog or a cat, you aren’t prepared, owning a wild bird is nothing like it,” asserts Williams. “You can give a dog food and leave it in a run.

If you did that with a falcon it would go wild.”

With more rules than fishing or other styles of hunting, falconry is provincially regulated and coupled with a mandatory apprenticeship designed to weed out those who aren’t capable of handling the commitment. All falconers must be members of the Alberta Falconry Association,

7

photo by Neville Palmer

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Feature

They have a spirit you can’t break...”

which administers the apprenticeship program as well as assigns species of birds based on the skill of the user.

Registered and papered falconers are allowed to take up to two birds of a specified species from the wild per year. Most are birds trapped as juveniles or taken from the nest. In the wild, 75 per cent of all young will not live to see their second year and if they make it to six, they are considered old. A ‘haggard bird’, one of few that survives its first year, is never taken from the wild.

The most limiting factor of falconry is the huge demand of time, explains Williams. Once they are trained, daily handling is vital to keep the birds from turning wild. A raptor has limited intelligence. Basically it’s a feathered reptile, adds Williams. Vacations, family time

“Much of the breeding stock, for captive breeding and eventual re-introduction, of Peregrines was supplemented with birds from falconers,” explains Williams.

“Falconers were the first to breed falcons in captivity,” he adds, something no one else working in the conservation of these birds had accomplished. The knowledge gained from captive breeding and general falconry husbandry expertise was shared and is now used in several governmentrun captive breeding programs.

This was the focus of the Canadian Wildlife Services captive Peregrine breeding facility at CFB Camp Wainwright and at Saskatchewan’s co-operative falcon breeding program in Saskatoon where more than 500 birds were bred in captivity and released back into the wild.

Falconers can also take credit for the banding and tracking of wild falcons.

Several members of the Alberta Falconry Association worked to build artificial nesting sites on natural cliffs as well as nest boxes on highrises in Edmonton and Calgary. The program is now managed

by Alberta Fish and Wildlife.

For Williams the aspect of falconry that appeals to him most is the special bond between man and animal – an animal that will retain its wildness no matter what.

“The bird allows you into its life. It teaches you patience, humbleness and that you are second to the bird. It has a spirit you can’t break, you’ll kill it before you break it,” philosophized Williams.

“You are that bird’s servant and it bows to no one.”

www.markwilliamsphotographer.com

Peregrine males weigh 1.1 -1.43 lbs and the noticeably larger females weigh 1.65 - 2 lbs.

The female Peregrine has a body length of 13” tall and a 4’ wingspan.

8

Falconer Terms: Haggard - a wild bird, older than one year, with adult plumage Jesses - leg ties Quarry - prey Stoop - a falcon or hawk in a direct dive

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and work for a falconer are all centered around caring for and training the birds.

“The one underlying thing all falconers have in common is they make their job work for their falconry,” says Williams.

The softer side of falconry is all about the conservation and management of wild birds of prey. In the 1960s falconers were the first to notice the decrease in raptors, the Peregrine Falcon in particular, due to DDT (a controversial pesticide banned in 1972).

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Cover story

Photographed at the Highwood Memorial Centre, High River by Neville Palmer

Being Santa

By Sandra Wiebe Photos by Neville Palmer

“Seeing isn’t believing.

Believing is seeing”

Y

10

- Little Elf Judy, The Santa Clause

ou see them in a variety of shapes and sizes at the malls, at the end of parades, on street corners and at children’s parties. Your children have sat on their knees and tugged at their beards and requested everything from toys to different siblings.

Chances are, you’ve been one yourself, creeping down the stairs at midnight to load up stockings and nibble on cookies set out with little fingers and grand expectations.

They all bare resemblance to the jolly man himself, and some even have the heart to match. Believer or nonbeliever, every once in a while you encounter a Santa Claus whose eyes twinkle a little something extra, whose

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Santa #1 is John MacArthur, a recruitment manager residing in Nanton. Traditions in the MacArthur household are to put up the tree on November 12, get baking the Christmas cakes, play Christmas music and watch at least three Christmas films per week – just to get through the collection before December 25! John’s first Santa job was at an Eaton’s at the age of 19; he was their first Santa under the age of 50 and the first to have his own beard!

Santa #2 is Doug Elliott of High River. You may have seen him at his job with the MD of the Foothills, acting with the local theatre group, singing in the church choir or serving up vegetarian meals for dinner club with his wife Paula. Doug has been Santa for more than 40 years.

Santa #3 is Bob Slocombe who works professionally as Santa throughout the Christmas season. He is a semi-retired chartered mediator and lives on his farm in Cayley. (Yes, people do tend to end up on the nice list after a mediation workshop with Santa!)

He even graduated from Santa School in Calgary where he learned his incredible facial expressions, among other Santa specific qualities.

cheeks cast a little rosier glow and whose smile radiates a special warmth. A warmth that can melt even the most hardened heart and make a believer.

Meet Santa #1, #2 and #3. Their white beards are left unattended as early as June and by September they are already catching side-glances from little ones who can be heard whispering, “Mommy, that man looks like Santa.”

Even in a cowboy hat mid-summer Santa #3 receives curious looks and is beckoned by little ones hoping to talk to Santa.

These three Santas look so much like the real deal that even savvy teens and jaded grownups can’t help themselves,

Santa #3 Routes Detention Facility 12.25.2012

Toothfairy (Kaily Wiebe)

feeling a tingle of tenderness when they see that the beard and the twinkle in the eye are real.

But who are these Santas? Which one is the real Santa?

Santa just can’t be anywhere and everywhere, or can he?

“It’s magic,” says Santa #3. “We’re his cousins and helpers.”

Even when faced with the toughest questions: “Can you bring daddy home?” and answers: “All I want for Christmas is to have a better year than the last one,” these Santas understand their role. They have learned that all children want is to be hugged and heard; they want to believe.

“Children see through inspired eyes,” says Santa #3, indicating that authentic joy and kindness is easily transmitted when you’re wearing a beard and a bright red suit. Santa #2 agrees, “Being Santa is like baking bread and singing. It’s about reaching in and retrieving your happy place.”

All three Santas say being Santa is really quite simple.

It’s about love, it’s heart-centered and it’s uncomplicated. In giving joy they receive it back tenfold.

“I’m not jolly,” says Santa #1, and with a pause and tears welling up in his big blue eyes, he adds, “I’m joyful.”

11

Thank you The Costume Shoppe Calgary, for loaning us the Easter Bunny for the day. www.thecostumeshoppe.com

routesmagazine.ca

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The Giving Spirit

For some people helping others is a daily endeavour; the giving spirit is a given.

By Pat Fream

T

12

helma Graham isn’t preoccupied with giving back; her mantra is giving forward. In real time this translates to dozens of selfless acts that range from faithfully giving blood to volunteering weekly at a local hospice.

“I do these things believing that if something bad happens to me or my family, if we’re ever in need, someone will be there for us,” she says. In the meantime, she is happy to be that ‘someone’ stepping forward for others.

The full bloom of her philanthropy unfolded in 2001 when she was notified that she was a match for someone requiring a bone marrow transplant.

“When Canadian Blood Services called I was ecstatic,” she said. “I felt like I had won the lottery.” Graham was in her early thirties at the time, a single mother working as a realtor in High River.

What followed was a series of tests to ensure her health and compatibility. Each step of the way she was given the chance to opt out of the potentially lifesaving procedure.

“I never wavered once. I thought this is what I’m meant to do,” she said.

Graham had always dreamed of becoming a police officer. She volunteered for the Calgary Police Service and on more than one occasion she had started the pre-application training process, but each time something came up preventing her from following through.

Her last attempt was just prior to getting the call about being a bone marrow match. Again she put her career ambitions on hold, only this time she traded one dream for another. “I couldn’t imag-

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ine doing anything greater than saving a life,” she said.

When you are asked to donate bone marrow, you don’t get any information about the person receiving your gift.

I never wavered once.

I thought this is what I’m meant to do.”

“They don’t want details like age or sex to sway your decision,” says Thelma. “You give because you want to save any life, not one that fits your idea of a favourable profile.”

A week prior to the operation, Thelma’s thoughts were with her recipient. “I knew he or she would be undergoing chemotherapy and radiation to kill their own marrow. ” On October 26, 2001, Thelma was admitted to the Tom Baker Centre to have her marrow drawn and just hours later, transplanted to her recipient. The one-day procedure went exceptionally well, but left her tired and tender for a month.

“I wasn’t thinking about how I felt, I just wanted to know if it went okay, if my recipient lived,” she said, adding that she contacted Blood Services every month to get updates. All she received was very general answers: “Your recipient survived and is thriving.”

Ironically, exactly one year later, both the donor and recipient signed a waiver to remove their privacy protection so they could find each other. “I think we both contacted Blood Services on the very same

day,” said Thelma. Her recipient turned out to be 36-year-old Susan Christensen, a Special Constable from Ontario.

Oddly, Susan’s cancer diagnosis was particularly complicated due to her having a rare antigen common mainly to people of East Indian descent. It was extraordinary that both women had this antigen given that both are Caucasian.

This was one of many serendipitous commonalities that bonded the two women and made them friends for life.

“A year after we started talking, she flew me out to Ontario to meet her family,” said Thelma. “Then in 2009 she came here for my wedding.”

The pair explored their genealogies and discovered they both have ancestors that hailed from England, perhaps explaining the unlikely antigen and compatible match. Regardless of what brought them together, a unique life force sustains their bond.

“She’s like a sister to me. We talk, text and email all the time,” says Thelma.

Precisely at that moment her cell phone beeps. “Oh look, that’s her now!”

Thelma (left) with Suasan.

Each year, hundreds of Canadians require bone marrow transplants. According to Canadian Blood Services, fewer than 30 per cent of these patients find a family member with compatible stem cells. The rest rely on unrelated donors, one of the ten million people around the world who are on-call to save a life.

To register, contact OneMatch at www.blood.ca.

The Foothills Country Hospice is a haven of compassion that was raised into existence in 2008 by a community of deeply devoted and charitable people.

But years before it opened, its potential was briefly unearthed. A daydream was cast on a whim, and an ocean of grief brought it home.

I

t was 1997 when Jim Hansen and his wife Catherine took a stroll on the idyllic parcel of land they purchased just north of Okotoks. The couple had no plans to relocate there; they were happy raising their four kids on an acreage west of De Winton. But this land was compelling; its beauty drew them in.

“There was something very special about it,” said Jim. “We bought it as an investment, but that day we talked about building a hospice in a corner by the grove of aspens.”

Hansen, a cardiologist in Calgary, explained that years earlier a relative had passed away in a hospice in Victoria.

He never forgot the unique environment and the compassionate care she received there.

For Jim and Catherine the idea of bringing a hospice to the foothills was just a fleeting thought. A daydream cast when all was right with the world.

One month later, that notion, along with the Hansens’ life as they knew it, evaporated. Catherine, just 43 at the time, was diagnosed with metastatic cancer. The prognosis was grim; she wouldn’t have long. Jim and their four children, aged 12 to 18, were completely devastated.

“She was unbelievably strong and vibrant even after the diagnosis; she was outside everyday looking after her horses, moving furniture, taking the kids to their activities,” said Jim, adding that just months earlier the couple had trekked into Everest Base Camp.

Then some unexplained back pain, a trip to the doctor, shock, sorrow, dreams destroyed.

Together the family decided Catherine would stay at home as long as possible. “Near the end we had Okotoks Homecare come in, but the kids and I took turns staying up all night with her,” said Jim. “She was incredibly strong – she saw all of us through.”

Catherine died at home in May of 1999.

Less than two years later, still deeply affected by the tragedy, Jim returned to the land and decided to channel his grief into a cause he believed in.

“I thought, this experience was so traumatic for me and the kids, if I could do something to make it easier for others, I would.”

Re-inspired and in concert with many others, the hospice idea took flight. Jim helped initiate the process by carving out eight acres of his property and donating it for the building.

“We wanted it to have the best possible spot,” he said. “We chose that piece right around the grove of aspens with the hope of preserving those trees and having them surround a rotunda.”

A board was struck, a society formed, and the entire community got behind the plan. Local physicians, nurses, politicians, clergy, teachers, businesspeople and townspeople were just some of the volunteers who raised the Foothills Country Hospice to life. In January of 2008 it opened amid rolling hills and trembling aspens.

“This project is a testament to the quality of people in this community,” said Jim, stating that the MD gave it the green light and fast tracked a number of processes while countless businesses

and people volunteered, donated funds and gave supplies. Sobey’s in Okotoks donated all the food – and still provides certain supplies for the hospice today.

For Jim, the project was grief grounded; a measure of comfort to quell immeasurable loss.

This project is a testament to the quality of people in this community.”

“I don’t want to be known as the guy who donated the land... anyone could do that,” he said. “What I care about is being an instigator in the project. We started it and it took on a life of its own. I’m so proud to have been involved in something so meaningful.”

Foothills Country Hospice has provided care for more than 300 terminal patients from ages 25 to 99 at no cost to the families.

The facility is funded primarily by donations and fundraising events, and operated by an exceptional clinical team and over 50 steadfast volunteers.

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2012

Fashion

Baby It’s Cold

Outside - winter fashions to warm up to

Photographer: Britta Kokemor-Quinlan

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Makeup/hair: Paulette Marck Stylist: Jaime Quinlan www.calgarystylist.com Talent: Nikolina Gelo Source Guide: Cottonwood Bridal

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Right: Coat: Twentyseven $118 Ring: Mackenzie Jones Dress: Mealan $115 Earrings: Twentyseven $20

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Fashion

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Summer Hours: Open daily 11 - 7 Shop the gallery online!

SOUTHE

RN ALBERT A

A

110 Centre BlackDiamond Diamond 110 CentreAve. Ave. W, W Black 403.933.5047 www.bluerockgallery.ca n eclectic collection of

6 Tech Trends

rt to Spring

RACIN

mode rn RANC G the BAJA H famil ies

...remember to decorate your life...

GON CHUCKWA CHAMPION

JASON GLASS

MILLARVILLE

Artist

tt Wit-Wibau de Wit-Wibau Neel de Neel

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ISLAND SLED ISLAND SLED

PM 41979554

2 Subscriptions for 2 years $29.40

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Gift Certificates Available! starting at $75

403.818.3184 www.decordiva.ca

Giftware * Coffeehouse * Bookshop

128 Government Rd, Black Diamond 403.933.5992 www.blackdiamondbohemia.com

417 1st Street W High River 403.649.8800 www.pixiehollowshop.com

routesmagazine.ca

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Spotlight Arts & Entertainment

onTalent BOOK

Bonfire

- The Chestnut Gentleman

By Susan Raby-Dunne

NOVEMBER Counting Crows Exhibit November - December 2 Okotoks Art Gallery Four artists exhibit very different individual approaches to the subject of crows. www.okotoksculture.ca [OK]

Monuments of Stone Exhibit November - December 2 Okotoks Art Gallery Artist Robin Read exhibits a series of photographs of cemetery monuments and tomb sculptures from France. Free www.okotoksculture.ca [OK]

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The Troubadours November 8 Empress Theatre The Troubadours are Duane Steele, Lisa Brokop, Paul Jefferson, Wyatt Easterling, and Gil Grand. All are respected singer/songwriters in the country/roots genre. Between them they have won and/or been nominated for 35 Country Music Awards (CCMA & CMA) and 18 JUNO Awards. 7 pm, $30 www.empresstheatre.ab.ca [FM]

Shona Rae & The Voodoo Band November 9 Gitter’s Pub www.gitterspub.com [HR]

Millarville Christmas Market November 9 - 10 Millarville Racetrack Featuring a vast array of indoor and outdoor vendors. www.millarvilleracetrack.com [MV]

We Remember Exhibit November 1 - November 30 Okotoks Museum This exhibit honours the men and women from the Okotoks district who served in the First and Second World Wars. www.okotoksculture.ca [OK]

The Goldbergs Live November 9 High River United Church Minsoo Sohn, piano virtuoso 7:30 pm www.highrivergiftofmusic.com [HR]

Troop Train Dinner Theatre November 8 Aspen Crossing The boys are coming home, a Remembrance Day drama. Tickets must be purchased in advance. 1 pm www.aspencrossing.com [MS]

An Old-Fashioned Christmas November 16- December 22 Okotoks Museum An exhibit featuring the traditions and stories of how early Chrismasses were celebrated in Okotoks. www.okotoksculture.ca [OK]

routesmagazine.ca

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Bonfire - The Chestnut Gentleman tells the true and unforgettable story behind the writing of the poem, In Flanders Fields.

W

hen Susan Raby-Dunne was first seized by a fascination with soldier/ poet John McCrae she had no idea she was about to embark on almost seven years of research and travel, from his modest Guelph, Ontario family home, now McCrae House Museum, to Flanders, Belgium where his famous poem was written beside the Yser Canal.

With all she learned about the man, telling his story through a horse named Bonfire helped her confine a potential epic to a manageable size. “His whole life was fascinating and full of amazing achievement but with Bonfire, I decided to just stick to his experiences leading up to and during WWI,” said Raby-Dunne.

The result injects new meaning into our practice of remembrance in a powerful and accessible way.

You will never view Remembrance Day and the wearing of the poppy in the same way again.

The book will soon be available at retail outlets including Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond. It is also available at www.thebonfirebook.com.

Arts & Entertainment Mercury Audio November 16 Gitter’s Pub www.gitterspub.com [HR]

Light Up Okotoks November 16 Olde Towne Plaza Lighting of the community Christmas tree, live performances, horse-drawn wagon rides, family activites and fireworks. Free www.okotoks.ca [OK]

Shane Yellowbird November 16 - 17 The Empress Theatre This multiple award-winning Alberta country star brings his outstanding talents to the Empress Stage. 8 pm, $32 www.empresstheatre.ab.ca [FM]

Steve Pineo Elvis Show November 17 Flare n’ Derrick Renowned singer, songwriter and guitar genius brings his high-energy eight-piece band to rock your socks. Elvis rules! 7pm. www.beneaththearch.ca [TV]

International Christmas Market November 16 - 18, 23 - 25 Spruce Meadows Enjoy 200 vendors spreading Christmas Spirit in the indoor comfort of the Spruce Meadows Marketplace, Equi-Plex and Gallery on the Green. A festive environment featuring unique gift ideas. www.spruce meadows.com [CY]

Tree of Warmth November 16 - December 22 Okotoks Art Gallery Bring in your new scarves, gloves and toques to decorate our tree of warmth. All items collected will be donated to local charities. www.okotoks.ca [OK]

Christmas Market November 17 - 18 Aspen Crossing Come see tables with local photography, knitting, children's clothes, crafts and more held in our greenhouse. 9- 5 pm on Saturday www.aspencrossing.com [MS]

Max and Ruby in the Nutcracker Suite November 20 Empress Theatre Max & Ruby bring to life a wonderful tradition this holiday season as they take to the stage their most magical performance yet. $26.50 www.empresstheatre.ab.ca [FM]

Amos Garrett Jazz Trio November 23 Carlson’s on Macleod 8 pm $20 www.carlsonsonmacleod.com [HR]

Windborn November 23 Gitter’s Pub www.gitterspub.com [HR]

Luke Blu Guthrie November 23 Gitter’s Pub www.gitterspub.com [HR]

Oliver the Musical November 23 - December 1 Highwood Memorial Centre Windmill Theatre Players present Oliver, the musical based on the classic novel Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens. Matinees and dinner theatres. www.windmilltheatreplayers.com [HR]

7 PM, Nov. 18 Notre Dame Collegiate Commons Area Admission by Donation

Christmas Fine Arts Showcase and Silent Auction December 6, 2012 at NDC

To donate to the Silent Auction Please visit our Sponsors Page at www.NDCFineArts.com Notre Dame Collegiate Fine Arts Presents

Chris Velan November 24 Bragg Creek Centre An impeccably balanced performance unites unforgettable rhythms and melodies with unhindered sentiment and subtle delivery.

7 pm, adults $29, youth $27 www.braggcreekperformingarts.com [BC]

Distinctly Nanton Market November 24 Nanton Community Centre If you are looking for unique gifts made by local Artisans, this market is the perfect place to wrap up your shopping.

10 am - 6 pm, Free. www.distinctlynantonmarket.com [NT]

Enter your event at www.routesmagazine.ca Rudolph Express Dinner Theatre November 21 - 24, 29 - 30, December 1, 6 - 8, 13 - 15 Aspen Crossing Rudolph Express, dinner theatre - no time for reindeer games. Murder mystery. 6 pm www.aspencrossing.com [MS]

NDCFineArts Concert Series #2

[OK] Okotoks [HR] High River [MS] Mossleigh [LV] Longview [NT] Nanton [CH] Chareholm [KK] Kananaskis

[FM] Fort MacLeod [PS] Priddis [BC] Bragg Creek [DV] Diamond Valley [MV] Millarville [CY] Calgary [SY] Stavely

7 PM, Dec. 7 & 8 and 2PM, Dec. 8 in the W.O. Mitchell Theatre (High River Library) $5/person, $3/youth, Tickets at NDC Office

NDCFineArts Find Us

Follow Us @NDCFineArts

Visit our Website

NDC FineArts.com

21

The Online Resource For Music, Drama and Arts at Notre Dame Collegiate routesmagazine.ca

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Arts & Entertainment

Spotlight

onTalent music

DECEMBER Light-Up Black Diamond December 1 Town of Black Diamond Holiday Fun. 5 pm www.town.blackdiamond.ab.ca [BD]

T

22

he Foothills Folk Club was created by a group of individuals with the goal to create an interactive, familyfriendly concert series that attracts audience members from the foothills region, Calgary and beyond with some of Alberta and Canada's greatest folk music acts.

They aim to bring additional enthusiasm to High River's bustling arts and culture scene by hosting diverse shows in unique venues in the foothills.

The inaugural concert was with Kris Demeaner, held this past October at Carlson's on Macleod.

In 2013/2014 the Folk Club will be presenting a six concert season and is already attracting interest form local and touring musicians.

If you are interested in purchasing an annual subscription for next year’s concert series, being a sponsor for a concert or as a volunteer, please don’t hesitate to contact the Foothills Folk Club at foothillsfolkclub@gmail.com.

Stay tuned with us on Facebook and at www.foothillsfolkclub.com.

routesmagazine.ca

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Nanton Lights the Way November 24 Downtown Nanton Nanton Chamber of Commerce kicks off the Christmas season with festive shops open 10 am -10 pm. Kids' Kraft Korner, Mrs. Claus and more. Free www.nantonchamber.ca [NT]

The Irish Rovers November 25 Empress Theatre These musical icons are returning to the Empress for their legendary Christmas Concert! 2 pm, $42.50 www.empresstheatre.ab.ca [FM]

Country Style Christmas November 30 Town of Turner Valley Country-style Christmas www.turnervalley.ca [TV]

Eathan Collister November 30 Gitter’s Pub www.gitterspub.com [HR]

Turner Valley Craft Market November 30 - December 1 Flare n’ Derrick Country market featuring locally-produced creations and food. town.blackdiamond.ab.ca [BD]

Winter Fest December 1 Aspen Crossing A Christmas bake sale and winter festival full of activities such as carolers, sleigh rides, a bounce-house and more. 10 am www.aspencrossing.com [MS]

Children's Christmas with Santa December 1 Downtown Black Diamond Children's Christmas party and breakfast with Santa. Gifts and treats for all children.

Two seatings: 9:30 am and 11:30 am. www.town.blackdiamond.ab.ca [BD]

Black Diamond Light Up December 1 Downtown Black Diamond A night of great shopping and fun. Support local business and find one-of-a kind gifts!

5-8 pm www.town.blackdiamond.ab.ca [TV]

Christmas at the Hive December 1 & 8 Chinook Honey Company Visit Santa's reindeer, take a hayride and enjoy a fireside lunch. Indoors are crafts, free tastings and more. A fundraiser for World Vision. 10 am - 5 pm Free www.chinookhoney.com [OK]

Calgary Philharmonic December 2 Rotary Performing Arts Centre Musicians from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra perform in a series of interactive recitals. 3 pm, $15 www.okotoksculture.ca [OK]

Grant Wright December 7 Gitter’s Pub www.gitterspub.com [HR]

Santa Claus Parade December 7 High River www.hrchamber.ca [HR]

Kelly Joe Phelps December 7-22 Carlson’s on Macleod 8 pm $20 www.carlsonsonmacleod.com [HR

Spirit of Christmas December 7 - 22 Okotoks Arts Gallery Holiday gift shopping with hand-crafted items from local artisans, including ornaments, jewellery, cards and artwork- all priced under $200. www.okotoksculture.ca [OK]

Skate with Santa December 9 Okotoks Recreation Centre Santa is coming to town on skates! Candy canes and hot chocolate add to the festive fun. 2:15 - 3:15 pm, Free www.netreg.okotoks.ca [OK]

Kids New Years Eve Party December 31 Okotoks Recreation Centre Free fun for the whole family! 10 am - 4 pm www.okotoks.ca [OK]

Starlight New Year's Eve December 31 Downtown Turner Valley Ring in the New Year at this family-friendly event. Lots of indoor and outdoor activities.

5-8 pm. www.turnervalley.ca [TV]

New Year's Eve Celebrations December 31 Town of Black Diamond www.town.blackdiamond.ab.ca [BD]

Enter your event at www.routesmagazine.ca [OK] Okotoks [HR] High River [MS] Mossleigh [LV] Longview [NT] Nanton [CH] Chareholm [KK] Kananaskis

[FM] Fort MacLeod [PS] Priddis [BC] Bragg Creek [DV] Diamond Valley [MV] Millarville [CY] Calgary [SY] Stavely

Steve Pineo’s Elvis Show

SUNDAY Jan 13, 2013, 3:00 pm

Looking Glass Duo

Classical Matinee Performance

The Once

Saturday Mar 23, 2013 7:30pm

Harry Manx

we

our music lives here, x t to th e b e e r k e e p it ri g h t n e

The McDades Christmas Show December 13 - 14 The Empress Theatre Traditional and ever popular Christmas classics will fill the Empress hall when the McDades take the stage. 8 pm, $32 www.empresstheatre.ab.ca [FM]

End of Days Jam December 21 Gitter’s Pub www.gitterspub.com [HR]

Saturday Nov 17, 2012 7:30 pm

Saturday Feb 9, 2013 7:30pm

Lunch at Allen's December 9 Rotary Performing Arts Centre An extraordinary musical revue by internationally renowned artists, Marry McLauchlan, Cindy Church, Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas.

7 pm, $40 www.okotoksculture.ca [OK]

Tin & Toad December 14 Gitter’s Pub www.gitterspub.com [HR]

THE Place for Live Music

Great Food • Great People • Great Music

112 - 4th Ave. W., High River 403.652.4995 www.gitterspub.com

Saturday Apr 27, 2013 7:30pm

Paul Reddick Weber Bros Band Flare n’ Derrick Community Hall Main Street, Turner Valley Tickets available from: Coyote Moon Cantina – Turner Valley Bluerock Gallery – Black Diamond Millarville General Store – Millarville Okotoks Natural Food Store – Okotoks info: www.beneaththearch.ca 403.933-7040 or 403.933-5811 routesmagazine.ca

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2012

Now offering water service!!

“Our number one priority is

you!”

Gerard Mercier, DENTURIST

We have the right solution for every budget.

Reverse Osmosis: Buy 2 Get One Free!

Monashee Spring Water Delivery available within High River

HIGH RIVER

403-652-1111 CLARESHOLM

1-403-625-1700

Gerard Mercier DD.F.C.A.D. • Evan Perkins DD highriverdenture.com

Providing Denture and Dental Implant solutions for 26 years.

403.652.7771 101-416 Centre St. SE High River www.highwoodnaturalfoods.com

HIGH RIVER • Self Storage Bays Ranging from 5’ x 10’ to 10’ x 30’ • Secure Outdoor RV Parking / On Site Management

info@goldenviewstorage.com www.goldenviewstorage.com

For your Gift basket with Civic & Business Reaching: Information & Invitations phone: *New Residents High River - Danielle *Expectant Mothers 403.862.0724 *New Mothers Okotoks - Adele & Chantelle *Brides-to Be 403.938.2532 *New Businesses Black Diamond/Turner Valley- Natalie *Job Opportunities 403.651.6694 available www.welcomewagon.ca

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routesmagazine.ca

403-601-0541

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2012

Photo by Rachel Miller

Awarded the Best Place to Eat Lunch in the Foothills!

Fresh homemade meals Gluten-free options

Restaurant Take Out

Catering

www.okotoksgourmet.ca 403.938.0058 2B-22 Elizabeth St. Okotoks

your lips on delicious Get

Facebook.com/sugarlipslolliecakes 403.601.9855

Dining Guide PIZZARIAS / GRILLS

Alta Vita Ristorante 134 Macleod Tr SW [HR] 403.652.3793

2 for 1 Pizza #3, 120 Centre St SE [HR] 403.652.2100

Bistro Provence 52 N Railway St [OK] 403.938.2224

Blackstone Rotisserie & Grill

Divine 42 McRae St [OK] 403.938.0000

97 Elizabeth St [OK] 403.982.9891 Granny’s Pizza 110 Main St [TV] 403.933.4000

Heartland Café 46 McRae St [OK] 403.995.4623 Little New York Bistro 108 Morrison Rd [LV] 403.558.0000 Longview Steakhouse 102 Morrison Rd [LV] 403.558.2000 The Crossing Restaurant and Lounge 601- 1 St W [HR] 403.652.7992

Grillo’s Pizzeria 102 Center Ave W [BD] 403.933.2333 Mama’s Pizza & Pasta 100 Stockton Ave [OK] 403.938.3333 My Pizza #1, 104 - 3 Ave SE [HR] 403.652.2262

CAFES / DINERS / PUBS

Grand Central Bar & Grill 8 – 49 Elizabeth St [OK] 403.938.0929 Haywire Café 118 Morrison Rd [LV] 403.852.7952 Ian Tyson’s Navajo Mug 140 Morrison Rd [LV] 403.558.2272

Mainstreet Café 2122-20 St [NT] 403.646.1155

ETHNIC Aditya Fine Indian Cuisine 27A McRae St [OK] 403.982.4646

Black Diamond Bakery 119 Centre Ave [BD] 403.933.4503

New Club Café 129 Centre St [VC] 403.485.2418

Golden National 112 Centre St SE [HR] 403.652.4364

Black Diamond Bar & Hotel 105 Center Ave W [BD] 403.933.4656

Rylie’s Cattle Barn 263, 200 Southridge Dr [OK] 403.995.7779

Ken’s Restaurant 17200-020 Ave [NT] 403.646.2922 P&H Family Restaurant 327 Macleod Tr SW [HR] 403.601.3802 Saigon Moon Vietnamese 130 Government Rd [DV] 403.933.5751 Saigon Sun Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine Suite 245, 200 Southridge Dr [OK] 403.995.8181 Spices East Indian Dining #445, 200 Southridge Dr [OK] 403.995.3320 Yokozuna Sushi Bar and Grill 249, 200 Southridge Dr [OK] 403.995.8141 [OK] Okotoks [HR] High River

Carlson’s on Macleod 129 - 3 Ave. SW Macleod Tr [HR] 403.601.8774 Chef Thomas Family Restaurant 120 Service Rd [VC] 403.485.2222 Chris’s on Fifth 133 - 5 Ave [HR] 403.603.3280 Chuckwagon Café 105 Sunset Blvd [TV] 403.933.0003 Coyote Moon Cantina 202 Main St [TV] 403.933.3363 Diamond Valley Restaurant 202 Centre Ave W [BD] 403.933.3122 Evelyn’s Memory Lane Café 118 - 4 Ave SW [HR] 403.652.1887

[LV] Longview [NT] Nanton

[VC] Vulcan [DV] Diamond Valley

Casual French Dining in Olde Towne Okotoks

Dine In | Take Out | Catering

JoJo’s Café (Kayben Farms) 32nd Street E [OK] 403.995.5509

Marv’s Classic Soda Shop 121 Centre Ave W [BD] 403.933.7001

Graduate Foods 1145 Centre Ave [BD] 403.933.3320

52 North Railway St. bistro-provence.ca

Gourmet on the Go 22 Elizabeth St [OK] 403.938.0058

Highway #24 [MS] 866.440.3500

Aspen Crossing

403-938-2224

Foxes Den, Highwood Golf and Country Club 400 - 7 St NW [HR] 403.652.3644

Royal Café 129 Centre St [VC] 403.485.2418 South Fork 110 - 1 St W [HR] 403.652.3787

sw High Rive 1st r 60 4

403-652-70 26

FINE DINING

“A charming vintage rail car with excellent food and service!”

www.whistlestopcafe.ca

Highwood Catering

Sweet Queen 2125 - 19 St [NT] 403.646.2289 The George Traditional House 101 - 31 Southridge Dr [OK] 403.938.5000 The Stop 123 Government Road [BD] 403.933.3002 Tribal Connection Market 41 McRae St [OK] 403.995.1898 Trish’s tasty Treats 118 Centre St [VC] 403.485.2657

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Whistle Stop Café 406 - 1 St SW [HR] 403.652.7026

Christmas Banquet Specials On Now!

Wild Thyme Café 2018 - 20 Ave [NT] 403.646.2173

www.highwoodcatering.com

403.649.3663

routesmagazine.ca

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Food

An Alternative to the Holiday Turkey Photos by Neville Palmer

Christmas table setting by Pixie Hollow, High River

Chris Martin, co-owner and chef of Highwood Cater ing Co.

Like other birds, pheasants can be seasoned and roasted, or they can be brined first for added moisture and flavour.

Brining* Option To make brine, combine 4 cups of water, ¼ cup salt, bay leaves, and 1 tbsp of white sugar and bring to a boil. Cover and let cool to room temperature. When brine is cool, submerge the pheasant in it and keep it in the fridge for 4 to 8 hours. The longer you brine, the saltier the pheasant will become. After the soak, bring the bird to room temperature and dry it off. If you have the time, let the bird rest, breast side up, uncovered in the fridge overnight.

Basic Roasting Instructions • Treat a pheasant like a chicken in terms of stuffing and seasoning.

• Roast covered until the internal temperature is 160 to 165°F, then cover and set aside to allow carry-over to finish cooking process (to about 180°F).

• Serve with potatoes and vegetables of your liking.

• One bird will feed two people. *Brining: meat already contains salt water and by immersing meats into a liquid with a higher concentration of salt, the brine is absorbed into the meat. Any flavouring added to the brine will be carried into the meat with the saltwater mixture. Because the meat is now loaded with extra moisture it will stay that way as it cooks.

Highwood Catering Co. is headed by husband and wife team Chris and Kristal Martin. Situated in High River, the company provides services for corporate and private events at any location. Along with their enjoyment of being in the cooking business, the couple takes great pleasure in being the proud parents of four kids.

About Chris: From a young age Chris Martin shined artistically but was never good at colouring inside the lines (he hated being restricted by someone else’s imagination).

After graduating from SAIT in 2007, he set his own boundaries, opening Chris’s on Fifth in High River.

“Creating and cooking with food gives me freedom, limited only by my own imagination.”

In 2009 Cris launched the Highwood Catering Co, and with its success he closed the café (2012) to turn his full attention to the flourishing new business.

Today Chris is as passionate as ever about the business of cooking.

“There’s something about watching people enjoy themselves with their friends while they are eating my food - that’s when all the long hard hours disappear.” www.highwoodcatering.com

Feature

Little Bow

PHEASANT

RANCH

Photos by Neville Palmer

Five years ago a group of like-minded individuals fell in love with the idea of having a place where hunters could fulfill their primal urge to hunt for their food, and also a place to cook it eat it, and enjoy it with family and friends.

28

The group purchased a section of land just south of High River and built a large ranch style clubhouse overlooking the Little Bow River. With that, Little Bow Pheasant Ranch and Hunting Club was born. The Ranch is filled with paraphernalia and extravagant evidence of this sport at its finest. routesmagazine.ca

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Most birds for a hunt are purchased from Sarah Marthaller, owner of Mosquito Creek Kennels and Game Birds, Nanton. The birds are released into the grassy riverside and then dogs are used to flush or point out the birds for the hunters.

The game is brought back, and often times, prepared fresh onsite.

Generally, Little Bow Pheasant Ranch is a members-only club, however, the property is available for guided pheasant hunts and the grand 8,000 sq. ft. clubhouse is available year-round for special events.

29

Hunters (left to right) Scott Allan, Garth Becker, Eric Thomsen, Ron Friesen Remy, Black Labrador retriever Purdey, Golden retriever

www.littlebowpheasantranch.com

routesmagazine.ca

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2012

of Retirement Planning

By David and Heather Meszaros

WATER WELL DRILLING The Original!

st. 97 1

403-652-7211

I

recently spoke with a friend who took a trip to Tibet to hike to Mount Everest Base Camp. As we talked about mountain climbing, I was reminded of the similarities to retirement planning.

When a mountain climber sets out to climb a mountain, what is his goal? Most would say it’s to make it to the top. While this is certainly part of the goal, simply reaching the top is not the only goal. The ultimate goal of a climber is to reach the top . . . and come back down safely.

Considering that most climbing accidents (approximately 75 per cent) occur on the descent, it is this second half of the journey that presents the greatest risk and requires a tremendous amount of planning. We believe this is also true of retirement planning. The risks of “coming back down safely” must also be considered.

Many people spend their whole lives working and planning so they can save a large sum of money for retirement. Few plan how their money is going to provide income for the rest of their lives.

The ultimate purpose of retirement planning is to accumulate a nest egg that will produce enough income to satisfy one’s needs and wants throughout a lifetime. The risks clients face when saving for retirement are different than the risks they face during retirement. Consequently income saved for the spending phase of retirement must last as long as the individual does, and address the unique risks inherent during this time.

The following are the risks we consider when formulating a successful retirement income plan.

• Market: risk of losing a significant portion of money invested in the market.

• Sequence of Returns: risk of retiring in the wrong year.

• Longevity: risk of outliving the assets set aside for retirement.

• Health: risk of having to deplete a significant portion of assets to pay for long-term care.

• Inflation: risk that the cost of goods and services will increase over time.

• Liquidity: risk that one’s current portfolio provides limited or no flexibility when unexpected needs arise.

• Legacy: risk of leaving no financial legacy for loved ones or desired organizations.

1

The Ups and Downs

PETER NIEMANS

E

Financial Insights

Clearly For You:

High River, AB

Pumps, Chlorinations, Flow Testing

www.mikesite.biz

TURNER VALLEY - OKOTOKS - BLACK DIAMOND - HIGH RIVER

p.403.842.1125 c.403.807.9741 mkingston@rlfoothills.com

Subject matter for this column was used with permission from Reaching the Summit and Returning Safely in Retirement,

by Caleb Callahan, published in the Journal of Financial Services Professionals, January 2012.

David will present more on retirement planning at the High River Centennial Library on November 27 @ 7:00 pm

Homes • Cottages • Additions Husband and wife team David and Heather Meszaros are licensed with Sun Life Financial and Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. David, a Certified Financial Planner, has been with Sun Life for 19 years. Heather, a Certified Health Insurance Specialist, has been with Sun Life for seven years. They will give you a clear understanding of your financial options by educating you and keeping it simple. For more information call 403-652-3233.

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routesmagazine.ca

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2012

RODNEY GREEN

403-601-9439

WWW.WILLOWCREEKTIMBERFRAME.COM rodney@willowcreektimberframe.com

Dr. Corinna Hildebrand, Dr. Kerry Peacock, Dr. Raymond Myers, Dr. Michelle McIntosh and Dr. Wendy Yip

New Patients Welcome!

403.652.2182

104 1 St SW High River AB

highriverdental.ca

Community

Profile

Community Profile 2013

Book your space now and save

25%

(until November 30, 2012)

sales@routesmedia.ca

2011 - 201

3

403.652.1100

Natural Fancy Brown Diamonds & Rose Gold

31 103-3rd Ave, S.W. High River, AB 403-652-1162 info@austenjewellers.com www.austenjewellers.com Join us on Facebook!

routesmagazine.ca

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2012

Pixie Hollow Routes Salutes

BOOKS & TOYS

Home Accents Jewelry and Accessories

T

een Challenge is a beacon of hope for families seeking help for a loved one struggling with drugs or alcohol, employers seeking quality drug-free workers, and communities searching for answers in stemming the tide of drug and alcohol-related crimes and deaths.

Operating out of Priddis, the unique program aims to liberate men, ages 18-60, from a life of drugs and alcohol. The approach is a one-year, faith-based residential program providing spiritual, academic and vocational training aimed at equipping participants to return to their families and society as responsible citizens.

Program participants follow a well-structured curriculum dealing with attitudes, anger management and personal relationships. In addition to classes, studies and counseling sessions, there is a work detail aspect to the program where participants complete work projects on-site and in the community. This builds skills and a strong work ethic while promoting community service and giving back.

Graduation from Teen Challenge is a highlight for the staff members, volunteers, sponsors and especially for the men themselves. Family and friends along with former graduates attend the celebration. Graduates are offered the opportunity to take part in two six-month internships at Teen Challenge centres across Canada.

Countless stories of transformation speak to the effectiveness of this program, as individuals break free from the bondage of addiction to find hope and a new life. Many graduates are now substance free, gainfully employed and experiencing positive relationships with family.

32

delicious espresso 415 1st Street W High River

Let us take you away to countries around the world!

Fair trade, handcrafted clothing, accessories and housewares from around the world 403.995.1898 | 41 McRae St. Okotoks

EASE the stress and make a great financial plan

Teen Challenge was founded in 1958 as an outreach to teenage gangs and drug addicts as recounted in the bestselling book The Cross and the Switchblade. Currently there are 17 centres in Canada and more than 1,000 centres in 87 countries. A non-profit organization, 90 per cent of Teen Challenge’s funding is received through donations and sponsorship.

Gary Sawatzky

Recently Teen Challenge opened an office in the Lethbridge area and plans to open a second office in Edmonton in 2013. These offices will provide a place for potential participants or concerned individuals to find out more information about the program from their own region. Visions for future expansion include a facility with a separate women’s centre. For more information, visit www.tcalberta.org.

momentumcap.ca

routesmagazine.ca

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2012

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional 403.652.9453

Homes that think ahead.

Box 5173 High River, AB T1V 1M4 403.603.0121 farrellyhomes.com

Shop in High River and Win

Nov 1, 2012 – Jan 1, 2013

Enter the Home for the Holidays Contest!

Shop in High River this Christmas Season and WIN! Submit signed copies of your receipts dated between November 1, 2012 and January 1, 2013 for your chance to win GREAT PRIZES. Full contest details, rules, regulations, draw dates and prizes are listed at 33

Shop local and enter often to increase your chances of winning! routesmagazine.ca

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DEC

2012

Stargazing

The End is NOT

Near

By James Durbano

M

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any people would have you believe that the end of the world will occur on December 21, 2012. This is the date of the winter solstice and as you’ve probably heard by now, it also represents the end of the ancient Mayan calendar.

So much has been written and said about the so-called 2012 apocalypse. In my opinion, most of it is utter nonsense, based on pseudoscientific mumbo-jumbo and extreme paranoia. Let’s delve into this issue a little bit so that we can all relax knowing that the world will not end before the holiday season begins.

First of all, the Mayan calendar does not come to an end on December 21, 2012, although that is the end date for one of its many cycles. This date represents the end of the 13th Baktun. Each baktun is comprised of 144,000 days and represents 20 katuns. Each katun is comprised of 7,200 days and represents 20 tuns. Each tun is comprised of 360 days and therefore represents approximately one year.

So, tuns, katuns and baktuns are sort of like years, decades and centuries respectively. When the 13th Century ended it was immediately followed by the

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beginning of the 14th Century. In the exact same manner, the 13th Baktun will soon come to an end and the 14th Baktun will begin.

As for all the doomsday scenarios and conspiracy theories, they are all completely without scientific merit, even though they have garnered a lot of media and public attention.

For example, the imaginary and mysterious planet called Niburu is apparently on a collision course with Earth and is expected to hit us on December 21, 2012. In actual fact, this rogue planet simply does not exist! Furthermore, a grand planetary alignment is supposed to take place on December 21, 2012, causing a catastrophic reversal of the earth's magnetic field. This too is false; even if it were true a grand planetary alignment would not cause a reversal of the earth's magnetic field. There have been numerous planetary alignments in the past and they have had no effect on the earth.

Big Sky Astronomical Society is having an End of the World Star Party and you’re invited! To learn more about the Mayan calendar, come out to the Big Sky Observatory on December 21, 2012.

This free public event goes from 4:30 pm to 9 pm. Dress warmly and bring some hot chocolate. The first 20 visitors will receive a free 2013 calendar.

If you are not lucky enough to receive a free calendar, don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world!

James Durbano is an astronomer who specializes in education and public outreach activities.

He has been keeping an eye on the sky for more than 25 years and enjoys sharing the wonders of the universe with others. He is the founder of the Big Sky Astronomical Society and operates a small business called Astronomer 4 Hire.

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Martin Reinhard Master Blacksmith 403.646.2244 2112 20th St Nanton www.willowcreekforge.com routesmagazine.ca

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2012

Mind-Mumming:

By Veronica Kloiber

Family

The GREAT TOY migration

I

t begins each morning sometime between the clearing of the breakfast plates and all the other sundry activities that herald the day. At first it’s a trickle, then the tide breaks and every surface is overwhelmed. Tractors on the windowsill, Hot Wheels under the table, a cluster of Lego between the dog’s paws - the great toy migration is underway.

We’ve tried everything to stem the flow: baskets, bribes, threats and treats – nothing can stop it. Not even the time I (almost) broke a toe on a replica 1980 Pontiac Bonneville and the screaming and crying that ensued demonstrated the consequences of wayward playthings, models and trinkets. In our house, the earth-shattering and harsh aftermath of an adult foot colliding with an out-of-its-

ever-growing discard pile. I suppressed the urge to buy more bins and organizers and reminded myself if I couldn’t find a spot for it, there just wasn’t any more room at the inn.

I am pleased to report our worldly goods have been pared down to a manageable size but with Christmas on the horizon I am dreading the influx of rinky-dink junk heading our way. In the spirit of the season, the toys will no doubt start tripping their way into my kitchen, my bathroom and my bed. There comes a time when enough is quantifiable.

Fifty-seven miniature trucks and cars are enough. Seventeen toy excavators are plenty.

Teaching a four-year-old the concept of plenty is tricky, especially at Christmas.

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Tractors on the windowsill, Hot Wheels under the table, a cluster of Lego between the dog’s paws

- the great toy migration is underway.

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element toy is its swift relocation to the garbage (the toy not the foot). But apparently there is no arguing with this force of nature. The toys continue to march as they please.

A few months ago I stumbled upon the joys of minimalism. Somewhere between untold shopping trips, where we would bring home more frivolities, and clearing yet more chattels from our living space, I decided to put an end to the war on clutter. I started getting rid of everything.

The ethos of minimalist living is if an item isn’t used, useful or loved it has no place in your life. My son, a bit of a mama’s boy anyway, was more than happy to follow my lead and gladly sorted his belongings and added to the

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Do I tell him Santa’s feeling the global economic crunch, bought a Mini Cooper and can’t fit in more than one gift? Do I enforce the “for every new thing, something old has to go” rule? Do I sneak in his room and trash some stuff while he’s not looking? This isn’t the way people are raising their kids anymore and so the stuff just keeps on coming.

This year we are hoping Santa brings us consumables. So hear this Santa: all we want for Christmas are things we can use. Send us chocolate for our stockings, beer in my slippers, juice for the boy and a cooler of fine cheeses under the tree.

I’ve never heard of a great cheese migration and even if it does happen, we have a dog for that.

Cheryl Goldthorpe 403.652.3662 509 C Centre St SW High River

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Detours

Photo by Neville Palmer

C 38

routesmagazine.ca

hrist Church was built in 1896 after Anglican minister Reverend Webb-Peploe donated five acres of his land and contracted Charles Schack to oversee its construction.

Building the church was the dream of Webb-Peploe, who had moved to the area from England two years earlier and been holding church services in his private log home. He took pride in the project, using a unique vertical design to match his own log home.

The church, set on a foundation of sandstone and concrete, was dedicated on May 6, 1896.

In 1920 a cemetery ground was consecrated with an impressive memorial depicting a broken column in honour of those who died in the WW1. Several of the old time residents of the area are buried at this location and regular services are still held weekly at the church.

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2012

IRON CROW antiques & objects of intrigue 4 3 0 5 - 9 t h St SE , C a l g ar y, A B

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