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 SPRING 2013
Life in the West Kootenay/Boundary Region
Skin Deep Tattoos, once reserved for bikers and marines, have become almost mainstream
FOR THE BIRDS
Trail woman keeps 160 canaries, budgies and cockatiels
THE JOY OF FARMING
Joybilee is a self-sufficient fibre farm near Greenwood
BRIDGE TO THE PAST
The historic Doukhobor Suspension Bridge is now part of the Trans Canada Trail
Positive Partnerships In partnership with Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Power owns the Arrow Lakes Generating Station, Brilliant Dam & Expansion and along with a third partner, Fortis Inc., the Waneta Expansion Project that is currently under construction. Informative viewing areas have been created at each of these facilities including interpretive signage. We encourage you to visit these viewing areas and learn more about hydropower generation in the West Kootenay.
Reclamation Area
C o lu m
b ia R iv er Reclamation
Trail
Area
Picnic Area &
Area
F i s h e r m a n ’s
Viewing Area
Waneta U.S. Border Crossing
P
d en
d'O
rei
Highway 3A
Hut
Highway 22A Waneta Expansion Project
to Nelson
Arrow L akes Generating S tation Viewing
lle
Riv
er
Hugh Keenleyside Dam
C o lu
m b ia
Broadwater Road R iv e
Ko
Area
ot
y
Ri
ve
r
Castlegar
Waneta Dam
Waneta Expansion Project
Viewing
r
a en
to Trail
Arrow Lakes Generating Station
Brilliant Dam
Brilliant Dam& Expansion
Brilliant Expansion
for more information please contact 250.304.6060 columbiapower.org Page 2
ROUTE 3 Spring 2013
contents
PUBLISHER Chuck Bennett publisher@ grandforksgazette.ca
For the Birds by Lana Rodlie
ACCOUNT MANAGER Chris Hammett route3@ grandforksgazette.ca
The Joy of Farming by James Holtz
EDITOR & ART DIRECTOR Shelley Ackerman sackerman@telus.net
Cockatiels, canaries and budgies — oh my! page 5
Joybilee Farm, near Greenwood, is a self-sufficient fibre farm, page 8
Skin Deep by Amy Robillard
Tattoos, once reserved for bikers and marines, have become almost mainstream, page 14
ROUTE 3 is published by Black Press 250-442-2191 or 1-877-443-2191 Box 700, 7255 Riverside Dr. Grand Forks, B.C. V0H 1H0 Printed in Canada on recyclable paper. Copyright 2012 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.
Bridge to the Past by Sandra Hartline
The historic Doukhobor Suspension Bridge is now part of the Trans Canada Trail, page 19
Cover photo by David R. Gluns
The Northport Smelter Heist by Greg Nesteroff
Somewhere in Washington lies a lost fortune in Rossland gold, page 22
Ojas Cats, owner of Cat’s Tats in Nelson.
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Spring 2013 ROUTE 3
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TIDBITS – a taste of what’s happening in the West Kootenay/Boundary RIVERSIDE ARTISTS ART SHOW AT THE PAVILLION
April 20, 10am–4pm Rock Creek TRAIL SILVER CITY DAYS
May 7–12 Mainstage music entertainment, carnival rides, a parade, bocce competitions and more. NELSON GARDEN FESTIVAL
Sat May 11 200 Block Baker St Annuals, perennials, early vegetable starts, trees, shrubs, furniture and all kinds of accessories. NEW DENVER MAY DAYS
May 16–20 A fun-filled frolic complete with May pole, parade, games, races and events. COTTONWOOD FALLS MARKET
Saturdays from May 18 to Oct 26 Nelson Cottonwood Falls Park Featuring live music, regional produce, eggs, great foods, and a variety of products.
GARDEN & NATURE FEST
Sat May 18 4th annual open-air festival showcasing 30 plus vendors selling a large array of plants: perennials, trees, herbs and veggies. KASLO MAY DAYS CELEBRATION
May 18–20 Downtown Kaslo Annual May Pole Dance, Logger Sports Competition, Sk8Park Demonstration, Show N Shine Antique Car Show, horse show, Slo-Pitch ball tournament, and more. NAKUSP FARMER'S MARKET
Saturdays from May 18 to Oct 12 Downtown Nakusp Fresh produce, baking, crafters and artisans display their wares. ROCK CREEK 2013 POKER RIDE-A-THON
May 19 Registration 8:30 am KASLO GARDEN FEST
Mon May 20 Downtown Kaslo
Locally grown plants and seeds, unusual and exciting garden features created by local artisans and free workshops. WINLAW FARMERS' MARKET
Sundays from May 26 to Sept 15 Hwy 6 Spicer Centre A variety of homemade goodies and homegrown farm produce. CASTLEGAR SUNFEST
May 31–June 2 Festival in the Park opens in Kinsman Park, with dozens of food and merchandise vendors and a variety of activities and entertainment. WARFIELD DAY
Sat June 1 A community celebration which includes a parade, kids events and softball tournament NEW DENVER FRIDAY MARKET
Fridays from June 7 to Sept 27 This market on Main street displays fresh produce, artisan wares and vibrant valley culture.
Welcome to Christina Lake and the Christina Living Arts Centre
NELSON DOWNTOWN MARKET
Wednesdays from June 12 to Sept 25 400 Baker St, Bands, Performances, Vendors, kids entertainment and a lot of fun! TRAIL DOWNTOWN MARKET
Fridays from June 14 to Sept 20 Downtown on the esplanade Enjoy a beautiful outdoor setting with a wide variety of over 50 vendors sure to offer something for everyone. ROSSLAND MOUNTAIN MARKET
Thursdays from June 27 - Sept 26 Downtown Rossland Fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, preserves, textile crafts, jewellery, and art. NELSON MARKET FEST
Fri June 28, July 26 and Aug 23 Bands on two stages, dance performances, kids' entertainment, 50 vendors with hand-made, home-grown or prepared goods and food from YOUR community!
Chamber of Commerce christinalake.com
Christina lake Stewardship Society lakesteward.ca
www.artson3.com
Home of the Christina Lake Stewardship Society, Christina Lake Arts and Artisans Society’s Arts on 3 Gallery, Christina Lake Chamber of Commerce and Lisa’s Bistro. Your source for information, arts, the environment, great food and entertainment. Open daily 1675 Highway 3, Christina lake, BC 250-447-6161 Page 4
ROUTE 3 Spring 2013
lisasbistro.ca
RDKB Area C director GRACe MCGReGoR
PEOPLE
FOR THE BIRDS
Cockatiels, canaries and budgies – oh my!
STORY AND PHOTOS BY
Lana Rodlie
M
ary Zanier got into trouble with the law for something she was growing in her basement. No, the Trail resident wasn’t cultivating drugs. She was growing birds. Several years ago, when Mary allowed her cockatiels free reign of her Rossland Avenue home, she got a visit one day from the RCMP. They said someone was making obscene phone calls from her home. Mary, an elderly, single, church-going Catholic, said no one else lived there. “What about grandchildren?” the cop said. Nope. Mary didn`t have grandchildren. “Well, something is out of order and it better not happen again.” Mary thought it must have been a mistake. But a few days later, the police were back. “Lady, this has got to stop!” The police returned a third time and were about to arrest her. Mary started to cry. Then, right there on her kitchen counter, one of the birds kicked over the phone, pushed some buttons and began swearing into the receiver in a voice that sounded very much like Mary’s. “The police wouldn’t have believed it if they hadn’t seen it themselves,” she said. “And it never occurred to me that it was the birds.” ➤
Spring 2013 ROUTE 3
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One of Mary Zanier’s many cockatiels.
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One time, she had purchased a new microwave, but the dinger kept going off. She called the store and said the microwave was dinging even when she wasn’t using it. After several trips by a repair person, the real culprit showed its true colours. It was the bird, imitating the buzzing sound. Mary’s love for birds started when she inherited a canary that had belonged to her mother. bought another canary to keep it company — another male. But 4:42“I AM the two fought like crazy.” So she gave it away and purchased a female. Before long, as the birds bred and she picked up more birds, her collection grew. Today, she has 160 canaries, budgies and cockatiels. She kept them in cages in the basement; but “birds like to fly,” so she was forced to make a decision: give them away or set them free. Instead, in 1986, she built a large building on the back of her property. One side has netting for ventilation, and in the summer, she adds trees and fountains. In winter, it’s covered with plexiglass, to keep them warm. “They can whistle; and they sing the Oscar Mayer wiener song. You have to be careful what you say around them — oh the language of those birds!” Her cockatiels have learned 30 to 40 words. Asked how the birds developed such a colourful vocabulary, Mary said, “Kids waiting for the bus often come to look at the birds.” She believes some of the kids thought it funny to teach them bad words. “One day, the bird called me ‘shithead.’ I scolded him and asked where he got such a word. He said from a boy named David.” Since the birds are mostly descendants of her original pairs, the stock needs a change of blood, occasionally. So she periodically exchanges birds with a breeder in Fruitvale. To reduce the stock, she removes some of the eggs. But birds always maintain the same number of eggs. So if she took away two, they`d lay two more. “It depends what they lay the first time, but after that, they always lay the same number.”
Tasty. Healthy. Community owned. Mary’s collection of 160 birds started with just one canary.
With her birds, it is seven. So now, she fools them by hard-boiling some of the eggs and puts them back in the nest. When they don’t hatch, the mother isn’t bothered as long as the number is the same. Of course, every bird has a name and Mary knows them all. Two older cockatiels, Chico and Cheeky (male and female) are about 25 years old. Buffy, a 20-year-old cockatiel, is the most chatty. “He can count. I’ll hold up my hand and say ‘how many fingers?’ One, two or three? His crest will go up. If I hold up five, he says ‘who’s babysitting?’ If I wanted him to sleep in the afternoon, I’d put him on my chest. I’d say, ‘does Buffy love grandma? How much?’ And he’d spread his wings.” Buffy also remembers people. Once he took a disliking to one of her friends. The person moved away and the bird hadn’t seen him in a long time. But when he returned, Buffy had some choice words. Besides the talking cockatiels, she has some singing canaries. “In the summer, they start at 5 a.m. If I don’t hear them, I know there is something wrong.” One of the canaries is about 20 years old. “They usually only live about 10 or 12 years.” Although Mary grows sunflowers and grasses in her garden, to feed the birds, she also purchases 50-pound sacks of birdseed monthly — a cost of nearly $700 per year. “On Sunday, they get a treat — spaghetti. On Wednesdays, they get some bread soaked in milk; and they wait for it. And when her neighbour, Star Grocery, has bad fruit, (the owner) brings it over for the birds. They love to eat cut-up apple.” Mary contends that it is a lot of work keeping so many birds. The bird house, which is about 10 by 20 feet in size and roughly 10 feet high, is separated into two rooms with a doorway and a large flythrough window. It is filled with bird houses, perches to land on and a feeding trough the length of the wall. The entryway is also separated into two rooms with two doors. One must enter and close the first door before entering the second. This safety measure keeps the birds from getting out. The floor is covered with removable paper for easy cleaning. Mary is 79 now and says it will be a sad day when she has to give them up. But she’s already made plans with people and a pet store who would take them. Anyone interested in viewing her birds only need to take a walk up Rossland Avenue on a nice summer day. You’ll hear them happily chirping away behind Mary’s house.
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SUSTAINABILITY
Joy of Farming The
Joybilee Farm, near Greenwood, is a self-sufficient fibre farm Page 8
ROUTE 3 Spring 2013
James Holtz PHOTOS BY Chris Hammett STORY BY
N
o doubt the long-haired, thick-furred multitudes of llamas, sheep, goats, and rabbits raised by Chris, Robin and Sarah Dalziel are responsible for much of the joy at Joybilee Farm, but the Dalziels will tell you that the animals are only part of the story. Their efforts over nine years to develop an ethical, sustainable fibre farm has provided them with the joy of developing their skills as fibre artists, the satisfaction of striving to become increasingly self-sufficient and environmentally friendly, and the rewards they receive by reaching out to help those with similar goals. Not that the animals aren’t a large
part of the picture. In fact, even before the Dalziels moved to their farm in Greenwood in 2004 they were raising a veritable menagerie. “We had one acre in Mission,” Robin said. “We were homeschooling and had chickens, milk goats, angora goats and when Chris started weaving, a couple of llamas, angora rabbits. Probably when we moved, if you count all the babies, we had over 100 animals.” But raising animals in the Lower Mainland didn’t bring the satisfaction they wanted. Even though Robin had a good job teaching accounting and finance at BCIT, they weren’t happy there. “We were finding the entire lifestyle and atmosphere of the coast grating; more and more things just became disappointing and frustrating,” he said. ➤
Left: Mother llama, Amaretto, introduces her hours-old newborn to another newbie cria (baby llama). Top: Belle is a bottle-fed Angora goat kid. Above: This one-week-old Romney/ Rambouillet-cross lamb is raised for wool. Maaaaa!
Then, Chris added, an incident occurred that they couldn’t GRAND FORKS ignore: “The year before we JUST GOT A LITTLE MORE moved, one young person pulled a gun on another young person as I was working in the garden, 25 feet from me on the local road, right in front of the house. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.” After that upsetting event, Robin and Chris sold their Mission property and, in May of 2004, moved their belongings and the entire menagerie to their Greenwood property off Highway 3. Today their herds of Romney Marsh/Rambouillet cross-bred sheep, coloured Angora goats, llamas and their Angora rabbits provide fibre for ANNOUNCING AN EXPANDED LINE their own arts and crafts and for OF PANDORA IN OUR STORE! many other artists and artisans THISTLE POT GIFTS as well. 337 Market Ave. T G Grand Forks, BC The level of success they now 250.442.1214 enjoy was not obtained without considerable work, and trial and error, however. There were some hard earned, unanticipated lesMKTG59833_THISTLE_N.indd 1 1/28/2013 4:04:50 PM sons, Robin said. “At first, I wanted to control the animals, I wanted to make sure they were safe and they went where they were supposed to go. I wanted to manage the whole kit and kaboodle.” But Robin admits his desire to control the animals, and teach them the behaviours that he wanted, was a mistake. After laboriously building fences for From top: Chris Dalziel demonstrates how seven small pastures by hand, so to break flax – this is the third step of the he could rotate the animals daily flax-to-linen fiber process. Naturally dyed, from one to another, Robin said felted lambs’ wool baby booties are just he released the animals onto the some of the products available to purfirst pasture only to discover that chase. Sarah Dalziel displays a completed within two hours they had eaten pine needle basket during a Linen Festival workshop. it bare. Deciding daily rotation wouldn’t work, he then took on the job of permanent shepherd, moving the animals continually Kayaks•Bikes•S.U.P.•Clothing through the day from paddock to paddock. “But four or five hours a day following the flock wasn’t conducive Gear•Rentals•Sales•Tours to getting anything else done around the farm.” www.wildways.com Then at the request of his wife, Robin was persuaded to simply let m ildways.co .w the animals out on their own for a few hours at a time. What followed w w w Hwy 3 CHriStinA LAke88-wildwaywas a lesson learned that has helped them alter their entire approach 1 • 1-8 250-447-6561 447-65•61-888-wildway to their farm. ➤
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ROUTE 3 Spring 2013
GRAND FORKS & DISTRICT
Gift Shop
Golf Granite Pointe, minutes from downtown Nelson
Explore, Dine and Shop Historic Baker Street. A true adventure in itself
Relax and Enjoy Lakeside Park and Kootenay Lake
ART & HERITAGE CENTRE
524 Central Avenue Grand Forks, BC gallery2grandforks.ca
Visit Touchstones Nelson: Museum of Art & History
“Grand Forks” Custom Designs by Pridham Studios
Visitor Centre 225 Hall St. Nelson BC V1L 5X4 Ph: (250) 352-3433 ٠ Toll Free: 1-877-663-5706 Email: info@discoverNelson.com Web: www.discoverNelson.com Photos by David Gluns
Garden Tour July 6, 2013 250 442 5835 gftourism@shaw.ca
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What are the kids doing this summer? Join the fun and adventure at the newly designed
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Page 11
Eight -year -old Milton Pelletier learns how to spin linen from freshly broken flax at the Linen Festival.
“Half way through supper the entire herd came up the driveway. They had literally come back on their own. All of a sudden, all my pasture development became irrelevant as I can go down in the morning, open the gate, let the herd out and know that between 5 and 6 o’clock those animals are going to come back up. And that is an example of how we have had to learn to adjust what we do on the farm, to work with the animals and learn. We went from being city folk who are trying to learn how to do farming, to being able to relax and be farmers.” That willingness to learn and accept change has altered their entire focus on maintaining a sustainable fibre art, agribusiness. “The idea was, when we first came out: how could we survive on the farm? What can we make? What can we do? Run out to the farmers market, run out
to the shows, do the Christmas craft fairs, on and on. In hindsight, we thought, ‘Gee you have spent an awful lot of time to get a product and then you had to spend a lot more time selling that product, and by the time you reached the end of the year, you are just barely breaking even.’ It was quite frustrating.” Their frustration led to an epiphany of sorts. “We really don’t have to focus so much on selling the product,” Robin said. “That what we really need to focus on is selling what we do, sustainability, and the lifestyle, and how other people can achieve that lifestyle.” Today, that has become the central theme of Joybilee Farm. Chris has for the last few years begun to use her knowledge of fibre art and the skills that the family have acquired developing their rural lifestyle to pass their expertise on to others. “When we started (to pursue the rural lifestyle in
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ROUTE 3 Spring 2013
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The Dalziels’ goal is to continue to increase their self reliance, a goal they believe is shared by more and more people everyday. They continue to offer personal tours of the farm and sales of fibre art, soap, homespun yarn and Sarah’s wode dye products by appointment directly on the farm. The Dalziels’ Linen Festival will be held on the farm August 11 at which every aspect of converting locally grown flax into finished linen will be covered. For information on the Festival go to www.linenfestival.com. For more information about the farm, or to contact Chris, Robin or Sarah, go to their web site www.joybileefarm.com or for information on homesteading, visit with Chris on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/joybileefarm.
za Piz
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on right now about homesteading.” And, in an interesting way, the technological advances of the 21st century are helping to keep alive the values and perspectives of the 19th century. “Social media has really made a difference. Five years ago no one knew what Facebook was; it was just for high school kids. And Twitter, that was just where people were telling others what coffee shop they were in. Now that has changed a huge amount. So we have 8500 followers, I have 2000 people on my e-mail list. It has grown exponentially. I am getting 200 fans a week. Now out of those, perhaps 2000 interact with me; they will talk to me on the page, and I can tell them which of our products might meet their need.”
Port l
Mission), it was about homeschooling and giving our kids the best education and life experience, and now that all the kids have graduated. I’m shifting gears and doing more writing about the farm and helping other people. We found that with a lot of the farm tours, the people who actually came were people who wanted to do what we were doing; so because of that, we changed our Facebook page so that rather than just selling farm products I was doing more mentoring.” Now, Chris is working full days responding to the questions and queries that her web site, Facebook page and blogs generate. “That is where I am right now,” she says. “I spend quite a bit of time writing articles that will try to help people. I have a book going
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ARTISTS
Skin Deep Tattoos, once reserved for bikers and marines, have become almost mainstream Amy Robillard PHOTOS BY David R. Gluns STORY BY
Page 14
ROUTE 3 Spring 2013
E
Emerging from a perhaps, unsavory reputation in the not-sodistant past, tattoos have gained incredible popularity over the last few decades. So much so that the art form is now displayed proudly on even the most unlikely, and more-often-than-not savory members of the population. The trend is exploding and if the locally inked are any indication, this fringe trend has become (gasp!) almost mainstream. The tattoo — sometimes simple, sometimes elaborate — has served as an amulet, status symbol, declaration of love, sign of belief or tribute has branded humans for thousands of years. From the 5200-year-old Iceman to Egyptian mummies, to Indigenous tribes, to your left arm — tattoos are age-old. But, the tattoo has never been as popular as it is right here, right now. The healthy fervour is evident in the handful of parlours, dens, shops and clinic-like spaces that dot Route 3’s small towns. And
Cat’s Tats
Josh Gatten of Divine Alchemy
Wolf’s Den
of course you can trust the Kootenay region with providing some of the most skilled and reputable tattoo artists in the business — their canvases displayed on every street corner, in corners around the globe. Here are a few local favourites:
WOLF’S DEN TATTOO INC. The first name that comes to mind in the world of local tattoo art is veteran artist, Darrell Cross, who has been inking in the Kootenays for over 18 years. The owner of Wolf’s Den Tattoo Inc. in both Castlegar and Trail — parlours that could be termed “landmarks” in the local tattoo scene — has a reputation that far exceeds the area. People have been known to fly half-way across the globe for a three-day session with the man. “I have been in the Trail area for over 25 years and have been tattooing for at least 18 of those — people know me and they trust me.” Trail’s Wolf’s Den — the flagship “Den” — is a one-stop-shop for ➤ Divine Alchemy
Darrell Cross of Wolf’s Den
everything tattoo related. The spot could be described as clean and cool with just the right amount of demonic bad-ass. From piercings to merchandise to walls lined with intricate sketches, paintings and photographs, there is a plethora of inspiration for both the experienced and the novice clientele. The motto of the store is customer satisfaction and with Darrell’s impressive portfolio, there is nary a complaint. “I guess my specialty would be portraits drawn free-hand,” Darrell says, but really it seems like everything is his specialty. Fellow Wolf’s Den artist, Todd Mercellus, made the trek from Calgary to apprentice under Darrell, and describes his boss as, “the best in the biz”. Being the best in the biz does require some planning, so don’t just show up at the Den. Darrell is booked a solid four months in advance — luckily he offers his services on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturdays, so clear your schedule and show up early. Clockwise from left, work by Cat’s Tats, Wolf’s Den and Divine Alchemy.
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CAT’S TATS Another familiar face in the area’s tattoo scene is Ojas Cats, owner of Cat’s Tats
in Nelson. Ojas is not your typical tattoo artist, nor is his space. Think serenity versus seedy. “I want to change the way tattooing is looked upon. I think that we as a Western culture don’t mark rights of passage like the ancient tribal cultures do… I believe that everyone who gets a tattoo is healing something within themselves.” If Ojas’ goal is quashing every stereotype associated with tattoo parlors, he has succeeded. The space that occupies one side of his house in Nelson’s Uphill area has an almost spa-like atmosphere that exudes calmness — his plan, no doubt. The session starts with a thorough conversation about the work, techniques and expectations. He then has the client inhale a lovely scent of musk, citrus and lavender. The ritual finishes with the use of tuning rods that create a vibration that he holds close to the client’s ear. Once all is calm, the tattooing begins. “My belief is that tattooing is a healing art,” Ojas explains adding aromatherapy and sound therapy are a part of every Cat Tat experience, “and comfort-
able, calm clients are the best kind.” This of course is only one part of the Cat’s Tat experience — It is the tattoo that lasts forever and Ojas’ work is stunning. From portraits to symbols to tribal, everything looks brilliant. His portfolio is extensive and includes unique and rare design, including cover-ups and tattoo removal. Especially impressive is a tartan inked on an upper arm — the geometrical straight lines could not have been an easy feat. Education and safety surrounding the art of tattooing is Ojas’ passion and his brilliant skills, delivered in an unimposing environment makes Cat’s Tats a destination.
DIVINE ALCHEMY
The English etymology as paraphrased from the Oxford English Dictionary traces the word tattoo from the Polynesian “tatau”. The word tatau was introduced as a loan word into English; its pronunciation was changed to conform to English phonology as “tattoo”, and was popularized by sailors on later voyages that introduced the word and concept of tattooing to Europe. (from Wikipedia)
Josh Gatten is the main man behind Divine Alchemy, an artist by trade and tattoo artist by divine intervention. The 33-year-old Victoria native made Nelson home after attending the metal arts program at Kootenay School of the Arts (KSA). Realizing the “starving” in starving artists wasn’t for him, he eventually left school, crossed the street and apprenticed with a 16-year-tattoo veteran. In 2009, Josh purchased the tattoo shop and now runs a bright neon green space alongside employees Avrell Fox (apprentice) and Al Beek. The motley crew runs a busy shop where intimidation has no role, “We are accessible to everyone — tattoo art is a whole art form and the big bad-ass biker is no longer the only canvas,” Avrell explains. What Divine Alchemy does is diverse. From classic black and grey, to script, to colourful murals, their work is gorgeous and art is the highlight. “We don’t advertise because we are busy — sometimes too busy,” Josh explains, adding that 2012 was the year he wrote a novel on skin — last year saw a big trend in words inked on the skin. But don’t let Divine Alchemy’s popularity scare you off. As Josh says, “At Divine Alchemy, everyone is welcome.”
Columbia Basin Culture Tour Aug 10 - 11, 2013
10:00am - 5:00pm
Explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites through this free, self-guided tour within the Columbia Basin.
Aug 15, 2009
Meet the artists, shop for fine art and craft, view demonstrations, special exhibitions, interpretive 10:00 am-5:00 displays or chatpm with local historians during this cultural celebration! For further information visit our website or call. A project of
Robin DuPont
www.cbculturetour.com 250-505-5505 • 1-877-505-7355
July 27, 2013 10:30 am to 7:00 pm
Be a part of this exciting cultural event!
CAT’S TATS
Featuring live music, dance, performances and cuisine from the diverse cultures represented in the Kootenay region. Cost: $2.00
Bring a lawn chair & Blanket and spend the day on heritage way
think green take the free Mti shuttle
Shuttles sponsored by Mountain Transport Institute
From the Station Museum & the Castlegar Recreation Complex starting at 10:15am downtown and continuing throughout the day to the festival site.
711 Houston St, Nelson (250) 352-5575
DIVINE ALCHEMY
2013
Adjacent to the Doukhobor Discovery Centre and the Kootenay Gallery
LOCAL TATOO ARTISTS: WOLF’S DEN TATTOO INC. 2329 Columbia Ave, Castlegar (250) 304-1976 Suite Upr-1407 Second Ave, Trail (250) 364-1977
Funded by
Partners
Go to www.kootenayfestival.com for a full list of entertainment, artisans and food vendors
Suite 204-602 Josephine St, Nelson (250) 505-5434
ART AND TATTOO BY ALANA CRONSHAW Nelson, (250) 777-2106
sPonsors Key sPonsor
CYMATICA 511 Lake St, Nelson (250) 352-3238
1025 TATTOO 2196 Columbia, Rossland (250) 362-7799
We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia
Contact: Audrey Polovnikoff at 250-365-3386 ext.4105 for further information or to volunteer at the event
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TREATYourself Alpine’s Holistic Healing
Be our Guest, Be Inspired Rossland
Hot Stone Therapy Massage Craniosacral Therapy • Heart-centered Therapy Lymph Drainage Therapy ‘Certified Healing Touch Practitioner/Instructor’ Nelson, Rossland & Christina Lake 1-877-378-0526 sunflowerinnbb.com
Private apartments with kitchens. Wi-Fi, BBQs, everything provided. Relax by the creek. Friendly rates. 250 362 7790 www.visitangela.com
Shop, Eat, Sleep & Chill... Beautiful Vacation Homes & Cottages
...in Kaslo — it’s worth the drive
(just 15 min. North of Ainsworth) Shops, museums, galleries, dining, shows.
Family size homes • Affordable cozy cottages Gorgeous lakefronts • Awesome views Hot tubs & fireplaces
Featuring the Kaslo Hotel
Open for the season May 1, 2013!
1.866.447.9334 ChristinaLakeVacation.com
Hydrotherapy • Esthetics •Facials Massage • Manicures • Pedicures • Makeup Natural Products • Ozone Therapy Eminence Organic Skincare.. and much more
Shalimar health Spa
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ROUTE 3 Spring 2013
Call: 250-353-7714 Toll Free: 866-823-1433
Where you want to be
Fresh Air, Wildflowers, Nature
Voted... Nelson’s No. 1 Health Spa
701 Lakeside Dr, Nelson 250-354-4408 Open 7 days a week www.shalimarhealthspa.ca
Front St., Kaslo www.kaslohotel.com
Sunflower Inn Bed & Breakfast Romantic Weekends, Golfers Getaway, Quilter’s Retreats, Trail Riding on Horseback or Bicycle
FOllOw uS
159 Alpine Road Christina Lake 250-447-6201 • sunflowerinnbb.com
Blaylock’s Mansion
Located minutes from Nelson, on Kootenay Lakes’ North Shore. The most unique accommodation in Nelson.
Toll Free: 1.888.788.3613 | Local: 250.825.2200 1679 Hwy 3A, Nelson, BC www.blaylock.ca | info@blaylock.ca
Mars Magic Touch Day Spa Bring a picnic lunch and walk the tree maze or rejuvenate yourself in the day spa offering:
Micro current facelift Colour therapy Holistic massage Ionize foot detox
Infrared sauna Hot stone therapy Spa treatments and more!
Call Marlene
250-442-2930 or 250-442-6553 460 Starchuk Road, Grand Forks
ATTRACTIONS
ARTISTS
BRIDGE TO THE PAST The historic Doukhobor Suspension Bridge is now part of the Trans Canada Trail STORY BY
Below: Celebrating the grand re-opening of the historic bridge in 2010.
COURTESY THE UNION OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNITIES IN CHRIST
C
rossing the Kootenay River at Brilliant, a bit upstream from the confluence with the Columbia, is the Doukhobor Suspension Bridge, a heroic testament to the past and to the spirit of those who built it, and an enduring attraction for everyone to enjoy. Drive down from Highway 3A at the indicated turnoff and you’ll see an osprey’s nest at the top of one of the bridge’s four concrete towers. Walk across the bridge’s wooden deck, and you’ll find yourself on part of the Trans Canada Trail. The suspension span is 331 feet long. Reinforced concrete towers rise 48 feet and rest on concrete piers embedded in the rock face on the opposite side of the river. Each tower is approximately 5 by 10 feet at the bottom and narrowing to 2 by 4 feet at the top. The tower legs are connected by crossbars of concrete. The towers support four steel wire cables anchored at both ends to steel sockets in the rock face. The bridge deck linking the towers is suspended from the overhead cables by vertical steel rods. Now part of the Brilliant Bridge Regional Park, the bridge was originally built in 1913 over the steep banks and turbulent waters of the Kootenay River. Before then, the only way across had been by ferry, driven by horse and windlass. Doukhobor leader Peter V. (“Lordly”) Verigin wanted the bridge as a way of joining the main community of Brilliant ➤
COURTESY OF TOUCHSTONES NELSON MUSEUM OF ART AND HISTORY
Sandra Hartline
Spring 2013 ROUTE 3
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Carved through majestic pines
RV Sites Available
Christina Lake
GOLF CLUB Call 250-447-9313
Named one of B.C.’s top 25 courses
Boat Rentals: Wake, Ski, Tubing, Fishing, Pontoon *No Boat Operators Card Needed*
Waterfront Grill • Groceries • Board Shop Moorage • Gas • Propane • Groceries 173 Larson Road, Christina Lake, BC (Texas Point turn-off)
250-447-6122
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ROUTE 3 Spring 2013
with the rich farms and orchards across the river at Ooteshenie. Doukhobors, originally from Russia, had begun to settle in the area about 1908. They were known for their belief in pacifism, hard work and a simple way of life. By 1912, there were about 5,000 Doukhobors (a word that means “spirit wrestlers”) living in a network of villages on 14,000 acres of communal land at Brilliant, Grand Forks, Glade and Pass Creek. There were farms, grain elevators, the Brilliant Jam Factory, a community store and various lumbering enterprises. The people held the land and enterprises in common under the name of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB), the official company name. Plans for the suspension bridge were drawn in April, 1912, by Cartwright, Matheson and Company, Engineers, of Vancouver. J.R. Grant designed the bridge and A.M. Truesdale supervised its construction. The province of British Columbia provided $19,500 of the $60,000 needed for the project. On behalf of the CCUB, about 40 Doukhobors worked on the bridge project without wages for 11 hours a day. All their work was by hand. A lot of people There was a gasoline cement mixer for mixing cement, and worked on the in the case of lifting something heavy such as cement, restoration for the workers used a donkey engine. The men screened a lot of years to gravel, laid the bridge floor and assembled the parts. pull it together. The bridge arrived dissembled. Cables had to be cut, and the four 48-feet high concrete We wanted it to towers had to be constructed by scaffolding and buckets of be as close to the cement poured into the tower forms. There were no accidents, original bridge as and wheelbarrows and shovels were the most used tools. possible.” The work was completed in only seven months, from early spring until October, 1913, when there was an official opening with the entire community singing psalms and trekking from one side of the bridge to the other to meet in the middle for a benediction. About a year after the bridge had opened, a sign was erected that read STRICTLY PROHIBITED SMOKING AND TRESPASSING WITH FIREARMS OVER THIS BRIDGE, a notice that the pacifist community did not want to see hunters or others carrying guns over the bridge. The bridge served for over fifty years. Longtime Doukhobor community member Harry Voykin remarked in a 1992 interview that although the bridge was originally intended for horse and wagon, it was built strongly enough to carry logging trucks and Greyhound buses. Eventually, however, the wooden deck rotted and the bridge fell into disrepair. In 1967, when a new bridge was built over the Kootenay River
crossing, it appeared that the old suspension bridge would be abandoned. By then, the bridge was closed to foot traffic due to safety concerns. In the 1970s, when it was discovered that the Department of Highways planned to demolish the bridge, Castlegar’s then-mayor Mike O’Connor travelled to Victoria to give historic reasons as to why the bridge should not be destroyed. The order was forestalled. About 1991, a Bridge Restoration Committee was struck, chaired by Lawrence Makortoff, whose grandfather had worked on the original bridge. The committee was staffed by members of the public and the Regional District of Central Kootenay, and funds were raised from the Doukhobor community, the province and others throughout the Kootenay region interested in the bridge’s preservation. In 2007, the Regional District of Central Kootenay took over ownership of the bridge. Under the direction of Barry McGinn of McGinn Engineering and Preservation, the approach on the Brilliant side was rebuilt, the old paint sandblasted to bare metal and then recoated close to the original colour. The old wooden deck planks were torn out and rebuilt. For safety, mesh was installed on either side of the bridge. Jim Crockett, Director of Castlegar and District Recreation and a member of the original restoration committee, was project manager. “A lot of people worked on the restoration for a lot of years to pull it together,” he says.” We wanted it to be as close to the original bridge as possible.” In 1995, the centennial year of the Doukhobors' arrival in Canada, the bridge was designated an Historic Monument by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. The HSMBC plaque, inscribed in Russian, English and French, reads in part, “This historic bridge commemorates an achievement of the Doukhobors of Canada in establishing community settlements in the Kootenay Boundary region of British Columbia during the early 20th century. Today, this structure, also known as the Brilliant Suspension Bridge, stands as an enduring symbol of the collective toil of these Christian pacifist pioneers and their contribution to Canada’s development.” In May, 2010, there was an official re-opening and celebration with a ribbon cutting by Doukhobor leader J. J. Verigin and his mother Laura. More than 1200 people showed up, braving inclement weather and once again able to walk across the reconstructed bridge. Later in the year, night lighting was installed to increase beauty, function and accessibility. The restoration had cost over $1,000,000. In 2012, an observation deck was added to give visitors an added vantage point to view both the old and the new – the historic bridge on one side and the highway arch bridge just downstream. The Doukhobor Suspension Bridge stands as a testament to the collective determination of the local Doukhobor community, as well as being a part of the larger cultural landscape. Once again it is a connector, a magnificent section of the Trans Canada system of recreational walking and biking trails.
A strong voice for the KootenAys Katrine Conroy
nDP Candidate for Kootenay West #5 - 425 Columbia ave., Castlegar katrineconroy.bcndp.ca
One of the Jewels of the Boundary
Come for the trails, the golf and the lake; stay because it feels like coming home. 2037 Highway 3, Christina Lake, B.C. Toll Free 1-888-859-0159 • 250-447-9312 www.newhorizonmotel.com A B.C. Select property, catering to the discerning traveller
Spring 2013 ROUTE 3
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HISTORY BY
Greg Nesteroff
THE NORTHPORT SMELTER HEIST Somewhere in Washington lies a lost fortune in Rossland gold
B
uried for more than a century, and representing some smelter workers’ ill-gotten gains, a missing fortune in gold was once estimated to be worth $10,000, but might bring more than 10 times as much today. The story begins in 1898 when the Spokane owners of Rossland’s fabulously wealthy LeRoi mine opened a smelter just south of the border at Northport, to avoid using magnate Augustus Heinze’s railway and his Trail smelter. But labour strife hit Northport in 1901. After the Western Federation of Miners succeeded in organizing the smelter, the owners declared they would only hire non-union labour, and a strike was declared. Rossland miners walked out in sympathy in a dispute that dragged on for months. Afterward, rumors surfaced that Northport smelter workers were stealing gold bearing matte — the product chiseled out from cooled furnace bottoms. “Feeling ran high at the time of the thefts because of the importation of strikebreakers,” the Spokane Daily Chronicle related many years later. “It was openly claimed that stealing from the institution was not an offense, because of its labor policy.” Proof of the thefts came in late 1902, when a Northport saloonkeeper named Peter Swanson was arrested in Rossland with 200 lbs. of stolen matte valued at $1,000. Swanson confessed to trying to fence the goods and was sentenced to a year in jail at Nelson; the consensus was that he got off lightly. Supposedly Swanson implicated 44 others, including smelter workers and Northport businessmen. A few months later a shady character named George Bartlett, who owned a cigar store at Northport as well as some brothels, was found at the railway depot there with a trunk full of stolen smelter matte worth over $4,000. After stewing in jail for a while, he accepted an offer from prosecutors to name his accomplices in exchange for leniency. Page 22
ROUTE 3 Spring 2013
Postcard of the Northport smelter, 1917, which handled ore from Rossland’s LeRoi mine. The smelter was the victim of widespread theft in the early 1900s. Some of the loot may still be out there.
To everyone’s surprise, he fingered Louis Peel, a popular shift boss. “The apprehension of Peel came as a genuine surprise and shock to the whole community,” the Daily Chronicle wrote. “He occupied a post of considerable importance in the [smelting] works, had a clean record in every respect and was so eminently esteemed by all that scores of Northport people refuse to believe that he is any way guilty.” Peel’s sensational trial opened in Colville in late November 1903. His roommate testified to finding stolen matte under a mattress in their cabin, but could not swear Peel knew about it. A smelter guard said he knew matte was being stolen, but didn’t consider it any of his business “so long as his attention was not called to it by the injured parties.” Bartlett testified to a conspiracy in which Peel stole the matte and Bartlett found the buyers. An Oakland refinery that received a letter from Bartlett got suspicious, however, and the jig was up. Bartlett was described in the Spokane Press as “reel[ing] off his story with the nonchalance of an expert confidence man.” Only Bartlett’s wife and children corroborated his story, claiming Peel had come to their house several times at night with matte. Peel, for his part, denied any knowledge of
the affair, and “proved by far [the] most favorable witness.” The jury preferred Peel’s account and after deliberating for a few hours, delivered its verdict accordingly: not guilty. That didn’t quite end the matter. While the total amount of missing matte was never clear, portions were reportedly recovered from time to time, most near Little Dalles, and in 1930, a veteran miner named Ivan Knapp uncovered 400 lbs. east of Colville, near the county infirmary. It was worth $10,000. In linking the latter to the Northport smelter theft, the Chronicle said “half of the loot still lies buried in these valleys where zealous hands had cached it, hands of many Colville valley citizens who still are living but whose names now probably never will be revealed.” “There was a lot of talk around about gold being stolen and buried,” Northport old-timer Peter Janni told the Chronicle in 1968. “That gold has never been found and one day may make somebody rich if they uncover the loot.” The Northport smelter closed in 1911, reopened a few years later, closed again, and was finally demolished, although its remnants were visible into the early 2000s. The LeRoi mine, whose proceeds helped build the Ridpath Hotel and other Spokane edifices, shipped its last ore in 1929.
MARKETPLACE To Advertise contact Chris at 1-877-443-2191
Check out our large selection of Gluten-Free foods and Organic Produce
For all your garden and floral needs Hardy & deer resistant perennials Floral arrangements for all occasions
Proud to supporters! local produc
AvAlon GArdens 250-444-0144 3865 Moore Rd., Grand Forks
(turn south on Spragett & follow the signs) Boundary Mall, Grand Forks • 250•442•5560 Open 7 days a week • 8am-7pm Mon-Sat • 9am-6pm Sundays
Heart ‘n’ Sole Quilts Experience old-fashioned charm in our lovely heritage house surrounded by quilts and welcoming smiles. In the Heart of Grand Forks! FAbric ~ books ~ NotioNs ~ cLAsses ~ sALes biNs iNcLudiNG FAbric
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Monday to Friday: 10am-5pm
s’ Largest Garde n Ce tenay o o nt K e re h T
saturday: 10am-4pm ~
325 75th Avenue, Grand Forks (turn north at Lordco)
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www.georamagrowers.com
Open Year rOund
Just a short, scenic drive – 5 min west of nelson on Granite road
John Pengelly Tuner & Technician 250-352-5203
johnsfsr@hotmail.com 705 West Innes St. Nelson, BC V1L 3J4
Caring for pianists & their instruments We Have…
The Best Bloomin’ Baskets! Come visit us for all your gardening needs Growing for Grand Forks for 21 years Open 9 – 5, 7 days a week 3705 Koochin Rd. (follow the signs) 250.442.5240
Stop In and Be Surprised! Over 30 years of Seeding, Propagating, Transplanting, Nurturing, Landscaping & Sourcing Interesting Plants Retail Garden Centre Complete Landscaping & Irrigation Services Hwy #3 & Johnson Rd. Christina Lake, B.C. Phone 250 447 6299 www.durandsnursery.com
DuranD’s nursery
Spring 2013 ROUTE 3
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Boundary Country is rich in agriculture, arts, tourism and adventure. See what the Boundary Country has to offer you.
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Taste Unlimited. Taste Unlimited.
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