T8N September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019 I t8nmagazine.com

SEASONAL Stressbusters

Unique products to help face the fall

DRESS MODE The debate over school uniforms

STUDENT SNACKS

How to keep your star pupils energized

MYSTIC SISTERS Ancient remedies for modern women

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Contents

T8N MAGAZINE

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 7 September 2019 PUBLISHER

EDITOR

Rob Lightfoot

Gene Kosowan

ART DIRECTION

Brenda Lakeman, Correna Saunders DESIGN & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Correna Saunders PHOTOGRAPHY

Brenda Lakeman CONTRIBUTORS

Rudy Howell, Paula Kirman, Markwell Lyon, Shima Zonneveld OFFICE MANAGER

Janice Lightfoot CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Image page 6 © mast3r/Adobe Stock Image page 8 © juliabatsheva/Adobe Stock Image page 32 © xana_ukr/Adobe Stock

ISSN 2368-707X (PRINT) ISSN 2368-7088 (ONLINE)

For editorial inquiries or information, contact T8N magazine at info@t8nmagazine.com. Have something to say? Letters, suggestions or ideas can be sent to letters@t8nmagazine.com.

Conversations 6

Dressed to Learn

School uniforms are making a comeback across the continent, but are local educators embracing their return?

Arts & Culture 11

Strength Through Sisterhood

A mystical foursome's holistic approach to women's health.

City 16

THEN & NOW

Revitalizing Riel Park

From sewage spot to scenic stop.

18

MEET YOU THERE Down on the Farm The agrotourism allure of Prairie Gardens.

2 T8Nmagazine.com

Living 20

THE 8s

Sweet Relief

Products and ideas to endure the upcoming fall rush.

23

FOOD & GATHERINGS Snacking with Class Treats to keep your studious kids on the go.

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Rob Lightfoot rob@t8nmagazine.com 780 940 6212 or visit t8nmagazine.com T8N magazine is published 10-12 times a year by T8N Publishing Inc. Copyright ©2019 T8N Publishing Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.

Content marked by the Sponsored Content icon was produced in partnership between content producers and T8N magazine.

PRINTED IN CANADA

Spotlight 30 32

Going the Distance

T8N PUBLISHING INC PUBLISHER & PRESIDENT

Rob Lightfoot: rob@t8nmagazine.com

The mini-marathon legacy of Hole's Hornets.

The Crosswalk

Let's get our brains back in gear for the start of a new school year!

CONNECT WITH US

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PASTA

ITALIAN

WWW.NELLOSRESTAURANT.CA 512 ST. ALBERT TRIAL, ST. ALBERT I 780-460-8505

T8N September 2019  3

I FROM THE PUBLISHER I HOW IRONIC THAT at least in this northern

hemisphere, the natural world starts packing it in before the first snowfall, while us humans gear up for autumn, with vacations concluding and schools opening their doors once again. No doubt many of us face a seasonal shock when lazing under the sun eventually gives way to hustling our butts out the door.

Fortunately, we have a few remedies, from energy snacks for students on page 23 to products designed to keep us Rob Lightfoot relaxed on page 20. And for women in particular, Paula Kirman profiles the Mystic Sisters who have their own exotic take on bodily and spiritual health on Page 11.

We also chose this month to address the topic of school uniforms, so far a non-issue to most of us, yet one that has had enough merit for education systems in Ontario, Quebec and the U.S. to shift towards that requisite attire. Markwell Lyon examines whether the same sentiments are surfacing in school systems in this region on page 6.

Uniforms might not be an issue at Lois E. Hole Elementary, save for an athletic squad of youngsters dubbed Hole Hornets, who likely hit the trail in the appropriate gear for running on page 30.

With all that said, it’s at least still warm and sunny enough to take in such attractions as Riel Park (page 16) and the Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm (page 28), which goes to show that as long as the mercury isn’t dipping too radically, you can still have some fun on what left of those warm sunny days.

4 T8Nmagazine.com

On the Cover A change in seasons requires a shifting of gears, especially in the fall, when we all go back to those routines we almost abandoned during those sunnier months. But you can still catch the splendour that autumn has to offer, as cover model Kierah Jorgensen is discovering.

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T8N September 2019  5

I CONVERSATIONS I

Dressed to

Learn

A growing number of schools require students to wear uniforms, but do the results justify stricter dress codes?

BY MARKWELL LYON

6 T8Nmagazine.com

AT FIRST, PATRICIA Bullock was having

none of it. “ I was pretty sure the world was going to end,” she laughs. Bullock was then entering Grade 11 at her new school in Regina, and she was less than enthused to learn that she’d have to wear a uniform.

Consisting of a white blouse, navy dress, and a polyester A-line jumper with a “very ugly” school crest, it was an outfit that emphasized function over fashion. And yet, Bullock warmed up to the uniform pretty quickly—if not its look, then at least the way it simplified things. “That is actually what I found, that it was incredibly freeing.”

Although in Canada we don’t have a culture of wearing uniforms to school, the larger debate over dress codes and what kids should or shouldn’t be wearing to school is very much alive. For some parents and school districts, the answer lies in school uniforms.

The idea has been gaining some traction in recent decades. In the U.S., over a fifth of public schools now require uniforms, up from around 12 percent in 2000. Stats for Canada are hard to come by, but school uniforms are fairly common in Quebec and in Catholic schools in southern Ontario. Here in central Alberta the idea is still fairly new, but with a number of local schools and programs opting for uniforms over civvies, it’s an option that’s worth taking a deeper look at.

Locally, school districts are fairly open to the idea of implementing uniforms—if that’s what parents ask for. But those decisions are typically left to the discretion of individual schools and their communities.

In St. Albert, the Cogito program at Elmer S. Gish requires uniforms for its elementary students.

However, Paula Power of St. Albert Public Schools notes that there have been “no discussions to expand that to other programs or schools, as we’ve not heard anything from parents indicating there’s an interest.”

Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools delegates dress code policies to principals, who in turn consult with various stakeholders, namely students, staff, parents, and school councils. “The dress and grooming have to conform with reasonable standards of neatness, cleanliness, good taste, and health,” says

Superintendent David Keohane. He notes that the subject of uniforms does come up from time to time, though to be successfully implemented, the idea has to come from parents. “These concepts don’t work well if a school-based group wants to foist it on others.”

Coming into Fashion Bullock is now the mother of a teenage daughter who recently graduated from the Nellie McClung Girls’ Junior High, a program within Edmonton Public Schools. A noticeable aspect of the program is the uniforms worn by its students, known as “Nellies.”

The basic or “number one” uniform consists of a blue-and-green tartan kilt and tie, white oxford shirt, navy cardigan and knee socks, and black shoes. The uniform wasn’t the primary reason that Bullock’s daughter chose the program, but it helped it stand out.

“She was just attracted to the idea of being in that [all girls] community,” Bullock says. “It was a smaller school, which is also appealing, and just being able to explore some diversity, I think that was important as well.”

Established in 1995, the Nellie McClung program currently has two campuses, Avonmore in southeast Edmonton and Oliver in the central core, though it will soon consolidate at the latter, where Bullock's daughter studied. The "Nellies" share Oliver School with both an elementary and a French-immersion Kindergarten. While only the Nellies wear a uniform, all three are public school programs. It's an important distinction, as Bullock found she would often have to inform people that no, her daughter was not attending a private school.

Nonetheless, Oliver School is one place that almost cries out for a blouse, blazer, and kilt combo. Its centerpiece is the original three-storey, red-brick schoolhouse, which opened in March 1911. "Boys" is still etched in the stone doorway arch above one of the original entrances, "Girls" above the other. "It's like going to Hogwarts," says Bullock. "They even have a Harry Potter week every year."

It may be assumed that most Canadian teenagers aren’t exactly clamouring for the opportunity to wear a uniform to school. But according to Bullock, a lot of first-year Nellies are doing so for the first time, indicating at least that it’s not always a deal-breaker.

Curiosity may play a small role, as uniforms are still a fairly rare sight at publicly funded schools in Alberta.

Nonetheless, uniforms have found a foothold here, in such public programs as Nellie McClung and Cogito, T8N September 2019 7

in charter schools like Aurora, and in “academy”-style schools like Jean Forest, an all-girls program within Edmonton Catholic Schools.

Pros and Cons The reasons why can likely be found in the positive things people often associate with uniforms: academic achievement, discipline, hard work, and the like. Harry Potter probably hasn’t hurt, either.

Interestingly, in the U.S. the idea of uniforms has caught on strongly in many inner-city, low-income neighbourhoods. Worried about gang influence and unnecessary competition in clothing, education officials have increasingly turned to uniforms as a way to encourage professionalism among students.

Proponents of uniforms often point to the clothing aspect as a reason for implementing uniforms.

They see clothes as too much of a distraction for students. Like adults, kids have a tendency to size each other up based on fashion choices, and clothes can further reveal income differences between families. Then there’s the cost, in time and money, of purchasing clothes and deciding what to wear each morning. The research is rather inconclusive, but does point to some positive effects of uniforms. A 2011 study out of Texas, for example, suggests that uniforms help improve attendance and graduation rates.

However, that same study did not find a link between uniforms and grades. Opponents are also quick to point out that uniforms are frequently

seen as symbols of conformity and a way for school administrators to exert authority and mitigate personal expression.

Then there’s the cost. Oddly, this one winds up being an argument both for and against uniforms.

It can be a lot to pay upfront, although the clothes do tend to last a while, possibly saving parents money in the long run. According to Bullock, the kilt alone at Nellie McClung costs around $100, but in three years she only had to buy two, along with one sweater and two. Not including shoes, she estimates she spent around $700 over three years. She also points out that schools help out through used uniform sales, and many students donate old uniforms once they’ve moved on.

Whether the additional cost is a burden or a bargain may depend on the specific uniform and the perspective of the person paying for it.

For Bullock, it comes down to the practicality of a uniform. Her own high school uniform, while not attractive, was at least designed to be affordable and could even be sewn and put together at home.

The simplicity of a uniform that everyone else at school wears also has some appeal—in fact, it was the very thing Bullock found freeing about her own experience of wearing a uniform. “The more we can simplify the things that aren’t important, the more we give kids the mental bandwidth to cope with the things that are,” she explains. “You don’t want your teenage girl to be out of good choices by 2:00 in the afternoon.”

What do kids think?

Unsurprisingly, student opinions are also divided and often echo those of adults. Cordelia Byfield, 10, who has worn a uniform for six years in the Cogito program at Stratford School in Edmonton, feels that uniforms improve learning. “Sometimes people make fun of or gossip about others because of their clothing,” she says. “Then their focus gets worse and they don’t do as well in school as they could. Her sister Mercia, 15, has spent the last four years in a non-uniform school after four years at Stratford. She doesn’t feel uniforms restrict personal expression. “Just because a student has access to better clothes does not mean they can better express themselves.”

Fiona, a recent high school graduate who wore a uniform at Nellie McClung, is somewhat more ambivalent about the experience. “It was kinda nice to not have to worry about outfits every day.

It also did not look good on any of us, which was unifying in a way.”

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As for the link between uniforms and good grades, she’s more dismissive.

“I got honours in junior high in my kilt, knee socks, and oxford shirt, and I got honours in high school when I rolled up in a crop top three days in a row. People learn best when they are comfortable.

If that’s in a hijab, or in pajama pants, or short shorts, all the more power to them.”

Bullock admits that uniforms are an attraction for some, but not for all.

For her, programs like Nellie McClung and their uniform policies at least provide an additional option for parents and students looking, perhaps, for a purer learning environment. She rightly points out that even non-uniform schools still have “uniforms,” albeit ones decided by family income and fashion trends and not by educational expectations.

“It puts up a lot of barriers that have nothing to do with learning, and at the end of the day, have nothing to do with life.” t8n

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I ARTS & CULTURE I

Strength Through

Sisterhood

The Mystic Sisters address the needs of modern women through ancient practices

BY PAULA E. KIRMAN; PHOTOGRAGHY BY BRENDA LAKEMAN

THE MYSTIC SISTERS are fully versed in the

divine and powerful lessons taught by the universe.

One they experienced recently was that even when the whole shebang hits the proverbial fan, things have a way of working out in the end.

T8N T8NSeptember September 2019  11

That’s exactly what happened with a moon circle the group organized in January. The quartet had rented out a downtown loft in Edmonton for the occasion designed to bring in the New Year only to find out at the last minute that they were given a different space a few blocks away. Arriving late for setup at the venue, still with scaffolding on the premises and the smell of paint permeating the interior, three of the Sisters prepped the room while one was relegated to sending emails, social media messages and texts to the 25 patrons slated to take part.

“We ended up only starting five minutes late and everyone arrived safely,” says Clare Newman, one of the Sisters. “Then, halfway through the circle two fire trucks, sirens blazing and lights flashing, arrived outside just as we finished our meditation.”

Fortunately for the Mystic Sisters, moon circles —ancient women-only rituals designed to harness lunar energy for spiritual well-being— aren’t deemed as safety hazards in Edmonton, since it turned out the fire trucks were responding to an alarm from a nearby building.

It’s also an incident that Newman and cohorts Susanne Venaas, Raeleigne Can Petten, and Tara Cawson can laugh about these days.

But the events they orchestrate, from private circles and retreats to training sessions and workshops, are taken very seriously by the Mystic Sisters and female clientele. All four are trained yoga teachers, as well as skilled in different aspects of alternative health and wellness such as reiki, reflexology, shamanic drumming, and energy healing. While some aspects of the Mystic Sisters' practices might strike people as being New Age, Celtic, or Wiccan, none of them subscribes to any particular creed.

“We certainly celebrate the wheel of the year which consists of the solstices and equinoxes as well as their mid-points,” says Venaas. “Each of these festivities have roots in the Pagan, Celtic, and Wiccan traditions. They are celebrations of both Mother Nature and light and darkness.

While all of these celebrations have roots in those areas, we wouldn't say that any of us identify as Wiccan, nor do we identify as one faith or belief system. It's interesting to follow the energy shifts of the earth in a year as well as the energy shifts of each lunar cycle.”

Regardless of their perspectives on the crafts they pursue, The Mystic Sisters draw women from almost all walks of life, although the bulk of their patrons range from 30 to 50 years old, who, as Venass says “are looking for ways in which to have a safe space to share similar struggles and triumphs that feel real, authentic, and connected.”

The circles are private, usually in a home or T8NSeptember September 2019 T8N 2019 13 13

rented space, and can include a guided meditation, fire release ceremony, intention setting, the use of oracle cards to receive guidance, cleansing (with sage or palo santo incense), and a safe space to share and connect with other women on a spiritual level to empower each other.

Even though women have been coming together in sacred spaces for centuries, the Mystic Sisters have found that there’s a great deal of demand for what they offer, especially in more secular, modern times.

14 T8Nmagazine.com

Many women looking for relief from stress and anxiety and are going through transitions or stages in their lives such as marriage, childbirth, or even exploring the essence of their femininity frequently attend their sessions. “We help to create a space and gathering of women free of judgement, criticism, and shame,” says Newman. “We honour the spaces held deep within all our sisters who are looking for true friendship and the opportunity to bring themselves back to aspects of wholeness on an authentic level.”

And the Mystic Sisters couldn’t have had a more rock-solid endorsement for their group than what they found staring back at their window in the spring of 2018 at a condo they occupied in Canmore. Staring back at them was the mountainous contours of the Three Sisters, an image that stuck with them when they launched the Mystic Sisters that fall. “We started talking about how it would be wonderful to bring the sisterhood of authentic communication, support, and fun to a greater collective,” says Venaas.

There’s no argument that such a form of support transcends all distractions, from the rigours of daily life to a fleet of fire trucks at their sessions. t8n

11725 170 St NW I 780.451.1269 T8N September 2019 15

I THEN & NOW I

Revitalizing

Riel Park

How an urban eyesore was transformed into a field of dreams

BY MARKWELL LYON

THE SITE, FORMERLY a sewage lagoon, is now

a recreation and education mecca, thanks to a 10-year, $30-million revitalization project.

What was once an eyesore and a source of pollution is now home to a 30-hectare recreation park, with soccer and rugby fields, an artificial-turf football field, a regulation BMX track, clubhouses, rodeo grounds, a boat dock, and a 92-stall RV campground. Additionally, the restored five-acre Riel Marsh provides a habitat for migratory and nesting birds, waterfowl, and beaver and muskrats.

1950s and 1960s The 1950s saw the beginning of St. Albert’s transformation from a sleepy village on the Sturgeon to a major community in the Edmonton region. With the population explosion—from 804 residents in 1946 to 4,059 in 1961—came an increased need for sewage and water facilities. For this, St. Albert turned to its river, the Sturgeon, and in 1954 it built a system of sewage lagoons in the area of Riel Park. While the lagoons fulfilled a municipal need by treating sewage, every spring they would drain into the river, upstream of the town.

16 T8Nmagazine.com

Image Credit: Musée Héritage Museum Mayor Richard Fowler with other members of the Kinsmen Club of St. Albert helping to seed the ground for the Kinsmen Community Park in the Riel area. August 1996.

SALES PROFESSIONAL NEEDED

1970s and 1980s The City began phasing out the lagoons in the 1970s, and the idea of using the area for recreation began to take hold. While two of the three lagoons were decommissioned and initially turned into municipal landfills, later in the decade they were covered over for use as a sports and rodeo grounds. The third and most southerly lagoon in the system meanwhile became a stormwater pond. Throughout the 1980s the pond found use as a practice site for canoers and kayakers while also providing irrigation for nearby soccer fields. Waterfowl began using the pond, as it provided better shelter than the nearby lake.

1990s Increasingly, the city recognized the recreation potential of the lands along Big Lake and the Sturgeon River and began to plan accordingly. The reclaimed land on the south side of the river near the mouth of Big Lake was already the site of the Kinsmen Rodeo Grounds, as well as facilities for local soccer and rugby clubs, so it made sense to run with this theme. From the beginning, the city developed the park in partnership with local clubs as a recreation and tournament venue, for use by residents and visitors alike. The 1991 Red Willow Park Master Plan called for redeveloping the existing features and facilities, including the pond, and adding new ones, such as a campground, picnic area, and pedestrian trails.

2000s By the following decade, there was a need to update plans for Riel Recreation Park. More recreation space was needed, and the park was to be intersected by the future Ray Gibbon Drive, which would displace some of its facilities.

After finding high levels of E. coli and other dangerous bacteria in Riel pond, the City in 2005 embarked on a $30-million, 10-year project to revitalize the area, including the restoration of Riel Marsh, the adjacent wetland.

Now Decades of development have left St. Albert with an impressive legacy in Riel Recreation Park. As a result of the Riel Park project, the City was nominated by the Alberta Emerald Foundation in 2018 in recognition of its environmental achievements. Today, the park sets an example for communities across Alberta and beyond of how will and action can beautify even the ugliest of sites, while providing recreation and exercise to residents. t8n

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I MEET YOU THERE I The story of the farm begins in 1898, when the land that the farm sits on was first homesteaded by Franklin and Florence Pierce. Located along the Athabasca Landing Trail–a longdistance portage route that linked Fort Edmonton (modern day Edmonton) on the North Saskatchewan River with Athabasca Landing on the Athabasca River–the property became a shelter for travelers to stop and spend the night between destinations.

DOWN on the

FARM AS FARMING TECHNOLOGY

has progressed over the past century, the number of small family-run farms in Alberta has slowly been shrinking due to an increase in large corporateru n fa r ms. This has had a n impact on the connection that people once shared with their food, and in turn, has created a trend of people becoming more conscious about where it is that the food on their plate actually comes from.

18 T8Nmagazine.com 18 T8Nmagazine.com

However, what we know of today as Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm began in 1956, when the property was purchased by John and Sheena Chedzoy. The couple opened a tree nursery and garden centre on the farm which they operated until present owner, Tam Anderson, took over as head grower and farmer in 1984. Since then, Prairie Gardens has grown into an award-winning farm which annually welcomes over 50,000 visitors worldwide, turning Anderson into a well-known Alberta ambassador and pioneer for agritourism, local food, and value-added agriculture.

Every year, Prairie Gardens cultivates mass appeal

BY RUDY HOWELL

Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm is an agritourism operation located 25 km north of Edmonton that has been taking advantage of this trend as a way to educate visitors on farm life and food production. As a working family farm, Prairie Gardens naturally grows 35 acres of produce intended for family dinner tables. The “adventure” refers to the available activities, events, and festivals that the farm offers throughout the year. Its goal is to connect visitors back to the land, to each other, and to a simpler time through providing local, healthy food and a place to explore, enjoy, and have good old-fashioned family fun.

“I grew up as a farmer’s daughter and didn’t realize how important that was to me until later in life,” says Anderson.

“I decided I really wanted to grow plants, produce food, and share what I know and learn.”

The star attraction of Prairie Gardens is by far the farming experience, Anderson says. Beginning each year in July, an activity called “U-Pick” offers visitors the opportunity to come to the farm and pick their own fruits and vegetables. Strawberry season runs from mid-July to early August; vegetable season begins in late July; sweet corn season runs from late August until frost; and pumpkin season runs Sept. 28-Nov. 2.

As the world’s most northern commercial pumpkin grower, the farm dedicates 10 of its 35 acres to roughly 50 different kinds of pumpkins. Since 1984, Prairie Gardens has hosted its now famous annual Haunted Pumpkin Festival each fall where visitors can come dressed up in Halloween costumes and pick their own pumpkins.

“Sometimes the pumpkins aren’t suitable to sell as jack-o-lanterns, but they certainly fit into our pumpkin cannon,” jests Anderson. “That’s always an excitement.”

The farm also offers field trips, summer day camps, and out-of-school care programs to roughly 10,000 children and students each year, providing them with specialized programs for guided and self-guided farm tours that educate patrons on things like the seasonality of vegetable production, and the social and economic realities of local farming and food production.

As far as popular kid-friendly attractions go, children of all ages (and parents) can go for a ride on the trackless train which

takes passengers around the farm, get lost in the living puzzle that is the one acre Mindbender Corn Maze, or try the smaller sunflower, bale, or rope mazes.

Kids can also explore the Ghost Town of Boo’n Accord which features a haunted farm house and the Lost Lemon Gem Mine where kids can pan for real gems and fool’s gold.

The farm is also adding to its connections by running a community-supported agricultural program where people in the area help create a local food shed by buying a share of the harvest at the beginning of the season. Prairie Gardens has also started supplying its produce to local Edmonton restaurants such as RGE RD, Biera, and The Butternut Tree.

Completing the array of attractions is a petting zoo where visitors can meet the farm sheep, goats, and bunnies. More adult-friendly draws include Prairie Garden’s farm weddings, corporate retreats, and company picnics and Christmas parties, all of which are catered by the farm.

Anderson says that she wants to continue collaborating with local chefs and restaurants, as well as simply expanding on what the farm can provide to its visitors. “What we see is that the experiences that the farm can offer is something that is so unique that we want to continue developing those experiences.” t8n

Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm at a glance Location 56311 Lily Lake Road, Bon Accord Specialty Pumpkins and the Haunted Pumpkin Festival Fun fact The farm has welcomed over one million visitors since opening in 1956 Correspondence 30-minute drive from St. Albert

Hours of Operation September hours: Monday-Thursday – 2pm-6pm, Friday-Sunday – 10am-6pm.

October hours: Monday-Friday– 10am-2pm, Saturday-Sunday – 10am-6pm.

Admission Toddler (0-2 years old): Free; Youth: $15 + GST; Adult: $19 + GST; Family 4-pack (2 adults & 2 children): $65 + GST; Family 5-pack (2 adults & 3 children): $75 + GST; Family 5-pack extra child: $10 + GST Prices cheaper online

T8N September 2019 19

I THE EIGHTS I

Sweet Relief

Survive those end-of-season hassles with these creative stress busters

BY MARKWELL LYON PHOTOGRAGHY BY BRENDA LAKEMAN

This Is J Bamboo PJ Tank Set $109.99 and Robe $149.99 from Cloud Nice Pajamas

SUMMER’S CAREFREE DAYS are winding down, which means it’s

time once again to brace for autumn—that time of year when life is at its busiest and most anxiety-inducing. As our days fill with tasks and obligations to others, it’s easy to forget about your own peace of mind.

Keep calm and make yourself a priority this autumn with these fun ideas and products to manage stress. t8n 20 T8Nmagazine.com

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22 T8Nmagazine.com

I FOOD & GATHERINGS I

Snacking with

Class

Treat your scholarly kids with these goodies, graded A for Appetizing!

RECIPES & STYLING BY SHIMA ZONNEVELD; PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA LAKEMAN

WITH BACK TO school comes long study

sessions, late nights at the library and long lineups at the coffee shop, but hopefully not poor eating habits. Try some of these college care package ideas to keep up kids’ energy and hopefully keep them out of the coffee line!

T8NSeptember September 2019 23 T8N

Sprinkle Biscotti 4½ c. all purpose flour

4 large eggs

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. vanilla paste

1 c. room temperature butter

1 c. sprinkles + 1tbsp. for the top

1¾ c. white sugar

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Using a hand beater or a stand mixer cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy.

Add in the eggs, vanilla extract and vanilla paste and mix well. Slowly add in the dry ingredients on a low speed until just combined.

Stir in the sprinkles by hand.

Divide the dough into two pieces. On the parchment lined sheet, form each portion of the dough into a log. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through the bake time, until golden and the top springs back when touched.

Lower the oven temperature to 300°F. Let the logs cool on the baking sheet for 15-20 minutes. Carefully transfer, one log at a time, to a cutting board. Slice into half-inch slices and place back on the baking sheet cut side up. Do the same with the second log.

Bake each sheet for 15 minutes, flip the biscotti over and bake on the other side for 15 minutes until golden.

Let the biscotti cool and package away carefully!

The biscotti will keep for a few weeks in an airtight storage container or pop into the freezer for up to six months.

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A delicious mocha coffee dipper or an in between meal nosh and hey, who doesn’t smile when they see sprinkles!

These little nuggets are great for a pre-class pick-me-up or an after-workout protein punch during recovery.

Power Bites 1 c. old fashioned oats

¼ c. wheat germ

⅔ c. shredded coconut

⅓ c. chocolate chips

1 tbsp. chia seeds

⅓ c. nut & seed butter

¼ c. ground flax seed

⅓ c. cookie butter 1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together thoroughly.

Form the mixture into one-inch balls and pop into a parchment lined container. These are best kept in the fridge and will keep for up to three weeks, if they last that long!

T8N September 2019 25

Mocha Coffee This delicious blend of chocolate and caffeine is a great warm drink for that fall walk around campus.

2 tbsp. homemade hot chocolate mix (see below)

3-4 tbsp. milk 1 c. hot brewed coffee

Whisk together and keep on studying!

Homemade hot chocolate mix 2 c. cocoa

2½ c. sugar

¼ tbsp. salt

Mix well and store for up to 6 months.

Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies ½ c. toasted old fashioned oats 2¼ c. all purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda

1 ¼c. brown sugar 2 large eggs 1½ tbsp. water ⅓ c. cacao nibs

½ tsp. kosher salt

1 c. mini-chocolate chips (semi-sweet)

1 c. softened butter

1 c. milk chocolate chips

¾ c. white sugar

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cream together the sugars and the butter until fluffy.

Mix in the eggs, vanilla and water.

Factor in the yum factor of toasted oats, the crunch of cacao nibs and plenty of chocolate and these cookies will become a fast favourite. Great for the between-class dash or a late-night study session.

Add in the baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour until mixture is combined.

Stir in the cacao nibs and the chocolate chips.

Using a cookie scoop or making tablespoonfuls, drop the dough onto the baking sheets. Give the cookie sheets a light tap before popping into the oven.

Bake the cookies for 13-15 minutes until golden brown.

Turn the cookie tray around halfway through the baking time.

Let the cookies rest on the sheet for 10 minutes and place them on a cooling rack until completely cool.

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Homemade Caramels 2 c. whipping cream

½ c. brown sugar

¼ c. butter

1½ tsp. vanilla extract

¾ tsp. kosher salt

1 tbsp. maldon salt (for sprinkling)

¾ c. Lyle’s Golden Syrup (corn syrup can be a good substitute) ¼ c. water

Meeting friends for a study night, wow them with espresso and sea salt homemade caramels. You’ll definitely be invited back!

1¼ c. white sugar

1 tbsp. finely ground espresso mixed with ½ tsp. white sugar (for sprinkling) Candy thermometer

Line a nine-by-13-inch glass pan with parchment paper and spray the ends that are exposed.

For wrapping the caramels, use confection wrappers or cut parchment paper into two-by-three-inch pieces. Aim to cut 50, depending on how the caramels are cut, more or less might be needed.

In a medium saucepan, melt together the cream, butter and salt.

Set aside.

In a deep, medium-large pot, combine the golden syrup, water, white sugar and brown sugar. Stir to form a paste and then insert the candy thermometer to the side of the pot. Heat should be medium-high, let the mixture cook until the thermometer reads 280°F; do not stir the mixture, but remove from the heat.

In this same pot, slowly whisk in the cream/butter mixture. It will bubble up, don’t panic just whisk!

Place the pot back on the heat and remembering not to stir, bring the temperature back up to 240°F. Remove from heat and gently stir in the vanilla.

Hot sugar can be dangerous so carefully pour the caramel mixture into the prepared pan. Use a spatula dipped in water to smooth out the surface of the caramels.

On one half, sprinkle the salt over the top. On the other half sprinkle the espresso/sugar mixture.

Allow the caramels to cool and set up over night, uncovered on the counter.

Lift the slab of caramel onto a cutting board and cut the caramels into bite size rectangles. Wrap each caramel in confection paper or parchment paper and twist the ends tight.

These will keep for up to one month in their wrappers!

T8N T8N September September 2019 2019 27 27

Marzipan Oat Loaf ½ c. toasted oat flour (see below) 1 ½ c. all purpose flour 1 tbsp. baking powder ½ tsp. kosher salt 2 ½ tbsp. sugar + ½ tbsp. sugar (sprinkling on top) ¼ c. toasted almonds ½ c. chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet) 6 oz. marzipan, chopped into small pieces and tossed with 1/2tbsp. of icing sugar ⅔ c. buttermilk 2 eggs, lightly whisked in a bowl ¾ c. cold butter, chopped into cubes 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a nine-by-five-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and spray exposed ends with cooking spray.

Oat flour: Using the broil setting on the oven, toast a half-cup of old fashioned oats until golden.

The heartiness of the oat flour and the distinct almond flavour from the marzipan, this loaf will keep any student going through the day.

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Watch the pan closely they will go quick. In a food processor, whiz up the oats until they are the texture of flour.

Leave the oats in the food processor and add in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Process until this mixture is combined.

Add in the butter and continue to process until the mixture has a scone-like consistency with the butter being in pea-sized balls.

Pour this mixture into a large bowl, and with a spoon, stir in the buttermilk, extracts and eggs to combine. Then gently fold in the marzipan, chocolate chips and almonds.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smooth out and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for 40-50 minutes until a skewer comes out clean when inserted. Let the loaf cool on the cooking rack for 20 minutes in the pan. Turn out the loaf onto a cooling rack and completely cool.

Delicious served warm or as an on-the-go snack at room temperature.

Cinnamon Cereal 1 batch of cinnamon cereal (see below for recipe) 1 c. toasted coconut

1 c. dried cranberries 1 c. toasted pumpkin seeds milk to serve

1 c. toasted almonds

The possibilities are endless for the add-ins and this cereal is just as delicious eaten with or without the milk.

Cinnamon Cereal 1½ c. whole wheat flour

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

1 c. all-purpose flour

2 tbsp. honey

2 tsp. baking soda

½ c. buttermilk

1 tsp. cinnamon

⅓ c. white sugar and 1 tbsp. cinnamon (for the topping, there will be some left over, great on warm buttered toast!)

⅓ c. room temperature butter + 1tbsp. melted butter (for the topping) ⅓ c. brown sugar

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, combine the two different flours, baking soda and cinnamon, set aside.

Using a stand mixer or hand beaters, cream the butter, brown sugar, vanilla and honey.

Slowly add in the dry mixture, alternating with the buttermilk until both the buttermilk and the dry ingredients are incorporated.

With excess packaging and high sugar content, why not ditch store bought cereal and try to make it at home!

On a lightly floured surface, form the dough in two large, flat discs.

Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll it out as thin as possible, ideally a quarter-inch thick. Using a pastry cutter, cut the dough into bite-sized squares. If fanciness is what you are after, tiny cookie cutters can be used to cut the cereal shapes!

Bake each sheet for nine-13 minutes until golden brown.

Cool the cookies completely.

Mix the cookies with the almonds, coconut, cranberries and pumpkin seeds. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks. t8n

T8N September 2019 29

I SPOTLIGHT I

Going the

Distance The elementary kids in Hole Hornets demonstrate the benefits of running

BY RUDY HOWELL

NEITHER JANELLE GRICE or her Grade

Two students at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary School knew quite what they were getting themselves into 14 years ago when the class, after learning about Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope, asked “Why can’t we finish it?”

Grice, who had been a runner her entire life, told the children that they could, but it was going to take a lot of work because 3,000 km of the marathon remained. So, for the rest of the school year, the class would run nearly every day, either outside or in the gymnasium, combining their efforts so that when the class of 20 students each ran a kilometre, they would have a total of 20 clicks that day. During the last week of school, the students competed in the annual 5K RunWild race in St. Albert, reaching their goal of 3,000 km, completing Fox’s Marathon of Hope. They also inspired Grice to start a running club at SAM called Grice’s Gazelles which would be more focused on simply getting kids active.

“It just kind of became a tradition in my class as something we do,” says Grice. “It became a thing where kids would think, ‘I want to be in Mrs. Grice’s class because they go running,’ or ‘I don’t want to be in Mrs. Grice’s class because they go running,’” she says.

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In 2017, Grice took a job at Lois E. Hole Elementary School in Erin Ridge North, where she immediately formed a new group of runners called Hole Hornets Running Club with a fellow teacher. “When I moved here two years ago, I actually contemplated thinking ‘Maybe I won’t run and that will be something I bury with my old school,’” explains Grice. At the new school, the club which begins running in September, is open to Grades Two through Six, and finishes in late October with the Halloween Howl Fun Run and Walk at the University of Alberta. From November onward, only students in Grice’s Grade Two class continue running, preparing for the RunWild race in early May. At SAM, Grice would expect one hundred percent participation from her class (unless excused by a parent), but at Lois E. Hole, she says it’s more of an option–partly because there seems to be less and less interest from students as time goes on. “I’m finding a real trend in education right now with kids who just don’t want to do stuff,” explains Grice.

Therefore, Grice makes sure to start the season off slow, having the kids alternate between running and

walking for a kilometre until they can run the whole distance, making sure to provide positive reinforcement along the way. “You really have to get them to believe in themselves,” says Grice. “A lot of kids don’t know they are good at running until they do it.”

From the very beginning at SAM, Grice says she noticed academic, athletic, and self-confidence benefits from running with her students.

Whether it was being able to get her class to complete writing exercises after lunch or noticing an increase in journal games and climbing club participants, she knew that her little running experiment was special.

“I think it really just boosted their confidence because not everybody is a hockey or ringette player,” says Grice.

“It’s a sport they can do individually, and I think it did motivate them to want to be part of other things in the school.”

However, a lot has changed in 14 years, as teachers at Lois E. Hole have to compete with cellphones, streaming services and video games for students’ attention. It’s largely why the school focuses on nature, making it mandatory that students are outside regularly.

Grice says the outdoor requirement makes finding time for running with

her class a lot easier, although she had to deal with more students reticent about running. “I always tell kids ‘You might not like running, but I know you’re going to love the feeling you get when you cross the finish line,’” says Grice. “I just think it gives them such a sense of accomplishment.”

Since the inception of Hole Hornets, Grice says the feedback from parents has been nothing but fantastic and that parents have even occasionally come out and run with the class. Grice believes that some parents are actually happy that their children are getting enough exercise. “I have parents bawling their eyes out at the finish line because they can’t believe that their child did that,” says Grice.

She believes her students are responding positively to the club, with some even showing signs of real talent for the sport.

One of Grice’s Grade two students–a seven-year-old girl–completed the RunWild race in 25 minutes, coming in fourth place out of 80 girls in the under-19 division.

Grice’s only hope moving forward is to get more students involved in the club.

“I just hope that the kids feel like it’s something they can continue doing,” says Grice. “All you need is a pair of shoes and a piece of road.” t8n T8N September 2019 31

I THE CROSSWALK I

Back To

School

SEPTEMBER'S THE MONTH to get those

brains back in gear once the school season begins. To get that grey matter warmed up, try your hand at this month's crossword.

For answers, visit t8nmagazine.com

Down Across 3 4

Rewards that help pay for university St. Albert High's school team name

5

A Public elementary school

7

A Catholic elementary school

9

The leader/boss at a school

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11 The active class at school 12 The newest public school 13 Scheduled daily breaks during elementary

14 Lorne Akins's school team name

15 The school that kids ages 5-11 attend

16 You get one of these when you finish high school

17 Where young kids play during recess

18 A team sport involving a net

19 One of the three sciences

you can learn in high school

1

A school supply you may need

2

The oldest public high school in St.Albert

3

The newest Catholic school

6

Another language you can learn in high school

8

The school that kids ages 12-14 attend

10 A tool you may need for school

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T8N September 2019  33

34 T8Nmagazine.com