T8N April 2017

April 2017 t8nmagazine.com

Taxing Matters

Understanding Alberta’s Carbon Levy

Livin’ Large In Tiny Homes

Discover the Tiny-House Movement

Dream a Little Dream of Spring

Indoors!

Feeling Peckish?

It’s Eggs for the Win

Green Up Your Habits with Low-Litter Lunches

April 2017

Contents CONVERSATIONS 6 Taxing Matters

Alberta’s Carbon Levy

CITY ARTS & CULTURE 11 Dream a Little Dream of Spring 27 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

A fresh take on houseplants 28 MEET YOU THERE 15 IN THE SPOTLIGHT Beeswax

Easy, beesy, beautiful!

16

THEN & NOW

St. Albert’s Recycling Program Then & Now

18 THE 8S

Think Greenery Hello, colour crush!

LIVING 21 FOOD & GATHERINGS

Farmyard Fresh It’s eggs for the win!

26 TRULY DEEPLY MADLY

May We Suggest…

No-litter Lunches

ABOUT THE COVER Although I cannot lay an egg, I am a good judge of omelettes.

–George Bernard Shaw IMAGE BY BRENDA LAKEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Value Village Reuse, recycle and revamp your style

TRENDING 30 Livin’ Large in Tiny Spaces

Make room for the tiny-house movement

32 Smog (n.)

Clearing the air on a rising issue

2016 Cover

2017 WINNERS

Will be ann ounced in our May Issue!

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T8N April 2017  3

From the Editor T8N MAGAZINE

HELLO, APRIL. Funny meeting you here. Especially

since one of us is still catching up on March and January and a few things that need to be put away from Christmas. But, hey, how ya doing!

If like mine, your 2017 voice is a little sore from the “Mi-Mi-Mi—M-e-e-s,” join me in changing tunes and celebrating someone who works harder than all of us: Mother Nature. Her to-do list alone!

Between cleaning the air we breathe and dealing CARMEN D. HRYNCHUK with all our blunders, her unending workload is EDITOR-IN-CHIEF embarrassingly unfathomable. So too is the amount we help out. Care to start changing that? Us, too. To begin, we’re learning about Alberta’s carbon levy and all the controversy that surrounds it.

From there, we take an inspired look at the world of houseplants, not only to admire their beauty but also to appreciate the air they clean. And since awareness is on the menu, so is a trip to St. Albert’s Value Village, where we discover how life-changing recycling can be. Also in this month’s issue: the tiny-house movement, the benefits of beeswax, tips for packing no-litter lunches and a recipe section that celebrates the humble (and delicious) egg—nature’s most perfect food.

Ready to get cracking? Us, too. How about we all begin with something from Mother Nature’s to-do list?

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 4 April 2017 PUBLISHER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Rob Lightfoot

Carmen D. Hrynchuk

ART DIRECTION

Carmen D. Hrynchuk, Brenda Lakeman PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT & DESIGN

Correna Saunders DESIGN

Megan Hoskin PHOTOGRAPHY

Brenda Lakeman FOOD STYLING

Little Fire Creative PROOFREADING

Amy Lightfoot EDITORIAL INTERN

Simone Tiemstra CONTRIBUTORS

Tracey L. Anderson, Shawna Dirksen, Jennie Drent, Robert Michon, Vanessa Roset OFFICE MANAGER

Janice Lightfoot CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Image page 6 & 8 ©bakhtiarzein/Adobe Stock Image page 15 ©Chisnikov/Adobe Stock Image page 25 ©GraphicStock Image page 26 ©Artem Shadrin/Adobe Stock Image page 30 ©lowphoto/Adobe Stock Image page 32 ©pilarts/Adobe Stock

Welcome, April.

Feature Writers

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

TRACEY L. ANDERSON

Tracey lives life in red ink and blue ink. She is a writer, editor and poet from Edmonton. When she’s not playing with words, she enjoys yoga, movies and fine dining. Tracey loves to travel the world in books and on airplanes.

ROBERT MICHON

Robert has a degree in History and English Literature from the University of Alberta and is pursuing a second degree in Communications from MacEwan University. Robert fills much of his free time reading, blogging or writing fiction. But when he doesn’t have a book in hand, he can usually be found outdoors, hiking or enjoying one of Edmonton’s many summer festivals.

Visit T8Nmagazine.com to meet the rest of our team and regular contributors.

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.

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Rob Lightfoot rob@t8nmagazine.com 780 940 6212 or visit t8nmagazine.com T8N magazine is published 12 times a year by T8N Publishing Inc. Copyright ©2017 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.

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T8N April 2017  5

Conversations

TAXING MATTERS Alberta’s Carbon Levy

BY TRACEY L. ANDERSON

CARBON TAX. In Alberta, these two

words are likely to ignite a heated conversation. In fact, many people can’t even agree on what to call it.

Officially, the price-on-carbon system that came into effect January 1, 2017, is called a carbon levy, but many refer to it as the carbon tax. That, however, is only the tip of the carbon debate.

Staggering amounts of information from both sides of the debate compound the confusion. This primer on the levy can help you separate truth from rhetoric and decide, for yourself, whether or not the levy has merit.

Why Is Carbon a Big Deal?

Every living thing—plant or person—contains carbon (45% and 18%, respectively). This fact is significant because carbon combines easily with other elements to form new compounds. For example, one carbon atom combines with two oxygen atoms to form carbon dioxide (CO2). And therein lies the big deal.

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Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which is a by-product of burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. In the atmosphere, CO2 traps heat close to Earth in the greenhouse effect. And although the greenhouse effect keeps the planet from freezing, too much CO2 makes the planet too warm and contributes to climate change. The negative effects of climate change include increasing temperatures, melting Arctic sea ice and rising water levels. One way to reduce the greenhouse effect is to reduce carbon emissions. That’s where the carbon levy concept comes in.

The Levy & Its Purpose According to the Government of Alberta carbon-pricing website, “Alberta’s carbon levy provides a financial incentive for families, businesses and communities to lower their emissions.” The theory is that people and companies will try to lower or eliminate their fees by becoming more energy efficient and moving away from high-emission fuels. But how are those fees calculated and charged?

A levy is charged on all greenhouse-gas-emitting transportation and heating fuels such as diesel, gasoline, propane and natural gas.

Farm fuels are exempt. The current levy rate is $20/tonne, which will rise to $30/tonne in 2018.

This Alberta Treasury Board and Finance table shows the levy for specific fuels.

TYPE OF FUEL

JAN 1,2017 $20/ TONNE

JAN 1, 2018 $30/TONNE

Marked Farm Fuels

Exempt

Exempt

Diesel

+5.35 ¢/L

+2.68 ¢/L

Gasoline

+4.49 ¢/L

+2.24 ¢/L

Natural Gas

+1.011 $/GJ

+0.506 $/GJ

Propane

+3.08 ¢/L

+1.54 ¢/L

The current levy isn’t the first carbon-pricing scheme in the province. According to Calgary Southeast MLA Rick Fraser, an Energy, Environment and Sustainable-ResourceDevelopment Critic for the Progressive Conservative (PC) caucus, “Alberta has had a price on carbon since 2008, when the Progressive Conservative government of the day introduced a $15/tonne fee for heavy emitters, known as the Specified Gas Emitters

Regulation [SGER]. At the time, we were the first jurisdiction in North America to put a price on carbon.”

The current carbon levy, however, doesn’t replace the SGER, which large industrial emitters are subject to until the end of 2017 when the Province will move to an output-based allocation (details are not yet set). Combined with those forthcoming industrial emitter regulations, the government’s full carbon-pricing model is expected to cover 70 percent to 90 percent of Alberta’s emissions as part of its broader Climate Leadership Plan.

The Climate Leadership Plan In summer 2015, the Climate Change Advisory Panel was formed. The panel was chaired by Dr. Andrew Leach, an associate professor in the Alberta School of Business with a PhD in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences. The panel gathered opinions from the public, academia, industry and other stakeholders through public open houses, online surveys and written submissions. The panel’s fall 2015 report informed the Climate Leadership Plan, which passed into legislation in May 2016. The Plan aims to reduce carbon emissions, diversify the economy and create jobs. The carbon levy is one strategy in the Climate Leadership Plan; these are the other strategies: • Ending pollution from coal-generated electricity by 2030 • Developing more renewable energy • Capping annual oil-sands emissions at 100 megatonnes • Reducing methane emissions by 45 percent by 2025 Many Albertans believe that when the federal government implements its carbon levy in 2018, they will pay both. This, however, is a misconception; the federal government announced that provinces must enact an emissions reduction plan or Ottawa will impose a federal carbon tax. Marie Renaud, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for St. Albert and a member of the NDP Government says, “Our Climate Leadership Plan ensures that Albertans are supporting a provincial levy that meets our province’s needs, instead of a one-size-fits-all program imposed by Ottawa.”

What’s In a Name?

To begin to understand how divided and/or confused Albertans are about this issue, look no further than what this price-on-carbon system is called: the government says it’s a levy. Others call it a tax. So which is it? And why does it matter?

MLA Renaud explains the Government’s position. “The carbon levy differs from a tax in that it is usage-based. Unlike income tax, for example, in which everyone pays a certain amount based on their earnings, the carbon levy is solely based on how much someone spends on products subject to the levy. By reducing emissions, the amount someone pays is also reduced.”

Dr. Jennifer Winter, Assistant Professor and Scientific Director in the Energy and Environmental Policy Research Division of the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, thinks otherwise. She considers the levy a tax because, “it is a corrective price on goods and services levied by the government.”

Dr. Winter has a PhD in Economics and specializes in energy and environmental policy.

MLA Rick Fraser says the name doesn’t matter: “Whether it’s called a tax or a levy, it’s another expensive burden for Alberta families to handle during these troubling economic times.”

The Wildrose Party was contacted for this article but did not respond.

What Will Be Done with the Money?

Over the next five years, the Government estimates that revenue from the Climate Leadership Plan, including the carbon levy, will be $9.6 billion. The money will be reinvested in Alberta, allocated as follows.

FUNDING AMOUNT

The proposed allocation of funds is yet another point of contention. While the Government plans for the money to be reinvested in Alberta, the PC party believes that the levy should be revenue-neutral, where money collected would go back to Albertans through corporate and personal tax cuts or would pay down the provincial debt.

Will You See a Rebate?

Rebates for some Albertans are embedded in the carbon levy’s structure. As MLA Renaud explains, “Rebates are limited to lower- and middle-income earners because they will feel any added costs of the levy more acutely.”

About 60 percent of households get a full rebate: $200 for an adult, $100 for a spouse and $30 for each child under 18 (up to four).

Single Albertans who earn up to $47,500 and couples, single parents and families who earn up to $95,000 receive full rebates. Other households may receive partial rebates.

Amounts are calculated based on Family Adjusted Net Income from the previous year’s personal income tax returns. Depending on the total amount, eligible households receive up to four automatic rebate payments each benefit year, which runs from July to June. Busi nesses aren’t eligible for rebates, but the small-business corporate income tax was reduced from 3 percent to 2 percent.

To estimate your carbon levy costs and rebate, visit the online levy calculator. alberta. ca/calculate-carbon-levy-rebate-and-costs.aspx Although rebates might seem like a good thing, not everyone agrees. MLA Fraser says, “We agree with insulating low-income Albertans from a tax that they simply cannot afford, but we do not agree with the NDP rebate structure. […] We can have effective policies to reduce carbon emissions without using it as an excuse for wholesale redistribution of wealth.”

REVENUE

PURPOSE

Renewable energy, bioenergy and technology

$6.2 billion

$3.4 billion Diversify the energy industry $2.2 billion and create jobs $645 million Help households, $2.3 billion

Carbon levy rebates

businesses and communities adjust to the carbon levy

$865 million

Small business tax rate cut from 3% to 2%

$195 million

Assistance for coal, Indigenous and other communities to transition to a cleaner economy

$3.4 billion

FUNDING ALLOCATION

Green infrastructure such as public transit Energy Efficiency Alberta, a new agency to support energy efficiency programs and services

T8N April 2017 7

Dr. Winter, however, says, that although the eligibility criteria are arbitrary, “given the policy goal of compensating lower-income Albertans, the structure and implementation is appropriate.”

The Environmental Debate Environment and Climate Change Canada has adopted a concept called the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC), which is “a monetary measure of the global damage expected from climate change from the emissions of an additional tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere in a given year.” The concept is based on research by the United States Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Carbon in 2010.

Scientific data points to many kinds of global damages from increased carbon emissions.

These damages are far ranging. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Its mandate is to provide “a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.”

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In its Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers, the organization outlines those impacts in detail, including extreme weather events (droughts, floods and heat waves); melting snow and ice (which affects quantity and quality of water resources); changes in animal migration patterns; and changes in crop yields. According to the report, “Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems.”

Environment and Climate Change Canada has estimated the SCC at $46/tonne. Dr. Winter believes Alberta’s levy rate of $20/tonne rising to $30/tonne is too low, suggesting it should be adjusted to match the SCC. However, she also says, “It is economically costly for Alberta to price emissions when other provinces and countries are not doing so.”

For its part, the PC caucus believes that the government shouldn’t set any price. “The carbon price should be set by the market. There is no need for government to set an arbitrary price floor or ceiling, which stifles innovation and investments.”

The Economic Debate The main complaint from levy opponents is that it increases prices for consumers—and not just at the gas pump. MLA Fraser says, “While 4.49 cents per litre may not seem like much to the average Albertan, there are a wide range of businesses who rely on ground transportation to get their goods and services to and from market. This additional gasoline cost will quickly add up and result in those additional costs being passed down to consumers.” Winter agrees that all prices will increase, but by how much depends on the energy and emissions intensity of each good or service.

The Government estimates indirect costs (for items not directly subject to the levy) at $50 to $70 in 2017 and $70 to $105 in 2018 for the average family. MLA Renaud notes, though, that energy-efficiency programs funded by the levy will reduce electricity bills, and “gas prices will continue to go up and down as they always do in Alberta, with or without a carbon levy.”

With the current challenging economic times in Alberta, levy opponents are concerned about the timing. MLA Fraser says, “Now is not the right time for an economy-wide

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carbon tax. We are still struggling with one of the worst economic crisis our province has seen in a generation…. The imposition of additional costs at a time when Albertans can least afford it only hurts Alberta families.”

Dr. Winter disagrees. She says, “We have estimates of the cost of climate change; not pricing carbon only increases the potential damages and future costs.” The Government stance is along similar lines. As MLA Renaud explains, “The reality is that the cost of doing nothing, both to our economy and the environment, will only increase the longer we put off taking action.”

Will It Even Work?

Perhaps the biggest question is “will the carbon levy reduce emissions?” It’s no surprise opponents believe it won’t. MLA Fraser says, “By the Government’s own admission, 60 percent of Albertans will receive a full or partial rebate, insulating them from the financial impacts of the tax. If they feel no impact… what incentive is there to take steps to reduce carbon emissions?”

In contrast, Dr. Winter believes the levy will reduce carbon emissions because “making something more expensive means people

and businesses change their behavior—this is a fundamental principle of economics.” She says evidence from BC and other jurisdictions suggests that carbon pricing leads to lower emissions, but “the magnitude of the change depends on the behavioural response, which is trickier to predict.” She also says, “Economists have evaluated the relative options available to reduce emissions—regulation versus pricing—and pricing is the least-cost way to reduce emissions.”

MLA Renaud explains that the effects on emissions won’t be immediate. “Alberta has been moving in one direction for so long, and that won’t change overnight. To balance the growth of our economy with our need to be environmentally responsible, we are taking a gradual, reasonable approach.”

Common Ground Climate change and carbon emissions are contentious issues. But what, if anything, do both sides agree on? MLA Fraser says that contrary to public perception of the party, “we know that human-caused climate change is real and an important issue that must be addressed. […] Albertans care about our environment and we want to protect it.”

The differences appear to be about how best to achieve that protection. Some feel the carbon levy policy is the wrong approach; others, including the Government, strongly believe we must act now to reduce carbon emissions. MLA Renaud says, “The costs of adapting and taking action today will result in the avoidance of damage and, therefore, the avoidance of future costs. […] Putting a quantifiable price tag on our emissions is a small but crucial first step to mitigating the effects of climate change on environment and economy.”

Dr. Winter goes further, adding, “The current [social] cost of emissions is higher than the current [levy] price, and so even if the revenues were thrown in the ocean, it would still be a worthwhile policy.”

Whether you like it, love it, hate it or ignore it, the carbon levy is here to stay—at least until the next election. Then you can have your say on its merits at the ballot box.

For more information about the carbon levy, visit alberta.ca/climate-carbon-pricing.aspx. t8n

T8N April 2017 9

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Dream a Little Dream

of Spring A fresh take on houseplants PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA LAKEMAN

WHILE MOST OF us are counting down winter

by dreaming of the coming spring, the more resourceful of us are turning those dreams into reality. Cynthia Booth, Julie Adams, Karen Wilson, Lisa Alary and Kerri Parayko are designers and artists who have been spending the winter finding ways to bring the outdoors in. And they’re using methods that go far beyond the conventional potted plant. By thinking of houseplants as artistic displays, these talented designers have created inspired green spaces that are easy to DIY, inexpensive to make and painless to maintain. Ready to think so, too? Take a look.

T8N T8N April April 2017 2017 11 11

Hyacinths and philodendrons both make great indoor plants for beginners.

They’re hardy, easy to care for and don’t require significant amounts of sunlight or water. When grown outdoors, hyacinth bulbs are usually planted in the autumn and lay dormant until the spring, but indoors, this growth cycle can be accelerated so that you can enjoy them year-round.

A beautifully grown plant, however, is only part of the wow factor.

According to Karen Wilson of Wren Design, a good plant is nothing without a good vessel to place it in. “The pot is a big part of the décor,” says Karen, “I’m always on the hunt for ones with interesting textures and colours that will complement the space I’m designing.”

“It’s important to have a bit of nature in every room. It brings a kind of warmth to a space, and can take you on a mini-vacation in your mind.”

–Kerri Parayko, Frog Alley Design

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If you’d love a bit of greenery in your home, but don’t have much of a green thumb, air plants might be a good choice for you. These amazing plants are super hardy and famously easy to care for. Best of all, they don’t require soil and will contentedly live almost any place you set them down. To keep them looking their best, give them lots of light and mist them with water every few days.

“Plant art can really express the individuality of a person or a space. Even when working with the same materials, no two people will ever create the same art.”

–Cynthia Booth, Glass Earth Inc.

Macramé, anyone? This woven throwback to the 70s is back in style and more beautiful than ever. According to Julie Adams of Of Quartz Interiors, “It adds a bit of whimsy to a space and makes it feel a little more eclectic. Living in a northern climate means you can spend 90 percent of your time indoors. It’s important to liven those spaces up.” Julie even teaches macramé workshops so that anyone can start weaving their own home décor.

Is contemporary more your style? Moss art is part greenery and part visual art. Instead of canvas, these frames hold one or more patches of preserved moss, along with bits of wood to break up the greenery, and even some small air plants. Moss art is great if you want to create a green space in low-light spaces of your home. Just a light mist of water every few days will keep it looking fresh.

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T8N April 2017 13

Speaking of art, that’s exactly what flowers can become in the right hands.

Lisa Alary of Fleur-de-Lise has made a career of taking the formal elements of design and applying them to plants in interesting ways. Lisa’s floral arrangements, floral jewellery and palm weavings do more than just add a bit of greenery to a room. In Lisa’s view, “floral art can bring a lot of beauty to the cold and clinical spaces that we find ourselves in. It offers a lot of life and light and helps to bring nature in from the outdoors.” t8n

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Become a Bee-liever

Beeswax

Easy, beesy, beautiful!

THERE’S BEEN A lot of buzz about

bees lately. And for good reason. These productive little pollinators play a big role in our planet’s prosperity, and beekeepers everywhere are working hard to keep their hives healthy. If you’ve ever lathered honey onto a slice of homemade bread, you likely already appreciate the efforts of the humble honeybee and their keepers. But are you also a fan of the other major product that honey brings to the table? Here’s what to love about beeswax.

Busy Little Bees Honey isn’t the only delightful by-product of a healthy hive—the other is beeswax, and its production is quite remarkable. When worker bees are approximately twelve days old, they are ready to produce wax. They begin by ingesting honey, which is converted within their bodies and secreted through eight glands located on their abdomens.

Those secretions solidify into wax after being exposed to the surrounding air. The bees then chew the wax to make it malleable and shape it into honeycombs. They also form sheets of wax, called capping wax, to cover and protect combs that are full of honey. The process is an arduous one—a worker bee must eat six to eight pounds of honey to create one pound of wax! Both the capping wax and the original honeycombs can be melted down and purified for use in wax products.

The Fall of Icarus In Greek mythology, renowned craftsman Daedalus and his son Icarus escaped imprisonment by building themselves wings made of feathers bound with beeswax. The over-eager Icarus flew too close to the sun and plummeted to his death when the wax holding his wings together melted.

Waxing Historic There is wisdom to be found in the study of ancient cultures, and a quick search will uncover several diverse references to the benefits of beeswax. Old Chinese medicine books list it as a key remedial ingredient to be used topically or ingested. Early Egyptians used it for embalming bodies and for making writing tablets. The Roman Catholic Church once stipulated that only high-grade beeswax candles could be used during their religious services. The versatile material was used to seal documents, preserve valuable scrolls and to protect paintings and dyed fabrics.

Artisans around the world also once employed the lost art of wax casting to create elaborate ornaments and statues—sculptors carved intricate designs into the solid wax, which was later covered with warm clay. As the clay dried, the wax melted, leaving a perfect cast to be filled with liquid metal.

Today, the antibacterial and hydrating properties of beeswax continue to be recognized in a number of different industries. It is a chief ingredient in cosmetics and often found in body lotions, hair conditioners, deodorants, beard and mustache waxes, lip balms and eye makeup. It is added to ointments to help treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. And soap makers use it to make creamy, natural soaps.

Jewellers use beeswax to make casting moulds.

And musicians use it to moisturize the mouthpieces and strings of musical instruments.

In its more practical applications, beeswax is used to keep wood furniture supple and polished and to waterproof leather and other materials. Of course, it is also formed into candles, which burn much cleaner and longer than their paraffin alternatives.

Beeswax Vs. Paraffin Pure beeswax candles cost a pretty penny, but the investment is worthwhile. The most popular substitute to beeswax is the paraffin candle, which costs much less and can be processed into many synthetic scents. However, what concerns some people is that paraffin wax is derived from petroleum waste—the crude-oil refining process leaves behind a toxic sludge that is then converted into paraffin products. Burning these candles produces soot and releases exhaust-like pollutants. Beeswax candles, on the other hand, are natural and environmentally friendly products that actually contribute to the air quality in your home—the negative ions released when burning beeswax neutralize odours, bacteria and other airborne impurities. The hypoallergenic candles have a natural honey and floral smell and are even believed to contribute to a more restful sleep when burned before bedtime. The higher melting point of beeswax also means that these candles burn longer and more evenly, giving them a much longer shelf life than their substitutes. t8n

Fun Fact When it comes to the hive, females rule the roost. All worker bees— nurses, guards, foragers and other hive attendants—are female. The male bees, called drones, are few in number and only serve the hive by mating with the queen before being forced out of the colony.

T8N April 2017 15

Then & Now

ST. ALBERT’S RECYCLING PROGRAM THEN & NOW

IN TERMS OF the history of waste

management, recycling is a fairly new concept. Today St. Albert has a progressive three-tier waste-removal system, environmental mandates and an ecologically conscious population, but as recently as 50 years ago, it was commonplace for citizens to dump their trash straight into the river. The progress we’ve made since then didn’t occur on its own. It came as a result of the hard work of our politicians, business leaders and citizens. Here’s a glimpse at how we got here.

DID YOU KNOW? Though Roseridge Landfill wouldn’t accept St. Albert’s waste in the 1980s for fear of being overburdened, today it handles the waste for all of Sturgeon County—a reality that is only possible thanks to the success of St. Albert’s waste reduction programs.

1970s Recycling, as we know it today, didn’t exist in St. Albert back in the 1970s. All waste, regardless of type, was taken to the town garbage dump along the banks of the Sturgeon River, where Riel Park sits today. It was dirty, it was smelly and as you might expect, it leaked into the river. But this wasn’t a huge

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cause for concern, as the river itself was already an informal dumping ground for those who lived nearby. For those who lived a little farther away, “burn barrels” were a preferred and accepted method of trash disposal. Residents would load up empty oil drums with their flammable waste and set it ablaze. This was just how waste disposal had always been done.

FUN FACT Part of City Council’s environmental plan for St. Albert was to reduce the city’s waste by 65% by the year 2020. Residents were so eager to do their part that this goal was met by early 2012, causing councillors to set even more challenging mandates in the future.

Things, however, began to change, and in the mid-70s, St. Albert’s first bottle depot opened along St. Albert Trail. Concerned citizens also began writing petitions to the town council to improve the waste management system, and a few eco-minded residents and organizations began collecting recyclable waste themselves to take to Edmonton’s newly built recycling centre.

1980s In 1984, the dumping grounds along the river reached their capacity and had to be shut down. Town council began shopping around for a new landfill site but were met with resistance everywhere they went.

Understandably, Sturgeon County’s farmers didn’t want a garbage dump near their land, but the newly built Roseridge Landfill in Morinville refused as well, saying that if they started accepting St. Albert’s waste, the lifespan of the landfill would be severely shortened. With nowhere else to turn, St. Albert started sending their still-unsorted trash into Edmonton for disposal.

2010s 2011 was a big year for St. Albert’s waste management system. A sizable expansion to the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot allowed the safe disposal of hazardous waste, and in June of that year, the organics composting program began. Organics composting, along with recycling and traditional waste removal, completed the three-tier waste management system that we use today.

Over the last 50 years, St. Albert’s recycling program has grown from nothing at all into one of the biggest success stories in the province.

The journey isn’t quite over yet, but with these programs in place, our city’s waste production is expected to drop by as much as 75% by the year 2020. t8n

1990s By the 1990s, attitudes towards waste disposal were shifting faster than ever before. Residents wanted to recycle, but many were tired of having to drive into Edmonton to do so. The Campbell Park Recycling Depot (today known as the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot) was soon built to address the increasing demand.

Community-driven recycling projects began to spring up, too. In 1993, the very first “Take It or Leave It” event occurred, which offered residents a chance to come together to trade treasures with their neighbours, finding new homes for items that would have otherwise been thrown out.

This event and others like it have helped make recycling a “want-to” in St. Albert rather than just a “have-to.”

2000s In 2005, the old town dump became a problem again. Over 20 years after its closure, ecologists discovered ground leakage that was draining straight into the Sturgeon River. The City began a 10-year-long remediation process so that the old dumping grounds could truly be put to rest.

In 2009, after decades of demand from environmentally minded citizens, St. Albert started its own curbside recycling program. Residents who once had to drive into Edmonton to recycle could now do it right from their own driveways.

T8N April 2017 17

The 8s

THINK GREENERY Hello, colour crush!

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1

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IF YOU AREN’T already a fan of Pantone’s colour of the year, get ready to be. Because this month’s 8s is a celebration

of Greenery—the undisputed “It” colour of 2017. Though this lush hue has been enjoying its reign since January, what better time to embrace its symbolism than spring—the season of new beginnings. Know what else spring brings? New fashions! And (surprise, surprise) they’re all boasting shades of nature’s neutral. From china patterns and jewellery to jackets and books, here’s a look at what’s coming up greenery.

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8 Doulton 1815 4-Piece Place 1. Royal Setting, from Hudson’s Bay, $85 Moda Sugar Short Jacket, 2. Vero from Hudson’s Bay, $129 Scarf, from Modern Eyes 3. Shalimar Gallery and Gift, $80 Sugar Cookies, from 4. Hand-Decorated Grandin Bakery, $2.50 each Succulents, from Home Depot, 5. Assorted $3.99 each Journal by Trudy Mason, 6. Hand-Bound from W.A.R.E.S Gift Shop, $45 each Birthstone Rings, from Modern 7. Pandora Eyes Gallery and Gift, $50 each with Pandora Bangle Bracelet and Charms, from Modern Eyes Gallery and Gift, $40 to $85 Pallarue Hi Cuff Men’s Shoes, 8. Palladium from Tokota Shoes, $145 t8n T8N April 2017 19

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Food & Gatherings

Farmyard

Fresh It’s eggs for the win!

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE a farm-fresh egg,

nor the experience of gathering them on a beautiful morning. And since nothing works up an appetite like fresh air and exercise, what better inspiration than a trip to the countryside. And inspired we were! The proof? Let’s just say there’s vanilla-custard ice cream on the menu. But before you dig into that, you might want to start with our spring-radish egg sandwich or our decadent goat cheese and herb soufflé. So… Feeling a little peckish? Then let’s get cracking!

T8N April 2017 21

Beet-Pickled Eggs with Dill & Onions Purple pickled eggs? You bet! And you probably wont stop at just one.

375 mL jar of pickled whole beets 7 boiled eggs, peeled and cooled 1/2 large sweet onion, sliced

1 small handful of fresh dill, not chopped 8 peppercorns 1 cup white vinegar

Open the jar of pickled beets, and pour the juice into a freshly washed quart jar. Next layer in half the jar of beets with the boiled eggs, sliced onions, dill and peppercorns. Add the white vinegar, and top up the jar with water so that the tops of the eggs are covered. Secure the lid, and place the jar in the fridge for 4 days before serving. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Ham & Tomato Frittata with Goat Cheese Frittatas were made for leftovers. A little lunchmeat here, a crumble or two of goat cheese there and it’s almost dinnertime.

3 strips of bacon, chopped 1 cup cubed ham (leftovers or lunchmeat work great) 2 leftover boiled potatoes, cubed 1 clove garlic, minced 10 large eggs, whisked 1/4 cup chopped basil

8 slices of tomato (we used red and yellow) Thinly sliced purple onion 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese (or blue cheese) Freshly cracked pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350ËšF In a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon and cubed ham until they begin to crisp. Remove the bacon and ham to a plate, and discard all but 1 tbsp of rendered fat from the pan. Add the potatoes and garlic to the pan, and stir.

Sprinkle the chopped basil over the potatoes, and pour in the whisked eggs. Crack in some fresh black pepper, and let the frittata cook undisturbed on the stovetop for 6 to 7 minutes or until the egg is beginning to set.

Top the frittata with the tomatoes, onions and goat cheese, and place in the preheated oven to cook for 15 minutes or until firm. Remove and serve.

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Spring Radish & Egg Sandwich with Smoked Salmon Radishes are one of the first offerings of spring and the rightful star of this velvety egg sandwich. Enjoy.

2 slices of bread 1 tbsp mayonnaise 2 tsp yellow mustard 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced 1 soft-boiled egg, halved 56 grams smoked Atlantic salmon, sliced

1 scallion, chopped 2 radishes, thinly sliced Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste Chopped dill, to garnish

Evenly spread the mayonnaise and mustard on the bread, and top each piece with half an avocado, half an egg, half the salmon, half the scallions and one sliced radish. Season with salt and pepper, garnish with chopped dill and devour.

Pisco Sour If you’ve never tasted a pisco sour, you’re just in time for its comeback.

Smooth brandy meets fragrant lime and a silky foam froth.

3 oz pisco 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice 3/4 oz simple syrup

1 impeccably fresh egg white 1 dash Angostura bitters

To a cocktail shaker, add the pisco, lime juice, simple syrup and egg white.

Secure the lid, and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Remove the lid, fill the shaker with ice, return the lid and shake again for another 15 or 20 seconds. Strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass, add a dash or two of bitters atop the foam and enjoy.

Spicy Baked Eggs in Avocado Who needs toast when you’ve got an avocado boat?

Warm, spicy and baked to perfection. Give these a try.

3 avocados, halved and pitted 6 small eggs (large eggs will overfill the avocado hole) 2 scallions, finely chopped

1 red chili pepper, seeded and minced Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste Chopped cilantro, to garnish

Preheat your oven to 400˚F, and drizzle a little oil onto a baking tray. Next place the avocados cut-side up on the tray, spacing them evenly apart. If the avocados are stubbornly tippy, cut a thin slice off their bottoms to stabilize them.

Crack an egg into each avocado hole, top with the scallions and chili peppers and season with salt and pepper.

Carefully transfer the tray to the preheated oven, and bake the eggs for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how runny you like your yolks. Garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve with thick slices of grilled bread and your favourite salsa.

T8N April 2017 23

Goat Cheese & Herb Soufflé Soufflés needn’t be intimidating to make. And this gorgeous recipe is delicious proof.

Unsalted butter, softened (for greasing the ramekins) 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (for “flouring” the greased ramekins) 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole milk 1 cup goat cheese, crumbled

1/4 cup grated Gruyère cheese 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme 1 tbsp minced chives 1 tsp salt 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper 4 large eggs, separated 1 large egg white 1/4 tsp cream of tartar

Preheat your oven to 400˚F, and grease 8 small ramekins, including the rims, with unsalted butter. Next, “flour” the inside of the greased ramekins with an even sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, and tap out the excess. Place the prepared ramekins on a baking sheet, and set it aside.

In a small pot over medium heat, melt the butter cubes, and then remove the pot from the heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth, return the pot to the heat and while whisking constantly, cook the mixture for 1 minute. While still whisking constantly, add the milk in a steady slow steam, and bring the mixture to a boil.

Keep whisking for 2 more minutes as the mixture thickens, then pour the mixture into a large mixing bowl and whisk in the garlic, cheese, herbs, salt, pepper and egg yolks.

In a second large mixing bowl, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until firm peaks form. With a spatula, gently fold 1/4 of the egg whites into the soufflé mixture. Fold in the remaining whites just until the streaks disappear. Carefully fill each ramekin to 1/4 inch below the rim, and bake the tray of soufflés in the bottom third of the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until they are firm to the touch in the centre.

Serve immediately.

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Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Simple is always best. And it doesn’t get better than a custard-based vanilla ice cream.

4 large egg yolks 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 cup whole milk

1 cup whipping cream 2 tsp vanilla-bean paste

Add the egg yolks and sugar to a medium-sized pot, and whisk them together until they’re light yellow and well combined. Set aside.

In a small-sized pot, slowly heat the milk to almost a boil over medium-low heat (do not stir). Next, while whisking constantly, add the scalded milk in a steady, slow steam to the pot with the egg mixture. Place the pot over medium-low heat, and stir until the custard reaches 165˚F (don’t let it boil!).

As soon as it reaches temperature, pour into a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill to 65˚F. When chilled, stir in the whipping cream and vanilla-bean paste, and process in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. t8n

T8N April 2017 25

Truly, Deeply, Madly

NO-LITTER LUNCHES WE’VE BECOME ACCUSTOMED to a

certain level of convenience when it comes to packing our lunches. But the easiest option isn’t always the best one. Our lunches, and those we pack for our kids, produce a lot of waste that’s hard on the environment. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to plan and pack a low-litter lunch that’s not only ecofriendly but also budget-friendly and healthy. Here are some tips for cleaning up your lunchtime habits.

Reusable Containers Replacing your paper or plastic lunch bag with a reusable alternative is always a good place to start when reducing your lunchtime waste. But it’s only the start. The foils and plastics we use to hold our sandwiches and mid-day snacks also have their litter-free versions. Tupperware is an obvious choice, but if you find those containers too clunky, you might want to try cloth

sandwich bags. They’re easy to clean and zip up tight so that your sandwich and vegetables won’t combine into a mixed salad on the way to school or work.

FUN FACT Disposable plastic containers don’t seem expensive when you look at them individually, but these small prices add up. Over the course of a year, Canadian families spend roughly $450 on disposable lunch packaging.

Avoid Individually Packaged Food It’s easy to grab a granola bar or a package of cookies on your way out of the house, but these individually packaged portions are some of the largest contributors to lunchtime waste.

Of course, most snack foods like granola bars don’t come packaged any other way, so this is where the bulk aisle can be your friend. Try buying snacks such as loose granola or mixed nuts. If your favourite snacks don’t come in bulk, you can still reduce waste by buying the “family sized” version and portioning it out into single servings that you pack in reusable containers.

Plan Lunches in Advance With a little planning, packing your no-litter lunches won't turn into a time-consuming ordeal. In fact, the 20 minutes you spend on Sunday night thinking about what your week’s lunches are going to be can buy you 10 minutes every morning. Do you have a lot of leftovers in the fridge? If you’ve got the containers to spare, you can begin portioning out these meals a few days in advance. You can also fill your reusable bags with dry snacks and stock your fridge with fruit and vegetables that are ready to go. Just like that, you can have all of your lunches planned before your week even begins. You’ll likely find that you’re making healthier choices, too.

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Invest in a Drink Container Reusable water bottles and coffee mugs are always a smart investment. Not only will they save you money and time in the drivethrough every morning, they’ll also reduce the amount of waste you generate and can be filled with virtually any drink you want.

Learn where the water fountains are at your school or place of work, and take advantage of them. If you swear by your favourite coffee shop’s signature brew, bring your mug to them and ask them to fill it instead. Most businesses will be happy to oblige.

Know Your Eating Habits One big danger when it comes to packing lunches is the tendency to either over pack or under pack. By packing too much, you risk wasting the food. Even though it may be biodegradable, food waste is still considered waste, both in terms of money and the environment. In terms of the environment, when organic material decomposes outside of the presence of oxygen (as is the case in most municipal landfills) it produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas.

When you under pack your lunches, you might find yourself visiting the nearest vending machine or fast-food location throughout the day, spending more money and creating more waste than you intended. So take some time to learn your eating habits, and you’ll be packing the right proportion in no time. t8n

DID YOU KNOW? A study done by an Okanagan school board found that the average school child produces 67 pounds of lunch-related waste per year. If you multiply that by the estimated 5 million school-aged children in Canada… well, that’s a whole lot of waste.

EVENT

St. Albert Lifestyle Expo & Sale This event marks the return of spring to St. Albert. Discover 175 different vendors, the Outdoor Lifestyle Experience Hall, Taste of St. Albert, the always-popular Petting Zoo, an interactive contest, the St. Albert Gazette Baby Crawl, and St. Albert’s Got Talent!

Date: March 31 to April 2

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

Things to do, watch, hear and see this April.

Location: Servus Place, 400 Campbell Road For more info: visit stalbertchamber.com EVENT

Fiddler on the Roof The Acting Out Musical Theatre presents Fiddler on the Roof. This much-loved musical is directed

by Criselda Mireau and Tim Anderson. Get to hear “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Matchmaker,” and “If I Were a Rich Man.” Tickets are $10.

Date: April 2 Location: Eva O. Howard Theatre, Victoria School for the Arts, Kingsway Avenue (east) near 101 Street For more info and tickets: visit info@aomt.ca Riley Stuermer, Astronaut

Currie and his cap badge

Forrest Zuba, Woman in Contellations

EVENT

EXHIBIT

St. Albert Rotary Music Festival

High Energy 22

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary and the 23rd year being sponsored by the St. Albert Rotary Club, this music festival showcases the great talent of our local youth. There will be bands, singers, dancers and more, and all will be judged by national and international professionals.

This annual exhibition, now in its 22nd year, showcases the emerging talent of St. Albert’s high-school students. There will be everything from mixed-media abstractions to photo-realistic drawings, which include course work and pieces especially made for the exhibit.

Date: April 4 to 13 & 19

Date: April 27 to May 26

Location: Arden Theatre, 5 St. Anne Street

Location: Art Gallery of St. Albert, 19 Perron Street

For more info: visit st-albertmusicfestival.ca

For more info: visit artgalleryofstalbert.ca

EXHIBIT

The Life & Legacy of Sir Arthur Curry

EVENT

This exhibit is on loan from the Museum Strathroy-Caradoc, Ontario, and tells the story of Arthur Currie. He became the first Canadian Commander of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and commanded the Canadian Corps at the battles of Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens, Arras and the Canal du Nord—victorious in all.

The 4th Annual Race is presented by Edmonton FUNd Runners. There will be three races: 10 km, 5 km and a kids’ race (1 km) for walkers and runners. All proceeds go towards the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Date: April 4 to June 11 Location: Musée Héritage Museum For more info: visit museeheritage.ca

Jade Swerda, Explicit

Suck It Up Buttercup! Race

Date: April 8

Event "Oh Canada" Spring Art Show & Sale Presented by the St. Albert Painters Guild, this annual spring show and sale showcases many talented Guild artists. In honour of Canada’s 150th birthday, there’ll be a weekend-long fundraiser in support of the St. Albert Food Bank.

Location: Rundle Park Family Centre, 2909113 Avenue NW

Date: April 28 to 30

For more info: visit events.runningroom.com/ site/?raceId=13879

For more info: visit paintersguild.wildapricot.org

Location: St. Albert Place foyer, 5 St. Anne Street

T8N April 2017 27

Meet You There

FOR CLOSE TO three years now, Value

Village has been bringing out our city’s thrifty side and satisfying even the savviest St. Albert shoppers. And though this retail chain’s reputation is grounded in offering a plethora of gently used products at ultra-affordable prices, there’s so much more to the Value Village story than saving money. From supporting the Canadian Diabetes Association to doing its part for the environment, St. Albert’s Value Village works as hard at doing good as it does at looking good. Never been? Here’s a fresh look at a second-hand store.

Tiffany Hart, the store manager, has worked for the organization for 15 years and has been based in St. Albert since January. Hart and her team work hard to serve customers and keep the store stocked with donated treasures. “We have 65 employees here— sales clerks in the front store and production staff who tag and price items in our housewares, bed and bath, furniture and clothing departments.”

According to Hart, her location adds between 9,000 and 10,000 newly donated items to the sales floor each day. “Many of our customers keep coming back because we put out so many new items every single day,” she explains. “Come in today, and it will be very different than what you will see tomorrow.”

So, where do all these donations come from? Hart says Value Village has become the donation drop-off spot for St. Albert residents.

“All kinds of people donate items. They see there’s still value in an item and would rather donate it than throw it away.” Value Village in St. Albert also has a partnership with the Canadian Diabetes Association. “We pay them per pound for donations,” explains Hart. “People can’t always afford to give 28 T8Nmagazine.com

VALUE VILLAGE THRIFT STORE Reuse, recycle and revamp your style

money, but they can help by cleaning out a closet and putting the items in a [Canadian Diabetes Association] donation bin.”

With such a high volume of donated items entering the store, it’s inevitable that not everything will make it to the sales floor.

Recycling is a big part of business at Value Village stores. The St. Albert location alone recycles up to 10,000 pounds of cloth items

and up to 5,000 pounds of housewares and books every single day—keeping these items out of the landfill. “Anything that’s non-sellable, we recycle,” says Hart. “Any kind of cloth—even if it looks like your dog has literally chewed it—we will recycle it.

Also shoes, anything that’s 50 percent metal or more, bags, purses, pots and pans, housewares—everything.”

HART’S TOP TIP FOR THRIFT SHOPPING The key to a successful shopping trip is to be in the mood. “You need to go through everything to find those treasures. You can’t rush. So make sure you have time and feel like shopping.”

Hart says that even though many people aren’t aware of what goes on behind the scenes at Value Village, it's what she loves most about her job. “I think it’s amazing what can be reused, how stuff doesn’t have to go to landfills,” she says. “I love that we recycle so much. I feel like I am doing my part to make the world a better place for my daughter. I also have a personal connection to our store’s charity. My husband has diabetes, so that drives me to want to support [the Canadian Diabetes Association] by helping increase donation dollars for them.”

DID YOU KNOW? According to Value Village’s “I Give a Shirt” campaign, which aims to encourage Canadians to reuse clothing instead of throwing it away, it takes more than 700 gallons of water to make one cotton T-shirt, and 95% of the clothes North Americans throw away in landfills each year could have been reused or recycled.

VALUE VILLAGE AT A GLANCE Location: 18 Inglewood Drive St. Albert Store Manager: Tiffany Hart Specialty: Providing great value for customers, while giving back to the community and the environment.

Interesting fact: Value Village in St. Albert is one of the largest locations in the Edmonton-area.

As far as managing a Value Village store in St. Albert goes, Hart has a great impression of our city. “St. Albert really has that small town feel,” she says. “The community support here is strong. We are still working on getting out in the community more. We are always looking for more opportunities to get involved in the things local to St. Albert, and we want

more people in St. Albert to know about the behind-the-scenes stuff going on in our store.”

By doing so much good on a daily basis, there’s no doubt Value Village continually inspires St. Albert residents to reduce their environmental impact and support their community. And scoring that fabulous find feels pretty great, too. t8n

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AUTO • HOME • LIFE • COMMERCIAL T8N April 2017 29

apartments and many make use of existing spaces such as shipping containers and school buses—fully renovated, of course.

According to Kerri Timbers of YEG Tiny Homes, the beauty of the tiny-home movement is its diversity. “It’s a movement that is defined by variation. What your tiny home looks like depends entirely on you.” As you might expect, the movement is very closely associated with the concept of minimalism.

But just like minimalism, tiny living can mean different things to different people.

As Kerri explains, “Tiny homes reflect what their owners value. You learn what you need and what you could live without. Then, you design your house based on what works best for you.”

LIVIN’

LARGE IN TINY SPACES

Make room for the tiny-house movement

BY ROBERT MICHON

FOR A LONG time, living in a big

house was a marker of success. But these days, more and more people are going out of their way to live in extremely small spaces. The tiny-home movement, as it’s known, has been picking up speed, and in the last few years has made its way to Alberta.

For some, the concept of delighting in having less is a bit hard to fathom. But those who live tiny know that smaller homes have a lot to offer. And what is lost in square footage is gained in lifestyle. Think you might be interested? Here’s a look at the tiny-house movement.

What Is a Tiny Home?

There is no concise definition for the term tiny home, as they can be many different 30 T8Nmagazine.com

FUN FACT While the tiny-home movement seems new and trendy here in North America, people in densely populated areas in Europe and Asia have been living tiny for hundreds of years. Tiny-home culture is especially popular in Japan, where the population density is over 300 times higher than it is here in Canada. things to many different people. But there is one trait that all tiny homes have in common: they are small—usually around 400 square feet. Beyond this one attribute, they can be almost anything. Some tiny homes are on wheels, some are on water, some resemble traditional houses, some are one-room

What Is the Appeal?

Tiny-home enthusiasts are attracted to the lifestyle for many different reasons, but the big draw for many people is the financial aspect. Buying a home can cost a lot of money, and for a growing portion of the population, the years of work necessary to afford one’s own space just isn’t worth it. By living tiny, you can become a property owner without the 25-year mortgage.

Another large contingent of the movement is made up by the sustainability crowd. A tiny home has less of an impact on the environment because it takes fewer resources to build and less energy to power. Many tiny-home owners even choose to exist off the grid and generate their own power with solar and wind generators.

The other major demographic fuelling the tiny-home movement is the adventurer.

When it comes to tiny homes on wheels, mobility is its own reward. Those who live in converted vehicles or in custom-built mobile homes can pick up and travel whenever they want—and they don’t have to leave anything behind. This has proven an attractive prospect for travellers both young and old.

Who Can Live Tiny?

For many of us, it can be hard to imagine living comfortably in a tiny home—especially if you have a big family. But according to Kerri, tiny-home enthusiasts are a diverse bunch.

“The movement attracts everyone from university-aged kids to retirees. In our YEG Tiny Home community, we’ve got single folks, married couples and even a family of four.”

Many seniors find themselves drawn to the movement after their children have grown and moved out, leaving them with more living space than they either need or want to maintain. Some are even opting to build their own tiny homes and to rent their full-sized homes as income properties.

But tiny living isn’t just for couples or singles.

Families around the world are choosing to live tiny together. According to Kerri, that can build stronger families. “When you’re living in close quarters with so many other people, you have to learn to live and function together. You can’t just go off to your separate corners of the house and ignore each other.

This can be great for raising kids. It brings families closer together by necessity.”

Challenges of Living Tiny Living tiny can take a lot of work. This is especially true for tiny homes that exist off the grid. To do so, you’ve got to secure your own water and your own energy; in Kerri's experience, it’s essential to be aware of how much of those resources you consume. “If propane is your primary source of heat, you’ll want to be sure that you’ve done your measurements and that you know how long

each tank will last you,” says Kerri. “You don’t want to wake up to find your supply is empty in the middle of winter.”

Legality Strictly speaking, tiny homes aren’t exactly legal in the capital region. It’s not that they’re illegal, it’s just that no laws have been made for them yet. There are, of course, established building codes for houses, and there are laws around manufacturing

you’re putting yourself at risk of getting evicted or shut out of your own home because it’s not up to code. The problem, of course, is that no such code exists.”

Building Your Own Tiny Home Despite the newness of the movement, many groups and organizations already exist to teach people how to start living tiny. Kerri’s organization, YEG Tiny Home, hosts regular meet-ups and presentations where tiny-home

DID YOU KNOW? The tiny-home movement exists nationwide. Tiny Home Alliance Canada, a national directory of tiny-home resources, lists more than 100 tiny-home-related businesses and organizations across the country. specifications for things such as RVs, but tiny homes exist in a legal grey area somewhere in between. That, however, doesn’t stop many people from building their tiny dream homes.

“You can build tiny homes here in Alberta,” says Kerri, “And many people do. But there are no laws to guide you. If you want to build one, you’ll have to have a conversation with the city to get permission. If you don’t,

enthusiasts share their experiences and teach others what they’ve learned. Organizations such as the Edmonton Permaculture Guild and KZ Permaculture both offer tiny-home workshops where you can get hands-on experience and practical advice on planning and building your tiny home. Thanks to this community and its vision for livin’ large, it’s never been easier to go tiny. t8n

T8N April 2017 31

SMOG (n.)

Clearing the air on a rising issue SPRING IS JUST around the corner—

How Smog Hurts Our Health

the buds on the trees are plumper, the birds are chirpier and the days are finally warmer. After a long Alberta winter, there’s nothing more refreshing than stepping outside for a big, beautiful breath of fresh springtime air. But what if the air isn’t so fresh?

Smog is a growing problem in Canada, a nd no province is im mune.

Here we explore the term smog, some of the ways it’s affecting our cities and what’s being done about it.

Smog can cause a slew of health problems— everything from a minor cough and irritated eyes, nose and throat to serious disease or damage to the heart and lungs. Exposure to outdoor air pollution can also aggravate pre-existing health conditions such as asthma.

What Is Smog?

The term smog describes a mixture of smoke and fog. People generally use the word to describe low air quality or reduced visibility from air pollution. According to the Canadian Medical Association, smog includes pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and gaseous ammonia. Although smog often appears as a brownish haze in the sky, it can also be colourless and odourless.

What Causes Smog?

In Canada, most smog comes from car exhaust, but pollution from factories, power plants and even forest fires contribute to the problem, too. When these pollutants mix with sunlight, they create what’s referred to as smog.

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone who spends a significant amount of time outdoors, like those who work outside or are active outdoors each day, risk the effects of smog; however, seniors, children and those with health conditions that affect the respiratory system, the heart or the lungs are the most vulnerable. If you think staying out of the city will keep you safe from smog, think again—people in rural areas are at risk, too.

Canada’s Struggle with Smog In a 2016 review of national health programs around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that outdoor air pollution has risen by eight percent globally.

Canada is no exception to the growing amounts of smog.

INTERESTING FACTS In 2014, 92% of the world population (or about 9 out of 10 people) were living in places where WHO’s air-quality guideline levels were not being met.

WHO also claims that outdoor air pollution caused three million premature deaths globally in 2012.

According to Health Canada, the Canadian areas that are most affected by smog are the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor (in Ontario and Quebec), the Lower Fraser Valley (in British Columbia) and the Southern Atlantic region (in the Maritime provinces).

Protecting the Population With smog becoming a significant environmental health problem in Canada, our government has taken steps to help protect its population from outdoor air pollution. Back in 1999, the Government of Canada amended the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). This legislation, which came into effect in 2000, introduced new policies to help protect Canadians from all kinds of pollution, including air pollution. For example, CEPA includes provisions to regulate vehicle, engine and equipment emissions in Canada.

DID YOU KNOW? There are two types of smog: sulfurous and photochemical.

Sulfurous smog (also called “London smog”) is caused by burning sulfurous fossil fuels such as coal.

Photochemical smog (also called “Los Angeles” smog) comes from vehicle or factory emissions.

Canada’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a collaboration between Health Canada and Environment Canada; it is a tool meant to help Canadians understand how air quality affects their health. The AQHI monitors and then assesses the current air quality level (“low risk” to “very high risk”) and provides advice on how Canadians can protect their health in each risk scenario.

If the AQHI reaches a “high risk” or “very high risk” level for one to two hours, Environment Canada issues a Special Air Quality Statement in the affected region. If the “high risk” or “very high risk” status is expected for three hours or more, Environment Canada issues a Smog and Air Health Advisory.

Canadians can find AQHI levels for their area on their local weather network or on the Environment and Climate Change Canada website. t8n

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