The Jasper Local December 15, 2017 by The Jasper Local

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tuesday, december 19, 2017 // ISSUE 111

ALPINE START // COOL TEMPERATURES AND LOW PRECIPITATION HAVE MADE FOR A MEMORABLE YEAR OF WILD SKATING. ART JACKSON GLIDES THROUGH A HOAR FROST FOREST ON MALIGNE LAKE. // EDDIE WONG EXPLOREJASPER.COM

Arena all clear after asbestos scare An asbestos scare in the Jasper Arena closed the facility for three days and cost the municipality booking fees and clean-up charges. On December 5, an Occupational Health and Safety Officer from the provincial government visited the Jasper Arena to conduct an inspection. During the site visit, the officer identified vermiculite insulation—material he was concerned may contain asbestos. The arena was immediately closed and a specialized contractor was brought in to conduct air testing. “The test results showed no trace of asbestos,” said Christine Nadon, Legislative Services Manager for the Municipality of Jasper. Despite the all-clear, the rink was shut down on December 6 until December 8 and the rink had to foot the bill to clean the equipment of two local hockey teams.

For years, the Barley Kings commercial hockey team and the D’ed Dogs mens’ league have kept their gear in two storage units underneath the arena bleachers. As a precaution against asbestos contamination, Arena Manager Peter Bridge had both teams’ equipment washed by a company specializing in decontamination. Bridge doesn’t have the final bill yet, but indicated it wasn’t an inexpensive hit. No one knows when the Barley Kings and the D’ed Dogs hockey equipment was last washed. “If it wasn’t clean then, it is now,” Bridge said. The municipality had previously tested for asbestos in 2005 and 2009. Bridge, who spends a lot of time in the arena, plans to have the air re-tested for his own peace of mind. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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page A2 // the jasper local // issue 111 // tuesday, december 19, 2017

editorial //

Local Vocal Year end is tough. Just ask your local Jasper town council, members of which have been grinding it out on budget detail for the last two months. The amount of information to take in, numbers to analyze and priorities to juggle is fairly daunting from a casual observer’s point of view, so I can only imagine what kind of focus it requires to have to process all that data and then spit out a series of thoughtful decisions that affect your neighbours and fellow residents. After going through the public documents, it must be said: Kudos to staff for presenting their budgets in a way that is easily understood and kudos to councillors for giving this important assignment their all. We here at The Jasper Local haven’t combed through every line item, so we don’t have too many suggestions at this point on how to generate extra revenue or mitigate unnecessary expenses. Oh wait, we do have one. Here’s a hint: it’s a slippery slope—and it’s not the $40,000 earmarked to fix the tobogganing at Snapes Hill. Of course we’re talking about the $600,000 quote for a new waterslide at the Jasper Fitness and Aquatic Centre. While I understand this amenity is a pretty sweet ride for pool rats, and having it certainly helps make the aquatic centre seem like a more attractive option for visitors who might otherwise skip their dip, spending the equivalent of a three bedroom bungalow on what essentially amounts to a toy seems…well, it seems wet behind the ears. Perhaps there will be an armada of corkscrew crusaders who will come out, waterproof petitions in hand, to demand that the municipality replace their favourite pelagic plaything. If that proves to be the case, I’ll stick to my guns: this is an asset from which Jasper should swim away. It’s been swell, but such an splashy expense is not a good place to sink our limited tax dollars. It kind of reminds me of the new concession program at the Activity Centre, where Glenda MacDowell has been cooking up healthy dishes and using compostable cutlery. The kids complained when there were no more chicken nuggets on the menu and no more candy on the countertop, but it’s not like there isn’t anything else delicious to eat. Parents, meanwhile, have clawed back a bit of control over their sour sootherstipulating striplings. The number of meltdowns after mom or dad says “no more candy” has dropped off because look: there’s no more candy. What would a world without a waterslide in Jasper be like? Don’t fret, pool rats. Particularly if Snapes Hill gets fixed, it’ll be easy sledding. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Dear Pat,

Pat Wilson was a good egg, as folks from her generation like to say. Pat passed away on December 15. She was 87 years old. To me, Pat will always have a special place in my heart, for she was one of the readers of this newspaper who really encouraged me to continue with it. Usually I would get her kind feedback when I delivered the paper to Alpine Summit Seniors’ Lodge, where she lived since 2006, but occasionally I would receive a succinct, sweet email. I was always impressed by this; not all seniors like to use a computer. Pat, whose late husband Bruce is remembered fondly as one of the most “with it” JNP park superintendents to ever occupy that

office, was dismayed by much of what she saw from Parks Canada as of late. She also had a problem with Facebook, which was another topic we could sound off on together. On my last visit with her, she asked me what I thought of the uniquely large Parks Canada residential lots on Maligne Avenue. I said I thought they were some of the neatest properties in town. She agreed. She knew this firsthand, in fact, because she used to live there. Pat was cherishing her Jasper memories until the end. There’s a lesson there. Thank you Pat, for the words of encouragement over the years. My deepest sympathies to your loved ones. - Bob Covey

The Jasper Local //

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// Local government

tuesday, december 19, 2017 // issue 111 // the jasper local// page A3

TOURISM MINISTER RICARDO MIRANDA WITH MEMBERS OF THE JASPER PRIDE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE.

Alberta Minister stops in Jasper to talk Pride, GSAs and culinary tourism youth, he experienced isolation and barriers as a result of his sexual orientation and his status as a refugee. He felt he and the students were on the same page when it came to GSAs in a learning environment. “They felt it was important that students More specifically, Calgary MLA Ricardo feel safe,” he said. Miranda said that Jasper is earning dividends for its efforts to create welcoming Miranda was also given a podium in front of local business owners. He spaces via events such as the Jasper Pride heard concerns about Jasper’s labour Festival. force and the municipality’s ongoing “It’s attracting tourism, building capacity on the ground and giving a cool example of quest for infrastructure support. He was Albertans and exactly who we are, because quizzed on how the province could get culinary tourism cooking in Jasper; his we have changed,” Miranda said. answer: collaboration. He pointed to the The 40-year-old former flight attendant was the Alberta Small Brewers Association’s sworn in to his position in February, 2016. success in creating an Alberta brand When he did so, he became the first openly alongside Alberta’s dining destinations. gay cabinet minister in the province’s “They go part and parcel,” he said. “It’s history. quite exciting and we’ve invested money in On December 7, Miranda visited Jasper that.” to take questions from the Jasper Park (Sidenote: The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Chamber of Commerce and to visit with will host the first ever Jasper Beer and local students. He brought his message Barley Summit in February). of inclusiveness to Jasper’s francophone When Miranda makes visits to other, school, École Desrochers, and visited with less-popular tourism destinations in the members of the school’s Gay Straight Alliance. In October, the NDP government province, he uses Jasper as an example of a community which has taken ownership proposed a bill which would repeal legislation brought forward by the previous of its diversity and which is leveraging that strength to grow. Conservative government. The changes would make it illegal for teachers at “When I go to other communities I’m publicly funded schools to inform parents always telling them how Jasper’s doing if their students joined GSAs. The issue has things, because I think it would be really been a political flashpoint in Alberta. cool to see that throughout the province.” Miranda told the Jasper students that as a Alberta’s Minister of Culture and Tourism says the rest of the province can learn from Jasper’s example of offering visitors culturally authentic experiences.

bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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A SUNNY TOUR // HEIDI FENGLER SEARCHES FOR AN IDEAL SPOT TO DIG A PIT TO TEST SNOW PACK STABILITY AT HILDA RIDGE. // NICOLE COVEY

Local recreation//

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Local government//

Baptism by fire: council to push through working budget Councillors working with a proposed 5.4 per cent tax increase in 2018 are finding out just how much there is to learn about the municipal budgeting process. “It’s a little like drinking from a fire hose,” said Christine Nadon, Legislative Services Manager and the Communications Director for the Municipality of Jasper. Councillor Paul Butler says getting up to speed on all of the details of the capital and operational budgets; working in a compressed budget cycle (due to the October municipal election); plus the overarching aim of finding a balance between paying for improvements now versus paying for them later, means the challenges are compounded. “You can’t overtax residents now but you also can’t keep kicking the can down the road,” Butler said. “You don’t want to see people in their 30s now burdened

when they’re my age.” Council will vote on whether or not to pass a proposed, interim budget on December 19, with plans to adopt the budget by March 30.

“You can’t overtax residents now but you also can’t keep kicking the can down the road.” The proposed 5.4 per cent increase ($392,559) represents a $63 increase for a homeowner living in a property assessed at $500,000. For commercial taxpayers, a commercial property valued at $2 million would see a jump of $1,625. Jasper has a commercial/residential tax split of 5.1 to 1. Collectively, Butler said, council would like to pass as much of the capital budget as possible. Some items in the budget, however—

such as a $600,000 quote to replace the Jasper Aquatic Centre’s waterslide, and a $40,000 tag to make safety improvements to Snapes Hill sledding area— will likely be tabled for more discussion. Other costly items coming down the pipe include renovations to the Jasper Activity Centre and the Jasper Fitness and Aquatic Centre. Re-locating the ammonia room and replacing electronic panels isn’t glamorous work, but it has to be done, Nadon said. For that reason, the earlier council can sign off on a working budget document, the earlier— and the cheaper—staff can book contractors.

community is facing. Trying to anticipate the age and stage of some of these assets—from water lines and sewer pipes to buildings and vehicles—is complicated. The town’s recently-completed asset management plan will take the guess work out of many of these items, he said. Butler is also pleased that the document created by staff includes a presentation of a five-year operating budget. “We’re not in a crisis but we need to take care of it,” he said.

“If we don’t contact them by April, they’re more expensive,” Nadon said.

Significant proposed budget increases for respective departments in 2018 are as follows: Operations: $120,000; Culture and Recreation: $133,000; Library and Cultural Centre: $27,000; Administration and Council: $123,000.

That’s one thing that’s stuck out for Butler: the scope of the asset management and maintenance improvement deficit this

In 2017, the adopted budget represented a 1.2 per cent increase in net cost of operations from the year previous. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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FEATURE // STORY AND PHOTOS BY BOB COVEY

ON DECEMBER 1, HIGH ABOVE THE TOWN OF JASPER, A SMALL GROUP OF LOCAL SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS WERE UNLOADING FROM MARMOT BASIN’S PARADISE CHAIRLIFT.

The high degree of s partly on the fact tha opening was so surp a long-time Marmot former staff member now has a family in t was admittedly shoc vember, Marmot Bas would open the area “I never in a thousan would do something Grant wasn’t the only with Parks Canada s mot’s recently-comp nance plan and with the ski resort that th tions for lift develop Grant and countless eat their words. “It’s a smart move,” G for Marmot and ever living is connected to For those whose lifes skiing—and certainl so in on th ca sio is m do op rid

“You don’t just jump in and start making turns, you have to stop and plan your line. That’s part of the fun.”

It was a chilly morning, there was a trace of new snow on the ground and a quick glance at the ski tenure below indicated that the groomed runs were in prime shape for the impending weekend. But instead of swooshing down to the crowd-free slopes below, these riders were shouldering their skis and boards and gathering around the adjacent ski patrol hut. They were waiting. In fact, some of them had been waiting 25 years for this moment. What they were anticipating was the opening of Tres Hombrés—a 1,200 vertical foot, north-facing alpine slope which had whet expert riders’ appetites for decades but which had never been skied by the public. The news that the

terrain would open on Friday was anything but official, yet for the previous 48 hours, word had been spreading quickly. All throughout Jasper, previouslysealed lips had been loosening. Those with a roommate on ski patrol or a friend working for dispatch were hearing the same, exciting thing: avalanche control members had been working on the slope all week and the gate on Trés was due to drop at 10 a.m. For the die-hards, they simply had to be there.

acreage to explore, th diamond skiers will on the entire mounta more room to ski. “This is going to spre skiers from places lik Eagles East,” said Fre Peel, who was among

suspense was based at the news of Trés’ prising. Travis Grant, t Basin shredder and r (1999-2003) who the Edmonton area, ked when in Nosin announced they a to the public. nd years thought they g this cool,” he said. y skeptic. However, signing off on Marpleted trail maintethe agreement with here will be no aspirapment in that area, others were happy to

Grant said. “It’s great ryone in town whose o skiing.” style is connected to ly the two dozen or o who were loiterng around the gate n December 1 count hemselves in that ategory—the expanon of rideable terrain nothing short of momentous. Not only oes Trés Hombres’ pening give expert ders new, off-piste

he move means black be less concentrated ain, giving everyone

ead out the expert ke the Knob and eewheel Cycle’s Chris g the first to dive in

DROP THE ROPE:

HISTORIC TURNS MADE IN MARMOT BASIN’S NEW EXPERT TERRAIN after ski patrol dropped the rope. Make no mistake, this is an area that caters to advanced riders. While the slope itself is gnarly—steep, un-manicured and home to big rock and cornice features which command respect—what will really separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, is the ski out back to the lift. On the opening weekend of the new terrain, newbies were finding out just how narrow, technical and hazard-laden the egress can be. Since that bony start, ski patrol has put in a heroic effort to make the traverse more rider-friendly, but those dropping in should be aware that skiing out is just as challenging as skiing the slope— perhaps more so for snowboarders, for whom a lack of ski poles and fixed foot positioning makes flat-land travelling challenging. But for those who know what they’re getting into, that challenge is exactly the point, according to Marmot Basin’s VP of Marketing, Brian Rode. “People get to test their skills, there’s that sense of accomplishment,” said Rode. “You don’t just jump in and start making turns, you have to stop and plan your line. That’s part of the fun.” Peter Amann knows what line he’ll be taking when he gets into Trés. The ACMG professional and former director of avalanche control at Marmot Basin was as surprised as anyone else when the news about Trés Hombres started making the rounds. Amann, who worked for Marmot Basin for 22 years, knows the slope well. He skied it only once, with his colleagues, after the resort closed for the season, but has extensive experience in Trés Hombres from the standpoint of avalanche control. “I think it’s cool that it’s open,” Amann said. “I’m looking forward to going up and checking it out.” Amann remembers at one point, in the mid-1990s, there was serious chatter at Marmot Basin’s management level to

open Trés for skiing. At that time, however, sights were also set on the Eagle’s East area and as Peter remembers it, “it was one or the other.” The ski area’s leasehold was different back then, too—the idea was for Trés to extend all the way to Whistlers Creek, and with that idea came talk of a lift—but even though Amann’s team were researching

ways to make that possible from a snow safety angle, the focus on Eagles East and the subsequent installation of the Eagle Ridge chairlift soon took priority. Trés moved to the back burner, where most people—including Amann—figured it would stay. “It will be interesting to see how it works for the course of the year,” Amann said, noting the challenge that the egress will present not only to riders getting out, but to patrollers getting in, in particular should they need to do so by skidoo. Rode says they’ve got their best people on it. “As we get more snow we’ll have an egress trail maintenance plan in place,” Rode said. Maintenance will be performed on the track as required. Signage to alert guests to the nature of the skiing will be more prominent, he added. On December 1, the only sign needed for the 20-odd expert skiers and snowboarders lined up for the opening of Trés, was a green light. At 10:25 a.m., under slategrey skies and with a sense of being part of local ski history in-the-making, those die-hards got what they were dreaming of. “Sierra one to Sierra 22,” came head of avalanche safety, Kerry MacDonald’s voice over the radio. “Go ahead and open the gate to Trés.” bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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Local poetry //

Snow: dangerously beautiful

At one time it was thought that witches caused avalanches; the unfortunates caught in them were victims of broomstick-riding hags. Now it’s mostly snowboard riders, skiers, snowshoers, snowmobilers that trip the switch to make the slope release. Roughly 95 per cent of the avalanches that catch outdoor enthusiasts are triggered by the victims. Snow is a beautiful thing. Not only is it white (shouldn’t it be colourless like water?) and fluffy, but fragile with perfectly formed little hexagons. In Descartes’s delightful words some snowflakes resemble “grains which have around them six little teeth, like clockmakers’ wheels; others resemble little crystal columns decorated at each end with a six-petalled rose.” The old adage that no two snowflakes are alike is likely true, for according to scientists the chances of two snowflakes being exactly alike are one in one million trillion (that’s one, followed by 18 zeros). After the storms come the bling-bling blue days. On every bough on every tree fluffy piles of six-sided snowflakes. And powder deep on all the slopes. No wonder we go out there: for the Sirens are calling. In Greek mythology, the Sirens were dangerous creatures that lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. That fresh fall of snow, beautiful snow, is calling; those silent slopes are waiting—to avalanche. Storms are common triggers of avalanches, as are people. The slopes get loaded, and like a rubber band being stretched the storm snow may put the snowpack under so much stress that eventually the stress is too great and the slope releases. The rubber band

breaks. Catastrophe happens: the outdoor enthusiast is engulfed. And it can happen in a heartbeat. The fracture line of a slab avalanche— that’s a huge chunk of slope that breaks free and unzips a whole mountainside— can travel faster than the eye can see at speeds greater than 322 km/h. If you are on a slope that fractures you are instantaneously riding a whirlwind. Then you are in a tumbler of death. And when equilibrium comes, the heat of friction generated by the collision of all those “gentle” snowflakes during the avalanche sets you in concrete. No wonder victims even shallowly buried are unable to free themselves. One buried survivor of an avalanche said the only thing he could move was his tongue. Another said he couldn’t even blink an eye.

// N.COVEY

Wind blasts accompanying powder avalanches can reach speeds of a devastating tornado. I once saw a standing lodgepole pine that had been pierced right through the trunk by a much thinner pine that had been turned into a javelin. I’ve seen pebbles buried like shrapnel high up on the trunks of still standing trees. Every winter people die in the mountains from making poorly informed choices. Like life, it’s all about hazard and risk. Being flippant, even getting out of bed in the morning can be risky. You might step on that errant thumbtack, fall over and crack your head on the cabinet—and that would be that. Those of us who love to be out there in the silence and beauty will become informed about this amazing little sixsided character. An avalanche course will explain the objective hazards, how weather effects the snowpack, and how to minimize the risk of something going wrong, so you can float down those glistening slopes of Paradise roaring like a maniac carving a famous line. David harrap // info@thejasperlocal.com

Beautiful Snow BY DAVID HARRAP

Gentle snow fell in the night and twirled around the yellow light. Feathers piled on fence posts sharp and stole away the light from dark. The Town was dirty with grime and mud; outside the bars was sprinkled blood. But ermine wraps it pristine white and hides the sins of Friday night. Children fling the curtains wide and let the dazzling snow inside. Sleds are pulled to Westbourne Hill; and Jack climbs up, and down goes Jill: Flashing—Crashing—Shooting Stars—They dodge amid the trucks and cars. Snowflakes fall a hundred miles and softly land on happy smiles; And not so much as sting the eye as they drift down silent from leaden sky. One flake upon another hides bushes out of sight; Snow like sugar icing coats mountains deadly white— Come Paladins of snow and ice enticed by glistening hills of Paradise: Where boundless drifts of powder deep lie on slopes silent fast asleep. A Midas Land beguiling thrice, held cold within a fickle vise. Valhalla extends its quixotic hand; and Ragnarok awaits the damned. A cataclysmic blast rings out! The clocks all stopped, no time to shout— Hecate has come with all Her dread: the slopes have turned to molten lead. In dervish dance the snow advanced, the sound of thunder roared Through gullies, couloirs, chutes of death, the frenzied powder poured. There was no chance or sallying dance to escape the dreadful swell; No place to flee, no shouts of glee—Just the Phantom ringing bell. (No Hermes, Pegasus can race its lightning speed and dreaded pace) Hemlock, fir, and lodgepole pine, splintered , smashed in hideous line The wind blasts down—Ahead! Ahead! A shroud of white entombs the dead. Orifices where air did blow, the Taxidermist stuffs with snow . . . Diamonds spangle in frozen moonlight A hushed owl in a fir tree hoots And three bodies lie broken and twisted Beneath the snows of the avalanche chute.

tuesday, december 19, 2017 // issue 111 // the jasper local// page B6

local nutrition //

A Hierarchy of Food Nutrition: You want to improve your health and nutrition, but can’t seem to make it past week two of avoiding sweets. Or, you know it is important to get in five daily servings of vegetables, but just can’t stomach yet another kale smoothie. Or, you are feeling sad, hopeless, and riddled with guilt at the thought of having to eat your grandmother’s baking over the Christmas season... Sound familiar? Trust me, it’s not just you. Often nutrition advice jumps right into super foods and rigid food rules. The “eat-this-don’t-eat-that” school of thinking. However, this type of guidance skips over some precursory concepts of human thought, behavior, and [to put it frankly] basic physiology. It is important, and so much more effective, to start where you are. Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ is a theory of human motivation depicted as a pyramid, implying that before we can achieve the peak of self-actualization, we have to meet our most fundamental needs at the base. If this hierarchy is applied to nutrition, we can start to understand our behavior around food. A decade ago, Ellyn Satter, a famous dietitian (yes, famous dietitians exist), published a theory of just that – a ‘Hierarchy of Food Needs’, but it has yet to be recognized for the ground-breaking theory that it is1. So today, I want to take a stab at prioritizing food needs as I see them, and show you how I like to counsel nutrition.

1. HEALTHY/NORMAL RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD: Normal eating can be described as flexible, versus rigid or black-and-white. It can vary based on your hunger, schedule, proximity to food, and your emotions1. Though eating is complex, food choices need to be disentangled from feelings of guilt, shame, self-loathing, and unworthiness, to support mental health and revert from using food as a coping mechanism. So that food can be just food, and not a moral code to live up to. When you live with a plethora of food rules dictating your every mouthful, it is physiologically impossible to avoid cravings and bingeing on “forbidden foods” for comfort, thereby negating any nutrition goal you are striving to achieve, and feeling quite down about yourself. A healthy relationship with food means giving yourself full permission to eat foods that you enjoy and to trust your body enough to make up for your mistakes in eating, instead of dwelling on them1,2.

2. EATING ENOUGH: Eating enough to fuel your body, more specifically

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eating enough throughout the day, is a key first step towards improved nutrition. What happens when we intentionally (or unintentionally) limit our food intake during the day, is an overcompensation of food intake later that evening. Typically, this overcompensation is when we are tired, run-down, and can’t be bothered to prepare a balanced meal. Hanger (“hunger + anger”) also ensues and makes it hard to slow down, choose consciously, and listen to those subtle cues of fullness. What I have just described is the ‘restrict-binge cycle’, and you can prevent it by choosing to fuel your body every 3-4 waking hours with a combination of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and deliciousness. Each macronutrient plays a role in maintaining your energy and function, and deliciousness is imperative to feel satisfied… because restriction not only means limiting total quantity of food, but also limiting the types of foods allowed.

3. GENERAL NUTRITION: Once a healthy relationship with food is established, it is a lot easier to approach healthy eating with the right intentions. Healthy eating to me means choosing mostly whole foods that are minimally processed and as local as possible. It means a daily variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables, complex whole grains, and a combination of vegetarian and animal proteins. It also means enjoying food prepared with loved ones, savouring a few bites of sweetness midafternoon, and of course fermented foods for gut health!

4. THERAPEUTIC NUTRITION: Targeting health concerns or conditions with specific ways of eating - the tip of the pyramid. A few examples would be anti-inflammatory foods for Rheumatoid Arthritis, or low FODMAP eating for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or the ketogenic diet for glycemic management and Epilepsy, and the list goes on… So, with that being said, my holiday message to you is to start where you are. It is okay to be right there. Be compassionate with yourself, and know that when you are ready to move up the pyramid, you can.

Further reading and special thanks for inspiring this article: - Satter, E. (2007). Hierarchy of Food Needs. J Nutr Educ Behav, 39(S), 187-188. - Tribole, E., & Resch, E. (1995). Intuitive Eating. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

Kirsten Oilund is a registered dietitian and the owner of Jasper Nutrition Counselling. She is an avid runner, boot-camper and adventurer. She has been known to plan an elaborate campfire spread. Email her at kirsten@jasper-nutrition.com