Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

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SPRING 2011 Life in the West Kootenay/Boundary Region CONCRETE TRANSFORMATIONS Melon Durand creates unique sculptures in her Christina Lake studio SHIP TO SHORE At home in the lovingly restored paddlewheeler — The Nasookin CENTRE FOR PEACE The Mir Centre brings peace studies to the region PEOPLE ARTS HOMES FOOD CULTURE RECREATION HISTORY Interior Design Fine tune your style with fabulous fashions from local designers

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Life in the West Kootenay/Boundary region

Transcript of Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

Page 1: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

Spring 2011

Life in the West Kootenay/Boundary Region

ConCrete transformations

melon Durand creates unique sculptures in her

Christina Lake studio

ship to shoreat home in the lovingly

restored paddlewheeler — the nasookin

Centre for peaCethe mir Centre brings

peace studies to the region

P e o P l e A r t s H o m e s F o o d c u l t u r e r e c r e A t i o n H i s t o r y

Interior DesignFine tune your style with fabulous fashions from local designers

Page 2: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

250-442-2711 Toll Free: 1-800-567-3199 272 Central Avenue, Grand Forks, B.C.

www.grandforksrealestate.ca

BC’s Best Kept Secret...the view is only the beginning!

Call any of our realtors for informationOn properties in our area.

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spring 2011 Route 3 Page 3

arts & Culture

Concrete TransformationsMelon Durand’s quirky and unique sculptures add character to gardens and homes, page 7

Fashion

Interior DesignGet into 100-mile garb with fabulous fashions from Kootenay designers, page 10

FooD & DrinK

Organically Oursendless harvest helps people eat their fruits and veggies, page 15

hoMes

Ship to Shorethe Coles are at home with history in their lovingly resorted paddlewheeler — the nasookin, page 18

CoMMunity

Centre for Peacethe Mire Centre at selkirk College in Castlegar brings peace studies to the region, page 25

history

Ryckman’s Kootenay Curea patent medicine to call our own, page 28

Q&a

Kootenay Kiltiesan interview with David hogg, pipe major, page 28

speCial plaCesphoto by Chris hammett, page 30

contentspublisherChuck [email protected]

aCCount ManaGerChris [email protected]

eDitor & art DireCtorshelley [email protected]

Route 3 is published quarterly by black presstelephone: 250-442-2191or 1-877-443-2191Courier and mail:box 700, 7255 riverside Dr.Grand Forks, b.C. V0h 1h0

Route 3 is distributed through the following newspapers, and on racks throughout the West Kootenay and boundary regions.

printed in Canada on recyclable paper.Copyright 2010 by black press. all rights reserved.

reproduction of any article, photograph, or artwork without written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. the publisher can assume no responsibility for unsolicited material.

Cover photo by David R. Gluns: Camille and bike with Nelson millinery design company Lillie & Cohoe’s Lady Ascot hat.

Fresh spring asparagus shoots are ready to be shipped out to Endless Harvest customers. See story on page 15.

FSC LOGO HERE

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TidbiTs – a taste of what’s happening in the West Kootenay/BoundaryDummy DownhiLL / enD of season partyred Mountain, rosslandsun. apr. 3Celebrate the end of the ski season with fellow snow enthusiasts, music and great food. Come experience the deck party that everyone talks about.

festivaL neLson Fri. apr. 29 – sat. apr. 30The 24th Annual High School Music Festival hosted by LV Rogers, Trafal-gar Jr Secondary Schools and the Nelson United Church. The two-day event includes evening concerts.http://festivalnelson.sd8.bc.ca/index.htm

siLver City DaysVarious locations in trailMon. May 2 – sun. May 8The annual celebration commences with a mid-week Citizen of the Year Award, continuing with five days and nights of fun, food and entertain-ment. Festivities conclude on the Sunday with a family day celebration.

neLson GarDen festivaL200 block baker street, nelsonsat. May 7Celebrate Mother's Day weekend at the tenth annual Nelson Garden Festival, a showcase for garden-ing vendors in the region. Annuals, perennials, early vegetable starts, trees, shrubs, furniture and all kinds of accessories will line the 200 block of Baker Street from 10 am to 3 pm. Music and fun for the whole family!

ss moyie open house324 Front st, Kaslosun. May 8Step back in time onboard the SS Moyie. Open house is from 11am-4 pm; admission is by donation. Meet this year's members of the Moyie crew in a meet and greet and enjoy an interpretive tour of the ship and site.

sprinGtastiC 2011Freeman’s Farm supply, rock Creeksat. May 14An educational, informative, fun-filled day for the whole family.Presentations on landscaping, gardening, zero waste, composting, food security and more.Draw prizes, Rock Creek Farmer’s Market, children’s games and activi-ties, live entertainment.

sunfestVarious locations throughout CastlegarFri. June 3 – sun. June 5This event includes the Miss Castle-gar Queen Pageant, slow-pitch tournament and entertainment garden, parade, talent show, family BBQ, vintage car club show and shine and much more.

the Kootenay festivaLheritage Way (across the highway from the West Kootenay regional airport), Castlegarsat. July 16, 11am to 7pmInclusive, multi-faceted arts and culture festival that celebrates and showcases cultural diversity and artistic excellence within our com-munity and across the regionTwo stages, food vendors, interac-tive displays, workshops and more.castlegarculture.com.

raiD the north extreme West Kootenay regionJuly 23 – 31Over six days, four-person co-ed teams will navigate a 500km+ expedition over an unmarked route by paddling, trekking, trail running, mountain biking, and using fixed ropes through the wild and historic West Kootenay of British Columbia.www.RaidTheNorthExtreme.com

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Spring is almost here and who wants to be

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spring 2011 Route 3 Page 5

tyLer austin BraDLey lives in an old corner store in Rossland. He divides his time between reading, writing, eating, sleeping, producing films and managing the waste stream of residents in the greater Trail area. He is originally from Vancouver.

Nelson-based photographer DaviD r. GLuns has captured moments in many special places in the world, creating images for numerous maga-zines, books and commercial clients, but “nothing beats the Kootenays as a place to live and photograph. I love the challenge of getting a great image whether it be flying in my plane, making food look great for the latest cookbook, or just hiking in the backcountry!” He can be reached at [email protected]

After numerous years as a camera store and photo lab owner/operator at the coast, and 30 years’ experience as a professional photographer, Chris hammett decided it was time for a change, so she moved to Grand Forks to enjoy the slower-paced, rural lifestyle. It was a chance to unwind and be inspired in a region of spectacular scenery. Exploring the backcountry in her Jeep, she still shoots professionally while being true to her own creative vision.

nelson star reporter GreG nesteroff believes everything he reads.

arne petryshen recently found his way to Grand Forks, where he works as reporter at the Gazette. Originally from Cranbrook, he spent a brief stint in Lethbridge for school, all the while longing for the elevation changes of B.C. He’s now waiting for summer, to go hiking and fishing in the sun.

DouG pyper is a freelance photojournalist based out of Nelson, British Columbia. [email protected]

amy roBiLLarD is a freelance writer based out of Nelson. She is a regular contributor to local papers and publications as well as a business writer for rising Women magazine, based out of Calgary. When not play-ing in the mountains or writing, Amy can be found in her kitchen mixing up a batch of gelato for the company she founded and manages, Little Miss Gelato, a local ice cream manufacturing company based in Nelson.

Trail freelancer Lana roDLie spent 16 years as a reporter with the trail Daily times. She’s also written for the province, bC business and a vari-ety of travel magazines. Besides writing, she spends a great deal of time volunteering (Rotary, Community in Bloom, and Japanese Twinning) and also dabbles in genealogy, local history and travel.

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Page 6: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

Page 6 Route 3 spring 2011

Aug 15, 

250-505-5505     toll free 1-877-505-7355 

www.cbculturetour.com

Explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites through

this free, self-guided tour within the Columbia Basin.

Meet the artists, shop for

demonstrations, special exhibitions, interpretive displays or chat with local historians during this cultural celebration!

For further information visit our website or call.

www.cbculturetour.com250-505-5505 • 1-877-505-7355 

Aug 13 - 14, 201110:00am - 5:00pm

Funded by

Come for the Adventure & Stay for the Lifestyle.

Lunch Break

www.investkootenay.comwww.boundarycf.com

B O U N D A R Y E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M I T T E E & C O M M U N I T Y F U T U R E S B O U N D A R Y I N V I T E Y O U T O . . .

Come for the Adventure & Stay for the Lifestyle.

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B O U N D A R Y E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M I T T E E & C O M M U N I T Y F U T U R E S B O U N D A R Y I N V I T E Y O U T O . . .Come for the Adventure & Stay for the Lifestyle.

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B O U N D A R Y E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M I T T E E & C O M M U N I T Y F U T U R E S B O U N D A R Y I N V I T E Y O U T O . . .

Partnering in the Boundary

rdKB area C director graCe MCgregor

rdKB area d director irene PerePolKin

Page 7: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

spring 2011 Route 3 Page 7

story by Arne Petryshenphotos by Chris Hammett

arts & culture

Concrete Transformations

Melon Durand’s quirky and unique sculptures add character to gardens and homes

if you happen to wonder into Du-rand’s nursery in Christina lake b.C. and make it past hortus the cat’s watchful eye, you will prob-ably notice a unique sculpture in the midst of the beautiful plants

for sale. the piece of art is a woman. the unique thing about this woman is the playful variety of kitchen imple-ments positioned on her body. the sculpture, called “homage to the little Woman,” has a colander in her hand, a frying pan on her belt and a rusty grater for a neck.

the woman welcomes you to the nursery and to the sculptural world of Melon Durand.

the nursery, though, is only a forum to show her art. the real work goes on in her workshop up the hill at the Du-rands’ home. here you start to get an idea of the process and skill that goes into creating the sculptures.

the process begins with Melon con-structing the bones of the sculpture.

“it just starts out with anything that’ll take some shape,” she says. “i build bones first using wire, wire mesh, old pieces of metal.”

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Melon then covers the wire or mesh with a layer of burlap and cement. When that sets it becomes strong and she adds another layer.

the process can take a while, espe-cially when she is forced to work inside due to the weather. the time it takes to make a sculpture also depends a lot on what the sculpture will be.

“in the summer it’s easier, because you can be outside and it dries a little bit faster — you can’t let it dry too fast,” she says. “you have to take care.”

Melon has been learning as she goes along to deal with the problems she encounters.

“the first ones i did, i had overkill on the inside, way more (metal support) than i needed. the more i’ve been making, the lighter they’re actually getting.”

Melon has been working with ce-ramic cement with a polymer added so it is strong and doesn’t weigh as much as regular cement. she uses other materials as well.

“i like working in plaster, wax, ce-ment, any kind of metal; anything i can work with on my own.”

Melon also enjoys working in plaster because of its versatility. she can sand it down, gouge it out with tools and just add on another layer of plaster if it doesn’t work out the way she hoped.

she got inspired to start making sculptures after seeing a friend, who along with her husband built a cement house and used leftover cement to make pots and other objects. Find-ing some free time from the nursery, Melon started experimenting with cement, having her friend to help her and answer her questions.

talking of her past, Melon says: “i took two years of fine arts at uViC. i was involved in art, but then we moved here and got involved with the nursery and kids. there just wasn’t time for art.”

What Melon did find working with the colours and textures of plants, was that bonsai and landscape design was just another form of art. so though she had to put sculpting on hold for more than two decades, she found the years of experience with plants had a positive effect on the sculpting. she also credits some of her favourite artists from the past, such as sculptors Marino Marini and Medardo rosso. she’s inspired by the way these sculp-tors are able to use minimal forms to make interesting sculptures of faces and animals. the other inspiration she names is amedeo Modigliani, because of his interesting portrait paintings.

Many of the sculptures in her work-shop are portrait busts, and Melon

Opening page: Melon likes to work with wire mesh, polymer modified cement and wax on some of her busts. Here she adds the finishing touches to one of her current projects. This rosebud-like piece will actually become a planter. From left: "Heron" composed of metal, wire mesh and cement.

"Tony": This bust, which took on the likeness of Melon's father, is made of metal covered with cement and a top layer of hand modelled wax.

"Guard Dog", made from wire mesh, polymer modi-fied cement and glass. A statue of one of Melon's late pets greets you at the gate as you enter the driveway of the Durand home.

"Homage to the Little Woman" poses between two greenhouses at the nursery.

"Little Sister" bust, overlaid with wax and co-loured with powdered pigment, resembles one of Melon's sisters.

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spring 2011 Route 3 Page 9

says that she likes to focus on people because of her interest in expression. a small tilt of the head or neck can be the difference in whether the sculpture is interesting or not.

some of her works are turning out to be people she knows. one of them, a plaster bust overlaid with wax and coloured with pow-dered pigment, looks like one of her sisters, while another, of a man, turned out to look a lot like her father.

“it just happened. When i make them i don’t have a picture. i don’t say, ‘i have to make this.’ i just start bending wire and making shapes and whatever happens, happens,” she says.

she also likes to do sculptures of dogs and birds.“i’ve done a lot of dogs, and some birds. i like animals.”in the workshop, there’s only one dog sculpture, the first she did,

but Melon says that she’s done many more.she tries to keep the works simple and without too many extra

details. a large rooster sculpture sits in her workshop, but she says it is too busy and could use a bit of simplicity.

Melon is currently working on large tree trunk-like flowerpots. the sculptures are more than a metre tall. one of them is almost finished, but the other is still in the wire stage.

Melon also makes pots for the bonsai trees she raises at the nurs-ery, and says that these pots are one of the things she’s interested in focusing on for future projects. she’s been working with bonsai for as long as they have had the nursery. “i’ve done bonsai here for over 20 years. i just did a few and then the last six or seven years i’ve got-ten more into it,” she says. For Melon the sculptures and the pots are just an outlet, one she says that she needs or she get restless.

“if i’m not making something, a hanging basket or a loaf of bread, i get really antsy. i need to do something. i need to make some-thing.”

she calls the work of sculpting exhilarating.“it’s hard but satisfying. it makes me feel complete and content,”

she says. “there’s this incredible transformation from whatever raw materials are used to the finished form.”

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Page 10: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

Page 10 Route 3 spring 2011

TthouGh We Kootenay Gals do have our own sense of style, the interior of british Columbia doesn’t necessarily come to mind when we think of fashion-forward design. however, the combination of entrepreneur-ial spirit, creative institutions and signature styles are transforming our sidewalks into catwalks, featuring hipster style without all that city ‘tude.

locally inspired designs are not new to the region, but the sheer volume and cre-ative interpretation of designers results in signature lines that breathe new life into the trend. With a little help from local bou-tiques and little more help from the world-wide web, three companies have made a considerable dent on the national and international design scene. For us Kootenay kids, we just have to stroll down the street to take a peek.

Get into 100-mile garb with fabulous fashions from Kootenay designers

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spring 2011 Route 3 Page 11

Interior DesignpunKin

think sugary whimsy accented with designer punk-rock. this recipe is what has put punkin — a hip children’s clothing line that offers, “edgy, con-fident styles for that awesome little person in your life” — on shelves across Canada.

Mom, businesswoman and designer Katie tabor is the brains, hands and heart behind this sweet line.

“My son sage was the catalyst behind punkin,” says tabor explaining the journey that brought her from the field of social work to clothing design.

“typical children’s clothing never seemed to suit him,” says tabor.tabor took things into her own hands — literally — and made sage an

adorable little cap. that was four years ago and kiddies have never had it so good. handcrafted apparel with interesting accents is what makes punkin a line of walking art. hats, tees, halters and dresses are comfortable, well made and are all produced in tabor’s home studio in Crescent Valley.

inspired by fabrics and the wee ones that frolic in the region, punkin has a vintage feel with a modern flare. organic cottons and bamboo fabric, silkscreened images and little smiling faces have made punkin a big success story with just the right amount of small-town humility.

“punkin is a proud reflection of local women in business; from the design and creation of the clothing, to the photography, graphic design, suppliers, retailers and other local designers that inspire.”

to get your own piece of this sweet (punkin) pie, please visit punkin’s website at www.punkin.ca, or for the real thing head to Global underground, 532 Ward street, nelson.

fashionstory by Amy Robillard

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Dear ponythough not exactly edible, Dear pony is a feast — for the eyes.

playful and luxurious, nelson designer tracy Fillion brings a romantic fluidity to her designs giving them a sense of romanticism and subtle sex appeal.

Focusing on women’s design, Fillion admits that her creations are more about design than fashion, “everything is design focused — i look to design over fashion for inspiration.”

Dear pony’s modest beginning in 2004 at the nelson markets soon became a coveted line with a loyal following. With a natural talent for combining interesting patterns, cozy fabrics, hand-made buttons and up-cycled materials, Fillion made a name for herself with her adorable mobile airstream boutique, Very hush hush.

a self-taught fibre artist, Fillion credits local fibre guru, angelika Werth, who is not only her mentor but also her inspiration. “angelika taught me about pattern drafting as well as the concept of art in clothing. i aspire to have the talent she brings to the art of fibre,” Fillion explains.

the idea of wearable and useable art has made Dear pony’s design-focused clients flock to experience the clothes that can easily trans-port you from a gray day on baker street to an afternoon skating party with friends

Check out dearpony.etsy.com — the vibrant online boutique for everything beautiful, or for the real thing stop by Global underground, 532 Ward street, nelson.

LiLLie & Cohoe For darling details on your noggin, look no further than millinery

design company lillie & Cohoe. Designing under the name lillie & Co-hoe since the company’s inception in 1992, liz Cohoe has seamlessly infused elegance with playful warmth in all of her heady creations.

bustling with a handful of employees patterning, creating and sew-ing, lillie & Cohoe produces high-end hats for distributors in los ange-les, new york, toronto, Vancouver, Chicago and seoul, Korea. produc-ing over 11,000 hats annually, her clientele expects a little something special from the hats that are born and bred in their nelson-back-alley production house.

“our hats are classic with a side of whimsy. Women love to see what happens when they put on one of our hats,” Cohoe explains.

a graduate from Fashion Design at ryerson university in toronto, Cohoe has been designing with some of the country’s most

prestigious companies. over the last 40 years, Cohoe has worked on lines for richard robinson haute Couture of

ottawa, and ruth Fredric Couture of Calgary. her ex-perience is visible in every intricate morsel she brings

to the market. supple hats made from wool, alpaca, cashmere, silk and linen are wearable options that are so

scrumptious, putting one on makes you walk a little taller.For your own handmade luxury, visit www.lillieandcohoe.

com, or for the real thing head to streetclothes named Desire, 498 baker street, nelson.

of course, there are dozens of local designers that are creating fabu-lous wearable art, and just as many boutiques that are lovingly giving up shelf space to display these Kootenay-inspired goodies.

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the GooDs on LoCaL GooDies www.etsy.comthe site for everything beautiful

Global unDerGrounDnelson boutique carrying a large selection of locally designed women’s and men’s clothing and accessories. 532 Ward street, nelson 250-352-1878 www.global-underground.net

the Cellarlocal boutique carrying Canadian gifts and apparel.2067 Columbia avenue, rossland250-362-7600       www.rosslandcellar.com

liliKoibarbara boswell - DesignerWomen’s apparel focusing on hand-printed clothing on 100 per cent natural fabrics.358 baker street, nelson [email protected]

tara DaVis stuDio boutiQuetara Davis - DesignerJewelry and Fiber art566 baker street, nelson250-352-5358www.taradavis.ca

bea & GlaD stuDio lori prest – DesignerVersatile and colourful women’s clothing customized with hand dyeing and silk-screened prints.trail(available at Global underground) http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/BeaGlad-Studio/301033860439 MoJa DesiGnsalina skiba – Designerready-to-wear and custom made clothing for men and women.nelsonhttp://mojadesigns.ca/

Opening spread, left: Robin in a Prairie Jacket by Dear Pony. Right: A little cutie in her Eco Bamboo Tunic from Punkin.Left: Robin wearing a Dear Pony design — the Audrey dress.This page, top: Adrienne in a corduroy Mao Now hat and Sandra in a Pop Art Nora, both from Lillie & Cohoe. Left: The Pirate Raglan T-shirt from Punkin. Right: Baby Petra and mom Melissa, who is wearing Lillie & Cohoe Charlize Hat.

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Page 15: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

spring 2011 Route 3 Page 15

ORganIClyOuRS

a seed-change is taking place across the Kootenay landscape. seed-saving workshops, community gardens, canning

and preserving threaten to topple mountain-biking and hiking as the spring thing-to-do — a focus on healthy eating, food security and the like matching our usual adrenaline pursuits pace for pace.

amidst the locavore furore and renewed interest in macrobiotic eat-ing is a whirling, thriving little busi-ness based in “wild and woolly” ymir (pronounced Why-mer), between salmo and nelson. located on ymir’s main drag, endless harvest organic Food Delivery is a bustling, bursting-at-the-seams venture undertaken by “organic goddess” Velvet Kavanagh, and staffed by a small but committed team dedicated to bringing their cus-tomers the best in organic produce and healthy grocery options.

food & drinkstory by Tyler Austin Bradley

Endless Harvest helps people eat their fruits and veggies

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established in 1998, endless harvest was in-spired by Kavanagh’s extensive experience work-ing in health food stores and herbal mail-order distribution, and came about largely due to Kavanagh’s desire to relocate to the Kootenays.

“i was in Kelowna, and then Vancouver for a while. i knew i wanted to live here, but i needed to figure out a way to make that possible.”

indeed, in the Kootenays a byob acronym and attitude is indispensable, in Kavanagh’s case the latter and letter b being her business; bring your own business goes a long way to gaining a foot-hold in the ‘Koots, and Kavanagh saw an opportu-nity in establishing a door-to-door delivery service for products locals were already clamouring for.

“i did several research trips, arrived with my business plan in hand in May, and by July we were making our first deliveries.”

While a market for endless harvest’s service was relatively easy to corner, logistics and organiza-tion proved to be of the utmost importance, par-ticularly where navigating bumps and corners in the road mid-winter were concerned. seated in her office in endless harvest headquarters, Kavanagh points to a photograph of the first endless harvest delivery truck, a burgundy van of indeterminate make and model rolled in a snowy ditch.

a chunky 4x4 has long since replaced the mini-van of yore, endless harvest logo emblazoned on the canopy, delivery driver carefully stacking bins for the slocan Valley to Castlegar run. no need to chain up with this tricked-out truck, a storm-front on the horizon not cause for alarm.

still, weather is a challenge, whether it makes for treacherous road conditions or the occasional speed bump in the supply chain. on the particu-lar Friday i paid a visit to the combined endless harvest market, postal outlet, distribution centre and packing house, Velvet was busy finalizing the contents of outgoing bins for the following week, spoke in depth with local farmers/sup-pliers and larger distributors on the coast per possible bin additions, produce availability and, if needed, substitutions.

“occasionally we need to substitute one item for another, but our customers understand the nature of farming. usually it’s just a matter of waiting another week for a crop to be ready to harvest, and then adding that produce back into the bin. We work closely with our suppliers, and have really good relationships with them.”

While Kavanagh emphasizes the importance of being adaptive on the business end, she notes that a similar approach has been adopted

Opening page: A typical box of fresh organic pro-duce delivered from Endless Harvest.

Top: Shannon Ross, Meghan Luxton, Amy Brewster, Velvet Kavanagh at the Endless Harvest HQ in Ymir.

Above: Velvet with a fresh batch of peas, ready to divvy up.

Right page: From green onions, basil and rainbow chard, to heirloom tomatoes and an assortment of hot peppers, it’s always a treat to see what arrives in your box.

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Page 17: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

spring 2011 Route 3 Page 17

Local growers and suppliers Endless Harvest gets much of their produce and groceries from:Aurora Farms, NelsonCaledonia Farms, CrestonCanyon City Farm, CrestonElderbee Greens, WinlawForest House Mushrooms, Salmo Glade Mountain Farms, GladeKettle River Farm, Grand ForksKootenay Sprouts, NelsonMad Dog Farm, TarrysMcIntyre Farm, ArgentaMeadowbrook Farm, SalmoPleasant Peasant Farms, Creston Roots 'n Spears, ShoreacresSoil Matters, TarrysSpicer Farms, NakuspWillowbrook Farm, CrestonWild Roots, KrestovaOso Negro Coffee, NelsonSilverking Tofu, NelsonJerseyland Organic Dairy, Grand ForksKootenay Bakery, NelsonAu Soleil Levant Bakery, NelsonKootenay Alpine Cheese, CrestonKootenay Natural Meat, Creston

by many of endless harvest’s customers, too. “unusual” produce and varieties of produce that many are initially unfamiliar with necessitate adventurous eating and a willingness to try new things. recipes and recipe suggestions are in-cluded with many of the outgoing bins/items in the form of the endless harvest newsletter, and glowing feedback and comments typically flow in on the heels of a new product introduction.

“our service helps people get out of their vegetable rut,” Kavanagh laughs.

healthful frugality is a match made and at home in the Kootenays. Where chocolate and peanut butter assuage the masses in vending machine land, out here it’s all about nurturing the body and mind… on a budget.

the service, with three routes (nelson to har-rop-procter, salmo-beaver Valley-trail-rossland, and Castlegar to slocan City) is surprisingly afford-able, a good many of the customers and fan-base for endless harvest self-described hyper-frugal ski-bums and mountain bikers (my peer group).

to hear some tell it, the choice to go organic is a simple one; the healthier the body/temple, then the more abuse it can take on the mountain.

Kavanagh understands the sentiment. When she’s “not glued to her computer,” she can be

found “scooping up powder in the trees at White-water,” or volunteer ski patrolling at red Mountain.

sensing my opportunity, i posit that my being an endless harvest customer would also help address my somewhat reluctant (and incredibly lazy) shopping habits.

not missing a beat (and presumably pin-ning me as an omnivore in the process), Velvet notes that endless harvest also offers a variety of meat products for delivery, too, and that a recent partnership with au soleil levant (a ter-rific nelson-based bakery) ensures availability of bready goodness for any interested parties.

nice! Meat, veggies, anD bread? sign me up.endless harvest makes it easy, too. With high-

speed internet access (no small feat in the rural Kootenays), accessing their services is simplified via the e.h web portal at www.endlessharvest.com. a new and improved site is currently in develop-ment, and will be sure to impress. additionally, a facelift for the endless harvest physical hQ is also on the agenda — to better match the frontier heritage town appeal of ymir, Velvet is having the warehouse and market building re-clad and resided in stained, distressed cedar. the heritage profile promises to augment the appeal of end-less harvest that much more… it’s organic.

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Page 18: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

Page 18 Route 3 spring 2011

homesstory anD photos by Doug Pyper

The Coles are at home with history in their lovingly restored paddlewheeler — The Nasookin

Page 19: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

spring 2011 Route 3 Page 19

ShIP TO ShOReit was a seemingly unlikely endeavour for a couple whose life

work had revolved around dairy farms not boats. But surprisingly, 28 years ago merv and mae Coles began building a home from the remnants of an historic west Kootenay paddlewheeler — and it

turned out to be more of a passion than a project. the couple met and married in the mid fifties in ontario. soon after they relocated to new Zealand purchasing a

dairy farm there. in 1971 they returned to Canada and again pursued dairy farming, this time in the north okanagan. it was ten years later they bought some property in the slocan Valley near nelson. by mere chance, while driving one day they spotted what remained of the magnificent s.s. nasookin, Canada’s largest sternwheeler, sitting untouched at its present location on the shores of Kootenay lake two miles east of nelson. Mae became instantly fascinated, so they made an offer and bought what had been the pilot house and ladies salon of this legendary ship.

Page 20: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

Page 20 Route 3 spring 2011

“it’s not so improb-able as you might think”, says Merv. “Mae had been interested in ships and seafar-ing collectibles since childhood. her great great grandfather was a norwegian sailor. it was in her blood.”

the interior of their once floating residence displays an infinite array of all things nautical — old world maps and charts, ships in bottles, model ships, tiny lighthouses, paintings and pho-tographs of sailing vessels and countless ocean-going and mariner artifacts. the décor is interesting and abundant to say the least.

it was originally planned as a summer cottage, but Mae’s phi-losophy became steadfast. “We won’t realize the full potential of this unless we develop it entirely,” she suggested to her husband. and so they did.

in 1982 they hired a contractor to lift the boat, so they could begin framing an “addition” which was to become the main floor beneath. a little assistance from a family member with finish-ing work on the back bedrooms some years later was the only outside help they ever asked for. they did it all themselves.

it was an impressive accomplishment — even more so that in 1984 they moved to Victoria to secure permanent employment (they had gotten it to lock-up stage by this time). Merv worked as a sales rep for an agricultural Coop on the island until 1992 and during those years, amazingly, they completed the bulk of the building and renovations. using all their holidays combined with weekends, tenacity and constant travel eventually saw their dream nearing completion. however, when they finally returned to the area and moved in, they still had a great deal of finishing work to do as well as installation of the main spiral staircase.

“it was an enormous project right from the outset. you can’t imagine” says Merv.

“For starters, all the strength points of the ladies observation Deck (now the second floor) had been connected to the support system of the lower deck of the original boat. so the lower addi-tion had to be constructed as an exact copy in order to replicate the support system. the visual concept was kept intact as well. Many local people still believe that the built-on lower portion is original — part of the actual boat.”

the support beams required were a monumental challenge. “We built two beams that were placed between the lower addi-tion and the boat. one was five 2x10’s laminated (22 feet long); the other was four 2x10’s laminated (20 feet long). We lifted

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Page 21: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

spring 2011 Route 3 Page 21

history of the nasooKin

the s.s. nasookin was the biggest stern-wheeler that ever plied the inland waters of british Columbia. built in ontario and assembled and launched in nelson in 1913, it was the largest lake boat operat-

ing west of the Mississippi. this 200-foot by 40-foot vessel was the pride of the Cpr fleet, carrying people and goods on Kootenay lake in southeast-ern bC for 33 years.

1931 – taken out of service by Cpr.1933 – purchased by the province of british

Columbia and converted for use as a ferry across Kootenay lake from Gray Creek to near balfour (the roads along the lake were now in place). For opera-tion in Ferry service, the upper level (texas) deck just below the wheelhouse and three-quarters of the deck below that were removed and scrapped.

Kootenay bay (just north of Gray Creek) to balfour is still the longest free ferry ride in the world.

1947 – s.s. nasookin was retired from service and sold to the sea Cadets of Canada. permanently docked at nelson, its back was broken in the low water of 1949 when it heaved on pilings beneath.

1950 – sold as scrap to one Mr. Cutler. two enterprising couples bought the Wheelhouse and the ladies observation lounge, which was moved to its’ present location two miles east of nelson. the water was higher then, enabling the structure to be floated on a barge up the lake and skidded onto its’ present day site. it was operated as a craft and rock shop for some time to pay taxes on the land, where it sat empty and for sale the last five or six years before purchase by the Coles.

1981 – this “piece of history” was acquired by Merv and Mae Coles who added to and renovated it, finally moving into their unique home in 1992.

it has become a landmark, and although the Coles are very private people it has gained publicity worldwide.

— Doug Pyper

Opening spread, left: Front end of the Nasookin home. The small upper level was the pilot house and the middle level was ladies salon. The bottom level is the living room, which the Coles constructed them-selves as an exact replica.Right: The middle level, looking back toward the chamber rooms from the top of the stairs. Left: Merv and Mae love and collect many nautical artifacts — their house is absolutely full of them. Above: The middle level, or former ladies salon, looking forward toward circular front of the boat. Left: A semi-circular staircase brought from Vancouver IsIand.

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Page 22: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

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them into place with nothing but a jackall — and just the two of us” says Merv. “you can’t imagine how heavy they were — some job!”

the plumbing and electrical work was a “learn as you go” undertaking for the couple. “you can guess how much knowledge we had of these trades. We were farmers,” they joked. “We did bring an electrician in to look things over before the inspection though.”

the entire enterprise would have been commendable for a team of professional contractors, but an inexperienced

couple working alone? sure speaks for determination. but as Mae said “We were farmers and i guess no strangers to hard work. My philosophy was simple — i never visited dress shops. if we had some extra money we bought a chunk of wood.”

the interior of the dwelling is beautiful to behold. all the historic components of the original boat have been kept intact to preserve the integrity. they wanted to keep the flavour, but it still had to func-tion as a home. the finishing work and renovations were done with style — all natural and in keeping with the character of the boat.

all the doors are constructed from two-inch by six-inch tongue-and-groove fir. every single bedroom (and there are four) has double swinging doors opening

onto the deck. all rooms are fire-escapable. Floors are tongue and groove fir and the living room and bedroom walls are finished in cedar. the main living area has fir on the ceiling as well. you won’t find any drywall in this extraordinary home.

“the spiral staircase was purchased from a building sup-ply company in nanaimo. it was the only place they could find the left hand curve we needed,” says Merv. “We brought it home on the back of a pickup truck (yes, that’s true),” he

Merv and Mae Coles relaxing in the lower level — their living room.

“My philosophy

was simple —

I never visited

dress shops. If

we had some

extra money

we bought a

chunk of wood.”

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SHIP TO SHOREAt home in the lovingly

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— The Nasookin

CENTRE FOR PEACEThe Mir Centre brings

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spring 2011 Route 3 Page 23

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laughs. “We got some pretty strange looks driving that onto the ferry i’ll tell you. installing the staircase was no easy chore either, especially since it rises from the center of the living area and we were living there then. two stairs had to be removed from the bottom and added to the top to provide a proper fit. this resulted in the curvature straightening out near the top, which was desirable as well,” Merv commented.

there are two full bathrooms and when searching for porcelain fix-tures they had to reflect the heritage of the boat. both bathrooms have cast iron clawfoot tubs, which came from Victoria. the washbasin in the downstairs bathroom came from a hotel in Kelowna (built in the 1800’s). the basin actually had spring-loaded taps— the kind designed to save hot water. the old pedestal sink upstairs came from a home demolition in Victoria (early 1900’s vintage)

altogether it’s 2400-square-feet combined living space on the main floor and the ladies salon portion. the wheelhouse is a not a living

space, but is an enthralling feature of the home the wheel itself is mas-sive with a circumference the full height of the pilothouse. in rough waters it could take three men to steer it. one must go out on the deck to enter by an external stairway

in keeping with the theme, the garden shed is in shape of a light-house. “Mae insisted that was the only way to build it.” says Merv. “the light on top comes on at dusk and goes off at dawn.

the home has become part of the landscape, and often taken for granted by locals now. but the spirit of the nasookin must be at peace as the vessel now sits on the shores above the waters where it traveled so diligently and claimed its place in history.

Footnote: Merv and Mae Coles are currently planning to sell their home, to which they devoted so many years in a labour of love. They cite health problems as the primary reason.

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Page 24: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

Page 24 Route 3 spring 2011

Featuring live music, dance, and performances, July 16, 2011, brings the inaugural Kootenay Festival. Encouraging the appreciation of the community’s diversity, the festival will give residents and visitors an exciting opportunity to sample the cuisine, culture, and heritage of this dynamic region.

The true excellence of art in the region will be on exhibition as well, with the Kootenay Gallery and a resident artist’s studio located on the festival grounds. Art easels will also be available for use, surrounded by artists creating alongside the public.

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Page 25: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

spring 2011 Route 3 Page 25

Describing all the aspects that make up the Mir Centre for peace in Castlegar — building, classroom, speakers program, workshops, course of study — is about as difficult as finding it.

“Go to selkirk College, turn left, turn left again, and follow a dirt trail that looks like it goes nowhere,” said Mir chair and peace studies instructor randy Janzen.

the site is fitting because it was once occupied by peaceful First nations peoples, followed by members of a russian Christian pacifist sect who came to the Kootenays over one hundred years ago to enjoy “toil and peaceful life.”

set on a quiet bluff, away from the busy-ness of the college, is an immaculately restored Doukho-bor communal home. the grounds also include an

aboriginal smokehouse and outdoor arbour with a central fire pit where there is seating for up to 100 people.

also fitting is the name. Mir is a russian word meaning peace, community and world.

the interior of the building incorporates an invit-ing space with two large, open classrooms, both with mini-kitchens, plus a reception room and lovely sunroom at the back.

the first thing you’ll want to do is take off your shoes so as not to scratch the immaculately polished hardwood floorings, but more importantly, not to disturb the tranquility that exudes from every corner.

but the building itself is only a small part of what Mir really is.

as well as Mir’s symposiums, workshops and peace

CenTRe fOR PeaCe

by Lana Rodliecommunity

The Mir Centre at Selkirk College in Castlegar brings peace studies to the Kootenays

Top: The Mir Centre for Peace.Above: Mir chair and Peace Stud-ies instructor Randy Janzen.

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Page 26: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

Page 26 Route 3 spring 2011

cafés, selkirk College introduced a two-year associate of arts Degree in peace studies and a two-year liberal arts Diploma in peace studies.

“about 20 students take peace studies as an elective for degrees in arts or sciences,” said Janzen, who is one of the course’s six instructors.

the college is populated with people of all ages, from students just out of high school to mature students returning to college. peace stud-ies is a popular elective which falls into dozens of programs.

“We try to promote peace studies, not just as a discipline but to complement everything from nursing to forestry.”

Janzen said the course often influences which direction a student may head, such as counselling, mediation or international development.

“some transform into lifelong advocates for peace, some don’t.”the Mir Centre alternates its exhibits every few months. the most re-

cent was peaceWomen across the Globe featuring photos and quotes from 1,000 women who were nominated for the nobel peace prize in 2005.

“We tend to celebrate powerful men in our society,” Janzen said. “but real peace comes from women around the world.”

exhibits are open to the public on thursday afternoons.the Mir Centre for peace also hosts a popular lecture series every year. When the centre first opened in 2007, Mir’s first guest speaker was

stephen lewis, Canada’s former ambassador to the un, and envoy for aiDs in africa. having such a champion of social justice set the pace for future speakers which included high-powered environmentalists like Maude barlow and David suzuki, journalist Gwynne Dyer, and Medicin sans Frontieres founder Dr. James orbinski.

While some lectures are held in summer on the grounds of the centre or at the college, others are held at the nearby brilliant Cultural Centre (seating capacity 1,100).

two lectures are left in this year’s spring series and the college is already promoting the fall series.

ted Kuntz, a Vancouver-based psychotherapist and author of the best seller Peace Begins With Me, will talk about his inspiring journey with a disabled child. it takes place april 8 at the Mir Centre.

sharon Mcivor is a well-known b.C. feminist, activist, law profes-sor and aboriginal leader. she will speak on her struggle to correct discrimination against aboriginal women. the long hard road will be presented at selkirk College, room 113 on april 19 at 7 p.m.

the Fall lecture series kicks off with Dr. izzeldin abuelaish, “the Gaza doctor” who captured hearts and headlines in the aftermath of a horrific tragedy when israeli shells took the lives of his three daugh-ters and a niece. instead of seeking revenge, abuelaish chose to call for the people of the Middle east to engage in peaceful dialogue. he has since won accolades from around the world. his presentation, “i shall not hate” will be featured at the brilliant Cultural Centre on sept. 21.

the last in the series is Greg Mortenson, co-founder of the non-profit Central asia institute (www.ikat.org), pennies For peace (www.pen-niesforpeace.org), and co-author of the bestseller Three Cups of Tea. Mortensen established over 165 schools and 60 temporary refugee schools in rural and volatile regions of pakistan and afghanistan, providing education for more than 58,000 girls and 10,000 boys. he was nominated for the nobel peace prize in both 2009 and 2010. his presentation will be held at the brilliant Cultural Centre on nov. 2.

For tickets or more information, check the website at selkirk.ca/mir-centre-for-peace/mirlectureseries/

From Top: Wall of faces – a 1000 PeaceWomen Across the Globe. For more information on this exhibit, see www.1000peacewomen.org; Grade 10 and 11 students from Castlegar’s Stanley Humphries Secondary School browsed through one of the exhibits at Mir which featured photos taken by young people in Afghanistan de-picting their lives and surroundings; Stanley Humprhies Secondary School students learned about women who are activists for peace, at Mir Centre for Peace.

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“Miracles performed!” screamed the ad. “Mrs. Donald patter-son, 91 Vine street, hamilton, was paralyzed for two years, lost the use of the left side of her body, sight in one eye and

hearing completely gone. Four medical men said she could not recover. after taking two bottles of ryckman’s Kootenay Cure, she has complete-ly recovered her sight, hearing and the use of her body. this is one case in hundreds. Miracles are being wrought by this medicine.”

not only did this miracle-wroughting potion work magic on paralysis, blindness, and deafness, it also promised to heal rheumatism, indiges-tion, gout, eczema, skin disease, hives, sores, liver and kidney disorders, and virtually any and every other ailment, real or imagined.

although just one of hundreds of dubious patent medicines peddled in the 19th and early 20th centuries, ryckman’s Kootenay Cure was unique for its connection to this area and the fact it was manufactured by a Member of parliament.

only the deepest cynic would suggest there is not much difference be-tween a politician and a snake oil salesman, but the fact is samuel shobal ryckman (1849-1929) was the Conservative member for hamilton. he was among several Mps drawn to the Kootenay in 1892 by mining activity, specifically in the illecillewaet district southeast of revelstoke.

he bought several claims near the headwaters of the incomappleux river, including the Elizabeth, which he held in partnership with Walter scott — an honest man, who became mining recorder and police officer in nakusp.

the Kootenay Star wrote: “Mr. ryckman is on the spot, and does not spare himself in the least. he employs 17 men at $4.50 per day, and he deserves the highest com-mendations for the manner in which he has invested both time and money in opening up Fish Creek claims. thanks to his foresight and perseverance, a splendid result is assured.”

hucksterism was endemic to both mining promotion and miracle cures, and ryckman found a way to combine them. he claimed that on a visit to his property, an old miner gave him a recipe for a rheumatism cure, which he tried on some of his hamilton constituents.

evidently pleased with the result, he started the s.s. ryckman Medicine Co., and in choosing a name for his product, adopted Kootenay — which sounded exotic and had a prosperous connotation. beginning in 1895, he filled newspapers with testimonials about his elixir’s remarkable properties.

“i have had eczema all over my body, hands, arms, legs, face, and head,” said Jean hudson of ottawa. “after taking the medicine for four days i began to feel better, and have continued to get better every day since.”

“i am one of those who have conscientiously tested it,” said sister therese of the sacred heart Convent. “i have no hesitation in recom-

mending it as a wonderful medicine for rheumatism, a disease which has baffled medical science for so many years.”

What was in this amazing stuff?

“it is, i understand, largely composed of the root of the devil’s club,” a.o. Wheeler wrote some years later in The Selkirk Range.

ryckman sold it for $1 per bottle, or six bottles for $5. (although in an embarrassing turn, one of his salesmen, J.W. Zimmerman, died of pneumonia and typhoid fever. “three weeks ago he was one of the most robust looking men in the city,” the Hamilton Herald reported.)

although ryckman didn’t run for re-election in 1896, he used his par-liamentary mail privileges to distribute 350,000 copies of a tract titled A

Political Review.“three pages are taken up with excellent campaign stuff

for the Conservatives,” the Victoria Colonist wrote. “the other page is devoted to glorifying the virtues of Kootenay Cure.”

the postmaster general declared it illegal, but ryckman appears to have emerged unscathed.

While his Kootenay Cure vanished from the market within a few years, he didn’t give up the patent medicine racket. he played a role in one of the more notorious scams of the 20th century as president of the umckaloabo Company, which

had the u.s. rights to a tuberculosis remedy called stevens’ Consumption Cure.

it was thoroughly discredited and infamous enough to earn its own entry in Nostrums & Quackery, the american Medical association’s alma-nac of fraud. yet subsequent studies suggested there may have been something to it after all.

several embossed square amber bottles of the Kootenay Cure appar-ently still exist, one of which even has its four-sided labels — providing instructions in english, French, and German. reportedly, another was discovered in a river in Guyana.

ryckman also issued a booklet on phrenology, the crackpot science that linked bumps on your head to personality traits. ryckman (or ryk-man) Creek in Glacier national park is named for him.

as a hobby pharmacist, ryckman made a fine con artist.

RyCKman’S KOOTenay CuReA patent medicine to call our own

by Greg Nesteroffhistory

Samuel Shobal Ryckman.

Page 28: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

Page 28 Route 3 spring 2011

Kootenay Kilties

by Amy Robillard

Q. What is the kootenay kiltie pipe Band (kkpB)?

the KKpb is a nelson-based scottish pipe band featuring the highland bagpipe, snare drum, bass drum, and tenor drums. the band was first formed in 1919, which would make us 91 years old!

Where does the kkpB perform?the KKpb generally performs in the greater

nelson area. We play at the remembrance Day ceremonies in nelson, Kaslo May Day parade, nelson cadet inspections, and other parades and functions in the nelson area. We also present the annual burns supper in nelson, in celebration of the scottish poet, robert burns’ birthday, which took place January 22nd this year.

this year, the spring Fling is being hosted in

trail on Friday, May 6th and 7th. this event is a great opportunity to see pipe bands from all over western north america.

What is the history behind pipe bands?traditionally, pipe bands were used to lead

military troops and fulfill all the musical needs of associated ceremonies in a regiment. pipe bands have since evolved into ensembles play-ing sophisticated arrangements of music with a scottish and irish flavour.

What is the kootenay kiltie pipe Band tartan (and why was it chosen)?

the band wears the Macpherson tartan and has done so for over 50 years.

in the very early years, the band wore several tartans, including a time when the drummers wore the royal stuart tartan and the pipers wore the Macpherson tartan.

uniforms have change over the years. the KKpb began wearing military-style tunics with full plaids and lots of belts. We now wear vests with a sweater or rain cape when necessary.

David hogg – respected pipe Major – gives us the low down on the Kootenay Kiltie pipe band and their role in local celebrations. the distinguished bagpiper has been with the pipe band for decades and took time out of his practice schedule to have a chat about the Kilties and their fascinating history.

The Kootenay Kilties pipe band are based out of Nelson.

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Page 29: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

spring 2011 Route 3 Page 29

as far as the choice of the Macpherson tartan goes, it is an attractive tartan and is worn by many pipe bands around the world.

What advice do you have for any musicians that would like to join?

playing in a pipe band is fun. if anyone is interested in playing a bagpipe, snare drum, bass, or tenor drum, then we are the band for you. though many of our members are very capable, we love to introduce new people with minimal musical experience to this style of music.

Do you have to be of Scottish decent to join the kilties?no, we have many nationalities represented. in the early days, it

was predominately people of scottish decent. but, in my 40-year career as a bagpiper, no one has ever needed scottish lineage to be part of the KKpb. in the 90s, we were lucky enough to travel to Japan because two of our members were of Japanese descent.

When and how did you learn to play the bagpipes?i began my playing career in nelson at the age of 10. My first

teacher was Keith langhorn, a long-time member and pipe major of the KKpb. i had other tutors over the years including James Munro and bill thomp-son as well as others. like any instrument, quality instruction creates good players and good music.

because the bagpipes are such a physi-cal instrument, children usually learn on a chanter. a chanter is similar to a flute, but doesn’t have the bags (or drones). i cur-rently teach three students – two teenage boys and one adult woman.

How many members does the kkpB have?

the band currently has about 25 mem-bers. our members’ ages range from 15 to 71. We actually have four americans who drive all the way from idaho every week to attend our tuesday practices – now, that’s dedication!

How do you recruit new members?new members most often find us when

they hear us play. hopefully, this article will generate some interest and new members will be forthcoming! We would love to draw in more young people. We are a family-ori-ented group that plays because we like the music -- though we do have loads of fun in the process!

are there any other pipe Bands in the kootenays? yes, there are pipe bands in trail, Kimberley and Grand Forks. For

more information about joining the KKpb or a pipe band, please contact:nelson: David [email protected]:  David ekskog [email protected]: Murray [email protected] ForKs: steve McGibbons&[email protected]

Playing in a pipe

band is fun. If

anyone is inter-

ested in playing

a bagpipe, snare

drum, bass, or

tenor drum, then

we are the band

for you.

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Page 30: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

Page 30 Route 3 spring 2011

My travels through this beautiful region often lend me the opportunity to experience and enjoy the vast array of wildlife that cohabitates with us. over the past couple of

years i've taken an interest in a particular colony of yellow-bellied Marmots that reside in the mountains around my Grand Forks home. With a certain amount of patience on my part and familiarity and trust on theirs, these usually shy little creatures allowed me to sit on the rocks of their home and observe and take photos. Mar-mots keep their newborns underground for the first three weeks of life and on this particular day i was fortunate enough to see these curious young pups venturing out of the safety of their burrow for what i think was the very first time.

—Chris Hammett

special placesphoto by Chris Hammett

Page 31: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

MarkEtPLACE To Advertise contact Chris at 1-877-443-2191

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Page 32: Route 3, Spring 2011 issue

CBT College Community Service Awards are delivered in partnership with:

Columbia Basin Trust is offering $2,000 for up to 22 Basin residents planning on attending college full time. Study must be in a recognized undergraduate program leading to a degree, diploma or certificate at College of the Rockies, Selkirk College, the Valemount Campus of College of New Caledonia or the Revelstoke Centre of Okanagan College.

This award is based on community volunteer service, not on academic achievement, and is designed to assist residents who have been out of high school for at least one year with post-secondary education or training. Full award eligibility criteria, the application form and guidelines can be found at

www.cbt.org/ccsa.

Thinking about going back to school, but need some help financially? If you’re active in your community, you may qualify for a College Community Service Award.

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DeaDline June 17, 2011