It’s a bad year for certain kinds of popular mushrooms on Vancouver Island. We went mushroom hunting with two local experts to find out what’s happening It’s dumping rain when I pull into the tiny parking lot at Blinkhorn Lake in Metchosin. Andy MacKinnon and Kem Luther are Gore Texed and rubber booted, pocket knives […]
Culture
Women hobby farmers are part of a food revolution
Raising livestock and families: the young women farmers of Sooke Kristy Sivorot does not shy away from hard work. She’s a nurse, a mother of two, a homeschool teacher for the last year, and a livestock farmer on the Sooke and Metchosin border. She didn’t grow up on a farm. She never had to collect […]
The non-skier’s guide to Whistler, B.C.
Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are world-class ski and snowboard destinations. People travel from distant continents to experience their legendary powder. But Whistler is equally memorable for what surrounds the mountains. I recently spent 24 hours in Whistler and had ridiculous amounts of fun without ever strapping on skis. Here’s my guide to Whistler for non-mountain sportsters. […]
Culture camp teaches provincial staff about area First Nations
Eighteen provincial workers recently spent two days camping in the Peace River valley learning about Treaty 8 First Nations beliefs and culture. They camped through a hailstorm on Bear Flat, learned the basics of smudging, and the surprisingly difficult process of taking down a teepee. Renee Simard frequently interacts with First Nations people with her […]
The Sukunka Valley awakens
It’s prudent advice to keep an eye out for for wildlife at the Awakening Music Festival in Sukunka Valley, where unicorns, racoons, care-bears, one white lion, neon ninja-turtles, zebras, reindeer, and the odd superhero have said to roam. Being poorly camouflaged, they are quite easy to spot without the use of binoculars. One actual bear […]
Pemmican Days a contest and culture filled extravaganza
Pemmican Days at Saulteau First Nation was three hot days of contests, games, food and friends. Two moose were cut up to be roasted or smoked. “They’re just volunteering because they want to eat moose meat,” Vern Lalonde joked as people swarmed the butcher’s table. Two low fires smoked away with drying racks over top […]
Motorcycle club raises cash for non-profit
Dawson Creek’s motorcycle club, the 97 Riders, has raised $1,929 for the South Peace Community Resources Society (SPCRS). Vice President Gordon Parker handed the cheque to SPCRS department managers Sharla Sullivan and Arden Smith on Wednesday. “They do good for the children in the community,” Parker said. “That’s good enough for me.” It’s the club’s […]
Bite into the tastes of Afghanistan
After a successful Canada Day World Fair, Manija Shirzad looks to bring a new food truck to Fort St. John Good news for everyone who enjoyed the food sampled at the new Afghanistan booth at the Canada Day World Fair: Manija Shirzad is opening a food truck. “People here aren’t too familiar with Afghani food. […]
Fort St. John celebrates first ever Pride parade
The size and success of Fort St. John’s first Pride parade surprised many. The parade, held on June 25, attracted around 200 people, most of them dressed up in rainbows and sparkles. “I was a bit nervous about getting involved. Fort St. John gets a reputation for being a bit of a redneck community,” Heather […]
Carnival of Hope brings in over $10K
Hundreds of supporters turned out on Saturday to the Carnival of Hope, put on as a fundraiser for the Fort St. John branch of the Canadian Cancer Society.The goal to raise $10,000 was surpassed, and more donations are still coming in. The funds are earmarked to help Fort St. John residents with cancer for things […]