Healthy Living & Mountain Life in Fernie
There are very few social media fitness or health trends that are worth exploring. In general, social media – which is essentially an extension of conventional media - is filled with anti-science advice, quick fixes, and promises that sound too good to be true. But there is one that caught my eye a...
It’s definitely “back to school” time the Elk Valley. That’s very important for sure. Did you know that in some towns the opening day of hunting season is a school holiday? With that in mind let’s talk about hunting season. If you spend enough time in Fernie in the fall, you can feel the season...
In preparation for my upcoming new book, Big Trees of Vancouver Island I have had the honour and pleasure of visiting some of what are claimed to be the “Biggest Trees” of their respective species to be found anywhere in Canada, and in some cases, the world. Explorations around the great forests of...
There is a particular feeling that shows up in the first week of September. The mornings start to get cooler. The larches, aspens and cottonwoods glow golden and red as the late summer light searches for new and different angles through the valley. And something in the house settles. If you have...
This month the publisher's request was for something cultural. Perfect. How about one of the longest running social and cultural events in the Elk Valley? Where else will you and seven hundred (or more) of your closest friends get dressed up to celebrate one of the oldest organizations in the...
I’m writing from Victoria at Royal Roads University today. It must certainly have one of the richest Canadian cultural histories, being on the Lekwungen, Songhees and Esquimalt lands, including Hatley Castle and its beautiful gardens and grounds. Every day has been an extraordinary experience. As...
Summers in Fernie are alive with activities, events, and opportunities to connect with friends and neighbours at concerts, farmers' markets, festivals, and patio gatherings. These events offer more than just gathering, they have the potential to have a real and lasting impact on health and wellbeing...
Movement is a fundamental part of life in the Elk Valley. Whether it’s a bike ride after work, a trail run, or simply travelling between communities, we’re always moving. Those destinations or the movement itself are one of the reasons many of us choose to live here. Wildlife isn’t much different...
Almost a month ago, my partner Alex Parker ran the Calgary Marathon, the first and longest running marathon in Canada with the inaugural run occurring in 1963 with a competitive field of only 19 runners. Back then running was a pretty unusual pastime. Technical apparel was non-existent, running...
As a Big Tree Seeker, going to Haida Gwaii (Islands of the People) is sort of the Shangri-La for our crowd. British Columbia’s west coast is endowed with some of the greatest forests on the planet, with these isolated, rain-drenched islands supporting some of the most productive tree growth of...
