Category Archives: Community

The Future of Morning Mountain

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Press Release

The Nelson Cycling Club is working to plan the future development of mountain biking amenities in the Morning Mountain Ski Area. A charrette will be held for anyone interested in participating. Nelson Cycling Club members, mountain bikers, and users of the Morning Mountain Ski Area and surrounding trails are especially encouraged to come out and be involved. Some of the topics to be discussed will be:
· Trail improvements

· Signage

· Parking and circulation

· Opportunities for including multi-use trails

· Public amenities

· Facilities for the Fat Tire Festival

DATE: Monday, February 13, 2012

TIME: 7pm

LOCATION: 225 Hall St.

Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce, Visitor Centre & Economic Office

(Entrance on the Nelson Community Complex side of building)

More Education at your fingertips

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Press Release:

 

If you are a high school learner seeking collaboration and community engagement, and you’ve got a passion for exploring things through conversation and action, then check out the Workshops at SelfDesign High!

Workshop(s) groups usually meet 2 to 3 hours a week for 12-14 weeks at SelfDesign’s Nelson Learning Centre, and all workshop courses are 4 credit high school courses. In the workshop courses, time is spent deepening learning through reflection and journaling, carrying out an independent research project, along with producing a creative piece (film, slide show, etc.) to demonstrate each participant’s learning.

Workshops for this term have been chosen based on expressed interest and the skills of mentors available in our community. Whether the subject is plant biology, electricity, or raku pottery, learners will be immersed in a experiential learning environment where understanding is promoted through participation, conversation, reflection, and action.

All workshop courses are 4 credit high school courses.

 

High School learners in B.C. are free to choose where and how to complete their high school requirements, and these workshops are ideal for learners who benefit from the structure and rhythm of a schedule and who crave connections with others in order to realize their individual learning. (While) SelfDesign High has prepared a full slate of workshops for learners to select from, and (we) will also find a suitable mentor and create a workshop around a topic that six learners express an interest (to us) in taking.

Choose the learning you are looking for, and let SelfDesign help guide your way.

Visit www.selfdesignhigh.org/workshops for a detailed list of workshop courses available.

Volunteers needed for neighbourhood mediation program

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PRESS RELEASE from Transition Nelson

Transition Nelson Society announced yesterday that the Nelson Good Neighbour Program will launch this Spring. In March, there will be a mediation training course to support this program through Selkirk College.

Not the kind of neighbourhood disagreements volunteers would need to mediate. Photo source: ajbunsby, Flickr, Creative Commons.

This program is a community-based initiative created by Transition Nelson Society and the Mir Centre for Peace at Selkirk College. Its purpose is to strengthen our social fabric and reduce demand on municipal resources. Volunteer mediators will be available to help neighbours resolve disputes and build relationships in an empowering, confidential, and non-adversarial setting. The program also aims to highlight the ways that neighbourhood helps individuals to recognize and value each other’s needs.

The program is recruiting 16 volunteers to take the initial three-day training March 30, 31 and April 1 at no charge. There will be a minimum commitment to provide at least one mediation and attend one meeting per month when required, for at least one year. Individuals will be supported with a mentor accompanying them on their first call out, and work in teams of two, as well as attend de-brief sessions. Trainees will participate in designing the logistics of the program and respond to requests for mediation from fellow Nelsonites. Community members will be invited to contact the program for assistance, or they may be referred by city agencies or other organizations.

The idea for this program came from another Transition Nelson initiative, the Nelson Cross-Sector Table. This monthly table brings together leaders from different sectors in Nelson, including the social, local government, business, environmental, education, and health sectors. At one of the meetings, it came up that there are limited resources for enforcement of bylaw complaints, at times becoming a stumbling block to addressing perceived community needs like allowing back-yard chickens. A community mediation program came up as a way to diminish demand on city resources as well as promote a culture of collaboration.

Nelson city council’s committee of the whole expressed unanimous support for the Nelson Good Neighbour Program as reported after its Nov. 21st meeting. Nelson chief of police Wayne Holland has been a strong advocate for this program since it was first presented to him early in November and was part of the presentation made to council. His first response was “This is community policing at its finest, wherein the citizens within a community identify and resolve their issues with a minimum of intervention from government officials.”

Randy Janzen, chair of the Mir Centre for Peace said, “We conceive of the program as providing a process for all parties’ needs to be met, rather than something adversarial. The Mir Centre is launching its own regional program already offering mediation services which may be contacted at mediation@selkirk.ca.” Initiating Transition Nelson board member Dr. Andre Piver added: “Transition Nelson aspires to this program strengthening relationships, and a culture of collaboration where neighbours feel comfortable knocking on each others’ doors. We hope it will ultimately be a catalyst for other spontaneous neighbourhood-scale projects and activities.”

For more information about the Nelson Good Neighbour Program or to download an application for the training, would-be mediators should go to the Nelson Good Neighbour Program page at the Transition Nelson website.

The deadline for applications is February 3, 2012.

Take part in the 25th anniversary of the Man in Motion Tour

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Rick presents the 25th Anniversary Medal to Jacob Manning the first 25th Anniversary Relay Medal-Bearer. Photo submitted.

PRESS RELEASE

Rick Hansen finished his Man In Motion World Tour 25 years ago by wheeling across Canada from Cape Spear, NL to Vancouver, BC. This year 7,000 people will follow in his tracks in the Many in Motion tour to continue the journey of making positive changes in the lives of others. It hopes to educate a new generation by raising awareness of spinal cord injury and increasing accessibility.

The relay is arriving in Nelson on Thursday April 19, 2012 and staying until Sunday April 22. There will be 40 Nelson medal bearers in total carrying the medal for a 200m distance (think of Olympic torch relay type of thing) on the way into and out of town.

Currently, 20 people have applied to be a Nelson medal bearer and with the application deadline looming on December 28, 2011 we want to inform the community about the opportunity and encourage them to apply.

Applicants are to be over the age of 13 years and may run, wheel, walk the medal for the given distance. To enter to represent our community as a Rick Hansen Relay Medal-Bearer go to the site and tell your story of being a difference maker in our community.

Supplemental resource: www.rickhansen.com

Old monastery to become hospice

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PRESS RELEASE from the Kalein Hospice Centre Society

A long held community dream to establish a hospice centre in Nelson, BC has taken a giant step forward with the purchase, by the Kalein Hospice Centre Society (KHCS), of a retired monastery in the Rosemont neighborhood of Nelson.

Photo submitted.

Formerly home to the Catholic Order of the Sisters of the Precious Blood, the property, located at 402 West Richards Street, features a ten thousand square foot monastery building surrounded by two acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and mature trees. Speaking for The Sisters, Sr. Eileen Mary Walsh writes, “We are very pleased that the Kalein Hospice Centre Society is purchasing our former monastery and grounds. It is comforting for us to know that the property we used to own is being dedicated to such a meaningful purpose.”

The Kalein Hospice Centre Society was formed two years ago by a group of Nelson community residents who recognized that existing hospice care programs and services in our region would benefit from the creation of a formal hospice centre. In 2010, Kalein was granted Charitable status. A philanthropic donation and locally sourced financing enabled KHCS to act on this perfect opportunity when the monastery and grounds became available for purchase.

“From the moment this property was introduced to our Board of Directors, we knew right away that it contained all the essential elements required for the hospice centre we have envisioned,” says Sandi Leatherman, board chair of KHCS. “The building will undergo substantial upgrades to suit the services and programs that the centre will offer. But the fact that we have a building now, instead of having to build from the ground up, is going to advance our ability to realize the centre by several years.”

Providing onsite care and support in a compassionate and beautiful environment for those who are at the end stages of life, and their families, will be a core service of the Centre. While many communities have hospice houses, Kaleinʼs campus setting will also include a Centre for Community Education and Dialog. According to Mrs. Leatherman, “We live in a culture that has a really hard time discussing death. This often leaves us feeling ill prepared and unequipped to meet the reality that, sooner or later, our loved ones and ourselves are all going to die.” Through offerings such as workshops, special events, training programs, a resource library, and a contemplative garden, Kalein Hospice Centre will provide an environment of beauty, tranquility and safety, in which the vitality of this conversation, in all its aspects, can become as much a part of our cultural fabric as our desire for a youthful life.

Although the effort to move the Kalein Hospice Centre project forward has maintained a relatively low profile up until now, community support has been building. In April of 2011, KHCS held a community design workshop attended by over 60 people. The results of this community input session have recently been compiled into a final report. “We have been looking forward to getting out into the region to share the results of our community input, and more about Kaleinʼs vision and mission,” says Mrs. Leatherman. “Through the purchase of the monastery property, our efforts are being energized in a way that was entirely unexpected as little as one month ago. Response from the community has been truly amazing!”

Over the next six months, the Kalein Hospice Centre Society will be working on multiple fronts, conducting strategic planning and preparing the formal feasibility study and business plan that will guide building renovations as well as define specific programs and services. “As we move forward,” says Leatherman, “we will be working closely with the Nelson Hospice Society, which has provided formal hospice support and volunteer training in our region for over 25 years.”

As with all community legacy projects, fundraising occupies a large piece of the effort. Kaleinʼs intention is to cultivate on-going funding for the Centre through the support of larger foundations and institutions, city and regional sources, private family bequests and a community giving campaign.

“With the holiday season upon us, Kaleinʼs ability to establish itself in such a wonderful and special location, is a really amazing gift” says Leatherman. “As more and more people become acquainted with the hospice centreʼs mission and vision, we hope they will be inspired to support it and become involved.”

Anyone interested in making a donation or bequest to the Kalein Hospice Centre Society, volunteering their time to the project and activities of the Centre, or learning more about the Centreʼs mission and vision, is encouraged to contact Sandi Leatherman at 250.352.2217 or by email at hospicehouse.nelson@gmail.com

Spread joy, not germs, this holiday season

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PRESS RELEASE from Interior Health

For many the holiday season means a time to enjoy good company and good food. As we spread the joy of the season we need to be extra careful to not spread food-borne illness causing bacteria. These simple food safety tips will help you prepare a safe and tasty holiday meal:

Photo source: rachaelvoorhees, Flickr, Creative Commons.

Store and thaw safely: Keep fresh turkey refrigerated no longer than three days before cooking. There are three ways to thaw frozen turkey in its wrapper:

  • Under cold running water (one hour per pound)
  • In a clean sink full of cold water, changing the water every couple of hours
  • In the fridge (five hours per pound)

Thawing poultry at room temperature is not recommended because it allows harmful bacteria to grow. Keep other items, especially those with meat, seafood, dairy, eggs or other moist, protein-rich foods chilled until served.

Clean carefully: Wash your hands, utensils and work surfaces well before prep work begins. Once the preparation work is done, clean surfaces in hot soapy water, rinse, then sanitize. Sanitizing can be done with a diluted bleach solution (30 ml of bleach per gallon of water) that is allowed to sit for two minutes. Wash your hands well after cleaning the cutting board and before and after working with any new menu items.

Avoid cross contamination: Store raw meat away from food that is ready-to-eat, including fruit and vegetables (and be sure to wash these thoroughly before serving). Turkeys should be wrapped well and stored on the lowest shelf of your fridge or in the meat keeper to keep blood and juices from contaminating other food. Ensure only clean utensils and cutting boards are used. Use a separate cutting board to prepare raw meat. Wash hands after handling any raw foods and minimize hand contact during final preparation steps.

Cook well: For turkey, set the oven at no lower than 350 °F (177 °C) and cook for about 20 minutes per pound. Use a good meat thermometer to measure the turkey’s internal temperature and ensure it’s safe to eat. All parts of the bird including stuffing should be at least 165°F (74oC) when removed from the oven. Health Canada recommends an internal temperature of 185°F (85 °C) at the thickest part of the meat as additional assurance. Check the temperature in several places to be sure. Cooked food should be kept at 140 °F (60 °C) while waiting to serve.

Refrigerate: Chill food immediately after returning from the store and soon after dinner is complete. Perishable food should be placed in the refrigerator within two hours of being removed from the oven. Refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or in a freezer at 0°F (-18 °C). Health Canada recommends refrigerating leftovers for no more then two to three days. Put them in the freezer in order to keep them longer.

RDCK changes transit between Nelson/Castlegar

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PRESS RELEASE from the Regional District of Central Kootenay

Photo submitted.

The RDCK Board has approved changes to the transit system which will mean improved service for some of the region’s bus riders.

In consultation with BC Transit, the RDCK has been able to expand the transit fleet to include a 40’ Nova bus for the Nelson/Castlegar transit route. This bus will provide expanded capacity and greater comfort for transit users. An extra run was also added to that route to accommodate commuters. The Nova is expected to begin service on Monday, December 12.

“We hope that by providing expanded service ridership will increase, and the new bus will address the capacity issues that we have been experiencing” said Randy Matheson, transit coordinator at the RDCK. “This could take more vehicle traffic off of what is a busy corridor. We anticipate that greater transit usage will equate to a reduction in greenhouse gases.”

The RDCK and BC Transit have also initiated a new bus service to the Blewett area which consists of three return trips per day to and from Nelson. The six-month pilot project which started on November 14 will be monitored to determine the service’s usage and viability. The North Shore/Balfour transit service was also expanded on November 14 with the addition on an extra run which leaves Nelson at 8:40 p.m.

For bus schedules and route information for the Nelson/Castlegar service or the Blewett service, please visit this website or call 1.877.843.2877.

For North Shore/Balfour service info, visit this website or call 1.250.352.8201

Prepare to shake your Booty

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The Backyard Booty, the annual celebration of mountain culture in Nelson, will rock the Capitol Theatre tomorrow, reports Julia Gillmor at Powder in the Kootenays.

From last year's Backyard Booty.

Hosted by Kootenay Mountain Culture, the definitive magazine of Kootenay culture (it’s tempting to throw a “k” into that culture), the Backyard Booty is celebrating its eighth anniversary and the 10th anniversary for the magazine.

Fact is this annual KMC barn burner has become renowned for breaking beer sales records every year, although Mitchell Scott, hunky host , KMC co-publisher  and rising YouTube star feels that the staff just does a better job of stocking the coffers and are less apt to run out of drinks as the years pass.

Source: Powder in the Kootenays

Read more about the Booty and the big developments at Kootenay Mountain Culture at Powder in the Kootenays.

And for laughs, here’s one of Scott’s YouTube videos.

CT scanner open for business

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Thalia Vesterback, Health Services Director, Diagnostic Imaging Services IH East and Foundation Chair Pat Dooley. Photo submitted.

Yesterday marked the first scan of a patient at Nelson’s new CT scanner.

Bryna Idler, administrator for the Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation, which raised $1.5 million to buy the equipment, spoke with Lawrence Kubin, the first CT patient, following his CT. “This is the best thing that’s ever happened to this hospital,” Kubin says. “The room was impressive and the staff was wonderful.”

Idler mentioned he’s thankful he didn’t have to travel to Trail.

Blanket drive at Stepping Stones

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PRESS RELEASE from Stepping Stones for Success

Photo source: fullyreclined, Flickr, Creative Commons.

Stepping Stones for Success – the Nelson-based homeless shelter servicing the West Kootenay area – is holding a blanket drive. Between now and December 31, 2011, the shelter is requesting donations of sleeping bags, blankets, tents and knapsacks.

Now that the winter months are here, those who do not have a roof over their heads will be turning to Stepping Stones for temporary shelter. However, with only 17 beds, there are a lot of times when the shelter is forced to turn people away and for many, sleeping on the street is their only option. With your help, we can do our best to keep them warm by giving out blankets and sleeping bags.

“One of the hardest aspects of our job is having to turn people away when we are full,” says Klee Hunter, Manager of Affordable and Emergency Housing with Nelson CARES. “We simply don’t have the resources to house everyone who knocks on our door. This blanket drive is a way to ensure people don’t succumb to the winter cold.”

If you have a new or slightly used sleeping bag, blanket, knapsack or tent you would like to donate, please drop it off at 567 Ward Street, #7 buzzer. All donations will be greatly appreciated. Please do not bring coats, sweaters or other clothing as we have enough of these for the time being

Stepping Stones for Success is a program of the Nelson CARES Society and has been in operation in Nelson since December 2004 with funding from BC Housing’s Emergency Shelter Program. Over the past seven years, the shelter has provided temporary housing to over 1000 people.

For more information contact Stepping Stones for Success by phoning 250-352-9876 or by e-mailing steppingstones@nelsoncares.ca.