On Saturday Jan. 17, KHMR will be hosting their first ever apres ski Scotch tasting event at the Eagle’s Eye restaurant.

The event, which begins at 3 p.m., is an educational tasting with six different malts available to try, from numerous distilleries that will be showcasing their products.

Jordan Petrovics, corporate alliances, media relations and events manger for KHMR, says the resort is excitedly looking forward to the scotch festival.

“This event is the first of its kind at KHMr and were looking forward to seeing it grow into an annual festival here at the resort.”

Petrovics explains that the scotch tasting will be held in conjunction with a brew-master’s dinner held later on in the evening at the Eagle’s Eye.

“After the scotch tasting we will load everyone down to the base and set up the dining room for the Big Rock Brewmaster’s Dinner which will be hosted by Jody Hamel, a brewmaster for Big Rock brewery.”

The brewmaster’s dinner is also an educational tasting event that pairs different blends of beer with several meal courses while explaining why the food and beer compliment each other.

“Space is limited so we are encouraging people to contact the resort and book their tickets early so that they don’t miss out on this exciting event.”

For more information or to book a ticket, call 1-866-SKI-KICK.;

Spinners Unite! MythMakers coming to Golden Jan. 31/Feb. 1

We can now confirm a very special weekend of ‘circus arts’ workshops with Hjeron O’Sidhe. Hjeron is the artistic director of MythMakers – www.mythmaker.ca – and his troupe of poi spinners and stilt walkers have created fantastical performances at festivals like Shambahlah and Burning Man. Hjeron will be in town at the end of the month for two days of activities that will be co-ordinated with Linnaea Thornley and her local group of Golden Spinners who are hosting regular Wednesday evening sessions at the Civic Centre. Linnaea says, “I am inviting friends of the Snow King’s MasqueParade to come out on Wednesday night 7 to 9 where

Having no idea what was in the archives, I set their request aside while I learned my way around. Within a few days I had come across Thomas’ name several times, but not enough information to determine if he had relatives somewhere.

Two weeks after starting I came across Thomas O’Brien’s obituary. It contained the information that the Glenbow Museum was looking for. They were looking for a relative whom the government of Canada could give a medal of recognition to. It seems that Thomas had been an important person in Manitoba’s history and they wanted to finally say thank you.

I sent the information and received a thank you back. Since that time I have come across a great deal of information, enough to become a friend to someone who died 47 years before I was born. Each year at Easter time I make a pilgrimage to the Golden Cemetery with flowers for my grandmother, Jennie Allen, my mother-in-law, Lorraine Palumbo, my mother, Jenny Barbour and my father Harold Rauch,

The proposed Sprit Square, to be located by the pedestrian bridge, has gone through approval for the first phase of its development set to begin in June and expected to commence by Oct. 31.

According to the agreement between the Province and the Town of Golden, the first phase of the project will consist of a multi-purpose event plaza with decorative pavers and mosaics, an event stage, a skating rink or water feature, a tourist information kiosk, washrooms, landscaping, public art, pedestrian pathways, interpretative historical signage and other features agreed upon by the parties.

Cleo Corbett, manager of development services and planning, said she is optimistic about the concept that has been designed even with the tight timeframe allotted.

“We have designed the first phase to be very bare bones and flexible and have envisioned portable furniture so that we can see in the first few years how the area is used.”

Corbett explained that the first phase hasn’t been over-planned and that there is nothing so permanent that it can’t be redesigned.

“Phase one is basically trying to frame in and formalize that square area so it feels more like a public plaza. The intent is that this first phase will help us to understand how people use the square.”

Corbett said the designs for phase one include a portable stage that can be relocated if it isn’t working in a particular space.

“We will also be putting mosaics in the square in phase one, so we will be looking to the community for their help in that over the next four months. We’ll be putting on public workshops for that process so that everyone in the community can be a part of this development in some way.”

Corbett explained that the hope is that residents will be able to come back in twenty years and see their work is a part of Golden’s history.

Over the past year, Corbett said the plan has gone through a visioning session, preliminary designs and another open house.

“This will be the final design concept to present back to the public based on the feedback that we have received.”

Funding for the project was provided in part by the B.C. Spirit Squares program through the Ministry of Community Development in the amount of $335,000. More funding was provided from the Resort Municipality Initiative five year expenditure program, in the amount of $600,000. Both are allocated to be spent by the end of 2009.

Corbett encourages people to check out the Spirit Squarer conceptual drawings on the Town of Golden website, www.town.golden.bc.ca and attend the upcoming open house to have a look at the final concept designs.

The Spirit Square open house will be held on Jan. 22 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Dusevic Building, 413 Ninth Ave. North, (Old Sassy’s location). ;

Dave Duncan, a resident of Golden, is currently working with the Canadian National Ski Cross team to make it to the Olympics in 2010.

Duncan says he first started skiing at the age of three.

“My mother took me out to the ski club which was only five minutes away form our house. I guess I fell in love with it because the story is that I left the hill kicking and screaming that day.”

The next day Duncan says his mother brought home brand new skiing equipment for him and he was ecstatic.

“I started jumping up and down and apparently I fell off a piece of furniture and broke my arm. So the I spent the first year learning to ski with a broken arm. It was the first, but not the last of injuries in my career.”

Duncan says that’s how he got his start.

“The hill was tiny in comparison to what I ski now, but I went every day after school. I was skiing all the time, seven days a week.”

Duncan says at a young age he joined the Nancy Green system and began to compete with the Mackenzie Mountain League. He then found that he was making podium finishes more often than not.

“From there I decided to get more serious, so I moved to Collingwood, ON to attend the National Ski Academy. It was a great school that focused as strongly on our academic skills as on our skiing skills. There were big on trying to instil ethics and were the key to my future success in the academic world.”

Duncan says he attended the academy from grade nine to 12 and he did well enough to qualify for the Ontario Provincial Ski Team.

“In my OAC [grade 13] year I moved home to London, ON to finish high school while still competing. I would take off the whole winter to travel with the team. It was great to be introduced to travel at that time in my life too.”

After he graduated high school, Duncan says he made the decision to focus all his energy on skiing.

“I put all of my efforts into making the National team. I figured school was done so I could put all my energy into skiing. I spent the first year post college on the Ontario Provincial team and eventually I started exploring the option to attend post secondary school in the U.S.”

He says he looked at a variety of schools, but the best offer he found came from the University of Alaska.

“UAA came back with the best offer where I could ski at the NCAA division level and obtain a degree in aviation which was my other passion.”

Skiing at the NCAA level was some of the highest level of skiing that /duncan says he’s ever done.

“There was a high level of competition and I found that I had a couple of podium results, but my finishes were all over the place.”

While attending UAA, Duncan says he was the ski team captain for two terms and was MVP for two terms as well. He was also an NCAA all American for 3 terms and spent three semesters on the dean’s list.

“I was doing something that I wanted to do so I found it very easy to apply myself.”

In December 2006, Duncan received a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology.

“At that point I was at a cross roads. I realized that my Alpine career had come to an end and while looking to the future I I had three options. To work for a heli-ski company, to be a guide for a blind competitive skier or to start dabbling in ski cross which had just started to pick up steam. I was in a dilemma. I thought, which one should I do?”

Eventually Duncan picked the job with a heli-skiing company in 2007.

“I was loving life and getting paid to do it.”

That same winter, Duncan says he travelled to the Sugar Bowl in California.

“There I met Cam Bailey who’s now the CEO for the National Ski Cross team. He saw me compete and told me he wanted me to come and try out for the ski cross team.”

That summer, Duncan said he went to the tryouts held at Farnham Glacier, near Radium for the first tryout camp for the National Ski Cross Team.

“It was so new to me. I was definitely questioning my capability for the sport.”

Duncan need not have been nervous. He ended up ranking first in the camp.

“At that time I thought to myself, this is your second lease on going to the Olympics.”

Duncan says he was hooked. He immediately made plans to move back to Canada and pursue his new dream.

“I stayed in Vancouver for a few months at first and quickly realized that I was not a fan of city life. I started looking for the perfect mountain town that had a variety of winter and summer events and a small population.”

That’s when Duncan discovered Golden. In September 2007, he says he decided to come to the perfect mountain town.

“I checked it out, fell in love, packed my Neon with all of my stuff and drove out here and I haven’t left since. Home is supposed to be where the heart is and Golden is that to me.”

Duncan says that while in Golden he continued to strive to make the National Team.

In November 2007, while at another tryout camp held at Powder King Mountain in Pine Pass in northern B.C., Duncan says he found out that he had made the National Team.

“I was ecstatic. After all the years of hard work, it was a great feeling to be named to the team.”

Duncan says he spent his first season on the team competing all over the world. He said he had some good finishes and even became the National Ski Cross champion in Spain while competing there.

“I was feeling pretty good at the end of my first season. I didn’t want it to end and I continued to progress through the summer of 2008.”

Nowadays, Duncan says he is focusing ahead on the season.

“I have to stay competitive. to stay on the team you have to keep achieving goals and show that you are improving every day. You have to prove that you are a force on the world circuit.”

Duncan says his goal this year is to be ranked top ten in the world.

“What I am focusing on now is setting me up for the future.”

Duncan ’s first competition of 2009 was on January 5 at a competition in Austria. Before the competition, Duncan said he was looking forward to competing and seeing some good results.

“Everything as of September 2008 has been judged for the Olympics. Unfortunately we won’t be officially notified until two weeks prior to the games as to whether we are going. If I continue to do well in competitions throughout 2009 and rank among the top ten in the world, then I would feel pretty good about having a spot on the Olympic team.”

Duncan said that three or four men and three or four women will get to represent Canada in 2010.

2010 will be the first year that ski cross will be an event in the winter Olympics. Duncan is the youngest member of the National team at 26.

Duncan says it’s important to him to gives a big shout out to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort who have become his official sponsor in his Olympic bid.

“They have definitely come to the plate as my official sponsor and I would like to thank Steve, Mark and Jordan for all of their help and support.”

Duncan said he would be back in Golden on January 21 and he is excited to get back on his home mountain.

“Kicking Horse is my playground. I can’t wait to get back to ski my home hill.”

Keep an eye on the Golden Star as we follow Duncan’s Olympic bid throughout this year.

Last week, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (KHMR) held their final public presentation of their Master Plan (MP) for development with an open house and two presentations at the Golden Visitor’s Centre. The final revised MP has now gone to the government for approval.

The open house included detailed maps of the revision process over the last few years and conceptual artists’ renderings of future plans at the resort for those in attendance to view. There was a large crowd at the first presentation that included, stake-holders, government officials, town council members, representatives from Forest Services of B.C., the Golden Nordic Club, the Golden Back-country Recreation Advisory Committee (GBRAC), KHMR staff and residents and business owners of the community.

Steve Paccagnan, president and GM of KHMR provided those in attendance with a detailed presentation of the final draft of the MP.

“This is the revised MP that has been submitted to the province,” he explained, adding, “We have been going over these revisions since the last public consultation in the fall. Today we are here to show you how we have incorporated all the feedback into the MP.”

Paccagnan said that the key elements to the revised plan were comments from the public, government and stake-holders.

“We [at KHMR] believe it is important not to overlook the local community. Public comments received in the last few open houses were integrated in the revisions which were concluded in late November, 2008.”

Paccagnan said that KHMR spent much time focusing on the concerns of the public, particularly from members of GBRAC and the Golden Nordic Club.

“From our discussions over the last few months, I am learning so much about this community,” said Paccagnan, adding, “The Nordic group helped us look at how development would impact their trails and we are still working together to enhance the plan so that it protects the interests of their club. I am deeply committed to this.”

Paccagnan said the resort and designers have been working closely with Don Gardner, who is a world class Nordic Trail designer, to enhance Nordic opportunities.

Paccagnan went on to explain that under the Master Development Agreement (MDA), mandated by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, it was agreed that the area of Canyon Creek was to be removed from the Controlled Recreational Area (CRA) plans.

“We also did some base area modifications, trails and park design revisions and we are taking the historic railway bed into consideration when developing,” he said.

Paccagnan said that the resort is dedicated to addressing environmental and sustainability issues with the revised MP.

“We have invested in expert environmental monitoring and are ensuring that impacts into the Holt Creek area [to be used for water supply if needed] will be minimized. We are partnering with environmental groups like Wildsight to make sure these issues are closely adhered to.”

Paccagnan said that the sustainability and environmental plans within the MP were a lot better than they had in the past.

“That includes the new Parks plan where it has been determined that five per cent of all residential land will be designated Park land.”

Paccagnan said that while supporting the environmental groups is a priority for KHMR, he strongly supports the snowmobile clubs of Golden who also use trails around the resort and have for a long time.

“We are working on an operating plan to support each other as strategic partners as the resort develops and grows. Trail buffers are very important and we will continue to work together to ensure that there are minimum buffer zones set so as not to impede on the snowmobile trails.”

As in former presentations, Paccagnan said that the resort’s overall goal is to create a world class, year round resort destination in B.C.

“We want to create vibrancy, animation and life on the resort. Keep in mind this is a phased approach, over the next 40 years and it is a process. This is not condos blasting out of the ground, it will take time.”

With that, Paccagnan said the development will be promoting job creation. He said there is the potential for 500 construction jobs per year as the resort starts moving along. With respect to economic growth, he said there is a projected $32 million per year back into Golden in tourism dollars once the MP is in full swing.

Paccagnan finished by extending his commitment to the people in attendance.

“We have been listening and we will continue to listen. You have my personal commitment to that.”

As Paccagnan ended the presentation, the floor was opened up to questions from the public. Most questions were directed at Jeff Dolinsky, president of the Nordic Club and Darcy Monchak of GBRAC, of their opinions to the revisions of the MP.

“It is my view that there has been great improvements made in the plan with respect to discussions between the Nordic Club and KHMR,” said Dolinsky, adding, “We still have a ways to go and a lot of work to do, but there is no doubt about the fact that we are moving forward.

Monchak said that GBRAC is appreciative of KHMR sensitivity and will continue to work with them along the way

More questions followed with respect to the access road to the resort and the two bridges that reside there now. Paccagnan said that KHMR will continue to work with the Ministry of Transportation and Highways to make improvements to the access road to the resort.

“There is always room for improvement,” he said, adding,” and into the future with respect to the train bridge we will be working to enhance that crossing and we hope that CP Rail will be a player at that table. We will also continue dialogue about the future of the small bridge and the possibility of twinning it. There will be ongoing studies and we will work with our partners to improve it.”

After the presentation, Paccagnan spoke with the Golden Star about the future of the MP.

“The final plan that we have showcased here today has now been submitted to the province. We are committed to working with the community and local stake-holders and we are hopeful that the province takes this plan into serious consideration for approval. The next step in the process is to finalize our commitments and work on the Master Development Agreement. That will all happen on the province’s timeline.”

Psyche Brown, manager of major projects for the resort development division of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts said that she believes the ministry understands that all the issues are so far resolvable to some degree.

“We will continue to work with the resort and others to ensure that the appropriate changes are made and to make sure we’ve captured all of the community’s input in the Master Development Agreement and make any amendments to the MP to reflect those agreements.”

Brown said there is no real timeline for when the MDA will be signed and the resort can move forward with development of the MP.

“The development will only start once we are able to approve the MP as all issues have to be identified and addressed. At the moment we are continuing work with the First Nations to ensure that their concerns are addressed, then the next step is approval. The approval of the MDA it isn’t a slam dunk as we still have to meet every other regulation policy from the ministry. We need to make sure that the MDA commitments reflect mitigation measures from the public, all levels of government, stake-holders and First Nations groups.”

Keep an eye on the KHMR website, www.kickinghorseresort.com for the revised plan or visit the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts website at www.gov.bc.ca/tca and click on the link to resort development.;

Before we go further, let’s answer your questions.

What’s an Equerry? That’s the person who is the Snow King and Lady Spring’s official attendant. Joyce assumed that position at the first Snow King’s MasqueParade in 2007 and the Snow King passes on his wishes to us mere mortals through Joyce.

What’s the MasqueParade? The Snow King’s MasqueParade is a community festival that is – by design – a bit old-fashioned, hearkening back to a time when neighbours joined together to make their own entertainment and bring meaning to their lives through home-made celebration. The creative activities that lead up to the celebration weekend allow us to access that ‘fun’ part of ourselves that can become dormant in the whirlwind of day-to-day life. Much pleasure is had as young and old get together for a common purpose to create some low-tech but, fantastical magic! This year’s theme is All You Need is Love!

What’s a Merry Band of Revellers? A ‘Band’ is a group of friends that get together and choose a favourite Beatles’ song or character and create some home-made costumes, masques, lanterns based on the theme of the song or character. The Snow King has also asked each Band to build a big puppet or papier-m

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (KHMR) announced, last week, the launch of the the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Spirit Pass. This pass is being offered in support of the Golden and District Community Foundation (GDCF).

KHMR, in partnership with the GDCF, said that the new unveiling of this pass is a unique opportunity for businesses and individuals alike to donate funds to the GDCF.

According to a recent press release, the KHMR Spirit Pass awards the recipient with a transferable seasons pass valid for skiing, biking, hiking and access to the world renowned Grizzly Bear Refuge. It is valid for one winter and summer season. Further benefits to the pass include discounts on lift and sight-seeing passes and discounts at most KHMR outlets. Furthermore, priority lift line access will be given to the pass holder and four friends.

The funds from the purchase of a KHMR Spirit Pass will be donated to the GDCF and earmarked for costs associated with the administration of the Foundation. This will allow the Foundation to make the most of its legacy dollars to programs and activities within its mandate.

“This is a great opportunity for Kicking Horse to play its part in support of the community,” said Steve Paccagnan, president and GM at KHMR, adding, “With the introduction of the Spirit Pass we are able to offer a value added product in exchange for charitable proceeds for the GDCF.”

Paccagnan went on to say that KHMR wants to continue to work closely with the GDCF as they recognize the Foundation as an important part of the community.

“We see this as a great start with respect to that. We also want to encourage the GDCF to use the resort as a venue, whether it be for fundraising events or any other event that they have upcoming. They are a great organization that is very special to the community and something that Golden is very proud of.”

A maximum of ten passes will be made available for the remainder of winter season and for the summer 2009, with a minimum donation of $2,000. A charitable donation slip from the GDCF is available for the business or individual.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the resorts involvement,” said Glen Ewan, director of the GDCF, adding, “With this opportunity we are able to focus our efforts in providing dollars in support of our many programs, whether it is sports and recreation, health or education. This will go a long way in making a difference to the Community Foundation.”

All proceeds of the pass will be donated to the GDCF.

For more information about the Spirit Pass, contact KHMR at 1-866-SKI_KICK.;

Top studio artists from the Columbia Valley, the Kootenays and Calgary will be represented, including Jane Tevelein Doel, a clay artist from B.C.

In a recent press release, Doel said, “Those of us living side-by-side with the Columbia Wetlands have a chance to passionately speak up for one of the last wild stretches of a once-wild river, in whatever way we are able.”

She said her piece, Mother Columbia, is composed of raku-fired clay tiles. Some of which she said contain clay dug from the banks of the Columbia River.

“An artist can respond to beauty in a landscape, and the viewer responds,” Doel said, adding, “But today, the shadow of something urgent accompanies the experience of both artist and viewer alike. The very being of the landscape is threatened.”

Bill Usher, executive director of Kicking Horse Culture and the AGOG, said he believes that the exhibit will create a long-lasting effect.

“Artists derive inspiration from the Columbia Wetlands and create lasting legacies from that inspiration. The gallery exhibit, print catalogue and the website exhibit will all facilitate long-term appreciation of both the artists’ work and this wild and powerful place that we are blessed to live beside.”

Ellen Zimmerman, program manager for Wildsight, explained why a conservation organization and an art gallery came together on the exhibit with a Columbia Wetlands theme.

“Wildsight believes that conservation gains are achieved through public education and raising awareness. Artists in all media have a unique vision. The environmental science is very important but art can engage our senses and stir our feelings. Natural Inspiration will touch people’s hearts and inspire us all to help sustain the Columbia Wetlands. We hope that the project will move viewers to a greater understanding, appreciation and stewardship of this natural treasure. It is also an opportunity to support local artists.”

Zimmerman went on to say that she hopes to instill a love of the wetlands from the public that is as strong as she herself feels.

“When you really come to love something so very strongly, you end up puttings its best interests before your own. I want people to come to this exhibit, fall in love and care about it as passionately as I do.”

Robert Bateman, a Canadian wildlife artist and conservationist, contributed to the exhibit with a limited edition print and a foreword to the catalogue. The Golden Community Foundation, Columbia Basin Trust and the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners also supported the project.

The work in the gallery exhibit will be for sale. A limited edition, full-colour, 32 page print catalogue will be available for sale through the gallery. Columbia Wetlands – Natural Inspiration will also be published on the internet at www.kickinghorseculture.ca/agog. Columbia Wetlands – Natural Inspiration opens on Jan. 31 with a reception from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the AGOG and runs through until March 28.

According to a recent press release, The Columbia Wetlands are more than 180 kilometres in length, making them some of the longest intact wetlands in North America. This biologically-diverse expanse is the headwaters of the Columbia River, the largest river flowing into the Pacific Ocean from North America. They were chosen as Ramsar Wetlands of International Significance in 2005. These 25,000-hectare wetlands represent one of the few remaining intact portions of the Pacific Flyway, a crucial path for migrating birds. Because so many of the wetland ecosystems on the Columbia River have been lost through damming, draining and flooding, the Columbia Wetlands are even more important for wildlife and migratory birds. During spring and fall migration periods, tens of thousands of birds representing hundreds of species can be found resting and feeding in the Columbia Wetlands.

For more information on the upcoming exhibit at the AGOG, contact Bill Usher, executive director for Kicking Horse Culture and the AGOG at 250-344-6186, or by email at info@kickinghorseculture.ca.

For more information on Wildsight, contact Ellen Zimmerman, program director, at 250-348-2225 or by email at ellen@wildsight.ca.;