Issue #30 - The Jasper Community Team

Bike thievery and reddened earlobesIt’s never cool when I come home andmy bike has mysteriously disappeared.It’s even worse when my bike’sabsence is not even a mystery, that Iknow the kid that comes and goesfrom the house beside mine has takenit again, that he’s figured out my“secret” bike lock move of rotating thecombination one increment, and thathe obviously didn’t give a scallop that Imight want to ride it myself. When thishappens—and it’s happened moretimes than I like to think about—Inotice a change come over me. Agood mood quickly turns sour.Eyeballs bug out, ticks develop.When we’re disrespected, it incitesanger. And a thirst for retribution! Butwhat choices do we have? The rednessof my earlobes indicated I would havepreferred to lurk in the bushes untilthe bike thief sauntered along, atwhich moment I would have delightedin Tiger Uppercut!-ting this personover the Victoria Cross Range,however, in my heart I’m not thetorturing type. Like most people, Idon’t really like conflict. Especiallyawkward, spiteful, never-actuallyreconciling-the-differencesconflict.Having experienced this, I believe I canbegin to empathize with a businessowner whose (much more expensive)assets are subject to such acts ofdisrespect. Yes, I’m talking about theperceived (and real) problem ofvandalism in our downtown core. Thisis Jasper, and just like it pisses me offto no end to have my bike stolen, Iknow it enrages Commercial BusinessThe Skinny is a sponsored program of by The The Jasper Municipality Community of Jasper. Team. We aimto help connect Jasper’s young adult population by highlightingopportunities to get involved, featuring views, art & perspectivesunique to this population & showcasing locals who are doingamazing things with their lives. Comments,concerns, critiques & shout-outs are alwayswelcome. You’ve got ideas. We’d love tohear them.Issue 22 30contributors:District proprietors to come to workand find broken glass and bodily fluidsspilled about their storefront.I don’t like experiencing blinding fury.These feelings of anger, paranoia andan ardent desire to commit bodilyharm? Not healthy. Really, I just wantthe problem to go away, for thestupidity to stop, for the thieves or thevandals to understand that theirimpulsive behavior is causing othersgrief. But I can’t put these thoughtsinto sentences while I stand seething,empty bike lock in hand. Thanks to theinsight of one rational girlfriend, I sawmy options more clearly: I couldcontinue to seethe, I could hide in thebushes and wait to pounce or...andthis was new...I could attempt to starta dialogue.I know from working alongside theJasper Community Team that crimeprevention research supports the thirdoption. In case study after case study,police units and other authoritiesshow that by engaging with thepurported offenders rather thanreacting with an iron fist (or a TigerUppercut), bad behavior goes down.Keeping this in mind, I gritted my teethand climbed the steps to myneighbour’s house, determined tohave an Owen-to-Brett* with thepeople whom I had until then onlyreferred to as “the little punks.” Iknocked.When the door opened, I wassomewhat relieved to be greeted bythe resident nice guy, the neighbourwho lends me his axe to chopLogo By:Tristan OveryPrinted locallyat Tekarra ColorEditor:Bob CoveyGraphic Designer:Nicole Nicole GabouryBy Bob Coveyfirewood, who gives a wave when wepass each other on the street. Iexplained my problem to him and hewas cool enough to listen while I(gently) accused his housemate ofripping me off. A couple of hours later,as he promised, my bike was backwhere I’d left it the night before.Now, I don’t know what my neighboursaid or did to get my bike back. Maybehe threatened them with thatcommunity axe. But just maybe hecalmly explained the results of theirinconsiderate actions and there was arevelation of sorts. In keeping with thetheme of this article, I’m going to gowith the latter.The point is, there was a sense ofownership embraced by all parties. Ihad to accept that I had to be part ofthe solution, and that screaming myface off wasn’t going to help. Myneighbour accepted that he could takeaction by confronting the accused,thereby acknowledging the problemwas occurring somewhere near hisdomain. And the bike thief had to ownup to his mistake, even if he didn’t doso by apologizing outright to me. As Isaid before, all I wanted was theproblem to go away.So I think there are some lessons herefor anyone who’s been affected bydisrespectful behaviour on PatriciaStreet. For the victims: it’s not personal,even though it feels like it. Also, toreduce future instances of suchbehaviour there has to be an effort toconnect to the parties assumedresponsible. For the culprits, it shouldbe obvious: you’re pissing people off,please stop. And most importantly, forthe people caught in the middle: be likemy axe-lending neighbour: do whatyou can to affect the situation. Don’tlook the other way when you see antisocialantics taking place. Make peopleaccountable. As the person who seesboth sides, you’re often the only oneswho can.*Heart-to-Heart (Owen and Brett Hart,the wrestlers, duh!)*Abner BrownAstrid NowakNicole GabouryLaura DzikowskiMax DinBrett GrantTristan OveryHeather HeineJennifer EdwardsPage 2Enjoy The Skinny: Issue #30May 010May 010Enjoy The Skinny: Issue #30Page 11

Pitch in!Your chanceto accrue goodkarmaSoccer coaches neededSoccer coaches needed for Spring, lateApril until the end of June. Also lookingfor referees—these folks get paid, butmust be certified. Call Joan Dillon, 780852-5680 to get signed up and for moreinformation.Distribute the SkinnyWanna go around town for 2 hours andbe cheered by everyone you meet? It’s aseasy as distributing 700 issues of TheSkinny every month. Find out how!theskinnyjasper@gmail.comHIV WEST YellowheadWe are in need of volunteers to help uswith media scrapbooking & condomdistribution nights. We need volunteersto wear our Captain Condom and DentalDamsel costumes. Come by 622Connaught, call 852-5274 or email:director@hivwestyellowhead.comGot volunteer ops?theskinnyjasper@gmail.comEm p l o ym ent t i po f t h e m o nt hHow to lose a potential job inthe first 5 minutes:1. Show up late for your interview2. Keep your hat or cap on3. Use coarse language4. Answer a textTry to dress for success’ evenwhen dropping off your resume.An employer would rather hiresomebody that is neat, tidy andcares about their appearance.780-852-5982Unit C, 622Connaught DrivePage 10What’s Goin’ On in J-townLos HermanosHeineSam and Jessica Heineplay the Jasper Legion.The Pieps to open. FridayMay 14. Doors at 8 p.m.Big Rock PrizeParty@The StopWed, May 12 Big RockBreweries is bringing madprize give aways to TheWhistle Stop. Party ondown and get geared up!You’re in a boat!Kayak West Paddlers Club isyour ticket to get youp a d d l i n , b ’ y ! I n f o :www.kayakjasper.caGarden SharingThe Jasper Local FoodGroup is setting up aBackyard Sharing Programfor gardeners. Call Janeen,780 883-0522 or emailbean.ink@hotmail.comTennis. Not justfor preps anymoreClub nights: Doubles -Tuesdays 6-8 p.m. Women’sTennis - Thursdays 10 am -noon. More information, callMike, 780 852-4150Culinary corner:Mama-flippin’-mia gourmet Tomato Soup!3 carrots, peeled, diced1 large (796ml) can tomatos (crushed, whole, whatever,you decide, you’re a big boy)1 clove garlic, minced!5 tbsp the good stuff (olive oil)1 1/2 tsp sugar (not a lot-sa!)Croutons made from some nicebread, maybe get some day-oldsfrom the local bakery!Fresh basil — it’s gotta be fresh!Generous pinch of saltEnjoy The Skinny: Issue #30Spring Run OffTotem Ski Shop presentsthe 26th annual 10k aroundLake Annette/Edith. May 911 a.m. Pre-register atTotem or Source for Sportsor at totemskishop.com $25Food BankThe Jasper Food Bank is nolonger a drop in service. Toget connected, visitCommunity OutreachServices, 627 Patricia St.SNFU @ Pete’sMonday, May 10. Tickets $10in advance, $12 at the door.Only available at Pete’sCinco de MayoThat’s Spanish for May 5th!So... it’s on May 5. At Pete’s.Party in celebration of theMexicans beating the Frenchin 1862. Now go put on aSombrero and impress somehottie with that info!Phone YourMom onMonday the 10thMother’s Day is May 10.Don’t forget to call her youingrate!tip: dial 10-15-945 before thenumber to get cheap longdistance through YAK (landlines only)JasperCommunityTeam BBQJune 13 everyonewelcome. Music,games, family fun,Jasper welcomes newstaff to town. Join usfrom 1 - 5 p.m. inCentennial Park!June 10 JasperOrientationnight at theLegionOrientation Night fornew staff June 10, 6p.m. Prize giveaways,attraction passes,entertainment andmore. If you’re newto town, be there!Alpine SummitSeniors Lodge2nd AnnualGarage SaleFundraiserSaturday, May 15. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. 509 Turret St.Maybe you’ll find thattablecloth you needed!Yeah!By BrettGrant-olliniBoil 3 diced carrots in 2 C of water for 10 minutes.Then add: 1 large can of tomatoes,1 finely minced clove of garlic,5 tablespoons of olive oil,11/2 teaspoons of sugarAllow to cook in an uncovered pot at gentle but steadysimmer for 40 minutes.Puree with one of those wand blender things, taste andcorrect for saltServe with toasted croutons, slivers of fresh basil andparmesan cheese. Evviva!May 010Paula Klassen, Brock McBain, TraceyMcKay and Ursula Winkler are havingcoffee in the Winkler’s dining room.Babies abound, and from time to time,little fingers reach up for a cookie.These are content babies, happy to bejostled and bounced on laps whileconversation ricochets around them.Their parents in the room have large,radiant personalities and it could besaid there is always passion within thisrecently-formed group. But today, astheir newly-decided-upon nameclears paperwork at Alberta Registriesand the Jasper Local Food Societyb e c o m e e s t a b l i s h e d a s a nincorporated organization, they arefacing their first real test.At issue is a local petition, the authorof which opposes the group’s very firstproposed project: to build andmaintain a community garden in theLion’s Park, in the west end of Jasper.Considering the strong response theirMay 010initiative has had from municipalcouncil, the Lions’ Club and withintheir own social networks, the groupis optimistic that the petition won’tcollect much momentum, but there’sstill more than a trace of urgency inthe dialogue. They want to be surethat the community feels consultedregarding any plans to dig, and bycollaborating on a letter to the editor,they hope to diffuse any potentialnegativity.“Change is hard,” Winkler acknowledges.The bigger picture, of course, is thefuture of food in Jasper. Klassen, whohas been beating this drum since shecame to Jasper from Victoria, wantsher children to grow up with the sameskills she learned living on a farmoutside of Edmonton. She sees thelocal food movement’s success as anindicator of this community’s capacityto sustain itself and with two children,she and her husband would likeEnjoy The Skinny: Issue #30Gettin’downanddirtyA passion for gardening andthe need to create a moresustainable way of living isstarting to give rise to an newidea in Jasper: Locally sown,collectively grown andcommunity-owned food.By Bob Coveynothing more than long term securitywhen it comes to food and shelter.“All these activities are related tobuilding place, building a sense ofbelonging,” she says about the group’svisions of farmer’s markets, townharvests and community garden plots.“If I don’t learn how to can and how togarden, then those skills won’t betransferred to my daughters.”Where Klassen talks of meeting basicneeds, McBain, whose got a daughterof his own, sees gardening as a way togive back to his community. Agroundskeeper for the Town, McBainlikes getting his hands dirty. Currently,he and his family rent an apartment,with no green space for growing.While he’s put a down payment on anaffordable housing unit, communitygardens, he believes, are a way foryoung people like himself to put downroots—the literal kind and themetaphoric. continued on page 4Page 3

Time is right:local foodiescontinued from pg 3More than anything, the groupbelieves the time is right for alocal food society to flourish.McKay, Klassen and Winklerhad been informally discussingthe possibilities of local foodinitiatives—things like bringingin produce from the RobsonValley, garden sharing andfarmers’ markets—but it wasn’tuntil they realized similarthoughts waves had beenp e r c o l a t i n g w i t h o t h e rcommunity members that theystarted to get organized. Whenthe Jasper Library drew largenumbers to a info session ongardening and the nutritionalbenefits of a local harvest, theyknew it was time to act.“I think eating locally isbecoming more important topeople,” McKay said.But as they’re learning, eventhe most relevant, wellintendedplans can comeunder siege if they haven’tbeen looked at from all sides.Klassen, McBain, McKay andWinkler might have imaginedtheir first project would bebuilding the planter boxes forthe Lions’ Park, not creating aletter defending the idea ton a y s a y e r s o r r a l l y i n gsupporters for a councilmeeting.While that thought may be abit of a downer, amongst therapid-fire conversation takingplace in the Winkler’s diningroom, there’s plenty of reasonto believe that this will be buta small hurdle, somethingwhich, if anything, will furthersolidify their dedication to thecause.As the babies bounce on theirparents’ laps, one thing is forcertain: this passion, like thenutrient-rich soil in Ursula’sbackyard, will be the foundationfor anything and everythingable to grow in Jasper.To find out what’s growing, callthe Jasper Library, 852-3652.Page 4Jasper Sustainability Club for Youth members (clockwise from front), Nicole Alton, Matt Doley,Kai Okazaki, Emily Fenton, teacher Adam Robb and Adrian Butler. The group was working ontheir presentation which they delivered at a Green Thinkers “unconference” in Seattle.Flash Mobsters implore greenthinkers to ‘include the youth’They’re too young to be bitter, but if themembers of the Jasper Youth SustainabilityClub were ever sour about not being morei n v o l v e d i n J a s p e r ’s C o m m u n i t ySustainability Plan, they’re over it.Apparently, being the only high school agedgroup to be invited to a high-profile expo ofsustainable planning and development willdo wonders for the confidence.“They felt at the end they weren’t takenseriously,” teacher Adam Robb said abouthis students’ participation in Jasper’sinitiative to glean green ideas fromresidents. “I thought we needed to dosomething positive to show their effortsweren’t for nothing.”Browser search key: Jasper Street Dance 2010Enjoy The Skinny: Issue #30Such was the beginnings of what descendedon Patricia Street April 28 in the form of 150or so costumed, dancing high schoolstudents. The “Flash Mob” was organized viasocial media in the span of a week. Studentswere instructed to show up at 12:20 p.m.and get their groove on while Robb filmedfrom a slowly moving car. The viral videoshows a morose Paul Butler, representingJasper’s ‘old guard,’ making his way downwhat he perceives to be an empty street.He’s oblivious to the melee behind him, tothe youth movement and to the potentialleadership in his community. TheSustainability Club for Youth hopes to makesure the people they meet in Seattle don’tmiss the potential in their own communities.“Our goal is to have 50 builders incorporateyouth directly into their projects,” Robb said.Adrian Butler, the Club’s “tech guy,” saidyouth involvement opens windows ofpossibilities for green projects. “We’re notlimited by politics,” he said. “Youth are apowerful resource if you know how to usethem.”Check their blog: jasperscy.blogspot.comMay 010May 010Enjoy The Skinny: Issue #30Page 9

If it’s sunny out, there’spretty much no wayI’m staying indoors.I love the sun! It’s soseductively warm andcheery. I find its brightradiation a siren call for thew o r l d o f p o s s i b i l i t i e soutside my door.One damper on my sheerchildlike delight in sunnydays, however, is the everpresent reality of sunburn. Iget all squeamish when Ihear friends talk about their“first sunburn of the season”and how it’s going to “turninto a tan.” For that reason,it was with excessive delightthat I discovered that in2010, May is UltravioletAwareness Month! Woo hoo!I’m sure we’ve all heard itbefore, but the steps toprotecting your skin andPage 8Freak o’ the WeekWhen FireChief G reg VanTighem (GVT) puts hismind to something, he’sgoing to do it.Meaning, if he has to getdressed up in a bikini andwash a few dozen cars toraise what he said he’d raisefor the MS Society, considerit done. Last year, with theh e l p o f h i s J a s p e rRockhopper teammates,GVT raised a whopping$ 3 2 , 0 0 0 - p l u s f o r M S .R e c e n t l y , t h e C h i e freturned from Texas, wherehe and 130,000 othersparticipated in a 190 mile,2-day road bike ride. Prettyneat stuff, but we at TheSkinny couldn’t help askingeyes from UV radiation aresimple:Wear Sunscreen! At leastSPF (sun protection factor)15. SPF 15 means that thewearer can be out in thesun 15 times longer withoutbeing sunburned. If youwork outside, or plan tospend most of the dayoutside, wear at least SPF30.A p ply L i b e ra l l y- M o s tpeople use less than halfthe recommended amountof sunscreen. Slather it on!Apply Frequently - Even ifit’s water or sweat resistant,sunscreen wears off andloses effectiveness. Reapplyevery 2 hours.A p p l y E a r l y - M o s tsunscreen bottles comewith the instruction toapply at least 30 minutesbefore sun exposure.Plan Ahead - If you’re goingEnjoy The Skinny: Issue #30People do that?Freak: 1. A very unusual situation or event 2. (informal) a person regarded as strange because of theirunusual appearance or behavior. 3. A Jasperite featured in The Skinnyour fearless, shirtless leader buddy in Yellowknife whothis question: “Say Chief, it’s had MS.”cool and all, but what’s T h a t f r i e n d ’s p o s i t ivewith your obsessive, insane a t t i t u d e , d e s p i t e h i sdedication to raising assloadsworsening condition, neverof money for charity? ceased to amaze VanIt’s kind of weird, don’t you Tighem. And it’s thatthink?”perspective which is at theLuckily for us he laughed, heart of his fundraising.admitting that his goals “I do it because they can’t,”keep getting more lofty. But he said simply.the constant bar-raising is But there’s another elementsomething that the fire at play, too: the MS Bikechief is used to, and it’s Ride, which takes place insomething that to him, October and marks the endfeels right.o f t h e f u n d r a i s i n g“It’s grown on me,” GVT campaign, is a ton of fun.said, admitting that his Training for that ride keepspassion has taken hold of him in shape and recruitinghim in ways he hadn’t fellow riders keeps himthought possible. “It started socially active.four years ago with a “The ride in Hinton at theto be out of doors for morethan two hours, bringsunscreen with you!But wait! Don’t rely solelyon sunscreen to protectyour skin. Proper clothingand shade are equallyimportant. Put on a hat,s e e k s h a d e , w e a rsunglasses, cover up. Andremember that overcastc o n d i t i o n s d o n ’ tsignificantly reduce thei m p a c t o f U Vradiation. Shockingly, 80%of ultraviolet (UV) radiationp e n e t r a t e s o v e r c a s tconditions.While it’s not necessary tobe quite as passionateabout sun protection assome people (tee hee), thedangers of UV radiation arereal, and more pronouncedin the summer months.Make a habit of carryingsunscreen and a hat withyou when you go out. TakeYes that’s a bikiniend of the summer is agood carrot on the end ofthe stick.”GVT is gearing up fora n o t h e r s u m m e r o ffundraising. Look for him ata BBQ near you. If youwant to hit the trails with am o t ivated, f u n - l ovinggroup, the Rockhoppersm e e t e v e r y T u e s d a youtside of the Fire Hall at 7.The Passion of the Sunscreen By Laura DzikowskiTai: “Sick!” Dad: “Hold still!”the extra few minutes toreapply when you stop for awater break. Bust out thatsuper cool new ball cap yougot in a promo from somefruity flavored beer. Showyour skin the love, andenjoy all the best the sunhas to offer knowing thatyou’re well protected.L a u ra D z i k o w s k i i s aRegistered Nurse who lovesn o t h i n g m o r e t h a nshaming her friends intobeing healthy.May 010How to make sure Jasper life’s a beachMarmot is done and inevitably it isgoing to get hot around these parts.Aside from all the "active" pursuits youmay have in mind for the summer,theleisurely amongst us are all lookingforward to some "plagetime".With that said here are some of the"Do's and Don'ts" to keep in mind foreasy livin' out at the lakes around thevalley this summer.DO wear sunscreen, Flamazine is anexpensive topical treatment forsunburn you don't want to need.DO keep your dog on a leash (andbring poo bags) IF the beach actuallyallows dogs.DO invest in a floatie.DO the "pack it in, pack it out" thing,garbage on a pristine sandy beach?Get real!DO NOT bring glass anything.DO NOT leave your gross cigarettebutts out there, pinch off the coal andkeep the butt for disposal later.DO NOT attempt to play Frisbee if youare lame at it.DO NOT wear Speedos.In terms of beaches, here are the localfaves:Lake Annette: if ever a beach was anightclub, this is the one. Also popularwith families as it’s warm and haspicnic/bbq sites. The dock side tendsto be less crowded. Gates lock at 10p.m.Pyramid Lake: great parking-to-beachproximity and has picnic sites as well.Thoughts of spring alwaysbring to my mind thehardened Earth letting outan immense sigh of relief,manifesting itself in theform of promising eventssuch as snowmelt, thawingground, and in time, springflowers. In the necessarilyugly (sorry world, we are avery aesthetically drivenspecies) days of spring, thebrown and grey shades atground level don’t providemuch optimism for theMay 010It’s not as warm as Annette but wickedviews of Colin range and Pyramid. 10p.m, you're out.Horseshoe Lake: not a beach per se,but more than makes up for it withcliff jumping ranging from a few feetto 80-plus. Wait until a smokin' hotspell or bring a wetsuit. Avoid longweekends.Jasper/Talbot Lakes: sand dunes tohide amongst and shallow, reasonablytolerable water temps make this a favebrilliant season to come. Itis hard to believe that in afew short weeks shades ofc r i m s o n , c a n a r y a n dcerulean will litter roadsidesand gardens where deadEnjoy The Skinny: Issue #30DO invest in a floatie. Pyramid Beach, 2009.stalks and drab grays nowreign. However dreary anddead the ground may look,sweep aside the leaf litterand you might find a patcho f p r a i r i e c r o c u s e s(Anemone patens). Thesefurry little perennials aren’tactually crocuses, they arepart of the buttercup family,but with their fuzzy leavesand stalks and blue-petaledflowers, who really cares(sorry to my universitybotany teacher)? They lookamongst the Hinton crowd. Parking onHwy.16 a bit sketchy.Lake Edith: adjacent to Annette, notquite as warm, great picnic sites. Moreleeches than any other lake in town sostay to the areas that get deep quicklylike the Annette side of things or thedock. Gates lock at 10 p.m.JRT Lake: just try to find it, you won't.Until such time,Max Din,Aquatic Rasta CoalitionBy Max DinWildflower watch: go kiss a crocusBy Jennifer Edwardslike a little chunk of thebrilliant blue sky fallen fromthe heavens to remind usthat spring is indeed on itsway. As the first blooms andtherefore the harbingers ofspring, crocuses are hopeflowers. I found my patch ofcrocuses, bent down andgave them a kiss…for hope,renewal and the life-filledspring to come.Jennifer Edwards (nee McPhee)is a local botanist with a passionfor wildflowersPage 5

Timing is everything:Ryan Verge, Geoff Fraser and Jocelyn Nadeau got their legs limber during a 44 kmride on frozen Maligne Lake. To do this unconventional ride to Spirit Island andCoronet Creek, riders have to wait for the snow on the lake to melt and freeze insuch a way that bike tires will roll efficiently. Spring time typically affords theopportunity but be warned: the week after this photo was snapped, local carpenterScott Wilson got wet after warm temps created unstable ice. BC photoOh the irony:Jasper live music was in full effect May 2 when the Wassabi Collective sold out theDownstream and Olympic Symphonium (left) and Catherine MacLellan (right) filled theBrushfire Gallery on behalf of the Jasper Heritage Folk & Blues Society. BC photosPage 6Enjoy The Skinny: Issue #30Ticked offby ticks!By Heather HeineApril and May is peak tickseason, so read up!Parks Canada’s Geoff Skinnertells u s that the m o s tcommon tick in these parts isthe Rocky Mountain woodtick. Adults are 4 to 14 mmlong, oval shaped and havereddish, leathery, spiderybodies. Not cute.Ticks hunt by stealthilyclinging to grass and shrubsalong paths frequented bypotential hosts, a.k.a. you.When you pass by, the tickclimbs on or hooks on Velcrostyle.Skinner says it’s not truethat they drop from trees.Those are vampires. Once ona host, the tick’s goal is toattach itself to your skin andhave a blood feast. Yum. Atick on a blood bender canincrease 20-50X in size.Ticks should be removedASAP. You want to get themoff before they regurgitatetheir stomach contents whileattached. It’s rare, but tick barfcan transmit nasty diseases.To detach a tick from yourbody you can a) wait for it tobecome fully engorged andthen drop off by itself, whichis gross, or b) physicallyremove it. To remove a tick,gently but firmly grasp itshead with tweezers, apply asteady backward force untilthe tick releases its hold,remove any remaining tickbits and disinfect the wholeshebang. If the head is buriedbeneath the skin, you willrequire medical attention.Prevention is the best strategywhen dealing with ticks.Cover up, and/or sprayclothing with insect repellentbefore going into the bush.After coming home from tickhabitat, do a tick check; ittakes ticks hours to attach toyou and it is easier to removethem before they do so.lMay 010Painful setbacks, local victories in the GLBTQcommunity remind us of ongoing work to doFaggot! Dyke! Homo!Freak!People in our community, province,country and society have to listen tothese affronts everyday as they walko u t t h e i r d o o r . T h e f a c e o fhomophobia may have changed, buthomophobia is far from disappearingfrom our society. The phrase “that’sgay” is regularly used with negativeconnotations. Hearing slurs utteredand being subject to harassment arereal threats for GLBTQ communitymembers. With the April 17 beating ofShannon Barry in Edmonton, we seethat violence and hatred towards, gay,lesbian and bisexuals is still prevalent.McGill’s Student Union defineshomophobia as “the irrational hatred,intolerance, and fear of lesbians, gaym e n , a n d b i s e x u a l s . ” H a t r e d ,intolerance and fear create the perfectword image of what homophobia feelslike. But it’s the word irrational whichrings even more true for myself andmembers of OUTJasper. It is irrationalto fear a whole population, to feelhatred towards a fellow human beingbecause of who they choose to love orbe attracted to. It is ignorant andi r ra t i o n a l t o b e i n t o l e ra n t o fdifferences; we know that acceptanceof differences is how the heart andVagina Monologues hit the spotThe Vagina Monologuesflooded into Jasper lastweek, storming the stage atthe Jasper Activity Centrea n d s h a t t e r i n g a n yMay 010Ransom is one of several local businessesdisplaying their support for the GLBTQcommunity with a rainbow sticker.intelligence of human kind hasevolved through the ages.In many ways Canadian society hasmade leaps and bounds when itcomes to recognizing and acceptingrelationships that do not fall into the“hetero-normative “ category. Samesexmarriages, media outrage of gaya n d l e s b i a n b e a t i n g s a n d therepresentation of gay, lesbian, bisexualand transgender characters, couplesor issues on a growing majority oftelevision shows all point to signs ofprogress. However, there is still workto do. Here in Jasper, GLBTQ allieshave been a driving force behindi s s u e s t h a t f a c e t h e G L B T Qcommunity. By putting up rainbowstickers in the windows of their stores,organizations and restaurants, theyhelp unite us against the hate. One ofpreconceived notions of theV word. The performanceswere poignant, hilarious,touching and beautiful, tiedtogether with the bonds ofEnjoy The Skinny: Issue #30womanhood and the goalof breaking the silence onthe terrible a t ro c i t i e scommitted in the name ofwar. The monologues leaptBy Abner Brownthe most touching acts of support I’vewitnessed was as recently as SaturdayApril 24 when owners Lynn Parcelsand Andrew Wannop of CoCo’s Cafédonated the day’s tips to ShannonBarry. Seeing the continuous stream ofpeople taking the time to read thesmall write up done about Barry’sattack and then doing their small partof raising awareness for homophobiaby donating their hard earned moneyreminded me that our fight againsthomophobia is working. We know thatone day, those who fear, hate and areintolerant of our lives will have accessto the education and resourcesneeded to understand, support andaccept gay, lesbian, bisexual andtransgender people. May 17 is NationalDay Against Homophobia. Thatevening, OUTJasper will be holding aBBQ with hotdogs and burgersdonated by HIV West Yellowhead. Formore information about the BBQcheck out OUTJasper’s Facebookg r o u p o r e - m a i lout.jasperlgtbq@gmail.com. In themeantime, let’s continue to be awareo f t h e c h a l l e n g e s f a c i n g o u rcommunity and celebrate our victorieswhere we can. In Jasper, look for therainbow sticker to find businessesdisplaying their support.Abner Brown is the president ofOUTJasperfrom moaning to mutilationto menstruation but risingabove was the production’saffirmation that this topic isdignified, powerful and artistic.Page 7