April 15, Pennywise – Castlegar, Slocan Valley

Tending Campsites & Trails
In the Columbia Basin, there’s no denying the presence of
exceptional campsites and recreational trail networks, which
are among the best in the province, if not the entire country.
But what’s the secret behind their upkeep and management?
It’s not by chance. The recreation crews formed through a
partnership between Columbia Basin Trust and Recreation
Sites and Trails BC are one of several such entities making a
difference in the region. Here are some impressive figures:
116 recreation sites and trails overseen, seven outhouses
Kaslo Concert Society Presents...
Steve Cowan & Adam Cicchillitti
Guitar Duo
One of the world’s most decorated guitar duos of the new generation,
Canadian guitarists Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan
have set a benchmark in the world of classical guitar with their
award-winning recordings, commissions of major orchestral
works, and competition performances.
Their impressive accolades include second prize at the 2023 and
third prize at the 2021 international ensemble competition by
the Guitar Foundation of America, arguably the world’s most
prestigious guitar ensemble competition.
Friday, Apr 19, 7pm – St Andrew’s United Church, Kaslo
at Sunnyside, Willow Home Gallery
Tickets: $25 and at the Door.
School-aged children free when accompanied by an adult patron
dug, 54 tables built, nine fire rings added, three kiosks put
up, six entrance signs installed and nearly 200 kilometres of
trail maintained and inspected, all in the Columbia Basin
and all in the year 2023 alone.
As user numbers increase annually, there’s been a growing
need to improve and upkeep recreation sites and trails.
There’s a huge demand to develop the skills of Basin residents
through employment opportunities and specialized
training—which this program also does.
Over five years, the program has created 66 jobs in the
Basin, covering four recreation districts and overseeing 557
recreation sites and trails. For the 2024 field season, the four
crews will have three members each, creating 12 seasonal
positions in the Basin. Crew members gain useful skills and
leadership experiences that will forever come in handy, while
also having fun camping and making friends. “The campout
trips have been a highlight! Doing big crew cookouts, having
crib and Yahtzee tournaments after a day of trail building
was really fun,” says Dexter Gauthier, crew leader for the
Cranbrook crew in 2023. Based out of Cranbrook, Nelson,
Revelstoke and Invermere, crew members and leaders are
hired for about four months of field work. Training has a
strong emphasis on safety in an outdoor setting, such as the
proper use of hand tools, trail building, first aid, two-way
radio communications and wildlife safety. “Most of our crew
members come from an environmental background, which
means they’re very capable in the outdoors. Our training
The Kaslo Golf Club
wishes to extend Congratulations
to Mona and Darryl on their
retirement from the Husky Service Station.
We appreciate the time you have been
of assistance with our golf course
needs over the years.
We wish you all the best in your future.
builds on the skills they already have,” says Eskelin. Once
crews are trained, boots hit the ground. Following project
lists developed by area recreation officers, and working
alongside local clubs and volunteers, the crews undertake
tasks that range from reconnaissance and scouting to tree
planting, to the installation of much-needed infrastructure
like bridges, boardwalks, and tent pads.
Remote work is not uncommon with helicopters and boats
often part of the commute. Crashing in a tent after a longday
on the end of an axe or brush saw seemed like Club Med
for the outdoor-loving bunch; dealing cribbage hands over
the constant buzz of a mosquito swarm became commonplace
as camaraderie blossomed amongst crew members.
“The reward wasn’t just the view(s). To know that the work
we did opened up a trail for the public to experience was
the true reward and just part of what made it an unforgettable,
skill-building, friendship-creating and life-changing
season,” says Brennan Wittig, crew leader in Nelson in 2023.
The 2024 season will see an even stronger focus on collaborative
work between crew members. More concentrated
training will encourage overall team building, which in turn
will enable crews to partner effectively on larger projects.
“Our crew members all have unique skillsets that we want
to bring together on some cross-district work this year,” says
Eskelin. “There are multiple benefits of having our crews
work together, so we plan on making that happen more this
season.”
It’s an additional goal for an already-successful program.
The program has garnered positive attention elsewhere in
the province and is working as a blueprint to build off, with
16 other recreation districts having adopted its approach.
“This program has allowed us to enable community
vision. It’s been great to put our heads together and get some
of these important projects complete,” says Eskelin. “We’re
proud that the program has become a model.”
Since 2021, the program has helped create 152 positions,
with an additional 42 slated for the upcoming season. In
addition, since 2020, recreation-focused organizations have
developed, enhanced or maintained over 450 kilometres of
trails in the region with Trust support.
Columbia Basin Trust
Discover 65 retiring or a reset..?
For the last 28 months, Discover Sixty-Five has filled a niche by providing a
local magazine for our West Kootenay Seniors and their caregivers.
We have delighted in the project of finding interesting and valuable information
to share and are forever grateful to our contributors... some of
whom have been with us since day one... like Terese Bowors - Cannabis
Corner, Emily Tucker IG Wealth and those who followed closely like Wendy
Lacroix our Registered Retirement Coach, and Bruce LaCroix the Senior-
Preneurship who encourages the imagination, and most recently Astrology
with Angele Ortega. Our home Chef Annette Gallant shared many quick
and easy recipes (and whose biscuits are still my favourite) until her garden
called her away from the typrwriter. For a short while staff from Shoppers
Drugmart Castlegar contributed and we had one or two submissions from
T.H.E. Pharmacy (Castlegar/New Denver/Kaslo) along with our Fishing articles
from Jones Boys Boats.
It has been a rewarding experience compiling every issue for you because
we feel our Seniors are very important members of our communities as do
these advertisers who have supported us...
Columbia Basin Trust,
Emily Tucker IG Wealth,
Buddys’ Place House of Cannabis Shop,
AM Ford,
Jones Boys Boats,
Sixty-Five
Teck Trail Operations
Discover
Kootenay Seniors Living
To the community members who have agreed to interviews - and being on
the cover - your participation has been the icing on the cake!
We are a For Profit Business. After much consideration, looking at balance
sheets and advertising support we are pausing on continuing with publication
of Discover 65. As an alternative we are looking to do a feature insert in
The Pennywise with a senior’s theme. There will be no May edition while we
are in transition.
Any thoughts please continue to share at seniors@pennywiseads.com.
Sincerely,
The Discover 65 Team
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