Hometown Services Oct 2013

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HHmetownmetownServicesServicesMeet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.

BeautifulBeautifulWest KootenayWest KootenayHow many of us came here first as visitors, and

then couldnt bear to leave?

How many of us grew up in the West Kootenay,

couldnt wait to see the world, only to eventuallyrealize that paradise was at home?

The West Kootenay has so much to offer,but we cant afford just to play.

It takes character, industry and imaginationto be successful in this rugged landscape.

Read the stories of your friendsand neighbours in the next few pages

for an insight into the origins

and scope of some of thebusinesses and services

operating today inour West Kootenay

communities.

West Kootenay Hometown Services Oct 8, 2013 Section B 1


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2 B Section Oct 8, 2013 West Kootenay Hometown Services


Nancy and I moved to Riondel from a city of 15 million people

to enjoy what many others have found here: a great lifestyle

relaxation, recreation, retirement. But living in the Kootenays

also has its challenges: golfing, hiking, cutting firewood

It wasnt long before we were looking to ease aching muscles

after a grueling 18 holes. Maybe a massage or a trip to Ain-

sworth Hot Springs? Soon it came down to the inevitable. It

was time to look for a hot tub.

Passing through Castlegar one day we stopped at a shop and

saw a Softub. It was perfect! The tub weighed only 85 lbs, so

we bought it, threw it up on the back of the truck, took it home,

rolled it down the hill and set it up next to our house in the

woods. We filled the tub with water, plugged it in, and a couple

of days later, life was good.

The next day, a call came from the dealer. She was moving to

Ontario and the business was up for grabs. Before we knew

it, Kootenay Springs Softub was born. And just like that, our

adventure began. That was seven years ago.

Softubs are manufactured in Sudbury by a great group of peo-

ple at Softub Canada. We paid a visit to the factory on a trip

down east one fall and spent some time learning the ins and

outs of how the product was made, but also when repairs are

needed and how to fix them. So now, if a client needs a repair,

they dont have to send their tub away. We can fix it here.

A few years ago Health Canada approved a non-chlorine water

treatment system. It uses powdered oxygen and a mineral

cartridge so the water is crystal clear and odourlessthe way

it should be!

The biggest rewards of selling Softubs are the people we have

met and the many hidden places in the Kootenays that we

probably would never know existed without our customers.

Kootenay Springs Softub

Simple, affordable, relaxing and fun

Phone: 250-354-8557

Owners: Arnold and Nancy AmesLocated in Riondel but serving all of the West Kootenay

ZAP Animal Protection SystemsPhone: 855-523-6377Owners: Ron and Brian Sargent

www.ZAPS.ca

Living in the Kootenays puts you in immediate contact with

the wild animals that live here. Unfortunately, every year, thou-

sands of animals are injured or killed because of human refuse

and other man-made animal attractants.

As avid outdoor enthusiasts as well as entrepreneurs, it was

natural that brothers Ron and Brian would want to find a way

to help preserve a resource that is so vital to both our economy

and environment; the animals that live in our forests. Thatswhy they founded ZAP Animal Protection Systems and devel-

oped Jolt, an innovative product designed as a harmless and

affordable way to secure refuse, preventing habituation and ul-

timately ensuring the safety of animals.

At ZAPS we realize that good habits are reinforced with

reliable products, so we take great pride in using only materials

and products that are designed and proven to last for years

of continued use, notes Ron. We guarantee our products,

materials and workmanship for a period of one year from

the date of purchase, adds Ron, who spends his time in the

Columbia Valley; Brian resides in Ainsworth Hot Springs.

Together the brothers have hiked almost every trail you could

name in the Kootenays, and in Brians case, with his two sons,

canoed many of the lakes, rivers and streams across Canada in-cluding a memorable trip down the Thelon River in the North-

west Territories. There they were presumably mistaken as cari-

bou and attacked by a barren grizzly bear. Happily both bear

and canoeists escaped unscathed.

It is Ron and Brians mission to find innovative ways to protect

and keep the wild wild and the people safer, so that we will

always be able to enjoy the creatures that make the Kootenays,

and other places like it, so very special.

HELPINGPROTECT

PETSANDWILDLIFE

FROMOUR

HUMANENVIRONMENTS.

RIGHT: BRIAN SARGENT


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HHmetownmetownServicesServicesCelebrating West Kootenay Businesses & Services

For Randy and Nancy OBrien, moving from Lethbridge to

the beautiful Central Kootenay meant closing out a well-estab-

lished window coverings and home decor store, as well as a

home renovation business, and establishing a home studio in

Meadow Creek.

We basically met, merged and married, says Randy, although

really it wasnt that simple. The first challenge was to get their

bearings. We needed to familiarize ourselves with the local

business scene, Nancy explains. There was no point in offer-ing products or services that people werent interested in, or in

trying to recreate what was already being offered by existing

businesses. Just as it is in design, the idea is to complement.

One of the mainstays of their business is custom blinds and

custom drapery, and its not just a matter of providing a product

that fits the window. You need to consider the function that

you want the window covering to perform, Nancy says. You

might need light control, or privacy, or you may want it to be

simply decorative, or all

three! We do everything

in-house, from design to

manufacturing, installa-

tion and accessorizing.

There are different con-

siderations when it

comes to restoration and

redesign services. Itsimportant to attend to

the infrastructure of a house before making cosmetic changes,

Randy emphasizes. Another challenge is ensuring that it works

with the rest of the home. Our goal is to help you assess the

overall impact of the proposed project and determine where you

will get the most value.

Randy and Nancy invite you to visit their website at

grayhorseinteriors.com or like them on Facebook!

Gray Horse InteriorsInspired Interiors

Owners: Randy and Nancy OBrienPhone: 250-366-4499

Located in Meadow Creek

Derek Diener, Your Local Mortgage Broker

Making Your Dreams a RealityOffice: 250-229-5711 Cell: 250-505-5850

www.derekdiener.com [email protected]

At the ripe age of 37, Derek Diener is a young energetic entrepre-

neur who is finding his niche in the West Kootenay as a Mortgage

Broker. A prairie boy from Saskatoon, Derek first moved away

from home to pursue his hockey career in the Western Hockey

League. Derek eventually signed an NHL contract with the St.

Louis Blues. He played two seasons in the American Hockey

League for the Blues affiliate Worchester Ice Cats. But his hockeyhopes were cut short at the age of 23 when he suffered a career

ending injury at the Vancouver Canucks training camp.

From that day forward Derek has dug his heels in, put himself

through college, worked in the golf industry, and for the past

seven years has pursued his passion for real estate and entrepre-

neurship in what he considers to be the best place in the world

Nelson, BC. I think all Canadians should check this place

out because I feel it exemplifies the picture of what Canada is

water, mountains, nature and a peaceful serenity.

As a Mortgage Broker, Derek works for Dominion Lend-

ing Centres, which is Canadas largest mortgage broker firm.He works with a team of individuals with backgrounds in real

estate sales, devel-

opment, finance and

banking well rounded

resources to ensure

competence for any-

ones financing needs.

And Derek adds, With

my personal back-

ground of working on

my own projects for the

past ten years, raising capital for large scale real estate develop-

ments as a consultant, and having a hands-on approach to all that I

have done these attributes will bode well for my clients.

Mortgage Brokers do not work for the banks; they work for the

client to obtain the best rates and product to fit their needs. The ser-

vices Derek provides are FREE; he shops the market for you and

gets paid by the lender. I can arrange my schedule around your

needs, says Derek, and will do everything I can to streamline the

borrowing process and save you money, so that your dreams willbe that much closer to becoming a reality.


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In 2003 I moved to Nelson and started doing general labour in

construction and renovations. I was asked to repoint a chimney

because I liked working at heights. I kept looking for those jobs

and eventually got WETT certified to work with wood heat

systems. For two years I joined the family at the Gray Creek

Store as their stove guy, and learned about real service in the

hearth industry. We still work together to provide a complete

service to those looking to upgrade, or install a new, high-

efficiency wood heat system.

I do repointing, crown construction, flashing and masonryrepairs for brick chimneys, as well as insurance inspections,

installations of woodstoves and fireplaces, and service and

sweeps for all wood heat systems.

I love how I get to deal with the clients who really care about their

woodstoves. Its a very intimate action to make and maintain

a fire in your home for warmth, comfort and light during the

dark winter months. I love meeting all the unique people who

live in this community. I feel honoured to be invited into their

homes, and I appreciate

all the effort and care that

has gone into the artistic

and aesthetic homes and

gardens. The community

has been very supportive;

I basically survive on

referrals.

Sometimes I find inter-

esting things in chim-neys. Recently I found

five full sized ducks who thought it would be a good idea to

gather in a large fireplace. They were on the smoke shelf and a

little singed, but very well preserved.

The seasonal nature of the industry allows me to do lots of

backcountry skiing during the slower months. Also I love rock

climbing redpoint means a clean ascent with no falls, placing

protection while climbing.

Redpoint ChimneyHelping You Burn Smart To Keep Our Air CleanOwner: Louis JuligPhone: [email protected]

www.redpointchimney.comLocated in Nelson

The Meadow Creek Hall is more than a building. As the cen-

tre of our community it is a treasure chest of memories. The

hall was originally built as a recreation facility for workers who

built the Duncan Dam, but since 1967 it has welcomed the en-

tire community.

Remember the bustling, fun preschool with Val Brenton? And

then there were the logger sports at Lardeau Lew Days. Maybe

as a kid you earned pocket money setting the bowling pins be-

fore we got the automatic pin setter. The hall has served us well

for generations now.

So many people have worked hard over the years to keep this

hall open. Columbia Basin Trust, Kaslo Community Forest and

RDCK have given great support. People have gathered at the

hall for weddings, birthday parties, reunions, funerals, meet-

ings, potlucks, seasonal events, family events, and it has also

served as an outreach for community health. For the last 25

years we have celebrated the seniors in our area with an an-nual appreciation dinner. Its been our polling place, our class-

room, our bowling alley, our

gym. We organize and sponsor

swimming lessons, and aKids

to Camp program.

We welcome new ideas. There

are lots of fall and winter

programs coming up: dance

classes, ethnic cooking etc. We have a well equipped kitchen,

which we are developing as a certified commercial kitchen, and

an industrial size generator and shower facilities. We are in the

process of equipping the hall to be a safe, welcoming emer-

gency centre for the valley in the event of any crisis.

Join with us to make this a community hub. We have this great

amenity to help keep us pulling together even as our population

decreases. Come use our free internet, join a bowling league,

exercise in our weight room, serve on our board...

The hall is open Monday to Thursday from 6 to 8 pm, Friday

from 6 to 9.

Lardeau Valley Community CentreLardeau Valley Community CentreA Community TreasureHall Manager: Eliscia SomersPhone: 250-366-4236email: [email protected]


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After spending 15 years studying herbology and cleansing,

learning how to grow food and trying out all kinds of different

ways of eating, I was motivated last year to start my own busi-

ness,Nourish Cleansing. My family has always been a huge

inspiration for me on this journey of learning how to eat well.I wanted my kids to have the best start in life that I could pos-

sibly give them. They werent always into what I was serving

for dinner, but we all benefitted!

I like what I do for a living because I get to help people feel bet-

ter about themselves and their lives. I can help my clients who

experience persistent digestive problems, or re-occurring colds

and flu they cant seem to shake, sleep disturbances, anxiety,

stress, low energy levels, weight problems or skin problems.

Its been really rewarding working with the clients I have had

Ive learned so much. Everyones needs are different when it

comes to changing their diet. Focussing on where people areat and helping them to implement changes in a way that works

with their lifestyle is key.

A side benefit is that my

research involves eating

really great food and that

the more effort I put intomy work, the better I feel

and the healthier I am.

I have written a book

calledDiary of a Cleanse

to give people an idea of what they can expect from doing an

internal cleansing. Im working on creating a Cleansing Work-

bookthat will outline procedures for different types and levels

of cleansing so that people can easily create their own personal

program.

I love living in Kaslo because the people inspire me, the

scenery keeps me sane and the fresh air makes me want tobreathe deeper.

Nourish Cleansing

Health and Cleansing ConsultantOwner: Janet Pearson, Master Herbalist,Certified Colon Hydrotherapist, Certified Iridologist

319 Front Street, KasloPhone: 250-353-7170 www.nourishcleansing.com

My name is Gaelan Emery Burns Graham, but most people callme Sean. I took over the duty of Kaslo and areas plumber in

2009 from long time friend and mentor Jim Van Horn.

I graduated from JVH in the summer of 2005, after spending

a few months in Calgary, where I worked as a roofer and for

Cana construction doing reshoring for high-rises. I relocated

back to Kaslo and began my plumbing apprenticeship, then

moved to Nelson to continue my apprenticeship. In the summer

of 2007 I moved back to Kaslo. I temporarily was cooking at

the Kaslo Clubhouse when Jim Van Horn came in for a burger.

Ill never forget him saying Why the hell are you cooking my

burger? I thought you were a plumber. He then informed mehe would have a day or two of work for me if I was interested.

After Id been working for Jim for two days, he asked if I would

like to be Kaslos plumber. So began my position in this small

town we call home. I really enjoy being part of this community.

I have been very lucky and consider my self very fortunate

to have a great mentor in life as well as the trade, and such

great fellow tradesmen. I have plumbed small summer cabins

and large timberframe homes from Bulmers Point to Murphy

Creek to Procter. I lovehow much my jobs vary,

from working in the

crawl space under the

Treehouse Restaurant, to

trouble shooting septic

systems, to million dollar

plus custom homes. My

customers continue to

be very supportive and

seem thrilled to have

my expertise available. I

hope to get into solar assist hot water heating as well as rain

water collection and private water systems.

I would like to thank all my customers. Sometimes Im at up

to eight jobs in a day, and the variety of work as well as the

variety of people keeps my job interesting. My son Kavan will

be three at the end of December and I am so pleased he has had

the chance to grow up a mere block from where I lived at his

age. I hope to be able to stay here for the long run and continue

to upgrade my expertise in my trade.

Virgo EnterprisesKaslo and Areas Local PlumberOwner: Sean Gaelen Graham

Phone: 250-353-3237 email: [email protected]


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Loki Tree Service

The West KootenaysTree Care ExpertsOwners: Jake and Galen Roos

Phone: 250-353-2405

www.lokitree.com

Brothers Jake and Galen Roos have spent their lives living and

working in the West Kootenay. Born and raised in Queens Bay,

the brothers worked their respective ways through universityin the fields of arboriculture, vegetation management and

forestry. In 2008, having spent several years working separately

with trees, Jake and Galen combined their faculties, expertise

and experience to form Loki Tree Service. Since then, Loki

has provided full-service mobile tree care for the diverse

communities of the West Kootenay and Revelstoke area.

Galen operates from his headquarters on the North Shore of

Kootenay Lake and Jake operates out of Revelstoke. Both

are Certified Arborists. Together they offer year-round tree

removal, pruning, land-clearing and brush chipping services

to Nelson, Kaslo, the North Kootenay, Arrow Lakes, SlocanValley and Revelstoke.

Loki Tree Service also specializes in wildfire-mitigation

strategies, such as forest fuels management. They have conducted

fuel treatment projects near communities across southern BC,

including Cooper Creek, Creston, Edgewood and Harrop. Over

the years Loki Tree Service has also employed a highly skilled

trail building crew, who are responsible for an array of projects

in the region, perhaps most notably a large section of the famed

Frisby Ridge mountain bike trail near Revelstoke.

Lokis diverse background has allowed for a holistic approach

to the health of our forests, both urban and wild. Jake and

Galen look forward to their continued contribution to theircommunities beauty, safety and ecology.

Kaslo VintageCome in and Browse!Owner: Cari Toews


502 Oak Avenue (Golf Course Road), Kaslo

When I came to the Kootenays a few years ago to visit with

an old friend in Nelson, I was struck by the sense that Id

finally come home. For years I had been pursuing a career

throughout BC and Alberta in the fields of hospitality and

catering. It was time to make a change!

I wanted to create a business centered on what I love

collecting and selecting treasures and sharing with others.Ever since I was a little girl, my best times were when Iwas working on transforming interesting things that Id

discovered cleaning them up, fixing them, re-purposingthem. Over the years, wherever I have travelled, Ive

always kept my eyes open for the special and the unusual.Sometimes the items I find need fixing, or they call out to be

transformed and sometimes all they need is a little attentionlike cleaning and tightening.

I opened my store, Kaslo Vintage, in June this year and

was off to a flying start immediately! I love what I do, from

picking which is basically one big treasure hunt to seeing

peoples eyes light up at finding something that brings them

joy. Im very grateful to everyone who has come out to support

me, and Im looking forward to my first Old Fashioned

Christmas Sale.

This community is rich in quality people and beauty. The relics

of history in this area provide a playground for me. On my days

off I plan excursions: I investigate old mines, pan for colour in

the creeks, or go metal detecting on the old wagon trails.

Come into the shop and take a Lily Tomlin moment

on this old hotel switchboard rom Banf.


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My name is Mike Poetsch and I am the owner of Balfour

Autobody and Kootenay Lake Automotive. I have lived in

Balfour for almost 40 years, so my roots are deep in this

community.

I was born with a strong urge to fix things. That must be why

I have two automotive shops! I leave the mechanical side of

things to my brother, Dave. He is a master BMW technician

and has been a licensed mechanic for about 30 years.

These days, I focus mainly on Balfour Autobody. Collisions,

door dings, and restorations I love making a vehicle look

like new again. John apprenticed under me and has become avery talented and valuable employee. My sister-in-law Penny

care of the customers and keeps both businesses running

smoothly. Recently my wife, Julie, has started helping out

with the books. We truly are a family business!

I cant believe I am entering my tenth year of business. I think

my biggest accomplishment was meeting the strict guidelines

necessary to become an ICBC accredited valet shop. That

was my main goal when I started up. I want to take this

opportunity to thank you to all my loyal customers for theircontinued support.

Balfour Autobody & GlassPhone: 250-229-5788Kootenay Lake AutomotivePhone: 250-229-5799

Owner: Mike Poetsch. 7699 Hwy 3A, Balfour

Kootenay TowingOwner/Operator: Hamish Shaw

250-353-21106635 Highway 31, Kaslo www.ickr.ca

Hello from Hamish Shaw at Kootenay Towing!

Although raised in Ontario, Ive called Kaslo home for overfifteen years and I am raising my family here. After years oftechnical training, world travels and adventure, it was theKootenay lifestyle that brought and kept me here. After fouryears of operating Kootenay Towing, Ive seen some horrendousaccidents and accident scenes. Its often the stupid little thingsthat cause them and I have become involved proactively inwinter car care and safety.

You Know We Can TowBut Did You Know?At Kootenay Towing, we tow and trailer bikes, cars, boats, light

trucks and more. But we also provide the following essentialpreventative maintenance and winter services:

Full Service Snowplowing With the addition of a secondplow to our fleet, we offer reliable door-to-street snow plowingand clearing. Call me before the first big storm.

Wheel Alignment and Tire Care We have Kaslos onlywheel alignment machine and have the skills to ensure that yourvehicle takes you smoothly where you point it. Tire and wheelcare is a first-line necessity for winter on Kootenay roads.

Detailing and Cleaning your Vehicle In the damp seasonour heated shop and detailed cleaning and drying service is aworthwhile aid to keeping the rust-causing damp out of yourvehicles. Wet floors create rust.

Winterizing Electrical Connections Your vehicles expen-

sive electronic parts and electrical contacts are susceptible tothe chemicals put on our highways in winter. We ensure theseessential points of contact are clean and protected with corro-sion resistant products.

If You Do Need a Hand We provide winter starts, troubleshooting, lockout and jumping services as well as short and longdistance towing, trailering and recovery. We are accredited bycountless Roadside Service providers like BCAA and ICBC. Callus first to ensure a timely and correct response. Drive to arrive!

Alexander,

Hamish and

baby Charles

Dave, Penny, Norman the dog, John, Julie and Mike


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Raven AcupunctureAlternative Health Clinic in Kaslo

Brendan Murray-Nellis, Registered Acupuncturist


404 Front Street, Kootenaian Building, Main Floor

Raven Acupuncture is the steadily grow-

ing acupuncture practice of Brendan

Murray-Nellis R.Ac. He graduated with

honours from Pacific Rim College of In-

tegrative Medicine in Victoria BC and isregistered with the CTCMA (College of

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acu-

puncture). Being registered allows him to

accept payment directly from the Medi-

cal Services Plan for those clients who

are entitled to premium assistance and

his service fees are also covered by many

extended healthcare plans.

Brendans goal is to provide a stable and

affordable healthcare option to the com-

munity. Over the past six months Brendanhas been seeing patients regularly, spend-

ing an hour on private appointments as

well as offering a more affordable walk-

in community clinic option. The walk-in

community clinic allows for four people

to be treated at a time in reclining chairs

at great savings to the patient.Raven Acupuncture has already gone

through some major changes. The first

was the move into a beautiful space with

a view of the lake on the first floor of

404 Front Street. There are constant im-

provements being made and local art on

the walls. Many people may know Bren-

dans father Robert Nellis who is a nurse

at the Kaslo ER or his mother Sheila, a

local author and artist.

Acupuncture can treat any number ofhealth concerns from pain to night sweats,

digestive disorders to headaches and any-

thing in between. There are many scien-

tific studies proving the effectiveness of

acupuncture and its growing acceptance

by healthcare professionals. The treatment

can work on its own or in conjunction withmore conventional medicine and therapies

as part of an overall healing program.

Upwest GeomaticsFrom Natural Resources Analysisto Pirate PostersDave Collier, GIS Consulting


Just over 20 years ago Dave Colliermoved from eastern Canada with his

wife and two baby boys. He had been of-fered a job in Kaslo as a forest technician.

Those were the days when forestry wasbooming in our region.

Thats when he became Duncan Dave.For ten years he worked in the Duncan,Westfall and Lardeau drainages, over-

seeing the re-growth of harvested cut-blocks, both for Kaslo forestry firms andthe Forest Service. A daughter was born,a new home was built. But then his lifechanged. An accident in the field forcedDave to alter course; he could no longerwork in the bush. He chose to study GISor Geographic Information Systems.

Recovering his mobility and returning

to university was tough, especially with

a very young family. But upon gradua-

tion he got a job with the new Ministryof Sustainable Resource Management.

There he gained a lot of valuable experi-ence and even received a Deputy Minis-

ters award for his part in a major LandUse planning project.

Now Dave works out of his own home in

Kaslo. His company, Upwest Geomaticsprovides a range of mapping and geo-

graphical information services. He creates

custom maps from data collected by satel-

lites and/or handheld GPS units for clients

like forest companies, private landown-

ers, societies, engineers, and government.

He contributes to the analysis of human/

animal interaction for biologists, and has

volunteered his services for the Kaslo

fire department, making maps that show

every hydrant and house in the area the

department serves. Because he has a wide

format printer (a plotter) that can print

36 wide by as long as you want, you mayhave seen banners plotted by Dave hang-

ing in the arena or at the school.

Now that he and his wife are empty nest-

ers, the office is quieter during the days.But the work is interesting, the commute

exceedingly short, the work environment

is comfortable, and someone has to getoutside to throw the ball for the dog!

Documents

Hometown Services Oct 2013