1VOLUME 2 // ISSUE 3 // JULY 2011

3

EDITOR IN CHIEFSherree Elm

ASSISTING EDITORKristen Wagner

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Carrie Mayhew

PHOTOGRAPHYLarissa MackNatalie SemeniukNicole Ashley

WEBCam Linke

FRONT COVERJanice Raves, Tanya Breukel and Shardu Tunm Photo by Sherree Elm

CONTRIBUTORSMegan Sarrazin, Lisa Babiuk, Kristen Wagner, Jen Hardes, Danielle Paradis, Lindsay Holman, Sarah Kmiech, Devon Bryce, Krista D. Ball, Paula Kirman, Vance Ternowski

INQUIRIES & ADVERTISINGselm@mergemag.ca

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PRINTING:Central Web Printing

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Copyright © 2011 Merge Magazine.All rights reserved.

Welcome to the July issue of Merge Magazine. With summer upon us and

Edmontonians filling parks and pathways, basking in the sunshine (between

rainstorms), it seemed fitting to devote this issue to summer sports and wellness.

Sports are a great way to get outside and enjoy our long summer days, and with

this issue we want to convey the sheer joy that comes from being active outside

in the warm weather. As VivaCore’s Victoria Poschadel will tell you, fitness is

essential to wellness and quality of life. But we also want to show that there is more

to Edmonton’s athletic scene than the Oilers and the Esks by focusing on some

of the city’s lesser-known sports—boxing, motocross, sailing, and our cover story,

roller derby.

But for some people, sports are more than just a way of enjoying the warm

weather and keeping the love handles at bay. Sports are the basis of business for

IronMama™ entrepreneur Christine Kasturi. For Eskimos chaplain Brent Kassian,

sports offer an opportunity to share his faith and mentor athletes who need

someone to talk to.

There is a sport for everyone, and we hope this issue of Merge helps you find

yours. So get off the couch, get active, and enjoy the summer!

Sherree Elm

MERGE EDITOR SHERREE ELM

B U S I N E S S

06 // CROSSFIT

N O W

08 // FROM THE COUCH TO THE

FINISH LINE

F E AT U R E

10 // OIL CITY DERBY GIRLS

14 // PANTHER GYM

16 // TEAM SPIRIT

18 // SUPER'S CROSS TRACK

20 // SPIRITUALITY IN SPORTS

22 // COME SAIL AWAY

26 // GARNEAU TENNIS &

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

27 // THE SOCIAL SIDE

OF SPORTS

N E T W O R K S

28 // VIVACORE

30 // IRONMAMA

A W A R E N E S S

32 // COVENTRY'S HOMES FOR

HOUNDS

34 // SPACE FOR SUCCESS

R E V I E W

36 // SUCCESS SHAKE

39 // ORIGINAL JOE'S

P R O D U C T

40 // GOT GEAR

E V E N T S

42 // ART WALK

43 // SOS FEST

C A L E N D A R

44 // EVENT CALENDAR

2216

34

43

C O N T E N T

10

06

37

6

CROSSFIT LAZARUS GIVES YOU

MORE THAN A FLATTER STOMACH

AND TONED ARMS - IT GIVES

YOU A BODY YOU CAN USE.

STORY: SARAH KMIECH // PHOTO: LARISSA MACK

B U S I N E S S

7

You go to the gym, head to the free weights to work

on your upper body, do some lunges to work on your

lower body, finish it up with some cardio time on the

treadmill, and then do the same routine all over again

the next day. You must be in shape, right? So why is it when

you take part in an impromptu soccer game you end up limping

away with pulled quads and strained tendons?

While it’s great that you are making physical activity a part of

your lifestyle, if you stick to a set workout schedule and run on

that same treadmill day in and day out, you’ll not only become

bored with exercising, you will also put stress on the muscles

you continuously use while neglecting so many others you’re not

even aware of.

It’s time to change it up, and this is where CrossFit Lazarus

can help you out. CrossFit is a different kind of workout. While

more traditional fitness regimes may focus on looking fitter or

developing certain muscles, CrossFit helps to develop functional

fitness that can be applied in the real world.

CrossFit works different muscles in many different ways—one

moment you’re throwing a medicine ball or flipping over a tractor

tire, and the next you’re climbing up a rope. It may all seem like

random exercises, but CrossFit is a carefully planned workout,

resulting in a better overall performance, and a body that won’t

crack and tear.

“CrossFit essentially is a strength and conditioning program that

focuses on creating a broad wealth of fitness—essentially being

fit across all domains,” says Richard Bodnaruk, co-owner and

certified CrossFit trainer at CrossFit Lazarus in Edmonton. “There’s

a purpose behind it, so people aren’t just running around sweating.

What they end up with is something definable—something they can

use to actually accomplish things.”

Bodnaruk says that many traditional gyms and fitness programs

focus on specific muscles in order to make them bigger and stronger.

In contrast, CrossFit uses many variations of gymnastics, weight

lifting and cardio training, and focuses on physical movements like

picking items up and moving them in a safe and effective manner.

Participants are trained to apply these movements outside the gym.

Gymnastics training includes lunges, squats and pulling yourself

over an object. These exercises relate to any real-world movement

in controlling your own body—Bodnaruk uses the example of

getting out of a chair, which is directly related to a lunge movement.

And weight lifting isn’t limited to Olympic heavyweight-style

lifting—CrossFit takes a more practical approach. “Everyone

has to lift something at some point in their life,” says Bodnaruk.

“We just teach you how to do it effectively and safely.”

CrossFit is still somewhat new in the exercise arena, so it’s

understandable that new participants are a little unsure of what

to expect. But Bodnaruk and fellow co-owner and trainer

Peter Li have had years of experience helping people get fit,

and assure potential participants that when it’s someone’s first

CrossFit experience, they go a bit slower, tailoring the workout

and concentrating on technique and form to ensure there are

no injuries.

“It’s really easy for a beginner to start with,” Bodnaruk says.

“Basically everything with CrossFit is scaleable, so the movements

themselves are the pride and glory of the workout … how much

people do within the workout depends on their ability.”

Four and a half years ago both Bodnaruk and Li were reservists

with the military and started CrossFit training in order to prepare

for it. When Bodnaruk went overseas to Afghanistan, he not only

continued his own CrossFit training, but went on to train other

soldiers in his platoon as well.

Bodnaruk and Li have been enjoying their clients’ accomplishments

and growing fitness levels since opening CrossFit Lazarus’ big bay

doors back in December 2010.

“A lot of people will end up with a good physique, they’ll feel

better, and have tons of energy,” Bodnaruk says.

And anyone can start CrossFit, just like anyone can start being

more physically active in any sense says Bodnaruk. They work

with people of all ages, and many who suffer from different

ailments and physical limitations.

“Probably half our clients come in with something severely

debilitating—they were in a car accident, or they have a terrible

back, or torn ligaments in their knee,” Bodnaruk says. “Our

oldest client is 60. He had tons of mobility issues, and I’ve seen

him get better and better.”

If you are new to CrossFit, the first class at CrossFit Lazarus is

free. If you want to continue, the next step is the fundamentals

class, which is a training month teaching specific CrossFit

techniques. The group classes are for people who are more

advanced in their training. CrossFit Lazarus also offers special

deal classes through Groupon and Deal Find.

CrossFit Lazarus is located at 15538 131 Ave. They operate

from Monday to Saturday, with various times and classes. Visit

them online, or call them at 780-455-4441 to find out their gym

hours and services.

This is the summer to ramp up your workout and get your body

in shape with something new, and enjoy those summer games of

soccer and baseball—without the extra aches and pains afterwards.

// www.crossfitlazarus.com

Plan your workouts.The next step is planning your workouts. Just like work or dinner,

scheduling in time to exercise will make you do it more often.

“Even if your schedule is packed, there is always time,” Vigeant

says. “Don’t rule out those few minutes you have. Anything is

always better than nothing.”

On a tight budget? Not a problem! “Being active isn’t about

having a gym membership or state-of-the-art equipment at

home,” says Vigeant. “The most important machine you have

is yourself.” Activities such as walking the dog, going for a run

or playing sports with friends are all affordable options that work.

Start!“There is never a perfect time to begin,” says Vigeant. “Be confident

and start simple.” Find activities that complement your lifestyle. By

doing things you enjoy, you’re more likely to stick with it. Know what

works best for you. Jumping on trends is never the best solution.

“Your body is unique. Therefore, what you need is likely to be

different from what someone else needs to achieve results.”

Once you begin your routine, go slowly. “Starting too fast and

changing too many things at once will overwhelm you,” says

Vigeant. As the activities become easier to do, that’s when you

can advance. “Aim for progress, not perfection. Otherwise you’ll

mentally and emotionally exhaust yourself.”

Another important element is stretching. Not only will it significantly

decrease the risk of injury, but stretching also improves flexibility and

blood flow and cuts down your recovery time.

What goes nicely with exercise? Proper nutrition. You’ve heard it

before: you are what you eat. That’s why Vigeant recommends

eating as much unprocessed food as possible. “Eat from the

earth,” she says. Another tip is buying food you recognize: “If you

can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.”

o you sweat when you brush your teeth? Does the trek

from the couch to the fridge leave you winded? If so,

it might be a good time to start exercising. And with

summer upon us, now is the perfect time to get back on track to

a healthier, stronger and happier you.

With the help of certified personal trainer Shara Vigeant, we’ve

compiled some helpful tips to get you from a sedentary lifestyle

to an active one.

Set goals.Vigeant says that the first thing to do is determine your goals.

Be realistic. It could be as simple as drinking more water or walking

an extra 10 minutes. When deciding what you want, think long-

term. “Today, everyone wants fast results, but that doesn’t offer

long-standing value,” Vigeant says.

Determine where you’re at.Once you know your goals, ask yourself where you currently are

in terms of fitness, nutrition and overall health. “Be honest with

yourself,” Vigeant says. “It may be hard, but convincing yourself

you’re in a better spot than you are will hinder your overall success.”

If you have a difficult time answering this question on your

own, don’t be afraid to get help from experts. “Trainers are

great because they have the right tools and education,” states

Vigeant. “We’ll assess your current level of physical fitness, plus

discuss your personal goals, needs and any other issues.”

It’s also important to keep reminding yourself of these goals.

Write them down and post them on the refrigerator if you have

to. “Make it a priority,” she says.

N O W

STORY: LISA BABIUK

8

9

“Being active isn’t about having a

gym membership or state-of-the-

art equipment,The most important

machine you have is yourself.”

With an abundance of products on the market claiming to help

you lose weight, block fat, stop cravings and more, Vigeant can

see why many people are confused. “There are so many fad diets

and magic pills out there,” says Vigeant. “But quick fixes don’t

exist. Stick to a balanced lifestyle of a healthy diet and exercise,

and you’ll see long-term health benefits.”

To assist in your health and fitness goals, Vigeant suggests eating

four or five small meals throughout the day to maintain energy.

Watch your portions and eat only until satisfied. Her advice is

eating foods at an 80-20 ratio—healthy 80 per cent of the time,

but relaxing the rules for the remaining 20 per cent. “Everyone

needs to hang with their buddies and have some wings or unwind

with a glass of wine once in a while,” Vigeant says. “The goal is to

make healthy options more often while still enjoying life. The 80-20

ratio will help you stick to the program longer.”

Exercise and nutrition aside, Vigeant says one of the biggest

factors to success is attitude. “Never say never. Thinking in terms

of ‘I choose not to’ rather than ‘I can’t’ will help you stay positive.”

Getting support from others is another asset, but isn’t strictly

necessary. Remember, you’re doing this for yourself. By

acknowledging your improvements, you’ll be motivated to keep

going. Still, if you need a little support, find a way to get it. “It’s

okay to ask for help,” says Vigeant.

As owner of Shara Vigeant Personal Training on the city’s south

side, Vigeant knows firsth and about the challenges of living a

healthy lifestyle. A former bodybuilder, she suffered her own trials

and tribulations with weight loss. After five years of competing,

dieting and working out several times a day, Vigeant’s body began

to shut down. “I wasn’t healthy,” she says. “I became a prisoner of

the mirror.”

Vigeant quit competing and bodybuilding and changed her

lifestyle. Today, she still works out four or five times a week, but is

more realistic about her goals and her body. “I learned there was a

big difference between looking fit and being fit,” she says.

She passes this outlook on to all her clients. “Being active will help

you in everyday life. The fitter you are, the more productive you will

be in everything you do,” she says. “[Fitness] has to be a priority.”

//www.sharavigeant.com

F E AT U R E

10

ROLLER DERBY IS NOT A SPORT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. IT REQUIRES SPEED, STRATEGY AND A HEALTHY DOSE OF SASS.STORY: DANIELLE PARADIS // PHOTOS:SHERREE ELM

11

12

Roller derby is “an all-consuming sport,” says Trauminatrix, who

has been part of the Derby Girls for six months. “You become a

part of this subculture. And if you say you play roller derby you

will get a gazillion friends on Facebook. It starts out as a hobby,

and it’s exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise.”

Roller derby is a great workout. It uses all of the major muscle

groups, is as aerobically effective as cycling or jogging, and a

skater can burn up to 1200 calories in a practice. The ladies of

derby don’t seem the types to be keeping close track of these

things, though. There are all sizes here, and everyone is welcome.

Wytchy, a six-year veteran of the sport, is a robust and energetic

woman. She still speaks fondly of her first experience as a

ho says girls are confined to figure skating and

ballet? For ladies who like their sports a little

more rough-and-tough, there’s roller derby.

Edmonton boasts two roller derby clubs with

plenty of opportunities to take out some aggression on the track,

one of which is the Oil City Derby Girls. But be warned: this is

not a sport for the faint of heart.

“My shins look like I had rabid dogs chewing on them,” says

one participant says to me. Blood and broken bones aside,

the sport’s violent nature is more than hinted at through the

players’ adopted personas—Honey Crueler, Ginger Rage and

Trauminatrix to name a few.

Flat-track roller derby is an American-invented sport. It’s full

contact, and requires speed, strategy and a healthy dose of

sass. The game was developed in the Great Depression by Leo

Seltzer, and since then the sport has seen its popularity wax and

wane. But derby always comes back—it’s an inexpensive and

accessible sport, and every city has interesting little nooks and

venues that can be turned into practice rinks.

Games are played on an oval track. Two teams of five players

each circle the track. Each team is comprised of one “jammer,”

or the predetermined scoring player, and four “blockers,” or

defensive players. Points are scored when the jammer laps

the other team. The blockers try to ensure that the opposing

team’s jammer doesn’t earn any points. Games almost invariably

become brutal.

There is a heavy theatrical element to roller derby. Each player

adopts a pseudonym, and game attire is far from the standard

shorts-and-t-shirt of many other team sports; it’s not uncommon

for players to sport fishnets and short skirts.

Formed in 2005, the Oil City Derby Girls were one of the first

modern derby leagues in Canada. The modern incarnation of

the sport focuses on athleticism, in contrast to the showmanship

of decades past. In the past six years, derby has caught on like

wildfire across the prairies. There are now over 40 leagues in

Canada, and the sport is still growing.

I’ve strapped on skates and practiced with the freshies at former

practices, but there are no freshies today. From my own past

experience in derby, I can attest that the atmosphere and sport

are addictive. In no time at all I was skating around the rink

(without falling!) and I even mastered a tuck—sliding on one

knee and getting back up on your skates.

Today the more experienced ladies are training for their upcoming

meets. They speak excitedly of an upcoming event, the Fresh

Meet Frolic, where rookies from all over the province come

together for smashup double-header game.

13

freshie; at the urging of Pamtera (of the reffing crew), Wytchy

attended a practice. “I kept falling down and getting up again,

so I knew it was for me,” she recalls.

Derby is fun, but it certainly isn’t risk-free. At her first game

Wytchy smashed her head and suffered a minor concussion.

She didn’t stop playing, although she did sit out three jams

(two-minute periods). She also had a broken ankle. But she

wears these injuries as a badge of honour, because she loves

the game.

Trauminatrix has not been rolling as long as Wytchy, but her love

of the game can be traced back to her experiences watching

roller derby’s heyday in the 1970s. She emailed the Oil City

club, and showed up to practice with her 10-year-old daughter.

Both of them have been hooked on the sport ever since. Her

daughter, who has adopted the adorably fierce moniker Scream

Soda, “loves the game as much as I do, more than I do,”

Trauma says happily. “It’s a great sport for young girls. It shows

them that not everyone is five-foot-10 and skinny. It’s really given

[Scream Soda] and me confidence.”

The women of derby are always recruiting. You can come

any time of year. Your looks and build don’t matter—what’s

important to these ladies is knowing how to bring it!

// www.oilcityderbygirls.ca

ON THE PROWL AT PANTHER GYMSTORY: DEVON BRYCE // PHOTO: NATALIE SEMENIUK

14

15

It’s Hugh McCall’s ninetieth birthday and he just finished

three rounds at Panther Gym. “He talked about stopping

after the second, but we pushed past that, and he made

it through the third. It’s little things like that which set the

tone for the day,” says Benny Swanson, Panther’s owner.

Swanson loves his job, and his excitement shows. “I’ve been

able to turn my passion into a job,” he says. We walk around the

gym as he talks about the changes that have taken place since

he first started working out at Panther two decades ago, from

new equipment to new windows. “People always joke about

the smell in a gym, but when you get a lot of people working

hard and sweating in the summer, it’s nice to be able to open the

windows,” he laughs.

Swanson walked into the gym in 1991, hung over and looking

for a change in his life; he says that it was “boxing that knocked

some sense into me.” In his youth, Swanson partied and fought.

“I’d go into bars and just be on the lookout for guys who were

being jerks, guys who were picking on smaller guys and I’d

bump into them, anything to start a fight,” he says.

“One of my friends was already training at Panther… I needed

somewhere to direct my energy and did I ever find it here!”

He started training to box right away, and despite years of

experience street fighting, he found he had a lot to learn.

Becoming an amateur boxer gave him focus, and turning pro

gave him a sense of who he wanted to be. But it was losing that

career that brought him to where he is today. At the height of his

career, Swanson was involved in a car accident. “[After] losing

my pro career, for a time I just lost myself,” he says. “I went back

to partying and looking for external sources of happiness.”

But his time at the gym set Swanson on the right path yet again.

“It still amazes me how walking down the stairs to this gym just

wipes away all my problems,” he says. “I know what I need to

do to keep myself focused. All fighters have demons, so there’s

no judgment at this gym.”

This policy extends to Panther’s kickboxing and karate classes,

which have mixed ability levels. Full Privilege Members have

access to all these classes, as well as workout equipment.

Swanson stresses that expertise is not required at Panther. “Just

bring your enthusiasm and your energy. We don’t even care if

you can’t bring enthusiasm every day, just keep trying.”

Panther differs from a lot of gyms, Swanson says confidently,

but he makes it clear it isn’t the right gym for everyone. “If you’re

looking for a purely social experience, this isn’t it. There’s a lot of

support here, and we give people a place to work through some

of life’s situations, but we’re here to work.”

Clients don’t sign any contracts at Panther, a feature that allows

people to come and go, and works well for much of the clientele.

“We get everyone in here, from hockey players in the off season,

all the big name boxers who are passing though, and a lot of

actors as well."

The people Swanson talks about with the most pride, however,

are the kids that frequent his gym. “I work with a lot of kids

who just need a place to go” he says, “the ones who might be

hanging out at the mall, getting into trouble.”

Swanson knows from his own life what these kids are facing, and

he’s clear that he’s there for them, regardless of how sporadically

they might show up. “I talk about what I went through growing up

while we’re training, and they might tell me about their lives. What

matters is that they’re here, and they’re learning. They might take

off for a while, but they’ll come back. And we don’t judge them.

We’re all here for the same reason.”

Swanson is able to teach the teens he works with how to box,

how to train, but also how to overcome setbacks and frustration.

“I teach them to stay on track by living well, and I’m always

telling them to go after their dreams, but not to sell yourself for

them,” he explains. “It is all about living consciously.”

// www.panthergym.com

“IT STILL AMAZES ME HOW WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS TO THIS GYM JUST WIPES AWAY ALL MY PROBLEMS.”

16

STORY: LINDSAY HOLMAN // PHOTO: JUSTIN MCMURDO

Cheerleaders have a bad reputation in the world of entertainment.

They’re said to lurk in high school gymnasiums, hallways and

cafeterias, waiting to slam their classmates into lockers and

reduce their more socially awkward peers to tears. While this

stereotype is a staple in teen television shows and movies, it

couldn’t be any farther from the truth when it comes to the

Edmonton Eskimos Cheer Team.

“They have the opportunity to make life a little bit more positive

and to support the causes that are crucial to our community,” says

Eskimos cheer coach and choreographer Dianne Greenough.

“They’ve really developed a reputation of being a talented and

community-minded group of athletes.”

The team is composed of 17 dancers, who perform choreographed

dance routines, and 24 stunters, who perform the more acrobatic

elements like aerial flips and twists. Every cheer team member is a

volunteer. “They don’t get paid a penny,” says Greenough. Outside

of performing at football games at home and away, the athletes

spend extensive hours training and perfecting their skills both

individually and as a team, and also attend over 200 charitable and

promotional events throughout the course of the year.

“It’s way more than just cheerleading,” says stunter Lynea Closson.

This is Closson’s third year on the team. As a stunter, Closson is

one of the “girls that you get to see fly in the air.” The experience of

being on the team has been everything that she had expected, and

more. “It’s such an amazing family to become a part of,” she says.

“I met every single one of my best friends while on the team.”

Closson is a prime example of the dedication and commitment

required of each team member—she spent the majority of her

first season as an Eskimos cheerleader driving back and forth

from Red Deer. She says that it was a lot of gas money, but the

experience was totally worth the expense.

The team helps to bring awareness to a variety of causes by

performing and engaging the crowd at events and fundraisers.

From helping charity runners warm up before the big race, to

pouring Ice Caps at Tim Horton’s on “Camp Day,” the team

is constantly being invited out to serve their community in a

variety of ways. “It’s nice to get out and be able to support the

community,” says Closson. “It’s amazing to think that you can

make someone’s day better just by giving them a hug.”

Closson says that one of her favorite events is Kids with Cancer.

“The kids are so amazing,” she says.

“They get a chance to put smiles on [the kids’] faces,” says

Greenough. These smiles are more than worth all of the time and

effort the team puts into preparation and performance.

When she isn’t training, cheering or supporting the community,

Closson works a day job as a personal trainer. She plans to study the

profession at a post-secondary level sometime in the near future.

A substantial portion of the team are already university students.

“It’s one of the things that we are looking for—people that will

really make a difference in the world,” says Greenough. Being on

the Edmonton Eskimos Cheer Team not only looks great on a

resume—it molds the individual into becoming a genuinely caring,

socially responsible and community-focused member of society.

Though the “bully” stereotype is non-existent in this cheer team,

the “wow” factor rings true. “I’m really proud that when the whistle

blows, the crowd will get the best entertainment around,” says

Greenough. She says that attending a game and watching the

team perform is a great experience—“I can’t think of a better way

to spend a summer afternoon.”

17

Each team member is an elite athlete, with years of experience

in gymnastics and dance. With their skills and contagious

enthusiasm, they are true crowd pleasers. “They love fans and

the fans love them,” adds Greenough. The team loves performing

just as much as the crowd loves coming to see them dance, flip

and cheer. “The first time that you walk out on the field, and there

are 60,000 people staring at you—it’s just the most unbelievable

feeling,” says Closson.

Performing in front of a crowd and representing your hometown is

a perk in itself. Greenough says that the team members’ undeniable

talent and community spirit makes them fantastic ambassadors for

Edmonton, and for Canada, when performing internationally.

The Edmonton Eskimos Cheer Team is inclusive within the

community, as well as in the stadium. At the very first half-time

show of every season, the Eski-Minis, Jr. Esks, and Eski-Ladies

join the team in their routine—that’s 300 bodies flooding the field.

“It really kicks off the season,” says Greenough.

Greenough initiated the three additional teams in 2000. “I did it

first and foremost for kids in the community that wanted to be

Eskimo cheerleaders,” she says. “They were hanging over the

edge at games—they wanted to be a part of it.” The Eski-Minis is

for children aged four to 10, the Jr. Esks are for ages 10 to 17, and

the Eski-Ladies is for women over the age of 17. A lot of the Eski-

Ladies are the mothers of the Eski-Minis. The teams have a great

time and “make connections that last a lifetime,” says Greenough.

The team has a busy summer ahead of them. In late July, they

will be attending the Pro-Action Dance Convention in Las Vegas,

where the dancers can improve their form. The stunters will

also benefit from the National Stunt Camp & Competition in

California. Keep your eyes peeled for the team at the Capital Ex

parade on July 21, and at the Fringe Festival in mid-August. The

team will also continue to make appearances at charitable and

promotional events throughout the summer months.

STORY: VANCE TERNOWSKI

18

19

Wh en I first meet “Super” Dave Dyer, I can't help but

imagine that he must be an accidental millionaire.

He carries himself casually, wearing an old leather

jacket and blue jeans. He's also a little reserved

and quiet. Perhaps he won a lot of money in a contest, or

created a brilliant product that became an instant best seller.

Or perhaps he was at the forefront of the dot-com boom

and now he is simply resting on his laurels. What I don’t

expect him to be is a man who spends a great deal of his time

rolling in dirt.

Super Dave got his first dirt bike in 1976, but it wasn't until

1989 that he began racing motocross. The name “motocross”

is a combination of “motorcycle” and “cross-country”—it’s a

sport for those whose need for speed can’t be confined to city

streets. Motocross riders explore mixed-terrain closed tracks

on motorbikes and ATVs, competing to see who can reach the

finish line the fastest and get the dirtiest in the process. Races

are fast, exciting, and at times cringe-inducing—on occasion

riders can sustain serious injuries, although this risk is part of

the sport’s appeal for the adrenaline junkies it attracts.

The sport has developed several unique branches—freestyle

motocross, in which riders incorporate aerial elements like

flips and twists while riding their bikes; supermoto, which

takes a bike designed to be ridden off-road and racing in

on a track made of both dirt and asphalt; and supercross,

which takes place on indoor tracks with tighter turns than on

traditional outdoor tracks.

During his years of competition, Dyer took great interest in all

aspects of motocross, and soon began helping to maintain

some of the tracks in the area. In his years of involvement in

the sport, he has noticed that the popularity of the sport travels

along some of the same lines as a motocross track, surviving

dips, jumps, and curves; as with any sport, motocross

racing has suffered in the past few years, due to the faltering

economy, but fans of the sport have powered through. “There

are a lot of people that are still die-hard,” Dyer says. “No

matter what happens with the economy, people still like to

have their toys.”

Around 2002, Dyer stopped racing, although he doesn't

consider it retirement. His focus has simply moved elsewhere.

Fast-forward to 2004, and Dyer has just purchased 80 acres

of land to convert into his own motocross track. He found the

perfect place, north of Edmonton, near the town of Opal. “I

talked to the county before I bought the land,” says Dyer. “They

said it would be a good location. There's one neighbour across

the way. He says as long as he can sleep at night and nobody's

bothering him, then he's great with it.”

The isolation is a saving grace for Dyer, as many other local

tracks suffer from the expansion of nearby cities and towns.

“A lot of places are being closed down. I didn't want to do all

this work for someone to decide they didn't like it and have us

shut down.” The track officially opened for business in 2006.

Dyer does the majority of the work on the track by himself,

armed with a small bobcat, a water truck, and an impressive

work ethic. “It's a juggling act to get the work done... because

I want to be open on weekends and a couple of nights during

the week.” He also spends a great deal of time hauling dirt and

sand over from his neighbor's yard, and then packing it into

the various slopes and jumps required for a fully functional

motocross track. Sometimes the magnitude of the operation

shocks even him: “You don't think it takes that much dirt until

you're building it.”

Super Dave's track is unique, because he has been using it as

a place for both new and experienced riders to hone their craft.

“A lot of tracks are restricted on when they can be used, and

they're just for events, but you can't practice there,” he says.

Although it hasn't been used for much beyond a few races

amongst clubs, he's hoping that with a little time and a lot of hard

work he can branch out and start hosting events, but the track is

far from ready for that. “It's still a growing process,” he says.

He has already hosted a few interesting events, however. “I

had a snowman race, where you clear the snow off the tracks

and use studded tires,” says Dyer. “It works almost as good

as in summer, only colder.” He has plans to build a starting

gate, which he says will lead to more events, and ideally, some

sponsors for the track. Shops tend to sponsor events over

individual courses, but that hasn't deterred people from

taking advantage of his track as a training ground.

Motocross has often been considered less of a sport and more

of a pastime, but according to Dyer, riders have to be in top

physical shape. Handling a bike that has so much power at

top speeds for long periods of time requires both physical

strength and mental endurance. “Fifteen years ago, they

were testing motocross riders, and their physical strength

is comparable to that of any other sport.” And unlike other

sports, there are no breaks in motocross.

Misconceptions also extend to how the riders themselves

are perceived. “If it has something to do with motorcycles,

people think it's all the Hell's Angels or something,” says Dyer,

reminding me that very few motocross riders are actually in

biker gangs, and that they're usually quite friendly. “The riders

get along great and they're really helpful. If there's a beginner

there and he's having problems, guys will go up and help him.”

Dyer's track has led to a strong community of motocross

riders, and they all work together to make sure they have a

great riding experience.

// www.superdavesmx.com

20

are at a place where it’s not a priority. That’s okay with me. My

services are volunteered only to those interested, and players

need not share my particular convictions.”

But for players who are interested, Kassian hosts weekly Bible

studies and mentoring opportunities during the football season,

as well as a pre-game chapel. Players attend only if they want to.

Kassian found his place with the Eskimos through Athletes

in Action, an organization which works to bring a spiritual

component to sports, all the way from professional leagues to

kids in sports camp programs. AIA believes in the power that

sports can have over a culture, and hopes to help make athletes

better role models for children. AIA supplies chaplains to the

CFL, as well as many other professional and amateur sports

organizations, and ensures they get the training they need to

consistently improve at what they do. The decision to hire a

chaplain rests with each individual professional sports team,

but currently every team in the CFL has one.

STORY: KRISTEN WAGNER

The spiritual side of professional football is not often considered,

except perhaps when fans are praying for a win in the last

minutes of the Grey Cup final. But for Brent Kassian, chaplain

to the Edmonton Eskimos, not only is spirituality important to

sports, it’s essential to everyday life.

“I’m somewhat biased,” Kassian says, “but I think that having

any individual person, whether they’re players or writers or

doctors or plumbers or electricians, moms at home with kids—

anybody—if you’re on a journey with Jesus Christ, you may

become a better electrician, a better mom, a better football

player on the field.”

But Kassian’s job as chaplain isn’t to push his personal faith on

players. Rather, he offers guidance and support to the team, and

adjusts his approach to fit the faith level of everyone he meets.

“We are all on the same team: the Eskimos,” he says. “For

some players, religion and pro sports don’t go together. Or they

the SPIRITUAL

side of sports.

ESKIMOS CHAPLAIN BRENT KASSIAN

21

When he is not mentoring the Eskimos, Kassian works as a

physiotherapist in the city. It was when he was attending the

University of Alberta earning his degree in physiotherapy that

his interest in spiritual leadership grew. He had been involved

with Christian campus groups at the U of A, and took part in

leadership training with an organization called Power to Change,

of which Athletes in Action is a subset. An athlete himself,

Kassian also ran track for the University team.

In the years since completing his degree, Kassian has enrolled

in a Masters of Divinity program at Taylor Seminary, and

participated in a local pastoral leadership team. Then about

12 years ago, opportunity came barrelling at Kassian like a

220-pound halfback.

“About 12 seasons ago I was asked by Athletes in Action if I would

consider being a chaplain to a pro football team, i.e. the Edmonton

Eskimos,” Kassian recalls. “I said I would have to give that some

thoughtful and prayerful consideration, so I did that, and then

went through a formal application process with them, and some

interviews with the football team and with the existing chaplain.”

“That was 12 seasons ago, and that’s hard to believe. Time just

flies when you’re having fun.”

And Kassian’s time with the Eskimos has indeed been fun. He

says his favourite thing about serving as chaplain has been the

friendships he has developed with the staff and players—who

call him “chappy”—and these friendships are not limited to the

players who participate in the chapel program.

“I’m not around to force things on [the players],” he says. “I’m

there to come alongside and support them, especially with life

issues away from the field. I enjoy some very special friendships

with players who are not into God stuff.”

While spirituality and sports may seem an unexpected combination,

spirituality and friendship go hand in hand, and that relationship is at

the heart of Kassian’s job.

Green shirt: Brent Kassian

The sailing scene is not limited to coastal regions.

For local enthusiasts like Paul Kantor, sailing is

more than just a hobby, it’s a way of life—even in

our land-locked province.

22

STORY: DEVON BRYCE // PHOTO: SHERREE ELM

STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

24

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Dealer. For more information visit our website at

www.SPToyota.com or Call us at 780.410.2455

25

Lemieux was racing solo when he saw two Singapore sailors

capsize in a nearby race. Breaking away from his own race, he

rescued the injured sailors and waited until they were transferred

into a patrol boat before finishing his race. Because of this delay,

he finished the race in 22nd place. But after taking his heroic

actions into consideration, the governing body for yachting

awarded Lemieux second place in the race, the place he was

in before leaving to help the distressed team. Lemieux also won

the Pierre de Coubertin Medal for Sportsmanship, awarded by

the International Olympic Committee.

Kantor speaks with pride about the sailors who have come

through the Edmonton Yacht Club, and says there are many

funny stories that go with the territory: “You won’t hear many

of them unless you’re in the clubhouse!” One he hinted at

involved a person falling overboard, but not having a ladder to

bring them back onboard, they had to tow them back to shore.

But not all of the stories are that light-hearted.

In 1968, Kantor went sailing in Yugoslavia with a cousin who was

about to be drafted into the Army: “I may have dropped him off

in Italy by mistake,” he says with a sarcastic chuckle. “He spent a

day in jail for entering the country illegally, went to a refugee camp

and by Christmas was in Canada.” But when it comes to mishaps,

Kantor says he hasn’t had any—he has never been shipwrecked,

and has never had an accident with another boat.

For aspiring sailors, the Edmonton Yacht Club offers lessons,

and Kantor also runs the Sindbad School of Sailing. In order to

charter a boat solo, the minimum qualification required is Coastal

Skipper, a rank earned through a week-long course. There are

also classes on coastal navigation and tidal waters, which is a

combination of correspondence work and on-boat experience.

People who take the basic course for sailing on the lake often

come back to Alberta to learn how to sail on the coast. “If you

look at the boats moored in Vancouver, you’ll see many of them

list Edmonton as their home port,” Kantor says. “I did that when

I sailed through the Mediterranean, flying the Canadian flag.”

When it comes to interest in sailing for the younger generations,

Kantor looks to the influence authors like Tania Aebi have had

on young solo sailors. In 1989, Aebi published her first book,

Maiden Voyage, about sailing solo around the world between

the ages of 18 and 21. Despite poor weather and mechanical

failures, she was successful. The voyage was the beginning of

her lifelong passion for sailing, and she continues to write for

several sailing and cruising magazines.

Kantor says he understands the urge to enter adulthood on the

sea, achieving such a monumental goal as a solo sail around

the world. “It’s a matter of being committed,” he explains. “It is

a matter of priorities. What do your want to do? If you really want

to sail, you’ll find a way to do it.”

// www.sindbad.ca // www.edmontonyachtclub.ca

Alberta may not strike you as a place with a thriving

sailing scene, but a quick chat with local yachting

enthusiast Paul Kantor will change your mind. “You

can sail anywhere, even on a pond, if you really want to,” he

jokes. But as he lists off places to sail in the province, from Cold

Lake to the Glenmore Reservoir, you come to realize that while

it may be landlocked, Alberta isn’t the dry prairie province you

once thought.

Kantor started sailing at the age of 14 on Lake Balaton, the

largest fresh water lake in Europe. It’s also known as the

Hungarian Sea. He was born into a sailing family and learned

the skill from an uncle, a high-level competitor. With over 60

years experience on the water, sailing is part of who Kantor is.

“Sailing is always fun,” he says. “Once I get onto a boat, I never

want to come off.”

Kantor came to Canada in 1957 and landed in Montreal. He was

one of a group of 25 students offered a place at the University

of Alberta to pursue their studies in Edmonton. He looked at the

area on a map, saw Cooking Lake and made the move. The

next year, he and a few friends bought a 14-foot International

Dinghy together. While all the members bought their own boats

eventually, Kantor says the original one lasted the group for quite

some time.

As the shared boat illustrates, sailing is more affordable than

many people think. Kantor says you can buy a boat for $5,000

or more than $50,000, depending on what you’re willing to

spend. The popularity of the sport is certainly irrefutable—on a

nice day you can count 100 sailors or more on Lake Wabamun,

the centre for sailing in the area.

In 2005, a derailed CN Rail train spilled over a million litres of oil

into Lake Wabamun, but the spill didn’t affect sailing much in the

long run, Kantor notes. While there were complaints at the time

that CN fixed the train tracks before getting to work on the lake,

Kantor thinks they did a good job of cleanup—he thinks the

water is actually clearer now than it was prior to the spill.

It is fortunate that the lake recovered so well from the spill,

as Wabamun is one of the more popular sailing spots in the

province. It is also home to the Edmonton Yacht Club. The Club

formed in 1923 on Cooking Lake, southeast of Edmonton,

in order to provide support and interaction for local sailing

enthusiasts. Two decades later, the club moved to Seba Beach

on Lake Wabamun, west of the city. Members have access to

facilities and water programs, including classes. Kantor enjoys

teaching through the Club, as it allows him to share his passion

for the sport.

The Edmonton Yacht Club has some famous members as

well. Lawrence Lemieux, an Edmonton native who competed

in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, exemplifies the sportsmanship

Kantor says marks sailors. In the ’88 competition in Seoul,

26

Edmonton’s Garneau Tennis and Beach Volleyball Club

is having one of the best seasons of its 85-year history.

This spring, the club debuted its brand new tennis courts—

the first court replacement since the club opened in 1926.

Tournaments and social events are lined up for the summer

season, and both tennis and beach volleyball players are bringing

enthusiasm to the courts. The club offers a number of services

and opportunities for members and non-members alike, with a

good time outside enjoying Edmonton’s short summer as the

ultimate goal.

“[Garneau] is a great recreation facility that not many people have

discovered,” says manager Cara Patterson. “Every dollar we take

in we want to give back to the members, and more. We’re always

putting on social events and trying to upgrade our facilities and

just trying to give everyone a first-rate athletic experience.”

Garneau employs three tennis professionals, and offers private,

semi-private and group lessons. The club has its own internal

recreational tennis league, called a box league, which allows

members of different skill levels to play together. They also have

a competitive interclub team, which plays against teams from

other tennis clubs in the city.

The club also hosts tournaments sanctioned by Tennis Alberta.

This year, the club Hosted Hackers Challenge in May, and

is looking forward to Senior Provincials July 16-17 and the

Annual Garneau Centennial Clay Court Championships over the

September long weekend.

As for beach volleyball, several competitive and recreational

leagues also operate out of the Garneau, including Friday night

drop-in games throughout the summer. As well, the club hosts

U of A intramurals and participants from the Edmonton Sport

and Social Club.

Thanks to a grant from the Government of Alberta, the club is

sporting a new look—top-of-the-line red clay Nova-Pro tennis

courts. As the home of the only clay tennis courts in Edmonton,

the club wanted to maintain that tradition while providing a

smoother playing surface for members.

“We used Nova-Pro clay courts, and in our opinion those are

the top-line clay courts you can have, especially for the weather

here in Edmonton,” Patterson says. “We’ve got weeping tile

under them—they drain quite quickly, and they’re pretty easy to

maintain, and really give you a great surface for playing tennis on.”

“[Our old courts] were clay, but they were built in 1926. They

would get muddy, there were mushrooms growing under them—

it was horrible to deal with. We upgraded.”

Patterson says the club’s beach volleyball courts were also

renovated about two years ago. “We got completely new sand,

new borders. Right now we’re getting new post-fittings welded

on, as well as new nets and lines and everything. So our facility for

beach volleyball has definitely been upgraded, and it’s excellent.”

With the mud and mushrooms out of the way, the club’s

management is better able to focus on providing social services to

members. “We’re a really social club,” says Patterson. “We often

have a lot of social tournaments we run for members only over

the year.”

Patterson says that in her six years with the club she’s gained

respect and affection for both tennis and volleyball. “When I first

got involved with this club I had no experience with tennis, and

very little experience with beach volleyball, and I’ve grown to love

both sports,” she says. “The game of tennis is a beautiful game;

the history behind it is amazing, and to play it—it’s extremely fun.”

“The satisfaction you get from hitting a good shot—I think it’s

one of the greatest feelings out there.”

// www.garneau-tennis.com

27

The power of sport is most keenly felt this time of year as

Edmontonians gear up to tackle the fields, hit the courts and

soak up the summer heat with some friendly competition.

The Edmonton Sport and Social Club is helping to connect

sports lovers and social butterflies with the activities they adore.

The goal of the club is to “provide players with the best sport

and social experience in the city,” according to ESSC marketing

manager Jason Bridger.

With the enormous success the club has seen over recent years,

it is evident that this goal is being met. The club has seen the club

grow to over 600 teams per season compared to just 32 teams

when the club got started in Edmonton in the summer of 2004.

“We are Edmonton’s fastest-growing co-ed sports league

provider, and are excited to offer Edmontonians an awesome

lineup of leagues, tournaments and parties on a year-round

basis,” says Bridger.

The club, which began in Edmonton after seeing success

in Calgary, has over 14 sports and activities open to all skill

levels—from those looking to add some fun to their daily routine

or those battling it out for serious bragging rights. Participants

can challenge themselves and opponents with anything from

a leisurely game of dodgeball to a hardcore match of beach

volleyball to a team-building game of soccer and even a game

of ultimate Frisbee.

This lineup is what keeps so many members coming back

season after season. But, there are plenty of other reasons why

participants just can’t get enough. “It’s a great way to stay active

and keep social. It’s something that you can look forward to,”

says Bridger. “And it’s actually good for you!”

Over the years, the club has been working to strengthen its

presence in the community. Currently, the Edmonton Sport and

Social Club has eight official sponsor bars, including Hudson’s

Canadian Tap House, Canadian Brewhouse and Jox Sports Bar.

These venues provide participants with a place to meet, eat and

drink after their games. “It’s a great way to wrap up the night with

your team and get to know other club members,” says Bridger.

If the fitness and social aspect isn’t enough to sway you,

perhaps the various freebies and discounts offered at these

bars will. This is just one more way that the club is pleasing the

hundreds of members they serve.

The club no doubt provides benefits to the individuals involved,

but also plays an important role in contributing to the community

at large. With a focus on supporting community-based initiatives,

it donates both funds and equipment to various organizations. It

also sponsors club members in their quests to raise money and,

according to Bridger, is dedicated to giving back to the community.

In past years, the Edmonton Sport and Social Club has filled

shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, stripped down to their

skivvies for the Underwear Affair and grown out their mustaches

in support of Movember.

All adults over the age of 18 are welcome to get involved in the

Edmonton Sport and Social Club leagues. Whether you are young

in body or just young at heart, you have a place within the club.

Although Bridger notes remarkable success over the years,

he ultimately sees the club growing much larger than we see

today, perhaps even branching out and getting involved in more

adventure sports. “I would like to see us get involved in activities

such as white water rafting, rock climbing, camping [and]

canoeing,” says Bridger. As positive word spreads through the

Edmonton area, this expansion seems promising.

By combining fitness with fun, the Edmonton Sport and

Social Club is sure to make its way into the lives of many

Edmontonians who are looking to work hard, play harder

and create lasting friendships and memories in the process.

According to Bridger, “[The club] provide[s] the people of

Edmonton the ideal platform to have fun and stay fit without

breaking the bank!”

Summer registration is already underway with the July 7

deadline coming up fast. The summer season begins July 17.

Register online at the club's website.

// www.edmontonsportsclub.com.

I D E A SN E T W O R K S

LONG HOURS AT THE OFFICE MAKE

WORKERS LESS LIKELY TO LIVE HEALTHY,

ACTIVE LIFESTYLES, AND PRODUCTIVITY

SUFFERS DUE TO ILL HEALTH AND

MISSED WORK. BUT VIVACORE CONSULTING

IS WORKING TO MAKE ALBERTA’S

WORKERS HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER, ONE CONSULTATION AT

A TIME.

STORY: KRISTA D. BALL // PHOTO: LARISSA MACK

28

Statistics Canada estimates $12 billion is lost annually

due to workplace absenteeism. With tight workplace

budgets, employers are doing more work with fewer

resources. Overtime is a reality for many people. And

after eight or 10 hours of staring at a computer, who really wants

to head out to the gym? Unfortunately, overwork and poor habits

like not exercising can lead to illness and missed work.

Victoria Poschadel, founder and president of VivaCore Consulting,

understands the plight of the overworked office worker because

she too felt that way while working in an office environment.

After completing her personal trainer certificate and a Bachelor

of Physical Education degree from the University of Alberta,

Poschadel took a position with the Government of Alberta,

working to reduce obesity rates and encourage better nutrition

in the province.

While there, she realized how difficult healthy living actually is for

office workers. After spending eight hours in front of a screen,

she did not feel like being active either. Poschadel saw a need

in the Edmonton business sector to educate employees and

employers about the links between worker productivity, overall

happiness in the workplace, and health.

So, two years ago she created VivaCore Consulting to promote

active and healthy living among Edmonton businesses.

Studies show that over half of Albertans have little to no

encouragement from their employers to become physically

active, even though countless studies over the last decade have

shown that physical activity (even just taking short walk breaks

during the day) increases productivity, overall health and mood.

When a company first contacts VivaCore Consulting, they get

an initial office needs and wellness evaluation. Depending upon

the needs of the business, all employees can fill out a 10-minute

survey about how they feel in the workplace, or Poschadel can

question a random sampling of employees.

After completing the survey about overall workplace mood,

productivity, needs, wants and general issues, VivaCore

Consulting provides the employer a detailed report showing

the office’s strengths and areas for improvement based on the

direct feedback from employees. This method, says Poschadel,

ensures that each assessment is based directly on the needs of

the employees and ensures an individualized plan, as opposed to

a cookie-cutter approach.

VivaCore’s approach depends on the services required. For

example, if a number of people are physically uncomfortable

at work, Poschadel’s team can do an ergonomic evaluation.

If general education is needed, she can run lunch and learn

sessions on work-life balance, being active, and some quick

tips on healthy eating at work.

Some businesses have evolved a corporate culture of never

taking breaks, while some employees avoid breaks of their own

accord. Poschadel points out that studies show employees who

work all day without taking lunch breaks are less productive

and not as refreshed. Her team can work with these employers

and employees to encourage lunch breaks, in-house exercise

challenges and more active living.

Poschadel says when employees are happy, they work harder

and have a better output. Employees likewise enjoy the extra

help and assistance and feel like their companies are taking care

of their health and needs.

For Poschadel, Edmonton was the perfect location to establish

her business, as she has lived in the city for 12 years and

attended university here. As well, with 75 per cent of working

Albertans lacking access to programs to improve their overall

health, fitness, and/or nutrition at their workplace, Poschadel

hopes to address the growing need for at-work health education.

She enjoys working hands-on with people and seeing changes on

an individual basis. That’s why VivaCore Consulting customizes

each employer’s services depending upon the needs of the

company and its employees. Some of the services VivaCore offers

that directly impact employee performance include:

• wellness programs

• ergonomic analysis and adjustments

• e-learning modules

• lunch and learns

• facility management and referral

• workplace wellness challenges

• wellness retreats

By working with companies to make healthy and active living

an integral part of every workplace, Poschadel and her team

help save companies money through increased morale and

productivity, and reduced absenteeism.

Pricing varies depending upon the services and size of the

business. Also, she offers discounted rates for non-profit groups.

VivaCore Consulting is offering a free initial first visit and evaluation

between June and August 2011.

For more information, contact Victoria at info@VivaCore.ca

// VivaCore.wordpress.com

DID YOU KNOW?

• Taking a couple of short walk breaks during the day

increases productivity.

• Exercise helps employees focus better and manage their time.

• Physically active employees have fewer sick days.

29

STORY: KRISTEN WAGNER // PHOTO: NATALIE SEMENIUK

The transition to motherhood is dramatic, and for many young

moms, it can be difficult.

Christine Kasturi is one such mom. Always a busy and energetic

individual, Kasturi found herself in a different state of mind after the

birth of her first son in 2008. “I had a hard time adjusting, going

from working and being active and doing things I wanted, to being

a stay-at-home mom,” Kasturi says. “Then finally, after [my son]

turned one, I thought, ‘Enough of this sitting around. Maybe I’ll

race again.’”

Kasturi had always been active, competing in running and

swimming events. She began running triathlons with her sister

almost a decade ago, and later began racing solo. But in 2003,

she developed Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a disorder that

causes blood clots in the legs, and took the following six years

off from racing.

Realizing she still loved triathlon even after so much time away

from it, Kasturi thought there must be other new moms out there

who also miss competitive sports. Although Kasturi had tried

forms of exercise geared toward moms with babies, such as

strollercize classes, she found neither she nor her son enjoyed it.

“I would rather have had half an hour alone than more time with

the baby that I was already spending 24 hours a day with,” she

says. “So I thought I would start IronMama™ for that exact reason:

moms who want to do the mom-and-baby jogging… people

who want that something else. Not just a workout, but time for

themselves. Time to set goals, maybe be a little bit competitive.”

Goal setting is an important part of being an IronMama™. Each

Mama can set her own goals and achieve them at her own pace.

“Not to say that all moms in the group want to race a triathlon

as their goal,” Kasturi explains, “but even ‘I want to learn how

to swim,’ or ‘I want to have a group to go bike riding with’—

something other than all the mom-and-baby fitness things that

are out there.”

In this way, the purpose of IronMama™ is flexible. It caters to

moms who want to bring strollers and run with their babies, and

also to moms who want time for themselves; it allows moms to

socialize with other moms, and set goals and achieve them.

Giving moms time for themselves is important to Kasturi, as it is

something she didn’t do after the birth of her first son. “That stress

carried over to how I took care of the baby, and how I took care of

myself,” she says. Helping others to avoid the same difficulties is

what IronMama™ is all about.

The IronMama™ brand is part of Kasturi’s company, called NEW

Mama – an acronym for “nutrition, energy and wellness.” “I started

30

doing some nutrition workshops under the name NEW Mama, but

I found, again, it just blended in with everything that was already out

there,” Kasturi explains.

She then began to focus more on the athletic side of wellness

by developing IronMama™. “I found with IronMama™, so many

different kinds of ladies would come. There would be ones that

would be really into fitness, and they’ve run marathons, and they

just want a women’s outlet to be with other women who want

to train the same way. And there would be other moms that just

wanted it for ‘Hey, I want to try this new sport.’ So I found now,

branching into the IronMama™ side of it is something different

and something that isn’t out there already.”

In order to help participants achieve their fitness goals, IronMama™

hosted a triathlon camp in March. Kasturi says the turnout was

eclectic, including moms with teenage or university-age children, as

well as young women with no children. But participants were able

to find common ground in their shared interest in multi-sport—not

just triathlon, but any combination of running, biking and swimming.

“I find it’s a lot of whatever the individual wants it to be,” Kasturi

says. “If the mom just wants to socialize with other moms, that’s

great, but they find things out about themselves from a fitness

perspective as well—‘Hey, I was missing this,’ or ‘I can’t believe I

haven’t done this before.”

The triathlon camp helped hoist participants out of their winter

fitness slumps. It also helped them become more self-sufficient

athletes. Part of the camp saw participants head to United Cycle

where they had a running shoe fitting, and learned how to put a

bike together and fix a flat tire.

More events will be held this summer. On Aug. 14, moms can

enjoy friendly competition by participating in the second annual

IronMama™ 5K Run and Walk, a family-friendly event where

moms can run with their babies and benefit a worthy cause in the

process. The event will also include a 25-metre “Little Kids Run.”

Registration fees from the event go to Action Against Hunger,

an organization that sends volunteers to developing countries to

implement nutrition programs for children.

IronMama™ will be hosting another event, a peak season review

for triathlon participants, on July 16. “A lot of people start [in May]

and they know where their weaknesses are, but I thought to hold

something in the middle of summer then they can really set goals

for the fall, or see that their training is actually paying off,” Kasturi

explains. “At that point, you’ve probably picked one or two races.

You’re halfway through, and people always want to know, ‘Am I

getting better? Am I losing weight? Am I getting faster?’”

For this event Kasturi is partnering with a personal trainer

from Acacia Fitness, who also helped with the training camp.

Participants will complete a fitness component as well as a

nutrition component, in which participants will learn to calculate

what their nutritional requirements are.

Nutrition is an important part of IronMama™ for Kasturi, who

holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition. “After I had my

son I was doing the grab-a-handful-of-crackers because it’s fast

and easy, or I would miss lunch because I was too tired,” she

says. “That was a big realization for me—that if I, someone with

the knowledge [of nutrition], was doing these things, there’s got to

be other moms who are doing the same.”

// www.ironmama.ca

31

32

A WA R E N E S S

STORY: JENNIFER HARDES

It’s a sad fact that man’s best friend is often found in a vulnerable position. Every year, hundreds of stray dogs are turned in to the Edmonton Humane Society for countless reasons, but the common factor is their need for a good home.

Not wanting to neglect the Edmonton community, Coventry Homes, one of Edmonton’s leading home building companies, has extended a helping hand to our furry four-legged friends. Their charity “Homes for Hounds” was founded in 2005 when Coventry became the first building corporation in Edmonton to reach out to the animal community. Coventry’s goal was to create homes not only for people, but for another homeless population as well: canines.

“There are a lot of foundations out there that focus on humans so we wanted to be unique and raise funds and awareness for helpless animals in need, especially since they don’t have a voice,” explains Amanda Horcica, executive sales assistant at Coventry Homes.

Advocating for man’s best friend is something Horcica says is both imperative for the Edmonton community and consistent with the company’s home-building goals. “We found it fitting that we could create an organization that would complement our goal to build great homes for people, while supporting the Edmonton Humane Society as they strive to find forever homes for helpless animals in need,” Horcica says.

She says the most rewarding part of the endeavour is that the organization’s supporters can see the change they make possible. Most recently, the company’s funds were used to help build the new Chappelle Centre for Animal Care, right before the eyes of supporters.

Not only does Coventry Homes generously donate a portion of each individual home sale to the Society, but they also host the famous annual Paws and Claws Gala. All the proceeds

from the Gala go directly to the Humane Society. While last year the Gala raised a whopping $80,000, Coventry Homes says that this year they want to go bigger and better.

By moving the Gala to the Edmonton Expo Centre, Coventry hopes to attract even more animal lovers and supporters to the event. The fourth annual gala, which will be held on Oct.1, will consist of dinner, entertainment, and a silent and live auction, and a live dog fashion show, featuring canines dressed in clothing provided by the Edmonton Humane Society gift shop. Watch out Gisele Bündchen and move over Naomi Campbell!

Coventry Homes is welcoming donations from both individuals and corporations to help continue their work. “In support of this great cause, Coventry Homes would be honoured to provide a donation from you or your company as a raffle item, door prize or silent auction item [at the Gala],” says Horcica. “The silent auction is critical for the Humane Society’s success in providing shelter and speaking for homeless and abused companion animals and your participation plays a key role in [achieving] that goal.”

All donations are greatly appreciated and will be recognized in the program guides at the Gala. Interested parties can contact Horcica at 780-453-5100 to inquire about donating.

The Edmonton Humane Society is thankful to Coventry Homes for its continued support, which helps keeps the not-for-profit organization going. The tail-wagging pooches are grateful too.

// www.coventry-homes.com/about-us/homes-for-hounds

Coventry’s

Homes for Hounds

http://www.aiatriathlon.ca

McDonald suggests that programs are needed to help disabled

individuals to excel at their level in order to increase their

confidence, self worth and chances of success at the sport.

“After being successful in a supportive environment it is more

likely they will feel they have the skills to participate in an

integrated environment, such as recess or a community league

sport,” adds Suzanne Harrison, PSA program coordinator.

“They were taught the skills of how they can be successful in

the sport they learned in an adapted environment.”

But Danielle Peers, disability sport scholar, activist and former

Paralympic bronze medalist, says that her sport, wheelchair

basketball, offers another way of building more accessible

and equitable sports and communities. Wheelchair basketball

allows able-bodied and disabled athletes to compete on equal

ground by placing the able-bodied athletes in wheelchairs. This

practice is called “reverse integration”—rather than requiring

athletes with disabilities to adapt to inaccessible "integrated"

sport systems, reverse integration provides an adapted level

playing field for all participants.

“To ensure that it is of equal playing ground, we take the stand-up

team, put them in sledges or wheelchairs and start the game,”

says McDonald. “The stand-up players are out of their element,

but they know the sport, so it takes them awhile to adjust and

become comfortable with how to maneuver and then the game

is on.”

Anyone involved in martial arts knows the mental and

physical toughness needed to persevere through

the ranking system, and the Paralympic class at

Edmonton’s Tiger Taekwondo Dojang is no exception.

It’s a Wednesday evening at the end of an eight-month course

and the sounds of wood cracking and cries of enjoyment match

those found at any other Taekwondo ceremony…and then

some. Proud parents, and ecstatic children and adults beam

with excitement.

“I like Taekwondo because it builds discipline, confidence and

self esteem,” says Paralympic athlete Clinton Cook. “I have

found there is no better feeling than going up another belt level,

especially with my limitations.”

Disability sporting spaces like these are slowly growing across

Alberta thanks to the hard work of the Paralympic Sports

Association (PSA) of Alberta and its volunteers and athletes. But the

organization requires more support and funding to be sustainable.

Controversy has arisen over the necessity of separating disabled

athletes from the mainstream, but the Paralympic community still

seems to want its own sporting spaces.

Academics argue that these separate spaces reinforce the

divisions that already exist between members of this community

and the able-bodied population. Integration wherever possible is

generally advocated as a solution.

But Kim McDonald, executive director of the PSA, says that

integration does not always set disabled athletes up to succeed.

“These individuals have to compete against their able-bodied

peers, who may overall be stronger, and their fine and large

motor skills have developed to their appropriate age level,”

McDonald says. For disabled children, this is a huge concern.

She adds that this development discrepancy augments the

difficulties disabled children encounter on the playground, as

they must compete at a level at which they can’t succeed. This

disadvantage may discourage the individual from further seeking

out playmates or opportunities to become active.

34

S T O R Y: J E N N I F E R H A R D E S

35

According to McDonald, balancing the playing ground in this

way empowers the disabled individual to see that he can beat

his peers at a sport that he loves. The able-bodied athlete

perceives him differently, seeing what the disabled can do

compared to what they cannot do.

By changing the constraints of sport, the perception of

Paralympic sports is slowly changed.

“I suggest that we should strive to create sporting communities that offer the same range of choices to those who experience disabilities.”

Despite the concern with regulating separate sporting spaces,

Dr. Nancy Spencer Cavalier, disability sport specialist at the

University of Alberta says it’s about personal choice. “From a

personal perspective, I do think there should be a wide array of

opportunities to take part, but we also have a responsibility to

provide a legitimate choice of meaningful participation in all kinds

of spaces,” she says.

She adds that specialized sporting spaces should exist to

meet the needs of the disabled community. They should not be

defaulted to because of unwillingness to make other spaces

accessible for those with disabilities.

And this need for diversified sporting spaces conforms to the

opinions and experiences of the athletes in the program at

the Tiger Taekwondo Dojang. Several students attend both

mainstream and Paralympic classes, gaining different yet positive

experiences from both. The PSA hopes to continue to offer such

possibilities, and is currently hoping for space within Alberta’s

Sport Development policy to secure support for this important

sporting population.

//parasports.net

R E V I E W S

36

As a person who regularly skips breakfast, I can

appreciate foods that accommodate a busy

lifestyle. Whether it’s the temptation of the snooze

button or the lack of groceries in my refrigerator,

I always find myself running out the door on an empty stomach.

I’ve tried meal replacement shakes—you know, the ones that

taste like powdery chocolate or vanilla paste and leave you

hungry 15 minutes later? So when I heard about Vi-Shape, a

delicious and filling nutritional shake as part of the Body by Vi

90-Day Challenge from ViSalus Sciences, I wondered if it really

was as good as people claimed.

Curious, I decided to go straight to the source, and contacted

a couple who had not only tried the shakes, but loved them

so much they decided to start selling them too. I admit I was

skeptical. Was this just some pyramid scheme involving two

people who wanted nothing more than a few extra bucks? But

as soon as I met Kevin Wong and partner (in life and business)

Mel Veroba, I knew these two had to have invested in the

business for more than a profit.

Veroba, a certified personal trainer, discovered the Body by Vi

90-Day Challenge through friends. After trying the shakes and

researching the company, she and Wong decided to promote

the challenge alongside their personal training business. “The

37

shakes just make sense for people on the go” says Veroba. “Not

only do they act as an all-encompassing meal replacement for

almost any lifestyle, but they’re the perfect addition to my clients’

overall health regimes.”

Veroba noticed her clients were seeing positive results. “My clients

are seeing amazing changes in their health and appearance. This

is making them want to continue taking the steps needed for

more change.”

Vi-Shape is a nutritional shake mix that offers a long list of

benefits. “The shakes are lactose- and gluten-free, low sodium,

diabetic-friendly and kosher,” says Veroba. But that’s not all.

The shakes also offer 23 vitamins and minerals, a top-quality

protein blend that helps burn fat, a full serving of patented fibre,

Aminogen (to increase protein absorption), digestive aids and

more. And each serving is only 90 calories and 1g of fat.

“My clients are seeing amazing changes in their health and appearance.”“Vi-Shape is such a versatile product,” says Wong. “It can be

used as an on-the-go meal, a supplement to help add lean

muscle, or as a recovery drink for after a workout. Top MMA

fighters, boxers, CFL players and other elite athletes have all

started taking the Vi-Shape to enhance their performance. So it’s

not just for weight loss.” The shake comes in a smooth sweet

cream flavour, but customers can add in Shape-Up Health

Flavours such as peach, orange, strawberry, chocolate and

banana, which offer additional nutrients. Veroba adds that the

shake is ideal for almost anyone, including athletes, mothers

and busy professionals.

With a product offering so many benefits, one could assume the

setback is its cost. However, at $1.50 per serving, the shake

averages a dollar less than most of its leading competitors,

making it an affordable way for individuals to reach their personal

health goals.

Veroba and Wong promote the 90-Day Challenge the way

ViSalus Health Sciences had intended: through a blend of social

media and word-of-mouth. “Referrals are the most powerful

form of marketing,” Wong states. “Tangible results and powerful

testimonials help motivate others who maybe wouldn’t have

taken the leap of faith through traditional marketing. The 90-Day

Challenge has gone viral.”

Starting in Canada in 2010 (the company officially launches this

fall in Canada), the Body by Vi 90-Day Challenge has helped

ViSalus Sciences become one of the fastest growing companies

in the world. Wong believes this has to do with their products

and messaging. “ViSalus understands the needs of its customers

and the general population,” he says. “It provides you with the

tools needed to succeed, and has created such a strong sense

of community along the way. It has provided a simple and

sustainable solution to an ever-growing health epidemic.”

Vi-Shape can be purchased through a Visalus representative

directly or through their personalized website, with shipping

taking approximately seven business days. For more information

contact Wong and Veroba at firmin90@gmail.com.

// www.firmin90.bodybyvi.com

STORY: PAULA E. KIRMAN

Original Joe’s Restaurant and Bar is fast becoming Sherwood

Park’s place to kick back with a beer, great food and a hockey

game. Located at 301 Wye Road, Original Joe’s offers friendly

service, an extensive selection of food and drinks, a southwest-

facing patio and a fun atmosphere.

Greg Bott is part owner of Original Joe’s Sherwood Park. He has

been with the franchise for just over two years.

“We have an amazing team that really works well together,” says

Bott. “We have had an unprecedented level of staff continuity,

which has allowed us to not only form a sense of community

among our team, but has also helped us to deliver a consistent

service offering.”

Original Joe’s offers some incredible staples like gourmet

burgers, pastas and pizza, as well as unique mains like the

famous “double dog.” Most meals come with two side dishes,

chosen from an ample selection including home-cut fries, mango

pasta salad, roasted vegetables, and coleslaw. Ingredients are

fresh and each meal is made to order. Depending on the day

of the week there may be food and drink specials, as well as a

variety of beers on tap, including OJ’s own craft brews.

Beyond the delicious food, there is the comfortable atmosphere—

sports fans can enjoy the game on one of the large-screen

televisions.“Original Joe’s provides a very unique experience

offering,” Bott says. “Our internal culture provides the guest

with a genuine level of comfort and laid-back atmosphere. The

genuine and unscripted level of service, combined with the made-

from-scratch product offering is very unique, and usually surprises

first-time guests.”

Original Joe’s is also a company that cares about its community,

and gives back wherever it can. “All Original Joe’s across western

Canada have been participating in a community give-back

program for over a year. Every few months a brand of beer is

selected to participate, and 50 cents from each pint sold is

donated to a local charity,” Bott explains.

There are also ways in which OJ’s contributes specifically to

the Sherwood Park community. “In Sherwood Park we attempt

to have all of our events and promotions structured around

a charity or community organization. Most recently we have

provided funding and support to numerous organizations

including the Boys and Girls Club, KidSport, the local food

bank, women’s shelter, the Northern Alberta Society for Animal

Protection, and a number of school and sports organizations,”

says Bott.

Staff go above and beyond when it comes to community

service. “Recently a number of staff approached me to take

[community involvement] one step further, and want to volunteer

their time on a monthly basis,” Bott explains. “As an example,

this month a number of staff will be donating blood as a group.”

As well, Original Joe’s is making strides as an inclusive employer.

“We have also recently employed an individual with special

needs. He has been a great addition to our team, and has

helped to enforce our positive culture and sense of community,”

says Bott.

Bott observes that the relationship between a business and its

community works two ways. “Every business should recognize

their relationship with the community as a two-way relationship,”

he says. “The community has been very supportive of our

business, as reflected in our sales growth. We need to make

sure that this support flows back into the community.”

// www.originaljoes.ca/sherwoodpark

Original Joe’s Sherwood Park

Giving Back Every Step of the Way

38

P R O D U C T S

While you’re keeping fit and enjoying the outdoors this summer you want to make sure you’re well equipped. Longboarding, golfing, doing a few sun salutations and everything in between—you want to look good, and you want to have the best equipment available.

We here at Merge have assembled a sampling of some of the finest products on the market, all available at locally owned and operated establishments in the Edmonton area—Solid Skateboard Shop, Key Lime Athletic Wear and De Boer’s Golf Shoppe. So go ahead and shop, knowing that your dollar is helping to support the local economy and keep Edmonton’s retail establishments unique.

For more product information visit

www.soilidskateboardshop.com

www.keylimecanada.com

www.deboersgolf.com

1. Landyachtz Chinook board $137.95 // 2. Vans Half Cab Pro $79.95 // 3. RVCA Artist Network Program Tee $44.95 // 4. Orangatang 75mm Durian Wheeels $74.95 // 5. Pro-Tec Classic Skate Helmet $39.95 // 6. MotoGP HOLBROOK Sunglasses $154.95 // 7. Srixon TriSpeed Tour Yellow Ball $29.00 // 8. FootJoy Street Golf Shoes $99.99 // 9. Tour Edge Exotics XCG-4 Fairway Wood $329.99 // 10. Taylormade R11 Driver $449.99 // 11. Callaway Razr Hawk $449.99 // 12. Recycled Bag $49.00 // 13. Yoga Mat $45.00 // 14. Bamboo Tanks $35.00 - $39.00 // 15. Grip Gloves $21.99 // 16. Camel Bak Better Bottle $22.95 // 17. ToeSox $19.00 // 18. Zipper Board Shorts $52.00

40

41

42

E V E N T S

For three days in July, Whyte Avenue becomes a large outdoor art

studio, gallery, and market. The Whyte Avenue Art Walk features

the work of over 300 artists in a variety of media, including

painting, sculpture, printmaking and drawing. Many of the

artists, both emerging and established, will be working at their

art right there on the sidewalk.

“It’s an original experience, which artists love,” says Kim

Fjordbotten, owner of The Paint Spot, the Art Walk’s primary

sponsor. “In some festivals, visual art is little more than a

backdrop. At the Art Walk, it is the main event. It’s a time to

celebrate all aspects of art-making. Artists are encouraged to

bring their supplies and their ideas to make art right on site.

This provides an exciting opportunity for visitors to become

engaged in many creative processes.”

The sidewalks during the event are packed with people, artists

and art. Many merchants in Old Strathcona also lend a hand by

giving up their store fronts and allowing artists to set up shop.

Art Walk is also a very inclusive event, as it is not juried and there

are few guidelines. “There are so many ways to make art and so

much talent in Alberta. I can’t imagine how many artworks are

hidden in studios, basements and closets,” says Fjordbotten.

“Without events like the Whyte Avenue Art Walk, perhaps no one

would get to see them.”

The idea for the Art Walk started in 1995, when a member of the

Old Strathcona Foundation commented that Whyte Avenue would

look lovely with artists painting out on the sidewalks like they do

on the Left Bank in Paris. The Paint Spot immediately got involved

to help organize the inaugural event, which featured 35 artists and

a few pedestrians. Since then, the event has grown exponentially;

the 2010 Art Walk hosted approximately 320 artists and 30,000

visitors. It took up 17 blocks and two parks.

Due to the overwhelming and continually growing response,

guidelines for artists have become tighter over the years.

Limits have been set on some mediums, such as clothing and

photography. Still, the environment is very welcoming and the Art

Walk is an excellent learning experience for emerging artists and

a networking opportunity for everyone who takes part.

As well, many who attend the Art Walk become art patrons for

the first time. Fjordbotten says that she knows of many people

who purchased their first piece of art at the Art Walk and have

since become collectors. “I feel we are also doing important

work creating new patrons for art in Edmonton,” she says. “I

know that once an individual acquires an original piece of art

they will continue to collect art throughout their lives.”

Another unique aspect of the Art Walk is the interactive nature of

the event. Visitors and artists can talk face to face, and the art is

purchased directly from the artists. Artists have the ability to meet

other artists, grow their contacts, and gain valuable feedback.

The Paint Spot provides not only organization for the event, but

also leadership and professional advice for the artist. “It is rewarding

to convince a hesitant artist to simply share their art. I tell artists to

make what they love and there will be someone out there who ‘gets

it,’” Fjordbotten says. “It’s also good for artists to have an annual

deadline to create new artwork and finish projects.”

The Whyte Avenue Art Walk 2011 takes place July 15 – 17.

// www.art-walk.ca.

STORY & PHOTO: PAULA E. KIRMAN

Old Strathcona Comes Alive for a Day of MusicSTORY: KRISTEN WAGNER // PHOTO: FISH GRIWKOWSKY

Living in a city that’s trapped under a blanket of snow for much

of the year, Edmontonians need to squeeze a lot of life out of the

summer months.

As a result, “We’re glutted with summer festivals,” says Kirby,

co-artistic director of SOS Fest, one of the city’s newest summer

festivals. “I think each one has its own unique flavour, and certainly

in this climate we want to make hay while the sun shines. So

every weekend we can do something [outside] the better.”

SOS Fest will be one such opportunity. This year’s event will be a

one-day celebration of music, downsized from last year’s weekend

affair, but there will be no shortage of talent on the festival’s two

stages. Performers are local, regional and national, and carefully

selected to represent the broadest range of genres possible.

“You really have to consider everything when you’re picking

performers,” Kirby says. “You want to make sure you have a good

Edmonton [component]. You want to make sure you have some

females as well as males, because it’s a male-dominated industry.

You want to make sure you have some name recognition and

there’s some draw, but you also want to have some artists that

are developing that you can expose to a larger audience.”

This year’s lineup of nine performers is a fraction of the size it

was last year, but what the festival may lack in quantity it will

make up for in quality. Admission is free, and the block-party

atmosphere of the festival is not to be beat.

“This year there’s going to be even more happening in terms of

vendors, face painters, lots of stuff for kids, lots of great bands—

local, regional and national,” Kirby says.

Kirby is also very excited about this year’s diverse lineup. “[It’s a

priority] having multi-genre, because we really want to make sure

that there actually, honestly is something for everyone.”

The festival will open with Luke and Tess Pretty on one stage,

and Scenic Route to Alaska on the other. Both are young,

emerging local acts. Electro-poppers Gobble Gobble and rising

folk-rock icons Wool on Wolves also call Edmonton home.

Other notable acts include The Dudes from Calgary—“I think Danny

Vacon from The Dudes is one of the most talented songwriters

in Canada right now,” says Kirby—and The Heartbroken, a new

project from East Coast songstress Damhnait Doyle. “She’s really

on a rootsy, country thing, and I think it’s just the best thing she’s

ever done,” says Kirby of Doyle.

The Old Strathcona Business Association, Responsible Hospitality

Edmonton and the Edmonton Arts Council are all important

supporters of the event, which takes place on July 10, on the

stretch of Whyte Avenue from 103 to 105 Street.

// www.sosfest.ca

44

C A L E N D A R

BUSINESS

ALBERTA WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS ROAD MAP FOR SUCCESS JULY 14, 2011 // 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

DON WHEATON YMCA

A workshop for startup entrepreneurs to

help make a business plan.

ADOBE LIGHTROOM BOOT CAMP INTENSIVE WEEKEND

JULY 16 - 17, 2011

PROVIDENCE RENEWAL CENTRE

A workshop tutorial for Adobe Lightroom

with photographer Paul Burwell.

BUSINESS AND ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES: PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUCCESS

JULY 20, 2011 // 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

WORLD TRADE CENTRE EDMONTON

A workshop on how to incorporate

aboriginal people into your business

community.

BOSSY MAMA SUMMER SIZZLEJULY 21, 2011 // 7:00 PM

EYE CARE GROUP

Wine, dessert and networking

with Edmonton's most fabulous

entrepreneurs.

BOONSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL

JUNE 29 - JULY 2 , 2011

GIBBONS, ALBERTA

Alberta’s largest hard rock music

festival.

FREEWILL SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL JUNE 30 - JULY 24, 2011

HAWRELAK PARK

Free Will Players present Othello and

Twelfth Night.

DOMINION DAY AT FORT EDMONTON PARKJULY 1, 2011 // 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

FORT EDMONTON PARK

A grand celebration of the Dominion of

Canada then and now.

CANADA DAY JULY 1, 2011 // 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

UKRAINIAN HERITAGE VILLAGE

Celebrate Canada Day with Ukrainian

food, exhibits, a market, musicians and

vintage cars.

OLD STRATHCONA FOUNDATION’S SILLY SUMMER PARADE AND FESTIVAL

JULY 1, 2011 // 12:00 PM

QUEEN ALEXANDRA SCHOOL

A free celebration with Canada Day cake

and a parade through Old Strathcona.

OPTIMIZE YOUR NEWS RELEASES FOR THE WEBJULY 27, 2011 // 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM

NORTHERN ALBERTA BUSINESS

INCUBATOR

Learn how to optimize online content

for browsers, bloggers and online

journalists.

IGNITE CHANGE NOW! GLOBAL YOUTH ASSEMBLYJULY 27 - 30, 2011

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

International forum on social change. This

year’s theme is the world’s water supply.

SOCIAL

THE WORKS ART & DESIGN FESTIVAL JUNE 23 - JULY 5, 2011

CHURCHILL SQUARE

Display of innovative and traditional art, as

well as workshops and seminars for artists.

EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

JUNE 24 - JULY 3, 2011

VARIOUS LOCATIONS

A celebration of local, national and

international jazz talent.

B U S I N E S S

S O C I A L

F U N D R A I S E R

S P O R T S

HAVE AN AWESOME

UPCOMING EVENT? LET US

KNOW. WE’LL PUBLISH IT IN

PRINT AND IN THE MERGE

ONLINE CALENDAR. FOR

MORE INFORMATION ON THE

FOLLOWING EVENTS GO TO

THE ONLINE CALENDAR AT:

WWW.MERGEMAG.CA

SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JULY // 2011

31

45

OLD STRATHCONA FARMERS’ MARKETJULY 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2011 // 8:30 AM -

3:00 PM

10310 83RD AVE.

Weekly market featuring local produce,

meat, crafts, etc.

GREEN SHOPPER EXPO

JULY 2 - 3, 2011

BONNIE DOON MALL

A shopping event to promote

sustainability in Edmonton.

EDMONTON AND NORTHERN ALBERTA HISTORIC FESTIVAL

JULY 8 - 17, 2011 // 7:00 PM

VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Enjoy museums, exhibits and hands-on

pioneer experiences.

EDMONTON STREET PERFORMERS FESTIVALJUNE 8 - 17, 2011

CHURCHILL SQUARE

An international cast of jugglers, sword-

swallowers, dancers, acrobats, musicians

and more.

COUGAR PAINT AND COLLISION CLASSIC CAR SHOW

JULY 9, 2011 // 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

NORTHLANDS PARK

Show off your classic car and see what

other enthusiasts have to offer

MODERN MAMA INFANT AND CHILD CPR EDUCATIONAL SESSION JULY 9, 2011 // 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM

CASTLEDOWNS BAPTIST CHURCH

SOCIAL

A workshop covering the basics of child

CPR, choking and prevention.

CELTIC GATHERING

JULY 9 - 10, 2011

// 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

FORT EDMONTON PARK

Northern Alberta’s largest Celtic festival,

with pipe bands, drumming and Highland

athletic events.

SOS FEST

JULY 10, 2011 // 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

WHYTE AVE BETWEEN 103 AND 105 ST.

Two blocks of Whyte Ave are closed

to traffic for a street fair and musical

performances.

HANDMADE MAFIA

JULY 15 - 16, 2011

// 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

STRATHCONA BAPTIST CHURCH

Monthly market showcasing the work of

local crafters.

WHYTE AVENUE ART WALK

JULY 15 - 17, 2011

WHYTE AVENUE

Outdoor art display and sale.

RACE WEEK MUSIC FESTIVAL

JULY 16 - 24, 2011

SUTTON PLACE HOTEL

Nightly concerts concurrent with the

Edmonton Indy.

EDMONTON STORY SLAM

JULY 20, 2011 // 7:30 PM

HAVEN SOCIAL CLUB

Opportunity to present a short story to

an audience.

CAPITAL EX PARADE

JULY 21, 2011 // 10:00 AM

DOWNTOWN

Annual parade to kick off Capital Ex.

EDMONTON: THE MUSICAL

JULY 21 - 24, 2011 // 7:00 PM

AVENUE THEATRE

Musical theatre featuring Edmonton’s

local music talent.

A TASTE OF EDMONTON JULY 21 - 30, 2011

// 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

CHURCHILL SQUARE

Festival of food from over 30 Edmonton

restaurants, along with live musical

performances.

CAPITAL EX

JULY 22 - 31, 2011

NORTHLANDS PARK

Annual exhibition featuring a midway,

exhibits, shopping, entertainment and food.

AMA VINTAGE VEHICLE WEEKEND JULY 23 - 24, 2011

// 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

FORT EDMONTON PARK

Unique showcase of antique cars from

across Alberta.

BIG VALLEY JAMBOREE JULY 28 -31, 2011

CAMROSE

Alberta’s biggest country music festival.

BLUEBERRY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

JULY 29 - 31, 2011

HERTIAGE PARK, STONY PLAIN

Family-friendly bluegrass and country

music festival.

HERITAGE FESTIVAL

JULY 30 - AUGUST 1, 2011

HAWRELAK PARK

Showcase of Canada’s vibrant multi-

cultural heritage.

FAIRY BERRY FESTIVAL JULY 30 - AUGUST 1, 2011

PRAIRIE GARDEN

Family-friendly activities and events,

including a corn maze.

FUNDRAISER

PIGEON LAKE PEDAL FOR THE ALBERTA CANCER FOUNDATION

JULY 2, 2011

PIGEON LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK

Pledge-based fundraising cycle tour to

benefit cancer.

PINOT ON THE PATIO

JULY 6, 2011

ROYAL GLENORA CLUB

An evening out including a live and silent

auction, benefiting the Kids With Cancer

Society.

KIDNEY FOUNDATION FAMILY PICNIC JULY 7, 2011 // 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

HAWRELAK PARK

A fun night for victims of kidney disorders

and their families.

46

EASTER SEALS SHUCK AND SUCKJULY 9, 2011 // 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

MURRIETTA’S WEST COAST GRILL

Teams compete to “shuck and suck”

oysters in a round-robin tournament to

benefit Easter Seals

LAP THE TRACK JULY 17, 2011 // 4:00 PM

CITY CENTRE LANDS TRACK

A run/walk/wheel-a-thon to benefit spinal

cord research.

PAWS UNPLUGGED JUNE 23, 2011 // 1:00 PM

MILNER LIBRARY

Benifit concert for the Edmonton Humane

Society.

SPORTS

CANADA DAY PINK RIBBON TRIATHLONJULY 1, 2011

MILLENNIUM PLACE

A triathlon for breast cancer awareness.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS. MAUI NO KOA IKAIKAJULY 1, 2011 // 7:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS. MAUI NO KOA IKAIKA

JULY 2, 2011 // 7:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball

EDMONTON ESKIMOS VS. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

JULY 9, 2011 // 5:00 PM

COMMONWEALTH STADIUM

CFL professional football.

EDMONTON ITU WORLD CUP RACEJULY 10, 2011 // 1:00 PM

HAWRELAK LAKE

Elite triathlon event.

FC EDMONTON VS. CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

JULY 13, 2011 // 7:30 PM

FOOTE FIELD

North American Soccer League

professional soccer.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS. CALGARY VIPERS

JUNE 15, 2011 // 7:00 AM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS. CALGARY VIPERS JULY 16, 2011 // 2:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS VS. B.C. LIONS JULY 16, 2011 // 5:00 PM

COMMONWEALTH STADIUM

CFL professional football.

IRONMAMA PEAK SEASON REVIEW JULY 16, 2011 // 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

TERWILLEGAR REC CENTRE

(PARKING LOT)

An interactive workshop for multi-sport

athletes, including fitness and nutritional

assessments.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS. CALGARY VIPERS JULY 17, 2011 // 2:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball.

FC EDMONTON VS. FC TAMPA BAY JULY 17, 2011 // 4:00 PM

FOOTE FIELD

North American Soccer League

professional soccer.

EDMONTON INDY JULY 22 - 24, 2011

CITY CENTRE AIRPORT

Annual stock car racing event.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS. CHICO OUTLAWS JULY 23, 2011 // 7:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball.

BASKETBALL ALBERTA 3 ON 3 TOURNAMENT JULY 23 - 24, 2011 // 5:00 PM

GO CENTRE

Players of various ages from across the

province compete in this recreational

tournament.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS. CHICO OUTLAWS JULY 24, 2011 // 2:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball.

TOUR DE L’ALBERTA CYCLE RACE JULY 24, 2011 // 7:00 AM

RAY MCDONALD SPORTS CENTRE,

MORINVILLE

A cycle race through the Alberta

countryside inspired by the Tour de France.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS. CHICO OUTLAWS JULY 26, 2011 // 7:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball.

5TH ANNUAL WISEST GOLF TOURNAMENT JULY 27, 2011 // 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM

THE LINKS AT SPRUCE GROVE

Golf tournament in support of WISEST,

which encourages women in scientific fields.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS.LAKE COUNTY FIELDERS JULY 28, 2011 // 7:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS.LAKE COUNTY FIELDERS JULY 29, 2011 // 7:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS VS. TORONTO ARGONAUTS JULY 29, 2011 // 7:30 PM

COMMONWEALTH STADIUM

CFL professional football.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS.LAKE COUNTY FIELDERS JULY 30, 2011 // 7:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball.

EDMONTON CAPITALS VS.LAKE COUNTY FIELDERS JULY 31, 2011 // 2:00 PM

TELUS FIELD

North American professional baseball.

EVENTS CALENDER CONTINUED

Merge Launch Party

On May 27, Merge was officially given back to Edmonton.

To celebrate, we held a launch party at Sherwood Park Toyota.

Hypnotist Wayne Lee hosted, and free food and drinks were plentiful;

the bacon-wrapped figs from Culina were a big hit, and wine from

Barefoot Wine and beer from Yellowhead Brewery flowed freely.

Door prizes and musical performances rounded out the night. Matt

Landry and the Dryland Band and Long Way Down were both

stellar, and lucky party-goers were treated to prizes like tickets to

Boonstock and Utopia music festivals.

Later the party moved to On the Rocks, where revellers were treated

to free cover and a free drink. Thanks to everyone who attended—it

was a great night!

PA S T E V E N T S