The other day, CBC ran a story: Having these items on hand might help if you catch COVID-19 Certain medicines, foods, comfort items can make isolation and illness a little easier and didn't I just click right on through, because I want to be prepared, even though I'm just categorically not that person. Still, I … Continue reading Stockpile supplies or cultivate friends?

On Wednesday, our dear birding correspondent shared, "While I was twiddling my thumbs in a hospital bed in Vancouver, Sharon, my wife, held the fort in Pemberton. She had an interesting visitor in the shape of a Northern Pygmy Owl. They seem to show up at least once a winter. For a meal it picked … Continue reading Birdwatch with John Tschopp: the Northern Pygmy Owl

Yesterday, my kiddo came home with a Family Literacy Bingo sheet from school, to support Family Literacy Week. The idea behind Family Literacy week is to provide supports and encouragement for families to make the time to read with each other. I think one of the best rationales for encouraging literacy is so that you … Continue reading Family Literacy Bingo is so fun

On Boxing Day, we shared word that the Spud Valley Nordic Club had lost their trailer full of gear. Well, not to mince words: some unfortunate character had hitched up their trailer and driven off with it. As we wrote: That means, they drove away with ALL THE SUPPLIES for a volunteer-powered kids’ activity.Forehead-smack.This perplexing … Continue reading What happens when community comes together?!

On Wednesday afternoon, I presented a recap of our efforts here at the Wellness Almanac over the previous year to the Pemberton Valley Utilities and Services Committee Meeting. This Committee, which brings the SLRD and the Village of Pemberton together to oversee shared services, implements the Pemberton District Initiatives Fund (PDIF), which funds 2/3s of … Continue reading Thanks to the Lil’wat Nation, SLRD and Village of Pemberton for supporting the Wellness Almanac’s existence

Something that language revitalization advocates, and language lovers, know, is that there are words and phrases in some languages (often the non-dominant languages, those from colonized cultures, with world views that we sorely need), that simply do not exist in English. And that hint at what was lost during colonization, that we might all have … Continue reading To clear your mind, go visit the trees

On Wednesday, Steve McCloskey, the President of the Pemberton + District Chamber of Commerce shared the news that, after two years, the organization's inaugural Executive Director, Meredith Kemp, will step down from the role. I am grateful to have played a role in supporting local businesses through the challenges of navigating COVID-19 and to promote … Continue reading Chamber farewells its inaugural Executive Director: thank you Meredith!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNHZ0CbUus4 A friend recently shared this video, and I confess, I didn't expect it to take the direction it did. Kent Steenekamp, the subject of the short film, shares about some of the history he had to overcome, to find his way in the world. It's very moving. Take 15 minutes with your coffee break. … Continue reading The real beauty of the world: Presence of Being

Do you ever worry about being a burden? Like, not weighing a friend or loved one down with your blues or dark thoughts, because, doesn't everyone have a lot to carry right now? It's a funny instinct, isn't it? When we most need to lighten the load by sharing with a friend, we're the least … Continue reading Give it to the river

Loved the energy the Pemberton & District Chamber of Commerce put into lifting up local legends aka businesses in the last few weeks, and for getting swept up in the good-vibes, I won a t-shirt! All I had to do was say what I love about shopping local. I mean, seriously. What's hard about that? … Continue reading I won a shirt for loving local! Who do you want to give a shout-out to?