Berkey Water Filters: Water, Water Everywhere… but Nary a Drop to Drink

By Ron Young — British Berkefeld or “Berkey” water systems have been around since the 1890s and are commonly used as the water purification system of choice by first responders to disaster areas where clean water and power are unavailable. One of the many advantages of the Berkey systems is they work without power because […]

Becoming Waste Wise: Composting

By Tera Grady — Part of the Cariboo Regional District’s Solid Waste Info Series: Becoming Waste Wise Note: *Reminder to take advantage of our SALE on composters ($40), countertop containers ($5). This deal is available to all Cariboo residents while supplies last. Only one of each product available per customer. To sign up please complete […]

Science Matters: Giving Nature a Chance Improves Our Chances of Well-Being

By David Suzuki – In early 1995, eight grey wolves were transferred from Jasper National Park in Alberta to Yellowstone National Park in the Unites States. Within two years, 23 more were brought in. The last wolves in Yellowstone had been killed in the 1920s. What happened next was remarkable. Over time, the wolves not […]

Who Are We, Where Are We Going?

By Guy Dauncey — Who are we? And where are we going on this tiny planet of ours, this bright sparkle of life in a Universe so ridiculously vast? It’s a question worth exploring, if you have ten minutes in your busy COVID day. Almost all scientists assume that the Universe is a solidly material […]

Rebuilding BC: A Portfolio of Possibilities

Vancouver’s Green Technology Education Centre (GTEC) is releasing its Rebuilding BC report to the BC government. Rebuilding BC is the work of a group of prominent environmentalists and economists in consultation with community leaders such as Ted Sheldon and Coro Strandberg. The report makes 24 recommendations to guide recovery in areas of the economy ranging […]

New Fall Releases: Rocky Mountain Books

Rocky Mountain Books is pleased to announce its new titles for Fall 2020, featuring Canadian stories covering a broad spectrum of nature, storytelling, and outdoor adventure. RMB is proud to offer a diverse list of titles by authors creating memorable books that captivate readers and inspire us all to “Think Outside.” Takaya: Lone Wolf By […]

Local Eco Stories: In Search of Sustainability

By Sasha Makhnevea — I worked hard for four years and received my bachelor’s degree in environmental science in the spring of 2019. But the week after graduation, I began a new stage of life that I call my ‘post graduate depression.’ After graduation, I wasn’t sure what kind of jobs I could find with […]

Earth Memories Earth Day April 22

 By Tim Vant – I have fond memories of growing up in the Cariboo region—as a child, running through birch leaves and admiring the papery bark and the myriad of colours brought on by leaves, wildflowers, and grasses. Every bumblebee was a delight, and every fuzzy black and orange caterpillar a new joyful discovery. Today, […]

Effective Youth Engagement in British Columbia: Co-Creating a Sustainable BC

 – Last year, Fraser Basin Council (FBC), a province-wide charitable non-profit organization, launched a new pilot initiative to create opportunities for young people to get more deeply involved in core environmental, social, and economic sustainability issues affecting their communities. In the first year of the initiative, called Co-Creating a Sustainable BC, the organization welcomed a […]

Geshe Sherab Returns for his Fifth Visit to the Cariboo

 – Gendun Drubpa Buddhist Centre in Williams Lake was established in 2012 to provide a place in the community for people to access Buddhist teachings, meditation, or just quiet space for spiritual contemplation. Part of a world-wide network, the centre is affiliated with the parent organization known as the Foundation for the Preservation of the […]

Celebrate Seed Sovereignty – Seedy Saturday and the Williams Lake Farmers’ Market in Williams Lake, May 2

By Erin Hitchcock – Seedy Saturday and the Early Bird Farmers Market in Williams Lake, May 2 Little can compare to the first bite of a freshly picked veggie, grown yourself or by a friend or neighbour. You can imagine how it formed from a tiny seed and was nurtured by careful hands, fed by […]

Protecting Species by Making Room for Nature

By Gauri Sreenivasan, Nature Canada’s Director of Policy and Campaigns – Let’s face it: we wish there was no need to mark Endangered Species Day. Unfortunately, for now the trends seem to indicate otherwise. In Canada, half of all monitored species have declined (see WWF-Canada’s Living Planet Report ) in Canada since the 1970s, many […]

Changing the World Without Burning Out: What Are Your Natural Skills?

By Guy Dauncey – Many years ago, I lived in London, United Kingdom, in a house four us had bought together. Being self-employed, I was always on the look-out for work. My book The Unemployment Handbook had been published five years earlier, and I had acquired some skills, so I decided to set myself up […]

Nourishing our Children | Winter 2019 | Hair Care Quandaries

By Barbara Schellenberg – Here is what hair care was like for my family of five: We spent $1,200 a year on shampoo and conditioner. That’s 48 single use plastic bottles to recycle and 24 litres of questionable substances washed down the drain, not to mention time spent each month shopping for products. I wanted […]

Opinion: Williams Lake Final Destination for CN’s Garbage?

By Stephanie Bird, on behalf of Rail Ties Be Wise, Williams Lake – Who stands to gain if rail ties are burned at the biomass power generator in Williams Lake? Certainly, Canadian National Railway (CN) will benefit. The company would have a simple solution to its problem—the trackside accumulation of waste rail ties between here […]

Sustainable Living Leadership Program

Bill 49-2018: Professional Governance Act Introduced in BC

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, George Heyman, has tabled new legislation intended to improve regulation of the qualified professionals who make decisions about British Columbia’s natural resources. Bill 49 follows a public engagement process to review the Professional Reliance model of decision-making and an independent report and recommendations by noted environmental lawyer Mark […]

Nourishing our Children | Nov/Dec/Jan 2018-19

By Barbara Schellenberg – HEALTHY SNACKS AND WHY School Snack Bars (Makes 12 bars) Ingredients 2 cups rolled oats 1/2 cup rolled oats, blended to a coarse powder in food processor 1/2 cup raisins, finely chopped 3/4 cup coconut, shredded 1/2 cup dates, finely chopped 2 tablespoons wheat germ 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 egg 2 […]

Bringing Back the Wildhood

By Kristine Webber – Let me start by saying I don’t generally align myself with the RV crowd. (Not that there’s anything wrong with RVing; when I go on vacation I prefer to either sleep under the stars or have a soft bed and room service.) So imagine my surprise when I saw the new […]

Pro-rep governments look after the environment and the economy better

By Tim Pearson – Most British Columbians care deeply about the environment. Perhaps it is because of our jaw-dropping scenery and iconic species, from ancient forests to grizzly bears to salmon and orcas. BC has extraordinary diversity and abundance: it is home to three-quarters of Canada’s mammal and bird species, and 70 per cent of […]

Southern Dãkelh Nation Alliance

By Sage Birchwater – The Southern Dãkelh Nation Alliance (SDNA) is poised to expand its capacity to manage its traditional lands and resources in co-operation with the federal and provincial governments. The Alliance, based in the Carrier Chilcotin Tribal Council CCTC offices in Williams Lake, was formalized in April 2017 when Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation, Lhtako […]

What’s a Death Doula?

By Nicola Finch – Most of us are familiar with the role and function of a birth doula, but you may be hearing another term that is not so familiar. Death doulas are people who serve the dying and their families. It is a relatively new title, and some practitioners prefer to soften the description […]

Laughing Loon Pub, Williams Lake

Laughing Loon Pub • Contact 1730A Broadway Ave S, Williams Lake, BC V2G 2W4 Hours: Monday to Saturday 11a.m.–11p.m. Sunday 11a.m.–9p.m. Website: www.laughingloonpub.com Phone: (778) 412-6655

A Spiritual Connection to Salmon

This summer, the Downtown Williams Lake Business Improvement Association (WLBIA) put a call out to First Nations youth to apprentice in learning about creating murals with Dwayne Davis Arts. Being of Secmepemc descent, I was chosen and given the honour to contribute my art to the community. I began praying for a vision that would […]

Tŝilhqot’in Nation announces Peaceful Gathering at Teẑtan Biny and Yanah Biny; Seeks Injunction against Taseko Drilling Program

The Tŝilhqot’in community of Xeni Gwet’in is assembling for a peaceful gathering and harvesting camp at Teẑtan Biny (Fish Lake) and Yanah Biny (Little Fish Lake), a place of profound cultural and spiritual significance for the Tŝilhqot’in people. This peaceful gathering and camp has the full support of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation. For over a decade […]

Waste Wise | Recycling in the Cariboo: The War on Contamination

By Tera Grady – Throughout the Cariboo, there are various recycling services in place including curbside recycling and recycling depots. With China’s strict policy on recyclables, the war on contamination in recyclable material is very important for recycling in BC. So, how do contamination rates compare through the recycling services in the Cariboo Regional District […]

National Forest Week: Contribute to innovation in the living laboratory of Canada

Natalie A. Swift – Amidst the thick smoke we experienced this summer, I heard a common sentiment being expressed by residents of this region: we need to do things differently. This desire for change is an expression of a hunger for innovation, for new ideas and approaches to address the social, economic, and environmental issues […]

Celebrating World Animal Day Close to Home

By LeRae Haynes – Giving animals the best life possible is at the heart of a caring young family in Williams Lake. Kathleen, Sophia, and their four-month-old baby have rescued and opened their home to five cats named Sampson, Rebekah, Ellie, Absence, and Mylo, a dog named Sadie, Aki the orange corn snake, Esther the […]

Arts on the Fly 2018 Festival

Tickets are on sale now for Arts on the Fly’s 2018 summer festival, set to erupt July 13-14 in beautiful Horsefly, BC. Get them while they’re hot from www.artsonthefly.com. The lineup this year features BC’s finest in bluegrass, folk, soul, cumbia (that’s right, BC has a cumbia scene), blues, experimental, and more. In the realm […]

Federal government’s purchase of Kinder Morgan pipeline a major misstep for Canada

Project puts Canada’s climate and biodiversity goals, long-term economic prosperity, and Indigenous reconciliation efforts at risk The federal government’s decision today to purchase Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline project for $4.5 billion ignores major risks to the long-term well-being of everyone in Canada. The government announced plans to purchase the existing pipeline infrastructure and build […]

The Canadian Mosaic Project: Uniting Canada one person at a time

By Tim Van Horn – At age five, I had already taken my first photograph and decided I wanted to be a ‘cameraman.’ Growing up and travelling around Canada with my family in the Canadian Air Force, I developed a sense of duty to the people and fell in love with cultural experience in my […]

1001 Recipes for Ashes

By Venta Rutkauskas – Community Arts Council collaborates with poet Sonya Littlejohn on creative workshops focusing on wildfire experiences. Let me tell you a story. Since the wildfires, I have been searching. Pulled by a will to feel centred, to record and understand, I have turned to my notebook, composing to match the visions of […]

“Making Your Writing Fly” with acclaimed writer Betsy Warland: Scholarship for Writers Available

By Julie Fowler, executive and artistic director of Island Mountain Arts and the ArtsWells Festival – Island Mountain Arts (IMA) is pleased to welcome award-winning writer Betsy Warland to Wells this summer to teach and is offering a full scholarship for a central/northern writer to attend. “Making Your Writing Fly,” which runs July 7–10, is […]

No Time Left to Waste: WLACL WORKS

By Oliver Berger – Literally it seems that way lately: we have no time left to waste. With all the plastic pollution confronting our society, our unnecessary packaging, and our one-time-use items, we are beginning to be surrounded by our leftovers. Frankly, it is overwhelming. However, to be honest I have been waiting for this. […]

Waste Wise | Other Flexible Plastic Packaging

By Tera Grady – While China is cracking down on the amount of contamination it receives with recyclables, many parts of North America are finding it harder and harder to market their recyclables. However, Recycle BC is launching a pilot for a new category of packaging to collect. Starting June 1, all Cariboo Regional District […]

Downtown Businesses Say Thank You for Shopping Locally

By Stefanie Hendrickson – Here at Downtown Williams Lake, planning is underway for this year’s Four Directions Festival (formerly Stampede Street Party) that will take place on Saturday, June 30 from noon to 5 p.m. (following the parade). Downtown Williams Lake is a not-for-profit business improvement association that is established through the Community Charter and […]

After Death Communication

By Angela Gutzer – “There is no death. Only a change of worlds.” ~ Chief Seattle Have you grieved the loss of someone and felt you wished you could go back in time and change things with them? Perhaps if you were more available? Made more trips to visit them? Wished you hadn’t done or […]

Science | Skywatch with Bill Irwin

By Bill Irwin – This article covers June, July, and August. It’s about time, astronomy is totally married to it, the positions and motions of the heavenly bodies are the hands of a great cosmic clock. Hence the great seasonal variations. You get a sense of it being out under the stars. The dark times […]

Hotbed of Creativity: Groups seek out creative expressions of wildfire experiences

By Venta Rutkauskas – Birdsong and snowmelt—true signs of spring have sprung. The season carries the energy of renewal and the completion of the dark interval, guiding us to sprout new perspectives based upon our wintry reflections. Under the weight of snow and ash, did you discover something about your wildfire experience that hadn’t had […]

Waste Wise | China’s National Sword

By Tera Grady – In 2017, China implemented its National Sword initiative, which has drastically reduced the amount of contamination permitted in recyclables sent to China. This change has brought about some impacts on Cariboo Regional District residents that you should know about. These changes have been minor, since all the curbside and the majority […]

Death Cafe: A heart open space where we can talk about death

By Angela Gutzer – It has been close to one year since my mother died (March 18, 2017). Our family has had our first summer at the cabin without her. We had our first Christmas without her. Of course, these milestones were difficult. There are also the day-by-day markers of time where you are suddenly […]

Regional Outdoor Leadership Program Brings Students Together

Submitted by Rivershed Society of BC – Two women who travelled the length of the Fraser River together in 2016 as part of the Sustainable Living Leadership Program (SLLP) have joined forces to design, develop, and deliver a new experiential learning program this year on the Lower Fraser River. Petra Markova and Megan Rempel are […]

Science | Skywatch with Bill Irwin

By Bill Irwin – I suppose, like your parents waiting up when you’ve been out late, it’s time for us to have that little talk about Mars. As a reader of this column, you’ve probably wondered what it might be like to stand on the surface, however briefly, and with some life support, of course. […]

Williams Lake Hospice Society: Let’s Talk About End-of-Life

By Kathie Vilkas, Executive Director, Williams Lake Hospice Society – How do you envision your end-of-life? In a hospital? In your home? Have you thought about what you would like your end-of-life journey to look like? Have you discussed your wishes with the important people in your life? Have you done your Advanced Care Plan? […]

Science | Skywatch with Bill Irwin

By Bill Irwin – Well, did Santa leave a long slender package hiding a telescope under the tree? Or maybe a short stubby one with some new binoculars or a moon globe or something? I’m afraid some of you might have gotten yard lights for Christmas. Maybe one of those intense blue LED ones that […]

Remembering Gloria Atamanenko (April 28, 1932 – October 12, 2017)

By Van Andruss – Gloria Atamanenko, a dear friend and a greatly valued contributor to Lived Experience, died this year at Deni House in Williams Lake, BC. By her side was George Atamanenko, her husband of 60 years, and her devoted son, Peter. Gloria Katherine Chomiak was the first born of six children on a […]

Muse Flash: Random Acts of Kindness

By Al-Lisa McKay – “Goodness is about character, integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.” ~ Dennis Prager Do you ever ponder that randomness is a mathematical concept? In statistics and probability, a random event means that it cannot be predicted. […]

Green Burial: The natural choice

By Nicola Finch – Do you want to be buried or cremated? In our death phobic society, that’s one of the more acceptable questions when broaching death as a topic of conversation. Frankly, I think we need more and simpler choices—burial options that cause no harm to people or the environment. We understand the necessity […]

Home Funerals: The Empowering Journey of having a Loved one Home after Death

By Angela Gutzer – I am sure many of you reading this article have experienced a loved one’s death and/or funeral service. Depending on your background, the funeral may have consisted of a graveside memorial, a viewing, or a church service, with many variations on the theme of saying goodbye and memorialization of the individual. […]

Spring Equinox: Celebrating rebirth and balance

By Jessica Kirby, Senior Editor of TheGreenGazette – Spring Equinox is almost here. The birth of spring, the rebirth of warmth and brightness—this is the time of year to celebrate love and light and new beginnings. In the astronomy world, the Equinoxes (spring and autumn) are the only times in the year when the “solar […]

A Change of Heart to Change a Life

By LeRae Haynes – The word heart is used in so many songs, expressions, and sentiments, and leading up to Valentine’s Day, it’s even more common to hear the word. With my whole heart, heartfelt, healing heart, two hearts as one, heartening, and I give you my heart, are just a few ways it is […]

Letters: The Importance of Watersheds

Every creek, wetland, lake, and swamp is part of the larger whole known as a watershed. Whether you know it or not, we all rely on our watersheds for forestry, fish and wildlife, recreation, and the water itself. Watersheds are like the arteries and veins of the land base and they support the diversity of […]

Hygge: A Scandinavian social phenomenon, with a Canadian twist!

By Sandra K. Klassen – Hygge, pronounced “hoo-gah,” is a Scandinavian social phenomenon that seems to be finding its ground in Canada. Or, at least it is a term Canadians can now attach to a winter coziness many of us have experienced for a lifetime. But for so long we just couldn’t quite put our […]

Arts & Culture | Spirit Calling: New show at the Gecko Tree Cafe by Horsefly artist Christina Mary

The wildness of the Northwest coast of British Columbia and a lineage full of prolific artists provided the soil in which the seeds of Christina Mary’s own creativity could sprout. Her childhood was spent roaming beaches and exploring the coast’s inlets, crisscrossing rivers and bay hopping, discovering the texture of the natural world. Her father’s […]

Health Issues | Heads in the Sand, Pies in the Sky: Governments deny the facts of life

By Olga Sheean – When wisely applied and when based on empirical research, science helps keep us safe. Science makes sense of things and helps us understand how things work. It stops us from sticking our fingers in electrical sockets or from thinking we can fly if we jump off a high building, in defiance […]

Come One, Come All to the Williams Lake Medieval Market November 25 and 26

By Melinda Mckinnon – The voice of the Town Crier carries over the assembled crowd, who shuffle their feet trying to dispel the seasonal chill from their bones. As the Crier unfurls his scroll, his voice can be heard announcing, “Hear ye, hear ye… come one, come all… to the now open Medieval Market.” The […]

Conservation Conversation: Volunteers make the world go ‘round

By Vanessa Moberg, Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society – Volunteers are important. Really important. Renowned author and political scientist Robert Putnam has suggested that social capital – defined as civic engagement, cooperation, trust amongst citizens, and working towards the common good – is critical to our democracies, economies, and societal health and well-being. It is also […]

Northern Exposure returns to Wells, BC from October 12–15

Northern Exposure returns to Wells, BC from October 12–15. It’s your annual opportunity to learn and share ideas with your peers, as well as experts in the field of rural arts, culture, and festival organizing. Wells is at the core of the Cariboo. It comes alive once again for arts and culture administrators, creative not-for […]

Discover Wellness Health Fair & Market in Williams Lake October 14, 2017

Spiral Health is kicking off the first annual Discover Wellness Health Fair & Market in Williams Lake. It will be held Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in The Gibraltar Room at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex. The health fair is about “Inspiring a Healthy You!” It has been a successful […]

Arts & Culture | Arts Truly on the Fly

By Brandon Hoffman, Artistic Director, Arts on the Fly – July 8, the day after the fires first broke out in Williams Lake, the biggest thing on my mind was the fate of Arts on the Fly Festival, slated for the following weekend. I went through the motions like everybody else: putting together my evacuation […]

Waste Wise | Central Cariboo Transfer Station: Share Sheds for the people, by the people

By Tera Grady – If you frequent the Central Cariboo Transfer Station on Frizzi Road in Williams Lake, you will know that the site houses a couple of Share Sheds for residents to drop off and pick up items free of charge. Loved by many, these Share Sheds are a great way to encourage waste […]

Conservation | Where have all the salmon gone?

By Melissa Chaun – It has been eerily quiet on the Lower Fraser River this year. Not a single fishing boat to be seen. At the time of writing this, the commercial salmon fishery had yet to open this season and likely never will. There are simply not enough salmon. Even the Musqueam Indian Band, […]

Stewardship | Rivershed Society of BC: Pledge for watershed conservation, protection, and restoration

By Fin Donnelly – What a summer. The wildfires displaced tens of thousands of people and animals, and disrupted many planned activities, which included forcing the cancellation of the Rivershed Society of BC’s (RSBC) 26-day Sustainable Living Leadership Program, a trip down the entire Fraser River by canoe, raft, shuttle van, and foot. The fires […]

Conservation | Goat River Watershed: Can a gold rush trail save the salmon?

By Simon Zukowski – The Fraser River is home to perhaps the world’s largest salmon run. Yet fewer salmon have been returning to the Fraser in recent years and the runs have been fluctuating more wildly. The trend is not in salmons’ favour. Fish are sensitive to temperature changes and as the Fraser heats up […]

Arts on the Fly 2017 Music Festival July 14 and 15 in Horsefly, BC

Thousands (if not millions) of emails and phone calls later, we are finally ready to announce the lineup of Arts on the Fly’s 2017 summer festival. Not one to shy away from diversity (or exaggeration), this may be the widest assortment of musical styles for an Arts on the Fly to date. Without further ado: […]

Bee Audacious Gathering – Part Two: Where to go from here?

By Diane Dunaway – In Part One of my report about the Bee Audacious gathering held last December in San Marin County, California, I related the experience as part travelogue. Once home, processing the conference was surprisingly challenging. At the best of times expectations can be unrealistic; compound that with words like “audacious” and the […]

The Complexity of Ego: Cultivating a healthy relationship with ourselves

By Ciel Patenaude – Egos have a pretty bad image. Thanks to Freud and his buddies in the therapy realm combined with some intense uber-oneness-focused spirituality amplified in the 1960s (and today), most of us are perplexed by the existence, importance, and meaning of our egos, and are quick to judge them as creations of […]

BC government urged to ban trophy hunting of grizzly bears

HSI/Canada, Pacific Wild, and middle school students unite to protect wildlife in the lead-up to the provincial election. Humane Society International/Canada, Pacific Wild, and middle school students from Glenlyon Norfolk school are calling on the BC government to implement a complete ban on the trophy hunting of grizzly bears in British Columbia, and to implement […]

Forests Forum – Community Speaks Out on Sawmills, Logging

By Peter Atamanenko – On Thursday, March 16, a meeting held at the Central Cariboo Arts Centre in Williams Lake brought in a progressive-minded think tank to share a few different ideas about the future of our public forests. A full house packed the old firehall, with about 70 people. Ben Parfitt, resource analyst with […]

Celebrate Earth Day at Handmade in the Cariboo Event

By LeRae Haynes – A community event celebrating local artisans is coming to Williams Lake on April 22, thanks to the efforts and vision of two young business owners Leslie Mahar and Lacey Tomlinson. Leslie from Paper Airplanes and Lacey from Something Borrowed Weddings and Events are bringing together vendors, shoppers, and families for Handmade […]

In Love with Stuff – Philosophies of Simplicity

By Jennifer Clark – Downsizing and living a simple life is part of many different philosophies, and can be traced back decades, if not centuries. In what is probably one of the first (or at least the best-known) rejections of modern working life, Henry David Thoreau built himself a small home next to Walden Pond […]

Seedlings for Starters

By Jessica Kirby, Senior Editor of TheGreenGazette – Whether to plants seeds or nurse seedlings—that is the question. As a non-commercial home gardener with boxes my husband made and a crapshoot of light and soil quality locations around my property, the gardening season is always an adventure. I try new things each year, along with […]

Plastic, Plastic Everywhere

By Jessica Kirby – Love it or hate it, plastic is everywhere. Since its earliest development nearly 200 years ago, the compound has revolutionized the world but with dire environmental consequences. How Much Plastic? Each year, plastic consumption increases by nine per cent over the previous year. • The world has produced more plastic in […]

Step into Ecstasy this Spring

By Ciel Patenaude – It has been a lengthy, bizarre, and intense winter, rife with viruses that wouldn’t quit, overwhelming political and sociological events both south of the border and within our own boundaries, extreme and levelling blocks of frigid arctic air, and the snow that just kept coming. Hopefully by the time you’re reading […]

First in the Nation: Maryland State Advisory Council on Children’s Health Recommends Reducing Wireless Exposures in The Classroom

By Theodora Scarato, MSW – In December 2016, the Maryland State Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council (CEHPAC) voted to issue recommendations advising the Maryland Department of Education to recommend that local school districts reduce classroom wireless radiation exposures to as low as possible by providing wired – rather than wireless – internet connections. […]

Power of the Heart: Awakening Our Hearts’ Intelligence

Submitted by Dina Stephenson –  Everybody has a heart and your body can not live without it. But your heart is also more than just an organ pumping blood throughout your body. With the help of HeartMath® techniques you are able to tap into your heart’s intelligence and start healing yourself. HeartMath is a unique […]

Natural Health | What I do When I get Sick

By Dr. Adam McLeod, ND, BSc (Hons) – There are hundreds of natural therapies that can be used to support or stimulate the immune system. It is often challenging to sift through this information to find out what actually works. Everyone you talk to will have a different solution they swear by. In this article, I […]

Arts & Culture | Safety Meeting 2017

By Brandon Hoffman – We kicked off the 2017 Safety Meeting concert series with sold out double-night performances by Kym Gouchie and Marin Patenaude with her band The Follow Through. I am thoroughly stoked with how the whirlwind weekend came together. All the music was outstanding, and on Saturday we managed to sneak an afternoon […]

Arts & Culture | The 1st annual Cariboo-Chilcotin Film Festival

By Casey Bennett – Krista Liebe is a true film buff through and through. There’s an excitement that comes over her as she lights up when discussing obscure, difficult to find films from countries like Estonia and Iran. As a film buff myself, it’s quite contagious, really. Over a three-hour conversation, we spoke about her […]

Activism | Women’s Day: Let’s create a future that belongs to all of us

By Jessica Kirby, Senior Editor of TheGreenGazette – The Unites States under President Donald Trump is currently the most convenient place to look for evidence of a systemic movement to erode women’s rights. In just a few short weeks, President Trump has reinstated the global gag rule or Mexico City Policy, which blocks US federal […]

Arts & Culture | Pharis Romero Sings True: About the year that was and a singing workshop, too

By Venta Ruthkauskas – The Community Arts Council of Williams Lake is excited to present a day-long singing workshop with Pharis Romero on March 11. There’s a little slice of heaven round the corner from here. A river dances through it, and all the birds gather there. A songbird makes her home, builds her nest, […]

Windy Creek Farm

Windy Creek Farm · At Windy Creek Farm we produce the kind of grass fed beef that we like to eat.  Our animals are raised in a peaceful free range, low density environment where they can thrive without the use of antibiotics, added hormones, vaccines, chemical pesticides, grains or animal bi-products. We have chosen the breeding […]

NATURAL HEALTH | A Healthy Gut for a Healthy Life

By Kristin Lehar – With Halloween barely behind us and Christmas just around the corner, the sweets and sugary temptations are not easy to escape. It’s hard not to give in to the shiny, embellished displays of seasonal sweets popping out from every corner at the grocery store and at the same time how many times […]

ECOLOGY & WILDLIFE | The Cariboo-Chilcotin Ecosystems Restoration Steering Committee: Serving the Region since 2008

Covering less than one per cent of BC, native grasslands are home to the highest diversity of at-risk plant and animal species. The grassland ecosystems of our province have been negatively impacted by wildfire suppression combined with a continued absence of prescribed fire. The lack of fire leads to the encroachment of trees onto grasslands […]

Opinion: Buying Fair Trade is a Commitment to Think

By Lisa Hilton– Step one: somebody plants the cotton plants. Step two: the plants are tended by field workers until the cotton grows. Step three: the cotton is harvested. Meanwhile, one million cotton workers are hospitalized that year, due to contact with the strong pesticides and insecticides. Step four: the cotton is milled into yarn. […]

COMMUNITY | Becoming a Citizen of Canada

By Sharon Taylor – Canada celebrated Citizenship Week from October 10 to 16 this year, and it was a good time for all Canadians, whether by birth or choice, to reflect on what it means to be a Canadian in today’s complex world. To become a citizen, a person must pay a fee (presently $630), […]

HEALTH ISSUES | Natural Health Products (NHPs) Are Not Drugs

By Reuben Dinsmore, ND –   I know I’m preaching to the choir here—if you have been to see a naturopathic doctor, there’s a very high chance you’ve benefitted from the recommendation of certain nutraceutical supplements along your treatment journey. And so I invite you to take a moment to send a message to your […]

SPIRITUALITY | Recalibrating

By Margaret-Anne Enders – I generally tend toward the Luddite end of the technologically savvy scale; however, lately I have developed a new respect for a certain piece of technology: my parents’ GPS. Well, not the GPS exactly, but the woman who lives inside it. Surprisingly, she has surfaced as a new mentor for me. […]

ARTS & CULTURE | Arts on the Fly and Safety Meeting Update

In October, the Arts on the Fly Festival Society had its AGM, and we are incredibly excited to announce that Arts on the Fly Festival 2017 will be going down July 14 and 15 in beautiful Horsefly, BC. After taking a year off, our returning volunteers are feeling refreshed, and we have plenty of new […]

Spacing the Chorus: A small investigation of extemporaneous particulation

By Ron Young – There are times when a dog barks repeatedly and at a sufficient volume and frequency that it raises the attention of his neighbours, who take up the chorus and transmit his message across the night-yards and country paddocks of the region. What may initiate this disturbance is a matter of great curiosity […]

Xatśūll Trail Development

By Miriam Schilling– Our community completed a Trails and Recreation Strategy Plan in March 2015 and constructed the first multi-use trail at Deep Creek during the summer of 2015. Due to the success of our first trail initiative and very strong community support, we started the development of multi-use hiking and biking trails at Soda […]

New Paradigm Teas

New Paradigm Teas · Four Nourishing blends of locally, organically grown and wildcrafted herbal teas by Callie Borkowski.   Contact Phone: 250 267-3468 Email: newparadigmteas@gmail.com  

RECIPES | Cultured Delights: Fermenting foods for optimal health

By Kristin Lehar – Fermenting foods and making various jars of pickled delights out of the abundance of produce bursting out of the garden at this time of year is probably one of my favourite things to do. The satisfaction of harvesting the fruits (and veggies) of your labour, creating delightful vegetable combinations, stuffing them […]

COMMUNITY | Restorative Justice: An alternative that works

By LeRae Haynes – Giving people a chance to turn their lives around and connecting them to their communities is at the heart of a growing, successful program in Williams Lake. For nearly 20 years Restorative Justice has taken cases off the court dockets, bringing offenders and victims face to face to discuss impact and […]

STEWARDSHIP | What the Heck is Worm Composting?

By Jennifer Clark– We’ve probably all put a worm on a hook to catch a fish at some point in our lives—maybe, like me, it was when you were out fishing with your grandfather as a kid. What I never knew until I started to learn about urban gardening and sustainability was that those wiggly […]

COMMUNITY | Taking Refuge

By Sharon Taylor– You wake up in the morning, acrid smoke already making your throat hurt. You glance out the window as you get ready for work. Every time a plane flies over, you look up and calculate how near it is and what direction it is going in. At work, everyone is talking nervously. […]

ACTIVISM | Local March for Food Justice Lends Voice to Millions

By Erin Hitchcock – A couple dozen people marched through Williams Lake last month to raise awareness about pesticides and genetically modified food and how these products may harm our health, environment, and society. While this local March for Food Justice was small, participants joined millions of people across the globe, marching in solidarity during […]

Green Business Feature | Welcome to the family at Sta-Well Health Foods

By LeRae Haynes – When Bruce Mattson opened the doors of Sta-Well Health Foods in Williams Lake 38 years ago, people laughed at the health food industry and thought he was out of his mind. “This was a meat-and-potatoes town, and when I borrowed money and set up this store people thought I was crazy,” […]

FARM & GARDEN | Victory Gardens for Bees: A DIY Guide to Saving the Bees

  Bees are essential to human life. As pollinators of vital crops, they bring forth approximately 90 per cent of the world’s nutrition. Yet pesticides and other environmental stressors have destroyed more than 10 million hives to date, and populations continue to plummet.           Victory Gardens for Bees is both a clarion call for […]

COMMUNITY | Williams Lake Refugee Sponsorship Group

By Sharon Taylor-   “The public support has been remarkable,” says Paola Konge, president of the Williams Lake Refugee Sponsorship Group (WLRSG) Organizing Committee. “So many people are asking how they can get involved.” More than 50 people have joined the newly-formed WLRSG, and are actively preparing for the next steps. Local organizations such as […]

CONSERVATION | World Water Day 2016 and the Future of the Blue Work Force

  By Brianna van de Wijngaard – Community Liaison Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society 2016 brings yet another World Water Day (WWD) on March 22. Part of its purpose is to keep water conservation and preservation top of mind at both local and global levels, but also because each WWD theme is part of a strategic […]

RECIPES | STRENGTH IN SUPERFOODS | Warming Winter Recipes

By Devon Chappell — How about a cup of joy, my friend? Through our senses, the changing of the seasons, love, and desire we have constant reminders that we are alive. But if we are not soulfully connected to each aspect of life, we can end up in conflict within ourselves and with our bodies. With […]

Zirnhelt Ranch

Zirnhelt Ranch • Producers of Grassfed & Finished Beef • Pasture Raised Pork • Welcome to the Zirnhelt Ranch, a family owned and operated ranch located in Beaver Valley BC.  Beaver Valley is a lush agricultural oasis located in the western foothills of the Cariboo Mountains near the city of Williams Lake.   The climate is ideally suited for grazing cattle […]

The Williams Lake Water Factory

The Williams Lake Water Factory • Pure Bottled Water, Home & Office Delivery  Come see us on Toonie Tuesday! Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm Sat: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm   Phone: 250 398-5201 Facebook: The Williams Lake Water Factory   Address: 955 S. Mackenzie Ave Williams Lake, BC.  V2G 3X9  

San Jose Cattle Company

San Jose Cattle Company • Sustainable Agriculture, Raised Naturally/Local Beef, No antibiotics, hormones, chemical fertilizers or herbicides. Phone: 250 296-4592 Clint and Karen Thompson

Rona Home Centre

Rona Home Centre • Home Improvement “ECO” cleaning & gardening products, LED bulbs & energy-efficient building products.  Responsible disposal available for recycling of paint, stain, CFLs, batteries, saw blades & more. Website: rona.ca Address: 298 Proctor St, Williams Lake, BC V2G 1S1 Phone:(250) 392-7767   BUSINESS HOURS Monday – Friday: 07:30 – 18:00 Saturday: 08:00 – 18:00 Sunday: 09:00 […]

The Hobbit House

The Hobbit House • Shopping & Retail Juice Bar, Natural Products, Essential Oils, Teas, Crystals, Gemstones, and more. Unique Things for Unique Souls. Hours: Mon – Fri: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm   Phone:(250) 392-7599 Facebook: The Hobbit House   Address:  71 1 Ave S Williams Lake, BC V2G 1H4        

Dockside Haircuts

Dockside Haircuts · Spa, Beauty & Personal Care Welcome to Dockside Haircuts! Cindy Nelson has 21 years experience to help you with your hair decisions. We take care of your perms, streaks, foils, styling, products for your hair, and cutting. We invite walk-ins, or appointments. We carry the GOLDWELL COLOUR & PRODUCT LINE. We also carry […]

Day Spa Champagne

Day Spa Champagne · Spa, Beauty, & Personal Care Quiet, relaxing, personalized atmosphere. A Zen experience. Four Types Massage, Reflexology, Manicures/Pedicures & More. Products: Aubrey Organics SoapWorks/SpaRitual. Local feather & semi-precious stone jewelry. Address: 124 2 Ave N, Williams Lake, BC V2G 1Z6 Phone:(250) 305-1249

Dandelion Living

Dandelion Living · Clothing & Home Local, Original, Fair Trade, Hand Made, Organic goodness for baby, home, gifts, and togs for humans and their offspring. Look Good. Feel Good. Be Good. All Dandelion Living products have been sourced from manufacturers that are committed to the environment and being fair with the people that produce their wares. […]

Cleanway Supply Inc. Williams Lake

Cleanway Supply Inc · Williams Lake · Since 1983 our goal at Cleanway Supply Inc. has been to supply solutions to our customer’s problems while at the same time maintaining a level of service, quality and value unmatched in the industry. To achieve this, we are always improving our service and product choices. At Cleanway, we are […]

Cariboo Growers Co-Op Stores

  Cariboo Growers Co-Op Stores · The store is operated by the Growers Co-operative of the Cariboo-Chilcotin, a not-for-profit Farmers Cooperative made up of local farmers and ranchers who live in the region.  As a Community Co-op, our purpose is to link local consumers with local producers to provide broader access to local foods on a […]

Green Collective Bio Page Coming Soon

Barking Spider Mountain Bike, Williams Lake

Barking Spider Mountain Bike • Our aim is to get you out and riding on the right bike at the right price! See us for bikes, skis, shoes, riding gear, and bike services and we’ll make you some great coffee too! Contact 1024 Broadway Ave. South, Williams Lake, BC Website: www.barkingspidermountainbike.com Phone: 250-392-5177 Find us […]

Canadian Tire, Williams Lake

Canadian Tire · Williams Lake · Recycling Initiatives Renewable Energy Solutions Organic Cleaning Products: Blue Planet, Green Works, Method, Nature Clean, Seventh Generation Contact 1050 South Lakeside Drive Store: 250-392-3303 Auto Service:250-392-3697 Website: www.canadiantire.ca

Cool Clear Water, Williams Lake

Cool Clear Water • Expect the Best! Featuring Purified Bottled Water, Alkaline Water, 24 Hour “H20 to GO” Self-Serve Vending Station, Quality Pet Food and Accessories, Bird Seed, Specialty Products, and more. Home and Business Delivery in the Cariboo. Contact 298 S. Mackenzie Ave. , Williams Lake Website: www.horseflyriver.ca Phone: 250-398-2665 Find us on Facebook!

Do-More Promotional, Williams Lake

Do-More Promotional • Trophies & Awards, Plaques, Engravable Gifts, Engraved Plastic Signage, Nametags, Clothing, Promotional Products, Custom Photo Gifts, Vinyl Lettering and Decals. Visit our crafters corner – SCRAPBOOK MAGIC Contact 74 1st Ave Website: domorepromotional.ca Phone: 778-412-1999

Dragon Lake Veterinary Hospital, Quesnel

Dragon Lake Veterinary Hospital • We help critters of all shapes and sizes. Modern technology onsite for fast & accurate answers regarding your pets health care. Our team cares for your pets with compassion and respect. New patients always welcome. Contact Dr. Ginger Langan #2371 Larch Ave. Quesnel, BC Website: www.dlvet.com Phone: 250-747-1429

Dr. Katie DeGroot, Naturopathic Doctor, Williams Lake & 100 Mile House

Dr. Katie DeGroot – Licensed Naturopathic Doctor in the South and Central Cariboo, with office locations in both Williams Lake and 100 Mile House. Contact Dr. Katie DeGroot By appointment only: #304-383 Oliver Street, Williams Lake #228-475 Birch Ave, 100 Mile House Phone: (250) 305-9188 Facebook: Dr. Katie DeGroot Email: dr.katie.degroot@gmail.com

Essence of Nature, Quesnel

Essence of Nature • Offers 100% therapeutic grade essential oils and blends to help improve health and well being. Aromatherapy consultations available to customize a blend or incorporate oils for certain ailments. Also offering Reflexology, Reiki, & Sports & Relaxation Massage. Contact Katie Phone: 250-255-0563 Find us on Facebook!

Gecko Tree Cafe and Catering, Williams Lake

Gecko Tree Cafe and Catering · Healthy, Creative Menu Choices, Catering for Special Events and in House Parties & Gatherings Serving Breakfast and Lunch: Soups, salads, sandwiches, vegan, and vegetarian. Coffee, specialty baking, and special occasion cakes. Find us on Facebook here. Hours: Tues – Fri: 7:30 am – 3 pm Sat: 9 am – 3 […]

Kohlen & Co. Appraisals, Williams Lake

Kohlen & Co. Appraisals • Providing real estate appraisals in the Cariboo and Chilcotin Coast Regions since 1994. Contact Richard Kohlen Phone: 250-302-1074 email: r_kohlen@telus.net Find us on Facebook!

Kinikinik Restaurant & Accommodations, Redstone

KiNiKiNiK Restaurant, Gift shop, Store & Accommodations ·       KiNiKiNiK Restaurant, Gift shop, Store & Accommodations in Redstone BC, serving all organic meals with Demeter certified organic Pasture to Plate meats. Note: Restaurant closed for winter,  re-opens May 2019. Website: www.pasturetoplate.ca/kinikinik-restaurant-store Facebook: KiNiKiNiK Phone: (250) 394-6000 Email: kinikinik@pasturetoplate.ca      

Q Fitness, Quesnel

Q Fitness • We carry a wide range of supplements, from pre-workouts, to protein powder and BCAA’s to help you reach your fitness goals. Contact 101 North Star Rd., Quesnel Website: www.quesnelfitness.ca Facebook: Q Fitness Phone: 250-992-9711  

Smashin’ Smoothies, Williams Lake

Smashin’ Smoothies • Smoothie & Juice Bar • Fast Food • Vegan & Vegetarian • Smashin’ Smoothies provides a fast and healthy alternative to most fast food restaurants. Organic Smoothies, fresh made juices, soups, wraps, espresso, coffee and healthy snacks Hours: Mon – Fri: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm 102-41, 7th Ave. North Williams Lake, British Columbia, V2G 4T8 (778) […]