Video may have killed the radio star, but reports the Internet would assassinate the album appear to be unfounded.

The album, cultural icon and artistic package, was not expected to survive the Internet age with its downloaded digital singles.

In fact, the digital medium appears to have resurrected the album to new prominence.

Listen up! For Brian Huntley’s complete interviews with Paul Filek, Helcion, and Andy Patil, subscribe to his podcast B-Pod, and hear in-depth interviews with bands, unreleased tracks and more!

Much of the fear for the album had come from the idea that fans no longer would purchase songs as a package, but only the most popular singles.

However, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s (IFPI) 2008 Digital Music report”consumers want to buy album downloads, not just singles — digital album sales were up 40 per cent in the first half of 2007.”

Single-track downloads remain the most popular format, with Avril Lavigne at the top of the “first-ever global music download sales chart,” produced by the IFPI. Her single “Girlfriend” sold a reported 7.3 million copies worldwide.

Christine Church, owner and operator of The Garage, a new recording studio in North Burnaby, B.C., says this focus on the single may not be such a bad thing because it could be giving rise to a new standard of quality.

“This emphasis on singles forces musicians to get rid of the crap. CDs have to be a certain length to be ‘an album,’ so what do artists do? They add filler — now all the songs have to be strong if they want to sell.”

On the other hand, those who want to create art in the form of an album can still do so, but they better make it worthwhile.

“It was definitely a consideration on the new album,” says Andy Patil, bassist for Canadian rock group Matt Mays and El Torpedo. “We didn’t want a collection of songs, we wanted a ‘balls to the wall’ rock album.”

Metallica, thought by many as the band that brought down the original Napster peer-to-peer service, would not allow their music to be licensed à-la-carte, stating they had no wish to contribute to the decay of the album as an art form. That is until July 26, 2006, when Metallica signed on with iTunes. To help make their albums attractive to downloaders, the band actually added material to album packages.

Selling music through the Internet has actually turned out to be profitable for many musicians, particularly independent artists.

“I read an article recently that said that Metallica makes two or three bucks on a CD. And that’s because they are a big name and got a special deal from the record company,” says Corey Ferguson, drummer for progressive rock group Helcion. “Whereas I put our stuff on iTunes and make 68 cents a track. … The record companies have been ripping off artists for so long, and now there’s a way to go around them.”

Album art — that is to say the artwork that accompanies a piece of recorded music — is also still thriving.

Forgotten, if not gone, are the days of the 12-square-inch art of vinyl records (though the art of those forgotten days is coming back in the form of collectible posters). First, there was the tiny art surface of cassette-tape cases and more recently the jewel cases of CDs. Today, iTunes copies the front cover of albums and allows users to see them; albeit in low-quality, thumbnail form.

When Trent Reznor, the creative mind behind alternative rock group Nine Inch Nails, recently left his record label, he adopted a direct-to-fans business model, selling new albums off the band’s website. However, Reznor did not forget the visual aesthetic portion of the album concept. When downloading digital copies of the Ghosts IV concept album, fans not only received MP3 versions of the songs, but also received a digital package. This package included the same pictures and liner notes that were later distributed with the physical release.

According to Kamloops artist Paul Filek, the digital revolution does not even mean the end of tangible albums.

“As long as people go to shows, people will buy CDs,” Filek says. “iTunes is great because you can get a song now, without leaving your couch and going to Wal-Mart. But in the end, people want something they can touch.”

Despite hours of preparation and planning for the end of the world, nothing prepared me for having to pee. It seemed certain that urinating in my pants was mere moments away.

My roommate and I were sitting in our cold, dark basement, trying to get a feel for what a real emergency situation would be like. We had hunkered down a couple of hours before without considering the likelihood of requiring a bathroom break.

Melissa Vasey (left) and Justine Turner take cover in their basement with their 72-hour emergency supplies.

The tricky thing about emergencies is they’re unpredictable. Kamloops’ next disaster could be anything from a pandemic to an alien invasion, and it’s the lack of certainty that makes our next natural disaster unsettling. To help prepare just like the professionals do, I decided a mock apocalypse was in order.

Before I re-enacted the end of the world, I needed information. My first stop in emergency preparedness was at the central region’s Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) office to talk to Ginny Garner, the senior regional manager.

“Stay calm,” Garner advised, in the event of an emergency.

She explained the PEP works with a network of local, provincial and federal authorities to ensure emergency response runs as smoothly as possible. If the unexpected hits Kamloops, they’re prepared.

“Have faith and confidence in your governments,” Garner said. “The governments do have good plans. We have a good [emergency preparedness] structure in British Columbia.”

Armed with an array of brochures and good advice, I left the PEP office one step closer to the apocalypse.

On Garner’s advice, I educated myself about the most common hazards in British Columbia (PDF) and decided exactly what I wanted to put in my basic 72-hour emergency kit.

A trip to Canadian Tire and $100 later, I was closer to having a complete emergency kit. I left with an electromagnetic flashlight, a solar powered radio, matches, two cases of water, two sleeping bags, a first aid kit and 50 cents in Canadian Tire money.

The next stop was Superstore, where I picked up enough canned food to sustain my entire household, including two cats, for 72 hours.

After packing the supplies into a spare suitcase on wheels, I convinced my roommate, Justine Turner, to join me for the mock apocalypse. Once she agreed, it was time for a disaster.

I chose the basement as our emergency shelter and dragged the emergency kit down. The plan was simple — four hours, lights out, with nothing more than what was in the room.

I opened the suitcase immediately and groped until I found the electromagnetic flashlight. Shaking it 20 times charged the light and, as our dark surroundings lit up in LED glory, I found myself already feeling better about apocalypses.

Two minutes into our emergency, however, I noticed I was shivering and realized there were no warm clothes in my kit. Unrolling a sleeping bag, I wriggled my way in, already kicking myself for compromising my ability to move around.

After talking for 40 minutes about work and school, Justine stated the obvious: “The apocalypse is really boring.”

It was. We had severely underestimated our need for entertainment, even in dire life-or-death scenarios.

Justine perused the basement, looking for something to quell our boredom and came up with nothing. Then we remembered the radio. We tuned in and were delighted to pick up six stations — four music stations and two talk show programs, one of which was in French. Then we switched our FM to the weather band and listened to a man monotonously report various weather forecasts for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

In much better spirits, we decided to eat. Opening a can of beans, we encountered a new problem. No utensils. Reluctantly using our hands, we dipped our fingers in the cold, soggy food and tried our best to eat our meal with dignity.

It was shortly after we licked our hands clean that I confronted the severity of having to pee. I was crossing my legs and doing the pee dance when we finally agreed I would be allowed to leave the basement, on the condition that I went as quickly as possible.

In the event of an actual disaster, it’s uncertain whether we’d have access to our toilet or the great outdoors. We might be stuck in our basement. But for the purposes of hygiene and avoiding unnecessary health hazards (to say nothing of complete humiliation), I’ll leave urinating in the cat box for a real emergency.

We tried to nap when I returned, but the cement floor was uncomfortable and we were too edgy from the spooky shadows to sleep.

The conversation turned to politics and quickly soured because of our differing views. Irritated by one another, we fell silent and focused back on the radio. Unable to find a good song, we listened to the French channel.

At the three-hour mark, we forfeited and left the basement. Without a real emergency, we could no longer justify the suffering.

Amending the emergency kit, I added an old sweatshirt and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, as well as a plastic spoon. I then returned the kit to its place in the closet, where it will hopefully stay permanently.

More on the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP)

The PEP office is a converted warehouse discreetly located on Dalhousie Drive. Nestled between other ministry buildings, the PEP parking lot is decorated with clunky metal bear traps, weather-worn Sea-Doos and the occasional ambulance.

But the modest exterior doesn’t do the emergency headquarters justice. PEP is ready for an emergency at any time and has been organized for optimal performance using state-of-the art technology and strategically-placed equipment.

There are three important rooms in Kamloops’ PEP office: advance planning, main operations and communications.

The advance planning room is where emergency personnel collaborate and plan for the prevention of and response to future emergencies. There are shelves with binders of emergency response plans for every region in the central district, including First Nations sites. Specialty reports such as Interior Health’s pandemic recommendations and Mike Wiegle’s advice on heli-skiing rescue also have a place on the shelves.

The biggest and most impressive room is the main operations room. This is where the action happens in a real emergency.

“[We] want to be sure that whatever happens here, we are providing the best support,” Garner said.

The room is prepared for exactly that. The computers are all pre-designated to response units and ready to use. Large white boards have been mounted to every wall, with labels such as “Event board,” “EOC contact board,” and “Planning Data Board.”

“We have staff predetermined and trained in this whole area,” said Garner. “[They will] come and work here in an emergency.”

In an emergency, the personnel wear different coloured vests, each vest marking their area of expertise. This makes it easier to figure out who is who when the room is buzzing with busy, focused people.

Twice a year, PEP has a mock emergency, in unison with the five other PEP centres in British Columbia. Although the specific date is set in advance, the type of emergency is a surprise to ensure staff can work well under the pressure of unpredictable circumstances.

The main operations room also has a projector and net meeting capability, to deliver prompt information to as many sources as possible. Garner has seen 107 people on a single conference call, connecting both governments and weather experts at once.

The smallest room in PEP may be the most important. That is the radio communications room. In the event all other forms of communication shut down, this sophisticated technology can send and receive messages using packets. It’s the same concept as text messaging, except using radio waves.

The 72-Hour Emergency Kit

The following items are recommended by the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP.)

Basic supplies:

- water (2 litres per person, per day)
- non-perishable food items
- manual can opener
- flashlight and batteries
- candles and lighter or matches
- radio with extra batteries
- first aid kit
- spare house and car keys
- cash in small bills and change for pay phones
- copy of an emergency plan and contact information
- prescription medications, infant formula and other special-needs items

Additional items:

- change of clothes and footwear
- sleeping bag or blanket
- whistle
- garbage bags
- toilet paper and toiletries
- safety gloves
- basic tools
- portable stove and fuel
- two additional litres of water per person

Vasey also suggests:

- spoon
- novel
- sweater
- a plan for going to the bathroom

There are more options than meet the eye for local food from Kamloops and the surrounding area. Finding what’s available only takes a closer look in the right places. It’s easier than it sounds!

Sandy Chadwick, store manager of Old Town Farm Market, shows off some local Kamloops produce—in this case onions. Old Town Farm market is one of many places to find local produce and products in Kamloops.

Eating local food has a wide range of advantages that benefit the local economy, the environment and a healthy personal diet. But the most convenient and abundant food choices in most grocery stores tend not to be from Kamloops, B.C. or even Canada. Many fruits and vegetables from popular grocery stores come from places like California, Mexico and Peru, as their fruit stickers indicate.

To start eating local is to ask what’s available in the stores you already frequent. Most grocery stores have at least a few local options, especially as the movement becomes more and more widespread.

A great way to start thinking about eating locally is to adopt the 100 Mile Diet. True to its name, the diet, which is less a diet and more a way to think about food consumption, encourages sourcing food from within 100 miles or 160 kilometres of your home. Putting a clear distance limit on the locality of your food helps distinguish what is local and what’s not. A hundred miles is a large enough area to include outlying farms and small communities outside the city, but it’s small enough to feel local.

Store owner Dave Burgess sits in front of Grinders Organic Coffee Bar, where he serves food prepared with local produce whenever possible.

In the summer, one of the best places to pick up fresh produce is the Kamloops Farmers Market. Every Saturday and Wednesday morning from April to October, the Farmers Market provides a venue for local farmers and merchants to sell their wares – everything from fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers to honey, meat, salsa, jewelry and dog treats is available for purchase.

The Kamloops Regional Farmers Market Society has a list of regulations in place to ensure vendors produce 100 per cent of the crops or products they sell and that the produce is grown only in British Columbia. The only exception is if local supply is non-existent and, even then, the society has the final word on what’s allowable in the vendor stalls.

In addition to the selection of local produce and products, patrons of the market will find a lively, culture-rich community spirit. The market is held outdoors and downtown –at 200 block St. Paul Street on Saturdays, and at 400 block Victoria Street on Wednesdays—so the atmosphere is engaging and the location is central and convenient for Kamloopsians and tourists alike.

For those seeking fresh and local veggies on the North Shore, a farmers market takes place Friday afternoons from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at McDonald Park from mid-May to the end of October.

While the Farmers Market is an ideal setting to buy locally-grown products from the spring to the fall, it is limited to the warmest months of the year and is not an option druing winter.

Old Town Farm Market, located in the Summit shopping square, faces the same climate-related challenges. A wide range of fruits and vegetables are available year-round at the market and manager Sandy Chadwick says “whenever we can buy local produce, we do. Anything that’s available that time of year.”

During the winter months, when local produce supply is low, Old Town Farm Market brings in produce from California and Mexico. All produce is labelled with its region of origin, whether local or not, so there’s no mistake about what customers are buying.

Chadwick says the market opts to bring in non-local items during the wintertime to provide a one-stop grocery shop to customers.

“We like to have everything, and carry whatever we can.”

When the regional climate permits, Old Town Farm Market buys from local suppliers: Dhaliwal Green Acres Farm in Rayleigh supplies English cucumbers, potatoes and onions; Craig’s Bakery from Chase brings in breads, buns and other baked goods; and a few small suppliers from the Okanagan are the source of the market’s apples, just to name a few.

Non-perishable local food items are also available at the Old Town Farm Market, like Little Creek salad dressing from Kelowna and Fresh is Best chips and salsa.

Fresh is Best Salsa & Company is a Kamloops-based business with two locations in town and a new location on Broadway Street in Vancouver. Fresh is Best makes itsr own products, which includes chips, salsa, guacamole, spinach dip, black bean dip and layered dips, many of which are also available at the Farmers Market and at most grocery stores in Kamloops and around B.C.

Another major player in the local food scene is the Heartland Food Co-op, which aims to support local sustainable agriculture and is committed to building stronger grower-consumer relationships in the Kamloops area.

Working in co-operation with local farmers and livestock producers, the Heartland Co-op provides local produce year-round at its Laval Crescent location.

“We offer a complete range of food: meat, dairy, eggs, cheese, baked goods and produce,” says Co-op co-ordinator Andrea Gunner.

During the winter months, the Co-op continues to offer “storage vegetables, like carrots, onions, potatoes and apples,” she says.

The Heartland Food Co-op makes getting local produce even easier by providing a Grocery Box program through local organic produce supplier Thistle Farm, located in the North Thompson Valley.

The Grocery Box program allows customers to order a box of produce to be delivered to their door on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. Thistle Farm, which occupies a stall at the Kamloops Farmers Market, runs the Grocery Box program independently, in addition to partnering with Heartland food Co-op.

Shop-owners like Dave Burgess, who runs Grinders Organic Coffee Bar on Victoria Street, support the buy-local initiative even if their wares don’t include whole produce. Grinders specializes in coffee and edibles, so Burgess opts to purchase what he can from local vendors to make his prepared food.

“I support the farmers market when I can. I don’t go with the big organizations. I try to support local independent organizations, local farmers (and) bakers. I try to mix them in when I can.”

Even during winter, businesses in Kamloops are making the effort to provide what they can when they can for customers seeking local food. Get out there and take a look at what’s right outside the back door!

Local Christians are tearing down the walls between Kamloops churches and bringing what they call “revolutionary faith” into a once-traditional religious community.

In a city where Christians used to define themselves by their denominational affiliations — Baptists were Baptists, Anglicans were Anglicans — a rise in local interdenominational services has once cut-and-dried denominations blending together, free of labels.

Pastor Henry Devries (right) grooves to contemporary Christian rock at Sahali Fellowship along with recently baptised congregation member Joey Tjepkema, 17.

“Denominational loyalty is in the process of going down the tubes,” said Pastor Henry Devries of Sahali Fellowship (SF), a Christian Reformed church in Kamloops. “People now pick churches based on their own comfort.”

Many members of the SF congregation have come from several different institutions, including the United Church, the Evangelical Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The Christian Reformed Church, which was brought to Canada by Dutch Calvinists in the early 1950s and now has more than 1,000 congregations across North America, prides itself on its diverse family, which also includes Orthodox and Anglican patrons.

Other local churches such as the Kamloops United Church and the Kamloops Alliance Church have also opened their arms to congregational members from various religious backgrounds.

This denominational fusion is a trend that has spread across Canada during the past 17 years.

According to a Statistics Canada 2001 census report, only 72 per cent of Canadians identified themselves as Roman Catholic or Protestant, compared with 80 per cent a decade earlier.

But the percentage of people who defined themselves as Christian, without specifying a denomination, has more than doubled during that time from 353,122 to 780,400 individuals, one of the largest percentage increases among all major religious groups.

Some people are simply stripping away denominational labels, while others are shying away from religion altogether.

The same census reported that the percentage of Canadians who said they had no religion increased from 12 per cent in 1991 to 16 per cent in 2001.

According to Devries, churches that have held on to traditional preaching methods instead of moving with the times have suffered a decline in Sunday attendance. Members are trading in rigid services for more modern sermons.

“People don’t have an interest in going to church anymore because they are tired of being manipulated,” Devries said. “There has been a huge growth in spirituality in society, but people will go everywhere but the church to get it.

“I think we’re in an upcoming generation that has seen the emptiness of religion and of materialism and that none of those things have provided true meaning to life,” he said, adding until religions provide messages free of judgment — of individuals, of lifestyles and of other religions — people will keep on walking away.

While the core principles of Christianity don’t change, Devries said, it is vital to modernize some of the messages from the Bible, applying them to life in the 21st century.

“It’s important to stay relevant,” agreed Kellie Gill, SF’s associate pastor. “Otherwise you’re presenting an ancient message that today’s society doesn’t value.”

And as culture changes, so must the church. What was not socially accepted 200 years ago, such as ordained women and same-sex marriage, are becoming more mainstream in the church because of their acceptance in Canadian society.

The United Church of Canada, for example, not only recognized the ordination and commission of homosexuals in its church since 1980, but also fully supported the Government of Canada when the same-sex marriage law was proposed in 2005.

In addition, it has accepted women as ministers in its churches for decades. Members of the Kamloops United Church could not be more pleased.

“We had a woman minister come a few times and she was marvellous — her sermons were very uplifting,” Kamloops United Church member Jean Kingsbury said. “She was as good as, or better, than any man.”

Kingsbury, who was born in 1919, grew up in Toronto and attended an Anglican all-girl school, but worshipped at a United Church. She and husband Tom moved to Kamloops in 1957, bringing their Christian affiliation with them.

They attended the local United Church and were pleasantly surprised to find that while the teachings were basically the same in the West as in the East, other features, such as the prevailing dress code, were more contemporary. Kingsbury was delighted to trade in her floor-length skirt for a nice pair of slacks — almost as thrilled as she was to surrender her little white gloves.

However, clothing was not the only modernized facet of this new church. Services were less stuffy and sermons more relevant.

“I love the fact that people took part in the service,” Kingsbury said. “Only the clergy took part before.”

As the years passed, the Kingsbury family got more involved in the church. Tom helped design and erect the new church building in 1981 and, though her husband is now deceased, Kingsbury, 88, rarely misses a service.

She takes pride in the advancements made by the United Church of Canada, but is disappointed some churches, and even some congregation members, are not on board.

“We’re always on the cutting edge of everything, you know, and we take a lot of flack for it,” she said. “It’s tough because people get upset and leave when they disagree with the changes — but that’s progress, I guess.”

The United Church of Canada was formed in 1925 when various denominations — Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational — joined under a new name: United.

Kingsbury’s sister Doe Hamilton, who attends an Anglican church in Ontario, said she wishes her church would advance as quickly as Kingsbury’s.

“I think the changes are mostly good, but many of the people in our little church just try not to rock the boat,” Hamilton said. “We can’t afford to lose people.”

Both Kingsbury and Hamilton agree changes need to be made for the message — a Christian message — to continue being heard.

Eric Villeneuve, chair of university preparation at Thompson Rivers University, sees things a little differently.

Raised in Gatineau, Quebec, Villeneuve was brought up in the Roman Catholic faith and has attended Catholic Church services in Europe, North America and Africa. He said he learned more from the Catholic priests in Zimbabwe than he ever did in Quebec.

Over the years, however, he found himself disagreeing with several of the Catholic teachings.

“There is always an emphasis on what makes us different from Protestants rather than what makes us the same,” Villeneuve said. “In my core beliefs, I see different denominations as different ways to worship.

“I don’t see them as fundamentally different from one another — it’s just a different way to relate with God.”

Villeneuve now lives in Kamloops with his wife and 13-year-old twins and, though the family has chosen to worship at Sahali Fellowship, Villeneuve often finds himself going back to his roots and attending services at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a Catholic Church on the North Shore.

“I don’t think I could ever completely stop going to Catholic Church,” he said. “I don’t believe the Catholic Church is the only church, but it’s in me.”

Though Villeneuve has come to know Sahali Fellowship as part of his family, he maintains a respect for the Catholics’ traditional ways, referring to the sombre services as “almost meditative.”

Villeneuve is all for uniting Christians, but he strongly believes denominations still have their place in society.

“Each person has to find a place of worship that enables them to connect with God,” he said. “That’s the beauty of having so many denominations.

“Everyone has a different approach to life—you just can’t have a one-church-fits-all.”

Fresh from a yoga class, wearing torn jeans and drinking a chai latte at a local Starbucks, Ben Nielsen is in his element. Just hand him a guitar and the scene would be ideal.

Ben Nielsen jamming at a house party in Kamloops this summer. Photo courtesy of Ben Nielsen.

With a studio album under his belt, a guitar strapped to his back and a humanitarian trip to Cambodia planned for the winter, the Kamloops singer-songwriter finds himself heading down a path that suits him fine.

Forging a career as an entertainer has always seemed right to Nielsen, 26. He already has a substantial musical background, thanks to his parents.

“My dad is a local musician; he’s always been playing music and teaching it. My mom was also very musical. She played violin, piano and the mandolin. My grandfather was a trumpet player,” says Nielsen.

Although his father’s family wasn’t particularly musical, Nielsen’s dad taught himself to play the guitar and, Nielsen says: “Basically everyone on my mom’s side of the family played an instrument.”

Nielsen describes his upbringing as “pretty damn good.”

“Not everyone has their mom and dad around and lived in the same house until they were 19 years old. It was almost too perfect.”

Childhood friend Geordie Macleod remembers the Nielsen household was always filled with music and musicians.

“[Ben] came from a super musical family,” says Macleod. “Ben was doing piano lessons from the time I met him and it would be a bizarre weekend if there wasn’t a bunch of [musicians] in their house sitting around jamming. He was fully engrossed in that – that was how he grew up.”

Released this past March, the album cover for Ben Nielsen’s first studio record. Nielsen said he didn’t want a picture of himself on the cover because it he didn’t want to come across as “self-absorbed.”

Although Nielsen recognized he had an ear for music, he was reluctant to pursue it because he found it difficult to maintain focus. In high school, Nielsen says, he had far better things to do with his time: “Who wants to go to a piano recital, when you can go play video games or talk to girls? It’s a no-brainer!”

On his 19th birthday in 2001, Nielsen received an electric guitar but still couldn’t muster the motivation to learn to play. Despite his parents’ knowledge and talent, they never taught him to play the guitar.

“My dad indirectly inspired me and I wont lie, if I ever did have a question, I could go ask him,” says the soft-spoken Nielsen. However, the musician says he never asked for help because he wanted to learn on his own.

Things suddenly came crashing down in 2002, when Nielsen’s mom died. As a coping mechanism, he decided to leave his life – family, friends and all – and move to Lake Louise, AB.

“Looking back now, I guess [I moved] because it was like, ‘[things] are getting hard and I better run away,’” says Nielsen.

Nielsen plays the ukulele during a road trip to Seattle in 2006. Photo courtesy of Ben Neilsen.

While in Alberta, Nielsen saved enough money to buy his first acoustic guitar and it was then that he discovered his passion for music. He began teaching himself to play and attributes the release of a John Mayer song to jump-starting his previously lagging interest in making music.

“It was [Mayer’s song] No Such Thing that I heard first. It’s such an acoustically-driven song. I just really liked his voice and the style of it. I wanted to be able to do that. I guess, also, there were the subconscious emotions of my mother.

“[In the beginning], I continually practiced and played because I sucked at singing.”

Paul Filek — a Kamloops musician, friend of Nielsen’s and top 40 finalist on Canadian Idol — says he listens to Nielsen’s album on tour and is very proud of his friend of six years.

“One thing about Ben is that he will play the guitar at any time, any second of the day. There isn’t enough time in a day for him because he just wants to play music and for me, that’s so inspiring.”

Filek’s only complaint is that Nielsen stole his long, curly hairdo: “Who does that? I thought we were friends,” Filek jokes.

Nielsen says that although he’s confident in his guitar-playing abilities, he has had to deal with stage fright and the challenge of having no vocal training. Nielsen says he doesn’t find his vocals particularly strong.

“I’ve never been proud of my voice. [Singing] has never been something that I think I know how to do well. But that being said, this process of making an album has made me more comfortable with that. If you think of what the song means to you, your voice will just reflect that. If you feel it, then [the audience] will feel it.”

Ellipsis, Nielsen’s debut studio album, features 15 tracks written by Nielsen and produced in Kamloops. The album features impressive guitar riffs, catchy lyrics and a sound filled with passion and emotion.

It was a long process, says Nielsen, but he’s satisfied with the project and happy he was given the opportunity.

Looking ahead, Nielsen doesn’t have the next few years of his life completely mapped out. Although he worries sometimes that he’s not going to school and starting a career, he says his future is “still unfolding.”

“I’m not super worried. Something is going to pan out,” says Nielsen. “I really, really believe that if you’re doing the right thing at the right time, then it’s all going to eventually work out. Do the things that you really want to do – not necessarily the easy things.”

Nielsen took a break from B.A. studies at Thompson Rivers University this year for an upcoming trip to Cambodia with local non-profit humanitarian organization, Developing World Connections (DWC), an international volunteer experience co-ordinator.

Nielsen says he’ll be helping “build schools and [re-]build the cities. [We’re providing] general aid to communities that have been destroyed. It’s also just interacting with the kids. I think it’s just our presence being there. I will be learning from them. I don’t even know what I have to offer them, other than a hug, or teaching them how to read, I guess things that we take for granted.”

It may seem crazy to devote four years of your life to travelling 10 more metres, but that’s exactly what Megann Vandervliet is doing.

Megann Vandervliet looks fierce as she winds the hammer around before releasing. Photo by Roger Rhode.

Those 10 metres are what separate Kamloops hammer thrower Megann Vandervliet from her dream — to throw 70 metres and qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

Despite having first picked up a hammer less than a year ago, Vandervliet felt the excitement of this past summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing spark a fire within her.

Vandervliet’s powerful throw brings her right off the ground.

She has set her goals high as she hopes to gain 10 additional metres on her fourth-place throw of 59.32 at the 2008 Canadian Olympic trials in Windsor, Ontario. Considering the mark she reached after just six months of training, Vandervliet is confident reaching the 70-metre mark is an attainable goal.

Vandervliet, an Oakville, Ont. native, moved to Kamloops in November 2007 to pursue her post-graduate throwing career after an invitation to train with world-renowned throws coach Anatoly Bondarchuk of the Kamloops Track and Field Club.
“It wasn’t that difficult of a decision,” says Vandervliet. ” Dr. Bondarchuk is the world’s best coach and for me this was a great opportunity to further my career and improve my shot at reaching the highest level possible. Kamloops has some of the greatest facilities to train in and the greatest throwers to train with.”

She attended Calvin College in Michigan, where after a short stint playing soccer in her freshman year, she decided to try her hand at throwing shot put and discus. She was named a four-time all-American in these events.

A lot of time and dedication go into training for the world ’s stage and Vandervliet has a four-year plan to get there.

“I need to train hard everyday, five days a week, twice a day and continue to make training my number one priority,” she says. “I have to utilize training with the best coach in the world and get the competitive experiences I need by seeking out opportunities to compete in North America and worldwide.”

Vandervliet trains twice daily and follows a rigorous training schedule, consisting of an hour working on throwing technique, followed by an hour of strength training and core workouts. She also visits an athletic therapist four times a week to work on injury prevention as well as spending time with a massage therapist twice weekly.

“I work on Megann a minimum of four times a week to work on core training, flexibility, prehab and rehab,” says Kevin Brechin, athletic therapist. “Throwers see a lot of overuse injuries because they are always turning to their left, creating a body imbalance that is a major cause of injury. Flexibility, core strength and balance are a key to Megann’s long-term success.”

To some this might sound like a nice schedule — train, get a massage, take a nap. However, Vandervliet still has to find time to work, eat and rest. Training for the Olympics is not a paying job for most Canadian athletes.

“The hardest part is learning to live on a really tight budget, unfortunately women’s hammer isn’t a sport where you typically make a lot of money, and it’s not a financially stable career,” says Vandervliet.

She wakes up at 5 a.m. to work at the City of Kamloops Wellness Centre until her 10:30 a.m. training time. Vandervliet also works a second job at Runner’s Sole during evenings and weekends and also works at the Tournament Capital Centre as a certified personal trainer.

With the majority of her time spent training, Vandervliet is unable to pursue a career in exercise science, which was her major at Calvin. Right now, training is her priority and the career aspect of her life is on hold for at least four years.

“I see myself as fortunate; training is a resume builder for me because I want to coach and work in exercise science when I am finished with throwing, this is a step in the right direction,” she says. “You only have so many years to be a professional athlete; I don’t see this as that big of a sacrifice to my career because it is what I love to do.”

Vandervliet’s teammate, veteran thrower Jennifer Joyce acknowledges that although throwing is very rewarding, sometimes the sacrifices weigh heavily, especially as one gets older and major steps in life like buying a house, starting a career and having a family are put on the backburner.

“Every year that I can’t contribute to my retirement makes me mad, the fact that I am unable to buy a house, and that I live basically at a poverty level is frustrating; there are temptations to go out and have drinks and eat whatever I want,” says Joyce. “It’s hard, but in the end the sacrifices are totally worthwhile.”

Vandervliet is aiming to gain a position each year on her fourth-place ranking to reach her goal of making the 2012 Canadian Olympic Team. She has the facilities, the support system and the teammates necessary to give her every advantage.

“Megann is new to the sport, so I don’t compete with her in practice head to head, but she is very motivated and confident in her abilities,” says Joyce. “I try to be a role model and give her advice about technique, lifting, and even how to approach our coach. I know how important a role model can be for a young thrower.”

It’s a long road ahead but each day and each year are a stepping stone for Vandervliet.

“In all that I do, I think ‘is this going to help me reach my goal of 70 metres?’ If it’s not, I don’t do it,” says Vandervliet.

Megann Vandervliet’s Day

5 a.m. Wake up
5:30 a.m. Breakfast
6 – 10 a.m. Work
10 a.m. Snack
10:30-12:30 p.m. Training
12:45 p.m. Lunch
1:30 – 2:15 p.m. Power nap
2:30 – 3:15 p.m. Physiotherapy
3:15 p.m. Snack
3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Training
6 p.m. Dinner
7 p.m. Work
10 p.m. Bed

Nick Swaine was your typical Canadian kid. He loved hockey and cheered for the Vancouver Canucks. He got his first pair of skates when he was five and started playing Peter Puck hockey a year later.

But things changed for Swaine when he was 12 years old and was “looking for a way to make pocket money on the side.”

That’s when he decided to use his hockey skills to become a hockey referee.

WHL referee Nick Swaine in action. Photo by Percy Hébert.

Pocket money turned into ambition for Swaine at the age of 14, when he was selected to officiate a Bantam AA (ages 14 and 15) tournament in Kamloops, B.C. and then selected to officiate the tournament gold-medal game.

“I started to see the camaraderie side of it, the brotherhood side of it, and actually found out the rewards you get being successful with [officiating],” Swaine said. “It was really cool. It was something that just jumped out at me.”

Earlier this season, Swaine officiated a game that celebrated the camaraderie among officials.

The game between the hometown Kamloops Blazers and the Vancouver Giants marked Swaine’s third season as an official in the Western Hockey League, taking him one step closer to his dream, the NHL.

But to Swaine, that game was special because he was working with Ryan Dawson, a friend of his since they were 13, and it was Dawson’s first game in the WHL as a linesman.

In the dressing room, as Swaine began a pre-game routine that includes stretching and riding a stationary bike, stories about Swaine were shared freely.

Dawson, also from Kamloops, recounted an incident in Penticton. During the pre-game warm up, Dawson said, the red carpet was on the ice for the singing of the national anthem. Swaine lost an edge doing his warm up laps and slid towards the carpet. At the last second, “he pops up and does a 360 in the air over the carpet and lands on his feet,” Dawson said with a mock look of disbelief.

“I actually got an ovation for that one,” Swaine piped in with a smile.

On a more serious note, Swaine remembers when he was a 15-year-old official at the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament. A defenceman, trying to clear the puck from his own zone, shot the puck straight at Swaine and it glanced off his jaw, knocking three teeth out. Swaine was back the next day to work the tournament final, a testament to his determination.

Another highlight came at the age of 16 when he met Kerry Fraser, his favourite National Hockey League official.

After days of pleading for a ride, his mother, Vera, “finally caved and said OK,” Swaine recalled. “We jumped in the car and headed to Kelowna.”

Fraser put Swaine and other young officials through skating and positioning drills.

“It was an amazing experience,” Swaine said. “He’s a very nice guy and quite the skater. He is very calm on the ice and has a certain confidence and style that is appealing.

“Something that impressed me so much was how many Stanley Cup finals and playoffs he’d been selected for. That is something that I am hoping to achieve.”

That same summer, he attended a development camp in Vancouver, B.C. where he received job offers from the East Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League.

“Holy, I’m only 16 and I’m already getting job offers! I was hooked ever since,” Swaine said.

Swaine, who now has more than 1,000 games under his belt, said another highlight of his career was being one of only 45 officials across Canada selected to participate in the Hockey Canada Officiating Program of Excellence.

Hockey Canada has more than 33,000 officials, according to Todd Anderson, officiating manager for Hockey Canada, making Swaine’s selection to the program of excellence all the more impressive.

“Nick is a dedicated official who works very hard to better himself,” Anderson said “[He’s] an official who has a strong desire to learn and he has a positive attitude.”

Selection to the program of excellence also meant Swaine was “eligible to be nominated for international and national events,” such as the World Junior A Challenge in Trail, B.C. and the Canada Winter Games in 2007.

To his family, it’s no surprise Swaine has become one of the better officials in the WHL. In fact, the Swaine family has the “zebra gene” running through it. His grandfather, Al Swaine, was one of the first referees in Kamloops. His uncle, Andy Swaine, was also a hockey referee and his cousin, Bob Dever, was a linesman in the WHL.

Those who know Swaine’s work agree he has what it takes to make it to the NHL.

“He has lots of potential — a good, young official,” said Kris Hartley, a veteran WHL referee.

He is “very determined and confident,” his mother said.

Absolutely,” said Gerard Hayes, supervisor of WHL officials. “He is above average for his age.”

During the hockey season, Swaine is busy officiating for the WHL, the B.C. Hockey League, and the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. Between the three leagues, he averages 15 games a month, some as a referee and some as a linesman.

But in the end, for Swaine, it’s all about enjoying the game. “The number one thing I like about being a hockey official is it’s fun,” Swaine said. “The day it stops being fun is the day I stop.”

What makes a good hockey official?

Gerard Hayes, local supervisor of officials for the WHL, outlined three essential attributes:

1. Good attitude on and off the ice
2. Fitness and skating ability. According to Hayes, this is now more important than ever given that the players are bigger and faster.
3. Knowledge of the game. Swaine says this is important because it helps an official anticipate the play, allowing the official time to be better positioned.

Nick Swaine added another point:

4. Awareness. Always be aware of who is on the ice and which players are doing the trash talking. This will again allow the official to anticipate trouble before it happens.

Hayes said WHL officials are evaluated every game. Officials are evaluated on knowledge of the rules, fitness, attitude, skating, positioning and reaction to pressure and judgment. Officials doing a good job score 84 per cent and higher.

She sits in a crowded café. Her dyed hair, tattoos and piercings seem out of place, as patrons stare and gossip. Her name is Alison Grant and she’s a punk, battling myths about punk culture every day.

Kamloops stereotypically isn’t known as a hot spot for radical thinking or social rebellion, but the population of people in Kamloops who associate with punk culture is on the rise.

Local punk Amanda Goar shows off some punk fashion while hitchhiking with friends.

There are hundreds of people in Kamloops—young and old—who believe in punk ideology. This is demonstrated by sold-out punk concerts and venues throughout the city, including The Dirty Jersey, The Loft and The Pavilion.

Being punk means challenging the status quo, thinking for yourself and opposing society’s trend of putting money and business over the well-being of people.

A subgroup of counterculture, punks’ ideals and social behaviour run counter to mainstream society.

Punk culture is visualized through fashion, music and art, expressive and passionate displays of non-conformity and self-expression that challenge the notion of not rocking the boat.

Forming out of political and social opposition in the 1970s, punk culture came to North America through the second British Invasion, which the feel-good pop songs of the Beatles were replaced by anti-authority anthems from bands like the Sex Pistols and the Clash.

Society fears what’s seen as different or odd. Punks contend with a daily barrage of misconceptions and media stereotypes.

“When people see my piercings or combat boots, they think I’m starving for attention or approval,” said Grant, a local high-school student. “They don’t understand what being punk means, so they ridicule us or make us out to be criminals or delinquents. They’re misinformed.”

Unlike many groups in society, punk ideology is open to people from all demographics, regardless of gender, race, religion, class or economic background.

“As a girl, I face pressure to act like a young woman, to conform to what a girl is supposed to look and act like,” Grant said. “But punk culture allows me to act and think how I want. Punk culture is about freedom of expression and empowerment. It doesn’t discriminate or exclude.”

Photo courtesy of The Clash Website

A misconception about punk culture is that it promotes isolation and encourages adherents to lose touch with society and reality. Punks argue, however, that it’s about being a part of a community based on shared beliefs and values instead of money, class or race.

“Being punk opens up an avenue for friendship, shared ideas and having a good time,” said Mike Andre-Hull, a sociologist and graduate of Thompson Rivers University. “Punk culture instills independence, self-esteem and confidence in you to speak your mind, shake things up and take up a cause.”

Capitalizing on the rising punk scene, several stores in the city cater to punk culture, selling clothing, accessories and music

“Stores like ours provide punks with what they want,” said Mike Kart, an employee at Kamloops Rock and Smoke Shop. “They want items that fit their beliefs and ideals.”

A unique aspect of punk culture is the personal modification of clothing to allow for individual expression without saying a word. It’s an art form seen more and more in the streets of Kamloops.

Photo courtesy of Big L 1395 AM

“Clothes are a way to show what you believe in,” Grant said. “When you take the time to stitch or sew something onto a shirt or jacket, it is special and unique.”

School District 73 has taken notice of the rising punk and counterculture trend in local schools and has made sure students have a right to express themselves.

“Policy 249 is a guideline for what kids can and can’t wear,” said Elaine Burns, executive assistant at the school district. “So long as it doesn’t promote violence, hatred or indecency, a student’s clothing shouldn’t be an issue.”

While schools have made an effort to accommodate punk culture, Kamloops radio stations continue to ignore the rising punk population.

Of the city’s radio stations, none are dedicated to the punk genre. Instead, traditional genres like pop, country and classic rock dominate Kamloops’ airwaves.

“They say they don’t play punk because it doesn’t have the support to warrant it,” said Gord Liley, a local punk musician. “Yet every week there’s a sold-out concert or show playing punk music for a punk audience. The excuses are just that, excuses.”

The only station that plays punk music is Thompson Rivers University’s campus station, CFBX, with shows like Sick of Silence, Broken Glass and Hostage Radio.

Alternative punk band, The Arctic Monkeys perform in front of a sold-out crowd in Vancouver, B.C. Photo courtesy of Hugh Jeung

To get around the lack of support from those in the media community, punks have embraced the Internet, using programs such as MySpace, Facebook and YouTube to broadcast their music.

“We have to act as our own promoters, or else no one will,” Kart said. “The punk community would become a lot larger if more people had a way to hear what being punk is all about, as friendship, music and opposing the status quo are attractive ideas.”

Being a punk in Kamloops is fraught with misunderstandings and social battles, but it’s worth it, Kart said.

“I’m an individual and believe in something others find unnerving. But there are hundreds of people in Kamloops who believe in what I do and that’s empowering.”

The youth of today should appreciate their grandparents’ next birthday party; chances are the younger generation won’t live as long.

Bad eating habits are becoming an epidemic nationwide and kids just aren’t getting the message.

Kristopher Cheater, 18, chows down on a Big Mac at the McDonalds on Summit Drive in Kamloops, B.C. Photo by Bryn Horrocks

Jacob Rothenburger, an 18-year-old Kamloops resident, says he knows the opportunity is there to eat well, he just doesn’t take it.

“My mom’s very active; she’s tried her entire life to get me to eat healthy,” Rothenburger says, adding that while his mother pushed him to eat his greens, it just didn’t work.

“When I’m home, she usually makes me a healthy meal, but I’m never really there,” he says. “She’s given up on me.”

For the first time, Canadian youth are facing a shorter life expectancy than their parents, according to a 2007 report by Health Canada.

The report, which focuses on various health issues facing the country’s children and youth, states that the obesity rate in adolescents aged 12-17 has tripled since 2004, while the rate of overweight children has doubled.

“There is definitely an obesity epidemic in this country,” says Diane Carlson, a community nutritionist who works for Interior Health.

“There are so many reasons behind this: high calorie and low density meals, monstrous portions, lots of video game and television time, a real lack of exercise and activity,” she says.

Carlson says parents are trying their best to deliver healthy alternatives, but are challenged by a society that requires both parents to work.

“Parents are becoming much more aware of healthier lifestyles (for their kids); however, they’re getting home after a long day at work and saying ‘Man, I don’t feel like cooking’”.

Lack of time or a heavy work schedule might play more of a factor in obesity rates than people think.

According to Health Canada, 80 per cent of parents of school-aged youth are in the work force, up 42 per cent during the last two decades.

That’s led to a major decrease in family and community support systems and negatively affectedg the activity patterns of children and youth, according to the report.

Harold Heidinger, who owns the Ruckers Game Center in Kamloops, says that while his kids are older than the generation facing the obesity epidemic, he still notices trends within his own family life.

“People work 8 to 10 hours a day and they just don’t want to cook,” he says.

When asked what he believes is the main reason behind growing obesity in adolescents, he says it’s pretty simple.

“Convenience. Instead of having to make a meal, people just order in. Instead of having to travel to get a healthy option, people just go to the nearest place to get food,” says Heidinger.

Rothenburger says his choice of fast food is Subway and that health benefits don’t factor into his decision.

“Sometimes I think it’s a good choice because it’s healthy, but mostly it’s because it’s across the street from where I’m usually at,” he says.

Today, Canada’s adolescent obesity rate ranks 19th among the 30 developed nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Over-consumption of unhealthy foods has been labelled the “new tobacco” due to its negative impact on people’s overall health, according to Health Canada.

Deb Swain, who works for Recreation Services in Kamloops, says the city is doing its best to fight the problem.

“We need to change the tide,” says Swain. “We need to put a healthy lifestyle at the forefront, and get people active. Kids are not exercising; they are not eating well.”

Swain says the recent Healthy Living Expo the city held on September 21, featuring more than 100 kiosks promoting smarter and healthier lifestyle choices, is the first step.

Swain says the Expo attracted hundreds of people, including young families and the elderly.

“It was a great success,” says Swain. “We need to educate people of all ages about eating healthier. People just get busier, and busier and busier. It’s so much easier to let little Johnny play video games while you order in.”

Carlson, who was at the Expo representing Interior Health, says businesses need to start advertising healthier options more often to everyone, not just kids.

“We need to say, ‘Yes, there are nutritious snacks’ and put them right out there where people can see them,” Carlson says.

While the provincial government has regulations restricting junk food schools, Carlson says she would like to see it do more, including looking at plans Health Canada has proposed.

In its report, Health Canada suggests the Government of Canada should seek to reduce childhood obesity from 8 per cent to 5 per cent by the year 2015.

An advertising ban on all junk-food products by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) during programs aimed at children up to age 12 should be considered by 2010, the report says.

Other ideas include promoting after-school programs, creating a Centre of Excellence on Obesity and increasing physical activity by 20 per cent among Canadian children and youth by 2015.

More information

• B.C’s obesity rate lowest nationally

• How to measure obesity rates

• Obesity rates are increasing C-sections in women

• Definition of obesity