Friday Presentations

Meet and Greet

Course instructors will give a brief overview of their fall courses. Registration for courses begins in the afternoon of Sept. 6. Information on fall courses will be emailed to all LiR members and posted on the LiR website.

Castlegar Sculpture Walk – Joy Barrett

Joy will discuss the history Sculpturewalk and the pieces that are showing this year. She will explain how the program works, how some of the artists create their pieces and the details of the selection process.

Joy Barrett is the Executive Director of Castlegar Sculpturewalk and acts as the Cultural Development Officer for the City of Nelson. Joy has over 25 years of experience working in the arts, including positions at the Calgary International Children’s Festival, the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Banff Centre for the Arts. While in the the UK she ran the Interactive Entertainment division at(the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and worked at University of the Arts London. She moved to Nelson in 2008 and is busy raising her 15-year-old twins with her husband Gregory Mackenzie, a filmmaker.

Sept 20

Innovative Organizations Making a Difference – Wendy Baker-Konkin, Jim Reimer

1.  Wendy will share information on what Cycling Without Age is all about, what they do in Nelson and how LiR members could get involved if interested.

Wendy has been involved with Cycling Without Age since it got started in Nelson in 2018. She has developed relationships with CWA Chapters around the world and loves to share her enthusiasm for the program whenever she has a chance.

2.  Jim will review the process to obtain government funding for affordable housing, the critical need in our community and how his organization, S.H.A.R.E.’s building operates. Next steps, their quest to build another housing complex!

Jim Reimer, Pastor for Kootenay Christian Fellowship, ED for ODB, S.H.A.R.E. Nelson, is a respected entrepreneur and a social justice advocate.  Jim has served on the Police Diversity Advisory Committee, member on Nelson committee on Homelessness, past member of Nelson Housing Committee, and past President of Daybreak Rotary Club

The Story Behind the Kokanee Glacier Cabin – Dave Heagy

Some of the history of both the Slocan Chief Cabin and new Kokanee Glacier Cabin. This would include fundraising programs and details around the construction and function of the Kokanee Glacier Cabin.

Dave recently retired after 46 years with BC Parks. His career included 7 years as a park Ranger, 30 years as a Senior Park Ranger and 6 years as an Area Supervisor.  Dave was the assistant project manager for the construction of the Kokanee Glacier Cabin.

Kootenay Railways – Jean Philippe Stienne

Jean Philippe will explore the history of railways throughout the Kootenays, including railway companies’ rivalries, passenger services, other operations, the relationship to mining, forestry, and the sternwheelers service. He will also discuss the legacy and the attitudes towards, and the effect of railways on our local Indigenous people and the environment.

Jean Philippe has been working in museums for over 20 years both in England and here in Canada. For the last 7 years he has been the archivist and collections manager at Nelson Museum and Archives. In 2022 he curated an exhibition looking at the Kootenays railway history. This was in combination with the Great Northern and CP Rail Heritage conventions that took place in Nelson.

Old Joints, Sore Joints – Cathy Potkins

Cathy’s presentation will focus on the lower body and discuss joint pain in the feet, ankles, knees and hips. We will discuss statistics on joint mobility, pain and replacements as well as common issues and some simple ways we can decrease pain with posture, stretching and exercise.

Cathy Potkins has spent the past 26 years working in the area of chronic disease. Cathy has a degree in exercise physiology and a Masters in Cardiac Physiology. She is certified through the American College of Sports Medicine as an Exercise Specialist.  After 12 years of coordinating Cardiac Rehab and Diabetes centers in White Rock BC, Cathy has spent the past 15 years working as a consultant in Nelson.

Oct 18

City of Nelson’s Climate Change Program – Emily Mask

Discover the City of Nelson’s commitment to climate protection including the proactive approach of various programs and initiatives. Nelson Next, the city’s comprehensive Climate Plan outlines impactful strategies to address climate challenges.

Emily Mask is the City of Nelson’s Climate Programs Coordinator, working in the Development services and Climate Leadership Department.

Kootenay Rhythm Dragonboat – Cheryl Dew

2024 is the 20^th anniversary of the Kootenay Rhythm Dragonboat Society (KRD); it is a non-profit group with approximately 70 member paddlers.  The mission and goals will be presented, as well as the history, and some interesting paddling event stories.  Both the recreational and the competitive teams consist of breast cancer survivors, their friends and supporters; membership is open to anyone.  Dragonboat paddling will be explained, a video of a race shown, with some interactive opportunities.

Cheryl Dew is the President of KRD; she is a retired elementary school Principal; she was drawn to KRD by the sound of the beating of the drum on the lake as the dragonboat passed.  She knows as a competitive team paddler, that “nothing compares to the rush of adrenaline during a race”.  She is aware of the importance of volunteers to sit on the executive, to provide coaching and steering on the boat, and to raise awareness in the community of the need for support of all persons and their families coping with cancer.

Iceland – Landscape, Culture and Art – Hildur Jonasson

Hildur will share information about her homeland including landscape photos of Iceland, maps and statistical information, along with insights into the language and culture of Iceland – literature, music, arts and crafts. Hildur will explain her own art practice and how it is informed by her Icelandic background

Hildur María Hallgrímsdóttir Jónasson is a contemporary artist. She studied visual communications at The Alberta University of the Arts and had a vibrant career as a graphic designer in Calgary prior to relocating to Nelson in 2003. Hildur has been artist in residence at the Arctic Circle Artist Residency and The Banff Centre and she has exhibited across Canada, Iceland, London, UK and at the Print Center in New York. Hildur was born Iceland and immigrated to Canada in 1978 with her family. Hildur resides in Nelson with her husband and two sons

Medical Assistance in Dying – Dr. Kelly Mieske

Dr Mieske will provide an overview of MAID including legislation, historical and global perspectives, access, eligibility, the process, implications for loved ones. She will leave time for questions and conversation.

Dr Mieske is a full scope family physician who has been living in Nelson for the past 9 years. She has a huge interest in palliative care and has been an assessor and provider of MAID since it became legal in Canada. She is the mother of 12-year-old twins, wife, cancer survivor and lover of the outdoors.

Native Plant Gardening in the West Kootenays – Bren Beckwith PhD

Participants will learn the principles of nature-based gardening and the challenges and joys of encouraging a garden in the Kootenays in a world being altered by continued habitat loss and fragmentation and the climate crisis.  Native plant gardening can be aesthetically beautiful and ecologically functional – helping to save the planet.

Bren is a Senior Scientist (Kootenay Native Plant Society), an Adjunct Professor (School of Environmental Studies, UVic), and former Instructor/Faculty Researcher at Selkirk College Her company, KinSeed Ecologies, offers native plants and seed, ecological restoration gardening consulting, and native plant propagation services in the BC Interior. 

They Called Him a Radical:The Memoirs of Pete Maloff – Vera Maloff

Author Vera Maloff will share the fascinating memoirs of her grandfather, noted Doukhobor pacifist and philosopher Pete Maloff, written during his years under house arrest for peaceful protests. This presentation will add an understanding to the history of Doukhobor migration, the pacifist movement, and Doukhobors and Education.

Vera Maloff was born into a Doukhobor family in the Kootenays. She received a teaching certificate from NDU, a BEd from UBC and taught in the local schools. Upon retirement, Vera wrote about her family’s activist Doukhobor life in Our Backs Warmed by the Sun and They Called Him a Radical.

Senior’s Introduction to Medical Cannabis – Terese Bowors

This presentation will explore the world of medical cannabis including its basics, how it works and potential benefits. Terese will address common concerns and provide guidance for a safe exploration. This session aims to empower seniors with valuable insights into the holistic wellness potential of cannabis.

Terese Bowors, an unyielding chronic illness thriver, has journeyed on a 15-year wellness odyssey alongside her husband and two adult children. Navigating through hardships, she harnesses the power of plant medicine, gardening, meditation to sculpt her holistic self-care rituals. She is a Certified Medical Cannabis Coach, educator and public speaker.

Lost Kootenays -The Deleted Scenes – Greg Nesteroff

The Lost Kootenays book featured about 130 photos of the area. But thousands more were left out. This presentation looks at some of the omissions and explains why they almost made the cut but didn’t.

Greg Nesteroff is the co-author of Lost Kootenay: A History in Pictures. He’s a former editor of the Nelson Star and blogs about local history at kutnereader.com