The Christmas Tree: A Beacon of Holiday Culture Past & Present
Christmas. What does it mean to you? Perhaps it is a smell. A memory. Faith. Tradition. The kitsch. A collectivization of many little things coming together to form that golden interlace threading the holiday season in shimmering splendour. Born out of a cosmic nursery of love and goodwill, Christmas is contextualized by the rich history, custom, and philosophies it imbibes, ordained by the baroque of religious pageantry. Inasmuch as it is an action, Christmas is a feeling; manifesting the greatest aspects of humanity’s nature. It’s regalia plays just as important a role as the idea of Christmas itself, giving form to its nebulous nature in droves of colour to contrast the opaque underbelly of nature’s seasonal landscape. It takes shape in our homes and hearts by the garland along our railings and mantles, the lights that adorn our houses, the decorations and the music, the food, drink and narratives. But one of the more important and iconic symbols of Christmas, besides of course the Nativity and Saint Nick himself, is that of theChristmas tree. As the calendar rolls through November to December, we can’t help but get excited about its process and unveiling.
Traditionally decorated with edibles such as apples, nuts, and other foods, the custom of the yule tree, or as it was later known as, the Christmas tree, originated in early, modern Renaissance Germany, with predecessors traced as far back at the 16th and possibly 15th centuries. Diverging speculative theories about its ultimate origin however, maintain the abstruseness and allure of the Christmas tree. Often times traced to the symbolism of evergreen trees in the popularized story of Saint Boniface and pre-Christian winter rites, clearly the Christmas tree lends part of its custom to pagan ancestry. Tree worship was common among pagan Europeans for example, some of which survived the conversion to Christianity. Contemporaries also concede the use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands in ancient Egyptian, Chinese and Hebrew cultures, as symbols of eternal life. Today, Christmas trees are available in many different types and forms, be it artificial plastic, or shades of coniferous - spruce, pine or fir. They are offered in many contrasting colors, shapes, sizes and designs to suit every manner of personal taste, preference or specialized theme and event. Indeed the Christmas tree is as representative of the culture of the individual as it is society itself, and can reflect a particular time, place or circumstance in someone’s life. Coinciding with an acute growing awareness of our carbon footprint and a temperamental global economy, the debate on artificial or realChristmas trees, has become somewhat of a hot holiday topic. 
Studies conducted on both sides of the argument have paradoxically proven each school of thought correct. However, taking into account the interests of the commissioners of such studies, the interpretation and the end goal, this seems a likely outcome. For avid artificial tree supporters, or those predisposed to allergies, a study conducted by a researcher in Connecticut for example, demonstrating the potential harmful effects of spores released by real trees in the home may prove favourable. Spores aside, while the lack of fresh pine scent may be amiss, perhaps the guilt of cutting down a new tree each year is simply enough to put you off the whole Christmas tree custom altogether. Moreover, cost and convenience favours the artificial tree. In lieu of a current, strong market economy, artificial trees may be especially appealing for their investment value when compared with the recurrent, annual expense of a real Christmas tree, and their relatively low maintenance is another reason not to sweep the floor of pine needles or constantly worry about watering. On the contrary, many older artificial tree varieties may contain lead, (which was once used as a stabilizer in the manufacturing process and can easily disperse into the home), whereas most present day artificial trees, are typically manufactured with metal and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a non-biodegradable, petroleum-derived plastic. PVC releases harmful dioxins overtime, which are not only extremely toxic to both humans and animals, but will also end up in landfills at the end of the tree’s life cycle, contributing to the growing global pollution and refuse crisis. The majority of artificial trees bought and sold in the U.S. and Canada are mass-produced in China, which means not only are we not spending money on our local economies in support of its workers and tree farmers, but we are also adding to our carbon footprint. Despite the aforementioned pro et contra, artificial trees have nonetheless become increasingly popular, with sales jumping to a staggering 17.4 million in the U.S. alone in 2007.
The argument for real Christmas trees teeters on the love of tradition, and a green thumb commitment to sustainability. According to the U.S. EPA, roughly 33 million realChristmas trees are sold in North America each year, 93 percent of which are recycled through more than 4,000 available recycling programs. “Tree-cycling,” an easy way to return a renewable and natural source back to the environment, supports the recycling ofChristmas trees into mulch, which is thus used in gardening, landscaping, or chipped for playground material, hiking trails, paths and walkways. Recycled trees can also be used for lake and river shoreline stabilization, fish and wildlife habitat and beachfront erosion. Moreover, an acre of farmed Christmas trees produce enough oxygen for the daily needs of 18 people. Likewise, a single farmed tree absorbs more than one ton of CO2 throughout its lifetime. With more than 350 million real Christmas tress growing in U.S. tree farms alone, one can only surmise as to the annual amount of carbon retention associated with such groves. Sustainable farming techniques are essential in safeguarding a healthy supply of Christmas trees each year, whereby for each tree harvested, one to three seedlings are planted the following spring. Lastly, the Christmas tree farming industry employs over a hundred thousand workers each holiday season across North America, which is no small economic feat. However, while Christmas trees are farmed as agricultural products, the repeated applications of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers may be used throughout their lifetime. Ideally, farmed Christmas trees, like most other agricultural products, would be grown organically using integrated pest management techniques, and some tree farmers are in fact, offering this alternative. It is also important to take into consideration the offshoot carbon effects of long-distance travel. Depending on where you live, (especially for those climates where coniferous trees don’t grow), yourChristmas tree may have travelled hundred of miles to get from its home to your home. An ideal substitute for both the real and artificial tree this Christmas, may very well be a living potted tree, which can be brought into the home temporarily over the holidays and then replanted after Christmas in your yard, or donated to local parks.
Despite the Christmas tree debate, it’s important to note the significance of the tree itself, and why we have it in the first place. The Christmas tree may very well be emblematic of the Christmas spirit, retaining within its process and decorative splendor, a concentrated sentiment of the holidays. The trinkets it carries, exemplary of good cheer and endearing memories. The bedeck of lights, waves of warmth and security, shining by the glow of blazing hearths, or simply warming a reflection of winter’s scene yonder. A shimmering mimic of snow and frost in its flocked tips and tinsel, an angel or star to light its crown in devout majesty, and the symbol of nature itself - the tree that gives life to our planet and species. And so the feeling of Christmas resides just as much in the reality of faith and the abstract, as it does in the concrete, while the Christmas tree remains our beacon of holiday culture. What it really comes down to, is what that culture means to you, and what it needs to looks like in order to suit your circumstance, beliefs, values and lifestyle. Clearly, in order to preserve what Carl Sagan once so brilliantly coined, “the pale blue dot,” - the only home we know and may ever know - we must always be aware of the cause and effect of our actions, especially in today’s tumultuous geopolitical climate and amidst the global environmental impasse we face today. However Christmas nevertheless continues as a season of celebration and togetherness, despite the harsh realities that abound. Perhaps it is reminder of what prevails - the better aspects of our nature - and the Christmas tree, a symbol of light, prosperity and intimacy, which helps bind its culture. So let us embrace a solution that suits us all, albeit artificial or real, while insight breeds wisdom and a newfound hope for a better tomorrow, we do the best we can with what we have in the spirit of giving.
Pure movement. Pure energy. Pure Penticton.
Fitness, nutrition and retreat are altogether the triumvirate of modern day healthy living. This trinity is not mastered by the glow of our iPhones, the bloop icons in our message box, the anxious roaring of our car engine, nor the noise of pop culture charging from our TV or magazine cover. Instead, the careful crafting of healthy living is found in the portage of heart, body and mind. A return to the simplicities of our rustic nature. When we say goodbye to the corporate machine of consumer culture, and hello to a renewed power of individual, conscious, unfettered living. Riverside Fitness and Health in Penticton B.C., has always been an advocate for healthy living, encouraging the power of the individual through fitness and nutrition. Now Riverside endeavors to create something both novel and necessary for the patrons and visitors of the South Okanagan wine country. In partnership with the Penticton Lakeside Resort, Riverside Fitness and Health will be transforming into Pure - fitness + nutrition + retreats in the summer of 2015. The larger space offered at the Lakeside Resort will capacitate new classes, while expanding on pre-existing programs and core services with an unique focus on modern day healthy living.
Pure’s ethos derives from the belief that the migration of healthy living does not need to reinvent the wheel. We all remember fad diets, the two week work out programs and those terrifying self-help books with bright yellow jacket covers that looked strikingly similar to a safety vest or floatation device. They all promised impossible results with the magic blue pill of delusional utopia. Yes, many of us, at some point, (by the rouge of our checks) recall the glutton intoxication of a whole lot of crazy. But we’re smarter now, and we’re all grown up. We know the miracle pill is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and the trappings of those absurd quick fixes, buttress the same mechanism that got us here in the first place: the culture of instant gratification. This is where Pure comes in.
Pure - fitness + nutrition + retreats will be ushering a new era of health and wellness to Penticton. They assure us the journey does not begin with backbreaking ritual, fad diets or impossible promises, rather with a gentle nod. This is the power of retreat. The proof is in the pudding, and in this case, in the name. Pure offers a return to the authentic. An unrefined, unrestrained transparency that works in tandem with all faculties. Nothing more but a small, quiet acknowledgement of the intrinsic core. This is the Pure foundation where the brand takes its vocation, offering group classes, health and wellness coaching and nutrition counseling, with a “Golden” age series and brand new style of spin classes, all promising to keep you motivated, balanced and energized. The re-branding of Riverside Fitness and Health encompasses not just the idea of health, but the reality of its constitution, reminding us of our quality and the value we hold in simply being. It’s leadership in the exodus of everyday humdrum, assures a renewal of self-love by the gradual glory of our own shape. Pure - fitness + nutrition + retreats offers up this trinity not as a daily chore or activity, but as a magnificent way of life in movement and beauty.
Wellness retreats, aimed at kick starting a healthy lifestyle by assisting in recharging and unplugging, will endeavor to recognize emotional and mental pressure points. Renewing the intimate relationship with ourselves that we loose in the brouhaha of prosaic living, these wellness retreats will get you off the grid and in-tune with your essentials. In partnership with the Penticton Lakeside Resort, 3,5 and 7 night stays will include chef-inspired meals, lake view suites with access to lakeside walking and biking trails, on-site resort venues and facilities, spa treatments, daily group fitness, cooking classes and workshops. Designed to massage the internal reality that gives rise to the external, Pure’s wellness retreats offers transformation and renewal by the glow of gentle and intensive detoxification and cleansing. With an emphasis on healthy living and eating, Pure’s raw juice and smoothie bar will also offer patrons the immeasurable benefits of live foods, chalked full of enzymes that provide incredible energy, improved sleep and increased mental clarity, while promoting regularity and encouraging environmentalism via less packaging, lower carbon-foot print and a great connection to the earth. In addition to the raw juice bar, Pure will also offer organic house-made snacks to fuel the quiet unfettered mind or your high performance lifestyle; a surefire way to cultivate and nourish.
With Pure, the journey goes hand-in-hand. We can ditch the quick fixes and that little blue pill, watching with quiet smugness, the days of fad diets and impossible work-outs fade like a wisp by the blandishing wind, eventually whisked away back into the meringue of air. And we smile, because above us, the blue endless dome of possibilities. Looking skyward, our attention turns from mundane concerns, to the still small voice inside us. With peaceful whispers it praises. Pure movement. Pure energy. Pure Penticton.
Salmon: Our Survival
You probably wouldn’t think it, but sockeye salmon are an integral force to the well being and survival of our western interior and Pacific coastal communities and ecosystems. I know, I know. You’re probably thinking - what, fish? Really? Yes really. This is not some dubious fear-mongering conspiracy theory brewed up by a few red nosed quacks in lab coats. But don’t take our word for it. Just lend an open ear to the voice of countless dedicated men and women who have studied the fundamental structure, health and importance of salmon in our Pacific coastal and interior ecosystems for the past several decades. Their committed, decisive science labors to root out determining factors, variables and contingencies of the environment’s ultimate survival; the survival of which symbiotically effects the continuance of our own species, the illustrious homo sapien sapien. In nature, we know everything is interconnected. We know this because the term, interconnected has become a bit of a semantic cliche. Something we are slightly weary of hearing. Especially in this post-Al Gore era (too bad David Suzuki).
United States sockeye salmon populations are currently listed under both the US Endangered Species Act and threatened species lists by the National Marine Fisheries Service in Idaho, Oregon and Washington areas. Canada is also not immune. In the past, we have experienced similar decline of sockeye salmon in the Fraser and Okanagan Rivers. Due to the impact of environmental changes, marine ecology, (ocean acidifcation), aquaculture, predators, diseases and parasites, (including farmed salmon hatchery diseases), contaminants, water temperature and governmental management of the productivity of salmon runs, the ability of the sockeye salmon to reach traditional spawning grounds or the ocean has been inhibited. Proposed legislative efforts, such as the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act however, attempt at establishing protective measures in the headwaters of the sockeye salmon by preventing industrial development in road-less areas. Now, as of June 2012, record numbers of a once-waning population of sockeye salmon have been returning to the Northwest's Columbia Basin, proving that these kinds of legislation actually work. And this is where interconnection comes into play. The causal affect. This year’s fishing season saw the largest return of sustainable sockeye salmon in British Columbia in almost 80 years. That’s right. Since 1938, when the salmon count first began. The bountiful return beset Osoyoos Lake, (a gem of a water basin, abutting the Osoyoos Desert and buffeting the borders of Canada and the United States). This is truly a miraculous feat, especially when considering the ominous waning of salmon numbers in the mid 1990s. A true testament to the hard work and dedication of the Okanagan Nation Alliance Fisheries Department, who labored tirelessly on restoration projects, information was collected based on tagging studies and the number of salmon that went over Wells Damn. Estimates ran into the 300,000 range. Consequently, The Department of Fisheries and Oceans opened the season for the sport fishing community to angle these wild pink fish from August 19th until Sept 2nd, requiring naught but a fishing license and the purchasing of salmon tags. This new stock supply proved great momentum for tourism too. Attracting anglers and sport fishermen from all across the Pacific North West, to fill resorts and hotels, cheer up cafes and restaurants and communicate an economic insurgence throughout the localities. Roadside stands selling the catch of the day were also setup by Nk’mip Resort, catering to an eagerly revolving door of wine visitors, campers, recreational tourists, locals and passers-through, all of whom are spreading the word. Although salmon fishing still remains small-scale, it may one day serve to compliment the vivacious wine tourism industry. With salmon making its way into Skaha and eventually Okanagan lakes, the future appears bright.
However, before you go off hop, skipping into the sunset, let’s be clear about one thing: just because we’ve seen a return of salmon to the Okanagan Valley, doesn’t mean all our troubles are over, (or at the very least, prolonged). The wound runs deep, the likes of which will not heal or medicate with just a band-aid. What we need is more awareness and involvement in environmental conservation and protection. To educate our children and cultivate greater insight into the interconnected workings of the natural world, so that they will in turn be at the vanguard of saving our planet. Salmon conservation is not just a good start, it is an excellent start. But it is only the start. Just like the salmon run - the perilous struggle, hardship and determination - the onus of the rest of the journey is on all of us.
North America's Number One Wine Destination
Canada’s wine country is the embodiment of subtle beauty. The poignant landscapes of the Okanagan Valley, found cradled the heart of British Columbia’s southern interior are nothing short of majestic. It’s not difficult to see why people from all around the world are flocking to partake in the Okanagan experience. It has, up until quite recently, been the great north’s well kept secret.
A mix of sand, gravel and clay form the foundation of the Okanagan’s extending vineyards, where vintners work a gentle hand upon the landscape, refurnishing with accents of Pinot, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewürztraminer. 10,000 acres of planted grapes, cultivated by a slew of international and local award winning wineries, bedeck the internal and external landscapes with insight and sophistication. Many wineries such as Tinhorn Creek, Quail’s Gate and Mission Hill contribute to the cultural pulse of the Okanagan, bringing in world renowned musicians, artists, and performances to entertain the summer twilight. Paired with world class cuisine and wine, the experience transcends perfection, moving into the unforgettable. But it’s not just the majesty of wine country that captivates and inspires. The Okanagan is also home to world class restaurants, resorts and retreats, catering to a host of seasonal agendas encouraged by a surplus of recreation activities and attractions.
Despite this incredible scene, the region remains small-scale and rather underdeveloped by international standards. After all, when compared to the big whigs of France, Australia, Spain and Italy, Canada is nothing but a blip on the radar. However, when USA Today named the Okanagan Valley as the world’s second best wine region to visit amongst a list of ten worldwide wine destinations, heads began to turn. The ranking, compiled by votes from its readers as part of the newspaper’s Reader’s Choice 2014 Awards, saw the Okanagan bested only by Alentejo in south-central area of Portugal, making it the number one destination in North America. No d
oubt the Okanagan wine region deserves all the global accolades. In fact, it’s a miracle the recognition hasn’t come sooner. Vantage points are found anywhere and everywhere in the Okanagan: along the water, at the boundary of a tumbling bluff or from a roosting mountaintop. Essence of bolsom root, and sage bloom, while the call of the osprey and loon offers up a song of creation, keeping this little piece of heaven in orbit. And it truly is a piece of heaven. It’s resplendent beauty appears frozen in time, kept pristine by the careful hands of its keeper. The Okanagan Valley truly is in a league of its own. And forget the juggernaut’s of the wine industry. Exchanging overpopulated, overworked, exhausting landscapes of commercial virility, for intimate, rustic, homespun charm is nothing short of common sense. And while we can’t help but think that the region is just about to be launched into the fog of fame and exploit, much like the trending Croatian Adriatic coast as the new French Riveria, the region remains, for the time being, self-effacing and small-scale: all the reasons we love to love it. After all, it’s not just our Okanagan. It’s the world’s Okanagan. To experience, what anyone who has been there will recognize as, its subtle beauty.
An Evolution of Okanagan Wine...
The evolution of the Okanagan wine industry takes us back over 150 years, to the more humble beginnings of what is now an oasis of wine, cheese, fresh organic fruits and veggies, farms and more. The Okanagan Valley, Canada’s second leading wine producer next to the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario, consists of approximately 4,000 hectares of vineyards, and accounts for more than 90% of all wine produced in British Columbia. Buffering the clay cliffs of Okanagan Lake and its adjacent Osoyoos Lake, Skaha Lake and Vaseux Lake, are hundreds of kilometers of vineyards, fashioning an extraordinary world-renown panorama.
The unique location of the Okanagan Valley lends to the sensation of its quality. Situated between the 49th and 50th parallel north, the Valley runs on par with the latitudes of the renowned European wine regions of Champagne and Rheingau. Here, where it is comfortably nestled between two lakes, (that moderate its continental climate), the Valley can boast a distinctive culmination of microclimates that appeal to different vineyard soil types and grapes. Perhaps one of the more exceptional features of our “Napa Valley of the North” however, (as the valley has been nick-named), is the region’s northerly latitude, which allows Okanagan vines to experience longer hours of daylight, a clear advantage over it’s southern counterparts of California.
The Okanagan Valley’s history of wine production humbly began in 1859 with the first vineyard planted at the Oblate Mission in Kelowna by French Catholic priest, Charles Pandosy. With the sole purpose of producing sacramental wine for the celebration of the Eucharist, this small vineyard was simply the flint that sparked the fire. Soon thereafter other small vineyards sprang up, dotting the landscape, and more continued to expand and develop until the start of prohibition, in the first half of 20th century. While the prohibition managed to wipe out most of the Okanagan’s commercial wine industry, wine production was later successfully revived in the 1930s. It is interesting to note that for 40 decades following, until the mid-1970s, the Okanagan wine industry was built entirely on the production of fruit wines made from berries, apples, cherries and even table grapes and those produced from hybrid grapes, rather than the French-American hybrid grapes and vinifera, we have grown accustomed to today. One such winery, Calona Wines, which was founded in 1932, remains one of the oldest continuously running winery in British Columbia, (an true testament to the historical roots of our culture). The very first commercial plantings of vinifera varieties is in fact accredited to the Osoyoos Indian Band with their establishment of Inkameep Vineyards in 1975, now known as Nk’mip Cellars.
Today one can experience a myriad of wine and grape types throughout the Okanagan Valley, while almost every style of wine is produced across a wide spectrum of sweetness levels that include sparkling, still, fortified, dessert and ice wines. There are over 60 grape varieties grown in the Okanagan, which includes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Marechal Foch and Cabernet Franc. Many German varieties can also be found throughout the Okanagan, including Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Bacchus, Optima, Ehrenfelser, Kerner, and Seigfried Rebe. Likewise, more recently, growers have been planting warmer climate varieties not typically associated with the Canadian wine industry such as Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo, Pinotage, Malbec, Barbera and Zinfandel.
The evolution of the Okanagan wine industry is just as rich and diverse as it is unique and extraordinary. Perhaps one of the more distinctive features of the Okanagan wine industry today is its authenticity – there is a sense that the Okanagan wine industry strives to maintain a sense of integrity, character and personable appeal, which in combination, make for a distinctive experience over the larger, more commercialized and industrialized wine regions throughout the world. Visitors can rejoice in both the personal, intimate experience of the wine region itself, as well as its diversity and unique personality. From the Valley’s modest beginnings with the Mission, to its growth during the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era, to its struggles and ultimate survival throughout the Prohibition years, the Okanagan Valley wine region is truly a marvel - one to experience, savor and share!
-Elizabeth Cucnik
The Chronicles of Munson Mountain...
Have you ever heard a whispering in the wind when climbing the gentle slope of Munson Mountain? Along the historic KVR trail, were you ever silenced by the abrupt presence of a befalling mystery, suddenly suspended all around you like a thick plume of smoke? What made you pause a brief moment to hush those around you because you may or may not have heard a humming in the air...? And yet the haunting feeling follows, a melodic thought that weaves in and out of consciousness, undoubtedly some cryptic song sung across the valley's extending plateaus of orchards and vineyards... Indeed the Okanagan Valley has its fair share of secrets and complexities. It is ruled by a deep-set, bellowing ancientness that has a sobering affect on the senses. The valley is kingdom to the old and new, both an Eden of treasures and a trench of unyielding willfulness. Its vision began with one, drawn out breath of fire and smoke, heat and ash, 50 million years past, when Hephaistos ruled with an iron fist and Vulcan molded Cenozoic landscapes by the craftmanship of his fiery forge. The earth expanded and contracted, grew hot and cold, and with each push and pull, the labour of its own birth slowly began to form what we now love and cherish as the unparalleled beauty of the Okanagan Valley. Amidst its struggle, the earth created in its bosom, a bequest of riches. Diamonds, forged from the draft of creation, line the darkness below with light from above. They were usurped by an ancient magma and brought close to the Earth's surface through the rumblings of deep volcanic eruptions, where they cooled and crystallized. Like a treasure chest tethered by a map, the many trails and roadways weaving along the Naramata Bench, potentially lead to this invaluable source. For Pentictonites who continue to listen carefully to the Earth's whispers and songs, it is known - this untapped, legendary source, like a secret stash of wealth hidden beneath our mattress. One such individual shares this intuition. His heroic impetus now pioneers the search for this earthly dowry among the inconspicuous landscape of the South Okanagan. An explorer in his own right, Marko Cucnik, young in years, wise in congenital and instinctual wisdoms, advances the chase. Following the prehistoric trail of ash and fire, like the passage to a dragon's liar, Marko is cautious and apprehensive. Unwilling to disturb the sleeping giant of dormant magma and ash which festers beneath the two volcanic cores of Munson Mountain, he treads lightly. He knows that should he dig too deep, Penticton may once again succumb to the wrath and fury of those ancient Heathen Gods. So do these diamonds come at an impossible price? Or are they simply a garnish in the depths, an ornamental column rather than a supporting beam? Marko, our intrepid explorer, is out to discover the truth for us all. And yet the murmurs beneath the mantle continue... a rumbling of sorts, reminding us, Pentictonites, of our humble beginnings, and the dealings of the deep.
-Elizabeth Cucnik
