Quick building update

First unit: almost done.

Front and rear unit: need doing.

Facad: happening...

Cost: adding up fast

Reward: priceless.

Great Fun

So Sunday came around this week and guess what? Off to Crowsnest. On the agenda: look at progress with the building, attend a meeting with a bunch of holiday home owners, stuff ourselves at Stone's Throw and go for a late season XC ski.
1. The building is coming along. We can actually imagine sleeping in a bed, with a functioning bathroom in a civilized version of the indoor camping we have been doing for 2 years.
2. We met some really nice people with great ideas. Felt really great chatting with a group of people who's goals revolved around creating great experiences for visitors to Crowsnest Pass and trying to convince people to continue visiting in the future. You can see some of these places at: http://www.crowsnestpassholidayhomes.com
3. It is always my favourite part of visiting the Pass. Steve (Stone's Throw) and I have a gift for acting like 10 year old best-buds whenever we get together. There is nothing wrong with acting like an idiot and just laughing sometimes.
4. XC skiing: This should be a post on its own. Cross Country skiing for many is supposed to include perfect track-set conditions or it just isn't fun. The tracks were a mess but I had an awesome time. People tend to get upset when conditions aren't what they expect - enjoyment is only possible for them if everything goes as expected. Well for me in this case, I was laughing my ass off because the skis were impossible to control, there was too much grip in a couple spots and none in all the other spots. I was surrounded by a beautiful day, nature and the coolest forest anywhere. It wasn't a conscious decision like "this sucks, but I must be more positive and have a good experience." This was a tiny example of living in the moment and appreciating the fun of the unexpected in beautiful surroundings. Hey, kinda like a life lesson. Hmmmm?
Perhaps my next post will have to include a V8 engine or a motorcycle before people start thinking I'm a little fruity.

Update of the building

Just wanted to give a visual update of the progress. I don't want to say too much about what the plans are - I prefer to surprise people with pictures. As you can see (if you have amazing vision), there are new windows in the rear of the building. There is also a new, wood construction, well insulated, hurricane strapped/framed rear third of the building.

There is an extremely large beam that we discovered when the lath&plaster ceiling was removed - the ceiling was destroyed and had been hidden above a TBar ceiling. Glad to see the TBar go. Happy with thoughts of exposed massive beams overhead.

The second picture is a teaser of the middle suite. It is now completely painted and awaiting fir t&g flooring and a kitchen install.

My next blog will be a charity blog asking for donations towards the ongoing renovation of a 1927 commercial building in Crowsnest Pass. Boy, is this more rewarding than RRSP contributions!

That Thing

So yesterday I drove down to Bellevue to paint in interior of the "middle suite" in the building. Of course, I ran into a snow storm - the 5th one I have driven through in the last 5 weeks of back and forthing to the Pass. If anyone out there is a son or daughter of Mother Nature, could you please take out the garbage, do the dishes or clean your room - your mom is in a bad mood!
One of the benefits of doing a 5 hour round trip on a regular basis is that you become very relaxed and tend to do some soul searching (or you think about business) - this time it was soul searching.
What is it about Crowsnest Pass, I was thinking. Well as strange as it sounds because I tell anyone who will listen that the scenery is amazing, there are these forgotten parts of history, the mountaing biking is great etc.. The one thing that really has put Crowsnest Pass over the top is the people. For Andrea and I we first met "locals" when we became instant friends with Steve and Jessica at Stone's Throw - through them we met more people and through them even more. The people, especially those who have made a conscious life-choice to move to the Pass seem to have a few great things in common - I will make a list because I don't put much thought into my posts and this is as close to organized as I can get.

1. Non-materialistic: people know there is more to life than a bigger house, larger vehicle, a better this or fancier that. This is so refreshing.
2. Lifestyle seekers: there are people who want to live in an outdoorsy town because it is cool or represents some sort of status and there are those who absolutely love the outdoors and want to immerse their lives in it - I think we all know which applies to those in the Pass.
3. Passion for Community: I have yet to meet people with so much interest in their municipal politics. This is where I put a positive spin on how "locals" see it. I know everyone I chat with has serious misgivings about the current state of municipal politics in Crowsnest - partly because things are a mess and partly because people actually notice its a mess and care enough to talk about it. The attitude in most towns is "who cares about politics." Sure there are political issues but the point is that the people really care!
4. Willingness to Help: Be it trailbuilding, volunteering with events or helping when someone's (in this case, mine) building has been damaged in a storm - many of the people I have met are extremely generous with lending a hand. I was going to start listing people who I have noticed lending a hand but it includes too many people whos names I don't recall.
5. That "je ne sais qua". Jeez people are great to chat with, are welcoming, generous, funny - all combined - it is great people.

The relevance of this stuff comes full circle for me. When I was 8, my parents moved the family from South Africa to Canada. My dad at the time was 38, my mom 40. While my parents absolutely love Canada and appreciate the great lives we have all had here, I know they have one regret about the move. They left behind a group of friends who all had that "something special" kind of friendship. As a small child I could even tell. Groups of families 4x4ing in the mountains of Lesotho or hiking or going to nature reserves - me and my parents were surrounded by like minded people. Since moving to Canada, I know my parents missed it and so did I - not feeling much of a connection with people (or not often at least). So here I am. I'm 38; the same age as when my dad left those friends and that place behind. I'm realizing I have found that place where people like me feel at home.

I am now going to grab a power tool and make some noise - far too "feely" for me.

Taking Steps

We are taking steps to move to Crowsnest Pass. The building we love is both a potential home and potential income. We are spending money like there is no tomorrow and developing our old Brazzoni Building and turning it into Minestead - Holiday Vacation Homes.http://www.minestead.com/

I love creating logos and graphics so now you have to look at this:

Finally we can quit whining and start doing things that help add some charm to Bellevue while getting us one step closer to being able to move.

How to save a shrinking community

Crowsnest Pass is amazing, beautiful, full of historic charm, and experiencing a decline in population. I want to suggest some ideas with my usual lack of logic or order to bring population back to Crowsnest Pass.
1. People need to move here. Wow, and you thought these would be intellectual insights and instead you get the obvious "duuuhhhh" answer. Sometimes the obvious has to be stated.
2. Why do people choose to move? If we can figure out people's motives, we can try to meet them.

• Job opportunities.
• Entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Lifestyle/Ideals.
• Be close to family
• Get away from an unpleasant place
• Facilities: athletes go where they can train, families go where their kids can be kept busy etc.
• Educational Institutions.
• Health. Special clinics or to escape pollutants, allergens.
• Affordability.
• Cool factor.

3. For almost all people, they simply can't just move somewhere - they need to be able to make a living.

4. Business has to be created to bring outside dollars into the region. Tourism brings in outside dollars but has to attract the customer to the area. For true economic benefit, businesses that sell products or services to far reaching and varied regions are most desirable.

5. Crowsnest Pass should work at attracting educational institutions to the area. Say a branch of SAIT or UofL. I'm sure there are niches with education - what are they? What unique features of the Pass would be of interest educationally?

6. Bring education and you lay the foundations for future families and short term prosperity. We all know students are poor yet they throw around money like crazy - great for the area. We also know students need jobs - allowing local industry an endless resource of skilled and unskilled labour.

7. Chase a dream or two. Find a couple things that Crowsnest Pass could be world famous for - besides wind and mountains that fall over. I personally think Crowsnest Pass could be a mountain bike mecca - seems like a tiny thing but research the economic impact of mountain biking on places like Moab, UT, Fruita, CO, Downieville, CA, Kamloops, BC or Whistler, BC. With the proximity to Calgary, Crowsnest Pass could be the most easilly reached affordable cycling mecca in North America. Adventure racing: We already have Full Moon in June, Sinister 7, Trans Rockies etc. Extreme Sports; build facilities for the crazy youth to learn their skills.

8. Now I'm tired: brainstorming done.

How does this work?

I'm not much for blogging. This is my first attempt and I thought after putting my heart and sole (and at least 45 minutes of my valuable time) into this thing - I thought I'd have people emailing saying how they love old buildings or some other flavor of feel goodness.
So how does someone like myself get the message out? Where are other people who love cool old buildings and cool old towns? I know you're out there, when Andrea and I walk around places like Butte, Montana with our jaws dropped in awe we see a few others doing the same. Or Downieville, California - besides being a mountain bike mecca it also drags people from hours away to marvel in its gold-rush-era coolness.
WHERE ARE ALL YOU PEOPLE? Come join me in Crowsnest Pass - lets buy all the unspoiled old buildings and turn this place into heritage eye candy.