VOICES FROM THE VALLEYS Stories and Poems about Life in BC’s Interior Compiled and Edited by Jodie Renner Copyright Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Voices from the valleys : stories & poems about life in BC's interior / compiled and edited by Jodie Renner. Includes index. ISBN 978-0-9937004-3-9 (paperback) 1. Canadian literature (English)--British Columbia. 2. Canadian literature (English)--21st century. I. Renner, Jodie, editor PS8255.B7V65 2015 C810.8'09711 C2015-906822-3 Contributors, in alphabetical order by last name: John Arendt, Howard Baker, Michelle Barker, Della Barrett, Clayton Campbell, Fern G.Z. Carr, Virginia Carraway Stark, Danell Clay, Linda Crosfield, Debra Crow, Shirley Bigelow DeKelver, Keith Dixon, Elaine Durst, Bernie Fandrich, Beverly Fox, R.M. Greenaway, Sterling Haynes, Dianne Hildebrand, Norma J. Hill, Eileen Hopkins, Yasmin John-Thorpe, Chris Kempling, Denise King, Linda Kirbyson, Virginia Laveau, Loreena M. Lee, Denise Little, Alan Longworth, Ken Ludwig, Jeanine Manji, Katie Marti, Kate McDonough, Herb Moore, Janice Notland, Sylvia Olson, James Osborne, Vic Parsons, L.M. Patrick, William S. Peckham, Anita Perry, Seth Raymond, Jodie Renner, Seanah Roper, Ron B. Saunders, Paul Seesequasis, Wendy Squire, Kristina Stanley, Tony Stark, Cheryl Kaye Tardif, Mahada Thomas, Ross Urquhart Copyright © November 2015, Cobalt Books. www.CobaltBooks.net All stories and poems are individually copyrighted by the authors who created them. Permission has been granted by all authors to include their story or poem in this anthology. Cover photo of Emerald Lake and Wapta Mountain in Yoho National Park, near Field, B.C., Copyright © 2015 Murphy Shewchuk www.murphyshewchuk.com Cover design by Travis Miles of ProBookCovers.com * * * PRAISE FOR VOICES FROM THE VALLEYS “When I sat down to review Voices from the Valleys, I was prepared to be entertained. Instead I was enthralled with a lively range of fiction and non-fiction stories and poems about towns and valleys and characters that rang so true to my own experiences, growing up in, and returning as an adult to my hometown of Lillooet and Southern British Columbia. This anthology belongs on the bookshelves of anyone fascinated by the history, colour, and texture of rural BC. Supplemented with amazing photographs and sketches, the authors have brought my favourite places to life.” – Christ’l Roshard, former mayor of Lillooet, former editor of Bridge River – Lillooet News “Voices from the Valleys reflects the uniqueness, diversity and cultural richness that exists in BC’s interior. This wonderful collection of stories and poems is a treat for anyone.” – Gary Doi, former school superintendent and creator of the Inspiring Hope book series “What truly captures the unique beauty of a region are the people who live there. Voices from the Valleys, a creative and special collection from passionate and talented authors, is a delightful read.” – Dan Albas, MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola “A visual artist might use canvas, oil, or watercolour to capture the tones and textures of our vivid interior valleys. My delight with Voices from the Valleys is the spirit and emotion of our regions’ stories expressed in the words of poets and authors: art in a written form. A wonderful and moving read.” – Craig Henderson, Naramata author, historian and broadcaster “Congratulations to Jodie Renner for bringing together such a stimulating collection of writing in Voices from the Valleys! This collective literary project showcases the diversity of BC experiences through a delightful variety of expressions.” – Jane Shaak, Executive Director, Shatford Centre, Penticton, BC “If you love BC’s Interior, you’ll love these inspiring stories and poems. Voices from the Valleys is a great read about a great part of the world.” – Mark Strahl, MP Chilliwack – Hope “Written by some of British Columbia’s finest writers, Voices from the Valleys is a delightful collection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Well worth picking up and hard to put down, many of the stories slide the reader into the unique and beautiful geography of BC’s Interior. Though many of the topics are familiar, the skillful writing makes them new and intriguing.” – Coco Aders-Weremczuk, President, Federation of BC Writers “Voices of the Valleys is an absolute treasure, a tapestry of talent. I have always known the Shuswap Okanagan was a treasure trove of gifted writers. Jodie Renner has now provided the showcase proving this to be true. I found the variety of writing to be energizing and a delight to read.” – Kay Johnston, President of The Shuswap Association of Writers, Chair of Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival, author of the best-seller Spirit of Powwow “Voices from the Valleys is a thoroughly captivating collection of stories and poetry. I found myself travelling through time and places, experiencing the authors’ amusement, surprise, wisdom, and delight along the way.” – Connie Denesiuk, former president of the B.C. School Trustees Association and director of the Canadian School Board Association “The level of skill in these writers is par to bestselling authors. Well worth a cuddle-up in a comfy chair for an evening of reading. Thank you to all of the authors who took the time to entertain, teach, and engage their audience.” – Janice Perrino, executive director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation Clickable TABLE OF CONTENTS *Click on the title to go to that story or poem.* Also, click on Fiction, Nonfiction, or Poetry for a listing of contributions under each genre, and click on Era to find the contributions organized by when the stories took place. Note: Drawings and colour and black-and-white photos are included throughout the print version, some of which appear in this Excerpts version. INTRODUCTION ABOUT BRITISH COLUMBIA CONTRIBUTIONS BY GEOGRAPHICAL REGION OF THE INTERIOR OF BRITISH COLUMBIA KOOTENAYS, ROCKY MOUNTAINS: ~ About the Kootenays ~ Deirdre Hunting Season – fiction © Kristina Stanley ~ Swirl of Finches – poem © Janice Notland ~ Dragonflies and the Great Blue Heron – creative nonfiction © James Osborne ~ Fences – poem © Linda Crosfield ~ Keene Hill – short fiction © R.M. Greenaway ~ The Look of Cold – poem © Janice Notland ~ Seth’s Goodbyes – memoir vignettes © Seth Raymond ~ When Talking Ends – poem © Linda Crosfield ~ Night Noise – poem © Janice Notland OKANAGAN VALLEY: South Okanagan – Similkameen Valleys (Penticton, Summerland, Oliver, Okanagan Falls, Osoyoos, Keremeos, etc.) ~ About the Okanagan Valley ~ About the Similkameen Valley ~ A Life Reclaimed – fiction © Della Barrett ~ Similkameen Valley Memories – memoir © Debra Crow ~ Whiskey Jack and the Miner – poem © Della Barrett ~ Snowbird Melting – short fiction © Eileen Hopkins ~ Standing Rock, Similkameen – poem © Della Barrett ~ Cornered in the Orchard © L.M. Patrick ~ Okanagan Raven – poem © Paul Seesequasis ~ One Hundred and Sixty Acres – creative nonfiction (memoir) © Virginia Laveau ~ Elegy for the Orchard – poem © Michelle Barker ~ Naramata Cycle of Life – fiction © Ron B. Saunders ~ Log Cabin above Penticton – poem © Norma Hill ~ Ramblings of an Old, Old Soul – musings © Mahada Thomas ~ Quails in the Garden – nonfiction © Yasmin John-Thorpe ~ Providence Crematorium – poem © Michelle Barker ~ Risking it All – fiction © Linda Kirbyson Central and North Okanagan Valleys, Shuswap (Peachland, West Kelowna, Kelowna, Vernon, Salmon Arm, etc.): ~ About the Shuswap Region ~ Return to Sender – poem © Fern G.Z. Carr ~ Firestorm – short fiction © William S. Peckham ~ Forest Fire (Kelowna 2013) – poem © Fern G.Z. Carr ~ The Chokerman – memoir © Denise King ~ Oh Deer – poem © Fern G.Z. Carr ~ The Salmon Run – nonfiction © Sylvia Olson ~ Myra Canyon – poem © Fern G.Z. Carr (in book and e-book) ~ Sweet Dreams – fiction © Cheryl Kaye Tardif ~ Visitors to Our New Suburban Lot –poem © Dianne Hildebrand ~ Nature’s Precious Gift – nonfiction © Shirley Bigelow DeKelver THOMPSON – NICOLA – FRASER – BRIDGE RIVER VALLEYS Thompson & Nicola Valleys (Kamloops, Merritt, & area) ~ About the Thompson- Nicola ~ Nicola Wind Surfers – poem © Howard Baker ~ The Silence of the Forest – nonfiction © Keith Dixon ~ ’53 Indian – poem © Chris Kempling ~ Captivated by Whitewater Rafting – nonfiction © Bernie FandricH ~ Snowy Stillness above the Fraser Canyon – creative nonfiction © Ross Urquhart Upper Fraser River Valley, Bridge River Valley ~ About the Upper Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon ~ About the Bridge River Valley ~ The Blockade – fiction © John Arendt ~ Snowstorm on Jackass Mountain – memoir © Loreena Lee ~ A Child Gone Missing – creative nonfiction © Jodie Renner ~ High-Grade Gold in Honeymoon Hollow – creative nonfiction © Clayton Campbell CARIBOO – CHILCOTIN ~ About the Cariboo – Chilcotin 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Anahim Lake, Quesnel areas ~ Cabin Fever – short fiction © Herb Moore ~ Chilled in Chilcotin – poem © Alan Longworth ~ The Freedom Road – historical nonfiction © Sterling Haynes ~ Bella Coola Bureaucrat © Ken Ludwig ~ Chilcotin Crash – creative nonfiction (memoir) © Sterling Haynes ~ Driving South from Prince George – poem © Dianne Hildebrand ~ The Grizzly Bear Whisperer © Kate McDonough ~ Last Little Night Music © Ken Ludwig ~ Agreement at Beaver Creek – fiction © Anita Perry ~ Wedding Crasher Cougar – creative nonfiction © Chris Kempling ~ The Cache – poem © Elaine Durst ~ True North Strong – fiction © Katie Marti NORTHERN BC ~ About Northern BC Prince George, Houston, Smithers, Terrace, Hazelton areas: ~ Big City