After weeks of social distancing and isolation, we’re all in need of some fresh ideas to stay optimistic and inspired at home.

We’ve seen a lot of changes since the pandemic hit. Changes to how we work, how we play, how we support local businesses and even how we “travel.” Virtual experiences are on the rise and that includes some pretty innovative experiences right here in Alberta. 

My former self, a passionate juggler with constant balls in the air lived a pretty frantic life. But these days, because of meditation, my coping mechanism from the collective jolt of COVID reality has led me into a place of calm and a grounded perspective. 

In today’s world, many of us are arriving at a new understanding of what matters. The reality is we are moving through some challenging days. Being optimistic means that, yes, these are challenging days, but there is a brighter future on the other side of it all. 

Bob Vedan is living the active lifestyle dream in Vernon.

“My trifecta is skiing in the morning, golfing in the afternoon, and curling at night,” the 20-year Silverstar Mountain Host Bob Vedan told me over a cup of hot chocolate in the village on a snowy Friday afternoon. He completed his trifecta last year, and he’s going for it again this year.

There’s nothing like feeling like a total rockstar when you land at a destination for a few days of wintertime fun. I arrived at the Kelowna International Airport, directly from Vancouver, and was met by Chad Haller, co-owner of the Kelowna Concierge. Within minutes I was whisked through the city and up to The View Winery where I met my group for a sunset snowshoe in the vineyard.

CROWSNEST PASS - Exploring the Crowsnest Pass three ways by water last spring gave us the inspiration to do it all again, only in winter. There’s excellent downhill skiing, some amazing opportunities for switching to the skinny skis for cross-country skiing or sledding amid 360-degree magical mountain views.

CRANBROOK, B.C. – Picture a frozen lake you can have pretty much to yourself, and a place where you can glide on ice skates or catch a fish for some dinner at the base of some of the world’s most famous mountains. This is as Canadian as it gets. 

With hands strengthened by more than 30 years of working traps, Paul Padlesky removes a small, white furry weasel from his trap box and shows it to Cate Kittlitz and Derek Shackleton. Looking at it, he smiles, reminded of how his grandfather used to skin these small critters and give the furs to Paul when he was just a young boy.

Using a length of coiled wire and a dead aspen branch, Lilyrose Meyers demonstrates how to set a snare between two spruce trees, their trunks littered with the telltale reddish-brown, loamy detritus of a squirrel midden. The low lying sun speckles the naked winter forest at her feet.

When we hear about the many environmental dangers threatening the health of our oceans, the fate of the majestic whale is often front and centre. Now, they are at risk of losing one of their vital sources of food.

Oh, oh, a few pounds crept on during the festive season of 2019. Not to worry. Today is the day you plan your route to better health and fitness. But the Biggest Loser system of dropping weight and regaining fitness is not the way to go. Slow and steady builds a better body. So, what to do? Set your sights on one of the most sought after events in the region: The Kootenay Gran Fondo.

If you have yet to experience the Powder Highway, it’s a trip you must put on your bucket list. It's a snow hound's nirvana because it puts you smack in the middle of the world’s largest collections of skiable locations.