Peace Country Traversed
G.P. Esther YEG-GA Coordinates Journeys With X.M.
In 2017, X.M. was in the process of completing a Biological Science degree with a minor in History at the University of Alberta. The following vignettes will confirm that X.M. is from “the mighty and proud Peace Country” and her ancestral roots run deeply in Northern Alberta. When she expressed interest in participating in Project 150 YEG-GA, she informed the School of One that her matrilineal lineage can be traced to Global migrants, and that heritage always reminds her that a sense of community can be discovered, rediscovered, and refashioned throughout the Earth if we learn how to listen to each other. While X.M. is dedicated to Paramedicine in remote and rural areas of Alberta, she also is devoted to programs that will promote greater inclusion of women and minorities in leadership positions in government, especially at the municipal level.
GP Esther and X.M. began their journeys together just a month before Y150 began in Canada. Meanwhile, the unassuming porous rock for this carving was found in and around the environs of the district of Homeglen, Alberta, in late Summer 2016. GP Esther is dedicated to the individual historical agency, accomplishments and contributions of female proponents of the Liberal Arts from Grande Prairie, Alberta, past, present and future, especially those of them whose mothers have facilitated snail mail endeavours spanning Eastern and Western Canada.
Account Received: August 31, 2017
Looming
7:34PM, Students Union Building, U of A, August 28, 2017. 26°C.
It's been a while since my feet have wandered on campus. Life called me back to the university over the weekend and it's made me think about the year to come. Campus in the summer has a false sense of calm; you can find empty seats and line ups aren't all that long. This false calm doesn't really fool me and I can already see, hear, and smell the organized chaos of what is to come. I'm not sure whether I'm excited about this school year, or dreading it. Either way it makes my heart beat a fraction faster when I think about it.
Account Received: July 24, 2017
Softer Steps
11:30AM, South of Grovedale, AB, July 23, 2017. 19° C with mostly clear skies -- AT LAST!
My summer job involves working remotely, away from home, for long stretches of time. I really do enjoy being out in the bush, but, at times, the days seem to crawl by and the comforts of my home back in town consume my thoughts. This summer I finally got smart and brought an excellent pair of slippers out to work with me. On this most recent job they have become like an extension of my body and I can't seem to pry my feet out of them in exchange for work boots each day! I chuckle to myself about what a big difference in the day-to-day quality of my life such a simple change can bring about! I wonder how many highly contested problems we could solve if more people donned comfortable footwear? I might have to attempt to find out by leading the campaign for softer steps.
Account Received: July 19, 2017
Long Run Environment
1:15PM, West of Grovedale, AB, July 18 2017, 21° C
Today, we had about two hours of July. I mean that in the sense that it was cold, rainy and extremely atypical for this time of year. When I got up in the morning I could see the puffs of my warm breath in the air and the usual sun that burns of the morning dampness was blocked by the thick haze created by our sister to the West burning. Yet, I hesitate to complain about the dreary coolness because I recognize that the alternative can be much more unpleasant. The smoke from British Columbia's wildfires this year has been thick in the air of Northwest Alberta for quite some time now. I am reminded daily how precariously we all hold onto the lives that we have built in these regions. From the unbearable cold of winter to the dry and deadly heat of summer, this is my home and I am here to stay for the long run. However, I'll admit the long run would seem a lot more pleasant if we could have one summer pass without these dangerous blazes consuming all that we care about.
Accounts Received: July 6, 2017
Rushed Relaxation
Norglenwold Summer Village, July 4, 2017, 25° C
I think I may have been in such a rush to get started with my weekend off that I ruined any attempts at true relaxation. I wanted to maximize the time spent at the lake with loved ones and I might have overplanned and tried to fit in too many activities all at once. Next time I head to such a beautiful location I've decided that I'm going to let the weekend happen without trying to intervene with the scheduling.
Norglenwold Summer Village
Near Sylvain Lake, 1 July 2017, 24° C
A quiet moment on Canada Day provides a moment to think and reflect. It's easy to be proud of my country today because of who I am... People like me have benefitted from the colonial system that our beloved country was built upon. My ancestors were hard workers and arguably good people, but their presence displaced the Indigenous groups that traditionally inhabited what would eventually become a farm, then town, then city . . . So, here I am taking a break from a long stretch of work, celebrating Canada Day. Amidst the celebrations I'm struck by the notion that we have a long stretch ahead of us. There's lots of work to be done, and hopefully the next 150 years will move us closer towards decolonization and reconciliation.
Account Received: June 29, 2017
Friendly Fence Post Topper
South of Grande Prairie, AB. June 29, 2017. 6:30PM
Cows and mosquitos have been the two constants in my life this week. I've had a long stretch of work out in the bush and regardless of how good of buddies me and the cattle have become over the past while. Yet, it is time to get back to town for a few days. I like the cows well enough but watching them together just reminds me that I need to get back to my own herd.
Working Woman
Mid June, Southern portion of the Peace Country, 2017
The blue summer skies look slightly more welcoming when they are dotted by cranes, service rigs, and flare stacks. After the recent slow down I've seen my hometown been torn into pieces and I've seen many people I care about suffer because there was such a limited amount of employment available. As work picks up, the city is returning to its usual thrum and a sense of optimism has returned to most people. I'm glad to be part of the throng that is returning to work but I'll admit there is a nagging sense that this optimism is only temporary. Will another slowdown shatter key sectors and locations integral to the provincial economy again? Is resource extraction going to have a long-term impact on these places so that they will be unusable for future generations? As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.
Round and Round We Go
Mid June, Southern Portion of Peace Country, 2017 (cont.)
The environment of my upbringing has shaped how I respond to the world. Gravel roads, muddy ditches, and deer trails are more comfortably traversed than pavement. Towering aspens, tamaracks, and derricks make me feel as though the world is wide open while the concrete and steel of the city form a cage around me. I dread the day that summers off of school come to an end, as it will usher in an era that will not include long sabbaticals out in the woods. The time I've spent away from the city during this summer has already been tainted by dread as I contemplate changing my seasonal cycling from winters in Edmonton and summers in the North to a more permanent residency in a larger city.
Accounts Received: June 6, 2017
Travel in the Bag
Peace Country, AB, June 4, 2017
GP Esther has been upgraded to a nice, plush travelling case that is bright and difficult to misplace (or at least that is the hope). This carving is turning into my constant travel companion and has secured a place of honour in the backpack I carry with me daily, ready and waiting to be photographed when inspiration strikes. In a small way I am envious of GPEsther since no matter what time of day, she is always "photo ready" with a smile.
Eve of Spring or Summer's Eve?
Peace Country, AB, June 5, 2017. 9:45PM 20 degrees C
Although I have spent every late Spring and entire Summer of my life in the Peace Country, the overwhelming greenness of this time of year is always a bit surprising. Residents in this area joke constantly about the necessity of maximizing our enjoyment for “two weeks of Summer.” Seemingly, the flora here does the same. No matter how closely I watch the buds appear on the trees in the Spring it truly feels as though every plant flourishes into its Summer fullness all at once overnight. The sudden arrival of this Summer lushness causes interesting shifts in my perception of our local landscape as leaves form walls that can no longer be penetrated by my gaze and the city shifts into its warm weather form.
Accounts Received: 1 June, 2017
Sister Conquerors
Near Grande Cache, AB, May 22, 2017
My younger sister and I hiked the beautiful (and somewhat treacherous) Mount Stearn over May Long Weekend. The weather was a balmy 22 degrees Celsius at the bottom of the mountain, but as we increased elevation the temperature dropped, the wind picked up, and the amount of snow increased drastically. We welcomed the change in temperature as the exertion of the steep climb upwards had us feeling that 22 degrees was far too warm. Although hiking through alpine snow sometimes makes me question my judgment about leisure activities, it guarantees the most incredible views of pristine white wilderness extending below you. As we reached the summit, we shared a moment of jubilation with both of us feeling on top of the world -- powerful conquerors, for whom the valley unfolded for our viewing pleasure. As we stood there absorbing unobstructed views of the Rockies, the feeling of being conquerors soon faded and were replaced by an awareness of our smallness on this planet. Far ahead there lay taller mountains, steeper slopes, and deeper snow. We had only managed to conquer a minuscule portion of this mountain range, but we didn't dismay since there will be more long weekends.
GPS Posted
Near Grande Cache, May 22, 2017 (cont).
During our trip through the spectacular mountains, my younger sister and both got a kick out of the irony that I literally carried a rock carving in my pack! But it was well worth it and the resulting pictures record the GPS coordinates 5969325N, 353552E, UTM Zone 11, NAD83. The summit of this Mount Stearn (and many others near Grande Cache) is marked by a mailbox that successful climbers write messages to help document their triumph for fellow travellers. We wrote "Hopefully the way down is easier."
Accounts Received: February 10, 2017
Aquatera Community Skating Oval
Grande Prairie, AB, January 2, 2017. -20°C.
I have found that ice is often viewed as being undesirable, and in such a cold country this never made sense to me. I’ve lived my entire life enjoying the monopoly winter holds on our seasons. In my family, winter’s ice provides a chance to pursue our common passion for speed skating. Ice is what we work hard to provide and maintain for our community so that winter can be spent outdoors on skates! Ice is something we are proud of, protective of, and thankful for. Being outside in the early darkness of winter evenings, on the cold expanse of a 400m Olympic-sized skating oval is a time of great revelry for me.
Fire Hiss
Near Rycroft, AB, January 2, 2017. 3:20PM -17°C.
Hearing the fire hiss and spit as it melts the surrounding snow provides a simplistic joy that is often missing from city life. Through the earplugs required for our activities, I eavesdrop on my city-slicking partner who has recently been educated on how to ring in the New Year, in true Peace Country style… With a shotgun and several clay pigeons. I listen and am proud of how many hard skills I have imparted on him over the past few days which he spent exploring my place of origin, and also the more abstract skills I have shared over the years. I appreciate his willingness to listen to my advice; he doesn’t subscribe to stereotypical views of women as helpless or ignorant. We quickly find that he outranks me in feats of accuracy. When it comes time to drive home, I take the wheel. We both understand that he is a worthy navigator, but this is my terrain and my knowledge of each kilometer of road ahead of us makes me the superior choice as driver.
Dunvegan Suspension Bridge
Near Fairview AB, spanning the Peace River, December 24, 2016. 4:42PM 0°C.
As children we looked forward to driving over this bridge, always challenging each other to hold our breath across the expanse that has made so many economical, educational, and relational opportunities available for the North Peace. As an adult driving home for family holidays, the familiar sense of exhilaration lingers. Only now, holding my breath is done with equal parts joy and apprehension. Years of black ice, fog, erosion and close calls with wildlife have informed me to approach the valley with caution (as the highways signs have always recommended), especially when transporting the most precious cargo, your loved ones. Typically the trip across the bridge would be a quick blip on the way Northward, but I found myself pulling over to observe the Peace River. The dichotomy of excitement and caution I felt towards traversing the valley were mirrored in my feelings about the flowing water. For the first time in my memory the river has not frozen leaving me to feel a sense of wonderment at the slurry of ice particles flowing downstream and a sense of apprehension about whether the river will freeze next winter, or if we will set another global record for hottest year ever.
Zoolights, Calgary Zoo
Calgary AB, December 20, 2016. 8:09PM -2°C.
During the holiday spectacle that is Zoolights, the animals hide away from the cold of winter in their shelters and instead Zoo-goers are treated to fabulously crafted sculptures made of Christmas lights. As I walked through the Zoo, I thought about my last visit and all that had happened since. I recalled that the Zoo had been almost swallowed up by the flood in Calgary a few summers past, and the authority that Mother Nature wields. I wondered to myself, thinking of all the animals in the zoo as I walked, is there any better, more powerful, female role model than Mother Nature?
Norglenwold Summer Village
Near Sylvan Lake, AB, December 19, 2016. 3:17PM 2°C.
I took a tumble in the snow on the side of the range road as I was anticipating taking this photo. Despite the damp cold that accompanies melting snow, I could not help but feel the internal warmth of immense joy. The fall semester was finished and in my rearview mirror, both literally and figuratively. I have the entire winter break spanning ahead of me, allowing me a chance to rest and refocus. This picture reminds me that sometimes falling can be fun, and it doesn’t matter if you show up slightly muddied and damp… it matters that you show up.