#canmore engagement

[obcenvs3000w24]

Blog 2: Environmental interpretation

When trying to determine my ideal role of environmental interpretation, I decided to reflect on past experiences of mine with nature. I was born in Calgary, AB, so I have a lot of family out west that I go to visit from time to time. On these visits, I have always been extremely fascinated by the Canadian Rockies which leads me to believe my ideal role would be as a park ranger. This position would entail many different important tasks including public communication, wildlife/nature conservation/protection, and possibly leading guided tours.

            The location I would want to be is in Alberta, at either Jasper National Park or Banff National Park. I have been to Banff more than once, and I feel an innate sense of calm when I am in the mountains that I can’t explain. I think it would be an incredible privilege to work there alongside the wilderness.

Public communication would be crucial in this position to protect the wildlife as well as tourists themselves. The best way to succeed in keeping everyone safe is education. One way park rangers achieve this is by hosting presentations/information sessions. These sessions could be held in a classroom type setting or something more hands on like during a nature walk. By providing this range of opportunities to learn the culture of the park learning caters to all three main types of learners: Auditory, visual, and Kinesthetic! Some skills that would help me with this that I feel I excel at are humour and confidence! I think these skills would be beneficial to keep the public engaged in the activity I would be leading.

The part that I feel would be my favourite aspect of this role is wildlife and nature preservation. This past summer, I went on my first real long hike in Canmore at Grassi lakes. It was not a difficult hike, but it was extremely beautiful and made me reflect about how many places like it had been stripped of resources and diversity over the years by humans. It has created a sense of importance to protect places like these. I would find great pride in protecting/assisting native species like bears and mountain goats, as well as protecting the trails themselves from getting rundown. Important skills that would help me be successful in this is expansive knowledge of native species. OK, this is something I would need a lot of work on, as I haven’t exactly studied too much into it yet… but I have the motivation to and that’s step 1!

Another task I feel I would love is being a guide on hikes, solely because I would get to explore and learn a vast number of different routes. I have not been on many hikes as of now and it is something I want to do anyways… so why not make it my job! Not only do I find hikes relaxing, but they are a healthy activity that I enjoy. I feel it would be rewarding to share this passion with others. Some skills needed for this would be, again, wilderness knowledge and physical fitness. Physical fitness is already something I enjoy as I regularly go to the gym.

            Being a park ranger is something I have always been interested in and it would be the type of environmental interpretation that is perfect for me.

[techgradeitsolutionsinc]

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[artandarchaeologycore2]

Following discussion with Jamie and Janet about collab and inspired by Fictional Landscapes .From Canmore I found 2 local prehistoric cist sites near me , 1 in West Kilbride and 1 in Largs. Went to each site and took series of moving images. Stayed in each place thinking about then and now , no trace apart from a insert on Canmore and links to archaeological index from the 1800's and the 1970's. The site in Largs appeared from the records a significant number of human remains and death / burial architecture. I contrasted my experience from being in ORkney and the way that the island has held these ancient sites close and and protected. Mirroring in the contemporary landscape some of the ways that these prehistoric funerary sites were placed in ORkney as an ongoing engagement with the dead. Possibility that the dualisims held today : nature / culture , human /non human . living / dead didn't exist as a conceptual or ideological way of thinking.

I then put together some of the moving images and then responded in writing / poetry. Adding the spoken word to the collated images.

I will leave for a couple of days then come back to write to what emerges as embodied knowledge , strands to research more.

[jpenvs3000w23]

Becoming an Interpreter in the Maritimes

In my experience, the ideal environmental interpreter is knowledgeable, passionate, professional, interactive, and well-spoken. One of the best tour guides I’ve ever had was when we went cave exploring on Vancouver Island. Our tour guide was funny, asking us questions, answering our questions, informative when delivering facts, professional, and encouraging when we were travelling through the caves. Although the actual tour itself was cool and very well done, it was not my cup of tea because I don’t like small spaces. 

I would love to be an environmental interpreter, for nature conservation areas. I have always been fascinated by nature, history, and anthropology and enjoy sharing this knowledge with others. As an interpreter I would choose to be a tour guide for those who want to learn about and explore a specific area. As a tour guide I can provide a connection between the knowledge about the history, land, animals, and indigenous populations to the environment that surrounds us in the present. While also catering to visitors of different ages and learning styles by providing activities that encourage exploration, learning, and questions through visual, tactile, auditory, and kinetic means. Being a tour guide plays an important role in how people expereince new places and learn about the importance of nature and the interconnectedness of everything.   

Me and my sister walking the beach in Nova Scotia

I am fortunate that throughout my life my parents have taken my sister and me on many trips across Canada, the States, the Caribbean, and Europe. However, I have found the most beautiful place to be in Canada. My top two places in Canada are the Rockies in Alberta and the Maritimes, specifically Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (PEI). But after spending four months in Canmore this summer, I learned that although I love it there, it is not my place. So, if I were to ever become a nature tour guide, it would be somewhere in either Nova Scotia or PEI. Ever since we visited the Maritimes when I was twelve, I’ve been wanting to go back. The ocean, the culture, the landscape, and the history are all so fascinating and humbling. Region-specific skills I would need to be a nature interpreter in this region would be knowledge, about the land, people, wildlife, and relevant history to the conservation area I’m working at. Also, to gain insight about resources I can utilize to enhance visitor experience such as artifacts (or replicas), and to understand the historical demographic of visitors to the area so that I can develop a variety of interactive activities. General interpretive skills that I need to develop are improving my storytelling and engaging vocabulary, creating connections between the information and visitors (i.e. providing interpretation), and developing my ability to create thematic, and cohesive interpretations and interactive programs. 

The coast of PEI

Being a nature interpreter is not just relaying facts but creating an experience for visitors that engages their minds, bodies, and souls in the environment that surrounds them.

Tree-covered road in Nova Scotia

[trwenvs3000w23]

Hey Hailey!

First and foremost I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences, I thought it was all really impactful and I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post.

I actually thought it was kind of funny reading your take on this unit's blog question, as it seems like our interpretations and experiences line up fairly well. For me, my relationship with nature was dominantly shaped by my grandad and my grandmother, while I know you said your dad played a major role in shaping yours. But both of our stories involve time spent at cottages, and a trip out to Alberta. I can't remember if I visited Sulphur Mountain when I was in Canmore but, I took a trip out to Alberta during the Fall 2021 semester over the Thanksgiving break and it was absolutely phenomenal. Coming from southern Ontario, I completely agree with you when you say that seeing Alberta was like seeing a completely different landscape. I think my friend that I went with probably got exhausted of how many times I said the words "Look at those mountains!". I loved seeing your photos from your trip so I'll drop some of my favourite photos from mine below too - although not sure I can compete with how amazing everything looked in the winter snow during your time there!

Were there any experiences you had in Canmore and the rest of your trip to Alberta that demonstrated any "nature interpretation" elements? For me, I remember dropping into a number of museums and shops that had fossils, replicas, and infographics about prehistoric species and other paleoenvironmental information about Alberta. While I was hiking, this information helped me see the landscape completely differently by imagining how the ecosystems we see today were shaped by the biological interactions of the past. We were also lucky enough to take a guided wildlife tour through Banff where we saw elk (wapiti), mule deer, Steller's jays, magpies, pine martens, and a variety of other species. This was an incredible interpretive experience for us that really enlightened us on the history of conservation in the province of Alberta and why certain decisions were made. For instance, we learned that Banff used to have its own landfill but, it was determined to be interfering with the local ecosystems and tourism industry. Our guide brought us over the the location where the old landfill used to be and showed us how it has now been transformed into an enormous grassland that provides amazing habitat for a number of avian species!

Ultimately, I really think Alberta does a really amazing job at ensuring there are ample opportunities for visitors to engage in nature interpretation. Similarly to the discussion in Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (Beck et al., 2018), Alberta's nature tourism industry does an amazing job at providing different types of interpretation as well. Some of these experiences are very personal and engaged on behalf of the interpreters (ie. the wildlife tour I engaged in) but others are much more passive (ie. infographics and displays in museums). I think this is excellent as it allows for a diverse range of media types to be used that appeal to different audiences, ultimately casting a "wide net" to try and ensure all visitors can find a method of connecting with the natural sites in a way that suites them best.

My Sense of Place and Connection with Nature

My current relationship with nature is very strong, I would say I enjoy my time most when I am outside directly with nature. I think this connection grew as a young child as I have a family cottage, not too far from Bancroft Ontario, and have spent a great deal of time growing up here.  From as long as I can remember I have spent time fishing, hiking, swimming, and any other outdoor activities you could think of at my cottage. Although I have always enjoyed spending time fishing off the dock or canoeing through the lake, I did not realise until I started my degree that I am so lucky to have already spent so much time with nature.

According to the text, Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World, a “sense of place” can be a location that offers a strong personal connection to the place. I can confidently say I have felt a “sense of place” at my cottage. Specifically, I would say my Dad has offered this to me as he introduced me to my cottage and has done so many activities with me here. It is where I go to feel the true version of myself, as well as where I go to have fun and deal with hard times. I feel the most connected to my cottage when I am in the middle of the lake on a boat or canoe because it puts the world into perspective and reminds me of the big picture.

In addition to spending ample time at my cottage I also had the opportunity of being a part of the BIOL 4410 Field Ecology Course with the University of Guelph. I participated in this course this past summer and spent two weeks in a cabin with my fellow classmates in Algonquin Park. This experience only strengthened my relationship with nature, allowing me to feel connected and united with my environment. During this course I felt a sense of place to be at Algonquin Park, I learned that the location is more than just a landscape and offers so much more. There was so many people responsible for this feeling, such as the professor, the TA and even fellow classmates. The beautiful scenery not only offers a place of joy, but it also felt refreshing. I learned that being outdoors is a place where I can feel myself and experience a deeper pleasure with the incredible scenery that our earth has to offer.

Lastly, I would like to mention one more location where I have felt a deep connection with nature and where I have felt a sense of place, this being Alberta. Thanks to a friend of mine that lives here, I was able to go visit for a few days. I traveled to Canmore, Alberta over reading week last February. I felt an overwhelming connection with nature when standing on top of Sulphur Mountain. This was an entire landscape I have never seen before, and you could see an entire city from my stance, which was incredible I felt like it was more than just a place because I was completely stress free and content with my life.

[willow-and-wolf]

Sunrise Winter Engagement in Kananaskis

Canmore Engagement Photographers

Denise & Reed

Sunrise Winter Engagement in Kananaskis

This sunrise winter engagement in Kananaskis Country in Alberta was such a beautiful morning in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Denise and Reed are true lovers of the mountains and make the most of how special the views are in the wintertime. These two love to ski but this year Reed was recovering from an injury so they decided to do more winter hiking to explore the area. We love that they incorporated this into their engagement shoot and I’m sure you can tell by the photos that they are in their element.

How to Make the Most of Canadian Winters

Canadian winters can be harsh and very cold, just ask this Australian girl! But despite the negative temperatures, there is a unique quiet beauty that makes this time of year so special. The days are shorter making the days more fleeting. We decided to start this shoot before the sun came up so that we could catch the sunrise from one of our favourite locations out on a frozen lake. We hiked out by headlamp at dawn in the deep fresh snow while we watched ice fishermen set up their camps for the day. These quiet portraits lit by headlamp are some of my favourites from the morning as it captures how the morning felt.

A Colourful Sunrise and Hot Chocolate 

As soon as we started walking out on the lake we could tell that it was going to be a beautiful morning. The clouds had a hint of colour in them showing us that the sky was clear to the East. This meant that in time the mountain peaks would glow pretty pinks and oranges, and they did!

We had so much fun taking advantage of the changing light and exploring different angles to show the beauty of the vast landscape. After the beautiful colour show, we hiked around the lake and found a calm spot to make a hot chocolate and Baileys. Denise and Reed’s brought their portable camp stove along and even had marshmallows to put on top! It was the perfect treat to warm us all up and take in the scenery a little longer.

Before we wrapped up the session we drove to another side of the lake to get a different perspective of this amazing area. Denise and Reed brought a more formal outfit change and Denise’s blue dress looked so beautiful against the winter backdrop. The sun began to peek over the mountains lighting up the lake with warmer light. It was such a nice end to a lovely morning. We hope these photos inspire you to get out to enjoy the winter, even if it is freezing outside!

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Want to know more about how to elope in Banff National Park?

Check out our other resources to help you start planning your elopement in Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, Yoho and Jasper!

How to Plan an Elopement in 10 Easy Steps

How to Elope in Banff National Park – 5 Planning Tips

How to Choose the Best Elopement Location in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

Best Time of Year to Get Married in Banff National Park

How to Make an Elopement Day Timeline

Adventure Elopement Packing Guide

Learn More About the Steps to Book Your Banff Elopement Photographers

Sunrise Winter Engagement in Kananaskis was originally published on Willow and Wolf Banff Elopement Photographers

[hangarcat]

Dreams can come true.. First getaway as an #engaged couple. ❤️ @basecampresorts From the moment I saw this, I wanted this to happen. A nice little getaway with Allison, nothing too far but with an outdoor hot tub looking out towards the Rockies. #Canmore is Beautiful. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 (at Basecamp Resorts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsjk1TxgQhI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14mo647pyq9gw

[scotianostra]

On March 19th 1286 King Alexander III died after crossing the river Forth to Fife at Queensferry throwing Scotland Into years of turmoil.

Son of Alexander II, and a direct descendant of the first king of the Scots, Kenneth mac Alpin, Alexander was born at Roxburgh in 1241.

On the death of his father, Alexander II (who died during an expedition to recover the Hebrides from King Haakon IV of Norway) Alexander III was crowned king at Scone in 1249 when he was eight years old. Two years later, he married Margaret, daughter of King Henry III of England. He had been engaged to her from infancy.

He became a strong ruler and as a result of his marriage there was little conflict with England. He successfully defended an invasion by King Haakon of Norway at the Battle of Largs in 1263. Following this, the Treaty of Perth transferred the Hebrides and the Isle of Man to Scotland from Norway. As part of the peace-making, his daughter married Haakon’s grandson, Eric II - their daughter Margaret later became Queen of Scotland.

His wife died in 1275 and the death of his sons, David in 1281 and Alexander in 1284, left him without a male heir. Alexander married a second time in order to produce a direct heir. His bride was Yolande of Dreux, but on 18th March 1286, within six months of his marriage, his horse is thought to have stumbled in the dark in Fife as he was returning to his wife. The King was found dead on the beach at Kinghorn the next morning.

His grand-daughter Margaret, the “Maid of Norway” became Queen of Scotland at the age of three. She was the last of the direct line of the House of Canmore. She left Norway to come to Orkney in 1290 but died on the voyage, before reaching Scotland, plunging Scotland into a long period of conflict for survival as an independent country in the “Wars of Independence”.

The picture is  his statue above the West door of St. Giles, Edinburgh.

[colehofstra]

More snowy engagement sessions coming your way! I love working in the snow. It provides such a clean backdrop that allows all the focus to be on the couple. #canmoreengagementphotographer #canmore #canmoreengagement #engaged #love https://www.instagram.com/p/B5sXf6gAE33/?igshid=ebetesascqsp

[artbyfeliciafurlong13]

Mountains in October,

Canmore, Alberta Canada 🇨🇦

Haven’t posted a photography piece in a while, this is one of my favourite scenic photo I took over our Engagement Trip 🖤

[drahtphotography]

Look at this! Eric has some words to share! Draht Photography

New Post has been published on http://www.drahtphotography.com/the-frozen-lake-wedding-in-canmore-sampler/

The Frozen Lake Wedding in Canmore Sampler

Not long ago, I photographed this fella’s engagement. He asked her to marry her at the Rise Golf course, this beautiful golf course right above the city in Vernon, BC. This is about they day the two of them married. Because she said yes.

At 11am, on Feb 19th, it had just begun to snow in Canmore. The snow made it a bit difficult to see, but fortunately, we always begin inside – with rings, dresses, getting ready. We set the stage.

Over at the guy’s house, we had to hurry. For a winter wedding, we have sunset at 4pm, which means a bit less time for photos. Despite the slight press for time, the three pieces suits looked better than they ever had.

Special thanks to this fella lending us his house, then helping us with the mirror!

And just like that, he was ready to be married!

Over at the girls’ house, it was a bustle of activity. Makeup had just finished, and so it was time to put on the dress. Her brother chose to spend a minute outside, presumable to get some fresh air.

And then, before we knew it, she was ready and we found ourselves at the Alpine Ski Centre.

It was a beautiful day, and a gorgeous setup. We had our ceremony outside, and managed to sit down even before the snow made our seats wet. A bit of snow makes for a beautiful ceremony, and this ceremony was absolutely stunning. The forest, the views, and every guest made it such a memorable experience.

And then, my favourite time. We were lucky today – just a bit of snow. Sure, it obscured the mountains a bit, but it added a bit of magic to an already magical day. The lakes had frozen over, giving us the perfect backdrop for a wide variety of photos.

Up in the mountains, it was about -8 with wind chill, so maybe it was time for some coats and backpacks!

And some candid fun not-so-posed photos that are just what I love.

A benefit to a frozen over lake, if you don’t mind all the wind, is the fact you can see the mountains. At all the lookouts, nearly all the lookouts, the trees will block the mountains. You have to be fairly careful and try to find a hill. On the lake, which is frozen in february sometimes, and january sometimes, but who knows really, you can see the landscape in a way that isn’t really possible. And you can’t plan for it, it just has to happen.

We wanted some indoor pictures, and we know the Fairmont in Banff is an old-timey castle from the late 1800’s. It’s one of those places where I could take photos all day, and indeed I have! Today, though, there were just a few places in mind.

It’s always incredible to me how quickly a wedding day goes by. This one was no exception. We photographed straight past sunset, driving around and running the best best locations I knew of. That’s probably why this is such a big sampler – 80 photos! Can you believe, ten years ago, I delivered wedding albums that were 80 photos. And couples were stoked – you can fill a whole album with 80 photos.

Graciously, I had been invited to one of the most incredible dinners I’ve ever had. There was so much love in the room, and I captured some incredible candids. They aren’t exactly sharp, but I hope it captured the mood – a roomful of loving people, so happy for our newlyweds, and having the time of their lives.

And this is where I’ll have to end this sampler. It goes by quickly, doesn’t it? Well, the day did too! It’s hard to put these out. How do I choose just 20 photos? Well, good news for you is that I didn’t. But we do have a full gallery in a few weeks. You can pre-register to see it by clicking here. You can download, order, and print whatever you like. For now, if you’d like to save anything from this gallery, simply right click it or long press it on mobile, and you’ll be able to save it!

Thank you for reading this far! It was a lot of pages. If you’d like to follow me, add my instagram or facebook! Or heck, get in touch!

Thanks you for coming on this adventure with me! See you in a few weeks!

[briankernick]

BRIAN KERNICK, P.Eng, MBA Greenview Developments Ltd.

Brian was born and raised in the small town of Canmore, Alberta. His father owned Restwell Trailer Park just off main street Canmore. As Restwell Trailer Park expanded and grew, Brian developed interest and learned the basics of carpentry and development. As a kid, he learned to drive a backhoe and dump truck and how to hammer and paint.  

His first development project was in Canmore, called Grotto Mountain Village. Grotto Mountain Village was a highly successful 125 manufactured housing community. After finishing the project, Brian decided to get his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Australia. Brian completed his MBA in 1998 and then worked in several large real estate consulting firms working for blue chip companies. He provided strategic evaluation advice and hands on development management services to companies and institutions looking to make direct property investments, engage in real estate development projects or alternatively undertaking the divestment of property.  

Brian is an efficient, innovative, tenacious, performance-driven and methodical real estate developer with extensive multi-industry experience both across North America and abroad.  He is well versed in Project Development and Management, Economic and Financial analysis, Acquisition and Disposal Strategies, Site Assessment, Town Planning, Engineering and Building design, Market geographic and demographic analysis.

Brian incorporated Greenview in 1988 with the intention of moving closer to his family and friends in Canada. Under Brian’s leadership, Greenview Developments has been involved in the construction, development and management of low-rise and high-rise residential and commercial properties, mixed-use developments and hotels. These developments have led to economic success, bottom-line results and award-winning projects.

Greenview’s model is based on understanding the entire life cycle of the development of a project and partnering with other experts that have varied and complimentary backgrounds and have the shared experience of working well together.  Using this life cycle view, we aim to deliver the best possible results to all stakeholders involved.

 CURRENT ON-GOING PROJECTS

1.       HARBOUR LANDING BUSINESS PARK (REGINA)

Harbour Landing Business Park is a campus style office development consisting of four buildings each spanning 40,000 square feet (3-storey office building and a Tim Hortons coffee) in Regina, Saskatchewan.  It is located near Regina International Airport. Buildings 1, 2 & 3 have been fully completed and phase 4 has commenced. It is a suburban office park that is located on the corner of Parliament Avenue and Lewvan Drive just north of the new Grasslands retail development. Three of the four office buildings have been completed and are occupied. They are located within minutes of the Regina Airport and the new Global Transportation Hub. They offer excellent access / egress from Lewvan Drive and access to acres of parks and walking paths. The tenant mix consists of Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS), Porchlight, Saskatchewan Healthcare Employees’ Pension Plan (SHEPP) and Chartered Professional Accountants Saskatchewan (CPA).

 2.       AVLI ON ATLANTIC (CALGARY)

AVLI is a private intimate building located in historic Inglewood, adjacent to the longest park pathway system in North America, in Calgary, Alberta. A home to 65 units of luxury residences with 7 floorplans for every buyer, budget and investor with boutique and cutting-edge interiors. It is comfortable in its setting, proud of its attributes and home to those who have an appreciation for remarkable art.  AVLI on Atlantic features the finest in contemporary custom-made cabinetry and the stylish gourmet kitchens offer ultra-modern flat panel doors in a white high-gloss overlay finish with metallic edging.

 Greenview Developments is the managing partner in this $36MM project which is nearly complete.

  3.       WILLIAM OFF WHYTE (EDMONTON)

It is a 44 unit, four-storey condo building that believes in bringing style and aesthetics to your life. It is rated one of the top streets in Canada providing a home you can really live in and admire. The project is located in central Edmonton, in the community of Garneau, and just off the popular and lively Whyte Avenue. William Off Whyte was completed in early 2020 with sales ongoing. Being near the University of Alberta main campus and Hospital also makes it ideal for students who want a stylish place to live. William Off Whyte has nine-foot ceilings, beautiful modern exterior, Italian cabinetry, soft close drawers, quartz counters, underground parking and bike storage and a choice of three colour schemes to suit your style.  

 PAST COMPLETED PROJECTS

1.       Sage.Stone (Calgary)

Sage.Stone is a project in NW Calgary with total sales revenue of $40 million. Phase 1 (88 units) is 100% complete and Phase 2 (90 units) finished closings by March 2015.  

2.       Bordeaux in Hawkstone (Regina)

76 townhomes in North Regina with total sales revenue of $22 million has been completed.

3.       Skyy Townhomes (Regina)

Sales of 116 units commenced in June 2010 with total sales revenue of $22 million and the project was completed January 2012.

4.       Luxstone Landing (Calgary)

12 unit Townhome developments with a value of $3.3 million was completed in 2012.

5.       Sage Townhomes (Regina)

The sales of 176 townhomes commenced in December 2009 with sales revenue of $35 million and the project was completed in early 2011.

6.       Advantage West Inns & Suites (Fort McMurray)

This hotel was built from pre-fabricated modular units rather than standard stick-built construction. The 83‑room hotel opened in July 2004. After 3 ½ years of operation, Greenview Developments sold it in 2008 for $19,400,000 or $234,000 / room, a record price in Canada.

7.       Spring Pastures (Australia)

Completed 72-acre rural residential project worth $10m in Mapleton, Queensland within 2 years.

8.       Grotto Mountain Village (Canmore)

Grotto Mountain Village was a $15 million project, consisting of a 125-lot turn-key manufactured housing community on 24 acres, which won the mayors award for Urban Design, Community Neighbourhood Enhancement & Facility Construction in 1994.

 EDUCATION/ TRAINING

·         Masters of Business Administration – AGSM / University of Sydney, 1998

·         Graduate Diploma in Business Administration – AGSM / University of Sydney, 1997                                      

·         Bachelor of Science in Engineering – University of Calgary, 1992

WORK EXPERIENCE

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER |   WESTCORP – LONDON AT HERITAGE STATION – CALGARY, AB                      2006 - 2008

Responsible for the construction of four 20+     story residential towers, 80,000 ft2 of commercial space, an 1,800-car     parkade, and a pedestrian bridge connecting the development with light     rail rapid transit.  The residential     towers include high line amenities and ample common facilities.   Started this project from the early     concept stages and set up a construction and management team, operational     and procurement processes, budgets, and construction schedules.    Oversaw all aspects of this large     construction project.

 PROJECT MANAGER | POINTE OF VIEW DEVELOPMENTS – CALGARY, AB                                                             2005 - 2006

  Tendered and negotiated all scopes of work, monitor     construction milestones, budgets and costs.

Planned and designed new projects, customer     walkthroughs and completion of deficiencies.

 SENIOR EXECUTIVE | KPMG NATIONAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES – SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA                                     2001 - 2002

 ·         Provided strategic property advice and off-balance sheet finance solutions to developers, financiers, government agencies and major blue-chip corporations

·         Feasibility and divestment advice on HIH Insurance.  HIH, and its 18 controlled entities, was Australia’s largest insurance company and it went into liquidation in March 2001. I acted on behalf of the provisional liquidator to maximize the proceeds from the sale of the properties.

·         Development and feasibility advice for the redevelopment of Bathurst Mount Panorama Precinct, one of the top three motor racing circuits in the world.  Bathurst 1000 is the Australian equivalent of Indy 500 in terms of motor racing and the event is broadcast to over 400 million homes in 54 countries. The Panorama Precinct is a multi-use tourism destination featuring restaurants, tourist attractions, cultural facilities, sporting and recreational facilities such as motocross, educational facilities, residential properties and nature park areas.

·         Facilitated the revision and expansion of Commonwealth Property Principles document for the Australian Department of Finance. This provided an appropriate discount rate and methodology for real estate decisions.

·         Reviewed feasibility and business case for NRMA (affiliated with the Canadian Automobile Association and American Automobile Association), to divest their existing operations in multiple locations and consolidate their staff within a new 38,000 m2 ‘Village’ campus style development.  

·         Prepared a feasibility and highest and best use study for ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Television’s Gore Hill site as well as planning and offering council advice.

 DEVELOPMENT MANAGER |APP PROPERTY PTY LIMITED – SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA                                             2000 - 2001

 ·         We had to seek out, assess and convert development opportunities. This role encompassed feasibility analyses, negotiation and deal closures with clients, sourcing and arranging property finance.

·         Development Representative for C+BUS (an RRSP company with over 320,000 members) in its $1.5B, residential development of over 1,600 lots, units and townhouses, called Breakfast Point. This role included feasibility assessment, project management, risk management, planning, sales and marketing advice

·         Managed feasibility analysis for a new World Headquarters for TAB Ltd. (Australia’s largest gambling firm)

·         Provided Property and E-commerce advice for Australia Post (equivalent of Canada Post)

·         Business plan and property advice for a 100,000m2 regional business park on the Central Coast (north of Sydney) for Festival Development Corporation (a division of the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning)

·         Venue Management analysis for the Sydney Cove Passenger Terminal Upgrade Circular Quay. (The Sydney Cove Overseas Passenger Terminal receives around 50 cruise ships a year as well as housing numerous restaurants and events).

[immortalpain]

COLT BOWDEN

age: 32 (923)

pronouns: he/him

sexuality: bisexual

occupation: private security

species: werewolf/cursed

faceclaim: casey deidrick

(tw; curses, death, murder)

originally born cenric bloodworth, 923 years ago, he and his twin, constance were the middle children. 

 they were born of noble english blood, growing up wealthy and well respected. 

the bloodworths were also werewolves, a very traditional, proud family of wolves. they had a tradition, of when the children turned eighteen, they were to kill a peasant, and trigger the curse. 

their parents never really felt this was enough, and craved immortality. however, by now the abbott family were well known enough that they didn’t want to repeat their mistakes. they had no desire to be vampires, they just wanted to live forever.

they enlisted the help of a witch, but little did they know, the witch was actually out for revenge. her son had been one of the peasants one of the children had been forced to kill to trigger their curse. 

by this time, cenric had married another wolf, and had two sons, and a daughter. he despised his wife, she was cruel, and hateful. he was somewhat miserable, but he had his siblings, and that’s what mattered to him.

the witch cursed the children, each of them dying horribly, but being reborn again. they were forced to live again and again, dying at the same age each time. they’d get deja vu, until they hit eighteen, every previous life memories’ coming back all at once.

the siblings always stuck together, trying to break the curse but failing. 

they’ve lived around 30 lives, give or take. cenric never really remarried. no one had really caught his eye enough to risk putting that much into a relationship he knew couldn’t last.

this life, he was born as colt bowden. born in  canmore, alberta, canada originally. 

they moved to bellport when the youngest was starting high school, so have been in town for like 14 years.

colt triggered his curse when he was 19, defending himself in an alley way from an attacker. he never meant to kill the other, but it happened; and he triggered his curse.

he hates triggering his curse, the idea that he’s taken so many lives over the years unnerves him.

he’s a very protective individual, and started his own private security firm. in that, he met abigial.

she intrigued him, a lot, and he found himself interested in someone after years and years of somehow avoiding it.

five years ago, they started dating. they’d hooked up before hand, colt telling himself it was a bad idea because they worked together, when in reality, it was because he knew there was a chance he’d fall for her. however, it kept happening and eventually she just asked him out.

he already had feelings, there was no use denying it. sage was desperately trying to break the curse, more determined this year than before, so, he decided to just go with it. 

he still hasn’t told her, even after they got engaged a year ago. he knows he should, especially as they’re nearing their death age, but he just can’t bring himself to break her heart. he feels super guilty, and tries to help sage break the curse, desperately wanting to actually be able to live out his life with abby.

wanted connections;

give this man employees he’s not actually dating lmfao

a friend? or two?

he’s very blunt someone probably doesn’t like him

immortal’s he’s met in prev lives (maybe he killed a sibling or something of theirs to trigger the curse for dRaMa)

[canadian-mountain-man]

Meet Me in Canmore

 Norman had grown up in Canmore. His parents were British and his mother had been an opera singer who’d retired to have a family, in Canada, with her scientist husband. She was always sweet, if not a little hard, on her boys. All three of them. Norman was the eldest, He was a smart kid. Not top of his class, but he never got worse than maybe a C in any of his classes. He’d been on the Banff High School Hockey, and Golf teams. Hockey had always been his favorite. He’d gotten in a fair few fights during games before, and had nearly broken his jaw during one. He still had a scar on his jaw, hidden away by his dark beard.

Norman had never been shy by any means, but he wasn’t exactly social. He’d discovered at some point that he wasn’t really interested in women, and he’d been on a drive with his brother one day to the state park to camp out together when he came out to him. It was as casual as he could make it, his brother talking about some cheerleader he’d been trying to get into bed when Norman simply just told him he thought he might be interested in guys. It’d been silent in the car for nearly half of the 30 minute drive to the state park they were going camping in before he’d finally looked at him and asked if there were any guys in school he was into. He was grateful for that. It wasn’t too long after when he’d come out to their friend Hal as well.

After graduation, Norman had gone to become an RN. He’d rented out a very small one bedroom apartment near Coronation Hospital while he was in college, where he could have his dog, and started his schooling in the ER...which didn’t last long. He moved into the Labour and delivery ward, which was much more his speed, though he was sometimes asked to fill in in one of the care wards, which was fine. He rotated around the hospital plenty, with exception of the lab. His end goal when he finished college was to either remain at Coronation or move to Calgary and work at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

When his father developed Alzheimer’s, he was the only one able to help out, but he was traveling too much to keep going back and forth, so he’d gathered up his stuff and packed it all into his truck, and then picked up Nova and lifted her in and drove home, moving into a house that his parents had back a ways on the property. He was down from a four hour drive to five minutes. 

Taking care of his dad got hard, though. Warren was always filming, so he couldn’t help much, and Cal had a family and his own drama to deal with, so it was all on Norman to help their mom care for him. It was hard, watching him go from the smartest man Norman knew to a man who got overwhelmed just trying to get dressed. Norman didn’t have time to date much since he was always with his parents, so he just...hooked up with guys here and there when he could, and started drinking a bit more.

But Warren and his girlfriend were home for two weeks. Norman liked Shay. She was sweet, and she didn’t judge as much as other people did. They were having a dinner for their families to meet and to announce their engagement, and Norman had arrived early, helping their mother get their dad inside to the large area that had been reserved for the group, away from everyone where it was quiet and pretty. His mother sat over with Dani and Skye, who Warren had flown in, talking and smiling while Norman got himself a beer. He’d tried his best to dress nice, wearing a pair of jeans and boots and a black v-neck, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He smiled a little, enjoying seeing his brother mingling, talking and laughing and attached to Shay like he was her shadow, never leaving her alone. Cal was trying to talk to anyone that wasn’t Helen, who was distracted by Ette, following her around and picking at the girl, trying to make her the perfect china doll. Poor kid. 

[yegarts]

#YEGPublicArt :: New for 2019

(A detail of Spring is Sprung the Grass is Riz by Karen Klassen & Erin Pankratz at Dermott Park)

As 2019 settles into a groove, the Edmonton Arts Council public art and conservation departments are gearing up for a new round of installations, revelations, and conservation. This year, we anticipate adding 11 new public artworks to the City of Edmonton Public Art Collection. Of that number, five are by Edmonton-based artists, two by Albertans, two by Canadian artists, and two are international projects. Reflecting the complex nature of construction schedules, a couple won’t be visible to the public until their respective facilities open in 2020. EAC Conservation continues to work on the mammoth Norman Yates mural restoration project and plans to be out and about cleaning and restoring Edmonton’s sculptures and murals again this spring.

Keep your eyes open for some exciting temporary projects as well. Ground Proof will scatter works by local artists throughout neighbourhoods around town and #YEGCanvas will return in a new, more mobile format.

To be revealed

Spring is Sprung, the Grass is Riz (I Wonder where the Birdie is?) – Karen Klassen & Erin Pankratz, (Edmonton), Dermott Park

Ablaze with colour and texture, this intricate ceramic tile mosaic features exotic birds concealed within its fantastical flowers. Created by Edmonton mosaicists Karen Klassen and Erin Pankratz, the artwork adorns an undulating concrete wall at the new park entrance. It will be revealed later this year when Dermott Park reopens.

(Rendering of Animal Family at the Valley Zoo)

Animal Family – Leu/Webb, (Canada), Nature’s Wild Backyard, Edmonton Valley Zoo

The new family-friendly Urban Barn at the city’s beloved zoo will offer kids and families new ways to interact with the animals living there. To further animate the experience, Toronto artists Christine Leu and Paul Webb created Animal Family, an interactive, brightly coloured “flipbook” of farm animals. The movable panels will allow kids to make tails wag, and heads move. You can play with Animal Family later in 2019 when the facility opens to the public.

New Installs

(Artist Rendering of Platanos at Belvedere Transit Centre)

Platanos (Plantains) – Karen Michelle Campos Castillo (Edmonton),  Belvedere Transit Centre

Nothing says “home” quite like the food we grew up eating. To celebrate the diverse, multi-ethnic communities that call Edmonton’s north end home, local artist Karen Michelle Campos Castillo will suspend glistening green bunches of plantains within the transit centre waiting area. The plantain is a staple food for many populations within Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. Campos Castillo grew up in Edmonton’s Belvedere neighbourhood after her family relocated from El Salvador more than 20 years ago. Her mother’s cooking of traditional Salvadorean fare offset her feelings of homesickness and culture shock.

(Artist Rendering of Agent Crystalline at EPS Northwest)

Agent Crystalline - Marc Fornes & THEVERYMANY (International) Edmonton Northwest Police Campu

From the artist collective that brought us Vaulted Willow comes an intriguing angular matrix. Agent Crystalline is an urban arch which will act as a beacon for the Edmonton Police Service’s Northwest facility.

(Artist concept drawing of Day Map / Night Map for Heritage Valley Park & Ride)

Day Map / Night Map – Jill Stanton (Edmonton), Heritage Valley Park & Ride

Two painted murals by Edmonton muralist Jill Stanton will splash colour along the walls of each side of the transit centre building. They will feature highly detailed, colourful maps of a fictional city straddling a river.

(Artist concept drawing for Neon Prairie)

Neon Prairie – Victoria Wiercinski, (Edmonton), Jasper Place Leisure Centre

This fall, swimmers at the newly renovated leisure centre, will have a new mural to enjoy during their morning laps. The artist was inspired by the idea that the pool is a year-round lake and so created a mural concept that would provide pool users with a sense of the sky. The brightly patterned modern drawing of prairie skyscapes will be hand painted on panels. The artwork design is determined by imagery derived through a community workshop that took place in 2016.

(Sculpture in exhibition of Landbuoys series - photo courtesy of Tony Bloom)

Silver Seed – Tony Bloom (Alberta), Jasper Place Bowl & Grandstand Silver Seed is part of Canmore artist Tony Bloom’s Landbuoy series. The sculpture is a 1.5 metre hemisphere with a 20 cm slice rotated up into a fin or sail. The Landbuoy series explores the idea of signifiers in our midst, such as erratics—geologic artifacts left behind by retreating glaciers. Rather than being organic in nature, the Landbuoys point to an intelligent hand, and ask, but do not answer, how these structures got there.

(Artist Rendering of one of the mountain landscapes in 53°30’N)

53°30’N – Thorsten Goldberg (International), Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage

Five mountain landscape will begin to sparkle from the roof of the in-progress Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage later this year. 53°30’N is a collection of topo­graphic models from locations sitting on the same latitude (53°) as Edmonton.

The models depict locations in five geographic areas: Mount Chown (Alberta), the crater of Mount Okmok (Umnak Island in the Aleutians), Zhupanovsky Crater (Kamchatka, Russia), an unnamed landscape near Dacaodianzi, Heilongjiang Sheng (China) and Mweelrea (Connaught, Ireland). The artistic concept is inspired by what the artist calls the “globe game”- placing your finger on a specific location and rotating the globe to see what other locations lie along a specific latitude.

Kathleen Andrews Portrait -  Daphne Cote (Edmonton), Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage

Kathleen Andrews was Edmonton’s first female bus driver. Originally from England, she was a long-time ETS employee who filled several positions with the organization. Daphne Cote’s portrait draws on photographs and remembrances of this dynamic, pioneering Edmontonian.

(Fabrication image of The Dancer - courtesy of the artists)

The Dancer – Verne Busby & Bella Totino-Busby (Edmonton), Yorath House

The Dancer is a human-scale abstracted representation of a figure in motion. The sculpture is based on an ink brush drawing. The artists intend that the sculpture imparts a feeling of thought, presence, and inspiration to the viewer. Totino Busby believes that public art should challenge the viewer, spark curiosity, and heighten the human spirit.

(Concept maquette by Studio F Minus)

Untitled Kinistinâw Park Project – Studio F Minus (Canada) – Kinistinâw Park, The Quarters Downtown

This project begins by looking to the existing site of Kinistinâw Park for artifacts, symbols and icons already present in the community.

Replicas of the artifact lions, which were formerly set at the Harbin Gate, will be cast in translucent resin layers. Like an archaeological dig site, personal artifacts from the current community and the history of the site will be cast and suspended in the resin layers.

The project uses social art practices and community involvement to address the questions: “How can we preserve the history of a place and its diverse inhabitants? How can we engage the community in a meaningful way? How can we choose symbols and imagery to mark public space?”

[dreamweddingspa]

My favorite place is inside your hug. Perfect image for engagement photos or your Save the Date. |📸by @triciavictoriaphoto Submit your photo: dreamweddings.co/insta-tise 💫 Active link in bio! #engagementphotos #savethedate (at Canmore, Alberta) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpuJImvgstE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jza53bwf5qyp