Heads and Hearts and Spillimacheen

By Glenys Snow

Each dawn, in Spillimacheen, brings with it a certain essence these days. Autumn’s breath is on the breeze, dew crystals sparkle with rainbows on the grasses and plants in the early morning light. Cotton puff-like mists and clouds nestle in the folds and hollows of the mighty mountain peaks which jut their majesty to the clear blue skies, while beavers work arduously in the marsh lands preparing their homes and dams for the oncoming winter. Canada geese honk their curse across the horizon as they gather in the wildlife sanctuary, preparing for the long journey which is soon to come. Summer still executes its power under blaze of the hot sun which nourishes flowers, crops, vegetables and our Canadian spirits with its warmth, heating the spots inside which will sustain us through the oncoming Winter. It’s a peaceful cycle here in the Columbia Valley, reflecting into our village and the community life of Spillimacheen.

I sit in a cool wee log cabin which is nestled in a poplar, birch and willow grove, protected from the beating rays of the noon-day sun. This cabin is the office of the Columbia Society of Interdependent Living (Columbia S.O.I.L.) and has, for disability-oriented and environmental issues, become a networking nucleus in the East Kootenay region of B.C.

Columbia S.O.I.L. is a nationally recognized consumer-based non-profit society. It is the only society registered in Canada as being “interdependent”, incorporating both environmental and disability issues in one mandate. It was created to explore the relationships that exist between all living things and offers an opportunity to provide an environment that is accessible, no matter what the personal challenge. Interdependency is the necessary symbiotic relationship between all members of humanity and the environment.

Five years ago, when the mandate and mission statements of Columbia S.O.I.L. were being drafted, a group of five individuals came together in the Upper Columbia Valley with the common goal of providing an inter-provincial networking rehabilitative, recreationally-based educational resource centre. One of our ambitions was to work towards creating accessible experiences and opportunities in the Rocky, Purcell and Bugaboo mountain areas. We were very aware of the exquisite beauty of this area – and the limited access which people with disabilities had to it.

With our focus on recreational access and education we commenced working within the adjacent communities and services, lobbying for equal opportunities in the areas of education, recreation, employment, transportation and housing. At that time, the National Parks were conducting public meetings reviewing their fifteen-year strategies and conceptual plans. This was one of our first avenues to pursue, as Spillimacheen is located on Highway 95 between Radium Hot Springs and Golden, B.C. These two communities are the gateways to Kootenay and Yoho National Parks and, in turn, border onto Banff and Jasper.

We have been very involved with the Parks Planning and Reviews relevant to access, and have been instrumental in this regard, particularly in Kootenay National Park and within the whole Western Region of Environment Canada. Through our persistent advocacy, there has been a massive upgrading to improve access to Radium Hot Springs Aquacourts. It is also intended to establish trails which will provide increased access to other wilderness areas. Access to administrative offices, information buildings, services facilities and increased awareness within the interpreters programs are also priorities. These developments will facilitate the use of these wonderful resources by consumers with disabilities.

This spring we made a presentation at the Provincial Park and Forestry ’90 revue meetings which were requesting public input. At that presentation Columbia S.O.I.L. addressed the need for all future decisions regarding park and recreation sites to consider and include the needs of people with disabilities and the elderly. From that presentation the A.D.A.M. (Able/Disabled-Access Mountains) Committee has evolved. A.D.A.M. represents Columbia S.O.I.L., Ministry of Environment (Fish and Wildlife) and two companies, Crestbrook Forest Products and Slocan Forest. A.D.A.M.’s goals are to expand the natural accessible experiences and sites within the East Kootenay Region. This will provide a corridor of opportunity embracing the National and Provincial Parks, as well as the accessible features of the adjacent communities.

In the time since, we have identified eleven sites and have provided camping, picnicking and accessible trails at two of these.

Perhaps the feat of which we are most proud has been to secure thirty acres of the old township centre of Spillimacheen. Here we are striving to crate an inter-provincial networking resource centre – within the context of an exemplary community, living harmoniously together. As a large portion of our dedication is ties to the removal of attitudinal and physical barriers, we take to heart the concerns of all citizens as we grow – adapting new strategies and designs to varied challenges as we encounter them. As tourism is fast becoming the number one industry in our valley, we work towards grooming our village to accommodate all persons. We strive to encourage people to venture here to the great Canadian Rockies to experience first-hand the qualities of this area.

Adventure opportunities are abundant. Helicopters carry us to the high alpine county; slow-floating rafts and boats expose us to the sanctuary of the marsh areas; horses pack us into remote areas difficult to otherwise reach.

Our objective of upgrading facilities so that they are usable for everyone, whether able-bodied or not, helps create an environment where the equality and full participation themes central to the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons can truly be experienced.

I am a post-polio person who was brought up in Jasper National Park. Through the “disability” encountered from polio, I received the gift of knowledge that my life’s work is to assist in providing a living legacy to the philosophy of the Decade of Disabled Persons. One way is to provide accessible opportunities in the mountainous areas of this part of the world.

As I am a founding Director of Columbia S.O.I.L. I am now starting to see some of my efforts reaching fruition. This gives me the diligence to persist through the obstacles which we have yet to face, and to continue the strategies necessary so that Spillimacheen does become a major destination; an equality-based barrier-free haven for all.

It has started. This year we accommodated our first ten disabled-person tour. It was awesome to watch the expressions of freedom experienced by our visitors. For these souls there had been precious little opportunity to taste this side of what it means to be alive. I know they will be back!

Other than minimal donations and advocacy funds from the Department of Secretary of State everything to date has been funded by the original trustees to the project. None of our applications for capital expense funding or employment opportunities have ever been approved. Therefore our project goes slowly.

We know, however, that as our membership grows and as our humble facilities serve an increasing demand the support will eventually be in place to assist us in this wonderful adventure. In the meanwhile, our fondest aspiration is for our family to grow – so please consider this your invitation.

Come see us in Spillimacheen.

Glenys Snow is a freelance writer and a founding director of Columbia S.O.I.L.

Editor’s Note: Joseph Lehman, President of Columbia S.O.I.L. has recorded a tape with music and songs reflecting the community of people with disabilities in Canada – songs, which are being sung and used in consort with functions involving people with disabilities both nationally and internationally. If you would like to purchase copies of “Dymond Mountain Songs” or would like to have more information on Columbia S.O.I.L. please contact:
Glenys Snow
Columbia S.O.I.L. Box 9
Spillimacheen, B.C.V0A 1P0
(604) 346 3257 or (604) 346 3276