Harrowsmith – September 2019

Harrowsmith Fall 2019 | 119

SMALL PONDS

Years in residence?
32
Where do you live now?
Palling, B.C. (10 minutes west of
Burns Lake)
Local school attended?
Lakes District Secondary School
Class of 19- -?
1994
Local jobs you held?
Tastee Freez, BC Hydro office
cleaner, regional district weed killer,
tree checker.
Your pastimes there?
Loved farming with my parents at
Francois Lake (south of Burns Lake).
Loved riding horses, camping,
fishing, haying, picking mushrooms
and berries, playing pickup
basketball at the high school.
Favourite hangouts?
Nicholson Bay. High school gym.
Best french fries?
The Lakelander.
Favourite nature walk?
Nicholson Bay.
Best date spot?
Top of Boer Mountain.
Favourite sports team?
High school basketball team.
Best swimming hole?
Decker Lake (in front of the
elementary school).
Best place to get in trouble?
Tintagel Pit.
Favourite rink?
Our only rink. :)
Nicest road for a hike/bike/drive?
Red Hills trail (east end of Francois
Lake).

Your town’s claim to fame

(before you)?

Home of Esther Miller, two-time

Olympian for cross-country skiing.

Unofficial/suggested town slogan?

“Gateway to Tweedsmuir Park—

3,000 square miles of fishing.”

What part of this place do you

wish you could bring with you on

the road?

The clean water! So good! I usually

bottle it before I leave.

Last time you were home?

I moved back here in 2008. Needed

to get home after being on the

road for 13 years straight. I then

kept touring, but with my cabin on

Francois Lake as home base.

Your local mentor, if any?

Caroline Kuys, our local veterinarian,

was always my hero growing up. She

took me trail running, taught me a

lot about animal medicine and was

always bringing me along on fun

outdoor adventures. She could do

anything in my eyes, and I wanted to

be just like that!

How has this place contributed to

your career?

This place was all about freedom. I

grew up running through the bush

on my horse, paddling the lakes

in my canoe, camping overnight

under a big spruce tree with my

dog. There were no boundaries

and really not a lot of rules. This

free spirit has never left me and

has contributed to my success in

life. It affected my songwriting and

my love of travelling. It gave me

confidence to go for huge goals

and achieve them. I now want this

for my children.