Michael Pollan may not be a food scientist or trained nutritionist, but he's a respected writer and journalist with a passion for anything edible. And over the past 20 years, he's become a respected voice in the literary and culinary community for his books and articles, which explore the places where the human and natural worlds intersect, touching on topics of food, agriculture, gardens, drugs and architecture.
A contributing editor to the New York Times, Harper's, Mother Jones and Vogue , Pollan authored popular tomes like The Omnivore's Dilemma, which traces the origins of four meals, and The Botany of Desire. Most recently, however, he's been on the bestseller list for a slimmer volume, Food Rules: An Eater's Manual, which lays out 64 simple rules that change the way people eat and live.
Whistler's book group, Whistler Reads, is partnering with the Whistler Public Library to host a conversation surrounding Pollan's latest book, featuring a panel of local and national experts on everything from education and fitness to community, health and food supply. Panelists include Andree Janyk (mother of Olympic competitors, Michael and Britt Janyk, and a leader in health and fitness), Cat Smiley (top Canadian fitness trainer and founder of the original Whistler Boot Camp), Craig MacKenzie (Youth Director of Whistler Off Road Cycling Association), Irene Gutterage (kinesiologist with a Masters in Biomedical Science), Dr. Chris Shackleton (former Professor of Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine) and Anna Helmer (of Whistler-Pemberton's Slow Food movement).
This discussion will take place at the library on Saturday, May 1 at 4 p.m. Members of the public are invited to come out and join in, but are asked to RSVP paulas@bookbuffet.com with your thoughts on the trends and challenges we face when it comes to eating and living well.
A bellyful of laughs
On Sunday, May 2, people around the world will be gearing up to giggle and guffaw for an hour straight, all in honour of World Laughter Day.
Dr. Madan Kataria, a family physician from India and founder of Laughter Yoga, created the annual event. He also developed a series of simple interactive exercises that stimulate smiles and laughter, which in turn, supposedly boost the immune system and release endorphins. A 20-minute daily session of laughter is said to make people happier, healthier and more harmonious.
Dr. Kataria's exercises have inspired thousands of Certified Laughter Leaders around the world to set up their own Laughter Clubs. A workshop will be held in Whistler to mark the annual day of chuckles and belly laughs. Laughter Leaders will host a series of exercises at Solarice Wellness Spa from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 2. Admission is by donation.
And the winner is...
The crème de la crème of the action sport photography realm rose to the top last Thursday evening at the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival's annual Pro Photography Showdown.
The competition was fierce, with six established and respected professional photographers showcasing nine-minute slideshows of their best images set to music to the crowd of almost 2,000 spectators. But in the end, it was Brian Bielmann, a surf photographer from Hawaii, who captured the attention and votes of both judges and the audience, winning the Best in Show and People's Choice awards and their respective prizes of $10,000 and $1,000 cash, with his breathtaking underwater images and jewel-toned shots from inside the barrel of waves.
Writing for the toughest crowd
They say that kids are the toughest critics, so it's easy to see why many authors shy away from writing for the younger set. But Whistler's writing group, the Vicious Circle, is asking anyone who has a budding bedtime story stuck in their head to come out and learn how to put their tale down on paper, properly.
They're offering a brand-new Thursday evening workshop series entitled, The Toughest Audience of All: Writing for Kids, with four local, experienced writers at the helm, guiding aspiring writers towards their goal.
"This is a unique workshop, since we have four local authors exploring different aspects of writing for children and youth," Stella Harvey, founder of the Vicious Circle, said in a recent release. "Even though the focus will be writing for children, participants will learn about aspects of the writing craft that apply to all genres. For instance, why you have to make every word count, how to honour the reader, and how to keep the story moving - all through writing practice."
Instructors include Michel Beaudry, an adventure storyteller who will lead two sessions exploring "The Power of Story"; Sarah Leach will outline the "rules" for writing in the genres of picture books, chapter books and mid-grade novels; Cindy Filipenko, is set to teach a session on visual storytelling; and writer/filmmaker Rebecca Wood Barrett will help students complete a short project or outline for a longer project in two sessions of "Drafting a Story."
The series starts on Thursday, May 13 and takes place at Myrtle Philip Community School for six consecutive Thursday evenings, until June. 17. All sessions are interactive and include creative writing exercises. No previous writing experience is required to take part. To sign up for the workshop series, which costs $120, visit www.theviciouscircle.ca or call 604-905-7653.
Fundraising for the arts
Squamish's Public Library is obviously home to a wealth of literary materials, but it's also a lesser-known artistic hub. In addition to its collection of books, magazines and DVDs, the library also houses the community's Foyer Gallery, featuring a monthly rotating collection of local artists on the walls and in display cases that line the entrance way.
This week, the gallery is hosting the annual Fundraiser Exhibit, with over 30 pieces of artwork (weavings, pottery, paintings, photography, jewelry and sculpture) donated by exhibiting artists of the gallery for display and auction. The pieces are valued at up to $600 and are up for grabs in a draw that will be held on Monday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets to the party, which features food, live music and painting, plus entry into the draw, are $50 at the library's main desk.
