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Archery – The Revival


Drawing a bowstring and a crowd By Robert Michon Let’s face it, archery’s had a pretty bad run the past few hundred years. Accustomed to modern conveniences, the majority of …Read More
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Drawing a bowstring and a crowd

By Robert Michon Let’s face it, archery’s had a pretty bad run the past few hundred years. Accustomed to modern conveniences, the majority of us aren’t hunting for our own food these days. And those who are, aren’t often favouring bows and arrows. But thanks to a current pop-culture obsession with all things Katniss, archery is enjoying a spike in popularity. Not only are Edmontonians eager to learn this lost art, there are ranges, like Wyld Archery, just waiting to get you started. Care to take aim? Here are a few things to know. ______

A Growing Community

Edmonton has always had its hunting suppliers, but when Wyld Archery’s founder Justin Watson set up shop, his was the only dedicated archery range in the city. “I’ve been shooting for 30 years now,” he says, “and during most of that time there were just never any official lanes that I could use. Eventually, I just decided to fill that gap myself.” It took a while for the idea of dedicated lanes to catch on, but over the years, Wyld Archery has built a solid community of shooters, which continues to grow along with the rising global archery trend. Edmonton’s archery community has grown so much in fact, that while Justin may have been the first in the city to open up dedicated lanes, he wasn’t the only one who noticed a business opportunity. There are over half a dozen archery shops, complete with ranges, open across the capital region today. While many of these shops cater more towards the hunting community, Wyld proudly serves every kind of archer you could imagine. “We’re an archery shop first and foremost,” says Justin, “We don’t care if you want to hunt, shoot at paper targets, whether you’re amateur, pro, young, old—whatever. We just want people to have fun shooting.” And true to this philosophy, Justin does get quite a wide range of customers, from kids on school field trips, to sharp shooters, to historical role-playing groups. Wyld welcomes anyone looking to hone his or her skills. _____

The Hollywood Effect

If you’re wondering who is responsible for the sudden rise in the popularity of archery, you need look no further than Hollywood. Justin keeps track of archery on the big screen. “Pretty much any time we see something new in the media that highlights archery in some way, we see a huge surge of people coming in to shoot. The Hunger Games, Arrow, The Avengers, Brave—Disney has honestly been great for us. They get people excited about archery.” While all kinds of people are starting to pick up bows, Justin has noticed that women are coming out in especially large numbers. “In my first few years of shooting, I only knew of two female shooters, and they were both coaches of mine. I really like seeing more women getting into the sport. I think a lot of it does have to do with movies like The Hunger Games and Brave. Women are seeing these positive role models in movies and saying, ‘If she can do it, then so can I.’” ________

Practice, Practice, Practice

Of course, many of these archery hopefuls lose interest after about a month of shooting, disappointed that they have not quite become Hawkeye or Katniss Everdeen. But each surge also brings in new people who excel at the sport and quickly become archers for life. As a veteran archer, Justin has the same advice for all newcomers, “What people really need to understand is that archery is a patience sport. It’s rewarding, but you have to expect to put some practice in before you start seeing results.” If all of that practice sounds daunting though, don’t worry, you’ll be improving more than your aim. Archery works out muscles that you really don’t use in day-to-day life. Master archers might not notice the strain, but as a beginner, you’ll feel the burn. So whether you’re looking to get into hunting, historical re-enactments, sharpshooting or just wanting to try out a fun new activity this summer, look no further than your nearest archery range. The lanes are open, the bows are strung and your target awaits. _____

Where to Shoot

Wyld Archery Pro Shops and Lanes: 14805 Yellowhead Trail, Edmonton ___ Cabela’s North: 15320 37 Street NW, Edmonton _____ Cabela’s South: 6150 Currents Dr NW, Edmonton _____ Jim-Bows Archery Edmonton: 13955 156 St NW, Edmonton _____ Capital Region Archery Club: 5618 76 Ave NW, Edmonton _____ Sherwood Park Archery Club: 51419 Range Rd 223, Sherwood Park [post_title] => Archery - The Revival [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => archery-the-revival [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-03-19 23:23:51 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-03-20 05:23:51 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://www.summercity.ca/?p=1970 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [ID] => 0 [filter] => raw [_excerpt] => Drawing a bowstring and a crowd By Robert Michon Let’s face it, archery’s had a pretty bad run the past few hundred years. Accustomed to modern conveniences, the majority of … ) 1

Vancouver Island


EXPLORE VICTORIA AND THE WONDERS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. If your dollar won’t stretch to a European vacation, one alternative might be Alberta’s left-hand neighbour, British Columbia. July through September is …Read More
Models\Post Object ( [_post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2575 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2016-04-30 16:29:39 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-04-30 16:29:39 [post_content] => EXPLORE VICTORIA AND THE WONDERS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. If your dollar won’t stretch to a European vacation, one alternative might be Alberta’s left-hand neighbour, British Columbia. July through September is an excellent time to visit Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The weather is warm, and nature is at its finest. Whether shopping, dining or culture is your pleasure, this regional overview will get you ready to pack your bags. Victoria Sure, you’ve heard it called the home of the newlywed and the nearly dead, but BC’s capital isn’t the city you visited in the 90s. Recently praised in Vogue for its robust high-tech community and dedication to craft brewing, Victoria is both a family-friendly destination and a sophisticated city for those travelling without kids. Most tourism focuses around the Inner Harbour, at the intersection of Government and Belleville streets. Here you’ll find the Royal British Columbia Museum, the Empress Hotel, BC’s Legislative Assembly grounds, access to city tours on double-decker buses, harbour tours on mini-ferries and whale-watching expeditions in Zodiacs. Close by you’ll find horse-drawn carriages, kayak rentals and numerous shopping destinations, including the newly renovated Market Square, Lower Johnson Street (one-of-a-kind boutiques) and Fort Street (Antique Row, plus galleries and specialty shops). There’s, even more, to see if you leave the core. Here are a few Victoria-area “musts”: Craigdarroch Castle—sumptuous former home of a Victorian industrialist; Craigdarroch Castle Video The Galloping Goose— former railway converted to a gorgeous multi-use trail; [caption id="attachment_14525" align="aligncenter" width="462"] Galloping Goose Trestle Bridge[/caption] ____ Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site— 19th-century coastal defense installation featuring the Fisgard Lighthouse; [caption id="attachment_14527" align="aligncenter" width="543"] Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites[/caption] ____ Sidney by the Sea— Canada’s Book Town, plus dozens of quaint shops; _____ Butchart Gardens— botanical wonderland. [caption id="attachment_14532" align="alignnone" width="458"] Butchart Gardens[/caption] You might be surprised to learn Victoria is also a foodie paradise. Locally sourced, organically grown food is a priority in -Canada’s fittest capital. You’ve gotta eat, right? ___

Salt Spring Island

[caption id="attachment_14533" align="alignnone" width="477"] Salt Spring Island[/caption] Take a float plane from Victoria’s Inner Harbour or a ferry from Swartz Bay, and you’ll arrive at Salt Spring Island, BC’s brilliant cultural destination. With a population of just over 10,000, Salt Spring boasts more artists and performers per capita than anywhere else in the province. Janet Clouston of the Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce says, “The arts and culture scene here is better than in some medium-sized cities. To be able to have what we have here and a small-town life experience is amazing!” But Salt Spring Island is more than arts and culture. It also supports surprisingly diverse dining. From funky eateries like the Tree House Cafe to the grandeur of Hastings House (one of the West Coast’s most-praised restaurants), there’s something for every palate, much of it locally grown. Salt Spring Island has more than 200 active farms, including three vineyards. You can shop the farmers’ market in Ganges every Tuesday afternoon from June through October. Want just a taste? Visit on a Saturday. From April until late October, you’ll find the gigantic Salt Spring Market in Centennial Park in Ganges. Nearly 150 artisans take part in the market annually, and everything is made or grown on the island—part of Salt Spring’s authentic charm. ______

Nanaimo

Nanaimo, north of Victoria, is Vancouver Island’s new “It” destination. Mountains, beaches, marine life—what’s not to love? Founded as a trading post, Nanaimo grew into a coal-mining hub and later a forestry centre. For decades it was little more than a stopping point for visitors heading to Victoria and Tofino or exploring the Gulf Islands. But today, Nanaimo offers festivals, street performers, museums and water-based activities. It also shares Victoria’s mild, sunny climate and the West Coast commitment to locally grown, locally made food and drink. If you have a boating background, you should know that Nanaimo is an increasingly popular base for folks chartering sailboats and powerboats. Nanaimo’s mid-island location is perfect for boaters travelling north into Desolation Sound or south into the Gulf Islands. On a boat, you have unparalleled access to the incredible Georgia Basin and its many tiny communities, which host some 200,000 visitors annually. Driving to Nanaimo from Victoria? Be sure to visit Chemainus. Featuring dozens of outdoor murals, glorious views of Stuart Channel and yummy baking and ice cream, it’s a delightful stop. -

Port McNeill

Nanaimo is often the end of a journey up island, but visitors who keep going north will discover a wild landscape and numerous small, welcoming communities, including Port McNeill. Graham McNeil, who’s lived in Port McNeill since 1970, says the town “has the reputation for being one of the friendliest towns on the coast.” Port McNeill is the gateway to northern Vancouver Island and the Broughton Archipelago. Visitors enjoy fishing, boating, ecotourism, caving, camping and more in this small town. You can view grizzly bears in the towering wilderness of Knight Inlet, just a boat ride away, and the Broughtons is one of the coast’s top areas to watch whales. Port McNeill is connected by ferry to historic Alert Bay, home of the world-class U’Mista Centre, a museum of aboriginal heritage. Plan to spend several hours there. Another short ferry ride takes you to Sointula on Malcolm Island, originally settled as a utopian cooperative. If you go, drop by the town museum—it’s fascinating! En route to McNeill, or as a day trip out, visit Telegraph Cove, a charming micro-village (population 20!). The boardwalks and historic buildings reflect an industrial past, but today it’s a quiet place for relaxation and exploration. With so much to see and do, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands really are a paradise next door. The most difficult part of your trip may be convincing yourself to come home. t8n

Three Cheers for BC Beer

Eager to explore Victoria’s craft beer pubs? Here are four you won’t want to miss. Garrick’s Head Pub (1140 Government Street) Swans Brewpub (506 Pandora Avenue) Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub and Guesthouses (308 Catherine Street) Moon Under Water (350B Bay Street) Local breweries host tours—with tastings—throughout the year.

Vancouver Island Fun Facts

Whale sightings along the east side of Vancouver Island peak in August and September. The Royal BC Museum says six of BC’s 34 First Nation languages were spoken on Vancouver Island. Many are now being rediscovered by a new generation. [post_title] => Vancouver Island [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => vancouver-island [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-03-19 23:08:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-03-20 05:08:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://www.summercity.ca/?p=2575 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [_excerpt] => EXPLORE VICTORIA AND THE WONDERS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. If your dollar won’t stretch to a European vacation, one alternative might be Alberta’s left-hand neighbour, British Columbia. July through September is … ) 1