What do dumplings, chocolates, bowls, bath bombs and bread have in common? They’re all things that are handmade in Cranbrook! On my latest ZenSeekers expedition, I spent the day at the Cranbrook Farmers Market (and a few other stops in town) to check out what the talented folks in this East Kootenays community are making from scratch. Here are some of my top finds:

Shop Cranbrook

Cranbrook Farmers Market

Where: 10th Ave S beside Rotary Park, Cranbrook
When: Saturdays June 22 to August 21, 2019 from 9:00am to 1:00pm; Saturdays September 7 to October 12, 2019 from 10:00am to 1:00pm

At the market you can do a mead sampling, grab a cold brew, and shop from ceramic, wool, and knitted items. There’s fresh produce, local meats, and even a jewelry stand where you can get your name twisted into a delicate necklace gem while you wait.

Food trucks are always a big hit and you’ll want to visit Mama’s Dumplings for a taste you can’t get anywhere else! Coco is a master of her craft – she even taught me how to make dumplings during my visit. She brings the taste of Northern China to Cranbrook weekly at the market.

Stay a While

When you’re done your shopping and are ready for a full meal, I highly recommend Soulfood (1017 Baker Street, Cranbrook). I had breakfast for lunch and it was amazing. They also have infused teas and lemonades, and tons of organic, locally-grown, vegan, and other wholesome options.

Shop Anytime

My favourite purchase of the whole trip was my all natural insect repellant from Petra Naturally (2104C 2 St S, Cranbrook). Petra makes everything in-house with the best ingredients so you won’t smell like chemicals when you’re trying to enjoy nature.

What about the bread and chocolate you might ask? Read my full post on ZenSeekers for the scoop!

When You Go

• Read my full story on ZenSeekers »
• Visit the Cranbrook Tourism Website  for any pre-trip research and to connect with the businesses listed in this story, or stop by the in-town visitor centre for more details on the region.
• Check out the #RockiesExploring expedition page on ZenSeekers to see what other experiences you can have nearby.

CBC Vancouver is excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the CBC Musical Nooners series that showcases local performers and offers free concerts every weekday in July and August.

CBC Musical Nooners 2019 Lineup

Monday to Friday, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, July 5 to August 16, 2019, you can enjoy a free show on the CBC outdoor stage and plaza located at 700 Hamilton St.

Friday, July 5, 2019
The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer with Dawn Pemberton

Monday, July 8, 2019 Will’s Jams
Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Tariq
Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Mazacote
Thursday, July 11, 2019 Rare Americans
Friday, July 12, 2019 TailerHawk

Monday, July 15, 2019 Joe Trio
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 The Lonesome Town Painters
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 One Human Race Afrika Collective
Thursday, July 18, 2019 The Hamiltones
Friday, July 19, 2019 Midnight Shine

Monday, July 22, 2019 Chris Ronald
Tuesday, July 23, 2019 Andrew Phelan
Wednesday, July 24, 2019 The Heels
Thursday, July 25, 2019 Jim Byrnes
Friday, July 26, 2019 The Fugitives

Monday, July 29, 2019 RupLoops
Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Jenny Banai & Bre McDaniel
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 The Long War
Thursday, August 1, 2019 Desirée Dawson
Friday, August 2, 2019 Cousin Harley

Monday, August 5, 2019 No concert BC Day
Tuesday, August 6, 2019 Luke Wallace
Wednesday, August 7, 2019 Petunia and The Vipers
Thursday, August 8, 2019 Cannery Row
Friday, August 9, 2019 Mariachi Los Dorados

Monday, August 12, 2019 Qristina & Quinn Bachand
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 Katherine Penfold
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 Fionn
Thursday, August 15, 2019 Roy Forbes
Friday, August 16, 2019 Sister Speak

For more information on the CBC Musical Nooners series and CBC in British Columbia follow along on Twitter or with the tag #musicalnooners.

“Let’s go find some waterfalls,” is a totally reasonable reply to: “What are we going to do today?” when you’re in the Crowsnest Pass area of the Canadian Rockies. I was on assignment with ZenSeekers, and that sounded like a pretty good daily goal to me as we drove across the BC border to Alberta.

The key to exploring a new area is to a) check out the local fly shop or café and ask around for some ideas and b) book a tour with someone who knows the area inside and out. With ZenSeekers, I did both. The crew met up with Susan Douglas-Murray from the Crowsnest Cafe and Fly Shop (in Coleman), then Jessica from Stone’s Throw Cafe (in Blairmore) and Heather Davis from Uplift Adventures. Here are three things I learned about exploring the Crowsnest Pass area through fishing, hiking, and paddling.

Fly Fishing in Crowsnest Pass

Aside from learning how to cast properly, which is a complete skill set on its own, Susan taught me to look for bubbles in the stream. This is where insects are most abundant on the river so chances are that’s where the fish are looking too. In the Crowsnest River you can catch Rainbow Trout or the elusive and indigenous Cutthroat Trout. Susan’s biggest tip? Head out on a guided adventure with her team, they know ALL the best spots!

Taking a Hike

The Miner’s Path has a lot of history, and some great scenery. It’s just 1.6km long (with 59m elevation gain) so it’s nice for a stroll with the family, complete with waterfall at the end. If you want know all the rich mining and geological history of the area while you roam, Heather’s your go-to! She offers guided hikes, photo and culinary experiences.

Paddling in Crowsnest Pass

Even though you’re in the middle of a massive mountain range, there are plenty of lakes and rivers for water adventures. My new favourite camping spot has got to be at Chinook Lake (thanks to Jessica and Heather for sharing this gem). The campsites are right along the glassy emerald water and the lake is surrounded by towering mountains that offer epic views – and photo ops. Go for a paddle in a canoe or kayak to get full experience.

When You Go

• Read more about Crowsnest Pass via my story on ZenSeekers.
• Grab an awesome itinerary and start your Southern Alberta adventure.
• Check out the Crowsnest Pass website to get planning your trip. 

Uncover more adventures in the Canadian Rockies. Check out ZenSeekers’ #RockiesExploring Expedition page to see how you can have an adventure like this.

Join Voyageur Adventures for a historical 2-day paddling experience along the Fraser River to Fort Langley. Camp inside Fort Langley National Historic Site’s oTENTiks and enjoy unique musical entertainment and meals during this one-of-a-king experience.

Voyageur Adventures Presents a Musical Rendez-vous at Fort Langley

The next excursion is August 17-18, 2019 and it’s open to adults or youth 13+. Paddle down the mighty Fraser River in a replica 34-foot “canot de maître” used by the North West Company in the 1700s. Immerse yourself in an inspiring and unique part of our Canadian heritage through song and story presented by Voyageur Guides.

Then, spend the night inside the walls of Fort Langley in one of five oTENTiks which each sleep up to 6 people – perfect for a memorable family or group outing. Booking is now open for the August adventure for $325 adults and $265 teens. Some meals included like the evening Rendez-vous Celebration Dinner on the first night.

Call (604) 808-4559 or email [email protected] to book.

Follow Voyageur Adventures on Facebook for more info, and check out Fort Langley’s event lineup this summer.

Sponsored by Return-It Express

“Do you have any recyclables at your house?” I called my sister, whose household of seven soon sprang into action. “Yes, I definitely do.” The busy multi-generational family runs like a well-oiled machine, with school lunches, prepped dinners, work, class projects, errands, and soccer practice planned out.

Recycling is sorted, but lucky for me, it wasn’t yet returned. I had just signed up for Encorp’s new Return-In Express service and I couldn’t wait to introduce my sister to this time-saver too.

Return-It Express

The process is simple: Sign up online for the Express service, place your recyclable and refundable containers into clear plastic bags, bring them to a Return-In Express location, look for the Express kiosk and sign in using your phone number, enter your number of bags, stickers will then print so stick the labels on the bags, drop off and go!

You’ll get a fully detailed receipt with your deposit count emailed to you within days along with your deposit redemption that you can either select to have mailed to you by cheque or deposited by Interac e-Transfer.

The Coquitlam Return-It Centre was busy on a Saturday afternoon, with patrons sorting their bottles and cans one-by-one at the tables. My sister and I brought in 5 bags, logged in, printed, stuck, dropped off, and were out of the centre within about 2 minutes. No more sorting by hand!

The guaranteed processing time is 5 business days however we dropped our bags off during the long weekend and just 24 hours later I had a notification in my inbox that my refund was ready. It was really the quickest, cleanest, and most efficient recycling/deposit experience I’ve ever had. You can try it for yourself by registering online today.

There are 39 Return-It Express locations around BC, with additional locations opening in the next few months. Find your nearest and most convenient today and follow Return-It on Facebook and Twitter for the latest recycling news.