Entries in Lifestyle (25)

Thursday
Sep152011

Rhonda Michallik

Rhonda moved to Fruitvale from Calgary with her family in 1981.  She began dancing at the age of five in Calgary, participating in several disciplines of dance, including ballet, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, swing and ballroom, winning many awards.

She moved to Vancouver in 1988, perfoming in many of the City's theatre productions.  After a short stint in Ontario, she moved to New York, then to Los Angeles, performing in professional dance productions.  She relocated to Trail in 1991 and opened a dance studio called Steps Dance Centre.

Since then, she has made a substantial impact on the art of dance in the Greater Trail Area as a dance instructor, choreographer and role model for hundreds of emerging dancers and athletes.  Her passion for dance and her leadership has been a source of inspiration for many students who have chosen to dance professionally around the world, as well as those who love to dance recreationally.

She continues to seek new opportunities to expand her capacity as a teacher and professional across North America.  Her students, as a team and individually, have won national and international recognition at competitions in Canada and the United states, with many awards and accolades for their dedication to dance.  She personally has won many, many awards for her teaching skills and contribution to the art of dance.

Friday
Mar112011

Rose Kumorek

Rose was born January 18, 1922 in Nordegg, Alberta and moved to Fernie at age 2. Daughter of Frank and Assunta Marasco, oldest of nine children.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY: St. John Ambulance:
Mrs. Kumorek has been involved in many aspects of the community. She is most known for her extensive involvement with St. John Ambulance as a leader, instructor and coach for junior first aid teams in the Trail area. She became interested in first aid at the age of 14 and began taking St. John Ambulance courses in 1938.

 

1938: Began taking St. John Ambulance courses. At age 20 worked in hospital in Fernie as a War Aid.
1943: Married Frank Kumorek (from Femie) in Edmonton.
1947: Moved to Trail - Frank employed at Cominco.
1949: First child born - Frances.  
1951: Second girl born - Marian Barbara
1962-72: Bookkeeper/owner 'Inland Electric'
1974-91: Employed at West Kootenay Wholesale as bookkeeper

In recognition of voluntary service and commitment to training and teaching, she received the following:

- A 50 year service certificate with St. John Ambulance in 1988.
May 11, 1966 Serving Sister; May 22, 1974 Officer Sister; February 14, 1979 Commander Sister; February 6, 1991 KNIGHTED DAME OF GRACE
This was a true honour for Mrs. Kumorek as well as the community of Trail. An article was written in the Trail Times featuring Mrs. Kumorek with the Lieutenant Governor of Canada as she was knighted.
First Aider - other areas of service:
Sports:
- Smoke Eaters attendant for games - 22 years.
- Minor Hockey - covering tournaments - 20 years.                             - Track Meets - 20 years.
Training Students at J. L. Crowe High School for 25 years and instructor at many other local schools.
Local Events: Terry Fox Run, Moonwalk for Zellers, Little League, Festival of Arts, Silver City Days, Babe Ruth Baseball, Senior Citizen's First Aid Attendant, Performances in Arena.

more... Page 2

Friday
Mar112011

Trail Maple Leaf Band

The Trail Maple Leaf Band is believed to be the longest-active commuity band in Canada. The band was formed in 1917 by Italian immigrants, most of whom came to Trail to work at the smelter.

The size of band membership has varied for many reasons, such as the two World Wars. Since WWII, the band has flourished. At one time, there was a senior band with around 60 members and a junior band of around 40. Members of the junior band graduated to the senior group as they became more proficient.

Around 1936 there were bands in several East and West Kootenay cities. These are all gone now, except in Nelson and Trail. Some Maple Leaf Band members have been with the group for over fifty years and still playing on a regular basis.

The band has participated in many parades and played at famous venues throughout the province, such as Penticton's Peach Festival, at Kelowna and the Pacific National Exhibition Parade in Vancouver. In recent years performances have been limited to the East and West Kootenays.

Friday
May092014

Trail Pipe Band

The Trail Pipe Band was formed circa 1924.  The first known photo of the Band is dated 1926 with the name "Trail Caledonia Society Pipe Band" on the drum.  Throughout its history, the Band has been sponsored by community groups or organizations and the Band's name has been changed to reflect this support.  Some of these included the Orange Lodge and the Trail Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.  For over 90 years, the Trail Pipe Band has participated in countless community ceremonies and events, as well as Scottish related events, such as Robbie Burns Night and Highland Games, creating a Trail tradition.

The Band members have traveled widely throughout Southeast BC, Washington, and Idaho for community celebrations promoting the City of Trail, providing entertaining music, and adding colour to hundreds of events.  On many occasions they were accompanied by several girls from the Kate Shaw Highland Dance School.

Today, the Trail Pipe Band continues these traditions with dedication and commitment to the City of Trail and are a significant part of our community's culture and history.

Friday
Mar112011

Velen and Velenka Fanderlik

Velen was born and educated in Czechoslovakia. He displayed artistic ability from an early age, but followed family tradition and became a lawyer, a profession he found both exciting and challenging. Velen and his father were instrumental in organizing the Czechoslovakian Boy Scouts, of which Velen became President.

World War II and the absorption of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union, forced Velen to flee his homeland. He practiced law in England, and also in France, where he worked as an evacuation officer for Czechoslovak refugees.

One of those refugees was Velenka, a fellow Czechoslovak. Velenka was born and educated in Czechoslovakia. After qualifying as a teacher in French, Slovak and German languages, she took a government position in Lens, France teaching expatriate Czechoslovaks. Ordered home when Czechoslovakia was overthrown in 1938, Velenka refused to leave France. In 1939, while Velenka was in charge of a refugee camp, France was invaded by the Germans and Velenka herself became a refugee. After many travels and adventures, she reached the Mediterranean port of Sete. Here she met Velen, who courted her on the voyage to Liverpool, England. Velen and Velenka were married in England in 1941.

Velenka stayed in England, where she became very active in the Girl Guide movement and where she taught the children of Czech refugees for four years. Meanwhile, Velen served as a military judge and became a member of the prosecuting team at the Nuremberg war crime trials.

A visit to Czechoslovakia by Velen and Velenka in 1947 coincided with the Communist element taking control of their homeland. Velen was warned that his name appeared on a list of persons considered dangerous to state security. He and Velenka fled Czechoslovakia illegally to the American zone of West Germany, where they involved themselves in the work of the International Relief Organization. About a year later, they returned to England, but before long, made the decision to relocate in Canada. The couple settled in Vancouver, where Velen worked at the YMCA and studied at the University of British Columbia (U.B.C.) to become a teacher. Velenka entered business school.

In 1955, Velen accepted a teaching position at J.L. Crowe Secondary School in Trail. Here, he taught Latin, History, Social Studies, Law and Art until his retirement. He also taught the History of Art at night school classes in Trail and Castlegar and at summer schools at U.B.C. and Notre Dame University in Nelson. Velenka, inspired by one of her husband's art classes, began her study of art in 1958. Her studies took her to summer school at U.B.C., the San Francisco Academy of Arts and the Banff School of Fine Arts. She considered her inspirations to be her Roman Catholic faith, the folklore, customs and culture of Czechoslovakia and her life experiences. Velenka died in Trail in 1980.

Velen never abandoned his art. He studied at the University of Brno, St. Martin School of Art in London, Cambridge University, the Academy of Art in San Francisco, University of British Columbia and the Banff School of Fine Arts. His favorite medium was watercolours, but he also liked oil paints, pastels and other mediums. He became known as a miniaturist and for his lino cuts. Velen died in 1985.

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