s Culture Heart of the Rockies Tyson Kelsall Culture Editor t is easy fo understand why people might be craving some sensory stimulation and fresh air while living and studying in Prince George. The smaller town has its benefits: a tightly knit community, low traffic, and everything being close by, but it also has its drawbacks, and sometimes there is not much happening. With the two closest big cities being 739 and 786 kilometers away, respectively, sometimes the drive can be too draining to really enjoy a short trip down to Edmonton or Vancouver. That is why it is important not to forget about a small gem that is only a 4-hour drive away: Jasper, Alberta! In between Prince George and Jasper there are not many townships, except for the village of McBride and léte Jaune Cache. A small community of roughly 650 people, McBride sits on the edge of the furthest inland temperate rainforest in the world. Needless to say, the combination of hills, long stretches of farmland and the forest create a picturesque, eye- opening landscape. Téte Jaune Cache lies at the juncture of highways 5 and 16. The Fraser River runs along the small, unincorporated area of nearly 500 people. Téte Jaune shares its namesake with the alternative title for Highway 16; it is French for “Yellow Head” and was named after a famous lroquois- Métis fur trapper and trader, Faul Hastination, who happened to have blonde hair. Historically, Tate Jaune was a more vibrant town of 3,000 people, but many of the economic devices have slowed down, or come to a complete halt. Soon after comes the entrance to British Colurnbia's Mount Robson Provincial Park, and on all sides there is a great view of the mountains; while looking forward you will see Mount Robson itself, the highest point in the Canadian Rockies, which stands at nearly 13 OOO feet. Entering Jasper National Park means paying a toll of $19.60 per vehicle per day. Although it may seem expensive, it goes towards keeping the National Fark of Jasper in pristine condition. A place as large, natural, accessible, and legally protected as Jasper National Fark is indeed a rarity. The most affordable places to stay in Jasper are the hostels, which offer beds for under $30 per night. In and around Jasper there are many hikes to enjoy, including Maligne Canyon, Pyramid Lake, and the Mount Edith area. For wildlife fiends, there are bighorn sheep, elk, mountain goats, black bears, wolves, and moose often wandering around. The most invigorating and refreshing Tyson Kelsall | OTE attraction might be to take the sky-tram to the peak of Whistler Mountain. The fresh mountain air, the great views of Jasper National Park and the walk to the summit will undoubtedly make you feel renewed after a long stretch of being in the city. In the town itself there are many shops and restaurants. Although the population of Jasper is quite small, it is very concentrated and there are often many tourists. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall, the local shops will likely be packed with people. There are also a number of pubs, nightclubs, and bars which are open throughout the year. In the winter, Jasper offers a whole array of winter sports, including alpine skiing in Marmot Basin, which opens mid-November each year. There are many routes to snowshoe and cross country ski; there is an ice walk through the canyon, and even a few dogsledding companies. If you have the time, there are a few notable stops along the highway, including a well-maintained trail through the Ancient Forest 10 kilometers from Prince George, which is organized largely by a local hiking group, the Caledonia Ramblers. There is also a 20-minute wheelchair accessible boardwalk. Additionally, there is Sugarbowl-Grizzly Den Provincial Fark, which includes a trail to a cabin at Raven Lake, amongst other hikes. On dreary weekends, when things start to feel a little stagnant, you do not have to go far from Prince George to get a taste of something a little different and reinvigorating. Marijuana Reefer-endum: Provincial Pot Campaign Lacking Support Tyson Kelsall Culture Editor he legalization of marijuana has been a hot topic in British Columbia since its neighbour, Washington State, decided to legalize it last November. Since then, the organization Sensible BC has amped up their campaign for a provincial referendum to decriminalize adult possession of the plant. They started collecting citizen's signatures at the beginning of September. How it works: Sensible BC has 90 days to collect enough signatures or else the petitions are bunk as far as a referendum goes. “Enough signatures’ means roughly 335,000. However, these signatures must reflect at least 10% of people in each provincial electoral riding. So, no, not all 335,000 signatures can come from Vancouver Island. Since Sensible BC started in September, the end date will be December. If they end up being successful there would be a referendum in September of 2014. Historically, only one other grassroots petition has been successfully pulled off and that was the Anti-HST campaign led primarily by former Social Credit Premier Bill Vander Zalm. After their first month, Sensible BC was approximately 15,000 signatures short of their self-identified target. In some areas they were on track, others they were faltering. Dana Larsen, the spokesperson for the group, told CTV that they are having some troubles in Prince George. Critics of Sensible BC: Many people are concerned about the fact that marijuana is not made illegal by provincial law. In fact, only the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act, a federal policy, restricts it. Sensible BC argues that the province can decide to not enforce the federal law and use police resources in a more ‘sensible’ way. However, the cost of the HST referendum is said to have cost taxpayers roughly $8 million dollars as a stand-alone ballot, compared to the Single Transferable Vote referendum which tied itself to the provincial election and was said to cost somewhere between $1-2 million extra. The question becomes whether or not it is worth the monetary cost of only decriminalizing marijuana on a provincial level, or to wait until there is an opportunity to make it legal through Federal policy. Politics Around Prince George: On the provincial level, Liberal leader Christy Clark has been relatively quiet on the subject of marijuana, as has Prince George MIA Shirley Bond. Federal MPs Bob Zimmer and Dick Harris have been opposed to legalization; especially Zimmer who once tweeted that he is “against legalization period.” Nechako Lakes MIA John Rustad has been one of the few Liberals saying anything on the issue, stating that it should at least be talked about. If you are interested in Sensible BC, check out their website: wwwsensiblebc.ca. Let us know what you think about legalizing in BC on the Over the Edge facebook page.