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You Haven't Been...

ocks in Your Socks, Brittania Mine

Angel Desjarlais, OP Contributor

ies and gents, a confession: I collect rocks; I put
in a bag, I put them in a box; filling up my pock-
filling up my socks; I gain weight every time I go
walks; yeah, I collect rocks (thanks Al Simmons).
Ok, second confession: I never put them in my
s, but I do love those magical chunks of earth,
m granite to quartz, and epidote to sandstone.
re’s more to Brittania than rocks.
For all my fellow rock-lovers, there’s a place you
luld visit. The BC Museum of Mining at the
fannia Mine may seem pretty boring at first, but I
ed away with treasure! Located about 45 minutes
; Vancouver on Hwy 99, it offers not only a brief
oration onto BC’s mining history (at one time it
the British Empire’s largest copper mine), but a
fice to see sweet machines and buy beautiful crys-
etc. at (forgive me) rock-bottom prices.
The most adventurous part of the tour is the train
into the mine shaft. You get to wear a workin’
’s hard hat yet look like a total dork. But it’s worth
f= you see the malachite shining on the walls in
s natural glory. The cool air of the mine swirls
and you while the tour guide talks about the histo-

 

 

ry of mining and operates some wicked-looking drills.
Finally, everyone gets to pan for gold. However, for all
the effort to sift it out I wasn’t particularly impressed
with the flaky results, then again I’ve always preferred
silver.

If you didn’t stop on the way in, be sure to hit the
gift shop. As gift shops go, the books are nice, if
expensive, and there is some kitschy stuff, but the
‘mystery’ geodes for two bucks are a score. Ok, I have
yet to crack them open in fear of disappointment, but
oh the possibilities! There is tons of reasonably priced
rock samples for the amateur enthusiast, and even a
few gems for the wily geologists.

My only words of advice: go now my children,
before the mine changes to winter season hours and
the little train stops running! And for your own sake,
don’t put rocks in your socks.

For more information, visit www.bcmuseumofmining,org
or call 1-800-896-4044

 

 

  
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
 
 
  
 
   
 
   
 
 
  
  
   
   
  
 
  
  
 
    
 
 
  
  
  

Travis Paterson, OP Features Editor

B society we've come to accept that health and medicine
omething to consider once we're sick, but there is a grow-
trend towards leading a healthy and preventive lifestyle.
ybe it's a hand-me-down belief from pre-industrial revolu-
times when the bulk of the world's population worked

H, and ate whatever they could. But with modern science
the understanding of food and nutrition, the western

yle has changed. As well, the physical effects of modern
ss and emotional wear are also being recognized, and the

d to focus on a healthy living style has evolved. As a result,
ple are looking to alternative medicines.

€ greatest misconception of alternative medicines, how-
is that they're considered alternatives. That said, at the
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opathic Medicine is constituted by ancient wisdoms

h as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), while some are
Hern, such as Homeopathy, which was developed in

imany just over a hundred years ago. Despite being of
pletely different worlds of thought, the different modali-
work together to treat the body as a whole. Nutrition too,
Imajor focus of Naturopathy, as students spend over 200
understanding nutrition and the human body, compared
pstudent in a University Medical program who will focus

t five to ten hours of their studies on the benefits of

per diet. At the heart of Naturopathic medicine is the
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fy relationship. The majority of diagnoses taught by the
pges are the same as in conventional medicine, and its the
ments and protocols that make Naturopathic medicine
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Whe life bettering benefits of Naturopathic medicine,

ght regarding health and healthcare. As a society we’ve
to accept that we’re healthy until sick, a hand-me-down
from pre-industrial revolution times when the bulk of
world’s population ate whatever they could, and the rich
iwere same. But with modern science the understanding of
fd and nutrition has changed. As well, the physical effects
stress and emotional wear are also being recognized, and
Ineed to focus on a healthy living style has evolved.

Bitor@gmail.com

 

The greatest misconception of alternative medicines is
that they're considered alternatives. That said, at the heart of
them all is Naturopathic Medicine, a holistic approach based
on a number of modalities. In Canada, Naturopathic
Medicine is constituted by ancient wisdoms such as
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and some are modern,
such as Homeopathy, which was developed in Germany just
over a hundred years ago. Nutrition too, is a major focus dur-
ing the four years of study, as students spend over 200 hours
understanding nutrition and the human body, compared to a
student in a University Medical program who will focus about
five to ten hours of their studies on the benefits of proper
diet. At the heart of Naturopathic medicine is the importance
of teaching correct living, and recognizing a responsibility to
treat our bodies well, respecting the mind and body relation-
ship. The majority of diagnoses taught by the colleges are the
same as in conventional medicine, and its the treatments and
protocols that make Naturopathic medicine unique.

In many cases, the thinking in Naturopathic medicine
begins where the thinking of conventional medicine ends;
treating the individual as a whole, taking the lifestyle of the
individual into consideration.

There are two Naturopathic Colleges in Canada, requiring
a B.Sc in biology, not to mention an excellent GPA. The
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in North York
(Toronto), has been widely accepted as the premier college in
Canada since its inception in 1978. CCNM has a graduating
class of up to 120 students per year, and interns in the Robert
Schad Clinic see hundreds of people each week. Little known
however, is that a second college, the Boucher Institute of
Naturopathic Medicine has been accredited by the North
American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE) and
the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education since

December gth, 2003.

Formerly located in the historic brick structure located
across the street from the Supreme Courts, and a stone’s
throw from the DC campus, Boucher expanded this year
when it moved into the top floor over the Columbia Skytrain
station.

The Naturopathic program is an intensive period of life

eighbouring Naturopathic College is DC Friendly

for the students, with only a two-month break being coming
at the end of the second year. The break, however, is spent
studying for the first installment of their rigorous
Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations, the second
and final installment of which they write upon graduation,
earning the right to bear the title of Doctor.

Here is where some people get confused about what
Naturopathic medicine is. In B.C., Acupuncturists,
Chiropractors, and Naturopathic graduates are eligible to bear
the title of Doctor in front of their name. Unfortunately the
profession’s boundaries are not the same nationally, and in the
Canadian provinces that aren’t yet regulated anyone can use
the term Naturopath. But, only graduates from a Naturopathic
College regulated in conjunction with the NABNE can use
the term Naturopathic Doctor, with the Dr. before there
name, followed by ND (eg. Dr. Benjamin Snider, ND).
Another confusing factor is that Acupuncturists (TCM) and
Chiropractors also study four year programs post B.Sc, focus-
ing on their respective areas, while Naturopathic students
study four years of general holistic modalities that include
hundreds of hours of Chiropractic and TCM in the curricu-
lum. In that sense, one can think of Naturopathic Doctors as
the General Practitioners of holistic health, though its not
uncommon to find Doctors of both regular and Naturopathic
medicine. Its also common for Naturopathic Doctors to spe-
cialize exclusively in areas such as Homeopathy, Acupuncture,
or counseling.

Like some provinces in Canada, some of the more pro-
gressive States have legislated Naturopathic health care and
allotted many rights to the profession, while some provinces
and many states still lag behind. B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, and
Saskatchewan are regulated, while Alberta had their rights
taken away, but will soon be legislated again, and with the
most progressive rights in Canada.

To those who aren’t aware, DC’s student Green Shield
health plan covers visits to licensed Naturopaths for up to
$300 (under Health Plan/Paramedicals at the DSU website,
www.cfslocal18.ca/index.php.). Boucher’s student rate is
$31.50 per visit (though initial intakes are $60), which equals
the cost of nine visits.

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