Latest news with #Fehr
Global News
21-07-2025
- Global News
Memorial held for slain Kelowna mother Bailey McCourt
Family and friends of Bailey McCourt gathered Saturday night to remember the Kelowna mother of two, weeks after she was killed in a daylight attack in a parking lot. The memorial was held at the Mission Sports Field, with attendees sharing memories, and tying posters as well as pictures of the 32-year-old to baseball diamond fences. McCourt's mother, Karen Fehr, says the place held great significance to her and her daughter. 'She grew up on the fields first on the coast and then we lived here. She started playing ball at High Noon Ball Park for the kids,' Fehr told Global News. 'Whenever she didn't play, then I played the other nights. Everyone here knows her.' 'Finding out the Bats for a Cause tournament was going on this weekend, which is a really important tournament to all the ball players here, raising money for the children's hospital, it was a no brainer.' Story continues below advertisement McCourt was brutally attacked back on July 4 in a parking lot, later succumbing to her injuries in hospital. 2:16 Friend of Bailey McCourt hoping violent attack prompts change in B.C. Her estranged husband, James Plover, was arrested after the attack and now faces a charge of second-degree murder in the case. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It is alleged Plover attacked McCourt with a hammer, just a short time after being convicted of domestic violence charges in Kelowna courtroom. The identities of the victims in the earlier case are protected by a publication ban. Family members including Fehr have expressed anger and sadness over McCourt's death. They are demanding judicial change, as Plover was granted bail after the convictions. 'If this could be the one to give us a reason to actually change [laws], I might be able to find a little bit more peace in what happened,' said Fehr. 'Women have been waiting and waiting for the change we need when it comes to violence against us.' Story continues below advertisement Plover remains in custody and is due back in court on Sept. 16.
Calgary Herald
16-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Great community design builds on location, location
Article content Good community design could be described as a finely woven tapestry of many elements — location, amenities, beautiful home designs. But it is that je ne sais quoi — that immeasurable quality — that just makes a place special. Article content 'When people look for a community to call home, they're searching for more than just a house — they want a place where they feel a genuine sense of belonging, safety and connection. Ultimately, a great community is not just a place to live, but a place to thrive,' says Sarah Fehr, manager of marketing for Section23 Developments, the developer behind Rangeview, Calgary's first garden-to-table community. Rangeview recently picked up the award for best Calgary community at the 2024 Building Industry and Land Development-Calgary Region Awards held in April, and for good reason — the community is unique on several levels. Article content Article content Article content Designed to nourish and inspire authentic living through food celebration, Rangeview embraces a rich historical past. The land, which is located in Calgary's deep southwest, was owned and ranched by the Ollerenshaw family, which first settled in the area in 1923 and now, generations later, has expanded into residential land development and architecture under the auspices of Section23 Developments. Article content Article content Unique features of the community include a signature farmhouse architectural style, accessible family-friendly price ranges, an amenity-rich backdrop of community gardens, orchards, greenhouses, plus a melange of structures and common areas all designed to unite and connect residents through the celebration of food. Section23 Developments' Fehr says that the gardens and spaces (the community also features a naturalized wetland with walking paths, playgrounds and an outdoor amphitheatre-style classroom, plus plenty of festivals and food markets) focus on learning about and practising urban agriculture. Inspired by the demand for social, economic and environmental sustainability, Rangeview's vision is driven by the concept of agricultural urbanism. Article content Article content 'Just as small-town communities have always been made stronger by the connections between neighbours and families, life in Rangeview includes the luxury of truly getting to know and enjoy the people around us. We're rekindling an old-fashioned sense of community spirit that will make modern life infinitely happier,' says Fehr, adding that agricultural urbanism is quickly gaining momentum across North America. Article content The vision of this movement is many-fold. Article content 'Communities like Rangeview are on the forefront of reconnecting and educating people about the growth, processing and preparation of the food we eat, creating a more vibrant and prosperous community and a more resilient and culturally rich food system that can be passed down for generations,' says Fehr.
Hamilton Spectator
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Rosthern Senior Centre Spreading Joy Through Music
Entertaining the crowd this month was Amos Fehr, Chaplain and Grief Counsellor at the Mennonite Nursing Home located just east of Rosthern. Fehr thanked everyone for taking time out of their day to come and share their time with him. Entertaining with a smooth and easy style, Fehr talked briefly about the origins of some songs, shared a bit of local history, and tidbits of his own life. Playing well-known songs, both popular music and gospel tunes, from years of musical history, Fehr put everyone in a reflective mood and encouraged them to join in by humming or singing along, even if it was just the chorus. The evening had the feel of sitting down with an old friend and reminiscing about days of old, remembering people and places of long ago and the music that accompanied those distant memories. He ended the evening as he usually does with 'Happy Trails', a song by Roy Rogers and his wife, Dale Evans, known as the theme song for The Roy Rogers Show on radio and television, in which they starred. Having been born and raised on a farm between Hague and Rosthern, his skill on the guitar was as well known as was his history in the community. Fehr spent many years as a youth pastor in Manitoba, but a decade ago, when their adult children decided they wanted to move to Saskatchewan, Amos and his wife, Wendy, followed, settling back into the community and family ties he had grown up in. Amos regularly shares his music with the residents of the Mennonite Nursing Home and other seniors' residences and is a regular performer at gospel music events in the local area, including the Drive-In Country Gospel Music Nights at the Hague Museum. The Rosthern Seniors' Centre continues to hold activities throughout the summer months, including the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon billiards, cards, and shuffleboard games individuals can participate in, along with the monthly entertainment. The $15 admission to the entertainment evenings contributes to the general fund that covers the expenses of the Seniors' Centre. The Club is one of the many recipients of assistance from Sask Lotteries. The past two years have also brought in funds from the local Tim Hortons raised during the spring Smile Cookie Campaign. Last year's donation exceeded $3000 and was used to purchase an AED for the Centre. The decision on where to use the recent donation from the 2025 Smile Cookie Campaign of over $5000 has not yet been voted on by the Board. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
03-05-2025
- CBC
Passport to the Peaks offers unique ticket to the Rockies this summer
Renee Fehr shows off the latest version of the Passport to the Peaks guidebook brimming with maps, distances, elevations and stories of how the mountains in the Grande Cache area were named. "It's enough to get you started on your journey as you go to hike," said Fehr, the president of the program now with 1,800 members. But what makes the $65 passport unique is the 21 special gold foils that adventurers can mark at cairn boxes on the top of the mountains. "What you do is lift open the box, you put the foil in and you can stamp it, and it leaves an embossed pattern," said Fehr. The Passport to the Peaks program, started 25 years ago by local physician and hiker Dr. Keith Darcel, is a way to celebrate the mountains in the Grande Cache area, 430 kilometres west of Edmonton. Fehr said over the years the program has evolved with more people wanting to take pictures with the cairn boxes, some people call the stamp or mailboxes, as proof of their accomplishments, posting them to social media. "It's really an amazing feat, so people take pictures of themselves doing it," says Fehr who has hiked them all and filled her passport. The 51-year-old outdoor enthusiast noted that you can also get your name on a plaque at the visitor centre when you complete the bronze, silver and gold mountain treks. The colours indicate the increase in difficulty based on distance, time, obstacles and the navigation skill required. She said many consider the pastime addictive. "Part of it's the planning, part of it is the camaraderie and the stories about which trail you took," she said. Solo hiker Terra Rasmussen has banged off all but three mountains in the program since she moved to Grande Cache two and a half years ago. "When you get spun around and stuff goes wrong, you sit down, you build a fire and you think about it," she said. The 40-year-old mother-of-two said she feels lucky to have the mountains in her backyard. "We're really at the headwaters of untouched wilderness here, it's incredible." Rasmussen said Willmore Wilderness Park offers the beauty of spots like Banff and Jasper minus the crowds of people. "All of our mountains have great biking, great hiking, runners coming here to train for ultra-marathons and other races," said Rasmussen of what she calls a hidden gem of the Rocky Mountains. Madison McLaughlin is just four peaks away from filling her 21 summit passport. "When I first started I wasn't crazy interested in it," admits the 16-year-old who started by tagging along with her mom, Coralee, and her friends on day trips at the age of 11. It wasn't until McLaughlin realized she was on track to be the youngest person to complete the passport program she really got into it. "That kind of sparked the idea and my goal, I think." She says squeezing her remaining mountain adventures in between her two part-time summer jobs is going to be a challenge but she says it's a lot of fun. "You're just focused on you and your body and just getting yourself up there and pushing yourself to do what it takes and I think that's probably my favourite part."
New York Times
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Inside the community creating the golf courses of their dreams — for a video game
They didn't have much, but they could create. Money was tight for the family, so they built their own board games growing up in Saskatchewan, Canada. One year, Matthew Fehr's father created his own little golf board game out of huge bristle boards with holes drawn in and different clubs tapered off. They rolled dice to see where the ball went, with sand traps and water hazards and trees along the way. Advertisement It lit a spark in Matthew. Sure, he liked golf as a game, but there was more pulling him in — he could create new worlds this way. Soon he was 7 years old drawing up golf courses on sheets of paper. In high school he discovered the website Golf Club Atlas and practically lived on what he called the 'greatest resource ever.' He scoured through photo profiles of courses around the world, places he couldn't go, and read through discussion boards on the best golf architects. The world of golf architecture is exclusive. And expensive. One does not simply just jump into designing golf courses. So that was a dream Fehr had to put aside, settling for old-school computer games like Sid Meier's SimGolf as he pursued a career as a chef. 'There has to be something out there that will allow me to build golf courses,' he thought. Then, seven or so years ago, Fehr found an independent game called 'The Golf Club.' It wasn't very popular outside of the niche gaming world. It didn't have licensing deals at the time like EA Sports did. But it did have a remarkably in-depth course designer tool. He wasn't a gamer nor was he particularly tech savvy, but this was his calling. He taught himself how to do the one thing he always wanted to do. The kid playing bristle board dice golf was designing golf courses. 'It just blew my mind,' he said. The game grew in popularity and was bought by gaming goliath 2K, which just released a new version — 'PGA Tour 2K25'. Fehr — he's better known by his tag, MattyfromCanada — is one of the most respected designers in an international community, so much so he's been contracted by 2K to design official courses for each new version of the game. He is, no matter how you want to define it, a professional golf course architect, his courses put alongside Pebble Beach, Royal Portrush and Oakmont in the game. Advertisement 'I've told my boss at work,' Fehr said, 'my dream, if there's ever even a chance I could ever design a golf course for real life, I will run out of the building and you will never see me again.' He's just one member of a fascinating world of obsession, a group of creatives that range from 15-year-old high schoolers to 70-year-old retirees spending their lives on message boards, Discord chats and YouTube streams to interact, create and discover the best courses in the game. Some can build a course in 10-20 hours. Others will sweat it out for more than 200 hours to create their masterpiece. Some courses are hyper realistic, forming homages to their favorite golden age architects. Others are fantastical, only possible in a video game world. But over the last decade, these people have created a community. This summer, Fehr and a few others will fly to Scotland for a golf trip to play St. Andrews and North Berwick. Others meet up each year, taking turns hosting the others. Some were die-hard gamers. Some don't touch a single other video game. Some turned this passion into jobs at golf architecture firms. Others got hired by gaming studios. But the story of this design world isn't about any of that. It's about getting to be who they always thought they were. The montage launches with five minutes of clips of every course you wish you could play. There are heathland style tracks, and some sandbelt beauties. There are absurdist gems in the mountains with rocky creeks and tee shots into cliffs. There are stadium courses that look like TPC Sawgrass on steroids and parkland courses inspired by Augusta National. Then the Twitch stream begins, and a soft-spoken Englishman in his 30s begins to speak. His name is Ben Page. Others know him as b101. Either way, 'everybody wants to be like Ben,' one fellow designer said. Advertisement Today is the group stage draw for the World Cup of Design 2025. The average person will have no clue this ever happened. But for the 300 people who did watch, this is their Super Bowl. Forty of the best designers in the PGA 2K world will be drawn into eight groups to compete through a knockout style format to crown the best course of the year. That opening montage? Those were the previous six winners. Page then welcomes his co-host for the draw. 'If you don't recognize Andre, he once designed golf courses,' Page says in a dry tone. 'Once,' quips Andre Quenneville, another 30-something man with glasses and a light beard. Quenneville, or CrazyCanuck, is something of the godfather of this community. He's the Velvet Underground of 2K course design. Maybe not that many people actually watched his videos, but everyone who did started felt compelled to become a designer. But he's more of a background figure now. Part of that is having children and a family. Much of it is becoming disillusioned or disappointed with recent editions of the game and its design tool. But the executives at HB Studios, the creators of 'The Golf Club' that 2K Sports acquired in 2021, were smart enough to know that to get people back on board and excited with this newest game, they needed CrazyCanuck on board. They looped him in early to preview the new design tool, and suddenly he's back. His excitement has others excited too. Quenneville was far from the first to launch this community, but he ended up being the whole who brought in new audiences. He's a teacher by trade, teaching high school math and science. Yeah, he golfed, but not too intensely. He didn't know the design world. He's not a huge gamer, either. But like Fehr and so many others, he had a fascination with courses and drew them out as a kid. Advertisement Then, in 2014, the first edition of 'The Golf Club' came out. That game is a story of its own for another day. It was cool and new and anti-establishment, with gameplay that felt like golf — as frustrating as it was rewarding. But the big sell was the 'Greg Norman Golf Course Designer,' a partnership with Norman's design company that allowed the firm to render course proposals for potential clients. The tech initially was not very good, but improved quickly. Quenneville's first courses were 'absolute garbage,' and there was nobody making videos explaining how to use it. They were all on their own. But he had an idea. He went into forums and said, 'Hey, if you post your courses here I'll review them on YouTube.' Quenneville was far worse than the guys he was critiquing, but by reviewing these courses he could hone in and figure out how these people were making them. How'd they do that bunker lip? How'd they plant it that way? This was a decade ago, so the tools were far behind. 'It was like the dark ages,' he joked, so the best designers were the ones discovering tricks to create visuals. Quenneville becoming the primary 'reviewer' coincided with the creation of a niche website called TGC Tours. See, the original games didn't have any career mode or tour system, so a group of buddies created their own online league where people played the same courses and submitted their scores to the website. It grew and grew to where there are now thousands of members, with dozens of different tiers and tours and competitions. TGC Tours became as important as 'The Golf Club' itself, enough so that later versions of the game have added an 'online societies' mode where these created online tours were actually inside the game. But possibly the most lasting element of TGC Tours is that it became the primary hub for designers to meet in the forums and talk. That's where they shared courses, gave notes and tried to create ones good enough to be picked for the next TGC Tour season. It created community. Quenneville got better at making his own courses. Much better. 'Then I went on my teaching knowledge and said, 'There's an opportunity here for me to make some really simplistic, easy-to-start tutorials because there's a massive hole in that.'' Those videos gained popularity around 2019 as 'The Golf Club' was on its third edition, but the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed a new wave. Suddenly everyone in the world was stuck at home, and wanted a hobby. Some of them found this game, and then they found Quenneville's videos. Advertisement One of the people constantly commenting in those early streams was Page. He didn't even have the game yet. A CrazyCanuck video popped into his feed and he was hooked, because unlike Quenneville, Page is a true golf architecture nerd through and through. In the description of his newest club, Ferncliff, he cites Myopia, Sleepy Hollow, Boston GC, Essex, Beau Desert and Ohoopee as inspirations. But like Quenneville, Page is also an educator, teaching high school French and German in England's midlands. He thinks that's why he was able to pick it up so quickly. Within weeks, he was one of the better designers. The natural, if you will. By the time 2K Sports bought HB Studios and created 'PGA Tour 2K21', they were hiring Page as a designer. 'You'll see a lot of people where they have command of the tools and can make everything look very pretty, but the golf is not very interesting, one dimensional,' Page said. 'Or there's the reverse where the golf is great but the visuals aren't. Or, because it's a video game, you have people almost trying to do too much and throw everything at one course because you can. It's all about finding a balance.' But the beauty of the community is the variance inside it, though it remains mostly male. What was once 10 top designers has become closer to 70. There's Page (@b101tgc), perhaps the top dog nowadays. He has a combination of visuals and architecture know-how many are trying to catch up to. And the teacher found his own niche creating tutorials that focus on taking designers from good to great. There's Adam Benjamin (@articfury1). He's the elusive artist, hardly ever talking in the community but popping in out of nowhere to release a new course with spectacular, jaw-dropping visuals. There's Tanner Bronson (@DTannerBronson), a younger designer who turned his hobby into a job working at a golf architecture firm. Advertisement There's Christian Andrade (@SleepyPanda_7), a former golf pro who found Quenneville's videos, got really good at design and got hired by HB Studios as a senior level editor. He gets a lot of credit for taking the criticism of 2K23, looping in the design community and creating a design tool for 2K25 that has them all giddy. But the cool part is the ways the designers have created their own world inside a world. They'll have contests where you have to make a course as a specific designer. Or a certain era or region. Many have gotten in the habit of sending each other plots of land to adapt to and create inspiration. Quenneville was on the first trip to Myrtle Beach organized by the TGC Tours founder. Now most of them go on a different trip each year. Quenneville has become so close with one designer that their wives hang out. Some people don't even design courses anymore but still go on the trips as friends. 'Every time you're just like, oh my god, is there any axe murderer in here? Who are these random guys?' Quenneville said. 'But you're so comfortable with them.' 'They are genuine friends,' Fehr said. 'You're all golf geeks that have an extremely niche interest inside of an extremely niche interest,' Page said. 'So people tend to want to chat about the same things.' Yes, there is sometimes tension in the forums. Sometimes the fantastical designers and the realists disagree on judging results. Sometimes players don't take criticism well, because it's not exactly fun being told something you just spent 100 hours on isn't very good. Sometimes the elite players and the elite designers go at it. But overall, it's a group of people who just want to create. 'Not too many people in the community are into it for how many plays you got,' Quenneville said. 'It's just the process, or being picked to host a tournament on TGC Tours is a cool experience, but for the most part people like sharing it with people in their community.' Advertisement There's a question they all get asked most often, though. One this reporter of course asked as well. How long does it take to design a course? None of them quite have their answer down, because it depends. Quenneville is the first to say he's not the most detail obsessed, so in his prime he could make a pretty good course in 20 to 40 hours. Page's simplest courses take that long, or he could take 200 hours. Fehr, yeah he's going to be around 100 to 200 hours without a doubt. He's hit 300 hours before over several months. He might spend a whole night mastering one bunker. And all these guys have day jobs. At the peak of his obsession, Quenneville would be at the dinner table thinking about what hole he was going to work on, or wonder if he could take off work to finish a course. Now, he's much more likely to put his kids to bed and spend an hour or two planing grass while listening to a podcast. But Fehr took exception when asked about how much time he takes living in this community. Sure, he makes time to see his family. And yes, he does go see his friends in Saskatoon when he can. But there was something about the suggestion that his design world was him running away from the real world that didn't sit right with him. Was his design life not as valid? Was living out some version of his dream not as substantial? He wasn't avoiding his friends. 'These are my friends.' (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Courtesy 2K)
