Lynda L. Lock's Blog

 

Chapter 1

All alone in the world: November 2013

Hola, soy Sparky. Hi, I’mSparky.

I’m a short-legged mutt, born on the island of IslaMujeres in the Caribbean Sea, near the city of Cancún.

Soy Mexicano. I’m Mexican.

I have curly white and grey fur covering my pink andblack polka-dotted skin, and long, dark, silky ears. My front paws are largerthan my back ones, and my sense of smell is amazing.

When I was a puppy, I lived with a young man, but hehad to move away and told me I couldn’t come with him. He untied me and said Ihad to find a new place to live. I was miserable. I whined, and howled, and cried untilI finally realized he wasn’t coming back. If I wanted to survive, I would haveto take care of myself.

On the beach where I lived, many visitors spokelanguages other than Spanish, although most of them spoke English. A very nicewoman, who spoke a slightly different type of English, was gentle and kind tome. She said her name, and then she repeated it more slowly so that I couldunderstand her.

She encouraged me to come closer, and she offered mefood and water. I gulped the food, then timidly ran away. Eventually, I let hertouch me. She made soothing sounds while she pulled the big, nasty ticks frommy fur and combed out the tangles. It hurt a bit, but it felt good to be freeof those awful bugs for a few minutes. Unfortunately, no matter how many timesshe pulled them out of my fur, more ticks would find me.

I hate ticks!

One day, while she was removing the bugs from insidemy ears and the sensitive spots between my toes, her friend asked her, “Whatshould we call this little guy?”

“Do you have a suggestion?” The woman replied as shedunked the nasty ticks into a container of soapy water to make sure theycouldn’t come back to bite me again.

“How about Sparky?” he said.

“Sparky?” she tilted her head like I do whenquestioning something. “Why Sparky?” she asked.

“He looks a little bit like the dog in the movie Michael,and that dog’s name was Sparky.”

I wanted to tell them my real name. My first ownercalled me Bos because I have a deep bark for a small dog. Bos isthe Spanish pronunciation of the word meaning voice, vos. Now I wasgoing to be called Sparky. I hope I remember my new name.

Every day, I visited the place where my new friendswere staying, and they offered me food and love. But one day, my wonderful newfriend had tears in her eyes as she cuddled me. She told me she had to returnto a place called Japan. I didn’t know how far away Japan was. It sounded likeit was a long way away. I was miserable because another person I loved was goingto leave me.

The man said he wasn’t going away, yet, and we couldbe buddies for a little longer. Then, in late November, he moved into a whitehouse where two cats lived. One was a small, tortoiseshell female, and the othera huge grey male. I was afraid of the cats, especially the male. I had seen himchase larger dogs away from his house.

“It’s okay, Sparky,” my friend said, “I’m looking after thecats for three weeks, and you can visit me. They won’t hurt you.”

Making sure I had an escape route, I cautiouslystepped through the open kitchen door. The cats ignored me. They just flickedtheir tails and strutted away. 

to be continued...

Sparky's mystery novels by Lynda L Lock

Our first experience living on Isla Mujeres was for afour-month stint in the winter of 2007, going into March 2008.  We still had plans at that time to continueworking and living part-time in Canada, plus part-time in Mexico, but that’sanother story. 

Our Maine Coon cat, Tom Thumb, also known as Tommy, was9 years old that winter. He was in thehabit of sleeping on our king-sized bed, stretched horizontally to his full 32-inchtip-of-the-nose-to-tip-of-his-tail length. He is a big cat. Even with a concrete base forthe bed, I can tell when he leaves for a hit of cat crunchies, or a drink ofwater, or maybe to use the sandbox box, so I wasn’t particularly bothered when,around four in the morning, he bounced off the bed and disappeared.

About 10 minutes later, I decided I needed to get upas well. On my way to the bathroom, I noticed Tommy was on the floor staring atthe bedroom patio door, so I casually reached over, slid the door closed andflicked on the lock. Back in bed, I expected the cat to continue sleeping withus until at least the sun was up.  Aftera couple of more minutes, I sat up in bed, looking for Tommy, and noticed hewas still staring at the patio door. That’s when I actually noticed what he wasstaring at. A person!  A person dressedin dark clothing crouched on his hands and knees, trying to slide the bedroom patiodoor open!  Shit, that’s annoying!

I jumped out of bed and started hammering on the glass,screaming. ‘Get out of here! Get out of here!’  

Lawrie, who was sound asleep at the time, leaptstraight out of bed, waving his arms over his head and growling. Somehow, heknew the situation called for being big and noisy. Tommy ran for the bathroomand had a bit of an accident as he slid around the corner, spraying cat peeeverywhere. The cat burglar wisely decided that we were all nuts and he doveoff the second-floor balcony to escape the madhouse, leaving his sandals behindin his haste.

Wide awake and pumped with adrenaline, we grabbed theflashlights and searched outside the house. We could see were face and handimprints on the outside of the glass patio doors, where he had attempted to seeif we had anything worth stealing on the lower level. Since we don’t own a TV,there was nothing of interest to him. He then climbed up the half-wall betweenour neighbours and us, and pulled himself over the deck railing to gain accessto our bedroom level. 

Laughing with relief, we headed back into the house to make a pot of coffee and wait for the sun to come up. There was absolutely no way any of us, Lawrie, Tommy, or I would be sleeping anymore that night.

In the end, all that happened was we tightened up our security a bit with metal poles to slot into the patio door frames at night to allow air circulation, but not enough space to allow a burglar inside. And we added a motion detector onto our upper patio, which we activated at night.

Tommy, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck for months after. Anytime we went to bed, even for an afternoon nap, he perched on the foot of the bed, facing the door, not sleeping!  We slept better knowing he was on guard.

Hasta luego, Lawrie, Lynda, and Tommy

Grab your copy today!
Isla Mujeres Mystery SeriesOrDeath in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky

The crisp sunny days of September and October are made for road trips. The good weather was making me restless, and the coastal towns of Vancouver Island were calling me. 

Sunday, at nine in the morning, I impulsively strapped my e-bike onto my car rack, tossed a few items into a suitcase, and hit the road. 

I didn't have a defined plan except to head to the island for a few days. To breathe in moist salty air, watch the waves, and eat fresh fish.

After brief stops at Parsons Fruit Stand in Keremeos to stock up on crisp Ambrosia apples and the Grand Union Cafe in Hedley for a latte, I continued driving southwest toward the coast.

Instead of driving straight through to Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, I spontaneously detoured onto Highway 7 at Hope and overnighted at the Sasquatch Inn in Harrison Mills. 

Sasquatch InnThe inn is a favourite stop for groups of middle-aged to senior motorcyclists, enjoying a road trip in perfect fall weather. 

The pub food was good, and my bed was comfortable. 

In the morning, I retraced my route a short distance. I was the first customer of the day at the Cabin Fever Junction bakery in nearby Agassiz. Their scones are to die for! 

Cabin Fever Junction BakeryAnd then the rain started. I had a reservation for a mid-afternoon ferry sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, leaving plenty of time to negotiate 92 kilometers of heavy commuter traffic between the outlying cities and Metro Vancouver. Stop and go. Stop and go!

A ferry reservation between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island is always a good idea. When I traveled with my little adventure buddy, Sparky, prebooking was the best way to ensure that our car would be on the upper, open deck, and I would be allowed to remain in the car with him. Drivers on the lower decks must exit their vehicles. Only registered service or guide dogs are permitted inside the boats. There is a pet area on the top deck, but it can be unpleasant and noisy. As Sparky aged, he became more sensitive to the blast from the ships' horns and preferred to remain in the car. (I miss my travel buddy. On May 2nd, Sparky left for a new adventure somewhere in the universe.)

Ferry to Nanaimo BCWhen the ship docked in Nanaimo, I turned north toward Nanoose Bay to spend a couple of days with friends whom I have known since 1981. Their charming Cairn terrier was happy to provide much-needed doggie love.

The steady rain continued to thwart my cycling plans, but in the interim, I had my bike tuned up at Big Grin Bikes in Qualicum Beach. Several bolts had rattled off over the summer. Georgia tightened, replaced, adjusted, cleaned, and polished my bike. It looked brand new. When I went to pick it up, Georgia also adjusted my handlebars into a more comfortable position. 

Ladysmith Old Town Bakery

A few days later, when I was traveling south toward Sooke, I chanced upon the delightful Old Town Bakery in the middle of a downpour. I detoured from the Island Highway into Ladysmith for a short break from driving in the rain. After hunting for a parking spot in the quaint downtown area, I dashed into the bakery. And stopped! 

The bakery was packed with customers waiting for a chance to order their favourite indulgence. As we slowly inched along toward the front of the line, I changed my mind several times. Cookies, bars, tarts, slices of pie, savory rolls, and then the famous cinnamon buns in a multitude of flavours: pumpkin pie, peanut butter, chocolate, and of course, cinnamon. It's October. I had to try the pumpkin pie flavour! So, so good. I nearly went into a food coma. 

Sooke BCBack on the Island Highway, my next stop was the Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke. One look at the view from my room, and I added another night to my reservation. The proximity of the ocean filled my soul with peace. 

The Prestige chain was founded by Josef and Anna Huber, who arrived in Canada in 1950 and started with a small motel in the Okanagan Valley. Built in 2010, this hotel has the feel of a 1920s seaside resort. 

My oceanfront room had high ceilings, crown moldings, and interesting architectural details. The staff are fabulous. 

Galloping Goose TrailThe weather had finally cleared, and I cycled a good chunk of the Galloping Goose Trail, running from Victoria to Sooke. 
It's a well-maintained trail and an easy ride, but the dense rainforest vegetation frequently blocks the view of the ocean.
Two days later, I meandered along country roads, exploring the oceanfront communities of Sooke, East Sooke, Metchosin, and Colwood, and then I discovered Hatley Castle.  Hatley Castle, Royal Roads University

I have lived in British Columbia most of my life (except for a dozen years in Mexico) and had never heard about this stunning 800-acre historic site. Oh, sure, I knew about the Royal Roads University, originally a military college, but I didn't know it is a national historic site open to the public. The castle was closed in preparation for a wedding, so I just walked around the perimeter. 

My next find was Fort Rodd Hill and the Fisgard lighthouse. It's another national historic site, located in close proximity to Royal Roads University. Surrounded by coastal landscapes, Fort Rodd Hill was a 19th-century artillery fortress in active duty from 1895 to 1956. Fisgard Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on Canada's west coast. Exploring the site is a great way to stretch your legs, then relax on a driftwood log, and breathe in the fresh salty air. 

Fisgard LighthouseDriving from Fisgard Lighthouse, I explored the twisty Prospect Lake Road, driving past lush farms and stunning homes. Moving on through Brentwood Bay and Moses Point via the West Saanichton Road, I arrived at The Waterfront Inn & Suites in Sidney, BC. 

This was the last night of my one-week poke around on Vancouver Island. The hotel is located on the boardwalk in downtown Sidney. I stayed in the newer annex, on the 2nd floor overlooking the harbour. 

View from Waterfront Inn & Suites, new annexNearby shops specializing in quality clothing, outdoor gear, home decor, and bed and bath accessories are fun to explore. The Riva Restaurant is in the same complex. I enjoyed a yummy meal with an oceanfront view. It was a great area to hang out on my last night before heading home to the Okanagan.

Sidney is a short distance from the Schwartz Bay ferry terminal. I caught the 7 a.m. boat, heading home. 

Cheers, Lynda

 

2014 Sparky and his servant

Chapter 40

The next adventure.

May 2nd, 2025, Sparky departed for his nextepic adventure, somewhere in the Universe.

He’s been suffering from chronic pain for years, andhis medications weren't effective anymore. His spine and joints weredisintegrating with age, and the after-effects of being hit by a car when hewas very young.

When he adopted us, he could only use three legs. Theback right leg was weak and damaged. Over time, we were able to help him regainthe use of the damaged leg, but when he was tired, he lifted it to run. Now thepain in his right shoulder, his right hip, and his spine is causing him distress.

2016 Lawrie, Sparky watching the Super BowlSparky has been my adventure partner and my grieftherapist. We’ve lived in five cities in two countries: Isla Mujeres, SanMiguel de Allende, White Rock, Summerland, and Penticton.

He’s traveled on airplanes seven times. Sincereturning to Canada in March of 2020, we have traveled 120,000 kilometers ondriving trips and adventures. We visited fourteen American states and nineCanadian provinces.

I deeply miss his independent and quirky personality.His steadfast companionship. And his snoring!

Enjoy your next epic adventure, Sparky. Sir Fuzz-butt.The Sparkinator.

You were the very best surprise gift for Lawrie andme.

Typical September weather

September is my favourite month of the year in BritishColumbia. Cool nights. Warm sunny days. The aroma of ripe peaches, apples,plums, and pears. And clear skies.

Well, usually clear skies. This September started with anexplosion of wildfires in diverse areas from the upper northeast corner of theprovince to the southwest, and on Vancouver Island. I planned to explore avariety of small towns nestled in the mountain ranges between the OkanaganValley and the BC/Alberta border.

Gatzke Orchards Oyama BC

Driving north from my home city of Penticton at the bottomof Lake Okanagan, toward Vernon at the top of the lake, I stopped at GatzkeOrchards in Oyama to stock up on fresh fruit, and at the Village Green Colesbookstore to check on their supply of my Death in the Vineyards mystery novels.

I continued to Revelstoke, a former railway town in theColumbia Mountains. It is a popular skiing, cycling, paddling, and hikingdestination. I had a pleasant night at a condo-style hotel in downtownRevelstoke, located near restaurants and shops. The next morning, I fueled upwith a large latte and tasty omelet at the Main Street Café before headingtoward Golden.

Golden BC

Situated in the Rocky Mountain Trench between the Canadian Rockiesand the Purcell Mountains, Golden is surrounded by six of Canada’s moststunning national parks: Yoho, Glacier, Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and MountRevelstoke. 

Unfortunately, the spectacular mountains were well hidden by thesmoke. Luckily for me, I have driven through this area several times before,and although I missed the familiar presence of the mountains, the town ofGolden was fun to explore.

From Golden, I turned south toward Fairmont Hot Springs fora two-night stay. Fairmont Hot Springs is located in British Columbia's ColumbiaValley, situated between the Purcell Mountains to the west and the RockyMountains to the east. The resort has both mineral-rich pools for guests andnatural, undeveloped hot springs, accessed by a trail from the resort's RV parkentrance. The pools are a pleasant way to relax after a long day’s drive.

Fairmont Hot Springs, smoky

The next morning, I drove to the trailhead of the25-kilometer Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy trail, running from the highway atFairmont Hot Springs north to the town of Invermere. 

The paved Westside Legacy trailhas numerous benches, picnic tables, viewpoints, and three public toilets. Ithas a variety of easy sections and tougher areas, including sharp corners andgut-grinding hills.

I confess. I stopped at the top of the last two-kilometer descentinto Invermere. It was a steep hill with several switchbacks, and I didn’t havethe energy to fight my way back up the incline. My 46-kilometer round trip wasan enjoyable workout, even though the view of the magnificent mountains wasobscured by smoke.

Markin-MacPhail Trail

Later in the afternoon, I drove to Invermere and pokedaround the downtown area while listening to the First Friday live music eventin the square.

The next morning, I soaked my sore muscles in the mineral poolsbefore heading south. 

With plenty of time to get to my next destination, I tooka side trip to Kimberley, a former mining town that in the 1970s marketeditself as the Bavaria of the Rockies to stimulate tourism. The town is nestledwithin the Purcell Mountains, which are a sub-range of the larger ColumbiaMountains system, located west of the Rocky Mountain Trench. 

More recently, thetown of Kimberley abandoned the Bavarian theme, focusing on their mininghistory and mountain recreation to boost tourism. My tacos at the Hourglass Bar& Kitchen were spectacular, as was the ginger-peach iced tea.

Kimberley BC

By the time I arrived at Cranbrook, my patience with theever-present smoke was running out. I cancelled all of my upcoming reservationsand continued driving for a few hours to get closer to my hometown.

Instead of a ten-day slow poke around enjoying the best timeof the year for road trips, I decided to go home. It was a disappointing end tomy plans, but I had rediscovered Invermere and Kimberley, plus theMarkin-MacPhail Westside Legacy trail was a new adventure for me.

You might have noticed Sparky’s absence on this road trip. Mylittle adventure buddy succumbed to age-related problems on May 2nd, 2025. I deeplymiss his company.

Cheers

Lynda

Sparky, star of the Isla Mujeres Mysteries and Death in the Vineyards Mysteries!Grab your copy today.  Available at online book stores.

A Canadian journalist contacted me the other day looking to get a sense of the current state of the Canadian boycott. I pointed out that it was the first time in many months that I had been contacted by anyone in the Canadian media about the issue.

I think they assumed the boycott would fizzle out. That Canadians would lose interest and return to seeking out the best deal at the grocery store, on Amazon or their favourite US tourism destination.

But that hasn't happened.

In fact, if you want to know about the growing power of the Canadian boycott, just check out coverage on the major American networks. They're reporting on how the financial pressure of a grassroots Canadian movement is beginning to shake the American economy.

We've even made the cover of New York Magazine — not that Canadians are ones to brag about such things.

In a in-depth article titled "Canada is Not for Sale," featured with the subtitle "The Canadians are Furious," journalist Simon van Zuylan-Wood, who spent two months in Canada, writes about the strong determination of Canadians to resist the MAGA threat.

He interviewed Dale Hajas, a member of The Resistance community about her experiences as a former snowbird who now refuses to fly south for the winter:

“I’ve written to every tourism outlet in the United States — and not very graciously, I swear — to tell them why I will never set foot there again. I redacted and then sent out-of-date bank statements showing what we’ve spent in the U.S. over the years.”

Dale’s story first appeared in an early instalment of our Portraits of Courage series.

Portraits of Courage — Dale's Story of ResistanceCharlie Angus / The Resistance·May 16

When Dale Hajas of Huntsville, Ontario, wrote to share her response to the Trump threats on our nation, she wasn't sure her story belonged in a series about courage.

Read full story

CNBC sent a television team to Canada to make sense of this slow-moving economic tsunami. They predict the boycott will result in a $90 billion hit to the American economy.

Recent polling has found that 75% of Canadians are not only determined to boycott US products, but they also want those products off the shelves. Grocery store owners say they receive pressure from customers to delist American products if Canadian alternatives exist.

Let's examine the staggering collapse of the wine, beer, and spirits market. Canada was the number one export market for US alcohol. The total ban in most provinces has led to a precipitous drop in sales.

Even in Alberta, where MAGA Premier Danielle Smith tried to undermine the boycott by bringing back American alcohol, the boycott remains strong. Many Alberta liquor outlets are refusing to stock bourbon, wines and beer because they don't want to be stuck with unsold stock. Albertans are not going along with the MAGA premier; they are holding the line.

A Unique Political Pressure Point

The boycott has a long history as a political tool to hold the powerful to account. It was first used in Ireland in the 19th century to punish the landlord Charles Boycott, who had abused his tenants and evicted people from their lands.

Irish independence leader Charles Parnell helped promote this novel resistance tactic, whereby the entire population in the region refused to work for Boycott or support his business in any way during the evictions.

The tool was so powerful that Mr. Boycott went down in history, his name a synonym for this act of resistance.

Ghandi used the boycott as the tool that allowed a seemingly powerless people to bring down the British empire.

In the 1950s, the civil rights movement embraced the boycott as a nonviolent tool to force the city of Montgomery to desegregate its public transit.

And I remember, growing up, how our local parish encouraged people to boycott grapes in solidarity with the Mexican and Filipino farm workers in California. My family didn't eat grapes for decades.

But the Canadian boycott is different.

It isn’t a negotiating tactic. It wasn't organized, planned or led by anyone. The boycott is the result of an instinctual response from ordinary Canadians across the country to defy the threats and disrespect of Donald Trump.

And Trump can't do anything about it. His understanding of politics is that of a zero-sum game. He not only believes in a world defined by winners and losers but also uses his power to humiliate and degrade those he considers lesser.

From politicians and potential rivals, he demands public concessions and makes them genuflect in public.

But Donald Trump is powerless against the determination of ordinary Canadians. As powerless as Mr. Boycott, as powerless as the English overlords in India, as powerless as the racist state in Alabama, by a people who are united in nonviolent non-co-operation.

MAGA Can’t Handle It

Ambassador Pete Hoekstra recently lashed out, expressing MAGA’s rage at our unwillingness to bend. He says that Canadians are the "meanest and nastiest people."

Why? Because we refuse to give up the boycott.

Suck it up, Pete, because the boycott is growing stronger. And, it’s having a very positive impact here at home.

Ontario wine sales are up 40% and tourism across Canada is on the rise as people opt to spend money in our country rather than crossing the border. Small business organizations are astounded by the boost in sales for companies manufacturing and promoting made in Canada.

Media have asked me if the boycott will end if Trump negotiates a trade deal with Prime Minister Carney.

But that's not what this is about.

Canadians are deeply offended by witnessing the abuse of the rule of law. We are appalled that people are being kidnapped off the streets and dragged to detention centres where they are facing abuse and degradation.

At least 55 Canadians have been kidnapped. There is no way Canadians will cross the border to support a regime where cruelty and abuse have become official state policy.

The impact of the Canadian-led travel boycott, which is now being supported by people around the world, could result in $29 billion in losses to tourism and upwards of 260,000 jobs this year.

That is the power of the boycott.

So when people ask you how the boycott is going, you can tell them this:

The boycott is the front line in the fight for democracy. And the lines are holding.

And if they still don’t get it, feel free to tell them what I told New York Magazine’s Simon van Zuylan-Wood:

"Do you think I am going to let that fucking criminal take over my country?

Not a chance."

Charlie Angus / The Resistance is reader-supported. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Thank you for reading.

 

John Arendt
about 22 hours agoCrime novel set at Penticton breweryCanned, by Lynda Lock, is set in Penticton’s thriving brewery scene

Lynda Lock’s book, Canned, is a crime story featuring Penticton’s brewery scene. The book is the fourth in Lock’s Death in the Vineyard Mystery series, all set in the South Okanagan. With Lock is her dog, Sparky, who is also featured in the novel.John Arendt/Summerland Review

A crime novel, written by a Penticton author, it features the city’s thriving brewery scene.

Canned, by Lynda L. Lock, features Jessica Sanderson and her mutt, Sparky, in the aftermath of an accident at a fictional craft brewery in Penticton.

While police investigate the death, Sanderson — who is not a police officer — also does some sleuthing and uncovers clues in the case.

While Lock describes the book as a beach read, the story also touches on drug use and addiction, which are noticeable in the city and throughout the country.

“My stories are fluffy, but I also want them based on fact,” she said.

The book is the fourth in Lock’s Death in the Vineyard Mystery series, all set in the South Okanagan.

While her previous B.C. novels feature the region’s wineries and wine culture, Canned involves a death at a brewery.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for the breweries here,” Lock said.

She is familiar with the world of craft beer as she and her husband Lawrie moved to Penticton in 1992, and in 1995 the couple opened Tin Whistle Brewery Co, in partnership with Linda and Richard Grierson. It was the 12th craft brewery to open in the province, and the first in Penticton. The group sold the brewery in 1998. 

Lock’s novel, Canned, was released around 30 years after the brewery started, and 24 years after Cannery Brewing, another well-established Penticton brewery was formed. The release also occurred around the Okanagan Fest of Ale, the long-running Penticton beer festival. 

In addition to her four Okanagan novels, Lock is also the author of the Isla Mujeres Mysteries, a series of seven books all set in Mexico and written when she lived in the area. She has also written three children’s books.

Canned on 293 pages and is available through Amazon Canada and other booksellers.

A launch party for Canned is scheduled for Sunday, April 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Cannery Brewing, 198 Ellis St., Penticton. The public is invited to meet the author and have their books signed.

 

Logan Lockhart
Apr 2, 2022 3:25 PMThe start of the South Okanagan’s brewery scene can be traced back to 1994Early results indicated that Tin Whistle was a success shortly after its official opening in 1995The late Lawrie Lock, one of the co-founders of the South Okanagan’s first brewery, pictured in the mid-1990s inside his business. (Photo courtesy of Lynda Lock).

When Lynda Lock and her husband, Lawrie, moved to the Okanagan from Vancouver in 1992, they wanted to put their passion for being adventurous to the test.

Their idea of starting the region’s first brewery may have been simple, but to many, it was too ambitious. The two individuals, along with Lawrie’s sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Richard Grierson, embraced the challenge.

Front: Steve, Richard Grierson, Lynda Lock, Dave Prechel.
Back: Lawrie Lock and Linda Grierson

And from there, Tin Whistle, the South Okanagan’s first brewery, was born in 1994.

“For us to do the brewery, it was just a fun, crazy thing to try,” Lynda said.

At the time, there were eight wineries in the Okanagan. Before their arrival from the Lower Mainland, the Locks always believed they were destined for the wine business.

After realizing the opportunity they had to lead a new scene in the region, however, their approach quickly led to excelling in the brewery business.

“With wine, we didn’t have a clue,” she said.

“You had to grow the grapes and then you harvest them, crush them, go through a bunch of other stuff. So we just decided to stick with something much easier.”

Early results indicated that Tin Whistle was a success shortly after its official opening in the summer of 1995.

But little did the Locks know that their venture would be partially responsible for starting the now vibrant brewery scene in the South Okanagan.

“It was amazing how well it was received at that time,” Lynda said. “And today, you see about 10 breweries within 20 kilometres of each other.”

Opening Tin Whistle didn’t come without feedback from skeptics within the community, who believed the idea of owning a sustainable brewery wasn’t possible in what was known as “wine country.”

“People said ‘are you crazy?’ and I said, yes, I guess we are,” she added.

Lynda Lock is proud of the legacy Tin Whistle, the South Okanagan’s first brewery, has left on the community almost 30 years later. (Photo courtesy of Lynda Lock)

The family sold Tin Whistle in 1998 after three years of existing among the South Okanagan’s first-ever breweries. Lock’s husband passed away in 2018 due to Rapid Onset ALS.

That didn’t come before he sparked the idea to start the community’s very own beer festival, better known today as the Okanagan Fest of Ale.

“Lawrie told the sales manager at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre about this festival in Victoria,” Lynda explained. “They checked it out for themselves and then in the spring of 1996, a board of directors at the centre decided to do the same thing right here.”

Since then, the festival has been a community success each year. The 2022 edition of the Okanagan Fest of Ale is set to begin on May 14.

Reminiscing about the start of the festival and what Tin Whistle’s legacy has meant to Penticton after all these years still makes Lock as proud as ever.

“It’s nice to get a little bit of acknowledgment that we as a group of four people did something kind of cool and different and has helped spawn this other part of the tourism scene,” she said.

Alexis Esseltine and Tim Scoon purchased Tin Whistle Brewing on Oct. 30, 2020, and continue to call the business “the original craft brewery of the South Okanagan.”

 Stories of Resistance

Because This Isn’t Just a Moment - It’s a Movement

CHARLIE ANGUS / THE RESISTANCEAPR 11
Resistance Silk Screens at Peach Berserk, Toronto

Yes, Charlie Angus / The Resistance has swag.

But we aren't selling it.

We’re giving it out to folks who are making a difference in these dark times because we believe the resistance lives in the everyday acts of ordinary people.

Last week we posted this photo of the very cool tote bags screened by the brilliant folks at Peach Berserk - and then we put a call out:

Tell us how you’re resisting - big ways, small ways, at home, at work, in your community - and what brings you hope.

The plan was simple - we’d take these stories of resistance, draw a few names and send out some limited edition tote bags as a thank-you.

We thought we'd get a handful of replies.

What happened instead stopped us in our tracks. In minutes the inbox filled up with over 100 voices from across the continent.

The recipients have been contacted by email, but we wanted to share a few stories that inspired us, reminded us of our purpose, and demonstrated once again that resistance is not just a moment—it is a movement.

Grocery Store Revolutionary

Jean is a senior who shops daily and takes the resistance to the grocery store aisles. She's spreading the word in her apartment building about buying Canadian-made products and how to resist U.S. corporations without hurting Canadian workers.

"We need more info on companies that employ Canadians," she told us.

Jean is doing her part by helping her neighbours understand where their products come from—and why it matters.

On the Frontline of Social Justice

Kevin, a lifelong resister, didn't mince words. He wrote passionately about how he fights every day for 2SLGBTQ+ rights and against anti-Black racism. He's one of many who are pushing back hard against the right-wing war on social programs and social justice.

"I stand with people like yourself," he wrote, "against the regime of PP."

That's solidarity. That's the frontline.

Art & Activism

Richard is a fierce defender of Canadian values. He came to a recent Grievous Angels show and passed along his beloved bumper sticker with the slogan:

"Fck Putin, Eat Perogies."

He'd planned to slap it on his Yamaha this spring but wanted us to have it instead. Turns out they're no longer available—he gave away the last one.

Richard shares political commentary, amplifies the work of the resistance, and even worked the message into a local theatre production where he volunteers as a sound designer.

Bringing Care and Grassroots Hope to the North

Rachel travels to Attawapiskat First Nation every Tuesday to meet with clients. She never goes empty-handed - bringing granola bars is what’s she’s known for.

Rachel's been buying reusable bags for years, but said this tote bag hit different.

She's been examining every label in the grocery store, turning shopping into activism.

"I feel proud, strong, and free," she wrote. "We are part of something huge."

From Food Bank to Front Porch - Resistance at Home

Scott and his wife cancelled their Netflix and Prime subscriptions. They cut out U.S. groceries and support their local food bank with cash and non-U.S. goods.

This summer, they're planting a victory garden.

And they've hung a Canadian flag on their porch—not in some hollow nationalistic gesture, but in defiance. In resistance. In solidarity.

"Elbows up, my friend," he wrote. "We're all in this for the long haul."

Holding the Line in MAGA Country

Lisa wrote to us from Florida and her story hit hard.

Her husband is MAGA. Her community is overrun by right-wing extremism. But she's out there every day—organizing rallies, joining networks, running social media for resistance groups, fighting voter suppression, speaking truth online despite threats from MAGA trolls.

"I get tired. I get depressed," Lisa shared. "But I have faith. I have faith because I know there are more of us than them. We're gonna win this—because we have to."

Lisa, your friends in Canada hear you.

We see you. We're with you.

Finding Power and Purpose on the Family Farm

A teacher who reached out to us shared a question they recently asked their class:“What have you done, or do you plan to do, in response to tariffs and policies from the usa?”(Lowercase intentional, he said.)

Most students mentioned shopping choices and travel plans.

But one response stood apart. She didn’t include her name.

She’s a student from Manitoba, the daughter of a small cattle farm family, and she hopes to one day write children’s programming for the CBC. Because of the tariffs, her family is now worried about putting food on the table.

Here’s what she shared:

"Elbow's up reflection: The tariffs have and will continue to change my life through my family. I come from a small cattle farm that is now worried about having food to put on the table. For me, I'll be moving back home for the summer as free labour around the farm so that we can start taking crops to local markets in hopes of having enough money to last through the winter. Before the tariffs and the fear in my grandfather's farm, I had no plan to be working the farm again, but I know that I can make an impact by going home this summer. And right now, that feeling of control in my life is worth being overworked and underpaid back home."

Gratitude as a Form of Resistance

Emily wrote:

Send me a cool Charlie Angus Resistance tote — or not. Doesn't matter. Just know I'm grateful. Grateful for your resistance. For your Substack. For your tour. For your posts that push us through the dark days. For standing the gaff beside your fellow Canadians — elbows up, hearts steady, unbought, unbroken.

💯🇨🇦♥️💯🇨🇦♥️

📢 Sol, Sol, Sol, Solidarity!! 📢

Thank you, Emily, this means more than you know.

The Artist Behind the Merch

Kingi Carpenter runs Peach Berserk in Toronto. She’s been part of the punk rock resistance since she was 16 - sneaking out of her all-girl school dorm to see Charlie Angus' punk band in underground Toronto clubs. Charlie was 17.

The amazing folks at Peach Berserk with owner & artist, Kingi Carpenter - centre.

Charlie Angus / The Resistance is about solidarity - not sales.

But Kingi is an incredible talent, a longtime supporter of the movement, and small business owner where sales do matter. If you want a Resistance t-shirt or tote bag, get in touch with Kingi directly.

Because people are resisting in ways that might never make the headlines - but are just as important as a protest or picket line. People are on the move and they’re staying strong, even when they feel surrounded.

And that’s the heart of this work. We’re in this together.

Elbows up.