Julie McDonald

Julie grew up in Red Deer, Alberta, attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton and taught middle school just outside of Calgary. Her teaching past and current parenting-adventure created an interest in searching out kid appropriate outings and assessing all that is family-friendly.
Kidding Around the Columbia Valley is Julie’s first book and has been a project close to her heart.

Though it was not until 2009 that Julie became a full-time resident of the Columbia Valley, to Julie, it has always felt like home. In 1946, her grandparents settled at the Elkhorn Ranch (near Windermere Golf Course). Both grandparents were great appreciators of the spectacular valley they lived in and took advantage of the opportunities the surroundings provided. The serene mountains and sparkling lake were important features of the valley and provided them with much joy and adventuring.  Growing up, Julie and her family spent every summer and winter holiday with her grandparents, ‘kidding around’ the Columbia Valley.

Now married with children of her own, Julie’s quest to find kid-appropriate hikes and activities has become a personal one. Balancing a desire to expose her kids to all the valley has to offer with her daily hope of wearing them out completely, Julie set out to explore her every option. This book is what she’s come up with… so far.