Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Fall/Winter 2019 | Page 39

S TA R C U S T O M E R
Doggedly Determined
to Pursue Adventure
BY CYNTHIA ROSE PHOTOS BY KYLEE RYAN
Kylee Ryan lives in a small, remote town in northern
British Columbia called Jade City. The population hovers
between 25 and 35, depending on the time of day. The main
industry there, as you may have guessed based on the town’s
name, is jade mining. An estimated 75 per cent of the world’s
nephrite jade is found in the mountains of British Columbia.
So, it’s no coincidence that Kylee is involved in the jade
business herself. Her boyfriend, Josh, and his family are jade
miners, owners of the jade store in town and the stars of
the TV show Jade Fever, which has aired on the Discovery
Channel since 2015. Kylee works as a sales associate in the
store; when she’s not working, you’ll likely find her behind
the wheel of her 2007 Subaru Impreza with her five dogs.
Getting to Jade City is no mean feat. Even driving in
and around the town requires a certain type of vehicle. “I
researched for months on what type of car I wanted,” Kylee
says. “In the end, I went with Subaru as my sister had one.
I’m so happy I chose my Subaru! It’s perfect for the road
conditions up here. The roads are extremely remote and
windy—not for the faint of heart.”
She also loves the fact that her Impreza has room for all
of her dogs—and all of her adventures. Fun fact: The pet
name for her ride, “Blubaru,” actually came from the car’s
previous owner, whose wife suggested the name due to its
beautiful shade of blue. One of Kylee’s five dogs is named Blu,
so she knew right then and there that the Impreza was meant
to be. Since buying the car a year ago, she’s put over 8,000
kilometres on the dial.
A Siberian Husky picked out from a breeder, Blu was the
first to join Kylee’s personal wolf pack five years ago. Kylee
says that Blu reminds her to be wild and to belong in nature.
Soon after bringing Blu home, Kylee decided that the wolf
pack needed to grow. “Blu was so spunky and full of life,
she needed friends,” she says. “So we drove five hours to
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