Boulevard Magazine, Victoria, August/September 2020

AUGUST I SEPTEMBER 2020

VICTORIA LIFE AT ITS FINEST

THE ART OF

SUMMER

SHOW-STOPPER SALADS Highlighting the sunshine’s bounty

BEAUTY ON THE BAY A stunner on the Gonzales waterfront

FEMININITY RECLAIMED Fashion with whimsy, fun and a little fantasy

NOW S EL LING · 3 9 MAR INA S IDE S U IT E S · M OV E IN S P RIN G 2 0 2 0

U N C O M P RO M I S I N G O C E A N F RO N T L I V I N G

I N T H E H E A RT O F T H E FA I RW I N D S C O M M U N I T Y

PARKSVILLE

FAIRWINDS NANAIMO

VANCOUVER

VICTORIA

The Westerly is beautifully situated overlooking the Strait of Georgia, nestled within Vancouver Island’s natural landscape of forested hills and rocky terrain yet only 20 minutes north of Nanaimo and easily accessible from both Victoria and Vancouver. Designed and built to exacting standards, residences at the Westerly offer an active lifestyle just steps away from the water, marina and Fairwinds Landing, the community’s new oceanfront residential/retail/dining hub.

WESTERLY LIFESTYLE CENTRE · 3455 FAIRWINDS DRIVE, NANOOSE BAY, BC · OPEN DAILY

I N Q U I R E · T 2 5 0 . 3 8 7 . 4 1 6 2 T F 1 . 8 0 0 . 3 4 0 . 9 5 3 9 FA I RW I N D S . C A THE DEVELOPER RESERVES THE RIGHT IN ITS DISCRETION TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES TO FLOOR PLANS, PROJECT DESIGNS, MATERIALS, SPECIFICATIONS AND DIMENSIONS TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH STANDARD OF THIS DEVELOPMENT. INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN IS PROPOSED ONLY AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTIFICATION. THIS IS NOT AN OFFERING FOR SALE AS ANY SUCH OFFERING CAN ONLY BE MADE BY WAY OF DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. E.&O.E.

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VICTORIA 661 McCallum Rd 250.474.3433

CONTENTS 76

82 FEATURES

76 SLEEPING IN THE TREES

44 BEAUTY ON THE BAY On the Cover Photo by Jacob McNeil OUTSIDE IN The owners of this Gonzales Bay home wanted it to be “seamless from the outside to the inside; to bring in nature.” We think they succeeded.

HOT PROPERTIES

A waterfront stunner in Gonzales Bay

By Angela Cowan

52 FEMININITY

RECLAIMED

Reclamation Designs

By Lia Crowe

44

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

One man’s dream

creates world-renowned experience

By Lia Crowe

82 SHOW-STOPPER SALADS

Highlighting the best of the sunshine’s bounty

By Ellie Shortt

52

44

28

DEPARTMENTS

8

CONTRIBUTORS

10

EDITOR

Lockdown lessons

12

DESIGN NOTES

The office

By Janice Jefferson

14 LIFE.STYLE.ETC.

Nicole Sandvoss

By Lia Crowe

16

GOOD TASTE

FARO: Fired up for pizza

By Susan Lundy

20 WEEKENDER

40 BUSINESS CLASS

Sensational Sooke

By Susan Lundy

Current Success Dale Conway

By Toby Tannas

24

WHOLE WELLNESS

Community, healing and inclusion

By Kaisha Scofield

90 SECRETS AND LIVES

Tim Quocksister

By Angela Cowan

28 IN STUDIO

94 NARRATIVE

Riding style Jay Donovan

The Haida return

By Bruce Cameron

By Sean McIntyre

98 BEHIND THE STORY

By Lia Crowe

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contributors V I C T O R I A L I F E AT I T S F I N E S T

“The Crescent Road property is designed with a real resort aesthetic. Metal,

JACOB McNEIL

PHOTOGRAPHER BEAUTY ON THE BAY

PAGE 44

concrete and wood elements are encased by the floor-to-ceiling windows that look out on the Olympic Mountains. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph this home multiple times over a few years and every time, in every weather and lighting condition, a different look and feel has emerged. The setting was perfect, allowing me to focus on creating the images rather than trouble-shooting light.” Jacob McNeil specializes in interiors and architecture photography and over the past 11 years has had the opportunity to photograph some of the West Coast’s most impressive homes.

AU GU ST/S E P T E MB E R 2020

BLACK PRESS Penny Sakamoto GROUP PUBLISHER

BOULEVARD GROUP Mario Gedicke

PUBLISHER 250.891.5627 info@blvdmag.ca

EDITOR Susan Lundy ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lia Crowe CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lily Chan

DESIGN Michelle Gjerde Tammy Robinson

“I’m an unapologetic salad lover,

ELLIE SHORTT WRITER SHOW-STOPPER SALADS

PAGE 82

so when brainstorming summery food features, my heart just kept coming back to big bowls of vibrant colour in what is arguably the most salad-y season of all. While the topic of ‘summer salads’ is nothing new or particularly clever, there are countless flavour combinations that offer endless ways to showcase the bounty of fresh seasonal eating, something I’m also particularly passionate about. So without really trying to reinvent the wheel, I put together three of my personal at-home favourites with the hope that you too might become a salad lover if you’re not already.” Ellie is a writer, recipe developer, certified nutritionist and regular contributor to Boulevard.

ADVERTISING Mario Gedicke

Vicki Clark

Pat Brindle

CONTRIBUTING

WRITERS

Bruce Cameron Lia Crowe, Angela Cowan Janice Jefferson Susan Lundy Sean McIntyre Kaisha Scofield Ellie Shortt Toby Tannas

ILLUSTRATION Sierra Lundy

CONTRIBUTING Lia Crowe, Jacob McNeil PHOTOGRAPHERS

CIRCULATION & Marilou Pasion DISTRIBUTION 604.542.7411

TRENDING ONLINE:

“I remember when Current Taxi’s first white Teslas hit the road in

TOBY TANNAS

WRITER CURRENT SUCCESS

PAGE 40

Kelowna and later Victoria. It was a big deal.

High-end electric cars with falcon wing doors, drivers in suits and a fancy app to book your ride. Current Taxi made a trip to the airport or out to dinner something special. When I sat down with founder and CEO Dale Conway, I expected to hear how his history in the taxi business fuelled his desire for an elevated experience. What he actually told me is shocking. I bet you’ll be surprised too!”

You can catch Toby weekday mornings in the Okanagan on Kelowna’s New 103.1 Beach Radio. She’s a regular contributor to Boulevard Okanagan.

View Boulevard’s Fashion Friday

www.vicnews.com/life Any device. Any time.

Victoria Boulevard® is a registered trademark of Black Press Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission. Ideas and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Black Press Group Ltd. or its affiliates; no official endorsement should be inferred. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents, both implied or assumed, of any advertisement in this publication.

Printed in Canada. Canada Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #42109519.

Tel: 250.381.3484 Fax: 250.386.2624 info@blvdmag.ca boulevardmagazines.com

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Lockdown lessons — sort of

Once on a trip home from Milan, Italy, we sat in a plane on the tarmac for three hours, unsure of when it would take off. That’s how I feel right now: we’ve collectively bounced out of the COVID Twilight Zone and into this strange “time out” period that seems a bit like we’re all grounded at the airport, unsure of when the flight will resume.

Should I book that appointment for November? Plan that weekend getaway for mid-October? Should we be looking at Christmas flights for our US-based kids?

It’s been a fascinating ride, providing all sorts of fodder for discussion and analysis (a writer’s dream). Where to start? One popular topic of conversation these days is “what I learned in the lockdown.”

I’m not going to lie, there were parts of the lockdown that I loved.

For the first time in many, many years, my brain felt uncluttered. I’d wake up each day with typical morning urgency—“What do I have to do today?”— and then sink back into the pillows: “Well, nothing really.”

So here are a few things I learned in lockdown, or at least thought I did.

I can live without hockey: As avid hockey fans with two teams (I’ll apologize here for my Maple Leafs-loving husband’s poor taste in teams), we spend a lot of time watching and talking hockey. I’m also big on hockey pools and stats and hockey news, so add in time spent googling “Canuck news” and it all starts to fill up your brain.

We actually agreed during lockdown that it was a bit of a relief not to have any spring hockey angst.

The need for a haircut reaches critical mass: Having missed my every-two-months visit to the salon by about five days, I reached hair crisis mode one month into lockdown and undertook a disastrous bangs-cutting session. But what do you know? The bangs sort of grew into their new look and the rest of the hair followed.

I liked my COVID hair. (My husband? That’s another story. Even a ball cap couldn’t hide the COVID calamity that sprang from his head.) When I finally went for a haircut, my stylist admitted she was struck by how many of her clients had grown into their COVID hair.

My husband is LOUD on the phone. While my husband and I have both worked from home for years, the landline has never been a big part of our day. I recall him once complaining that my elder daughter was a bit loud on the phone. Well, holy Hannah! Loud?

You want to hear loud? Call my husband. And worse? He paces… he walks and talks, forcing me to scuttle from room to room to avoid the mayhem.

We spend a lot of money going out. One striking aspect of lockdown was our bank account. Yes, there was less going in … but man oh man, with restaurants and bars shut down, there was a lot less flooding out.

I also discovered that while lockdown might be an introvert’s happy place, a multi-participant Zoom meeting is not. (There’s no hiding from 30 sets of eyes zooming in as you speak.) Finally, I learned that I love the idea of gardening much better than the action; and that even with all the time in the world, I’m still not into baking.

So here we are now in this strange “in-between time,” reviewing the lessons we thought we learned in lockdown, wondering what the next months hold—and whether this plane is ever going to leave the tarmac. But, no matter. Hockey is back, so I’ll just google “Canucks news” while I wait.

Susan Lundy Editor

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design notes

The Office

3.

By Janice Jefferson

Now is the time to talk home office as it has become more relevant than ever before. Carving out a calm, secluded space within your home isn’t easy. But adding a few stylish and useful items will help you dig deep to stay focused at home, either in solitude or surrounded by loved ones.

1.

1. Farrow & Ball Helleborus BP5603, $295/roll, Bespoke Design 2. Farrow & Ball Red Earth No.64 Estate Emulsion, $110/gallon, Bespoke Design 3. Phare table lamp, $219, Monarch Furnishings 4. Zoe desk, $1,149, Monarch Furnishings 5. Herman Miller Cosm chair in glacier, Monk Office 6. UBI Mobile Bag Catch, Monk Office 7. Pen holder, Monk Office 8. EQ3 trivia desk, $499, StudioYdesign 9. MacAusland’s Woollen Mills lap blanket, $98, Smoking Lily 10. Herman Miller molded plywood screen, Monks Office 11. Anglepoise Type 75 Paul Smith Edition mini desk lamp, $313, Gabriel Ross 12. Nixon office chair, $429, EQ3 at StudioYdesign 13. Vagabond Erin slide, $120, Footloose Shoes

5.

8.

13.

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

2.

7.

4.

10.

12.

11.

9.

6.

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life.style.etc.

WITH NICOLE SANDVOSS SALES AND PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR, BLACK GOAT CASHMERE WO RDS + PH OTO G RAPHY LIA CROWE

It was no surprise to Nicole that she gravitated to a career in visual merchandising because even as a seven-year-old, she picked out ties for her dad to buy for his business trips. Nicole worked for Germany’s largest menswear retailer for almost 20 years as a shop window designer and merchandiser before moving to Victoria in 2016. “Once here, I started studying interior design and then switched to Royal Roads University to obtain my Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management. During my time as a student, I worked part-time at Black Goat Cashmere. After I finished my degree, I started a full-time position creating the window displays, establishing guidelines for all our stores and, of course, working with our customers. I love the work-life balance you can have living in Victoria.”

And what quality has led to her success?

“Attention to detail: it’s the difference between good and great. The part of my work that gets me fired up the most is when customers fall in love with our products as much as we do.”

When it comes to style, Nicole is all about mixing it up—a bit trendy, a bit classic—with luxury labels mixed in with fashion labels.

“But most importantly,” she says, “be confident; be you in whatever you wear.”

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READING MATERIAL Fave print magazine: Vogue.

Fave style blog: The Sartorialist.

Coffee table book/photography book: Architectural Digest at 100: A Century of Style.

Book currently reading: 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey.

FASHION & BEAUTY Uniform: There is no such thing—it always depends on the mood and the occasion.

Currently coveting: A black Louis Vuitton handbag.

Favourite pair of shoes: My Pretty Ballerinas.

Favourite day-bag: Louis Vuitton Galliera PM. Favourite work tool: Cordless screw driver and hedge trimmer.

Favourite jewellery piece or designer: Juchem Jewellery (Idar-Oberstein).

Fashion obsession: Handbags and shoes.

Accessory you spend the most money on: Handbags.

Necessary indulgence for either fashion or beauty: Shoes—they are like dessert— there’s always room for more.

Scent: Burberry: My BURBERRY. Must-have hair product: Paul Mitchell Twirl Around.

Beauty secret: Sleep and laughter.

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STYLE INSPIRATIONS & LIFE Style icon: Grace Kelly.

Favourite artist: Christo.

Favourite fashion designer or brand: Louis Vuitton.

Era of time that inspires your style: The 1960s.

Film or TV show that inspires your style or that you just love the style of: The Devil Wears Prada.

Favourite cocktail or wine: Kir Royale.

Album on current rotation: Sarah Connor’s Herz Kraft Werke.

Favourite flower: Calla lily.

Favourite city to visit: Santorini, Greece.

Favourite place in the whole world: In front of a fireplace.

One thing that consistently lifts your spirits during these hard times: Family and friends.

250-592-1100 106 - 2187 Oak Bay Avenue barclaysjewellers.com boulevardmagazines.com |

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good taste

fired up for pizza

FARO: The Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s new, must-try restaurant WORDS SUSAN LUNDY

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X

PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

Everything from the attentive service, the selection of local products and BC wines, the peaceful setting and the divine flavours make this a memorable dinner outing.

From where I sit on the patio outside the new FARO restaurant at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, I have the perfect view to the Wood Stone pizza oven, and I can watch as my husband’s dinner emerges from the flames.

Bruce is a bit of a pizza connoisseur, always on the lookout for the best of the best. So we are eager to check out the hotel’s latest eatery—and we aren’t disappointed.

Set in the front of the hotel in the space formerly occupied

by Kate’s Cafe, FARO Handcrafted Pizza and Tasting Room is astoundingly bright and airy with gleaming countertops, low-slung lights and the centrepiece—a flaming Wood Stone pizza oven. The tasting bar is sleek and trendy, and the sprawling outdoor patio is set amid stone walls and garden greenery. FARO offers morning cafe service, with an Italian-focused cafe menu, plus lunch and dinner options.

Everything from the attentive service, the selection of local products and BC wines (we chose a bottle of 50th Parallel pinot noir), the peaceful setting and the divine flavours make this a memorable dinner outing.

We start with Castelvetrano olives, which are coated in Arbequina olive oil, roast garlic, garden herbs and lemon. For my main, I choose the Tuna Crudo appetizer (wild albacore tuna, romesco, capers and Arbequina olive oil). It presents as a work of art—both in appearance and flavour. And Bruce’s pizza? He chose the Hawaiian and with the first bite proclaimed it “divine—the best of the best.”

For dessert we practically swoon as we share the gluten-free Chocolate Crostata: nut crust, chocolate ganache, sea salt and dolce di latte. Deliziosa!

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CHEF KREG GRAHAM

quick facts:

Executive at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel

Grew up in Pinawa, Manitoba.

Why did you decide to become a chef ?

Trained at the Culinary Institute of Canada in Charlottetown, PEI. Five years working at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

I enjoy making people happy through food, and what better way to do that than being a chef ?

What was the concept behind the food and drink menu at FARO? We knew it

was going to be a pizza restaurant for a very long time. I wanted the menu to be an Italian-influenced menu as our feature is Neapolitan-style pizza. We Before that, worked at Fairmont Chateau Whistler. also wanted to make sure the menu was qualityand local-ingredient driven.

What cocktails pair well with pizza? The best pairing with pizza is wine!

What’s the secret behind good pizza? The secret behind

amazing pizza is the dough. Our dough recipe was worked on and tested for three months before we found the perfect recipe for our restaurant.

Dough is the backbone of any good pizza, and a pizza chef needs to “know” the dough on a personal level—everything that goes into it.

What is your favourite cuisine to cook and to eat?

Currently my favourite cuisine is anything seafood—so much so, I added an Argentine prawn pizza to the menu!

When are you happiest at work? I’m happiest outside of work with my wife and my children. And working in my workshop.

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CHRISTIAN SEALEY

Director of Food and Beverage

quick facts:

What drew you to this career? My life

Born in Nanaimo and raised

Describe the concept behind the development of FARO. We wanted to

to a front of house position.”

in Victoria. has always revolved around family and friends, and that, to me, means cooking, hosting and “Training started with my first enjoying food and drink. So it seemed a pretty job in a kitchen at 16 years of natural thing to get into an industry whose whole age, becoming somewhat of premise is to provide just that. a chef, and then transitioning Six years at the Oak Bay

Beach Hotel. create a space that, to a degree, went against the traditional aesthetic of our hotel, all the while still providing the high standard of product that we are known for. Our goal was for people to walk into the space and be pleasantly surprised, even shocked, that this modern space is a part of what we are now offering.

What role do you see FARO playing at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel? FARO is the restaurant we hope will entice all Victoria locals to venture

into Oak Bay for some seriously delicious pizza and drinks. We’re also excited to be able to provide a fourth (and unique) dining option for hotel guests, beyond what The Snug, The Dining Room and The Boathouse Kitchen already offer.

How does the decor and/or location FARO play of into the theme? Inspiration really took hold when we decided to work with the interior

design team Spaciz. They took thoughts and ideas and provided us with concepts, and the one we loved the most was what we jokingly referred to as “sophisti-cash”— sophisticated but casual. We wanted the space to feel light and airy, and we knew that the most important feature in this relatively small space was going to be the lighting.

We have no art on our walls, so every fixture and small detail really mattered.

We’ve moved next door to 950 Fort St, Victoria, BC INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNING JEWELLERY DESIGNERS • SINCE 1972 250-383-3414 • www.idar.com boulevardmagazines.com |

AU GU ST/S E P T E MB E R 2020

Jewellery Designs © 1972 - 2020 IDAR

The Summer Series

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weekender

sensational sooke Sights and scents of the sea at SookePoint and beyond WORDS SUSAN LUNDY

eat.

Sooke is home to a number of excellent restaurants that feature West Coast cuisine and fresh seafood. Wild Mountain is a slow food restaurant serving local Canadian cuisine, overlooking Sooke Harbour.

Route 14, located in downtown Sooke, offers fine food, music and a rustic atmosphere. Hara Sushi serves traditional and non-traditional dishes, fresh and flavourful food and an authentic Japanese experience.

Stickleback West Coast Eatery has a natural cedar bar, a stunning mural of Sombrio Beach and a popular patio.

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see.

do.

sleep.

Experience the ocean in all its forms. Sooke offers a number of ocean adventures from kayaking to whale watching, sailing, boat tours and shoreline excursions. Fishing charters are extremely popular and there’s an abundance of opportunities to snag halibut, salmon and cod.

Ocean views are also abundant: climb Mount Maguire in East Sooke Park for spectacular views to the Olympic Peninsula, or drive along the coast to Port Renfrew, stopping to watch surfers at the tiny seaside community of Jordan River.

Hike! Sooke has dozens of trails. In East Sooke Regional Park, a petroglyph near the Aylard Farms trailhead and abandoned mines inside the park offer glimpses of local history and numerous easy to moderate walking trails. Mount Empress, accessed from Sooke Potholes via Mary Vine and Todd Creek trails, is a 12.6-kilometre, out-andback trail considered “difficult.”

The Roche Cove Regional Park Loop is a 7.7-kilometre loop trail, and hikes at Sandcut, Mystic, Sombrio, French and China beaches await discovery about 30 minutes down the highway towards Port Renfrew.

The two-bedroom SookePoint Ocean Cottage Resort suites are 1,014 to 1,340 square feet, sleep up to six, and offer private decks or patios, gourmet kitchens and amenities that range from soaker bathtubs to washer/dryer units. Every suite features a massive, glasswall system opening to the view. In addition to being rental suites, the cottages are available to buy and live in or rent out.

SookePoint is managed by True Key Hotels & Resorts, which also runs Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina in downtown Sooke, plus a number of other properties around BC.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

s

itting in comfortable armchairs with the floorto-ceiling glass walls wide open, a gentle breeze blows through the suite. In front of us sits the deck—shaped like the bow of a boat—just five metres above the sea, and a wide swath of glistening ocean and distant views of the US Olympic Peninsula spreads before us.

The effect is mesmerizing and the sense of being on a boat is so strong, we almost expect to feel motion.

From the moment we stepped into our two-bedroom suite at SookePoint Ocean Cottages & Surfside Yacht Suites, we were enveloped by a sense of the sea. Everything here is designed to draw your eye to the expanse of blue just outside.

And with all the comforts of home and more—king bed, soaker bathtub, gourmet kitchen—at our fingertips, plus a nearby pebble beach and 3,600 acres of wilderness and hiking trails, there is no reason to leave the area during our two-day stay. SookePoint, perched at the edge of a solid, end-of-the-road rock peninsula in East Sooke, a short drive from Victoria, is the perfect spot to unwind and reconnect with nature.

Today’s foray to the coast started in the same way all our trips to Sooke and beyond begin: with a stop at the landmark 17 Mile Pub. This historical watering hole originated in 1894 as the British Ensign Hotel—“a regular stopping point for stagecoaches travelling to Sooke, as well as ‘a quiet retreat for those unmarried, who require a little privacy.’” It once housed the area’s only telephone. These days, it’s a charming pub, full of character and excellent pub fare. (It’s also right next door to Adrena LINE Zipline Adentures, a super-fun way to learn about the area while zipping through the trees.)

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Sitting on the patio at the pub, sipping a pint of brew, we feel the urgency of the city ebbing away. The turn-off to SookePoint, Gillespie Road, is just down the highway from the pub, but we recommend stocking up on groceries or picking up takeout in downtown Sooke before embarking on the long and winding road to the point. Once there, you won’t want to leave.

Sooke is worth a visit in itself; be sure to check out the Sooke Potholes or any number of hiking trails in the area.

There is ample opportunity for a booze tour as well, with three breweries—Sooke Oceanside Brewery, Bad Dog Brewing Company, Sooke Brewing Company—plus Tugwell Honey Farm & Meadery and the world-renowned Sheringham Distillery. (If they haven’t sold out, pick up a bottle of Sheringham’s rhubarb gin—oh my!)

Sooke is also on the Pacific Marine Circle Route, a 300-kilometre drive that traverses Victoria, Sooke, Port Renfrew, Cowichan Lake and the Malahat. The circle route is an excellent way to explore the area; we’ve done it a number of times and can definitely recommend stops at Shirley Delicious Bakery, located about 20 minutes outside of Sooke, and Botanical Beach, a must-do exploration of cool rock formations, tidal pools and forested trails in Port Renfrew.

We’ve spent glorious nights at Point No Point Resort in Shirley and Wild Renfrew Seaside Cottages in Port Renfrew.

But back at SookePoint, we cook ourselves a fresh seafood feast for dinner, sip a bottle of pinot noir from Cowichan-based Blue Grouse Winery and watch the drama of the sea outside our window—including the antics of an eagle that swoops down to pluck out its prey. Eventually, the sun sets over Sooke in a flash of orange and red.

The next morning we set out to explore the neighbouring wilderness playground that is East Sooke Regional Park, embarking on a four-hour hike that took us climbing to the summit of Mount Maguire, and then walking down an overgrown road that mean-

ders through the forest and past an old copper mine to the ocean. Here, we pick up a somewhat difficult shoreline trail, stop at a beach for a swim and emerge once again, right next to SookePoint resort.

After calling that soaker tub into action and then enjoying another leisurely evening basking in the sights and scents of the sea, we leave the next day, fully relaxed and ready for our next adventure.

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well and good

whole wellness Community, healing and inclusion WORDS KAISHA SCOFIELD

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For many, accessing wellness during these difficult times has been both vitally important and particularly challenging. On top of a global pandemic, recent events in the United States have brought into focus the lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC).

We all want to be well.

British Columbia is a province dedicated to wellness. We are spoiled with ocean trails and mountain terrains. We are a first-class retreat destination and the birthplace of high-waisted yoga pants.

We have world-class spas, expertly trained yogis and outstanding healers; wellness is our specialty, but is BC wellness accessible to everyone?

Often referred to as self-care or personal growth, wellness practices are profoundly beneficial to our overall health. We flock to these practices to improve relaxation, promote healing and establish a state of general well-being. This can be achieved through any number of activities, from massage to running, yoga to therapy, spa treatments or mediation—the possibilities are endless.

Many people turn to wellness practices because they need connection and healing. Practicing in a studio, gym or wellness centre supports community building by promoting a sense of belonging and loyalty. Those who practice in wellness spaces often say that the safety and support provided by the community allows them to feel a deeper sense of healing and well-being. During these overwhelming times, it is especially important to have community supports available. Moreover, it is vital that wellness spaces and communities be accessible to everyone.

For many, accessing wellness during these difficult times has been both vitally important and particularly challenging. On top of a global pandemic, recent events in the United States have brought into focus the lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC). The overwhelming prevalence of systemic racism in our world has been exposed and we are being confronted by our complicity with this reality. We are, however, also being presented with an opportunity for profound and necessary change. The wellness community holds an important role in this movement because it represents community, healing and inclusion. But there is work to be done. boulevardmagazines.com  |

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Racism shows up in many forms—systemic, micro-aggressive, gaslighting and more—and being forced to navigate these systems can lead to overwhelm and exhaustion. Unfortunately, wellness spaces offering these practices often lack the diversity, inclusion and socio-political awareness necessary to make everyone outside of the majority feel welcome. This has led to the creation of spaces run by and for BIPOC but they are few and do not fully solve the underlying issue.

Health and wellness spaces are populated predominantly by the female, white and middle-class demographic. There is no doubt that working toward wellness is incredibly important for all people, but it is problematic when representation for other participants is then limited. The current monoculture in these spaces can lead to diminished accessibility for the largely overlooked demographic of BIPOC, who are actively seeking out and participating in wellness and self-care.

The intention of a wellness practice is to support health and promote healing. Diversity and inclusion are especially important in these spaces because practicing wellness requires a certain level of connection and vulnerability. Be it a massage, training session or yoga class, involvement in these activities demands openness and acceptance from both the client and the practitioner.

We are not expected to relate fully to one another’s lived experiences but we must recognize the importance of holding space for each other and be ready to support wellness when it comes. If you have ever seen a class full of yogis bending into pretzels, or been to a silent retreat, you know that the wellness community doesn’t shy away from difficult practices. The shift towards diversity and inclusion will take some work but it is important and necessary. We are ready for change because wellness is for everyone.

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PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE AND JASON SHULTZ

i

ll-deserved stereotypes about motorcycling’s heavy metal thunder and rebel culture may not make it the first place you’d expect to find concepts like the golden ratio and divine proportions. Yet a North Saanich metal sculptor is part of a new generation of skilled and creative custom builders who have taken high design and fine art onto the open road.

In Jay Donovan’s case, that journey quite literally began in 2017 with a 2,000-kilometre trek from the Saanich Peninsula to Sturgis, South Dakota, the site of one of the continent’s most significant motorcycle rallies.

Taking shifts behind the wheel with his stepfather as they wheeled through rows of mountains on their way to the Great Plains, Jay arrived at the event just in time to wow some of the gathering’s 500,000 onlookers with a heavily modified 1976 Yamaha XS650 during the festival’s Motorcycles as Art showcase.

“I kind of liked the challenge of taking the lines of the bike and seeing how I could rework them, making something very different from what it was, but still very fluid and well thought out,” he says.

Perhaps most incredible is that he completed the impressive project in a simple shed in fewer than three months.

The attention accelerated Jay’s nascent business, BareSteel Design, into the small-yet-diverse world of custom motorcycle builds. These days, Jay has several impressive projects under his belt, a supportive Texas-based patron and plenty of ideas for the future. Even more promising is the transformation of his modest backyard shed into a full-fledged shop, complete with fabrication, shaping and mechanical areas. A work in progress awaits its new shell atop the main work area, surrounded by components assembled from donor bikes that were to build previous projects. Many of these items, including a statuesque engine based on the iconic early-20th-century Excelsior motorbike, may someday work themselves into projects of their own, but for now it’s one step at a time.

“Taking on big projects like these is so mentally consuming that, until I’m at least six months in, I can’t really think of anything else apart from minor tinkering jobs. So the larger creative pursuits are always sort of fighting for that room,” Jay says. “It still feels as though I’m figuring everything out.”

Jay may be figuring things out, but he’s certainly accomplished a lot in the few years since he set out on what, at first, grew from a creative instinct. He got his start early by working on hot rods at Victoria High School’s auto body program, and had gained an appreciation for metal’s potential by the time he started working at Wille Dodge’s auto body department.

“I suppose, like anything, you can never really know exactly what you want to do; you might simply like an element of something which inevitably leads to another,” he says. “The form and creativity of shaping sheet metal has appealed to me ever since I started in collision.”

He quickly realized that cars and trucks necessitated a complex and labour-intensive platform on which to pursue the craft. The sheer size and weight of the metal panels require large spaces, extra help and big budgets to support a market for custom-built vehicles. Motorcycles, on the other hand, offer many of the same creative challenges, but in a more accessible format.

“Since 2008, the custom world has kind of been rejuvenated, and there seem to be more hands in it. The whole custom scene

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The swooping lines and sleek metal of Jay’s designs conjure a result that melds contemporary steampunk with a classic art deco look, although ... he remains open to many inf luences in a world that encompasses aggressive 1950s-era choppers to the sleek and stylish cafe racers. and the shows have just grown a lot, and now include the more esoteric realm that I find myself in,” he says. “The freedom is still there, it’s just more condensed.”

He adds: “Working with motorcycles has the added challenge of having everything exposed. In a car you can design a chassis that is purely structural and then plop a body over it, and everything kind of gets hidden. Because everything is exposed and functional on a bike, it’s a real challenge to maintain the high design standard and functionality. There’s nowhere to hide the tension between design and functionality.”

The swooping lines and sleek metal of Jay’s designs conjure a result that melds contemporary steampunk with a classic art deco look, though he’s quick to say he remains open to many influences in a world that encompasses everything from aggressive 1950s-era choppers to sleek and stylish cafe racers.

“I suppose I’m still figuring out what my specialty is, but I definitely want to explore,” he says. “It’s definitely more about the fun of exploring the form than getting locked into any particular style at this point.”

In a corner of his workshop, Jay has stuck draft sketches of his projects to the wall. The images feature layers of geometrical patterns overlaid atop pictures of his built motorcycles. He explains that he’s always curious to see the emergence of appealing patterns and inspiring design elements. To him, the fun materializes by seeing how far these principles can be extended and challenged, while still preserving a sense of visual balance and the operation of a functional bike. He’s discovered how many of his instinctive designs and ideas rely on classical geometric formulas and ancient aesthetic theories, ideas that are instilled in the way people admire their surroundings, whether they’re appreciating architecture, furniture, sculpture or motor vehicles.

“Like any good poetry, it’s all about having the biggest possible impact with the fewest words,” he says.

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business class

Current success

Unique formula drives new taxi business WORDS TOBY TANNAS

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PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

Summer Sale

Begins…

“S

ervice should be magical, not tolerable.” That deeply ingrained belief is what launched Kelowna’s Dale Conway into the taxi business three years ago. With a more than two-decadeslong career in hospitality under his belt, Dale set out to change the game in an industry he believed had been sub-standard for far too long. An industry in which he had no previous experience.

Fast-forward to today, and Current Taxi has quickly expanded from Kelowna to Victoria—and big plans are gearg-up for the future.

“I spent more than 10 years dreaming up a business plan. I’d never worked in the taxi business but I had been working in casinos for 17 years. The two industries actually have a lot in common,” Dale explains.

“They are both highly regulated by the government. I know how to work with regulators.”

Dale may have been green when it came to running a taxi business, but so was his vision: to create a local, environmentally friendly company that the community could be proud of, with high-end electric cars, well-dressed, personable drivers and rates on par with other companies.

“I knew my plan was solid. When I finally decided to quit my job, I shared it with two of my co-workers and they asked to be part of it.”

The Current Taxi team was born, but the real work lay ahead. Dale knew it had been 14 years since the Transportation Board last approved a new taxi service for Kelowna.

“Getting taxi licenses is notoriously hard. I had to make a strong case.”

Dale knew community support was vital. His application included a stack of letters from various hotel managers and the Mayor of Kelowna.

“They gave me a shot. My partners and I, we pooled our money, we bought two Teslas and hit the road!”

That was February of 2017. It was just Dale, his business partner Jerry Pokorny and four part-time ambassadors behind the wheel in those early days.

But after only a few months it became apparent two Teslas weren’t going to be enough to meet demand.

“By April we were turning down 500 calls a day; we went running back to the Transportation Board for

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more licenses. If we couldn’t expand our fleet, we were quite literally going to drown in our own success.”

Dale was granted approval for four more cars.

“I was happy. That was the original business plan. Six cars in Kelowna. I was going to drive a taxi for a living. It would be a small, family-run business. I realized fairly early on, though, that wasn’t going to be the case.”

Word of Current Taxi’s exceptional service was spreading quickly. Emails poured in from all over North America. “‘Why aren’t you in Calgary?’ ‘Why aren’t you in Edmonton?’

‘Come to Ottawa,’” Conway recounts with a chuckle. “‘Have you thought about Vegas?’ ‘What about Hawaii?’”

Fast-forward three years. There are 10 cars on the road in Kelowna and in December of 2019 Current Taxi expanded into Victoria with six Teslas.

“Victoria made sense,” Dale explains. “The city is environmentally focused. A lot of the local politicians in Kelowna used us to get to the airport for their Victoria-bound flights and they’d say they wanted to make the entire trip green, so could we pick them up on the other end? Now we can.”

Dale’s business plan is not one for the faint of heart. Buying $100,000-dollar vehicles, paying drivers a true living wage and keeping prices in check takes a lot of juggling. But Dale is adamant that is what’s fuelling Current Taxi’s success.

“We could grow quicker with less expensive cars, but that’s not what we set out to do,” he says. “We are committed to never cutting corners with the cars or losing focus on the environment or the quality of our staff.”

Dale beams with pride as he talks about his team and the

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seemingly endless number of five-star Google reviews they’ve earned the company.

“They are our ‘secret sauce!’ We are extremely picky. That makes hiring tough, but it pays off in the long run. The novelty of a Tesla will wear off, but if people get the doors opened for them, have engaging conversation with a knowledgeable, well-dressed person behind the wheel, it’s what keeps them calling.”

The Current Taxi driver roster isn’t what you would expect. It includes former bartenders, real estate agents, lawyers and photographers. Like Dale, most had never driven a taxi before they got behind the wheel with Current. The turnover rate is low because they love the job, the people and the company. Their service excellence is having an effect on the entire market.

“What’s getting us excited is that other taxi operators are starting to notice. Now I see other taxi drivers wearing suit jackets. It’s what should be happening. When service gets better it benefits everybody. We raised the bar. That’s a good thing!”

It’s why Dale isn’t worried about ride-share companies coming in to take a piece of the pie.

“There’s a place for ride share and I’m probably the only taxi service provider that’s going to say ride share is a good thing. Are they going to be competitive with me and try to take my business?

Yes, but I’ve never been afraid of competition. I believe my service is better.”

The only time fear has been a factor for Dale is when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March. Current Taxi had just expanded into Victoria.

“Things just died; we started pulling cars off the road. We were afraid like everyone else. April and May were tough.”

Dale wasted no time outfitting the Tesla fleet and his drivers with the required safety equipment. Today, call volumes have returned to pre-COVID levels and that’s turned fear into optimism.

“Before the shutdown, at least 50 to 60 per cent of our business was coming from an airport, a hotel or a restaurant. When you factor in that those places had been essentially closed ... but our call volume is still high, we can say we’ve actually built business.”

Dale predicts he will have all of the 28-car fleet on the road in Kelowna (13) and Victoria (15) by the end of the year.

“And we’re not stopping at 28. I got into this business to disrupt something. I am an instigator. I want to make the other businesses sweat a little,” he says with a laugh.

Dale’s hope is that what he’s instigating on the environmental side will also shift into high gear.

“Our six cars in Kelowna put on three million kilometers in three years. That’s 700 tons of CO2 we’ve saved. We’re five per cent of the local market. Just imagine if the entire taxi industry in Canada electrifies, which it will eventually. There’s a big difference to be made.”

With a team he’s proud to work with, Dale is looking to the future. His wife Trisha has joined him and Jerry full time since the Victoria expansion. She manages the growing number of staff (90 and counting) as director of people and culture. Fourth partner Kate Wilson handles the marketing.

“It’s been a heck of a ride for the first three years,” exclaims Dale. “Where it will take us, we don’t know…”

Dale actually does know where Current Taxi is next hitting the accelerator on expansion but (at the time of publication) the where and when are still a secret.

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1-844-VERIDIS (837-4347) Perched at the apex of Gonzales Bay is a house that, on first seeing it from the road, seems surprisingly unobtrusive.

Smooth, boxy concrete walls frame garage doors amidst an abundance of native greenery, and at first, standing in the driveway, I’m not sure which way to turn to find the front door. But then I slip around to the left and find a high gate and one of the owners, Len Atkinson, waiting for me.

“We have a little visitor on our deck,” he says, before we even introduce ourselves properly. “I’ll take you through so you can see him.”

Marje Clews meets us as we go inside, and the three of us walk down to see the peacock that’s just landed on the main deck and is walking around outside like he’s thinking about putting down an offer on the house. It takes a few minutes of cooing over the bird to

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Of all the descriptors I can think of that apply to this house— sun-drenched, airy, serene, indulgent—I think “quality” is the one that fits best.

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get back to the business of the tour and interview, but it’s also rather fitting, considering one of the couple’s main priorities when they decided to build this place 10 years ago.

“We wanted it to be seamless from the outside to the inside. To bring in nature,” says Marje (though not so literally that we leave the deck door open for our visitor), and she gives me an example.

“If you look at the walls, they look like the sand on the beach.” It’s an effect achieved by using local sand in the concrete mix and finishing them to a suede texture. Architectural concrete walls feature prominently throughout the house, from the cathedral entrance to the master suite, and have a surprisingly warm feel.

This warmth is magnified by an abundance of solid maple through the main and upper floors, the kitchen, the windows and door frames, the baseboard trim, the treads on the stairs, and the custom hand railings. Between the light, honeyed tones of the wood, the incredible natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows and the airy space of the main living area’s high ceilings, I feel a little like I’ve stepped into a beach resort getaway.

“This is really [architect] Peter de Hoog’s baby,” says Marje, a retired graphic designer. “Len and I came together to make it what we felt was right for our lifestyle, and Peter brought it together. It was just such an easy, easy project creatively.”

We move through the main floor, past a cosy den and the dining/ living area to the shining gem that is the kitchen. This luxurious, incredibly well-appointed space is a chef ’s dream come true. (The

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

London Chef ’s, in fact. He catered a dinner for Len and Marje soon after they moved in, and raved about the setup.)

Vancouver Island-quarried marble countertops soar over the large island; a gas range is split by a French burner; a steam oven and microwave/convection oven wait at the ready in the cabinets beside the wide stainless sink. And around the corner sits a butler’s pantry complete with extra fridge and freezer drawers and temperature-controlled wine storage.

And while the main living area feels like a resort, downstairs is straight-up spa indulgence. Douglas fir takes the place of maple, the deeper, redder hues warming the space up to another degree, while the steam shower and infrared sauna in the spa bathroom have me wondering how Marje and Len ever get rid of house-guests. The polished concrete floors have been taken down further to show the colour and variety of the aggregate within, lending a distinctly beach feel to the open space, especially in combination with the corner bar, walkout deck with vast ocean view, and the infinity-edged lap pool and hot tub just outside.

The master suite on the top floor also has a getaway feel, but it’s more sanctuary than spa. Sunlight spills into the bedroom all along the narrow windows that line the top edges of the walls, and from a small, private deck, just steps from the bed. On the other side of the upper floor, tall built-in bookshelves house classically bound volumes in the upstairs open office area.

Marje takes me outside and we climb the final steps to the pinnacle of the build—a rooftop patio with 360-degree views. Behind us is the domed roof of the observatory; in front, the wide expanse of Gonzales Bay, with its sandy beaches and rock formations jutting out from the water farther out. In the distance is the steel grey-blue of the wider ocean and a swath of thin, low clouds over the Olympic Mountains.

Marje scans the curve of houses stretching out on either side. She points out a light green roof one or two lots over, originally a tea house and changing space for swimmers and beachgoers. Closer to the western point of the bay, there’s a building with what looks like a row of orange garage doors.

“That was the original Rumrunner,” she says, shading her eyes from the sun’s glint on the water. “So in prohibition days, that’s where they’d take the rum in.”

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She adds: “That’s what was so special to us about this property, that there’s history in the area.” And it’s why she and Len approached the build with such care and detail.

“Our mandate was to have it stand the test of time and be timeless. We could see the potential of this bay and the value here,” she says. “It was about making something of worth and of quality. We wanted to contribute something of value to the community, and set the bar for others to follow.”

Of all the descriptors I can think of that apply to this house—sun-drenched, airy, serene, indulgent—I think “quality” is the one that fits best. Beyond the high-end materials and appliances, beyond the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows, and beyond the pervading spa-like feel, the near-impeccable condition of this house is almost unbelievable.

Built 10 years ago, waterfront, exposed to the ocean’s ravaging salt and wind for a decade, and the only sign of any wear and tear is a thin ring of corrosion on several exterior pot lights just off the dining room.

“None of the finishes here had to be redone. We had an experience of what the ocean would command for wear and tear,” says Marje. “It’s why we chose to do everything solid.”

The quality and solidity, the smooth flowing design and the incredible natural light all made the house a dream home for Marje and Len, and the decision to put it on the market was not an easy one.

“It’s bittersweet,” says Marje. “But the plan was to stay here for 10 years and then downsize.” The couple has already found a smaller house in Rockland, “a smaller version of this,” she says, and are in the process of thinning out their things to fit.

As she sees me out, I take in the details of the front entrance, which I missed when I arrived, distracted by the still-present (and now napping) peacock: the oversized arbutus front door, smooth on its pivot and rich in red-brown tones; the soft rush of water cascading down the Vancouver Island dark marble feature to the side; the glimpse of ocean beyond a thick tangle of wild greenery; the neighbour’s fig tree branches drooping overhead. It’s a beach-y, breezy, luxuriant paradise, just waiting to become the next family’s dream home.

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femininity reclaimed WORDS + PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

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rista Smith, creator and owner of Reclamation Designs, invites Boulevard to Reclamation’s studio headquarters for a day of whimsy, fun and a little fantasy. Joining in the whimsical journey is Reclamation’s design and sewing team, made up of designers Stefanie Kos and Emily Webb, dress rental manager Chloë Piwek and design assistant Aisling Goodman, wearing a selection of dresses they have created. Primarily using vintage and antique lace, Trista’s designs are made to fit a range of sizes and to flatter the female form. This has led to a client base of people from all over the world. Come with us on a deep dive into a celebration of femininity and an inside look at a “made in BC” company bringing beauty to the world.

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All dressed by Reclamation Designs available at wearereclamation.com Makeup and hair

by Erica Harris and Erin Bradley

AU GU ST/S E P T E MB E R 2020

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VICTORIA’S FINEST REAL ESTATE

L U X U R Y AT YO U R D O O R S T E P

2795 Sea View Road Victoria, BC $8,988,000 Private oceanfront estate in 10 Mile Point.

South facing on a double lot with over 200 feet of waterfront. Superior in every detail, and custom built, the designer interior is elegant and refined, with all the modern luxuries. 9,000 sq ft of open concept living with soaring ceilings and walls of glass overlooking Cadboro Bay and the mountains beyond.

2101 83 Saghalie Victoria, BC $10,900,000 Pinnacle of luxury is achieved in this soaring Penthouse suite. Minimalist design allows the panoramic ocean, mountain, city, and Inner Harbour views to be the primary focus of all the rooms. 13 foot ceilings throughout, with floor to ceiling windows surrounding the entire top floor. Thoughtful layout flows seamlessly, with over 4,000 sq ft of exquisite, sun drenched living space, all bordered by 2 very spacious terraces.

735 Humboldt Street, Victoria BC, Canada V8W 1B1

The local real estate agent with the international network: vi.evcanada.com Scott Piercy, Private Office Advisor Personal Real Estate Corporation 250-686-7789 scott.piercy@evcanada.com www.luxurybchomes.com victoria.evcanada.com

909-910 100 Saghalie

2365 Tryon Road

1563 Mt.Newton Cross

Victoria, BC $4,300,000

North Saanich, BC $2,950,000

Saanichton $4,300,000

A stunning, one of a kind property in the prestigious Bayview 1. Elevated high above Victoria’s Inner Harbour, this exceptional home is created from 2 penthouses, with over 4000 sq ft of open living space. Windows throughout the unit are corner to corner, floor to ceiling, providing an astounding 270 degree view! Outstanding amenities and top of the line finishes complete this magnificent property.

Private gated waterfront estate with sweeping south facing ocean vistas. Designer interior showcases an open floor plan and superior finishings. Floor to ceiling windows frame water views in all the principle rooms. Chef’s kitchen is equipped with top of the line appliances which opens to an expansive living room with a statement fireplace. Outside, an outdoor kitchen and easy care yard - launch your paddle board and explore the surrounding coastline.

Escape to your 30 acre, self-sustainable hobby farm situated in the Saanich Peninsula. This lavish estate is the perfect union of rustic and natural elements with modern comforts. Over 6,000 sq ft of stunning interior space, outdoor space has patios, fireplace and hot tub. Epitome of farm to table living with a large greenhouse, garden beds and Quonset hut.

1050 Roxview Court

11317 Ravenscroft Place

8080 McPhail Road - Lot 2

Sooke, BC $2,950,000

North Saanich, BC $2,195,000

Saanichton $3,000,000

Exquisite oceanfront property in scenic East Sooke, with over 5,000 square feet living space on a half acre. Uncompromising views provide the backdrop to this lavishly appointed residence. Upon entry, the dramatic 14 ft coffered ceilings emphasize the grandeur of this elegant residence and the open concept design encourages entertaining. Exceptional outdoor living space on each level, with both covered and uncovered areas.

Private, gated estate in desirable North Saanich.

Positioned on the water’s edge, this oceanfront oasis offers a tranquil setting with spectacular ocean views. With over 5,000 sq ft of elegant living space, this stunning half acre property also offers easy care rock gardens, decks and patios, a hot tub and your own private access to a beach - the epitome of West Coast living!

Discover this exclusive waterfront parcel, that expands a full five acres of pristine West Coast beauty. Sitting in scenic Thompson Cove, this south west facing lot is positioned to soak in the sun and capture stunning sunsets. Mature trees provide coveted privacy. Potential for protected deep water moorage enhances this exceptional property by providing a launch point for your yacht, paddle board or kayak.

2249 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria BC, Canada V8R 1G4

The local real estate agent with the international network: vi.evcanada.com James LeBlanc, Private Office Advisor Personal Real Estate Corporation 250-812-7212 james.leblanc@evcanada.com www.luxurybchomes.com victoria.evcanada.com

exclusive luxury listings

2450 LANSDOWNE ROAD | UPLANDS 4 BEDS | 4 BATHS | 428459 | $3,999,999

3290 BEACH DRIVE | UPLANDS 5 BEDS | 5 BATHS | 426633 | $3,580,000

2760 L I N CO L N R OA D | U PL A N D S 5 B E D S | 7 BAT H S | 428059 | $3, 50 0,0 0 0

3605 C A D B O R O BAY R OA D | U PL A N D S 5 B E D S | 7 BAT H S | 421791 | $3, 50 0,0 0 0

60 0 L I N K L E A S AV E N U E | OA K BAY 3 B E D S | 3 BAT H S | 427335 | $3, 20 0,0 0 0

586 O L I V E R S T R E E T | OA K BAY 5 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 429791 | $2, 80 0,0 0 0

1250 B E AC H D R I V E | OA K BAY 5 B E D S | 3 BAT H S | 426251 | $2, 595,0 0 0

330 0 E X E T E R R OA D | U PL A N D S 5 B E D S | 5 BAT H S | 424723 | $2, 20 0,0 0 0

785 H A M P S H I R E R OA D | OA K BAY 5 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 429927 | $1, 875,0 0 0

767 BY N G S T R E E T | OA K BAY 4 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 4270 0 4 | $1, 80 0,0 0 0

2156 B R I G H TO N AV E N U E | OA K BAY 2 B E D S | 3 BAT H S | 430 0 03 | $1,650,0 0 0

JASON BINAB

PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

JASON.BINAB@THEAGENC YRE.COM 778.265.5552 THEAGENC YRE.COM/BC

exclusive luxury listings

1580 LANDS END ROAD | LANDS END 3 BEDS | 4 BATHS | 423809 | $5,390,000

2713 SEA VIEW ROAD | TEN MILE POINT 5 BEDS | 5 BATHS | 427826 | $4,000,000

4586 S T R AT F O R D R OA D | PR O S PE C T L A K E 4 B E D S | 7 BAT H S | 427687 | $3, 250,0 0 0

691 D O N N I N G TO N PL AC E | E L K L A K E 3 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 429595 | $2, 850,0 0 0

14 68 R O C K L A N D AV E N U E | R O C K L A N D 7 B E D S | 6 BAT H S | 42734 8 | $2, 249,0 0 0

830 -21 DA L L A S R OA D | JA M E S BAY 2 B E D S | 3 BAT H S | 427532 | $1, 875,0 0 0

3- 933 M E A R E S S T R E E T | V I C TO R I A 3 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 42596 4 | $1,150,0 0 0

2129 SA N D O W N E R OA D | OA K BAY 5 B E D S | 2 BAT H S | 428125 | $1,450,0 0 0

114 03 W E S T V I E W PL AC E | L A N D S E N D 3 B E D S | 3 BAT H S | 426931 | $1, 875,0 0 0

4391 E M I LY C A R R D R I V E | B R OA D M E A D 4 B E D S | 3 BAT H S | 428257 | $1,420,0 0 0

1198 S T. PAT R I C K S T R E E T | OA K BAY 4 B E D S | 2 BAT H S | 426883 | $1,175,0 0 0

THEAGENCYRE.COM/BC

“We are committed to creating a

great experience for our clients,

putting their needs ahead of our own.

We have sold more than a Billion Dollars worth of real estate and helped more than 4,000 families move.

But I’m the most proud of our community support, all of the agents in my office donate a portion of every sale to BC Children’s Hospital and I have been recognized as RE/MAX’s top individual donor to CMN.”

With integrity, expertise and hard work, the Neal Estate Team delivers world-class personal services, helping our clients get great value for their homes and real estate investments.

250.386.8181 RonNeal.com

1790YorkRidgePlace.com $2,300,000

5100JagtarsWay.com $2,398,000

View upcoming listings before on MLS at VancouverIslandComingSoon.com

Vancouver Island’s #1 RE/MAX Team

*RE/MAX 2019

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lisawilliams.ca **Personal Personal Real Estate Estate Corporation Corporation * Personal Real Estate Corporation

* Personal Real Estate Corporation

Harbour Escape 1995 Marina Way, Sidney

$1,980,000

Launch your kayak! This distinctive home has been invigorated & refreshed inside & out and is ready to go with meticulous new landscaping. Located at the end of the cul-de-sac on the “street of dreams”, the generous, 4,699 sq ft family home offers incredible value with 220’ of ocean frontage in Tsehum Harbour beside North Saanich Marina & Yacht Club.

Iconic Oak Bay 403-2285 Bowker Ave, Oak Bay

Private Residences $869,000 405-1175 Oak Bay Ave, Oak Bay

The much-awaited Bowker Collection by award-winning Abstract is now complete & offers unbeatable construction in the heart of the Willows Beach Community. This 2-bedroom & 2-bathroom plus den condo boasts luxury finishes throughout, 9ft ceilings, state-of-the-art soundproofing, & a bright & airy colour scheme. In-house concierge included.

Private Oasis $1,780,000 1217 Garden Gate Drive, Brentwood Bay $2,498,000

Luxuriate in the grace & comfort of Oak Bay’s premier oceanfront private residences. Savour ocean & island views from this 1,371 sq. ft. 4th floor haven with good separation of the 2 bedrooms & 2 spa-like bathrooms.

A unique lifestyle opportunity with preferential access to dining, pool & spa facilities plus concierge service in Victoria’s landmark hotel.

Incredible 3.14 acre hideaway, perfectly sited to capture stunning westerly views of the Malahat Mountains from an elevated location in Garden Gate Estates. Custom built in 2003, the inviting 4,177 sq. ft. home boasts an excellent open plan layout with hardwood floors, large view windows, two-story living room & fabulous outdoor entertaining space.

“We believe every home is a mansion regardless of size, location or price”

MACLEOD GROUP Glynis MacLeod

Kirsten MacLeod

250.661.7232

250.686.3385

Personal Real Estate Corporation

Sales Associate

macleodgroup@sothebysrealty.ca M AC L EO D - G ROU P.COM

SOTHEBYSRE ALT Y.CA

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Independently Owned and Operated. E.&O.E.: This information is from sources which we deem reliable, but must be verified by prospective Purchasers and may be subject to change or withdrawal. Not intended to solicit properties already under agreement.

F

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$2,950,000

$5,390,000 1580 Lands End Road, North Saanich

mls®

$5,390,000

1580 Lands End Road, North Saanich

mls®

# 423809

$2,950,000

$5,390,000

$2,950,000

9458 Ardmore Drive, North Saanich

# 423809

1580 Lands End Road, North Saanich

mls®

# 428009

$1,995,000

$2,795,000

10305 Resthaven Drive, Sidney

$2,795,000

mls®

9458 Ardmore Drive,

# 423809

$2,795,000

10305 Resthaven Drive, Sidney

9458 Ardmore Drive, North Saa

mls®

mls®

$1,995,000 2529 Goddard Road, Sidney

# COMING SOON

2529 Goddard Road, Sidney

# COMING SOON

10305 Resthaven Drive, Sidney

mls®

# COMING SOON

$1,300,000 $1,300,000

847 Court, Victoria 847Seamist Seamist Court, Victoria

$869,000 mls®

# 429990

# 427696

$1,995,000

2529 Goddard Road,

$869,000

# Oakville 429990 2329 Oakville Avenue, Sidney mls® # 427544 2329 Avenue, Sidney

mls®

$869,000

$1,300,000 847 Seamist Court, Victoria

mls®

mls®

# 429990

2329 Oakville Avenue

1144 Fort Street, Victoria, BC

Personal Real Estate Corporation

PE

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The Value of Experience

Sylvia Therrien

4826 Spring Road | $2,995,000

2160 Wenman Drive | $2,095,000

3225 Exeter Road | $1,775,000

2055 Edgecliffe Place | $2,995,000

849 Oliver Street | $2,698,000

93 King George Terrace | $2,200,000

Custom contemporary in Gordon Head

SO

LD

Custom Home on 5 acres with Views

Mid-century Privacy in The Uplands

Exquisite Family Home in South Oak Bay

Contemporary Custom in South Oak Bay

Spectacular views in South Oak Bay

Sylvia@SylviaTherrien.ca • SylviaTherrien.ca 250.385.2033 • Cell: 250.888.6621

Krista Voitchovsky, Real Estate Advisor 250-888-3256 | krista@kristav.ca www.kristavmarkg.ca

Mark Gutknecht, Real Estate Advisor 250-880-1000 | mark.gutknecht@engelvoelkers.com www.kristavmarkg.ca

435 Chadwick Place Fairfield East $2,495,000

4381 Wildflower Lane Broadmead $1,598,000

6-4341 Crownwood Lane Broadmead $849,000

Designed by award winning architects, deHoog & Kierulf, this concrete home is beautifully accented with blond woods, natural stone, and stainless steel throughout. The modern kitchen, overlooking the private and serene backyard with patio, is a chef ’s dream.

Master bedroom features a private deck, a sun soaked dressing room, and large ensuite.

This bright, spacious home has 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, triple garage with a level II EV charger and is located on a quiet cul-de-sac.

The main level has vaulted ceilings in the dining & living rooms, and a kitchen w/ eating area open to the large family room. The master bedroom has a 5 pce ensuite & deck.

Hardwood floors throughout.

3 bedroom, 3 bathroom end unit townhome.

Located in an adult oriented small complex of 6 units. Vaulted ceilings, skylights, hardwood floors, a sunroom, lots of storage, patio with a water feature and a double garage are just a few of the wonderful features. Located near Rithet’s bog, Broadmead Shopping & Beaver Lake.

9-21 Dallas Road James Bay $529,000

10-21 Dallas Road James Bay $610,000

324-21 Dallas Road James Bay $999,000

606-21 Dallas Road James Bay $999,000

This lovely south facing 1 bedroom, 2 bathroom live/work unit is move in ready! Hardwood floors and floor to ceiling windows add to this bright condo.

A gas fireplace provides atmosphere and will keep you warm and cosy. The large South facing patio gives you lots of room for gardening, entertaining or relaxing. Located close to downtown, Dallas Road ocean walkway, restaurants & library and a park next door.

Enjoy working from home with access to your 312 sqft patio from your office. Lovely open living/dining area has gas fireplace and 9 foot ceilings. Large master bedroom with an ensuite , a second bedroom or den/office and a three piece bathroom complete this lovely condo. One parking spot and a storage locker. Enjoy the wonderful amenities such as a 25m lap pool, gym, sauna, steam, jacuzzi, concierge service and more!

Inner harbour views from your 750 sqft. deck! This 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo is perfect for watching all the activities on the inner harbour. This elegant condo has 2 bedrooms each with their own ensuite and a powder room. Our clients love the location as it is around the corner from the elevator to the pool/ fitness area. Some Shoal Point amenities: 25m lap pool, fitness centre, concierge, bike/kayak storage, guest suites & workshop.

Bright & sunny ocean view with Southern exposure, this condo is a delight! This 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom has a lovely open concept layout and good separation between the bedrooms. Some highlights are new light Maple flooring throughout , gas fireplace, A/C, ocean view den, extra space for a piano or seating and a semi private deck.

Strata fees for 2020 will be paid!

2249 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 1G4 • Office +1 778-433-8885

641 Oliver St, South Oak Bay 5 Bd | 5 Bath | 4,100 Sq Ft | $2,899,000

1182 Oliver St, South Oak Bay 4 Bd | 2 Bath | 2,000 Sq Ft | $1,350,000

80 King George Terr, OB Gonzales 6 Bd | 5 Bath | 3,644 Sq Ft | $2,399,000

640 Beach Dr, South OB | Panoramic Views 10,454 Sq Ft Lot | $1,899,000

2810 Lansdowne Rd, Uplands 7 Bd | 7 Bath | 9,034 Sq Ft | $4,199,000

3585 Beach Dr, Uplands 5 Bd | 5 Bath | 5,600 Sq Ft | $4,777,000

SO

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1776 Beach Dr, South Oak Bay 5 Bd | 3 Bath | 3,628 Sq Ft | $2,190,000

SO

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987 Beach Dr, South Oak Bay 3 Bd | 4 Bath | 2,484 Sq Ft | $2,150,000

SO

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289 King George Terr, Gonzales Oak Bay 2 Bd | 3 Bath | 28,000 Sq Ft | $2,650,000

SO

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651 Beach Dr, South Oak Bay 3 Bd | 3 Bath | 2,600 Sq Ft | $2,725,000

CALLAGHAN O’CONNOR PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

2249 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC

callaghan.oconnor@evcanada.com 250.888.4579 / callaghanoconnor.com

SO

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642 Beach Dr, South OB | Panoramic Views 11,329 Sq Ft | $1,680,000

SO

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2494 Windsor Rd, South Oak Bay 5,667 Sq Ft Building Lot | $1,000,000

Sarah West, Bill Ethier, and Sharen Warde Personal Real Estate Corporation

The Real Estate Team You Trust for Life info@propertiesinvictoria.com | 250.920.7000 | propertiesinvictoria.com

BOUTIQUE HOME

VIEW, VIEW, VIEW!

BEAUTIFULLY BROADMEAD

2 - 840 Pemberton Road 3 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms $1,395,000

204 - 640 Montreal Street 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom $545,000

850 Maltwood Terrace 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms $1,300,000

Your Dream…

Your Life…

My Passion!

Distinctive Vancouver Island Homes

Linda has been successfully selling Real Estate since 2007 and is a multiple MLS & Master award winner. As a Member of the Luxury Home Marketing “Million Dollar Guild”, a designation of “Master Certified Negotiation Expert” as well as being a “Home Staging Expert” Certified with the Canadian Home Staging Association, Linda can get you where you want to be, as a highly skilled agent.

Linda also has a record of community leadership as a founding member and director of the popular “Rock 4 A Reason Charitable Society” which has raised over $134,000.00 for the BC Cancer Foundation here in Victoria.

Better Marketing. Better Service. Better Results.

LINDA BROWN

Licensed Realtor & Certified Home Stager

cell 250-213-7194 | Office 250-744-3301 | www.lindabrown.ca | 4440 Chatterton Way | RE/MAX Camosun 72

boulevardmagazines.com |

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

Your home is more important than ever…

We want you to

l ove

your home!

NICOLE BURGESS 250-384-8124

nicole@nicoleburgess.com

ij

ingrid jarisz

SELLS VICTORIA Real Estate is my passion People are my priority!

Gautam Arora

Licenced Realtor, Pemberton Holmes Gautam Arora Personal Realestate Corporation

2444 Beacon Ave Sidney, BC V8L 1X6 www.ingridjarisz.com | 250.656.4626 74

boulevardmagazines.com |

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

250.384.8124 | Arorarealty.org

Established 1887

BRIGGS & STRATTON

AND ASSOCIATES

Follow us at:

@briggsandstrattonrealtors

1476 Pebble Pl., Victoria

4 bd/4 bth

$2,750,000 1903-707 Courtney St. Victoria $2,946,000 507-327 Maitland St, Victoria 4,603 SqFt

3 bd/3 bth

2,453 SqFt 2 bd/1 bth

Nancy Stratton

Sophia Briggs

Rebecca Barritt

REALTOR®

Personal Real Estate Corporation

REALTOR®

250.857.5482

250.418.5569

250.514.9024

$525,000 868 SqFt

Nancy.Stratton@TheAgencyRE.com Sophia.Briggs@TheAgencyRE.com Rebecca.Barritt@TheAgencyRE.com

Your island lifestyle matchmakers

Andrew Wade 250.886.1959

Mortgage Broker

andrew@modernmortgagegroup.ca

briggsandstrattonrealtors.com

findmeamortgage.ca

lifestyle

Sleeping in the trees How one man’s dream created a world-renowned experience WORDS + PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

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I was struck by the notion that no matter how crazy or inconceivable an idea is, if it just won’t go away, we might as well put practicality aside and follow the thread to see where it leads.

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“It was an idea that just wouldn’t go away.”

I first met Tom Chudleigh about eight years ago when a good friend, who had heard about Free Spirt Spheres near Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, booked us in for a fun little get-away.

We chatted briefly with Tom as he led us to our accommodation, which was contained in a beautiful sphere, expertly suspended by ropes in the trees. His words stayed with me, coming to mind in those moments of inspiration when rationality attempts to dismiss an idea that seems a bit “out there.” I was struck by the notion that no matter how crazy or inconceivable an idea is, if it just won’t go away, we might as well put practicality aside and follow the thread to see where it leads.

In this case, I imagine anyone who has the opportunity to stay at Free Spirit Spheres—and people come from all over the world to do so—is thankful that Tom gave life to this dream, creating a truly unique experience that feels part Ewok village, part futuristic submarine and part fantasy airship with Lord of the Rings-esque detailing.

So it is with excitement that I arrive at the spheres again, so many years later, to sleep among the trees, let the natural sway of the forest lull me into slumber and meet Tom again to dig deeper into the genius of his idea and understand the work that goes into each sphere. I want to explore this “idea that wouldn’t go away” and find out where it came from in the first place.

“In my belief system, ‘original’ ideas don’t come from people, they come through people. I think the spirit realm

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is the source of new ideas and receptive people are the vehicles to deliver them. I’m one of those people that is receptive to new ideas and I have the skills to manifest them,” says Tom whose background is in shipbuilding.

We head out on a tour and the property is gorgeous, with two of the resort’s three spheres currently suspended—one in the trees and one from a masterfully constructed wooden structure—each set in private spaces around a huge pond. Both are luxurious inside and brilliantly designed with a daytime setup that magically transforms to a night-time configuration.

When Tom shows me his workshop, I can best describe it as a reflection of a marvellous, mad genius. In the centre of the sprawling barn-style shop sits a huge wooden sphere, surrounded by the tools of the trade. I’m suddenly struck by the realization that not only did Tom develop and construct a completely unique structure, he first had to create the tools required to build it. I wondered out loud what skills enabled Tom to build these spheres.

“I am a multi-medium artisan,” he says. “I’ve learned how to work with wood, metal, bronze, rope, fibreglass, plastic and nature. Each material has its uses and limitations. A complex project like this requires many material changes and the trick is to get them to blend harmoniously. It takes two to three man years to finish a fibreglass sphere. It takes about a year more to do a wooden sphere.

“I made my first sphere, Eve, out of yellow cedar because I loved the wood and thought it would last a long time. We put up

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Eve, the first suspended spherical tree house, in the spring of 1998 on Denman Island. I had spent the previous five years building it.

We tried two different groves of trees that summer, which gave us a little experience hanging and moving a sphere. I launched a web page that fall and Free Spirit Spheres was born.”

Tom built the second sphere, Eryn, from Sitka spruce because it was lighter, stronger and took glue better.

“Over the years, the spheres and suspension systems have evolved. The second sphere was bigger with more windows,” he says, adding, “The door and window hardware became custom-cast bronze with runes and Celtic knots. The door hinges and latching systems became much more sophisticated. The attachment points and tethers became more tangential to the sphere.”

They also had to build a winch to install and move spheres around in the forest—without roads—and purchase a set of three gauges that could measure stresses and strains. “Since then, we have been strain-testing everything on the spheres and in the forest,” he says.

They also had to rig the support trees with back stays, and the liability trees with ropes to deflect them if they fall or break.

This allows them to “damp” the tree movement in the wind, and prevent essential trees from falling or breaking.

Importantly, Tom adds, “This enables us to minimize any negative impacts on the forest”—something that is extremely important to him and his wife, Rosey Cowan, who together run the Free Spirit Spheres.

As my adventure in the trees begins, Rosey and Tom take me to the sphere called Melody, where I will be staying, and show me how everything works. The sensation inside is similar to a

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boat: stable but gently responsive to movement. The view out the circular windows is a perspective of the forest usually reserved for birds and tree critters. No space is wasted; every inch is considered and is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

According to their website, Tom and Rosey have added sale of the spheres to their business.

“This is a new direction,” Tom confirms. “So far all the spheres I’ve built have been hand-crafted artisan spheres.The new spheres are designed for assembly line production, more like a production yacht. We are selling the spheres and suspension systems and risk management programs, and marketing it all as a franchise opportunity. The first production run will come out this fall and winter, and it looks like they will be manufactured by a boatbuilding shop in California.”

And what else is in the future for Free Spirit Spheres?

“We’re hoping to move to a better forest with different zoning so we can put up all of the spheres I’ve built. We want to have all six spheres hanging in the forest canopy. They will be connected by suspension bridges, and spiral stairways will provide access to the ground.”

That night, after a beautiful afternoon walking the trails around the Free Spirit Spheres property, enjoying a lovely dinner brought to eat in the sphere and finally having a sauna in the property’s bathhouse, I find myself tucked snugly into bed. More than ever, I have an awareness that I am supported by the living giants of this forest. And, as I feel their subtle movements, more of Tom’s words come to mind.

Asked what his greatest joy on this “spherical” path has been, he answered, “Seeing the looks on people’s faces when they first step into their sphere. Also, the people who come here to stay are a very unique and special slice of humanity. The effect the experience has on them is profound. The forest and nature connection is number one for the guests, especially since the pandemic. People seem to be more hungry than ever to reconnect with nature.”

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Show-stopper

SALADS Three upstaging sides or stand-alone mains, which highlight the sunshine’s bounty WORDS ELLIE SHORTT

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PHOTOS LIA CROWE

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alad sometimes gets a bad

rap. Homer Simpson’s oft-quoted claim that “you don’t win friends with salad” of course comes to mind, among many other sayings, jokes and memes all unfairly targeting what perhaps is simply a misunderstood gastronomic classification. But that’s just it, salad is inherently challenging to categorize, and can encompass so many delightful combinations and varieties.

At the heart of it, salad is simply a melange of ingredients, generally vegetables or fruit, but can include all sorts of heartier fare for a more rounded dining experience. I would argue that perhaps what differentiates salads from other mixed-ingredient dishes is that they’re generally (but certainly not always) served cold or room temperature and have a sort of all-in-one and ready-to-eat quality about them.

The term “salad” comes from the French “salade,” which originates from the earlier Vulgar Latin root of “herba salata,” or “salted greens,” whereby vegetables were seasoned with brine or salty oil-and-vinegar dressings during Roman times. Of course the presence of greens (or salt for that matter) doesn’t necessarily centre our modern understandings and experiences of salad, as seen in various fruit salads, as well popular go-tos like bean salad, tuna salad, egg salad, fattoush and sōmen salad (a noodle-based salad).

So what makes a good salad? Individual taste is always at the centre of these sorts of questions, but as a devoted salad enthusiast, I would argue that a good dressing is essential, as well as the right combination of complementary textures and flavours that make up the body of the dish.

I must emphasize that a “good dressing” or “combination of complementary textures and flavours” doesn’t necessarily denote “fussy” or “complicated.” Some of the best salads I’ve enjoyed are simple and subtle. However, prioritizing in-season ingredients is ideal as this will provide maximum freshness, flavour and nutrient-density, which is always a nice little bonus when enjoying any dish!

As I reflect on this, I wonder if perhaps the reason salads aren’t always the popular kid in the kitchen is that far too often we’re exposed to drab bowls of tired greens, sad veggies and bland dressings, apathetically thrown together and offered as a token filler dish with the goal of “getting more colour on the table.”

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The following recipes are anything but that, showcasing a number of locally sourced summertime ingredients, thoughtfully combined for three showstopper salad experiences. Enjoy them as standalone dishes or as exciting accompaniments to your favourite barbecue mains. Prep them up for easy and exciting weekday dinners, or bring one with you to your next (safe and socially distanced) backyard gathering.

However you toss it, mix it or chop it, they’re all fun, flavourful and remarkably satisfying, proving once and for all that you can in fact win friends with salad.

Grilled Cobb A summery spin on a beloved classic, this Cobb invokes the flavour-making benefits of your barbecue to provide a bit more punch both visually and taste-wise. Don’t have access to a barbecue?

You can still get essentially the same effect using a cast-iron grilling pan stovetop.

Ingredients For the dressing: ½ cup olive oil 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 tbsp grainy mustard 1 tsp honey 2 cloves of garlic, minced ½ cup fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (I did about ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper)

Grilled Cobb

Olive oil Paprika Sea salt Freshly cracked black pepper

For the salad: 2 eggs, hardboiled, peeled and sliced in half 1 chicken breast (boneless, skinless) Method 3 pieces of bacon For the dressing: Either whisk all the ingredients together in a 1 ear of corn, shucked and cleaned medium bowl, or place all the ingredients in a jar, seal and shake to ½ red bell pepper, cut into three equal pieces combine. Alternatively, you can combine the ingredients in a small ½ medium zucchini, sliced into ¼- to ½-inch thick pieces food processor or blender and pulse to combine.

3 small-to-medium-sized tomatoes, halved For grilling: Preheat your grill to medium heat. Brush the ½ purple onion, thinly sliced (about ½ loose cup’s worth) chicken breast with about 1-2 tbsp of olive oil, and coat both sides ½ avocado, sliced CONNECT HEARING – BOULEVARD MAGAZINEwith HALFPAGE a sprinkling ofAD sea salt, pepper and paprika. Set aside.

Spring onion, sliced (about ¼ loose cup’s worth) Repeat the same for the corn, pepper, zucchini and tomatoes. ½ cup×blue cheese 07/08/20 7.25” 4.75” Set aside.

5-6 loose cups of assorted fresh lettuces Once the grill is hot, add the chicken, flipping once until cooked (butter, red/green leaf, frisée, etc.)

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through, about 6 minutes per side. Once cooked, remove from the grill, allow it to sit for a few minutes, and then slice.

While the chicken is sitting, grill the corn, veggies and bacon. For the corn, make sure you’re rotating it evenly, and for the veggies and bacon, make sure you flip halfway through. The corn should take about 10 minutes total, the pepper and zucchini about 4 minutes per side, the bacon about 3 minutes per side (depending on how crispy you like it), and the tomato about 2 minutes per side. Set it all aside and allow to cool.

Once the corn has cooled, shave off the kernels and set aside.

You can also chop up the bacon, or leave whole depending what aesthetic look you’re going for.

Assembly: Spread your greens evenly in a shallow bowl or large plate. Arrange the grilled items, including the sliced chicken and shaved corn, on top of the greens, as well as the other prepared items (sliced eggs, blue cheese, purple onion and spring onion).

Drizzle with dressing and serve!

Tossed Greens with Grilled Nectarines & Prawns Light, crisp, and somehow “refreshing” as far as salads go, this dish is not only full of flavour, but also a feast for the eyes! Like the grilled Cobb, the instructions call for a barbecue, but you can absolutely use a grilling pan stovetop instead.

Ingredients For the dressing: ½ cup olive oil 3 tbsp lime juice 2 tsp honey 1 clove garlic, minced ¼ cup mint, finely chopped ¼ cup basil, finely chopped Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste For the salad: 2 skewers of prawns (about 6 prawns on each) 1 ripe nectarine, cut into 6 pieces 1 cup fromage frais (or similar), crumbled ½ cup radishes, thinly sliced ½ cup English peas, opened in half or chopped ½ long English cucumber, shaved into ribbons (a mandoline slicer works best for this) Handful of pea shoots 3-4 loose cups of mixed baby greens Olive oil for brushing Lime wedge Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper Chopped fresh mint for garnish

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Method For the dressing: Either whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl, or place all the ingredients in a jar, seal and shake to combine. Alternatively, you can combine the ingredients in a small food processor or blender and pulse to combine. Set aside.

For grilling: Preheat grill to medium heat. Brush the prawns with about 1 tbsp of olive oil and squeeze some fresh lime juice over them so that they’re coated evenly on both sides. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and set aside. Brush both sides of the nectarine pieces with olive oil, and set aside. Once the grill is hot, add prawns and nectarines, flipping once until cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Once cooked, remove from grill and allow to cool.

Assembly: Spread out the greens on a platter and arrange all the other ingredients evenly throughout. Drizzle with dressing and serve!

Tossed Greens with Grilled Nectarines & Prawns

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Mediterranean Mix with Crispy Toasted Chickpeas & Quinoa

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Mediterranean Mix with Crispy Toasted Chickpeas & Quinoa Horiatiki meets tabbouleh meets my favourite way to enjoy chickpeas in a salad! It’s a big Mediterraneaninspired mix with a lot of flavour and texture with minimal effort. Best part of all, it keeps quite well and offers lots of options for pre-prep ease.

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Ingredients For the dressing: ½ cup olive oil 3 tbsp lemon juice ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper ¼ cup fresh dill, finely chopped ¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste For the salad: 1 cup cooked quinoa 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 ½ cup cucumber, sliced (I used smaller cucumbers here so that they have that little circular coin look) 1 ½ cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved ½ cup purple onion, thinly sliced and chopped 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved 1 cup marinated artichokes, drained and chopped 1 cup crumbled feta (I like to use a nice light goat feta for this recipe) ¼ cup olive oil, divided 1 tsp sumac, divided Sea salt and freshly ground pepper Fresh dill and flat leaf parsley for garnish

Gluten Free

Method For the dressing: Either whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl, or place all the ingredients in a jar, seal, and shake to combine. Alternatively, you can combine the ingredients in a small food processor or blender and pulse to combine. Set aside.

For toasting: Preheat your oven to 425 F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, toss the chickpeas in half of the olive oil, half of the sumac, plus a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Spread the seasoned chickpeas evenly on one of the baking sheets. Repeat with the quinoa.

Bake for about 12-15 minutes, tossing half way through for an even cook.

Once toasted to your liking, remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Assembly: Combine all the ingredients, including the toasted and cooled chickpeas and quinoa, in a large bowl, toss with the salad dressing, garnish with some additional chopped fresh parsley and dill, and serve!

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secrets and lives —

AND THE 7 SINS with TIM QUOCKSISTER At age 22, Tim Quocksister launched Silver Arrow Cars, a luxury auto dealer and broker that’s found dream cars for its clients for nearly two decades. Tim’s been passionate about cars since he was a kid, encouraged by the collector shows his father took him to as a youngster, and running the company is his own dream come true.

“Every day I wake up and go to work and it doesn’t feel like a job,” he says. “It happens to provide an income for me, but if the income was less, I’d still do it.”

The Oak Bay High School grad started out washing cars at Three Point Motors just after high school, but after selling two cars on his first day as a fill-in on the floor, he was moved to sales permanently, and he hasn’t looked back since. Two years ago, Silver Arrow was poised to surpass $40 million in annual sales, and this year, business has had another uptick, even with the current COVID-19 situation.

“We’ve actually been much busier than we expected,” he says. “A lot more people are at home and having the time to buy the cars they’ve always wanted.”

This last January, Tim attended the BarrettJackson Sale in Scottsdale, Arizona as the event’s largest consigner, bringing 65 cars to the auction, including a replica Batmobile.

It was Silver Arrow’s first motion picture car, found when Tim toured a private collection in Ontario, and he sold it for $165,000 USD, just a fraction of the almost $7 million Silver Arrow ended up selling at the event.

But one of the best parts about this whole journey has been the connections he’s made, he says.

“It’s definitely the people that I’ve been able to meet. Along the way, we’ve met all sorts of successful businesspeople, entrepreneurs and all these people who have set these goals for themselves. There are a lot of dreams that have been fulfilled. A lot of longterm milestones.”

Tim Quocksister with a 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster and factory Rudge Knock-off Wheels.

As Tim explains, there were only 27 300 SL Roadsters made with these wheels, and just 1,858 Roadsters made in total, making this one extremely special. “We bought the car from Mexico, where it was delivered new, and just sold it to a client in Toronto, [for whom] we are restoring it.”

WORDS ANGELA COWAN

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Among celebrity-laden sales and purchases—Mike Tyson’s Ferrari, Simon Cowell’s Bugatti Veyron, NHL players and musicians among others—one memory stands out.

“When it’s somebody’s passion to own something one day, it’s fun when they get to finally realize that dream,” he says, and describes one particular client who’d finally bought himself a 1955 Mercedes SL Gullwing for his 50th birthday.

“I still remember the tears running down his face the day he sat in it.”

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Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

It would have to be Oprah. Adversity and success have moulded who she is in this world, and it’s amazing to see the impact she’s made.

GLUTTONY: What is the food you could eat over and over again?

The lobster, or the hot avocado salad made by Pierre at the Deep Cove Chalet.

GREED:

You’re given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

It would have to be a 300SL Mercedes Roadster, assuming we’re talking US dollars! Ha ha!

WRATH:

Pet peeves?

Dirty cars. I don’t get it. Nothing is better than a clean car.

SLOTH: Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Relaxing at our home in Cadboro Bay. We love being home and having our kids and friends there.

PRIDE:

What is the one thing you’re secretly proud of ?

My relationships that I’ve created with such great mentors in my life. So many people have helped sculpt my life.

LUST: What makes your heart beat faster?

Being behind the wheel of my Porsche race car. Nothing makes my heart beat faster (except my wife)!

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OF

IN G years

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VIBE

VIBE AWARDS HIGHLIGHT THE BEST IN VANCOUVER ISLAND HOMEBUILDING

f

By Kerriann Coady Executive Officer, Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Vancouver Island

In a year like none other the Vancouver Island Building Excellence Awards presented

by FortisBC brought their gala celebration into homes across Canada. It was social distancing at its finest with the traditional in person gala transitioning to an online celebration showcasing the best in residential construction across the Island. Broadcasted live from the Nanaimo Golf Club winners were announced by Jason Schmidt General Manager of Momentum Design Build Ltd., John Drazic CHBA VI President and Regional Energy Solutions Manager for FortisBC and Kerriann Coady, Executive Officer CHBA VI. The award ceremony opened with the smooth sounds of multi-instrumentalists Annie Hanley and Dave Devindisch of Easy Street who bring a jazzy spin to familiar musical hits. With the new People’s Choice award added for 2020 the home audience had the opportunity to vote for their favourite between seven of the finalists with the highest ranked projects. The 2020 People’s Choice Award winner is LIDA Homes Inc. “It was fantastic to see so many new finalists and winners this year, especially the strong contingent from the South Island. This year’s projects were further proof of the incredible building product that Vancouver Island has to offer to its homeowners.” said host and VIBE Chair Jason Schmidt. Energy Efficiency con-

siderations are a strong element in the judging for all the categories however there are two categories that are dedicated to high performance. Winner of the 2020 Special Achievement in High Performance New Construction, J. Zsiros Contracting Ltd., began his Net Zero project “Absolute Zero” to accomplish a technology pathway to achieve high performance affordably. This project also was the runner up in the National Housing Awards of Excellence. Alair Homes Nanaimo was the winner in the FortisBC Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency in New Residential Construction. This award recognizes a new home that integrates strategies and technologies that contribute to the efficient use of energy to reduce overall energy consumption.

The renovation categories were comprised of finalists who set the bar for the sector through their leadership, expertise and craftsmanship. The winners and finalists of the VIBE awards are industry leaders that are creating a diverse supply of homes to ensure the market has choice, comfort and personal style brought to life. Our strong renovator finalists and winners exemplify top quality renovations.

The VIBE awards are hosted by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Vancouver Island representing 160 companies across Vancouver Island as the leading voice in residential construction.

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narrative

WORDS BRUCE CAMERON

X ILLUSTRATION SIERRA LUNDY

Namgis First Nation’s Big House in Alert Bay.

SAFE PLACE IN A STORM: THE HAIDA RETURN

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n this age of COVID-19, I’m grateful to live in a place where public health has been taken seriously and the impact of the crisis has been kept to a minimum. It is easy to become complacent and it’s even easier to forget the lessons learned during previous pandemics, separated as we are by the fog of time from events like smallpox outbreaks in the 1800s and the Spanish flu in 1918.

As an avid student of history, I always stop at heritage signs to linger and learn details of the past. But even more compelling are the stories not widely told: those filled with heroism, treachery, perseverance and pestilence, such as the story of the smallpox outbreak of 1862.

My wife and I love to travel throughout BC and in particular around Vancouver Island, visiting small villages, exploring back roads, discovering abandoned town sites and enjoying beautiful beaches. One place that holds a special place in our hearts is Alert Bay, located on Cormorant Island at the north end of Vancouver Island. We love it so much that we commissioned a local Kwakwaka’wakw artist in Alert Bay to craft our wedding rings, engraving them with Kwakiutl motifs of a whale and an eagle.

Each time we visit Alert Bay, special things happen.

Once, we rounded a corner on the road just in time to see a humpback whale breach in the ocean, right in front of us. And another time, most fortuitously, we met the local Chief, who invited us to attend a potlatch at the Namgis First Nation’s Big House.

Knowing a little about First Nations customs and the special place potlatches occupy in the culture, we excitedly accepted the invitation, changing our travel plans to stay in the area longer. In the not-too-distant past, the potlatch was considered controversial, representing such an antithetical challenge to the conquering “white” culture that it had been banned. Potlatches were prohibited by law until the 1970s in many parts of North America. The ceremonies, held in long houses over several days, include story telling, singing and dancing. The potlatch was, and still remains, one of the central pillars of the oral culture of First Nations, ensuring continuity of stories, and a gracious, heartfelt transfer of wealth (whether it be a treasured carving, or a blanket or a piece of copper).

We felt blessed to be invited by the Chief. But the blessing was more of a gift than we could have imagined on that weekend in 2012. Not only was the potlatch hosted by celebrated storyteller and carver Beau Dick, it also commemorated a tragic piece of history—a story that is timely today.

As my wife and I watched the day before the potlatch, an exquisitely carved canoe pulled up to a wharf and a group of Haida disembarked. They had arrived on the island to mark 150 years since the Kwakiutl peoples had helped the Haida as they fled, increasingly diseased and overcome with smallpox, north from Fort Victoria toward their home villages on Haida Gwaii. Smallpox had ravaged the entire West Coast, spreading after a sick passenger from San Francisco landed in the small colonial outpost of Fort Victoria.

The shameful history of that period has been examined by others (The Vancouver Sun’s Stephen Hume wrote an excellent article in April 2012 on the 1862-63 smallpox epidemic, and the Haida detailed many of the events in the Haida Laas online journal). Each documents the scope of the calamity that engulfed the West Coast and especially the many First Nations, whose populations were decimated by up to 80 per cent.

Residents of BC will recognize the names of many of the key actors in the unfolding calamity, from James Douglas, the Governor General of Vancouver Island, to Doctor Helmcken and Doctor Tolmie, elected members of the new colony’s legislature. As the smallpox epidemic gained a foothold, Douglas championed “the raising of funds for a hospital,” but the legislature, in an echo of COVID battles to come, “refused enforced quarantines as an infringement on personal liberties.” Even more galling was the fact that Tolmie and Helmcken, who both had experience dealing with smallpox outbreaks in 1837 and 1857, voted against quarantine measures. Despite attempts

by Helmcken to inoculate some of the First Nations (there was a workable vaccine at the time), the legislature closed down and the leaders abandoned the colony, leaving local leaders like Police Commissioner Pemberton to cobble together a coherent response.

Pemberton, egged on by a panicked white population

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aghast at the spread of the disease among the First Nations (which made up about half of the 5,000 or so people living in or near Fort Victoria), resorted to the threat of violence.

Pemberton forced the sick and dying Haida and several other groups into their massive, sea-going canoes and had them towed by HMS ships Grappler and Forward north toward Fort Rupert. Little is known of that horrific voyage, as few of the exiled people survived the journey, but the decision to push the pestilence up the island effectively sealed the fate of thousands of villages whose populations perished in the next 18 months as refugees arrived on their shores and infected bodies washed up on their beaches.

The 2012 potlatch hosted by Beau Dick was timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Haida in 1862, and provided an opportunity for the Haida to formally thank the Kwakwaka’wakw people for their help during a time of despair and death.

The scale of devastation is hard to picture now. Beau Dick, who passed away a few years ago, recounted hearing stories from his ancestors of 1,200 big sea-going canoes full of Haida travelling south in the year prior to the outbreak past Alert Bay to Mak’toli (Fort Victoria). Only 24 canoes limped back into Bones Bay the following summer.

The full tale of the 1862 smallpox pandemic is a heartwrenching account of needless death and suffering, caused by hapless dithering among politicians, who were trying to survive a plague while facing racist xenophobic sentiment and growing panic at the edge of the colonial world. At that

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moment of history, more than half of the population of BC was Indigenous (about 32,000 of the 50,000 people), and while a few brave missionaries like Leon Fouquet and Alexander Garrett risked their lives to help provide vaccinations, the proud, self-sufficient peoples of the West Coast were mostly left to die on their own. The enduring power and resilience of First Nations culture is a testament to the survival of those peoples and their stories.

Beau Dick’s potlatch of 2012 unfolded in a mesmerizing display of artistry—starting with the carvings on the exterior of the Namgis Big House to the dazzling totems and the dancers moving enticingly around a blazing fire inside, amid chanting and drumming. One of the many highlights was the extraordinary display of masks, from small bears and frogs to an absolutely massive raven, which had to be supported by several people as the dancer moved around the fire. And, of course, it was a momentous occasion when the Haida took the floor.

We were blessed to have been there for the potlatch and for the Haida’s return to thank the descendants of those who reached out when others turned them away. In these uncertain times, as in centuries past, we all need a safe place in a storm.

Do you have a good story to tell—and the ability to write it? Boulevard readers are invited to submit stories for consideration and publication in the Narrative section. Stories should be 800 to 1,200 words long and sent to managing editor Susan Lundy at lundys@shaw.ca. Please place the word “Narrative” in the subject line.

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behind the story

PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

Tom Chudleigh, the mastermind behind the tree houses at Free Spirit Spheres, says this about sphere construction: “The spherical tree house concept borrows heavily from sailboat construction and rigging practice. It’s a marriage of tree house and sailboat technology. Wooden spheres are built much like a cedar strip canoe or kayak. Suspension points are similar to the chain plate attachments on a sailboat. Stairways hang from a tree much like a sailboat shroud hangs from the mast. Spherical architecture has many unconventional features. Conventional buildings separate walls, ceiling and floor with hard lines. In a sphere, the walls and ceiling merge into one. The function changes but the form remains the same. It is a unified structure with one continuous wall.

I call this ‘uniwall construction.’ There are only two sides to a sphere—inside and outside.”

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