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Santa’s Artisan Helpers have been Busy at Imagine That! 2
In-Person Counselling Resumes at Cowichan Family Life Association (CFLA)
We are excited to announce that the Cowichan Family Life Association office is open again for in-person counselling.
2020 marks the 50th anniversary of this amazing organization, which quietly helps thousands of Cowichan citizens who are going through rough patches. The work that we do has always been important, but now more than ever before as we are seeing increased demand for our services due to COVID-19.
We offer counselling services to individuals who are suffering from stress, depression, anxiety, grief, relationship problems and loneliness via telephone, Zoom and now in person again.
We offer packages of 8 – 1 hour sessions based on a sliding scale on your ability to pay with a cap of $30 per hour however no one is ever turned away for inability to pay. Our clinical in-take counsellor will speak with you and match you with the counsellor who would be best to help you. If another block of 8 sessions is required we will assess the situation and can provide additional support. Our sessions are confidential so that you do not have to worry about your privacy.
CFLA is unique in that it is all inclusive, we are open to everyone. We support all individuals and families no matter their personal or financial situation. We focus on strengthening each client and the family unit, thus our community.
All visitors are asked to observe the Covid-19 protocols in place when visiting our offices. We ask that you arrive no sooner than 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment and ask that you wear a mask and sanitize your hands when you come in. Each counselling room has a door where you can exit without having to return to the reception area. The counselling room allows for 6’ distancing between yourself and your counsellor and the room is disinfected before the next client is seen. We stagger each appointment by 15 minutes so that each client does not intersect with the next person.
For more information you can contact us by phone 250-7488281, e-mail us at admin@ cowichanfamilylife.org or Via Messenger at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ Cowichanfamilylife
Mission: We support individuals and families to strengthen relationships and reach their full potential.
Our vision is a thriving community of strong and happy individuals.
Tina Short, Executive Director CFLA
Our Island. Your Pharmacy.
Duncan • Lake Cowichan • Cobble Hill • Shawnigan Lake • Mill Bay • Gabriola Island • View Royal
FREE PRESCRIPTION DELIVERY - Nursing In Home Daily Medicati on Administrati on
Compounded Medicati on - Veterinary Mixtures - Compression Stocking Fitti ngs Duncan Locati ons:
192 Kenneth St. ph (250) 746-4680 I 102-330 Festubert St. ph (250) 746-7494
www.islandpharmacy.ca
Blue Christmas
The holiday season can be difficult after experiencing the loss of a loved one. Furthermore, this particular year has been especially difficult. The inability to mourn the loss of your loved one in traditional ways has become a particularly heartbreaking challenge. Simple gestures, such as the warmth of a friend’s hug, which can bring us comfort, cannot be extended nor can they be received. These acts of kindness that so often help us heal our grief has become a tremendous void in our lives.
It is important to understand that this time of year is not solely about Christmas. This time of year is also about grief. In fact, the grief that we experience during this season, when carefully acknowledged and validated, can be a helpful stage in the reconciliation of loss.
To provide guidance during these unprecedented times, Sands Funeral Chapel – Duncan would like to extend an invitation to our Virtual Christmas Candlelight Service which has been made available throughout the month of December on our Sandsduncan.ca website.
Throughout the month of December, we also invite families who have suffered loss to bring a special memorial ornament and place it on our Tree of Remembrance. Sandra, whose mother had passed away, placed an ornament that contained a delicate white feather. The feather was a reminder of her mother’s precious and pure love. Each ornament placed on our Tree of Remembrance tells the story of a life lived. Each ornament promises meaningful memories and cherished blessings.
Should you wish to place a memorial ornament on the Tree of Remembrance or receive Grief support brochures: “I can’t face the holidays!” and “A not so jolly Christmas”, please do not hesitate to call our office in advance, 250-746-5212.
Our hope is to bring Peace, Faith, Love, Hope.
Sands Funeral Chapel Virtual Christmas Candlelight Service Can be viewed throughout the month of December at www.sandsduncan.ca
Tree of Remembrance
This Memorial Tree is located at Sands Funeral Chapel, and all memorial ornaments will remain at our location and carefully placed on the Tree of Remembrance from year to year.
Submitted by Ginette Sylvianne Aubin
Zak Stolk Violin Maker 25 Years Experience of Lutherie in the Italian Tradition.
Making, repair and restoration of Violins, Viola, Cello, Double
Bass, Harp, and all manner of Stringed Instruments.
250-749-6563 zakviolins@shaw.ca www.zakviolins.com
Find us at the Duncan Farmer’s Market on Saturdays!
Charcuterie, Grazing Boxes and Entertaining Ideas www.picklespantry.ca I 250-266-2464 Upcoming EVENTS
Deerholme Truffl e Dinner I
December 12th
Deerholme Truffl e Dinner II December 19th
Gift Certifi cates Available For full details visit for Foraging Workshops, Cooking Classes and Farm www.deerholme.com to Table Dinners BY RESERVATION ONLY
Private Dinners are available • Minimum 8 people – custom menu 4830 Stelfox Rd, Duncan For ReservationS 250 748 7450
Pro Tips For Creating A Delicious and Bountiful Charcuterie
Louise Pickles, Chef and Owner www.picklespantry. ca
Before we can begin to discuss how to create the most bountiful and delicious charcuterie board for your holiday entertaining needs, we need to clear a few things up. When referring to a charcuterie board traditionally, we are talking about salted, cured, smoked or confit meats (most often pork), accompanied by a few simple sidekicks such as olives, mustards or vinegary cornichons and probably some fresh baguette or bread – oh, and wine or some other delightful cocktail to wash it all down with.
Our modern Western interpretation of a “charcuterie” board over recent years has changed this definition to include cheeses, jammy spreads, dried fruits, salted nuts, pickles, crackers and on and on. Really we should be calling such feasts of different textures and flavours “meat and cheese boards” or even “grazing boards” if we’re splashing out and adding vegetarian spreads, fresh fruits, and a crispy vegetable or two. But at the end of the day, does it really matter what we call them?!! Whether it’s a single simple salty fatty salami paired with a delightful hard cheese and a hunk of fresh sourdough bread, or a cornucopia that spreads from one end of your dining room table to the other, with some thoughtful consideration, each is fantastic in its own right and it doesn’t really matter what it’s called.
When putting together your meat and cheese board for the holidays it is important to keep things simple. Start with a few of the following core components and go from there: One maybe two dry cured or smoked meats such as an artisanal salami or even some smoky ham make a great starting point for your board, just make sure they are sliced thinly so they are easy to eat. Next, cheese. The golden rule for cheese is to pick three: one hard or firm, one soft and runny, and one blue. If blue cheeses aren’t
your thing then maybe pick a lovely piece of chevre (goats’ cheese) or fromage frais. To add something a little different at this point, a pâté or terrine is a wonderful way to add a contrast in texture and add a smooth rich flavour to your board. Now you have your basics in place, the next part of the puzzle is often my favourite… the accompaniments!
Keeping the salty, fatty richness of all of the above in mind, you don’t want to overpower the wonderful flavors that you’ve chosen. Let that runny gooey rich cheese on your baguette be the star, and compliment it by picking something with a bit of sweetness like a chutney (mild) or fruit butter (like all that apple butter you made this summer), or if you’re lucky enough to come across some, a bit of honeycomb with blue cheese is delicious.
To contrast the flavours of your meats, a vinegary crunchy traditional French cornichon is ideal – not the sugary sweet ones please. Wholegrain mustard provides a nice spicy kick to fattier charcuterie such as confits or rillettes, where meats are cooked slowly in their own fats and then shredded, well seasoned and cooled and topped with… you guessed it, more fat (for preservation purposes obviously). A fresh baguette or sourdough bread is a must, as well as a cracker – those with dried fruits, nuts and seeds in them are ideal for cheeses but less so for your cured meats, maybe here stick to something simple and light on the seasoning.
At this point try not to go overboard with other ‘bits’ as I call them, instead stick to one or two from the following depending on the size of your spread: a candied pecan or walnut for crunch (avoid salty bar snack nut mixes as your meat is already salty enough), dried fruits such as apricots, figs or apple chips are a great way to add fruit if it’s the middle of December, olives provide a great interlude between bites - don’t forget a bowl for the pits, and maybe last but not least something unexpected like that jar of pickled spicy beans, asparagus or cauliflower in your cupboard!
You don’t have to spend a fortune putting all of this together and it doesn’t need to be complicated, have fun with it, there are no rules. Pick Tasting Room Openone or two from each component mentioned above, Saturdays and Sundays 12-4 pm December 1 to December 20 let your creativity guide you, and where possible source your 250 597-4075 6798 Norcross Rd, Duncan ingredients locally from the many creators of fine To contact Louise to pre order food found in the Cowichan your charcutrie ingredients Valley and you can’t go wrong! visit www.picklespantry.ca
Karen Bernard is the Wholesale Coordinator for the Cow-Op Online Farmers’ Market.
This holiday season will look quite different for us in terms of entertaining. If nothing else, 2020 has proved that as a community, we are adaptable. Serve yourself and your family as if you were having the most important people over, break out the finest dishes and delight yourselves with special treats! Why not!? You deserve it!
To show that you are missing your extended people, send a basket filled with the items they may have enjoyed at your home if they had been able to join you. A highly anticipated event of my childhood holidays was the ‘special foods’ basket my aunt and uncle sent to our home every year. For many of us, delectables at the holidays are the ones found on those lovely cutting boards filled with meats, cheeses, pickles and fruits.
Did you know that the Cowichan Valley is home to several fine artisans of charcuterie and cheese. From Duncan, Louise from Pickles’ Pantry adds a modern twist to traditional and rustic French Charcuterie items such as pâtés, terrines and rillettes.
COW OP Marketplace CHARCUTERIE CONTEST
1. Name three ‘international foods’ crafted locally that you can order from Cow-Op. 2. Name the most unexpected item you found offered on the Cow-Op Online Farmers’ Market.
Entertaining Locked Down
The team at Cure Artisan Meats and Cheeses in Cobble Hill offers their own pates and spreads and cures or smokes a wide variety of charcuterie meats. Also from Cobble Hill, Shani and Penny at Fat Chili Farm produce condiments such as their Spicy Vegetable Pickle. At Cowichan Station, Haltwhistle Cheese handcrafts fine cheeses with their own goats’ milk and cows’ milk from a neighbouring farm. Infuse your board with local, artisan preserves made by Angie at That’s My Jam in Shawnigan and add baguettes or sourdough crafted by Bruce at True Grain Bread in Cowichan Bay. lovely Lentil Walnut Pate, and hOMe Grown Living Foods in Lake Cowichan has several ready-to-bake plant based nut, grain, and gluten free keto breads that would translate nicely to a ‘grazing board’. Try their “Rawgles” for a healthy alternative to crackers with your spreads this year!
The current conditions make it hard to easily access all of these producers, but you can have all of these items and more delivered to your door by using the Cow-Op online Farmers’ Market.
LOOKING FOR MICROGREENS? 3. What can’t you find on the Cow-Op Online Farmers’ Market you wish you could?
Please include your name and contact info along with your 3 answers and your name will be entered into a draw for your chance to win one of 3 Cow-Op Marketplace Charcuterie Gifts delivered to your door on Thursday, December 24.
Please send your entries by December 15 to info@cowichanvalleyvoice. com
* All entries must reside within the Cow-Op delivery area. Only the 3 winners will be notifed.
We grow plenty of them!
If you are trying to accommodate various diets, Pickles’ Pantry also makes a
A&S MICROGREENS
t.250-710-6135 www.asmicrogreens.com
