42 minute read
Best of Cowichan Holiday Gift Guide
BEST OF COWICHAN 2020 HOLIDAY
REIKI WELLNESS Relax with a Platinum Energy Detoxing Foot Spa or Reiki Balancing session. Relax - Balance - Energize Packages and Gift Certificates Reiki Wellness Valleyview Centre 250 743-8122 www.reikiwellness.ca WESTHOLME TEA COMPANY A tea lover’s dream. Tea For One Gift Set - large hand-built mug by Margit Nellemann, fine-mesh stainless steel teacup strainer, 100g bag of looseleaf tea 8350 Richards Trail, Duncan 250 748-3811 westholmetea.com
HANDMADE BREADBOX BY WOODWORKER FOREST TATE
For the baker in your life. Rolling tambour, mahogany, fine joinery. Fits two loaves. 250 880-2638 15102 - 700 Shawnigan Lake Rd www.foresttate.com/seasonalfeatures
MERRIDALE CIDERY & DISTILLERY
Merridale’s Yule Fuel mulled cider tastes just like Christmas. Delicious hot or cold. Proceeds go to the TLC kids fund. 1230 Merridale Road, Cobble Hill merridale.ca SPAN “Every day carry leather goods for life,” that are made on Vancouver island and will become treasured heirlooms. 1533 Joan Ave Crofton WEspan.ca
SACRED SILENCE MODERN
DAY ORACLE Gift Certificates for the BEST holiday gift experience - Intuitive Psychic & Spiritual Medium Sessions (includes a card reading) 250-710-5287www.SacredSilence.net
CLEAN CHOICE CLEANING
SERVICES Professional, eco-friendly cleaning services for home or business. A great gift idea for new moms, busy households, move ins/ outs and workplaces. 250-929-8381 www.cleanchoicecleaners.com
BRU-GOS COFFEE MILL BAY
CENTRE Locally made products, coffee accessories, artisanal chocolates and gift certificates available! 2720 Mill Bay Rd, Mill Bay Centre 250 929-2739 WARM LAND IRRIGATION Give the gift of micro-irrigation! Conserve water, preserve plant health, increase yield and eliminate stress while saving time & money! Free Estimates warmlandirrigation@shaw.ca
GIFT GUIDE • STAY LOYAL TO LOCAL!
BLUE GROUSE WINERY A perfect local gift for that wine-lover! Valid for tours, tastings, or wine. 2182 Lakeside Rd, Duncan 250-743-3834 www.bluegrouse.ca
ISLAND GEM AND BEAD SUPPLY
Custom Pieces Gift Certificates Classes for Last minute Gifts 250-510-4369 378 Trunk Rd #2, Duncan www.IslandGem.net URCHIN BAGS BY CLARE are sewn from upcycled bike tubes and reclaimed seatbelts to create unique and durable bags, wallets and accessories. Designed for both men and women. www.urchinbags.com
GROVE HALL FARM ITALIAN
KITCHEN & DELI Local, farm fresh and imported Italian foods. Gift certificates, gift baskets, custom food hampers, pizza, pasta & gelato. Online market at www.grovehallfarm.com 6159 Lakes Rd. 250-597-8388
ROCKY CREEK WINERY
6 Great gift box ideas at the winery, especially our ‘Mulled Wine’-- 2 wines, 1 tasty recipe + spices. 250-748-5622 www.rockycreekwinery.ca
MARGIT NELLEMANN HANDBUILT
CERAMICS Functional ceramics, including cups, plates and teapots, created with love and care. 8350 Richards Trail, Westholme www.margitnellemann.com
COW-OP ONLINE FARMER’S
MARKET Give the gift of supporting over 75 local farmers and food producers in the Cowichan Valley with a Cow-op Gift Certificate! www.cow-op.ca GLENORA FARM STORE Artisan gifts to brighten spirits and share the love. Hand crafted at Glenora Farm, woven, pillows, scarfs, blankets, towels, local yarn, bees wax candles, prepared herbs, and more. 5090 Indian Rd, Duncan 250 746-5313 MADE IN MEXICO Authentic 3 course meal includes starters, soups and mains. Dine in, take out, curbside pick up or gift certificates! 250-597-TACO Whippletree Junction www.madeinmexicobc.com
BEST OF COWICHAN 2020 HOLIDAY
CURE ARTISAN MEAT & CHEESE
Personalized and corporate foodie gift baskets available to suit every gift budget. Valley View Centre lower level. 250-929-2873
LOTUS FLOWER INTUITIVE PSYCHIC READINGS by KATHRYN
Personal or distant readings. Birthdays and special events. 250 891-5138 www.lotusflower.ca kathrynlotusflower@gmail.com
REFLEXOLOGY WITH JOY
Treat that special someone to a pampering Reflexology Treatment this Christmas. Gift Certificates available. 9980 Beach Dr Chemainus 250 246 1401 jstalinski@shaw.ca
KINDERBEEZ CHILDREN
CONSIGNMENTS We sell LEGO playsets! All themes! Come in and see. Hours: Mon - Sat 10am - 4pm Closed Sun & Wed. 2763 Beverly St, Duncan 250 748-2345 www.kinderbeez.ca
SHAWNIGAN COFFEE &
CHOCOLATES A delicious gift of chocolate goodness made in-house with love and care. 1761 Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Rd, Shawnigan Lk 250 733.2245 shawnigancoffee.com
ALDERLEA VINEYARDS BACCHUS
Bright fruit aromas and flavours make this wine an excellent choice for holiday celebrations and meals. 1751 Stamps Road Duncan 250 746-7122 www.alderlea.ca
NEUROHARMONY NEURO
FEEDBACK Relief from anxiety, trauma, insomnia, depression, headaches, brain fog & stress. Improves brain function. Gift Certificates for $50 intro session. 250-533-9797 www.neuroharmony.ca 44 A MEMORABLE GIFT This handmade cheese board features some of the best products that the Cowichan Valley has to offer. 6043 Rockland Terrace, Duncan 250-710-3088 www.amemorablegift.com A FRESH START Detox & Balance your Life with Personal Bach Flower Remedies, Detoxing Foot Spa, PEMF or EFT session to Restore your Vitality! Combo Sessions + Gift Certificates Available. Diana 250 597-2102 afreshstart@shaw.ca
GIFT GUIDE • STAY LOYAL TO LOCAL!
STITCHED PICTURES BY
CAROLINE STORIE: whimsical images using fabric, paint, thread and ink. Greetings cards and 2021 Calendar now available. www.stitchedpictures.com
PIZZERIA PRIMA STRADA
COBBLE HILL Delicious wood fired pizza, gelato, craft beer and local wines! Gift Certificates available on line - www.pizzeriaprimastrada. com1400 Cowichan Bay Rd, (Valley View) Cobble Hill 250 929-4655
FARM TABLE INN RESTAURANT &
FARM STORE Christmas at the Farm - NEW Holiday menu - Dine in Or Take Out - or shop our on-site Farm Store to take goodies home 250-932-3205 www.farmtableinn.ca
GLOW JUICERY AND RAW FOOD
CAFE Juice yourself to Health! A Glow Juice Cleanse makes the perfect stocking stuffer! 5380 Trans-Canada Hwy, Duncan glowjuicery.ca 250 597-2595
AMPERSAND DISTILLING
COMPANY Treat the spirit lover in your life with Per Se Vodka. Winner of the 2020 World’s Best Varietal Vodka. 250-999-1109 www.ampersanddistilling.com
CVAC ART LOVERS GIFT PACKS
Give the gift of art this holiday season with a beautifully-wrapped mug or bowl made by a local potter, two art cards from local artists and a one-year membership to CVAC, all for $45. Call 250-746-1633 to order.
EMOTION CODE BODY CODE
QUANTUM TOUCH Experience yourself at a higher resonance. Rise above day-to-day sameness. Find out what can be overcome and healed. Gift to a friend who needs it or gift to yourself! 250 597-3686 LYNNS VITAMIN GALLERY Slowburning, toxin-free, elegant...our 100% Natural Honey Candles truly are the ideal Christmas Gift - to give or receive 180 Central Rd unit #4, Duncan 250 748-4421 BOTANICAL BLISS Our Shampoo Bar is the perfect gift for anyone with hair and a desire to reduce plastic waste! Find us at the Duncan Market Saturday 10 – 2. Contactless pick up 6119 Lakeview Dr, Duncan 250-710-1276 www.botanicalbliss.ca 45
Stockings Stuffed With Art?
Twice a year the Cowichan Artisans open their studios and galleries for the well known art tour in the Valley, for people to enjoy the creations of the full-time professional artists. Finding personal gems and the great presents for Christmas becomes an experience as you travel from studio to studio. Buying hand-made by local artists is such a great way to support artists and our local economy.
This year, however, we realize that we need to do things differently.
As professional, full time artists who make our living from our art we welcome you into our space on private tours where you can receive individual attention with each artist, get some Christmas shopping done. Buying handmade gifts by local artists is such a great way to support artists and our local economy.
For a truly exceptional experience immerse yourself in the forest setting of Cathi Jeffersons pottery studio, nestled next to the Cowichan River, where she creates functional and sculptural pieces that connect you to nature through their natural tones and shapes.
Visit mixed media artist Wilma Millette, the Creartful Dodger, in her seaside studio in Maple Bay and feel yourself step into a cabinet of curiosities. Wilma creates one of a kind collage and assemblage artwork using paper ephemera from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as vintage and antique found objects.
Surround yourself in vessels to enrich and inspire on a trip to Ladysmith to visit with Mary Fox in her studio. Glass and ceramic vessels in incredible hues as well as functional pottery items and dinnerware.
So as you can see there are many amazing artists to visit! We look forward to spending time with you in a safe and relaxing way. Each Cowichan Artisan can be contacted directly by going to our web site: Cowichanartisans.com
Submitted by Donna Shaw
2020 BEST OF COWICHAN ARTISANS GIFT IDEAS
CATHERINE FRASER Expressive imagery in mixed media. Water colour, oil and acrylic paintings, prints and art cards. Phone 250-748-2067 for appointment catherinefraserart.com Irisconnection123@yahoo.com
WILMA MILLETTE of CREARTFUL
DODGER STUDIO A variety of curiously creative artwork featuring original, antique papers and found objects that make unique and affordable gifts. millettea@shaw.ca creartfuldodger.wordpress.com LIVE EDGE DESIGN Custom art furniture studio in the heart of the Cowichan Valley. Visit by appointment. 250 748 0763 www.liveedge.com
MIXED METAL MIMI Jewelry, accessories and NEW mixed media work available for purchase at www.mixedmetalmimi.com or studio visit by appointment at mixedmetalmimi@shaw.ca JENNIFER LAWSON Jennifer is a specialist in house and garden portraits. Visit the historic studio overlooking the Bay - enjoy her newest paintings, prints, giclees and cards. .250 748 2142 jlart@telus.net jenniferlawsonart.com BEV ROBERTSON ART Oil Paintings, Signs, Handmade Decor. Custom work welcomed 250 710 5200 @bev.robertson.art FaceBook Bev Robertson Art bevrobertsonwildflowerartstudio.ca
BEST O’ THE BAY I COW BAY GIFTS
Moments in Time Joanne Mitchell
A kayak glides silently through the wilderness, like a floating leaf barely touching the water’s surface. A little green heron stretches for a spider. As dusk settles, a coastal mountain range turns a hundred shades of blue. Serene, joyful moments in time that celebrate a sense of place and the natural world. For an online look at Joanne’s vibrant and sensitive paintings, visit. www.joannemitchell. com. To see her newest work ‘live’, visit her solo show Moments in Time at Portals Gallery (in the Annex), 2687 James Street, Duncan from December 3—18.
COWICHAN BAY SPA & SALON
Indulge 20% OFF Custom Spa Packages 10% OFF ALL Products Elate Make-up Special ~ Buy 3, get 1 Free / Buy 5, get 2 Free 1681 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay cowichanbayspa.com 250-597-0668
TRUE GRAIN ORGANIC CRAFT
BAKERY Mmm Gingerbread…the rich warmth of honey & molasses, mysterious spices, and irresistible organic icing. Village Centre, Cowichan Bay www.truegrain.ca CLAIRE CROWFOOT Indigenous Owned Collective featuring authentic Indigenous Artists. Our beautiful handmade soy/coconut candles are inspired by Sacred places on Vancouver Island.1725 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay clairecrowfoot.com
LISA’S OWN in Cowichan Bay has put together ‘Kindness & Gratitude Baskets‘ containing her most popular preserves and treats ($25) All ready and wrapped for giving! Pre-order at 250-746-7813 Contactless pick up in Cowichan Bay www.lisasown.com
WILDCOAST PERFUMERY True, natural botanical perfumes made in the Cowichan Valley. Contact us to private label one for their most memorable gift! 250-701-2791 1721 Cowichan Bay Rd., Cowichan Bay www.wildcoastperfumes.com
THE MUD ROOM CLAYWORKS
Everyone loves a handmade coffee or tea mug! Find the perfect one at our studio! 1725 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay (find us behind True Grain Bakery) 250-710-7329
Here’s Good News for Your Hair (and it doesnt include a plastic bottle)
One of the most disturbing things about the world of consumer goods is the monumental difference between perception and reality.
When I began designing my Shampoo Bar, I found that most commercial shampoo is the wrong ph for your hair. Your scalp is slightly acidic (lower number) on the ph scale, which prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi and the hair shaft is even more acidic. Commercial shampoo and conditioners are detergents, and most have an alkaline or basic (higher) pH and this causes hair shaft swelling. This swelling loosens the protective cuticle predisposing the hair shaft to damage. What you get is dry, frizzy unmanageable hair, sometimes with dandruff, or oily hair as you overproduce oil to repair the damage caused by the shampoo. This process also strips colour from colourtreated hair resulting in the need to colour more frequently. If your hair is unhappy, you should examine what you are washing and conditioning it with.
I won’t use commercial shampoo ever again. I use my Shampoo Bar, made with olive oil, shea butter, coconut oil and 4 essential oils and rinse with dilute apple cider vinegar (a weak acid). I wash my fine long hair less (from every second day to once a week), it combs out easily when wet (formerly impossible without conditioner), it doesn’t smell like apple cider vinegar once dry, and is incredibly soft. While I think I have made an amazing discovery, this is nothing our grandmothers and great grandmothers didn’t know as shampoo was a bar until the 1930’s and apple cider vinegar rinse was popular.
Other benefits of switching to a shampoo bar include very low cost, virtually no packaging, and everything going down your drain is biodegradable. And of course, it’s locally made by hand!
Most of us are waking up to the toxic stew of products around us and their effect on our health and the environment. We don’t want to use detergent surfactants, foaming agents, sequestering agents, preservatives, artificial fragrance and other chemicals to wash our hair. We don’t want to throw single use plastic bottles into the landfill or ocean any more. We don’t want to spend a fortune on products that don’t work for the purpose they were designed, or worse, create the very problem they claim to address. Bring your hair health back into balance and join the Clean Revolution!
www.botanicalbliss.ca
Robin Round, is a Chartered Herbalist and Aromatherapist with over 25 years of experience working with plants. THE GLENORA STORE & CAFE IS A LOCAL CORNERSTORE WITH A TWIST! Stocked with basic groceries and produce.
The cafe offers fresh baked goods, hot lunch specials, drinks, and snacks. We also sell hand-woven products, beeswax candles, and prepared herbs from Glenora Farm Outdoor heated seating 5090 Indian Road (corner of Glenora Rd & Indian Rd)
250-746-5313 I www.glenorafarm.org
Rock I Funk I Blues I Reggae I Latin I Metal Paul Jutras DRUM KIT AND HAND PERCUSSION LESSONS 35+ years experience- Private / One 2 One / Customized / Fun Beginner to advanced - In your home or in my studio in Duncan 250-732-7735 I chopsdrumschool@gmail.com
A Thriving Arts and Cultural Community NEW WORKS AT EXCELLENT FRAMEWORKS
IN WONDER OF WATER WORKS BY PAULINE DUECK
I’ve often said that many artists create deep, thought provoking work – I’m not one of them. But if I can paint something that imparts a sense of wonder or whimsy or humor, I’m all over that.
Breaking Hearts, Pauline Deuck Acrylic on Canvas, 30” x 24”
The spectacular, beautiful nature of water has always fascinated me. I grew up in the agriculture belt of Manitoba, hours from a large body of water, so an outing to the lake was extra special.
After living on the Island for 12 years, I’m still in awe of our proximity to the ocean. Water is as necessary for life as the air we breathe. It bathes, soothes, refreshes, replenishes. It is therapeutic and evokes memories of relaxation and holidays well spent. It is synonymous with luxury.
We ask the questions: “Does the hotel have a water view? Is there a swimming pool? How far to the beach? How’s the fishing?”. Water can also
GoldRUSH, Pauline Deuck Acrylic on Canvas, 72”x 36” be damaging, crashing, unrelenting in power and fury. Just as it supports life, it can take life.
I enjoy painting water because it’s like a day off. There’s a freedom in big, bold, often unplanned brushstrokes, very different than when I’m painting my more detailed muses. Water is about light, reflection, movement. It is crashing or still. Its movements are fleeting, so I don’t feel a need to micromanage details. I paint in a bold, “blendy”, color-saturated style, using acrylic paint.
I use multiple thin layers of paint, glaze and dry
My Fascination, Pauline Deuck Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 48”
brushing to create depth, complexity and a blended effect.
I hope my paintings will be a reminder of the wonder for water, perhaps triggering memories of vacations and dreams of adventures yet to come. Pauline Dueck runs December 3-24th. Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery, 115 Kenneth St., Downtown Duncan 250-746-7112 www.ejhughes.ca
Illuminated Shells by Christi York. Photo Credit: Martin Gisborne
Christi York at Aquamaris Art Gallery
Award-winning mixed media artist Christi York joins the talented gallery assembly with a selection of pieces from her Illuminated Shells series - showcasing seemingly humble and overlooked materials transformed into exquisite objects of beauty that beg the question; “What do we hold precious?”
Inspired by ancient traditions, generational knowledge and the biological complexity that surrounds us, Christi York sustainably harvests and processes all her own natural materials and, in doing so, weaves the very spirit of Vancouver Island into her art-form of contemporary sculptural basketry.
Aquamaris Art Gallery Upstairs in the historic Duncan Garage Building (Level entry from the back) Suite 202 - 330 Duncan Street December Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am-4:00pm Holiday Hours: Closed on Christmas Day & Boxing Day (250) 597-2798 aquamarisartgallery.com
The E. J. Hughes Book of Boats Avaiilable at The EJ Hughes Gallery
Boat lovers of all ages and people who enjoy the scenery of BC’s coast will delight in this charming gift book, a worthy addition to books about BC’s art history. In the course of his career, one of BC’s most beloved painters, E. J. Hughes (1913–2007), depicted paddle wheelers, steamships, fishing boats, and car ferries. Now The E. J. Hughes Book of Boats brings many of his coastal paintings of boats together in one handsome volume—a book for art lovers and boating enthusiasts alike.
Robert Amos is the official biographer of E. J. Hughes, and works with the participation of the Estate of E. J. Hughes. This new compendium features never-before-seen sketches and photographs accompanying fullpage illustrations of some of the artist’s finest works.
Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St., Downtown Duncan 250-746-7112 www.ejhughes.ca
DECEMBER ARTS
EJ HUGHES GALLERY & EXCELLENT FRAMEWORKS ENTER OUR CONTEST! Enter to win in person at the gallery, via our FB page or on Instagram to win an open edition E.J. Hughes canvas giclee of your choice. Contest runs to December 18. Gallery hours:Tuesday - Saturday 10-4pm, Closed Sunday to Monday
AQUAMARIS ART GALLERY December dazzles with the arrival of vibrant new paintings by Gail Johnson, complementing the works by newly introduced artists: oil painter Tylor McNeill, jewellery artist Wendy Pierson Diamond & glass artist Joanne Andrighetti. December Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 4:00 pm. Closed: December 25 & 26
VISIT THESE DOWNTOWN DUNCAN GALLERIES
Chemainus is one of those idyllic little towns with the charm of being small, but with so much to offer you’ll realize that it’s not just about finding the perfect gifts, it’s about enjoying the whole experience of holiday shopping.
Known for its larger than life murals and live theatre, there is so much more to discover. Maybe it was somewhere you went as a kid, or pass through from time to time, or you might even make a habit ofwandering through on a regular basis. Regardless of your familiarity with Chemainus, there are so many special things to discover in town this holiday season.
Chemainus offers the perfect mix of modern, traditional, vintage, and artisan gifts in one place. Not only that, but many businesses are committed to carrying local artists and creators, displaying works found nowhere else. Each shop has an individually curated collection of items reflecting many different tastes. There are shops that specialize in the trendy, hip and modern items that are highly sought after; jewelry
Let Chemainus Fill You With Holiday Warmth
boutiques that delicately select or create each beautiful silvery piece; stores that are filled with giftware, cards, ceramics, and keepsakes; while other shops are lined with treasures of the past, children’s items, or eccentric finds that can only be described as amazing. You can browse the highly anticipated Chemainus Public Market and its many vendors, bakers, artists, antique curators, and artisans all under one roof or simply just pick up the basics. If you can’t find it in Chemainus, you likely can’t find it anywhere.
But, the holidays aren’t only about the shopping, they’re also about the experience and warmth you get from a community like this that makes you feel so at home. So when you find yourself pulled by the savory smells begging to warm your belly, pick from one of the exquisite restaurants, artisanal bistros, gourmet cafes, world cuisine, local craft brewery, artisan pizza, or gourmet dinner theatre cabaret, and revel in all the season has to offer. When you’re done, head over to the museum for a wonderful look at our past, take a peaceful stroll in one of our many greenspaces and parks, or head down to the water’s edge and watch the tide wash in. Come for the shopping but stay for an experience to remember.
Come discover Chemainus all over again.
For more information visit our website: www.visitchemainus.ca
Get Into The Christmas Spirit at Rainforest Arts
Rainforest Arts is a shop and gallery you’ll want to visit when you’re in Chemainus, filling out your Christmas wish-list. Not only will you find a great selection of paintings, jewellery, sculpture, fabric art, pottery and cards, you’ll also find an affordable range of prices and styles. There’s something for everyone at Rainforest Arts. Art makes a great gift, and at Rainforest’s annual Christmas show you will be able to choose from hundreds of items, all produced by Chemainus and Vancouver Island artists. Each piece on the RFA’s walls or shelves is unique, and the volunteers who run the gallery will be able to help with your selection, and tell you a bit about the works and artists on display.
Shopping locally is especially important right now, and Rainforest Arts is the venue where local artists share and sell their creations. The gallery and shop is operated and owned by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society, so purchases support local
Gaia’s Garden, wall plaque by potter Peggy Grigor
artists and the organizations that foster arts in the Valley.
The gallery also likes to give customers a gift of its own at Christmas time. Two donated works by carver and wood turner Ray Sapergia will be offered as prizes in a New Year’s draw. With each Rainforest purchase, you can enter your name and increase your chances of winning one of these beautiful works.
This year Rainforest will also be helping Cowichan Women Against Violence, which offers safe housing, counselling and programs for women and children affected by abuse. Rainforest will collect essential items, useful for CWAV clients, and will have a donation box at the gallery for cash contributions. People who donate items or money to CWAV will also be eligible to enter their names in the draw for one of Ray Sapergia’s works. Find out more about Rainforest’s CWAV campaign at RainforestArts.ca/partners.
The Christmas season is about giving, and Rainforest Arts is a place where you can give to your family, friends and community, all at the same time. Christmas is also a season for receiving, so drop in and take in the ambiance at Rainforest Arts, where you can enjoy the imaginative creations of Island artists in every discipline and style. The gallery, located at 9781 Willow Street in Chemainus, is open 11 AM to 4 PM Wednesday to Sunday. More information at RainforestArts. ca or 250-246-4861. You can also email info@ rainforestarts.ca.
CraigSpenceWriter.ca
Rainforest Arts invites people to have an Artful Christmas, with its seasonal exhibition of paintings, sculpture, pottery, fabric art, cards and more. Customers can enter a draw for donated works by carver and wood turner Ray Sapergia. They can also donate to an RFA campaign in support of Cowichan Women Against Violence.
BEST of CHEMAINUS 2020 GIFT GUIDE
DOC THE BARBER Soften your skin and beard with our locally made beard oil.The light sandalwood & clove scent is gentle for masks. 9739 Willow St, Chemainus, 250 324-0362
CHEMAINUS HEALTH FOOD
STORE Beautiful selection of essential oil diffusers and accessories. Improves sleep, helps to alleviate stress and anxiety, encourages relaxation and more. 9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250 246-9838
SANDPIPER GARDENS & GLASS
Gift Certificates available. Give the Gift of Spring! 2891 Laurel St, Chemainus 250 246-2421 www.sandpipergardensglass.com
VINTIQUITY Why buy new when you can gift TREASURES! Find the perfect gift from our selecton of Vintage, Antiques and Collectibles. 9885 Maple St, Chemainus 250 324-0040
SILVERMINE ON CHEMAINUS
Fabulous selection of chains from Italy... Assorted lengths and styles. Beautiful one of a kind pendants also available. 9650 Chemainus Rd, Chemainus 250 246-5003
GALLERY GIFT SHOP - CHEMAINUS THEATRE FESTIVAl
Soapstone Carving Kit. Hands on learning and creative fun, ages 8-99. Made in Canada and created on Vancouver Island9737 Chemainus Rd, Chemainus 250 246-9820
GIFTS N THINGS has Himalayan yak wool blankets hand woven by Nepalese women. Cotton blend adds to the softness. Warm and cozy for winter. 9756 Willow Street, Chemainus 250 246 4531 54 ETC. Goat Milk is an excellent mild moisturizing bar that lathers well, rinses clean and lasts a long time. Available in 13 luscious fragrances and fragrance-free 9752 Willow St, Chemainus 250 324-2227 WIFFLE GAMES We specialize in retro video games, silver age comics and vintage toys. We have the perfect gifts for comic freaks and crazy collectors. 9756 Willow St, Chemainus, 250 324-5544
Plant Based Cheese Available In Chemainus
The Cultured Nut is an artisan, small batch, plant-based cheese company located in Victoria. Their nut based products are entirely vegan, as well as being both soy and gluten free. Regardless of whether you are choosing plant-based products out of necessity or choice, this company is here for you!
Cultured Nut products are for those who refuse to take “no” for an answer.
Over the past few years, we’ve found ourselves leaving dairy behind and moving towards plantbased options. For some of us, this was not a choice! Being unable to accept a We have everything you need for a green and healthy Christmas.
• Organic Groceries • Eco-Fabric Clothing • Natural Gifts • Stocking Stuffers • Specialty Baking • Vitamins • Gift Certifi cates!
9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250-246-9838 Hours Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Closed Sundays and Stat holidays
cheese-free future, we went on the hunt for alternative products and discovered we were not satisfied with what we found at the grocery store. The founder was determined – if she couldn’t find the vegan cheese she was looking for, she would make it herself! Once she started making cheese, the decision to share it with the world felt like the natural next step.
Their mission? To create delicious, creamy, nut-based cheeses which are perfect whether you want to make a grilled cheese sandwich on a Tuesday night, or wow your friends with a gourmet cheese plate on the weekend. They use organic products where possible and seek out the highest quality ingredients for their products.
Seven flavours are now in the shop to create your own vegan charcuterie board for the holidays.
Chemainus Health Food Store, 9738 Willow Street, Chemainus. Open Monday - Saturday.
win an original oil painting www.billhibberd.com
Warmland Snow 24X36”, Oil on canvas by Bill Hibberd
Artist Bill Hibberd
Duncan based oil painter Bill Hibberd was born in Port Alberni. After spending years in the Okanagan Valley he could not resist the lure of Vancouver Island. While he was formally educated at Okanagan College in Kelowna Bill’s personal study of past and present masterworks laid the groundwork for his artistic development. After years of painting the desert Bill is now so thrilled to explore and respond to the massive visual drama of our spectacular West Coast. He works thematically, exploring a particular subject or a particular medium over extended periods of time. Bill spent one year painting 100 portraits from life in an effort to learn how to set up and paint people. This project evolved into a collection he called “My Tribe” which was shown in several public galleries. Bill integrated gold and silver leaf into his paintings for several years and occasionally steals a bit of leaf into current work. Since moving to the Island Bill has developed a appropriate palette, sympathetic to our ocean, rivers and forests. He spends days kayaking through the rocky coastline, observing the drama of the interface between sea and land. While wandering through humid, moody forest trails Bill composes scenes that express the feeling of those sacred places. “The Watchman”was inspired by the vulnerability of our ancient forests. The raven sifts by, observing. Will we respect this place? Or will we destroy the watchman’s home?
“Warmland Snow” celebrates the sensuous forms and warm colours of Arbutus trees as counterpoints to the cool white snow which blanket an incredible display of green mosses.
“Wild Pacific” was composed from several recent camping locations on the interface. An expression of gratitude for the abundance of West Coast life.
Bill prefers to work with traditional oil paints using walnut oil as his medium. He begins with small notan (little black and white) value studies to create a design plan and then moves to a large free hand drawing in vine charcoal. When satisfied with a general composition, he will carefully wipe away most of the charcoal dust and begin laying down paint thick over thin. Bills best art occurs in process when a phenomenon the Druids called “spirit flow” visits his studio. He is currently represented by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
To win an original oil painting - discuss commissions - book studio visits- contact Bill. www.billhibberd.com 250-748-2838 billhibberdart@gmail.com
There’s something so magical about Cowichan during the holidays. Hearty winter produce fills the local restaurants, cafes, and bakeries, and a dream-like mist settles over the valley.
The mild climate means that outdoor activities - from hiking trails, to fly fishing, to Christmas displays - are enjoyable any time of day. Add a cup of hot local cider or hot chocolate and discover the wonders of your own backyard this season.
In fact, Cowichan has the warmest average temperature in Canada, meaning that as the temperature cools across the rest of the province, Cowichan offers year-round outdoor activities that you can’t find elsewhere. The long growing season means that Cowichan has become worldrenowned for its food and beverage scene. Add these two together, and you have the perfect winter getaway just 45 minutes north of Victoria!
Grow Local
Local is first in Cowichan. In fact, businesses in the region strive to work collectively - it is common to find artisan products in the local corner stores, or local farms featured on restaurant menus. The region adheres to a single tenet: locally grown and locally made.
Cowichan’s average low temperatures in the winter hover around five degrees, which means that their growing season is much longer than elsewhere in the province. Harvest season runs later, and planting starts earlier, resulting in a variety of fresh ingredients you 58
BC Discovery Centre Christmas Tree
Christmas Lives In Cowichan
can’t find anywhere else. With over 800 farms dotting the countryside, it’s almost impossible not to immerse yourself in the farm-to-table movement here. In the winter, Cowichan restaurants feature dishes made from the seasonal bounty of kale, swiss chard, carrots, Brussel’s sprouts, parsnips, squash, and rutabagas. While winter fruits like apples, quince, strawberries, and pears round out the dessert menus.
Eat Local
The number of farm-totable options in Cowichan have earned the region the moniker of “Canada’s Provence” from James Barber, host of the popular Urban Peasant. Cowichan Bay was North America’s first Cittaslow community, a designation born of the slow food movement and given to communities that feature local products and unspoiled lands. At Farm Table Inn in Skutz Falls, owners Evelyn Koops and George Gates, a Red Seal Chef, have cultivated a truly unique restaurant and B&B built around their on-site farm, which provides many of the ingredients used in their dishes.
The quaint farmhouse-style restaurant is open four nights a week and features a very popular prime rib dinner with all the fixings every Thursday! It’s prime (no pun intended) season for this dish so reservations are highly recommended.
Their 3-course holiday menu is available until December 20th and features a mouthwatering Salmon Wellington, served with seasonal vegetables and a caper dill sauce. For dessert, be sure to try the house-made lemon tart with fresh grand fir cream. They will also be offering a Christmas menu December 25, 26 and 27 that will feature
Image courtesy Tourism Cowichany Enjoy the view at Bridgemans Bistro, courtesy Bridgemans Bistro
a traditional turkey dinner. Reservations are key for them so please phone ahead to reserve a table.
The onsite B&B was the Times Colonist Readers’ Choice best bed and breakfast on Vancouver Island in 2019, and it certainly lives up to its name. The property features two cozy yet spacious rooms, each with its own mini fridge, coffee maker and kettle with supplies and private patios. Wake up to the fresh farm air and choose between an inroom continental breakfast or a full breakfast in the dining
Tofino Perfume at Wildcoast Perfumery room before heading out for the day.
Head down to picturesque Mill Bay, where you’ll find Bridgemans Bistro situated on the Mill Bay Marina. In the brisk winter months, their Seafood Puttanesca is the perfect warm-up meal! Fresh clams, mussels, prawns, and salmon served with a classic puttanesca sauce, and local fettuccine noodles from nearby Cowichan Pasta Company.
If you’re in the mood for something more festive, their Sunday Roast Beef Dinner is a must-try! Top sirloin beef served with roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables and a demi-glace. Pair it with a glass of Blue Grouse Estate Winery’s robust Quill Q Red. Beginning December 1, many boats at Mill Bay Marina will be lit up and decorated for the holidays, making it the perfect festive backdrop while enjoying your meal.
Cowichan is home to a vibrant artist and artisan producer community, and the locally made products bring visitors from around the province each year. Everywhere you turn, you’ll find something to catch your eye, from antiques and fine art to First Nations creations, fashions, arts & crafts, jewelry and more.
Nestled in the seaside village of Cowichan Bay, just north of Victoria, you’ll find many artisans focused on creating unique gifts and craft goods made from local ingredients. One of the most unique spots is Wild Coast Perfumery, where they create purely natural, location inspired perfumes.
Hand blended from a variety of essential oils, absolutes and tinctures from needles, leaves, flowers, lichen, and fungi sustainably harvested from local forests! Botanical perfumes already adapt to your body’s individual chemistry making them quite uniquely your own. Or you can choose to intensify your selection for a deeper, moodier vibe.
Wild Coast Perfumery can also create a special label for your intensified version, making for a truly memorable gift. Be sure to book ahead for bespoke labels. Shipping or curbside pickup is available online. While in Cowichan Bay, be sure to stop into True Grain Bread for some amazing goodies, and
Merridale Christmas Light Up, Merridale Cidery and Distillery
FEATURE COMMUNITY Chemainus
With so much to offer, Chemainus is the place to be inspired this holiday season. Entertain your senses with the delectable menus of Chemainus’ exquisite restaurants, artisanal bistros, gourmet cafes, world cuisine, local craft brewery, or a gourmet dinner at the many restaurants. Explore the boutique shops dotting the town – a perfect mix of modern, traditional, vintage, and artisan gifts in one place. Shopping here is truly exceptional, with an abundance of original, local, and hand-made items.
Visit one of our many antique shops lined with treasured of the past, take a look at beautiful and original pieces by local artists, or browse through the fabulously curated gifts lining the shelves of many other shops. Take a stroll through our Wednesday craft market or browse the many booths in the Chemainus Public Market.
Head over to the museum for a wonderful look at our past, take a peaceful stroll in one of our many parks, or head down to the water’s edge. Come to browse and make it an afternoon to remember. Explore one of the most beautiful communities on Vancouver Island.
Beachology for some unique and locally made gifts. At nearby Merridale Cidery & Distillery in Cobble Hill, you can stock up on the holiday essentials at their farm shop, including mulling spice packs to make your own mulled wine and cider. They also sell homemade bread, jams and preserves. Be sure to stock up on the popular Apple Blossom Honey and Apple Butter!
Locals will also be excited to know that Merridale has brought back their popular lights display, because all need some holiday joy! The team invites you to immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas from November 21 to January 3 at the Merridale Farm. Take an enchanting stroll through their courtyard where you’ll find thousands of twinkling lights, and holiday displays. It’s family friendly and even Fido is welcome on a leash. Best of all it’s free – Merridale’s gift to you. By wearing masks and practicing social distancing, we can all enjoy some holiday magic this season.
Make your reservation for Farm-to-Fork holiday dinners at Merridale.ca, or join them for lunch, sipping and shopping seven days a week – no reservations required.
Whatever you’re in the mood for this holiday season, you’ll find it all in your own backyard in Cowichan.
Stock up on homemade goods at Merridale. Credit Merridale Cidery
For more details head to VisitChemainus.ca
businesses to participate
around the world and its associated social and economic stressors can undermine children’s development and well-being. Not only must they cope with major changes to everyday life, such as physical distancing and home confinement, but young people may not be receiving the critical supports they need when community services are limited and fewer adults have Big Brothers direct contact with them. The good Big Sisters’ news is that research on resilience shows
Festival of Wreaths that protective factors can buffer Unleash your Holiday Spirit and help raise harm and increase the chances they adapt funds for young people in positively to adversities such the Cowichan Valley! Big as the COVID-19 pandemic. Brothers Big Sisters of the Having a mentor has been Cowichan Valley is hosting proven to be a critical the Festival of Wreaths protective factor for young and we have invited local people. children from in this holiday celebration. How our mentors visit Local businesses throughout with their mentees will the Cowichan Valley need to adapt during any have generously donated COVID-19 outbreaks and beautifully decorated wreaths our mentoring programs that include a minimum of are being adapted to allow $50 worth of merchandise for virtual contact between and/or gift certificates. These mentors and mentees. amazing wreaths are listed Matches may be switching online in our Facebook between low-contact faceauction that is running to-face and virtual meetings from December 1st through depending on public health December 15th. 100% of recommendations, the type proceeds support young of mentoring program, and people locally through our the permission granted by all mentoring programs. Check match participants. We are out our auction on Facebook working hard to continue to at @BBBScowichanvalley. support young people in our community while keeping Your help is needed now everyone safe. Children and more than ever to support the youth are counting on you Cowichan Valley’s children now more than ever! If you and youth during these are interested in becoming uncertain times. COVID-19 a mentor, visit our website has brought an increased www.bbbscowichan.ca or call level of worry to many people the office 250-748-2447.
Island Hellerwork & Somatic Counselling ALIGN - CONNECT - EMBODY
Heal Trauma Increase Vitality Improve Posture & Alignment Freedom From Chronic Pain & Injury Improve Movement & Flexibility Heal Anxiety & Depression Better Sports Performance islandhellerwork.com I 250-661-1687
We’ve a whale of a good reputation!
• Pool installs & liner replacements • Hot tub service, including bio-fi lm fl ushes • Equipment repair/replacement & supplies • Inspections & consultations
Contact Mike, owner & certifi ed technician CALL: 250-466-4050 I TEXT: 778-837-0138 orcaspaservice@gmail.com www.orcapoolandspa.com
Hot Tubs And Elephants...
Guess what? Purchasing a hot tub to relieve a medical condition could potentially be a tax right off for you!*
This year many families replaced travel plans by investing in their backyard as a stay-cation haven. Hence, hot tubs are - ahem - a HOT commodity.
Due to C19, manufacturers of hot tubs are on limited production schedules, while trying to respond to high demand (and the same applies to pools.) If you are planning a new hot tub purchase – even from C***co - expect to wait awhile... probably until next year to receive it. Yup. Next year.
Sooooo.... what about buying a used hot tub? Well, make sure there’s not “an elephant in your hot tub!” Here’s three things to consider:
1) never buy a hot tub that is sitting empty, always assess it while it’s full & running
2) consider hiring a professional, like us, to inspect the tub (or pool) before you buy - same as you’d hire a mechanic for a used car or a house inspector for a home purchase.
AND 3) if you do buy a used hot tub (or you acquired one through a home purchase), for goodness sake, do a spa flush! Visit Orca’s website for a DIY option, or call us to do it for you.
Stay tuned for upcoming articles about best practices for pools & hot tubs.
Meantime, Happy Tubbing through the Festive Season! To your health and wellness!
www.orcapoolandspa.com
restrictions Christmas celebrations will be smaller and more subdued. To brighten up the darkest time of the year many of us will be looking to bringing a tree into the home and decorating it with lights to create a festive atmosphere of Living trees have the advantage going into the landscape and being remembered for Christmas past.
This year may be a special Christmas you want to reflect back on. These live trees are coming from the depth of winter into warm, spring-like conditions. Their stay should be limited to about 10 days. A realistic time would be from Dec.
Care for 15 to Boxing Day. Living trees need Christmas Trees daily watering and a saucer to protect the Bernie Dinter, local nursery will have many Horticulturist and species of spruce and fir with owner of Dinter’s Nursery forms suitable for Christmas.
This year with Covid floor or table. Your Fresh cut trees are grown specifically for the holiday season and can be chipped and returned to the soil as mulch. As a naturally shaped tree, the branches are spaced with room to hang ornaments. Often, they are sheared into a tight, dense forms that the decoration have to be draped over. Douglas
Fir is the most popular species locally, but Nordmann, Fraser and Noble Fir make excellent trees with their colour, texture and fragrance.
Tree size should be selected to fit the scale of the room considering its height and diameter, so the tree does not overwhelm the room. When lighting up have about 50 LED lights per foot to not to be overwhelmed by the decorations. Follow a theme by placing the larger element at the top and moving down, filling in with smaller elements.
Have the glass and shimmering ornaments close to the lights. Step back periodically to look at the tree as a whole.
With a beautifully decorated tree, family can enjoy the festive season, reflecting on this challenging year and anticipating the coming year. This brings comfort during the darkest and coldest time of the year. Gifts for Gardeners Open until Christmas Eve
Stocking stuffers Hand Tools Garden Themed Giftware Poinsettias and Flowering Plants Tropical Plants and Decorative Pots Trees! from Live Table Tops to Quality Cut Trees
NOT SURE ? TRY OUR GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR GARDENERS See our table for ideas on hardy winter planters. www.dinternursery.ca 5km South of Duncan on Hwy 1
