The Female of the SpeciesMatinee The Mercury Players 2:30pm Heritage Hall, Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram St , Duncan $20-$25 shauna. clinging@mercuryplayers.org
1-3pm Rainforest Arts, 9781 Willow St. Chemainus also Dec 15
2Cowichan Valley Naturalists CoffeeHouse: Hilary Emberton will present “A Nature Trip to Costa Rica”9:30am Free event Fish Health Building 1080 Wharncliffe Rd Duncan
2&9Reading and discussion group; Final Report of the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, 1:30-3pm Cowichan Library 2687 James St Duncan FREE
3Dr Steve Michaluk, Osborne Bay Dental 11am Community Farm Store Preregister FREE
Inspired By Reading Open Bookclub Jennie’s Boy by Wayne Johnston 6:30-8pm SC Library Mill Bay Centre
5Abstract by Nature:Jon Hoskins Art Opening 4:30 - 6:30 pm CVAC Annex 2687 James St Free
6John Reischman and the Jaybirds, 7:30pm, Vimy Hall, 3968 Gibbins Rd, Duncan islandfolk.tickit.ca $30
6&7Midtown Merry Affair Holiday Artisan Market Fri 4-8pm Sat 11am-3pm Trembling Aspen Pottery Studio 2884 Laurel St. Chemainus FREE
7Wreath Making Workshop 2:30-4:30 pm $85 or 6-8 pm $115 both workshops include all supplies. Evening event incl. wine & charcuterie Old Farm Garden Centre 5174 Francis St, Duncan www. oldfarmgarden.ca
Christmas Wonderland at St. Peter Quamichan 10:30am-3 pm Lunch, Sweet Shoppe and Craft & Gift Stall 5800 Church Rd (off Maple Bay Rd) Lunch $25 11:30-12:30pm must be reserved and paid for in advance 250-746-6262
Big Hank’s Tribute to the Blues Songs of Christmas w/ Smoking Hot Toasters 7:30pm Osborne Bay Pub, Crofton 250 324-2245
Lantern Making at Shawnigan Village Light Up 4-6:30pm Family friendly!
Acoustic Jam Seasonal Gathering 3:30-6:30pm , All levels welcome, Mill Bay Comm Hall
The Hub’s Annual Holiday Market 10am-4pm 2375 Koksilah Road, Cowichan Station Free
9Hospice Movie ‘Beethoven’s Nine’ 7pm $17 CPAC 2687 James St. Duncan 250-748-7529 cowichanpac.ca
10100 Women Who Care Cowichan Quarterly Meeting 7-8 pm Best Western Cowichan Valley Inn 6457 Norcross Road, Duncan FREE
11Six by Six Exhibition & Silent Auction Holiday Party, 2-5 pm CVAC Main Gallery 2687 James St Everyone welcome Free
12Creators Circle 1-3:15pm - Bring your creative projects, Shawnigan Lk Comm Centre
13East Coast Festive Kitchen Party 1-3pm Music, homemade food and fun everyone welcome Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram St., Duncan FREE
HUB Film Club PERFECT DAYS 7pm 2375 Koksilah Rd. hubfilmclub@gmail.com
14Biokinesiology Testing with Monica Sebastian Community Farm Store. $60./ hr. Call 604-726-0764 to book Appt.
145 Whiskey’s Deep 8pm $20 Osborne Bay Pub, Crofton 250 324-2245
15Winter Harp 2pm $38/$35sen/$10std $90 for family (2 adults/2 child) www.cowichanpac.ca
Christmas Candlelight Service 1pm and Grief and the Holidays 2pm Sands Funeral Chapel, 187 Trunk Rd, Duncan Free
17Cowichan Valley Naturalists’ Winter gathering - potluck finger food. Guest Speaker: Caroll Simpson, author of “Alone in the Great Unknown”Fish Health Building 6:30pm 1080 Wharncliffe Rd Duncan
19Boogie By The Bay - Blues Jam 7pm
Osborne Bay Pub, Crofton 1534 Joan Avenue
Yule Firebird 8pm Osborne Bay Pub, Crofton 250 3242245 eventbrite.ca
22Winter Spiral Walk & Singalong Lanterns welcome! 4-5pm Shawnigan Pavilion, Elsie Miles Park Family friendly, song booklets available
26-28The Shawnigan Players present “Puss in Boots”pantomime by Stuart Ardern 7pm Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram St. $15/$10 under 18 Tickets @Ten Old Books or online shawniganplayers.com
29&31“Puss in Boots” MATINEE pantomime by Stuart Ardern 2pm Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram St. $15/$10 under 18 Tickets @Ten Old Books or online shawniganplayers.com
29The Annual Christmas Bird Count Dawn til dusk If interested in participating email cmilo@telus.net
30The Shawnigan Players present “Puss in Boots” - a pantomime by Stuart Ardern 7pm Duncan United Church 246 Ingram St. $15/$10 under 18 Tickets @Ten Old Books or online shawniganplayers.com
31New Year’s Eve w/Thick as Thieves - 3 Course Dinner & Show 6pm & 7pm Seating Osborne Bay Pub, Crofton 250 324-2245
New Year’s Eve Community Dance with Unfaithful Servants, Eagles Hall, 2965 Boys Rd, Duncan, BC, $55 (tickets sold in advance cowichanfolkguild.ca)
December Facial Specials
#1 Uplift your senses and experience glowing results with this 1 HOUR festive facial. Feel tension melt away as strawberry, rhubarb and chocolate nurture your skin with long-lasting hydration to enhance your natural glow.
ALSO---WE WILL ADD A COMPLIMENTARY 30 MINUTE BACK MASSAGE TO YOUR FACIAL!
$115 ($65 savings)
#2 For a quick, glowing and luminous complexion, this decadent 30 minute Enzyme Peel will deeply exfoliate and improve the appearance of fine lines and uneven skin.
$50 ($40 savings)
Genoa Integrative Health & Wellness Contact at 250-701-5380 GenoaLaserTherapy.com
November 2024 Issue 192
Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine
Publisher Richard Badman
Editor Sheila Badman
Contact us at: editor@cowichanvalleyvoice.com
250 746 9319 6514 Wicks Rd, Duncan BC V9L 5V2 Visit us online at www.cowichanvalleyvoice.com
Proofreader Distribution
Diana Pink Shannon Faughnan
Advertising Enquiries Please Contact us at info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com for A rate card, monthly offers and print ad specials.
Next Ad Deadline November 15 for December 2024 Issue 193 *Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire. COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE!
Next EVENTS DEADLINE December10 for January 2025 Issue 194 E-mail: Date, Event Title, Time, Location and Cost w/ subject “EVENT” to events@cowichanvalleyvoice.com
Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit submitted listings due to space limitations
SPECIAL THANKS TO FOLLOWING VALLEY VOICES
Heather Plett, Alle, Alistair MacGregor, Monica Gurzinski, Michelle Staples, Katie Daniel, Fraser Clark. Margit Nellemann, Morgan Saddington, Olivia Jackson, Craig Spence, Jeremy Walsh, Laura Faulkner, Dorian Redden, Cari Burdett, Ranji & David, Bill Jones, Grant Easterbrook, Brad Boisvert, Rebecca Papadopoulos, Chris Turyk, Lisa Kouri, Stephanie Farrow, Krystal Aikman, Sue Stockand, Vida Glaser, Amy Luck-MacGregor, Bernie Dinter, Vanessa Maben-Hamer, Tamara Dawn, Jack Connolly, Claire, Steve Elskens, Dr. Steve Michaluk, Dawn Howlett, Liv Goldberg-Goris, Teddy Kellam, Tina Foster, Anyes and the Soul Comfort team, Allysa Simmons, Ricki Weissbach, Sandy McPherson, Germana Rovinelli Faynixe Chartrand, Denise D’Fantis, Melissa Brown, Nettie Leeflang, Debbie Wood, the lovely Georgia Nicols, Nicolette Genier, and the wonderful staff at the Community Farm Store.
We welcome your story ideas & photo submissions; however Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit all submissions for space, clarity, content and style. The opinions expressed in Valley Voice Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers or other contributors. Please send a query email with your suggested topic prior to sending your article as space is limited and may not always be available.
Valley Voice Magazine is distributed through 450 + select locations throughout the Cowichan Valley- Malahat, Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Cherry Point, Duncan, Cowichan Bay, Crofton, Chemainus and Salt Spring Island and to Cowichan Lake, Ladysmith, Victoria, Tofino and Parksville
This month’s cover image was chosen by a dear friend Naia Louise who was visiting from France during production. She said it inspired her to go into the forest and pick conifers, pair them with pinecones and scent them with cinnamon sticks for the holiday season. She hopes it inspires you to do the same.
250 746-9319 I Text: 250 709-8846 info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com
Ink & Watercolour Sampler Workshop with Penny
Six Reasons Why You Should Take an Art Class
Submitted on behalf of Cowichan South Arts Guild, by Heather Plett
Iusedto have an irrational fear of artist paint tubes. It’s not that I had nightmares about them attacking me - just that I felt overwhelmed when I’d stand in the art aisle of the local craft store, not knowing where to start or how to make choices about paints or brushes. I longed to make art, but I’d get stumped and feel foolish about asking for help, so I’d walk away with nothing.
Then, in 2009, back when it was trendy to pick a word at the beginning of each year instead of a New Year’s resolution, I chose “fearless” as my word for the year. I’d recognized a few fears holding me back from trying new things and made it my goal to push through those fears to see what was on the other side. One of those fears was artmaking. I signed up for an art class, braved the art aisle for the assigned supplies, and showed up, shy and insecure, for the first day of class.
From the moment my paintbrush hit the paper, I was in love. As I painted, my mind cleared, and I felt like I was being transported to another place. It was soothing
and inspiring, and I knew I’d just discovered something that would change my life. Since then I’ve taken many art classes and plan to take many more.
Here are a few reasons why you should do the same:
Art-making expands your creativity and problem-solving ability. Studies have shown that students who participate in art classes also have improved writing skills. It’s a holistic practice – one art form can help you tap into creativity in other forms as well. Art-making changes your relationship with mistakes. Art-making is all about practice and you can’t practice something without making mistakes along the way. You get to learn from your mistakes and practice self-acceptance in the process.
Art-making lowers stress. Recent studies, which measured cortisol levels before and after people took part in artistic activities, demonstrated that 45 minutes of creative pursuits dramatically reduces the stress on your body.
Art classes help your brain. In rehabilitation medicine and the field of neuroscience, there is increasing evidence that art enhances brain function by impacting brain wave patterns, emotions, and the nervous system. Art allows you to see the world differently. When you’re learning to make art, you learn to witness and interpret the world through new lenses. Maybe you need to get down on the ground to look at the immensity of a tree, or you have to pause long enough to see all of the colours in a flower. Your relationship with the world is changed as a result.
Art classes are great places to meet interesting people. If you want to make new friends, what better place to find interesting people than in art classes where people tend to be more playful and open to new experiences of the world?
Give yourself a gift for Christmas - CSAG offers monthly Sampler Workshops for people to try various new creative opportunities, look us up: cowichansouthartsguild.com
Here is what recent Sampler Workshop participants have said:
DECEMBER 3 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
by Reading Bookclub Jennie’s Boy by Wayne Johnston South Cowichan Library, Mill Bay Centre
DECEMBER 7 4 pm - 6:30 pm Lantern Making at Shawnigan Village Light Up
DECEMBER 8 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm Acoustic Jam Seasonal Gathering All Levels Welcome Mill Bay Community Hall
DECEMBER 12 1 pm - 3:15 pm CREATORS CIRCLE Bring your creative projects, Shawnigan Lake Comm Centre
DECEMBER 22 4 pm - 5 pm Winter Spiral Walk & Sing-a-long
song booklets
(Lanterns welcome!) Shawnigan Pavilion, Elsie Miles Park
“That was such a fun 4 hours and what a lovely clan of like minded folks, thank you thank you for inspiring me. CSAG you rock!” (GF)
“Thank You! This ...workshop was inspiring, lots of fun, with an awesome instructor” (NL) “Thank you for such an informative,
well prepared, & planet-friendly workshop experience !! I really appreciated the way you began by creating a sense of community within the group, & included so many opportunities for deeper reflection within the context of workshop, I am inspired in more ways than one” (JS)
Boden
WAYNE KOZAK QUARTET JAZZ AT OSBORNE BAY
He honed his jazz skills in Vancouver’s thriving music venues in the early 1970s, including the iconic Cellar jazz club, opening for the likes of Ornette Coleman and Herbie Hancock. Wayne went on to become a mainstay of the Canadian jazz scene as a founding member of Cobra,
one of Canada’s first fusion jazz groups.
Kozak, perhaps best known as the tenor sax man for the legendary Powder Blues Band, became a sought after session musician and performer who worked with such stars such as Tina Turner, Tom Jones, Bryan Adams, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Loverboy, and Randy Bachman. Wayne also played with Vancouver artists Long John Baldry, Jim Byrnes and Hans Stamer. He now lives in the Cowichan Valley where he performs Jazz, Blues and Contemporary Music.
Wayne will be performing at the Sunday Jazz Show at the Osborne Bay Pub on December 8, 2 -4 PM with his Quartet featuring John Wade, Trevor Davies, and Peter Gillespie. $20 at the door.
Gifting A New Space
We are thrilled to introduce our new Gift Gallery at the Teashop - a haven for tea lovers and gift seekers.
Our Gift Gallery is a wonderful stage for Vancouver Island artists to showcase their authentic, handcrafted pieces, inviting you to find something special available all year round. Meet our artists! Melissa Searcy, based in Victoria, carefully crafts elegant porcelain and ceramic mugs, adding a touch of delicacy to your tea time. Kelsey Bullen, from Qualicum, creates timeless ceramic matcha bowls and mugs with each glaze designed and formulated in house, making her work truly unique. Maude Joe, based right here in the Cowichan Valley, hand knits genuine Cowichan Tea Cozies exclusively for Westholme. Check out all her latest designs and enjoy an art piece that also acts as the perfect companion to keep your teapot warm!
We invite you to experience this exceptional blend of tea and artistry at our annual Open House at the Teashop from 9am-6pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 6th, 7th and 8th.
This event gives us the opportunity to say thank you for your incredible support over the past 16 years of growing tea culture in the Cowichan Valley and beyond. Come share the warmth of the season by the wood stove as you delight in tasting complimentary teas + treats, shopping 10% off gift sets,
Clay
participating in our Cowichan Tea Cozy draw with any in store purchase, and perusing our new Gift Gallery space.
Of course, this is all displayed alongside our Teashop, where you can explore the world of tea culture through our collection of locally, hand blended Westholme teas and tisanes, 150+ organic loose teas and tisanes from around the globe, special reserve of our farm grown tea, as well as newly imported rare teas.
We look forward to seeing you at our annual December Open House weekend to celebrate the launch of our new Gift Gallery and connect with our wonderful community!
Happy Steeping!
Alle, Westholme Tea Company Communications + Marketing
Well
Gift Gallery, Westholme Tea Company
CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR AT PROVIDENCE FARM
Celebrate the season at Providence Farm’s Christmas Craft Fair! Explore handmade treasures from local vendors, enjoy festive hayrides, and bid in our silent auction. Capture the moment with Santa photos and savour delicious Christmas treats. With free entry and parking, it’s the perfect holiday outing for the whole family. Don’t miss this day of festive fun and community cheer! Join us on Saturday, December 7, from 9am to 3pm at 1843 Tzouhalem Road in Duncan.
Christmas Tree Hunting Adventures in the Cowichan Valley
MacGregor is the MP for CowichanMalahat-Langford. He serves as the NDP’s Critic for Justice, Public Safety, and deputy Agriculture.
Toproperly get into the holiday spirit, one of the things I really enjoy doing with the kids is setting off in search of the perfect Christmas tree to form the centrepiece of our living room during the festive season.
There are some amazing tree farms in the Cowichan Valley, but did you also know that you can apply for a Free Use Permit from the provincial government, which allows families to go out onto designated Crown land, find and cut a Christmas tree for personal use? These designated areas are usually a 3-metre buffer beside certain
Forest Service Roads. In this way, families can find that perfect tree and help keep the roads clear from encroaching tree growth.
When I adventure out with my three daughters in our old farm truck into the forest, I’m hoping we enjoy the luck of previous years in finding a day with some lightly falling snow, which adds a beautiful seasonal element to our hunt. Unlike a genuine Christmas tree farm, the roadside attractions on a forest service road were not grown for this purpose – they come in all shapes, sizes, and quality. They can also play hard to get; they’re growing on steep embankments and do not always present as well as they looked from the car
window when driving by. This is the added challenge and fun of the hunt.
However, we always find the tree that everyone’s happy with and come home with a great sense of accomplishment when hauling the tree through the front door, setting it up, and decorating. Like many folks in our communities, my job can keep me away from the family for extended periods of time, so I really treasure these moments.
I’m very much looking forward to coming home mid-month to spend time with family and in our beautiful communities. Whatever traditions or celebrations you honour this holiday season, I want to wish you the very best with your friends, family, and loved ones. I hope you all stay safe as we approach a new year in 2025.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Alistair
St Peter Quamichan Christmas Wonderland
The Anglican Parish of St. Peter Quamichan is hosting a Christmas Wonderland Luncheon and Sale. This event welcomes all ages! Our traditional festive lunch will take place from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. The menu is gluten-free, and it will feature pork loin and apple sauce along with tasty side dishes and a seasonal dessert. Tickets are $25 each and must be reserved and paid for in advance. This can be done by calling the church office at 250-746-6262 or emailing admin@stpeterduncan.ca
In addition to lunch, visit our Sweet Shoppe and Craft and Gift Stall from 10:30 to 3 p.m. At the Sweet Shoppe, you will be able to purchase boxes of homemade Christmas cookies and squares. Each box (priced at $12) will contain an assortment of the holiday
classics like gingerbread cookies and sugar cookies along with new favourites like peanut butter marshmallow squares and chocolate pecan turtles. There are a limited number of cookie boxes so make sure to call or email the church office and preorder your boxes. They are perfect as a housewarming gift or if you have a business, to give to your loyal customers! The Craft and Gift Stall will sell quilted placemats and table runners, soup bowl cozies, tote bags, jams and jellies, soup mixes, knitted items and more. There will also be some gluten-free baking!
Enjoy a relaxing day on the beautiful grounds of St. Peter’s on Saturday, December 7 from 10:30 am to 3 pm St. Peter Quamichan is located at 5800 Church Road (off Maple Bay Road). We hope to see you there.
The Cowichan Performing Arts Centre is proud to present Laila Biali’s Wintersongs & Holiday Classics featuring Jane Bunnett & strings on Sunday, December 8 at 3pm.
In support of her highly-anticipated new album, multiaward-winning vocalist, pianist and songwriter Laila Biali brings Wintersongs & Holiday Classics across Canada. Experience winterinspired original music alongside thrilling arrangements of secular and sacred classics featuring fellow JUNO winner and GRAMMY nominee Jane Burnett, strings and other special guests – an enchanted world of snow-swept landscapes, twinkling lights, and the magic of the holiday season.
CBC’s Laila Biali Wintersongs & Holiday Classics
Multi award-winning singersongwriter, pianist and CBC Music national radio host Biali has headlined festivals and venues spanning five continents from New York City’s Carnegie Hall to Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, and supported international icon Sting. Her JUNOnominated 2023 album, Your Requests, featured a stellar cast of guests and received a 4.5 star rave review in All About Jazz.
In 2020, Laila was honoured by SOCAN Music with the Hagood Hardy Award for Excellence in Songwriting. The previous year, Laila’s eponymous release won her a JUNO for “Vocal Jazz Album of the Year” and top prize at the Canadian
Songwriting Competition in the Jazz category. Laila was the youngest-ever double winner at Canada’s National Jazz Awards when she was named “SOCAN Composer of the Year” and “Keyboardist of the Year”
Laila is bringing the live presentation of Wintersongs & Holiday Classics to stages around the world with a virtuosic ensemble that includes Jane Bunnett, members of the Venuti String Quartet and other special guests.
Tickets to Laila Biali are $38 for adults, $32 for seniors and $20 for students/children. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 250-7462722 or by visiting the Ticket Centre. Tickets at the door will be subject to seating availability. For further show information and trailers, visit our website at www.cowichanpac.ca.
Holiday Shopping
Check out the CVAC galleries for a selection of original art and artists cards – something for every taste and price point. Plus – wear your best seasonal garb to the free Holiday Party on December 18!
Abstract by Nature:
Jon Hoskins
December 4 – 20
Art Opening December 5
Artist Jonathan Hoskins participates in exhibitions up and down the Island, receiving accolades for dynamic use of colours, multilayered textures, values and techniques. “I create art you can live with; that reveals itself over time, inspection & different light.” Meet Jonathan in person at the Art Opening on December 5, 4:30 - 6:30 pm.
Artist Card Sale
December 11 -21
Our second annual Artist Card sale features hundreds of cards from local artists. Artist cards accompany presents or make
wonderful stand-alone gifts. Six by Six Fundraiser Extended December 11 – December 21
Holiday Party December 18, 2 5 pm
About Us
Salish Sea: Lego Show
December 11 – 21
Every year kids, families and school classes submit creations for the Lego Show. This year’s theme, Salish Sea, was chosen by staff and students at Khowhemun Elementary. You’ll love these fun and thoughtful creations!
Call to Artists
Animalia: A Wild Return
You’ll find exquisite, shelfsized artworks on wideranging themes – landscapes, abstract, florals, creatures and more. In-person, Silent Auction bidding until 5 pm on December 18. And don’t miss our free Holiday Party, on December 18 too.
CVAC Gift Certificates
Put a CVAC gift certificate under the tree. Certificates apply to art, workshops, kids’ camps, gallery rental and more. Available at CVAC or call 250.746.1633
The Animalia exhibition was wildly popular in 2022 so we’re bring it back! Artists are invited to register for this show that welcomes wide interpretations about animals – real and imagined. Register soon – the show opens in January. Registrations accepted until capacity reached. See “Call to Artists” on our website.
Winter Workshops
Registration is open for CVAC’s Winter 2025 workshops. Something for all ages and skill levels. Pro-D Day Camps too! For details and registration see “Workshops and Events” on the CVAC website.
Open Studio
Most Mondays 10 am - Noon These free drop-in sessions run December 2, 9 & 16.
CVAC operates two community art galleries, hosting up to 30 shows annually at its art space in the Cowichan Community Centre in Duncan. Founded in 1971, CVAC programs workshops for youth and adults in its studio space. 2687 James Street, Duncan www.cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca
Saturated Play, Jon Hoskins
Your Personal Shopper
Imagine you had a personal shopper at your disposal who could hand-select the very best that Island artists create. Imagine that you could step into a warm and comfortable shop which displayed all of these choices at your fingertips, just waiting for you to make your final decisions. You don’t have to imagine it, because at Imagine That! that is precisely what awaits youlocally-made hand-crafted work from 60-some Island artists, chosen with care. Browse our street-level display windows first, then step into a festive atmosphere of beautiful gifts.
The shop started with a conversation among a handful of artists in 1994. They discussed the idea of creating a year-round indoor venue in which the work of Vancouver Island artists would be showcased. They decided that the work should be juried – meaning that possible entries were carefully considered before acceptance. Others came on board to work out the details and Imagine That! was born. Thirtyone years later the shop thrives on 251 Craig Street in downtown Duncan, just across from City Hall.
To open a shop entirely devoted to hand-crafted, Island-made artwork was a conscious decision, and had an element of risk. Today’s concept of buying local has become a guiding principle for many, but our founders took the leap long ago and it has reaped rewards for
SHOP WITH US
Tuesday - Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 3pm
Unique at Imagine That! is the opportunity to make a personal connection with the artists. On every visit you will meet at least one of the artists whose work is in the shop. This gives both creator and customer the opportunity to develop a relationship and fosters a deeper understanding of what goes into the creation of work.
You’ll find an incredible variety of paintings, giclées, prints, pottery, glass, wood, metal, fibre, jewellery, photography, wearable art, home décor, soaps, art cards, and that occasional work of whimsy that defies a category. You’ll recognize familiar names of artists with established reputations. You’ll discover artists new to you, who will dazzle with that something different you’ve been looking for. You’ll find a very affordable price range for your budget, and you’ll be pleased and proud to share your finds with family and friends on Christmas day.
Let Imagine That! be your personal shopper. We are open Tuesday – Friday, 11 am to 4 pm, Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm. BONUS: extra hours for your last-minute shopping - Sunday, December 22 11 am to 3 pm, Monday, December 23 11 am to 4 pm, Tuesday, December 24, 11 am to 3 pm.
Submitted by Katie Daniel
107 Second Street, Duncan
250 746-4751
Monday to Saturday 10am -5pm Sunday 11am to 4pm foreverfab.com
hundreds of creators.
Path of the Totem
InCaptain James Cook’s three volume book series, “A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean” (1784), there appeared the first drawings of large carved cedar tree columns inside and outside of the native communal houses he visited along the coast of what is now known as British Columbia. These massive cedar poles were deeply incised along their length with human and animal faces that he described as being “of truly monstrous figures, yet they are not deficient in a sort of elegance and perfection.” Because of the obvious laborious difficulty in carving these large tree trunks with the simple and somewhat crude carving implements of the day, there were not many of them. However they were clearly a symbol of status and rank and likely produced for chiefs and nobility.
With the establishment of the trade in sea otter pelts and the introduction of iron tools, European paints and other trade goods, the creation of Totem Poles up and down the coast flourished as never before. It was a time of artistic and material abundance. Then, by 1860, European diseases such as smallpox had arrived, decimating the population and culture of these once thriving nations. With the banning of the Potlatch in 1884 their art and ceremonies were virtually wiped out and the great museums of the world swooped in and either purchased, or simply removed, hundreds of the remaining poles from villages
vacated as a result of disease.
It was not until the 1940’s when a few remaining carvers such as Charlie James, Mungo Martin, Willie Seaweed and Henry Hunt, who had kept some of the songs, dances and craving traditions alive, began to gain recognition and a revival began. In 1951, after the Potlatch ban was rescinded, the UBC Museum of Anthropology and the BC Provincial Museum in Victoria commissioned carvers Mungo Martin, Bill Reid and Doug Cranmer to replicate a number of the old decaying poles in different cultural styles. And in 1969 Robert Davidson raised the first Haida Totem pole on Haida Gwaii in over fifty years.
The art form and the culture had reawakened.
Path of the Totem is now showing at the Cowichan Public Art Gallery until December 21st. Gallery hours are 10 am -4 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. This collection is on loan, courtesy of the City of Duncan. Sponsored by Island Savings, a division of First West Credit Union.
Left totem: Dzunuk’ wa by Oscar Matilpi Right totem; Harvest Time by Tom LaFortune
Fraser Clark is the Curator of this exhibition.
Dreamwork Educator & Guide
• classes
• sessions
• groups Discover the power of your dreams to access inner wisdom and creative transformation. www.kristinlang.ca 250-510-1539
TEN OLD BOOKS
Always something for everyone
Great Selection of Used & New Books • Bestsellers & Award Winners • Classic Novels & Timeless Favourites • BC & Canadian Authors Plus Local Cards • Crafts • Children’s Books • Jewelry • Unique Gift Ideas and More! 102-330 Duncan St 250 -715-1383 Find us inside the historic Duncan Garage
Herds of bison thousands strong once inhabited the prairies, sustaining generations of Indigenous peoples until they were hunted almost to extinction by the newly arrived settlers. What if the bison were to return to roaming freely on the prairie? This is a question motivating the main characters created by MétisUkrainian writer Conor Kerr. Beginning as a direct-action protest, two Indigenous friends relocate a herd of buffalo from a national park to central Edmonton. While begun as a way to resist colonialism, it sets in motion responses, both positive and negative, beyond what they had expected or can control.
Why We Should Read
anonymous, front-line activists, with those more interested in appearing on camera and being the face of the movement.
The novel is written in a direct style, alternating between the points of view of Ezzy, who grew up alienated from his Indigenous culture in foster care, and Grey, trying to find her place returning to the rez after university. The two narrators have distinct and engaging voices drawing the reader into the fast-paced and at times gripping story – yet underneath this, the book engages with complex issues. Throughout the novel the characters confront topics of fundamental concern to society in Canada today: the Land Back movement, the treatment of Indigenous people by the police and justice system, causes of addiction and the path to recovery, and the impact of the foster care system on the loss of culture and histories.
Kerr also addresses issues around activism – contrasting the engaged, and often
While the book doesn’t shy away from the often tragic realities facing Indigenous communities today, it offers hope through the dream of the return of the bison and the strength and self-reliance this could bring to Indigenous people.
The Warmland Book & Film Collective – begun in 2018 as a response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada –explores, celebrates, and learns from Indigenous authors and filmmakers. We are welcoming new members – if you enjoy friendly, spirited, and interesting conversation, email us at WarmlandBFC@gmail. com for the zoom link. All books we read are available through VIRL. We next meet online December 11 to discuss Firekeeper by Katłı̨ ą.
Submitted by David & Ranji, on behalf of the WBFC
QCCS Indigenous Chef Night
Please join Quw’utsun Cultural Connections Society (QCCS) at our first Indigenous Chef Night, featuring Chef Jared Qwustenuxun Williams that will launch a variety of events we will be hosting throughout 2025.
Jared and his young helper(s) are excited to serve a delicious four-course meal featuring a delightful mix of traditional and contemporary foods. You can look forward to tasty treats like baked salmon, dried clams, clam soup, and even sxwesum (Soap Berry) ice cream.
This feast will be hosted at our newly purchased social purpose cafe, Island Bagel and
Bannock, located downtown Duncan. Witness and enjoy the transformation of our community space from cafe into an intimate gathering place for an unforgettable night of unforgettable stories, amazing food and great company.
Part of our work at QCCS is prioritizing Indigenous food sovereigntyTeachings and learning shared with us identify food security and food sovereignty as different things. Food security gives ongoing access to food, reduces systemic barriers so that a person can benefit from a healthy diet and won’t go hungry. Indigenous food sovereignty creates access to one’s traditional foods that are part of food systems local to the territory or gained through trade and have sustained Indigenous nations for thousands of years. In Quw’utsun territory, we have survived largely on the abundance of the rivers and oceans, as well as through eating land based foods- not only hunting and harvestingbut also through sophisticated and highly productive cultivation and Indigenous agricultural systems.
At Indigenous Chef Night, we invite you to contribute to Indigenous food sovereignty. By supporting local suppliers, we are making conscious choices about what food systems we are participating in and therefore who we are supporting and where we put our money. Indigenous food sovereignty has the power to evoke social change towards more sustainable futures. We hope in joining us for
the evening we will lift your spirits, share in a meal that celebrates our traditional foods and build relationships and understating. .
December 13, Indigenous Chef Night with Jared Qwustenuxen
Williams, 6 - 8:30 pm, Island Bagel and Bannock, $100/plate
To learn more and purchase tickets please email qccsociety@gmail.complease note that seating is limited.
Margit Nellemann & Morgan Saddington
Growing
up in Denmark
I am no stranger to candlelight and ‘hygge’. Candles are an important part of Danish culture and candlelight will grace most homes on a regular basis.
I have often thought of adding candlesticks to my creations but have always been distracted by other projects. Thankfully, I was recently asked by a customer if I would ever consider making candle holders. This was the motivation I needed. And I began to think of how I wanted the candle holders to highlight the warmth and glow of the candles, how I wanted them to accentuate the beauty of a candlelit moment. I also wanted there to be a perfect candle holder for all the different sizes and types of candles.
I have since made a whole line of candle holders and I continue to add new designs. The holiday season is perfect for adding some magic and candlelight to your home. Come find your own favourite at my studio this month.
Morgan is a local jeweller and designer, working primarily with sterling silver and various precious stones. Her work combines traditional silversmithing techniques and the ancient art of chainmaille. With over 25 years of experience, Morgan has developed a signature style resulting in classic pieces that are easy to wear.
Morgan produces work in small batches, creating many one-of-a-kind items, often incorporating precious stones into her designs to add to their uniqueness. She strives to create each piece entirely by hand, with many of her chains made one link at a time. For the month of December, Morgan Ann Designs Jewellery will be featured at Margit Nellemann’s ceramic studio (1026 Islay St.) from 10 – 4pm on Saturday December 7, 14, and 21. This is a perfect opportunity to find that special gift for the holiday season. For more information visit us on Instagram @ morgananndesigns and @ margitnellemann.
Christmas Fair at Glenora Farm
The Ita Wegman Association of BC for Curative Education and Social Therapy invites the public to visit Glenora Farm and ring in the holidays with us at our annual Christmas Fair on Sunday December 15th from 11am – 4pm.
Located at 4766 Waters Road in Duncan, Glenora Farm is a licensed care facility and intentional community that supports adults with diverse abilities (Companions). Every year, our annual Christmas fair provides an opportunity for the public to visit the farm, revel in the magic of the season, purchase items from unique local artisanal vendors, and hand-crafted artisanal goods created in Glenora Farm program activities.
This year, Glenora Farm’s Christmas Fair will be bigger and better than ever before. Across multiple buildings, visitors will find one-of-akind gifts made right on the farm (teas, knitting, skin care, spice blends, soup mixes, etc.) ; booths featuring twelve local vendors; live blacksmith demonstrations; musical performances (including Glenora Farm’s famous bell choir); an assortment of food and beverages; and fun activities including story
telling, a make-your-own-tea station, and candle dipping. Glenora Farm invites Cowichan Valley residents and visitors to dive into the holiday spirit with our festive atmosphere on a working farm.
“While each year’s event is wonderful, our Christmas Fair offers more than just a fun outing,” says Tara Batho, Glenora Farm’s Executive Director. “This annual celebration elevates the talents of local artisans and raises awareness about the important charitable work that takes place on Glenora Farm. It also provides attendees with the perfect solution to the growing challenge of sustainable/ ethical gift-giving!”
Any donations received during the fair will be allocated towards the project on Santa’s wish list this year – outdoor exercise equipment to benefit the health and happiness of Companions. The Glenora Farm community is excited to celebrate with our neighbours and visitors on December 15th and looks forward to a cozy afternoon spent filling our bags, bellies, and hearts. Would you like to support this special event? Glenora Farm is currently looking for in-kind donations to help make this
year’s Christmas Fair our best yet. We are seeking donations of baking supplies (apples, sugar, flour, milk/plant milk, cocoa, etc.), food (canned beans, vegetables, butter buns, sausages/veggie sausages, etc.), or gift cards to grocery
stores where such items can be purchased (Community Farm Store, Superstore, Bulk Barn, Save On Foods, Thrifty Foods, Country Grocer, Walmart).
Submitted by Olivia Jackson
Rainforest Arts goes Mostly Green
What’s the colour we miss most at this time of year and through the long, dreary winter months? The frequency of light that revives and cheers us in the spring?
Green! In fields and forests and gardens, it’s the colour of life and renewal.
It’s also the colour that will be featured in Rainforest Arts’ Mostly Green Show, which runs to Dec. 24 at the 9781 Willow Street gallery. Artists were asked to submit works that feature hues made
from the mixing of buttercup yellows with various shades of sky blue.
In December, of course, green is one of the colours that evokes the brightness and cheerfulness of Christmas. Green isn’t usually in the foreground of our seasonal tableaus, though. More often than not, it backdrops scenes in the forms of coniferous trees and elves costumes. It’s often contrasted with the glitzy glitter of tinsel and the bright reds, blues, and golds of shiny ornaments dangling
from every branch.
Last year, Rainforest Arts favoured the more brilliant— and popular—shades of red. Santa’s suit predominates in most of the commercial and children’s art you’ll see as the days tick down toward Dec. 25. Perhaps there’ll be a twig or two of snowcapped holly in a composition, but even then, the eyes are drawn to the bright red bunches of berries.
Like the air we breathe, green is an elemental but often underappreciated hue. William Blake, in his poem Laughing Song, said we’re at
When
the green woods laugh
And the dimpling stream runs
When the air does laugh with
And the green hill laughs with That sentiment will liven the atmosphere of Rainforest Arts through December in a diverse, eclectic show with
green as the common thread and floor-to-ceiling art of all sizes and mediums.
Green, being the colour of nature, represents growth, harmony, fertility, and freshness. It is the most restful and relaxing colour to the eye optically due to its spectral wavelength, representing positive emotions such as joy, peace, and harmony. Many psychologists believe that the colour green promotes stress reduction.
The Mostly Green Show will be featured at the gallery through December 24. Rainforest Arts is located at 9781 Willow Street in Chemainus. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. You can contact the gallery at info@ rainforestarts.ca or 250-246-4861.
CraigSpenceWriter.ca
May Lily Carpet by photographer Daphne Carlyle is a lush, intriguing example of what visitors will experience at the Rainforest Arts gallery during the Mostly Green show.
Yule Firebird at Osborne Bay Pub
In the darkest days of Winter everyone needs a little cheer. Cozy up to the hearth of Yule Firebird playing at the Osborne Bay pub on December 21st. Firebird are three accomplished and award-winning singersongwriters- Jeremy Walsh, Stephanie Cutler and Genevieve Charbonneautaking turns singing leads on original and classic seasonal songs and leaning heavily into gorgeous three part harmonies. With guitar, piano, accordion, and bouzouki they meld Irish, bluegrass and pop to create a fusion folk that is full of fire and redemption. For this show they are joined by accomplished violinist Cam Boyce.
Firebird are currently in the studio producing their debut album with Comox valley producer Corwin Fox at Hidden Well Studio. Nine original songs are mostly finished and the album is set to be released in the new year. In February 2025 they will hit the road to northern BC and Alberta and then travel
to Montreal for Folk Alliance International. Invigorated by the cohesion and creativity of the studio, the three songwriters are excited to work up a seasonal repertoire of songs. There will be a few familiar classics in there but expect some originals as well as some covers of unusual or less heard songs. In the context of the trio, each of these performers is breathing new life into their music while flexing their vocal harmonic muscles. This energy carries over to the live show, bringing a combined confidence and vulnerability inspired by only the most gifted performers.
Osborne Bay Pub is one of the south islands best live music venues and continues to hold regular high-quality concerts in an era when many small venues are closing. There is a full dinner menu and reasonable prices on drinks- come early to enjoy supper before the show! Warm your belly with good food and drink and then
warm your heart with the exceptional music of Yule Firebird.
Saturday, December 21 Show at 8pm, $20 Osborne Bay Pub
1534 Joan Avenue, Crofton For pre-show dinner reservations and tickets call 250-324-2245.
The
Cat’s Out of the BagIt’s Pantomime Time!
Our
DELICIOUS food THAT NOURISHES & INSPIRES
Get ready to laugh, groan, cheer, and shout – The Shawnigan Players are ready to brighten your holiday with “Puss in Boots” – the pantomime! In this fun, family-friendly romp, the classic rags-to-riches tale of a poor miller’s son and his crafty cat gets the full pantomime treatment. Cheer for young Tom and his faithful feline, boo the villainous Great Evil Ogre, and sing along to favourites new and old, from Bing Crosby to Chappell Roan. There’s something for everybody!
Wilson’s spunky princess will have you checking your backyard pond for super jolly newts! Tourists, yokels, army guards, and dancing cats are everywhere in this colourful fairy-tale realm, presided over by Queen Brenda (Sarah Chapeskie) and kept in check by the practical but ambitious Lord Chancellor (Dan Leckey.)
With a vibrant cast ranging in age from six to senior, “Puss in Boots” is a wonderful showcase of our amateur theatre community. Shakespeare fans will recognize many faces from past Shawnigan Players shows, including Alex Gallacher as the Widow Miller, Rob Foell as the Halibut the butler, Bill Levity as a particularly defiant donkey, and downtown Duncan’s Spinning-est Ninny, Lara Brunschot, as the charismatic and clever Puss. Bowie Farquharson plays daydreamer Tom with warmth and charm, and Lily
This show is jam-packed with music, dancing, and paws-itively priceless puns. Director Laura Faulkner has teamed up with Cathy Schmidt of Chalkboard Theatre fame, and the Pantomime Zany has leaked all over Cathy’s classic musical theatre choreography. It’s non-stop silliness that’s sure to sell quickly, so get your tickets before the holiday chocolate-and-cheese coma sets in!
“Puss in Boots” plays at Duncan United Church from December 26 – 31. Tickets are $15 and are available at Ten Old Books or online at shawniganplayers.com.
Showtime is 7pm December 26-28 and December 30, with 2pm matinees December 29 and 31. Don’t miss it!
Winter Solstice Concert to Welcome Back the Light
Lila Music Centre invites you to the 9th Annual Winter Solstice Concert (on Dec.21st and 22nd), where we will celebrate the return of the light. This family oriented musical tradition weaves vocal and acoustic music that ranges from jazz to folk, including premiers of original song compositions created especially for this event. This concert provides warmth and peace in the spirit of beauty, bringing people together with a focus this year on Celtic music traditions.
This year’s ensemble includes Anne Schaefer (Voice, Guitar, Piano), Quin Etheridge-Pedden from the Unfaithful Servants (violin, vocals), Adrian Dolan from The Bills (piano, accordion, vocals and guitar), Scott White from The Bills (bass, vocals), Kim June Johnson (Voice, Banjo, Piano, Guitar) and Cari Burdett (vocals). We are also pleased to be welcoming the youth voices of Opal and Cassia Hollett.
Songs to look forward to include the acapella Christmas classics: Lo How a Rose, Carol of the Bells, In the Bleak Midwinter and Gloria in Excelsis. Upbeat numbers include a full group rendition of Soul Cake and some joyful fiddle tunes. Other audience favorites that will be sure to please: Calling All Angels and the Lost Word Blessings.
Unique to this concert, musicians will collect holiday wishes from the audience and create one-of-a-
kind pieces of music, to honor this very special time of year. “Every year we offer an array of songs connecting us to the winter season and Solstice, and 2024 will not disappoint” explains Burdett.
Anne Schaefer will be sharing an original piece called Constellation which she elaborates, “appeared as a song to celebrate our individual beauty and how the sum of our collective parts make spectacular configurations, just as with constellations in the night sky….and how we need a truly dark night to really see the beauty of even the brightest stars”.
Kim June Johnson’s “I Wish I Had Woken With the Dawn” is about waking up - to light, but also to life itself, rather than succumbing to the numbness and distraction that the over-culture perpetuates. “It’s a praise song for presence, which in my view, is what the energy of winter solstice is; the dark reminds us of the light we miss and want to treasure more fully when it returns.”
We are thrilled to offer this very special musical experience for 3 shows, on December 21st, a matinee and evening show in Duncan, & December 22nd, a matinee show in Victoria. We will also be fundraising for a new society called Arts Based Community Discovery/ ABCD, which focuses on creating workshops, events and classes that foster connection through arts, nature and our diverse cultures in the Quw’utsun’Valley.
“Absolutely delightful from A-Z. The concert still resonates inside my soul. Such talented singers and such artistic musicians. I look forward to more in ‘24” Audience Member
Visit cariburdett.com/wintersolstice-show for tickets and more information.
Holocene Distilling Project is our home-based business, nestled just off the highway in Cobble Hill. We opened just over a year ago after six years of planning and preparation, which included rezoning our residential property to allow for alcohol production. My business partner, Aisling, has a background in herbal medicine and bartending, while I come from mechanical engineering, spending eight years designing gas fireplaces at Sherwood Industries. Growing up in Victoria, we both developed a deep appreciation for Vancouver Island’s natural beauty—oceans, forests, lakes, and rivers, you name it. It’s arguably one of the most beautiful places on earth, and we want to honour that with our products and operations.
From the beginning, Aisling and I have aimed to operate Holocene with an eco-conscious approach. Our name, “Holocene,” reflects our commitment to sustainability, named after Earth’s current epoch, which scientists debate may be shifting toward the Anthropocene due to human impact. We’ve set an ambitious goal for our grassroots distillery to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 because we want to keep Earth in the Holocene.
What does net-zero mean for us? We’re still exploring what this looks like, as sustainability takes many forms, and defining “net-zero” can be complex. So far, our journey has included practical steps, such as sourcing grain within a 20-kilometer radius and working with local
Going Green with Holocene
vendors for ingredients. Beyond these essentials, we’re innovating with energy systems to harness, store, and repurpose energy generated during distillation. For example, we can heat 1,000 liters of water to 50°C using heat that would otherwise go to waste. Additionally, we process our distillers’ waste onsite through a specially designed treatment field, which naturally breaks down effluent using organisms found in bark chips.
Collaboration is a big part of our journey to net zero:
For example, we partner with Two Crows Mustard to make unique jellies and marmalades using our spirits. Local artist Amanda Key designs our labels, and our Lady Grey liqueur features Westholme Tea. Our Sweet Tease liqueur is flavored with cascara, a typically discarded by product of coffee production, sourced from a family-run organic farm in Costa Rica and brought in by Morningstar Coffee in
Langford alongside their beans. We complement it with a hint of lemon zest using peels from Good Life Juice in Nanaimo after they’re done with their delicious juice-making lemons.
Last month, we were thrilled to release Lost and Found, a limited-edition brandy crafted entirely from salvaged wine and cider. After Affinity Ciderhouse closed post-pandemic, we rescued 3,000 liters of cider that had soured and combined it with wine from Blue Grouse Winery that didn’t meet their standards. We distilled the alcohol to a high purity and let it soak in blueberries from Silverside Farm, allspice, lemon, and vanilla for three months. The concept of repurposing other businesses’ waste has developed into an exciting realization that we hadn’t planned for.
While these upcycling initiatives are fun, the meat and potatoes for me as an engineer is refining our energy conservation systems. Identifying the right
areas to target and finding innovative ways to reduce energy consumption is an ongoing challenge. Fortunately, during the planning stages of our heat recovery system, we ensured it was designed to allow for future expansion, as the budget permits.
We’re continuously developing projects, big and small, to help achieve our sustainability goals. Holocene boasts a combination of existing systems and those in various stages of planning, poised for both short-term and long-term implementation. Our major goals over the next few years include capturing CO2 emissions from the fermentation process, using spent grain to heat our space, and integrating solar energy to supplement our overall energy needs.
Green Business BC’s certification program has been invaluable, helping us explore the steps toward defining our path to netzero. Before our first anniversary, we were proud to be recognized as a leader in green business through their awards program.
You can find Lost and Found, along with our other products, at Liquor Plus, Cobble Hill. To follow our journey from earth to bottle, and back again, visit www.holocenedistilling.com
AsChristmas approaches colourful summer annuals are a distant memory and spring flowering bulbs are hiding underground. With the winter celebrations approaching, consider decorating with plants to bring interest during the short dark days of December. Containers at your entry way that recently had summer colour should get attention first.
Planting for Christmas is an obvious theme. This could be a combination of boughs, berried branches such as holly, cottoneaster or firethorn, large cones and a large red bow. Many of these items can be collected in the garden or from the forest. If not, your favourite garden shop offers a selection of greenery and decorations.
A combination of live plants is another approach if we do not get a damaging blast of arctic air. These
up the container for the next seasonal planting. To help construct the grouping consider the old formula of thriller, filler, spiller. The thriller is usually a vertical plant such as Alberta Spruce, Golden Wilma Cypress, columnar yew or Japanese Holly. Filler can be a winter flowering heather or Erica, Heavenly Bamboo, Wintergreen with its red berries or Japanese Skimmia. Finally, for the spiller
consider 4” pots with Cotoneaster, Bearberry, Sedum or Heuchera. The container must be large enough to hold 3 to 5 plants. If the container is against the wall, place the taller plant at the back with the filler in the middle and the spillers up front.
Suggestions for a smaller container would include individual plants of Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo for attractive foliage, Himalayan Sweet Box for its intoxicating fragrance in January and Christmas Rose that blooms at Christmas. There are endless ways of creating outdoor decorations limited only by your imagination.
Bernie Dinter, owner Dinter Nursery. Family owned and operated since 1973 offering 3 generations of horticultural knowledge
Grammy Award Winning Bluegrass - John Reischman
And The Jaybirds
John Reischman and the Jaybirds are set to bring their sparkling bluegrass and Grammy Award winning original spin on traditional roots to Vimy Hall on December 6th, marking a return to the Cowichan Valley after a few years of absence. Originally from California, where he made a name for himself early on, John has spent the past 25 years in Vancouver. During this time, he has become a cornerstone of the bluegrass communities in the Pacific Northwest. His music has had a lasting impact and continues to be engaging for audiences of all ages.
Over the years a December visit to the Cowichan Valley from John and The Jaybirds has become a tradition, featuring legendary performances at multiple venues which are still talked about to this day.
This is a band of geniuslevel musicians including Nick Hornbuckle on banjo, Greg Spatz on fiddle, Trisha Gagnon on bass and vocals, and Patrick Sauber on guitar, all musicians with stellar reputations and careers of their own.
The show starts at 7:30pm, doors open at 7:00 and there will be refreshments before the show and during the set break. Tickets are available at islandsfolk.tickit.ca and for more information, please visit www.cowichanfolkguild.ca
For well over a decade Big Hank Lionhart and his band of merry bluesmen have delivered a sparkling set of tunes that are as hot as the hearth of a Yuletide fire, to blues and roots music fans over the Christmas Season. Blues Songs of Christmas is a unique, variety filled concert comprised of blues-basted Yuletide tunes and one that has left audiences drenched in the Christmas spirit as this ensemble has visited communities across Alberta, the interior of B.C., Vancouver Island and the lower mainland. “This Christmas show is like a time capsule of the history of the blues told through the many Christmas songs written and performed by many of the greats. We’re talking about songs originally written and or performed by the likes of Big Joe Turner, Blind Blake and Amos Milburn onto B.B. King, Charles Brown and Etta James,” says Big Hank who is always tweaking a new list of songs for the show, some naughty, some nice. The group includes sax ace Jerry Cook who is best known for his work with Colin James and Powder Blues, Steve Cross on Guitar, Mick Woodhouse on Bass, Steve Ranta on Keys, Dave Emery on Drums and Paul Wainwright on Sax. December 7th, 7:30pm Osborne Bay Pu, 1534 Joan Avenue, Crofton Dinner and show reservations call 250-324-2245
Chef Tips for Easier Holiday Cooking
Bill Jones is a chef, author and food consultant based at Deerholme Farm.
Holiday cooking should be all about sharing food with friends and loved ones. Sometimes it’s a little stressful coordinating all the elements of the dinner and making them ready all at the same time. Years of cooking and catering have taught me it is great to have a plan and design the meal so the work is spread out over time – not just the minutes before serving. Here are a few tips to make a typical turkey feast go a little smoother.
Keep it simple. Sometimes the best thing about cooking for your family is honoring the traditions of the past. Just buy the best products you can afford and try to make things old school. Maybe it’s not the best time to experiment and try new recipes. If you are confident – fine, if not then keep with the greatest hits of past dinners.
Roast turkey is better when you add flavourful liquid to the roasting pan. I like using local apple cider (like Merridale Traditional) but you can also use pressed nonalcohol cider (1 liter should work). Add chopped carrots, onions and celery to the pan and cover with liquid. Place the bird on top and transfer to a 180 Celsius oven. The liquid braises the bird and the steam helps keep the whole bird moist – plus it makes excellent gravy.
If the skin is browning too quickly, cover the top of the bird with a sheet of tinfoil, this will keep the breast moist and slow down the cooking
process. The general rule of thumb is to cook for 20 minutes per pound. For the best results however, use a thermometer and cook to around 165 Celsius. Check at the thighs (usually the slowest area to cook). Remove the turkey from the pan and place on a platter. Cover the whole bird with tinfoil and allow it to rest for at least 15-20 minutes.
Gravy doesn’t have to be intimidating. Reduce the cooking liquid from the turkey by placing the roasting pan over a stove burner (or element) on medium heat, stir constantly as the liquid reduces, leaving fat and browned vegetables behind. Thicken with flour until the mixture comes together in a paste, thin with stock or water until a smooth pouring consistency is reached. You can either strain out the vegetables or you can puree them into the sauce with a hand (immersion) blender.
Cook the vegetables in advance. Many vegetables can be blanched (cooked in boiling salted water) until tender then plunged in cold water. You can make the vegetables hours in advance. Reheat in boiling water (drain and season with butter, salt and pepper) or place in the hot oven to reheat before serving (or even microwave for 2-3 minutes).
Apple Crumble
Courtesy Bill Jones, Deerholme Farm
This is one of my favourite things to make in the fall. I like to use firm apples like Fuji but many types of apples work well. Sometimes I add in a cup of frozen blackberries or blueberries for a little extra special mix.
Crumble:
1 cup (250 mL) sugar (I use organic cane sugar)
1 cup (250 mL) all purpose flour
1 cup (250 mL) rolled oats
½ cup (125 mL) butter (melted in microwave for 30 seconds)
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract (almond also works well)
6-8 apples
1 cup (250 mL) frozen blackberries or blueberries (optional) ½ cup (125 mL) sugar
1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon powder
1 tsp (5 mL) tapioca starch (or corn starch)
In a small bowl, add the sugar, flour, oats, melted butter and vanilla. Stir to mix and set aside.
On a cutting board, peel the apples, cut off the flesh leaving the core behind. Take each apple slice and cut into an even dice (about ½ inch cubes are best). Place in a baking dish and sprinkle with the berries (if used), sugar, cinnamon powder and tapioca starch). Toss well to coat.
Sprinkle the crumble topping on top and place in a 350F (180 C) oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the top is starting to turn golden brown. Can be made up to one day in advance, reheat just before serving. Nice with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Pick a dessert that is easy to make ahead. We like to make apple crumbles (over pie) as
they are simple to make in advance and always popular (particularly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream).
The key is to stage the preparation work over a number of low stress hours, then the final scramble to put food on the table will be a little less hectic.
We have healthy green gifts for everyone on your list!
• BC Beeswax Candles
• Cosmetic Gift Sets
• Body & Beauty items
• Essential Oils and Diffusers
• Himalayan Salt Lamps
• Wonderful Local Products
• Holiday Food and Snacks
• Eco Fabric Clothing
• Fairtrade and Organic selection of Coffee, Tea, Chocolates, Cocoa
• Specialty Food for Special Diets
• GIFT CERTIFICATES and more!
9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250-246-9838
Hours Mon-Sat 930-5pm • Sun Closed
Closed Stat holidays
Wild Mushroom & Sage Stuffing w/ Wild Rice
Courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station
This stuffing recipe features the rich flavours of our Wild Mushroom & Sage Olive Oil and our Cranberry Pear White Balsamic, complemented by crispy bacon. Perfect for preparing ahead of time and baking on the night of your dinner!
Cook wild rice according to package instructions; set aside. Fry bacon until crispy, reserving 2 tbsp of bacon fat. Once cooled, chop bacon into small pieces.
In a large pot, heat the reserved bacon fat over medium heat. Add Onion and Celery, cooking for 10 minutes until softened. Stir in Thyme, Sage, Garlic, and Mushrooms. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until the Mushrooms are tender.
Stir in Cranberry Pear White Balsamic, butter, and our wild mushroom & sage olive oil until butter is melted. Season with salt and pepper.
Add cooked wild rice, chopped bacon, dried cranberries, and parsley. Pour in chicken stock, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Toss in the bread cubes and mix gently until everything is evenly coated and the liquid is absorbed. Transfer to a 9”x11” baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 25-30 minutes.
Broil: Remove the foil and broil for 2-4 minutes until the top is golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Serve hot.
Turkey Rolls Here for the Holidays
Essentially a turkey roast but better. Cure has been making these signature stuffed turkey rolls now for nine years as a specialorder menu item just for the holidays.
We brine (salt, sugar, water and spice solution) a skinon, boneless turkey breast, then pound it out flat for tenderness. It is then stuffed with a house made signature sausage stuffing and then rolled and tied.
Every turkey roulade comes with easy-to-follow instructions so all you need to do is take it home and roast at 350 degrees until internal temperature reaches 165 F. Don’t worry each roll comes with cooking instructions for you to take home.
As each roll was brined for juicy flavour, you do not need to add any extra seasoning. Just roast and serve with all your favourite holiday trimmings.
When planning your dinner, we recommended 200 grams per person. Crispy skin, dark meat, light meatyum, there is something for everyone without the fuss of
a turkey carcass. Suggested accompaniments are turkey gravy and homemade stuffing which we will have also on hand for those who like an easy prep. Last but not least do not forget to grab some mulled wine cranberry sauce.
Remember to order turkey roll by by December 17th to avoid disappointment.
Happy holiday feasting from Cure.
To place your order call Cure at 250-929- CURE (2873) or stop by the shop located at 5-1400 Cowichan Bay Road Cobble Hill, lower level of Valley View Centre.
December Hours
Open seven days a week
Monday-Friday 10 - 6 pm
Saturday and Sunday 10-5 pm
December 22 10-6 pm
December 23 9-6 pm
December 24 9-2 pm
December 25, 26 & 27 Closed
December 28-30 10-6 pm
December 31-9-4 pm
January 1 Closed
NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR CHRISTMAS TURKEY ROLLS & FIXINGS RARE & IMPORTED CHEESE HOUSE CURED & SMOKED MEAT CRACKERS & CONDIMENTS SANDWICHES TO GO
5-1400 COWICHAN BAY ROAD VALLEY VIEW CENTRE (LOWER LEVEL)
Potatoes
Cooked in Confit (Duck Fat)
Courtesy Chef Brad Boisvert, Cure Meat and Cheese
Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs Potatoes -Yukon, Nugget, Red, peeled and cut
5 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
4 Cloves Garlic, smashed
3 Bay leaf
4 Tbls Course Salt
1 tsp Cracked pepper
1/2 Lemon juice and zest
500ml Duck Fat
Method
In this recipe the potatoes will be prepared in two cookings. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
1. Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan, except duck fat.
2. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Once they come to a boil turn off the heat and strain immediately
3. Set aside.
Second cooking of Potatoes: (Confit)
1. In a large, heavy bottom skillet. Warm duck fat over low heat until melted.
2. Add the blanched potatoes.
3. Place in preheated oven. Cook until fork tender and light golden brown about 30 minutes.
This recipe can be made a day or two in advance of your meal and rewarmed when needed. If you are making in advance keep the potatoes stored in the duck fat.
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Wild
Poppy Market
Ladysmith “To us, there’s a few things that are synonymous with Christmas: from shortbread and gingersnaps, to butter tarts and eggnog. Like most of our recipes, these have been in our family for generations, and we’ve been making them every year for as long as I can remember.”
These gluten-free specialities are all available for the holidays: Butter Tarts, Mincemeat Tarts, Traditional Shortbread, Almond Crescents, Eggnog Cookies, Mini Gingersnaps, Gingerbread Men, Rum Balls, Marzipan, Christmas Pudding, Christmas Cake, Gift Boxes, Trifle, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Stuffing and Dinner Rolls. 541 First Avenue, Ladysmith 250 924-8696
Festive Treats for Gluten Sensitive Diets
menu or call your order in 250 597-2595. 5380 TransCanada Hwy, Duncan (by The Brick)
The Glow Effect Organic Restaurant is offering, organic, non gmo, gluten and dairy free raw cashew based cheese cakes (not wheat flours) with a nut based crust.Many flavours are available but the most popular holidays types are Noel Nog, Apple Spice, Pumpkin and Chocolate Raspberry. Come in and ask for the full dessert
The Duncan Garage Café & Bakery has cookies, jams and Christmas cake for sale at the cafe. Specialty breads, butter buns, cakes, pies, cookies and squares are also available for pre-order. Many options available in wheat, dairy free, vegan and NGI. 330 Duncan St., Duncan.
Wild Poppy Market, Ladysmith
The Glow Effect, Duncan
Duncan Garage Cafe & Bakery
Keating Farm’s Hot Spiced Apple Cider (Wassail)
Acozy fall or winter drink that will fill your house with the most irresistible aromas of apple and spice!
This hot spiced apple cider is a traditional holiday beverage and is perfect for entertaining or just to cozy up with after shoveling your driveway! Great hot spiced cider begins with great cider. This recipe is made with Keating Farm’s high quality, cold pressed apple cider and a variety of spices selected to accentuate the natural flavors of their heritage apple varietals. Toasted whole spices provide better flavor and are easier to remove from the cider. Add a touch of alcohol to enhance the fruity aromas without making it boozy.
Optional additions (see directions): Orange zest, raw sugar, and/or cider-friendly liquors such as brandy or dark rum
Garnish (optional): Apple slices, cinnamon stick, star anise pods, and/or a spiral of orange zest, for serving
Directions
• Pour 5 L of apple cider into a large (8-10 quart) pot.
• Cover and heat on medium until hot, not boiling.
• Heat a small skillet on medium-high and add spices.
• Toast, stirring frequently, until spices are fragrant and coriander seeds begin to darken. Transfer to a reusable spice bag or add loose to cider.
• Simmer cider and spices on low for about 1-2 hours or until the spice flavor is well infused. Remove spices if keeping warm for service.
• Adjust the final seasoning of the spiced cider with a spoonful of alcohol to enhance the fruity aromas, raw sugar to bring out the spice, and/or orange zest to balance the sweetness.
Serve plain or garnish with apple slices, cinnamon stick, star anise pod, and/or a spiral of orange zest.
Make your own at home! Fresh pressed organic apple juice made with apples from the orchard is now available at Keating Farm. 5250 Miller Road, Duncan www.keatingfarm.ca
Thoughtfully delicious gluten free meals and baked goods made in house daily. The market is also stocked with a variety of local retail food products and gluten free staples. 541 First Ave, Ladysmith (250) 924-8696
COWICHAN FESTIVE FOOD
HOLOCENE DISTILLING
PROJECT We crafted a fruit brandy using upcycled wine and cider from local producers and spiced it with Cobble Hill blueberries - Enjoy! www.holocenedistilling.com
PICKLES PANTRY @ HANKS
COWICHAN Duck Pate with Cranberry and Port Gelée and Chicken Pate with Burnt Honey and Apple Gelée. Gift it on its own or add to a festive charcuterie. 5311 Trans-Canada Hwy #3, Duncan
EUPHORIC JUICERY 100%
ORGANIC Delicious chicken or beef bone broth made with organic vegetable and medicinal mushrooms will elevate your holiday meals. Cow-op,ca and the Community Farm Store 250 815-5452
AMPERSAND DISTILLING
COMPANY Award winning Nocino! Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year! Made from green walnuts & local honey. Grab a bottle at the Duncan Farmers Market
www.ampersanddistilling.com
KEATING FARM Orlopp Bonze turkeys known for their delicious caramel meat and robust flavour. Raised on pasture and finished on fallen apples and pears. Sizes range from 23 to 26 pounds. keatingfarm.ca 250-797-61792
WESTHOLME TEA COMPANY
Holiday Spice, our most popular holiday herbal blend. A melange of traditional Indian spices, packed with flavour to steep alongside festivities. 8350 Richards Trail, Westholme. www.westholmetea.com
UNSWORTH RESTAURANT
Incredible food. Remarkable service. Locally sourced ingredients. Make a reservation or grab a gift card for the foodie on your list. 2915 Cameron Taggart Rd, Mill Bay 250 929-2292 www.unsworthvineyards.com
TRUFFULA White Truffle Wheel
Delicate, earthy, and elegant, we achieve this perfect balance by using Italian pure white truffle olive oil to flavour. Available locally at at the Saturday Market www.truffula.ca
THE GLOW EFFECT Here for the holidays! House made Noel Nog 100% organic, DF, GF with no preservatives or refined sugar. 5380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan Pre order for parties 250 597-2595
AND DRINK GUIDE
COMMUNITY FARM STORE
Holiday organic candy canes, chocolate and treasts. Simple ingredients without artificial dyes or gmo. For holiday crafts, tree decorations and more!
10 pack 5380 Trans-Canada Hwy, Duncan (by the Brick)
THE OLIVE STATION Cranberry
Pear White Balsamic a festive balsamic blend to use as a glaze for turkey, dress vegetables or as a marinade. Sample in-store. Available in 3 sizes 225 Canada Ave #7, Duncan theolivestation.com
CURE ARTISAN MEAT & CHEESE
Custom charcturie available with 24 hours notice. Survival boxes available in cooler. 5-1400 Cowichan Bay Rd, Valley View Centre 250 929- CURE (2873)
ISLAND BAGEL & BANNOCK
Add bannock to your holiday feasts! Available on Fridays and Saturdays in two options Baked Bannock or Fried Fry Bread. 48 Station Street, downtown Duncan 778 422-1115
MICHELLE ROSE CSF Fresh/frozen line caught wild salmon. Coho and Pink available filleted and ready to bake, bbq or roast! Pick some up December 7 & 8 from 1-3 pm, Fisherman’s Wharf Dock, 1700 Cowichan Bay Road. Questions? contact Guy at mrfishing@telus.net
WILD POPPY MARKET specializes in thoughtfully delicious gluten free baked goods made in house daily. Lots of festive specialities to choose from! 541 1st Ave, Ladysmith 250 924-8696
BUY A FESTIVE TURKEY DINNER FOR A SENIOR ONLY $15
This holiday season, Cowichan Green Community, along with Carol-Ann Rolls, are once again bringing the spirit of Christmas to seniors in our community with delivered turkey dinners made with love in the CGC kitchen. But we need your help to make it happen!
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Sponsor a delicious turkey dinner for just $15 before December 15th and bring joy to a senior in need. Each meal is thoughtfully prepared and delivered between December 18th and 23rd, ensuring everyone can enjoy the holiday warmth and comfort.
HOW TO SPONSOR:
-Send an e-transfer to the following email mentioning “Christmas Dinner Turkey” in the memo and set the password to “cowichan360” accounts@ cowichangreencommunity.org -Drop by our reFRESH Store for a cash or cheque donation
Your donation not only provides a meal—it shows care and kindness that will brighten someone’s holiday. Together, let’s make this season magical for our seniors
Chris Turyk DipWSET Director of Marketing & Sales Unsworth Vineyards
Imagine being trapped in a 750ml glass bottle for any length of time. Wouldn’t you need to take a deep breath upon release? I know wine does. I bet, at least once in your life, you have poured the last glass from a bottle and said, “Wow! This wine tastes way better now compared to when I first opened it.” I want every sip you take to taste like that.
There are two generally accepted reasons for decanting a bottle of wine. First is to remove an older wine from any potential sediment that has formed and deposited itself on the side or bottom of the bottle during aging. Consistent with much of the wine industry of today, the line is blurred and many younger wines are made in such a way that sediment can be found at a younger age post bottling. Not to worry, the same method for carefully removing said sediment can be employed. The second reason is to allow a young wine to breath so it can smell and taste to its full potential, and yes, this applies to white wines.
As red wines age the compounds responsible for
Let it Breathe
the colour and tannin slowly start forming larger and larger molecules, which eventually fall out of the wine forming a sediment; gravity then deposits this sediment on the lowest part of the bottle. The enjoyment from cellaring age-worthy reds is well worth the patience. They become more supple, nuanced, and soft compared to their youth. When decanting, care should be taken not to disturb the sediment by slowly pouring the wine into a decanter or suitable substitute. A well lit environment aides in one’s ability to see where the clear wine ends and the sediment begins. Bear in mind is that especially old wines can start to fall apart aromatically when exposed to too much air, thus choosing a narrower decanter would be advisable for those
game changer in the perceived aromas and flavours, especially in the aforementioned white Burgundy example.
birth year wines.
Aeration of young wine is the prominent reason for decanting in my house. 95% of the wine I drink gets decanted for precisely this reason; wine needs to breathe. Some contact with air can simultaneously allow certain undesirable aromatic compounds to blow off whilst allowing delicious aromas to reveal themselves and for nuance to express itself. One can get fairly aggressive when decanting for this reason. Literally dumping a bottle into a decanter and allowing it to splash around while doing so is not only fun, but usually in the best interest of the wine. Young white Burgundy is the prime example of the reward of decanting young white wines. Many top end cool climate whites are more coy in their aromatic expression, but some time in contact with air allows them to exhibit their extraordinary complexity and depth of aromas and flavour. Fact - most people drink their white wine too cold and red too warm. Far be it from me to tell you at what temperature you should enjoy your wine, but for sake of argument let us assume we are playing by the indoctrinated rules of the wine cognoscente. Decanting a white wine will also raise its temperature ever so slightly this can be a total
Similarly to wine glasses, decanters come in all shapes and sizes. For the most part the shape of decanter is not particularly important to the wine but the exception proving the rule is an extremely old bottle which could certainly be ruined if it is exposed to too much air. In this case choosing a more narrow decanter with less surface area will slow this affect. My main consideration when choosing a decanter is picking one that is easy to pour from. I’m not particularly compelled by intricate and ornate decanters, I’d rather spend the money on the wine instead of the service vessel. Arguably a young, structured, fuller red like Cab or Syrah could use a good splash in a wide bottomed decanter to give it as much possible surface area. Most whites I will put in a more narrow decanter for no other reason than they are easier to put in a chiller or fridge if they need to be taken down in temperature.
Any clean watertight vessel that can pour adequately and has the ability to hold 750 ml of liquid can be a decanter. Glass is certainly classiest but is by no means compulsory. I recall using milk jugs, mason jars and one particularly shapely flower vase in my tenure as a wine snob and they were all good enough to be perfect. All jokes aside, an actual wine decanter worth recommending is the simple, yet effective Riedel Merlot decanter. I have no idea why they call it the Merlot decanter, probably simple marketing. Regardless it works for everything and will only set you back about $40 at most home stores and can certainly be found online.
INDIGO CHANNELINGS: I am an internationally recognized conscious medium, facilitating Conversations between you and Spirit world for over 29 years. Conversations make great gifts! $80 Kendra 250 710 8177 FB/indigochannelings
UNSWORTH VINEYARDS
Unlock the perfect blend of sophistication and thoughtfulness with our thoughtfully designed Holiday Gift Boxes. 2915 Cameron Taggart Road, Mill Bay www.unsworthvineyards.com
THE OLIVE STATION Give the gift of flavour with an expertly curated Olive oil & balsamic vinegar gift pack! available in-store or online. 225 Canada Ave #7, downtown Duncan 250 597-8808 www.theolivestation.com
A wonderful selection of beautiful handmade African baskets from Ghana. Fill them up with perfect gifts for friends and family! 5380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan (by the Brick)
WILD COAST PERFUMERY
Beautifully modern, truly natural, gender inclusive perfumes. Online or in our Cowichan Bay Perfumery. 1721 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay www.wildcoastperfumes.com
MYSTIQUE ARTISANS CO-OP
One of a kind handmade gifts body care, jewelry, garden art, hats, scarves, metal art and more! 9772 Willow St. Chemainus Open Wednedsay - Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am- 4pm
REDEFINED CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
Lots of stocking stuffers to choose from - Zador soap from Hungary/$18 per bar; Italian cashmere leather gloves/$99 - BLEUFORET tights in cotton & merino/$39-$49 162 Station Street, downtown Duncan
THIRD
WAVE COFFEE COMPANY & GIFTS 20oz double walled, vacuum sealed, tumblers to keep your drinks hot or cold for-basicallyever. Tons of fun designs. 1532 Chaplin St. Crofton. Beside the Ferry terminal. Open 7 days
BEST
CHEMAINUS THEATRE GALLERY & GIFT SHOP Discover various original art and fine crafts, pottery, paintings, prints, jewelry, clothing, glass, wood, books and sculptures. 9737 Chemainus Road Open daily 10-4pm and show days until 7:30pm
MARGOT PAGE is still enamelling birdies and lots more... See her work at Imagine That! Artisans, 251 Craig Street in Downtown Duncan. Also at Rainforest Arts, 9781 Willow St, Chemainus and at Artzistuff, 2 Church Street, Nanaimo
WESTHOLME TEA COMPANY
Cowichan Gift Box $133. A taste of the Cowichan Valley gift set includes Original Cowichan knit tea cozy, Tea Press, Cowichan Breakfast, Minty Nettle, & Perfect Teaspoon. 8350 Richards Trail, Westholme westholmetea.com
MARGIT NELLEMANN CERAMICS
Handbuilt, functional and decorative ceramics, including cups, mugs, bowls, teapots, vases and lanterns - created with love and care for your every-day enjoyment. 1026 Islay St Duncan 250 709 6866
COWICHAN VALLEY ARTS
COUNCIL Shop for one-of-kind, locally created art. Exquisite pieces pocket-sized and up! All price points and tastes. Cowichan Community Centre 7687 James Street, Duncan
VOLUME ONE BOOKSTORE
Wide selection of books for kids & adults, cards, Advent & 2025 calendars. Pickup our annual Gift Guide for inspiration or a gift certificate! 149 Kenneth St, Duncan 250-748-1533 www.volumeone.ca
RESTHOUSE SLEEP
Delight your loved ones with an all-natural gift from our Kakun organic bedding collection. Resthouse Duncan open Tues - Sat 3006 Boys Road, Duncan resthousesleep.com
feed 10 children with every doll
RADWAY STUDIO & BOUTIQUE
Fair trade made Cuddle+Kind dolls provide 10 meals to children in need with each purchase.1759 Cowichan Bay Rd Shop online:www.radway.ca
SHANTI CHAI & CO Organic, hand crafted, authentic chai, herbal blends and tea. Gift sets, shipping & FREE local delivery ($50+ orders) www.shantichai.com
up, and for those of all ages.
A dab or two of stick glue holds the paper stars to the window. Typically kite paper is used , however, other paper can be used such as tissue paper or Japanese silk paper. These types allows the light to shine through, giving these creations a luminous stained glass appeal.
Making these Stars is a wonderful family tradition, or artfelt craft activity to do with your friends. These stars can be as simple or complex as you like. These stylized creations are quite simple to do but their effect is awe inspiring.
Choosing your color palate is fun, as white stars look like snow flakes or multicolored star bursts resemble stained glass windows. Have fun experimenting with colours! What makes them so interesting is how the light changes them and reveals the geometric patterns. Of the paper folds overlapping.
Children LOVE making them, and it brings such a sense of accomplishment when they are up on the window glass. These images not only bring light and color to the darker time of year, but are often enjoyed the whole year, throughout all of the seasons!
They will embellish and brighten your home or school windows. Stars, snowflakes, suns, crystals, flowers and other luminous festive figures can decorate your windows. It is really easy to set
This is a wonderful tradition to incorporate into your home or community. It is relatively inexpensive, and you are left with long lasting gems.
FSWS has many different books that give great step-bystep instructions with easy-tofollow diagrams and inspiring photographs to make beautiful window star transparencies. And many other kinds of transparent window images. These books contain easy patterns for beginners to more complex designs for those who have a natural knack for this sort of activity.
Many cultures have special traditions that involve working with paper to make beautiful ornaments to adorn this very special time of year. We would love to share this tradition with you!
Freya Sophia Waldorf Store and Book Centre, 5380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan (by the Brick) 250 597-4763
Tracy Parker, BA, MSc.
BEST OF COWICHAN HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
EXCELLENT FRAMEWORKS ART SUPPLIES Robert Bateman natural white, 110lb paper, acid free Artist Quality Sketchbooks. Available in many sizes. 115 Kenneth Street, downtown Duncan 250 746-7112
TARYN O’GORMAN DESIGNS
One of a kind Hard Faceted Hearts priced according to weight. Sterling silver chains sold separately. Local pick up. www.tarynogormandesigns.com
FABRICATIONS Full line of Pyrrha jewelry - Meaningful and sustainable jewelry that fosters connection through personal storytelling. 107 Second Street, Duncan Open Mon to Sat 10am - 5pm Sun 11am4pm foreverfab.com
COMMUNITY NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE W/UNFAITHFUL
SERVANTS Family Friendly hosted by Cowichan Folk Eagles Hall, 2965 Boys Rd, Duncan $55 advance tickets Dec 31st 8pm12:30am cowichanfolkguild.ca
Start the new year with a clean home and workplace.
FREYA SOPHIA WALDORF STORE
Warmth, Wonder, Wisdom: All natural toys, clothing, supplies and books for all ages and stages. A never ending inspiring selection. Located by the Community Farm Store 5380 Trans Canada Hwy. Duncan (by The Brick) 250 597-4763
THE MUD ROOM CLAYWORKS
Beautiful functional pottery for everyone on your Christmas list made in the sweet seaside Village of Cowichan Bay! 1725 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay 250-710-7329
- Insured - Bonded Home Cleaning Gift Certificates available for Family & Friends! Giving you back the luxury of time and a naturally clean home to enjoy it in!
Soapworks began with an original soap bar: A recipe handed down from grandmother to granddaughter and refined over 45 years of soapmaking. Today, our soap bars are known for their sensory experience, from indulgent scents to organic exfoliants, making every lather a moment of reprieve.
Since 1979, our ingredients have been naturally sourced and ethically engineered to remedy every need, from the dry skin of winter’s bitterness to the stress of twenty-firstcentury life. Because you deserve remedies that are as selective in their ingredients as they are effective in their formulations.
Early each winter, we craft our limited-run Cranberry Collection. This refreshing collection soothes and hydrates featuring our Cranberry Orange Wash. This formula gently cleanses while leaving skin soft and silky
smooth.
Our Cranberry Orange Lotion is an invigorating and refreshing hand and body lotion. Cocoa butter soothes and hydrates while calendula and rose hip oils protect skin throughout the festivities— and beyond.
The collection also includes a refreshing, sweet soap bar. Infused with the aroma of cranberries, this soap bar will leave your skin soft and lightly scented.
For a bath that feels like a break from the busy holiday season, our Cranberry Orange bath bomb is a natural, handmade bath fizzer adding a perfect hint of cranberry and orange to your bath. Your skin will feel soft and silky smooth.
Our Cranberry Orange Gelato is a refreshing exfoliant for shower or bath. Pure sea salts exfoliate rough spots and soften skin, while shea butter, cocoa butter, and sweet almond oil nourish and moisturize. It’s nice on hands and body.
The Cranberry Orange Collection is an annual favourite and sells out quickly—act fast if you’d like some for yourself! Find our Cranberry Orange Collection along with all of our seasonal offerings online www.saltspringsoapworks. com or at our retail location in downtown Duncan at 102 Craig Street (across from Just Jake’s Restaurant).
Lisa Kouri, Saltspring Soapworks
Pro Holiday Tips for Instant Beauty Results
Allure Spa is the Cowichan Valley’s first spa to offer a full range of beauty services that include lash extension, brows and nurturing skin facials. Their focus is to provide a welcoming, safe space for women to relax and reignite their inner and outer glow. A perfect spot for a festive pick me up all of their services focus on providing instant and amazing beauty results!
Eyelash Extensions in time for Holiday Parties
Eyelash extensions remove the daily hassle of mascara and help women to look and feel their best. We offer a range of eyelash extensions from natural, dramatic and in-between - both in length and fullness. Each set is fully customized to suit the desired look of the client. Lash extensions accentuate the eyes and make them pop resulting in an entire face that looks stunning
For those trying it for the for the first time, an initial set can take anywhere from 1.5-2 hours and a fill is usually every 2 weeks for about an hour on average. Make up can be applied right away, though we recommend avoiding the use of mascara and waterproof and oil based makeup around the lash area.
We also offer brow waxing and tinting as well as all other facial waxing in lip, chin, cheeks and sideburns areas.
Freshen Up for Festivities with a Glowing Facial
Our facials are amazing for anyone struggling with dry skin, anti-aging and fine lines and wrinkles. We focus on using healthy and clean skincare that we can feel good about while also producing professional and high quality results that are instantly noticeable. Facials are lovely for both how they feel and the results they give.
The team at Allure are carefully selected and trained by Allure Spa’s owner Marissa and her senior staff. We have over 2500 - 5 star reviews online and most of them highlight our wonderful team, service and beautifully consistent service results. Book your beauty spot today and be ready for the holidays. 250 710-9453 81 Trunk Road, downtown Duncan. Book online at www.allurelashes.ca
TWELVE MONTHS
to zero waste
December
We’ve made it… month 12 in our waste reduction journey! We’ve covered so many different areas and ideas, I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have. As we draw the year to an end, the concept I most hope folks will take with them into the New Year is that there is no “right way” to live sustainably. What sustainable habits will you bring into 2025?
Look Back to Look Forward
As we head into the new year, it’s the perfect time to take stock of where we are and celebrate how far we’ve come. Once things settle down after the holidays, take a few moments to perform a waste audit. Sort through your trash and recycling bins, categorizing and grouping like items. Is there anything that stands out? Any pile that is larger than the others? Is there a reduction since this time last year? Try to identify 2 or 3 things that you could work on finding alternative options for that would generate less waste. When looking at the recycling bin, consider if there are any ways you could reduce that stream, because remember: recycling is better, not best. Are there any products that you could refill using the existing containers instead of buying new every time.
Consider All the Angles
What works for me, may not work for you, and what works for you may not work for Bob down the street. Chatting with like-minded folks is a great place to start, but encouraging conversation and knowledge sharing in diverse settings is where the real magic happens. Consume information from a variety of sources and compile the best tidbits for you. Looking for inspiration? I’ll share with you my 2025 sustainability reading list, all of which can be ordered in through our neighbours at Volume One Books on Kenneth Street, downtown Duncan. I hope you’ll stop by the store to share your favourites with me!
2025 Sustainability Reading List
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste by Bea Johnson
The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff Is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health by Annie Leonard
Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too by Beth Terry
The Joyful Environmentalist: How to Practise Without Preaching by Isabel Losada
Remember, You’re Doing Great!
The term “zero-waste” often intimidates people and makes them feel as if their actions are not big enough to make a difference, which is actually one of the reasons I tend to avoid using it. The reality is that any action, even the seemingly smallest changes, can ripple to have huge impact. My favourite quote comes from The Zero-Waste Chef, Anne-Marie Bonneau: "We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly." Focusing on small changes makes them easier to adopt as habits and less overwhelming when things aren’t going as planned. We lead busy stressful lives, adding more work to your work is not going to make you want to repeat the actions. Find ways to make simple swaps that are easy to maintain.
As 2024 draws to a close, myself and the team at plentiFILL would like to extend our heartfelt thank you for your kindness, curiosity and support. Every single month, we’ve had the pleasure of meeting new people coming into the store after reading these articles and following our journey. It’s been such a joy to share and meet you all. Remember, we’re cheering for you… if you have questions or just want to chat, we hope you’ll stop by! Here’s to a happy, healthy and sustainable 2025…. Cheers to you friends!
Stephanie Farrow & Krystal AikmanPlentifill Refillery & Sustainable Living Store
The Importance of a Good Pair of Slippers
Let’s talk about slippers, one of the most popular gifts to give or receive at Christmas. We’ll take a look at the history and cultural impact of the beloved slipper and what makes for a really great pair.
Meant to be worn indoors and easy to slide on and off, slippers provide both comfort and warmth for our feet. Slippers were first mentioned around 4700 BC in China and more recently in the late 1400s in England. They were often made of cotton or woven rush, had leather soles and were often decorated. Originally meant to keep those wearing them from skidding while moving around indoors. Folk also started leaving their shoes outside, rather than tracking dirt into the house Having a pair of soft indoor shoes made good sense. Many cultures commonly leave their outer shoes at the door. Slippers have since evolved in prominence and now are easily one of the most worn type of footwear on the
planet.
These days, donning our “house shoes” often symbolizes the end of our work day and our entry into our leisure relaxation time. The Danish art of happiness, called Hygge, has taken being cozy at home to the world culture and is helping us all find contentment by embracing the simple pleasures in life. Wearing slippers is easily one of the top foundational principles (along with cozy throws, special drinks, and warm lighting) towards relaxing at home. Europeans particularly love house shoes.
At Soul Comfort, we live for the perfect slipper. What makes for a great pair? Quality sheepskin outers to start. We also use twice the thickness for our leather soles, so they last ten-plus years. Our insoles are made from cushy sheep’s fleece. As the insoles wear down, no worries, we can replace them with new ones. Good as new once again with that super plush feeling. We were making “Hugs” before hug were branded, with soft leather soles. There is only a hand full of handcrafted sheepskin slipper businesses left in Canada, most by far are out of the Orient.
Keeping your feet warm without overheating is vital to remember when choosing your next pair. At Soul Comfort, all slippers are made from sustainable materials such as leather, sheepskin and wool, which are breathable, helping your feet stay warm without sweating. That means
you can wear your slippers year-round. Choosing the right amount of cushioning comes next, and we have 4 different insole thicknesses to help you further custom fit your slipper.
Lastly comes style preference. Finding your favourite look is the fun part of choosing. Whatever strikes your fancy, open heel or boot style...we have several styles to offer, and can custom fit as well, if you have foot issues. By the way men, have you noticed
how women have cold feet? Best gift ever for a woman. Whatever you choose, consider giving your loved ones quality slippers this year.
Visit us online or pop by our store to Christmas shop slippers for your friends and family. They will love you for it!
Happy Holidays from Anyes and the Soul Comfort Team
Locally designed and made in Duncan
The Cabin Boot by Soul Comfort
Cremation
Allysa
Simmons, Old Farm Market
As the holiday season approaches, many of us start dreaming of cozy gatherings, twinkling lights, and the natural beauty of winter greens. A wreath is a timeless way to welcome the season, adding warmth and charm to your home. Designing your own wreath can be a rewarding and creative experience, allowing you to craft something truly personal and unique.
A well-designed wreath combines texture, colour, and balance to create a harmonious final product. Whether you prefer a traditional style or something more modern, these tips will help you achieve a stunning result.
1. Choose a Base: Start with a sturdy wreath
Crafting Holiday Magic: A Guide to Wreath Design
frame. Wireframes are excellent for durability, while grapevine bases can lend a natural or rustic charm.
2. Select Your Greens: The foundation of any wreath is its greenery. Combine different types to create
base, incorporate seasonal accents to bring your design to life. At the Old Farm Garden Centre we like to incorporate natural elements because they celebrate the beauty and simplicity of the season while staying rooted in the sustainable principles we value. Seasonal accents we love include Rose Hips, Ilex berries, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks and pinecones.
texture and depth. Some of our favourite greens for wreaths include Cedar, Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, Magnolia and Eucalyptus.
3. Add Textural Elements: Once you’ve established your
4. Create Movement: Bundle your greens and attach them in a consistent direction around the frame for flow and balance. For a more modern design you can mirror how you place your greens so that they meet in the middle and create a teardrop shape.
5. Finishing Touches: Complete your wreath by adding your seasonal accents with floral wire and a bow.
Velvet bows, one of the biggest trends this year, add a luxurious and elegant touch to any wreath. These final flourishes tie your design together and help to reflect your personal style.
Some of our favourite greenery combinations include:
• Traditional: Combine Cedar, Noble Fir, and red Ilex berries. Add pinecones and a classic red bow for a timeless look.
• Modern: Focus on eucalyptus varieties, rose hips and a neutral toned ribbon. Let simplicity shine! Rustic: Mix
Douglas Fir and Oregonia with dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks and a burlap ribbon for a cozy, country
inspired wreath. Our new Greenery Bar at the Old Farm Garden Centre is the perfect place to gather everything you need for your project. Here you can hand-select your greens from a variety of choices, sold by the stem or bundle, or use one of our beautifully crafted wreath bases to add in your favourite seasonal accents. For additional inspiration and guidance, sign-up for one of our two wreath-making workshops by going to our website. Let this holiday season be a time to slow down, connect, and create something that reflects the joy and beauty of the season.
Cowichan Valley
uakers
The Religious Society of Friends
Our faith practice is based on these six core testimonies of the Quaker Faith:
And on the belief that there is that of God in every person. Silent worship allows us to discover the inward stillness where we can best hear the voice of God. Join us for Meeting for Worship
Sundays at 10:30 am in the beautiful St. Ann’s Garden Building, Providence Farm (A zoom option is also available)
For further information and directions: www.cowichanvalley.quaker.ca cvquakers@gmail.com or call Donna at 250.661.7751
Find us at a farmer’s market near you or contact us for event catering.
Zoomies Pet Boarding
My career with animals began when I was 19 and got a job in a local boarding kennel. From there I worked in animal bylaw enforcement for 15 years. A recent career change took me out of the kennel and into a desk. This was not fulfilling and when the opportunity arose to run a boarding kennel, I didn’t hesitate to get back into the field.
Why Choose Zoomies?
• Experienced and Passionate Staff – With three decades in the animal industry, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to ensure your pets are safe, happy, and well cared for.
• Comfortable, No-Crate Boarding – Each dog enjoys their own spacious individual kennel, offering privacy and comfort. No crates—just room to relax!
• Large Play Yard for Exercise
– Our expansive outdoor yard allows dogs to enjoy group play or individual exercise,
with ample space to run.
We Welcome All Pets
– Whether you have a dog, cat, bird, guinea pig, or other small critter, we provide caring, professional service for all pets.
Flexible Stays & Special Discounts – We offer both short-term and long-term stays. Plus, enjoy discounts after two weeks or for multipet families!
A Trusted Name in Animal Care – After working in administration and returning to the boarding industry, I’m committed to providing the best care possible for your pets.
At Zoomies, we combine decades of experience with a deep passion for animals to create a safe, fun, and caring environment for your pets. Rest assured, your furry friends are in the best hands! Zoomies is located at 2202 Herd Road, Duncan 250 748-0143
Sue, owner and operator of Zoomies
Seed-Sowing in December – Really?
Yes really! And into winter too… so you have an extra Christmas gift idea up your sleeve (or in your gardening glove?) for any passionate gardeners, homesteaders or permaculturalists in your life. Sowing perennial plants has great benefit for soil biology, and if they are edible, then that’s a bonus. While the human gut microbiome remains a research frontier, one large study suggests we should be eating at least 30 different plants a week to sustain a diversity of microbial allies within. Edible perennials are a fun way to increase the variety on your plate while maintaining low carbon food miles. Happy soil microbiome, happy human microbiome.
Many edible perennials require cold stratification, meaning a period of several weeks of cold weather before
they are signaled to germinate. They can be planted in December (and January, and into February) in 4” pots outside. Use an unheated greenhouse or cold frame for extra protection. Some may sound familiar – Caucasian spinach, good king Henry, skirret, camas, stinging nettle. Others may be new to you: Korean bellflower, red-veined sorrel, meadow parsley, bare-stem biscuitroot, silverweed and musk mallow.
Into the new year, on a heat mat you can start potato onions, cold hardy chilli pepper, and Korean celery. Bulbils of Babington’s leek, Egyptian onion and meadow garlic can go in the soil any time the ground isn’t frozen.
From a soil health perspective, perennials provide soil cover and a relatively constant source of exudates to feed the microbes below. Perhaps most importantly, you plant them once and then leave them to continue producing year after year, without the need to disturb the soil in a significant way. It’s no-till gardening at its best! Provide enough mulch and you are good to go.
This year I am dedicating a full raised bed to perennial leeks and onions. Perennial edibles also work really well around the edges of a vegetable garden where
they can remain undisturbed, on the edges of a food forest, or as part of a fruit tree guild.
You can find these seeds and bulbils for sale at www. cicadaseeds. ca. Michalina is a wealth of information and has created extensive growing guides. Be quick (especially on the bulbils!). May you, and your soil’s biology, enjoy this Christmas season.
Amy LuckMacGregor Certified Soil Food Web Laboratory Technician
Potato Onions, courtesy Cicada Seeds
Cold Weather Outdoor Composting Strategies
Indoor vermicomposting or bokashi bins offer an easy option for those who want to compost during colder times of year - but that doesn’t mean you need to totally abandon your outdoor efforts once the mercury drops!
Year-round, fully active outdoor systems may not be a realistic option for the average backyard (or even small farm) warrior, but in many locations it should be possible to build systems that continue to work away slowly, leaving you at least a few steps ahead once spring rolls around!
Location - Obviously your geographic location will play a major role in determining what’s possible, but even the specific system location on your property can play a very important role in your success. Systems should be set up in sheltered areas that are well-protected from winter winds. Using buildings, fences, trees and shrubs as wind blocks can help a lot.
Warmth - The more material you have (especially carbon nitrogen balanced mixes of material) the easier it will be to start and sustain microbial heating in your system. Aim to make your cooler season systems at least 1-2 cu yards
in size (ideally, 2-6 yards).
Insulation - Heaping up loads of extra “browns”, like fall leaves or straw, over your systems can provide you with a lot of additional insulation value. Creating a below-ground zone, and/ or building walls with straw/ hay bales can take your insulation efforts to the next level! If you live in an area with decent snowfall you can take advantage of this great insulator as well.
Additional Strategies - Securing tarps over your systems can also help to keep cold out and warmth in. In sunny spots, you might even try an additional layer of construction grade poly for even more passive solar heating!
Most of us composting keeners need to accept the fact that we won’t be making heaps of black gold all winter long, but there’s no reason we can’t at least prime the pump for a much more productive spring composting season!
To learn more about a range of outdoor (and indoor) composting strategies, be sure to check out PacificComposting.ca!
All I want for Christmas is a Self Maintaining house
It’s a privilege to own a home in today’s world. Wouldn’t it be nice if your home maintained itself and would last forever?
A roof over our heads is sometimes that last thing to worry about and may even be taken for granted. If we own that roof or that of a rental, it’s the first line of defence for weather and keeping the water away from our shelter. Now, that sounds pretty important and is something we should keep maintained.
When home maintenance gets on the agenda, it’s the last thing you want to spend money on, if there is a toss up for a warm weather holiday or new shingles on your roof? Here are a few basic aspects of your home that shouldn’t be a last priority when it comes to spending this winter, as suggested by Lighthouse
Home Inspections:
• Roofs older than 20 years should be inspected. Remove moss regularly and patch where necessary. Plan for replacement.
• Roof Gutters (eavestroughs) should be cleaned after fall and in the spring to keep rain water flowing away from your home.
• Exterior siding, roof fascia and window frames should be recaulked and touched up or painted every 5 years.
• Blow out irrigation lines to prevent freezing and cracked irrigation pipes.
• Clean dryer vents and bathroom fans.
• Replace washing machine hoses that are older than 5 years old with braided steel hoses.
• Replace furnace and HRV filters. Have your furnace inspected. Did you know furnaces have an easier time moving air with cheaper filters?
• Replace your hot water tank every 5-7 years.
• Check around your foundation, siding and soffits for cracks where rodents might want to get in.
• Replace smoke detector batteries each year and replace the detectors after 10 years or at manufacturer’s suggestion.
Up to date home maintenance gives you peace of mind and is a great selling feature. Deferred maintenance, on the other hand, is something that most buyers walk away from and may cost you more
in the future. Don’t let the ‘Deferred Maintenance Grinch’ cut into your home holiday joy!
Contact Vida Glaser, a REALTOR working for Pemberton Holmes and living in the Cowichan Valley, if you need real estate advice 778 966 9177
Contact Lighthouse Home Inspections 778 922-4740 for a peace of mind home inspection.
DECEMBER EVENTS
9th Annual
WINTER SOLSTICE CONCERT
Sat. December 21st
2:30pm Matinee & 7pm Evening St. Peter Quamichan Hall
Duncan, BC
$30/seat, $35/ Door
Tickets: Volume One Books & Event Brite
Sun. December 22nd
2:30pm James Bay United Church Victoria, BC
$30/seat, $35/door
Tickets at Event Brite
LILA COMMUNITY CHOIR
Thursdays 6:30 - 8pm
Drop ins welcome this term
BIG SING POTLUCK
Dec. 12th 6pm
Come listen, Join in, Join potluck
To see if it’s a fit for Spring Season Feb - April 2025
New Years Sound Bath
S A C R E D
Jan. 1st, 5:30pm doors open - 8pm with Tom Jensen
Sliding Scale $40 - $100
Register on website calendar
Only 20 spaces.
NATURE PROGRAMS
YOUTHS Age 7 - 14 yrs
Fall 2024 - June 2025
*Weekly Forest Fridays
*Monthly Sundays
Lila Music Centre 3228A Gibbins Rd, Duncan 250 710 4174 cari@cariburdett.com www.cariburdett.com
Tending the Inner Flame: Ayurvedic Guidance for the Winter Months
If you’ve had the privilege of tending a woodstove over the winter here in the Cowichan Valley, chances are you already have a keen sense of how important the inner flame of our bodies is in this season. One need only let the fire go out for a few hours while out and about or deep in sleep, to see how quickly the absence of the heat affects the rest of the system.
Our digestive fire, or “agni” in Sanskrit, is essential to all the functions of our body, mind and spirit, much like the fire in the woodstove is critical to the functioning and well-being of the whole home. Except that our bodies don’t have back-up electrical heaters! Tending our inner flame allows us to be resilient to viruses, protects against phlegm build-up and respiratory illness, and keeps our spirits bright. Much like a cozy home, heated up by a wood fire.
There are lots of simple ways we can do this that make a huge difference! Firstly, consider drinking warm fluids, and passing on icy drinks. In
the morning, start the day with hot ginger, lemon and honey, or a cumin, coriander and fennel infusion. Sip on warm, aromatic herbal teas throughout the day, or roomtemperature water. Nourish your body with warm soups, stews, and roasted veggies flavored with pungent herbs like mustard seeds, fenugreek, and black pepper.
Winter is a great time to spice up our meals with a little garlic or onions, which can be quite intense on the digestive system in the summer but are helpful medicine to prevent mucus build up. Winter is a good time to pass on, or reduce, our intake of raw fruits and veggies. If you are going to eat cold, raw food, try to do it in the peak of the day when the sun is highest in the sky, reflecting back to us the peak time of our digestive fire.
It can be tempting in these months of sugary treats to indulge, but it’s important to stay mindful of the effects this can have within the body. Think of putting a big wet log onto a bed of embers in the woodstove. Likely, it won’t get digested! Instead, feed the fire with light, warm, aromatic foods. Enjoy some holiday sweets in moderation, and try having a small cup of hot water with a pinch of ginger powder before the indulgence.
Tamara Dawn is an Ayurvedic Massage Practitioner, Yoga Guide and Musical Siren. Find her work at www.embodyinahimsa.com
Our Picks for New Year’s Eve
The Cowichan Folk Guild is so pleased to announce that our second annual New Year’s Eve Family Dance at the Duncan Eagles Hall will feature the Unfaithful Servants, Dylan Stone’s Whiskey River, a handful of special musical guests and all of the food, fun, and safe, inclusive partying that made last years’ event such a resounding success. Both bands have been putting together sets of exuberant dancing music to take us into 2025 and we are happy to tell you that children are welcome and, in fact, free to attend with their families (15 & under). Doors will open at 7:30pm and music will begin at 8 and go until about 12:30. The Unfaithful Servants have been dropping jaws and delighting even the most stubborn scrooges all year, touring extensively throughout BC. We recommend “Deliver Me” and “Magic No. 9” for listening if you want to get a sense of who these performers are. Dylan Stone is the vocalist and chief songwriter and Jesse Cobb is the brilliant mandolinist who was actually nominated for a Grammy Award in 2011 for his piece “Magic No. 9.” Rounding out the band are Mark Johnson on bass, and Quin Etheridge on fiddle. Both musicians are known for their prowess on their respective instruments but Quin has a special glow about him, being that he is only 21 years old and just wait until you hear him play!
We are providing local shuttles to get folks home safe, a supervised kids play area, a non-alcoholic toast and some wholesome food. Join us won’t you? Tickets are only sold in advance (no tickets at the door) at islandsfolk.tickit.ca, by emailing admin@ cowichanfolkguild.ca or calling 250-748 -3975.
New Year’s Eve at the Osborne Bay Pub! Enjoy a three course dinner and show! Dine in decadence with selections from our beautifully crafted New Years Eve menu and experience the party of the year as Thick As Thieves rock the stage and dance you into the New Year! Thick as Thieves is an energetic classic and country rock band that always delivers! Enjoy a wide variety of classic rock and southern blues/new country ranging from Chris Stapleton and Marcus King to The Eagles and Tragically Hip. The line-up includes Matt Lemay on lead vocals/guitar, Steve Hutcheson on bass/vocals, Rob Lise on lead guitar and Darrell Posehn on drums/vocals. Bring your friends for a night to remember! Complimentary champagne at midnight! Reservations and menu selection required. Choose from Chicken Cordon Bleu with risotto and seasonal vegetables Top Sirloin Roast Stuffed Yorkies, smothered in gravy w/ mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables or Decadent Seafood Linguine in a white wine, garlic and Parmesan sauce After you purchase your tickets, call the Pub to let us know your selections and number of people in your party. There will be two seatings 6pm and 7pm. Show is at 9pm 250-324-2245.
SOMATICS
The Unfaithful Servants
Thick as Thieves
QUATTRO BAMBINI
A True Neapolitan Restaurant
- celebrating joy, simplicity and connection -
• authentic, wood fired pizza
• hand stretched panini
• Italian pasta
• artisan gelato
• curated wine selection
• new cocktail list
• warm Italian hospitality
• large parties welcome call for reservations or takeout 250.929.4655
Open everyday from 12 pm - 8 pm 1400 Cowichan Bay Road
Enjoy Quattro Bambini’s New Curated Drinks & Italian Menu
Exhausted from holiday shopping? or perhaps you haven’t even begun! Stop into Quattro Bambini and check out the neighbourhood’s newest favourite spot for a fancy drink and delcious bite. “We have just released a new seasonal cocktail menu geared toward the same simple Italian style and ingredients list that inspires us.”
smiles Aiscia McNutt, owner of Cowichan Valley’s newest Italian restaurant Quattro Bambini.
Need a quick pick me up?
Try a Martini Espressoespresso, Grappa, vodka, Cynar, Kahlúa or one of the other martinis.
Martini Limoncello - Gin, limoncello, orange bitters and Martini Pesca - Vodka, peach nectar, amaretto
Specialty Coffees
Affogato Forte - espresso, gelato, cafe vecchio
Espresso Forte - espresso, grappa, chocolate
Macchiato Sempre - espresso, marsala, chocolate, foamed milk
“ Little known fact...Quattro Bambini is named in part for my four kids – but I also grew up with four siblings. It gave me a purpose to care for others, celebrate and find my place in the world. All of our house made cocktails are created for them.”
Della Famiglia (Cocktails of the family)
Alloro Gabrielle - frangelico,
bourbon, lemon, egg white, walnut bitters
Per Niko - amaretto, scotch, fig and cinnamon bitters
Amore di Danae - tequila, amaretto, blood orange
Piccolo Fratello (Dylan) - gin, nocino, orange bitters
Bella Donna - amaretto, vodka, fig and cinnamon bitters
Il Vecchio - bourbon, fig and cinnamon bitters
“The wines speak for themselves, I am told. I have been blessed by the local wine illuminati with a curated list of pizza perfect, pasta pairing wines from various regions in Italy and the Cowichan Valley.
Find many of your Cowichan winery favourites to dine with along with these feature Italian Red pairings
Aglianico Basilisco ~ dark spice, dried blackberry, dusty finish
Quattro Bambini Pizzeria, 1400 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cobble Hill (Valley View Centre) 250 929-4655
BOTTLE DRIVE FUNDRAISER
Saturday, December 7
9am - 3pm
Brain on Wheels Rehab Society invites the community to explore the transformative connection between brain health and music.
Did you know the rhythm of music can spark memories, inspire movement, and strengthen the brain? We are thrilled to announce a new initiative for the Cowichan area focusing on brain health across the lifespan, with a special emphasis on how music supports cognitive wellness through the Six Pillars of Brain Health.
The Six Pillars of Brain Health
Aging brains can thrive with the right strategies. The six pillars—physical exercise, mental stimulation, social connection, nutrition, sleep, and stress management— offer a holistic approach to maintaining memory, focus, and overall brain function. For example, this evidencebased framework has shown line dancing increases blood flow to the brain and whole brain exercises builds new neural pathways.
Upcoming Event
Brain on Wheels is hosting a FREE East Coast Festive Kitchen Party at the Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram St., Duncan on Friday December 13th from 1-3 pm s part of this initiative. Experience the pillars of brain health in action.
Why This Matters
“Music is more than entertainment; it’s medicine for the mind,” says Claire, Recreation Therapist Intern. “Through our programs, we aim to inspire people to embrace music as a pathway to improved brain health and overall well-being.”
Free Complimentary Workshop: Introduction to Brain Health
Brain On Wheels will come to a senior centre, a community centre, or assisted living centre to understand the brain and how to navigate the early stages of memory concerns. Learn how to keep the mind sharp and engaged with our Neurobics program.
www.brainonwheels.org
My Aikido Story
Every year my understanding of my art changes, and that is a beautiful thing about studying something for a long time. You really get the chance to delve deep into the métier. James, who wrote last month’s article, was right. It is up to everyone to seek out what they are looking for, what they want to find. If you keep looking, if you keep searching, you keep finding new things to explore, new ways to do things, new perspectives to consider. The more you learn, the less you know.
The overlap with real life, life outside the dojo, becomes stronger. The metaphors reveal themselves through practice. How we act inside affects how we move outside, and vice versa.
The dojo is like a cauldron. You get to explore and work on all this different sides of and within yourself. Dylan was right, of course, we contain multitudes. Do you get frustrated with yourself easily or can you accept imperfection and just be happy to be on the path? Can you move through pain, or do you shy away from it? Can you work with a partner to
help them learn or are you in your own world all the time? Does that little voice inside your head and heart get upset and thrown off balance at the slightest critique, or do you remain centered and grounded and recognize the potential growth through being challenged?
These are all things, feelings, attitudes, ways of being we can explore and refine in the dojo. We try to create an awareness and a heightened sense of self. We sort through the static and junk inside ourselves. We look at our own personality and break things down, address the negative patterns, look at where they come from and overcome them. We create peaceful warriors. Not fighters, but people strong and brave enough to take care of their loved ones and others. People who do what needs to be done.
Mind you, though, there is no quick fix for anything. The teacher gives you clues and guides you along the path, shows you the way. But they can’t step in your shoes. You must walk the path yourself. Practice is the only way, every day.
I’ve been practicing this art for over twenty years now, and that feels good. Aikido has given me so much already. A fine band of brothers and sisters, a holistic health, tools to deal with everyday conflict within myself and with others, tools to keep my ego in check.
There’s some fine people in aikido. In fact, I haven’t met anyone in this art yet that I’m
AIKIDO
AIKIDO is a martial art that teaches how to blend and harmonize with any aggressive energy, whether physical, psychological or emotional.
teaches you how to remain relaxed in your mind and centered in your body and spirit in the face of adversity.
Aikido, the peaceful warrior art, calls on all men and women, young (14+) and old, who want to make a positive difference in their lives and in their communities . Build the confidence to stand your ground and speak your truth in a relaxed, centered and open-minded way. If intrigued, please inform by contacting Steve Elskens. Phone: 250 701 3332 Email: selskens@shaw.ca
NEW BEGINNERS CLASS starting on JANUARY 5 at our Shawnigan Lake dojo.
not, at some point, impressed with. Maybe that next person is you.
Submitted by Steve Elskens selskens@shaw.ca
Stress is a normal part of life. How we cope with stress dramatically impacts our quality of life. Sometimes, we need extra support for calmer days and restful nights to fully recharge. The Stress-Relax® line is specifically formulated to support your body during occasional or long-term stressful times.
Studies
in the dental literature suggest that increasing oxygen in between teeth and gums can positively influence the characteristics of the oral bacteria (biofilm), consequently reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum inflammation. The American Association of Periodontists analysis of flossing effectiveness underscores the significance of this approach in the management of periodontal health.
Oral irrigators have been shown to effectively increase oxygen in the saliva through a jet of water, which disturbs and disrupts the oxygen poor environment favored by disease causing bacteria. This disruption of the saliva promotes the influx of oxygen, inhibiting the growth of decay causing bacteria and inflammatory microorganisms.
OUR TEAMfor
Taking care of your
Hearing Health
Our clinics are locally owned and operated. Our team of Registered Audiologists and Hearing Instrument Practitioners offer a variety of services to suit your needs including:
Earwax removal
Hearing aids
Custom earplugs
Hearing assessments
Home visits And much more!
In contrast, traditional flossing, while beneficial; may not achieve the same level of oxygenation due to its limitations in reaching deep in between teeth and gum pockets. By utilizing oral irrigators, the increased oxygen helps to create an environment less conducive to the growth of harmful bacteria, thereby reducing the incidence of decay and mitigating gingival and periodontal inflammation. This evidence underscores the potential of using oral irrigators as an adjunctive tool in oral hygiene routines for improving periodontal health outcomes.
Dr. Steve Michaluk, BSc, MSc, DMD RYT-500, RTC(c), NCCP-Iv2, IKOIv1 owns and operates Osborne Bay Dental out of Crofton, He has completed a host of holistic trainings to complement his dentistry
practice, acupressure and acupuncture, basic traditional Chinese medicine, yoga teaching certificates and professional counselling. He has also completed a master’s degree in Ayurveda. All of which he incorporates into his dental practice as is practical. “While still abiding in my responsibilities as a contemporary western medical practitioner, I believe that these holistic trainings have created a more practical bridge for me to be able to communicate with my patients about every personal and unique oral health care need and goal, whether very simple or unique and complex.”
Interested in learning more? Join Dr. Steve Michaluk, Osborne Bay Dental on December 3, 11am for a free presentation on Healthy Microbiome at the Community Farm Store 5380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan. Pre-register at wellness@ communityfarmstore.ca or by phone 250-748-6227.
www.osbornebaydental.com
Keeping Christmas Eco and Easy
AtIsland Return It, we see a surge of extra recycling coming in after Christmas. We are happy to help and are always looking for ways to make recycling easier for everyone. Here are a few of our favourite tips to make your holiday season’s recycling go smoothly.
Rethinking Wrappings:
Wrapping paper can be recycled, just make sure it isn’t mixed paper with foil, glitter or heavy inks and please keep tape to a minimum (try exploring some youtube tutorials on how to wrap without using tape). And please remove ribbons and tags from your wrapping to keep recycling batches from being rejected.
And of course we are ready for all your extra glass and aluminum recycling (including drink boxes and gable tops containers) with our 10 cent return
electronics you can bring to our Duncan and Cobble Hill depots. Jump online to see the whole list at Islandreturnit. com/We-Recycle.
Electronics You Can Recycle After Christmas
1. Electric Toothbrushes
2. Electronic Scales
3. Computer Cables
4. Electric Musical
Instruments
5. Amplifiers and Receivers
6. Christmas Twinkle Lights
7. CD players, Turntables, CDs, Cassettes and Vinyl Records
8. Fax machines/ Photocopiers/ Printers and Small Ink Cartridges (No Toners please)
9. Hearing Aids, Blood Pressure Monitors and Thermometers
10. Electronic Key Chain
program. This year, we are extra excited to launch our automated Tomra sorting machine (called a RVM) to handle all your glass and aluminum returns. Bring your refundables in out of the cold weather, and sort them indoors using the RVM (Duncan depot only).We are confident you will love it. Merry Christmas indeed.
Following the holidays, a lot of you will have new electronics; the latest household appliances, power tools and personal devices to name a few. That means you’ll be wanting to responsibly dispose of your over the hill and damaged electronics. Luckily there is a program in place to help you recycle (and reuse components) from these broken items, and we have 2 Island Return It Centres in the Cowichan Valley where you can drop them off. Here’s a list of a just some of
FUN ECO GIFT WRAPPING IDEAS
• Wrap gifts with maps or large colourful brochures
• Try skipping the tape by tightly creasing your folds and securing with reusable festive ribbon
• Reuse gift tags yearly or attach a family photo of the recipient
• Make paper snowflake gift tags, then hang them on the windows Christmas afternoon.
• Plain brown paper tied with a beautiful ribbon, with a sprig of greenery is always a favourite. Names can be written directly on the paper.
Thank you for recycling, and enjoy this very
merry holiday season. From Sophy, Vince and the Island Return It team
Service Dog in The Cowichan Valley
Dogsare an important part of our lives here in the Cowichan Valley. What can I say, we’re an Island of dog lovers. But when should we hold composure over ourselves and leave certain dogs alone? I am 17 years old and a Service Dog recently became a big part of my life. My Service Dog ‘in training’ is a three year old chocolate lab named “Cedar.” He’s a big goofball who loves cheese and playing fetch, but when Cedar’s vest is on he knows he’s working.
With the help of ‘Pawsabilities,’ a Victoria-based service dog training school, Cedar’s been learning many new skills. He has a natural ability to navigate public spaces with both ease and awareness. As a multipurpose Service Dog he’s learning to assist me with mobility and perform medical alerts. Cedar’s assistance makes my life a lot easier, and his grounding presence helps me feel safe and independent. In the upcoming months he will be officially certified as a B.C. Service Dog.
I’ve become aware of a misconception that Service and Guide Dogs work really hard and don’t get to have fun or be dogs. This is not true. Cedar LOVES to work because he gets to come everywhere with me while getting lots of treats. As anyone who has met Cedar can attest, he isn’t overworked in the slightest. On the contrary he’s often found tail wagging by my side in a thrift shop, or snoozing by my feet in a cafe. As far as getting to be a dog, Cedar spends most of his time at home running, playing, sleeping and chewing on stuff like any other
dog. During his off-duty time he also gets to swim in the ocean, go for off leash hikes, and receive pets and belly rubs from family and friends.
When I first got Cedar this summer, I wasn’t sure how accommodating businesses in the Cowichan Valley would be. To my delight and relief, Cedar’s been welcome in every shop, restaurant and cafe we’ve been to (shout out to the ‘Ironworks Cafe’ who gave me a piece of ham for him). As a reminder to businesses: providing access to Service and Guide Dogs is required under the ‘Guide Dog and Service Dog Act’ and the ‘BC Human Rights Code.’ Service Dogs have the right to go anywhere the public can go, but pets and emotional support dogs do not. If you are a shop owner or employee and are unsure of whether a dog is a Service Dog or not, just look at their behaviour. If the dog is jumping, pulling on their leash, barking, or looking uncomfortable in the environment, it’s safe to assume it’s not a certified Service Dog. Service Dogs are generally vested, focused on their person and have a calm demeanour. (Note: some Service Dogs are trained to jump on their owners as a form of Medical or Psychiatric Alert). Cedar often catches the public’s eye when we’re out and about, and while there’s no denying that he’s adorable, Cedar has a job to do that requires his concentration. Ignoring him is
the best way for him (or any Service Dog) to ignore you. Most people know that petting a working dog is a big NO, but talking to or making direct eye contact with them can be just as distracting. These dogs go through hundreds of hours of training but they aren’t robots; direct human attention may be hard for them to ignore. While ignoring my dog is very helpful, I have no problem answering questions about him, sharing my enthusiasm about labradors, or receiving a treat once in a while. However, often I’m just wanting to live my life like everyone else.
Beyond all of Cedar’s fancy training is a dog who loves with his whole being. The unconditional love from a dog is truly a perfect circle. With Cedar by my side I feel as if I can overcome any obstacle or challenge. He keeps me safe when I’m out in the world, and his presence has turned what would be traumatizing medical experiences into mere discomforts. The acceptance and accommodation I’ve experienced here in the Cowichan Valley community has made it possible for me to live more freely with my Service Dog. I am so grateful for all of the people and places that have welcomed and supported us.
Liv Goldberg-Goris Animal lover, Highschooler, Children’s book author/illustrator
Tending to Your Nervous System during the Holiday Season
TheTeddy Kellam is a therapist who works with trauma, parenting and climate/ mental health. teddykellam.com
holidays can be a mixed blessing. While you may aim for a joyous and beautiful experience by decorating, gathering with family and friends, cooking big meals and sharing gifts – you may also find yourself contenting with stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. While the holidays may be the time of year when we want to be our best selves for our families and our kids, we may at times find ourselves under-resourced to do that.
Responsibilities that we take on and triggers that arise during the holidays can overwhelm the limbic system in our brains. That puts us into nervous system dysregulation, where we veer out of balance. It can show up as irritability, anxiety, high sensitivity, checking-out, stress eating, excessive phone scrolling, tight muscles, low energy or poor sleep (among many others). Luckily, there are effective practices that can help us find more presence and aliveness when we are struggling during the holidays. If you are drawn to any of the following ideas, you may want to cut it out and tape it to the fridge so it’s handy when you need support. Easy access helps you resource yourself when your level of overwhelm makes
it difficult to remember what could work for you.
Physiologic sigh. Developed at Stanford University and studied clinically, the physiologic sigh helps diffuse anxiety and stress to “reset” your emotional state. To try it out, find a place to sit, and get comfortable with a straight spine. Take a deep breath in through your nose, filling your lungs with air. Allow your belly to expand as you breathe in. At the top of your breath, take in a second short “sip” of air. Then exhale completely and slowly through your mouth. You can make a sighing sound if you like. Pause to see notice how this feels, then repeat several rounds if you like it. That extra sip at the top of the breath is an anxiety-buster, and the long exhale activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which tells your body it’s safe to slow down and relax.
Vagal Nerve Stimulation. The vagus nerve runs from the brain to the stomach. It regulates heart rate, digestion and the stress response. The ear is rich in vagal nerve endings, so stimulating parts of the ear tones the vagal nerve and promotes relaxation. To begin, gently tug your earlobes. Pull them down and sideways, at your comfort level, as long as it feels good. Next, hook your first finger into the cartilage “bowl” of your ear, and pull the cartilage outwards in a gentle stretch. Take the tops of your ears and stretch them up or out, allowing yourself to sigh. Find the tragus, that little cartilage flap at the opening of your ear canal. You can roll it between finger and thumb in little circles, or pull it open, stretch it gently. Auricular (ear) stimulation was first tested clinically on dogs, with human assistants directed to caress the ears of the happy study participants.
Positive Distraction. While mindfulness teachers instruct us to try to pay attention to only
one thing at a time, positive distraction uses a different approach. Introduced by Aviva Romm, an M.D., midwife and herbalist, positive distraction involves activating two or more senses at once. Dr. Romm suggests “…putting on some music and making a nice meal, taking a walk while listening to a podcast, reading a novel in a warm bath or in your favorite chair while sipping tea…Another really powerful combo is to do some form of handwork - knitting, crocheting, quilting, beadwork, etc - while also listening to a podcast, or if you’ve got a simple project, while watching a show (comedy is especially relaxing!).” By using your hands and engaging your senses, you will find that the healthy dopamine release in your system brings a sense of calm and balance. (www.avivaromm. com)
Stop, Drop and Feel. Developed by Kari Dahlgren, an eating psychology expert, this practice helps reduce stress-eating. When you find yourself eating emotionally or noshing when you are not hungry, see if you can give yourself a temporary pause. Allow yourself permission to come back to the food, after you try this out. Move to another room and turn on a timer for 2-3 minutes. Invite yourself to notice what emotions bubble up in you. Drop in and get curious. Can you can tolerate the feelings that arise? See if you can ride the waves, but give yourself a break if they are too intense. After the timer goes off, you can choose whether to go back to eat. Permission is very important to this practice! Over time the pausing, dropping in and feeling can increase your ability to be with your emotions until they pass. (www.karidahlgren.net)
Play a Song that Makes You Cry. Tears are healing, and so much can build up during the holiday season. You may have lost a loved one, or you feel lonely, or you just need to let the tears flow after a hectic day. When you have the chance to be alone, you can lie down on a couch or the floor or on your bed, and play a song that brings your emotions to the surface. Alternately, you
can lie back and simply let your feelings catch up to you, with a bit of patience and curiosity. As Dr. Gordon Neufeld so beautifully explains, “…we must allow ourselves an immersion into sadness to preserve the ability to reach the happiness that we so desire. As paradoxical as it may seem, when we lose our emotional sparkle, it is melancholy that holds the answer to elevating our mood.” A good cry can wash the residue of upset out of our systems, making space for rays of light to peek through. (www.neufeldinstitute.org)
Drop Everything and Pillow Fight. Adults are not the only ones who experience nervous system dysregulation during the holidays. Kids are expected to behave for family visits, sit longer at the table, and manage inevitable disappointments. Lawrence Cohen of Playful Parenting suggests that adults find as many ways as possible to connect with kids as an ongoing practice. We can dance in the kitchen to music with each family member choosing a song. We can roughhouse, or play with the silliness dialed way up to discharge stress. We can pause when play brings up big emotions (as it often does) and accept that our child needs to cry or tantrum to offload a buildup of feelings. We can be proactive and offer a few minutes of undivided “special time” to our children before they are asked to join the table with good manners during holiday meals. And we can invite presence over presents by asking relatives to provide experiences for our kids rather than physical gifts, where they can spend time together, seeing or doing something special. (www.playfulparenting.com, www.handinhandparenting.org)
The deeper meaning of the holidays is connection, after all. Generosity of spirit is sharing our gifts with one another-not just the kind wrapped up with a bow. When we tend to our nervous systems, we have more access to kindness, compassion, calm and positivity. May all of these qualities bless you, your nervous system and your circle of people during the holiday season this year.
Bringing Light
Traditional Chinese Exercise for Health
Wild Goose Qigong (Chi Gong)
Gentle movement • Calms your mind • Heals internal organs • Develops flexibility
Mondays 9 -10 am
Tuesdays 6 pm - 7 pm (combined Qigong and Chun Yuen) Wednesdays 10-11:15 am
Northern Shaolin Chun Yuen Quan
Dynamic movement • Improves posture • Increases energy • Strengthens bones
Tuesdays 6 pm - 7 pm (combined Qigong and Chun Yuen)*
Wednesdays 9 am - 10 am
250 748 4060 rivendellrhythm@shaw.ca
www.WildGooseQigongCentre.com
Wintertime, and a warm and healthy season to you and yours!
Whether you are looking for a special something for a loved one or just for your own personal deserving self, downtown Essential Remedies has an excellent selection and some unique gifting ideas- with body, mind, and spirit-lifting in purpose.
*Himalayan salt lamps: health benefits include improved sleep, better air quality, purifying qualities, improved mood, breathing, increased energy levels, and more! Add a warm, soft, and relaxing ambiance to any room. We have traditional shapes, cube-shaped heart-shaped, small globe USB that changes beautiful colors.
• Night Lights: Salt lamp plug in, or a beautiful multicolored stained glass with diffuser component (essential oil)
• Diffusers (for your essential oils of choice): Many shapes, styles, colors and textures, bamboo/wood, glass, and clip-on car diffusers too. Enhance any room, cleanse, uplift, detoxify air, improve your mood.
• Bracelets:
1. Copper-magnetic wellness bands for enhancing natural recovery process, repair, relieve, and to re-energize.
2. Gemstone bracelets in amethyst, rose quartz, jade, amazonite, pink zebra jasper, or lapis lazuli. Descriptions for each one attached to help you choose which one is most fitted for the personal disposition of the wearer (or to which stone you are drawn to).
• Essential oils (huge selection), local soaps and shampoos/bars, lotions/body cream
• Natural perfumes, bath bombs/salts, personal care products
• Smudging Sage or Palo Santo: fair-trade, purify home and spirit, cleanse away negative energy
• Candles: soy or Local Beeswax in a variety of shapes and sizes (votives, tealights, pinecone, large fern pillar, tapers sets, trees, etc.
These are just some of the fabulous ideas for self-care and gifting. Gift certificates also available! Hope you can get out for a festive stroll in the ever-blossoming downtown Duncan, where Essential Remedies and many other treasures await.
Good health to you! Tina Foster, RHN Essential Remedies
Ricki Weissbach DHP (C) Owner of Pacific Pearl Dental Hygiene Clinic Inc.
Baby Teeth are Important!
Baby teeth start coming in as early as 3 months of age and some of them will stay in the mouth until we are 13 years old. They are essential for lifelong health of your adult teeth and aid in holding space so adult teeth can come in correctly (preventing extensive orthodontics in most cases).
How Do Cavities form?
Cavities form on the enamel (the bright white area of the tooth) when bacteria, that is fed by sugary food and drink, create acids that attack the teeth.
Dental hygiene habits instilled as a toddler and infant from caregivers reduce
Toothcare for Your Little Ones
tooth decay and tooth loss as our kids grow!
How to Prevent Decay?
No bottles of milk or juice in bed!
Handle pacifiers, spoons and cups with care - tooth decay causing bacteria can easily be transferred from your mouth to your babies mouth. And for the candy and sugary snack filled holiday that is fast approaching, make sure that your child’s teeth are
• No Dental Exam Needed!
• Personal Treatment Rooms
• Professional, gentle and caring hygienists
• Free, accessible parking on property
• No long waits – get an appointment within 2 weeks!
• Flexible evenings & weekend appointments to accommodate all schedules
cleansed each day - morning and night thoroughly. Brushing and flossing! It is not the total amount of sugar that will cause cavities to form but rather the frequency that it is eaten. Giving your children treats every few hours to ‘limit intake’ may actually cause more harm than good. Let them have some every few days as a dessert after a meal (and then brush and floss before bed to remove any excess sugar). Or…. Let
them eat it all at once.
Enjoy the holidays! Looking to have your teeth cleaned without the pressure and anxiety that the dental office brings? Pacific Pearl Dental Hygiene Clinic is essentially a teeth cleaning spa offering cleaning in a low stress environment without the sounds or smells of a dental office. Our experienced dental hygienists have over 30 years of experience between them and are all licensed and experienced in doing thorough gentle cleanings. We refer clients out the dentists as concerns come up and work as a team with dental offices to provide dental hygiene therapy without the wait lists and extra fees. We just bill for the teeth cleaning. Now accepting Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) with co-pay. Now booking in Ladysmith and Nanaimo!
www.pacificpearl.ca
Ricki Weissbach, DHP
Denise Vanderlee, DHP
Volunteering is Rewarding
Ihave been volunteering with CGC (Cowichan Green Community) for 10 years now. Every Monday I look forward to getting up and coming to work at the reFRESH Store. Every day is different but every day is impactful. Working in the store is such a great way to maintain social contact and connect with members of our community. You are building relationships, watching families grow up and getting
to see the impact of food recovery first hand. Every day at reFRESH you are putting your energy into something you know is making a difference. You get the rare opportunity to promote food recovery and keep food out of landfills.
Volunteering at CGC requires an open heart, a listening ear, patience, and compassion. First impressions are so important and our store is the first stop for many folks accessing all of the programs CGC has to offer.
Sandy McPhersonVolunteer
For more information about volunteering with Cowichan Green Community please call 250 748-8506.
Are You Ready to Create Joy?
Welive in a world of duality and confusion. We come to this dimension to learn how to love. If you look around you will see that people are in a tremendous amount of pain, and they have no idea how to change that experience, they are unconscious.
The ego mind, lower self believes that if it changes or controls people places and things outside of them they will finally become happy. This is never true.
The Ego mind if left untrained will cause illness, conflict, grief, loss and heartache. It will blame everyone else for the consequence of (its thoughts and action) Every thought creates a feeling, which creates an emotion. If we think stinky thoughts, our life stinks.
It’s known as the “Monkey mind” – seven monkeys all tied on different ropes to one pole whirling in different directions. This exhausts and depletes the host.
This way of living in our life causes one mind- body disease. The mind is not managed well and through its over analyzing over thinking creates a depleted body which starts to break down.
The key is to learn how to use your attention to listen to your body (not your mind) and begin
to make decisions that bring you true joy.
When we learn how to connect with our subconscious mind we can learn how to feel safe. This is the template for personal power and strength, which creates a higher quality of life.
Learning how to access the higher part of ourselves comes from meditation, grounding, our thoughts words and what we invest our energy in. Hypnotherapy allows a person to access a part of their psyche that is never available to the ego. The ego is designed to help us find our keys, pay our bills, and when over used creates fear, hostility, rejection – it always wants more of something. It is the thief in our head that robs us of what really matters to us.
Fear makes us weak and sick and it’s stated that 97% of what the mind fears will never ever happen and yet if we don’t learn how to check its assumptions it will completely deplete our joy by sucking our energy and our resources.
Learning how to create a kind relationship towards ourselves is the fast track to creating health. The answers come from within through accessing the subconscious
Silvia Graber
Certified Registered Holistic Nutritionist Functional Medicine Health Coach 250 221-9881
• Trauma Informed Functional Medicine Practitioner
• Functional Medicine and Nutrition Consultations
• Lab Assessments/Education
• Individualized Lifestyle and Wellness Plans sageheartnutrition@gmail.com www.sageheartnutrition.wordpress.com
mind. The subconscious mind is responsible for 95-97 % of our outcomes.
I was introduced to Hypnotherapy about 34 years ago and I was set up to normalize being treated poorly by others as well as myself. That’s all that I knew. I was fortunate enough to find some incredible teachers that helped me reprogram the messages that I had carried inside of me. I have created an incredible
life one that is filled with joy. I am passing those skills on to people that want to learn how to access their higher self and live a higher quality intentional life.
If are ready for change I can teach you how to reprogram yourself.
Germana Rovinelli C.P.T. 30 years experience 250-714-4369 hypno4health.co
LUCKY DOG
Lady Tana runs a long way for cheese…
Lady Tana was a dog with a great love of adventure and a great love of cheese. She had travelled all over the world to hunt down exotic cheeses and was carefully planning her next escapade.
Lady Tana had heard through the cheese vine that Utah had some new and tasty cheeses. Excited to get to Utah as quickly as possible, she found a wooden crate that was big enough to ship her there. She clumsily wrote on the crate “Anchorage, Utah.” Her friends helped her get into the crate with all the things she’d need. Food, water, a blanket, and poo bags. Her dog friend, Relic was hammering the last nail into the crate and looked at the address.
“Anchorage, U$@ ? Are
you sure, Tana?”
“It says Utah!” she shouted from inside the crate. Relic shrugged and waited for the courier to pick up Tana. It was hard to tell how long she’d been travelling because of all the flying, shuffling around, and napping. But when her crate was finally on solid ground, she could smell very cold air blowing through the holes in her crate. She heard a human voice shouting,
“Here’s your last dog!” The crate was pried open and a blast of snow blew into Lady Tana’s face. The human let her out. She could hear the barking of hundreds of other dogs. They were shouting, “Run, run, run. We want to run, let us run!”
Lady Tana was put into the strangest harness she’d ever been in. Utah was an odd place indeed, and she wasn’t going cheese tasting wrapped in that harness.
A nice human led her to a small group of barking dogs. Lady Tana tried to introduce herself, but they were focused on their own harnesses and the human. Lady Tana was put in a line up, two dogs wide and ropes were strung from the harnesses to a sled. The dogs on her team were barking madly.
“Ready.” Said the human to the team. The dogs were pulling on the lines. Lady Tana was getting caught up in the enthusiasm and started barking, too. The human yelled, “Alright!”
The dogs started running in the snow and Lady Tana had no choice but to keep up. Her confusion was overwhelmed by the excitement and she was soon, although accidently, running in her fist Iditarod Dog Race starting in Anchorage, Alaska, USA.
They ran through snow storms, they ran by the sea, Lady Tana saw muskox and moose. All the dogs were fed and watered and allowed to rest. It went on for days. The team was always in such a hurry and it was almost always dark out. Tana was getting tired.
She tried to ask the other dogs about any cheese that might be available, but when they weren’t running, they were sleeping. The only cheese she found was in her dreams. After what Tana felt must be 1000 miles (because it was) the team entered a small town of people celebrating. Hooting and hollering, dogs barking, bells clanging. After all that time of only hearing the howling wind, the joyful sounds were beautiful to Lady Tana. The team and the sled crossed the finish line. Lady Tana joined in with lots of barking.
Lady Tana was taken out of her harness and allowed to rest. The human left for a minute and came back with a bag of something. Something that Lady Tana could smell right away. She had cheese! Each dog on her team was given a big wedge of cheese to eat right there in the snow. It was the best piece of cheese that Tana had ever had.
Now, how was she going to get home?
Debbie Wood owns Lucky Dog U-Bath. She can be found on trails in the Cowichan Valley with her BF, Bonnie.
Faynixe Chartrand – Pet Loss Grief Counsellor support@ havenheights.ca
When preparing for the loss of a cherished pet, there are many factors to consider. Ultimately, the crippling question often remains: Should we intervene or not? This decision is deeply personal and can be exceptionally challenging. However, it is crucial to reflect on it thoroughly, if circumstances permit. Here are some key areas to consider when anticipating loss:
Understanding Your Pet’s Prognosis
A good starting point is to consult your veterinarian. A professional who genuinely cares about your animal can provide clarity on your pet’s condition, what to expect next, and how to offer comfort during their remaining time. Prepare a list of questions and concerns to discuss with your vet. Taking these steps will help you gain a comprehensive understanding and make an informed decision.
Assessing Available Resources
Natural death often involves providing palliative care, which can require a substantial amount of time, energy, emotional strength, and financial resources. After you’ve taken time to fully grasp the reality of your pet’s condition, review and evaluate your personal and family resources. It is important to be honest with yourself about your ability to commit to care in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Assess your current commitments, home situation, and available support. When emotions run high, it’s easy to overlook the bigger picture. Caring for a sick pet can be both financially and emotionally consuming. If you’re facing financial challenges, don’t hesitate to discuss this with your veterinarian; they may be able to provide alternative treatment options or payment plans. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and alone in your experience, reach out to those who can relate and understand. If you have older children,
Euthanasia or Natural Death?
consider involving them in the conversation about the right time to say goodbye. Exploring your family’s values and beliefs surrounding natural death and euthanasia, while modeling transparency and vulnerability, can help strengthen your family bonds during this difficult time.
Euthanasia
Although this topic can be awfully difficult to initiate, approaching it with the intention of better understanding the process and looking at the available options, can help you make the best decisions for your beloved companion. When looking at euthanasia, we are referring to one of two main categories: unexpected and planned. In cases of sudden injury, behavioural tragedy or severe illness, there isn’t always time to prepare, and the decision will often be guided by the veterinarian’s advice and recommendations for the animal’s well-being.
In such emergencies, it also isn’t always possible for the whole family to say goodbye, which can be heart-wrenching for those unable to be present. Taking time afterward to explain the situation to everyone in an ageappropriate manner is essential for processing grief and ensuring everyone understands what happened.
When euthanasia is planned, however, there is more time to consider a wide range of details and organize accordingly. For
pets like cats or dogs, you may choose to have them remain in the comfort of your home by requesting a house call from a veterinarian. For some, this offers a peaceful, familiar environment, while for others, the thought of having such memories attached to a particular room may feel too heavy. There’s no right or wrong choice here - what matters is what feels best for you and your pet.
If your companion is a horse, reptile, bird, or sea creature, different considerations and options apply. To avoid any misunderstanding or unexpected costs, it’s important to explore the financial aspects in advance. Don’t hesitate to ask for a quote to make sure that everything is clear and to avoid any added stress.
Staying Realistic
It is critical to remain realistic about what is possible during this time. While it’s
natural to feel overwhelmed by the fear of letting your pet down, pushing yourself to continue with an increasing care regimen can ultimately take a toll on both you and your companion.
Another important consideration is that, while unassisted death can sometimes be peaceful, a natural death does not always equate to an easy experience. It’s important to understand the potential challenges your pet may face if euthanasia isn’t chosen. Even with medication to manage pain, your pet might still experience suffering. Symptoms like severe nausea, digestive issues, trouble breathing, or mental distress caused by physical limitations such as immobility or incontinence, can all contribute to their discomfort. If you’re considering allowing your pet to pass naturally, it is crucial to regularly assess both your pet’s needs and your own to make sure that you are both receiving the necessary support and care.
Final Thoughts
Caring for a sick or elderly pet can bring up feelings of helplessness and anxiety. Developing an advance plan for your pet’s end-of-life care can help reduce the likelihood of making rushed decisions. Part of this journey involves confronting the reality of the situation and allowing space for acceptance in both your heart and mind. If you need guidance, I’m here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Denise D’Fantis is a Registered
Acupuncturist
with over 20 years of experience.
Cupping Therapy, a therapeutic technique involving the application of external suction to the surface of the skin resulting in physiological responses, has been utilized by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 5,000 years.
Dry Cupping Therapy uses tiny containers, or cups, made from various materials such as silicone, plastic or glass to create a vacuum over a specific area of the skin.
The force of the vacuum pressure gently pulls the skin and muscle, stimulating a therapeutic response such as increased blood flow, a decrease in inflammation, and the promotion of relaxation and healing in the body.
Wet Cupping Therapy also uses vacuum pressure to initiate a physiological response, however in addition it also involves the drawing of small quantities of blood and extracellular fluid via minor incisions or superficial skin abrasions beneath the cup. The majority of contemporary practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine employ the use of Dry Cupping.
It is estimated that Cupping Therapy has been used in China since approximately 3,000 BC when animal horns and bamboo were utilized in the practice. Initially Cupping was used to draw out toxins such as poisonous venom, and later to divert blood during surgery.
While Cupping Therapy has constituted a significant component of Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is also evidence that the ancient practice has been used in many other regions of the world such as the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and throughout Asia.
The earliest pictorial records of Cupping Therapy date back to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics which illustrate the practice,
What
Is Cupping Therapy?
while Cupping Therapy was mentioned in Egypt’s “Eber’s Papyrus”, one of the oldest medical texts in the world in 1550 BC.
The Egyptians used Cupping Therapy for treating pain, weakened appetite, vertigo, and fever.
Hippocrates, a physician who was born in Greece in 460 BC, and considered to be the “Father of Medicine”, used Cupping Therapy in the treatment of structural problems and internal disease.
Cupping Therapy eventually spread to Italy and ultimately the rest of Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries.
Today, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine use either glass cups, silicone cups, or plastic cups. To create a vacuum pressure in glass cups, a source of heat is swirled in the cup which is promptly placed on the appropriate body surface. The cup remains stationary for approximately one to five minutes.
Silicone cups are manually manipulated to create a vacuum pressure once it’s circular shape is reformed when placed on the body. These cups as well as plastic cups which utilize a handheld pump to create the suction force, can be moved across the body, resulting in a type of
reverse-massage, whereby the skin and muscle are gently pulled up rather than being pushed down.
Cupping Therapy can be applied with various degrees of suction, such as light, medium or strong, depending on the therapeutic goals and patient comfort.
One of the most common conditions treated with Cupping Therapy is tight and sore muscles. By gently gliding silicone or plastic cups across tight tissue, the muscle becomes looser and relaxes, potentially decreasing associated pain and discomfort.
It is thought that the pressure and vibrational sensations generated during Cupping Therapy stimulate large nerve fibres which leads to the inhibition of pain signal transmissions to the brain through the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
Cupping Therapy can be effective for treating back and neck pain, IT-band muscle pain, shoulder pain, stress, poor circulation, headaches, and asthma. It can also be used to improve immune function and knee arthritis.
Cupping Therapy can be used as a stand-alone treatment, however it is more often administered immediately following an acupuncture treatment.
The majority of individuals who receive Cupping Therapy report feeling relaxed both physically and mentally.
cowichanvalleyacupunture.com
COWICHAN VALLEY ACUPUNCTURE
The holiday season is often depicted as a time of joy, connection, and celebration. Yet, for many, it is a complex tapestry woven with threads of grief, anxiety, and relational tension. The laughter of family gatherings can be accompanied by the echoes of unresolved trauma, manifesting in subtle ways that leave us feeling offbalance or vulnerable.
Relational trauma—one of the most pervasive and often unrecognized forms of trauma—lies at the heart of this experience. Unlike the acute trauma caused by major life events, relational trauma is more insidious, rooted in the small, repeated misattunements we experience in our closest relationships. It emerges when our nervous system perceives disconnection, judgment, or a lack of safety in interactions, especially with those we love most.
The Nervous System and Relational Patterns
From the moment we are born, we are wired for connection. Smiling at our caregivers, grasping their fingers, and seeking their gaze are innate survival mechanisms designed to bond us with others. This need for connection is orchestrated
Navigating Relational Trauma During the Holidays: A Path to Healing
by the ventral vagal system of our autonomic nervous system, which supports safety, trust, and engagement. However, when safety is compromised—whether through neglect, criticism, or miscommunication—our nervous system shifts into protective modes.
These protective states can take two forms:
Sympathetic arousal (fight or flight): This manifests as
heightened anxiety, anger, or irritability.
Dorsal vagal shutdown (collapse or dissociation): This may appear as withdrawal, fatigue, or numbness.
Over time, these patterns become ingrained, shaping our relationships in adulthood. The nervous system holds the memory of past relational wounds, replaying them through our five senses when triggered by familiar dynamics, such as a
loved one’s tone of voice or a family disagreement.
Triggers During the Holidays
The holidays often amplify these dynamics. Grief for lost loved ones, the pressure of gift-giving, and the fear of family conflict can all activate old patterns. It’s easy to feel judged, unseen, or misunderstood, as our nervous system reacts not just to the present moment but to an entire history of relational disconnections.
The stories we tell ourselves in these moments—”I’m not enough,” “They don’t care,” or “I always get it wrong”— are reflections of deeper wounds. These narratives are born from a place of fear, where the nervous system seeks protection rather than connection.
Healing Relational Trauma: A Practice of Presence
The key to healing relational trauma lies in cultivating presence and curiosity. It begins with noticing the physical sensations and emotional responses that arise when we are triggered. For instance, do you feel tension in your chest or stomach? Does your mind race with self-criticism or blame? Becoming aware of these
reactions creates space for choice.
Consider these two guiding words: connection and protection. When triggered, ask yourself:
Am I moving toward connection, or am I seeking protection?
Is my reaction driven by a need to feel safe or by a desire to engage?
With practice, you can learn to approach these moments with compassion. Instead of lashing out or retreating, try pausing and asking your inner child, “What do you need right now?” This small act of self-inquiry can shift the nervous system from a state of reactivity to one of safety and openness.
Practical Tools for Navigating Holiday Triggers
Grounding Practices
When tension arises, take a moment to connect with your body. Feel your feet on the ground, take deep breaths, and lengthen your exhale. These simple actions signal to your nervous system that it is safe to relax.
Setting Boundaries
If certain conversations or situations feel overwhelming, give yourself permission to step away. A brief walk, a quiet moment alone, or even a polite “no” can be acts of self-care.
Curiosity Over Judgment
Notice the stories you tell yourself about others’ actions. Instead of assuming negative intent, approach the situation with curiosity: “What might they be feeling? What am I feeling?”
Repair and Reconnect
After moments of disconnection, seek repair. A simple acknowledgment like, “I felt hurt when this happened, but I value our relationship,” can pave the way for healing.
Mindful Reflection
At the end of each day, reflect on moments when you felt triggered and how you responded. Celebrate small victories, such as pausing before reacting or choosing curiosity over blame.
A Path Toward Vitality and Connection
Healing relational trauma is a deeply human journey. It asks us to turn toward our wounds with presence and forgiveness—not just for others, but for ourselves. The holidays, though challenging, can also be a time of profound growth, offering opportunities to practice vulnerability and repair.
As we lean into discomfort, we begin to rewire our nervous system, creating new patterns of safety and connection. Over time, the shadows of old wounds give way to light, bringing us closer to the vitality and joy that are our birthright.
www.melissambrown.com 250-661-1687
Our wine shop is open for Drop-In Tastings on Fridays and Saturdays. Or book our private experience by appointment. www.emandarevinyeard.com
by Nettie Leeflang
Thatnext week, the new school year was about to begin. I drove, together with my oldest son, the 45 minute drive to the ferry in Nanaimo. He was a student at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Vancouver on the mainland. It seemed he was heading towards a successful future.
The drizzling rain made the asphalt shine. I turned on my windshield wipers. The truck in front of me sprayed my window with dirty water coming from its rear tires.
Ten kilometres before Nanaimo, a girl with her thumb out, was hitchhiking on the other side of the highway, heading in the opposite direction. She seemed almost overpowered by her wet
backpack, which rose high above her head. Beside her walked a dog of an uncertain breed. His head was drooping as if he, too, was carrying a heavy load.
‘I’ll pick you up on my way back if nobody else has picked you up yet’, I told the girl telepatically.
Fifteen minutes later, my son and I reached Nanaimo.
I said goodbye to him in the parking lot at the ferry terminal. The place was buzzing with the parents of students coming and going, bringing their studying children to the ferry. The atmosphere was filled with the expectations of promising futures.
On my way home, I had already forgotten about the girl with the backpack, but just past the gas station in South Wellington, a little before the airport, I saw her again. Her dog lingered alongside her. She carried a white, square sign with the word ‘Victoria’ on it.
“Why on earth was a young girl hitchhiking on the highway, while others her age were going back to school after this weekend?” I thought. When I came home, I opened my laptop, and six weeks later, the first draft of the young adult novel Hitchhiker was finished. Are you curious too about what happened to Nadia, the girl on the highway? Pick up your copy of Hitchhiker at The Glow Effect, 5380 Trans-Canada Hwy #3, Duncan, the organic restaurant between Buckerfield’s and the Community Farm Store or order at www.nettieleeflang.com.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
This month, you want to expand your world! You want to travel! You want adventure! You want stimulation! You want to meet new people and study new ideas! Meanwhile, you have lovely career opportunities and a chance for recognition because your public image is enhanced. Enjoy networking with others. Work to restore order at home because activity on the home front due to visiting guests, renovations and being too busy have created chaos. (You know who you are.)
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
You’ll feel intense and passionate about intimate relationships and bonding with others this month. (Sex will be memorable!) This is a time of self-discovery and inner transformation -- psychological breakthroughs and a deeper understanding of yourself and others. (Heady stuff.) You might be drawn to mysticism, occult studies, astrology, tarot and psychology. You might also focus on financial matters, especially shared property and inheritances, taxes and debt. Meanwhile, opportunities to travel will delight you.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
There’s a strong spotlight on your partnerships and close relationships this month including romantic and business partnerships. This can promote healing in your relationships, as well as exploring sensuality and passion. Meanwhile, gifts, goodies and favours from others will come your way. It’s a good time to ask for a loan or mortgage. You’re working hard to earn money and you’re buying stuff. (I have a framed embroidered picture in my kitchen that says: “Money is only useful if you spend it.”)
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
With fiery Mars in your sign, you’re more of a fighter for your own rights. Your physical energy is high. This is your chance to show the world
what you can do! Meanwhile, you want to get organized and accomplish as much as possible. And you want to be healthy, which is why you might focus on exercise, self-care and diet in the next few weeks. Admittedly, because you’re working so hard and coming on like gangbusters, challenges with coworkers might arise. Fortunately, relations with partners are smooth and cozy.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
You’ll be confident and playful this month! You want to have fun! You’re willing to take risks and explore whatever brings you joy. Romance and flirtations will spark your interest in love and attraction to others, making new romance possible. (Woot!) Grab every chance to enjoy hobbies and be enthusiastic about leisure projects. Interactions with your kids will be more positive and carefree. This is your time to shine and enjoy life’s pleasures! Celebrate what makes you unique. Meanwhile, interactions with coworkers are warm and supportive. (A workrelated romance will begin for some.)
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Your focus is now on home and family, which is why you might want to spend more time with loved ones. Nevertheless, your desire for privacy and solitude will be stronger this month. Take time to remember younger days and reconnect with family traditions. Family discussions, especially about home repairs will take place. However, you’re not just sitting at home getting dusty. Au contraire! This is a great time for joy, creativity, romance and playfulness! You can deepen connections with children. Hobbies and leisure activities will appeal. Enjoy!
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Short trips and tiny adventures (including day trips) will delight you this month because your curiosity and desire to learn is heightened. You might take courses or explore new ideas in a casual way. Your need to communicate to others will be stronger, which is why this is a good time to connect with neighbours, colleagues, friends and family. Meanwhile, enjoy entertaining at home. You might
redecorate and want to show off your digs. (Most Librans have an attractive, elegant home environment.) Meanwhile, your ambition is aroused! You’ll get things done!
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
You’ll have a stronger focus on finances and your material security this month. You might review your budget, increase your savings or think about moneymaking ideas. It will please you to take practical steps toward your own financial security. Fortunately, your ability to communicate to others is enhanced, which means you are diplomatic and pleasing to everyone. Likewise, you will have a heightened appreciation for your daily surroundings. This could be why your desire to travel is strong. The trick is to get to the airport.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
This month the Sun is in your sign. This happens once a year and it means it’s your chance to recharge your batteries for the rest of year. The Sun will boost your energy and confidence, and attract people to you as well as favourable situations. Major bonus! Because of your increased confidence, you’ll start to think of future goals and what your ambitions are. You might want to start new projects, make lifestyle changes or take bold steps toward something that you’ve been wanting to do for a while.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This month is an ideal time for self-reflection. Take time to enjoy your own company. Do a reality check. How do you want your new year (birthday to birthday) to be different from this last year? Don’t worry if you’re low-energy or tired. This
is because the Sun is hiding in your chart. Meanwhile, Venus makes you attractive and charming to everyone! (Note: This is a great time to buy wardrobe items for yourself.) Be patient with partners and close friends because with Mars opposite your sign, it’s easy to feel annoyed with others.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
This is a popular month! Get out and talk to people. Contact old friends and current friends. Join clubs, groups, committees or organizations. Hang out with younger people because they will influence you. In fact, your interaction with someone younger might make you modify your future goals. Speaking of which, this is an excellent time to set goals. Where do you want to be five years from now? One year from now? You’ll find it easy to work hard in the next several weeks because you’re motivated and you have the energy to do this.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
This month the Sun is at the top of your chart thrusting you in a spotlight that is flattering! This is why others are impressed with you, even if you don’t do anything special. This is also why you might be asked to take on increased responsibilities. Someone will ask for your advice. (Just smile and nod with a wise look in your eyes.) Because this is an excellent time to talk to bosses, supervisors and superiors, don’t hesitate to share your ideas. You feel confident, which is why you’ll enjoy sports, interactions with kids and socializing. Friendships will be warm and rewarding.
www.georgianicols.com
DIRECTORY OF LOCAL SERVICES
Last night, an owl in the blue dark tossed an indeterminate number of
shaped sounds into the world, in which, a quarter of a mile away, I happened to be standing. I couldn’t tell which one it was –the barred or the great-horned ship of the air –it was that distant. But, anyway,
aren’t there moments that are better than knowing something, and sweeter? Snow was falling, so much like stars filling the dark trees that one could easily imagine its reason for being was nothing more than prettiness. I suppose if this were someone else’s story they would have insisted on knowing whatever is knowable – would have hurried over the fields
to name it – the owl, I mean.
But it’s mine, this poem of the night, and I just stood there, listening and holding out my hands to the soft glitter falling through the air. I love this world, but not for its answers. And I wish good luck to the owl, whatever its name –and I wish great welcome to the snow, whatever its severe and comfortless and beautiful meaning.
Snowy Night by Mary Oliver
www.biomagcanada.ca
LINDSAY CAMPA, RMT
sessions transform limiting core beliefs through assisted self-study.
jessicamslattery.com
The Final Report of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls - Excerpt page 578
“For many Indigenous women seeking support after exposure to violence, access to anti-violence support services, such as shelter, transition house, sexual assault crisis centre, or other types of support, is often an important first step. These services are often deeply underfunded, and they are often not necessarily designed or equipped to meet the unique needs of Indigenous women. For example, the National Inquiry heard about a common policy held by many shelters that they are unable to accept clients in an active addiction to drugs and alcohol. For many Indigenous women who use alcohol and drugs to cope with extreme violence and trauma, this policy creates an additional barrier to getting support, often at some of the most vulnerable moments - a barrier that may send women back out onto the street.” (p.578)
Reading and discussion group; Final Report of the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls meets November 4,18,25 1:30-3pm Cowichan Public Library 2687 James Street, Duncan FREE
Tickets are now on sale Community New Year’s Eve Dance with the Unfaithful Servants presented by The Cowichan Folk Guild. This family friendly event will take place at the Duncan Eagles Hall, 2965 Boys Road December 31st 8pm-12:30am cowichanfolkguild.ca
