July 2023 Issue 176

JULY 2023 ISSUE 176

VISIONS ART TOUR I WOODEN BOATS IN COWICHAN BAY I ISLANDS FOLK FESTIVAL

JULY EVENTS

Mimigwesiwak” Little People of the Cree 10-4pm Tues-Sat Cowichan Public Art Gallery 126 Ingram St. by donation runs to 7/5

1Copper Canyon for Canada Day Music in the Park 12:30pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

Honeymoon Bay Market 10-2pm 10052 S Shore Rd, Honeymoon Bay also 7/8/15/22/29

2Westholme Tea Garden Tour & Tasting Experience 9:30am 8350 Richards Tr, $90/ person www.westholmetea. com also 7/9/16/23/30

Westholme Tea Tasting Workshop 2:30pm 8350 Richards Tr, $40/person www. westholmetea.com also 7/20

Times They Are A Changing Exhibit 11-3pm Heritage Museum 2851 Church Way by donation also 7/9/16/23/30

The Hounds of Cuchulain, 3pm - 5pm, Riot Brewing Co. 101A-3055 Oak Street, Chemainus Free

3-6Self Regulating Camp Program for ages 7-11, 10:30-1pm Sharpe Occupation Therapy Thain Rd Cobble Hill $575 maincontact@sharpeot.com

4Daniel Cook & The Radiators Music in the Park 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

4-7Kitchen Capers Camp! 9-3pm WestView Learning 3248 Cowichan Valley Hwy, Duncan $225 www.westviewlearning.ca also 6pm 7/20

5Marko Paolo Trio + 1 (VI Symphony) 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

6Community Art Tent with Cowichan South Arts Guild 6:30-8pm at Music in the Park, Cobble Hill Commons Also 7/13/20/27 FREE

6Music in the Park with Downtown Mischief, 6:308pm Cobble Hill Commons Park 1461 Fisher Rd. by donation

7-9 Visions Artists Art Studio Tour and Sale 10am-4pm. Tour map page 42 www.visionsarttour.ca

8Systemic Constellation readings w/Mitchell Chatham 11-4pm@The Community Farm Store to book: mitchellsoulfeather@ gmail.com

8&9Shades of Green Farm Art Walk 104pm 2808 Sprott Rd Duncan

Chemainus Valley Blues Festival 1:30-7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

9Community Kirtan Call & Response chanting w/ Love’s Triangle 2:30-4pm Collective Space 166 Station St Duncan, by donation

10-13Bike Camp for those who can pedal & balance ages 9-12, 9:30-12pm Sharpe Occupation Therapy Thain Rd Cobble Hill $575 maincontact@sharpeot.com

11Caleb Hart Carribean Music 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

12Interplay and Boundaries 10-4pm Tues-Sat Cowichan Public Art Gallery 126 Ingram St. by donation runs to 8/22

Warmland Book & Film Collective discussing book “Rez Rules” by Chief Clarence Louie 5-7pm zoom link: WarmlandBFC@gmail.com

13Music in the Park w/ Caleb Hart & band, 6:30-8pm Cobble Hill Commons Park, 1461 Fisher Rd. by donation

14Fabrications Summer Sale begins 125 Kenneth St. Downtown Duncan

153rd Annual Cobble Hill Show & Shine w/ classic, vintage and antique vehicles 8-4pm

15Chemainus Bluegrass Extravaganza 2pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

16Children’s Interactive Art Festival, 11-2pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus

Shawnigan’s Art In The Park w/ music & food, 11-2pm, Elsie Miles Park FREE

17-21Lego Robotics

9-3pm WestView Learning

3248 Cowichan Valley Hwy, Duncan $275 www. westviewlearning.ca also 6pm 7/20

18Nick Larivera & Best Laid Plans Music in the Park 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

Coding for Adults! 9am WestView Learning, 3248

Cowichan Valley Hwy, Duncan $20 www.westviewlearning.ca also 6pm 07/20

Welcome to Coding for 1 adult + 1 child! 3:30-5:30pm WestView Learning 3248

Cowichan Valley Hwy, Duncan $25 www.westviewlearning.ca also 7/19

19Sunlight Serenades (VI Symphony) Music in the Park 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

20Music in the Park w/ WiL & band, 6:30-8pm Cobble Hill Commons Park, 1461 Fisher Rd. by donation

21-2339th Annual Islands Folk Festival 50+performers, food vendors, camping tickets at www.islandsfolkfestival.ca

22Rockabilly Music in the Park, 2-5pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

22&2335th Annual Wooden Boat Festival @ Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre, 1761 Cowichan Bay Rd

23Community Kirtan Jam! w/ Love’s Triangle 2:30-4pm Collective Space 166 Station St Duncan, by donation

24-28CodingSmorgasbord

#1! 9-3pm WestView Learning $225 www.westviewlearning. ca also 6pm 7/20

25Born Reckless Country Rock Music in the Park 2-5pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

26Symphony in the Summer Victoria symphony w/special guest Lorraine Min 7:30pm T Gil Bunch Theatre @ Brentwood College, Mill Bay Bus service from Duncan CPAC cowichansymphonysociety.ca

Ibison Guitar Duo Music in the Park 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

27Music in the Park w/Slim Sandy and the Hillbilly Boppers, 6:30-8pm Cobble Hill Commons Park 1461 Fisher Rd. by donation

28HUB Film Club feat.

“Showing Up” All welcome, 7pm The HUB @ Cowichan Stn 2375 Koksilah Rd. by donation hubfilmclub@ gmail.com

Live Music - Cesar Medina, 5:30pm - 8pm, Riot Brewing Co. 101A-3055 Oak Street, Chemainus Free,

28-30Boat Building 101, 9-4pm Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre, 1761 Cowichan Bay Rd $1300 per group of 3 or less

29CVAC Outdoor Art Market, 10-4pm Downtown Duncan

Cat’s Meow Music in the Park 2-4:30pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

30Music in the Tea Garden, 1:30pm Westholme Tea Company 8350 Richards Tr $25/person www.westholmetea.com

Out of Town

12 Alfie Zappacosta Live feat. Justin Glibbery on keys 7:30pm Beaver Point Hall 1361 Beaver Pt. Rd. Salt Spring Island Tix @ eventbrite.com

SILVERSIDE FARM

U-PICK

2023 Season $5/lb

Begins mid July

Open Daily 9:30 AM - 7PM

Check website to arrange your appointment. www.silversidefarm.com

3810

COBBLE HILL ROAD

COBBLE HILL

July 2023 Issue 176

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

Distribution Proofreader Calendar

Stephanie Sayers Diana Pink Stephanie Sayers

Advertising Enquiries Please Contact us at info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com for A rate card, monthly offers and print ad specials.

Next Ad Deadline July 15 for August 2023 Issue 177

*Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire. COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE!

Next EVENTS DEADLINE July 15 for August 2023 Issue 177

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

Lon Wood, Jock Hildebrand, Ranji & David, Michael D. Mills, Craig Spence, Madeline Southern, Mel Robinson, Trevor Linde, Jack Connolly, Georgia Newsome, Jennie Stevens, Ann Baty, Bill Jones, Grant Easterbrook, Sonia Furstenau, Nancy Hamilton, Amy Luck-MacGregor, Bernie Dinter, Amanda Batchelor, David Coulson, Kyla, Alicia Fall, Alistair MacGregor, Terence Miranda, Martha Martinez, Heather Stannard, Dr. Lyn Pascoe, Samaya de Laat, Tina Lee Foster, Gina Malkin, Kristy Landry, Madelaine MacLeod, Patty Abbott, Kendra Stiwich, Shiloh Badman, Debbie Wood, The lovely Georgia Nicols, Nicolette Genier, Cindy Jolin, and the Wonderful Staff at the Community Farm Store.

We welcome your story ideas and 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.

Cover Image: Jamie Orr’s schooner Orkney Lass, built by Peter Thornton-Trump around 1981, to John Atkin’s Florence Oakland design. Photo credit Paul Miller.

Pinball at Wizards Arcade

Retro Fun at the Chemainus Public Market

TheChemainus Public Market hosts an array of local craft and artisans, specialty boutiques, a retro arcade and family friendly food offerings all under the same roof!

Located in the iconic market building in downtown Chemainus, visitors to the year round indoor market can stroll through the aisles and discover something new each

time. Featuring a traditional British candy shop, artisan crafts, DIY home decor, a second hand bookshop, specialty LEGO shop, retro arcade, clothing store, pet bakery, antiques, art and gift boutiques, and more!

Dine on maritime fare at Andy’s Fish n Chips (the beef dip is a staff favourite!) or enjoy a real ice cream milkshake at Archie’s 50’s style diner or grab a coffee and snack at Coffee Row.

The Chemainus Public Market is a bustling community gathering place, and a hub of food, shops, art and games all in one place. We’ll see you soon! Open Wednesday - Sunday 10am -5pm, Captain Andy’s Fish n Chips open 11:30am - 6:30pm/Sundays 11:30am - 5pm. 9790 Willow Street, Chemainus.

Summer Kids Camps

Shades of Green Farm Art Walk

featuring 20 ARTISTS

July 8 & 9 •10am - 4 pm

Enjoy Live Music & Gelato Truck 12 - 3pm

2808 Sprott Road, Duncan

Shades of Green Art on the Acreage

July 8th and 9th

With Spring’s verdant freshness still lingering, Summer’s 4th Annual Shades of Green Art on the Acreage is set for the weekend of July 8 and 9 in North Cowichan.

The venue of the popular twoday acreage walk through an outdoor gallery presenting the works of 20 artists will again be Shades of Green Farm at 2808 Sprott Road., east off Bell-McKinnon Road. north of Herd Road.

The acreage forests and gardens will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday and will include live music and a three-hour visit by The Gelato Truck both days starting at Noon.

For those on the fence about what they prefer in art, the art itself will be hung on fences to peruse and enjoy in media including painting, fabric, photography, sculpture, wood and ceramics — all executed by established favourites in the Cowichan Valley as well as infusions of pieces created by talents new to the art world. These student artists will be featured in their own special spot.

With these artists attending the event on site there may be opportunities to inquire and discuss styles or techniques and perhaps observe a demonstration of artistic skills.

The lineup of artisans for friendly and informal one-onone interaction with patrons this year includes Aleta Crawford, Art Carlyle, Becky Hennessey, Bev Russell, Brenda Isaak Takao, Cheryl Painter, Daphne Carlyle, Dennis DelTorre, Janet Magdanz, Jill Waterfall, Julie Nygaard, Lesley Comassar, Patti McNeice, Pauline Dueck, Pipi Tustian, Ray Scudder, Richard Young, Rory MacDonald, Val Konig, and Victoria Blouin.

There is ample parking in the field next to Shades of Green Farm, home to potter Janet Magdanz and the studio in which she creates both handformed and wheel-thrown pottery.

Lon Wood is a retired journalist and Warmland resident.

Interplay and Boundaries: Cultural Fusions between Two and Three Dimensions

* Caution Adult content. Children must be accompanied by consenting parent.

to Canada in 1971 and to Vancouver in 1981 where he passed away in 2016.

Sawai’s artistic endeavours were deeply rooted in the harmonization of Eastern Japanese woodblock printing and Western etching techniques within the realm of printmaking. Humour and insightful wit characterize Sawai’s erotic prints, and that humour is revealed in his deep understanding of the complex interaction between the East and West approaches to art making.

Artists

Noboru Sawai and Yuko Yamamoto are both expatriate artists from Japan. At first glance, they appear to differ, both in medium and expression. What they have in common is a transcultural experience, a life immersed in the arts and academic backgrounds. The intention of this exhibition is to show Sawai’s accomplished work and to commission Yuko’s reaction as a performance artist to Sawai’s work.

Noboru Sawai (an esteemed printmaker who received training in both the United States and Japan) achieved global recognition with exhibitions spanning various countries, including Canada, Japan, Italy, and Israel. Born in Takamatsu, Japan in 1931, Sawai immigrated to the United States in 1950, moved

“Shunga is a type of Japanese erotic art typically executed as a kind of ukiyo-e often in woodblock print format. Translated literally, the Japanese word shunga means picture of spring; “spring” is a common euphemism for sex.” –Wikipedia

Interdisciplinary artist Yuko Yamamoto studied and practiced as a clinical psychologist in Japan. During graduate studies at the Art School of the Arts Institute of Chicago, she transposed to performance art. She emigrated to the Cowichan Valley in 2010.

Yuko has engaged in Sawai’s visual dialogue. She conceives and practices creativity in many forms –paint, fiber, ancient ‘Yuzen’ woodblock printmaking,

text, and performance. Yuko believes it is in the process of being utterly honest, intense, and human, that art achieves authenticity.

Reacting specifically to one of Sawai’s prints, “Under the Umbrella”, Yuko has designed a performance piece that discusses her perspective

of the print. Although Yuko has diligently laid out the performance, she says there is an organic component as well.

Jock Hildebrand, DipFA, is the President of the Cowichan Public Art Gallery

The Biodynamic Book for Beginners

Whetheryou’re just getting started in biodynamic gardening, or you’re an experienced biodynamic farmer wanting to learn more, Biodynamic Gardening is the right resource for learning more about the biodynamic method of organic gardening.

TEN OLD BOOKS

About the Author

Gift Baskets

Meat & Cheese Platters

Gourmet Foods

Italian Imports

Take Home and Serve

This clear, practical guide gives you tried-and-true advice on biodynamic gardening and tips on this ultra-green, organic gardening method. Full-color photographs and easy-to-understand charts and graphs are helpful tools in organizing information in a way anyone can understand and use in biodynamic gardening.

Biodynamic gardening makes use of natural cycles and mindful planting to take organic gardening to the next level, and Biodynamic Gardening covers everything. Topics include soil preparations, lunar charts, composting, cycles of rest, rich and healthy soil, organically controlling pests, ripening plants, and more. Grow delicious vegetables and healthy food, or grow beautiful blooms and flowers with the information you’ll find in this must have book for every home gardener, Biodynamic Gardening by Monty Waldin.

Raised in the UK, Monty’s introduction to organics came early as both his parents and grand-parents grew their own organic fruit and vegetables. When Monty worked in Bordeaux in his teens (mid-1980s) he first encountered the term “terroir-driven”. Monty sensed that the more unnecessary sprays were applied to the grapes, the more additives and other corrective treatments were needed subsequently during the winemaking. Work in an organic vineyard in the Pfalz region of Germany convinced him of the merits of a more sustainable approach. However it was the discovery of Biodynamics in 1994 during a visit to see Paul Barre, a Biodynamic producer in the Fronsac AOC region of Bordeaux, that was the game-changer. Monty found Biodynamics more all encompassing, more sensible, more cost-effective, and more quality-oriented compared to conventional farming.

“Organics teaches you to worry about what’s under your feet, but Biodynamics reminds you to be equally concerned with what is going on above your head, such as following certain lunar cycles. These have a direct bearing on plant physiology and can save you money by allowing growers to anticipate potential problems. Selfsufficiency is a fundamental tenet of Biodynamics, not an optional extra as it appears to be with organics. And in terms of quality, Biodynamics gives an organoleptic edge because the vine’s roots, shoots, and grapes are allowed to express themselves individually and fully.” –

Monty Waldin

In stock at the Anthroposophical Resource Centre & Steiner Bookstore #3 - 5380, TransCanada Hwy, Duncan (250) 597-4763

“Introducing”: Exhibition for Emerging Artists

The Arts Council is holding its first “Introducing” exhibition specifically for emerging artists who have recently completed a post-secondary program that requires studying and producing art. You’ll see cutting edge work from artists from Fine Arts programs, Art Education programs, mentorship programs and more. The pieces are for sale … you’ll have a chance to buy a before-they-werefamous piece of art! Take in the “Introducing” Exhibition to see new thoughts, new perspectives and amazing talent!

The ‘Introducing’ show runs July 10 until August 8 in the main Gallery.

About Us

Patterns: Draw Paint Repeat

Patterns are mysterious and prosaic, complex and austere. Artists Janice Hofman, Penny Maday Ciochetti and Barb Mortell explore pattern through texture, colour, words, fabric, upcycled materials and mixed media. They are planning some family workshops too. We’ll post details on the website soon. “Patterns: Draw Paint Repeat” runs July 7 – 27 in CVAC’s Annex gallery.

CVAC Outdoor Art Market – July 29

We’re joining with Downtown Duncan to celebrate 39 Days of July on Saturday July 29. The Outdoor Art Market will have the work of more than

Craig and Station Streets. You’ll have your choice of jewelry, fabric arts, paintings, sketches, sculptures, clay and more and more. The creators themselves are on hand to chat about their work, their insights and their process. Plus it’s a Saturday, so you can shop the Farmers Market and the Art Market all on one glorious Cowichan summer day! The Outdoor Art Market is presented with the support of the City of Duncan and the Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Association.

53 and a Half

We missed telling you about our 53rd birthday on February 2 (yep, that’s Groundhog Day – it just keeps happening). So, we’re claiming birthday rights for 53 and a half years this July 2.

promote local artists and community art. There are three interconnected galleries with dozens of exhibitions, workshops and kids’ activities every year. CVAC sponsors some shows and artists can rent space for their own exhibitions and events. Because we’re a community arts organization, rental includes promotion, administration, sales and installation. Commission is about half what many facilities charge.

We’re nicely located in the Cowichan Community Centre. Guests are often carrying an armload of books on their way to the library or toting towels after a swim.

Because art is for everyone, all the time.

cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca

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

CUSTOM CABINET PROJECTS

EXPERT PLANNING PRODUCTION INSTALLATION

JOHN FRITH 250-510-4005

Why We Should Read?

If we can imagine a different reality, we can take actions to make it so. This is the underlying theme to Métis writer, professor, and lawyer Chelsea Vowel’s innovative short story collection. “In imagining otherwise, we can grapple with the impact that historic and ongoing settler colonial oppressions have on our communities… [the stories] are also an invitation to act otherwise, to build a present and a future based on where our most fantastic decolonial dreams could possibly take us.”

Another overarching theme is to palpably show that Indigenous ways have not gone the way of the Buffalo! They are vibrant and being reclaimed – this collection is an imaginative contribution to that effort. Indigenous peoples have already survived the apocalypse – they have knowledge of how to survive and to come back.

Experimenting with different forms – hint fiction, microfiction, short stories with footnotes – Vowel asks us to question our assumptions

about what is possible. Grappling with discomfort in reading is analogous to working towards changing our society – moving through the discomfort to get to the other side.

A Métis futurist, inspired by Octavia Butler’s Afrofuturism, Vowel expands the visions of possibilities: “Given the way in which Indigenous peoples are so often forced to reactively hyper focus on the present and on day-to-day survival, having some space to cast ourselves as far into the future is vital and potentially emancipatory.”

Vowel wonders, for example, what technology can do for preserving Indigenous languages. In the story “âniskôhôcikan,” nanotechnology introduced in utero creates babies who will only ever hear and learn in Cree.

Vowel asks, “in what ways can we be the best kihcianiskotâpânak – ancestors/ descendants – possible?” Ultimately what she wants is for us to create together “a future that is not so egregiously traumatizing”. Wouldn’t we want that for us all?

The Warmland Book & Film Collective – a response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada – next meets online July 12 to discuss Rez Rules by Chief Clarence Louie. Books available through VIRL. Email WarmlandBFC@gmail.com for zoom link.

Submitted by Ranji & David, on behalf of the WBFC.

Cowichan Symphony Society Special Summer Concert

TheCowichan Symphony Society (CSS) is pleased to present a special summer concert at 7:30 on Wednesday July 26th, featuring beautiful music in the intimate T Gil Bunch theatre at Brentwood College School, Mill Bay.

The programme includes Fredric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 2 played by Lorraine Min. It’s written by the young Chopin in 1830 before he had finished his formal education in Warsaw. Despite being written first it was described as Chopin’s 2nd piano concerto because it was published second. Written in three movements: Maestoso. Larghetto and Allegro Vivace and has been called a work of “indescribable beauty” and was first performed with Chopin as the soloist on March 17th 1830.

Our soloist is the talented Victoria pianist Lorraine Min. She’s married to Terence Tam, the concert master of the VSO, and has performed in many of the world’s most important concert halls and won numerous awards.

After the intermission you’ll hear Felix Mendelssohn’s 3rd Symphony, nicknamed the Scottish symphony because it was written in Edinburg after Mendelssohn had been walking in the moonlight in the grounds of Holyrood Palace. The symphony was a long time coming because, although he wrote the first preliminary sketches of it in 1829 when he was in Scotland, the first performance was in 1842.

With her permission it was dedicated to Queen Victoria who loved Holyrood Palace. It has often been said that the symphony included Scottish folk songs it does not. Rather it includes music that Mendelssohn wrote that resembled Scottish folk tunes. He actually described Scottish folk songs as “infamous, vulgar, out-of-tune trash which gave him toothache”.

The concert by the Victoria Symphony, under the baton of Maestro Giuseppe Pietraroia the associate conductor of both the VSO and Pacific Opera. He has conducted most of the major Canadian Orchestra and too many operas to mention. For seven years he was music director of the Victoria Choral Society. So we are in for a great evening!

Tickets at the Cowichan Performing Arts Ticket Centre or from The CSS website for $60. A shuttle bus is available leaving at 6:30 from the parking lot opposite the University not from the entrance to the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre. The cost is $5.00 per person, to be paid when boarding the bus. Please have the exact amount. To book a seat on the bus email Ian Kennedy at kennedy.ian.m@gmail.com or call (250) 244-4722. Email is preferred.

Michael D. Mills Director Cowichan Symphony Society

T. Gil Bunch Theatre for Performing Arts Brentwood College, Mill Bay

The Hub - For Community by Community - Building, Sharing, Thriving

Thankyou. We want to thank the community and all of the diverse individuals who feel passionate about The HUB and want to support the vision of the Cowichan Station Area Association (CSAA).

The story of the CSAA is one of a community coming together and achieving a shared but lofty goal of refurbishing a disused school space for the people to have as their own. This quickly became known as ‘The HUB’ and is one of the many projects of the CSAA.

The HUB is a place for community by community - building, sharing, thriving. We, the CSAA board, see the tremendous support represented by the many new members this last year. We are all about building and growing places, events, and programs for all to be safe, seen and together. To do this we need to work together, respect each other, and keep each other safe as a community.

Thank you for your support over the past years and thank you for believing in the vision of a kind, inclusive, openminded community that can create and work together. We are entirely volunteer run and supported. The CSAA community has accomplished a lot over the years, but there is more to do to complete the refurbishment of The HUB building and grounds. We have 5 part-time staff in-

cluding those who support the work of our volunteers, maintenance and landscaping helpers. We have over 100 volunteers who run the wonderful HUB Cafe, the HUB Film Club, the library, the Cowichan Community Workshop and the Clay HUB Collective, all of whom are growing, changing, learning and supporting each other. We have a small Montessori school on our property and regular renters who fill our space with joy, hope and community smiles. We are planning to raise a totem pole this fall carved by Rupert Scow, a Kwikwasut’inuxw artist, which he is gifting to The HUB in honour of the community that welcomed him here last year to complete the pole.

We continue to grow together and we would love your help. Get in touch about volunteering, become a member of our non-profit, or make a donation.

A big shout out on Pride week to all those who need to feel community and are helping us to build ours!!

For more information cowichanstation.org

WATERWHEEL PARK

COPPER CANYON – CANADA DAY

Original songs written and composed by Doug.

Saturday, July 1 12:30 PM

DANIEL COOK & THE RADIATORS

Vocal harmonies, indie-folk, funk and country.

Tuesday, July 4 7PM

MARKO PAOLO TRIO PLUS ONE (VI SYMPHONY)

The music of France and Spain along the El Camino trail

Wednesday, July 5 7PM

CHEMAINUS VALLEY BLUES FESTIVAL

2 Days! Dave Harris Helen Davies Band Whitey

Somers Mark Crissinger Blue Moon Marquee /

SUNDAY: Don Wilkie Gerry Barnum Band, Hella Blue.

Lester Quitzau Brandon Isaak

Saturday, July 8 2-7PM / July 9 1:30-7 PM

CALEB HART

An evening of ‘Island Soul Caribbean music with influences from all around the world.

Tuesday, July 11 7PM

CHEMAINUS BLUEGRASS EXTRAVAGANZA

Story House, Scout Mountain, Bluegrass Fever, Backporch Banjo and The Replacements

Tuesday, JULY 15 2PM

CHILDREN’S INTERACTIVE ART FESTIVAL

Children open mic, art stations, inspiration station, face painter

Sunday, July 16 11AM - 2 PM

NICK LARIVERA & BEST LAID PLANS

Soul, R&B, Fun!

Tuesday, July 18 7PM

SUNLIGHT SERENADES (VI SYMPHONY)

18th Century music - string, woodwind, and brass

Wednesday, July 19 7PM

ROCKABILLY

Featuring Paul Pigat (Cousin Harley) and Hank Angel

Saturday, July 22 2-5PM

BORN RECKLESS

Country-rock.

Tuesday, July 25 7PM

IBISON GUITAR DUO

Award winning duo based in Austin, Texas

Wednesday, July 26 7PM

CATS MEOW

Swing, Latin jazz, and more.

Saturday, July 29 2-4:30PM

For more details visit: cvcas.ca

Chemainus Valley Blues Fest and Bluegrass Extravaganza

Great news for blues fans! The Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society is really happy to announce that there will be a two-day blues festival in Waterwheel Park, Chemainus. We’ve booked a truly great line-up of musicians to entertain you at the festival. Mark your calendars for July 8 and 9, and don’t miss the fun!

Schedule:

Saturday, July

8 2-7pm line up: Dave Harris, Helen Davies Band, Whitey Somers, Mark Crissinger, Blue Moon

Marquee

Sunday, July 9 1:30 -7pm line up: Don Wilkie, Gerry Barnum Band, Hella Blue, Lester Quitzau, Brandon Isaak

Bluegrass Extravaganza

This year’s event, scheduled for July 15, features a lot of wonderful bluegrass bands: Story House, Scout Mountain, Bluegrass Fever, Backporch Banjo and The Replacements. Starting at 2:00 PM, we’ll be filling the air with beautiful bluegrass music until after 7:00 PM Don’t miss this great celebration of wonderful music! Show schedule:

Saturday, July 15 2pm The Replacements 3pm Bluegrass Fever 4pm Scout Mountain 5pm Story House 6pm Backporch Banjo

www.cvcas.ca

Scout Mountain Bluegrass band

The 2023-24 Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society Board - Front: Bev Knight (Chair); Diana Durrand (Rainforest Arts Representative); Karen Doiron (Director). Back: Craig Spence (Communications); Bernie Jones (Director); Barbara Winberg (Secretary); Barbara Allen (Accessibility); John James (First Nations); Kathy Wachs (Treasurer). Not in photo: Neil Owen (Little Town Christmas)

Afullslate of directors was approved at the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society AGM June 1. Now the 10 board members will get down to the business of running the organization that keeps the music, art and literature coming in the region.

Bev Knight will take on the responsibilities of Chair, replacing Bob Johns, who decided to step off the board, but will continue on the Performance Committee.

Joining her in Executive positions are: New board member Barbara Winberg taking on the Secretary’s duties; and Kathy Wachs keeping track of the books in the Treasurer’s role.

“We’re getting busier and busier, so it’s good to have a full board,” Knight said. The CVCAS bylaws stipulate that a maximum of ten directors can sit on the board. “We’re being discovered as the go-to organization when it comes to cultural activities and events in the Chemainus Valley, so we need all the hands on deck we can get.”

One of the main priorities of CVCAS in the coming year will be to build and engage membership. “We want to get more people on our

membership list,” Knight said. “And we want to engage them as volunteers.”

Executive Director Stephanie Allesia and Communications Director Craig Spence will be preparing a membership plan to present to the board this fall. In the meantime, people are invited to join the CVCAS and volunteer. “As well as meeting people and having some fun, volunteers support community arts in the Chemainus Valley,” Knight said.

The mainstay of the CVCAS remains the ever popular Music in the Park series, and the summer music festivals. Those activities, which fill up the calendar in July, and August, have been expanded, with a selection of classical music to be performed on selected Wednesday evenings. Go to CVCAS.ca and check the Events Calendar to see what’s upcoming.

Rainforest Arts, which comes under the CVCAS umbrella, continues to thrive. The West Coast indigenous paintings by Featured Artist Dion Daniels–currently on display through July–are ‘flyng off the wall,” said RFA representative Diana Durrand.

Into its third year, The Writers’ Forum continues to encourage storytellers, writers and poets by providing venues where they can share and develop their works. ‘Everyone has a story to tell,’ is its basic premise. Valley Voices, which is produced in partnership with the Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine, is a page dedicated each month to fiction, creative

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Beloved Three-Day Festival Returns to Providence Farm July 21-23

The Cowichan Valley’s longest running music festival is back with their first three-day event since 2019. “It’s been a long time coming but we are so thrilled to be back to three days of music, community, food and fun for the whole family” says Artistic Director Trevor Linde. The festival, one of Vancouver Island’s premiere music events since 1985, promises to deliver exciting music for all ages, balancing traditional and modern folk acts like Kelly Hunt, Ryan Mcnally and The Hounds of Cuchulain with acts that push the boundaries of folk music, mixing in genres such as pop, rock and funk like The Steadies, Tierra, and Erin Coburn. “After a couple years of caution due to COVID, we thought it was important to bring as much energy and excitement to our line-up as we could” says Linde.

More than 35 acts are booked to play the festival, held at Providence Farm, a 400acre property situated in the Cowichan Valley where the festival has been held for the past 39 years. “We are incredibly proud to feature local talent, every bit as worthy as acts we bring in from across the country or internationally” says Linde referring to artists

such as young firecracker Malakai and internationally known songwriter, actor and instrumentalist, Jonas Shandel. “Ultimately, every single act we have appearing on our 5 stages throughout the weekend is worth seeing and we make sure of that” says Artistic Director Trevor Linde, “so we just encourage people to come, and enjoy as many different kinds of music as they can. We also have a diverse selection of workshops and panel concerts that give anybody who wants it, that opportunity to interact with or learn from their favourite artists.”

The Festival will once again offer camping on-site starting Friday, July 21 and will feature a variety of food and craft vendors as well as a kids’ activities area.. Planning for the festival is in full swing and volunteers are needed and welcome. For a full line up of this year’s performers, festival location, ticket and camping information, and volunteer opportunities visit the festival website at: www. islandsfolkfestival.ca

The Islands Folk Festival is produced by the Cowichan Folk Guild, a Vancouver Island based non-profit society.

Willy Tea Taylor

ISLANDS FOLK FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS JULY 21-23

FRIDAY NIGHT JULY 21 ISLANDS STAGE

5:30 PM - Opening Ceremonies featuring the Tzinquaw Dancers

6PM - McCandless

Family Band

7 PM - Willie Tea Taylor

8 PM - Kory Quinn

9 PM - Ryan

McNally

10:30 PM - Chris Andres

SATURDAY JULY 22

SPIRIT STAGE

AFTERNOON

10:30 AM - Fabian

11:30 AM - Jonas

Shandel

12:30 PM - Kurt Lowen

1:30 PM - Old Growth

2:30 PM - Lawson Kelly

4 PM - Scott & Brian

5 PM - El Combo

Cumbialandia

HERITAGE STAGE

11 AM - Songwriters Workshops

12 PM - Nightingale

12:30 PM - Felicia Harding

1 PM - Naomi Middlemiss

3 PM - Pat Temple and the Hi Lo Players

ISLANDS STAGE CHAPEL STAGE

10 AM - Luke the Kangaroo

11 AM - Malakai

12 PM - The Hounds of Cuchulain

1 PM - Aleksi Campagne

2 PM - Lawson Kelly

3 PM - Jared Popma

4 PM - Big Dirty Boots

5 PM - Erin Coburn

6 PM - BREAK

7 PM - Logan Staats

8 PM - Pat Temple and the Hi Lo Players

9:30 PM - The Steadies

10:30 PM - Tierra Legacy

10:30 AM - Naomi Middlemiss

11:30 AM - Erin Coburn

12:30 PM - Kory Quinn

1:30 PM TBA

2:30 PM - Felicia Harding

4:00 PM - Willie

Tea Taylor

5 PM - Ryan

McNally

10:30 PM - Tierra

Legacy

TZOUHALEM STAGE

11AM - Trombonissimo

12PM - Dennis Atkins

1PM - Andy Cooke

2PM - Amy Muloin

3:PM - Moonlight Talkers

4:PM - Nathan and Melissa Deters

5PM - Nightingale

Erin Coburn

Cincinnati native and perpetual misfit, Erin Coburn is known for her prolific songwriting and modern approach to American Rock and Roll.

Kelly Hunt

Renowned American songwriter and instrumentalist accompanies herself on a 1920s tenor banjo, blending traditions of folk, blues, country, and oldtime music.

Malakai

Logan Staats

Ryan Mcnally

McNally has become known for his diversity as a multiinstrumentalist. He plays guitar, harmonica, mandolin, violin and banjo, all in many different styles.

Jared Popma

Based out of Nanaimo with a background in Funk/Jazz, and lyrics that uncover the hilarious irony that is the human experience, don’t miss Jared Popma.

Accompanying himself on piano and guitar, this young balladeer performs with intricate artistry and powerful emotion.

Since returning home, Staats has been able to create music authentically again, reclaiming his sound through honest storytelling and unvarnished, sometimes painful reflection.

Jonas Shandel

An internationally known singer, songwriter and actor currently living in the Cowichan Valley. From 2001 to 2012 he played in the folk band Headwater.

The Hounds of Cuchulain

A wide selection of Irish, Scottish, English, and original songs in the Celtic tradition dating from the 1600’s all the way up to the 1980’s.

Tierra Legacy

Once named “Best R&B Vocal Group” Tierra started their career in East Los Angeles with a blend of rock, pop, jazz, R&B and salsa.

Kurt Loewen

Songwriter, producer and multi instrumentalist who has spent much of his career in music writing, performing and traveling with The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra.

Amy Muloin

Kory Quinn

“The Best The West Coast has to offer.” He has spent the last seven years playing 1300+ Self-Booked Dates on the road throughout the West, Midwest, and Texas.

Her soaring vocals and groovy rhythm guitar take you on adventures through creativity, love, and the pursuit of passion.

Scott and Brian Scott’s original heartfelt songs and well chosen, familiar covers, it is a real treat to hear these two veterans of the music scene.

Pat Temple and the Hi Lo Players

His compelling voice adds colour and meaning to his lyrics. Pat’s songs are the kind you want to stay up late with!

Felicia Harding

Songwriter, vocal coach and multi-instrumentalist Felicia Harding is a road-warrior who offers a distinct voice from Vancouver Island.

2023 ISLANDS FOLK FESTIVAL LINE UP

El Combo Cumbialandia

Samba, Son Cubano and more. Expect traditionals, originals, deep roots and strong grooves. This is dancing music.

McCandless Family Band

Two generations of the Cowichan Valley’s own family folk band return to the Islands Folk Festival with a story to tell.

Lawson Kelly

You can expect a lively entertaining set condensing a wide variety of genres, and musical eras into well known covers and original music.

Fabian

Argentinian troubadour, nomadic songwriter, romantic hero.

Trombonissimo

A trombone-driven loop pedal sound system mixing brass, loops, and a beat sequencer in an interactive dance show for all!

Luke the Kangaroo

Luke the Kangaroo is a hoppy fun-lovin’ musical monster from Australasia (AKA Cumberland).

Big Dirty Boots

Sure to get your toes tapping and your heart singing, they play a mix of original songs and fun-filled tunes.

Andy Cooke

Andy writes in a variety of genres and is a great storyteller and singer, with well developed characters, catchy hooks and a friendly and engaging stage presence.

The Steadies

Mixing the explosively popular dance-rock genre with funk and reggae influences, The Steadies have created a signature sound they’ve dubbed, ‘island rock.’

Old Growth

From melancholy reflections on life in the 21st century to humorous songs about aging and canoes, Old Growth are sure to make you laugh, cry, swing and then sing along.

Dennis Atkins

WORKSHOPS

From Zero to Hero — Do you love to sing but always find yourself holding back around others? Have you always wondered if you had a musical bone in your body but just never picked up the right instrument at the right time? Join in for an experiment in fail free jamming. No experts allowed.

Island Songs —Join Folk Festival musicians to sing songs that ground us here on Vancouver Island and remind us of the ways island life can shape us just a little differently from our main land siblings.

Known By Heart: Oral Traditions

Jesse Whitely

Throughout his diverse musical life, Jesse has performed the gamut of musical genres from blues, jazz, swing, boogie woogie, rhythm and blues, to roots, and country.

Member of the McCandless Family band and local fixture, Dennis’ talent as a songwriter and ability as a singer is sure to lift you up and give you something to think about.

— This listening workshop is an invitation to connect with the living history still being held and shared in our communities today — if we have the courage to listen.

Like A Rolling Stone: Electric Folk — When we think of folk music, we tend to think primarily of acoustic instruments and voices. Join guest musicians to celebrate folk music with a rock’n’roll edge.

Aleksi Campagne

A well-loved indie-folk fiddlesinger from Montreal who blends folk song writing with an edgy, multi-layered sound.

Nightingale

A multi-instrumentalist loop artist and story-singer, whose psychedelic cinematic song summons the emotions of the natural world and carries us through the spectrum of our innermost mythic landscape.

Willie TeaTaylor

His remarkable ability to write subjects in a simple yet profound way makes his songs a great place to lose yourself.

Naomi Middlemiss

Cowichan Valley singer/ songwriter Naomi Middlemiss brings her story to the stage with heart and a great big voice.

Chris Andres

Born in Vancouver and has been playing on stage since he was thirteen. Recently, Chris won “Country Song Of The Year” for his song No way home.

Moonlight Talkers

Be ready to be moved by these two passionate singer/ songwriters. Their mastery of harmonies and unique friendship shines through in their stage performance.

Nathan and Melissa

This duo is appearing for the first time ever on a festival stage and promise to perk up the ears of listeners of all ages with their gentle rock’n’folk.

Out of the Loop — Discover the mechanics of looping with some special musical guests. Using their own work and examples from music history, we will learn how and why looping works, what happens when things go wrong and perhaps give a brave volunteer or two the chance to be part of the loop making process.

Unprepared for Eternity — Expert performers take us on a tour of the folk tradition known as the “Murder Ballad.”

General Confusion — You know ‘em when you hear ‘em but have you ever wondered what makes a song sound ‘country’ or ‘blues’ more than any other genre? Join some musical guests as they perform songs in a variety of styles, taking the time to point out some of the stylistic conventions in various genres and how they are physically produced.

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Explore Anenomes

Ifyou’ve ever walked on a dock or explored a rocky shore at low tide, you’ve probably seen different kinds of anemones. Many anemones provide protection for certain species of fish (Clownfish) in exchange for the fish keeping the anemone clean and free of parasites. These fish have a special slime coating covering their scales, which protects them from being stung by the anemone. Most of the anemones we have here in the Pacific Northwest don’t have fish living with them - they prefer to eat their fish.

Anemones come in all different shapes, sizes and colors - just like humans. Unlike humans, however, an anemone has no skeleton. Instead, it can change the shape of its body by changing the pressure of the water in its stalk. Anemones don’t have blood, instead they use water to help them move and change shape - yes, anemones can swim and “walk” to wherever they want to go.

Have you ever wondered how an anemone eats? Or poops? Well wonder no more! Anemones only have one opening - which means its mouth is also its anus. The anemone will use the stinging cells on the ends of its tentacles

Campers will explore the life of pollinators, shoreline plants, inter-tidal species and coastal birds, practice their discovery skills, expression of gratitude, and respect for self and others through play!

We are excited to offer week-long day camps in July and August as well as one day camps on August 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th. A fun experience for all campers!

to stun prey which it then brings to its mouth/anus & ingests it. Bones and shells are spat out.

If you are looking for anemones in the winter, you can see them along local docks and pilings. Or, if you’re in the mood, drop by the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre on a weekend afternoonwe have anemones (and other cool critters) in our observation tank and we would love to show them off!

Beach etiquette: Please be gentle with all creatures you find on the beach. The ocean is a hard place to live. If you turn a rock to look underneath, please turn it over gently, then put it back exactly as you found it. The creatures that live under rocks need their homes in order to survive. Learn about anenomes and other amazing sea creatures at our Science and Nature Camps this summer or at the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre in Cowichan Bay. 1845 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay

www.cowichanestuarycentre.ca

Madeline Southern Lead Aquarist and Educator, Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre

Five day Summer Camp $245

Register: www.cowichanestuary.ca or email: camps@cowichanestuary.ca

CWBS Wooden Boat Festival

Please join us in beautiful Cowichan Bay on July 22 and 23 in celebration of our 35th Annual Wooden Boat Festival! This year’s Festival comes with the goal of reinvigorating, reenergizing, and reconnecting both residents and visitors after two years of unfortunate, but necessary, cancellations. However, we are excited to bring back this special twoday event, which includes:

Saturday, July 22: cheer on your favourite contestant in our traditional Seagull races; participate in a children’s photo contest; vote for a People’s Choice Award presented to one of the wooden boats on site; taste a variety of chowders in a contest to win supported by local restaurants; observe both a steam engine and knot tying demonstration; lunch on BBQ burgers and hotdogs; consider a bid in our silent auction; and dance to live music by The Rivals!

Sunday, July 23: start your day with a pancake breakfast cooked by members of our Board and Hilary Abbott, Cowichan Bay’s elected official; cheer our kids on in a Brown Bag Dinghy race; bring your friends for some fun in a beer and wine garden; and cheer on our much loved furry friends in a dog parade!

Both days will offer the opportunity to purchase tickets for our Boat Raffle as well as t-shirts designed

specifically for this event; kids boat building; and face painting.

If you are interested in sponsoring the Cowichan Wooden Boat Society or making a donation toward our silent auction, please call 250 746 4955 or email cwbs@classicboats.org for more information about sponsorship opportunities meant to acknowledge your generosity. Tax receipts will also be provided for all cash and in-kind sponsorships.

The Cowichan Wooden Boat Society and volunteers have been working diligently toward completing the rehabilitation of our Pier and are happy to announce we are getting closer by the day to reopening!! Stay tuned for an announcement for a future ribbon cutting ceremony and another celebration!

On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers, the Cowichan Maritime Centre and Wooden Boat Society would like to thank all our sponsors and donors for their heart-felt contributions.

Come and join the fun!

1761 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay. www.classicboats.org

Mel Robinson, Facility Supervisor at Cowichan Wooden Boat Society.

Coastal Bliss Adventures Offers Everyone A Chance to Get on the Water!

Outdoor enthusiasts Gary Ward and Georgia Newsome share a deep passion for adventure and connecting with nature and the outdoors. They are not just owners of Coastal Bliss Adventures in Cowichan Bay, they live their passion as operators too, by getting into outdoor spaces as often as they can, sharing this experience with others and training their fantastic team of guides. “It is from this passion and the understanding of the positive effects on quality of life from engaging in the natural environment that has inspired us to share this passion with others” smiles Georgia “we hope that they too will find moments of bliss, through their participation in nature, through slowing down and breathing in the beauty by allowing all the senses to awaken.”

Coastal Bliss Adventures offers a wide variety of tours for a variety of groups. Children and youth can enjoy summer kayak, canoe and Stand-up paddle boarding, backpacking and mixed

activity camps. “We can also work with families to design custom programs that best suit their age group and interests. Our scheduled coastal trails and kayaking tours are an excellent way for adults to take a break from their busy professional lives and to allow the spirit to soar, as the beauty and magic of nature is discovered, and personal challenges overcome.

The most popular tour is without a doubt the ‘West Coast Trail’, a few spaces are still available for WCT 2023 tours. There is also availability on all of our other multi-day tours coastal trails and kayaking destinations such as Juan de Fuca, Cape Scott, North Coast Trail, and the Sunshine Coast Trail, the Gulf Islands and Broughton Archipelago. All of these are equally stunning and remote. While some of the other popular locations are currently still closed due to the pandemic, and the travel restrictions make planning difficult for all we have rebuilt our launch dock in Cowichan

Bay at Cowichan Bay Kayaking, making it wider and more spacious.

At the Cowichan Bay Kayak dock, we are open by appointment and pre booking, offering tours rentals and instructional programs to help get people active in the outdoors, while observing covid protocols. As part of their pivot to increase business and opportunities for those that are keen to design their own adventures, we have a

selection of paddle sports products available for sale from the home-based store for drive through pick up and will soon have an online retail store bringing paddle sports products back to the Cowichan Valley. There’s something for everyone!

250 597 3031

www.coastalbliss.ca

Explore and Create in Cobble Hill

Cowichan South Arts Guild - INSPIRE! Community Arts Tent is excited to join Cobble Hill Event Society’s MUSIC IN THE PARK for a 2nd summer - in a dynamic combination of art & music for families in South Cowichan!

We had great feedback last year, from families whose children were Inspired! at the Art Tent and stayed happily engaged throughout the evening of musical entertainment, proudly showing off their creations in the Gallery Display which we set up each week. With themes such as ‘Welcome to the Garden’ and ‘Welcome to the Seashore’, individual crafting projects included weaving flowers and birds, molding snails, folding butterflies, mosaic underwater creatures, wooden and fabric ship sculptures, and more. The popular final ‘joint’ project over two evenings involved creating a wire frame, woven with brown

paper bag strips to create a ‘Communi - Tree’ whose branches were then adorned with colourfully decorated hand prints. All the materials used in these projects were almost exclusively up-cycled, donated and/or collected from home. Inspire! Youth Arts, under the umbrella of Cowichan South Arts Guild provides children and youth with a wide variety of opportunities to engage in the Arts. Facilitated by experienced educators and enthusiastic volunteers,

& CREATE

EXPLORE

activities and workshops are offered throughout the year and are designed to introduce young people to a range of media and genres which help to develop creative skills, encourage self expression and build confidence.

In addition, Inspire! strives to live up to its name and the goals of CSAG, by inspiring a growing vibrant community of young people, creating connections, and highlighting the artistic talent of our local youth.

We hope you will join us Thursday evenings (July 6thAugust 31st) for a summer full of FUN under the Art Tent at Music In The Park! And by the way - we are always looking for volunteers and facilitators to add to the CSAG/Inspire! Team! Contact us at hello@ cowichansouthartsguild.com

Submitted by Jennie Stevens on behalf of Cowichan South Arts Guild (CSAG).

Cobble Hill Music in the Park

Music in the Park (MITP) is back for the sixth season in Cobble Hill. Sponsored by Cobble Hill Events Society, MITP is a wonderful community-building series of nine Thursday night concerts that occur between 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and take place at the beautiful Commons Park in the center of the village. Come with your picnics and lawn chairs to listen to an array of varied styles and sounds for this summer. Thanks to local sponsors and audience donations, there is no set fee for admission.

The line-up for July promises to be enjoyable!

Downtown Mischief, “part funk, part jazz, part rhymin’’, is an emerging band who will captivate you with their beats, smiles and words. They play at shows up and down the island and will be performing at MITP for the first time.

Caleb Hart, a multi-award winning singer songwriter, has been a fan favourite several seasons at MITP Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Caleb has had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and learn about their cultures. As he learned, he grew passionate about a wide variety of music: Gospel, Soul, Pop, Rock, Calypso, and more than anything Reggae. Crowds just want to

dance to his joyful beat.

WiL is a dynamic indie folk rock performer. Since his last performance in Cobble Hill, about the time he became a ‘voice’ for an Alberta Tourism campaign with the song “Roam”, Wil and his band have experienced ever increasing demand at festivals and venues. Wil mesmerizes listeners with his signature sounds on his acoustic guitar.

Slim Sandy and the Hillbilly Boppers play a mixture of root music, gut bucket boogie and western swing with a smidge of rhythm and blues mixed in. The trio “find new ways to play familiar old songs”, and “make(s) you feel like you turned back the dial on your radio and heard an old familiar voice”.

Our event welcomes back the participation of Cowichan South Arts Guild (CSAG) with their Inspire arts and crafts tent for children. Overflow parking will be available at the Cobble Hill Hall grounds, thanks to the Shawnigan Cobble Hill Farmers’ Institute. For information on volunteering at MITP, contact cobblehillevents@ gmail.com.

See you at Music in the Park, the ‘biggest backyard party’ in the valley.

Ann Baty

EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT 6:30 - 8:00 PM

July 6 • Downtown Mischief

July 13 • Caleb Hart with the Band

July 20 • WiL with Band

July 27 • Slim Sandy & The Hillbilly Boppers

Pack a picnic, blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy both solo and band acts with your friends and neighbours!

Music nights are brought to you by No entry charged but donations encouraged.

Saturday, July 15 • 8 am - 4 pm

Classic & Vintage Cars Hot Rods Vintage & Fancy Motor Bikes Antique Farm Equipment

All Units in place by 8:30 am - Pre Registration Required

Farmer’s Institute’s World Famous Pancake Breakfast 8AM

George: 250.743.4377

Brett: 250.715.5418

Registration $10 cash or e transfer to schfias.secretary@gmail.com

Sponsored by: Cobble Hill

3550 Watson Ave, Cobble Hill

ON

Home Grown Goodness

and is a pretty and hearty garnish for plates.

Local Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi, also called German turnip or turnip cabbage, is a biennial vegetable, a low, stout cultivar of wild cabbage. It is a cultivar of the same species as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, Savoy cabbage, and gai lan. It can be eaten raw or cooked. Farmer Kelly from Boots n’ Roots like to add it into stir frys and Roanne from Cobble Hill slices it thin and plates it up for her daughter who loves it raw. Pick some fresh Kohlrabi up at the Duncan Farmers Market on Saturdays from Boots n’ Roots Permaculture

In the Cowichan Valley, purslane likes the warmer temperatures of summer. It usually doesn’t show up until the temperature hits at least 15-20 C and seems to thrive in all types of soil. In the wild you will recognize it as a creeping red stem with juicy leaves that are reminiscent of the common jade plant. It has a bright tangy flavour and gets a tinge of pepper when it gets a lot of heat. It is common and very tasty. Just make sure it comes from an area that has not been sprayed with herbicide or pesticide. The plant will readily absorb these into the juicy leaves. –

Bill Jones

U Pick Blueberries

Eating Purslane

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a local weed that happens to be quite nutritious and delicious. It has succulent and juicy leaves that are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It is best eaten raw in salads, pureed in a pesto or blended into a smoothie. It is commonly sold as a micro green grown from seeds

Farm’s booth at the corner of Craig and Ingram St. Blueberries have many properties and benefits, including blueberries in our daily diet could help improve memory and brain function, as well as reduce bad cholesterol and cardiovascular function according to new research from the University of East Anglia UK . Follow us on Facebook to see healthy blueberry family recipes for salad, breakfast and snack, compote and jam and pastries and also to know more benefits of this magnificent fruit” 2023 Season $5/lb Begins Mid July Open Daily Please check website and FB for hours and start date. Facebook: Silverside Farm 3810 Cobble Hill Rd RR 1 , Cobble Hill 250 743-9149

• RAW & COOKED VEGAN LUNCHES

• RAW TREATS

• CLEANSES

• SMOOTHIES

• JUICES & MORE!

Lavender Love

ORGANIC RAW FOOD EATERY & ORGANIC JUICE BAR

I 3 5380, TRANS-CANADA HWY, DUNCAN 250 597-2595 I GLOWJUICERY.CA

Lavender Bread Pudding

Courtesy Chef Bill Jones, Deerholme Farm

Ingredients

4 cups (1 L) milk (or cream)

¼ cup (65 mL) lavender flowers

6 cups (1.5 mL) French bread or baguette (sliced thinly)

6 large eggs

1 cup sugar (or ½ cup honey)

More sugar for sprinkling

Method

In a thick bottomed pot, add the milk and lavender. Heat over high until the mixture boils, be careful as the liquid will expand quickly and can easily overfull. When it starts to double in volume immediately remove from the heat and set aside

In a mixing bowl, add the eggs and sugar whisk to mix. Pour 1/3 of the hot liquid through a strainer and into the eggs, and whisk to mix. Add the remainder of the liquid and stir to mix.

Place a layer of bread in a large casserole dish. Pour the egg mixture over the bread, pushing down with a spoon to ensure all the slices are soaked with the mixture. Place in a hot oven for 45 minutes (or until set and slightly browned on top). Remove from oven and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes. Cut into squares (or scoop with a large spoon) and serve warm with fresh berries and whipped cream.

Oneof the things that I most love about the Cowichan Valley is the continuing swirl of wonderful organic aromas in the summertime. From the funk of newly cut hay to the sweet smell of the forests and rivers. At the farm, we always wait patiently for the flowers of the lavender plant to burst forth at the beginning of our walkway. It is a regular treat to gently rub the flowers and inhale the sweet floral aroma. The bees are also crazy about our lavender, the bushes are often buzzing with the activities of several types of bees.

Most of the aroma from the plant come from aromatic oils that also have significant health benefits. The plant has anti-bacterial and antiinflammatory components but for me there is also great mental benefits derived simply by smelling it. In my book anything that gives you even a momentary lift is a good way to balance the other hectic parts of our lives.

If you grow lavender, choose a drier area (they don’t like their roots too wet) and prefer a nice sunny spot in your yard. In France where you often see fields ringing the Mediterranean the plants are often mulched with gravel between the rows, to both draw heat and keep down competing weeds. The really good news is they are hardy in our climate and do not need much in the way of care and feeding when they are established.

I use lavender in a lot of desserts and they have a magic connection with berries, cream and chocolate. You can also use the leaves as a herb, similar to how you would use rosemary. They shine as a seasoning for lamb, pork and chicken. With vegetables, I like the combination of lavender with roasted or grilled potatoes, squash and zucchini best.

Aroma therapy for the soul, delivered along the walkway or in the odors drifting from the BBQ, smells like a another fine Cowichan summer.

Bill Jones is a chef, author and food consultant based at Deerholme Farm.

Great Greens!

basin, where they are still found growing in the wild.

LOOKING FOR MICROGREENS?

A&S MICROGREENS

Arugula - Also from the Mediterranean region, sometimes called “Rocket”, the leaves & blossoms were associated with aphrodisiac properties. There are over 20 different arugula cultivars!

Flavour - Pleasant nutty, peppery flavour. Spiciness can depend on the variety and the temperature while the crop is growing. Delicate leaves can range from small and smooth to deeply serrated and quite large. Arugula blossoms are a nice sesame flavoured- addition to salads. Best eaten raw or lightly sauteed.

Nutrition - High in vitamin k, iron, calcium, lutein.

and supple leaf texture with less water content than a romaine or iceberg type of lettuce. Best eaten raw in salads.

Nutrition - Good source of vitamin a, k, c, folate.

There are many great nutritional reasons to eat your veggies as Hipprocate said, “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” You can use this guide to help you choose your next culinary adventure into the world of great greens and decide which is your favourite.

There are a lot of great vegetables grown in the Cowichan Valley, with a particularly large variety of leafy greens to choose from. Our local farms offer a wide selection, so it is worth taking note of the different types! You’ll find amazing greens grown locally by Glenora Farm, Holy Stick Farm, Boots n’ Roots Permaculture, Lockwood Farms, Allium Co-op Farm, Saward Haven Farm, Rootbound Sustainability Co., Cowichan Farm & Food Hub, KinPark Urban Youth Farm and more!

Beet Greens - Beets or beetroots can be traced back to the late 1500’s in the Mediterranean

Flavour - Earthy, savoury flavour with substantial texture and robustness to the leaf. SImilar to swiss chard. Delicious raw, sauteed or braised.

Nutrition - High in iron, vitamin k, B6, magnesium, potassium.

Mustard Greens - Part of the Brassicaceae family (broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage).

Flavour - This green will add ‘‘pep’ to any dish! Spicy and peppery with a hearty leaf that adds a meaty ‘chew’ factor. Excellent raw, cooked or fermented.(Fermented? Yes! Like kimchi,)

Nutrition - High in fibre, vitamin k,c,a and antioxidants.

Butterhead LettuceDeveloped in the 18th century. Butterhead lettuce is a distinct variety that forms small looseleaf heads.

Flavour - Buttery, slightly sweet flavour. Tender, light

Submitted by the Cowichan Co-operative Marketplace

Raspberry Balsamic, Toasted Almonds, & Feta Salad

Courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station

Ingredients

3-4 tablespoons Cascadian Wild Raspberry White Balsamic Vinegar

3-4 tsp lemon olive oil

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted

1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled

2 quarts lettuce greens

2 cups fresh raspberries

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Whisk together Cascadian Wild Raspberry White Balsamic Vinegar, Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Dijon mustard. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.

2. Add almonds to a dry pan and toast in a single layer over medium heat. Once you smell them toasting, toss and shake the nuts to turn. Continue tossing and shaking until all sides of almonds are golden brown - approximately 3 minutes. Be careful not to burn them. Remove pan from heat and pour nuts onto a plate to cool. If not used immediately, toasted nuts can be stored for up to two weeks.

4. Arrange lettuce in a bowl, drizzle with vinaigrette, sprinkle with almonds, feta cheese and fresh local raspberries.

Tip: Keep an eye on th stove when toasting, due to their aromatic oils they can go from nicely toasted to burnt in a second.

Cold Ramen - A Summer Japanese Tradition

Neko Ramen has two types of cold ramen on offer this summer on their menu!

Healthy

vegetarian.

The other is our original and is called Gazpacho Ramen (cold tomato sauce no broth ramen). This is gazpacho/ cold tomato broth with noodles and feta cheese. It is my favorite noodle which is more Italian than Japanese style. This dish can also be made vegetarian or vegan by replacing the feta cheese with tofu. Neko Ramen 171 Canada Avenue, downtown Duncan.

Plan your summer with the ultimate pairing; a white wine made right here in the Cowichan Valley. Bright, crisp, oaked, complex – we have them all – and they’re ready to complement all your summer activities, from a salmon barbecue in the backyard to a chilled glass on the beach.

Zanatta Estate Winery Ortega

Zanatta has been growing grapes on its Glenora family farm for more than 40 years and Ortega was one of the first vines it started growing in 1981. At the time, it was the largest single planting of any variety and remains one of the major varieties in the vineyard today.

Zanatta’s award-winning Ortega is dry with delicate floral and peach aromas and is celebrated as one of the signature grapes of Vancouver Island. Ortega grapes are made into a varietal wine as well as blended with other varieties to produce Zanatta’s effervescent and fruity white Damasco.

Zanatta is known for its low-intervention, sustainable approach to winemaking and for making wines with food in mind.

Deol Estate Winery Blanc de Noir

The Deol family has been

Cowichan in White

growing and maintaining vines since 1984 and pride themselves on making wines from 100% estate-grown grapes. To the Deols, it’s about growing the best grapes under the best possible conditions to produce the highest-quality wines. From the harvesting of the grapes, to the fermentation and bottling, every step is conducted on site.

The Blanc de Noir is an unoaked white wine made from the red grapes of the Pinot Noir. The colour of a Pinot Noir comes from the skins of the grape, and to make the Blanc de Noir, the juice is fermented without the skins. The aroma boasts of honeysuckle and apple blossoms, has a soft acidity with notes of spiced pears, baked

apple and creamed honey. For the Deol family, making wine is not just their business, it’s their passion.

Rocky Creek Winery White Blend

Rocky Creek has always focused on innovation. Its popular White Blend includes hybrids that provide a great base, then its winemaker adds select varietals including Ortega, Siegerrebe, Alberino and the winery’s personal favourite ¬– Viognier. Throw in some Madeleine Sylvaner and the result is a complex wine that showcases some of the lesserknown varietals grown on the Island.

Rocky Creek’s White Blend is the perfect easy-drinking patio

wine. Crisp and acidic, but with tons of fruit from the eclectic blend of grapes.

Sustainably grown and harvested, Rocky Creek’s disease-resistant grapes don’t need chemicals, and as a bonus don’t need tractors in the vineyard during the growing season, reducing the winery’s carbon footprint.

Rocky Creek focuses on grapes that grow well in the Cowichan Valley, but won’t be found at every winery, resulting in some unique grapes and ultimately unique wines.

Damali Lavender & Winery Rhubé Lavande

The Damali vineyard was originally planted in 2006, containing varietals such as Cabernet Libre, Castel, Siegerrebe and Pinot Noir. In the orchard, blackberries, raspberries, rhubarb and black currants wait to be picked to be blended, and you can’t miss row upon row of lavender on the vineyard’s grounds.

The first Damali wines were introduced in 2011 and included grape wines, fruit wines and unique blends with lavender that subtly enhanced the wine.

Rhubé Lavande is Damali’s premium fruit white wine

“Come taste the di erence kindness makes.”

that is Cowichan Pinot Gris blended with rhubarb and a hint of lavender to create a bold unique wine. The natural tartness associated with rhubarb is beautifully balanced and presented in an off dry style.

This wine pairs well with spicy foods and poultry and is best served chilled.

Unsworth Vineyards 2020

Chardonnay

After harvesting the grapes after the flavours have reached their peak and the tannins are at their softest, that same artisan philosophy is applied to winemaking at Unsworth: taste and instinct reinforced by science and method. Using leading-edge equipment, Unsworth staff roll up their sleeves and diligently tend to every stage of the winemaking process.

Small production by design, Unsworth focuses on handcrafted wines of distinction using signature techniques that showcase the very best of the fruit they grow.

The second release of Chardonnay in 2020 is certain to become a mainstay of the Unsworth portfolio. The c-ool climate expression of this most noble grape is dry and poised on the palate with an elegant integration of fruit. The 2020 vintage of Chardonnay was gently whole-cluster pressed to neutral French oak barrels for its fermentation and subsequent eight months élevage before bottling.

In the glass it reveals complex notes of spice, nutty and chalky minerality. “More thrilled we could not be at the addition of Chardonnay to our winery!”

Alderlea Vineyards 2022

Valerie

Alderlea Vineyards is focused on sustainable farming and winemaking practices that

minimize its footprint on the environment while promoting the highest quality and consistency in their wines.

Valerie is an enticing blend of 80% Ortega from the Cowichan Valley and 20% Viognier grown on the Alderlea Estate.

It is named after owner Julie’s late mother. Bright aromas, showing notes of stone fruit and pear have made this wine a gold, silver, double gold and gold medallist at the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023 All Canadian Wine Championships.

Like all Alderlea white wines, Valerie is finished dry, and their practice of extended lees contact gives their white wines bolder aromas and fruit flavours, with a fuller, richer mouth feel.

Blue Grouse Estate Winery & Vineyard

2022 Ortega

Most of the grapes for the 2022 Ortega come from vines more than 25 years old, fully mature, and at the peak of their production. However, young plantings from 2014 are starting to add fresh full clusters to the vintage. The vines are grown in Fairbridge soils that vary from fractured silt-loam to gravel and sand. The grapes are 100% sustainably farmed using cover crop rotations and minimal irrigation.

After harvesting, the grapes are whole-cluster pressed, leading to a brighter, more fruit-forward wine.

Ortega is Vancouver Island’s signature grape, and this wine is its perfect ambassador. It reflects the best that the Cowichan Valley’s warm summers can deliver.

Find all these wines, and more, and the 2023 Cowichan Valley Wine Festival. Tickets on sale now at CowichanWineries.com.

Media Octopus

Continues in the Cowichan Valley

Visions

Artists once again will open their studios for three days so that you can see first hand the exceptional work they do and choose work that was inspired by these unique settings in the Cowichan Valley.

You’ll see oceanfronts, gardens, woodlands and farm settings that surround the artists’ studios in Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Cowichan Bay, Maple Bay and Crofton. You’ll discover parts of the Cowichan Valley you’ve never visited before and take away with you lovely memories and superb pieces of art to enjoy forever.

For more than 20 years

Visions Artists have presented this free, self-guided tour to introduce you to the exceptional artists who live here. You may find one is your neighbour!

On the Studio Tour this year are Michele Heath, Bev Robertson, Sue Coleman, Eileen McGann, Catherine Taron, Karen Bottcher, Rosemary Danaher, Brigette Furlonger, Roger Jackson, Charlotte Haggart, Neil Fatin, Jocelyn West, Carolyn McDonald and Terry

You can read all about the artists and see some of their work in the Members section at the Visions websitevisionsarttour.ca

Out-of-towners; Come and make a weekend of it, stay over and visit all 13 of the studios and then take in other Cowichan highlights like the Kinsoll Trestle, Forest Museum, wineries, restaurants and the boutiquerich city of Duncan. It will be a memorable weekend, you’ll see! And you’ll be Seeing Visions.

Take this pull-out map/ brochure with you to guide you on the Visions Studio Tour.

Check out The Citizen newspaper for information and map the week before the Visions Studio Tour.

Visions Art Studio Tour July 7, 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

This 2023 Visions Art Studio Tour is sponsored by Cowichan Tourism.

FEATURING:

• Karen Bottcher Cobble Hill

• Sue Coleman Duncan

• Rosemary Danaher Lake Cowichan (guest at Neil Fatin’s studio Crofton)

• Neil Fatin Crofton

• Catherine Fraser Duncan

• Brigette Furlonger Mill Bay

• Charlotte Haggart Shawnigan Lake (guest at Eileen McGann’s studio in Mill Bay)

• Terry Harrison Mill Bay

• Michele Heath Cowichan Bay

• Roger Jackson Mill Bay

• Carolyn McDonald Cowichan Bay

• Eileen McGann Mill Bay

• Bev Robertson Shawnigan Lake

• Catheron Taron Duncan

• Jocelyn West Crofton

Be sure to pull-out the Visions Art Tour Studio map and artist info in this issue and check out all the featured artists in the tour this year.

Harrison.

SUE COLEMAN New Moon Studio Cowichan Bay

This wonderful waterfront studio is one foot above the tide line on the North shore of Cowichan Bay. Through the window, view scenes and wildlife that inspire Sue’s watercolours. Actively working to promote environmental awareness and wildlife conservation, Sue’s originals are available in cards, books, prints and gift products.

5378 Gore Langton Road. Duncan 250-748-8332

2023 VISIONS ARTISTS STUDIO TOUR

CAROLYN MCDONALD Seagate Studio Cowichan Bay

Carolyn’s lifelong love of art has been inspired by her Jamaican heritage and her travels. After completing her Fine Arts degree in Ontario, she taught art in Jamaica, Canada, Australia, and England. Her home/studio gallery is at her waterfront garden in Cherry Point and is open by appointment. Visitors are also welcome to tour the garden. Seagate Studio, 4407 Kingscote Road, Cowichan Bay 250-743-5974

CATHERINE FRASER

Mixed Media Artist

Artworks are created in a series, trusting in the process, with a strong interest in colour and design. Paintings are created using a variety of media including acrylics, watercolours, oils, and photography. The subject matter gives me clues as to how I express it. A sense of place, both real and imaginary is important. 5412 Gore-Langton Road, Duncan 250-748-2067

CATHERINE TARON

Painter

Maple Bay

Catherine Taron is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. She interprets Vancouver Island landscapes in watercolour and acrylics, focusing on the moods and energies of the Valley and west coast. “I try to capture the feeling of places I know, with a specific memory or story in mind. 1268 Maple Bay

MICHELE HEATH Jewellery Artist Cowichan Bay

Michele moved to Vancouver Island in 2003 after a long career as a University plant science professor but her secondary interests have always been art and rocks. Since retiring she now creates unique silver jewellery displaying polished, beautifully patterned, and often selfcollected, “semiprecious” stones. 4373 Kingscote Road, Cowichan Bay 250 743-3769

ROSEMARY DANAHER

Ceramic Artist

Crofton

I work with high-fire clay, make my own glazes and produce both handbuilt and wheel-thrown functional pieces of pottery. I work in isolation, so welcome the opportunity to display my work with my VISION contemporaries. I am a guest at Neil Fatin’s studio at 7833 Atlin Place, Crofton 250-749-0251

Crofton

Art for the nature lover. I don’t paint what I see, I paint what I feel. I paint bears, eagles, trees and oceans. I am a visual artist /mixed media painter. I want to hear your feedback and emotional reaction to my work. Come and visit. Let’s talk. 5-1584 Adelaide Street, Crofton jocelyn. visual.artist@gmail.com

JOCELYN WEST Art For The Nature

Lover by Jocelyn

TERRY HARRISON Glass Art and Wearable Art Mill Bay

Terry knows flowers, and as a former florist and lifelong gardener she knows weeds, too, and even they have gorgeous flowers which she paints onto glass bowls, plates, wine glasses, carafes, jugs, tea pots. Terry also paints flowers on stunning shirts and jogging suits, sandals, hats, tee shirts and bags.

1213 Royalta Road off Cameron-Taggart Road, Mill Bay 250-743-3862

CHARLOTTE HAGGART

Painter

Shawnigan Lake

Charlotte Haggart lives in Shawnigan Lake where she currently works on paintings and handmade prints. She completed a BA at UBC in 1974 and has a Diploma of Art from the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University). Charlotte worked in film animation as a background artist and painter. 264 Inlet Drive, Mill Bay 250-889-3154

ROGER JACKSON

Roger Jackson Fine Art

Mill Bay

I paint in oil and acrylic, in studio or en plein air. My inspiration comes from travels, near and far, or my imagination, painting scenes from life, on land or water. At times it is the big picture that catches my attention; other times it’s a small detail. 676 Bay Road, Mill Bay 250-710-2898

Wildflower Studio

Shawnigan Lake

Bev Robertson is best known for her big bold Macro florals, but she also paints landscapes, animals, birds and portraits. But most of all …. she paints the light that shines on a flower or outlines a tree or reflects off the glass of a vase.

2152 Wildflower Road, Shawnigan Lake 250 710-5200

NEIL FATIN Photography and Beyond Crofton

Photography is the base of my artistic expression. A creative overlay is added to convey a distinct variation of the original image aimed at engaging the viewer. A more detailed description is beyond the scope of a few words and can be explained more fully in terms of vision and the creative process employed. Please visit during the “Visions” tour.

7833 Atlin Place, Crofton 250-324-8101

Poetic Imagery by Brigette

Métis artist, Brigette Furlonger, moved to the Cowichan Valley in 2004. Brigette explores her culture through traditional beadwork, writing, and photography. Whether through a sense of time or place, each piece conveys a story. Come visit the studio to watch Brigette create or participate in one of the mini workshops. Dot painting workshops Friday, Saturday and Sunday at noon. By donation. 532 Sentinel Drive, Mill Bay 250-710-1175

Fused Glass

Originals

Cobble Hill

Please join me outside my studio as some of my creations are garden art. I have been working with fused glass for the past 10 years. Before that I made jewelry and have incorporated wire work and fused glass in my creations. Still experimenting and looking for new ways to play with glass. 3580 Arbutus Drive, North Cobble Hill 250-466-7530

Eileen works en plein air and in studio in acrylic, pastel and watercolour. Her paintings are notable for their intense and beautiful colour, and expressively interpreted representations of Canada’s trees, mountains, lakes and oceans. Distinctive compositions featuring light, colour, glow and vibrancy will fill her outdoor tent and indoor gallery. 264 Inlet Drive, Mill Bay dragonwingmusic @gmail.com

BEV ROBERTSON Painter

BRIGETTE FURLONGER

Mill Bay

EILEEN MCGANN The Eileen McGann Studio Gallery Mill Bay

KAREN BOTTCHER

VISIONS ART TOUR MAP

• A Eileen McGann & guest artist Charlotte

Haggart 264 Inlet Drive, Mill Bay

• B Brigette Furlonger

532 Sentinel Drive, Mill Bay

• C Roger Jackson 676 Bay Road, Mill Bay

• D Terry Harrison 1213 Royalta Road, Mill Bay

• E Bev Robertson

2152 Wildflower Road, Shawnigan Lake

• F Karen Bottcher

3580 Arbutus Drive N., Cobble Hill

• G Michele Heath

4373 Kingscote Road, Cowichan Bay

• H Carolyn McDonald

4407 Kingscote Road, Cowichan Bay

• I Sue Coleman

5378 Gore-Langton Road, Duncan

• J Catherine Fraser

5412 Gore-Langton Road, Duncan

• K Catherine Taron 1268 Maple Bay Road, Duncan

• L Neil Fatin & guest artist Rosemary Danaher

7833 Atlin Place, Crofton

• M Jocelyn West 5-1584 Adelaide Street, Crofton

Visions Artists Studio Tour Valley Voice Centrefold Feature Pull Out. Pull out the centrefold artist studio pages and follow the map July 7, 8 and 9.

For Studio A continue south on Mill Bay Road.

Long

by

Paintings by Catherine Taron –I’ve painted Long Beach many times but never in twilight. When I lived there, years ago, I walked its length, rain or shine, and even in the dark with friends, all of us young then. We’d be wrapped in the mystery of night and the excitement of our daring, searching the sky and looking for signs of the ocean’s bioluminescence. These were days of innocence and optimism. Now, it always feels like I’m going ‘home’. www.catherinetaron.ca

Oil Paintings Bev Robertson Art –This vivid painting of an Arbutus tree overlooking the Sansum

Narrows was a commissioned painting that Bev painted using several reference photos that the customer had taken while taking a hike in the Stoney Hills area. The client wanted the trees bark to be featured...so using several photos Bev created the right light shining on

1213 Royalta Road Mill Bay

harrisonglassart@shaw.ca

Painted Glass, Tiles and Clothing

the distinctive red bark, as it peals and sheds, to reveal its new contrasting green layer below. Although this was a commission there will be more Arbutus painting in the future, Bring your photos and lets discus the possibilities or your own unique commissioned painting, www.bevrobertsonwildflowerartstudio.ca

Glass and Textiles by Terry Harrison – Pansies, irises, roses, snowdrops, sunflowers, violets...all sorts of garden and wild flowers and exotic blossoms adorn Terry Harrison’s handpainted glass and crystal

bowls, wine glasses, plates and serving pieces. You’ll see them on elegant shirts and tiles, too, during the Visions Studio Tour July 7, 8 and 9. Choose from the studio or order custom pieces with your favourite flowers painted especially for you. Each piece is unique for you to cherish or give for a special occasion.

While visiting the studio you are also invited to enjoy the garden and the view.

Beach Luminescence,

Catherine Taron 16” x 30”, acrylic on canvas, $750

Sansum Narrows by Bev Robertson 24” x 30” oil on canvas

Art Studio Tour July 7,8 & 9 10-5pm

Terry Harrison I Glass Art Studio

Handpainted floral glassware set with pitcher by Terry Harrison

Art StudioTour

July 7, 8 & 9 10-4pm

Representational I Abstract I Nature I People

ROGER JACKSON, PAINTER

Part of the Visions Artists Studio Tour

July 7, 8 & 9

676 Bay Rd, Mill Bay

www.rogerjackson.ca I info@rogerjackson.ca

Catherine Fraser Art -

Artwork was done outdoors in Spain during an artist residency in June 2023. I used the three colours of yellow, red and blue. This combination of colours was introduced to me many years ago in Hawaii by artist Richard Nelson. I chose to mix the colours with water and medium to paint thinly in layers. I was interested in the light, the sunrise and the shapes of the trees. Visit Catherine’s studio and multi media artworks with guest artist Linda Weech artist and photographer. Images are representational and imaginative of landscapes and figures. At 1 pm each day of the tour there will be talk, demo and activity for those interested.

www.catherinefraserart.com

Paintings by Roger Jackson -

On April 15, 2019, a fire started below the roof, quickly speading along timbers that had been in place for over 800 years and the spire was lost. I have visited this grand old dame and have been amazed at the workmanship. As the news of the fire continued, I was compelled to capture an image with the spire in place, just as we saw her in 2014, the last time we were in Paris before the fire. I was in Paris again September 2019 and it was good to see repair work progressing.

www.rogerjackson.ca

Sunrise Almond grove in Spain, watermedia by Catherine Fraser

Notre Dame de Paris, by Roger Jackson 30” x 40”

Catherine Fraser I Cowichan Bay / Duncan

Celebrating with Pride

Last month, LGBTQ2S+ communities and allies across the globe celebrated Pride Month. This month, Vancouver Island’s biggest pride parade will be taking place on July 9th in Victoria – and I’m excited to join the festivities again this year! This June has allowed me to reflect on the meaning of Pride Month. Pride recognizes the importance of queer joy, and the critical need to forge safe spaces for all LGBTQ2S+ peoples. I dream of a world where everyone is free to be who they are, and love who they love.

The first Pride Month was celebrated in 1970, to memorialize the Stonewall Riots that took place in New York City on June 28, 1969. Since then, it has been a long and challenging battle to advance LGBTQ2S+ rights in Canada and the US. It is essential that we continue advancing and protecting these rights. We cannot afford to go backwards.

The erosion of freedoms in the United States, and persisting hateful rhetoric amongst some groups in Canada, have led to a growing feeling of unease among many LGBTQ2S+ communities.

Everyone deserves to feel safe and loved. Legislation and discourse rooted in hate should not take that away. With the Victoria Pride Parade approaching, I’ve been thinking of the quote: “Pride has to be a protest until everyone is free.” Pride is a reminder that our country has a long way to go. We must ensure that all people have the freedom to express love freely. And every day, regardless of the month, we should be fighting to uphold the rights of LGBTQ2S+ people. We should take the time to celebrate and honour the LGBTQ+ people in our lives. Pride is so much more than rainbows or 30 days on a calendar. These communities have battled discrimination for centuries. Many places around the world are unsafe, and outright dangerous, to be openly queer or trans. We should be grateful for all that has been achieved for LGBTQ2S+ people in Canada but remind ourselves that we can still do better.

This July, as we celebrate in the brightly coloured spaces of Victoria’s Pride festivities, we must remember that it is not just a party – but a movement of liberation for all.

Victoria Pride Parade, July 9th, starting at 11am at Douglas and Fisgard.

Sonia Furstenau, MLA Cowichan Valley, Elected House Leader BC Green Party

Refreshing Mylk Smoothies Downtown Duncan

Ifyou haven’t already noticed, Urban Forest Bistro has added a of refreshingly delicious line up of smoothies to their menu. Continuing along with their whole foods approach each recipe has been thoughtfully made to include all organic ingredients of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, select spices and seasonings, and our in house made non dairy “mylks”. If you’re looking for something that’s more of a treat the mylk-shake list includes a simple yet traditional Pina Colada (pineapple, banana, coconut mylk), Creamsicle (mango, orange, hemp mylk) tastes like the popsicles of childhood memories, and Cocolicious (banana, raw cacao, hemp mylk) a chocolate delight that is guaranteed to please. For those who are looking for a more serous boost in nutrition you will find a nice balance in the rest of the smoothie line up; our most complex Refresh (cucumber, avocado, green apple, coconut water and ice, lime, mint, pink salt & pepper) has a light

citrus note to an otherwise very hydrating and fiber filled green drink, Energy (choice or mix of: blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, with banana, pomegranate, hemp mylk) a sure way to keep you packed full of antioxidants at any point in your day and the mix of berry options means you can find your fav and stick to it or mix it up day after day, and slightly spicy Carrot Zinger (carrot, banana, ginger, cinnamon, hemp milk) as a cold drink still has a slightly warming effect thanks to its immune boosting ginger and cinnamon. For those who aren’t familiar with hemp seeds, these little guys are full of healthy fats and protein making a great addition to any smoothie! The avocado and mylks in all our smoothies add plant based healthy fats to all our recipes ensuring you have the best opportunity to absorb your fat soluble vitamins and minerals as well as the water soluble vitamins and minerals not to mention the avocado is an excellent source of soluble fibre to create a lovely smoothie texture and a filling

treat. Have a sweet tooth? Or just craving something whole foods but want to add a little extra energy? We’ve got you covered there too, you can easily request to add honey or agave syrup to any of our smoothies! Open 7 days a

week in the summer to serve you deliciously hand crafted food, what are you waiting for?

Jessica Howarth

23 Kenneth Street, Downtown Duncan

SOMATICS

Somatics classes on Zoom

Somatic Yoga at Cowichan Community Centre

Individual appointments

Violet Reynolds

- teaching since 2008

somayogaviolet@gmail.com

Inclusive Summer Camps at Sharpe Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapists and assistants lead these camps at a cost of $575 per week, in Cobble Hill. These are inclusive, open to: children with or without diagnosis, families currently working with us or new families.

Everyone with an interest in joining a group is welcome to inquire by text to 250-710-7060 or email maincontact@sharpeot. com

Please note space in these programs is limited and an intake process is required. We are also hiring! Please connect if you have a passion for children.

Fantastic Fingers

Practice hand movements in a variety of fun and creative activities. For 5-7 yr olds to build fine motor skills needed for drawing and printing, using utensils, playing games, doing buttons, and tying shoes.

Self Regulation

naturally grown, local and delicious

Boots nʻ Roots

Permaculture Farm

Beans, Tomatoes, Pattypan

Squash, Zucchini, Snap Peas, Cucumbers, Lettuce Mix, Kohlrabi and Garlic.

Delicious food grown with love in Glenora

Focus on learning about self-regulation and practicing techniques to help children optimally recognize and respond to sights, sounds and sensations around them. By considering what “feels good” to them, each child will walk away with practical strategies that change their internal “engine speeds”.

Bike camp - Can pedal & balance

Gain more confidence, and learn specific skills needed to enjoy new terrain. Safely ride hills and trails.

Bike camp - Emerging Riders (July 17-20)

Location: The Hub @ Cowichan Station 9:30am12pm, Spend time on a bike, any bike (run bikes welcome), to grow your pedalling and balance skills and conquer your hesitant feelings about biking.

Managing Anxiety (Aug 8-11th)

For children 10+ yrs of age.

Note: Biking camps are run by Martin Middleton (Occupational Therapist): Martin forms quick and easy rapport with colleagues, parents, and especially children. Kids become enlivened by his strength based approach dappled with energy, enthusiasm, and fun! Martin avidly pursues pretty much any sport or activity that is outside: mountain biking, climbing/hiking mountains, kayaking, and growing food.

Stacey Aucamp, Sharpe Occupational Therapy

Available Saturdays at the Duncan Farmers Market.

A Magical Moonlight Paddle from Maple Bay

Heading out for a Moonlight Paddle is an absolute must when you are in the Cowichan Valley area. Maple Bay is a great spot to launch from and watch the moon rise over Salt Spring Island and then it slowly bathes its moonlight across Maple Bay.

When in a kayak you silently slip through the water and can float over shallow reefs and rocky ledges where you can catch glimpses of the magical dance of bioluminescence. You can see a sparkling trail of light as it is agitated by passing fish, your paddle dipping into the water or your hand teasing the waves… is alights with a simmering blueish glow for a brief

second or two.

Bioluminescence is the production of light by a living organism and the most commonly seen bioluminescence in Maple Bay is from single cell marine plankton. This Bioluminescent plankton occurs in all the world’s oceans and is best seen in late Spring and during the Summer months when there is more sunlight which enables the plankton to store this energy which it then releases as the telltale Bioluminescent magical glow.

Come and experience the magic for yourself on a Full Moon Tour or New MoonBioluminescence Tour with Wilderness Kayaking! No experience necessary. Wilderness Kayaking offers two types of late evening paddles:

Moonlight kayak tours occur the days around the full moon July 2, 3, 31; August 1, 30, 31. New MoonBioluminescence tours occur during the dark phase of the New Moon and this allows for greater viewing of the bioluminescence July 16,17; August 16,17. Pre-booking is necessary these tours do fill up quickly. 250.746.0151

Wilderness-Kayaking.com

Nancy Hamilton

LESSONS • TOURS • RENTALS •

www.wilderness-kayaking.com

Summer Youth Programs From Maple Bay

KAYAK KIDS - INTRODUCTION TO SEA KAYAKING

July 10-13 Monday - Thursday

August 1-4 Tuesday - Friday 9am - 1pm

YOUTH DAY TRIP ADVENTURES – MAPLE BAY

July 14, August 11

Fridays 9am - 3pm

ALSO OFFERING: Harbour Tours, Moonlight paddling, Bio-Luminescence paddling, Day tours, Multi-day tours, Lessons, rentals (kayaks & SUPS) and more. Call for more info or to reserve.

6683 Beaumont Ave, Maple Bay 250 746-0151 Cell: 250 715 7482 info@wilderness-kayaking.com

HARMONY WELLNESS EVOLUTION

An Evolutionary Approach to Your Health and Happiness

Deborah Carruthers BA, BSW, MA Counsellor and Wellness Practitioner

To book a session or view upcoming events and workshops, please visit: www.harmonywellnessevolution.com

250-715-1773

360 Duncan St #103, Duncan

Water Woes

I’ve been thinking a lot about water these days, standing for what feels like hours on end (it’s really not), handwatering veggies. Irony wafts around me as I follow the existing drip irrigation system.

Why?

When I initially had the system installed, the plan was to eventually wean my way off it. This came from permaculture thinking and a grand but vague idea that the soil would reach a point where it wasn’t needed. How it would get there I didn’t know, but it seemed a worthy goal despite – or because of –increasingly hot summers. Fast forward a few years and with considerably more soil science under my belt, I’m still shooting for this lofty goal. It involves two strategies. First, to build up the number and diversity of key beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Beneficial microbes, in aerobic conditions, are the only thing capable of building that spongy, chocolate-cakey soil structure that we so rarely get to bounce our footsteps

off these days. The microbes present will determine the water-holding capacity of the soil. They are key to drought resiliency here in Cowichan. Second, to not work so hard to establish microbial populations only to kill them off with chlorine in the water supply. While chlorine does a fabulous job of delivering clean water out of pipes, it does this by killing microbes. High levels of salts (conventional agriculture run-off, anyone?) in wells can do the same.

To keep my growing microherd happy, I’m neutralising chlorine with a few drops of humic acid. Just enough to change the colour of the water will ensure the chlorine is bound up. If only it were as simple as letting the water sit to gas off – unfortunately that isn’t effective enough for the microbes. So humic acid it is (fungi love it, which is a bonus) and back to hand watering for me, for just a couple more seasons… or until I find an in-line fertiliser injector system beneath the Christmas tree, to upscale my humic distribution.

If you’re on municipal water too, you can select free humic acid with any plant purchase from Spring Hill Soil Laboratory on www.cow-op.ca.

Amy LuckMacGregor Certified Soil Food Web Laboratory Technician

Fungi-friendly farming, without the chlorine.

Exotic But Tender Plants

GROW A TROPICAL OASIS

winter months. Exotic plants are available at flower shops and nurseries.

Whenvacationing in tropical countries, you see many exotic plants. The temptation is to try growing these at home as you remember beautiful experiences surrounded by these plants. Growing your own plants can be done at home knowing that they are not frost tolerant and need to be indoors during the colder

Many of these plants have the characteristic of blooming on new grow throughout the active growing season. The blooms can have strong, bright colours on clusters of small flowers to large individual blooms. Bougainvillea is a woody vine that blooms for long periods in a wide range of bold colours. The colour is on bracts or modified leaves to give it the extended blooming period. The plant is tough but will not tolerate any frost.

For bold foliage, bananas thrive in our warm summer months with large red or green leaves. Some gardeners successfully overwinter them outdoors by cutting down and insulating the trunks. This results in large clumps

of banana leaves. Keeping bananas in large pots allows one to easily overwinter them in a frost-free location.

Tibouchina or Princess Plant is an easy growing tropical. With trimming, it can be kept to about a 6-foot potted plant that blooms continuously with deep blue flowers on new growth. Cutting back stimulates fresh growth. With a bright indoor location in winter this plant blooms most of the year.

Tender and heat loving for a summer garden

• Bougainvillea

• Hibiscus

• Tibouchina - Princess Flower

• Brugmansia - Angel’s

Trumpet

• Mandevilla

• Banana - Red and Green

Foliage

• Lantana

• Passion Vine

• Euryops

• Dracaena

Memorial

Janice Winfrey

Funeral Director

tel: 250-746-5212

• fax:250-746-7034

sandsfuneral.com/duncan

email:sandsduncan@arbormemorial.com

187 Trunk Road, Duncan, British Columbia V9L 2P1

There are hardy but exotic looking plants that can be left outdoors. These include Windmill Palms, New Zealand Flax, Bay Laurel, and Cana Lilies. Protection with tarps when the temperature goes below minus 10 degrees C may be required. With these plants you can have reminders of visiting tropical climates.

Hardy with an exotic look

• Windmill Palm

• Bay Laurel

• New Zealand Flax

• Canna Lily

SUMMER HOURS:

Weekdays: 8:30 to 5:30

Weekends and holidays: 9 to 5

Serving local gardeners since 1973

www.dinternursery.ca

5km South of Duncan on Hwy 1

Bernie Dinter, Dinter Nursery. Family owned and operated since 1973

Cremation & Reception Centre-Duncan by Arbor

Sands Funeral Chapel

Amanda Batchelor Marketing Manager, Buckerfield’s

Waterconservation in the garden is a top priority during hot summer months. A micro irrigation system, also known as drip irrigation, delivers water directly to your plants for precise watering, minimizing evaporation and runoff. Switching to a high-quality micro irrigation system can reduce water usage by up to 70% compared to conventional sprinklers.

Micro irrigation is permitted during certain stages of water restrictions, so be sure to check with your local municipality this summer. Supplying water directly to plants promotes root health, minimizing the risk of disease and fungal growth, leading to higher crop yields and overall plant vitality. Traditional irrigation methods inadvertently nourish weeds alongside desired plants, resulting in competition for scarce water resources, while micro irrigation effectively

limits weed growth, reducing the need for additional weed control measures.

Whether you’re away on vacation or to comply with watering restrictions, automate with a timer and make watering worryfree. Watering early in the morning or at night reduces evaporation further, allowing plants to absorb and retain

even more precious moisture.

A well-designed micro irrigation system is costeffective in the long run, resulting in lower utility bills and healthier plants with lower pest and disease control costs. Customization and versatility are key features to look for when planning your drip system. Opt for adjustable emitters

offering the ability modify flow rate and distribution pattern based on specific plant needs. Whether for small gardens, landscaped areas, or large agricultural fields, your system can be tailored to any application, providing flexibility and adaptability. Once created, it’s easy to modify your system for new gardens, hanging baskets, pots, or even living walls.

Micro irrigation is revolutionizing watering practices. By adopting this targeted, efficient method, we can make every drop count, promote healthier plants, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.

Setting up your own drip system is fast and easy with Raindrip micro irrigation kits, a line of customized packs that include everything you need for your application. For a wide selection of Raindrip products, timers, and more garden advice, visit your local Buckerfield’s today.

Drip It When it’s Hot with Micro Irrigation

humid stretch of weather. Not unlike their tropical cousins, our temperate bamboos (ones that grow in this region) love ideal moist conditions and heat to really propagate.

Now that they are growing well, they crowd out the older stems, or canes or more properly culms and some need thinning. The thinning process can be challenging if left too crowded as it requires a serious blade to harvest some of the larger varieties.

Getting The Grass Cut

Well,some look forward to July so they can stop cutting the grass.

My grass, it seems, always needs cutting and pretty much yearround. I am of course referring to my Bamboo grass. Darn stuff is now nearly 50 feet or 15 meters tall. Some species anyway.

They range from short, variegated varieties 18” tall (45 cm) and wispy thin to large timber varieties over 3” or 8 cm in diameter.

People ask, especially on the recent garden tour, “how long did it take to grow that tall?”

I answer, about 30 days, sometimes less.

Just like your front lawn grass, bamboo grows from the base and rather quickly when conditions are right, meaning warm soil temperatures and ideally a warm

Choose the more golden ones as they indicate the bamboo has matured and ‘hardened off’ as it is referred to. This usually is visible on culms 5 to 7 years old.

These are hard and more bug and rot resistant as they contain less water and starches. They are also harder to cut so a proper Japanese bamboo saw is best.

I have only been able to find one of these razor-sharp pull saws at the Portland Japanese Garden and my first 27 years ago purchased at the International Bamboo Symposium in Hilo, Hawaii where I learned to build gates, fashion bamboo structurally and to split and weave it taught by a certified bamboo smith. To save my quality blade, I often resort to a cordless Makita Sawzall with a 12” carbide fine tooth blade for smoother cuts and so I can reach well into the plant and support the stems as they fall. Timber!

So that brings me to the story here. What to do with all the clippings?

One can’t exactly mulch them or compost them unless you chip them of course. They have a high Silica content so are nutritious for themselves and other plants. My preferred method these days is to architecturally upcycle the

spent culms to stake plants, create hanging rods for fabrics, trailing plants, horizontal supports for my roses and lately for ladders, guard rails and various kid proofing structures in the treehouses in the yard.

The photo above is of a garden gate that was quickly tossed together for deer proofing. Nowhere near as elegant as the Japanese woven gates I made in Hawaii, but this was quick to assemble and quick to replace as they will only survive 7 or so years out in the elements. The key is to knock out the nodes or bulkheads by driving a piece of steel rebar down the stem of the bamboo. This allows water to run through and to allow the round disc like nodes to shrink at the same rate as the internode or section of shaft between each node to prevent cracking.

In our haste, we simply used deck or Torx screws. Best to choose a screw that does not have a tapered collar as it will easily split the bamboo. Or simply hold back from seating the screw completely (or countersink the screw hole even better). On my studio I used common copper nails for a nice detail to fasten down patterned batten strips.

Mixing the bamboo with split cedar rails was a clever choice by my gate smith Steve as it provided handy fastening of the gate hardware.

These are sturdy and stable and operate smoothly as they are extremely light in weight but effective at keeping the deer out of the veggie patch.

We leave the other grass clippings for them now.

David Coulson Design has been designing and building in the Valley for 34 years.

Meadow Wren Flower Farm & Garden Services

• Sustainable garden design & maintenance

• Garden planning & market garden planning

• Annual mason bee subscriptions

• Cut ower sales for weddings & events

• Seed & plant sales

• Workshops & more!

Reach out for a free half hour consultation

www.meadowwren owerfarm.com meadowwrenflowerfarm@gmail.com

Attracting the Bumble Bee Moth to the Garden

TheBumble Bee moth (Hemaris diffinis) also known as the snowberry clear winged moth, is a unique and exciting pollinator that we are lucky enough to have here on Vancouver Island. It is a Moth species that flies during the day and uses bumble bee mimicry techniques as a defensive mechanism. Adult Hemaris can be quite variable in appearance but the species Hemaris diffinis looks strikingly similar to a bumble bee. This helps them to avoid predators like birds, allowing them to peacefully search for nectar during the daylight hours.

Just like bees they are beneficial pollinators in their ecosystems. They are the strongest & fastest flyers in the lepidoptera and depending on the species, can hover their wings at 70 beats per second. This fast rate of wing movement allows them to fly up to 19 km/hr! Some species resemble hummingbirds, hovering in front of the flower to drink its nectar with its long tongue! A tongue length that doubles the total length of the moth’s body. They have a wide variety of habitats including open meadows,

streamsides, gardens, and urban areas. They have two broods from March until August and caterpillars will pupate in the leaf litter on the ground.

If you would like to attract this powerful pollinator to your garden, having foraging plants for both the Adult and Caterpillar life stages of this insect is key. Caterpillar host plants include snowberry, viburnum, cherry, hawthorn & honeysuckle. Adult Moth foraging plants include: honeysuckle, snowberry, white flowered hawkweed, scotch thistle, lilac, bee balm and native violets. You can also catch a glimpse of these pollinators at night by planting evening primrose or night blooming jasmine.

If you would like to learn more about how to attract beneficial pollinators to your garden please reach out to meadowwrenflowerfarm@ gmail.com

Ecologist & conservationist, Kyla strives to make a bigger environmental impact by creating biodiverse & sustainable landscapes.

A Story of Caffeine

“A simple cup of tea is far from a simple matter.”

- Mary Lou Heiss

Conversations around caffeine have been dominated by the coffee industry. Here is a different story, from the perspective of tea.

It is important to begin by saying: tea is so much more than a cup of caffeine. Ever since tea began being consumed by humans thousands of years ago, it has been cherished and seen as sacred. Accounts from the world over, point to something that exists in the essence of the tea leaf.

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is what grows on the terraces in the Westholme Tea Garden.

Caffeine has been found to be in more than sixty different plants, including the one and only tea plant. Caffeine is a water-soluble molecule, classified as an alkaloid, that affects the central nervous system. In low to moderate doses, caffeine can have beneficial effects. In moderate to high doses caffeine can have negative effects. Thus, it is not a question of whether caffeine is good or bad; a more relevant inquiry would be to ask about the quantity and quality.

Any story of caffeine from the perspective of tea is not complete without including L-Theanine.

L-Theanine is a unique amino acid - and tea is the only plant known to contain L-Theanine!

L-Theanine is found in all types of true tea (black, green, white, yellow, oolong and puerh) and is responsible for soothing and calming. Working together in harmony, caffeine + L-theanine

create a gently sustained state of wakeful tranquility and relaxed alertness.

L-Theanine has been found to:

• regulate and modulate effects of caffeine

• reduce stress + anxiety

• increase alpha-brainwave activity (which is indicative of a meditative state)

• offer neuro-protective effects over time

Ancient peoples of China knew that Tea was a beverage of balance... and much scientific research is fascinated by this: the way that caffeine + L-Theanine work together.

Did you know, there is no such thing as caffeine-free tea? Caffeine is a natural component of the tea plant, part of the builtin self-defense mechanism that protects tea from pests. Even decaffeinated tea retains a small portion of caffeine.

Therefore, if it is naturally free of caffeine it is not truly tea! For those who desire a caffeinefree cup should opt for herbal infusions or tisanes. Since most herbs do not contain caffeine, they do not go through any decaffeination process at all.

There are complex considerations when it comes to how much caffeine ends up in your tea cup. Some of these include:

• The Season of Harvest

• Type of Tea / Processing Style

• Aging of the Tea Leaves

• Environmental Factors

• If the Tea is Blended with Herbs

+ Spices

• Length of Steep

If this conversation has inspired a

new fascination and appreciation for tea and you are curious to learn more, our Team invites you to join us in the Westholme Tea Garden this season for a Tour + Tasting or an Experiential Workshop! Check out our website for our full calendar of events:

www.westholmetea.com.

Alicia Fall. Writer at Westholme Tea Company, Community Gardener and Tea Ceremonialist

The Duncan Farmers’ Market is located in downtown Duncan in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. Every Saturday, year round, you will find a sea of tents in the Market Square on Craig Street and down Ingram Street under which more than 125 vendors sell their wares. As a true farmers’ market, we give priority to farmers and growers, and we also play host to an amazing array of local artisans and makers offering the unique and unusual. Our market offers a full array of produce, in-season fruit, honey, eggs, cheese, meat, seafood, wines and spirits, baked goods, plants and flowers, amazing local artisan creations, pastas, jams, pickles, and many specialty items.

Don’t forget our delectable food trucks making tacos, empanadas, falafel wraps, farm-to-table meals, meat pies, and so much more. Plan Saturday brunch at the market and sit down and enjoy all the sights and sounds offered by one of BC’s oldest and largest farmers’ markets!” Saturdays, 9am-2pm downtown Duncan.

EXPLORE THESE LOCAL

quilted delights, Cowichan knitters, solar carver), baked goods (famous pies, cakes, preserves), Asian specialties (curry puffs, noodles, spring rolls) and Thetis Island lamb. 5 minute walk from the ferry. 69 Pilkey Point Road, Thetis Island, 10am – 2pm every Saturday to September 4th.

Chemainus Wednesday

Market Our “Make It, Bake It, Grow It” market is back. Many of your favorite Vendors are returning for another year along with new Vendors who are excited to be part of the Market. Come and check out the wide variety of vendors and listen to some music while you shop! Waterwheel Parking lot

Every Wednesday to September 13 10am to 3pm

Market at

Farm on

Island features local arts and crafts (handmade children’s clothing, handcrafted pens, specialty soaps,

The Commercial Street Night Market brings to life, the colour and sounds of summer to downtown Nanaimo. Over 11 weeks, the Market will host nearly 200 artisan vendors, food trucks, multiple musical entertainers, and a kids’ zone creating a festive family vibe! Commercial Street, Nanaimo. Every Thursday to August 31 5pm-9pm

The Saturday Summer

Howling Wolf

Thetis

SUMMER MARKETS

Join us for the 25th Annual Arts on the Avenue Festival, a vibrant celebration of art in all its forms!

Prepare for an enchanting evening at our Art Jam on Saturday August 26 from 6pm to 9:30pm, with a fusion of creativity and entertainment. This family friendly night features a paint competition, live music, street dance, interactive art stations, and a dedicated kids area.

The following day is our popular Arts on the Avenue Market with over 60 artisans from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. A collector’s paradise, featuring a diverse array of art, including paintings, jewelry, fabric art, glass work, ceramic, carvings, and Indigenous-made creations, purchase from the artists themselves! From 10 AM - 4 PM while you browse and shop, enjoy live music, kids art stations, food trucks and artist demos. This year’s feature artist will be Canadian artist Grant Leier. Visit him under the big white tent on 1st Avenue. Arts On The Avenue Festival 1st Avenue, Ladysmith from Warren Street to Buller Street Saturday August 26 from 6 PM to 9:30 PM and Sunday August 27 from 10am to 4pm

North of Ladysmith, discover the big market with the small town charm right in the heart of Cedar. With over 100 local businesses, live music, and food trucks, Cedar Farmers Market is the place to be on Sundays. 1984 Woobank Road, Cedar (Woodbank

Primary School) 10-2pm with 9:30-10 as reserved shopping hours for seniors and those with disabilities (visible and invisible) Every Sunday to October 29.

Experience a little piece of paradise! Live music and plenty of goodies for all ages at this rustic and unique market. Come on out to Honeymoon Bay Market, just a short drive west of Lake Cowichan. 10052 S Shore Rd, Honeymoon Bay Every Saturday 10am to 2pm honeymoonbaymarket.com

Shop, eat and shop some

more!

Street Market Join us for this well loved summer event in Chemainus with over 150 Vendors and local merchants showcasing their wares as Willow Street to Oak Street becomes a pedestrian market Willow Street from Victoria Street to Oak Street Saturday, July 8, 10am to 4pm.

Assome readers might be aware, Canada’s Agriculture Minister recently announced that Canada will exempt gene-edited plants from regulation and mandatory public notification unless they either contain foreign DNA or are herbicide tolerant. Canada has also joined with the United States in confronting Mexico under the Canada-United StatesMexico Agreement (CUSMA) regarding Mexico’s measures concerning imports of genetically engineered corn for human consumption.

So, what is gene-editing, and how does it differ from the earlier technology of genetically modified

organisms (GMOs)? Simply put, gene editing is a tool that can make it possible to change a plant’s DNA at specific locations. It does this by silencing or forcing the expression of specific genes, altering the DNA sequence, or removing a gene altogether. This is different from the technology that produced GMOs, which involves a complicated process of introducing and inserting foreign genetic material to achieve desired traits. One notable example is Golden Rice, in which a gene from daffodil and another gene from a soil bacterium were inserted into the rice genome to produce beta carotene, which is converted into the essential nutrient vitamin A.

Some proponents of the technology have stated that gene editing could allow us to speed up the selective breeding process for varieties

of crops to favour beneficial genetic traits. For example, this could increase the nutritional value of the crop, allow it to better adapt to the ravages of a changing climate, or make it more resistant to certain pests or diseases. Over the course of my years serving on the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food, we have heard numerous testimonies on both the promise of gene editing and the strong caution needed over deploying it before mandatory and independent safety assessments have been put in place.

The other wrinkle in this conversation is the fact that private corporations hold patents on gene editing technology. The world’s biggest seed companies, such as Bayer and Syngenta, have been licenced to use the technology and collect royalties on gene-edited varieties. Unfortunately, farmers will not be allowed to save seed from gene-edited crops for future planting, and there is always the risk of unwanted and unintended cross-pollination.

look for our daily specials on www.theoldfirehouse.ca

Trust is a precious commodity in any industry. When it comes to the growing of

The

Ongoing Questions Surrounding GeneEditing in Agriculture

our food, it is doubly so. Allowing private biotech companies to control and market gene-edited seed without mandatory public disclosure can put this trust, the farmers who use the seed, and our general food security at risk. There is no way for the public to know whether a biotech company’s assessment was thorough, and no mechanism to ensure it reports any troublesome impacts it might discover.

It is for these reasons, and I’m sure readers will agree with me, that we need to tread carefully and employ a precautionary principle before going forward too far.

Alistair MacGregor is the NDP Member of Parliament for Cowichan-MalahatLangford, and the NDP’s Critic for Public Safety.

Terence Miranda, AuD, RAUD, RHIP Doctor of Audiology Resonance Hearing Clinic

AIisa broad term that refers to computer programs that can simulate human intelligence. There are many different types of AI, but the most relevant to hearing aids are machine learning and deep learning. Both of these types of AI use large amounts of data to “train” computers to recognize patterns and make predictions.

Machine learning is currently being used in hearing aids to automatically adjust the settings based on the wearer’s acoustic environment. This is done by having the hearing aid learn about different sound environments from large amounts of data. It then uses this learning to make predictions about what kind of sound environment the

Artificial Intelligence and Hearing Aids

wearer is in and adjusts the settings accordingly.

Deep learning is a type of AI that uses neural networks that mimic the learning abilities of the human brain. These

neural networks are very good at recognizing patterns and making predictions. Deep learning is used in hearing aids to recognize and enhance speech sounds and suppress background noise.

One of the major goals of AI in hearing aids is to reduce listening effort. When listening effort is reduced, it frees the wearer’s cognitive resources, allowing them to fully enjoy the conversation. The wearer can then use their cognitive resource to do higher order processing tasks such as recalling relevant knowledge and putting new information into their memory storage.

The most exciting (and scary!) thing about AI in general is the rate at which it is advancing. Although it is fun to predict what might happen, it is safe to say that deployment of AI in hearing aids will help further accelerate hearing performance and wearer satisfaction.

From homeland to homeland

On June 27th we will hand over the keys to our house in Chemainus to its new owners, and begin the next stage of our journey south, to my homeland near Guadalajara, Mexico. After 17 years in Canada, I’m going home, and look forward to celebrating my return to the State of Jalisco, where most of my extended family still lives.

I’ll miss Cook Street and Canada in some ways—I am, after all, a citizen of both countries, and plan on making return visits. Things like: the changing seasons, the lush green forests that surround us; the blossoms of spring and the autumn colours; the friends we have made; and my colleagues at the Vancouver Island Public Library.

In my region of Mexico the landscape is desert-like; the seasons not so sharply defined. I will have to re-establish myself in a community I left almost two decades ago. But, despite the upheavals of moving, the prospect of returning home is exciting for me.

Not so much for my daughters, Amadalicia Francis Martinez (16) and Perlamania Francis Martinez (14), who were

born in Canada and have only gotten to know through occasional visits the land, climate and people in the communities where I grew up.

Although the idea of moving to Mexico was raised in our household from time to time, it was always talked about as a possibility, never a reality, with dates established and a flight booked.

For them the ‘For Sale’ sign posted on our lawn marked the end of an era, their familiar universe carted off with each piece of furniture sold or given away.

But they’ve come around. They’re giving our new future a chance, selecting the things they want to bring with them, packing thoughtfully, and—I hope—daring to think about sunrises south of the Tropic of Cancer. I am so proud of the two of them. And of my husband, Ronald Francis, who will have to learn a new language as he begins his retirement in a new land.

Mexico is such a colourful, welcoming country. My hope is Ronald and our daughters will not only adapt, but will adopt it as their new home, once they get to know its rich and varied culture.

History is woven into the Mexican experience like the fibres of a colourful

blanket. Its cultural and artistic strands go back to the Prehispanic period— when Aztec, Mayan and other civilizations flourished. The Spanish conquista era brought in a new language, dress, technology and social order, but 69 varieties of indigenous language are still spoken.

Tourists choose Mexico as a destination because of its sunshine, beautiful beaches and architecture. They also want to take in the spectacular landscapes that range from huge mountains, to jungles and deserts.

Then there’s its culinary delights. Wow! The food! I can close my eyes and taste on my lips the rich creamy sauces that bring together hundreds of ingredients, the mole, the pipian, chiles en nogada, the holy guacamole and—of course—the drink of the God’s: hot dark chocolate.

There’s so much to take in; almost too much to wonder at… and so many who will celebrate our arrival.

So we are taking flight, migrating thousands of miles from one homeland to another. We will take our memories with us, and—as we settle in—create new memories to share.

Martha Martinez

A family’s move from the 49th Parallel, south to the Tropic of Cancer

Tickets Now on Sale for Rifflandia Festival

Rifflandia Festival returns bigger than ever, with two flagship venues over two weekends and six days of programming this September. Headliners include Iggy Pop, Diplo, Chris Lake, Run The Jewels, Herbie Hancock, Paris Hilton, Salt-N-Pepa, Stephen Marley, Marc Rebillet, Mavis Staples, Chet Faker, KALEO, Paul Okenfold, Chromeo, and so many more! After a four year hiatus, last year’s festival drew some of the biggest audiences Rifflandia has ever seen, to experience an undeniably elevated event and lineup.

This year’s festival will continue down this same

track, with a full six days of programming, now over two weekends.

“We are extremely excited to present our most highprofile and eclectic collection of artists to date! Two weekends will allow both of our flagship event sites to grow into the best versions of themselves, offering two distinct festival experiences under the Rifflandia Festival umbrella!

September forever and ever!”

- Nick Blasko - President & CEO.

The dates for each weekend are:

Rifflandia - Electric Avenue , September 7 - 9, 2023 - The Arts & Innovation District, Victoria

Rifflandia - The Park, September 15 - 17, 2023Royal Athletic Park, Victoria.

Tickets now available at rifflandia.com.

Image above; Salt-N-Pepa courtesy Rifflandia Festival

Pacific Pearl Dental Hygiene Clinic

Pacific Pearl dental hygiene clinic opened its doors to provide a service that has been long overdue. To help families with a more efficient and affordable way to care for their teeth. “We recognized a need.” shares dental hygienist and coowner Ricki Weissbach “People

just want to have their teeth cleaned without the pressure and anxiety that the dental office brings. Without the huge wait times and extra fees associated with exams and x-rays.”

Professional teeth cleaning is an important step to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. While brushing and flossing every day is key, regular visits with a hygienist are necessary to inspect gums for tarter and plaque build up which can lead to gum disease. When left unchecked, gum disease also known as periodontitis can lead to early tooth loss.

This busy clinic located in the heart of Ladysmith has three hygienists on staff to serve you. With almost 30 years of

experience between them, all are licensed with independent licences (degree equivalent plus the dental hygiene diploma). Their services cater to all ages and they strive to provide gentle and efficient treatment and offer a flexible schedule which includes evenings and weekend appointments. No dental exam needed to book in. “We take all families and can help parents navigate the government subsidies in regards to dental programs for children under 12 years of age (Universal Dental Care).”

“We are essentially a teeth cleaning spa”. smiles Ricki “Experienced dental hygienists doing thorough gentle cleanings. Cleanings takes place in a low stress environment without the sounds of drills or smells of a dental office.” The fees are lower because Pacific Pearl is only billing for the teeth cleaning, not the exams or x-rays which incur the extra fees. If concerns do come up, they refer their clients to their dentists for

additional check ups. Accepting new patients and all insurance coverage plans. Ask about their senior and student discounts. 740

First Avenue, Ladysmith (above the library) 250 802-2812

www.pacificpearl.ca

and Grandkids

- Collaborative Game Play through Coding!

Summer often means extended family is spending more time with kids 12 and under. You may already be acquainted with these terms: Minecraft, Scratch, and Roblox. Perhaps these words cause feelings of uncertainly or even fear - especially if you have witnessed fingers flying over keyboards or tapping on screens in rap fascination with words like “spawning, mob, potion, portal and nether” being muttered to thin air.

In my final years of high school, computers just surfaced in the valley. A field trip up Malaspina College allowed us to insert the stack of punch cards we had meticulously created into the maw of a room sized single computer. Today’s coding for kids involve ‘block coding’ - or puzzle pieces that can be dragged into place, customized with a word or number, and then a game is afoot on any mobile device or computer!

Coding is all about making a choice and engineering options. In the old days of my youth everyone had fluency in cause and effect. If you followed the rules of the house you reaped benefits; if you didn’t, hopefully you only experienced consequences that fit the mistake or poor choice. It is

strange to think that in today’s actually looking at coding curriculum to teach a coolly logical understanding of cause and effect.

Three super block coding programming communities are Minecraft, Scratch and Roblox. Minecraft is a great platform for introducing kids to creation in 3 D - with opportunities for collaboration through shared worlds. Much creative play occurs as kids create objects building everything from simple tables to buildings to villages set within different eras after collecting the required resources. There is also an education version that offers safety buffers to being a player in a supervised subscription. This summer CBC is inviting kids to become reporters in an Education Minecraft world!

Scratch is another excellent block coding program community run and monitored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Primarily 2D this program is perhaps both the simplest and most powerful to jump into. Create single and multiplayer games, animations, presentationsand event dabble in effects to create 3D activities. Super easy and fun to use art tools to customize sprites.

WestView Learning is holding several events July 18-20 to introduce parents and grandparents to block coding activities – come create with us!

Heather Stannard

Acne Causes and Treatment

Acne is a genetic condition that usually begins in puberty and improves in the 20s and 30s. However, some women especially develop ‘hormonal acne’ in their 20s and 30s.

Often, the process starts with comedones or ‘blocked pores’. These are more commonly called whiteheads or blackheads. An exfoliating cleanser or product that contains alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid can be helpful for this early stage. Retinoids are also a great exfoliating product as is Benzoyl Peroxide. All these agents can cause drying of the skin so care is needed with the regime used.

The next stages can see papules or cysts develop. Again, a topical exfoliating agent is necessary but sometimes, if the severity increases, an oral agent can be necessary. These products may address the hormonal component or directly influence how the skin keratinizes. Many of these products need to be prescribed by a physician. There are topical prescription products that I find helpful. Some can even address the scarring that may begin to occur with more severe cystic acne. At this point, a consultation with a physician knowledgeable in the treat-

ment of acne is very helpful.

To address scarring caused by acne, there are now aesthetic treatments that can be very helpful. Laser Genesis uses a 1064 laser to gently heat the skin and dry up the sebaceous material that has accumulated. It will also assist with colour changes. A series of treatments will yield the best results.

Microneedling can give great results on facial scarring. Depending on the depth and type of scar, I may suggest plain microneedling or Radiofrequency Microneedling, which penetrates deeper and more powerfully stimulates collagen production and healing. Note that RF microneedling is not suitable for darker skin types.

Fractional resurfacing can also be useful for deeper pitted scars. As always, a consultation with a physician knowledgeable in skin treatments is advisable.

Acne can have significant effects on self-esteem for many individuals. This does not need to be the case because there are many excellent affordable treatments and products available.

If you, or any one you know, suffers from acne, please reach out to a knowledgeable physician to discuss options.

Dr. Lyn Pascoe, Viva Medical Aesthetics, Advanced Technology Physician directed medical spa.

Wool - Your Summer Savior

Samaya de Laat, connoisseur in cozy comforts and lifetime Soul Comfort product reviewer.

The summer weather is upon on us and along with its glorious warmth, comes heat’s wicked step sister – humidity. We all know how uncomfortable humidity can be, and for our loved ones struggling with mobility, skin, and medical conditions, humidity is a year-round risk.

Humans lose up a litre of moisture per day through exhalation and the body’s second set of lungs – the skin. Whether it’s skin to skin contact, chaffing, or a lack of movement and no relief in pressure, once there’s moisture paired with heat, bacteria starts to party and skin begins to deteriorate immediately.

Sounds rather dismal, doesn’t it?

Alas there is a solution!

Wool is the good witch swooping in to save the day and bring relief to those moisture woes. Wool’s superpower is its hollow fibre, allowing it to absorb 30%-40% of its own weight in moisture, wicking the wet away from the body, leaving your skin dry. Furthermore it’s antimicrobial – so bacteria don’t like to party here!

Medical professionals agree – 95% of bedsores are preventable.

Wool’s hallow fibres are coiled like springs, providing a buoyancy and pressure relief. The average rotation requirement of a patient on bed rest is every 2 hours, with wool that time is literally doubled to 4 hours. Furthermore, the fibres fold in on themselves, so as the body shifts position, they flex and flow with the movements, and thus skin is safe from the big bad chafe.

Hippocrates advised medical staff to nurse critically ill patients on the skin of animals, preferring wool. This is still advisable today.

Visit us at our shop at 190 Fourth Street, Duncan and explore the many wool products available to ease pressure, provide dry comfort, and keep your skin in a clean safe space.

Traditional Chinese Exercise for Health

All Classes in the Cowichan Valley *unless stated

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

Fridays 10-11:15 am (Victoria)*

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

Custom Sized Severe Swelling Boot

Manypeople have trouble sleeping today, particularly those of the aging population. This can include trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, waking in the night and not being able to fall back asleep, frequent waking, and a general sense of light sleep (non-deep cycles), all resulting in not feeling sufficiently rested the next day. Other than fatigue, lack of sleep is linked to mental disorders, anxiety, low mood, hormone imbalances, weight gain, digestive issues, accelerated aging, inflammation and more.

Why are so many of us not sleeping? Many reasons that vary for each individual I’m sure, there are a few common factors- poor diet (often causing indigestion or inflammation), over stimulation (too much caffeine and electronic use), stress and anxiety, bad lifestyle habits which do not support a healthy sleep pattern, electromagnetic sensitivity, and hormone imbalance.

Supporting our brain and body begins with a healthy natural whole foods diet. Ditch the processed food and sugar which hypes you up then crashes your blood sugar, also reeking havoc on your mood and hormones. Drink water throughout the day and calming tea in the eveningchamomile, lemon balm, or holy basil are excellent for this! Avoid eating a huge meal in the evening and allow a few hours before bed- this helps you digest before hitting the sack, where our body slows down and wants to focus on detoxification and

Sleep Remedies For a Finer Night’s Rest

cell regeneration(hard for it to do when its overloaded with dinner). Some light activity after the meal will aid circulation to the gut. Turn off electronics, TV included, at least an hour before bed, and turn lights down lower. Bright light impedes melatonin production, which should be rising at that time of day. Winding down is enjoyable! Relax, meditate, read, snuggle with a loved one, recall gratitudes, whichever helps you to feel calm and whole at your days finish. A warm bath with lavender, or sprinkling some lavender oil on your pillow is nice. Stick to a consistent sleep/wake regime (sleep hygiene), getting to bed at a reasonable hour. Between 10pm2pm is primo-deep sleep time for cell regeneration, so give your bod a chance! And aim for at least 8 hrs, because those who pretend to be fine with only 5 or 6 are in denial. Studies have linked shorter sleep with shorter life expectancy and disease.

Sufficient exercise during the days of the week is a must, and best not right before bed. Stress management looks a little different for everyone. Good ideas are prioritizing, minimizing, and practising gratitude and kindness. Creative outlets are important too- write in a journal, take pictures, colour pictures, drawing/ sketching, knitting/sewing, make

something, you name it for you!

Supportive supplementations for sleep include:

1. Minerals- potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Especially magnesium as it relaxes muscles and the brain- take extra at night for this.

2. L-theanine- calms anxiety, can be used daytime for anxiety also and can help enhance focus. Taken in evening will help promote restful sleep, and also increasing alpha brain waves.

3. Gaba- a brain neurotransmitter amino acid acting in the central nervous system, that helps quell anxiety, proper brain metabolism and function.

4. L-tryptophan- an amino acid found in protein foods(rich sources include turkey and meats, brown rice, cottage cheese, and soy), that is used by brain to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that transfers nerve impulses from one cell to another and helps normal sleep.

5. Tart cherry- increases melatonin the sleep hormone, naturally. Also a good anti-inflammatory.

6. Herbs- Catnip, passionflower, valerian, hops, California poppy, and skullcap all help induce calm and sleepiness. Try to find what works best for you, often that will be a combination of more than one with some of the other nutraceuticals listed. With herbs

for sleep, I find a more hefty dose in late evening or right before bed best, instead of a divided mellow dose throughout day which would be more for anxiety and calming. Use when required.

7. Melatonin- of course one would rather reset their hormonal sleep rhythms, but supplementing melatonin for limited time can help do this also. It is not best for everyone however.

And make sure any prescription drugs you take will not interact with any supplement beforehand. Hopefully you can wean off of sleep drugs with some lifestyle changes, and the help of natural methods!

Some top pics at the store

*AOR OrthoSleep

*Healthology Sleep Great

*Natural Factors Tranquil Sleep chewables

*Both Botanica Deep Sleep and Nutrastart DreamStart are herbal formulas melatonin-FREE *ValeriCalm tincture

Food for thought-

Rest inducing, sleep promoting, anxiety-calming choices include:

- Apricots

- Oats

- Lemon balm and chamomile teas

- Honey(unpasteurized and local of course!)

- Nutmeg and lavender

- Cherries

- Proteins with tryptophan as it assists sleep and also prevents blood sugar spikes that can wake us

Also, speaking of blood sugar spikes, an alcoholic nightcap might help you doze off, but if its high sugar that likely will have you waking a few hours later when your blood sugar spikes! Try one of the teas above, or warm milk and honey with cinnamon.

Good health to you! Tina Foster, RHN Essential Remedies

Whenit comes to reproduction, we, (of course), want to ensure that our eggs and sperm are at the peak of health. So when we find a supplement which will help us in this regard, that is good news indeed.

Ovulation is the process of the egg being released from the ovary. Generally, the quality of egg is affected by daily habits, environment, diet, and overall health. We can work to improve ovum quality through a healthy lifestyle and supportive nutrients.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, can be a roadblock to healthy ovulation. One of the symptoms can be irregular, and/or infrequent periods. PCOS is often not discovered until a woman has difficulty getting pregnant. The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it is related to abnormal hormone levels in the body. It tends to run in families. Many women who suffer from this syndrome are insulin resistant, so their body produces more insulin to make up for this.

There are supplements for women which include a therapeutic dose of myoinositol to help the body

Prime Fertility Powder

become more sensitive to insulin levels, and thus produce less of the hormone. Inositols are a kind of sugar your body makes which are involved in the body’s response to insulin. They can help when the usual insulin signaling system fails.

Add essential antioxidants, (Coenzyme Q10, Pyrroloquinoline Quinine, and N-acetyl Cysteine), to support cellular health and reduce oxidative damage, and you will have a formula that is primed and ready to assist with improving fertility. Chastetree extract balances hormones, and Active Folate and Choline assist with neural health and cellular development.

These are ingredients found in CanPrev’s Prime Fertility for women, which is one of the products helping to address PCOS, and offering general fertility support. Whether you are looking to support your reproductive health, balance hormones, or prime for pregnancy, there is help to be found.

This fine product and others can be found at quality health food stores such as Lynn’s Vitamin Gallery.

Gina Malkin

Kristy Landry Financial Advisor Edward Jones

Responsible investing, also known as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Investing, is a socially conscious way to align your financial goals with your non-financial goals. With ESG investing, individuals and asset managers choose to invest in companies that act in a socially responsible way. This includes buying the shares of companies whose values align with yours, and selling or avoiding the shares of companies that do not

ESG considerations include:

Environmental Factors: climate change, waste

reduction, deforestation, and air and water pollution among others.

Social Factors: data protection and privacy, human rights, how they treat their employees, customers, and the communities that they operate in.

Governance Factors: bribery and corruption, how a company appoints their board of directors and audit committees, as well as executive compensation, political contributions, and lobbying.

When an individual or asset manager reviews a company to assess its potential for profitability and longterm growth, they focus most of their attention on the company’s financial statements and manager commentary. If socially responsible investing is an

objective, an additional step can be taken to examine the environmental, social and governance issues surrounding the company. This ESG filter may result in companies being passed over so in response, some companies now release “sustainability reports” that highlight these factors and invite stakeholders to consider them when evaluating their companies.

Don’t be fooled.

Allocating investments to companies that reflect your values and beliefs can be empowering but as companies realize that ‘going green’ attracts investor money, many have been accused of greenwashing. Greenwashing is when a company makes claims about being environmentally friendly, when they haven’t made any notable sustainability efforts.

Another consideration when deciding to include investments based on their ESG reputation is how well it fits into your current portfolio and whether it allows you to achieve your long-term financial goals. Some investments with high ESG scores may not offer diversification benefits to your existing portfolio and could reduce your expected rate of return. These tradeoffs will need to be reviewed to determine if ESG investing is right for you.

What Exactly is Responsible Investing?

Bottle Drives: A Great Way to Raise Money While Learning About Recycling.

Island Return It hosts dozens of bottle drives every year, with Duncan being the busiest branch averaging 2-3 per week during the peak summer season. Schools and sports teams raise money for gear and trips; charities get out into the community to raise funds and boost awareness; and individuals band together to help someone in need.

Running a bottle drive is easy, and the staff at Island Return It are here to support you, especially if it’s your first time. Start by picking up their Bottle Drive Guide and reading it over. Then schedule your fundraiser well in advance, to make sure you get the day you want.

There are 3 ways you can hold a bottle drive:

1. Go out into the community and collect (the most effective)

2. Post a collection site and people bring the refundables to you

3. Hold a bottle drive in the parking lot of an Island Return It

Once you decide which option, choose 3 leaders, one

for each of the following: pre-advertising, coordinating volunteers, and to head up sorting and counting. Someone from the depot will set you up with all the supplies you’ll need. The handy guide will help you categorize everything properly, so drop off (or pick up), will go smoothly.

Sorting is fun. Kids and adults get into it, enjoying the counting and seeing the success build. It’s also a wonderful way to strengthen your knowledge about recycling.

Tips for Running a Successful Bottle Drive:

1. Make sure you advertise well in advance, so people can start stockpiling their refundables.

2. The more you utilize social media, newspaper and radio advertising, the more successful your drive will be.

3. Make big colourful signs that are easy to read.

4. Everything needs to be counted, and accurately.

5. Anything Island Return It takes for a refund can be collected.

6. Have fun and enjoy meeting your community. Often that is the most rewarding part, aside from finding out how much you made.

A well planned bottle drive can bring in up to $5,000. It’s a big reason they are still so popular. Pick up your guide today and call 250-748-2066 or email info@islandreturnit. com to book your next bottle drive.

Dawn is a Professional Organizer who loves to promote sustainability. Reach her at dawn@clostetstocastles.ca

Bad Comix by shiloh badman

Connecting Seniors in Community

In my mind, I am still that 40-something person keen on taking on the world; I definitely don’t recognize the wrinkled face under the greying hair that stares back at me from the bathroom mirror aging me 20 years from those memories. The physical changes that come from aging are evident; but the psychological and social changes experienced by persons over 65 are less obvious, and most often hidden. Loneliness from isolation, depression from loss of family and friends, anxiety from retiring from long careers, stress over global issues have been estimated to affect 1 in 5 people over 65. Recognizing that the percentage of this demographic in Canada is expected to increase from 13% to 22% between 2006 and 2026 (2007 study), Cowichan Family Life is supporting senior programs and support services offered by various agencies in the Valley.

A key component in aging well is maintaining good mental health, including growing self-esteem, new

knowledge around coping skills, connecting with other seniors, and knowing about local resources to keep seniors at home and safe. All of these in turn help seniors stay physically healthier longer. With funding from the New Horizons for Seniors program, CFLA hosts Senior Peer Support workshops to provide those 55+ with strong communication skills, and a deepen understanding of seniors’ issues.

Starting July 5, we are offering the second of three workshops. This 30-hour program includes information on wellness and nutrition, life transitions, elder abuse, conflict resolution, communication and active listening skills. Guest presenters from local agencies bring their knowledge, and a small stipend is available for those completing the 30 hours. The skills will provide opportunities for participants to engage with local organizations, learn how to improve one’s own mental health, and make new connections with like-minded people. The workshops are at our new office location, which is ground level. For more information and an application, please contact 250-748-8281.

Submitted by Madelaine MacLeod, Executive Director Cowichan Family Life Association

Valley View Centre

1400 Cowichan Bay Rd

SOULFUL SATURDAY CFS for the Soul

Mitchell Chatham

‘Soulfeather’ will be back offering Intuitive & Systemic Constellation readings at Soulful Saturday upstairs in the Community Farm Store, July 8th, 11am- 4pm. Coauthor of national best selling oracle cards, “Be the Change Cards” Soulfeather has been doing professional readings since 2000 and specializes in Systemic Constellations as well as Cartomancy. He was featured on Breakfast Television and has toured North America working at major festivals as a headlining shamanic artist. Email mitchellsoulfeather@gmail. com to book your session and visit his work at www.paintingthebones.com

CHICAGO BLUES MAN NIGEL MACK

Chicago blues ‘triple threat’ (slide guitar, harmonica and vocals) Nigel Mack delivers a high-energy show that fuses classics with the punch of contemporary original blues. These are talents honed by years of relentless touring in support of his critically acclaimed recordings. Nigel’s fourth album, ‘Back In Style’ has just been released and is receiving glowing reviews. His last release, ‘Devil’s Secrets’, reached #1 on the Canadian blues charts and won ‘Best Self-Produced CD’ from the Windy City Blues Society, in Chicago. Based for many years in Vancouver Canada, Nigel has been performing in Chicago since 1992 and has called the ‘Windy City’ home since 2003. Nigel Mack & the Blues Attack perform regularly at such legendary clubs as ‘Buddy Guy’s Legends’ and ‘House of Blues’. They have appeared at the ‘Chicago Blues Festival’ numerous times and logged over a million miles of touring across North America and Europe. Mack’s original compositions have been featured on internationally syndicated television sound-tracks and his dynamic stage show is a favorite at clubs and festivals everywhere!

www.osbornebaypub.com

Wellness

Reiki Wellness

250 743-8122

Reiki, Foot Detox, Infrared, Acupuncture, Reflexology

Island Hellerwork

250 661-1687

Deep Tissue Bodywork, Somatic Transformation

Healthcare Services

Cobble Hill Dental

250-743-6698

Friendly, Family Practice

We Welcome New Patients!

Island Pharmacy

250 743-1448

Open 7 Days a week for all your pharmacy needs

Resonance Hearing

250 743-3337

Life Changing Hearing Solutions

Food & Drink

Country Grocer

250 743-5639

Bakery, Meat, Seafood, Produce, Deli & Floral, Supplements

Cure Artisan Meat & Cheese

250 929-2873

Charcuterie, Cheese House Made Pates

Pizzeria Prima Strada

Cobble Hill

250-929-4655

Wood-fired pizza local wine & craft beer

Liquor Plus

250-929-1999

Wine, beer and spirits on the Upper Level.

Fitness

Valley Health and Fitness

250-743-0511

Full service gym/classes

Hot Days Of Summer Swimming Spots

1. Shawnigan Lake offers several different options for spending time in and around the water. Mason’s Beach Park had a sandy beach and roped off areas for swimming. Old Mill Regional Park on the east side of the Lake is a fun family area. West Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park on the west side is a wonderful place to spend the day. There is ample parking and picnic areas.

2. Bamberton Provincial in Mill Bay offers camping and a day use park. Sandy beaches on the ocean with an eastern exposure. Plenty of areas for sand play time for the younger family members.

3. Bright Angel Park in Cowichan Station offers river swimming near the popular suspension bridge. This park offers walking trails, playground, and picnic areas. This little gem of a park is a local favourite.

4. Maple Bay situated in a small cove offers a pebbled beach and at low tide reveals many different shells and marine life. There are grassed areas and picnic benches. The water temperature here tends to be warmer than other ocean swimming in Cowichan. This is also a desirable area to bring your kayak.

5. Fuller Lake situated just minutes north of Duncan in Chemainus is an ideal family destination. This area has a gentle slope to the lake and perfect for the little ones to play in the sand. There are

picnic areas and a playground. This is also an ideal lake for SUP and kayaking.

6. Gordon Provincial Park on the south shore of Lake Cowichan offers a campground set amongst the trees and has a great day use area. The lake water is warm in the summer with a sandy beach which makes it a great day excursion. Ideal for SUP and Kayaks.

Check out some other water activities in Cowichan.

* Mill Bay Marine Group in Mill Bay offers Tall Ship Cruises, Wildlife viewing by boat and more.

* Coastal Bliss in Cowichan Bay rents kayaks, canoes, and SUP. They also offer several kayak tours.

* Sealegs Kayaking in Ladysmith offers rentals Kayaks, SUP as well as tours and lessons.

The Tube Shack River Tubing in Lake Cowichan float for 2.5 hrs on the Cowichan River and shuttle back.

*Pristine Paddleboard Adventures in Honeymoon Bay. Lessons, tours, and rentals available. Located in Gordon Bay Provincial Park

Visit us at Cowichan

Regional Visitor Centre 2896 Drinkwater Road Duncan 250-746-4636

Patty Abbott, nature lover and avid outdoor person. Love where we live.

1-778-554-5434 I tarynogormandesigns.com

LUCKY DOG Out from under foot…

Debbie Wood

I’msurprised how many dogs in my world are accustomed to being stepped around. Daycare dogs, boarding dogs, second hand dogs I keep; they get under my feet and threaten to trip me up. This is a dangerous habit.

Dogs in a pack do circle around each other and hip check. This is normal dog behavior. But like many normal behaviors, we need to mold the dog a bit to fit into our world. To be polite and to be safe.

I make quick motions and fast turns in my day-to-day life, so I like to have a two-foot

force field around me that my dogs will not enter when I’m mobile. Affection is doled out when I’m sitting. When I’m standing, they know to mind the feet.

If you are finding that your dog is under foot you can fix it!

When you are walking around the house or yard, walk through your dog. If your dog is standing in your way, gently and slowly shuffle through them, saying “excuse me”, until they move. You may get some stink eye, but this exercise doubles as a note to your dog just who the boss is. Don’t hunt out your dog to do this exercise; you’ll be seen as a bully. Just carry on your normal routine and do not tolerate your dog standing in the way. When your dog clues in and gets out of your way without being walked into, a round of “good dog” is appropriate.

You can also incorporate hand signals. Making a sweeping motion to indicate the best side for the dog to go works amazing. You can lure your dog with hand gestures

U Bath or WE Bath

Home of the Drop-in Toe

quite easily once you both are in motion.

It’s my habit to never take a step backwards in the daycare, because not all dogs know the rules. But your dog should never be behind you while you’re standing. Tripping backwards is nasty for both of you. This habit can be broken with the “shuffle through” technique. If your dog is hiding from a danger, that’s different. I’m talking about hanging out in the kitchen where vats of boiling water are being moved. If your dog is laying quietly in an appropriate spot, good dog. If your dog lays at the top or bottom of the stairs you can encourage them to lay on

a mat where the dog can see you. They want to be a part of family, so include them in a safe spot. I find just an old towel make a good “target” so the dog knows their place. Some of the herding breeds love to walk right in front of your feet and look back at you. I keep walking and will sometimes end up kicking their heels. “Excuse me”. They step aside. Again, this behavior is natural to them, but we can adjust it so we are all safe.

Staying out from under foot is part of the “domestics” training and not a trick. A pup’s first lesson is to stay out from under foot. But even old dogs can learn a new skill.

owns Lucky Dog U-Bath. She can be found on trails in the Cowichan Valley with her BF, Bonnie.

Serving my community via organizations I feel a connection with has proved to be some of the most rewarding decisions I have ever made. (Notwithstanding marrying my kick-butt hubby and birthing a small brood of children of course.)

I am one of those mid-forties professional types that loves my community and cares deeply about several causes including education, social justice, and community connection (they are all related). I would like to offer some inspiration and reason as to why folks may want to consider joining a nonprofit committee or Board of Directors. Now, to be honest, I am ending my term as a member of the Sunrise Educational Society’s Board of Directors and would love to talk to YOU about perhaps joining their ranks.

Boards are all about strategic thinking, leadership, and planning and there are many reasons why people join non-profit leadership

Bold. Open-minded.

Today’s Board of Director Experience

groups. These reasons can be loosely categorized into ‘the power of purpose’ (we all like to be needed and useful!) and ‘personal interests’ (I care about this too!). These opportunities offer passionate professionals the chance to engage with strategic and organizational challenges and make real change. Not to mention you will get to interact with other fabulous people, if I do say so myself. If you are interested, look around our fantastic

community, there are many places that could use your skills in human resource management, financial management, real estate, and volunteer coordination. Groups can also use your lived experiences as part of the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQQIA+, or immigrant communities. Our voices together make the sweetest sounds.

For us at Sunrise Waldorf School (an independent school here in the Valley) we

want our strategic operations to fuse with a more diverse and connected world. We want our plans to be more responsive to the needs of our planet. Not as a technocapitalist endeavor, but as a wholesome caring endeavor. We want our young humans to nurture our planet by leading the way with different ideas and have the capacity to meet whatever it is they find. We must embrace a variety of perspectives, and we want those perspectives at the Board table! If you are interested in a different way to educate here in the Valley and have some skills and experiences as listed above, please connect with me and we can chat more. I look forward to it. KendraDStiwich@ gmail.com or swsboard@ sunrisewaldorfschool.org.

Kendra Stiwich: collaboration guru, sunflower admirer, sangria creator, happyhappy mama, and luckiest wifey ever.

Dedicated.

Sunrise Waldorf School

Somatic Classes with Violet Reynolds

Somatic Yoga Tuesdays 2-3:30pm Cowichan Community Centre cvrd.ca

Somatics on Zoom Friday 9 - 10 am

Save Our Supplements

Health

Inquiries - somayogaviolet@gmail.com

There is something happening in this country that we love that needs our attention and our action now to create real change. It is time to educate yourself about what Health Canada has set into motion in 2023 that is NOT in your best interest, far from it.

Shawn Buckley, a constitutional lawyer and President of the The Natural Health Products Protection Association (NHPPA) and his team are leading a passionate plea to plead with us to get educated, team up and take action to stop the insanity of unwanted government overreach and control of our buying choices and natural health supplement decisions.

Take the time to research, download and read the recently released Discussion Paper on 2023 Health Canada Initiatives, prepared by Shawn and his team of fired up professionals that have had enough of the interference and control of natural health. https://nhppa. org/?page_id=21833

This is a must read document for all Canadians, manufacturers, distributors, those who use natural health products, visit natural health practitioners, and those who value their freedom of choice in healthcare…

“Many Canadians are only alive because of natural health products. Many more solve or manage serious health conditions with them. We cannot pretend that taking away treatments

people rely upon for their lives and/or wellbeing will not lead to death or suffering.”

— Excerpt from the Discussion Paper

There are many Canadians concerned about this interference and a website has been created: https://www. saveoursupplements. ca. You can send a letter to our local Member of Parliament Alistair MacGregor from their website where they say: “Natural health products shouldn’t cost more because Health Canada is broken. Health Canada is strangling Natural Health Products (NHPs) in red tape, leading to increased costs and fewer products on store shelves for Canadians.”

We need to protect our rights for natural health freedom to decide for ourselves… visit http://www. charterofhealthfreedom.org/ petition/

Did you know you are 14 times more likely to be struck by lightning — 428 times more likely to die from bicycling — 714 times more likely to die in a school bus accident — and 1,071 times more likely to be murdered than to die from taking a natural health product! (source: Professor Law table, nhppa.org)

All of this is unnecessary, costly and unfair to Canadians who depend upon natural health care products used by 71% of Canadians. This sector includes 54,000+ hard-working employees across Canada who contribute $5.5B to the economy including $2.98B in tax revenues. This is not about the money, it’s about control and interference into our private lives by government.

Health Canada is looking for feedback from consumers by July 26, 2023: https://www.canada. ca/en/health-canada/programs/ consultation-proposed-feesnatural-health-products.html

Join me in standing up to say NO to changing natural health product regulations including unreasonable additional fees, labelling, interference, delays and expensive changes. Enough is enough.

Diana Anu Pink Wholistic

Practitioner Inspired Mentor and Messenger

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Right now, you’re eager to share your ideas, because you feel freer and emboldened to go after your hoped-for goals. Part of this is that you see ways to boost your income and get richer. You also have a lovely balance between energetic work and fun play. You’re busy; nevertheless, you’re also willing to take time off to do your own thing, especially party and explore adventure and romance. This month will focus on home, family and your private life. You might be more involved than usual with a parent.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Fasten your seatbelt because this month is fast-paced and busy! Short trips, appointments, errands and increased involvement with siblings and relatives are on the menu. You’ll enjoy touching base with everyone because with Jupiter in your sign, you feel friendly and confident! Family events will be positive because you have the energy to activate your home life -- introducing renovations, redecorating projects and exciting opportunities to entertain. Mercury in your Money House might help you buy antiques and clever finds, plus, prompt moneymaking ideas?

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

This month you’re focused on earnings, cash flow, money and possessions. You will also think about your values. For example, does the one with the most toys win? (And where would you put all that stuff?)

The good news is that you’re pleased and happy with your environment and the people around you. You appreciate the beauty of your surroundings. You’re happy with your contacts. You also have a lot of mental energy, which is something you appreciate. (You never want to think that you’re getting stale.) Fear not. Ain’t gonna happen.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

This month the Sun is in your sign, which is excellent because the Sun will boost

your energy and recharge your batteries for the rest of year. Yes, it’s time to replenish yourself! You also will find you have a greater need to express yourself to others. Please do this because this is one of those times when your first duty is to yourself, and if you don’t fulfil that duty – you’ll be of little use to others. Naturally, you’ll make a great impression on others! Many of you will boost your earnings and at the same time, make exciting purchases. Ka-ching!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

You’re happy to take a backseat this month, even though you’re eager to socialize because fair Venus is in your sign makes you charming and diplomatic. (Incidentally, this is an excellent window of time for you to buy wardrobe goodies.) Meanwhile, Mars will be in your sign giving you the energy to work hard to further your own interests. Your physical energy will be high, which means you’ll be more of a fighter for your own rights than usual. Expect increased interactions with younger people.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Expect increased popularity this month. Most of you will become more involved in groups, clubs and organizations as you network with people. In addition, you’ll discover that friendships and some relationships are more important to you now. You might examine the role they play in your life. Meanwhile, among your friends, strive to establish who you are. Be yourself without fear or apology. This is a particularly good time for you to speak up and state your views to parents, bosses, VIPs and the police. Be like Popeye: “I yam what I yam!”

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

The Sun is at the top of your chart this month, which symbolizes that you’re in a “spotlight,” and this spotlight is flattering. This means you will look good to others! (Even if you don’t do anything special.) Obviously, you have a magical advantage and you should use it to the best of your abilities. Specifically, you will impress authority figures like bosses, parents, teachers and the police. This is also the perfect time to examine your life direction as a whole to see if you’re headed where you want to go. For that matter, are your goals your goals or the goals of someone else?

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

This month you will strive to do your own thing. Your personal freedom will matter. If you’re forced to do something that you don’t want to do, you will rebel. You want to travel, and seek adventure and new experiences – see new places and meet new faces. Meanwhile, you can take advantage of the fact that authority figures look upon you very favourably right now. In fact, some of you will strike up a romance with a boss or someone in power. This is also an excellent time to wrap up important discussions about inheritances and shared property. Looking swell!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

You’re a freedom-loving sign, and this month, you have a strong desire to escape any restrictions. In fact, you will emancipate yourself from oppression. This might entail discussions about shared property, taxes, debt and inheritances – things that affect your sense of security and survival. Meanwhile, you will still have a strong desire to travel and get outta Dodge. (What’s new?) After all, you

are the traveller of the zodiac! Plus, you’ll enjoy networking and socializing. Meanwhile, continue to look for ways to improve your existing job or get a better job.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

This month the Sun is opposite your sign, which means you will need more sleep. This polarized position of the Sun will also give you greater objectivity in your closest relationships – spouses, partners and close friendships. Obviously, this is a great opportunity to improve these relations because you will see your role in how you relate to others. (Your sex drive will be amped, as well.) Meanwhile expect gifts, goodies and perhaps even money will come your way. Grab opportunities for vacations, fun outings, sports events and playful activities with kids. Yes!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Roll up your sleeves because you’ll be busy, productive and working as efficiently as possible this month because you’re motivated! These same high standards will also affect your expectations for your health, which is why you might try a new exercise regime or a new approach to your diet. Meanwhile, relations with partners and close friends will be warm and energetic. Continue to look for ways to improve your existing home or move to a better home. Likewise, continue to be open to ways to improve family relationships because this is possible.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

It’s play city for Pisces! Accept invitations to party and socialize with others. Enjoy attending sports events for yourself and others. Many of you will be more involved in kid’s activities or educating kids. Meanwhile, this is a wonderful time to slip away on a vacation as well as look for opportunities to express your creative talents. Family discussions might lead to tackling some home repairs, which will be a welcome choice for you. Get this stuff done while you can! When you have a positive feeling about where you live, by extrapolation, you have a positive feeling about the rest of your world.

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