March 2021 Issue 148 by Cowichan Valley Voice

owichan

MARCH 2021 ISSUE 148 SPRING BREAK STAYCATION I SIP, SAVOUR & DINE COWICHAN I LOCAL ARTS

March 2021 Issue 148 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 Richard Badman Diana Pink

Calendar Angela Sheppard

Advertising Enquiries Please Contact us at info@ cowichanvalleyvoice.com for A rate card, monthly offers and print ad specials. Next Ad Deadline March 15 for April 2021 Issue 149 *Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire. COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE! Next EVENTS DEADLINE March 15 for April 2021 Issue 149 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 Lauren Bosch, Karen Bernard, Bill Jones, Tom Andrews, Cim MacDonald, Craig Spence, Miyo Stevens, Patty Abbott, Chris Turyk, Susan Down, Grant Easterbrook, Tina Foster, Alistair MacGregor, Kendra Thomas, Candice Wray, Lydia Pedri, y, Carolyn Hopkinson, Bahá’u’lláh, Bill Hibberd, Monica Dockerty, Debbie Wood, Stephanie Waddington, Orith Horwitz, Christina Hamil, John Magdanz, Tracey Hanson, Liam O’Brien and Maria Thomaz Alena Oslopova, Gina Cone, Donna Shaw, The lovely Georgia Nicols, Nicolette Genier, Cindy Jolin and the Wonderful Staff at the Community Farm Store. Cover Image: Midnight Bloom is one of Claudia Lohmann’s Imaginative Geometric Art works. She is the March-April Featured Artist at Rainforest Arts, 9781 Willow Street in Chemainus. See more of her work at claudialohmann.com. We welcome your story ideas & photo submissions; however Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/ or edit all submissions for space, clarity, content and style. The opinions expressed in Valley Voice Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers or other contributors. Please send a query e-mail 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

OUR COMMUNITY March Events 5 The Hub Community 11 The Murals of Chemainus 13 Easter is Coming! 24 Totem Tour in Downtown Duncan 30 New business acceleration program 33 Bill C-231 35 Warmland Women’s Support Services 36 Nourish Cowichan Fundraiser 40 Birth and Community 41 She Works Hard For the Money 42 The Beautiful Story of The Kantha Robe 45 Jump Into Music Program 56 Take Your Business Online With The Hub’s Technology 67 March Forecasts 68 Community Farm Store 69 Directory of Local Services 70-71 LOCAL FOOD & DRINK New Frozen Meals To Go 10 Food for Thought 12 Michelle Rose Community Supported Fishery 13 Family Spring Break Dining 18 Chamber’s Dine & Sip Cowichan 21 The Artistry of The Sommelier 22 Honey-Ginger Balsamic Glazed B-B-Q Ribs 32 What to look for in...Collagen 34 HOME & GARDEN Woodland Plants: Harbingers of Spring 48 Do-It-Yourself MicroIrrigation 49 Making a Grand Entrance 50 Well Water Pumps 52 The E-Waste Reboot 66 LOCAL ARTS Mural Memories by Artist Cim MacDonald 15 Claudia Lohmann creates Imaginative Geometric Art 16 Outstanding Art in March 27 Painter Jacqueline Meredith 28 Ian Lowe Metal Artist and Sculptor 29 Janis Blyth 29 A Passionate Painter 47 BODY, MIND & SOUL Why We Should Read Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson 17 Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer 37 Cowichan Women’s Health Collective 38 Celebrating Local Women Committed to Beauty & Style 43 Spring Blessings 46 Baby Being 58 Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique 64 Supplements That Multi-task 65 PETS, RECREATION & NATURE March Break Fun for Everyone 61 Spring is on the Way 62 Lucky Dog Sleeping Dogs 63

MARCH EVENTS

Sip Savour Support Tasting Passport sip your way through Cowichan self-guided tour! 10 craft beverage producers www. tourismcowichan.com/savour $35

Teen Gardening Thursdays, 3-4:30pm, 5789 Alderlea St. Duncan, FREE, www. instagram.com/kpyouth also 03/18&25

Keeping Cowichan Nourished MLA Sonia Furstenau 6-7pm Online http://gvote.bcgreens.ca/rsvp/ eve_2ba72bcc6 FREE

Cowichan Valley Naturalists Seeing Cowichan Forests Beyond Trees 9:30am cvns@ naturecowichan.net for zoom link Everyone Welcome

Portrait drawing coloured pencils online course Register cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca $210 Runs to 03/28

2-4

Easter Menu at Farm Table Inn seating times starting at 5pm 250-932-3205 www.farmtableinn.ca

Easter at The Hub - Family bubbles, Visual Scavenger Hunt + Hub Film Club Movie Night cowichanstation.org

The Colours of Geometry Show Claudia Lohmann Rainforest Arts 9781 Willow St, Chemainus Wed-Sat 11-4pm RainforestArts.ca Runs to April

Maple Bay Painters art show 100+ artworks Cowichan Valley Arts Council Gallery 2687 James St, Duncan Mon-Fri 114pm Sat 12-4pm Runs to 04/07 Online Trivia Quiz Episode V release www. millbaymalahathistory.com

Warmland Book & Film Collective From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless & Finding My Way Jesse Thistle warmlandcollective@ gmail.com Spiritual Upliftment & Connection three Baha’i friends details & link Laurice Tim & Lee 250 748-2585 Val Konig Retrospective art show 1964-2017 Annex gallery Cowichan Valley Arts Council 2687 James St, Duncan MonFri 11-4pm Sat 12-4pm Runs to 03/24

Preschool Virtual Tour and Open House 10– 11:30 am to register contact admissions@sunrisewaldorf school.org 250.743.7253 Stop Motion animation 5-day course all ages professional animator Tracy Lewis In Person Cowichan Valley Arts Council Studio 2687 James St Duncan

Cowichan Valley Naturalists Vancouver Island Wildlife A Photo Journey 7pm cvns@naturecowichan.net for zoom link Everyone Welcome

Online Trivia Quiz Episode VI release millbaymalahathistory.com

Spiritual Upliftment & Connection three Baha’i friends details & link Laurice Tim & Lee 250 748-2585

Drip Irrigation Workshop Jason Greenwood 9:304pm info@cowichanestuary.ca By Donation Robert Sears New York Magic Realist Painter Cowichan Valley Arts Council Annex 2687 James St, Duncan Mon-Fri 11-4 Sat 124pm Runs to 04/10 Kindergarten Virtual Tour and Open House 10– 11:30 am to register contact admissions@ sunrisewaldorf school.org 250.743.7253 www.sunrisewaldorfschool.org

Registration opens for Awake Youth Art Show for age 13+ Register cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca

Preschool Virtual Open House Saturday March 13 Saturday April 24

Kindergarten Virtual Open House Saturday March 27 Saturday April 10

All events 10:00 – 11:30 am

Contact to register admissions@sunrisewaldorfschool.org www.sunrisewaldorfschool.org 250.743.7253 5

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 9:30 -10:30 am Wednesdays 10-11:15 am Fridays 10-11:30 am (Victoria)*

Northern Shaolin Chun Yuen Quan

Dynamic movement Improves posture Increases energy Strengthens bones Tuesdays 6 pm - 7 pm Wednesdays 9 am - 10 am

250 748 4060 rivendellrhythm@shaw.ca

www.WildGooseQigongCentre.com

New Frozen Meals To Go

he Cowichan Green Community recovery project is excited to launch new frozen meals at the reFRESH Marketplace (360 Duncan St.) as well as Cow-Op (cow-op.ca) later on in the month. The idea behind these products is to utilize recovered foods that would otherwise go unused. These frozen meals are affordable, accessible, and healthy. Additionally, these meals divert food from being wasted. All produce used is in wonderful condition, containing a high amount of

essential nutrients. These frozen meals are perfect to have in your freezer for when you don’t have the time to cook or can be thawed and heated up right away! The recovered foods are collected, processed, and made into frozen meals on site. Some of these affordable and healthy meals that will be available will include lasagna, chili, Island curry, roast chicken, and meat loaf. Cowichan Green Community members will receive 10% off these meals when they purchase them at the reFRESH Marketplace. Keep your eyes peeled on Cow-Op for these products that can be available for pickup throughout the Cowichan region or can be available for delivery! Submitted by Lauren Bosch

The Hub Community

hen life changed so drastically one year ago the first thing that I noticed missing was community centers. Trips to the library, film nights and art shows were all suddenly forbidden. Everything was or quickly became available online as Libby, Netflix and artists found online forums to share their wares. While I am very grateful for their adaptability and presence, these adaptations just couldn’t replace community. There is something special about randomly running into friends and acquaintances or physically touching that book that online experiences from the comfort of our homes cannot replace. This is a new reality that community centers have had to adapt to. The HUB at Cowichan Station is among our local community centers that is adjusting quite well while accommodating stringent safety protocols. With their new audiovisual equipment accompanied by their solid wifi connection, the HUB can offer live-streaming, video conferencing, podcasting, and recording capability to groups and individuals who are adapting their own business models. Continuing their efforts to give back to the Cowichan Valley, the HUB

is currently working with Youth Community Action Project (Youth CAP) under the Cowichan Valley Branch of Canadian Mental Health Association to connect youth with volunteer opportunities in the forest, the kitchen and even helping to digitize their archives. Of course, the outdoor library has been open the entire time, and the Clay Hub has been operating with take-home clay and drop-off firing. For a few months the Cowichan Hub Cafe has been open every Friday, with beverages and baked goods available from 8:30 AM and lunch from 11:00 PM until closing at 2:00 PM. This is also a new pick up point for Cow op Online Farmers’ Market! On Thursday afternoon from 1-3PM, while Joel preps his delicious treats for Friday, he is available to hand over Cow-op orders to customers that find this to be a more convenient pick up than Lockwood or Hope Farms. Just choose the option for “Pick Up at Cowichan Station” on Cow-Op’s Current Shopping Period Overview page. The Hub at Cowichan Station has risen to the challenge of continuing to create community with ideas that are sustainable and will easily adjust to whatever the near future holds for us. See you at the Hub!

Rock I Funk I Blues I Reggae I Latin I Metal

Paul Jutras

DRUM KIT AND HAND PERCUSSION LESSONS 35+ years experience- Private / One 2 One / Customized / Fun

Beginner to advanced - In your home or in my studio in Duncan

250-732-7735 I chopsdrumschool@gmail.com

Upcoming EVENTS Saturday, March 27

Happiness Dinner Redux

Saturday, April 17th Spring Seafood and Wild Foods Dinner

*All events subject to the most up to date BC guidelines and restrictions.

For full details visit www.deerholme.com BY RESERVATION ONLY

4830 Stelfox Rd, Duncan

For ReservationS 250 748 7450

Karen Bernard is the Wholesale Coordinator for the Cow-Op Online Farmers’ Market.

THE GLENORA STORE & CAFE IS A LOCAL CORNERSTORE WITH A TWIST! Stocked with basic groceries and produce. The cafe offers fresh baked goods, hot lunch specials, drinks, and snacks. We also sell hand-woven products, beeswax candles, and prepared herbs from Glenora Farm Outdoor heated seating 5090 Indian Road (corner of Glenora Rd & Indian Rd)

250-746-5313 I www.glenorafarm.org Sands Funeral Chapel

Cremation & Reception Centre-Duncan by Arbor Memorial

Food for Thought

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

Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Grilled Chicken Thighs and Peanut Sauce

Courtesy Chef Bill Jones, Deerholme Farm Ingredients

Peanut Sauce

1 can coconut milk 4 chicken thighs 1/4 cup peanut butter 1 clove garlic, chopped 3 cloves garlic 1 tsp minced hot chili 1 Tbsp oil 1 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro 1 lemon or lime, juiced 1 tsp sesame oil 2 Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp grapeseed oil ¼ cup hot water Salt and pepper to taste 2 Tbsp brown sugar Lime wedges 2 tsp fish sauces Cilantro leaves for garnish Sesame Seeds for Garnish 1 head iceberg lettuce (or other leafy lettuce)

Method

On a clean cutting board, de-bone the chicken thighs and remove skin and excess fat. Cut chicken into 1 inch strips and place in a small glass or stainless steel bowl. Add the minced garlic, chili, cilantro and sesame oil Add the oil and season well with salt and pepper. Stir and allow to sit for 15 minutes to marinate. In a mixing bowl, combine the coconut milk, peanut butter, garlic, lemon or lime juice, soy sauce, water, brown sugar and fish sauce. Stir well to make a smooth paste. Soak wooden skewers in cold water for at least 10 minutes. Skewer the chicken thighs to make 8-12 skewers. Heat your BBQ to medium high, place the skewers on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the chicken is firm and browned. Remove from heat. Serve with large leaves of iceberg (or romaine lettuce) and peanut sauce with a side garnish of lime wedges, cilantro and a sprinkling of sesame seeds.

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

he effect of food on mood has always been an interest of mine. It started when I found out foods like garlic were believed to energize the brain and stimulate social interactions like communication. Then I found out about the world of aphrodisiacs (always a hot topic for the mind of a young man) and then veered off into the world of how certain foods can elevate moods and contribute to our wellbeing. In University I took a fun course called Culinary Anthropology, an exploration of how food and culture influence different cultures around the world. It taught me that food plays a huge role in our lives and sharing and enjoyment are key pieces for enjoying our time here on the planet. It all made me think that maybe there were deeper mechanism at work when we eat food we enjoy. Science has also looked at this issue and has isolated several interesting connections. Some foods do provide energy

to the metabolism (such as theobromine from chocolate and caffeine from coffee and tea and others). Some chemical reactions such as the caramelization of sugars also form complex products that react as pleasure in the brain. Many foods we crave contain an essential amino acid called tryptophan and one key component is called serotonin. Many foods contain this compound such as dairy, meat and poultry, nuts, seeds, chickpeas, chocolate and many mushrooms. Yes, they all taste good, but there are also chemical transmitters being sent to your brain sending waves of pleasure around. This is pretty neat stuff. Recent research as also revealed another substance called andandamine. You may know it as an active ingredient in cannabis but it also occurs naturally in other plants, notably chocolate and truffles and more mysteriously in local sea urchin roe. Scientists have dubbed this the bliss molecule for its role in lowering anxiety and it’s being studied as a potential medication for treating depression. It is also thought to increase appetite and may have a role in the way the body assimilates and stores fat. Who knew that forkful of food may have so much impact on our brain? Well – we did; and we’ve been celebrating the fact on our farm for the past few years. On Saturday, March 27 we will be holding our annual Happiness Dinner featuring foods that encourage feelings of well-being and pleasure. The meal will include oysters, truffles, Dungeness crab, mushrooms and chocolate. If you feel like being a happy Guinea Pig, come join us. Details are on our website at www.deerholme.com.

Sustainably Harvested Seafood

from Michelle Rose CSF

Michelle Rose Community Supported Fishery

www.michellerosecsf.com

Michelle Rose Community Supported Fishery Guy Johnson, Fisherman Michelle Rose CSF

eing a commercial Fisherman in a time of climate change is challenging enough add in a pandemic and things get really interesting. About 10 years ago I wanted to do something concrete to reduce the carbon footprint of my catch and to make all aspects of my fishing as sustainable as possible, this motivated me to set up a Community Supported Fishery (CSF). The CSF is still going strong, each year we are selling more and more of our catch here on the South Island. What is a CSF? Like a farmer’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) it is me as a fisherman selling my catch directly from my boat to members of my community. With the pandemic and its disruption to international markets the CSF has only sparked more interest. Bigger is not better and complex food distribution systems that move food ½ way around the world do not make sense for food security or a new green economy. I troll for salmon and a variety of other fish, as well as trap prawns, king shrimp and octopus you can buy shares of my catch preseason. People buying shares in my catch lets me know what fish to bring home for the CSF. It also allows me to not have to borrow from the fish companies

preseason for rig up and repairs, and so I have the independence to be able to sell my catch to the community. The CSF has been the answer for me and an increasing number of fishermen here in BC and many other places. Have a look at our web site at: michellerosecsf. com to see how our CSF works and how you can part of a sustainable food economy on the south Island. Certainly from when I was young the harvest of salmon has changed dramatically for a number of factors, the CSF allows me to make the best use of a reduced catch. As challenging as events have been lately for salmon stocks on the south coast, it is also important to acknowledge where and when things are going right. Recently Bernadette Jordan the federal Minister of Fisheries made a fundamental decision to close down salmon fish farms along the migration routes of Fraser river and other south coast salmon. This is real action that will have a positive impact on our wild salmon. It does not remove all the stressors on salmon but it is an important step and a welcome change from words and more words. I would urge you to take the time to show your support by sending a email to Bernadette Jordan the Minister of Fisheries her email address:Bernadette.Jordan@ parl.gc.ca

VALLEY DENTAL CLINIC Dr. Gordon Levin DMD Dentist

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME Please see our YouTube Video: “How We Made Our Dental Ofﬁce Completely Safe for Patients and Staff “ https://youtu.be/tMvTDHfTP10 Qualified Dentist American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

# 101-321 Festubert St Duncan, British Columbia V9L 3T1 250-746-9697

reception@valleydentalclinic.ca

LOOKING FOR MICROGREENS?

We grow plenty of them!

A&S MICROGREENS t.250-710-6135 www.asmicrogreens.com 13

Submitted by Tom Andrews

• see if you can find the hidden raccoon in mural #3, Steam Train on Bridge Over Chemainus River or the face in the clouds in EC5, By the Bay – Inspired by Emily Carr.

he Chemainus Murals Program was initiated in 1982 to drive economic activity in the town when the forestry industry faltered in the late 1970s. Starting with five murals in 1982, the program has grown to 56 murals and 9 sculptures created by artists from Vancouver Island, across Canada and around the world including Great Britain, Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States. The murals and sculptures are managed by the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society, a non profit registered charity that maintains, restores and adds new murals to the world famous outdoor art gallery. The Historical series depict scenes from the forestry and mining industries and reflects the history of the First Nations people and settlers who built the community. The Emily Carr series honour world renowned Vancouver Island artist Emily Carr in five murals which include ten of her paintings. The Community series include nature and interactive murals for the viewers to experience. The sculptures located around town reflect the skills of artists using wood, marble and bronze to form their creations.

• walk slowly from one side to the other in front of mural #10, Company Store and watch the lines in the ceiling and the floor boards follow you. Notice that the hanging mannequins will keep an eye on you as you walk by!

Mural image; Second Chemainus Sawmill by Bruce Rickett

• see if you can locate the Sea Captain sculpture at the corner of Laurel Lane and Willow Street. Hint: He can see the harbour from his vantage point.

The Murals of Chemainus This open air art gallery is a wonderful place for families to explore and learn about the history of the Chemainus Valley. The best way to experience the murals is to pick up an Official Mural Guide at the Visitor Centre in Waterwheel Square. It includes a brief description of all the murals and sculptures as well as a map showing the location of each work of art. The guide costs only $4.00 and supports the Murals Society’s efforts to maintain, restore, and add new murals to the program.

Fun activities to engage in while experiencing the murals; • follow the yellow footsteps around the downtown area, then through Waterwheel Park to more murals in Old Town. • walk the labyrinth in Waterwheel Park. The distance from the start to the centre and back is half a kilometre! • view the 3D (tromp l’oeil) EC1 Emily Carr mural on the side of the Chemainus Theatre. Look at it from across the street and it appears you could walk up the steps into the gallery.

Company Store by Dan Sawatzky

Enjoy a few hours or a day exploring and experiencing the art and murals in Chemaius, an activity for the whole family. It’s free, fun, educational and outdoors in the fresh air! Pick up an official Mural Guide Map or the Chemainus Murals book to take along for your tour. The special editon book contains full colour reproductions of all murals and sculptures with details on the murals and the artists who painted them. Soft cover, FSC certified stock, sewn bindings. 108 page count. For more information and to look at the map visit www.muraltown. com.

Your one stop shop for natural products for home and body • more • more • more • more • more

sustainable fashions natural make up body products mens products natural pet supply

Come in for great natural products, organic produce and so much more! 14

• more • more • more • more • more

healthy snacks natural bulk foods cleaning products vitamin selection household for YOU!

PRODUCE SECTION

9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250-246-9838 Hours Mon-Sat 9-5 • Closed Sun & Stat holidays

Mural Memories by Artist Cim MacDonald

y first mural connection was painting one of the Garbage cans, in those days they wouldn’t allow anyone who had a job other than a full time painter to paint a mural. As it happened the Chemainus Art Group were asked to paint the Garbage receptacles and as I was a member I chose to put an old telephone booth on mine.

The Society used photographs from a book called Water Over the Wheel as a basis of the murals till ‘92. In 1992, I left my job at the Crofton Pulp Mill and was asked if I would like to paint a mural, by then most of the pictures from the book were used. I was given the telephone exchange wall but had to do my own research. I decided to find out about the first telephone in town. The original telephone exchange was in a house in old town, one of the operator’s family still lived in Chemainus and were able to give me a couple of photographs of the original operator and her supervisor on the steps of the original exchange. I put together an interactive idea with a real picket fence, wooden path, actual steps up to the doorway with a 3/4 sized bicycle bolted to the wall. Visitors would be able to sit on the bicycle or stand on the stairs to have their picture taken.

For the window I decided to put a cat looking out. When it came time to transfer my drawing on the wall (using a slide projector), I invited the townspeople to come by after dark and help me draw the outline - it took a few days to fix some of it afterwards but it was great fun. NOTE: At this location there was only one telephone in 1915 and I implied that the bicycle was for the operator to go and get the person whom the call was for) Visitors who came by as I was painting asked if I was “painting this mural”, “did I

paint all the others” and is the cat real. I made up a t-shirt that said “Yes I’m painting this mural”, “No I didn’t paint all the others” and “No the cat isn’t real”. Another thought I had while working was that most of the people wouldn’t get to see the finished product, why not take names and addresses and send a postcard of it completed. Little did I realize that by the time the mural was done there were 500 names in my book! Fortunately Fletcher Challenge sponsored the printing and Benjamin Moore & Co. Limited supplied the stamps - all I had to do was write the addresses! I got lots of letters back thanking me for sending one and some decided to make another trip to see for themselves.

Claudia Lohmann in front of her painting, Midnight Bloom

Claudia Lohmann creates Imaginative Geometric Art

f Claudia Lohmann’s Grade 3 art teacher saw what she’s doing now with her ‘Imaginative Geometric Art’, he would make her stand up in front of the class and explain herself. After all, who sees faces in the clutter of a tool shed or a kitchen drawer? But instead of being intimidated, as she was then, Lohmann, the mature seasoned artist, would explain to her classmates that the best art doesn’t imitate life, it reincarnates it on canvasses or, in Lohmann’s case, more frequently on sheets plywood and furniture surfaces. When they were told to draw a

Al’s Asian Treasures Aluminum Driveway Gates • Garden Gates • Furniture • Jewelry • Lava & Stone Statues • Wood Carvings • Paintings • Locally Made Concrete Statues and more! 3107 Henry Rd, Chemainus (250) 324-4444

www.alsasiantreasures.com

horse, she would have explained to her classmates, it was perfectly okay for hers to be of a different colour. “I drew a blue horse, and the teacher made me come out in front of the class, he made fun of me, that I should know better, and there are no blue horses,” she recalled. “For me that was a really bad experience, and I really didn’t take part in art anymore.” Fast forward to 2004. Lohmann, who had immigrated to Canada in 1995, was encouraged by friends, family and other artists, to get over her instilled fears and just ‘go for it’. And so, her unique style of drawing brightly coloured, geometric compositions, often on large surfaces, became her life’s passion.

Colourful Future, by Claudia Lohmann, reveals and conceals a crowd of faces in its brilliant patterns.

“I regret not having done it earlier, but I would never want to be without it now,” she said, adding that creating art has brought new dimensions of joy into her life. “It makes me happy, and that’s a really important thing, you have to do art that makes you happy.” She calls her style ‘Imaginative Geometric Art’ because ordinary things around her become ‘templates’, which she incorporates into her works, and out of the geometric lines, curves and bold colours, faces and other living features often emerge. Lohmann doesn’t try to explain what her art means. She remembers pointing out a face in one of her paintings, which she had sold to a

customer. “He came back, I think a week later and exchanged it for something else because he told me, he feels watched now, sitting in his living-room.” Art, Lohmann believes is something the viewer should experience for her or himself. You can experience Lohmann’s The Colours of Geometry Show at Rainforest Arts, 9781 Willow Street in Chemainus. As Featured Artist in March and April, her works will be on display Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11am to 4pm. Go to RainforestArts.ca for more information.

CraigSpenceWriter.ca

lapdog. Positive relationships with his neighbours, Mister and Mrs. Jaks, and their family, and his standing out as different at school, are further examples of the young man he is -- one who continues to dig the old Jakses’ garden, unbidden, every Springtime.

WHY WE SHOULD

Eden Robinson deftly employs dialogue to fill out characters to their full dimensions. The strength of the story is the flicker of hope that Son of a Trickster uncovers READ while describing the “deep sadness about the inadequacy of the world”. With that spark of light, perhaps unknowingly, Jared may have transformed with his presence the meaning of “you have to be harder”.

Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson

ared is one of a multigenerational family. At five, he and his parents leave Bella Bella (his mother’s birthplace) and his maternal grandmother, who has proclaimed Jared a son of Wee’git, a trickster. The family moves to Kitamat, also in Northern BC. Before long, his parents are bitterly divorced, and Jared is in high school, living with his mother Maggie. She eventually “settles in” with a tough character, Richie. “The world is hard,” Maggie is fond of saying. “You have to be harder”, she tells her son and the world. The flaws in the relationships among Jared and his mother, her boyfriends, and his classmates reinforce that conviction. Along with talking avians, mammals and shapeshifting old women who have their places in the storyline, Jared struggles with his maternal grandmother’s designation of who he is. Jared’s character is well written, as are all the characters in this tale. Richie’s pit bull/boxer cross is called “Baby Killer”, but “Baby” is soon Jared’s

His life is full of a mix-up of people. Through it all, despite the depths that surround him, and even his own weaknesses, Jared has light within him. In the end, we finish up with an electrifying and satisfying conclusion, an unexpected new beginning. This is a good place to leave us, looking forward to reading the second book of this trilogy from Eden Robinson. The Warmland Book and Film Collective – a response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Explore, celebrate, and learn from Indigenous authors and filmmakers – We meet online March 10, 2021 and the next book is From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way, by Jesse Thistle. Questions? warmlandcollective@gmail.com Submitted by Miyo Stevens

Gift Baskets Meat & Cheese Platters Gourmet Foods Italian Imports Take Home and Serve

FAMILY BREAK MERRIDALE’s Faerie walk and orchard scavenger hunt are great family Spring break adventures. Finish your outdoor exploration with comfort food and craft drinks in the Eatery. We have a kids menu and even have a nonalcoholic flight for kids and nondrinkers. 1230 Merridale Road, Cobble Hill Kids Menu $10

Take a walk on the oceanside and join us for lunch or dinner, we’re always offering family friendly service and modern-comfort food. Open 7 days a week! All kids menu items come with a FREE Ice Cream. COW CAFE WEST COAST GRILL 5th Floor within Oceanfront Suites 1681 Cowichan Bay Rd Cowichan Bay

We are TACO REVOLUTION. Our gluten-free, kid-friendly menu has 8 different tacos, plus weekly specials. Parents can

enjoy adult beverages with their tacos. Tacos are $4 or 3 for $11 and quesadillas are $2/pc.Open 7 days a week 11am to 6pm (Sun -Thurs) 11am - 7pm (Fri-Sat). Located at Red Arrow Brewery 5255 Chaster Rd, Duncan

MA MAISON is a casual restaurant serving local farm to table fare. The perfect spot for lunch with fantastic local wines, beer, artisan coffee, teas & organic baking. Menu range $5-$20 10445 Chemainus Rd in Saltair

A wonderful selection of sweet & savoury crepes available with options for Vegan, KETO, Gluten Free. Even the pickiest eater will find something! Our fresh roasted coffee and wide selection of beverages will offer something for everyone. Mneu range $5$13 IRONWORKS CAFE & CREPERIE 64 Station St. Duncan

SPRING DINING

CURE ARTISAN MEAT & CHEESE is a spot for everyonelots of great hiking, biking, picnic items, as well as lunch sandwiches and individual pizzas for those on the go this spring break... we also have some great sweets for kids and adults. Open 7 days a week Monday - Friday 10am-6pm Saturday and Sunday 10-5pm. Valley View Centre

ALDERLEA FARM AND CAFÉ is the perfect place for a unique family experience. Authentic wood fired oven pizza; loaded burgers from the farm’s grass fed beef, veggie burgers with farm made sauerkraut, farm fresh salad, and soups, including wild nettle. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 12:00-8pm Opens March 12th. 3390 Glenora Road, Duncan

We are a farm to table Italian market, deli and take out kitchen. Pizzas start at $7.75 Pasta starts at $11.95 Gelato starts at $5. For the month of March, 1 piece of pizza and an Italian soda $5! GROVE HALL FARM’S ITALIAN KITCHEN & DELI 6159 Lakes Rd, Duncan

This Spring Break, bring your family to BRIDGEMANS BISTRO at Mill Bay Marina for a meal & kayak adventure. The package includes Cod & Chips or Kids Meal, pop and a 1 hour kayak rental ($25 adults / $15 kids age 5-12). Kayaks available 11:30 am-3:30 pm at the Marina office. 740 Handy Rd, Mill Bay, 250-743-4303

Freshly made veggie and fruit based juices, kids sized smoothies and other fun and delicious raw treats that are good for you like this Lemon Poppyseed with Raspberry cashew cake! GLOW JUICERY & RAW FOOD CAFE 5380 Trans-Canada Hwy #3, Duncan

At PRIMA STRADA we’re committed to simple, fresh ingredients on thin crust, wood-fired pizza. Serving up the best pizza, good wine and craft beer – we’re a place to gather for a delicious and casual meal with family and friends. Stop by on your way to or from your favourite Cowichan Valley adventure. Menu $6-22 1400 Cowichan Bay Road - in the Valley View Centre

he Duncan Cowichan Chamber is pleased to announce the return of the Dine Cowichan festival! Now in its 5th year, the 2021 program has been expanded to include wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries and has been rebranded Dine & Sip Cowichan. Hot on the heels of Tourism Cowichan’s new Sip, Savour & Support campaign, Dine & Sip Cowichan is another opportunity for locals to enjoy the tastes of the Cowichan Valley.

Genoa Bay & Maple Bay Genoa Bay Café, The Lion Rampant Scottish Pub and The Shipyard Restaurant & Pub

Genoa Bay Cafe

Lake Cowichan Farm Table Inn Crofton, Chemainus & Ladysmith Ironworks Café & Creperie, Ma Maison, Osborne Bay Pub, Owls Nest Café, Sawmill TapHouse & Grill, The Fox & Hounds

CHAMBER’S DINE & SIP COWICHAN A WELCOME BOOST FOR LOCAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATORS RESTAURANTS & EATERIES

Bridgemans Bistro

Executive Director, Sonja Nagel, says, “Now, more than ever, our local food and beverage operators need our support. So, whether you squeak in some extra visits to your favourite spot, try somewhere completely new, or make your way through the whole list - with over 40 venues to choose from, there’s something for everyone.” Dine & Sip Cowichan runs from March 3rd through 28th. Participating venues will be offering a range of inspired dishes and beverage tastings at special pricing, and takeout options will be available for those who feel more comfortable dining at home. This year’s participants are listed below. For more information and to view Dine & Sip menus, visit www.duncancc.bc.ca or 250.746.4636.

South Cowichan Alpina Restaurant at Villa Eyrie Resort, Bridgemans Bistro, Compass Mexican Bistro, CURE Artisan Meat & Cheese, Montra Thai Eatery, Satellite Bar & Grille at Arbutus Ridge, The Cobblestone Pub, The Lakehouse at Shawnigan, The Mill Pizza & Grill

Restaurant & Bar, River Rock Bar & Grill, Taco Revolution, The Ainslie, The Italian Kitchen at Grove Hall, and The Old Fork

CRAFT BEVERAGE VENUES Blue Grouse Estate Winery, Cherry Point Estate Wines, Enrico Winery, Merridale Cidery & Distillery, Unsworth Vineyards, Venturi-Schulze Vineyards, Averill Creek Vineyard, Red Arrow Brewing, Rocky Creek Winery, Small Block Brewery, Stillhead Distillery and Valley Cider Company

Rock Cod Cafe

Cowichan Bay Cow Café West Coast Grill, Rock Cod Café, and The Masthead Restaurant Duncan CVI Restaurant & Lounge, Gibby’s Café & Catering, Holy Cow Indian Eats, Ironworks Café & Creperie, Mad Dog Crabs Seafood Market, Old Firehouse Wine & Cocktail Bar, Original Joes 21

and wine pairing is one of the simple pleasures in life, and these tips can help you to create a memorable dining experience at your own table.

The Artistry of The Sommelier Chris Turyk - I love wine, a lot. I’m a Certified Sommelier, WSET Diploma graduate, and get in everyones way at unsworthvineyards.

sommelier’s ability to seamlessly pair wine with food is his raison d’etre. Food

CELEBRATING

13 YEARS IN BUSINESS IN THE

COWICHAN VALLEY Heronwood Custom Cabinetry Inc. Is a local custom cabinetry shop located in the Cowichan Valley. Heronwood is know for its meticulous craftsmanship and creative design.

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM

E4-4970 POLKEY RD. DUNCAN

250-597-4701

heronwoodcabinetry.ca 22

Sommeliers rely on technical knowledge of gastronomy, the wide world of wine, and a tuned palate. Truly great pairings enhance the level of enjoyment of both the food and the wine. Throw out the antiquated notion of white wine with fish and red wine with steak and pairing becomes a limitless adventure! Your own mindset is the easiest skill to develop for honing your pairing prowess. Many things in life are more enjoyable if you are open to enjoying them. Breaking down the little rules we impose on ourselves which erode any potential for exploration is fundamental for successful pair-ing and general wine enjoyment.

The arbitrary and thankfully downward trending sentiment of “ABC -- anything but Chardonnay” stands as the perfect example of a capricious, self-inflicted barrier preventing enjoyment of the most extraordinary white wine pairings on the planet. Some of the finest Champagne Cuvées crafted from Chardonnay when paired with raw seafood preparations are perennial favourites of mine. Cool climate still incarnations whether from Chablis, New Zealand or BC prove as malleable as any wine to pair with an expansive array of cuisine from the aforementioned raw seafood to stuffed pork loin or chickpea curry. Roast chicken with sage butter provides the perfect match for a warm climate riper expression of Chardonnay. During my years as a fine-dining sommelier, my first instinct when discussing potential pairings with guests was to discern whether a pairing of contrast or one of compliment would suit. This manifests in these two ways: guest attitude and interaction between food and wine. For more conservative and traditional guests (information gleaned from their reservation notes, dress, and demeanour) I would stick to inside-thebox pairings -- the European couple celebrating their 65th anniversary would not trust junior to wow them with whacky grapes from obscure islands off the established oenological roadmap. If the aforementioned couple was sharing the steak for two, then 90% of the time I would recommend a structured red from a well-known producer in a classic region. Big steak plus big wine equals a pairing of compliment.

As great as classics are, more fun can be had with pairings of contrast. Tinkering with expectations and seeing guests react favourably to new experiences is its own reward. Picture a velvety, smooth, perfectly-seasoned Vichyssoise. Feel the way it generously coats your palate and cools (or warms) you as you sit back into your favourite chair. Now take a sip of Champagne -- this is an imaginary exercise, so make it something exceptional! The bubbles pierce though

the creamy texture, wash your palate clean, and you’re on the edge of your seat ready for more! This is contrast and also segues into the all-important pairing considerations of texture, acidity, sweetness and other structural elements. Guidelines, rules and classic pairings are readily available and from a variety of sources. Books, blogs, websites and articles explain why different pairing phenomena work. Acidity cuts though fat and heavy tannins can be quelled by fat; so grab a Riesling with your pork belly to keep the unctuousness in check. A young Cabernet could have its edges softened by the same dish. Heavy tannins accentuate spicy flavours, so if you are a fan of spice grab a high tannin wine and the food will magically appear spicier, whereas a glass of off-dry wine will quell the heat.

For example, poached salmon with Béarnaise sauce, smoked salmon with cream cheese, and barbecued, Cajun-spice-rubbed salmon will each have a flair with different wines. The delicate poaching and rich sauce would excel with a full, round and opulent white, the lox is screaming for sparkling and the barbecued, spiced salmon would prove perfect with a light, fruit-dominated red. Fear not, the vast majority of wines are fine with the vast majority of foods. And when all else fails, make sure to have bread and butter on the table – it pairs with anything in your glass.

Margot Page

Enamelling on Copper and Steel

When I’m asked, “What should Jewelery • Vases • Journals • Guestbooks I serve with [insert main protein Frames • Bookmarks • Magnets • Lightswitch Plates here]?” My first question is always, “How are you cooking Available locally at: Imagine That Artisans it, and what are the main Rainforest Arts • Artzi Stuff • TOSH flavours of the dish?” Pairing to the main protein only gets you quaylecard.indd 1 8/8/2011 so far.

www.margotpage.com

250 746 8446

3:23:00 PM

Easter is Coming!

True Grain Organic Craft Bakery True Grain features the following specialities for Easter. Hot Cross Buns The wait is finally over, our most popular Easter treat is back! Easter Bread A sweet dough with plump juicy organic currants, the perfect accompaniment to freshly roasted coffee on Easter morning French Croissants! Organic butter meets BCgrown organic flour to create layers of flaky pastry that will whisk your senses back to Europe. Cowichan Bay Village Order online: www. truegrain.ca Order by phone: 250 746-7664 Open: Tuesday - Sunday, 8am - 5pm Open Easter Sunday: 8am - 3pm

CURE ARTISAN MEAT & Cheese Cure is excited to offer our Bone out Hams and Turkey rolls for Easter. Now taking orders until March 29th. For orders call 250-929-2873 or place your order by email to ordering@curemeatandcheese@gmail.com Orders can be picked up at store at 5-1400 Cowichan Bay Road Cobble Hill. 24

CHoCOLATE PEARL ARTISAN EGGS As we do every year, we’ll be working like crazy in the kitchen to make enough Easter chocolate bunnies and eggs for everyone. This year we’ll have a divine selection of bunnies and eggs in a variety of colours, sizes and flavours. Since we seem to sell out every Easter, we urge you to shop early, or better yet, send us your order well ahead of time. 133 Craig Street, Duncan. Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, 778-422-2462 cpearlduncan@gmail.com

EASTER DINNER Farm Table Inn Thursday April 1 – Prime Rib Night, local prime rib with Yorkshire pudding and all the fixings! Friday April 2 to Sunday April 4 - Special Easter Menu. Enjoy a farm to table Easter Menu with seating times starting at 5pm. 6755 Cowichan Lake Road, halfway between Duncan and Lake Cowichan Reservations required 250-932-3205 info@farmtableinn.ca www.farmtableinn.ca

Easter at the HUB

his year we’re taking the Easter community fundraiser for the HUB at Cowichan Station online and outside. On Easter Sunday, we’re offering 15 minute booked appointments for family bubbles. Join us for a visual scavenger hunt through the forest. You may even catch a glimpse of the Easter Bunny (in masked costume) hopping through the trees. The funds from the $20 ticket fee per family helps to support our community run community centre at the HUB. At Easter events in the past we have had other HUB programs join in the fun and this year is no exception. The Film Club will be offering pre ordered movie night baskets with

treats, drinks, a movie and a chance to win a cafe voucher (hidden inside two baskets), date night and family size baskets available. The Cafe will be offering pre-packed charcuterie style picnic boxes and coffee to go. You can order all of these as well as Easter craft packs online, pick them up (contactless) and enjoy at any time. The HUB Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers take our community’s safety seriously and we are following all Provincial Health Orders. If anything has to change, we will adapt and you will find the latest updates on our facebook page: Cowichan Station Area Association and on our website www.cowichanstation. org

Outstanding Art in March Susan Down is managing director of the Cowichan Valley Arts Council.

ne of the oldest sketch groups in the Cowichan Valley is holding its popular annual show at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council’s gallery in March and three outstanding painters will have solo shows in CVAC’s smaller gallery, the Annex. Ending March 8 is Rory MacDonald’s show of his stunning landscapes in the Annex. An award-winning member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, he has been painting seriously for almost 40 years. Next up is a retrospective show of work from Val Konig, a long-time Salt Spring resident now living in the Cowichan Valley. She is no longer able to paint, but her husband Paul has organized the show of work dating back to 1964. Finally, on March 27, the Annex hosts Robert Sears, a New York painter now living here whose sharp, magic realist style is mesmerizing.

Many people will know the Maple Bay Painters, whose month-long show in CVAC Gallery will feature over 100 artworks. Each year, the MBP members donate artwork for sale to raise funds for the bursary project which offers financial support to graduating art students. The group is one of the oldest in the local arts community, established in 1968 by six painters under the guidance of Julie Porter who decided to meet weekly to paint together. They originally met in the church hall at Maple Bay, followed by the Maple Bay Rowing Club, and later the Moose Hall. Since 2012 the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds has been its home. Plein air sessions are organized during the summer months. What started small has grown into a vibrant group of artists. “To encourage, support and educate artists, with fairness and integrity” remains the keystone mission of the group. Image above; Reverie, by Robert Sears acrylic on wood panel 24” x 32”

Trial By Fire Pottery Studio Pottery Classes

NEW ONLINE SHOP AND FARM STAND www.trialbyﬁrepottery.ca I 250-710-8758 www.trialbyﬁrepottery.ca 27

A Thriving Arts and Cultural Community

PAINTER JACQUELINE MEREDITH Excellent Frameworks Gallery

Stillwater Cottage, watercolour 14” x 20”

acqueline Meredith has had a passion for painting all of her life. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, she moved to British Columbia and pursued other avenues of life while taking further painting classes and

Tranquility at Dawn, watercolour 18 x 20

Sailing into Sunlight, watercolour, 16” x 20”

workshops. In 1994 she moved to Salt Spring Island to become a full-time artist. She took workshops given by local artists, particularly Jack Avison, and off-island artists such as Kiff Holland and Harry Heine. These watercolour artists inspired her to concentrate on this medium. For her latest works she uses up to 20 washes of transparent watercolour to create luminous and radiant semi-abstract Island scenes that capture the serenity and tranquility of the peaceful lifestyle we all know and love. The intensity of the washes layer up with an end result of an almost jewel-like finish. Each work is custom

framed using the highest quality framing and glazing options available. Jacqueline’s goal as an artist is to capture the peace and harmony of her surroundings, the moodiness of the seas, mountains and skies, and the unique light, mist and vegetation of the Pacific Northwest. Her works not only represent the visual elements of Island life, but also reflect the true simple beauty that surrounds us in this very idyllic part of the world. Adding one of her works to your home will not only enhance the natural elements, but also offer a meditative moment for you and your future houseguests to enjoy. Visit us at our new location at

Morning Magic, watercolour, 6” x 20”

on Kenneth Street! Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St, Duncan 250-746-7112 excellentframeworks.ca ejhughes.ca

MARCH ARTS Aquamaris Art Gallery

Salish Singer by Ian Lowe Stainless Steel, Green Serpentine Stone Base 40.5” Hx 12” W x 14” D Weight: 81 lbs $7,000

IAN LOWE METAL ARTIST AND SCULPTOR Aquamaris Art Gallery

quamaris Art Gallery welcomes the talented First Nations metal artist and sculptor Ian Lowe of Comox Valley, whose passionate connection with the natural environment of Canada’s West Coast shines through his work. Ian’s creative expressions frequently intertwine multiple mediums, such as wood,

stone and steel, and celebrate magnificent creatures that share our world. Each of his pieces is handcrafted and detailed, commanding a high standard of excellence and skills that combine 30 years in the Welding and Fabricating Industry with the keen eye for art and design. Aquamaris Art Gallery Upstairs in the historic Duncan Garage Building (Level entry from the back) Suite 202 - 330 Duncan Street March Hours: Tuesday Saturday 11am-4:00pm 250 597-2798 aquamarisartgallery.com

JANIS BLYTH Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery

anis Blyth is a painter of the soulful side of life. She uses whimsy and colour capturing this spirit. Figurative and nature are woven throughout her creations. She worked in fashion retail for many years while pursuing her art career. This experience reflects in the art, as the women she paints portray characters similar to creating outfits for the wardrobes to match the unique personalities of customers. This original acrylic called “Breaking through the Clouds” by Janis Blyth was inspired by challenges, and how we get through them and how those challenges can make a better place. New works at Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St, Duncan 250-746-7112

Compelling new arrivals by Kato Rempel include three sublime nude oil paintings that explore the themes of togetherness, intimacy and connectedness. Available for viewing and sale at Aquamaris Art Gallery. March hours: Tuesday Saturday, 11 am - 4:00 pm.

EJ Hughes Gallery & Excellent Frameworks With knowledgeable and friendly staff, our gallery offers original and reproduction works by Dr. Edward James Hughes, original works of art by Canadian artists, professional custom framing services, as well as art consultation services for both homes and businesses.

VISIT THESE DOWNTOWN DUNCAN GALLERIES Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St, Duncan 250-746-7112 excellentframeworks.ca ejhughes.ca

Aquamaris Art Gallery in the historic Duncan Garage Building Suite 202 - 330 Duncan Street 250-597-2798 aquamarisartgallery.com 29

It’s time to Take the Totem Tour in Downtown Duncan!

he local community acknowledges that the totem pole collection is located on the traditional lands of the Quw’utsun’ (Cowichan) people. Cowichan Tribes has the largest Indigenous population in BC and their oral tradition states they have lived here since time immemorial. The climate of the Cowichan Valley produces mild winters and warm summers and supplies a ready source of food and shelter for all the inhabitants. Quw’utsun’ in the local Hul’q’umi’num language means ‘sun warming the back’. Duncan began as a village

called Alderlea in 1887, when William Chalmers Duncan donated farmland for the town site. The City of Duncan was incorporated in 1912. The City shares a boundary

with Cowichan Tribes lands in the heart of the City’s commercial core. The close proximity of the two communities requires both the City government and Cowichan Tribes,

governed by Chief and Council, to work together to tackle issues such as infrastructure, services and community programs. Both communities continue to foster understanding by

participating in events that honour each community’s heritage. The Collection The City of Totems, as Duncan is known, is an on-going project that has developed one of the world’s largest, outdoor collection of publicly displayed totem poles. The project began in 1985 and was designed to attract visitors to Duncan. It has involved the enthusiasm and support of many talented individuals and organizations and has cultivated crosscultural appreciation and cooperation. In 2012, the centenary of Duncan provided an opportunity for the City to develop dedicated signage for the totem pole collection. Oral histories undertaken with the carvers and their families tell the stories depicted on the poles, which are on view throughout the downtown core. In 1985, Mayor Douglas Barker initiated a totem pole project that would put Duncan on the map. Raising poles throughout the City would accomplish several things: it would celebrate the close ties between the City and the Quw’utsun’ people; it would further beautify the City; and, it would distinguish Duncan as a community that recognizes and appreciates the unique art form of the totem pole and all it represents. Mayor Barker’s enthusiasm for the

“City of Totems” spread to the City’s Councillors, Cowichan Tribes Chief and Council, and the business community. In 1986, Duncan was officially designated the City of Totems©. The designs of the poles reflect peoples’ lives, businesses and families. The poles represent two cultures coming together. The collection has grown from those original poles commissioned in the 1980s. In 2012, the City commissioned a new pole to celebrate the centennial of the City of Duncan, together with the new signage to complement its outdoor collection. The oral histories collected by Jane Mertz during this project have created access to the previously-untold stories of the artists and their families. The carvers’ cultural knowledge is now preserved and all of the information gathered during the project is housed in the Cowichan Valley Museum and Archives for future visitors and scholars. Proudly living up to the name “The City of Totems”, Duncan has over 40 beautifully carved totems scattered all around the City. With rich history behind each totem, it is a “Must See” on your visit to Duncan. Embark on a journey of culture and history by following the yellow footprints and start the self-guided walking

tour or take a virtual tour with the interactive map found on www.duncan.ca.

Honey-Ginger Balsamic Glazed B-B-Q Ribs

Recipe courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station, 225 Canada Avenue, Downtown Duncan

Marinade For the Ribs:

4 racks (8 pounds) baby back ribs 12 garlic cloves, mashed or minced 3 Tbs The Olive Stations Honey-Ginger White Balsamic 3 Tbs. dark brown sugar 1 Tbs. The Olive Stations Toasted Sesame Oil 1 Tbs. Sea Salt

For the Glaze:

3/4 cup The Olive Stations Honey-Ginger White Balsamic 3 Tbs. honey 2 Tbs. Soy Sauce 1 teaspoon The Olive Stations Toasted Sesame Oil Toasted sesame seeds for garnish - optional

Directions:

For the marinade: Mix together the Honey-Ginger white balsamic, brown sugar, minced garlic, sea salt and sesame oil. Coat the ribs with the marinade and allow to marinate in a sealed container or large zip lock bags for a minimum of 12 hours or overnight, turning a few times.

www.theainslie.ca 161 Kenneth St., Duncan 250-597-3695

JOIN US

WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY look for our daily specials on 40 Ingram Street

www.theoldﬁrehouse.ca 32

Downtown Duncan

(250) 597-3473

For the Glaze: Combine the honey ginger white balsamic, honey and soy sauce in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Allow to reduce by half and remove from heat. Add one teaspoon of toasted sesame oil to the mixture and stir to combine. For the ribs: Prepare the grill and preheat the oven to 275. Over medium heat grill the ribs for approximately 5 minutes per side. Prepare baking pan/s large enough to hold the ribs in a single layer. Brush the glaze over the ribs and seal each pan well with foil. Bake the ribs for 2 hours or until tender and meat falls off the bone. Optionally, sprinkle ribs with sesame seeds as a garnish.

Chocolatier Cheryl Yonge of Chocolate Pearl, image courtesyTourism Cowichan

New business acceleration program to strengthen Cowichan food ecosystem

conomic Development Cowichan has partnered with Spring Activator to

launch the Cowichan Food Innovation Program to assist food and beverage entrepreneurs across the region. The Cowichan Food Innovation Program was created in an effort to foster innovation in the community and support the development of a thriving food and beverage sector in Cowichan. The program will assist aspiring business owners to incubate new ideas, and

help existing businesses to pivot in response to changing consumer demands. “We are excited to support the further development of local food and beverage businesses through this new program,” said Barry O’Riordan, Manager of Economic Development Cowichan. “The program will also identify and develop key players in the Cowichan food ecosystem, and thereby build capacity for continued growth and expansion of the sector.” The program will be delivered in two cohorts: an incubator for start-ups and those looking to launch a new venture, and an accelerator for established businesses looking to adapt through growth and expansion. Both cohorts will have access to weekly group e-learning sessions, an online resource portal, and a regional network of business mentors. The training is offered at no cost to participants.

“I am excited to collaborate with Economic Development Cowichan and the program participants to curate and deliver an impactful program that truly supports and elevates the unique food entrepreneurs and food ecosystem in Cowichan Valley,” said Allison Gibson, Program Manager of Food Innovation at Spring Activator. The Cowichan Food Innovation Program is now accepting applications, with the program set to run from April to June 2021. Visit Economic Development Cowichan’s website at ecdevcowichan.com for more information on the program, eligibility criteria, and to submit your application.

Good health to you! Tina Foster, RHN Essential Remedies

ollagen supplements are becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. Adding in a collagen supplement can benefit your joints, skin, bones, cartilage, gut lining, internal organs, and repair in all of these. As we age we all lose more collagen, and thus tissues lose strength and elasticity which leads to wear and tear and sagging skin. Other factors like UV radiation, smoking, and lack of essential nutrients contribute to a greater collagen loss. Vitamin C is an important nutrient we all need more of, as it is water-soluble and used up in the body readily. Vitamin C plays an essential role in supporting the stability of collagen molecules. Without vitamin C, collagen production gradually slows to a standstill. Since the human body cannot generate vitamin C on its own, a diet rich in vitamin C is critical for maintaining collagen production. Good sources of dietary vitamin C include citrus fruits, strawberries, red peppers and many raw fruits and veggies. Lysine together with vitamin C will make collagen in the body. So sufficient whole protein is also important. Good food sources are animal products like meat, fish, eggs, and many plant

What to look for in...Collagen sources such as legumes, quinoa and buckwheat, fermented soy, pumpkin seeds, and avocados. When looking for a collagen supplement to get it directly, it can be confusing as there are so many to choose from! Liquid, powder, bovine, marine, type 1, 2, or 3 etc. Collagen supplements are broken down into peptides which are the building blocks our cells need to make collagen strands. The peptide size is an important aspect when buying, because the smaller the better your body can absorb it directly. Bioactivity will determine the peptides are designed to mimic biological activity and role of endogenous peptides in order to stimulate collagen production at specific areas of the body. Both bovine from cow and marine from fish are similiar in amino acid sequence, so our cells can’t really tell the difference. So look for a clean, sustainable and reliable source (such as grass-fed cattle, or wild and sustainable fish).

SHOP WITH US Tuesday - Friday 11am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 3pm

Imagine That! Artisans’ Designs 251 Craig St., Downtown Duncan

imaginethatartisans.com I 250-748-6776 34

Now as for specific uses, Type 1 and 3 collagen is used for strong hair, skin, nails and bones. Many folks use this in powder form for their joint pain too! While Type 2 Collagen is less prevalent within our bodies, it still offers great benefit to the aging body by promoting joint and cartilage health. Type 1 and 3 also stimulate the production of amino acids, particularly the wonderful Glycine- whose role is to build muscle and burn fat! It also helps anxiety, sleep, and gut health. Glycine is also available in an easy scoopable powder. Collagen Powder is tasteless and easy to add to morning coffee, cereal, smoothies, soup, you name it! Vegetarians/Vegans can supplement with a good absorbable Silicon/Silica to support collagen production and Vitamin C (as these together make collagen within your body!) with perhaps lysine powder as well if you think you could benefit from this. Better

silica supplements to look for are bamboo, or in MMST form, collodial, orthosilicic acid and generally in liquid form are well absorbed. Good food sources for natural collagen to include in your diet are bone broth, wild fish, and eggs. Team these with supportive foods to enhance collagen production and its retention like citrus, berries, avocados, chlorella, garlic and other sulfur-rich foods, hemp and flax, and leafy greens! I swear by a good Silica for my hair and nails, along with powdered greens and kelp for excellent mineral content. And of course lots of Vitamin C for all of its incredible super powers! Some top picks: Hubner Collodial Silicea or BioSil liquid drops, Purica L-Lysine Powder, Camu Camu Vitamin C, and Natural Factors Norwegian Kelp Customer favourites: Naka or CanPrev Bovine Collagen powder, BioSil Capsules, Hubner Silicea

Essential Remedies 141 Craig Street Downtown Duncan (250) 748-9632

Bill C-231 Alistair MacGregor is the MP for Cowichan-MalahatLangford and the federal NDP’s Critic for Agriculture

he House of Commons will vote on my Bill C-231 this month. C-231 seeks to amend the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act to ensure that the investment policies, standards, and procedures take into account environmental, social, and governance factors, and do not allow for investments to be held in companies if they have carried out human, labour, or environmental rights violations. Despite its policy on responsible investing, it has been found that the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has exposed our pension dollars to companies engaged in blocking climate policy, blocking climate resolutions, forced or child labour, severe environmental damage and severe human rights violations. Data from the Responsible Mining Index, the Food and Beverage Benchmark Findings, the Public Eye Awards, and Corporate Knights has found our public pension dollars invested in entities with extremely poor track records. A 2018 report, “Pensions in a Changing Climate,” ranked the CPPIB only in 32nd place, which shows that we are only just starting to act on climate risk. Our pension fund has a responsibility to build appropriate responses to climate change as a material investment risk; it cannot do this when it continues to invest in some of the biggest greenhouse gas producers in the world.

Nothing in Bill C-231 would change the mandate of the CPPIB, which is to maximize investment returns without undue risk of loss, and the investment decisions would remain under its control. Critics of my bill fail to realize that the biggest pension plan in the world, the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global, which is valued at over $1 trillion, operates under a similar law, which can exclude companies from investment if there is an unacceptable risk that the company contributes to, or is responsible for, serious or systematic human rights violations. We often don’t realize how lucky we are to live in a place like Canada where we enjoy the rule of law and have strong institutions and accountability measures to hold corporations to account. People around the world should have the right to live in a healthy and ecologically based environment. They should have the right to be fairly compensated and respected for the work that they do. They should have the right to life, liberty and security of the person, free from slavery and torture.

Providing affordable individual counselling and personal development workshops for adults.

COWICHAN FAMILY LIFE

Suite 28, 127 Ingram Street, Duncan BC V9L 1N8 Phone: (250) 748-8281 Visit our website and our Facebook page! www.cowichanfamilylife.org We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

We can no longer remain silent on these issues and it is time to demand that our CPP funds do the same. If you want to know more about the bill and how you can help, please contact my office. Alistair MacGregor is the Member of Parliament for Cowichan-MalahatLangford and the NDP’s Critic for Agriculture and Agri-food, Rural Economic Development, and deputy Justice.

Alistair MacGregor, Member of Parliament 126 Ingram Street #101, Downtown Duncan 1 866-609-9998 35

armland Women’s Support Services Society is a Sexual Assault Advocacy Centre in the Cowichan Valley serving adult survivors of all gender identities. We support youth by consulting and creating a coordinated response with local youth serving agencies and/or school counselors. We are dedicated to restoring survivors’ self-worth by providing services grounded in feminist theory and cultural competence addressing gender-based violence and its impact on women, youth and families in the Cowichan Valley. Cultivating dignity for survivors by honouring survivors’ resistance to oppression and abuse is our response-based approach to client-centered counseling in the Cowichan Valley. Our sexual assault services include Crime Victim Assistance Program counseling, trauma recovery groups, and traumainformed mindfulness programs emphasizing bodycentered awareness.

Warmland Women’s Support Services Our Sexual Assault Response Program (SARP) includes specialized 24/7 crisis accompaniment to Cowichan District Hospital for survivors seeking forensic medical care during the immediate aftermath of sexualized trauma. Sexual assault is physical violence that is sexualized. It is about power and control, not sexual attraction. Survivors are not responsible for anticipating, causing or stopping the violence. Sexual assault is any assault that violates the survivor’s sexual integrity. In addition to accompaniment, SARP offers advocacy and response planning. We’ll

stand with you at the centre of your decision making and help you understand your rights as a victim of crime. We respect your choices. We can inform you of your options if you choose to report. We can tell you about available services, and we can go with you if you want us to. Thanks to generous funding from Island Health, this summer we will be offering Transformation Through Movement – a series of Body-centered trauma recovery classes for selfidentified women survivors of sexualized violence combining mindfulness practices with dynamic movement. Regardless of

age or ability, self-paced conscious movement is exhilarating and liberating. A workout for body and soul using Indigenous and world music, catalytic conscious movement takes survivors from depression to expression, contraction to expansion, fragmentation to wholeness. Mindfulness reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia moving survivors beyond self-imposed limitations and isolation into new depths of connection with Self and others. Registration is free. All materials are included. Contact kthomas@ warmlandwomen.org 250710-8177 or visit www. warmlandwomen.org FB/ warmlandwomen Most importantly, we are settler allies acknowledging with deep humility and a clear lens on Canada’s colonial history that our work is carried out on the unceded Quw’utsun Hwulmuhw territories. www.warmlandwomen.org

Submitted by Kendra Thomas

TEN OLD BOOKS

Always something for everyone

Great Selection of Used & New Books • Bestsellers & Award Winners • Classic Novels & Timeless Favourites • BC & Canadian Authors Plus Local Cards • Crafts • Children’s Books • Jewelry • Unique Gift Ideas and More!

Hop on in for eggsellent Easter cards, Rogers’ chocolates, home decor & more! 36

102-330 Duncan St 250 -715-1383 Find us inside the historic Duncan Garage

Submitted by Kathie Tenold

pring is in the air and some of us are looking forward to planting gardens and tending our outdoor plants. One of the most popular books at Ten Old Books over the past year or so is Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Kimmerer is an American Indigenous Botanist who has written an unusual and richly rewarding book blending botany, Native American mythology, natural history, and philosophy. She wonderfully intertwines science with marvelous tales of the indigenous people. You can read the book just for these tales. You can read the book to learn scientific detail

This is really why I made my daughters learn to garden — so they would always have a mother to love them, long after I am gone.”

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer of flora and fauna. Or you can read the book to appreciate an Indigenous view of our relationship to nature. Many people give lots of love and attention to growing things in their gardens and in their homes. Did you ever think that you are getting back more than the enjoyment of the beauty of flowers

and the nourishment of the produce? “Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.”

“Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.” Robin Wall Kimmerer Happy Spring! Ten Old Books 102-330 Duncan Strett Downtown Duncan 250 715-1383

n 2019, a group of women put their heads together to find ways to address gaps in health care services in Quw’utsun (Cowichan) for self-identified women and girls. We incorporated a new non-profit that we call the Cowichan Women’s Health Collective (CWHC). At CWHC, we understand that a woman’s health is impacted by the social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, psychological, and physical determinants unique to her experience. Therefore, services and programs to meet a woman’s needs must be holistic in nature. We believe in the importance of empowering women to take control of meeting their health needs with dignity and respect. At the heart of women’s health and well-being are caring, supportive connections and relationships

Cowichan Women’s Health Collective that promote a sense of belonging. Women’s health needs are complex, and it is important that comprehensive resources be engaged in addressing the needs unique to each person. Our aim is to build a supportive, womencentred service that helps create a sense of belonging in our community. We know we cannot accomplish this alone, and will work interdependently with service providers in Cowichan to offer health care services for women in a way that women need them. Our vision is to establish a women’s health clinic to provide a space to access low-barrier holistic, trauma informed, and culturally safe health services for all

WILLOWANDORCHID.COM

Weekly and monthly floral subscriptions • Weddings & Events • Customized Gift Crates • Floral Design Classes and Workshops • Sympathy Arrangements • Online, Telephone and Email Ordering • Delivery 101 Station Street Downtown Duncan 250-748-9868 willowandorchid@gmail.com 38

women and gender-diverse people and their families. Alongside the clinic, we want to establish a women’s resource centre that will be a space to access other services in the region, creating safety and belonging for women in this community through knowledge sharing and health education. By colocating with a successful midwifery practice in the City of Duncan, the clinic and resource centre will get as far “upstream” as possible in the lives of the most vulnerable people in our communities. CWHC is very proud to be undertaking a communitybased research project entitled Gendered Health Care in Cowichan: Systems Change Required. The goal of this project is to substantiate the knowledge that women’s health care needs in Cowichan are underserved. We are working with a strong advisory committee, comprised of representatives from different agencies already serving women in the region. We are humbled to be doing this important work, and in the practice of holding ourselves accountable to our community, we invite any feedback you may have about the work that we do. To learn more about CWHC, please check out our website at www. cowichanwomenshealth.org, or follow us on Facebook.

The Cowichan region of BC, along with other nearby regions on Vancouver Island, is facing urgent public health issues related to poverty, extreme disparities in income, and lack of services. Many people living in the Cowichan region do not have access to primary health care, instead relying on walk in clinics and the emergency room. There are limited gender specific health care services in the region, including health services specifically designed for people who identify as LGBTQ2IA+. Together, this means that a significant part of the regional population receives its health care from the hospital’s emergency department or from walk-in clinics, with significant risks regarding continuity of care, especially in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cowichan Women’s Health Collective In light of International Women’s Day, let’s discuss a gendered health topic that affects infants and new parents everywhere: breast feeding! Also known as chest feeding, or nursing.

Nursing your baby provides an extra boost of oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.”

I remember becoming a mother and feeling excited yet anxious to shout, “Why don’t you go eat your lunch under a bed sheet!” if anyone dared to give me a hard time for feeding my baby in public. I quickly learned this attitude was contagious. Support, education, and encouragement are what a breast/chest feeding parent needs most – especially during the extra isolating experience of parenting during a pandemic. However, nursing is not always easy. It can be hard if you try, don’t try, try and then quit, or if you just choose to formula feed from day one. Any one of these choices can come with feelings of guilt, shame, and fear.

It can be harder still if you are also battling a mood disorder, such as postpartum depression, or if you have had a previously challenging experience with feeding an infant. Honoring your mental health is important. Everyone should know that fed babies are best, that they thrive and so do their parents. While nursing is recommended for health benefits, the pressure to breast/chest feed should not cost you your own health and wellbeing. Ultimately, only you know the decision that will best support the wellbeing of you and your infant. The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLC) help support families who have bravely chosen to breast/chest feed, starting with early education in pregnancy, postpartum, and along any bump on the nursing road. They are the highest qualified lactation experts in the field. There are so many reasons to nurse your baby. It provides an extra boost of oxytocin, or the “love hormone.” With proper lactation support, this hormone can help support with postpartum mental health challenges. Mothers and new parents can also benefit from healthy weight loss, and decreased risks of type two diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer, as well as metabolic syndrome disorder. Babies benefit too, of course, getting the building blocks for a healthy immune system: a healthy digestive system lined with antibodies, healthy gut bacteria, and by being the central player in the oxytocin “love bubble.” They are also at decreased risk of ear infections, SIDS, respiratory infections that require hospitalization, intestinal infections, and get so many emotional and developmental needs met. Currently, one of the biggest problems facing breast/chest feeding families today is the lack of support due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By working together in creative Candice Wray, RN, ways, women and other chest feeding parents can get the help they IBCLC (she/her) need to feel empowered. Reach out today if you need support – sore nipples can be a thing of the past! Two Moons Lactation Consulting

The Cowichan Women’s Health Collective acknowledges our settler relationship to the unceded territory of the Hul’q’umi’num’ speaking peoples upon which we live.

Breast feeding and chest feeding concerns include and are not limited to: • Trouble latching • Painful latching • Poor weight gain • Tongue ties • Feeding multiple and/or premature babies • Torticollis • Clogged ducts and mastitis • Sore nipples from thrush or vasospasms • Blebs • Nursing strikes • Supply concerns • Fast let downs • Newborn reflex • Food sensitivities • Challenges with pumping • Feeding after previous breast or chest surgeries If you are experiencing any of these challenges, please reach out to Candice at Two Moons Lactation Consulting. In addition to being an RN and IBCLC certified, Candice is also a mother to two wonderful kids. She can help! Candice offers a variety of services that include home visits and in-person appointments at the Matraea Centre. Her services make a thoughtful baby shower gift for those in need of support. Candice will also be offering her “Breastfeeding 101” classes again post-pandemic. To make an appointment today, email twomoonslactation@ gmail.com or find her on Facebook.

PRACTITIONER & SERVICES AT MATRAEA CENTRE: Denise D’Fantis, Registered Acupuncturist, Hayley Sinai Youth & Family Counsellor and Intuitive Reader, Registered Midwives Kate Koyote and Elizabeth Morrison, Amanda Slydell Tax Preparation, Two Moons Lactation with Candice Wray, Naturopathic Physicians Dr Attema ND & Dr. Waddy, ND, Amber Burwash and Erin Sheen, The Place to Mortgage, Cowichan Valley MLA Ofﬁce.

www.matraea.com I 170 Craig Street, Downtown Duncan I 1-844 Matraea 39

Support Nourish Cowichan Fundraiser

Fatima. “Nourish is currently supplying meals and snacks to 13 schools, 3 daycares and the Maternity Clinic at Cowichan District Hospital, but this is not enough. There is more to be done.”

SPRING BREAK FUN!

WHOLESOME PIZZA & SNACKS SMOOTHIES & MORE! DINE IN OR TAKE HOME

Kid Friendly Treats!

he Cowichan Valley Riding Association (CVRA), in partnership with Nourish Cowichan, would like to invite you to attend our upcoming event, “Nourish Cowichan Fundraiser.” The evening will feature a panel discussion with the following women: Sonia Furstenau, MLA, B.C. Green Party Leader; Fatima da Silva, Executive Director and Chef of Nourish Cowichan; and, Corrine Thompson, Co-chair woman of Starfish Cowichan Valley. The objective of this event is to empower conversations around local food security by supporting Nourish Cowichan in their efforts to feed food insecure families in the Valley. The event will feature a panel of highly accomplished and experienced women, who have demonstrated positive influence in different aspects of food security. The speakers will share their work and relationship to food security, address why immediate action is required and answer questions from the audience. “During a time of fear, stress and uncertainty it’s important to have healthy choices made available to our children, says

“Food insecurity affects one in six Canadian children under the age 18,” says Sonia Furstenau, B.C. Green Leader. “We need to be striving for a future where food poverty is no longer an issue. Nourish Cowichan is an excellent example of a community in action working towards making that happen.” Email cwv@bcgreens.ca to submit your food security questions to the panelists. Learn more about the Green Party’s food security platform at www.bcgreens.ca/food_ security. Friday March 12th, 6pm Please register for the Zoom video conferencing event. Event is free, however donations to Nourish Cowichan are encouraged. Visit www.nourishcowichan. ca to donate. For more information about the event, please visit the Facebook Event Page.

Birth and Community What does it take to build a community? How do we construct a vibrant, effervescent collection of humans? And how do we do it all within the new paradigm of covid? Building community starts with growing people inside of other people. If you have no people then you have no community. If we want to nourish those that grow life and those that raise little futures then how do we enable access to strong foundations? We can start with food. With community belonging. With gathering together safely. And we achieve this by supporting the people that are able to think beyond the circumstances we’ve been placed in, the people that shift their thinking from a place of scarcity and turn their thinking and our community into a place of abundance. Healthiest Babies and the Early Years program at Hiiye’yu Lelum provide community outreach programs for pregnant and new parents. They provide nutrition info, food security, one-to-one support and nurturing self-care practices to Indigenous and nonIndigenous families. All are welcome. Another great organization is the reFresh program, they’re like a fair and open communicating Robin Hood that recovers food from big stores and ensures that it gets to the people that need it and want to eat it! I called Laura Sjolie, the program coordinator at Healthiest Babies offering to volunteer with their program,

hoping to intertwine my love of food and midwifery. Simultaneously Nathan Harben the project supervisor at reFresh was also receptive to the idea and adaptable to contributing food to the project. Every community needs fairy godparents and Laura and Nathan are both incredible mover and shakers that have brought abundance to new families in times of isolation. Given the popularity of ‘Cooking with Joanne’, the monthly virtual cooking class with Joanne Charlie that focuses on nutritious entrees and desserts, Laura hatched a second virtual cooking show in December called ‘Meal Prep Power Hour’ (MPPH) with a focus on preparing foundational items that can be used throughout the week in breakfasts, lunches and snacks. Families not only come together virtually, but are cooking in their own kitchens providing a sensory experience and an online family oriented community. Cooking with Joanne and MPPH are true silver-linings, as this format would be next to impossible to have pulled off in ‘normal times’ given how much kitchen space would be needed to host the participants. Thank you to Laura and Nathan and everyone of the people within each of your organizations and communities that support you

Help Fight Child Hunger in our Community WWW.NOURISHCOWICHAN.CA I 250 597-7760

to do the amazing work that brings us together and raises healthy children and healthy futures.

Lydia is a midwife, storyteller, grower and maker of food and community.

To learn more about either organization go to: cowichangreencommunity.org www.hofduncan. orghealthiest-babies-possible

She Works Hard For the Money International Women’s Day has traditionally been a time for women to connect over music, food, literature, and the arts. This is the 5th year of the Cowichan Valley International Women’s Day Festival. Given the pandemic, it will not be the big bouncy 31-day event calendar of past years, but it will be celebrated. This year’s theme is Gratitude & Respect. As we planned last year’s awards ceremony for local elected women leaders, we were also discussing who would be our honorees this year. The Donna Summers disco classic She Works Hard for the Money was mentioned. Our next selection was inspired by this anthem to the women who serve. We decided that our next honourees would be these often overlooked women, whose professional contributions mirrored the hidden labour of traditional roles. Ironically or inevitably, the pandemic quickly revealed what we should always have known. That the servers, clerks, cashiers, nurses, and childcare workers whose work is often unpaid, disregarded, and unsung were essential to our lives, and worthy of our praise and high regard. We honour these women this year, and all of the essential workers, female and male who have held us safe, kept us fed, kept us healthy, made masks, pumped gas, and have provided what comfort has been possible through all that has happened. 42

We have asked local poets Délani Valin and Carla Stein to write a poem in tribute to these workers. Their poems will thank and recognize those whose ordinary daily heroism has been elevated by the dangerous conditions that the pandemic thrust them into. The poems will be performed on International Women’s Day by live cast to our Facebook page, and will be published on posters placed around town Other events will take place online, including a book club reading series and a celebration of overlooked women in film, particularly women of colour. We will end the festival on Equinox, which this spring falls on Saturday, March 20, celebrating equal day and night with a distanced swim at Cherry Point Beach. As always, event details will be found on our facebook page /CowichanValleyIWD and our website: CowichanValleyIWD.com

Gayle Hurmuses www.agoodmind.ca

CELEBRATING BEAUTIFUL WOMEN EVERY DAY

VIVA MEDICAL AESTHETICS

LISE BROWN COSMETICS

Viva Medical Aesthetics is a locally owned business that offers the most advanced and effective skin rejuvenation treatments. The clinic director, Dr. Lyn Pascoe, is a well-known and trusted physician who has practiced in the Cowichan Valley for 35 years. We offer a full range of services from Botox and fillers to medical-grade skincare treatments. We use advanced lasers, chemical peels, hydra facials, and effective high-grade medical cosmeceutical products to achieve excellent results. We believe in customized treatment plans that suit your specific needs. The first step at Viva Medical is a complimentary consultation with Dr. Pascoe to assess your skin and concerns. She will outline a treatment plan for you to consider. The conditions that we treat include rosacea, acne, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, and aging skin. With over 20 years of experience in Botox and filler use, you are in good hands with Dr. Pascoe. Our staff are local, highly experienced, and have a wealth of knowledge using lasers, peels, and medical-grade products. Treat yourself to a treatment or soon! The options for skin care and rejuvenation have improved dramatically over the last 20 years. We would love to help you. You deserve it! 177 4 Street, Downtown Duncan 250 746-6512 www.vivamedicalaesthetics.com

“We know that taking good care of your skin is a vital part of overall health and wellness. Our specialty is creating products that care for your skin. Our beautiful skin care lines and cosmetics are made right here in Duncan and are surprisingly affordable. At Lise Brown, we make natural products that are made from flower and plant extracts, naturally derived oils and butters and skin loving botanicals that nourish our body and are great for keeping skin soft and supple. Taking it one step further, we include innovative science based actives to increase efficacy and add a luxurious texture and feel to our products. If you’re ready to re-write your skin care script, we’d love to see you at our Lise Brown store on Station Street where we can help make it make sense. We understand that sometimes seeing is believing and for our new clients, we have a limited supply of try it out first samples.” 139 Station St, Downtown Duncan 250 597-0404 www.lisebrowncosmetics.com

BRENDA LAINE DESIGNS “I strive to create the most flattering fit for women of all ages.” Brenda Laine The Brenda Laine Collection is made with luxurious organic fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, linen, bamboo, viscose and merino wool and features easy-to-wear pieces in cuts that flatter every woman. Sizes S to XXXL. Manufactured in Canada. Her collection of classically styled pieces are handcrafted in Canada with attention to fine fit and detail. Her fashions are available locally at Prudence in downtown Duncan and from her website www.brendalainedesigns.com. Prudence is a natural fashion and beauty boutique located in downtown Duncan. Since its beginnings, Prudence has grown to become a store that provides natural fashions, accessories, skincare and cosmetics to women of all ages. The store has a characteristic market feel, and the majority of its products are fair-trade, or either Canadian or North American made. Orders placed Friday or Saturday are processed the following Monday. Brenda Laine Designs available at www.brendalainedesigns.com and at Prudence Natural Fashion & Beauty 155 Craig Street, Downtown Duncan www.prudencenaturalbeauty.ca 43

CELEBRATING BEAUTIFUL WOMEN EVERY DAY

Soul Escape Organic Spa & Boutique

LUXE Leave Feeling Beatiful

ROBIN ROUND BOTANICAL BLISS

“I opened Soul Escape Esthetics in 2006, and have created a successful business that continues growing as much as my passion for skin care and people. I am very fortunate to have such wonderful clients who appreciate the kind of genuine, loving care I give. I am very proud to have Eminence Certified Organics of Hungary – our shared interest for a safe environment, lead us to become the first green spa in the Cowichan Valley!” Born and raised in a small town in Hungary, from a young age, Soul Escape owner Eva learned her Dad’s secrets to organic gardening and her Mom’s talent for preserving all the goodness the land gave each year. Inspired by this, Eva continued her education in this field with an interest in chemistry and biochemistry. Eva gained skills making, supervising and inspecting the preservation of foods in a commercial laboratory and eventually moved to Canada to complete her education and began her career in the beauty industry as a licensed Nail Technician and Esthetician. With higher education and certifications, Eva has extended her knowledge in Skin Care and Advanced Foot Care. Treatments include Galvanic & High, Hydradermie, Super-H., Microdermabrasion, Hot Stone Therapy and more. Eva has trained with various companies including Guinot, Phytomer, Deserving Time, Cellex-C, Moor Mud, Jane Iredale, La Bella Donna, Gahwol and Eminence Organics.

A little while back (just over a year ago), I had a dream as a female entrepreneur. I wanted to create a space that women could go to, to feel beautiful. A space where they know they are listened to and valued, not just as a client but as a whole person.

Robin Round makes the best herbal moisturizer on the planet - not kidding – Botanical Bliss’ Wild Hip Face Cream. Unlike commercial cream, it is chemical free and won’t make your skin breakout; unlike natural creams, it is silky, smooth and absorbs beautifully. She makes her cream with wild harvested wild rose hips and 5 herbs she grows organically plus pure essential oils.

109-2763 Beverly Street, (Thrifty’s Plaza) Duncan 250 748-2056 www.soulescape.ca 44

To understand that enhancing their own natural beauty can often help them to feel more like themselves, not less. Coming to a salon or a service provider should feel welcoming and comfortable, like visiting an old friend. One where you can come as you are, laugh, relax and take a few moments to just “be” while also being taken care of. At Luxe we know how important it is to get the exact service you need and want. Everything we do is customized to you, from the style of your lashes to your brows. We offer lash extensions, lift and tints. Brow waxing, tinting and lamination and Hydrojelly Masks. We listen, ask questions and make sure that you leave happy and feeling beautiful, inside and out. On our tables you can curl up with a blanket and have that beauty sleep you so deserve, knowing that you’re in the hands of other women that authentically care about you. The space has been created, and your magic is ready. Luxe ~ Leave Feeling Beautiful 4705 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan Whippletree Junction, 250 732-1585 www.luxeinc.ca

Robin knows how the cosmetics industry gouges women and therefore doesn’t make ‘day’ ‘eye’ or ‘night’ cream versions of her product. She believes you don’t need 3 or more moisturizers on your face - you need one that works, anytime, all the time, and hers does. Robin is also a teacher and believes in sharing her herbal wisdom with others. Look for her “Cannabis is Medicine” online class coming in the Spring! You are welcome to tour her garden in June. Robin can usually be found at the Duncan Market, but like all non-food vendors, she is currently banned. Undaunted, she is hosting her own “Bliss Market” every Saturday outside her home at 6119 Lakeview Drive, just off Sherman Rd off Canada Ave in Duncan from 10am– 2pm. “Women supporting women is how we get through tough times,” says Robin with gratitude. www.botanicalbliss.ca 250-710-1276, Facebook: botanicalbliss

Dhaka. There, another team of women is ready to cut, sew and bring the Kantha robes to life. This intricate process may take up to 2 full days of work which is why each woman takes great pride in their completed robes. Finally, the Kantha robes are ready to ship from Bangladesh to local Salt Spring Island. Just in this process, Mondo

Mondo Trading Company Supports Female Artisans in Developing Countries By Liam O’Brien and Maria Thomaz

n her several trips around the world as an owner of a travel company, Carolyn Hopkinson has created a habit: getting to know local communities and buying beautiful handcrafted items from local artisans. When Carolyn decided it was time to move on from travel, she had no doubt that it would be for a business that supported these artisans. So, Mondo Trading Company was created. The business sources and develops products that are unique and handcrafted from artisans in developing countries around the world. There are products from over 30 countries. Its mission is to improve the lives of makers by supporting their craft and providing a fair and sustainable income. Mondo’s Social impact can be seen in the production of the Kantha Robes. Production begins in the rural villages of Bangladesh where a team of local women will source the marketplaces for wellworn saris to be hand-stitched into Kantha fabric. Mondo then chooses the saris for development of the robes. The finished kantha fabrics are then all bundled up to begin the day long journey by river and road to the capital

Women working at home handstitching the Saris making them into Kantha Cloth in the region of Faridpur in Bangladesh.

supports two groups of women in different regions of Bangladesh. Some of them use traditional techniques in kantha stitching growing in their abilities, others receive training in new techniques to help them expand their skills. All of them work in a safe environment and receive a fair sustainable wage. Carolyn explains that all these women are provided with meaningful work who otherwise would often face intense disrespect, violence, other social stigmas, and would have little or no income. “These Kantha Robes are a testament to our camaraderie and our commitment to support each other as producers, partners, and women”, concludes Carolyn.

4705 TRANS CANADA HWY WHIPPLETREE JUNCTION

LASH EXTENSIONS I LIFTS BROW LOVE I WAX I TINTS LAMINATION I PERMANENT MAKE UP I LASH REMOVAL

WEDDING PACKAGES I MASKS FACIALS I SPECIALTY PRODUCTS

The Kantha Robes are now available in a variety of sizes and lengths.

www.mondotradingcompany.com Upper left image; Alexandria King modelling a Kantha Robe worn as a Jacket and a Bolga Basket in hand.

250 732-1985 WWW.LUXEINC.CA 45

Spiritual Upliftment and Connection

Join us bi-weekly to share prayers and writings from the Baha’i and other Faiths that uplift and unite. This month’s dates: Spiritual Upliftment and Connection March 10 & 24 We three Baha’i friends meet on Zoom and would welcome your company. Call us for details and link: Lee Masters (250) 748-4060 Tim and Laurice Mock (250) 748-2585

Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. Baháʼu’lláh 46

Spring Blessings

rom the sweet-scented streams of Thine eternity give me to drink, O my God, and of the fruits of the tree of Thy being enable me to taste, O my Hope! From the crystal springs of Thy love suffer me to quaff, O my Glory, and beneath the shadow of Thine everlasting providence let me abide, O my Light! Within the meadows of Thy nearness, before Thy presence, make me able to roam, O my Beloved, and at the right hand of the throne of Thy mercy, seat me, O my Desire! From the fragrant breezes of Thy joy let a breath pass over me, O my Goal, and into the heights of the paradise of Thy reality let me gain admission, O my Adored One! To the melodies of the dove of Thy oneness suffer me to hearken, O Resplendent One, and through the spirit of Thy power and Thy might quicken me, O my Provider! In the spirit of Thy love keep me steadfast, O my Succorer, and in the path of Thy good

pleasure set firm my steps, O my Maker! Within the garden of Thine immortality, before Thy countenance, let me abide for ever, O Thou Who art merciful unto me, and upon the seat of Thy glory stablish me, O Thou Who art my Possessor! To the heaven of Thy loving-kindness lift me up, O my Quickener, and unto the Daystar of Thy guidance lead me, O Thou my Attractor! Before the revelations of Thine invisible spirit summon me to be present, O Thou Who art my Origin and my Highest Wish, and unto the essence of the fragrance of Thy beauty, which Thou wilt manifest, cause me to return, O Thou Who art my God! Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou art, verily, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the All-Highest. Bahá’u’lláh

Image 1

Image 3

Image 2

A Passionate Painter “The frightening thing is not dying. The frightening thing is not living” T-Bone Burnett

his is one of my favourite quotes. To fully embrace the people and activities that are most important to us is to be rich and fulfilled. This column is a call out to those whose art is important to them. Particularly to painters. Even more particularly to those interested in representational or realistic art. I would love to invite you on a journey of discovery where together we will consider principles of painting that were hard won by past masters. Once learned and exercised these principles can be modified and stretched into your own personal art language. Interested? Starting with basics I will serve up artistic principles and methods each month. If you choose to explore these processes in your own work there will be opportunity for you to contact me and we can critique and collaborate . The goal is for mutual improvement in our art. OBSERVATION You are surrounded by a banquet of colours, textures and values varying in temperature and intensity. How will you begin to select what to include, how to organize and what to reject.

Look around you right where you are now. Pick a scene or subject. Is it overly complicated? Okay now, SQUINT down. You are blessed with eyelashes, perhaps not Amy Winehouse lashes but your own version. As you slowly close your eyelids you will see the multitude of values (darks and lights) begin to simplify down to maybe three values. See how much easier it is to begin your drawing . Squinting down is a great way to simplify colours as well. My first image is of a forest interior on Gabriola Island. As you squint down you will be able to make decisions more easily. In the second image I have simplified my design by creating a three value plan. I will base my painting on this plan.

paintings and despair. My first challenge: select your subject, make a value plan by squinting down. Start with pencil sketches. Do lots of them. Then mix and lay in the correct values in your painting.

Send images of your painting for critique if you wish. Have fun and paint with passion! www.billhibberd.com

Questions? Contact me at billhibberdart@gmail.com

Bill Hibberd is an award winning, full time oil painter working out of his studio in Duncan. 250-748-2838

win an original oil painting www.billhibberd.com

In the third image you can see my basic 3 value design is still holding things together. I have created some elements for my own reasons but basic plan is intact. Let us consider the importance of values to a realistic painter. A very old quote says “ Values do the work and colours get the credit”. If you can grasp an understanding of values and hold on to them throughout your painting process your finished painting will be strong and convincing. It is very easy to be enticed by all those lovely colours in your palette and to lose your value plan. Don’t be seduced. That way only leads to flat boring 47

Woodland Plants: Harbingers of Spring Monica Dockerty, Dockerty Gardens horticulturist and Dinter Nursery employee.

Perennials GARDEN COLOUR THAT KEEPS COMING BACK! We carry 100’s of varieties that bloom in every season. Helleborus Astilbe Echinacea Brunnera Rudbeckia Iris of all sorts Hemerocallis (Daylily) Hardy Geranium Plus some unusual collector varieties. Veronicastrum Sanguisorba Eupatorium ‘Spotty Dotty’ Asarum Dierama Open every day. Look for our Spring ﬂyer in the Citizen paper on March 18

www.dinternursery.ca

250 748 2023

5km South of Duncan on Hwy 1

s someone who is completely in love with plants and gardening, Spring is an incredibly joyful time of year. Spring can be enjoyed in all gardens, but in my opinion woodland gardens showcase spring flowering blossoms best. Technically, woodland gardens constitute anything with tree cover, but a tree canopy dominated by conifers (trees with needles, not leaves) creates deep shade and dry soils that are hospitable to ferns, Salal and exceptionally durable shrubs and perennials. Unfortunately, this shade and dry soil is inhospitable to many of gardeners favourite woodland plants. To best enjoy the early spring colour of woodland perennials, deciduous tree and shrub cover is best. Before these shrubs and trees leaf out in the spring many bulbs and early flowering perennials take advantage of increased light levels combined with warmer temperatures to attract pollinators. Erythroniums (fawn lillies), Trilliums and wood anemones (Anemone nemerosa), and many other spring blooming bulbs all grow well underneath the canopies of deciduous shrubs and trees of Japanese Maples, dogwood trees, and deciduous Azaleas. Other spring blooming perennials that thrive in this dappled shade are Digitalis (foxglove), Primula, and Dicentra (bleeding heart). For a woodland garden to have year-round interest evergreen foliage is a must, and though dense shade is not an ideal growing condition for a floriferous garden, there are many evergreen shrubs that make an excellent addition to

woodland gardens. Rhododendrons and Japanese Azaleas are quintessential Pacific Northwest shrubs that thrive in the dappled shade and leaf litter underneath deciduous tree canopy, while also offering exceptional Spring flowering. Once the orchestra of spring has faded, foliage-centric plants can become the Summer showstoppers. Hostas, ferns, and Hakonechloa (Japanese forest grass) are all high-impact foliage plants that no shade garden should be without. Late in summer, perennials can bring back colour to the woodland garden. Thalictrum (meadow rue), Tricrytis (toad lily), Anemone hupehensis (Japanese Anemone), and Fall-flowering Asters (such as Aster frikartii x Monch and Eurybia divaricata) are excellent late-season additions to the dappled shade garden, just to name a few. Now, I have just tried to convince you that woodland gardens best showcase the harbingers of Spring, but Fall is debatably the peak in a woodland garden. Shrubs and trees like Japanese Maple, deciduous Azalea, Enkianthus, oakleaf hydrangea, Ginkgo biloba, Fothergilla, Viburnum and Euonymus alatus (Burning Bush) burst into brilliant shades of yellows, oranges, and reds. Creating a woodland garden is relatively

simple. Three to four trees or large shrubs can provide all the shade that is required for plants to thrive. Many woodland garden plants prefer acidic soil, so regular mulching with compost, leaf mold or decomposed woodchips/bark mulch is recommended. Also, medium moisture soil or irrigation is ideal. Most importantly though, all woodland gardens benefit from a keen gardener with a passion for making a beautiful space and creating a healthy habitat for wildlife.

Do-It-Yourself Micro-Irrigation

David enjoys irrigating, growing food and living at the end of the road in beautiful Glenora!

intended to offer a Do-itYourself workshop this Spring, alas this is not an option. Below is a brief description of planning and parts required to assist in exploring your installation. Parts available locally at Andrew Sheret and in Victoria at Westech Irrigation. Planning - To aid planning and design, sketch your yard to scale on graph paper indicating areas of flower and vegetable beds, lawns, hedges, shrubs and trees. Include patio, sidewalks etc, that will act as barriers to your piping. A completed plan allows you to figure out each zone based on water source. Water Source - To determine the hose bib flow rate, run water at full force into a measured bucket and time how long it takes to fill.

For example, if a 5-gallon bucket takes 30 seconds, the flow is 10 gallons per minute (gpm), or 600 gallons per hour (gph). Assume maximum usable flow is 75% of the flow rate - in this example 7.5 gpm or 450 gph. Now onto the materials requirements. Digital Water Timer - Programmable battery operated controller, they range from 5 to 8 gpm. The most common installation is to attach a brass hose Y splitter to faucet and attach the timer to one branch. Each zone requires its own timer. Brass hose-thread vacuum breaker (mandatory) - to prevent back-siphonage into your household or community water system. Screws onto outflow of timer, must be above high point of irrigation system. Filter - Filtration is a must with micro-irrigation, minimum 150 micron filter is recommended.

Pressure Regulator Micro-irrigation is designed to operate at low pressure, usually 20 psi is best. Emitter line - 1/2” or 1/4” poly pipe with high tech emitters inserted inside the line at 6 or 12 inch spacing. Emitters are self-flushing, pressure compensating and deliver water at a rate of either a 1/2 or 1 gal/hr. Other supplies - You will also need standard poly water line to get water to the zones & various fittings and clamps to connect everything together.

Plant water requirements & schedules - Landscape/ lawns - 1”/week (2 days x 2 x 15 min watering). Fruit trees and berries - 1”/week unless fruiting, then 2”/week (2 days x 4 x 15 min water), Rhubarb is an exception requiring 4”/week. Vegetables - 2 x 5 min every day (sun up & sun down) add one or two minutes/cycle in heat of summer. Vegetables prosper when soil is kept moist, for veggie beds use 1/4” emitter line with 6” spacing and install lines 10” apart. If do-it-yourself is not an option, we are happy to provide an estimate and professional installation! www.warmlandirrigation.com

Making a Grand Entrance David Coulson is a local certified Built Green design builder. He has a staff of 25 that have built throughout the Island for over 20 years.

always feel a clear statement must be made to every home to indicate the entry, the threshold, the welcoming front door of every family living within. And it’s such a wonderful opportunity to style this threshold after its occupants in that it reflects their personality so they can also take pride of ownership and feel relaxed and welcomed each and every time they come home. First impressions they say? It should feel solid, safe, private, personal and welcoming all at the same time. And it always feels best if there is a little twist or turn or meandering but ascending pathway that leads to it. Timbered arches, stone pillars, arbours and planters and organic pathways all add up to create this entry image. Many new clients over the years have hired us to define the entry more clearly. It seems many builders in the past were happy to paste any number of front stoops, service doors and toss in a couple or three garage doors all spread along the face of the home like a collection of options only to find your dearest friends or guests knocking on the laundry door

when they come visit. Or the 70’s rancher with the open carport out front and sidewalks leading in several directions as if housing a nest of families with a very important car that must be front and center. With cars becoming smaller (and trucks too big to fit!) these misleading auto boxes are best removed or closed in to eliminate at least two potential front door misconceptions. Taking the auto box out the rear or off to the side with the doors facing away from the street has improved everyone’s chances now to discover where to drop the Amazon parcel. Those poor drivers, getting a pittance just to drop it off and where to go with it? So when you find the delivery out in the middle of the drive or on the sidewalk you can appreciate the driver’s frustration with your façade. Some great elements for defining this important home statement begin at the road, the curb or sidewalk depending on how rural or urban you are located. Think about where you are and start by complimenting the adjacent treatments like using large flagstones if entering from a gravel drive. Here I like to emulate the Japanese who are masters in patterned stone work and refer to this casual pattern as ‘Gyo-style’ or for simpler less casual paths, ‘So-style’.

LEGACY FLOORING INSTALLATION

•Professional installation of hardwood, laminate, and vinyl ﬂooring. They lead one to the entry and should you be able to acquire a solid stepping stone or ‘Kutsunugi-ishi’ stone for that last grand step up to your deck or entry landing, it really provides a majestic look. This stone is where the Japanese set their shoes aside before entering so here in the valley you might set your Mucks or Helly Hansens (or Blundstones). I am a big fan of benches at the front door as well. A nice heavy bench that stands alone or incorporated into the timber or stone columns supporting the entry roof structure.

We’ve a whale of a good

• • • •

The bench serves so many purposes. A place to put on or take off your Mucks comfortably, drop an Amazon parcel or Cowichan Milk delivery, sit and wave or chat across to the neighbours or just rest with a tea or coffee and smell the roses or admire the front yard entry you just created. Be sure to have a light over this space. A hanging chandelier style serves best as too much light on buildings facing outwards these days is polluting the environs.

•From small one room projects, to large post-construction jobs. Contact us for a free in-home estimate

250 304-5311

www.legacyﬂoors.ca

An urban locale might suit a formal cut stone or permeable paver as a pathway. We should try and lessen the use of exposed concrete and or asphalt until they can bring better planet friendly ingredients to the fore. There are some coming but not readily available on reputation! the Island.

Pool installs & liner replacements Hot tub service, including bio-film flushes Equipment repair/replacement & supplies Inspections & consultations Contact Mike, owner & certified technician

CALL: 250-466-4050 I TEXT: 778-837-0138 orcaspaservice@gmail.com

www.orcapoolandspa.com

A formal pathway could lead to a less casual entry but here, with the onset of Covid-19, we can expand the entry into a larger visitation setting that says front door but also provides a safe distanced way to gather with neighbours and family in your extended bubble. This virus and its variants may be with us a while yet so the investment might be well advised and the new

enhanced gathering space will hopefully continue developing the bonds we have so painstakingly developed of late. Be sure to add a tap for washing hands.

nyone who draws their water from a private well can attest to the importance of having an efficient, properly functioning well pump to maintain the flow of safe, clean water running into their home. There are many considerations when selecting the appropriate well pump including what type of well you have and its capacity, what depth you are pulling the water from and what GPM (gallons per minute) are required for the size of the home and overall water usage. Calculating these factors is a complex matter. Choosing the wrong size pump can be a costly mistake at worst and a major inconvenience at the very least. There are a variety of well pump choices available and each are suited for different

and shallow well jet pump and use an impeller motor to create suction through a pipe that extends down into the well, and the water passes through a narrow opening, or jet.

a deep-well jet pump and deeper yet? A submersible pump may be the solution!

• Centrifugal pumps these pumps use a rotating impeller to move water by using centrifugal force. They don’t use much power and the simplicity of its construction make them very easy to maintain.

• Jet pumps - jet pumps are housed above the well and out of the water. They come in two versions, the deep well

• Submersible pumps - Submersible pumps are designed to be used as underwater units so they are

Well Water Pumps CHOOSING THE RIGHT PUMP FOR THE JOB situations. For example, if you have a relatively shallow well of less than 25 feet a shallow-well jet pump or centrifugal pump would be well suited however if you have a deeper well of up to 110 feet you may look to

located down within the well itself. Submersible pumps push water out, rather than pull it up. On-demand pumps, booster pumps and turbine pumps are additional options that may be sensible choices depending on the application. When a replacement pump might be required. Hard-working, heavy duty pumps will typically last anywhere from 10- 25 years when properly maintained but they won’t last forever. A sign that it is time to replace your pump may actually appear as a pressure tank problem at first. If you start to experience water pressure fluctuations in your home and/or begin to hear strange noises coming from your tank you will want to have your system & pump inspected. Some other signs to watch for: • No water flow • Higher than normal utility bills • Sputtering water • Cloudy or muddy water • A constantly running pump

A little maintenance goes a long way. Scheduling regular maintenance on your pump system will help to keep those more expensive repairs and replacements at bay. Taking the simple preventive measure of having your system checked every 1-3 years can mean the difference between a small, easily corrected problem and a large, costly one. Hire a specialist. Qualified professional water well system contractors use specialised equipment and materials and have the experience and knowledge to keep your system operational and your water supply safe. In British Columbia installing a well pump is considered a restricted activity which means you will need to hire a registered, certified installer to do this job for you to ensure the work is done safely and in compliance with all regulations. “Water is the driving force of all nature.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Submitted by Kat Gordon

“ Sol-Centre & The Freya-Sophia Waldorf Store ~ A Community Farm Store Initiative ”

REGULAR HOURS: Open 11—3 daily closed Sundays

• • • • • • • • • •

All things natural and beautiful for you and your children Beautiful and inspiring books for all ages & levels of interest Wonderful organic merino/silk clothing from age 0 - adult Wooden toys, puzzles, games, silks, felted toys, dolls Lovely cards, calendars and prints Birthday rings, candles, craft kits, beeswax, wool Art supplies for painting & drawing; musical instruments Great selection of felting, knitting and handwork supplies Resources for Parents, Teachers, Carers and Homeschoolers Waldorf inspired books and resources; Uriel Home Remedies

Newly merchandised, expanded selection. Our magical store has something for everyone. We are happy to take orders by phone or by email. Call us at 250-597-4763, send us a facebook message, or email fsws@communityfarmstore.ca.

Located in the SOL CENTRE 3, 5380 Hwy. 1 ~ Duncan Adjacent to Community Farm Store 54

Telephone 250 - 597- 4763

“ Sol-Centre & The Freya-Sophia Waldorf Store ~ A Community Farm Store Initiative ”

Beautiful Selection of Seasonal Stories, Cards, Calendars, Toys, Games, Crafts, Clothing and so much more to fill your home and hearth with warmth, wonder and wisdom—something for all ages!

All sorts of fun gifts and craft supplies for Easter including dyes and kitskas for traditional Ukrainian Egg decorating.

Here at the Freya-Sophia Waldorf Store (FSWS) we, the staff and management, are inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner and committed to meeting the soul needs of our children and our community by providing books, toys, supplies, resources, classes, workshops, instruction, support and conversation to all those who visit our store. We are here to help and to support. 55

Jump Into Music Program “What you do is incredible, what you bring is exceptional. When we get home after class, it comes alive in my boy.” Shule Besher mother of Issa, 2 years old, Duncan

y name is Orith (O’wreath), some call me Lady O for simplicity. My love of people, little people in particular, and the universal language of music lead me to create a service that combines all three. Jump into Music is a music and movement program that engages, educates and entertains both parent and child (6mo -4yrs) on a musical journey around the world. It stimulates the whole being (mind, body, spirit) through a variety of well thought out activities. Our classes cultivate musical literacy and creative expression. A great place for families and communities to bond. What is unique about the program is that every 3 weeks we explore different musical styles and cultures. We are now just wrapping up a session featuring Chinese New Year, the music of Spain and Jazz. The week of March 31st we’ll be starting a new term showcasing the music of Japan, Gospel/Soul, and Pop. In total we have 24 lesson plans that rotate. Each lesson plan is thoroughly researched and provides a rich sensory

experience of contemporary and traditional material. We are fortunate to be able to operate during covid, we have a solid safety plan in effect since July 2020. We are pleased that we have found a way to get together and keep safe. The class sizes are smaller, sanitizing has been taken to new levels, adults wear masks and the spacing of our circle has widened. It is well known that the benefits of being in a musical environment elevates mood, soothes the nervous system and brings us into the present moment. When we add movement to the mix, mental focus and proper breathing are enhanced. Since little people think with their bodies movement is key. Humans are meant to be musical and be moved by it, I believe it makes us well. Children understand this intuitively. It’s fun! Just for the joy of it, join us this coming spring for 9 weeks of good clean fun! If you have questions please contact me. To register please contact the community centre directly and book your spot. Classes are 50 min long, siblings are welcome at a 25% discount. Orith Horwitz BA in Music Multi Instrumentalist, Singer Songwriter, Educator 778-835-4541 orith@jumpintomusic.ca www.jumpintomusic.ca Image of class taken pre Covid 19. Covid Safety plan in effect at all classes.

Call to book a tour now!

NOORUNISSA MONTESSORI ACADEMY 2375 Koksilah Road, Duncan inayat@intmontessori.com 250-737-1119

PREPARATION FOR LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL BC Curriculum is followed along with Montessori Curriculum. After school enrichment program available. Classrooms are equipped with advanced Montessori materials. An open, warm environment with nurturing, international staff. Children learn at their own pace, with their interests, passions and input. Individualized and group learning. French is a part of our curriculum. SUMMER SCHOOL and FALL registration open

Sister school of International Montessori Academy 57

Christina Hamill RCST® is a holistic practitioner living happily in the Cowichan Valley with her family.

t is a pleasure to be acknowledging Birth Psychology Month and to expand on insights which ask that we recognize and consider more than solely the emotional and physical experience a mother goes through when she is pregnant, but to also become interested in the complex gestational experience a baby goes through.

Thanks to the medical field of pre and perinatal psychology, which integrates research from epigenetics, the polyvagal theory, and attachment theory, there is a much better understanding of a baby’s journey from preconception to 18 months and into the formative 4 years of early childhood, all of which contribute to consciously creating a healthy foundation for human life. There have been many efforts and advancements in supporting pregnant mothers to make informed decisions regarding achieving optimal health during their pregnancy and regarding the physical health of their prenate developing and growing a body while in utero. What appears to be somewhat of a new consideration to expectant parents and maternity practitioners, however, is to reflect more deeply on the emotional experience the in-utero baby is having. For instance, how was this baby welcomed when conception was first discovered by the parents, extended family and close community? Is the baby being acknowledged through simple, yet consciously repetitive daily prenatal bonding practices, such as being spoken to, sung

Providing the Cowichan Valley with Raw Cold Press 100% Organic Juices & Nut Mylks NEW Bone Broths with Medicinal Mushrooms! Available EVERY DAY at The Community Farm Store or WEEKLY online at cow-op.ca. Direct orders can be placed to hello@euphoricjuicery.com 58

Baby Being to, and read to? When a practice of inclusivity is adopted by the parents, they develop their own intuition to consider how their unborn baby may be feeling whenever there are maternity appointments, decisions being made and why. It then becomes more and more normal to preview the prenate whenever there may be a medical exam or intervention. When there is a collaboration between parents and maternity practitioners to adopt this inclusive approach, the emotional wellbeing of the prenate becomes part of all the conversations and decision making. Canadian doctor Thomas Verny encountered these first thoughts back in 1975 and after more research, published a book in 1981 called “The Secret Life of the Unborn Child”. It was a catalyst in the pioneering of the medical field of pre and perinatal psychology. Soon after, Dr. Verny founded what is now called, the Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH) and he organized its first congress in Toronto in 1983. After 8 years as the elected president of APPPAH, his colleague David Chamberlain PhD, a California psychologist who studied and researched birth memory, was next elected. Another significant medical

proponent relating to this field is Jaap van der Wal, MD, PhD, an embryologist who acknowledges not only the physical, but also the emotional experiences of life in-utero. Interestingly, biodynamic craniosacral therapy’s principles also play an important role in upholding pre and perinatal health for it is rooted in embryology and takes a special interest in the human physical and emotional embryonic experience. For example, the rhythmic movement that exists in every part of the human body and its memory of gestational patterns while developing and growing. BCST also pays close attention to the human blueprint of health that is well preserved by prenatal bonding and early secure attachment. When working with maternity clients, the support expectant mothers ask for is diverse. In my practice health priorities range from requesting support with establishing a deeper connection with their in-utero baby, with alleviating varied physical discomforts, as well as preparing for childbirth and breastfeeding. New families are fortunate that so much insightful support exists for the dyad relationship between mother and baby and for the triad relationship between the parents and baby.

Rainbow Trout since 1988. Accessible dock, picnic tables and accessible fishing platform. 5. Check out a local museum! Shawnigan Lake Museum, Cowichan Valley Museum, Hand of Man in Maple Bay, Cowichan Wooden Boat Society and many more.

MARCH BREAK FUN FOR EVERYONE 1. Adventure out and find a new passion with the family. Birding can be fun and educational for everyone. Birding can be enjoyed any time of year in an urban or rural setting. We have over 150 different types of birds here on Vancouver Island. Grab your binoculars or borrow some and see how many you can identify. Cowichan Bay Estuary and Somenos Marsh will lend itself to many water birds and song birds. Pick up a copy of Cowichan Estuary Bird Viewing Map or a copy of Common Birds of Vancouver Island at our Visitor Centre. 2. Biking for the whole family. Chemainus lends itself to fun easy biking along the old rail bed and especially for some for the younger ones. Park near Mt. Breton Golf course and you can easily identify the bike trail. Finish the day off with a Tour of Chemainus Murals. 3. CVRD Recreation Centres are planning on being open so plan a skate date. Go on line and see their schedule for skating. You will have to pre register www.recowichan.ca 4. Fishing for fun! Mayo Lake Park near Skutz Falls is a popular fishing spot for children under 16 and seniors. The Lake itself has been stocked with

6. The Raptors gets you close to these amazing birds of prey. Book your tour on-line and you will not be disappointed. Search www.pnwraptors.com for more info. 7. Ladysmith has launched a Storybook Walk at Brown Drive Park. The story book walk is a story mounted onto story board signs along a trail or walkway. Each story board will include interactive questions relative to the story and give readers an opportunity to partake in fun and physical literacy activities. Books will change weekly with the first one being The Gruffalo. Visit www.lrca.ca or email tanya@lrca.caLadysmith

REIKI WELLNESS 250-743-8122 Debbie Shkuratoﬀ Reiki Master-Teacher-All Levels Usui-Karuna-Komyo-Seichim

10. We also have lots of information on longer hikes and trails for the adventurous families who want to venture out more. Please stop by or call 250.746.4636 Patty Abbott Visitor Centre Coordinator

250-812-9813 Sara Tillie Registered Acupuncturist Traditional Chinese Medicine

Reiki Therapy & Classes - Detox Foot Spas Acupuncture - Amethyst Mat - YL Essential Oils Daytime • Evening •Weekend • By Appointment Only #13- Upper Level • Valleyview Centre • Cobble Hill www.reikiwellness.ca • reiki-wellness@shaw.ca

ACUPUNCTURE MASSAGE THERAPY HERBAL MEDICINE

Online Booking & Direct Billing www.pestleandpins.com DR. KEVIN IANSON, Dr.TCM (R.Ac)

AMANDA KNAPP, R.TCM.P (R.AC) CHELSEA RANEY, R.TCM.P (R.AC) EVAN MONCRIEFF, RMT DR. BREWSTER SCOTT, ND, R.TCM.P

4705 Trans Canada Hwy I 250-889-9066 I Whippletree Junction

Valleyview

Centre

8 .Ladysmith Golf Course is a fun place for the entire family. This 9-hole par 3 golf course takes about an hour to play. Dawn to Dusk golf available year-round. 380 Davis Road Ladysmith 250.245.7313 9. There are so many great day use parks in our area. Many have picnic shelters, washrooms, and great children’s play structures. Most are suitable for bikes and strollers with trails surrounding the parks. For example, Bright Angel Park and Glenora Trail Head Park.

SARA TILLIE ACUPUNCTURE

So much to oﬀer!

1400 Cowichan Bay Rd Wellness Reiki Wellness 250 743-8122 Reiki, Foot Detox, Infrared, Acupuncture, Reﬂexology

Healthcare

Food Country Grocer 250 743-5639 Bakery, Meat, Seafood, Produce, Deli & Floral, Supplements

We Welcome New Patients!

Cure Artisan Meat & Cheese 250 929-2873 Charcuterie, Cheese House Made Pates

Island Pharmacy 250 743-1448 Open 7 Days a week for all your pharmacy needs.

Valley Health and Fitness 250-743-0511 Full service gym/classes

Cobble Hill Dental 250-743-6698 Friendly, Family Practice

Fitness

Release trapped emotions Resolve sleep problems Manage stress and pain Achieve self-confidence

Spring Beekeeping

250-597-3686

First appointment free!

David Yaeger

Emotion Code Body Code and Quantum Touch davidyaeger650@gmail.com

https://discoverhealing.com/practitioner-map/ (ﬁnd me in Duncan)

JOIN US

WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY look for our daily specials on 40 Ingram Street

www.theoldﬁrehouse.ca

Downtown Duncan

(250) 597-3473

ow that the days are warming up your bees will become more active. They will begin to go out on foraging flights and in doing so they will consume more food. In March there is very little for them to forage so they are still relying on what they stored in the winter. It is important to check their food reserves to make sure that they have enough. If they are low you should feed them a one to one sugar syrup solution. Last month the queen began laying eggs. As the weather warms she will lay larger numbers of eggs as she needs to replace the ageing workers. The usual life of a summer worker bee is six weeks and the winter workers about five months. To stimulate the queen to lay more eggs some beekeepers will feed a one to one sugar syrup solution to their bees in the spring. This way the colonies numbers are larger when the flowers bloom and the bees are out foraging. As the weather warms and the bee population grows

so do the mite populations. In March beekeepers should begin monitoring the mite population in their hives. This should be done by using a shaker with either icing sugar or alcohol. If you see three or more mites you will need to treat your hive. Starting in the middle of March the hive will need to be monitored for swarming. Spring is the time when bees swarm to expand their colonies to replace the hives that were lost over winter. This is also a good time for beekeepers to split their hives to increase their number of colonies and to reduce swarming. John Magdanz President of the Cowichan Beekeepers www.cowichanbeekeepers.ca

LUCKY DOG Sleeping dogs…

Debbie Wood is a certified Small Animal Naturopath and can be reached at 250-597-7DOG.

dult dogs sleep about twelve to sixteen hours a day. Half of this is while you’re sleeping at night and the balance is caught during the day with all those naps. Puppies and geriatric dogs take on even more sleep; up to twenty hours a day. The canine sleep cycle goes from from non-REM (rapid eye movement) stage to REM stage in a short amount of time. During non-REM sleep the dog’s heart slows and blood pressure falls. Your dog can easily wake from this stage. After about ten minutes of this light sleep, she will

enter the REM stage and be in a deeper sleep. This is when we observe “rabbit chasing” movements. She may twitch or gently run in her sleep. Soft barking may occur as she relives her day. Let her sleep and dream. This is an important part of her sleep cycle and only uses up 10% of the time she sleeps. This seemingly small amount of “deep sleep” is part of why dogs need more sleep than we do and also explains how they can wake from sleep and are instantly ready to party. They spend more time “on guard” while still getting some rest. Humans have the same type of sleep cycle, but spend 25% of our sleep time in REM. We cycle through these stages four or five times during the night. Our dogs go through the sleep cycle twenty or more times a night. We all know how a lack of sleep effects our moods and eventually our health. The same is true for your dog. Having her own private space to sleep undisturbed is essential. Although a lot of us like to sleep with our dogs on our beds, it could be disturbing for both of you. We all know the feeling of waking up clinging to the edge of the bed while our

three-pound dog has taken over the space. Our own tossing and turning could also be keeping your dog from getting a proper sleep. Not all dogs are happy to be woken up and I was taught as a child to leave sleeping dogs alone. Some dogs will bite the hand that wakes it. It isn’t personal and the dog normally isn’t a biter, but children need to respect a dog’s space and not set the dog up for failure. (Or the child to get bit!) A content dog will sleep on her side with her legs extended. Some very relaxed dogs will sleep on their backs, legs splayed. If a dog is feeling chilly

or nervous, she will curl up. This position is the easiest to spring up from. Some dogs with nasty pasts can’t sleep in any other position but curled up. They just don’t relax. Older dogs may take to sleeping only on one side because of aching body parts. This behaviour can be detected by calloused elbows and ankles on only one side. Super old dogs may need to be turned occasionally to avoid getting bedsores. Do your best to let your dog get the sleep she needs and know that all those day time naps are not laziness, they are part of her natural need for more sleep.

LUCKY DOG Celebrating 8 Years!!!

Thank you to all our clients! The Mill Bay/Malahat Historical Society of our online history trivia quiz called,

‘I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT’ Visit our website to play!

Don’t worry if you don’t get the correct answers remember the quiz is called, ‘I Never Would Have Guessed That’. Have Fun.

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

We have professional grooming!

Challenges You To Have Fun With Episodes I-IV

www.millbaymalahathistory.com

U Bath or WE Bath

ALL BREEDS + SIZES

250 597-7DOG

Book online!

www.luckydogubath.ca 1059 CANADA AVE DUNCAN

Just north of Pots & Paraphanelia

250-929-8381 tracey@ cleanchoicecleaners.com

We’re in this together!

Clean Choice hopes that everyone is keeping healthy and safe. During these ever-changing times, we have been busy monitoring recommendations issued by Health Canada and have updated our products, equipment and services accordingly. In order to provide the most safe and effective cleaning, new policies have been put in place that include 10-Point Disinfection with every clean, PPE for staff, equipment saintized after every clean, committed to keeping staff home if they show any signs of illness. Call to find out more about our all-surface, wholeroom disinfection service for home or office. Totally green, health Canada registered disinfectant. www.cIeanchoicecIeaners.com

Island Hellerwork & Somatic Counselling ALIGN - CONNECT - EMBODY

Heal Trauma Increase Vitality Improve Posture & Alignment Freedom From Chronic Pain & Injury Improve Movement & Flexibility Heal Anxiety & Depression Better Sports Performance

islandhellerwork.com I 250-661-1687

Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique

uantum Healing Hypnosis Technique was developed and fine-tuned by Dolores Cannon who began her research of Sacred knowledge and reincarnation nearly 50 years ago. This hypnosis technique allows people from any background, culture, religion or belief system to access a part of themselves that holds all the answers. Some people call this the Higher Self, the Over Soul, the Super Conscious. With QHHT, you are able to have a much clearer understanding of why things are the way they are — and to ultimately create change within yourself. This gentle method of hypnosis involves inducing an individual into the Somnambulistic state (Theta Brain wave State) of trance through visualization. A state which under ordinary circumstances is experienced only twice daily: the moment just before you become consciously awake and the moment just before you fall asleep. In this state we find infinitely knowledgeable and powerful aspect of each individual that can be contacted and communicated with. This part of ourselves, as Dolores had learned, is always present with us and exists just below the surface

of our conscious mind. Your Higher Conciseness/ Higher Self/Subconscious gives access to past lives and performs instantaneous healings when appropriate. The Subconscious has the ability to identify any physical problem it detects within the body to the Practitioner and explain the causes for its presence, be it from the current life or a past life. The Subconscious is then asked if it is suitable for healing to occur, which, if it is, is done instantaneously with no medication, surgery or pain involved. Ultimately what makes QHHT unique is the client is allowed to access their own healing power while the practitioner facilitates the safe journey, asking the deep questions and bringing answers to the client. Because when we understand the root causes of our ailments, be it physical or emotional, we have the capacity to heal ourselves. Very often, simply understanding why a disease is present or why a particular emotion is being experienced is sufficient for it to be relieved and removed by the Subconscious. In this state, the person’s higher self or subconscious has the ability to heal their own physical body. This is truly a remarkable process to witness, as the client attains their own power to heal themselves. There are no limitations, only the limitations of the mind and nothing is beyond the realm of possibility.

Alena Oslopova, Level 2 QHHT Practitioner + Emotion Code. Cobble Hill info@ heartswisdom.ca

Supplements That Multi-Task

pring is welcome every year, and 2021 is no exception. The days are lengthening. We are closer to the promise of warm sunny days, flowers buzzing with bees....we can’t wait! We might be tempted to think we can cast aside our vitamin pills and simply bask in the balmy rays, but... not so fast. Our bodies still need help to remain at their healthiest. The immune system, the heart, still needs our support. Luckily there are supplements available that are adept at multitasking. Take zinc, for example, It is what is known as an essential nutrient, which means our bodies need it but cannot produce it, so it must be added through diet and supplementation. Zinc helps with keeping the immune system strong, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, thyroid function, reproductive health, wound healing, normal growth, sense of taste and smell, and healthy vision. Antioxidants protect your cells against free radicals, which are produced during the breaking down of food, or when the body is exposed to toxic substances like pollution or cigarette smoke. They are a major part of what ages us - think of rust on an old metal object. Antioxidants help slow the “rusting”. They can protect against heart disease, cancer, and premature aging. They also boost the immune system. Quercetin in particular is a powerful antioxidant, with the additional benefit of being able to help relieve allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and itchiness or hives on the skin. This is a very valuable supplement indeed for many

of us when the pollen starts to fly. Vitamin C is often thought of as something to be taken to prevent getting cold and flu, and this is one of its functions, but it does much more as well. It does reduce the risk of chronic disease such as heart disease. It has the ability to relax blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure. It can reduce uric acid levels - uric acid is a waste product found in blood as a result of eating foods containing purine. Too much of this can cause the painful condition known as gout. Increased sunshine will help us get more of the vitamin D we need, but for those of us living in more Northern areas, supplementation is still a good idea. Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with an increased risk of Type 1 Diabetes, muscle and bone pain, and various kinds of cancer, breast, colon, and prostate among them. Vitamin D is considered to be the most potent inhibitor of cancer cell growth, as well as an immune enhancer in general. It regulates calcium and phosphorus levels in the body, which is crucial for healthy bones and teeth. With hardworking options like these, you will get a lot of mileage out of just a few purchases. Make sure you are purchasing clean, good quality items, from brands such as CanPrev, at your local health food store. Then go out and enjoy your Spring, with a spring in your step.

Submitted by Gina Cone

Your neighbourhood place to discover Health and Wellness. Building a Stronger, Healthier Community

250-748-4421 4-180 Central Rd, Duncan - Village Green Mall www.lynnsvitamingallery.ca

Escape with our tropical Eminence Mangosteen Bliss Facial and Back Treatment! 1 hour 30 minutes $98

Monday-Friday 9-5pm Saturday, Sunday and Holidays – Closed 109-2673 Beverly St., Duncan (Thrifty’s Plaza) 250 748-2056 I www.soulescape.ca 65

to the whole of Manhattan filled with Eiffel Towers, and “exceeding the combined weight of all the commercial airliners ever made.”

The E-Waste Reboot Marti Smith is a writer and musician happily living in the Cowichan Valley with her family.

Our modern desire to upgrade electronic devices means unused mobile phones end up in junk drawers or the landfill along with other broken electronics creating a calamity of e-waste. “Ideally, we’d stop changing our smartphones faster than we change our underpants,” wrote Biance Norrady for the BBC. According to her research, two million smartphone users replace their devices approximately every 11 months. But mobile phones are just one part of the electronic waste pollution problem. E-waste is anything with a plug, electric cord or battery. From toasters and electric toothbrushes, lap tops and mobile phones and hearing aids to digital pianos and electric guitars. A recent United Nations report compares the volume of e-waste being thrown away each year

It is illegal in Canada to export e-waste to developing nations. Treaties such such as the Basel Convention, are meant to regulate and control the movement of hazardous waste, however “there is a complex web of trans-shipment ports so that e-waste avoids detection by authorities” the UN report highlights. In Seelampur, a suburb of North Eastern Deli an article in The Hindu revealed a hub of electronic waste markets where 50, 000 workers including children break circuit boards with their hands and submerge them in hazardous chemicals often without protective gear. The heavy metals in e-waste are known to cause damage to the central nervous system, effect brain development in children, and cause genetic defects and cancer in the workers who handle them. The reason there are thriving e-markets is that many of our devices are full of precious metals like gold and silver. The Electronic Producers Recycling Association is an organization which helps to ensure our recycled electronics are handled safely in Canada, and that precious resources are reclaimed for manufacturing. According to their website, if we recycle 1 million tablets we can recover about 34 kg of gold, 350 kg of silver and 15875 kg of copper,

all valuable reusable materials which can be put back into the manufacturing stream. And if we recycle these precious materials, it reduces environmental destruction of mining new raw materials. Recycling the aluminum from old electronics, for instance uses less energy than mining new aluminum. What Consumers Can Do In many cases, our older electronic devices can be repaired, donated to family members, resold or used to trade up. Devices that are damaged and hopelessly broken should be reclaimed properly for their reusable materials. Through their program, the EPRA says that yearly they are able to keep 100,000 tonnes of electronics out of landfills, roughly equivalent to 20,000 elephants. Not sure how that compares to Eiffel Towers and the weight of all the commercial airliners ever made, but it’s a start. Consumers can bring their electronics (anything with a plug or a battery) to an EPRA authorized collection site, such as Island Return It. The EPRA website has a map that consumers and business owners can use to locate their nearest EPRA collection site. London Drugs also recycles old electronics (batteries, televisions, hair dryers, to name a few) that consumers originally purchased at their stores. How the Electronic Recycling Process Works After you take your smartphone to the recycling depot, it ends up at specialized recycling companies such as Green Tech in Vancouver or Toronto’s Quantum Life Cycle where they securely and safely break down old electronics into reusable components. To give a quick snapshot, different components are separated into homogenous groups either manually or mechanically with things like giant shredders, magnets and conveyor belts. Certain materials may then be refined, like copper, plastic and gold though a metallurgical or a heating

MINIMIZING YOUR E-WASTE Manufacturing electronic devices and the use of rare materials that go into their production represent a huge source of embodied energy. Minimizing e-waste helps to conserve resources and reduces the amount of energy we take from the earth. • Re-evaluate. Do you really need that extra gadget? Try finding one device with multiple functions. • Buy environmentally friendly electronics. Look for products labeled Energy Star or certified by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). • Donate used electronics to social program. Programs such as the BC Technology for Learning Society accepts used computers were youths interested in the tech industry are trained to refurbish them. Refurbished computers are then donated to schools, libraries, non-profits and indigenous groups. • Recycle all electronics and batteries with ERPA Authorized Recyclers. processes. Some components are turned into new products. Recovered plastics might become vineyard stakes or fence posts, for example. And mercury might be turned into someone’s next amalgam filling at the dentist. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic medals were made from the precious metals recovered from electronic waste after Japanese residents donated their old smartphones over a two year period.

Take Your Business Online With The Hub’s Technology The Cowichan Station Area Association (CSAA), is thrilled to invite you to The HUB to experience and use our new audio-visual equipment for all of your business, educational and community group needs. Thanks in part to the generous support the Island Coastal Economic Trust, our state of the art “plug and play” equipment offers live-streaming, video conferencing, Podcasting and recording capability. Once Provincial Health Orders are lifted, we will also offer movie screenings, video gaming and hosting of your events. “Our Santa Claus live streaming event during the holidays, the YouTube workshop on mason bees, the prenatal yoga live streaming and other community associations’ rentals… all these different events speak to the diverse range of people working and using the new equipment.” Say HUB Executive Director Lynne Rozenboom “The pandemic hasn’t changed our mission, but it

has certainly allowed us to do a better job at supporting individuals and groups at a time when we all need it most.” The HUB provides safe, easily accessible, and affordable options for business meetings; work shops; performances; fitness, movement, music and art instructors; community and online fundraising activities (currently as permitted by current Ministry of Health orders). Contact us today to book your next meeting, workshop, class or virtual event. FMI contact rentals@ cowichanhub.ca, call us at 250-746-1794, or visit us at cowichanhub.ca or on Facebook.

Donna Shaw is a WFH mom, who helps clients bring nature into their homes.

Georgia Nicols M.A. Georgia’s book, You and Your Future is a best seller with international printings in 3 languages. georgianicols.com

Aries (March 21-April 19) Your personal year is ending even though your new year has yet to arrive. This gives you the perfect window for self-scrutiny. What do you want to achieve in your personal year ahead (birthday to birthday)? Define some goals for the coming year. Goals make future decisionmaking easier, and they give you focus. What are your hopes for the future? How can you make these hopes your goals? Do not just react to life as it happens. Grab life! Steer your course. Taurus (April 20-May 20) You are popular this month! Not only will you enjoy interacting with others (in person as well as in your dreams), you will want to set some goals. Examine how far you have gotten in realizing the goals that you set for yourself so far. Don’t ignore these goals because if you do, in about a month, they might create challenges. This month is an excellent time to line your ducks up in a row. Work with others. Don’t go it alone. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Looking swell! This month the Sun is at the top of your chart, which is the only time all year this occurs. Symbolically, it means you are in a flattering spotlight and people admire you. They see you as competent and capable even if you don’t do anything special. This is why others will seek your advice or ask you to accept increased responsibilities. Many will be more involved with a parent. Now is the time to examine your life as a whole to see if you’re headed in the direction you want.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) This month life hums along nicely. Your energy is strong, which is why it’s a good time to broaden your horizons by studying or exploring new experiences. (You want to travel; however, most cannot do this.) Nevertheless, you can learn from people from other cultures. Meanwhile, your physical passions are aroused! You might encounter sexual partners from your past. These encounters might be in person, online or in your dreams. However it happens, these “encounters” will be stimulating and memorable! Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Because Mercury retrograde and Venus are both opposite your sign, you’re hearing from ex-partners or thinking about them or perhaps dreaming about them. Actually, this is an intense, passionate time, which is why you have strong feelings about every aspect of your life. With Mars at the top of your chart, your ambition is aroused. The combination of all these different planetary aspects is creating a powerful time for you to achieve something important. You can do it. “Use the Force, Luke.”

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Welcome a fun-filled month! Not only will you enjoy fun times with children and romantic flirtations with others, you will also be more in touch with your muse and will enjoy any chance to express your creative talents. Although you want to take a vacation, you can be creative and figure out how to “vacation” at home or in a safe way. Relatives you have not been in contact with are back in your world. Be patient with partners and close friends because fiery Mars is opposite your sign. (Patience is the antidote to anger.)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) This month, you feel pulled in different directions. One thing is certain: you need more sleep. You also will give more thought to your closest friendships and partnerships – perhaps, wondering about whether a particular relationship is more trouble than its worth? Remember that your friends influence your future because they influence your mind and your mind makes your decisions. This is an excellent month to finish up old business at work or anything related to your health or old business related to a pet.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) A lovely display of planetary energy draws your focus to home, family and your private life, especially a parent. Mercury retrograde, lined up with Jupiter and Venus will promote warm communications and fun conversations with siblings, neighbours and people from your past. This encourages learning, studying, writing and making money through your words. Meanwhile, fiery Mars urges you to work hard. You want to accomplish a lot. In fact, you are so ambitious to be productive, you might be a bit bossy delegating to others.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) This month, you want to turn over a new leaf and pull your act together. This is why

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) The pace of your days is accelerating this month. Your mind is busy and you’re

• Affordable Drop Off Services • Large Capacity Machines • Ask About Pick Up Service

1606 Joan Ave Crofton 250-324-2249 68

you’re working hard to be as efficient and effective as possible. You will carry this high bar into your personal world in terms of health and everything you do – including dealing with pets because you want to make improvements in your environment! Likewise, your romantic life will get a lovely lift, perhaps because old flames are back in your world – or in your dreams. (Anything can happen because your sex drive is aroused.) Woot!

OPEN: 9am to 9pm! 7 Days a Week

be eager to talk to others, plus you will read, write and study more than usual. Some might be forced to take a short trip. This increased busyness could be related to sports or something to do with children or the arts, or possibly the hospitality industry or the entertainment world. Meanwhile, cheques in the mail will be late. (Grrr.) However, take heart! You might resurrect old ideas to earn money – ideas that failed before but might be worth reconsideration. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) This month, you’re more focused on money, earnings and cash flow. Likewise, some will shop or spend money more than usual. But at a deeper level, this focus on finances will also manifest as a profound exploration on your part, into your values. In other words, what really matters in life? If you don’t know what really matters, how will you know how to make wise decisions? Fortunately, with four planets in your sign now, including Mercury retrograde, you will have the means and motivation to do some soulsearching. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Once a year, the Sun is in your sign for four weeks. That time is now, which means this is your chance to recharge your batteries for the rest of the year. With the Sun in your sign, you attract others to you, as well as favourable circumstances. This is good! Meanwhile, secret love affairs and secrets of any kind might be revealed or be more prominent in your mind. Certainly, your ability to research and look for solutions to old problems and answers to old questions is sharpened, which is why you will get results for your quest for truth. www.georgianicols.com

Collectibles Eclectibles Estates & More! Come Snoop Around!

The Community Farm Store Pages — Your Organic Health and Whole Food Market in Duncan — 250-748-6227

With people spending a lot more time at home these days, the most important meal of the day is finally getting the attention it deserves! Break the fast with a healthy dose of protein and fiber to give your body and brain lasting energy. Keep it colourful and delicious with fresh organic fruits, veggies, and herbs, and be sure to visit our Apothecary for all kinds of flavourful and nourishing spices and spice blends! Easter is on its Way

We have everything the Easter Bunny needs, from Baraka Baby Baskets, Denman Island Chocolate Bunnies & YumEarth candies, to Easter feasting ingredients, beeswax candles & springtime table linens. Stock up on your supplies early to avoid disappointment!

Spring Break Snacking Essentials

Visit our Grab & Go Cooler to stock up on yummy snacks for your adventures, including lots of tasty CFS Housemade items! We love to pack a few gourmet sandwiches and a fresh salad paired with locally made Euphoric Juicery juices and Duncan Garage cookies for good measure.

The Community Farm Store Organic Health & Whole Food Market www.communityfarmstore.ca

2-5380 Hwy 1, Duncan BC V9L 6W4 250-748-6227 CFS Hours Monday-Saturday 9-6 Closed Sunday

Soul Hours Monday-Saturday 11-3 Closed Sunday

Follow our Facebook Page for the latest information There is a road, no simple highway. Between the dawn and the dark of night. And if you go no one may follow. That path is for your steps alone. - Robert Hunter

March 2021 Issue 148

Articles inside

Cowichan Women’s Health Collective 3

The Artistry of The Sommelier