March 2023 Issue 172

MARCH 2023 ISSUE 172

Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine, the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society and Books Unbound invite you to submit your story ideas for publication in this space and in the CVCAS.ca Literature collection. Not a writer?

Don’t be shy! We’ll team up to give your story its voice.

YOU: Send us a hundred word outline of your story or story idea along with a brief introduction, and be prepared to work with us getting it ready to share with the world. You might be an established writer, or not. The idea is to bring people together to share the experience of hearing and telling stories.

WE: Come up with ways of making your storytelling a fun, enriching experience and sharing your take on life with readers. Together we will envision, revise and edit your work until it’s ready. We all have a story to tell. More at:

CVCAS.ca/Literature

March 2023 Issue 172

Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine

Publisher Richard Badman

Editor Sheila Badman

Contact us at: editor@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

250 746 9319 6514 Wicks Rd, Duncan BC V9L 5V2 Visit us online at www.cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Distribution Proofreader Calendar

Stephanie Sayers Diana Pink Stephanie Sayers

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

Next Ad Deadline March 15 for April 2023 Issue 173

*Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE!

Next EVENTS DEADLINE March 15 for April 2023 Issue 173

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

Mark Hazell, Grant Easterbrook, Bill Jones, Brad Boisvert, Lucas Goris, Sonia Furstenau, Cristen De Carolis Dallas, Serra Erdem, Tamra Nash, Anyes deLaat, Kendra Thomas, Kathy Code, Dianna Graves, Tom Andrews, Bernie Dinter, Tamara Dinter, Amy Luck-MacGregor, Diana Pink, Gina Malkin, Dr Steve Michaluk, Amelia Breckenridge, David & Ranji, Dawn Howlett, Teddy Kellam, Carolyn Prellwitz, Catherine Simons-Harding, Stephanie Orion, Darlene Tully, Patty Abbott, David Suzuki, Debbie Wood, TJ Watt, Shiloh Badman, The lovely Georgia Nicols, Nicolette Genier, Cindy Jolin, and the Wonderful Staff at the Community Farm Store.

We welcome your story ideas & photo submissions; however Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit all submissions for space, clarity, content and style. The opinions expressed in Valley Voice Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers or other contributors. Please send a query email with your suggested topic prior to sending your article as space is limited and may not always be available.

Valley Voice Magazine is distributed through 450 + select locations throughout the Cowichan Valley- Malahat, Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Cherry Point, Duncan, Cowichan Bay, Crofton, Chemainus and Salt Spring Island and to Cowichan Lake, Ladysmith, Victoria, Tofino and Parksville.

Cover image: Chris Jay Prima Strada’s Margherita with a pesto drizzle. Tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, parmesan and basil pesto, from their wood fired oven. This pizza could easily be made at home - pick up both a frozen Margarita pizza and pesto from the frozen case. Bake pizza, remove from oven and drizzle with pesto!

Mangia! Pizzeria Prima Strada 14-1400 Cowichan Bay Road, Cobble Hill Open Wednesday - Sunday www.pizzeriaprimastrada.com

READY TO REACH LOCALS?

Request our 2023 Rate Card!

info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Text: 250 709-8846

Phone 250 746-9319

1Likeness: Capturing Essence Through Portraiture, Paintings by Lenore Hietkamp, CVAC Annex, 2687 James St. FREE runs to 3/9

2Dine & Sip Cowichan www.dinesipcowichan.ca for details, runs to 3/26

Prime Rib Night – Farm Table Inn, 6755 Cowichan Lake Road, Skutz Falls 250-932-3205 also 9/16/23/30

Open House for Lila Community Choir, Songs for Xpey’ (Cedar). All Voices Welcome, 7-8:30pm, $245/13wks, registration required: www.joythroughmusic.com also 3/9/16/23

Beyond Boating Basics: 6 week course, 7pm Tursdays, info: 250710-2726 or email ndowerjk@ gmail.com

3“Naked Radio” Musical Comedy, Chemainus Theatre Festival, Tix @ chemainustheatre.ca runs to 4/2

In My Head: Youth Arts Show, CVAC Gallery at Cowichan Community Centre 2687 James St. FREE runs to 4/1

The Beatin’ Stick:Thoughts on Restorative Justice from Old Europe, 6-9pm, Our Ecovillage 1565 Baldy Mountain Rd. Register:eventbrite.ca $25 suggested donation

“Happening”, a film on reproductive health (France 2021) 7pm, Duncan United Church FREE

4Masimba Marimba, nourishment, music and soup included, 5:30-8:30pm The Hub @ Cowichan Stn. 2375 Koksilah Rd, Duncan $20 cash only tix 16 and under FREE

Sunrise Waldorf School ECE Open House, 10am-noon RSVP 250 743-7253 sunrisewaldorf.org

Lawson Kelly Live @ Riot Brewing Company, 3055 Oak St, Chemainus coop@riotbrewing.com

Rally for Reproductive Rights w/ music & information fair, 1112:30pm Charles Hoey Park (in front of Duncan Garage). FREE

5Full Moon in Movement & Sound, 5:30-7:30pm, Collective Space 166 Stn St. Duncan, $44, www.adelinewholistichealing.com

The Basket of Stories: stories & basketmaking, 2-5pm, LIla Music Centre Yurt, 3228A Gibbins Rd. register: eventbrite.ca $20-40 sliding scale

7Sense Play for home learners: music, movement & nature connection, families and mixed ages 7-15y, 9:3011:30am, $350/12wks. www. joythroughmusic.com also 3/14/28

St., Duncan, $160 Register: cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca runs to 4/25

8Warmland Book & Film

Collective discussing “The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open” directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Kathleen Hepburn (CBC Gem) 5-7 pm Zoom link: WarmlandBFC@gmail.com

9Healthy Detoxing, with Dayana

10-11am Community Farm Store, 5380 TCH Duncan 250-7486227 $10 sugested donation

10The Art of Dennis Del Torre, CVAC Annex at Cowichan Community Centre 2687 James St. FREE runs to 4/1

Copper Canyon Band Live at Riot Brewing Co. 3055 Oak St, Chemainus coop@riotbrewing.com

11Andy Cooke proudly presented by the Cowichan Folk Guild, 7pm open mike 8pm Andy plays, Duncan United Church, $5/members, $10/nonmembers Tix @ door

Shellfish Cooking Class II, Deerholme Farm 4830 Stelfox Rd. Duncan, For details and reservations: www.deerholme.com

Spirit Guide readings w/Tiffany Mailloux, 11- 4pm @ The Community Farm Store, $40/25min to book: nettlecohealing@gmail. com

Featuring Our Youth Concerto Winners Concert presented by Cow. Consort Orchestra, 7:30pm Chr. Ref Church 930 Trunk Rd. $20 Tix @ door or Vol. One Bookstore

Cobble Hill Seedy Saturday: Microscopic exploration of soil/ compost, 10-2pm, Sampling instructions at www.info@ springhillsoil-lab.ca FREE

Circle Singing: Vocal Improvisation workshop Int - Adv Singers, 1-4pm, $40-$100, registration required: www.joythroughmusic.com

13-16Connection Naturebased Art Therapy Groups for children aged 9-11, 1012pm $360 also March 20-23 www.art-of-being-human.com

15Family Yoga and Crafts, 9:30-10:30am, Sharpe Occupational Therapy Services Inc 1550 Thain Rd. Cobble Hill, RSVP required admin@sharpeot. com FREE

Cowichan Stamp Club Meeting, 7pm, Valley Seniors’ Centre 198 Gov’t St. Duncan, visitors welcome FREE

16“a Feminine Vision” opening @ Cowichan Public Art Gallery, 7pm, 126 Ingram St. www. cowichangallery.ca/maggie, runs to 5/13 FREE

17DakhaBrakha @ The Cowichan Performing Arts Centre, 7:30pm, $52/adults $45/ students Tix: 250-746-CPAC or visit the Ticket Centre www.cowichanpac.ca

18Soul Shakers, High Energy R&B, 8pm, Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Jaon Av. Crofton, $20 Tix @ eventbrite.ca

Shellfish Dinner, Deerholme Farm 4830 Stelfox Rd. Duncan, For details and reservations: www.deerholme.com

19How to Save Your own Vegetable Seeds w/ Carolyn Herriot, 11am, Si’em Lelum Gymnasium 5574 River Rd. Duncan, $2 info@ cowichangreencommunity.org

New Moon Sound Journey, 5:30-7:30pm, Collective Space 166 Stn St. Duncan, $33, www. adelinewholistichealing.com

New Moon intention walk w/ Dianna Graves for women 40+, 1-3pm, Kinsol Trestle Trail register: eventbrite.ca

19Duncan Seedy Sunday: Microscopic exploration of

MARCH EVENTS

soil/compost, 10-2pm, Sampling instructions at www.info@ springhillsoil-lab.ca FREE

20Art Portfolio: Spring Break Camp for 10-14yr, 8:30-3pm, CVAC Studio, 2687 James St. $180, register reccowichan.ca runs to 3/24

21Family Gardening and Games, 1-2pm, Sharpe Occupational Therapy Services Inc. 1550 Thain Rd. Cobble Hill, RSVP required admin@sharpeot. com FREE

25Building Bridges: Through Understanding the Village© Duncan United Church 246 Ingram St. Register: kthomas@ warmlandwomen.org 250-710-8177Lunch Provided

26Kirtan w/ Loves Triangle and Jay Dey: A Celebration of Shiva! 2:30pm Collective Space 166 Stn St. Duncan, by donation lovestriangle108@gmail.com

27‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed’ Hospice Movie, 7pm, Cowichan Performing Arts, 2687 James St 250-746-2722 Tix $17

Artist registration for Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show, $30 register: www.cowichanvalleyartscouncil. ca/call-to-artists/ runs to 4/20

28Spring Art Dabble, intro art workshops, CVAC Studio, 6-8:30pm Cowichan Community Centre 2687 James St. $150 register: cowichanvalleyartscouncil. ca runs to 5/2

30Community Farm Store celebrates 30 years! Customer Appreciation Day Demos, samples, draws, and more. + all shoppers will receive a 30th Anniversary notepad! Community Farm Store, 5380 TCH Duncan

OUT OF TOWN

12 Caregivers Journey Back To Self, 4-7pm, Metchosin, $59, www.JulieGallant.com

11-18RCMSAR.34

Cowichan Online Silent Auction Register to begin bidding. www.hibid.ca

12Kirtan Jam w/ Loves Triangle: share your chant/kirtan/song or just listen, 2:30-4pm Collective Space 166 Stn St. Duncan, by donation lovestriangle108@gmail. com

Backyard Sessions: Nature Connection, Ancestral Skills, Families welcome, 9-12pm, sliding scale registration required: www.joythroughmusic.com

Times They Are A Changing Exhibit, 11-3pm, Heritage Museum 2851 Church Wy Mill Bay, www. heritagemuseummillbay.com by donation, also 3/19/26

Figure Drawing Spring Sessions with a live model CVAC Studio, 2687 James

VALLEY DENTAL

NAKED RADIO OPENS AT THE CHEMAINUS THEATRE FESTIVAL

There is a Zimbabwean musical community which has taught us marimba, mbira (thumb piano), singing, drumming (ngoma) and dance, as well as culture and language. Some of these people have immigrated to Canada and others travel here to teach. We also appreciate the teaching of non-Zimbabweans, like Ted Wright of Bopoma music, who have immersed themselves deeply in African language, culture and music and who have generously shared their passion and knowledge with us.

Masimba Marimba, An Evening of Nourishment Soup and Music included March 4, the Hub in Cowichan Station 2375 Koksilah Rd, Duncan 5:30pm - 8:30pm Tickets $20 16 and under FREE Cash only please. Family friendly.

A powerful snowstorm grips the Island, and everyone hunkers down. Slowly they lose connections to the internet, cell phones and TV. What’s left is the local radio station and two reluctant DJs who fly by the seat of their pants to hold the community together through music, laughter and song, with a host of call-in characters and cheeky jingles. Note: There is no nudity – just hilarity – in this comedy!

Age recommendation:12+

The Playbill Dining Room

Enjoy an enticing and satisfying experience with an amazing selection of culinary delights, a new menu inspired by every show, and live music that sets the mood. This season we are offering an array of dining options to enhance your Theatre Experience. We are pleased to offer service with plated entrees, the ever-so-popular buffet, lunch, and brunch option, each on a select day Show runs March 3 –April 2. https://tickets. chemainustheatrefestival.ca/

COWICHAN FOLK GUILD ANDY COOKE

Cowichan Folk Guild proudly presents Andy Cooke, 7pm at the Duncan United Church. Andy Cooke, a singersongwriter here in the Cowichan Valley who knows how to take you on a musical journey, his heart-felt lyrics and choice of melodies and progressions will keep you attentive and the mind still humming along long after the show. Andy writes in a variety of genres, runs a local songwriting club, and holds songwriting workshops. He has studied under Pat Pattison, Ralph Murphy, Stephen Fearing, Brandon Isaak, and others. His songs have received airplay in Canada and the US. Brother To Brother is one of his songs that has stood out to me over the few years that I have had the opportunity to work with him. Andy will no doubt be one of the many performers at this year’s Islands Folk Festival at Providence Farm July 21st-23rd. March 11

Andy Cooke, 7pm at the Duncan United Church, proudly presented by the Cowichan Folk Guild. $5 for members, $10 non-members.

THE SOUL SHAKERS HIGH ENERGY R & B

The Soul Shakers have entertained Victoria area audiences for more than a decade with their own brand of funky R&B dance music. They combine superb musicianship with five strong vocalists led by lead vocalist Joyce “the voice” Allensen. Their superb harmonies and intriguing take on popular songs set them apart and make for an entertaining evening of music. Their repertoire includes tunes from the ‘60s to current popular songs featuring artists like Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Marvin Gaye, Santana, Etta James, Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Adele and George Michaels to name a few. Not to be missed, this is a polished, professional group of entertainers.

Please call the pub for your table reservation and to let us know how many in your party. Come for dinner. Stay for the show! All tickets at Eventbrite.ca.

March 18th - 8pm, $20 Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Avenue, Crofton, 250-324-2245

www.osbornebaypub.com

Two major shows: Mark your calendars

The highlight of the art show season in the region for more than 50 years, the Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show ( May 5 – June 2) displays outstanding artistic talent in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and other mediums, all produced in the Cowichan Valley and southern Vancouver Island. All the work is for sale and admission for viewers is free.

This month, online registration opens March 27 and runs until April 20. Even though entry to the show is open and not juried, don’t wait until the last minute to register as the show space fills up every year. The show, held in the Gallery, Annex

About Us

and the Studio at CVAC, features new and original work by 140 artists. Once the show is hung, jurors will select outstanding artwork for cash prizes. Popular events such as the opening night reception and the Art Attack contest will return.

ART PORTFOLIO CAMP

for 10-14-year-olds

March 20-24

A spring break art camp for enthusiastic young artists

IN MY HEAD: YOUTH ART SHOW

Cowichan Valley Arts Council Gallery

March 3 - April 1

Every year, CVAC celebrates the artistic talents of young Cowichan Valley artists (ages 13-21). This year we are challenging the artists to create art on the theme of mental health. That could be sharing their dreams, emotions, and wild imaginings in a variety of mediums. The show can be seen online and in person. To enhance the gallery experience, quizzes will be available for visiting families and classes. Every student who visits will be eligible to win a pair of tickets to see spoken word poet Shane Koyczan April 6 at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre.

In the Annex

Running until March 9 is Likeness, a show of portraits by Lenore Kietkamp that captures the essence of animal and human subjects.

Starting March 10, Dennis B. Del Torre will show his unusual assemblages that turn flotsam into artistic statements.

Studio Sessions and Workshops

We offer a range of workshops for the experienced artist and for the newcomer. The popular Figure Drawing sessions begin again March 7 for eight weeks on Tuesday afternoons. There is no instruction, just a good chance to practise sketching a live model. On March 28, we start another series of Art Dabble sessions for people who want to be introduced to several different art mediums. Each session is led by a different instructor and participants don’t have to buy materials.

Register for both these sessions online on the CVAC website.

CVAC operates two community art galleries, hosting up to 30 shows annually at its art space in the Cowichan Community Centre in Duncan. Founded in 1971, CVAC programs workshops for youth and adults in its studio space. 2687 James Street, Duncan www.cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca

MAGGIE HAZELL-ROSEN RETROSPECTIVE

The Cowichan Public Art Gallery Society (CPAG) is pleased to announce the opening of its interim home. CPAG has taken over the lower level of the Green Door Building, located at 126 Ingram Street in downtown Duncan, and will open its doors on March 16th with a retrospective exhibition of the work of Maggie Hazell-Rosen.

Maggie was one of the first women to exhibit abstract expressionist art in both Vancouver and San Francisco. Her earliest exhibitions, to which she primarily contributed portraits, were in Vancouver in the mid1940’s, but in 1953, after spending five years in San Francisco where she studied at both the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the California School of Fine Arts, she contributed several abstract works to the 9th group show at the Vancouver Art Gallery. In the fall of 1954 she moved to Sausalito, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, where she quickly joined its lively arts culture. She was the director of

the 1956 Sausalito Art Festival, greatly expanding its scope and turning it into one of the Bay Area’s most important annual art festivals. For many years she was a regular participant in that festival and in the San Francisco Art Festival. She was also active in the San Francisco Women Artists, serving as secretary and then president.

Maggie’s work is distinctly feminine, with a warm colour palette and often displaying a strong sense of humour. It’s easy to recognize these qualities in the work that has been assembled for this retrospective exhibition, which is a very small sample of her total oeuvre. Most of the earliest works shown are abstract oil paintings on canvas or masonite; owning to her having developed an allergy to turpentine, her work after 1970 expanded to include acrylic paintings, etchings and other prints, and drawings, many of which include some watercolour or coloured pencil elements. She had a firm but relaxed line, which really drew out

SHOP WITH US

the personality of her subjects.

Maggie’s early influences include Clyfford Still, Hassel Smith and David Park, all of whom were at the California School of Fine arts in the late 1940’s. She was also a keen student of Spanish and Italian artists, and in particular of those artist’s drawings.

Maggie was born in Vancouver in 1919, and while she proudly retained her Canadian citizenship, she lived most of her life in the

San Francisco Bay Area, where she died in 2010. Her father was the songwriter Charles Franklin Harrison, her sister the playwriter Poppy McKenzie, and her grandmother the opera singer Marie Harrison, also known as Madame Yulisse.

Mark Hazell is a Board Member of the Cowichan Public Art Gallery

Untitled, print on paper, Maggie Hazell

CHAMBER’S DINE & SIP COWICHAN SHOWCASES LOCAL FOOD AND DRINK AT FABULOUS PRICES!

TheDuncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce the return of the Dine & Sip Cowichan Festival! Now in its 7th year, the 2023 program will again include a variety of fine dining, casual eateries, food trucks, and specialty food stores to dine, while the craft beverage sector, including wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries, will offer wonderful drinks to sip.

There are so many exquisite and unique places to visit in the Cowichan Valley, Dine & Sip is a great chance to enjoy old favourites or try out something new! With over 40 venues to choose from, there’s guaranteed to be something special for tastes of all kinds.

Dine & Sip Cowichan runs from March 2nd through to the 26th. Participating venues will be offering a wide range of creative dishes and craft beverage tastings at fabulous prices!

This year’s participants are listed below. For more information and to view Dine & Sip menus, visit www. dinesipcowichan.ca or call 250-746-4636.

Restaurants and Eateries

South Cowichan Bridgemans Bistro The Cobblestone Pub

The Cook and Butcher

The Eatery at Merridale Cidery & Distillery

The Lakehouse

Restaurant at Shawnigan

The Masthead Restaurant & Pub

The Mill Pizza & Grill

Satellite Bar & Grille at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club

Unsworth Restaurant

Duncan

Aloha Bowls

Brunch on 3rd

Craig Street Brew Pub

CVI Restaurant & Lounge

Duncan Garage & Café

Fresh Kenny’s Casual Eats

Ironworks Café & Creperie

The Italian Kitchen & Deli at Grove Hall Farm

Just Jakes

Kahuna Burger

The Oak Taphouse

The Old Firehouse Wine & Cocktail Bar

The Old Fork

Original Joe’s Restaurant & Bar

River Rock Bar & Grill

Taco Revolution

York St. Diner

Duncan Garage Cafe & Bakery

Genoa Bay Café

Lion Rampant Scottish Pub

The Shipyard Restaurant

Lake Cowichan

The Farm Store at the Farm

Table Inn

Jakes at the Lake

Youbou Bar & Grill

Cowichan North

In The Beantime Café

Owl’s Nest Bakery Bistro

Sawmill Taphouse & Grill

Averill Creek Vineyard

Bayview Brewing Company

Blue Grouse Estate Winery

Cherry Point Estate Wines

Enrico Winery

Merridale Cidery & Distillery

Red Arrow Brewing Company

Riot Brewing

Stillhead Distillery Inc.

Small Block Brewery

Unsworth Vineyards

www.dinesipcowichan.ca

Unsworth Vineyards

HOMESPUN WITH GUEST JIM VAUTOUR

The Homespun Band is a Victoria-based folk fusion band fronted by singer/songwriter Duncan Sutherland. Since its inception in 2019 the band has been performing its own blend of original and covered music that is influenced by folk, bluegrass, blues and swing. There is a strong Canadian flavour to their repertoire.

Homespun Band combines the lead and harmony vocals of sisters Bonnie Dennis and Candy Little with instrumentation from classically trained Winnie Cooper on flute and similarly with Jeffrey Freed on fiddle. The combination gives Homespun a rich and

melodic sound that has resonated with its varied audiences. Percussionist Brad Hawkes and bassist John Cornes - songwriters in their own right - bring decades of performing experience to provide the backbone to the band.

Musical Guest Jim Vautour

Jim was born in New Brunswick, yards from the Bay of Fundy’s 33' tides. His music is saturated with the feeling of water. He wandered to the Yukon fringe in 1975 and like so many, forgot to leave. He is among the most seasoned crop of songwriters in the Yukon. His influences include, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Cedric Smith, John Martyn, … His music is smooth, punctuated, and he has something to say. Home Spun and Jim Vatour March 18, Providence Farm $20 for members, $25 for non members

Jim Vautour

Homespun Band

UKRAINIAN WORLD MUSIC BAND, DAKHABRAKHA, RETURNS TO DUNCAN

Hailing from Kyiv, Ukraine, DakhaBrakha is an international phenomenon and “ethnicchaos” quartet, delivering a mesmerizing performance that blends traditional Ukrainian folk music with energetic world beats and melodies. Accompanied by traditional instrumentation from different countries, the quartet’s astonishingly powerful and uncompromising vocal range creates a trans-national sound rooted in Ukrainian culture.

DakhaBrakha was created in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art by the avant-garde theatre director, Vladyslav Troitskyi. Theatre work has left its mark on the band performances — their shows have never been staged without the scenic effects. Having experimented with Ukrainian folk music, the band has added rhythms

of the surrounding world into their music, thus creating bright, unique and unforgettable image of DakhaBrakha. It will help to open up the potential of Ukrainian melodies and to bring it to the hearts and consciousness of the younger generation in Ukraine and the rest of the world as well.

In 2020, the band reached the final competition in Ukraine’s Shevchenko National Prize in the Musical Arts category and won. In the same year, the group launched a new album “Alambari” – which was recorded in autumn 2019 in Brazil and is the fourth music album.

All proceeds from merchandise sales will go to Ukrainian charities supporting those affected by the war.

Tickets to DakhaBrakha are $52 for adults and $45 for students. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 250-746-CPAC (2722) or by visiting the Ticket Centre. For further show information visit our website at www.cowichanpac.ca.

Back in 2018, might have been 2017, our team tossed out the idea of creating a frozen Prima Strada pizza. It’s been almost 15 years since we opened Prima Strada. We still believe our pizza is best served just a minute or two from our wood burning ovens. How could we translate that to a frozen pizza? Heck, was it even possible?

We skulked around the frozen case in markets and discovered very few Neapolitan frozen pizzas. A good sign for sure! We bought, baked and ate a lot of frozen pizzas. Then, we made pizzas, froze them, ate them. Colleagues selling their goods in markets shared their experiences. Soon, should we even try became how could we make it happen?

We rolled our mobile wood fired oven into our Production Kitchen, finding it a permanent home. Then 2020 happened. We realized it could be a bit of time before we welcomed guests back to our dining rooms. We didn’t want that to mean they couldn’t experience our pizza. The push to bring a frozen pizza to market began in earnest.

Using the same methods and quality ingredients we use in the pizzerias, we launched with fan favourites: Margherita, Pepperoni and Salsiccia. As always, the pepperoni and sausage are

made in house. A few months later, we added the vegetarian Capricciosa Rosa – a savoury combination of artichoke hearts, olives, mushrooms,

red onions and mozzarella. You can find Prima Strada frozen pizzas in the pizzerias, along with our house made gelato, tiramisu, chili oil and

more. You can also pick up our frozen pizzas from Cow-Op (https://cow-op. ca), in Langford at HOB Fine Foods and in Victoria at The Market Garden and Pepper’s Market.

Making a Prima Strada frozen pizza is easy! Heat your oven to 475 degrees and slide your pizza onto a stone or directly onto the oven grate. In a few short minutes, your pizza will be ready to enjoy! If you’re like me, and occasionally get distracted in the kitchen, you might find a thawed frozen pizza cooks faster and maybe even better (that’s what I tell myself)!

Want to customize? A few additions are always welcome – remember, a Neapolitan pizza focuses on the quality of ingredients from the dough to the toppings. You don’t want to overtop! A few slices of salami on your Margherita, that’s A-Ok! Want to make a Rucola e Crudo at home? Simply add sliced prosciutto and a handful or 2 of arugula to the Margherita. Ham to the Capricciosa Rosa? Certo! We’re happy to provide a “foundation” for you to build on, creating your own custom and delicious pizza at home. Buon appetito!

Pizzeria Prima Strada

4-1400 Cowichan Bay Road, Cobble Hill Valley View Centre Upper Level Open Wednesday - Sunday pizzeriaprimastrada.com

LOCAL SPRING BREAK FOOD IDEAS

Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

1 lb. lean ground beef

½ cup finely chopped onion

¼ cup finely diced green bell pepper.

¼ cup finely diced celery

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon of Baklouti Fused Olive Oil

1 6oz can of tomato paste

2 tablespoons of water

2 tablespoons of A-Premium Balsamic Vinegar

1 tablespoon of Neapolitan Herb Balsamic

Vinegar

Salt and Pepper

6 hamburger buns split and toasted.

Method

In a large skillet heat Baklouti Fused Olive Oil, cook beef (add a pinch of salt), onion, celery and bell pepper until meat is brown and vegetables are tender, stirring to break up any meat. Drain off fat.

Stir tomato paste, water, garlic, balsamic vinegars into beef mixture in skillet. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve on rolls.

Courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station

LOCAL SPRING BREAK FOOD IDEAS

It’seasy to see why raising chickens for their eggs is such a valuable part of the Cowichan Valley food system; With some careful tending, these lovely birds provide reliable food for the community. We want to share the stories of two small farms raising chickens for eggs here in the Cowichan Valley: Lockwood Farms, in Cobble Hill, is a commercial organic egg producer licensed by the B.C. Egg Board. This means that their solarpowered facilities meet the highest food safety and animal welfare standards. It also means that the eggs go through several steps before being packaged. The process begins with collecting eggs and loading them on a sorting table. In the “candling” booth, back lit eggs move along a semi-automated conveyor, while the operator inspects them for cracks or abnormalities. Then it’s time for an ‘egg-stra’ special bath, where eggs are brushed and washed with hot water. They are then transferred to cartons and sent on their way. Lockwood hens have a soy- and corn-free diet that includes plenty of insects, so you know the eggs are super nutritious!

Fresh Eggs from Family Farms

Fraserfield Farm is a historic property in south Cobble Hill. The farm was originally established in the early 20th century by a former WWI soldier and cabinet-maker, Mr. Makepeace. He planted apple trees, and farmed strawberries. Although nothing remains of the house he built, there are still flowers

that pop up each spring in the old garden. The property was later tended by the Fraser family. In 2016, the Heugh family bought the land and re-established a small farm operation, retaining the “Fraserfield” name. The Heughs are dedicated to keeping this piece of Cobble Hill history alive. They have a growing flock of free range Hy-line browns and Bovans chickens. Their children help take care of daily feeding, collecting, and packing eggs for their roadside egg vending machine.

You might be surprised to learn that there are twelve Cow-op member farms that sell eggs, with year-round availability! You will find several options, including brown and white eggs, speckled or blue-tinged eggs, pullet eggs (small eggs from young hens) and even duck eggs. These unique offerings all come with their own story!

Visit www.cow-op.ca/blog to read more stories from our local producers. LOOKING

By Tamra Nash Images courtesy Fraserfield Farm

We grow plenty of them!

t.250-710-6135

West Coast Shellfish

We are spoiled here on the West Coast in our bounty of amazing shellfish. Many of the commercial species we raise here were introduced from other parts of the world but they have found a home here in local waters. The ocean waters flowing down the coast from northern climates are rich with nutrients and very cold. This makes the prime areas for shellfish production around the mid-zone of Vancouver Island. Cold waters are necessary for fine flavours and nutrients are necessary for rapid growth and healthy shellfish.

Seafood aquaculture (unlike salmon) is an industry that has largely been deemed sustainable and provides little harmful impact to the local environment. Shellfish need clean, nutrient filled water and not much else. They are, however, subject to the effects of dangers like pollution and red tide. Also called Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (or PSP), red tide is a population explosion of

tiny toxic plankton (usually in the warmer months). When a red tide warning is posted in an area, the harvest of shellfish is banned until the levels of toxin is reduced to a safe level. All commercial shellfish in BC are tested to determine the safety of our products.

Most of our local oysters are variants on the Japanese Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) that has been cultivated in our waters for decades. Oysters are marketed by a variety of names. The name might refer to the growing region (as in Chef Creek), the growing technique (ie. Tray-raised Miyagi) or perhaps the co-op that markets it (ie. Pacifc Kiss Oysters or Fanny Bay). They are available live in shells or shucked in containers.

Local clams were a special food source for the local First Nations peoples. They harvested many varieties of clams and cockles, some were wind dried and kept for use in the winter, some were baked in fire pits covered with seaweed for use in celebrations and Potlach ceremonies. Most of the clams we see in the market

today are Manilla Clams (Venerupes phillipinarum), an introduced species that is known for its tender meat and small size. We also occasionally see the Little Neck native clams (Protothaca staminea) mixed in a batch of Steamer clams, but the Manilla clam dominates the fresh Market in BC.

Mussels are another special treat from our local waters.

The common wild blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus) is abundant on rocks and shorelines all over the island. Many commercial mussel farmers have selected the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus edulis) and a new hybrid the golden mussel for local cultivation.

We are very lucky to have amazing shellfish in our markets and March is the peak of the season.

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

SPRING BREAK FUN

ESTUARY NATURE CENTRE

The Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre overlooks the estuary in Cowichan Bay, vital habitat for birds, salmon, shellfish, and diverse inter-tidal life in Quw’utsun traditional territory. The Centre’s marine aquarium/observation tank is popular with children and families to meet up-close with colorful, quirky intertidal creatures and volunteers to tell their stories and help find those good at camouflage. There’s the “Connecting the Drops” watershed exhibit; a story map with a narrated journey from the last ice age to the present in the Cowichan Valley; microscopes, telescopes and birds and wildlife to see from our interpretive trail and viewing tower. 1845 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay. Visit www. cowichanestuary.ca

LUNCH AT LEEWARD COASTAL CAFE BY TRUE GRAIN

Cowichan Bay’s newest waterfront cafe nestled alongside True Grain, Leeward is your destination to sip and savour while staring out at the majestic beauty of Cowichan Bay. Enjoy a wide assortment of specialty coffees, delicious breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and a plethora of fresh baked goods from the award-winning bakery next door. 1737 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay, 250 597-0034

Touch tank at Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre

Leeward Coastal Cafe

IN COWICHAN BAY!

BOAT AT THE MARITIME CENTRE

The Cowichan Wooden Boat Society is pleased to offer Children’s Boat Building. Over the years the boat building dedicated spot has been held in the second pod along the pier, recently named after longtime member and volunteer Len Mayea. The wood for these fun crafts is generously donated by Victoria Truss of Cobble Hill. As construction continues along the pier our boat building station is located on the new addition the Patio Portal. Children are welcome to come down Wednesday through Sunday 10am to 4pm to construct their own boat to bring home. 1761 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay www.classicboats.org

ORGANIC BAKED TREATS FROM TRUE GRAIN BAKERY

An unparalleled bakery experience awaits you where everything is made by hand from scratch using organic flour farmed & milled in British Columbia. True Grain is a destination for ancient grain loaves made with freshly stone milled flour, handcrafted pastries made using organic butter, and a dizzying assortment of delicious cookies. Stop by for a treat while exploring all that the Bay has to offer! Open Wednesday-Sunday, 8am-5pm 1735 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay Village. www.truegrain.ca

Build a boat at Cowichan Wooden Boat Society

True Grain Bakery

SPRING BREAK IN COWICHAN BAY

LIVE MUSIC SATURDAY NIGHT!

7 Nights a Week Dinner Service 5pm - Close Sat Lunch /Sun Brunch 11 am - 2 pm

Appy Hour Fridays at 4-5pm

Appy Hour Saturdays & Sundays 3-5pm

MARCH TABLE D’HOTE

Sunday - Thursday 2 courses $39 I 3 courses $49

Wine Pairing 3oz - $15.00 5oz $25.00

taxes and gratuities not included no substitutions

PAN SEARED SCALLOP

carrot cardamon coulis, citrus butter glaze, grilled mushroom, shaved radish, fresh sprouts or

SHAVED APPLE, ARUGULA & TURNIP SALAD

fresh goat cheese & mustard vinaigrette

COCOA, COFFEE & BOURBON GRILLED

PORK CHOP

sweet potato brunoise, beet puree, cider & caramelized onion chutney or

KILRENNY FARM FRESH PASTA

grilled mushrooms, leeks, root vegetables, garlic confit, white wine & browned butter sauce

CHÔMEUR

Maple caramel cake, toasted pecans, coconut crème anglaise

1701 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay Reservations (250) 748-3714

www.themastheadrestaurant.com

DISCOVER COASTAL TREASURES AT THE ARTHUR VICKERS GALLERY IN COWICHAN BAY

F or fifteen years the Arthur Vickers Gallery has called the Seaside Village of Cowichan Bay home. A destination to be discovered, the serene gallery held within an old shipyard is inviting and memorable.

Arthur’s works of art with their glowing imagery tell

the stories and teachings of his ancestors, capturing the past for today and held for future generations, these inspiring works are the essence of creativity and visual storytelling.

1719 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay Waterfront (250) 748-7650.

Sous Chef –Patrick Dique Executive Chef –Jeff Keenliside

True Grain Bakery

Image Reflections by Arthur Vickers

SPRING WHALE & WILDLIFE ON THE SALISH SEA

Early spring on the Salish Sea is a prolific time of year for whale and wildlife encounters. The Pacific herring spawn, an annual event where millions of herring lay their eggs on coastal kelp and seaweed, provides a crucial food source for marine mammals such as orcas, seals, sea lions, and humpback whales, and plays a critical role in the health of the Pacific Northwest marine ecosystem. The Pacific herring spawn draws large aggregations Pacific Harbour Seals, California Sea Lions and Steller Sea Lions to our waters. This spring spawn also attracts Biggs Killer Whales (mammal eaters) who arrive every year at the same time to predate on the seals and sea lions. It’s amazing to witness the full circle of life created by the Pacific herring who are truly a keystone species on our coast. Our whale and wildlife adventures start running daily on March 4th 2023 from both our Cowichan Bay and Parksville locations. We have excellent sighting in the early spring from both departure points on Vancouver Island. Ocean EcoVentures is the most centrally located Whale and Wildlife Adventure Company on Vancouver Island with the highest sighting of Killer Whales in

Works ARTHUR VICKERS ofArt

A SELECTION OF IMPORTANT AND PERSONAL WORKS

British Columbia. We offer Small personal tour groups, with never more than 12 passengers on our boats. Having fewer passengers in our boat creates magical moments for guests of all ages. Reserve your spots on our Spring Break tours today!

1721 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay 250-748-3800

www.oceanecoventures.com

KIDS HOT CHOCOLATE GIVEAWAY!

There are 13 hot chocolates hidden in this issue of the Valley Voice. Email us your name, age and the locations of where you found them to info@cowichanvalleyvoice. com and you could be a winner of a free kids hot chocolate courtesy of Leeward Cafe in Cowichan Bay to enjoy this Spring Break! Only winners will be notified with directions on how to claim your free kids hot chocolate prize.

Magnificent wooden bowl, functional beauty, spectacular!

The Arthur Vickers Gallery is a destination to be discovered.

Representing the Artist’s Collection of Works of Art that capture the essence of our coast.

Located in the Seaside Village of Cowichan Bay the gallery is a curated collection of the exceptional and the exquisite.

Showcasing locally created jewellery that is refined & beautiful with a touch of the playful and the whimsical.

Biggs Killer Whales in the Strait of Georgia Sea, Simon Pidcock Ocean EcoVentures

SPRING BREAK IN COWICHAN BAY

Gift Baskets

Meat & Cheese Platters

Gourmet Foods

Italian Imports

Take Home and Serve

Cowichan Station Creamery

www.cowichancream.ca

Brown Butter Sage Pecorino Pasta

Courtesy Brad Boisvert, Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese

Ingredients

2 large cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

7 to 8 large fresh sage leaves, torn into small pieces

Butter

1 pound spaghetti, tagliarini or linguine

1 Cup pecorino Toscano, shredded

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

A Pinch Cracked hot red pepper

Method

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2. In a sauté pan/ small frying pan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir until butter slightly browns. Remove from heat and add garlic, chillies (optional) and sage.

3. Drop pasta in boiling water. Cook, stirring often, until slightly underdone. See package for directions.

4. Meanwhile, drain pasta in colander. Turn into pan with brown butter, toss for a few minutes over low heat so butter mix clings to the pasta. Taste for seasoning.

5. Plate onto warmed plates and top with grated pecorino cheese.

Family Pasta Dinners

Pasta where did it start?

Although popular stories claim Marco Polo introduced pasta to Italy following his exploration of the Far East in the late 13th century, pasta can be traced back as far back as the 4th century BC, where an Etruscan tomb had pictured a group of people making what appears to be pasta. Some sources say pasta dates back more to the traditional Asian noodles. One thing all can agree on every country has its own form of pasta. In Germany and Hungary, they have spaetzle. In Greece, orzo. In Poland, they enjoy pocketlike a ravioli, but it is a pierogi. In America, pasta is prepared and served similarly to the way it is found in Italy– except for all-American spaghetti and meatballs.

So, when most of us hear the word pasta it is generally used to describe traditional Italian noodles. This differentiates it from those of types of noodles around the world. Pasta is made from unleavened dough consisting of ground durum wheat and eggs. It is the durum wheat that sets pasta apart from

other forms of noodles. Pastas are divided into two broad categories: dried (pasta secca) and fresh (pasta fresca). Most dried pasta is produced commercially via an extrusion process and by machine, although it can be produced at home. Fresh pasta is traditionally produced by hand, sometimes with the aid of simple machines as well.

Both dried and fresh pastas come in several shapes and varieties, with 310 specific forms known by over 1,300 names. So, if you are confused on what shapes are what, you are not alone. As a category in Italian cuisine, both fresh and dried pastas are classically used in one of three kinds of prepared dishes: as pasta asciutta (or pastasciutta), cooked pasta is plated and served with a complementary sauce or condiment; a second classification of pasta dishes is pasta in brodo, in which the pasta is part of a soup-type dish. A third category is pasta al forno, in which the pasta is incorporated into a dish that is subsequently baked in the oven. Pasta dishes are generally simple.

Cure Artisan Meat & Cheese

5-1400 Cowichan Bay Road, Valley View Centre Lower Level 250 929-CURE

“Come taste the di erence kindness makes.”

Chef Brad Boisvert, Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese

For the Love of Poutine

Iwas first introduced to poutine as a youth while March Break skiing in Quebec. How could I resist a heaping plate of French fries, mixed with cheese curds and drenched in gravy? I was skiing at Mount Saint Anne, which atop its summit has a spectacular ski lodge that makes spectacular poutine. No skimping on the gravy, nor the cheese curds, their hardy poutine kept me skiing all afternoon. How could I go back to plain fries? From then on I’d order poutine whenever I could, at ski lodges and restaurants alike.

Legend (the internet) has it that poutine originated in Warwick, Quebec, a region famous for its “squeaky” cheese curds, which were a popular side dish. Many restaurants in the area purport to have invented poutine. The strongest claim is from Le Café Ideal, where in 1957 a patron apparently asked to have cheese curds mixed with their fries. Upon mixing in the cheese curds, Restauranteur Fernand Lachance exclaimed, “ça va faire une maudite poutine!” “It will make a damn mess!” “Poutine” is Quebecois slang for “mess” or “messy.” Deliciously messy indeed, the combination spread throughout Warwick. Restaurants were finding that the cheese curds weren’t melting, and the fries weren’t staying hot. Until a chef soon decided to drench both in hot brown gravy. An instant hit, “poutine” as we know it was

born. According to Quebecois poutine connoisseurs, you have to hear the squeak of the curds for it to be real.

By the late 1960s, this gravy drenched dish was popularized across Quebec, especially in dairy regions where fresh cheese curds have a short shelf life. By the 80s poutine had infiltrated Ontario, and by the 1990s became a fast food staple across Canada. Today it’s found in fine restaurants, and is sold by Canadians around the world: from beaches in Thailand, to the U.S., to Europe, to Africa. Poutine has become world famous, and arguably Canada’s National Dish.

Gravy is traditionally made out of the leftover juices from cooking meat, especially beef. As a kid, I loved it. Potatoes, turkey, green beans, everything tasted better covered in gravy. Years later when my vegetarian family of five wanted to try poutine, I was challenged. Hand cut fries were an easy go-to. Fresh cheese curds could be found. But how do you make gravy without using a meat base? In my vegetarian cook book I could only find a

recipe for miso mushroom gravy, sweeter and more chunky than brown gravy. I’d learned along my cooking adventures that you could thicken a soup or sauce by adding a little cold water mixed with flour. Rather than using miso and mushrooms, I boiled vegetable soup bouillon in water, and added butter, thyme, garlic powder, and nutritional yeast. I slowly poured in cold water mixed with flour, and simmered until it thickened to create a delicious gravy. It worked beautifully on poutine and other dishes. For later poutines, if I couldn’t find or didn’t have cheese curds, I’d substitute with chunks of mozzarella. Not the same, but still yummy.

In the past couple of years, I’m

Ingredients

delighted to have found a local provider of fresh squeaky cheese curds: the Cowichan Creamery on Howie Road. They have a convenient cheese vending machine (taking cash or card), with an appealing selection of cheeses, including bags of fresh cheese curds ($7 each). The search for cheese curds in the Cowichan Valley is over. Now I can create an authentic vegetarian poutine with cheese from happy, well cared for cows, while supporting a local business. When you want a warm, hardy, Canadian classic this season, try home-made poutine.

Homefries Poutine

Courtesy Lucas Goris, Cobble Hill

6-8 organic potatoes

1 package Cowichan Station Creamery Cheese Curds

Oil for baking

Salt to taste

Gravy (see recipe below for vegetarian gravy)

Method

1. Make hand cut fries. Wash a bunch of potatoes, peel off any bruises, keep the rest of the skin on. Cut lengthwise to desired thickness (thicker will take longer to bake). Toss lightly with oil and salt, spread out on a cookie sheet, and bake in the oven at 400F until crispy (flipping halfway if desired for even crispness).

2. While the fries are baking in the oven make your gravy: vegetarian or otherwise, as long as it’s thick with good flavour.

3. Once the fries are crisp, transfer them to a casserole dish and evenly mix in cheese curds. Then generously coat it all in hot gravy. Optional: put your poutine casserole in the oven for a minute or two, until the curds are just melted.

4. Serve and enjoy.

Vegetarian Gravy

In a small saucepan combine and heat ingredients until boiling:

1 Tbsp vegetable soup bouillon (I use “Better than Bouillon”)

1 cup hot water

1 Tbsp butter

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp thyme

1Tbsp Nutritional Yeast 1/2 tsp salt (or salt to taste)

Whisk the following in a measuring cup until well combined:

1 cup of cold water

4 Tbsp of all purpose flour

Mixture should look like milk.

* If gluten free substitute with 4 Tbsp corn starch and gravy will be more jelly like gravy, rather than creamy

Gently pour the cold water mixture into the boiling boullion water mixture. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened and slow boiling. Remove and serve.

Lucas Goris: father, home cook, cheese enthusiast, outdoor explorer.

Hot Poutine, image Lucas Goris

Cowichan Station Cheese Curds and organic homefries, image LucasGoris

SPRING BREAK FUN

ThisSpring Break we would like to welcome families to come join in 2 fun free opportunities, that we are hosting at our lovely new location in Cobble Hill.

Family Yoga and Crafts: March 15th 9:30am-10:30am; Come in and wake up with some good body stretches. Then we will get a little messy with some fun seasonal crafts together, while meeting new friends.

Family Gardening and Games: March 21st 1:00-2:00; Come join us to get ready for the growing season! The group will come together to sow seeds, dig in the dirt, and explore some of the herbs and vegetables that can grow in our own backyards. Afterwards there will be open group play with a variety of board and card games available indoors.

Please note these will be family events; caregivers are expected to attend alongside their children. Tea and coffee will be offered. It is very important you RSVP if you hope to attend one of our groups.

Please respond to admin@ sharpeot.com

Occupational therapy is a type of health care that helps to solve the problems that interfere with a person’s ability to do the things that are important to them –everyday things. For children this involve supporting feeding, dressing, executive functions, fine motor, visual perceptual, coordination or sensory-based

concerns, using an approach based in play.

Sharpe Occupational Therapy Services Inc provides pediatric occupational therapy in the Cowichan Valley. We prioritize direct intervention services with children and youth over other related alternatives. We believe in a multi-disciplinary, team approach. We work closely with educators and other health care professionals, in the best interest of the child. It takes a whole village to raise a child. We collaborate with Speech Language Therapists, Registered Clinical Counsellors and Behaviour Consultants to provide interdisciplinary services to children ages 2-19 years. We are always excited to add more child and youth practitioners to our team. (if you are an OT, PT, or SLP passionate about working in pediatrics contact admin@sharpeot.com for current opportunties) We also offer internship positions to candidates of occupational therapy programs (students who plan to apply to an OT program in the near future) and are excited to promote the profession! We host student placements for OT students from universities across Canada, in order to share what we know about working with the pediatric population.

Our group programs are individually designed for children with a certain profile and need, to ensure the group is well formed and set up for success. The children must be ‘group ready’ such that being part of a group will be a positive experience for all the children involved.

Monday – Friday

8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cost: $180 I Code: 52367

ART PORTFOLIO CAMP

MARCH 20 - 24

AGES 10 - 14

Aspiring artists will explore different mediums with guest artists from CVAC including fibre art, collage, painting, sketching and large group projects and designs.

Register through the reccowichan.ca website

CVAC ARTS CAMP AGES 10-14

Aspiring artists will explore different mediums with guest artists including fibre art,

collage, painting, sketching and large group projects and designs.

Monday – Friday | 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cost: $180 Code: 52367

CVAC is presenting this through CVRD this time so you can register through the reccowichan.ca website

Explore The Murals of Chemainus

TheChemainus 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 61 murals and 10 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.

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 only costs $5.00 and supports the Murals Society’s efforts to maintain, restore, and add new murals to the program.

Native Heritage, Artist: Paul Ygartua

First Chemainus Sawmill 1862, Artist, Sylvia Verity Dewar

Submitted by Tom Andrews

Six murals and sculptures have been added to the outdoor art gallery since 2021 so come see the newest additions.

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.

• 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.

• Watch mural #3 come alive using a new technology, augmented reality. All you need is a smart phone with a QR code reader and Facebook or Instagram. Follow the instructions on the plaque next to the mural and watch the engine thunder across the bridge over Chemainus River.

• 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!,

• If you are musically inclined, play a few tunes on the piano built into mural C6,

In Tune With Nature located in front of the Chemainus Public Market.

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

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!

Your one stop shop for natural products for home and body

• more sustainable fashions

• more natural make up

• more body products

• more mens products

• more natural pet supply

• more

•

•

• more

• more household for YOU!

Wishing all BC Students a very happy and well deserved Spring Break!

The Chemainus Labyrinth in Waterwheel Square.

SPRING BREAK FUN!

SING FOR XPEY’ COMMUNITY CHOIR

Comejoin the Lila Community Choir this season, while we Sing For Xprey’ (Cedar). We will be learning a variety of genres of songs in support of our Interconnected Ecosystem, Community and Village Building and in support of the local Xprey’ project. The Xprey’ project is a chance for our community to take action to restore and

protect Xprey’ now so that it is around for cultural use 500 years from now. This project is taking actions to mitigate the loss of Xpey’ (Cedar), a cultural keystone species, that is threatened by climate change and land development. Our choir season will complete with a live performance with special musical guests in collaboration with the Xprey’ project

For more information: www. journeyofourgeneration.ca March 2nd, OPEN HOUSE Lila Community Choir, Songs for Cedar. All Voices Welcome 7pm - 8:30pm, www.joythroughmusic. com, Registration required. $245 for 13 weeks. March 10/17/24

Pizza, Sweet & Savoury Snacks Smoothies and more! Dine in or Take to Go!

CVCAS Volunteers Make the Wheels Go Around

Nomatter what your arts and culture genre, or your age, there’s something for you in the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society’s events calendar listings.

But none of that eclectic mix of music, visual arts and literature would be possible without the scores of volunteers who greet people at info and ticket tables, pass the hat, hang shows, and take care of the thousand-andone other tasks that need doing to keep programs, events and services running.

So encouraging volunteers is a crucial role. “We want to be sure our volunteers are recognized, and that they are in roles where they’re having fun and feeling good about making an arts and culture contribution,” said CVCAS Chair Bob Johns.

There’s all kinds of reasons people ‘step up to the plate’ when it comes to volunteering, but for most it’s about making a positive difference in their community. In the case of the CVCAS, that translates into making Chemainus a great place to engage in the arts either as creators, participants or audience members.

Other take-aways…

Volunteering is a good way to meet people. Working with a like minded team in a casual environment presents lots of opportunities to make friends and

contacts with others who share similar interests.

You can keep connected with the arts community, and up to speed with what’s going on in your particular arts and culture niche by volunteering.

Many volunteers learn new skills, or get to share their skill sets with others.

Volunteers are crucial for the CVCAS to continue offering its broad range of programs. So next time you’re attending a CVCAS event, think about signing up as a volunteer. “It’s fun, volunteering and it feels good, being part of an organization that does so much for the community.” said Performance Committee Chair Bev Knight.

For her volunteers make the CVCAS’s performance lineup possible and affordable. “We don’t want to exclude anyone, but we want to be able to bring a full calendar of exciting music to the community,” Knight said. “Our volunteers and people who make donations at the concerts make that possible. The people of Chemainus have been very generous.”

Go to the CVCAS.ca website, where you can get more information about becoming a member and volunteering.

Volunteers are the real movers and shakers when it comes to running programs, events and services at the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society.

Pacific Pearl Dental Hygiene Clinic

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

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

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

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

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

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

additional check ups. Accepting new patients and all insurance coverage plans. Ask about their senior and student discounts. 740 First Avenue, Ladysmith (above the library) 250 802-2812

www.pacificpearl.ca

Democracy is Strengthened When All Women are Free

WhenInternational Women’s Day rolls around on March 8th every year, I am reminded of my first women’s march in Edmonton when I was 6 years old. Over 40 years later, I am still standing up and fighting for collective liberation, equality, and justice. This fight is not over.

Although early feminist movements were exclusionary – in that they prioritized the voices of white, middleclass women – there was still a sense of collective resistance. This sense of collective resistance has been absent from International Women’s Day (IWD) in recent years. IWD has shifted instead to celebrate the individual accomplishments of women, rather than continuing the fight for collective liberation.

Of course, it is important to reflect on all the people who have paved the way for the rights and freedoms we enjoy today. But we cannot afford to celebrate where we have come from, without identifying where we are going. When we choose to only celebrate “the firsts,” and a curated selection of women who have broken through the glass ceiling, we are at risk of forgetting all the work that still needs to be done. A 2019 Statistics Canada report shows a striking income gap between women and men. This report identified the largest gap in BC: with women earning 18.9% less than men. These statistics get more dismal for Indigenous women (35% less), racialized women (33% less), disabled women (49% less), and trans women. Research shows that people with low incomes are more limited in their ability to participate politically. Income inequality is racialized and gendered and continues to undermine democracy. If we want a more democratic province, we need to identify the structural oppressions that limit women from participating in decisionmaking spaces. This starts with being aware of our own privilege and doing our part to amplify marginalized voices. Kimberlé Crenshaw, a pioneering scholar and civil rights advocate, coined the term “intersectionality” in the 1980s to describe how race and gender (among other factors), contribute to limiting

the freedom of women. Democracy is strengthened when all women are free. Oppression is woven into the written laws and unwritten customs of our modern world, and all of us share the responsibility to change this. As Audre Lorde famously said, “I am not free while

any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” The path towards equality and justice is a lot longer than I had imagined when I was 6 years old. I will keep standing up for collective liberation because this fight is still not over.

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

HARMONY WELLNESS EVOLUTION

An Evolutionary Approach to Your Health and Happiness

Deborah Carruthers BA, BSW, MA Counsellor and Wellness Practitioner

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

250-715-1773

360 Duncan St #103, Duncan

Meet Anyes Local Mompreneur

Soul Comfort was born from a simple need.

Many years ago, I was a young mother who needed slippers for her newborn daughter’s tiny feet. Slippers that would keep her feet warm and cozy and last on busy little feet.

When I made that first pair of infant slippers for my little girl, I discovered I had made what people were looking for. The slippers were so durable and appealing, that I began making them as gifts for friends and family members, and then … to sell.

And so … my Soul Comfort Sheepskin cottage industry was born.

But my love of all things wool goes back much earlier. I grew up in Quebec, the daughter of Dutch parents who had survived WW2. They instilled in me the values of natural materials. In fact, I frequently heard them say that if it were not for wool, the soldiers in WW2 would not have made it through. The wool socks combatted foot rot; the underwear, sheepskin jackets and overalls helped the aviators

survive in planes with no heat.

My mother was a talented seamstress, who had inspired me to sew and to create my own patterns for clothing, accessories and all things of natural fibres. At the age of nineteen, I started my passion’s career, working with a furrier in Quebec where I learned how to work with high quality furs. I discovered the soothing properties of lamb’s wool and I decided that I wanted to develop this wonderful product line of sheepskin and wool creations. The many healing and comforting properties of sheepswool are unsurpassed by any other product in the clothing or healthcare market.

Sheepswool is my passion because I believe that natural fibers are the only way of the future for people and the planet. My vision is that the world returns to the use of natural fibers and that the healing benefits of wool reach those who need it most – healthcare and hospital patients, the elderly in care homes, and people nearing their life’s end.

Wool is incredibly comforting and healing with it’s natural healing properties The medical community recognizes how essential sheepswool / sheepskin is for good health because sheepskin and sheepswool fabric are naturally anti-bacterial, mould and fungal resistant (visit www.soulcomfortsheepskin.com for educational videos).

I am truly honoured to be able to continue the tradition of working with this incredible natural fiber.

Soul Comfort Sheepskin

190 Fourth Street, Duncan 250 737-1281

International Women’s Day Activities

Aspart of International Women’s Day there are an array of local opportunities to celebrate women with a focus on women’s health and reproductive rights. Women have the right to make decisions for their health and well-being

Starting off the celebration of women’s right to their reproductive health choices is the award winning film Happening. A 2021 French drama directed by Audrey Diwan based on the novel of the same name by Annie Ernaux.

Set in 1963 France, Anne, a young and talented student, gets pregnant, seeing her opportunities to finish her studies and excel slipping away from her. As her final exams approach and her social life begins to fade, Anne’s pregnancy progresses, forcing her to confront the shame and pain of an abortion, even if she must risk prison to do so.

Diwan’s measured approach reflects the heroine’s quiet determination, avoiding preachiness and melodrama even as Anne races against time toward a suspenseful ending. Artful and socially resonant, Happening is one of the most poignant and moving films of 2022. Caryn James, BBC

The film is sponsored by Cowichan Reproductive Rights. Joyce Arthur, Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC) will be on hand to lead the discussion.

Embracing Equity in Community on March 8, the actual date of International Women’s Day, is afundraiser for Cowichan Women Against Violence Society. This will be a truly Cowichan Event!

With absolutely gorgeous food from local caterer Barnes and Maracle, a silent auction filled with local gems, a cash bar with local beer and wine, and a keynote address from Cowichan Community builder Michelle Staples, this is an event you don’t want to miss!

Spend the evening connecting with other local leaders from all sectors of our community and enjoying delicious food and drink, all while helping CWAV support women and children of the Cowichan Valley when they need it most.

Nanaimo, Duncan and District Labour Council are the gold sponsor of International Women’s Day event in Duncan. There will be a variety of guest speakers, artists and local elected representatives sharing their thoughts and supporting this important issue.

Please join us for these events and many more happening in our community!

“Happening” Screening

WHEN: Friday, March 3 @ 7pm, Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram Street, Duncan.

Includes a discussion period

Film introduction by Joyce Arthur, President of the ARCC Sponsored by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC)

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) for Hair Loss

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is an innovative tool that may help promote and maintain hair growth on the scalp.

This treatment may be used to treat Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) which causes thinning and balding of the hair in both men and women. Options for the treatment of this condition in the past have relied on both topical and oral medications. These treatments (oral Finasteride and Minoxidil), lack rapid benefit, may have unwanted side effects and are best at preventing hair loss. Topical Minoxidil may be helpful in preventing further hair loss.

PRP therapy for hair loss is a medical treatment that involves drawing the client’s blood, spinning it down to release platelet-rich plasma, and then injecting it into the scalp. The PRP contains growth factors that are thought to increase blood supply to the hair follicle and increase the

Clients usually will require 3 initial treatments performed at monthly intervals and then maintenance treatments every 4 to 6 months. Adding topical Minoxidil while you are doing treatments can be helpful.

This treatment is not suitable for smokers, people who are on blood thinners, or have certain medical disorders such as cancer, chronic liver disease, or a blood disorder.

Treatments typically cost $600 to $800 per treatment. It is important to have your hair loss accurately diagnosed because PRP will only treat conditions where the hair follicle is still active. Talk to your physician before considering PRP as an option.

thickness of the hair shaft.

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

Use the New Moon Cycle to Set Intentions to Create The Life You Want

On March 19 Dianna Graves will facilitate a simple walking ceremony for ten women 40+ on the Kinsol Trestle trail.

The purpose is to intentionally focus on creating more of what you want in life while connecting with your body in nature to bring clarity, inspiration, and direction.

The walk is from 1 to 3 pm (rain or shine) beginning in the parking lot then proceeding on the trail, down to the river, and return. The participants will learn an easy yet powerful intention setting process to focus, be present, listen to intuition, and create meaningful actions for daily practice.

The New Moon is the first phase of the lunar cycle and usually appears mid-month. It is known for new beginnings and is a natural time to set an intention and create change. Often during this time people find they are craving something ‘new’, yet don’t know why.

For women, the monthly moon cycle historically symbolizes receptive femininity. It mirrors

the life-death-rebirth cycle as we go through ages and stages. The New Moon is a natural time for like-hearted women to gather in community and nourish our feminine spirit – to pause, gain clarity on what no longer serves us, and focus on what does. For women over 40 who are experiencing major life transitions, the support of other women is nourishing and helps with healing.

Setting intentions is a helpful strategy when feeling stuck and unsure of the future. Consider it like setting a GPS point that connects to the larger roadmap of your life. Every journey is much easier and enjoyable when you know the route.

If intention setting is new for you, start by reflecting on what you want to be different. Then intend for a 20 minute daily mindful action to begin the desired change. For instance, “I will practice a new positive mindset by writing a list of 10 things that I am grateful for, and why.”

Register at www.eventbrite. ca and find more info at diannaleegraves.ca

Discover the Tropical Superfood Collection from Eminence

Paradise found in this facial with antioxidant-rich botanicals and gentle exfoliation leaving the skin visibly smooth, renewed, bright and includes a complimentary 30 minute back massage. $105 (Regular $167)

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

SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY: RICH IN HISTORY AND CULTURE, NOW DEMOLISHED BY THE EARTHQUAKE

As a Turkish-Canadian, I was born and raised in Turkey and have regularly visited my mother and father, sister and friends, over the last twenty years. With my husband, I was privileged to travel to the home of my ancestors and grandmother in the Southeastern city of Diyarbakir. A key figure in my life growing up; my grandmother always offered us her warm sense of humour, a vast tenderness and love, and an expansive spiritual depth, impacting my life greatly.

While travelling in this region, we were welcomed with such kindness and warm generosity. As a photographer, I was able to capture parts of this area, including the Syrian neighbourhoods of Hatay. We feel eternally grateful to the selfless families who hosted us, welcomed us

in their homes and shared coffee and meals.

Located in the south east of Turkey, this Anatolia region is known for its rich cultural heritage, blending ethnic and religious communities living in harmony. Hatay is a turkish city famous for its historical significance as one of the birthplaces of Christianity, the birth place of Saint Peter, and home to the cave where the apostle is believed to have lived. This region is home to many heritage sites, such as Gobekli Tepe, a 12,000-yearold temple complex, with the world’s oldest known megaliths. Tourism has easily thrived in this region, offering guests traditional dishes, such as tasty kebabs and kunefe pastry.

However, last month two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.8 and 7.5 hit this region of Turkey and Northern Syria where 13 million people live in over 10 cities. The result is that most of the city has been destroyed, leaving little trace of its past glory. Most of the museums and UNESCO heritage sites are damaged or destroyed, including one of the first mosques in Anatolia from the 14th century.

Children in Hatay, 2019 Image Serra Erdem

Sadly death tolls from the earthquake have increased to 46,000 as of print date, and the numbers keep rising. As in any disaster, there are stories of miracle proportion and tales of great heroism that emerge amongst such trauma. Rescuers pulling still alive infants and children from the rubble over a week later.

The survivors of Southeastern Turkey and Northern Syria are now faced with rebuilding their homes and cities from scratch. This loss is one the entire international community must come to grips with, as this place represents a unique representation of cultural coexistence. This region and these incredible people need support to rebuild homes, rehabilitation centres, daycares, schools and longterm aid infrastructure for healthcare professionals.

For this reason, I have felt called to create a fundraising campaign to support the earthquake survivors. The funds from this campaign will be directly sent to https:// ahbap.org/, an active and respected non-governmental organization on the ground. Ahbab is founded

by a humanist musician, and the organization is a collaborative movement, with a value system based on solidarity, sharing, caring and belonging, while unifying the cultural treasures of Anatolia.

It is my hope that you too may be called to stand in solidarity with the people of this region and Northern Syria. We can send a message of support through these funds, and ensure families who have lost everything, know that they are not alone as they rebuild and heal.

Fundraising Campaign Link: https:// gofund.me/ ae60a2e4

Photographs from Southeastern Turkey, 2019: www.flickr.com/photos/ momentaryglimpses/

9 years consecutive years

Serra Erdem Event Coordinator and Photographer resides in Duncan with her small family.

linktr.ee/vesaire

Birdseye view of Gaziantep, 2019 Image Serra Erdem

Traditional Chinese Exercise for Health

All Classes in the Cowichan Valley *unless stated

Wild Goose Qigong (Chi Gong)

Gentle movement • Calms your mind • Heals internal organs •

Develops flexibility

Mondays 9 -10 am

Tuesdays 6 pm - 7 pm

(combined Qigong and Chun Yuen)

Wednesdays 10-11:15 am

Fridays 10-11:15 am (Victoria)*

Northern Shaolin

Chun Yuen Quan

Dynamic movement • Improves posture • Increases energy •

Strengthens bones

Tuesdays 6 pm - 7 pm

(combined Qigong and Chun Yuen)*

Wednesdays 9 am - 10 am

250 748 4060 rivendellrhythm@shaw.ca

www.WildGooseQigongCentre.com

“Nuts’amaat Syaays–Working Together As One”

Disclosing sexualized violence to anyone, let alone police or health care professionals often retraumatizes survivors. Rape is a physical assault that is sexualized. It has nothing to do with sexual attraction and it is never the victim’s fault. We live in a culture of silence and victim blaming. Our societal attitudes create barriers for survivors to seek justice, or medical care in order to recover from the trauma. Research shows that when a survivor receives compassionate support during the immediate aftermath of sexualized trauma, it has a significant impact on recovery. Survivors need collaboration amongst service providers.

In the spirit of collaboration, Warmland Women’s Support Services Society is dedicated to creating a coordinated crosssectoral response to sexualized violence. Survivors are directly impacted by the relationships service providers have with each other. We are committed to creating response procedures and accountability measures that support survivors and the community at large.

“Nuts’amaat Syaays–Working Together As One” is a sexual assault response program grounded in Indigenous values. Guidance from Quw’utsun Elders and Knowledge Keepers ensures cultural safety

and cultural competence. Our collaborative partnership with Island Health forensic nurses provides a foundation for responding effectively to survivors of sexual assault. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and the dedication of medical front line workers.

“Nuts’amaat Syaays” provides 24/7 crisis accompaniment to Cowichan Valley hospitals for survivors seeking forensic medical care. Crisis accompaniment includes culturally-informed practical and emotional support, information, response planning, and seamless coordination for wraparound support bridging survivors to community resources.

Sexual assault Advocates offer compassionate trauma-informed support while providing in-person accompaniment for survivors to attend medical services, report an offense to RCMP, or attend court so that survivors are not alone during the aftermath of sexualized violence. Moving beyond immediate/emergency needs, “Nuts’amaat Syaays” offers trauma-informed counseling and group programs supporting survivors’ overall posttraumatic recovery. Contact Kendra Thomas for details: kthomas@ warmlandwomen.org 250-710-8177.

Becoming A Mental Health Hero

$32.3B (2017). Numerous reports estimate increases in mental health issues by +35%. At Cowichan Family Life, we continue to witness the ongoing struggles of people’s mental wellbeing: the growing numbers seeking our counselling services, including referrals by family practitioners and other agencies; clients reporting deepening levels of anxiety, stress, and struggles to cope; people unable to pay our minimal fees due financial instability for various reasons.

March’s brightening days are pulling me from the doldrums that settled in through the grey winter months. For many, even the promise of longer day light brings little or no relief from the everyday stressors that weigh them down. Depression, stress, anxiety, relationship breakdowns, financial challenges are all struggles that impact mental wellness.

The pandemic has left scars on communitiesdeteriorating mental health, overwhelming fatigue, and eroding our resiliency. A survey by Yorkville University in January reported 78% of respondents noted economic and financial hardships are the most pressing issue facing individuals, with more than half ranking financial stress as having a major impact on their overall health.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada found that the economic impact from depression alone cost the Canadian economy

CFLA recognizes there is ‘we’ in mental wellness. For over 50 years, we have provided support for mild to moderate situations through our low-barrier, affordable counselling. No one is ever turned due to an inability to pay. Last year, our fees for service were subsidized by over 38%, and we are forecasting 41% for this fiscal year. As an independent, nonprofit agency, the generosity of donors and funders is essential to ensuring we can continue to do this important work.

March is the launch of our ‘Be a Mental Health Hero’ donation campaign, reaching out to community to support our services. For example, a donation of $250 will cover 8 counselling sessions for someone unable to pay, or for three people to attend one of our workshops. All donations over $25.00 will receive a charitable tax receipt. A donation of over $500 will add you to our Wall of Heroes at the CFLA office.

For more information on this campaign or any of the services we offer, please contact 250-748-8281 or visit our website.

www.cowichanfamilylife.org/

Kathy Code, retired economic development policy analyst, and CFLA Director.

Springtime Clearing

Good health to you!

Tina Foster, RHN Essential Remedies

Toxins toxins toxins - they’re everywhere. While its impossible to avoid completely, there is much you can do to avoid, as well as steps to take towards a cleaner body system and daily maintenance. Springtime is an excellent time for a refresh, and hopefully to develop some healthier habitsbody and mind.

Do what you can to avoid the worst and focus on building your body’s natural defense - a strong immune system, good circulation. a well-supported liver and digestion, and a stronger elimination system.

DO:

*Drink plenty of water and healthful herbal teas (dandelion is a great detoxifying choice)

*Include lots of organic fruits and vegetables

*Choose cleaner and digestible plant protein sources

*Incorporate fermented foods and/or probiotics for gut health

*Give intermittent fasting a try- the 16/8 variation is super easy, helps eliminate cravings, balances your internal system, energy benefits and more!

*Switch to non-toxic personal care and household products

*Movement and exercise daily for lymph health, circulation, body and mind wellness

*Try daily skin brushing and exfoliation

*Mind detox- cut back on news, media, anything negative, and practice meditation and mindfulness

*Take the time to de-clutter your home and make space, clean, and downsize

AVOID:

*junk processed foods

*meat and dairy (perhaps some fermented dairy is ok)

*cut-out alcohol for some time, and then drink less generally *cut back on caffeine

*negative thinking, relationships and associations

*pharmaceutical drugs (if doable)

Supplements are our allies, and Spring cleaning time is an excellent time for adding a couple in! Detox kits are available and work on all eliminatory organ systems, while some may choose to pick some milk thistle extract, dandelion tea, and a daily greens powder. Both are great options. Here is a list of some helpful ones:

*Milk Thistle- an excellent primo liver suppot herb. Look for an extract or a combination liver combo. Take it every day until empty, and repeat every few months for much needed ongoing liver support. Our liver does alot and is our powerhouse organ!!

*Dandelion tea- sip daily during this time, for digestive, liver, and blood cleansing. Eat the greens once they sprout up in your yard! Mineral rich and cleansing. They grow in Spring for a reason!

*Nettle tea- also grows in the Spring (so pick some nettles and incorporate them in a meal). The tea is light and refreshing and an excellent spring tonic.

*Spirulina and Chlorophyllsuper greens rich in vitamins and minerals, amino acids, and excellent to consume for daily cleansing, blood sugar support, and blood and organ health. Great source of chlorophyll.

*Moringa and other Greens supplements- natures multivitamin! Choose a greens combo for daily health to consume year-round. These greens, like moringa, are superfoods providing the body with extra nourishment, detoxification, energy, anti inflammory properties, the list goes on! Moringa is a top fave of mine.

*Seaweed - such as kelp, available in tabs, liquids, and

delicious noodles and nori! Seagreens are excellent iodine sources which is essential for the thyroid, hormones, and detoxification. They are also mineral and vitamin rich, and beneficial to heart, gut, and more.

*Senna tea or casgara tabs- these are beneficial short term, if you have sluggish bowels. Its important to go daily, and during a cleanse we should consider aiding our bowels to go a little extra. Elimination is elevating!

SEEDY SATURDAY

Justin time for Spring, Seedy Saturday in Cobble Hill is always an exciting and much anticipated event for gardeners.

It features two halls filled with vendors selling bedding starts, shrubs, seeds, gardening books, soaps and lotions, clay ollas for water saving irrigation, jams and jellies, fairly doors, garden gnomes, grow kits, planters, succulents, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, heritage apple trees, honey and bee products as well as crafts. We also have vendors offering landscaping, gardening, soil testing and local milk delivery services.

This is a free event, and there is plenty of parking and delicious food services. Join us for Vancouver Island’s liveliest Seedy Saturday!

March 11, 2023 - 10 am to 2 pm

The Shawnigan Cobble Hill Farmers Institute and Agricultural Society (Farmers Institute) was incorporated by the province of BC on November 3, 1914. The objectives of the Farmers Institute’s upon formation included: to improve the condition of rural life so that settlement may be permanent and prosperous; to promote the theory and practice of agriculture; to arrange on behalf of its members for the purchase, distribution or sale of commodities, supplies or products; to act generally on behalf of its members in all matters incidental to agricultural pursuits and rural development; and to promote home economics, public health, child welfare, education and better schools. Every year the Farmers Institute hosts a variety of community events including Seedy Saturday.

Submitted by Gerry Giles

SWAP SOME SEEDS!

Submitted by Hannah Auer

Every year, as the days begin to lengthen and the buds begin to swell, a hum of excitement begins to build within the heart of every gardener. Seed catalogs lie open on the kitchen table, and thoughts drift to sun-kissed heirloom tomatoes and fresh

cucumbers on the vine.

One of our favourite parts of the event is the seed swap table, where all amateur seed-savers are welcome to bring their seeds to share with other gardeners. Seed saving is a great way to preserve heirloom varieties of seeds, make gardening more affordable and sustainable, and get to know the plants in a deeper way. Seed swap tables grew out of the seed library TIMmovement, where seeds are freely shared by communities, to increase local seed diversity and build food sovereignty. We ask that all seeds shared are grown organically, without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Everyone is also welcomed to take some seeds from the seed swap table and grow them in your own garden. As food costs increase, gardening is a great way to save money, increase nutrition and support the health of our families and communities. Come out and join in the fun and celebrate the beginning of spring with us!

PARTICIPATE IN A SEED EXCHANGE!

Please bring your seeds in a clean dry jar, or envelope.

Make sure your seeds are clearly labeled with the crop variety, the year grown, and any notes that might be interesting or helpful for other gardeners.

Thisyear we are happy to announce that 14th Annual Seedy Sunday will be back in person at the Si’em Lelum Gymnasium (5574 River Rd, Duncan). We have ample room for indoor and outdoor vendors, including food trucks!

At this community event everyone is welcome no mater your gardening experience. You will find locally produced seeds, vegetable seedlings, herbs, native plants, and garden accessories. While you at the event join a free workshop or bring your kids so they can enjoy some activities!

11am

Carolyn Herriot

‘How to Save Your own Vegetable Seeds (Everything you need is in your Kitchen)’

Carolyn Herriot is author of 3 books, ‘A Year on the Garden Path’ and ‘The ZeroMile Diet’. In her books she shares 30 years of seed saving secrets for every vegetable

Cowichan Green Community’s Seedy Sunday

and culinary herb. She grew for her business ‘Seeds of Victoria’ from 1991-2014, and now grows seeds called ‘IncrEdibles!’ at Deep Roots Farm in Yellow Point. www. deeprootsfarm.ca which also offers hands-on workshops for small scale farmers.

plants, and their connection to the Quw’utsun people. Della will also have some of her herbal medicine available for sale.

with customized plant lists for your unique garden and show you neat habitat features that help to promote a healthy and thriving ecosystem. Also, learn about mason bees, other beneficial pollinators + the entire ethos of environmental sustainability and how we can do our best to help the planet!

“This is our favourite event of the year,” proclaims Judy Stafford, Executive Director of CGC. “When we planned the first event in 2009 in the old Mercury Theatre we had no idea that it would become so successful. We are overjoyed to be back in full swing this Spring. We are excited about offering workshops again and we can’t wait to see all those gardeners walking out with seeds and plants in hand ready to get planting!”

1pm

Sierra Stacey

Native Pollinator Workshop

Come join Wilder

Restoration & Meadow Wren

12pm

Della Rice-Sylvester

Plants and Prayer Walk

Come and join Della RiceSylvester, local Quw’utsun medicine woman, on a plant walk on the land surrounding the Si’em Lelum Gym. Learn about the medicinal traditional uses of local

Relaxing, balancing, Reiki/chakra alignments, Reiki classes, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Foot detox, Healing touch, Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture, GuaSha, Cupping, TuiNa

Flower Farm’s Pollinator Workshop: Learn how to create impactful, biodiverse gardens buzzing with life. They will teach you how to draw and design the perfect garden space to attract & sustain pollinators. Wilder Restoration & Meadow Wren will guide you to come up

Cremation

Admission to this event is $2.00 and will run 10am to 2pm on Sunday, March 19. Si’em Lelum Gymnasium 5574 River Rd. Duncan We would like to invite everyone in the community to come check-out this family friendly day.

For more information on this event, feel free to contact CGC at 250748-8506 or info@ cowichangreencommunity.org.

sandsfuneral.com/duncan email:sandsduncan@arbormemorial.com 187

& Reception

by Arbor Memorial

Perennial Food Plants

Agarden can be a wonderful source of food, especially in times of rising grocery costs. A vegetable garden requires constant management with soil preparation, seeding, thinning, weeding, and harvesting. Rewards are great, but it takes effort. Another approach is permanent fruiting shrubs, vines, and trees. These take longer to establish but once in place will give years of abundant food, sometimes more than one can handle, a positive problem to be faced with. If you are planning a food garden, careful planning will maximize your food production.

Two basic requirements are a location with mid-day sun and well drained soil. Soil can be amended to increase fertility, but roots cannot sit in water for extended periods. You can dedicate a part of your property to food growing or incorporate edible plants into your landscape. Harvest timing, when planned correctly will give you food from the garden for about 8 months of the year.

In the shrub category, blueberries are the most popular. Varieties are available that ripen from July to September with the surplus being easily frozen. Raspberries need perfect drainage to grow strongly with the main crop ripening in July and a late variety ripening from August to frost.

GROW FOOD IN YOUR YARD

Fruiting vines are trained onto fences, arbors, or trellis on the south sides of buildings. Grapes and Kiwi are the most widely planted but there are many types of blackberry and related varieties. Their fruit can be frozen or made into preserves.

Finally, there are the tree fruits that start in August with early apples, cherries, peaches and plums. Fall is a succession of apple and pear varieties with the keeper varieties harvested by early November before freezing temperatures arrive. These are stored for winter with some varieties lasting until Easter. With some planning you can have some food from the garden most of the year, helping to reduce the high food costs and being as local as it gets.

TIME TO PLANT TREE FRUIT AND SMALL FRUITS

Bare root fruit trees - now is the best time to plant Apple, Cherry, Pear, Plum, Peach, Nectarine, Asian Pear and more

Small Fruits in pots

Blueberry, Raspberry, Grapes, Kiwi, Blackberry and related berries, Currant, Gooseberry, Sea Berry, Mulberry

Other Edible Plants

Figs, Olives, Hazelnuts, Walnuts, Chestnuts

Soils and conditioners to get your plants off to a good start. Try our Nurseryland Fish Soil

March is time to fertilize.

12-16-12 all purpose for all your plants

5-2-4 Organic all purpose for edible plants

www.dinternursery.ca

250 748-2023

5km South of Duncan on Hwy 1

Bernie Dinter, owner Dinter Nursery. Family owned and operated since 1973 offering 3 generations of horticultural knowledge.

Amy LuckMacGregor Certified Soil Food Web Laboratory Technician

There’s a dance going on, above and below ground. It’s an intelligent dance - in ways we are just beginning to understand - and it’s synergistic, responsive and adaptive. Plants and microorganisms engaged together, living and dying, as nature moves forward in succession from rock to old growth forest over vast amounts of time.

So why isn’t everything an old growth forest? Backward moves in succession come in many forms, e.g fire, flood, drought, insect infestation. And there’s the human kind – deforestation, tillage agriculture, urban expansion… as that catchy song goes, to put up a parking lot.

If we could transcend the human lifespan and observe succession, we would first witness bare rock being colonized by photosynthetic

The Dance of Succession

bacteria. As these bacteria live and die, they provide biomass for other types of bacteria, who in turn produce food resources for organisms like mosses and lichens. These leave behind biomass that can support early successional fungi, providing the perfect environment for weeds to move in. With their quick growth cycles and rapid seed dispersal, dead weeds bring enough cellulose to the soil to

attract the microbiology which allows for early successional plants to emerge – early grasses, brassicas, riparian and wetland plants.

As cellulose continues to increase, so does fungal biomass. This paves the way for weed suppression and the emergence of highly productive grasses, row crops, perennial herbs. Lignin is brought to the soil, now feeding more fungi than bacteria. The ratio tips further as we move to woodier plants such as grapevines, berries and shrubs. The more woody and complex these plant materials become, the further the dance toward fungal levels that can support deciduous trees, conifers, and on to old growth forest.

We can speed up this process, and use this knowledge to

regenerate soils. To begin, we want to know how many organisms are present, whether they are beneficial, and how the ratio of fungi to bacteria compares to where our plant lies along the successional path. Bring a sample to Seedy Saturday (Cobble Hill) or Seedy Sunday (Duncan) and let’s take a peek at who’s home in your soil!

Bring in Your Soil Sample

Which microorganisms are hanging out in your soil or compost this spring? How might they be helping or hindering the plants you want to grow? Amy will be at Seedy Saturday in Cobble Hill (March 11, 10-2) and Seedy Sunday in Duncan (March 19, 10-2) with her microscope, ready to introduce you to these cool little critters, answer questions, and chat about the Soil Food Web. For instructions on collecting your sample, visit www.springhillsoil-lab.ca. See you there!

To Till or Not to Till?

That is the question you may be asking yourself at this time of year when the soil is starting to warm up and we are busy starting our veggie seeds. With any luck, your veggie garden consists of raised beds with good drainage and have been covered since the fall with a 1-2 inch layer of mulch. Covering with mulch insulates any overwintering plant roots, keeps the soil organisms warmer, reduces nutrient loss over winter and compaction from rainfall.

Now that it is planting time, what is a veggie gardener to do?

Tilling is defined as preparing land for raising crops and can encompass anything from plowing, rototilling, digging, turning or otherwise breaking up the soil. Tilling by plow is a common agricultural technique and as is turning over garden soil with a shovel or pitchfork in home gardens. Tilling is often practiced with the goals of loosening the soil so plant roots can grow more easily, efficiently mixing amendments like compost, fertilizer and lime into the topsoil and aerating the soil to improve drainage and gas exchange around the rooting zone.

If you have a veggie garden you have been building up for several years by adding quality compost and amendments, you likely have soil with a good structure. This means the sand, silt and clay particles and organic matter are loosely bound together as soil aggregates with space between them for air and water to flow through. Turning a soil with good structure can break up these aggregates and actually reduce the soil drainage and aeration capacity. It can also enable the soil

carbon within the aggregates to be mineralized by microorganisms then released as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Turning soil over may disturb the soil ecosystem. Soil organisms tend to be most abundant near the soil surface, as this area is warmer and better aerated than deeper layers. Turning over soil moves these organisms deeper, which may damage them.

So, to till or not to till? It depends! If you are developing a new veggie garden in poor quality soil (e.g. builder’s fill), or heavy clay soil, tilling in the first few years will help incorporate organic matter and amendments (especially lime) into deeper soil layers more quickly than without tilling, which will in time lead to better soil structure. Tilling in organic matter will also help loosen and build structure in heavily compacted soil. If your veggie garden is wellestablished with many seasons of organic matter additions it is probably healthy with good structure. In this case, consider leaving the shovel behind and simply loosen the soil gently before planting. This will keep the structure intact and the soil organisms happy!

Tamara Dinter, Dinter Nursery General Manager and Soil Enthu-

siast

New Arrivals

by Gail Johnson and Lynn Harnish at Aquamaris Art Gallery

A Thriving Arts and Cultural Community

Commanding attention with their dazzling presence, and enticing a viewer to meander through the sun-kissed fields of luxuriously textured abstracted poppies, “Meadow Hike” and “Walk of Life” are two grand new arrivals by Gail Johnson. As the contemporary impressionist artist, Gail is revered for her interpretations of this beloved subject matter, her saturated palette and bold-brush style.

Enraptured in the colour of passion, Gail’s paintings set the tone for a suite of smaller new arrivals, each holding their stage. Highlighted among them are abstracted paintings by the Cowichan

Valley artist Lynn Harnish. Softer in palette, yet rich in visual texture, Lynn’s never before shown gem of a painting titled “No Regrets” reflects on her artistic evolution that lead her thought the period of deep fascination with the encaustic process to finding her creative muse in the layers of cold wax mixed media. Reminiscent of a waterscape, it draws a viewer into delightfully interlaced passages of Payne’s grey, creamy whites and fresh greens enlivened by impassioned bursts of flaming orange and deep red.

With the colour red threading through so many inspiring pieces currently available in our gallery, they all join in harmony to infuse with vibrancy and brightness the days that lead us out of our winter blues.

Upstairs in the historic

Aquamaris Art Gallery

For A Song, Acrylic on Canvas, 12” x 12” by Gail Johnson

No Regrets, Cold Wax Mixed Media on Wood Cradle, 12” x 12” by Lynn Harnish

Where It Began, Cold Wax Mixed Media on Wood Cradle, 12” x 12” by Lynn Harnish

Walk of Life, Acrylic on Canvas, 48” x 60” by Gail Johnson

Changes That Add Value Value to Your Home

Brighter spring days tend to light up the older or worn features of your home. Often people overlook the importance of home improvements until they decide to sell their home. Why not enjoy those improvements before you sell?

Number one thing buyers look at before they step in the door….

Your home’s street view is usually the primary image used when a property is listed for sale on MLS. Step outside and have a look to see how you can improve the street view of your home. Have you let those trees get too big, are there bushes growing over your sidewalk,

do they need replacing? Consider updating the window trim to a more modern style. Is your front door colour in need of updating? Do you live on an acreage, does the driveway need some fresh gravel? Secondly, the front door swings open, what do you see? A crowded entry or an old rug? Consider investing in a new door bench with storage. Consider updating the paint colours or entry flooring to match the adjacent flooring. Will a new entryway rug highlight a small updated feature shelf or new piece of artwork in the entryway?

The number one sales feature of a home is the kitchen. Does your kitchen have 1980’s oak or 1990’s white thermo-foil cabinets? White paint can spruce up the look of old wood, but new cabinets will be yours to enjoy and will still look new in 10 years, when

you sell. New cabinets will not only sell your home more quickly, they will also get a return on your investment, in addition to a kitchen that will be a pleasure to cook in.

Other features that sell a home are updated bathrooms. To avoid the piecey look, try to

coordinate the colours and style of cabinets to mimic your updated kitchen cabinets and paint colours.

A “well maintained home” shows pride of ownership and the words themselves - are a selling feature.

For professional advice call Vida Glaser, a Realtor proudly living in the Cowichan Valley.

March 5 • 2pm - 5pm

THE BASKET OF STORIES

Join Tad Hargrave for stories & Basket Weaving Register at https://basketofstories.eventbrite.ca

March 11 • 1-4 pm

CIRCLE SINGING

Vocal improvisation Workshop

Inspired by Rhiannon’s Vocal River For intermediate to advanced singers

$40-$100

WHAT’S ON THIS MONTH AT MONTHLY

March 12 • 9 am -12noon

BACKYARD SESSIONS

Nature Connection, Ancestral Skills, Bushcraft and more!

All Ages / Families Welcome Sliding Scale Pre Registration required

March 2nd • 7pm - 8:30pm

LILA COMMUNITY CHOIR

Sing for Xpey’

Open House Come Try!

All Voices Welcome $245/13 weeks

Our Kindergartens spend a part of each day outside, rain or shine. Our daily forest walks are a chance to slow down and connect with nature and the changing seasons. In this way we instill care for the natural world, and through cultivating the powers of stillness, observation, and wonder we lay foundations for lifelong learning. If you’re considering one of our programs for your young child, come along to our Open House. 10am to 12 noon on Saturday March 4. Please plan to be here for the full 2 hours; children welcome. Space is limited so be sure to RSVP. You can sign up through our website www. sunrisewaldorf.org, or contact Katherine at admissions@ sunrisewaldorfschool.org for more information.

professionals, teachers, facilitators, parents, etc. There are incredibly rewarding aspects of caregiving and in equal measure, incredibly draining aspects. In this Journey we will take a deeper look into the topics of healthy & unhealthy caregiving, lending us the opportunity to reflect and gain insight into personal patterns. The second half of our journey will support the well-deserved navigation to Self and filling of our cups with Qigong, meditation, and sound bath. Sunday, March 12, 4-7 pm, Metchosin $59, www.JulieGallant.com

ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED

All Classes with Cari Burdett

No one turned away for lack of funds JOURNEY -

3228A Gibbins Rd, Duncan

250 710 4174 I cari@cariburdett.com

www.joythroughmusic.com

This 3-hour experience is oriented towards caregivers of any capacity; healthcare

“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” is about the life and art of Nan Goldin and how this led her to found P.A.I.N. (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now), an advocacy group targeting the Sackler family for manufacturing and distributing OxyContin, a deeply addictive drug that has exacerbated the opioid crisis. The film tells the story using her slideshows, intimate interviews, ground-breaking photography and rare footage of her fight to hold the Sacklers accountable. It is about the bonds of community, the dangers of repression, and how art and politics are the same thing. March 27th 7pm ‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed’ Hospice Movie at Cowichan Performing Arts 2687 James street 250-746-2722

single tickets $17

Itis truly a pleasure to share my passion about Bach Flower remedies with a group of interested folks at a recent presentation at the Community Farm Store.

One of the women asked about a remedy for a narcissist, which I think is a really great question! I shared with the group that I do have quite a bit of experience with narcissists, as I’m sure most people do these days. It seems all too common sadly, and it can certainly be an intense experience dealing with someone who is self centered and selfishly manipulative. There’s always a story and feelings behind it all, and naturally there’s a remedy or three or more for those troubling feelings and emotions.

I explained that from my research and experience, narcissism comes from trauma and people who are wounded and traumatized act out. Hurt-people-hurt-people! We all have the potential to portray these personality traits, it is part of being human.

It is always the individual who decides to be real about

how they feel and their belief systems and whether they want to change or not.

It feels as though most people today are struggling with overwhelm, grief, stress and intense mental health issues. Bach remedies are so much the answer, in so many ways — including Rescue Remedy which is a five-flower combo for acute stress, anxiety, and trauma. I have relied on this incredible remedy in the yellow bottle for 20+ years now, and there’s one for children, adults and animals.

Visit www.rescueremedy.com

White Chestnut is for ‘monkey brain’ and constant intrusive thoughts, and using this remedy can bring peace of mind and positive problem solving. If someone is fearful of worldly issues, illness, or something that is specific fear then Mimulus is a fabulous soothing choice. If the fears are unknown, or if nightmares, terror or dread is present, Aspen is the remedy that will bring trust in the unknown. The Pine remedy is for guilt and selfblame, something I struggled with after my Mom died in 2020.

Walnut has helped me a great deal, and it is a terrific remedy to give protection from outside influences during changes of all kinds such as a move, death, job change, etc.

Dr. Bach created 38 flower remedies in total which he called a complete system, reflecting on the full range of emotions and feelings that are

Giving you back the luxury of time and a naturally clean home to enjoy it in!

Providing professional, eco friendly cleaning services. 250 929 8381

www.cleanchoicecleaners.com

Licensed - Insured - Bonded

a normal part of our human experience. He believed that we didn’t need to have disease if we are able to better manage our life experiences with flower remedies to balance our emotions and feelings and to soothe our nervous systems. Life can be bittersweet, and I am grateful for my Bach flower remedies to help myself and others.

We certainly need more Bach practitioners, and if you’d like to learn more, have a personal remedy consultation and mix, or host a Bach remedy workshop, please be in touch ~ Diana at afreshstart@shaw. ca 250 597 2102.

Diana Anu Pink Wholistic Health Practitioner Inspired Mentor and Messenger

BACH FLOWER REMEDIES TO THE RESCUE

The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Fundraising Auction

The RCMSAR.34 Cowichan recognizes and gives deep thanks, that we work, live, play, and camp on the traditional lands and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples.

The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR)

Station 34 is a 1oo% volunteer based organization located at the Fisherman’s Wharf in Cowichan Bay, British Columbia. We are part of the marine search and rescue system within the waters of Saanich Inlet on Southern Vancouver Island. Our Station’s goals are:

• to save 100 % of lives at risk

• to reduce the number and severity of SAR incidents

• to promote marine safety

• to support the Canadian Coast Guard

• to provide a humanitarian service

• to maintain the highest professional standards

• to promote dedication and pride of membership

RCM-SAR Station 34 promotes boating safety and provides yearround marine search and rescue services to commercial mariners, recreational boaters, and the general public. Our volunteer members are a dedicated group of men and women who provide their time and energy to provide a valuable public service. We train extensively in specialized search and rescue techniques to maintain a level of professionalism that is expected by the communities we serve and partner agencies such as the Canadian Coast Guard, Land Search and Rescue, RCMP, and Ambulance Services.

RCMSAR’s mission is to save lives on the water.

Our volunteers provide marine search and rescue through partnership and collaboration with the communities of British

Columbia, federal and provincial governments, Indigenous, industry and other agencies. Our crews are highly trained and equipped with specialized rescue vessels designed for the marine challenges of the West Coast.

How We Save Lives

Through an agreement with the Canadian Coast Guard we are called out to marine emergencies by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria. We are also available to provide support for on the water humanitarian aid when called upon by provincial authorities. Our volunteer base is managed by station leaders and local governance boards at each individual station with oversight and support from RCMSAR headquarters in Sooke.

Online Fundraising Auction

Please support RCMSAR 34 Cowichan by participating in our online Auction Fundraiser. Sponsorship of our Auction has included gift certificates, merchandise, products, a service, or cash donation. Please email Ross at piercr3@gmail.com with any questions or to sponsor our online auction.

Visit www.hibid.ca for access to the RCM-SAR 34 auction.. Click on the RCMSAR auction. Click on guest to view the auction items. Click on register to begin bidding. Registration for the auction begins on March 10, and bidding is open March 11-March 18.

ROCKET T TESTOSTERONE RECHARGE

• Promotes healthy free testosterone levels

• Featuring clinically proven Testofen® fenugreek

• With ashwagandha to increase resistance to stress

250-748-4421

4-180 Central Rd, Duncan - Village Green Mall

www.lynnsvitamingallery.ca

ROCKET T TO THE RESCUE

Fenugreek is a species of plant native to India and North Africa. For many years it has been used in powders, tonics, and teas, as well as in cooking. It is linked to many health benefits, including the ability to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Fenugreek contains compounds called furostanic saponins which have the ability to increase testosterone production naturally. Testosterone is a sex hormone active in both men and women that affects sexual function, energy levels, cognitive function, bone health, production of red blood cells, fat distribution, and more.

Some people have low levels of testosterone, even at a young age, which can significantly impair quality of life. As well, inevitably, available testosterone declines with age. So, what can we do to improve these situations?

Fortunately, with their usual excellent research and meticulous attention to detail, CanPrev have added

another weapon in their arsenal of supplements with their Rocket T Testosterone Recharge. This product is designed to promote healthy testosterone levels, and features Testofen Fenugreek extract and an Ashwaganda extract known as KSM-66. They have designed a product that not only helps with symptoms such as lessened sexual desire, energy, and muscle mass, but also helps to maintain healthy glucose levels, helps the body to metabolize nutrients, and helps to maintain a normal electrolyte balance. The Ashwaganda in this formula can increase one’s resistance to stress and anxiety, which is never a bad thing.

Aging is inevitable, but thanks to companies such as Canprev, you have options. If you would like to try Rocket T or any of the other excellent products available, you can stop in to a quality health food store like Lynn’s Vitamin Gallery and talk to the staff about which supplements would be right for you.

Submitted by Gina Malkin, Lynn’s Vitamin Gallery

Ithinkmost people that share yoga in some way with friends, family and the public would agree that yoga found them. That was my experience 5 years ago. I didn’t even know what yoga was before that! I was so ignorant, i just thought it was some kind of esoteric aerobic acrobatics!

One thing led to another and I found myself incorporating a very informal yoga and meditation session into my martial arts practices of Judo and Jiu-Jitsu. The benefit in my sports were immediate and remarkable. Shortly after, I began an MSc degree program in Ayurvedic Medicine, the sister science of yoga. I quickly realized the benefits of this holistic medical system, and it reshaped the way I thought about my reductionist medical paradigm. I couldn’t help but see through this ‘new’ holistic lens. ‘Physician heal thyself’ comes to mind. I began to incorporate these principles as appropriate into my clinical practice as well. Serendipitously, there was a yoga teacher training program being held locally at the time and I was able to advance my interest in yoga teacher training. The physical and psychological benefit of the training was obvious to me. As my teacher training was nearing completion, I knew that I wanted to more formally join it with a martial arts offering for the benefit of my community.

In a certain way, we all ‘yoga’ everyday, it’s actually an essential part of our human nature. Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means ‘to yoke’ or ‘create

union’. Have you ever been ‘in the zone’? Have you ever fallen into something with so much dedication and fervour? Have you ever loved something, somewhere or someone so fully that you felt like your heart would overflow? Have you ever been awestruck or overwhelmed? Has time ever just ‘flown by’? These are all examples of yoga, moments and experiences in your life where every part of you - mind, body and spirthave become yoked together; if even for just a moment. We can all recall those moments in our life and recognize that they were joyful. Do you ever wish for more of this in your life?

A formal yoga asana practice prepares the mind, body and spirit to recognize all the good things that are constantly happening all around us, every minute of everyday. Don’t worry, you will still suffer - life isn’t all sunshine, rainbows and unicorns, but, there might be a few more rainbows and unicorns, and the realization that the sun is always shining!

In spite of all of these major benefits, one day I was stopped in my tracks with the realization of - where are all the men? What a tragedy! The health benefits of Yoga practice and Ayurvedic food science are well established in the scientific literature, and are wide ranging; hard to fall asleep - tired and groggy in the morning - tired after eating - food digesting poorly - wanting that strong, sexy, flexible and adept body and mind - there are poses and flows for all that! All the above have solutions based in

Ayurvedic food sciences as well. Remember this, Yoga is not all about flexibility, you do not have to be flexible to start your practice - flexibility in the body and mind is a consequence of the practice! I would be so happy and so grateful to see more masculine energy come out and enjoy the benefits of Yoga and Ayurveda - you need it. Man, woman, masculine, feminine, however you are, Yoga does not discriminate! All genders benefit equally!

At the Pacific Kodokan Dojo, it is my hope that with the help of our dedicated teachers and

volunteers, that we can create an inclusive community of fully fledged human beings. Whether your interest is Yoga, Judo or Jiu-Jitsu, we can assist you in becoming your own teacher, and being in charge of your own health and well-being. Online at pacifickodokandojo.com, in person at 963 Herd Road, Duncan.

Dr Steve Michaluk DMD BSc MSc

(Ayu) RYT500 is Head Sensei at the Pacific Kodokan Dojo.

PACIFIC KODOKAN DOJO

1400 Cowichan Bay Road

Wellness

Reiki Wellness

250 743-8122

Reiki, Foot Detox, Infrared, Acupuncture, Reflexology

Island Hellerwork

250 661-1687

Deep Tissue Bodywork, Somatic Transformation

Island Rolfing

250 661-1687

Rolfing Structural Integration Better Balance and flexibility

Healthcare Services

Cobble Hill Dental

250-743-6698

Friendly, Family Practice

We Welcome New Patients!

Island Pharmacy

250 743-1448

Open 7 Days a week for all your pharmacy needs

Resonance Hearing

250 743-3337

Life Changing Hearing Solutions

Food & Drink

Country Grocer

250 743-5639

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

Cure Artisan Meat & Cheese

250 929-2873

Charcuterie, Cheese House Made Pates

Pizzeria Prima Strada Cobble Hill

250-929-4655

Wood-fired pizza local wine & craft beer

Liquor Plus

250-929-1999

Wine, beer and spirits on the Upper Level.

Fitness

Valley Health and Fitness

250-743-0511

Full service gym/classes

Howdo non-Indigenous people create trust for Indigenous Peoples? We can’t. Trust is not a commodity that can be advertised and sold. It is not a bank loan that can be defaulted on.

Trust is earned – not purchased, over time and deeds. And at any given moment, even after an entire generation of earning trust, one action of violation or betrayal shatters that trust and the process of earning trust begins again.

Words are a bankrupt currency. Land acknowledgments, if not followed-up with real actions, are words echoing Canada’s history of intentional verbal treachery.

Building trust starts with “Building Bridges Through Understanding the Village©”, an experiential colonization workshop presented from a non-blame/non-shame perspective inviting nonIndigenous people to explore their role in the revival of

the values of Canada’s First Peoples.

Warmland Women’s Support Services Society’s sexual assault advocacy centre is culturally competent and trauma-informed, working within in an anti-oppressive, culturally responsive framework of intersectionality and decolonization, grounded in feminist theory.

Our commitment to Truth & ReconciliACTION includes acknowledging our settler origins on the timeline of colonization; bringing visibility to the attempted extermination of Indigenous Peoples by naming the action “Ethnocide”; accepting responsibility for educating ourselves on multi-generational trauma and the legacy of residential “schools”; acknowledging Indigenous resistance as actions to stop, resist, or prevent abuse/violence to protect culture and autonomy; celebrating the diversity of all First Nations remaining mindful of the tendency to view First Nations communities through a Pan-Indigenous lens; raising awareness of stereotyping and romanticizing Indigenous culture; becoming morethan-a-bystander to the harmful violations of cultural appropriation and Indigenousspecific racism in health care settings.

Building Bridges: Through Understanding the Village©, March 25 9am-4:30am

Duncan United Church 246 Ingram St. Register: kthomas@warmlandwomen. org.

TRUTH & RECONCILIATION Before There Can Be Truth And Reconciliation, First There Must Be Trust

The Bentwood Box, Coast Salish artist Luke Marston

Why We Should Read

If you have wondered ‘What can I do to support Reconciliation?’ Jody Wilson-Raybould offers this book in which she outlines three necessary interlinked approaches – learn, understand, and act – and provides guidelines for comprehending key issues. A member of the We Wai Kai Nation, and former federal justice minister, JWR offers ways that everyday people can actively support this potent time of transition and transformation in Canada.

JWR links social and economic disparities with recognition of Indigenous rights and emphasizes their indivisibility – that efforts to address the former fail largely due to lack of the latter. She says: “… true reconciliation is unlikely to occur until the critical mass of Indigenous Peoples are selfgoverning,” that is “in charge of the well-being of [their] citizens under their own laws, traditions, and approaches.”

She says that one way to tell if an action is related to true reconciliation is if it takes courage, and if it encourages others to take similar action. True reconciliation will take “courage to reject the status quo… By necessity, this also requires being uncomfortable, and choosing to push and lead, and continuing to take actions

in ways one might not have before.”

Part of true reconciliation is making the invisible visible. Many may be surprised to discover that characteristics of what is thought of as uniquely “Canadian” are from Indigenous worldviews – the values of egalitarianism; balance between individuals and groups; and society as an ongoing negotiation. That the values for which Canada is universally praised come from the very people it excludes seems particularly tragic.

“More than anything, the legacy of colonialism is about two things: lack of acceptance and lack of care.” Canadians can educate themselves on how to offer true acceptance and thus be able to put their care into effective, respectful action.

The Warmland Book & Film Collective – a response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada – next meets online March 8th to discuss the film The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Kathleen Hepburn (available on CBC Gem). Email WarmlandBFC@gmail.com for zoom link.

Submitted by David & Ranji, on behalf of the WBFC

TEN OLD BOOKS

Always something for everyone

Great Selection of Used & New Books • Bestsellers & Award Winners • Classic Novels & Timeless Favourites • BC & Canadian Authors

Plus Local Cards • Crafts • Children’s Books • Jewelry • Unique Gift Ideas and More!

102-330 Duncan St 250 -715-1383

Find us inside the historic Duncan Garage

A Gift for Everyone! Happy 30th

Birthday

The organic heart of our community, join staff, friends and neighbours at the Community Farm Store on March 30th for a fun day to celebrate 30 years of service! They’ll have demos, samples, draws, and more! Plus, all shoppers will receive a complimentary 30th

Anniversary notepad! The Community Farm Store 2-5380 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan

Agood spring cleaning for most of us means deeply scrubbing out our homes, after spending so much time indoors throughout the winter. As we prepare for spring, it just feels right to scour the house from top to bottom. For many of us though, clutter build up gets in the way of doing a good thorough cleanse, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and defeated before we’ve even started. Often, clutter needs to be addressed before we can clean properly. Luckily, so many unused and outdated items can be donated and recycled nowadays, and the Island Return It Centres are here to help.

Let’s break it down by room:

The Bedroom. Washing the curtains and wiping down all surfaces feels great in a bedroom ready to embrace spring. Sifting through our clothing and putting away papers and random items that have built up, are all good starting steps. While sorting, make sure to fill a box with those items that don’t feel right in the space anymore, such as old table lamps, dysfunctional alarm clocks and electric blankets, and drop them off at Island Return It (or IRI for short). Putting everything else away will feel amazing as your surfaces become clean again. Leave all the objects d’art you enjoy

What Ever Happened to a Good Spring Cleaning?

recycled, including toasters, food processors and coffee makers to name a few? Refer to the IRI website for full and comprehensive list. These they take back at no fee to you.

gazing at such as photos, plants and mementos.

The Kitchen is a workhorse and can become disorganized easily. Taking the time to tidy the cupboards and put everything away, as well as letting go of kitchen gadgets that are broken or no longer useful, will be essential before we start wiping down cupboards and washing the floor. Gather up all your empty cans and bottles, and bring them down to IRI to collect your returnables refund. Did you know they also take a wide variety of small kitchen appliances to be

Since the pandemic, more of us than ever have Home Offices. These rooms are a magnet for piles of paper, and those often need to be sorted and filed before we can start cleaning our desks properly. Broken and outdated electronics also build up on surfaces and in drawers. Taking the time to cull those no longer useful can be such a relief, and many items such as calculators, ink cartridges, used batteries and even desk lamps, are just a few of those items recycled at IRI.

The Bathroom’s expired and unused toiletries, as well as forgotten grooming

and medical devices, can make the bathroom hard to navigate let alone deep clean. Take some time to assess each item and recycle (or donate) everything no longer actively used. Did you know you can now recycle electric toothbrushes, hair dryers and towel warmers?

The Basement, the dreaded drop zone for all things disorganized and without a proper home. Ugh. Tackling the basement can be daunting to say the least. Gather up your old and broken power tools, irons, sewing machines, vacuums, smoke alarms and light bulbs to recycle. Then put everything back where it belongs before dusting out the cobwebs. Note: The Duncan IRI Centre takes back old paint that meets certain guidelines.

Lessening the amount of our personal belongings can release us from the stress and overwhelm from having too much to manage. The good news is, once you’ve clutter cleared, spring cleaning will be become much easier. Rally the troops and set aside a day or two, and tackle the excess stuff you may have lurking inside your home. Happy spring cleaning everyone.

Dawn Howlett is a professional organizer who loves to recycle and promote sustainability.

Nowadaysclimate change is on our minds more than ever. While Indigenous communities and other marginalized and vulnerable populations have been experiencing direct impacts for decades, many in BC have become aware more recently through extreme weather events such atmospheric rivers, floods, wildfires, drought and heat domes. Pollinators have been dwindling, trees dying, and growing seasons have become unpredictable.

A 2021 study of 10,000 youth across ten countries found 84% of young people to be moderately worried about the climate crisis, and 45% reporting that climate anxiety negatively affects their daily lives and functioning (Marks et al.). Existential worry about climate change has become so prevalent that researchers have coined several terms for it: eco-distress, climate anxiety, solastalgia, and environmental grief.

Those of us who are worried about climate change react in a variety of ways: with anxiety or fear, anger or pessimism, despair or guilt. Some nervous systems go to fight-flight and others go to numbness or dissociation. Many of us worry privately: we don’t bring climate change up with friends, and few of us want to deflate a cheerful

Parenting Through Climate Change: Coping with Eco-Distress

dinner party by broaching the subject. Most of all we wonder if we’re okay--if our anxiety about the future is even normal.

During these unprecedented times, it helps to turn to the work of eco-philosopher Joanna Macy. In her latest book Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power (New World Library, 2022, with Chris Johnstone), Dr. Macy explains that with all we’re facing, eco-distress is actually a healthy response to the crisis. It’s a symptom of sanity. Our climate worries grow out of our deep love for the world.

Unsurprisingly, our worries about climate change can also stem from our deep love for our children. With that in mind, parents and others continually ask: What should I do?

One response is to first shift that question to “How do I feel?”

Parents, grandparents, and others who have youth in their lives can experience eco-distress with particular intensity. Heavy feelings exist right below the surface. And our happinesspursuing culture doesn’t always welcome them when they arise. When we have unprocessed fears about the future, it makes it hard to really show up for our kids, and to keep showing up in meaningful ways elsewhere. Leaving those feelings under the surface keeps us stuck. Stuck in paralysis, overwhelm, avoidance, blind outrage, denial or other unhelpful places. On the other hand, when we find a way express or process those messy, raw feelings, we can begin to orient to more wisdom and clarity. And we become more spacious - a better refuge for the children and teens in our lives who need to process their own feelings about it.

Here are some ideas for parents and others who want to experience some movement in this area. You could try streamof-consciousness writing in a journal for a few days in a row. Or be brave enough to bring up the crisis over tea with a friend that you trust. You could take a hike in the forest and silently apologize to the trees until some grief wells up. You could set up a nature altar and connect with a deeper flow of life that speaks to you. There are many

articles and books and podcasts by thinkers who explore climate emotion: Joanna Macy, Kaira Jewell Lingo, Zhiwa Woodbury, Britt Wray, Bayo Akomolafe, Kathleen Dean Moore, Francis Weller and Sarah Jaquette Ray, to name a few.

Another powerful way to start moving climate emotion is to do it in community. Options include joining an eco-distress group or a climate café, or finding a climateaware therapist (resources for all three are available online through the Climate Psychology Alliance). Or getting involved with a group like the Cowichan Naturalist Society or the Cowichan Green Community, to connect with like-minded local people who are taking action on ecological preservation and food security.

If these suggestions feel like another list of “to do’s” piled up like dishes in the sink, that’s understandable. Most parents are already overwhelmed to begin with. In that case, feeling climate feelings can be as simple as lying down on the bed for ten minutes, playing an emotional song, and letting your feelings catch up with you. Taking deep breaths into your heart, and allowing the music to float your feelings to the surface. You can notice where you feel sensations in your body, and be patient as they move through you. Pausing for a break or choosing another day if it gets to be too much. Afterwards, consider supporting yourself by doing something kind and calming-holding your face in your hands, wrapping yourself in a blanket, cuddling a pet, walking outside, dancing, calling a friend, or taking a little bit of time for yourself.

Remember that you are not alone. So many of us are struggling with eco-distress these days. Our feelings are a natural response to reverence for Mother Earth, her creatures, her stunning beauty. Keep on loving the world, and letting her beauty nourish you.

Teddy Kellam

A mother of three, Teddy works at the intersection of climate and mental health.

Disaster struck the Cowichan School District when Duncan High School burned to the ground on Sunday, March 24, 1946. By the time the Duncan Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the site, the building was fully involved. Efforts to save the school were seriously hampered by lack of water pressure and winds fanning the flames. By morning the school was in ashes. No contents were able to be saved. The only good news was that the fire occurred on a weekend and no student or staff lives were lost.

The school district had to arrange ongoing temporary school accommodation for students in the Duncan area as well as see to the construction of a new high school.

Approximately 200 children of Duncan Elementary School were bussed to Fairbridge Farm School up until June 30,

1947. To avoid transporting these students in the 19471948 school term, other accommodation was found at the old Duncan Public School off Station Street and the old Somenos School on Herd Road.

Arrangements were also made with Vimy Social Club to convert their premises into two classrooms. It was expected that Vimy Hall would be used for at least two years after being renovated and divided into two classrooms. $1000 was offered by the school district to the Vimy Social Club for repairs, with a monthly rent of $25 to be paid once the repairs had been completed. Work on the partitions and floor extensions to divide the Vimy Hall into two classrooms was well underway by midAugust 1947.

Vimy Hall opened to two classes of children in September 1947 as an annex of Duncan Elementary. Many residents in the Vimy Hall neighborhood expressed approval of their children attending school at the Hall because it eliminated a long bus ride to Fairbridge for their children.

One class at Vimy Hall held their June 1948 school picnic

at the “8” pool, swimming and racing for small prizes. The story “Silversheen” was later told around a bonfire at which marshmallows were toasted. The other Vimy class held their picnic at Menzies’ Creek. Those students, too, enjoyed swimming and games in the morning, lunch with ice cream and afternoon novelty races at Peck’s field.

In 1949 Vimy Hall was reported to be in a state of disrepair, poorly heated and with outhouses and a poor playground. However, Duncan Elementary Schools classes continued to be held there until 1951.

At the vacating of school classes from the Hall in 1951 Vimy Social Club decided to renovate the building. The partition was removed, and the interior lined with plywood and the ceiling with plaster board. The stage walls and ceiling were also lined with plaster board. Doors and fittings were donated, and smaller windows and modern lighting fixtures were installed. Many local businesses made generous reductions on goods purchased and locals also

contributed generously with volunteer labour.

Former teachers at Vimy Hall included:

• Principal Andrew M. McMorland (1947-1950)

• Miss M. Joy Collins (September-December 1947)

• Miss Betty Mae Masters (later McColl, then Alexander) (1947-1950)

• Miss Elizabeth Anne Bonsall (later Iverson) (January-June 1948)

A Cowichan Valley Schools

Heritage Society school-bell sign commemorating Vimy Hall’s use as a school was mounted on the front of Vimy Hall near the entrance in January 2023.

A Brief History of Vimy Hall as a Schoolhouse

Submitted by Carolyn Prellwitz

Duncan Elementary School, 1947-1948, Division 9, Vimy Hall, Grades 1-2 with teacher Miss Betty Mae Masters (later McColl, then Alexander)

Duncan Elementary School, 1948-1949, Division 10, Vimy Hall, with teacher Miss Betty Mae Masters (later McColl, then Alexander)

LEARN TO NURTURE YOUR UNIQUE NATURE

Cathy is now offering Living Your Design classes online.

“You and Stephanie, knocked it out of the park. It’s so lovely listening to both of you, you both explain things so well. I am so happy I joined this course.” Lorraine

For class dates, please contact Cathy or visit her website.

Human Design for ChildrenNurturing their True Nature!

The first 7 years of our lives are formative and we can use this time to “to nurture a child’s true nature,” as Cathy so beautifully says, so they can thrive in an environment of non-interference, love, and respect.

Human Design is a unique tool that offers us the blueprint of each person and parents can get to know their child’s makeup in a way that has never been seen before. Follow your strategy and honor your inner authority! By finding out your child’s type (strategy), you learn how they interact with the world and you.

with, most of them will be very happy when they are included to help you and guide you by sharing what they see, so please invite them when you have energy for them, and are open to their seeing. That allows them to learn to enjoy their extraordinary perceptive qualities and find their role in the world.

Ask your Generator/ Manifesting Generator child yes-/no-question so it can respond from the moment they are born. Allow them to follow their response so they learn how to maintain healthy boundaries. Their life-force has a unique way to express itself in words or actions and they can only get to know themselves when they are unrestricted in their receptive dance with life itself. They will build and create a happier and healthier world for all of us.

crystalclearawakening@gmail.com www.crystalclearawakening.com

Be respectful and friendly with your Manifestor child and teach them manners. Allow them to roam free within the safety of your boundaries when they ask permission. They will grow into strong, confident, selfsufficient beings that know when and who to inform in the moment that life pushes through them to initiate. Invite your Projector to things and activities they can enjoy. They are not meant to work, some have energy to play

Allow your Reflector child to be in the middle of what is happening without necessarily having to participate. Bring them outside so they can marvel at the beauty of the natural world and the cosmic forces. Playfully allow them to find their unique rhythm with the moon cycle. On March 26, 2023, 10 am PST, Cathy and Stephanie will be offering an Introduction to HD for Parents - How to Nurture Your Child’s True Nature! If you are interested in the workshop, personal reading for you and your family, you find their contact information below.

Catherine Simons-Harding crystalclearawakening@ gmail.com www.crystalclearawakening. com

Stephanie Orion omgodiva@gmail.com www.stephanieorion.com

Nature Based Art Therapy with Darlene Tully

Connection is a Naturebased Art Therapy Group. I will be offering two groups during Spring Break for young people aged 9-11. This small group experience will enjoy an opportunity to connect… with nature, with the process of art-making, and guiding a positive connection with Self. As an artist and a nature enthusiast, I’ve found creative and nature-based endeavours to be grounding and healing. As a counsellor and art therapist for over 26 years, I’ve enjoyed supporting wellness and helping young people tap into their resilience using story, art, and movement.

Having fun with nature and art, we will explore the challenges, the joys, and the changes that are ongoing in life. Goals are: to be social, to give space to feelings, and to give voice to the strengths and creativity that are guides through these times. This group may be helpful for children who experience

anxiety. Youth is a critical time for developing interpersonal and regulation skills. The last three years have impacted the lives of our young people in big and small ways. An Art Therapy Group is different from an art class; we will be exploring with art materials and we’ll be creating artwork, but the process is key, rather than the art product itself. No experience with art-making is needed, although it is helpful to have an interest in making art. Limited spaces are available. Location for these groups is Duncan. Call with inquiries at 236-989-4500.

Group 1: March 13-16 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm)

Group 2: March 20-23 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm)

Fee: $360

Registration Deadline: March 7 art-of-being-human.com

Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah) Water Sustainability Plan Update

TheXwulqw’selu (Koksilah) Water Sustainability Planning process will be a collaborative, communitybased initiative to address concerns and support a longterm sustainable watershed. Cowichan Tribes and the Province of BC are working together in this innovative partnership to build better water management and

Spirit Guide Readings with Tiffany Mailloux

These sessions will be lead by your Spirit Guides so each one can be different depending on what you need in that moment. They will include messages from your guides and loved ones

resilience in the Koksilah watershed (located south of Duncan). Stay tuned for details later this spring and learn more at koksilahwater. ca.

Image above: Members of the Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah) Watershed Sustainability Planning Transitional Project Team gather to receive guidance from Cowichan Tribes elder, Luschiim. Sept 2022

who come through, energy healing and tools to take away as well as time for your questions to make sure you have both the healing and clarity you need. March 11th 11- 4pm @ The Community Farm Store, 25 mins for $40 email: nettlecohealing@ gmail.com to book.

Darlene Tully is a Certified Canadian Counsellor, Registered Art Therapist, and FNHA Mental Health Provider.

(Photo: JThompson)

Tens of thousands of hazardous chemicals flood the global market daily. We don’t fully know how most of them are affecting human health and the environment.

Scientific research has demonstrated, though, that widespread dispersion is causing significant health problems, including a “silent pandemic of neurodevelopmental toxicity” — that is, they’re affecting human nervous systems throughout the lives of those exposed, even before birth. Exposure can result in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, cancer, reproductive and immune system harm and more.

The chemicals we rely on in everyday life are also causing “catastrophic” declines in bird and pollinator populations, among others.

Globalized trade and supply chains make it difficult to map the range of toxic substances that manufactured products may contain. With multiple levels of subcontracting across continents and legal protections for confidential business information, it’s often difficult to know exactly what many commodities are made of, where they originated and what hazards they contain. Many multinational

firms are unable to thoroughly trace their supply chains.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS — often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily — are used in a broad range of industrial, commercial and personal health products, from cookware to clothing to construction materials, in part because of their water- and stainresistant properties.

Not only do they take a long time to biodegrade, they also travel long distances through air and water and have been detected in the environment, animals and humans in almost all regions of the world. A U.S. study found them in the blood of 97 per cent of people tested.

Like other persistent organic pollutants, PFAS accumulate in the Arctic region, causing disproportionate toxic harm to communities far removed from their production and consumption chains.

Studies dating as far back as the 1960s found these substances to be harmful, which eventually led to many being phased out. But, as has been the case throughout our history of chemical use, they’re often replaced with

by Shiloh Badman Bad Comics

other synthetic chemicals that pose similar risks to human and environmental health.

Forever chemicals in water bodies and “biosolids” — organic matter from wastewater treatment used as soil fertilizer — have caused significant harm in farming and fishing communities in the U.S., leading to a flurry of litigation and stricter regulation in a number of jurisdictions. The recent revelation that contaminated biosolids are being exported from the U.S. to Canada has raised concerns that we’ve fallen behind other jurisdictions in regulating this intergenerational, expansive and currently uncontrolled public health risk.

The European Union is considering a proposal to ban more than 10,000 PFAS, and the U.S. is also strengthening measures to address contamination and restrict uses. It’s crucial that Canada’s federal and provincial governments address the massive regulatory gap here. While the federal government holds jurisdiction over toxic substances and has committed to developing a report on the current state of these chemicals, expected to be published this year, provincial governments also have a key role to play in areas under their jurisdiction — for example, watershed and waste management, effluent discharges from industries and drinking water safety.

The recent international COP15 biodiversity summit in Montreal underscored the need to reduce pollution from highly hazardous chemicals, an objective included under Target 7 of the resulting global agreement. Federal and provincial governments need to accelerate action on regulating and restricting PFAS to protect public and environmental health from these dangerous substances that have been rampantly commercialized without consideration for the longlasting harms they pose.

Our current legal frameworks for chemical risk governance have proven to be ineffective and unable to keep up with the speed at which new substances are being introduced to the market. The reality is that chemical governance frameworks have been propelled mainly by economic objectives, not environmental or public health concerns. Ultimately, we need an alternative vision of chemical risk governance, one that not only integrates but prioritizes fundamental environmental principles and objectives, such as intergenerational equity and common concern for humanity.

Prioritizing profit and economic growth over human health and the environment is a shortsighted and increasingly costly way of living that threatens our very survival. The convenience offered by these chemicals is not worth the significant longlasting dangers. It’s time to make “forever” chemicals a thing of the past.

Learn more at davidsuzuki.org.

IT’S TIME TO BREAK THE TOXIC CHAIN OF “FOREVER CHEMICALS”

LUCKY DOG Dogs in the news…

Thisjust in: A Dalmation in the UK whelped eighteen puppies in May of 2020. Nellie was is labour for fourteen hours and was in good hands. Her human was an experienced breeder and all the pups survived. Nellie appeared to be a dog of superior planning, as an average litter is half that size and now she gets to retire. This is not a world record. That tiara goes to “Tia”, a Neoplolitan mastiff who popped out twenty four pups in 2014 in England.

More recently: A dog in El Paso who had spent a lot of time at the local shelter escaped from her new home and returned to the shelter, ten miles away, and rang the doorbell. Bailey had been in and out of the shelter a couple of times in new homes and was an experienced escape artist. Her latest owner was getting her into harness for a

walk and she noped right out and ran. Bailey ran right back to the shelter. She was spotted at various points along the way and ten miles later, late at night, Bailey activated the doorbell at the shelter. “I’m home!” There was staff to let her in and contact the new owner. She slept hard at the shelter and her new human gathered her the next day. I suspect she forgot something valuable in the shelter and had to retrieve it. Bailey is now outfitted with a GPS

tracker, but since she got her buried treasure at the shelter, she won’t leave her human’s side.

Speaking of dogs out for a walk: In the harsh Nevada desert a terrier cross found himself with a small pack of coyotes. He’d been spotted running with the wild canines and was nick named “Ghost” because he couldn’t be approached by humans. He had his own Facebook page with people updating the sightings. It went on for six months. When someone saw that Ghost was limping, a serious effort was put into capturing the domestic dog. He was safely trapped and given medical care. My thought is that he accidently joined a cult, because he was in bad shape.

A GoFundMe page raised over $14,000 to cover his tab. A broken toe, multiple contusions, an infected scrotum, bites scars, and

organic craft coffee and mmmore by the sea across from Salt Spring ferry terminal

1532 CHAPLIN ST, CROFTON

probably some serious emotional trauma. And then the people that captured him had to fight with the family that lost him over ownership, because some people suck.

Ancient news: Some canine bones had been dug up in Northern Spain in 1985, and recently were carbon dated to show that our beloved companions have been hanging out with

us for over 18,000 years. These bones are considered the earliest evidence of domestic dogs in Europe. Labelled the “Erralla” dog, she joined humans in the upper Paleolithic era and undoubtedly begged at the table, scratched her butt, and barked just as her people nodded off.

Not news: Dogs are awesome. Just awesome.

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

Government signals critical shift towards greater value-added wood manufacturing and potential oldgrowth protection

Premier David Eby announced critical changes to BC forestry policy last month that could help fulfill promises to protect old-growth forests and create a more resilient value-added wood manufacturing industry.

These changes include removing the “unduly restrict” clause that has historically limited the scope of conservation efforts by preventing forest reserves from interfering with timber supply; establishing a conservation financing fund to help with the establishment of new Indigenous Protected and

SustainableAdo’s

Conserved Areas (IPCAs); investing $180 million in support for value-added wood manufacturing to help the forest industry adapt to oldgrowth protection measures and using smaller-diameter trees while maintaining employment in the industry; and temporarily deferring an additional estimated 200,000 hectares of old-growth forests while longer-term land use

Edible Landscapes

Yard Maintenance & Organic Garden Care

Ado Grimwood-Adam

Ado is an organic gardener, foodie and father of three living in the Cowichan Valley. He holds a Certificate in Permaculture from Langara College, and is passionate about sustainability, food security, climate change and organic gardening.

Whether you need yard maintenance, or want to establish Edible Landscapes, Ado is a reliable, friendly and helpful person to work with.

Services offered include:

~ Edible Landscapes

~ Yard Maintenance

~ Organic Garden Care

Call or text for a free on-site consultation!

250.815.5789

plans can be developed.

“Removing the “unduly restrict” clause is as important a step symbolically as it is legally in helping facilitate the promised paradigm shift in the approach to old-growth forests and endangered ecosystems across the province,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance Campaigner TJ Watt. “For far too long the protection of old-growth forests, wildlife habitat, and other critical ecosystem services has been secondary to the push to industrially extract resources from the land. In light of the global biodiversity crisis we are in, we must first determine what needs protection before determining what, if anything, can be sustainably removed. We commend the BC government for taking this first step and hope it continues to take action by removing any remaining policy caps on regulatory protection measures such as Old-Growth Management Areas, Wildlife Habitat Areas, etc.”

The BC government has also committed to establishing a new conservation financing mechanism in the next six months to support First Nations’ capacity, sustainable economic development, and land stewardship, as well

as the creation of new IPCAs. The vast majority of old-growth forests in BC are located on the unceded territories of diverse First Nations communities, whose consent and support is a legal necessity for the creation of any new protected areas. The BC government can’t unilaterally declare new legislated protected areas on the unceded territory of First Nations, many of whom are also heavily dependent on the revenues of old-growth logging for their economic survival. Conservation financing, which was critical to the protection of oldgrowth ecosystems in the Great Bear Rainforest, is needed elsewhere across BC to provide economic alternatives to old-growth logging, giving First Nations communities a fair choice and viable path to old-growth protection.

“For years we have been pushing for the province to commit to conservation financing that links protecting endangered old-growth forests through IPCAs with First Nations’ sustainable economic development,” notes Watt. “Creating conservation economies that allow new, sustainable jobs and businesses to flourish while preserving imperiled ecosystems is a win-win for humans and nature. The province must now dedicate a significant amount of its own funding to this plan, especially with its current budget surplus. Private funders and philanthropists will play an important role but cannot be expected to provide the scale of funding quickly enough in the time frame needed to keep all atrisk old-growth standing.”

ancientforestalliance.org

Ancient Forest Alliance Campaigner & Photographer, TJ Watt, stands amongst unprotected old-growth redcedar trees in Eden Grove near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory.

TJ Watt, Ancient Forest Alliance

Look what we’ve become

Celebrating 30 years of The Community Farm Store! We have grown from a biodynamic, community oriented farm to a vibrant destination for local and organic food, herbs, supplements and wellness advice. Thank you for your support!

Beauty and wellness come together as one at CFS for the Soul. Find a curated collection of sacred stones, gems, books, salt lamps, jewelry, oracle decks, gifts, and locally crafted treasures for your sacred space. CFS Mezzanine, open Monday -Saturday 10-5.

The CFS Café is the heart of the store. Find delicious, nourishing food made fresh daily, including our legendary Ramen, Tuna Poke Bowl, Chicken Chai Latte, Mezze Board, and more. Enjoy on our Mezzanine or order to go. Organic, local, and made with love.

Honour the awe and wonder of childhood at the Freya -Sophia Waldorf Store. Find art & handwork supplies, books, dolls, toys, games, natural children’s clothing, gifts, art cards, classes, and more! Find us in the Sol- Centre, open Monday -Saturday, 10-5.

1. Discover Manley Park and its well-maintained trails and waterfall. This small park is easily accessible off Ratcliffe Road in Cobble Hill. It is a favourite walk amongst locals and its location to Satellitte Bar and Grille at Arbutus Ridge Golf Course for lunch or dinner.

2. Take a walk on the historic Kinsol Trestle and its many paths along the Koksilah River. The Kinsol Trestle is accessible from Shawnigan Lake and a beautiful place to explore. Finish your day by visiting The Lakehouse at Shawnigan and enjoy the waterfront view.

3. If something more challenging is what you are looking for then visit Cobble Hill Mountain with its many hiking and mountain biking trails. The views from the top are well worth the adventure. Enjoy one of the local eateries near by which offer many different options from cider tasting and food at Merridale Cidery and Distillery to fine dining at Unsworth Vineyard Restaurant 11am to 8pm Wed-Sun or try pub style at The Cobblestone Pub which is always a favourite with the locals.

4. Maple Grove Park in Cowichan Bay is the place to be on a sunny day while enjoying a brisk walk along the dike. Enjoy the ocean and bird life. Finish your walk by enjoying a meal at The Cook and Butcher with ocean views or continue north and stop by Red Arrow Brewing Company and enjoy a local beverage with a light meal.

FOOD FOR THE SOUL

5. If you find yourself in Duncan, take advantage of some of the local walks such as McAdam Park and the Somenos Dike Walk and the Friendship Trail. Easy walking and many great views of Mt. Prevost and the Cowichan River. Duncan and area offer many great eatery options such as Brunch on 3rd, The Old Fork and River Rock Bar and Grill, The Duncan Garage Café and Bakery, of The Oak and the CVI just north of town.

6. Take a self guided walking tour of downtown Duncan and learn about the history of these amazing Totems in the downtown area. Take a break and try something Hawaiian at Kahuna Burger or Aloha Bowls on Kenneth St. or enjoy pub style at Original Joe’s or Craig Street Brew Pub.

7. Maple Bay has many lovely hikes, and a favourite is Stoney Hill on Genoa Bay Road a mere 3 kilometres and it boasts some of the most incredible views in the valley. Located near by are The Shipyard Restaurant and Pub and The Lion Rampant Scottish Pub both with ocean views.

8. Lake Cowichan has beautiful Bald Mountain Park in Marble Bay with over 7.5 km of hiking trails that are ranked easy to difficult with panoramic views of the mountains and the lake. Venture out to Youbou and enjoy a meal at the Youbou Bar and Grill with amazing ambiance or head back into Lake Cowichan and enjoy Jake at the Lake for an equally enjoyable time.

9. This time of year, near Chemainus is Stocking Creek with its many moss-covered trees and beautiful waterfall. Enjoy this lovely spot in nature. There are many dining options to choose such as Sawmill Taphouse and Grill or Owls Nest Bakery and Bistro and Riot Brewing Co.

10. Christie Falls in Ladysmith is a gem of a waterfall. Travel to Grouhel Road off the Trans Canada Hwy turn right onto Christie Road and travel for 1.5 km and look for a sign that takes you to Bush Creek Hatchery and park at gate. A well-deserved break can be had at Bayview Brewing Co. or give In the Bean Time a try.

SCOTCH BROOM WILL BLOOM SOON

Scotch Broom will bloom soon. Why should you care?

Scotch broom was ranked as the invasive species causing the greatest harm to species at risk in BC.* So, if we care about biodiversity – and we do – then we must stop its spread. Fortunately, it isn’t hard. Cut Broom in Bloom! Cutting must be done right – at ground level or below in bloom before the drought of summer. Besides crowding out our native plants and young trees, Scotch broom is highly flammable. You don’t want it anywhere nearby. But you can make arrangements to cut it – and make a huge difference. It’s fun. Gather a few friends. Make plans now. Broombusters Invasive Plant Society’s website will be helpful and show you steps to take. Over 700 Broombusters cut nearly 7000 hours each year on Vancouver Island. It’s something positive we CAN do. www.broombusters.org.

*Assessment study for ISCBC 2021 – ESSA Technologies.

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

View from the top of Cobble Hill

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Your personal year is ending, but your new year won’t begin until your birthday arrives. This means you feel like you’re all dressed up with no place to go. This is why many of you will keep a low profile and work alone or behind the scenes. It’s the perfect time to think about the kind of signals you send out to the world. Many of us send out two signals: what we think are trying to do versus what we are actually doing, which is confusing. It’s time to take stock. How well are you doing at the art of living?

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

You’re popular this month! Enjoy the company of good friends, plus increased involvement with groups and organizations. As you do this, examine the role these people play in your life because your friends are a reflection of who you are. Think of this as you become involved with team efforts. Look around you. Are these your people? Your idealism is also aroused, which is why you might give more thought to your future goals and what you want to achieve. What would you like to do? What do you want to accomplish?

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

The Sun is at the top of your chart this month, which means it’s time to focus on your career, your role in society, and your reputation in your community. Examine the direction that your life is going. Are you headed where you want to go? Meanwhile, you’re in the limelight, and this light is flattering! Because others see you as capable and competent, you will be asked to take on increased responsibilities. Fear not, you won’t have to do anything special to impress them. Good lighting is everything!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

You feel the need to broaden your horizons! You want to enrich your life through travel or further education and training. Take up a new study, or a new hobby or

intellectual discipline. Go somewhere where you can learn something. Travel will be especially rewarding and satisfying at this time. Some of you might be more involved with the law. You might also have an increased interest in metaphysical, religious and spiritual ideas. Do anything that gives you a broader perspective on your world.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

This month is passionate and intense! You’re dealing with inheritances or money from another source or the government. You might be focused on taxes and insurance issues. Discussions about shared property, loans and mortgages might come up. Meanwhile, you might feel deep compulsions leading to behaviour that you don’t understand. Basically, you want to experience life on a feeling level, and not just in an abstract intellectual way. You might attract a powerful person to you who triggers some psychological self-inquiry. “Hi Darth.”

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

This month the Sun is opposite your sign, which happens only once a year. Now is your chance to learn more about yourself through your relationships. Do you think your partner is filling your needs? Meanwhile, for your own benefit, you must be as good for your partner as he or she is for you. Because the Sun is your source of energy and symbolically, it is now as far away from your sign as it can get all year – you will be tired. You need more sleep. This is also a good time to consult experts about something.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Ta da! You want to pull your act together. Decide to use this month to manage your life better. Work hard to do what needs to be done because you’re ready to turn over a new leaf and be as efficient and productive as possible. This high standard will extend to your health as well, which is why many of you might go on a diet, begin a new exercise regime or do what you can to be the best version of yourself. Note: You might have to work on behalf of someone else during this time. It’s just what’s happening.

Scorpio (Oct. 23Nov. 21)

You will be pleased to know that this month is one of the best windows in the entire year when you can do what you want and set your own priorities. You are powerful, disciplined and playful! Enjoy amusing recreations, time out with friends, sports events and fun activities with kids. In particular, you will love movies, the theatre and the arts because you want to have a good time! Your attitude toward your relationships will be lighter and more fun-loving. Romance will be rewarding. Very timely for Valentine’s week!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Your focus is now on your personal life. Enjoy cocooning at home. You might be more involved with family. Discussions will be significant. Nevertheless, many of you will go off by yourself to contemplate your navel because this is the classic time for self-evaluation, especially in terms of thinking about how your childhood and your family affected who you are today. Perhaps they set an example? Perhaps they were a cautionary tale? Either way, you will see patterns of your behaviour that are related to your past.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

The pace of your days is accelerating because suddenly, you’re busy with short trips, errands, appointments, visits with others (especially siblings and relatives) plus increased reading, writing and studying. You will like this busyness because you’re eager to learn new things, see new places and meet new faces. It’s a good time to take a course. Study something new! It’s also a good time to slip away on a vacation because you are curious about your surroundings. Enjoy!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Money and your personal belongings are a strong focus now, especially in practical terms. However, at a more subtle level, you will examine your relationship to your assets. Does your stuff serve your needs? Or are you becoming a slave to what you own through maintenance, cleaning, storage and protection. Sometimes we are a victim of our possessions. For that matter, when you think about it more deeply, what do you really value? One thing is certain: you want to have greater control of your life through what you own.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

The Sun is in your sign now, which happens only once a year and when it does, it gives you the chance to recharge yourself for the year to come. It also makes you project your personality with more force and energy, which means this is the perfect time to make a great impression on others. Plus, you will attract favourable circumstances and important people to you. Yes, you’re hot! Personally, you feel a strong need to express yourself. This is one of those times when your first duty is to yourself and if you don’t fulfil that duty, you will be of little use to anyone.

www.georgianicols.com

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

Pets and Remote Sessions offered Kathryn Lowther 250-891-5138 www.biomagcanada.ca

3-Foot Reflexology for $180